The Stogie Guys

Here are a pair of news items that show how seriously dangerous, and at the same time how laughably absurd, smoking bans are.

Smoking Ban Takes a Life

Smoking ban advocates claim that such bans improve health because any minute exposure to second hand smoke could theoretically be the one that causes cancer. (Of course, by that reasoning, so could a sole char-broiled burger, a single glass of chlorinated water, being exposed to the sun’s rays for just a minute, or any one x-ray.)

Still, one thing is for sure: Smoking bans kill people. In the most recent incident, sixty-five year old Murray Miles Patterson caught hypothermia and later died because he was forced out of his long-term care facility in Toronto into sub-zero temperatures by the Smoke-Free Ontario Act.

But Patterson is not the only victim of smoking bans. Since 2001, three Kansas University students have fallen to their deaths while smoking. Kansas has a strict no smoking policy, despite requests from students for specific smoking rooms. And that’s just at Kansas University…

The Stogies Go Marching On

Meanwhile, in the nation’s capital, a group of high-ranking military officers and defense officials (including Secretary of Defense Robert Gates) defied the district’s smoking ban while holding their traditional “Wallow of the Military Order of the Carabao” annual gala:

Hotel officials “tried to tell” guests “they couldn’t smoke cigars and they said, ‘Nope, you signed the contract before the law’ … so everyone lights up a cigar and the whole room is just thick with smoke,” the source told The Politico’s Amy Doolittle. For the record, we’re told it’s the last time the event will take place at the now smokeless venue.

Which begs the question: Does anyone seriously think these military men are criminals for breaking the smoking ban law? Doubtful.

–Patrick S

Several years ago, José Seijas – the Dominican cigar legend responsible for Montecristo, H. Upmann, and Romeo y Julieta – set out to personally select and stockpile the highest grade wrapper, binder, and filler tobaccos for his new signature stogie: the Montecristo Classic.

Even though these babies are just hitting retailers as we write, we’ve been lucky enough to smoke about eight or nine Robustos apiece to date. And let us tell you they’re terrific.

These five inches by 52 ring gauge cigars come draped in a flawless, caramel-brown Connecticut Shade wrapper. Appearance-wise, the only trait that distinguishes the Classic line from other Montecristos is a gold emblem on the band.

Once lit, the “special blend” of Dominican binders and fillers intermingle to create a mild and cool taste that closely resembles that of a marshmallow – very unique, and very enjoyable. The cigar’s soft, spongy feel ensures an easy draw and abundant smoke with each puff.

Into the second half, the flavor smoothly transitions to a hotter spice, and notes of chocolate and graham come into play. Since the sweet marshmallow taste is retained throughout the duration of the smoke, the new flavor could now be accurately compared to a S’more. Once again, this is different than anything else we’ve tried.

Our only complaint? We noticed some inconsistency in burn from stick to stick, but nothing too egregious. What’s more, any unevenness was easy to correct.

On the whole, this is one of the finest cigars we’ve had the pleasure to review. With an MSRP of $8.50 apiece, they’re certainly not cheap, but easily worth the price if you’re lucky enough to find them. In a quick survey of local DC-area stores only two of six cigar shops we called carried the Classic line (and those two had a limited selection), and our check of the major online retailers came up completely empty.

For complex, unique, and transforming flavors that stay balanced on the palate, we give the Montecristo Classic Robusto four and ½ out of five stogies.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

–Patrick A and Patrick S

Despite the resentment of resident Bears superfan Patrick A, today we are crowning the champion of our first annual StogieGuys.com Super Bowl Cigar Contest. Congrats to Kevin from Arlington, Virginia whose entry won, and thanks to all who entered.

Nobody had the Colts by 12, but Kevin guessed Colts by 11 which proved the closest entry. Fortunately for Kevin, his guess of 65 total points scored was not needed as a tiebreaker.

For his skilled (or maybe just lucky) prognosticating, Kevin will receive five fantastic stogies: a Gurkha Class Regent Torpedo, a Macanudo Robust Rothschild, a 5 Vegas Series “A” Alpha, a Puros Indios “Special-Aged” Piramide, and a CAO Criollo Pato. Only the Gurkha, Macanudo and CAO have have been rated by Stogie Guys and they all received impressive four out of five stogie ratings.

Special mention goes to runner up Marc Kassin, whose prediction of a 14-point Colts victory (and 45 total points scored – only one off) would have won were it not spoiled by a missed extra point and missed chip shot field goal by Adam “used to be a sure thing” Vinatieri. Not including StogieGuys.com writers, your predictions were split evenly between the Colts and Bears.

–Patrick S

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

On a whim (and a great price) I picked up a box of Felipe Gregorio Dominicana Especial Robustos. This particular stick was perfectly balanced, medium-mild in flavor, and full of sweet honey flavors. With an even burn and easy draw, the construction was just as impressive as the taste. I found a box of 20 for just $25, but it would rate just as well at twice that price.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

Reminder: All entries to the StogieGuys.com Super Bowl Cigar Contest are due by 3pm EST today.

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

I first had a Bolivar at a B&M event when General Cigar introduced the Dominican-made brand. I liked it then, and when I recently lit a six inches by 52 ring gauge Toro that’s been in my humidor for more than a year, I still liked it. The blend has a full, warm taste. It’s not tremendously complex, but does vary with occasional sweetness and touches of leather and nuttiness. My only complaint is that the draw was a little tighter than I prefer. Toros list for $5.95, but you can find them cheaper in five packs or boxes.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

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. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) It is hard to find a better combination than cigars and football. That’s why we’re so pleased to announce the first annual StogieGuys.com Super Bowl Cigar Contest. Here are the rules:

Leave a comment on this article with your prediction of the winner of the Super Bowl XLI, the margin of victory, and the total number of points scored in the game. You should also include your town and state.

The reader who correctly predicts the winner and gets closest to the margin of victory gets a fantastic Stogie Guys selected five-pack of handmade cigars! (The exact five cigars are yet to be determined, but we guarantee it will include a four stogie-rated Gurkha Class Regent Torpedo, a Macanudo Robust, and a 5 Vegas.) In the unlikely event of a tie, we’ll use total points as the tiebreaker.

Details: You must use a valid email address so we can contact you. Only one entry per person (yes, we can tell). The contest is only open to readers over the age of 18 in the Continental 48 states (sorry, Alaska and Hawaii). Entries must be left by 3pm EST Sunday.
Good Luck!

2) And as if announcing the first annual Stogie Guys Super Bowl Contest isn’t enough, today we are also announcing the first Stogie Guys Meetup. On Thursday, February 15, Patrick S and Patrick A will be at cigar-friendly Carpool Bar in Arlington, Virginia (two blocks from the Ballston Metro Station on the DC Metro). We’ll be there from 6:30 to 9 p.m. smoking cigars, eating BBQ, playing pool and darts, and talking stogies. Please join us and your fellow DC-area Stogie Guys. If you’d like to RSVP, send us an email.

3) With all the bad news about smoking bans (including the one that just went into effect in France) we were pleased that one commenter pointed out this article about a successful challenge in Colorado. Now let’s hope others follow suit and challenge these oppressive smoking bans.

4) Since we’re always on the lookout for great deals for you, we are pleased to point you in the direction of this deal from Cuban Crafters. We’ve tried a few of the cigars included in the Cuban Crafters Boutique Sampler, and we are very impressed. At under $20 for 12 handmade cigars (plus a cutter), it’s a bargain you should take advantage of. Click here for the deal.

–The Stogie Guys

This past Saturday, we posted a Quick Smoke of the Romeo y Julieta Reserve Maduro Robusto. George E found the cigar’s diverse tobacco blend created “a smooth, complex stick with a satisfying finish,” and he recommended picking one up.

While I don’t disagree with George, my numerous experiences with this particular cigar keep uncovering one, very prominent flavor: salt. As a result – every time I smoke one of these – a dry, spicy kick leaves me yearning for a cool drink.

Now I’m not saying George is wrong for not pointing this out; as I told him via a friendly email exchange earlier this week, it’s entirely possible for two people to have different experiences with the same cigar. That fact, after all, is one of the reasons we instituted our unique ratings system.

But I think Stogie Guys should be aware of the possibility of encountering a salty cigar that’s not exactly balanced on the flavor profile when they light one of these up. At the very least, make sure you’re within arm’s reach of a beverage.

All things considered, however, I found this five inches by 50 ring gauge Robusto to be a very enjoyable smoke. For starters, its blackened Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper has a nice oily sheen, and I think it’s the kind of stogie that really looks nice through a glass-top humidor.

Once lit, the wrapper combines with Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Peruvian filler to create tasty nut and coffee flavors. Like many Maduros, this is an earthy smoke; unlike many Maduros, it’s light-bodied with a short finish. So, if you’re looking for a powerhouse, this isn’t your cigar.

My experience with Romeo y Julietas had me expecting a well-constructed cigar, and I was not disappointed. The burn remains even, the gorgeous white ash holds firm, and the foot manages to stay lit – even when left unattended for periods of five minutes or more.

I should mention, however, that this is a tightly-packed cigar, and the draw can be a bit difficult.

At about $5.50 apiece, this cigar is a good value. Despite a salty disposition and a firm draw, the Romeo y Julieta Reserve Maduro Robusto has a lot to offer. I give it three and ½ out of five stogies.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

–Patrick A