The Stogie Guys

Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all consider Cain to be first son of Adam and Eve. But this biblical figure, regarded by many as “from the wicked one,” is better remembered as the murderer of his brother, Abel, and more generally as the embodiment of evil.

So given its high-powered makeup, “Cain” seemed a fitting name for Nub creator Sam Leccia’s new brand. It is, after all, a “straight ligero” blend. And ligero is recognized as the most full-flavored of leaves due to their concentration of nutrients and direct exposure to sunlight at the top of the tobacco plant.

As Leccia told us at last month’s IPCPR Trade Show in New Orleans, Cain is 82 percent—not 100 percent—ligero because any cigar comprised entirely of ligero leaves would inherently suffer from serious combustion deficiencies. Both the Maduro- and Habano-wrapped versions of this blend incorporate three different ligero tobaccos grown in the Estelí, Condega, and Jalapa regions of Nicaragua.

The six inch by 50 ring gauge Habano Toro could be easily mistaken for a cigar with a more traditional proportion of ligero, seco, and viso tobaccos. It has an oily, clean-looking wrapper, a fairly solid feel, and pre-light fragrances of sweet cocoa and spice.

While Cain certainly doesn’t look like the progenitor of annihilation, appearances can be deceiving. The first few puffs are remarkably bold and densely packed with notes of peppercorn and dry wood. A background of leather and light sugar, though, adds depth.

To its credit, Cain turns out to be much more than just a heavy-handed bomb of strength and intensity. The Habano Toro is surprisingly smooth and complex, especially as it progresses past the midway point. This is likely the result of the triple fermentation process that Leccia employs to reduce the natural harshness of ligero tobacco.

So what we have here is a bit of a paradox. Leccia presumably created this straight ligero blend to satisfy the palates of enthusiasts of full-bodied cigars, yet he actively took steps to somewhat dilute the edge of ligero tobacco. The result is a blend that’s big on taste but not as explosive as some other sticks on the market (say, the 601 Green).

But I like this cigar for what it is—a rich $6-8 stick with more nuance and smoothness than meets the eye. I also like the fact that Leccia and Oliva include a 12-page pamphlet on Cain’s makeup, fermentation, and flavor in each 24-count box. Making such information readily available is sadly an industry rarity. So despite its occasional construction flaws and some bitter notes, the Cain Habano Toro earns four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

The Partagas  Serie D No. 4 is one of the best regarded cigars in the world, and with good reason. That robusto (4.8 x 50) features a powerful combination of cedar and spice. It’s a classic representation of the fuller-bodied “new school” Cubans.

With that pedigree, it should come as no surprise that Habanos S.A. sought to capitalize on the Serie D No. 4 fame with a limited edition smoke. For the 2008 Edición Limitada, it introduced the slightly shorter Partagas Serie D No. 5, attempting to provide the flavor of the No. 4 in the trendy short robusto (4.3 x 50) format.

This double-banded Cuban features tobacco aged at least two years. The wrapper is oily, but it also has a number of large, unsightly veins. The cigar is relatively firm to the touch, and features a notably squared-off cap that requires a precise cut so as not to expose too much filler.

After a few puffs I was concerned that this was simply an overpriced dud. Fortunately, the vegetal flavors quickly faded, making way for a full-bodied, earthy smoke with black pepper. Later notes of cinnamon, clove, and leather emerged to provide new depth, although the leather sometimes fades into an unpleasant bitterness.

Construction is superb. Unlike many Cubans I’ve smoked lately, the burn is straight and requires no touch-ups.

Those combustion qualities make the complex, balanced flavors of the Partagas Serie D No. 5 easy to enjoy. A little tougher to enjoy is the price, which runs $15-20 per cigar.

Despite the price and occasional bitterness, this fireplug provides a lively 45-60 minutes of bold, intermingled flavors. That’s why the Partagas Serie D No. 5 LE 2008 earns a rating of four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Today presents a perfect opportunity to kick back, relax, and enjoy a fine stogie or four. We at StogieGuys.com are taking our own advice, interrupting our daily coverage of cigar news, reviews, commentaries, and tips to do what we do best—smoke. After all, you wouldn’t want us to be hypocritical, would you?

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

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

The Perdomo Reserve 10th Anniversary Criollo Churchill is a big cigar (7 x 54) with a big band and a big taste—but a not-so-big price tag. I paid $7 for this nicely complex smoke with Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. Enjoying a couple of these lately, coming on the heels of another good Perdomo experience, has increased my interest in exploring more of this Miami-based manufacturer’s lines. If you haven’t smoked many Perdomos, this is a good place to start. You’ll find a smooth blend of spice, leather, cedar, and coffee.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

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

I always have high expectations whenever I light up a La Aurora, and this five inch by 50 ring gauge treat doesn’t disappoint. It delivers a balanced profile of dry vanilla, toasty spice, and that sweet finish that’s typical of Cameroon tobacco. What’s more, living up to its $8-11 price tag, the La Aurora Cameroon Robusto sports outstanding combustion qualities.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

As we have since July 2006, each Friday we’ll post a mixed bag of quick cigar news and other items of interest. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) Companies selling to the U.S. market haven’t been shy about naming their products after outlawed Cuban brands. Case in point: many of the lines made by General Cigar and Altadis. But as relations between Washington and the communist island nation slowly improve, trademark disputes in this gray area of the law are likely to intensify. The Associated Press sheds some light on what might ensue should America lift its half-century trade embargo on Cuba.

2) Officials in St. Louis recently announced that a county-wide proposal to ban indoor smoking will be on the ballot in November. The American Cancer Society and other anti-tobacco groups, however, were angered because they had hoped to pass a stronger, exemption-free law through the legislative process instead of via voter referendum. Meanwhile, in Kansas, Gov. Mark Parkinson indicated his desire to push for a statewide ban and increased tobacco taxes in 2010.

3) Inside the Industry: West Coast cigar enthusiasts should consider attending Cigar Con West, which takes place in Paso Robles, California, September 18-19. The event will feature many top cigar makers and over 250 winemakers.

4) Around the Blogs: Keepers of the Flame lights up a Romeo y Julieta Habana Reserve. Stogie Review reviews a Casa Magna Colorado. Cigar Inspector inspects a CAO Gold Vintage. Stogie Spy investigates the Gurkha Triple Ligero.

5) Deal of the Week: Toro is one of most popular vitolas around, and this “Stellar Toro Sampler” contains some fine examples of the format. For just $40 (free shipping) you get 10 toros including smokes from Toraño,  Don Pepin Garcia, Rocky Patel, Perdomo, Partagas, and La Aroma de Cuba. Grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

Before I met Sean Williams at the IPCPR Trade Show in New Orleans last month, I had never heard of El Primer Mundo Cigars. I probably should have. In its young existence, his Atlanta-based boutique manufacturer has built a loyal following, earned some impressive reviews, and achieved nationwide distribution.

Sean will be the first to tell you that none of this would have happened without his “friend and mentor,” David Blanco of Los Blancos Cigars. David’s knowledge and connections to the Plasencia family inspired Sean to pursue his dream. “Spending time with these two great families gave me a humbling insight into the tobacco business and a sincere respect for the tradition, heritage, and pride that the great tobacco families hold,” says Sean on his website.

Today, El Primer Mundo is handmade by the Plasencias in Estelí, Nicaragua, and distributed by the Blancos. The tobacco comes from Plasencia’s farms.

In the case of the Habano Criollo Maduro blend, that tobacco includes a binder from Jalapa, filler from Nicaragua and Honduras, and a dark Havana-seed maduro wrapper. The classically sized Robusto is further accented by its beautiful band and rich fragrances of honey and cocoa.

While some of the sweetness carries over to the taste, the first third is dominated by notes of coffee beans, walnuts, and bitter chocolate. A great combination, albeit lacking in balance. The thick, hearty smoke all but coats the mouth for a long, flavorful finish with each easy puff.

The midway point is where the box-pressed Robusto really shines. Just as a black pepper spice enters the equation, a sugary taste creeps in to add depth and complexity and the meandering burn starts to self-correct. Notes of charred steak and intensified spice are evident as the 70-minute smoke comes to a close.

This selection from El Primer Mundo earns my respect for its interesting flavors and decent construction. It shows promise to improve with age, which would validate its $7-8 price tag. So, in my book, the Habano Criollo Maduro Robusto earns three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys