The Stogie Guys

A few weeks ago, I spent a pleasant evening at Arnold Serafin’s cigar shop smoking and chatting. One of the sticks I enjoyed was Arnold’s eponymous production. I left with several others, thinking I could give them a more objective evaluation in another setting. I don’t know about you, but I usually find that when I’m having a good time, every cigar seems just a bit better.

So, I’ve now smoked several Serafin de Cubas in various sizes. With Ecuadorian wrappers around a mix of Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos, which Arnold told me he purchases from Oliva Tobacco in Tampa, these are well-crafted cigars rolled on site. They produce a ton of smoke and burn evenly.

While not particularly complex, they do offer changes from head to foot, with a little grass, nuts, and a buttery smoothness on the finish. As with many cigars, I favored the Robusto vitola, but not by a lot. I was reminded a little of one of Stogie Guys’ favorite house blends, Ybor City Handmades, though each is a distinctive smoke.

If you happen to be in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area, you can stop by Arnold’s shop in Tarpon Springs. (And I noticed on his recently revamped website that he’s added a spot to the north in Spring Hill, Florida.) Stop by on the weekend and you can usually pick up a Serafin de Cuba freshly rolled by the Cuban roller who produces these cigars. But if you can’t make it down this way, call Arnold and he’ll personally take care of you.

These cigars are value priced: Six of the seven sizes come in bundles of 25 for $100, with the seventh, a 6.5-inch by 54 ring gauge “Giant Torpedo,” going for $25 more.

If you like milder cigars, want some quality sticks on hand for the occasional smoker who stops by, or simply desire the experience of a truly small-batch smoke, give these a try. I know I need to get back up the street and buy more from Arnold. I give his cigar, the Serafin de Cuba Robusto, a rating of four stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

This five and a half inch by 52 ring gauge smoke features filler that is 50% Moroccan Azemour tobacco. The result is a medium-bodied smoke with a dry, cedary flavor and an interesting hint of plum. The taste is consistent throughout, which leaves it slightly one-dimensional. The construction is flawless, however, allowing this unique cigar to produce an abundance of aromatic smoke.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

As far as I can tell, this 6.5-inch Ashton, which came in the sampler that’s available only to CRA members, is identical to the regular VSG Illusion. But I hardly have buyer’s remorse. While it would have been nice to try a new twist on the VSG, this blend of four- to five-year-old Dominican tobacco and an Ecuadorian wrapper is a box-pressed treat. The smooth, medium-bodied flavor includes notes of nuts, dry wood, sweet chocolate, and some pepper spice on the finish. The only flaw in this memorable 90-minute smoke is its slightly stiff draw.

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) Exclusive: Last month we told you about the “Benji Menendez Social.” This five-city tour was launched on November 17 to celebrate the new Benji Menendez Partagas Master Series Majestuoso. Events have already been held in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, each featuring the new limited release from General Cigar and drinks from sponsors like Courvoisier, Dalmore Scotch, Mount Gay Rum, and Stella Artois. Until now, each event has been held at a “secret location,” revealed only the day before it takes place. But StogieGuys.com has learned that the next social, scheduled for Chicago on Tuesday, will be at the Seven Stars Lounge at the Horseshoe Casino (6:30-8:30pm). To attend, enter the RSVP code “DA31049” here.

2) Now is a great time to join the J.C. Newman Cigar Club with a modest membership fee of $18. In return, you’ll get a four-stogie Cuesta-Rey Centro Fino sampler, a golf shirt, coupons for free cigars and merchandise, and more. Plus, best of all, the fee includes a donation to the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit that raises millions to build schools and health facilities in the Dominican Republic.

3) Inside the Industry: Jaime Garcia’s latest creation, the Reserva Especial, will debut next Saturday at an event at at the Cigar Inn in New York City. The cigar, which comes in only one size (6 x 56) is composed of a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper, an Ecuadoran binder, and filler from Nicaragua. Attendees get a free box of 10  when they purchase select other Don Pepin-made cigars. The cigar isn’t scheduled to start shipping to shops until Spring 2010.

4) Around the Blogs: Weekly Cigar torches up a La Flor Limitado III. Cigar Jack lights up a Tesa Cabinet 312. Keepers of the Flame reviews the Illusione Epernay. Stogie Review smokes the 777 Corojo. Cigar Inspector inspects the La Traviata.

5) Deal of the Week: There’s a good reason why the toro is one of the most popular sizes, and this “Stellar Toro Sampler” has ten quality toros for just $29.99. Featured blends include the Don Pepin Garcia Blue Label, Perdomo ESV 1991, Rocky Patel Connecticut, Casa Toraño, Partagas, Perdomo Golf Edition, and La Aroma de Cuba.  Get yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Benji Menendez Social

Tuesday marked the beginning of Virginia’s smoking ban and the end of free choice in the commonwealth’s bars and restaurants. And while we’ve written extensively about the dangers of government-driven regulations on tobacco, this ban hits especially close to home—because we both live in Virginia.

So, as you might expect, Monday night we went out in style. We were lucky enough to attend two of the special “Last Hurrah” cigar dinners, hosted by Morton’s at the steakhouse chain’s three locations in Northern Virginia. These dinners, like last summer’s Paul Garmirian event, featured premium tobacco paired with fine libations and Morton’s signature cuisine.

We thought we’d share our experiences not to gloat, but to inspire you to occasionally treat yourself to a lavish and luxurious cigar dinner. Every brother of the leaf, after all, deserves an expertly paired meal from time to time.

Attended by Patrick A, the Tysons Corner event started with a reception of crab cakes, oysters, and tuna tartare, complemented by a Chateau St. Jean chardonnay and a mild and creamy Davidoff 2000. The second cigar of the evening was the Davidoff Ambassadrice, served with a Duck Pond pinot noir (an exceptional wine for a mild smoke). And finally, after an outstanding filet mignon entrée, a well-balanced and complex Davidoff Special R was paired with a Fonseca Bin 27 port.

Meanwhile, Patrick S, about 15 miles away in Arlington, attended a second Morton’s dinner with Davidoff cigars, which featured a reception with petite lamb chops, poached salmon, and cheeses, paired with a Crossings Sauvignon blanc and a Davidoff Special T. After an palate cleanser of raspberry sorbet, attendees lit the petit corona-sized Davidoff Grand Cru No. 5, followed by a main course of NY Strip with a lively Livernano “Josephine” 2006 Super Tuscan. For a finale, diners were treated to a hot chocolate cake that went well with Taylor Fladgate 10-Year Tawny port and the Davidoff-made Winston Churchill Blenheim—a perfect choice given that the dinner was taking place on Churchill’s birthday.

A third dinner was also held at the Morton’s location in Reston, which included cigars by Paul Garmirian. The highlight of the evening was the world debut of the new PG Symphony 20th Connoisseur. We hope to review this cigar soon.

Before we get to that, though, we’d like to extend our thanks to everyone at Morton’s for recognizing the enormous potential of wine, cuisine, and premium cigar pairings and for executing an outstanding “Last Hurrah” to free choice in the commonwealth. Monday was a memorable night, and we’re sorry we won’t be able to experience anything like it again in Virginia.

–Patrick A & Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Since their debut in 2003, Tatuaje cigars have been highly acclaimed. Created by Pete Johnson, then buyer for the exclusive Grand Havana Room in Beverly Hills, Tatuaje was named the most in-demand cigar of 2009 by Cigar Aficionado.

These days, Johnson has expanded his cigar line, and in addition to several Tatuaje blends, he now produces Cabaiguan, La Riqueza, Ambos Mundos, and El Triunfador. He recently spoke with StogieGuys.com about his foray into cigars, the challenges of bringing his cigars to market, what he would do if he had access to Cuban tobacco, and much more:

Stogie Guys: When did you first start smoking cigars? At what point did you know you wanted to make your own cigars?

Pete Johnson: My first, a Hav-a-Tampa at the age of 13, doesn’t really count. I didn’t continue with cigar smoking because I didn’t think that was a good tasting cigar. I had another cigar at the age of 20 and thought it was good, but it was another year before I wanted to explore the cigar world. So right around 1991, the father of the guitar player in my band was a cigar smoker and in 1994 he wanted to invest in me to create a cigar—something I wanted to do but never had the money or the nerve. I went to the DR in 1995 to ask the few people I knew to make the brand. No go. The cigar business was nuts and those people didn’t have the time to make anything original for me. So I waited.

SG: What was the greatest challenge in starting up your manufacturing operation?

PJ: Well, I don’t manufacture anything. I design and create new brands and have a great manufacturer for all my products. I can tell you that to start a new operation, you need money, tobacco, patience, and more money.

SG: What’s your favorite Tatuaje cigar? What are your favorite non-Tatuaje cigars?

PJ:  Just in the original Tatuaje, I would have to say the Havana Cazadores. I have so many brands now and so many line extensions, it is hard to pick just one favorite. I guess the best answer is, depends on my mood and the time of the day. Outside my brand, I tend to smoke a lot of Pepin Garcia-made products and some La Flor Dominicana. I still do smoke a lot of Cuban cigars.

SG:  Two questions we like to ask: First, what is your favorite beverage to pair with a cigar? Second, in your own humidor, do you generally store cigars with the cellophane on or off?

PJ: I like orange soda or Cuban coffee with a cigar. If you haven’t tried orange soda, you are missing out. Cellophane is an odd one, I do both. If the cigar came in cello I leave it that way and I don’t put cello on any non-cello cigars. I did a ton of experimenting when I was younger and ruined many great cigars that I took out of cello.

SG: What are your thoughts on Cuban cigars being produced today? If Cuba opened up today and you could use Cuban leaf to make a new line, would you make a Cuban puro, or would you blend it with non-Cuban tobacco?

PJ: Some Cuban cigars are still wonderful, but I think they are hit and miss at times. I like some of the regional and limited products, but I think where you see more problems is in the regular production cigars. I know if Cuba opened up, I would start with a blend before making a puro. There are growers out there that in my opinion grow and process better leaf than Cuba and I would wait for those people to work some of that land before I would make a puro. A puro, for sure, eventually because the soil and climate in Cuba are so perfect, but now the tobacco processing is crude.

SG: If someone is new to your cigars, which vitola and which blend would you recommend as the best cigar to introduce them to Tatuaje?

PJ: I usually guide people to a robusto or a corona gorda size in any of the lines so a good starter is the Havana VI Noble or the Havana VI Hermoso. Not to strong and not to mild. If they like those, they are going to like many others in the Tatuaje portfolio.

SG: What’s one thing about your cigars that would surprise even the biggest Tatuaje fan?

PJ: I don’t know if this is a OMG one, but when I was a kid I used to repair baseball gloves for a job. Okay ,that’s a boring one. Take two: I know my way around a sewing machine.

Many thanks to Pete for taking the time to answer our questions. For more information, visit the Tatuaje website or follow him on Twitter @TatuajeCigars.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

The Cien Años line was launched in 2003 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of La Aurora, the oldest cigar maker in the Dominican Republic. It was a limited blend that came in four sizes: No. 4 (corona), Robusto, Churchill, and Belicoso. The latter scored rating of 93 in Cigar Aficionado in 2005.

According to La Aurora, this Lancero is not officially part of the Cien Años line. Rather, it is a new cigar using the remaining Cien Años tobaccos. Like the original blend, though, it is a limited release, with only be 800 boxes of 25 ever to be made.

The Lancero (6.9 x 40) will cost you about $11—if you can find one, that is. Locating this elusive cigar can be very difficult due to its rare tobaccos. It is a Dominican puro, using an aged corojo wrapper over aged Dominican corojo and piloto cubano filler.

The wrapper is slightly bumpy, with the outlines from the binder’s veins underneath apparent from the outside. Firm to the touch with a moderate pre-light draw, it has a gentle aroma of milk chocolate and cashew.

The profile opens with notes of bread, bran, and dry wood. Tasty and traditional. You could almost call the flavor fairly mild until the peppery finish kicks in, which is long with a spicy tingle.

At the midway point, a custard flavor with a slightly salty bite develops. Here, the draw opens nicely with each airy puff producing lots of thick smoke. The spice tends to dissipate in the final third, which is also marked by tastes of tea and hops.

On the whole, the 100 Años Lancero is a well-balanced, medium-bodied smoke that will reward those who seek it out. Its only drawback is a slight ammonia flavor that fades in and out, particularly if smoked too quickly—a blemish that may improve with just a bit of aging.

As you’d expect from La Aurora, this cigar’s combustion qualities are quite good. The burn line is even with a shiny black mascara and the gray ash holds well for about an inch. Don’t push it much beyond that, though, or you’ll find yourself with a lap full of ash.

This is still a high-quality smoke, however, with a complex, classic taste. Go ahead and grab a Cien Años Lancero by La Aurora if you get the chance. It earns four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A & Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys