The Stogie Guys

On Monday night the New York Mets clinched their division for the first time since 1988. There is plenty of news coverage about that in the New York papers and accross the web, but only at StogieGuys.com can you discover which cigars the 2006 National League East Champions were enjoying.

Willie Randolph, Manager

Skipper Willie Randolph had already told reporters that he would be puffing an Arturo Fuente Opus X Forbidden. According to media reports, the cigar was a gift from assistant trainer Mike Herbst. And quite a gift it was…

This rare Dominican cigar retails at around $30 per stick as part of a DVD gift set. The Fuente Opus X line is known as a powerful and often spicy Dominican puro made from the most select tobacco produced by the famous Fuente cigar family. It will be difficult for Willie to find a better cigar should the Mets find themselves winning in the playoffs.

Carlos Delgado, First Baseman

Delgado is a powerful slugger and, judging from pictures, he picked a powerful cigar. While the pictures available make it impossible to know for certain, it appears as though he selected a La Gloria Cubana Series R, probably the monster sized (7 inches by 58 ring gauge) no. 7 with a Maduro wrapper.

La Gloria Cubana was first made in Florida by (and primarily for) Cuban exiles until being “discovered” when they moved their operation to the Dominican Republic to expand production. Unlike their milder original line, the “Series R” returns to La Gloria Cubana’s Cuban roots with a spicy, full-flavored Ecuadorian wrapper surrounding robust Dominican and Nicaraguan filler. These behemoths cost $7 to $10 apiece, a drop in the bucket for Delgado who is pulling in $13.5 million this year.

David Wright, Third Baseman

Mets poster boy David Wright was also spotted enjoying a cigar as he clinched his first appearance in the post season. Again, it is difficult to tell exactly which cigar he chose, but we’re sure it is a La Flor Dominicana, and likely the rare 6 1/4 inches by 54 ring gauge Limitada II.

This special La Flor was limited to only 2,000 boxes back in 2002. It featured a Ecuadorian wrapper with a Dominican binder and filler. Like many of the others made by the company, it is quite strong… but it is doubtful that David ever found out what kind of cigar this was given that it was so thoroughly drenched in champagne.

[Photos appear courtesy of Hot Foot.]

–Patrick S

In our September 7 post, we told you how readers could win two free tickets to Cigar Artisans 2006 at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino on in Tampa, Florida courtesy of StogieGuys.com. To win the prize to the Thompson Cigar-sponsored festival of big names, great smokes, and serious giveaways, all readers had to do was send us an email before September 15 stating why you should be selected as the StogieGuys.com special correspondent for the event.

After sifting through dozens of competitive entries, George Edmonson of Tarpon Springs, Florida came out on top. His sincere enthusiasm for stogies and impressive journalism experience guaranteed a spot for him and his wife on Saturday, September 30 at one of the year’s premier cigar events.

It’s my pleasure to introduce George to Stogie Guys Nation. As per our request, he wrote the following bio for today’s post:

My eyes sure lit up when I read the email from StogieGuys.com telling me I’d won two free tickets to the Cigar Artisans 2006. It’s hard to imagine an event that promises more fun for a cigar smoker.

I’ve been smoking cigars for a few years, enjoying the hobby even more since last year’s move from Maryland to Tarpon Springs, Florida. Even with the Tampa’s rich cigar history, I didn’t know whether there would be as many great places to smoke as I had found in the DC area.

Well, I need never have worried. Within a comfortable drive from my new home there are so many wonderful places to buy cigars and enjoy a smoke. From the extraordinary selections at MJM in Palm Harbor and Cigars & Pars in New Port Richey, to the ambience of Cigar Central in St. Petersburg and the friendly atmosphere at Blue Smoke and Central Cigar – Tampa is a cigar smoker’s paradise. (And I didn’t even mention the rollers on the Tarpon Springs’ Sponge Docks. That’s one of their cigars I’m enjoying in the photo taken in my backyard.)

You asked about my favorite cigars and that’s tough. I’m constantly struck by how many really fine sticks there are these days. Fuente Sun Growns and Hemingways, Don Lino Africa, Toraño’s entire line, Padrons, Bolivar, Excalibur, CAO, Punch…And that’s really just a start off the top of my head. I’m sure I’m leaving many favorites out.

As far as my professional life is concerned, the move to Florida coincided with my retirement after nearly 35 years in newspapers. The last four or five were spent primarily covering the Pentagon for Cox Newspapers, experience I figure should come in handy when I get to talk to the cigar representatives at the event. Before that I was in Atlanta at the Journal-Constitution as an editor in a variety of roles. Earlier stops included about seven years as an editor at USA Today, beginning before the paper launched; the Rocky Mountain News in Denver; and the (late) Baltimore News American.

One of the primary issues I’m hoping to explore with the cigar experts at Cigar Artisans 2006 – and report back on – is the concept of aging cigars and whether manufacturers believe their cigars need time in the smoker’s humidor, or are ready to go as purchased. Another topic I hope to learn more about is how much of a threat cigar beetles really represent and whether manufacturers do the things we’ve heard about, such as flash freezing and irradiation. And, hopefully, I’ll be able to discuss even more.

So congratulations to George on winning the free tickets! We’re sure he will make a great StogieGuys.com correspondent to Cigar Artisans 2006. Be sure to keep it right here to read George’s report and see exclusive photos shortly after the event.

–Patrick A

My bio lists Padron as one of my “dependable favorites,” yet somehow I’ve managed to go five months without reviewing one of these full-flavored cigars. So today I’m reviewing a petit Churchill-sized Padron Delicias Maduro (4 and 7/8 inches by 46 ring gauge).

The wrapper was a bit rough and veiny with a two-tone hue of deep brown with black shadows. Before I lit it, the stogie had a rich earthy aroma with hints of hay.

This smoke started out harsh and then smoothed out, but this is still a very powerful little smoke. While it was most definitely powerful and full-bodied, the flavor remained quite sweet due to the abundance of sugars present in the sun grown maduro wrapper.

The cigar features deep rich earthy flavors with chocolaty tones. Also, as cliche it sounds, there was a slight but distinct saffron flavor present, particularly when smoked through the nose.

And the construction left nothing to be desired: an even burn, an easy draw, and a light gray ash that dropped off an inch at a time.

While not the most aesthetically pleasing cigar, it reminded me why I always consider Padron one of my go-to-brands. Excellent value (available for $3 apiece), dependable construction, and bold flavors earn this cigar three and 1/2 out of five stogies.

–Patrick S

Tags: cigars

In our ongoing effort to make StogieGuys.com as entertaining and reader-friendly as possible, each Friday we’ll post a sampler of quick cigar news and stogie-related snippets to tide you over for the weekend. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) Add the City of Brotherly Love to the long list of over 470 municipalities with new Draconian smoking bans. Philadelphia Mayor John Street signed the bill yesterday, effectively imposing the tyranny of the majority on all restaurants and most bars. But that’s not the only bad news out of the Keystone State. The Allegheny County Council recently proposed a smoking ban that would force its anti-smoking agenda on all restaurants, pubs, and cigar bars in Pittsburgh – prompting some intelligent opposition from the nation’s capital.

2) Speaking of Pittsburgh, the Pirates’ PNC Park is where the New York Mets plan to clinch their division title tonight. While not every Stogie Guy is a Mets fan, we can all appreciate how manager Willie Randolph is planning to celebrate: lighting up a Fuente Opus X Forbidden.

3) We can’t personally recommend Quintero cigars (because they’re brand new and we haven’t tried them yet), but we nonetheless thought it was worth sharing this deal with Stogie Guys Nation. At only $2.50 apiece, how can you go wrong?

4) In our last Friday Sampler, we told you about how Colorado’s statewide smoking ban was thrust upon citizens and private businesses by the state government on July 1. Well, Orios – a bar in Durango, Colorado – recently became the first establishment to be charged for violating that law. The crime? Public officials say, despite statutory exemptions for bars with 5 percent sales or more from tobacco, Orios’ lack of an on-site humidor – for whatever reason – does not qualify it to allow smoking. If the Colorado government didn’t plan to grant exemptions, why write them into law in the first place? In fact, why not just ban everybody from smoking anywhere at any time? I’ll tell you this: If I ever find myself in Durango, I’m heading to Orios and lighting up a fat one.

5) Our contest to give away two free tickets to Cigar Artisans 2006 at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, September 30 ends today at 5 p.m. EST…so make sure to get in your submission as soon as possible.

–The Stogie Guys

The fourth installment in our four part series, Stogie Guys Week in Review, is as delicate in taste as it is in appearance. But the Butera Royal Vintage Mira Bella is no lightweight pushover – it’s an attentive smoker’s delight.

This elegant six and ¾ inches by 38 ring gauge cigar is a slender combination of six inimitable Dominican Republic tobaccos draped in a smooth Connecticut Shade leaf. The cappuccino-colored wrapper sports few noticeable veins, and the caramel-tinted band is a worthy – though untraditional – companion.

After lighting, the first thing I noticed was an extremely mild and airy taste. In fact, the flavor was almost indiscernible without smoking through the nose. But once I did that, creamy almond, milk, and vanilla tones shone through.

While the flavor was light in the first phase, it surprisingly (and fortunately) pleased my entire palate. From bitter to sweet, from acidic to salty, this stogie satisfied all taste buds – a testament to the harmonious blend of tobaccos.

Midway into the smoke, the stogie became a bit spicier, and the flavors – now more nutty than creamy – became pronounced. Notwithstanding this increase in taste, I would still recommend pairing this cigar with wine, not hard alcohol (I chose a savory Robert Mondavi zinfandel).

The construction qualities are the only serious drawback. The stogie requires constant surveillance to maintain an even burn, and it regrettably has a knack for going out at random.

Even so, the Butera Royal Vintage Mira Bella is a pleasurable stick – especially if you’re in the mood for something light. I’d love to give it a higher rating, but considering the poor physical properties for a $7 cigar, I’m forced to give it a respectable – yet disappointing – three and ½ out of five stogies.

–Patrick A

I smoked the third installment in our four part series, Stogie Guys Week in Review, under almost perfect conditions. Sitting on my front porch on a warm September night, I was fortunate enough to have live Latin guitar music from a neighbor’s dinner party as a full moon glowed over the tree tops. With such a great cigar atmosphere, I reached into my humidor and selected an El Rey Del Mundo Robusto Larga that had been hiding there for two months in white tissue paper.

After I removed the paper and the classic yellow and gold band, I inspected the dark Oscuro Ecuadorian wrapper, finding crystals that revealed some aging. This large 6 inch by 54 ring gauge cigar was a bit bumpy. I also found a few spongy areas that worried me a bit, but overall this is a distinguished looking smoke.

Once I lit the cigar, I immediately found it to be flavorful. It produced an abundance of warm white smoke, and chocolate earthy flavors quickly revealed themselves. These flavors were consistent throughout, and never dull.

On a few of occasions, a slight uneven burn began to form, but nothing that would be a problem for an attentive smoker. The stogie produced a long white ash that only dropped off after a full inch and a half.

Overall, this was an excellent cigar. The El Rey del Mundo (King of the World) brand is often overshadowed by its Punch and Hoyo cousins, but I think it stands up with the best of Honduran cigars. I enjoyed this cigar so much I nearly singed my eyebrows off relighting the stub.

So for such an impressive showing, this classic Honduran cigar earns four out of five stogies.

–Patrick S

Welcome back to the Stogie Guys Week in Review. For the second installment in our four part series, I’ve chosen to evaluate a Sancho Panza. No, not Don Quixote’s pot-bellied squire…the Glorioso cigar.

This 6.12 inches by 50 ring gauge box-pressed stick is made from a mixture of Dominican, Honduran, and Nicaraguan fillers, and comes adorned with a smooth, light brown Connecticut Shade wrapper. Impressively, despite keeping this particular stogie in my humidor for well over one year, the cigar had a firmer-than-average feel.

Upon initial lighting, the medium-bodied stogie gave off excellent woody notes – enough to prompt an acquaintance to remark that it smelled better to her than most I have smoked.

As the cigar progressed, I noticed a strong interplay between bitter oak flavors and sweet honey tones. That flavor relationship was very pleasing (albeit enough to keep me interested in the smoke), but this cigar lacks the complexity and balance I’ve come to expect from premium smokes, and I felt as though several key areas of my palate were ignored.

What’s more, in the second and finishing phases, the stogie became aggressively spicy. I love strong flavors just as much as the next cigar enthusiast, but this quick transition from sweet woody flavors to spice was more harsh than pleasing.

Much to my surprise, however, the construction of this cigar was near perfect. The draw was easy (producing a lot of smoke) and the burn was even throughout the hour-long ordeal.

Overall, this was a pleasing smoke – I just wish the flavor was a little more balanced and the transition from light to heavy was a little smoother. For mediocre taste and outstanding physical characteristics, I give the Sancho Panza Glorioso three and ½ out of five stogies.

–Patrick A