The Stogie Guys

On Friday we announced that in order to beef up our newly-created Stogie Reviews Archive, we would launch an entire week of reviews. So, without further ado, here is the first installment of our Stogie Guys Week in Review:

The Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Toro is a nice looking 6 inch by 52 ring gauge stogie with a gritty Costa Rican maduro wrapper. Indian Tabac is Rocky Patel’s company, so I had high expectations for this box-pressed stogie.

I chose to pair it with a white russian (the dude’s favorite cocktail). The coupling is somewhat of an aggressive choice with a dark maduro cigar, but it’s a pairing I have enjoyed in the past.

After lighting up this I cigar, I didn’t notice the super strong flavors (as advertised). And when the “super fuerte” flavor did kick in, it was more harsh than rich.

Instead, I found this cigar very earthy with nutty walnut tones that faded in and out. And I was disappointed by the very bitter notes this cigar had. Some sweet flavors would have balanced out the flavor more.

Fortunately, the cigar had a very easy draw, which was a good thing since the one previous time I tried this cigar it had an impossible plug that forced me to put it out halfway through – something I almost never do. Additionally, this cigar developed a nasty split in the wrapper along one of the edges of the box press, but thankfully that didn’t seem to effect the burn.

Overall, I expected better from the company that makes one of my favorite stogies, the Rocky Patel Sun Grown. This one looked and smelled good before I lit it (and provides good value at only about $2 apiece), but the bitter flavors prevented the cigar from living up to its potential.

I give the Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Toro only two and a 1/2 out of five stogies.

[Also, don’t forget to submit your entries for a chance to represent the Stogie Guys and score free tickets to Cigar Artisans 2006 in Tampa. To learn more about Cigar Artisans 2006, read our September 6 article.]

–Patrick S

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) Only eight weeks after Colorado’s statewide smoking ban was thrust upon citizens by the state government, Denver’s ABC 7 reports many small bars have been devastated – losing up to 80 percent of their income. This crushing financial nightmare has triggered massive layoffs and sparked numerous brawls among patrons who are forced to go outside to smoke. Thankfully, a group of local bar owners – calling themselves the Coalition for Equal Rights – filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the constitutionality of the ban. Good for them. There’s nothing constitutional about forcing your “high horse” agenda on private businesses and individuals.

2) As you know, we’re certainly not averse to passing along great deals to Stogie Guys Nation. With that in mind, I must inform you about this deal for a sampler of nine premium sticks – including Cohiba, Macanudo, and Partagas – for only $20. I’m pretty sure this is a good buy, but you do the math.

3) After gaining significant notoriety as of late, Rocky Patel recently decided to expand beyond the Honduran border into Nicaragua. No word yet on any lineup change. Rocky Patel Premium Cigars is headquartered in Naples, Florida and manufactures The Edge, Rocky Patel Vintage, and numerous other lines.

4) It is my distinct privilege to announce a brand new feature here at StogieGuys.com: our archived review page. This alphabetical listing of all of our published reviews will be a great resource for our loyal readers for years to come. You’ll be able to access this work-in-progress regularly by clicking on the “Archive of All Reviews” link on the sidebar (below the links to our most recent reviews). As an added bonus, in order to beef up the index, starting on Monday we’re launching a “Stogie Guys Week in Review” – a glorious week of uninterrupted cigar evaluations. See you then!

–The Stogie Guys

In yesterday’s post we told you about Cigar Artisans 2006, a Thompson Cigar-sponsored festival of big names, great smokes, and serious giveaways. This year the event is being held on Saturday, September 30 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in beautiful Tampa, Florida.

Tickets normally run $110 apiece for this sure-to-be-kickass event, and each one includes some outstanding giveaways including: 25 premium handmade cigars (valued at $150), an embroidered travel bag, a polar fleece, backpack, ball cap, cutter, lighter, drawpoker, and – to top it all off – another eight-cigar sample pack. All this not to mention the fact that once you’re inside you get free food, free booze, a chance to meet the people behind major cigar brands, and you’ll automatically be entered to win a Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Interested? I thought so.

Well, you’re in luck. We want to send one loyal Stogie Guy (and one of his or her buddies) to Cigar Artisans 2006…FOR FREE.

All you have to do is make it there, have a blast, and shortly thereafter send us a brief write-up about the event for StogieGuys.com.

So if you’re going to be in Tampa on September 30 (or if you’re willing to make the trip), simply send us an email stating why you should be selected as the Stogie Guys special correspondent for the Cigar Artisans event. You don’t have to compose a ten-page essay or anything, but you may want to explain (1) a bit about your background in cigars and (2) what questions you’d ask the world’s leading cigar producers.

(Also, it probably wouldn’t hurt to gush about how much you love StogieGuys.com.)

Since our contest closes on Friday, September 15 at 5:30 PM EST – and since we’ll be reviewing applications on a rolling basis – be sure to get your submission in as soon as possible.

And be sure to keep it right here at StogieGuys.com, the only website where you can win two tickets to paradise!

–The Stogie Guys

Regular readers know most of the cigar events we publicize at StogieGuys.com take place in the Washington area, primarily because that’s our home beat. But we recently caught wind of Cigar Artisans 2006, an upcoming event in Tampa that sounds too good to not mention.

And, as an added bonus for our loyal readers, we’ve got two FREE TICKETS to give away! So be sure to drop by tomorrow when we announce the contest that will decide who scores this sweet prize.

Normally the tickets run $110 apiece, but given the $300 in free giveaways included with each ticket – including $150 dollars worth of cigars – the lucky winner will receive a prize worth $820. Here are the details:

Cigar Artisans 2006, sponsored by Thompson Cigar of Tampa, brings together the most prestigious names in the cigar industry, such as Arturo Fuente, Padron, CAO, Torano, General Cigar, Altadis USA, La Gloria, Rocky Patel, JC Newman, Camacho, Gurkha, La Perla, Acid, Cusano, Oliva and more.

“It’s a rare opportunity to meet the people behind the major cigar brands and to meet them all at once is exceptional,” said Joe Silvestro, Senior Buyer, Thompson Cigar. “We really loaded the ticket holders with enough freebies and prizes to fill their humidors and enjoy the experience long after the event is over.”

The event consists of two sessions with identical prizes and giveaways including custom painted Harley Davidson Motorcycles, poker tables, golf bags and sets of Razor golf clubs. Ticket holders will receive 25 premium handmade cigars with a value of $150, plus other prizes worth more than $125: including an embroidered travel bag, polar fleece jacket, backpack, ball cap, cigar cutter, lighter, drawpoker and another 8 Cigar sampler. There will be food and an open bar during the event.

Tickets are $110 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster or by visiting this website: www.cigarartisans.com.

Cigar Artisans 2006 is taking place on Saturday, September 30. But we’ll announce how you can score two FREE TICKETS tomorrow…Right here at StogieGuys.com. See you then.

–The Stogie Guys

Welcome back, Stogie Guys! I hope you all capitalized on the Labor Day holiday by smoking a great cigar (or five). Since the weekend was extra long, today I’m reviewing an extra long cigar – the Punch After Dinner EMS.

This elegant full-bodied cigar is a commanding 7 and ¼ inches by 46 ring gauge with a dark and sandy Ecuador Sumatran wrapper. It’s worth noting that, since the surface was more coarse and veiny than most premium stogies, smokers who pay close attention to the aesthetics of wrappers may not find this cigar to their liking (I would recommend an oily Punch Grand Cru instead).

After snipping the head with a double guillotine cutter and toasting the foot with my torch, the stogie produced irresistible earthy leather flavors with the strongest emphasis on the salty and acidic regions of my palate. About midway into the smoke, the tastes mellowed out and transformed into citrus and sweet notes – a wonderful contrast to the proceeding phase.

This cigar earns high marks for construction: The burn was fairly even, the draw was nice and easy (each puff produced ample smoke), and white ash accumulated nicely on the foot throughout the two-hour smoke. I also noticed the stogie’s mascara (the thin black ring between the ash and the wrapper) produced an outstanding sheen, signaling the tobacco leaves were fully matured when harvested.

Overall, like most Punch cigars, this one’s a keeper. The thin body is a refreshing contrast to the 52 ring gauged behemoths that dominate the American market, the change in flavors is interesting and unique, and – at about $4.50 apiece retail – it’s a steal. I give the Punch After Dinner EMS a solid four out of five stogies.

–Patrick A

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. (This one’s extra long due to the three day weekend…Yeah, baby!) We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) Cigar Aficionado is often associated with snobbish cigar reviews and articles about luxury items no one can afford, but we’ve uncovered some video footage that makes us believe CA founder Marvin R. Shanken knows exactly how to kick off his shoes and properly enjoy a good cigar with a fine bottle of wine. Presenting… A Master Class in Burgundy Wine and Cigars. Take good notes.

2) And while we’re on the topic of those dead-tree cigar publications, we’re glad to see that Smoke Magazine is covering the emerging trend of large ring gauge cigars by reviewing 26 stogies with ring gauges 50 and over, including six that are at least 60. Of course, we should point out that a while back we asked if sixty is the new fifty-four.

3) Last week we discussed the elusive pairing of booze and cigars and we mentioned that Blanton’s Bourbon was one of our favorites. Since we know you’re wondering if it’s really worth dropping $40 on a bottle of bourbon, we offer you a second opinion from Doc of Stogie Fresh.

4) With cigar manufacturer after cigar manufacturer striving to implement creative marketing strategies to sell their stogies, a few are finally taking advantage of the perfect, age-old pairing to peddle their product – cigars and golf. The good folks over at Tabacalera Perdomo recently released a line called La Tradicion Perdomo Reserve Limited Golf Edition. The new blend is offered in eight sizes and sells from $4.50 to $10 apiece. A gift set named The Caddy is also hitting stores complete with four sticks, four balls, and a cutter. My only question is why didn’t this come out before Father’s Day?

5) Way back in May we told you how 38 states petitioned the federal government to reclassify little cigars as cigarettes. Why? Because, under current law, cigars can’t be taxed and regulated as heavily as cigarettes can.

As a consequence of the 1998 tobacco lawsuit, cigarette producers agreed to pay health care costs associated with cigarettes to state governments. But, with sales doubling in the last decade, state lawmakers see little cigars as thin bars of gold – a potential landmine in additional tax revenue.

Well, the Montana Department of Revenue this week announced the state is considering new rules to regulate and – of course – tax “little cigars.” It’s yet another example of Big Brother taking advantage of disenfranchised, overtaxed smokers.

6) Finally, have a great Labor Day weekend! Thanks to Tropical Depression Ernesto, we’ll be spending most of our time indoors…but hopefully the weather is a lot nicer in your neck of the woods. Be sure to join us right here at StogieGuys.com on Tuesday, September 5 for our next post.

–The Stogie Guys