The Stogie Guys

When I think of Panama, the first thing that comes to mind is the canal—not tobacco. But the Central American country has been manufacturing cigars for 100 years and, as evidenced by the Joyas de Panama brand, should be included in the growing list of nations that are exporting tobacco to the U.S. and elsewhere.

Until recently, Joyas de Panama has been sold exclusively in Europe. BCB Design, however, which acquired the brand in the fall, began introducing these Cuban-seed Panamanian puros to the U.S. market at the 76th Annual IPCPR Trade Show in July.

The blend includes a Sumatran wrapper and long-fillers grown in the Chiriqui province of Panama, “a lush region well known for its agricultural products.” Joyas says the leaves are completely organic with “no chemicals, pesticides, or machines…used in he growing or production of this sustainable product.”

Under the supervision of Miriam Padilla, a 26-year cigar vet, the Joyas de Panama factory turns out five different handmade vitolas. I smoked two Especial No. 1s (6.5 x 45) for this review, and each was very difficult to remove from its ultra-tight cellophane sleeve.

Once out in the open, the veiny, partially discolored wrapper gives off plenty of sugar-cookie sweetness. While relatively solid between the fingers, a cross-section inspection reveals the filler is bunched loosely, helping to contribute to the cigar’s even draw despite its thin physique.

The initial taste is sort of bland and uninspiring with an airy, hollow character. Fortunately, the quick additions of vanilla, onion spice, leather, and oak lend some life to the mild- to medium-bodied profile, and moderate increases in burnt sugar down the stretch keep things interesting and pretty satisfying.

For the value price of $60 per bundle of 25, I was most impressed with the 80-minute smoke’s construction. Both of my cigars exhibited very even burns, clear draws, and well-fortified ashes.

My overall assessment is that these outstanding physical properties, coupled with the minimal cost, render the Joyas de Panama Especial No. 1 a decent early morning golf, walk, or newspaper companion. Just don’t expect the cigar’s flavors to be especially captivating or complex on their own. That’s why I give it three out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

At the IPCPR Darryl Liesler, the man behind Isla de Cuba, handed me one of his new cigars. Called Blend 376, Isler told me the name came about because the final product represents the 376th blend tested while the cigar was being created. While I was able to try one of the 376 cigars while in Vegas, my palate was a bit dulled from smoking cigars by the handful, so I was glad to have the opportunity to smoke a few more and publish this review just as the cigar begins hitting stores.

This Isla features a dark attractive wrapper with a slight box press. The Robusto Extra (5.5 x 50) is firm to the touch.

The cigar is wrapped with a Mexican San Andres leaf, a Nicaraguan binder, and a blend of fillers from Nicaragua, Honduras, and other “secret” Central American tobaccos. (Why the secret? I’m not sure, but two theories come to mind: Perhaps it’s an illusion to the use of Cuban tobacco, or maybe just a way to avoid naming a politically unpopular country like Venezuela. Then again, maybe it’s just secret so cigar reviewers will talk about it!)

Pre-light I find notes of peanuts. The 376 lights up easily, quickly revealing a solid white ash. The draw is deliberate but not difficult, and the ash will hold for a whole inch. Three of the four cigars I smoked for this review burned perfectly from light to nub, while the fourth required only a slight touchup.

The flavors of the Blend 376 are reminiscent to, but not the same as, the original Classic blend. The cigar is toasty with leather and lots of nut flavors—both peanut and cashew come to mind. The short finish features roast coffee, a sensation that leaves the mouth watering.

The Blend 376 is medium-bodied and well-balanced. The flavors don’t change throughout the cigar, but they are still interesting enough to keep you engaged for the entire stick. I found that the Blend 376 reminded me of one of my favorite smokes, the Padrón 1926 (incidentally also a box-pressed smoke), although the 376 isn’t quite as complex.

At around $7 apiece, it may be a stretch to call this cigar a bargain, but I certainly think it is fair price. All things considered, between well-balanced and interesting flavors, excellent physical properties, and a reasonable price, I think Isla de Cuba has a real hit with this new cigar. The Isla de Cuba Blend 376 earns the exemplary rating of four and a half out of five stogies.

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

–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.

This limited production thick Robusto (5 x 54) features a rustic Nicaraguan corojo wrapper with a pigtail. It starts out with medium-bodied leather flavors and a salty finish, then cinammon, nutmeg, and pepper flavors flow in and out of the relatively complex smoke. Availble for $8-10 per cigar, it is far more interesting than the regular Trinidad line and for only a few dollars in additional cost.

Verdict = Buy.

–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.

This corojo, in my humble opinion, does not rank as one of Pepin’s great creations. I enjoy the Robusto’s (5 x 50) taste, noting how it transitions from dry spice to cream to warm tobacco, but would appreciate more balance and less bitterness. The meandering burn also leaves something to be desired. For $6, I am neither regretful nor thrilled—I am, however, willing to trade my remaining stash of Cuban Classics for Blue Labels instead.

Verdict = Hold.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

In our ongoing effort to make StogieGuys.com as entertaining and informative as possible, each Friday we’ll post a mixed bag of quick cigar news and other snippets of interest. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) The American Cancer Society didn’t appreciate it when recent photos of Michael Jordan surfaced showing the former Cigar Aficionado coverboy puffing on a cigar at a softball game. “When high profile athletes publicly display unhealthful habits they can mislead young people to emulate their behavior,” quipped an ACS official.

2) Just eight days after Hurricane Gustav swept through Cuba, Ike hit the Caribbean island nation, destroying over 3,000 tobacco curing barns and annihilating 8,600 tobacco workers’ homes. “The Cuban government estimates losses from the two storms at $5 billion,” reports the Miami Herald, a major setback that is expected to drive up the prices of Cuban tobacco.

3) A ruling in the Washington Supreme Court upheld the state’s smoking ban against a challenge from a local American Legion post, even though “all seven employees are relatives of members and all but one smoke.” A dissenting justice argues that the majority’s reading of the law renders it unconstitutional.

4) Around the Blogs: Cigar Jack smokes a Camacho Select. Stogie Review lights up a Los Blancos Premier. Keepers of the Flame reviews the Alec Bradley Harvest Selection. Cigar Command tries the Esencia Belicoso. Cigar Inspector inspects the EO 601 Black Label. Gary Manelski runs down his top ten cheap cigars.

5) Deal of the Week: Here’s a great sampler from Tinderbox. This “Pre-Game Sampler” includes ten top cigars including a Don Papin Garcia Cuban Classic, a CAO Gold, an Aroma de Cuba, and a Romeo y Julieta Viejo. You’ll also get a double guillotine cutter and free shipping on the entire order so you can stock up on your other favorites. Grab yours here.

– The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

I think it’s difficult to smoke cigars very long without having a few questions that don’t seem to ever get asked—or answered, for that matter—at your local B&M or on any of the cigar websites and podcasts.

Here’s one that’s been bugging me for years: Who smokes all those cigars you’ve never heard of or seen that they sell in the catalogs? I mean, honestly, have you ever spotted anyone smoking one of them? Imagine someone sitting at home thinking to himself, “Gee, I’m glad this company offers overnight shipping for only $25 more because I just can’t wait to start smoking that bundle of Mexican factory seconds.”

Speaking of catalogs, why is it necessary to print and mail them so frequently when about 90 percent of the content is the same time after time after time?

Then there’s the matter of boutique cigar manufacturers. In an industry steeped in Latin culture and language, why use a French word to describe the smaller cigar makers? It’s somewhat similar to the way ring gauges are calculated and the lengths of cigars are measured. While ring gauges seem to be universally stated in measurements of 64ths of an inch regardless of the country, most of the rest of the world uses the metric system.

I know it’s cheaper, but how can humidor makers—even those that turn out the flimsiest, poorest boxes imaginable—continue to include floral foam as a humidification device? Hey, charge $1 or $2 more and put beads in that will actually work!

Finally, I submit the photograph (above right) from a recent cigar company catalog. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall at the meeting where someone OK’d this picture as a fine example of their wares that would surely make customers want to part with their money.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

The latest release from EO Brands stands apart from the company’s highly praised 601 series, though they’re all blended by Pepin Garcia and rolled in his Nicaraguan factory.

Visually, there’s the rough Ecuadorian-grown Sumatra wrapper. More importantly, the Cubao’s flavor profile is different with not as much pepper and a complexity that is enhanced by a smoothness and a little dryness—reminiscent of some good Cubans.

According to EO partner Erik Espinosa, the response since the IPCPR introduction has been exceptional. The first shipments went to four shops on a Monday and reorders were in just eight days later, he said.

I met Espinosa recently at a Cubao event at MJM Fine Cigars. An old hand at these kinds of affairs, Espinosa entertained smokers with stories, jokes, and cigar conversations. I’d been lucky enough to smoke a couple of Cubao robustos earlier, and was primed to buy a box before I arrived.

The robusto is a 5.5 inch stick with a 52 ring gauge that I bought individually for $6.80. (It is important to note that the No. 6 is slightly larger than the No. 4, which Patrick A and Patrick S jointly reviewed a few weeks ago, even though both fit into a loose definition of a robusto.)

A box of 20 is under $120. So far, all that I’ve smoked have burned evenly, had good draws, and consistent flavors. The Nicaraguan filler and binder burned slowly and produced thick, white smoke.

EO creates an interesting juxtaposition with the old-world look of distressed wooden boxes and simple paper bands combined with 21st century bar code labels on the cellophane of each stick.

When looking to create new blends, Espinosa said, it is getting more and more difficult to secure adequate supplies of top-quality tobacco. “I could make the greatest cigar in the world,” he said. “But if I can only make one box of them, what good is that?”

I truly enjoy the Cubao. I find it to be a flavorful medium-strength cigar that rewards attention each time with complexity and consistency. I give it four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys