The 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 representative from the seemingly endless line of Altadis’ Romeo y Julieta lurks at the lower end of the price scale. Unfortunately, it’s also at the lower end of the taste scale. With a fairly dark Nicaraguan wrapper and a mix of Nicaraguan and Honduran filler, the Habana Reserve seems to be an attempt to add a stronger smoke. And it is relatively strong. But the Toro (6 x 56) is also bland, one-dimensional, and bitter.

Verdict = Sell.

–George E

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.”

Making appearances on our lists of the Top Ten Cigars We Reviewed in 2009 and the Top Five New Cigars of 2009—both of which were recently emailed to our free newsletter subscribers—this Pepin-made cigar is a must-try. It sports a creamy, mouth-watering flavor of hazelnut and coffee with pepper on the finish. Balanced and well-constructed, the Rosado Danno (7 x 56) is well worth its MSRP of $9.

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) Seattle politicians are considering a new law that would criminalize smoking in the city’s parks. Washington already has a restrictive statewide ban on indoor smoking and within 25 feet of doors and windows. But this outdoor ban is justified, say anti-tobacco zealots, for very familiar reasons: preference of the majority, junk science, and the notion of legislating away “bad” habits.

2) Ron Jaworski, former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst, held a cigar and Johnny Walker tasting party in Miami during last weekend’s Super Bowl. Mike Ditka, Jon Gruden, and other ESPN personalities were among the attendees, all of whom helped raise money for the United Way.

3) Inside the Industry: In its latest survey of retail members, the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association found that the best-selling cigar size was a toro and the best-selling average price for a cigar was $7.The IPCPR also chose a new lobbyist to represent cigar smokers’ interests in Washington.

4) Around the Blogs: The Stogie Guys, via The Daily Caller, feature the Davidoff Millennium Blend Robusto. Keepers of the Flame lights up the H. Upmann Reserve Maduro. Nice Tight Ash fires up a Grand Habano Cabinet Selection. Stogie Review reviews the Tatuaje Boris. Cigar Inspector inspects the La Aurora 1495 Robusto. Stogie Fresh checks out the Mombacho Long Robusto.

5) Deal of the Week: They call it the “Rare Air” sampler because it includes ten smokes that are hard to find  for just $35. Included are the Man O’ War Ruination, Rocky Patel Puro Cubano, Cocinero, La Princessa de Cuba, and Gurkha Micro-Batch VH-7. Grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

Like it or not, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. This Sunday to be exact. And whether you’re shopping for her, shopping for him, or just looking to celebrate your individualism, finding the perfect gift can be tough.

Cigar enthusiasts can be easy to buy for, if you have the right information. There are countless sticks and cigar accessories available in almost every price range. But maybe cigar-related gifts are a bit too predictable, or maybe you just want to give that cigar fan something a little different this year. So, instead, below are three unique ideas that the average cigar enthusiast would love.

Chocolate-infused bacon. Vosges, a Chicago-based purveyor of sweet treats, carries a line of yummies that combine chocolate and applewood smoked bacon (pictured). From chocolate bars and toffees to a pancake mix and a flying pig, these delicacies are a manly take on a traditional Valentine’s day gift. Prices range from $2.50 to $62.

French press gift set. Coffee is widely considered to be a cigar complement, and no self-respecting coffee drinker should be without a French press. This method is preferred by many “brothers of the bean” because it is said to capture more flavor and more oils in each brew. This gift set includes a French press and two insulated highball glasses for only $40.

Mad Men-esque barware. Even if you don’t watch Mad Men, you can’t deny that vintage barware is pretty badass. So you’ll be pleased to learn that a Virginia-based retailer has created a line of drinking accessories inspired by the popular AMC drama. Included are flasks, travelling bar sets, muddlers, and classic roly poly glasses. Prices vary.

Hopefully these unique gift ideas make it easier to get through what many consider to be a crummy holiday. Good luck, and happy shopping.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

United Tobacco’s 601 line is a favorite of mine and my colleagues here at StogieGuys.com. Two of the four, Red and Blue, scored four stogies in reviews, while the powerhouse Green garnered four and a half.

It seemed only right that we round out the series with a look at the Black. It may not be Don Pepin’s most discussed creation, but it continues to rank among his best.

Covered by a light brown Connecticut leaf grown in Ecuador, some smokers might fall for the oft-repeated fiction that such a wrapper is the mark of a mild smoke. They’d be just as wrong as those who assume dark cigars are powerful. In this case, I think most smokers will find the Black more powerful than its darker sibling, the Blue.

But it is taste, not simply strength, that makes the 601 line outstanding. And the Black doesn’t disappoint. The 5 inch by 50 ring gauge Robustos I’ve smoked are a delight to the senses. It begins with a luscious pre-light aroma of nuts, adds a bit of pepper to that flavor in the initial third, and then mixes in hints of clove and rich tobacco sweetness.

I’ve probably smoked a dozen or so and have had no construction problems. The draw is consistently excellent and the cigars produce copious amounts of smoke. The only real drawback I could name is that they tend to burn a little fast.

Bought individually, these sticks run around $7 or $7.50, though they’re often considerably cheaper in 5-pack or box deals.

Just like its brethren, this stick from Erik Espinoza and Eddie Ortega is worthy of a strong recommendation and a high rating. It earns four stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: Wikipedia

“Brazilian cigars have never really gained traction with American cigar smokers, something that I can’t understand just thinking about the Brazilian tobacco tradition…” So said Lorenzo Orsi in a December 2008 interview.

Five months before, Orsi introduced Monte Pascoal at the IPCPR Trade Show. This blend, named to honor the mountain that was the first piece of land spotted by Brazil discoverer Pedro Álvares Cabral, is a Brazilian puro.

It is constructed almost entirely from mata fina tobaccos with some mata norte mixed in the filler to provide power. The difference between the two, aside from the region in which they are grown, is mata fina is sungrown in sandy soil and barn-dried to yield a sweet smoke, while mata norte is planted later in the year and dried in the open air to yield a full-bodied taste of coffee and nuts.

To manufacture his creation, Orsi, a native of Italy currently living in São Paulo, bought the Brazilian factory that once produced Caravelas cigars. He then built a cedar aging room, invested in new cigar molds, and refined the system of production while retaining all of the rollers—a nine-month process that no doubt benefited from his expertise as an industrial manager in the steel industry.

Today, Monte Pascoal’s distribution in the U.S. is limited but growing. Found at select tobacconists and occasionally available online, the blend comes in six traditional sizes, two of which have earned ratings at or above 9.0 in Smoke Magazine.

The five inch by 50 ring gauge Robusto sells for $7 apiece and sports a firm feel, a gorgeous triple cap, and a pre-light aroma of cocoa. Handsome, albeit coarse, Monte Pascoal helps dispel the myth that Brazilian cigars are less attractive than their Caribbean counterparts.

The foot of the dark, reddish cigar takes to a wooden match easily to establish an easy light. From there, a dry profile of espresso, walnut, and peat emerges. Rustic and resinous with some sweetness on the finish for complexity.

While this flavor is enjoyable, it’s nothing like the chocolate cake taste I often associate with mata fina tobacco (most notably in the Alonso Menendez, another Brazilian puro). No, the Monte Pascoal has a profile all its own, and one that’s sure to please cigar enthusiasts who are looking for something a little different.

Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I must admit that this review is based off a single sample—a temptation I rarely indulge and one that I don’t plan to make into a habit. But I did test-drive this blend in several sizes, each of which exhibited similar flavors and outstanding combustion qualities. So I can heartily recommend the Monte Pascoal Robusto if you’re ready to delve into Brazilian tobacco. It earns four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

If, for you, Canadian Club conjures images of something your dad used to drink or a simple whiskey to mix with Coke, you’re not alone. But the brand is challenging that stereotype with its new Sherry Cask Whiskey.

On the heals of other higher end releases like the Canadian Club Classic 12 Year and Canadian Club Reserve 10 Year, this one offers a new twist on Canadian whiskey: a sherry cask finish. According to Canadian Club, it is made in small batches, aged a minimum of eight years in white oak barrels, and finished in old Jerez sherry casks.

The Canadian Club Sherry Cask comes in a classic bottle, complete with a traditional wood and cork top. Each bottle of the 82.6-proof spirit is labeled with the individual cask that the whiskey came from.

The whiskey is a deep amber color with a slight reddish tinge. The nose is maple syrup.

When sipping the Canadian Club Sherry Cask, I find a pleasant toffee sweetness, and wheat notes with some subtle spice flavors. While there’s a hint of smooth sherry sweetness, I was pleased to find it not overwhelming. The finish is smooth with rye flavors and more hints of peppery spice.

This is an excellent spirit to prove that Canadian whiskey can be so much more than just an ingredient in a Manhattan. I recommend drinking it straight or with just a splash of water.

It also goes well with cigars, particularly those with a peppery spice. Full-flavored smokes like the Opus X, CAO Lx2, EO 601 Red, or  J. Fuego 777 Corojo all stand up well.

Available for around $25-30 a bottle, this is a whiskey that punches above it’s weight class, especially compared to scotch or bourbon of similar cost. And the price also means you won’t be too be disappointed if it ends up in an old fashioned.

For a change of pace for the bourbon or scotch drinker, the Canadian Club Sherry Cask Whiskey is well worth a try.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys