CIGAR OF THE NIGHT – SMOKED FISH

Photo Courtesy: Rigby’s

Going on 7 ½ years in the Paris Smokeasy Cigar Club, we have only had one event where the sponsor of the night truly went well above and beyond. That sponsor returned this year with the repeat Fish Fry for the entire club. First Federal Community Bank, SSB led by Executive Vice-President and a Board Member John Brockman, Duwane Mathews – Bank Risk Officer, Bow Willis – VP Commercial Lending at the loop location, and Jeff Hamner – Risk Officer/Facilities Supervisor downtown, all showed up to Rigby’s Cigars and Lounge with the cooking trailer. Duwane, Bow, and Jeff cooked enough fish, hush puppies, fries, with all the sides to feed 63 people in attendance a phenomenal dinner. They still hold the title of “Best Sponsored Event Ever!”

For the cigar side of the Night, we welcomed Kenneth Borgne, Premium Sales Manager at General Cigar Company, to introduce us to one of the Cigar Brands they carry, Hoyo de Monterrey Cigars. He gave us the down on Hoyo, their different blends/labels, and what we were smoking for the night.

Hoyo de Monterrey Cigars was originally founded in Cuba in 1865 by Don Jose Gener. In 1900, after Gener’s passing, his daughter Lutgarda took over, and it remained in the Gener family until 1931, when it was sold to the firm of Fernández, Palicio y Cía. By 1958, Fernando Palicio, the remaining partner and sole owner, was exporting 13% of all Cuban Havana cigars. In 1959, when Cuba nationalized all cigar companies after the communist revolution there, Fernando moved to Florida and sold the cigar line to the Villazon family. Hoyo cigars have been made in Honduras since 1965. General Cigars bought the Villazon company (also including Punch Cigars) in 1997. Swedish Match acquired General Cigar in 2005. Scandinavian Tobacco Group, after a 2010 merger with Match for all their premium cigars, bought all the shares of General Cigars in 2016 from Swedish Match. STG is the largest cigar company in the world and is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark.

For the night, we had the Hoyo Rojo Toro in a 6”x52-Gauge. It is a medium-bodied cigar with a Honduran Jamastran Wrapper, Nicaraguan Binder, and Honduran, Nicaraguan, and Dominican Fillers. On their website, they recommend Tequila, a Porter, or Espresso as a good drink pairing. With 63 people present, it received a Redneck Ratin of 87 out of 100. For the price point, this is a cigar everyone should try to see if it fits in their humidor.

We welcomed Savannah Abbott, Teddy Beverly, Curt Heying, and Owen Jobe to the club as members.

Again, we want to thank our sponsor, First Federal Community Bank, for not only serving our club, but for serving the entire community for over 100 years!

Pictured: First Federal Community Bank: Duwane Mathews, Bow Willis, Jeff Hamner, John Brockman; Kenny Bornge – General Cigars; Cigar Club Boars in the jackets. Photo Courtesy: Rigby’s

Written by JD Marrs

Hosted by Rigby’s Cigars & Lounge