Latest update April 30, 2010

Davidoff • Griffins • La Paz
P G C Hajenius • Zino
Vasco da Gama

These cigars ARE for you if:
• You find that the heavy Cubans are just too much for you, but you love the Cuban flavour;
• You need a fine quality lighter cigar to smoke earlier in the day or evening;
• You are sharing the smoking experience with a mixed group of friends some of whom are
   casual smokers;
• You are hosting a function and want to offer cigars, but not everybody is a serious smoker;
• You’d like to try different flavours – comparisons are much easier in the same format;
• You are a new cigar smoker – wanting to ease into the experience;

These cigars ARE NOT for you if:
• You can’t visualise any form of cigar other than a Cuban Robusto.

These are short filler cigars from the German manufacturer Arnold André – excellent quality, 100% pure tobacco and beautifully packed. The filler in each case is a carefully selected blend of several tobaccos from the former Dutch East Indies and Brazil.
The character and flavour of each cigar is defined by its wrapper, each with its own typical colour:
The Capa de Cuba wrapper is light greenish brown, the Maduro Brazil a deep caramel brown, and the Claro Sumatra a glowing golden brown.

Rick Hacker says: “In many ways the wrapper is the most important part of the cigar, not just because it provides 30% to 60% of the flavour, but also because it is the embodiment of the cigar’s total character”.

Capa de Cuba - The richest and most sought after cigar leaf comes from Cuba – the wrapper (Capa) offers a true Cuban flavour without being too heavy. Rich and spicy – a fine fusion of 2 distinct natural flavours.
Maduro Brazil – Extra matured leaf – full-flavoured - slightly sweeter to some palates.
Claro Sumatra – Classic Dutch-type cigar. Smooth and light – the mildest of the three.

Each cigar is cedarwood-wrapped, then cellophaned – the cedar enhances the flavour and provides a convenient spill for lighting.

I think that you’ll find that these cigars through their different wrappers really fulfil the Vasco da Gama slogan “Discover a new world”, and lead you to 3 different areas of the cigar world.
They provide an ideal opportunity for the cigar smoker to experience the different types of flavour
under equal conditions.

The average size of the filler pieces was bigger than I expected, and each blend had its own distinctive aroma. When I smoked the rest of the cigar, the different tastes were quite apparent, and the experience most enjoyable.

Click for a closer view of the Cigars

New to the range is the
Corona No.2 Vanilla
– for the growing segment of the cigar market of people who enjoy a quality flavoured cigar
(not just the stodgy mass market products).
The filler is a blend of several cigar and pipe tobaccos for natural flavour, refined with smooth vanilla – the binder is homogenised tobacco leaf, and the wrapper from Sumatra Indonesia.

Click for a closer view of the Cigars

Vasco da Gama Cigarillos -  90mm x Ring 23 (9.2 mm)

This is the size to smoke before dinner, on a game drive, or on any occasion when time is short.
The filler is a selected blend of several light tobaccos from the former Dutch East Indies and Brazil, with a homogenised tobacco leaf binder.
Choose your flavour from the natural wrapper (Capa) in each case:

Claro Sumatra • Maduro Brazil • Capa de Cuba
Pack of 10 : 53-VdGCig R120.95

Claro a glowing light golden brown Sumatra wrapper.
Maduro Brazil a deep caramel brown extra matured Brazil wrapper
Capa de Cuba has a typically greenish brown Cuban wrapper. It really offers an exceptional degree of flavour.

Click for a closer view of the Cigars

53-GriffMini R197.25

Superior CK126 Half Corona, long 25
52-LaPCK126/25 R1,145.95

ALSO AVAILABLE (not pictured)

Corona Tube Slim Corona 25 52-LaPCorAl25 R1,575.50
Gran Panatela Tube 122mmx32 25 52-LaPGrPAl25 R1,091.95

Kleine Tuitknak 10 Perfecto

52-HajKT10 R214.95

Mini Cigarillos
Sumatra or Brazil 20s

53-ZinoMini R198.90