The Stogie Guys

Cigars sit in my humidor for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes I try to hang on to them as long as I can, secure in the belief that they’ll improve with age. Others I just don’t seem to pick up when I’m choosing a cigar, even those I’ve enjoyed in the past.

Gurkhas often fall into that category. I have a few – probably 10 to 12 – from different lines, and I realized when I picked up a six inch toro Expedition the other day that it had been resting for about a year and a half. Well, I thought, that looks promising. So I picked it up.

When I slid the cedar sleeve off, I noticed a crack in the wrapper at the foot that ran close to a half inch. As I cut the 50 ring gauge cap, most of it came off, and the wrapper began to unwrap. Undaunted, I plunged ahead. After all, I keep the humidity and temperature pretty regular, but I’m always willing to take the blame when there are problems that could relate to storage.

It did light easily, and I was greeted with a pleasant cedar taste with thick, white smoke. Unfortunately, things went downhill quickly. The wrapper developed more splits than Disney on Ice. It continued unraveling as well, creating a three-dimensional barber pole effect.

Then, about halfway down, it blew up. I swear, I started looking for Allen Funt. I even checked the band, wondering if I’d been smoking the Gurkha Explosion rather than the Expedition.

I no choice but to call it quits. This is one case where I don’t think it’s fair to rate the cigar without smoking more, which I intend to do. But I wanted to see if I could first get some input from our readers.

What experiences have you had with the Gurkha Expedition? Let me know so I can bear them in mind when I try another and can include some when I do the second part of this review.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

This is a smoke to make you believe we’re truly enjoying a Golden Age of Cigars. From the gorgeous Cafe Rosado Oscuro wrapper to the ligero added to the Cuban-seed Nicaraguan filler, this is an extraordinary cigar.

I got five in a sampler pack several weeks ago and decided on a pleasant afternoon last week that I had waited long enough to smoke one. I would be hard pressed to point to any physical aspect of the cigar that’s lacking. The cap is expertly applied, cutting evenly and easily. There are no soft or hard spots from top to bottom, no problem with the burn or ash.

But it is in the smooth flavors that this five and 1/2 inch beauty from Pete Johnson really shines. For the first quarter of an inch or so, there’s a nice pepper spice. That’s soon complemented by a little sweetness. At midway, the spice is gone and there’s leather, warm tobacco, and just a floral hint. As you move down from there, the cigar develops a little zip and the pepper and spice lightly return.

The truth is this blend takes complexity to near perfection. I understand this Havana VI Verocu No. 2 and its West Coast sibling are limited production cigars. That’s a shame. At $10 a stick, it’s one I would happily smoke as often as I could, though the $500 price tag on a cabinet of 50 is a bit rich for my blood.

I rate this one an instant classic and award it the full five out of five stogies.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Those of you who are interested in cheap, mild, everyday smokes are probably already familiar with Rafael Gonzalez. For everyone else who hasn’t been introduced to the somewhat reclusive brand, let’s get up to speed.

Rafael Gonzalez was launched in 1998 out of the Villazon factory in Honduras. It should not be confused with the 80-year-old Cuban brand of the same name, a blend of pure Vuelta Abajo tobaccos developed by Marquez Rafael Gonzalez.

Predictably, the Honduran line is sold to the American market as “a classic Cuban reborn.” While the Habano has a reputation as one of the mildest sticks around, “this Honduran-made edition is more medium-bodied in flavor, yet retains the smoothness, excellent balance, and inviting aroma for which Rafael Gonzalez is known.”

Sounds good enough, especially at the price. I paid about $3.25 apiece for the two Toros (6.125 x 50) I smoked for this review.

Unfortunately, one of those cigars got off to a terrible start as the top portion of the delicate Connecticut Shade wrapper separated from the Connecticut Broadleaf binder when I cut the head. (I used the same reliable cutter, mind you, that I use for all of my reviews.) I was able to correct the problem with some trusty saliva.

Aside from this defect, I have to say these cigars are quite attractive for value smokes. The wrappers are smooth and a bit oily, and while the seams may not be perfect, a cross-section of the firm stick reveals some masterful rolling.

I was pleased to find a heavy aroma of roasted almond off the three-country filler blend, even before lighting. From there the flavor begins very mild with a nutty cream taste and just a little spice in the finish. An uneven burn requires several touch-ups, and the cigar never transforms into the medium-bodied smoke it’s advertised as.

Judging it on its own merits, though, I’m still not too impressed, especially when you consider some of the really outstanding mild cigars that are available on the cheap (the Don Kiki White Label and the Ybor City Handmades come to mind). That’s why I can give the Rafael Gonzalez Toro only two out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

StogieGuys.com is pleased to announce our second annual Super Bowl contest. You may not be able to land tickets to the big game in Arizona between the NFC champion New York Giants and the AFC champion New England Patriots, but here you do have a chance to win some fantastic cigars courtesy of StogieGuys.com and eGars.com.

This year, eGars.com is providing us with some fantastic prizes so that the two best Super Bowl prognosticators will each receive six top-notch cigars. Our two winners will each receive six cigars from the Honduran Classic Sampler and the Punch Rothschild Sampler (total value $29.90):

• Sancho Panza Caballero – 6.5 x 45
• Excalibur Prensado Oscuro – 6.125 x 48
• Punch Rare Corojo Double Corona – 6.75 x 48
• Punch Rothschild EMS – 4.5 x 50
• Punch Rothschild MM – 4.5 x 50
• Punch Rare Corojo Rothschild – 4.5 x 50

To enter, leave a comment on this article that includes the following predictions: (1) who will win, (2) margin of victory, (3) total points scored, and (4) time on the clock (regardless of quarter) when the first points of the game are scored. Please see the first comment for a sample entry.

The margin of victory, followed by total points, followed by time of the first points, will be used as a tiebreakers to determine the two prize winners. In the event of matching winning guesses, the first to respond is the winner.

Eligibility: Only one entry per person. Participants must be 18 or older (verification may be required) and must live in the continental US. You must enter a valid email so we can contact you for a mailing address.

All entries must be received before 5 p.m. EST on Sunday, February 3.

Please note that eGars.com is also running a special deal just for StogieGuys.com readers: Enter “SGVIP” as a promo code when you checkout and receive 10 percent off your first order!

Good Luck!

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: NFL

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

This Cuban robusto features a lovely, smooth, deep brown wrapper, draped in the classic red, gold, and white Hoyo band. The flavors are a wonderful medley of cocoa, cedar, and black cherry and the construction was good – making this is one of my favorite Cubans. No wonder Patrick A rated this cigar four and 1/2 stogies back in December.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

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

If you’re looking for a smooth, satisfying mild smoke, La Princesa de Cuba should be on your shopping list. The latest cigar from Victor de la Cruz, this time with a lovely Connecticut shade-grown wrapper from Ecuador, has a warm, light tobacco taste with a delicate finish. The six and 1/2 inch by 52 ring gauge stick burned slowly, and produced rich smoke and a crumbly ash.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

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. A deal was finally reached this week in a sad case of eminent domain abuse in which the city of San Diego seized and destroyed the Gran Havana cigar lounge to make way for a Marriott. We’ve been following the story since September, and in November we reported that the hotel’s developer was trying to shortchange the former owner of the lounge. Yesterday the Union-Tribune reported that a $7.8 million settlement was agreed upon for the disputed lot, which now “stands as a reminder of some of the evils of government taking people’s land.”

2. CAO recently added a few new sizes to two of its existing lines. The America series now has a mammoth eight and ½ inch by 50 ring gauge Anthem vitola ($14.50), and the six and ½ inch by 50 ring gauge Largo ($6.80) and the six inch by 50 ring gauge Positano ($6.20) join the Italia series.

3. Around the Blogs: Cigar Jack smokes a Camacho Triple Maduro. Stogie Review reviews the Perdomo Habano Corojo. Cigar Monkey goes with Punch Chateau L. Cigar Inspector inspects a Dornier DO-X. Keepers of the Flame lights up a Padrón 4000.

4. Deal of the Week: This “Football Sampler” sports ten nice smokes, including a Montecristo, a La Princesa de Cuba, a Cocinero Liga Especial, and a Tinderbox Reserva No. 2 – all for just $29.99. But in our opinion the real gem is the Toraño Signature. Grab all ten here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Gran Havana