William B. Kaliher Archives - Page 2 of 2

Mexican mezcal in the global spirits market: Unrivalled complexity, innumerable nuances

June 20, 2020 Tony2793Leave a Comment

Mexican Mezcal in the Global Spirits Market: Unrivalled Complexity, Innumerable Nuances – By Alvin Gary Starkman, M.A., J.D. (Carteles Editores – P.G.O., Oaxaca, March 2014) Derived from the agave plant, mescal — or mezcal — has been enjoyed since before the Spanish conquest. Most is produced in the Mexican state of Oaxaca and, as with […]

Workers at Mexico's Torrent factory where Te-Amo cigars are produced sort and prepare tobacco leaves. © William B. Kaliher, 2010

Alberto Turrent and Te-Amo: Six generations of Mexican cigars

June 16, 2020August 8, 2020 Tony3317Leave a Comment

Mexico’s famous Te-Amo cigar comes from Sihuapan, near Catemaco, Veracruz. The producer — Turrent, Nueva Matacapan Tabacos, S.A. de C.V. — takes its name from the owner, Alberto Turrent, the fifth generation of the cigar manufacturing family. I’m a cigar aficionado myself, and I had the pleasure of talking with Alberto Turrent at length. During […]

The church faces the plaza in Catemaco, and a bandstand sits beneath palm strees. This town is considered one of the most charming in the Mexican state of Veracruz. © William B. Kaliher, 2010

Tabacalera Alberto: What’s smoking with Mexico’s leading cigar maker?

June 16, 2020August 8, 2020 Tony1902Leave a Comment

Driving to Yucatan, I made a wrong turn and wound up in the town of Catemaco. A shady beach drive along a huge lake provided a tranquil setting reminiscent of Hollywood’s 1930s America. I pulled to the curb to enjoy a walk and a cigar. The setting totally captivated me. The delight I discovered from my […]