Stogie Commentary: Gold Star Smokes
14 Jun 2007
Cigars can appeal for any number of reasons. Some offer a terrific bargain, others the opportunity to savor a rare treat. One cigar might earn a top rank because it can be enjoyed day after day, while another stick might be the perfect complement to a great Scotch. Whatever the appeal, we all have cigars that we think are special.
We’ve decided to recommend some cigars we feel are particularly worthy of your attention and call them Gold Star Smokes. From time to time, we’ll clue you into three favorites – one from each member of the StogieGuys.com team. I guess you could consider anything posted here worthy of the Stogie Guys Hall of Fame, if such a thing existed.
Also, feel free to leave your own suggestions as comments, and we’ll consider adding them to future Gold Star Smokes posts.
Co-Founder & Editor in Chief Patrick A
My first choice for our Gold Star Smokes series was an instant classic the moment I took the inaugural puff. At six and ¼ inches with a 52 ring gauge, the Rocky Patel Vintage 1992 Torpedo is a well-aged Ecuadorian masterpiece with rich notes of dark roasted coffee beans and almond. It’s not cheap at $8.75, but clearly worth every penny. This has become my one go-to cigar for extra-special occasions.
Co-Founder & Publisher Patrick S
The El Rey Del Mundo Robisto Larga is a favorite of mine that I seem to rediscover every six months. Big (six inches with a 54 ring gauge) and packed full of rich earth and chocolate flavors, it is the best vitola from the El Rey Del Mundo brand that never seems to get a fair shake. The presentation – each Robusto Larga is wrapped in tissue paper – makes it seem like a present, and the obscuro wrapper underneath is a pleasure to look at too. This is truly a rare cigar that goes equally well on the golf course or after a fancy dinner. All this for the bargain price of about three dollars per stick.
Tampa Bureau Chief George E
The Punch Champion is a little four and ½ inch bowling pin of a cigar that’s just plain fun to smoke. Pick one up and I’ll bet it feels great. Enjoy the light aroma of cedar before you light it. Best of all, it’s got that Punch spice, but it doesn’t stop there; other flavors kick in along the way. You can usually find them for around $4 per stick.
Patrick Ashby
Co-Founder & Editor in Chief
Patrick Semmens
Co-Founder & Publisher
George Edmonson
Tampa Bureau Chief
For me, it's the Tatuaje Unicos
The CAO L'Aniversaire Maduro Churchill & the Coronado by La Flor Double Corona are among the best.
My gold star smoke has to be the Tatuaje Reserva SW. Amazingly complex, it is a 2 hour smoke (if you smoke it faster you are cheating yourself) that starts off with the typical Pepin Pepper but smooths out quickly. Wood and earth dominate the first half before it gets more creamy with cocoa. The smoke picks up again toward the end, woody and robust. It is a cigar that is a joy to smoke. It holds your attention from start to finish.
Right now, my gold star stick would have to be the Ashton Cabinet #3. I recently purchased a box and have been making a concerted effort to smoke at least one of them per week. It is an aged, medium bodied masterpiece of a perfecto.