The Stogie Guys

About five years ago, lawyer-turned-cigar-maker Rocky Patel celebrated the tenth anniversary of Rocky Patel Premium Cigars. He later commemorated the occasion with Decade, a highly acclaimed series of Ecuadorian Sumatra-wrapped cigars.

These days Patel is honoring his company’s 15th anniversary with, you guessed it, another new blend. Aptly called “15th Anniversary,” the line includes four trunk-pressed sizes: Corona Gorda (6 x 46), Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6.5 x 52), and Torpedo (6.1 x 52). Prices range from $8 to $12 per cigar.

“I wanted a cigar that’s like the Decade on steroids,” Patel told Cigar Aficionado in July. “The 15th has the elegance and the balance of the Decade, but it has the richness, complexity, and spice that kind of puts it over the top.”

To create the series, Patel paired a Cuban-seed Ecuadorian wrapper that he had been storing for two years with binder and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua. The blend is handmade at the Tabacalera Villa Cuba S.A. factory in Estelí, Nicaragua—a facility Patel owns in partnership with Amilcar Perez.

The long, dark Toro comes complete with a reddish hue, a few large veins, and two silver bands with slightly raised lettering.

It looks like a powerful smoke that requires a heavy time investment. The pre-light scent off the foot reminds me of dry chocolate cake and powdery cocoa.

Once lit, the cigar packs a mouth-coating punch of pepper that lasts for half an inch. Thereafter, it settles into a flavor profile of leather, creamy latte, cashew, and cedar. Balanced, albeit a tad sour. The overall effect is resoundingly smoother than I had envisioned—especially given Patel’s apparent intention to build a stogie on “steroids.”

As the cigar becomes meatier and more tannic in the final third, the following physical properties make themselves apparent: the burn line is wavy but maintenance-free, the gray ash is very flaky, and the draw is effortless throughout.

On the whole, I don’t think the 15th Anniversary can stand up to the Decade. Where the former is complex and nuanced, the latter is straightforward and predominantly consistent from light to nub. Still, cashew is a taste too unfamiliar to cigars these days, and this savory flavor helps the mighty Toro earn a respectable rating of three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

If you ever wondered what effect barrel aging has on bourbon, pour yourself a few fingers of Tuthilltown’s Hudson New York Corn Whiskey. Then pour yourself an equal amount of Hudson Baby Bourbon Whiskey.

The two spirits are chemically identical (distilled from 100% New York corn) before the Baby Bourbon begins its aging process. At that point, what will become Baby Bourbon goes into new charred American oak casks, while the Corn Whiskey is bottled for sale.

The difference between the final products couldn’t be more striking. The bourbon takes on a a deep copper color while corn whiskey is as clear as water.

The nose on the corn whiskey—better known by its prohibition monikers of moonshine, white dog, or white lightning—reveals a sweet bouquet of buttered corn with a hint of raspberry. It’s a surprising welcoming to a spirit with a somewhat harsh reputation.

When you’re finally ready to sip the Hudson New York Corn Whiskey, you’ll find it tastes much like it smells. There’s a hot corn fuel taste with some citrus and fried flavors. The finish is long and toasty.

Certainly it’s not as smooth or complex as a bourbon, but I find the corn whiskey surprisingly pleasant, even straight-up. It makes an excellent whiskey sour, too. I expected more harshness from this white lightning, which I always thought of as an ingredient to be hidden in a punch and not to be savored on its own, but it proved to be an excellent spirit, especially with a fine cigar.

As for that cigar, I am pleased to say I found a perfect accompaniment to that rare, full-flavored, Connecticut-wrapped smoke. I sampled my first San Lotano Connecticut by A.J. Fernandez while tasting the Hudson Corn Whiskey. It is an excellent pairing. Other cigars that would go well include the HC Connecticut by Xikar and the Berger & Argenti Entubar.

I strongly encourage bourbon fans to do as I did and try it side by side with the Hudson Baby Bourbon, for a rare look at what fine whiskey tastes like both before and after years of aging. But even if you skip the finished bourbon, the Hudson New York Corn Whiskey is well worth a try, particularly with a fine cigar.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

If you haven’t heard of Viaje Cigars, you’re not alone. But expect to be seeing more from this relatively new manufacturer as it grows in popularity.

To bring us up to speed, Viaje is a boutique cigar company specializing in the small batch approach to cigar making. The company’s three main blends—Oro, Platino, and Fifty Fifty—are all Nicaraguan puros. “Nicaragua was chosen for its rich history and incredible tobaccos its fertile land produces,” reads Viaje’s website. “With its perfect climate and rich soil, there is no better place to produce a premium cigar.”

There’s nothing new about growing tobacco in Nicaragua. But combining two blends in one cigar? Well, that’s a unique approach. And that’s exactly what Viaje introduced last year with the Fifty Fifty Black Label—a three-vitola line with two distinct blends in each cigar to produce a transition at the midway point. Viaje’s Andre Farkas says the evolution is intended to be from “full to fuller.”

This year Viaje is expanding on its distinctive dual-filler strategy with the Fifty Fifty Red Label, a complementary line that intends to meld a medium-bodied cigar with a full-bodied one. It, too, is a Nicaraguan puro with three sizes: No. 1 (5.6 x 46), No. 2 (6 x 50), and No. 3 (7 x 47).

The Red Label No. 1 features a pigtail cap and a dark corojo ’99 wrapper with a toothy, leathery texture. Somewhat spongy to the touch, it exudes mouth-watering pre-light aromas of sawdust, dry cocoa, and earth.

After a burst of black pepper, the taste quickly settles into a mixture of dry cedar, nutmeg, herbs, and salt with meaty undertones. Flavorful yet lacking in balance or depth. The resting smoking seems more aromatic and interesting than what actually hits the taste buds.

As I approach the halfway mark, anticipation builds over the expected change. Will this cigar—already on the verge of the full-bodied spectrum—ramp up in intensity beyond the point of enjoyment? Or will the second filler blend simply add complexity to round off the profile?

Fortunately, I found the latter to be true. While the transition is less abrupt that expected, the second half is best characterized by the additions of cinnamon and cocoa to the flavor.

With good construction and a nice, albeit dry, taste, the Fifty Fifty Red Label No. 1 is a respectable cigar with two main drawbacks. First, those expecting a sea change in flavor may be disappointed by the gradual increase in power. And second, the asking price of around $8-10 is a tad high compared to other sticks in the price range. All things considered, this Viaje earns three stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

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.”

It had been some time since I lit up this little $4 Cuban (5 x 37). Time in the humidor has only served to give the light brown, slightly veiny wrapper a little extra shine. The cigar is much how I remembered it: mild and smooth featuring nutty flavors and slight  notes of wood and cream. Burn, ash, and draw present no problems. It’s balanced, uncomplicated, and easy to recommend, particularly with a cup of coffee in the morning.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

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 box-pressed robusto was recently added to the lineup of cigars that celebrate the Toraño family’s 50-year exile from Cuba. It produces cool tufts of smoke that taste of leather, cocoa, raisin, and black cherry. As with most Toraño cigars, this Brazilian arapiraca-wrapped beauty has outstanding construction. It’s a nice sub-$7 addition to one of the company’s finest blends.

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) Labor Day is upon us. For all you hard-working Stogie Guys out there, it couldn’t have come soon enough. The entire StogieGuys.com team would like to wish you and yours a happy, safe, and cigar-filled holiday weekend—a great time to smoke that extra-special cigar you’ve been saving for years. So whether your plans include a barbecue, a beach, golf, or anything else, be sure to make this year memorable with a memorable cigar.

2) Officials in Ocean City have scheduled a hearing to discuss the possibility of a smoking ban for the Maryland town’s beaches. The announcement came just days before the upcoming holiday weekend, a lucrative time when thousands of mid-Atlantic vacationers flock to this popular ocean-side destination. NBC reports that “most businesses are against a ban on smoking, fearing that it may hurt their already struggling businesses.” An outcome isn’t expected until after an October election.

3) Site News: It may have taken awhile, but the cigar community seems to have embraced Twitter as a forum for talking cigars. So we’ve created a new Cigar Tweets page—your one-stop shop for the latest updates from all the cigar makers on Twitter. And don’t forget to follow Stogie Guys, too.

4) Around the Blogs: Smoking Stogie tries an Illusione Singulare. Cigar Inspector inspects a Juan Lopez Short Torpedo. Stogie Review fires up an AVO Heritage. Nice Tight Ash checks out an Art Deco. Perfect Draw reviews the Quesada Tributo.

5) Deal of the Week: With full-bodied spice and Cuban-like depth, Nicaraguan smokes are increasing in popularity, and this Nicaraguan Blends Sampler demonstrates why. Included are two each from Padilla Habano, Man O’ War, Rocky Patel Fusion, and Gurkha Park Avenue, all for under $30. Grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

Labor Day is one holiday that’s seemingly made for cigars. It may be a three-day weekend, but for cigar enthusiasts it’s far more than a three-cigar break from work.

Whether heading to the beach, visiting family, or just firing up the backyard grill, Labor Day weekend is prime time for cigars. It’s  also the time to bring a few extra cigars to hand out to friends.

And as the unofficial end of summer, Labor Day should be celebrated as the culmination of good smoking weather. It serves as a reminder that winter isn’t too far away—a time when cigar smokers are driven indoors where smoking bans likely foil our ability enjoy premium tobacco.

But barbecues, good weather, and an extra day off work aren’t the only reason why Labor Day is a great cigar holiday. Labor Day celebrates the working man, and cigars are the perfect accompaniment to such a celebration. Despite their aristocratic image, there are few things that cut across class lines like good cigars.

A visit to your local cigar shop confirms that handmade cigars are enjoyed by all. At the tobacconist, you’re just as likely to see blue collar as white collar folks enjoying handmade cigars. After all, a good cigar can be had for just a few dollars—a rare affordable luxury.

I’m constantly telling the story of a visit a few years back to Holt’s iconic shop in downtown Philadelphia. Smoking a cigar in their back lounge, I encountered a typical mix of cigar smokers: a local politician, a lawyer, an electrician, a retiree, a few college students. They were all talking cigars as equals.

That’s the reason Labor Day is such a perfect cigar holiday. When your smoking cigars it isn’t about who you are or what you do. It’s just about the fact that you enjoy cigars, and the camaraderie of your fellow smokers.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Flickr