Robert De Niro • September/October 2015
The visceral rage of boxer Jake LaMotta. The calculated calm of young Vito Corleone. The bombast of gangster Al Capone. The shrewd, dry humor of father-in-law Jack Byrnes. Each of these characters and so many more have been brought to life memorably by Robert De Niro.
In a comprehensive interview with Cigar Aficionado editor and publisher Marvin R. Shanken, Robert De Niro reveals a range that goes even beyond his on-screen flexibility. Plus, we look at the man through his greatest roles, his business success and his contributions to the cinematic wielding of cigars. Additionally, we pay homage to mobsters in the movies, go inside Donald Trump's golf empire and explore Bourbon's big-time revival. And as always, we rate a plethora of premium cigars across six sizes: Churchill, corona gorda, figurado, lonsdale, panetela, and robusto. All this and more.
Features
The Interview: Robert De Niro
The visceral rage of boxer Jake LaMotta. The calculated calm of young Vito Corleone. The bombast of gangster Al Capone. The shrewd, dry humor of father-in-law Jack Byrnes. Each of …
About The Mob
It's the screech of brakes, the deadly chatter of a machine gun and the squealing tires and roaring engines of a getaway car. It's fedoras and double-breasted suits, gats and …
Trump's Golf Empire
The big black and red and white and gold helicopter comes roaring over the Whitestone Bridge in New York City, touching down on one of the most unlikely golf courses on the …
Cigar Aficionado's 2015 NFL Preview
AFC East 1. New England Patriots Unless you've been living on Mars, you know that the Patriots will start defending their NFL crown with Tom Brady on the bench. The Super …
The Bourbon Boom
See Also: We paired two excellent cigars—a Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series Torpedo and a Fuente Fuente OpusX Robusto—with 16 fine Bourbons What's the hottest category in the …
15 Watches To Watch for In 2015
This year's Swiss watch fairs were naturally buzzing about the much anticipated spring release of the Apple Watch and what it will mean for the traditional watch market. Several …
Cigars
The Gurkha Way
"I was young and drunk off my ass at a beach in Goa [India]," says Kaizad Hansotia. Some 26 years later, the head of Gurkha is in his headquarters in an industrial park in …
Abel’s Long Journey Home
Abel Expósito Diaz, the former assistant director of the cigar shop at the Partagás Factory in downtown Havana, wants nothing more than to put the last three years behind him. He …
Ratings from this Issue
Up Front
The Interview
He has won two Oscars, the first for his classic portrayal of young Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II , the second for his intense performance as Jake LaMotta in Raging …
Out of the Humidor
Dear Marvin, Thank you for the great article on Barry Melrose [August 2015]. My wife and I were season ticket holders while the Kings played at The Forum. The years with Wayne …
The Good Life
Eggs Benedict
The origins of Eggs Benedict, as with so many recipes, are by time obscured. Competing claims have it invented for a bored Delmonico’s patron, as a hangover cure for a breakfaster …
The Smart Humidor
With network integration a pervasive part of everyday life, it's no longer good enough for your appliances to simply function well. If you can't manage them wirelessly, then …
Darts
Your man cave seems complete. You have the requisite flat-screen television ready to beam in every NFL game on demand, a bar fully stocked for thirsty guests, and a ventilation …
Mercedes-Maybach S600
Most of the time, when I get the keys to a new car, I can't wait to slip behind the wheel and drive. When the Mercedes-Maybach S600 arrived, however, my first instinct was to call …
Happy Birthday Fonseca Port
One of Portugal's best and most historic Port houses is having a birthday—and is celebrating in style. On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of its founding by João dos Santos …
Tesla Energy
Having lived in Florida, I know a bit about hurricanes. What I didn't anticipate was that big blows that cut power would follow me to New York. Super Storm Sandy proved me wrong …
Time for Tweeds
Last year when the United Kingdom's trade minister announced a crusade to promote Harris Tweed as the "sustainable fabric to the world" the thrust was that the handwoven wool is …
Travel Watches
While we admire the romance of a moon phase or the whirl of a tourbillon, the multi-timezone function is one of the few watch complications developed for today's on-the-go …
Ashford Castle, Ireland
"Someone could have come in here and changed everything," says Niall Rochford, the long-serving general manager at Ireland's Ashford Castle, discussing the landmark property's …
Flight Simulation
I'm banking over Boston Harbor on final approach to Logan Airport, piloting my Boeing 737 out of Toronto. Visibility is so clear I can see New Hampshire's Mount Monadnock 90 miles …