The Stogie Guys

My colleague’s recent commentary about catching up on the releases from last year’s IPCPR trade show reminded me there are a few of those smokes that I have yet to smoke, let alone review. One such cigar was the new La Aroma de Cuba Edición Especial, which if I’ve tried it at all was during the haze of the 2008 Las Vegas trade show itself.

The new extension of the Aroma de Cuba line is one of the latest results to come out of the partnership between cigar blender extraordinaire Don Pepin Garcia and Ashton Cigars. Pepin also makes San Cristobal and Benchmade for Ashton. Like the San Cristobal and the mixed-filler Benchmade, La Aroma de Cuba Edición Especial is made at Pepin’s Tabacalera Cubana S. A. factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.

The cigar consists of an orange-tinted Ecuadorian sun-grown wrapper surrounding a Nicaraguan filler and binder. The somewhat rustic wrapper is framed by an attractive and ornate band similar to, but with subtle differences from, the original Aroma de Cuba band.

After lighting up this traditionally sized toro (6 x 50), I discover plenty of coffee and cedar flavors. It is a medium-bodied smoke and wholly absent of the pepper that usually stands out in Pepin’s cigars.

A slight leathery bitterness wanders in and out, particularly in the second half, that distracts from the otherwise pleasant flavors. When the bitterness fades, secondary flavors of chocolate and cinnamon make for an excellent flavor profile.

Also distracting is the draw, which was tight on both samples I smoked and, twice during one of the samples, it even contributed to the cigar going out prematurely. Otherwise, construction is admirable. The ash is steady throughout, and the burn, while far from perfectly straight, wasn’t nearly as big of an issue as the sudden need for relights.

The La Aroma de Cuba Edición Especial No. 3 is a classic case of a cigar that taunts with moments of excellence, only to be surmounted by persistent flaws that refuse to let the cigar’s obvious potential shine through. Those are problems shouldn’t be happening in a cigar that retails for around $7 apiece. That results in a somewhat surprising and disappointing rating of just three stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

The new line from Pete Johnson’s Tatuaje, La Verite, will include two vitolas. La Verite, which means “the truth,” will be a Churchill and available in April 2010. It will be offered in cabinets of 100, broken down into smaller boxes of 10, 25, or 50 and retailing for approximately $25 per stick. The other, L’esprit de La Verite, which means “the spirit of the truth,” will be a robusto and available in December 2009 at a retail price of around $13 apiece.

The idea behind this highly anticipated release borrows heavily from the wine industry. All of the tobacco, habano criollo, will be from the one farm in Esteí—making this a Nicaraguan puro—and each year will produce a different “vintage” to mirror the vintage concept in wines. The tobacco will be fermented but, unlike most cigars, it will be rolled without undergoing further aging in bales.

The L’esprit de La Verite is made from the same tobacco as La Verite and designed to be a sample to give a taste of the final La Verite release. Starting in July, futures will go on sale for La Verite at a 25% discount on the retail price, which is similar to the process used by winemakers.

I was fortunate to be given a L’esprit de La Verite to try and, as such, only had the one cigar to smoke for this review. This 5 inch by 50 ring gauge cigar was perfectly constructed with no visual flaws. Pre-light it smells strongly of tobacco with a hint of woodiness.

Just after lighting I am greeted by the familiar spiciness that is typical in many of Pete’s cigars. That bite quickly diminishes and an earthy flavor emerges that ultimately progresses into a woody taste at the halfway point. The smoke is creamy with a clean, crisp finish on the palate.

The burn and draw are perfect, allowing me to focus more on the subtleties of the flavor. While the individual tastes do not change dramatically throughout, the wood flavor in particular is rich and full, offering different nuances with every puff.

Since this is a preproduction release, the verdict is still out on the final product. If this sample, however, is indicative of what’s to come, the future looks promising for the L’esprit de La Verite and its big brother.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable cigar that will likely improve with some time, which is not surprising given the tobacco’s young age. For that, I give the L’esprit de La Verite four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick M

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.

Two years ago my colleague bestowed upon this five and a half inch by 44 ring gauge stogie our highest rating, and it isn’t hard to see why. This Ashton has a flawless Connecticut shade wrapper and top-notch construction. But the flavors of this smoke are the real treat. A mild yet flavorful combination of cream, almond, and even citrus. It isn’t overbearing and abundantly complex.

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.

We’ve made no secret of the fact that Cuban Crafters, quite simply, has some of the best bang-for-your-buck cigars around. And with its White, Green, and (especially) Brown labels, this Miami-based boutique’s Don Kiki line is no exception. But I don’t think the Colorado sun-grown Habano-wrapped Red Label is in the same league. While the physical properties are fair and the price ($33 for a bundle of 25) is more than approachable, the flavor—best characterized as dry wood—has little to offer. I’d surpass this Corona (5.5 x 44) and instead focus on all the other wonderful Cuban Crafters creations.

Verdict = Sell.

–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 items of interest. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) Anti-smoking politicians in DC made another power grab yesterday, this time as the Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill that would grant the FDA authority over the production and marketing of tobacco. The move all but guarantees President Obama, a supporter of the legislation, will have a chance to sign the bill into law. We have been following this measure since last July, warning that it may result in nicotine controls and substantially limited advertising of cigars in magazines and on websites.

2) Today, dubbed “National Nestor Miranda Cigar Day” by Miami Cigar & Co., is your chance to try a new limited edition Special Selection 20 Aniversario for free. All you have to do is buy any cigar at one of 500 Nestor Miranda Special Selection authorized dealers, and you’ll be given either a Habano Rosado or a Habano Oscuro. Both four and a half stogie-rated cigars normally retail for $9 apiece. Click here to locate a participating retailer near you.

3) Inside the Industry: EO Brands—maker of the 601, Cubao, and Mi Barrio lines—has announced its next cigar, to be introduced at this year’s IPCPR Trade Show in New Orleans in August, will be called the “Murcielago.” In an effort to make some its most sought-after smokes more affordable, Padrón is releasing its 1926 blend in boxes of ten just in time for Father’s Day.

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews a Rocky Patel Sping Collection. Keepers of the Flame lights up a Rocky Patel Decade. Cigar Jack smokes the Canimoa Maduro. A Cigar Smoker sparks the Oliva Series V. Velvet Cigar tries the La Flor Dominicana Connecticut. Stogie Fresh torches up a Flor de Gonzalez 15 Anniversario. Las VegASH reviews the Drew Estate Natural Dirt.

5) Deal of the Week: This “Baker’s Dozen Sampler” features 13 cigars for just $30. Included are such top blends as the CAO Brazilia, Rocky Patel 1992, Gurkha Warrior, CAO Gold Maduro, and Toraño Exodus Silver, plus smokes from Padrón, Fuente, Macanudo, Punch, Hoyo, and more. Get yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: FDA.gov

One of the challenges of reviewing cigars is ensuring that outside interferences don’t skew my judgment of the smoke.  For this review, I smoked two samples in two very different surroundings.

The first time I smoked the Montecristo Sublime Edición Limitada 2008, I was sitting on a bench on the Champs-Elysees on a beautiful Spring day in Paris, jotting down notes with a fantastic backdrop of the Tulieries Gardens. Over a month later, in the mundane surroundings of my garage, I tried it again and found that while everything else had changed, the cigar hadn’t.

Back in 2004, Habanos made a splash when it introduced the Cohiba Sublime as a limited edition cigar. The Cuban state tobacco monopoly then returned to the size with the Montecristo Sublime Edición Limitada 2008.

Like all the limited edition Cubans, this cigar isn’t cheap. My samples smoke cost me 16 Euros each in France where I purchased them (around $24 each).

The large (6.4 x 54)  smoke features a dark, attractive wrapper with some shine and many noticeable veins. The wrapper surrounds Cuban tobacco with two years of aging. It is slightly soft to the touch and features a well-crafted classic Cuban-style triple cap.

Once lit, I found a deliciously smooth combination of sweet cedar, coffee bean, and earth. The cigar had impressive depth, with a second layer of subtle cinnamon spice and rich cocoa.

As it progressed to the final third I found a bit more spice, but the cigar never became too strong or harsh. The finish was long with bread and dry dark chocolate. Construction was also impressive, with an even burn, easy draw, and an ash that easily held for over an inch.

No matter where I smoked the Montecristo Sublime Edición Limitada 2008, I found an outstanding medium- to full-bodied smoke. In fact, I was repeatedly distracted from taking notes by the marvelous flavors. After two very different experiences, I can safely say that this is one of the finest cigars I’ve ever smoked.

Ultimately, it seems “Sublime” isn’t just the size of the cigar; it’s also the perfect description of the Montecristo Sublime Edición Limitada 2008, which earns our highest rating of five stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

With smokers looking for more bang for their stogie buck these days, it should come as no surprise that cigar companies are becoming more innovative with their efforts to market cigars to consumers. Two promotional efforts that illustrate just how far companies are willing to go to highlight their brands are “National Nestor Miranda Cigar Day” and the “Partagas Cigar Cave Contest.”

National Nestor Miranda Cigar Day

In a celebration of the the 20th Anniversary of the Miami Cigar & Company and the release of the Nestor Miranda Special Selection 20 Aniversario, the company has declared Friday, June 12 “National Nestor Miranda Cigar Day.”

In a first for cigar marketing, the company will be giving away samples of its new release (which normally retail for $9 each) without requiring consumers to buy anything from the company. According to a press release from Miami Cigar and Company, “All the smoker has to do is to buy a cigar—any cigar, made by any cigar maker—at one of the 500 Nestor Miranda Special Selection authorized dealers. Again, that’s any cigar; made by any cigar maker. The tobacconist will give him the ‘Danno,’ with Miami Cigars’ compliments.”

The limited edition 20 Aniversario “Danno” has received two four and 1/2 stogie-ratings, for it’s Habano Rosado and Habano Oscuro versions. To locate a participating dealer, smokers can go to NestorMirandaCigars.com.

Partagas Cigar Cave

Meanwhile, Partagas has teamed up with former NFL defensive lineman and TV personality Tony Siragusa to giveaway the ultimate Cigar Cave. Siragusa, the host of “Man Caves” on the DIY network, will be giving $10,000 away to one lucky smoker to build the ultimate cigar room.

According to the Partagas Cigar Cave website, the winner will be chosen in August and judged according to four criteria. With cigar smokers being forced out of bars by smoking bans, Partagas thinks they’ve tapped into a trend.

Debo Mukherjee, vice president of marketing for General Cigars, says, “The trend toward in-home ‘caves’ where men can be men continues to gain momentum. To connect with the lion’s share of cigar enthusiasts who are forced to enjoy the pleasure of a fine cigar in undesirable locations, we found it only fitting to tap Tony Siragusa to convince cigar smokers to share their stories with us. For a cigar lover, having an in-home smoking lounge is the ultimate nirvana.”

–Patrick S

photo credit: PartagasCigarCave.com