America’s Most Notorious Mobsters • November/December 2020
While movies like The Godfather, Once Upon A Time in America and Goodfellas make for fascinating viewing, there’s an even better story out there—the tales of real-life mobsters–that we tell in this issue of Cigar Aficionado. From Al Capone to Charles “Lucky” Luciano, we look at the lives of men who made their living by gun and knife. Also, New York Timesbest-selling author T.J. English tells the story of the Italian-Cuban Mob war of New York. We also talk to Tiger Woods about his new golf course, taste an array of cask-strength whiskeys and chat with a bold entrepreneur who just put up the luxurious, $1 billion Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Plus, we sit down for a smoke with NFL Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed, check in with cigar legends on their favorite holiday drinks and speak with Carlos Fuente Jr. and Jorge Padrón on their sentimental collaboration. And it wouldn't be complete without our Good Life Guide and fresh reviews of 70-plus cigars in six size categories. All this and more, on newsstands now.
Features
The Numbers War: Cubans vs. Italians
On the afternoon of October 27, 1984, little Jannin Toribio, age four, had no way of knowing that her young life was about to go up in flames. Nor did she know that her brief time …
Legends of the Mob
Most of what we think we know about organized crime comes from the movies—actors in pinstriped suits and Borsalino fedoras who made us offers we couldn’t refuse. Some of it comes …
A New Shot at Godfather III
In the pantheon of Godfather films, The Godfather: Part III has long been considered the Fredo of the bunch: the weak sibling who inevitably disappoints. Released in 1990, the …
Bootleg Booze
Fifty-eight minutes after the 18th Amendment took effect on January 17, 1920, the first violation of Prohibition had already been documented. Less than an hour after the Volstead …
Tiger the Designer
“Dynamite and creativity and here we are,”says Tiger Woods with a chuckle. It’s September 22, opening day at Payne’s Valley, his first public golf course design in the United …
Straight From the Barrel
Years ago, drinking ultra high-proof spirits was the type of behavior reserved for frat parties. It meant braving some pretty harsh liquids—Everclear perhaps, or some other grain …
Betting Big on Vegas
Derek Stevens may be the most optimistic man in Las Vegas. With the world in a pandemic, Nevada casinos mandated to operate at half capacity, profits predicted to drop by as much …
Cigars
The Athlete: Ed Reed
As a standout safety he won a National Championship with the University of Miami and a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens. Now, Ed Reed is tackling cigarmaking.
My Favorite Drink
The bright lights of the cigar industry weigh in on their favorite drinks for holiday cheer and ringing in the New Year.
Honor Thy Father
The sons of cigar legends José Orlando Padrón and Carlos Fuente Sr. take the novel tack of blending cigars to honor each other’s father.
Connoisseur’s Corner: Cohiba Behike BHK 52
A decade ago, Cohiba released the BHK 52 and it quickly earned Cigar of the Year. After smoking it 10 years later, it only improved. We also lit up a near-perfect Hoyo de …
Ratings from this Issue
Up Front
The Story of the Mob
In the spirit of this special issue and our cover package on the Mob, we wanted to share a fun photo from our archives. This shot of the two of us from 2014 (along with former …
The Good Life
The $150,000 Dragon Cutter
If you’re trying to truly make a statement with your cigar cutter, imagine pulling one from your pocket that’s as expensive as a new Aston Martin Vantage. Quality Importers …
Toyota GR Supra
It’s like seeing double. Only a year after the reintroduction of the Toyota Supra, the spice in the Japanese car maker’s otherwise plain vanilla lineup, two new GRs are bowing in …
Mustique, West Indies
Hard to believe it’s been 60 years since Mustique began a transformation that turned it from a barren spot in the Grenadines to a private island frequented by the jet-set. Its …
Montblanc StarWalker Blue Planet
The tip of the pen glides buttery smooth across the page. Your eyes widen at the effortless movement of your hand. The ink flow is perfect—precise and consistent. You write …
Infrared Grills
The superheating capability that steakhouses use to sear meat to perfection has been available on patio grills with infrared burners for years—but with one drawback. They heat …
Porsche Design Customized Chronograph
Just as a potential Porsche 911 buyer is greeted with a host of options, Porsche Design now invites you to play watch designer by creating your own customized chronograph. Six …
Snowshoeing
In the past 4,000 years, the snowshoe has evolved from solid, flat pieces of wood used to trudge through frozen Central Asia to the “tennis racquet” type fashioned by Native …