The Stogie Guys

Don Pepin Garcia makes cigars in the heart of Little Havana in Miami. And just in case you forget that while smoking the Don Pepin Garcia Blue, there’s a little American flag on the both sides of the band to remind you that this is a domestic-made cigar.

Above the little American flag is a Cuban flag to remind you of the deep Cuban heritage that goes into every cigar Jose “Pepin” Garcia makes. In Cuba, Garcia made some of the finest Cuban cigars and, now in the land of the free, he continues to produce excellent stogies such as the Tatuaje, EO 601, and the many Don Pepin Garcia lines.

The Don Pepin Garcia blue (which retails for around $8 per stick) is a Nicuraguan puro that features a corojo wrapper, a criollo binder, and a mix of criollo and corojo in the filler. The cinnamon brown corojo wrapper – wrapped into a Cuban-style triple cap – was silky to the touch despite appearing a bit veiny.

After cutting the head and toasting the foot, I took a puff to experience this very full-bodied cigar. In terms of taste, the cigar compares with the Joya de Nicuragua Antaño, but this cigar was anything but one-dimensional.

The 6 inch by 50 toro featured a cornucopia of flavor. Pepper, leather, clove, coffee, cedar, and earth were all apparent in the Generosos. Adding to the complex blend was a bitter-sweet chocolate finish.

The burn was a bit uneven, but the draw was easy and the light gray ash was sturdy. This cigar produced an abundant amount of aromatic smoke.

After the blockbuster start, I found myself thinking that if this cigar got any more full-flavored, then I might have to put it down (and I have a palate that thoroughly enjoys a potent smoke). Fortunately – as if predicting this reaction – instead of getting stronger or harsh, the Pepin Garcia Blue gained a sweet and creamy edge as it progressed. With this new smooth quality added to an already very complex array of flavors, I proceeded to smoke this cigar down to its nub.

Overall, the Don Pepin Garcia Blue Generosos is an impressive smoke, blending Nicuraguan tobacco into a rich, complex, Cuban-like flavor that earns it four and 1/2 out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick S

Back in September I reviewed a Butera from the Royal Vintage line. Overall, it was fairly pleasing, but the flavor was too subtle and the physical properties were too burdensome to merit my full approval.

My experience with the Vintage Select line – a six inch by 52 ring gauge Toro – would be much more pleasurable.

At first glance, it reminded me of the excellent, but unattractive, Alonso Menendez and Dona Flor brands by Brazil Cigars & Tobacco. Not surprising given that, like those two treasures, this stick sports a dark and coarse Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper. Those leaves are notoriously unappealing (especially to the average aesthetically obsessed American smoker), but also sweet, rich, and full-flavored.

And that’s just what I got after I lit up: an irresistible mixture of deep chocolate notes. That pleasing and rustic cocoa taste was maintained well into the second half of the smoke, where it was joined by a spicy pepper flavor. Otherwise, the taste remained consistent.

On the palate, it’s worth noting that the Nicaraguan, Honduran, and Jamaican filler tobaccos hit the salt, bitter, and sweet locales of the tongue fairly evenly, rendering this a noble smoke.

On top of these excellent flavors, this cigar also scores far better on construction than its Royal Vintage cousin. It has no tendency to go out at will, and it sustains an even burn, a sturdy ash, and a clear draw for well over an hour. Just what a smoker needs to concentrate on the first-rate flavors.

In all, this stogie sports characteristics than a $10-15 cigar would be proud of. I picked up mine for just under $8 – and I won’t hesitate to pick up more soon. For reaffirming my confidence in Butera, I give the Butera Vintage Select Toro four out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A

If you’re looking for a truly cheap smoke — something to absently puff on while you’re mowing the lawn or to hand out to acquaintances who wouldn’t know Rocky Patel from Rocky Colavito — you could do worse than picking up a pocketful of Cuban Rejects.

Now don’t get me wrong. No one’s going to mistake a Cuban Reject for a Cuban puro, unless they’ve been smoking something mind-altering beforehand. But you aren’t going to get sick either. OK, I realize that’s not exactly a ringing endorsement, but don’t forget we’re talking about a stogie that you can get for just a shade over a buck.

The biggest problem I had with the six inch by 50-ring gauge Toro maduro I tested was the smoke. It was extremely light and thin. The cigar wasn’t plugged. The draw, while a bit tight, wasn’t bad, and the burn was straight. The Reject just didn’t make much smoke.

It also didn’t generate a lot of taste. I’d put it among the mildest of cigars, with the taste almost exclusively of light tobacco. On the other hand, one of the few consistencies among really cheap cigars is that they aren’t at all consistent. Who knows what your Cuban Reject might be like?

I was curious about the cigar, since there’s not a lot of information on the web about it — and what little there is often conflicts. So, I called Phillips & King International, the tobacco distributor that imports and sells Cuban Rejects.

The cigar was introduced in 2005 and, in addition to the Toro, comes in a Churchill (7×48) and a Robusto (5×50), all in natural or maduro. The cigar, as you can see from the photo of its innards on display, is a mixed filler made with all Nicaraguan tobaccos, according to Phillips. Though I wondered if it was machine bunched with the wrapper applied by hand, a Phillips spokeswoman told me the Rejects are all handmade. She also said they can barely keep up with demand, moving them out of the warehouse as quickly as they arrive from the factory in Nicaragua.

I paid $1.35 for my Toro. If you check online, you’ll find them available in bulk — up to 200 at one site! — for as little as $1.05. Or visit some shops in your area that carry a wide range of tobacco products, not just premium cigars. I bet you’ll see a batch of the bandless Cuban Rejects.

Now, whether you want to buy one or not, I leave up to you.

Next up is the final installment on our Cook’s tour through the world of ultra-cheap cigars. Or, as I like to think of them, penny premiums.

[Please click the following links to read Part I, Part II, or Part III of this series.]

–George E

Tags: cigars

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

Here’s another gem you can’t find at your local B&M, but should waste no time ordering online. This seven inch by 50 ring gauge Don Kiki White Label is a standout smoke from Cuban Crafters. Harvested back in 2000, Cuban-seed Habano long-filler tobacco and a shade-grown Connecticut wrapper combine to create smooth hay and almond notes. About halfway through a nice spice kicks in, rendering this more interesting than your average mild smoke. While the delicate wrapper has some tendency to tear, this premium boutique stogie is still exceptional – especially when you consider the price.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

Tags: cigars

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

This cigar, made completely with Dominican tobacco, was introduced to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Litto Gomez’s La Flor Dominicana brand. Packed with spice, the corona-sized smoke is a full-bodied masterpiece. Fortunately, within all that spice the Litto Gomez Americano manages to maintain a balanced taste similar to the Coronado also made by La Flor Dominicana. At $10 a pop this isn’t an everyday cigar, but with excellent construction and a unique flavor profile, I can highly recommend it.

Verdict = Buy.

–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 selection of quick cigar news and stogie-related snippets. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) Last Tuesday we told you the Illinois State Senate passed a bill to ban smoking statewide in the Land of Lincoln. As the Chicago Tribune reports, on May 2 that bill was approved by the House – effectively prohibiting smoking in all bars and restaurants starting next year. Chalk another one up for the fascists.

2) From the Windy City to the Big Apple: The Manhattan Supreme Court yesterday rejected the city’s bid to close a cigar bar in accordance with New York’s smoking ban. The bar was operating legally because it was established prior to the draconian law. In order to circumvent the Constitution’s guarantee of ex post facto, the city’s Department of Health was straining to find technicalities to close the business. The judge rightfully found these attempts to be “arbitrary and capricious.”

3) La Flor Dominicana maker Litto Gomez has been coming up with some fantastic cigars lately, including the five stogie-rated Coronado by La Flor. In this video from Cigar Aficionado, Gomez explains how he creates his highly rated blends.

4) Deal of the Week: Here is a deal we’ve run before, but it is good enough to merit  another look. The Powerhouse S-2 sampler by Thompson sports our favorites like the CAO Brazilia, Punch, La Gloria Cubana, Hoyo, Romeo y Julieta, Partagas, and the Torano Exodus Gold. In all, the deal includes 12 quality cigars, a hat, and a very useful travel case – all for just $29.95. To grab yours, click here.

–The Stogie Guys

Henry Clay was one of America’s original statesmen. Clay served in Congress as a representative and senator for Kentucky. He also served as secretary of state under John Quincy Adams, and ran for president five times between 1824 and 1848. Best of all, he happens to have a cigar named after him.

This Dominican-made robusto features Dominican binder and filler tobaccos surrounded by a very rough Connecticut broadleaf wrapper. The cigar is a little spongy to the touch and the sun grown wrapper was chewy in my mouth – typical of many broadleafs.

The Henry Clay Rothchilde is a classic five inch by 50 ring gauge robusto size. Prelight there is a noticeable toffee flavor.

Once lit, I found a highly aromatic cigar with flavorful smoke that reminded me of a strong cup of English breakfast tea. The cigar had a medium, balanced flavor with some subtle peppery spice, particularly as it progressed past the midway point.

The Henry Clay Rothchilde burned evenly throughout and had a lovely white ash, but it suffered from a severely firm draw. This difficulty caused the cigar to repeatedly go out prematurely.

Overall, it’s not hard to see why these cigars have a reportedly strong following despite relatively little promotion, especially compared to other Altadis cigars. And at only about three dollars per stick (less if purchased by the box), it is a sophisticated smoke for the price.

With abundant flavor, but formidable construction issues, the Henry Clay Rothchilde earns a respectable rating of three and 1/2 out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick S