Oscar Valladares 2012 Barber Pole Lancero Cigar Pairing

2012 Barber Pole Lancero by Oscar

Sweetness, grass, nutty with a hint of pepper.

It is a beautifully crafted cigar with a double-coloured Candela wrapper. The lines of the barber pole are seamless with a perfect applied pigtail cap. A brilliant Cigar.

It is a super smooth cigar if you like rich notes of Tobacco, nuts and herby undertones.

Oscar Valladares 2012 Barber Pole Lancero Cigar

Details

Vitola: Lancero

Length: 7″

Ring Gauge: 38

Country of Origin: Honduras

Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés, Candela (Undisclosed Origin)

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua

Factory: Oscar Valladares Tobacco & Co

Blender: Oscar Valladares

Release Date: January 2022

Contributed by: Oscar Valladares Tobacco & Co

In 2012, Oscar Valladares came out with a cigar to mark the Mayan predicted end of the world. The Mayan calendar ran for 5,125 years, starting in 3114 B.C.

They measured it in periods of 400 years, with the final ending on December 21, 2012.

The end of the calendar would mark the end of time or reset. The Cigar created by Oscar Valladares is 2012 by Oscar. His first commercial available cigar line.

2012 by Oscar Barber Pole Lancero is a traditional lancero that measures 7 x 38. It comes in boxes of 10.

The blend uses a Mexican San Andrés Maduro and an undisclosed candela wrapper. It has a Nicaraguan binder and fillers from Honduras and Nicaragua.

A cigar rolled at Oscar Valladares Tobacco & Co Danlí, Honduras factory.

First Impressions – Oscar Valladares 2012 Barber Pole Lancero Cigar

Strength: Mild-Medium

Body/Complexity: Medium

Appearance: Candela Wrapper

The Cigar will get attention.

- Pigtail cap

- Closed foot

- Candela wrapper

- Barber pole design with

It is a very well-made Lancero.

Barber Pole Lancero Smoking notes

A complex cigar.

The Cigar has the right amount of spice, followed by burning green grass and hay. It also has some brown sugar or molasses.

Earth on the finish. Excellent medium in strength. A balanced Cigar with a spectacular draw.

Almost zero wavy burn

A great mixture of spicy and sweet

The Cigar has grassy notes, a sweet tobacco finish, and creamy, nutty flavours.

How does your Cigar wrapper colour affect the flavours and taste?

Wrapper colour and taste affect the smoking experience. Each cigar wrapper's colour reflects the Tobacco's fermentation and oxidation leaf. Dark-coloured wrappers ferment longer and have bolder flavours. While Candela and lighter Connecticut wrapper ferment shorter.

The cigar wrapper's colour indicates the tobacco leaf fermentation and oxidation level. The darker the colour, the greater the degree of fermentation and the denser the flavour.

A look to better understand how colour affects flavour and the smoking experience.

Candela wrapper

Today, it's a unique-looking wrapper. Candela is light-green in colour. The Tobacco leaf dries quick to lock in the chlorophyll. This method results in a more "grassy" taste than other tobacco wrappers

The wrapper dries quick, locking in the tobacco leaf's chlorophyll.

Candela cigars are green in colour and flavour. Though they were once quite popular in the U.S., they're now one of the rarest styles.

Claro Wrapper

• Also Known As Connecticut Shade

Claro is a very light brown or tan colour.

It has a mild or creamy profile. The Tobacco grows under cheesecloth, tents, or heavy cloud cover.

Claro wrappers come from early-picked tobacco plants. They are a light tan wrapper that has lost all the greenness of a Candela. The plants don't get much sun and dry in a dark, ventilated room. The wrappers add little to a cigar's flavour, focusing on the taste of the filler tobaccos instead.

Colorado Claro Wrapper

A medium brown colour.

Colorado Claro grows in direct sunlight and matures before cultivation. The result is a natural wrapper that isn't too dark or too light.

The tobacco grower cultivates Claro tobacco leaves early, growing under cheesecloth tents. The tents reduce sun exposure with shading. But, it also protects delicate leaves from varying weather conditions. After air-drying, Claro wrappers have a distinctive tan or golden colour.

Claro produces a mild and aromatic flavour.

Colorado Wrapper

Colorado tobacco wrappers are medium brown with a reddish tint. They offer more flavour and aroma than Clara wrappers.

Medium brown colour.

Colorado Claro grows in direct sunlight and matures before cultivation. The result is a natural wrapper that isn't too dark or too light.

Colorado is a popular choice with its aromatic aromas and rich flavour.

With its aromatic aromas and rich flavour, Colorado is a popular choice.

Colorado leaves mature far longer than lighter wrappers to develop a robust profile.

Habano Wrapper

Habano wrappers are more intense in flavour than either of the Connecticut varietals.

Habano wrappers can range from bold with heavy spice to more medium-bodied and sweet. It depends on the leaf's fermentation and ageing. These qualities make it one of the most complex unique wrappers. The higher priming leaves provide more flavour when fermented for longer periods.

The smooth Habano leaf is often rich and dense.

Corojo Wrappers

Today the Corojo wrapper grows in Honduras.

The cigars with these wrappers often have a brown or red hue, and the texture is usually oily. The wrapper has a robust flavour with a zesty scent.

Corojo cigars have reddish-brown colours and a robust spicy flavour profile.

Maduro Wrapper

One of the most famous cigar wrappers is the Maduro.

"mature" in Spanish"

Usually cultivated from some of the highest leaves of the plant exposed to the sun. It can sustain years of curing and fermentation.

Maduro leaves are thick and coarse. That helps the leaves to survive the hot conditions of the pressure chamber ageing process. The ageing process results in a robust oily wrapper. A Maduro wrapper has a sweet flavour with higher nicotine content.

Oscuro Wrapper

• Also Known As Double Maduro, Negro, Black

Like the Maduro, the Oscuro leaves get a lot of sun exposure. After cultivation, the leaves endure intense and longer fermentation than a Maduro. The ageing can last years. But, before cutting, they're left on the plant for as long as possible.

This result is a dark, almost black wrapper with a rough texture and bold flavours. An Oscuro wrapper takes a lot of work and patience to age well.

Wrapper Hues

There are many more nuances and hues.

What about the Corojo or Habana wrappers?

A Corojo or Habana wrapper goes through different ageing processes. That creates a variety of colours and textures.

So the wrapper colours represent the wrapper's taste, blends, and origin.

The Oscar Valladares story

You say yes when your boss asks you if you can drive a tourist bus. Because Oscar is a can-do guy. The yes attitude led to many more opportunities and moved him into the cigar Industry. Everyone starts as a novice. But if you have passion and a desire to learn, you can learn to make cigars.

The "yes" mindset moved Oscar into the world of premium cigars.

On a ride through Danli, Honduras, Oscar's passengers included Cigar Aficionado Hall of Famer Rocky Patel. Also, his cousin and Vice President of Operations, Nimish "Nimmy D" Desai and master blender Erik Espinosa.

One cigar tour led to another. Then onto distributing Rocky Patel Cigars and working quality control for Rocky Patel. Oscar learned to grow, ferment, blend leaves and roll cigars.

Always learning.

Always questioning.

By 2012, Oscar set his sights on his Honduran cigar factory. Nine years later, Oscar Valladares Tobacco & Company celebrates seven cigar brands.

Two rollers that led to Millions

Oscar's cigar business started in a small office with two people. Two people rolled cigars on a small table. In 2012, the company rolled out 27,000 cigars. In 2020, Oscar employed more than 600 people who rolled 3.5 million cigars.

The first Oscar Valladares Tobacco & Co brand started in 2012.

Oscar created a unique end-of-the-world cigar blend named the brand after the Ancient Mayans. They were indigenous to Central America. The Mayans predicted that the world would end on December 21, 2012.

Each box included a bonus cigar wrapped in a tobacco leaf as a homage to rustic Mayan cigars.

Early in Oscar's career, he had the pleasure of meeting the late godfather of Cuban Tobacco.

Alejandro Robaina

Alejandro told Oscar the following:

"Tobacco is generous. You have to touch it, give it love, and if you do that, it gives you love back."

Oscar Valladares start in the cigar business.

Oscar Valladares recently moved his production into the old Oliva factory in Danlí, Honduras. Expansion happened quick for Oscar. A new place to expand.

"Sometimes I wake up and wonder if it's all for real."

Oscar

Oscar Valladares made his mark in a competitive market with his Leaf by Oscar line.

Oscar lived in Tegucigalpa, and I worked in the tourism industry. He rented cars, booked hotels, and made things happen for tourists. It all started when he agreed to drive around some American visitors to Honduras for five days. On a specific day, all the drivers were out. The manager asked Oscar to pick up a small group at the airport and look after them for a few days.

Before that day, Oscar never drove a bus. He did office work and craved more excitement. He said yes.

Oscar started driving the bus on narrow roads. He improved his bus driving skills on challenging roads.

One person in the group turned out to be Rocky Patel. Rocky planned to make more trips to Danli, and Oscar stepped in. Oscar formed a good relationship with Rocky, who smoked cigars on the trip. Oscar had his first taste of cigars with Rocky Patel. With trial and testing, Oscar's palate changed and developed. He started identifying sweeter and milder tasting leaves. Rocky recognized a refined palate in Oscar.

Oscar and Rocky Patel

Two years later, Rocky offered Oscar a full-time job. Oscar declined. He didn't want to work in one place. The following year, Rocky asked again and got the same answer. Rocky asked again, but Oscar declined again. But then Oscar's girlfriend became pregnant, and he accepted a job with Rocky Patel.

Oscar learned all he could,

And then left Rocky Patel cigars to start his brand.

The Start of Oscar Valladares Cigars in Honduras

Oscar started by distributing Rocky Patel cigars in Honduras. He drove around selling to bars and restaurants. Oscar then bought a few humidors and placed them in bars, restaurants and gas stations. Sales improved. He hosted a few small events. People smoked cigars and loved them, but no one bought them.

Oscar's determination led to better sales. He impressed Rocky Patel and received distribution right for the Central American market. Oscar took on a business partner in 2011. It failed. He moved back to Tegucigalpa because he was broke.

That's when Bayron called.

Oscar Valladares and Bayron Cigar partnership

"I grew up around tobacco and have worked with it for 22 years." Bayron Duarte had about 20 years of experience, having worked for both General Cigars and Oliva.

The cigar world has many stories. One story is about Oscar Valladares Tobacco & Co, established in 2012. A cigar company by Oscar Valladares, his brother Hector and Bayron Duarte. The story starts in Danli, Honduras, with a table and two people.

The pair first met when Valladares started driving the bus for Rocky Patel.

Today Bayron works in the factory seven days a week. Oscar tells the story of how Bayron once called him at 3 am to come to test a new blend.

Bayron Duarte grew up around the Padrón family and started working in Tobacco when he was 12. He began constructing the factory and then moved on to bunching and quality supervising. Bayron was a production manager for Oliva when a group from Canada was looking for a factory to produce one million cigars. He and some friends set up a factory.

The Canadians paid for 25,000 sticks and then disappeared for two years. So Bayron was broke, too, and his partners wanted to sell. Bayron then called Oscar. But both were broke.

Oscar called his brother to ask for a loan. At first, Oscar's brother said he didn't have that kind of money. His brother mortgaged his house. He said to Oscar, "My wife will kill me."

After that, it was uphill. The company started by doing 24 boxes in 2012, using only Tobacco grown in Mayan areas.

Leaf Cigars by Oscar

That's when Leaf & Bean owner Jim Robinson called oscar. Jim liked Oscar's cigars and wanted to be the first shop in the U.S. to sell the cigars.

Jim asked Oscar to make a house blend called Leaf & Bean by Oscar. Oscar's name went onto the house blend cigars. Jim insisted. He said it would make the customers relate to the cigars when they visit Honduras. He bought thirty boxes.

Jim Robinson ordered 5,000 and took 1,000 with him, giving all his visitors 100 cigars each. After a week, he asked Oscar to send the remaining 4,000 cigars because he had sold out. People loved the packaging.

Instead of Cellophane, the Cigar has a tobacco leaf wrapper.

Bayron and Oscar had come up with this idea for the Cigar that stood out in the 2012 box. They asked Jim if he wanted it, and he said yes.

"A tobacco leaf preserves the flavour better than plastic," Duarte explains. "

It is more natural and in the spirit of the Mayans. It's rustic." Robinson ordered more and more. Oscar and Bayron went fast from one roller and one buncher to 25 employees.

They moved the factory from a private house to a bigger place. His cigars started gaining attention on social media. Then other shops began contacting Jim Robinson to sell Leaf & Bean by Oscar.

Oscar didn't want to sell cigars with a shop's name, so he changed the name to Leaf by Oscar.

Jim opened 100 news accounts in the USA in three months. Oscar's company moved two more times and settled in the old Oliva factory in January 2015. The cigars are available in 1,000 shops.

The USA and a few countries in Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, and South Africa.

Oscar's branding and Cigar's

"I like every cigar to have its story," explains Oscar.

Your last Cigar or a celebration of new beginnings. The first cigars boxes contained a single cigar in the middle of every box to make it stand out. According to the Mayan tradition, the world was going to end on December 21, 2012.

Oscar now owns two cigar shops. A small one in Tegucigalpa and one with the only lounge in the country in San Pedro Sula.

It's been an intense ride. But looking back, Oscar is happy about the ups and downs.

Oscar Valladares has found the sweet spot between branding and great smokes. He has a distribution centre in Houston in the U.S. and a European office in Hechingen, Germany.

"Being broke can bring out the best in you. If I'd had money then, I would have made some fancy packaging, like everyone else." Oscar

The idea is to be different. The leaf by Oscar is different.

Oscar's cigars pay homage to the Mayan Empire in Copan.

Staying in Latin countries. An Oscar Corojo short Robusto paired with Portuguese white and red.

Cederberg Wines

A Brief History of Dwarsrivier and the Cellar

The Khoisan people, who lived in harmony with the natural environment, inhabited the Cederberg area. They left behind a rich legacy of rock art. Then, during the mid-1800s, another resilient group of people set foot in the remote Cederberg. The Nieuwoudt family.

The first Nieuwoudts arrived in South Africa during the early 1700s. Almost 100 years later, their descendants moved to the Cederberg. In 1893 the present family moved to the farm Dwarsrivier, home to Cederberg Wines.

Six generations ago, no one would have guessed that the rugged, fynbos-covered area on the edge of the Succulent Karoo would one day become a high-altitude wine farm in the Cape Winelands.

David Nieuwoudt owns the award-winning winery.

He represents the fifth generation of the Nieuwoudt family. Emma, David's daughter, represents the sixth generation.

The farm lies in the Cederberg Wilderness Area.

A few origin stories document the start.

The first Platter's South African Wine Guide (1980) puts it best:

"Oom Pollie stunned the experts by producing prize-winning wines on his farm high in the remote Cederberg mountains."

He started making wine for the farm workers with table grapes that ripened too late. The venture was so successful that he decided to try his hand at making red wine. He made the first red vintage in 1977. It was a small batch.

Experts praised the wine.

The other story goes as follows:

There used to be no vines on the farm. Then, a friend who worked for the Deciduous Fruit Board made a recommendation. He noticed that winter fruit grows well on the fruit and tobacco farm.

So he recommended that the family plant table grapevines.

The Nieuwoudts followed the recommendation in 1965. The vines flourished, so they planted the first wine vines in 1973. That vineyard produced the top-class Cabernet Sauvignon of 1977/8.

David's grandfather, Oom Pollie, and his uncle, Oom Flippie, managed the farm until 1997. Oom Pollie passed on in 1988, and Oom Flippie in 2010. In 1997 David returned to the land where he grew up and took over the reins from Oom Flippie.

A Passionate Team with High Standards

Fifth-generation winemaker David Nieuwoudt leads a talented 'team with attitude'. They produce award-winning wines from high-altitude vineyards that flourish in a virus-free environment. It is a collaboration of super wine talents.

Whatever your preference,

Cederberg Wines offers you a world of award-winning wines to enjoy.

The vines grow in a cool continental climate on diverse soil types. Unpolluted air and free-flowing, crystal-clear waters create ideal vine-growing conditions.

Unique Terroir And The Purest Water

The climate is a cool Mediterranean climate rather than a coastal one. Furthermore, the farm Dwarsrivier sits at the foot of Sneeuberg Mountain. It is one of the highest peaks in the Western Cape. The peak is 2 026 m above sea level.

Cederberg Wines is the highest vineyard in the Western Cape, between 950 and 1 100 m above sea level.

The soil types are well-drained on weathered shale/slate on the hillsides and high mountain slopes. The soil has a high clay content suited to red cultivars.

Cederberg wines Sustainability

Growing For Future Generations

In the spirit of the Khoisan, conservation is fundamental. Cederberg Wines is a committed WWF Conservation Champion.

The farm uses only 300 hectares for farming. The holiday resort and staff housing take up a few more hectares while the rest of the unspoilt land is under CapeNature's care.

There are 5 200 hectares under conservation.

Cederberg farms sustainably. The isolated area is virus-free and has minimal disease allowing for chemical-free farming. The farm also forms part of the Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor (GCBC) between the West Coast and the Tankwa Karoo.

Social Responsibility and Conservation Initiatives

Cederberg wine team cares about people and the environment. But most of all, they focus on a responsible farming approach. And more so, responsible interaction with the mesmerizing Cederberg Wilderness.

Cederberg Wines commits to several social responsible and conservation initiatives. It is all done to ensure the winery and leave a sustainable legacy for future generations.

Cederberg Bukettraube

• Vintage: 2022

• Range: Cederberg

• Type: White

• Wine of Origin: Cederberg

Bukketraube Winemaking Process

The winemaking process uses dry ice and carbon dioxide gas in reductive conditions.

The teams hand harvest grapes early morning at 22.5–24.0 Balling. They then crush the Grapes at 8 °C for approximately eight hours. Plus allowing skin contact before a light pressing.

• The juice settles for two days.

• Followed by racking and the addition of commercial yeast.

• Fermentation is at 14°C for approximately four to five days.

• Then the fermentation stops. Leaving a natural residual sugar of 24g/l, classified as a semisweet, aromatic white wine.

Bukketraube Wine Analysis

Vineyards & Vinification

• Facing: Southwest

• Soil types: Glenrosa and Sandstone

• Age: Average 18 years

• Planted: 9.8 ha

• Yield per hectare: 9 t/ha

• Trellised: Extended six-wire Perold

• Irrigation: Supplementary

• Clone: BT5A (NIWW) on Ramsey

• Harvest date: 07 - 18 March 2022

• Alcohol: 13 % vol

• Sugar: 24 g/l

• Total Acidity: 7.87 g/l

• pH: 3.3

Visit Cederberg Wine farm.

If you are lucky enough to visit the farm, It's an incredible experience.

I was lucky to work with David on a few occasions. The hospitality of the entire team is incredible.

The scenery transports you into a calm and peaceful natural environment. A fresh air experience surrounded by mountains and great wine.

What I love the most about the farm is the remote location. It is a short mountain pass drive with breathtaking scenery. You need a bigger wheel car to get there.

All the wines are worth it. Davis makes a red wine called " Teen die Hoog" It is a flagship red wine, winning awards yearly.

Join the Wine Makers Guild tasting next year. You will be able to taste the top South African wines, one of which is Cederberg.

Look out for the Ghost Corner range made in Elim. Exceptional wines.

Then David and his team also make wine in Chilly. It is the Longavi range available to buy in South Africa.

A five generations story producing world-class wines with Altitude.

Oscar Valladares 2012 Barber Pole Lancero Cigar Review

Dry Aroma

Moisture

Sweetness

Dry Grass field

Fruit sweetness and scents

The closed foot has dry grassy and hay scents.

Dry Draw

Sweetness

Apple Skin

Dried Fruit

Light Spice

Light smokey Tobacco hints

First Puff

Sweet Tobacco tastes

Voluminous smoke output

Dries fruit sweetness mixed with creamy, nutty flavours

Oscar Valladares 2012 Barber Pole Lancero Cigar Pairings

Cranberry Juice Pairing

Sweet tastes

Red fruit with light acidity and sweetness

Hints of red grape skins flavours and tastes

The Cigar offers creamy, nutty flavours that blend well with the sweetness of the red cranberry juice.

The fruit juice compliments the medium-bodied smooth Cigar tobacco flavours.

Coffee Pairing

The Americano coffee is a medium to mild roast. The coffee acidity is low, with a creamy profile. The shortbread is a great accompaniment to coat your palate. Bits of sugar and butter from the shortbread compliment the Cigar and coffee flavours.

The mild coffee and subtle sweetness of the shortbread lift the nutty caramel quality of the Cigar.

Fresh Beetroot, Carrot & Ginger Juice Pairing

The juice is fresh.

The vegetable juice has a mild sweetness with herby and spicy vegetable flavours.

The ginger adds spice. A wonderful compliment to the dry grassy, and creamy Cigar flavour profile.

Words to describe the Cigar and Vegetable Juice pairing:

Herby

Earthy

Vegetable sweetness

Light spice and creamy nuttiness

Cederberg Bukketraube White Wine Pairing

Cederberg Bukketraube Scents

Sweet

Fruity

Summer breeze

Tropical fruit sents

Dried fruit sweetness

A light salty ocean breeze scent

Cederberg Bukketraube Tastes

Fruity with a sweet aftertaste.

The wine has light acidity with residual sweetness and a light hint of spice.

The wine and cigar pairing blend delightful dried fruit sweetness, herby and nutty flavours.

Oscar Valladares 2012 Barber Pole Lancero Cigar Conclusion

A taste and flavour journey.

Pairing surprise, the Fresh vegetable juice pairing. If you feel like skipping the boozy pairings, try the vegetable juice. The juice paired incredibly well with the Cigar.

It is a very smooth cigar to smoke from start to finish.

I smoked two cigars in two days. The results leave you wanting more.

If you enjoy a mild to medium flavoured Cigar,

perfect for breakfast, lunch or a light dinner, the Oscar Barber Pole is an excellent Lancero to smoke.

The best thing I love about the Cigar,

It is subtle with loads of flavour from the first puff up to the last puff.

To smoke the Oscar Valladares Barber Pole Lancero,

Visit Pedro Portia Cigar Lounge.

Buy Oscar Oscar Valladares Cigars online