September Classic Nine and Dine
There are few better ways to enjoy fall than playing golf and having a cigar. Join the friends of Victory Cigars at Royal Ashburn Golf Club on Wednesday September 19th 2012 for nine holes of golf, dinner, cigars and a cart … all for the price of $75 including HST. And to improve on our event last June we are adding a contest for longest drive and closest to the pin. There will also be loot bags and door prizes for participants. The itinerary for this event will be as follows:
Golf – Enjoy nine holes on this award winning course with a power cart included. You do not need to have a full foursome but please note that golfers will be assigned to your group if less than four golfers are registered. Two cigars are also included for each person golfing.
Tee times – call the course directly (905.686.1121) to get a tee time; the choices are between 4:30 and 5:30 pm. These will be reserved on a first come, first served basis. Act soon as tee times are extremely limited for this event.
Dinner – you will have a selection of prime rib, steak, chicken and ribs, or salmon. You will be asked to state the preference for you and your guests just before you tee off.
Payment – you must pay in full at the time of registration.
About the Course
Royal Ashburn is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. In the spring of 1962, The Royal Ashburn Golf Club opened as an 18-hole facility, and has since developed into a world-class facility, recently ranking among the Top 50 public golf courses in Canada. Originally opening under the name Whitby Golf Club, the name was quickly changed to Thunderbird Golf Club, as it was known for many years. In the spring of 2000 the name changed one final time to The Royal Ashburn Golf Club. The name was changed to commemorate a visit from His Royal Highness Prince Andrew the Duke of York in September of 1999 and to tie the course into the community of Ashburn, who in the year 2000, were celebrating their 150th anniversary. Hence the name, The Royal Ashburn Golf Club, which is much more suitable to the first-class facility of today.
Orangutan Care Center
Today orangutans face the grave threat of extinction. The main threats include the loss of habitat and poaching due to the conversion of their rainforest home to palm oil plantations. Some organizations have been created to help protect orangutans and their habitats; Orangutan Foundation International (OFI) is one such organization. This organization runs the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCC&Q) which was established in 1998 as a hospital, orphanage and rehabilitation center for sick and orphaned orangutans. Today it is home to more than 330 orangutans that will someday be released back into the wild.
In October of 2012 Michael Reid, one of our good friends (and a brother of the leaf) will be visiting Borneo. Mike, a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto, is one of Canada’s bright young minds working in the field of primatology. He will be travelling to Pangkalan Bun, Central Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) Indonesia. Mike would like to bring money and supplies for the orphaned and injured orangutans housed at the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine located just outside the city in the village of Pasir Panjang. He says, “I can personally tell you that there is amazing work being done at this site. I have volunteered and been a researcher there three times in the past. 100% of all donations go directly to the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine to buy special food and enrichment items which are outside of the OCC&Q’s monthly budget. These toys/foods are a valued enrichment item for the orangutans housed at the OCC&Q. Orphaned and sick orangutans require as much care and love as a human infant. The people working here have dedicated their lives to returning these magnificent creatures back to the wild and ensuring that there is a wild to return them to. Please help me make a difference.”
We are asking our friends at Victory Cigars to help support Mike by buying empty cigar boxes to help raise money for the orangutans. 100% of monies raised will be forwarded to the OCC&Q. As well, we will be accepting donations of children’s vitamins, heavy duty “Kong” toys, or new (because of the risk of germs) stuffed toys for the youngest orangutans. These will be forwarded on to Mike before he leaves. Mike will photograph the handover of money and/or supplies and we will send them out to you in a future newsletter. You can contact Mike at [email protected] or follow his trip on twitter @mjcreid. Let’s help Mike show the people of Indonesia that we care about the plight of these incredible creatures. Thank you for your support!
Cuban Cigar Roller At Victory Cigars
Hocniel Díaz Valdés was born in Havana, on January 15th, 1981. He started working at the Partagás Factory in 1998. For the past 14 years he has worked as a cigar roller; he has also been a teacher and Director of the cigar rolling school.
Hocniel has performed demonstrations in several countries around the world. He will be visiting Specialty Tobacco Shops throughout Canada from August until November 2012. His travels will bring him to Victory Cigars on Friday September 21st from 3 pm to 8 pm, and Saturday September 22nd from 12 noon until 5 pm. Please plan on coming to see Hocniel as he demonstrates his mastery with cigars; he speaks English so you will be able to get your questions answered first hand!
Cigar of the Week: Las Ramblas Toro
Ventura Cigars created this brand with two things in mind: culture and variety. This week at Victory Cigars we are featuring the 6×50 Las Ramblas Toro; Ventura refers to this cigar as “The Red Head” (Habano Criollo). Criollo is a type of tobacco, primarily used in the making of cigars. It was, by most accounts, one of the original Cuban tobaccos that emerged around the time of Columbus. The term means native seed, and originally was used as filler in cigars. But some farmers discovered that when Criollo is grown under cover, as opposed to growing it in the sun as was traditionally done, it can make a very suitable wrapper leaf, given the proper care and conditions. Some of the first Criollo seed grown for wrapper was grown in the Jalapa Valley of Nicaragua, and was introduced to the non-Cuban market in 2001. We find these wrappers to have a very nice flavour, and we like the Las Ramblas Toro. Come in and try it this week for the featured price of $7.63.
Cigar of the Month September 2012: Pura Sangre Robusto or Churchill
Once again we are turning to Central America for our Cigar of the Month with Pura Sangre. The reasons are simple. First off, it’s Plasencia made. Second and more importantly, it’s Nestor Sr.’s private blend. It’s what he starts his day with – everyday – with a few more sticks waiting in his shirt pocket. Senior is basically the Babe Ruth of tobacco and Pura Sangre is his personal blend. WHAT? This is like having the recipe to Coca-Cola. These cigars are constructed with a Viso Habano Colorado wrapper, aged 5 years. Inside is an all-viso Habano binder encasing long-fill tobaccos from Jalapa, Esteli and Condega. In other words, this cigar is the legit Nicaraguan Puro and represents its name to the fullest. Here are the Top 5 Reasons you should try Pura Sangre: 1. In December 2011 the Pura Sangre Torpedo received a rating of 92 from Smoke Magazine; 2. These cigars have long been the private blend of Nestor Plasencia; 3. The cigars are made in Nicaragua with wrappers that are aged for 5 years; 4. This is a Nicaraguan puro; and 5. Pura Sangre means thoroughbred (literally, “pure blooded”). How cool is that? We are featuring the robusto ($9.56) and Churchill ($10.93) this month. Come and find out why the Pura Sangre motto is “Taste history. Taste legend. Taste greatness.”
Pipe Repair
Is your pipe broken or in need of refurbishment? Remember, we send out repairs on the last day of the month. It only costs you a commitment of $3 per pipe to have them evaluated, and the repair prices are very reasonable. Here are the costs to fix some of the most common ailments:
- Vulcanite (hard rubber) stem replacement-$16.00
- Acrylic Lucite stem replacement-$20.00
- Bend stem to match existing-$1.50
- Remove & replace existing dots or emblems (where possible)-$5.00
- Remove & reuse existing aluminum fittings (if possible)-$5.00
- Replace existing Brigham hard plastic tenon-$14.00
- Refit existing stem with Delrin tenon plug-$14.00
- Install standard nickel band on shank-$14.00
- Install Large nickel band on shank-$20.00
- Rejoin broken shank c/w inner tube-$15.00 (& up)
- Shorten existing shank-$12.00
- Cut top off bowl-$15.00
- Install pins in crack line of bowl (1 pin)-$15.00
- Install briar plug to repair hole in heel of bowl-$15.00
So keep us in mind for your pipe repair needs!
New Products: Walking Sticks
When we visited the annual tobacco show this year we came away impressed by a company called Harvy Canes. As the name suggests, they make canes, but they also make beautiful walking sticks and hiking staves. We ordered a selection of them and they are now in stock. They also produce beautiful shoe horns; we bought these too. If you’d like to see their products, visit www.harvycanes.com . Of course, these sticks are fully functional and can help you if you are having mobility problems; however, they are also incredibly stylish and practical. Whether you want to release your inner Gandalf or are thinking of hiking up K2, Harvy Canes has something for you. Now in stock at Victory Cigars.
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. Lastly, we have a fine selection of Gentlemen’s walking sticks by America’s Harvy Canes.
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).