2013 Stogie Fresh Cigar Podcast BPC Episode 359 Black Patch Kenbano Gran Toro
Posted on April 27, 2013
Background: In the western region of Kentucky is an area known as “Black Patch,” where the dark, fertile soil has been used to grow tobacco for over 150 years. Originally used for growing Burley tobacco, these rich fields are now used by Eric McAnallen of Black Patch Cigars to grow Kentucky Broadleaf and a new proprietary Habano seed called, Kenbano (Kentucky + Habano).
After curing, McAnallen’s Black-Patch-raised tobacco is shipped to the Dominican Republic, where it is fermented, aged and eventually blended and rolled into cigars at the farms and factories of Jorge F. Carbonell. The Kenbano sports a Dominican Havana Vuelta Abajo wrapper that surrounds a Dominican Criollo 98 binder and the filler tobacco includes USA/Kentucky Kenbano 2007, Dominican Piloto Cubano and Dominican Criollo 98 Bonao. Only two sizes of this special edition cigar will be released: a 5 x 50 Robusto and the cigar I’m featuring today, a 6-inch x 54 ring gauge Gran Toro.
Featured Libation: Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon
The whiskey is produced at the scenic Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. Like Brookers bourbon, it is named after the Master Distiller, or Distiller Emeritus of the distillery it comes from. This is a single-barrel bourbon and, unlike most single-barrel bourbons, this carries no age statement. It is simply bottled when its namesake, Elmer T. Lee, determines the barrel is at its peak.
What’s Been Happening at Stogie Fresh?
• No podcast next week. I am headed back to Nicaragua and Drew Estate for Cigar Safari 2013
• Doc talks about a camera class at the Brooke’s Institute in Santa Barbara this weekend
• Doc talks about new Camera accessory purchases
• Davidoff revealed a brand new website this past week.
• Macanudo just announced its sponsorship of the upcoming season of Big Break
• Nomad Cigar Company will release a Nicaraguan Cigar this summer.