Handmade Italian Shoehorns

Shoehorns?  You know the little plastic shoehorns you might have used at some point?  Well these are nothing like those whatsoever.  These shoehorns are 18” manifestations of sophistication and elegance.  Picture the last time you tried to put on your dress shoes; it wasn’t pretty, was it?  Aren’t you tired of stumbling around your front hall with one finger hopelessly pinched between your heel and your shoe?  And now, this holiday season, you are likely to attempt this same feat with a dozen rum and eggnogs in your system.  Do yourself a favour; get a shoehorn and keep your dignity intact.  Our shoehorns have stylish handles with the likenesses of dogs, ducks and other wildlife.  They make great gifts, too!

Pipe of the Year:  General Brock and the War of 1812

The folks at Brigham Enterprises have outdone themselves with the Pipe of the Year.  As is custom, this pipe is produced in a limited edition of 100 pieces, each numbered and accompanied with a signed certificate of authenticity.  But this is where the resemblance to past editions ends. This pipe is the first in a series of three, because the War of 1812 actually lasted longer than one year.  Brigham will be releasing the second and third of these themed pipes in 2013 and 2014, respectively.  And the accessories for this pipe make it unlike earlier Pipes of the Year.

The 2012 edition comes in a gorgeous box with a commemorative battle scene on the lid.  Inside, the pipe is nestled in a custom crafted insert, accompanied by a coin from the Royal Canadian Mint, and a pewter tamper stamped with the likeness of General Brock.  Two words describe the overall package:  eye candy.  The first one of these we ordered sold in 24h.  We got our hands on a couple more; if you want one you best act quickly, like the good General himself.

 

Just In Time For The Holidays – More Funky Glasses And Cooling Devices

This season’s hottest items have been things for enhancing the bar.  We still have a supply of On The Rock Scotch glasses and have augmented our inventory by adding the Grand Rock Highball Glass With Ice Ball Mould (basically a highball version of the rock glass).  These are going fast so don’t delay or you will be disappointed. As mentioned last week, we’ve secured a supply of BrainFreeze skull-shaped ice cube buckets, as well as unique ice moulds that form wonderful wine chillers.  And if you want to have a fun-filled New Year’s Eve bash get some of our shooter glass moulds; you’ll be able to serve your guests shots in glasses that are entirely made of ice!  How cool is that?

Just Arrived – Additional Hiking Sticks and Walking Canes

Our accessories supplier sent us a gorgeous selection of staves and canes just in time for Christmas.  These are made from assorted woods including Chestnut and Maple.  All are 100% Made in the USA and many are hand carved.  There is a wide assortment including ones with dual rubber/ice tips; foldable, adjustable hikers with compasses; Gandalf-esque hiking sticks; and fun canes with hidden brandy flasks in the shaft.  All sticks and canes are completely functional and aid with walking if needed; as an added bonus they are beautiful and fashionable accessories.  We even have a couple of ladies’ canes!

Make It A Lampe Berger Christmas

Diane has been diligently stocking the Lampe Berger section and it is full to bursting with Lampes and Scents.  We carry a wide range of both, and the scents are available in both 500mL and 1L sizes. If  you’re new to these Lampes then you are in for a treat.  A French doctor invented them in the 1890’s to remove foul odours from hospitals; today, they are a must-have accessory that keeps your home free from cooking or smoking odours.  You can check out the complete line on our online store (www.victorycigars.ca/shop-online)  Please note that the online product range is even more expansive than the one in store; if you want these items for Christmas be sure to leave us a couple of days to have them shipped from our supplier in Quebec.

NHL Enforcers Signed Print Raffle

The deadline to buy tickets for this draw is approaching.  The draw will be held on the 17th in order to allow the winner to receive the print before Christmas.  And this ensures that the proceeds will be passed over to St. Vincent’s Kitchen in time for them to use the money over the holidays.

We are raffling off a very unique item:  “Tough Love”, by Murray Henderson.  This print depicts Paul Stewart*, NHL Referee on the ice with a benchload of malcontents.  Conn Smythe and Don Cherry* are behind the bench with 12 of the scrappiest players ever to put on NHL jerseys:  Eddy Shore, Ted Lindsay*, John Ferguson*, Terry O’Reilly*, Dave Shultz*, Tiger Williams, Dave Semenko*, Tim Hunter*, Wendel Clark, Tony Twist, Bob Probert* and Tie Domi.  This limited edition print is signed by nine of the people portrayed plus artist Murray Henderson, and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.  The size is 24×30 inches (image 18×24 inches).   Those whose signatures appear on the print are denoted by an asterisk.  Tickets are $5 each or 3 for $10.   All money raised by this raffle will be donated to Durham Outlook for the Needy’s St. Vincent’s Kitchen in Oshawa.  Durham Outlook for the Needy is a non-profit organization started in October 1990 by a group of dedicated Oshawa residents, striving to help those in need in the Durham Region, under the patronage and example of St. Vincent Pallotti (1795 to 1850). With the help of 861 volunteers from 46 churches, numerous organizations and individuals it offers low-cost daily meals in a dignified manner.   St. Vincent’s exists and operates with no government funding, only with the generous monetary and food donations from caring individuals and corporations.

Victory Cigars’ Online Store Is Open!

Check it out at VictoryCigars.ca/shop.  At present the site is strictly for accessories while we work with the Government’s rules about identification.  Until we get this straightened out, all tobacco enquiries can be directed to our new toll-free number, 1-855-443-0194.

Victory Cigars’ Top 10 Stocking Stuffers

  1. Partagas Serie D No. 4 In Aluminum Tube
  2. Pipe Tamper
  3. 10g Pipe Tobacco Sampler
  4. Credo Cigar Cutter
  5. Package of Brigham Pipe Filters
  6. Cigar Aficionado Magazine
  7. Boveda Pack
  8. Five-Pack Of Montecristo Puritos
  9. Rubber-Coated Cigar Punch
  10. The Whisky Advocate

 

Cigar of the Week – My Father Le Bijou 1922 Toro

The CEO of El Rey de los Habanos Inc., a cigar company in Miami, is Don Pepín Garcia.  Cuban by birth, Don Pepin is a torcedor, or master cigar roller.  He is also a master blender who has made numerous popular cigar blends for others; his clients include Pete Johnson (Tatuaje Cigars) as well as Ashton Distributors. Don Pepin aims to re-create the Cuban style without using Cuban tobacco, and he found that Nicaraguan tobaccos render the flavours closest to the Habanos he envisions.  Cigars rolled at his factories are made in the Cuban style, finished with a triple cap.   Don Pepin’s family members are also active in the cigar business.  A few years ago, Pepin’s son Jaime secretly created a cigar as a tribute to his Dad; he called it My Father.

Touched by the gesture from his son, Don Pepin developed a new creation to honour his own father.  In 2009 the Garcia family added to its well-reviewed My Father brand with the launch of Le Bijou 1922 (Le Bijou is French for “the jewel,” and 1922 refers to the year Pepin Garcia’s father was born).   Le Bijou is a stunning cigar. The wrapper is dark, called Habano Oscuro by the company. The original My Father blend has Nicaraguan filler and binder leave with an Ecuadoran wrapper grown from Habano seed. The components work very well together and the cigar transitions beautifully.  Le Bijou also has wonderful packaging, including one of the most beautiful cigar boxes we’ve seen.

The featured size of My Father Le Bijou 1922 is the 6 x 52 toro. This cigar has appeared in many reviewers’ Top 25 lists, and has scored 90 in Cigar Aficionado rankings within the past 2 years.  This is a cigar you should definitely consider next time you are looking to treat yourself.   This is a very worthy choice for Cigar of the Week, and might be a good pick for your Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve cigar.   Price:  $16.54 Strength:  Medium to Full-Bodied

Cigar of the Month December 2012:  Montana Azul Nicaraguan Panatela Bundle  

These Nicaraguan panatelas are affectionately known as “dog walkers” by many of our clients.  The panatelas are 4.5” long with a 30 ring gauge (about the diameter of a thick pencil), making them a quick smoke.  This is helpful for those days when you want to enjoy a cigar but find that the weather is not cooperating.  These panatelas can be finished in the time it takes you to walk your best friend, hence the nickname.  The tobacco is all-Nicaraguan and each stick is finished with a nice maduro wrapper.  The flavour profile is medium.   Due to popular demand we are holding this bundle of Panatelas over as the Cigar of the Month for December.   The feature price for the bundle of 25 panatelas is $29.99 for the month of November.

About Victory Cigars  

Conveniently located in Oshawa, Victory Cigars carries a wide range of Cuban cigars, as well as cigars from the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua. Pipe smokers rejoice in our selection of Brigham Pipes and loose or packaged pipe tobacco. Many different smoking accessories are in stock including humidors, pipe tools, flasks and cigar cases. We carry a good selection of Xikar cutters, lighters and cigar punches. Victory Cigars is also an authorized distributor for Lampe Berger fragrances and lamps, as well as Zippo lighters and accessories.  Our gift lines include unique Scotch and Cognac glasses by Final Touch.  Lastly, we have a fine selection of Gentlemen’s walking sticks by America’s Harvy Canes, and Concord shoehorns.   So next time you need a Cohiba or Montecristo cigar, or a filter for your Brigham pipe, come and see us; you’ll be glad you did. Whether you come from Ajax, Pickering, Whitby or right here in Oshawa, we know you’ll feel at home in our cigar shop.  Please follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/victorycigars), Twitter (@VictoryCigars) or the worldwide web (www.VictoryCigars.ca).