My first issue for my new cigar column in Mob Candy Magazines. Will be on newsstands in a month. Let me know what you think.

The Straight Cut – Issue #1
By Big Ronnie
Hello everyone! It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the inaugural edition of “The Straight Cut”, the new Cigar column in Mob Candy Magazine. I’ve long wanted to publish a column dedicated to my passion for cigars and the best ways to enjoy them. When I pitched the idea to Uncle Frankie, Nick and Ty at Mob Candy, I was blown away by their enthusiasm for the topic. I am really excited about being a contributing columnist.

We have many great ideas in the works, this column is just the beginning, the first step of an ongoing commitment from Mob Candy Magazine to the topic of cigars and the cigar community. Armand Asante, who recently inked a sponsorship deal with Gurkha Cigars will be gracing our cover in the next issue. You can see the ad on the back cover of the previous issue of Mob Candy Magazine. Another long time supporter of Mob Candy, Frank Vincent has recently introduced his own line of cigars, check our site, www.mobcandymag.com, for more information.

Now, I know what you are thinking. “That all sounds great. I love Mob Candy Magazine and I love cigars, but who the hell are you and why should I listen to you?” I’m glad you asked.

My name is Ronnie Parisella. I am from Brooklyn, NY and I am passionate about cigars. I love them. I love smoking them, I love talking about them and I especially love sitting around smoking them while talking about them.

I am also the New York City Chapter Chairman of the Cigar Rights of America. Cigar Rights of America (CRA) was founded on the principle of fighting for the freedom to enjoy cigars. CRA is a consumer-based, non-profit, public advocacy organization that works with local, state and federal governments to protect the freedoms of cigar enthusiasts. We are going to be doing big things in the New York Tri-State area in the coming months.

I’ve been a cigar enthusiast for 12 years, and since becoming a member of The Grand Havana Room, I have been introduced to a higher level of cigar enjoyment. I have found the cigar community to be an amazing source of charity with a passion for life, freedom and individuality. I have met with manufacturers, distributors, retailers and enthusiasts to discuss the industry and cigar smoking in general. The more I learned, the more I wanted to get involved, as a voice of the people, not of the manufacturers.
This column is going to be a work in progress for the first several issues. I leave it up to you, the readers, to determine how much time I spend on reviews, questions and answers, interviews, etc. I encourage you to reach out to me, ask a question or suggest a topic for upcoming issues. Feel free to e-mail me at BigRonnie@MobCandyMag.com with any questions/comments or suggestions you may have about this column.

Now you are probably thinking, “OK Ronnie, you might know your stuff, so, what’s coming?” I’m glad you asked that too. In the next issue, I am going to begin reviewing and rating cigars, both commonly available and hard to find. Cigar Lounges and Accessories (cutters, lighters, humidors, etc.) will be reviewed too. I’d be happy to review any cigar-related topic you’d like, just shoot me an E-mail. Remember, Mob Candy Magazine is published quarterly, so get those ideas and questions to me for inclusion in the next edition.

I had the pleasure of representing the Cigar Rights of America at an event at De La Concha (www.delaconcha.com) in NYC recently. De La Concha was featuring Esteban Carreras who has several lines of cigars. The one I fell in love with is their 10 Anos line. All Esteban Carreras 10 Anos cigars are handmade in Esteli, Nicaragua under the supervision of Abdel (AJ) Fernandez, a protégé of the Godfather of Cuban Cigars Alejandro Robaina.

What first struck me about the 10 Anos Torpedo was how loose the draw was. I actually checked the stick several times to make sure there wasn’t a hole in it. I most enjoyed the torpedo (Box Press, 6.25” x 54 ring gauge), and actually smoked 2 of them as I was making my way through their line.

I mentioned how smooth I thought the cigar was to Patrick Vivalo (VP of Sales for Esteban Carreras), and he gave me a little background on this fine medium bodied, full flavored Nicaraguan puro. The wrapper is a Nicaraguan Maduro leaf that has been aged for 10 years. The binder and filler are made from Nicaraguan tobacco that has been aged for 6 years. Combine that with the fact that the draw is probably the best I have ever seen, and you can see why this is a very enjoyable, very smooth smoke.

After the event Patrick, Craig Cunningham (Founder of Esteban Carreras) and I relaxed with a drink and a smoke at The Grand Havana Room. I enjoyed a Glenlivet 18yo scotch with another 10 Anos Torpedo. It was a great day!

For more information on Esteban Carreras cigars, please visit their web site (www.estebancarreras.com). It’s a good place to learn about their lines of premium hand-rolled cigars.

Events like this one happen all the time. Visit a few of your favorite manufacturers’ web sites to sign up for their mailing lists, or visit The Cigar Rights of America’s Events page (http://www.cigarrights.org/events.htm). There they list all events that the CRA will be participating in.

Also, be on the lookout for events that Mob Candy Magazine and Cigar Rights of America will be hosting in the coming months. E-mail me to be added to the mailing list for these events or for sponsorship information.
CALENDAR ALERT: Put it on your calendar, the date has been announced for this year’s “Big Smoke” in NYC. It will be held on November 24th at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square, NYC. I have been to this event the past 4 years and I love it. Find more information at http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/BigSmoke/NewYork.

That’s it for this edition, I look forward to next time, when we start getting into the nitty gritty. In the meantime, shoot me an e-mail, let me know what you’re smoking.
Big Ronnie