June 6, 2012 (Miami, Florida) — In a recent article in the Sommelier Journal, America’s top wine expert, Alexander LaPratt tabbed the La Aurora Preferidos #2 as his favorite cigar.

The article which appears in the May 31st, 2012 issues and spans pages 87-90 breaks down the art of Cigar Service, which many sommelier’s offer upon request.

 

According to Mr. LaPratt, “[The La Aurora Preferidos #2] is a fascinating cigar that I was introduced to while training for the Best Sommelier in America competition. The shape is a perfecto, which means it’s tapered on both ends. When you light it, you first taste the wrapper (from Cameroon) and the binder tobaccos; toward the thicker center, more of the filler tobaccos start burning, and the flavor changes. It reminds me of how wine changes within a glass. The blend is a touch spicy in the beginning, but  smoothes out as the cigar burns, revealing complex flavors of coffee, toasted hazelnut, and cinnamon and a creamy sweetness like that of milk chocolate.

Alexander LaPratt can be found at Atera in New York City, and the article written by Kara Newman can be purchased by subscription on the website, http://www.sommelierjournal.com/

 

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.