Ihave always had a rather natural penchant for little pieces of history that are often obscured by the more obvious facts. Perhaps this is why in all the years I’ve lived in this country, I have never been to the Chateau de Versailles, but can, on the other hand, point to the little known street corner where Louis XIV was baptized in 1668; I just had to take a picture of that plaque!

Back in the days when I was first discovering the world of premium cigars, I had the sudden interest in the history behind the origin of tobacco use. I did my homework as best as I could, only to find differing shallow claims, most of which place the origin of the prized leaf in Cuba—you can imagine my disappointment. I mean, you don’t have to be very imaginative to put that kind of notion to paper. Of course, not being too happy with the results of my search within cigar circles, I then turned to another obvious source: botany.

Ok, now I was getting some interesting stuff. It turns out that this wonder of a plant, which belongs to the genus nicotiana, is in fact believed to have originated in the new world. Interestingly enough, though, recent archeological studies have found important levels of nicotine, often along with smoking artifacts, in ancient Egyptian mommies. Whether the nicotine was a direct result of smoking or of the mummification process is still unclear. What other type of herb they may have smoked in those days is also a mystery.

For some time, botanists have placed the origin of tobacco in the southern section of the Andes in South America. More recently, they have pointed to a specific area between Ecuador and Peru as the birthplace of tobacco cultivation by indigenous tribes around 5000 bc. By the time the Spanish fleet came to the American continent, the leaf had proliferated northward as far as North America.

Naturally, the different tribesmen, who valued the hallucinogenic (and medical) properties of the potent tobacco strain nicotiana rustica (which contained as much as 18% nicotine), had carried it back and forth for thousands of years in their travels. Far from being as potent as its cousin, it was the nicotiana tabacum strain that became the choice plant cultivated for the manufacture of premium cigars to this day.

Regarding the origin of smoking, and how the natives discovered they could grow, ferment and smoke the leaf, one can only speculate; though it stands to reason that a very smart guy using dried up tobacco leaves for kindling a camp fire might have soon realized that the “spirits” alone were not to blame for the goose bumps he was getting. One thing is for sure: soon enough they began to smoke tobacco in a variety of ways, from pipes, to rolls, to primitive cigars; often during spiritual rituals or other official ceremonies.

Now, as much as I’d like to talk about the antiseptic properties of tobacco and its relation to ancient pre-nuptial ceremonies I will refrain from doing so. Let’s just say that medicinal applications of tobacco included using the poisonous extracts of the plant as a personal insecticide.

I decided to make good on a recent request and review a great favorite. The Bolivar Royal Corona is a robusto that has graced my humidor from the early days, and is without a doubt one of my top ten. It sure is another classic Cuban cigar made from Pinar del Rio tobacco at the Partagas factory—in fact, I tend to think of it as a Partagas D No. 4’s darker cousin.

The corojo colorado wrapper on this cigar is on the rustic side, with a few minor flaws. It has a nice cap and a firm uniform feel. The nose is not too powerful but hints at a dark and musky smoke. A pre-light draw rewards with grassy and earthy nuances. The dried chili pepper taste on the wrapper is subtle but very pleasing. Once again, though, it is upon lighting up that the cigar will come to life.

Lighting up will let off a very sweet smelling fragrant buttery smoke: dark and musky, but with some hazelnut and perhaps some thyme. Now, this is a cigar that boasts a beautiful progression in the palate from subtle creamy notes at the start to rich and generous notes in the last third. It’s interesting because it does pack a bit of a punch. It’s not a slouch but manages to retain finesse throughout.

The pepper is surprisingly light and subtle at first, with the smoke turning out quite smooth and creamy. The stick only begins to hint at bitter cacao and dark leather at this point. There are some grilled notes as well, like of roasted almonds. The cigar will gain in strength and richness in the second third. It still retains its elegance, all the way through. The pepper really picks up here and the bitter cacao intensifies as the rich leather also increases. Cedar and espresso are thrown into the fray in the last third along with the pepper and cacao, to give this cigar a flavorful crescendo before the creamy, smooth and elegant finish.

Both the burn and ash were correct. There was no tunneling at all. You can expect long and solid gray ash. I do have a tendency to draw heavily and repeatedly on this one, because it is so rewarding. This time, I got carried away and the ash fell off right into my lap!

The Bolivar Royal Corona is a wonderful example of a rich and flavorful habano with a complex progression throughout the smoke. If there is a cigar that manages to deliver powerfully rich and dark flavors while still remaining smooth and creamy, this cigar is definitely it; a smoke that I have a hard time going without.

Every now and again a man has a chance to get his hands on a rare delight that he just can’t pass up. With only 910 bottles made, this Laphroaig 31 year old single islay malt is certainly one of them. I had the exceptional pleasure of obtaining bottle number 599 several weeks ago and could barely wait to write this review.

The whisky is very dark with a copper colored hue that hints at a very unctuous single malt about to be revealed. On this one, it is the Oloroso sherry wood used in aging that contributes to the main notes on the nose. It is quite full but delicate. Notes of citrus fruit, especially orange, can be discerned initially with hints of red fruit along a wonderful sherry and peat overtone.

The palate is full, velvety and viscous; it definitely wants to make a statement. Take the time to enjoy the notes of ripe tropical fruit and citrus zest with an ample dose of smoke and spices. The Oloroso sherry gives this islay malt a real backbone. A long and persistent earthy finish is present as expected.

I made sure to get a Partagas Serie D No.1 Edicion Limitada 2004 to accompany this momentous occasion.

This fourth part of Tobacco Leaves and Blends will attempt to conclude the series on the art of selecting and classifying tobacco leaves. Here we continue to see how it is possible to produce that great cigar whose flavor profile so predictably satisfies our palate time and time again.

Now that the leaves are classified all the way into their respective tiempos and sub-tiempos, their journey in the escogida comes to an end. The last step for the leaves at the workshop is to be bound, about forty leaves to a bunch, so that they can be transported to a curing warehouse, where they will be fermented until they are mature—anywhere from thirty to ninety days, depending on their type. In order to ensure the consistency of fermentation, the bunches are piled up in neat stacks, about four feet high, by their respective classes. Until this fermentation is completed, there will be a constant and precise monitoring of the air temperature and humidity.

Following this second fermentation, the wrapper leaves will be dried and taken directly to the aging shop, where they will be aged anywhere from months to several years. For aging, the bunches will be bound into manojos, consisting of four bunches each. These will be placed into wooden barrels, sacks, or (as in Cuban tobacco) square containers made of palm tree bark, where the manojos will go to rest and age.

Leaves destined to be filler and binder will go to the despalillo, where the hardened stem of each leaf will be removed. Following the despalillo, the leaves will undergo a final and rather heavy fermentation according to their strength. The ligero and medio-tiempo leaves (see part III) will generally require quite a bit more curing time than the volado and the seco, and so they will be sent to special centers designed for long-term fermentation. Once the final fermentation is completed, the leaves will be dried to less than twenty percent humidity, before being dispatched to their final resting place.

And so, at long last, the tobacco is ready for purchase by cigar manufacturers seeking to produce their particular blends. Of course, in Cuba, the leaves would be delivered, depending on their classification, to the various factories responsible for producing the different brands.

Well, this fourth installment of Tobacco Leaves and Blends brings this series to a close. Now there’s just one thing to do: light up this Punch Punch Corona that’s been calling out from my humidor…