Photos by Randall Cordero
Great Machines: An X-quisite X-perience
June 2, 2004
Cigar in the Bottle
The essence of the forbidden fruit is captured by Cigar
in the Bottle, as the Fuente Fuente Forbidden X cigar and Grand Pommier XS
Calvados brandy are united to form a luxurious gift that pleases the palate and
the eye. Grand Pommier, French for “great apple tree,” comes from the oldest
distillery in Normandy, the Père Magloire Calvados Distillery in Pont-l’Evêque,
which boasts of the largest reserves and the most experienced cellar masters in
the Pays d’Auge region. Distinguishing it from other brandy varieties, Calvados
is made exclusively from Normandy apples, considered among the most succulent,
and is free of common cognac additives, thanks to a double distillation process.
True to its roots, Grand Pommier XS Calvados is derived from 100 apple varieties
from the Fuente reserves in Pays d’Auge, all hand selected at different periods
during the growing season to produce a mélange of flavors. It is then aged up to
40 years in oak casks and blended with discriminating tastes in mind.
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The Cigar in the Bottle was designed as a perk for the best customers of casinos
in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. (Click image to enlarge)To complement these flavors, a limited edition Fuente Fuente Forbidden X cigar is creatively secured within the Grand Pommier’s sculpted handblown bottle. The 6⅜-inch-long specimen has a 49-ring gauge composed of seven tobacco varieties grown on the grounds of Château de la Fuente in the Dominican Republic. This tobacco is selected from the middle primings, intended to create a smoother, sweeter blend that complements the Calvados; in addition, Forbidden X cigars are aged up to 45 days in Calvados oak casks to capture a hint of the cognac’s apple aroma.
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The Cigar in the Bottle is available for purchase, but it’s more fun to get
one gratis as a guest of the country’s finest casinos. (Click image to enlarge)The Forbidden X will remain fresh for a year or more in the custom Humidipak chamber, which has an adjustable two-way moisture control set at 65 percent relative humidity to mimic the climate of the Dominican Republic. The Humidipak separates the cigar from the spirits, keeps the natural oils and flavors in place, and prevents fluctuations in humidity.
Because of the cigar’s aging process, production of Cigar in the Bottle is notably limited; although intended as a gift for high rollers from the casino hosts of Las Vegas’ and Atlantic City’s finest hotels and casinos, the Cigar in the Bottle may also be purchased for $250 without necessitating a trip to a gambling mecca. “Forbidden Johnny” Soyak and Matt Bogosian, the brains behind Cigar in the Bottle, say it is “the perfect gift for the man who has almost everything.” We think women will like it, too.
Cigar in the Bottle
www.cigarinthebottle.com
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