Metro Cigar News Holiday 1998: El Duque

El Duque sits back and relaxes, enjoying one of the
new Hoyo de Monterrey cigars named in his honor,
the Duque. He was at Club Macanudo to help host a
charity auction for international education.

Yankees El Duque smokin' for charity
Straight from the playing field of the baseball's world champion New York Yankees, Orlando Hernandez, "El Duque," the hot-shot pitching sensation from Cuba, showed that he has a heart as well.

At a private charity smoker thrown by and at New York's Club Macanudo, El Duque helped an auctioneer from Christie's to support the Institute for International Education.

At the same time, Hoyo de Monterrey premiered a new cigar, the "Duque," named for the baseball player who made news even before he joined the championship baseball team when he escaped Cuba in a rickety old boat.

While no announcement was made of the amount raised by the auction, the estimate was in the neighborhood of about $20,000, combining the live and silent auctions. One box of pre-Castro cigars was sold for more than $5,000. Silent auction items included baseballs and jerseys autographed by El Duque as well as cigars, humidors and other paraphernalia.

Hernandez, who travels with an interpreter because he is not yet fluent in English, nonetheless managed to urge guests at the function, saying: "I don't speak English, but buy more."

The charity auction is expected to become an annual affair at Club Macanudo. Jason Lapin, Club Macanudo general manager, commented: "We are excited to have El Duque here. His spirit and determination, expressed both on and off the field, is an inspiration to us all."

Also debuted at the function was Hoyo de Monterrey's Seleccion Royale brand of super-premium cigars. Inside the special selection are the Duque size, a pyramid-shaped cigar, as well as the Aristocrat, Condessa and Marques. Formerly manufactured in Cuba, the Hoyo de Monterrey brand is sold in the United States and is made by Cuban émigrés in Honduras.

Club Macanudo General Manager, Jason Lapin
(right), smiles as Yankee pitcher, Orlando "El Duque"
Hernandez urges guests at the club's charity auction to
"Buy more." The event raised thousands of dollars for
international education and is expected to become an
annual function at Club Macanudo.

The selection is presented in an old-style box that is a reminiscent of the manufacturer's Cuban legacy. The cigars sell from $7 to $10 and are available through leading tobacconists.

Club Macanudo opened three years ago and provides cigar smokers with an elegant destination for a fine meal, prepared by expert chef Pascal Graff, or just a place to relax and smoke a fine cigar. Private lockers are available for members.

The club offers for sale a number of premium cigars as well as an extensive wine list and creative American cuisine. There is a state-of-the-art ventilation system to provide a clean atmosphere and ambiance. The air is circulated more than 20 times per hour, leaving the environment virtually smokeless.

The interior of the club is a testament to the culture of fine cigar smoking. The authentic antique cigar store Indians and fine art that adorn the interior, as well as the overstuffed sofas and chairs finished in warm, tobacco-colored leather, create a feeling of relaxation and comfort.

"Cigar smoking is a key element of relaxation," Lapin, commented. "But atmosphere, hospitality and service play critical roles as well. We have managed to provide, and will continue to provide, all of this at Club Macanudo."