The Stogie Guys

Headquartered in a lounge on the Near North Side of the Windy City, the Tesa Cigar Company is led by Chicago native Chris Kelly. Chris is an “atypical” cigar maker who meticulously creates blends from Tesa’s own factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, with a variety of enticing wrappers and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua. His offerings include the Shaman, Series Finos F500, Havanitas, Gran Cru, and the Vintage Especial (third on our list of the Top Ten Cigars We Reviewed in 2009).

Chris—pictured in front of a national monument for Augusto Sandino in Managua, Nicaragua—recently spoke with StogieGuys.com about mastering the trade, the challenges of working in another culture, and what sets Tesa apart from the competition.

Stogie Guys: You don’t look like the typical cigar maker. Your age, your base in Chicago…What gives? How did you get involved in the industry?

Chris Kelly: I am the atypical cigar manufacturer. I’m a 24-year-old Irish kid from the South Side of Chicago. I was blessed to grow up in the cigar business, as my father has had a cigar store there for almost 30 years. I have spent the better portion of my life from infancy to now around cigars and cigar smokers. Needless to say, they have become my life’s passion. My father has always been ahead of industry trends and in the early 90s he began taking trips to Nicaragua with the Padróns and Perdomos. While there, he developed a relationship with a small factory and began having brands made for his store. A couple years later we began wholesaling product. When quantities went up we ran into problems. I couldn’t sell bad cigars. My father bought a building in Nicaragua and offered to let me make cigars. At 18 I said, “Hell yes!” and have been doing it ever since.

SG: In terms of blending and cigar production, what sets Tesa apart from other manufacturers?

CK: We’re unique in our blending. When I was learning to blend, the level of guidance from experienced people was about zero. This industry is very family-oriented for the most part and so great-grandfathers pass their knowledge of tobacco down to grandfathers and then fathers and so on. I had none of that generational knowledge passed on to me, which made my start in blending and manufacturing a very difficult task. When I began in Nicaragua, I was a cigar smoker and that was it. Just about zero Spanish, one or two contacts in the country, no raw material knowledge, no processing knowledge, blending or construction knowledge—let alone how to deal with people from another culture. That was an awful lot to take in at 18, but this was what I wanted to be. I wanted to be a tobacco man. I was forced to approach everything thinking outside the box. This has helped define both our cigars and our company. It has also cost quite a bit of money from my earlier ignorance.

SG: What are some of the biggest challenges in making cigars the way you do?

CK: The biggest challenges are definitely with tobacco, both availability and the lack of deep pockets. We had some serious availability issues to overcome for the first two and a half years. Finally, I was permitted by tobacco growers to purchase Grade A tobaccos. Those tobaccos were just “not available” to me in the beginning, which forced me to be totally involved in my manufacturing process. A lot of oversight is needed with “workable” material and not top grade. That practice has become a part of why we’re different.

SG: What was the most difficult Tesa line to blend? Which line is the best-selling?

CK: Each blend has had its peculiarities that we’ve run into, every single leaf of tobacco is different, and tobaccos react differently with other tobaccos. The difficulty level becomes a major factor when you’re driven to make a cigar that is complex, well-balanced, rich, and well-constructed. That is very difficult. Right now our best cigar is a toss-up between the Cabinet 312 (a nice medium-full body with big and dark flavors of espresso, bittersweet chocolate, with fleeting hints of citrus) and the Vintage Especial (a mild-bodied Connecticut with a very creamy texture to the smoke, subtle yet intricate flavors of almonds and butterscotch—very complex for a mild blend).

SG: How long have you had a lounge in Chicago? What sort of surprises does that enterprise present?

CK: We have had the lounge in Chicago for about a year and a half. The biggest surprise to me has been people’s gravitation to the lounge. Obviously, in opening the lounge I anticipated customers, but there is a wonderful energy in that place. People don’t want to leave and, when they do, they’ve already planned when they can come back. We have created upwards of 100 new cigar smokers out of that store. Twenty-something’s think it’s the coolest thing they’ve seen. They stumble in looking for cigarettes and say, “Wow, what’s this all about? I didn’t know people still smoke cigars.” More women frequent our lounge than I’ve seen in many cigar shops. The synergy of people is top shelf. The lounge is critical for the longevity of this industry and society as a whole.

SG: Regarding your factory in Estelí, how is doing business in Nicaragua different than doing business in the U.S.?

CK: Doing business in Nicaragua is very different. You are dealing with a different culture in a foreign language. It took a considerable amount of time to hone my diplomacy and people skills to work side-by-side with them. You have to understand the people, their history, beliefs, and ideals before you can begin to relate to them. It’s very humbling to be working down there; save Haiti, it’s the poorest country in our hemisphere. To be there on a daily basis seeing what true poverty is and understanding what that means to the person who is impoverished is truly life-changing. The Nicaraguan people are wonderful and very strong.

SG: What would you say to those readers who have never tried a Tesa?

CK: Why not try a Tesa? I smoke what I make and I work very hard to bring to market a superior product. It may not become your favorite, but I personally guarantee that it will be a very enjoyable experience for you. It’s difficult to get people to try products from a new company, but we’re not new. We are the best kept secret in Nicaragua and the industry. Give me a shot at your taste buds.

SG: Aside from your own creations, what else do you smoke?

CK: Right now, I’m smoking quite a few Ligas from Drew Estate—both the Number 9 and the T-52s. Personally, aside from my products, I think it’s one of the most under-appreciated sticks out right now. Great flavor, complex, lots of depth, and the construction is excellent. Other than that, some Pepin stuff here and there, the Davidoff maduro is a nice smoke, and some other odds and ends.

Many thanks to Chris Kelly for taking the time to speak with StogieGuys.com. For more information and to order Tesa cigars online, please visit TesaCigars.com.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

For a cigar fan, walking into a humidor displaying new and untried sticks is an enticing moment. Whether it’s that cigar you’ve been wanting to try since you first heard or read about it (maybe the Cain F) or something that just hit the shelves (maybe La Aurora’s 107), smoking a cigar for the first time can be a lot of fun.

But if, like me, you don’t smoke several cigars a day, the quest for untried cigars means you can easily neglect those you’ve enjoyed in the past. This point was brought home to me the recently when I was listening to a couple of different podcasts that mentioned cigars I liked but haven‘t smoked in what seems like ages.

There’s Arturo Fuente’s Sun Grown line. A few years ago, that was the stick I reached for again and again. Until today, though, I can’t remember the last time I smoked one. That’s a shame. Because not only is the Sun Grown, with its distinctive black band at the foot, a terrific cigar, the Double Chateau vitola is also among the best bargains around. It’s large: 6.75 inches with a 50 ring gauge. It’s excellently constructed and burns like a dream with tons of smoke. It tastes great, with one of the finest finishes anywhere. And it runs about $6.

There’s also the Padrón regular line, often referred to as the “Thousands.” The 6000 is a 52 ring gauge torpedo that’s 5.5 inches long. Sometimes called “the poor man’s anniversary” due to some similarities to Padrón’s top-of-the-line cigars, the 6000, in natural and maduro, is another reasonably priced beauty that’s a pleasure to smoke.

I’m still crazy about the La Gloria Cubana Medaille d’Or No. 1 Maduro, though I rarely see them at tobacconists anymore. Perhaps that’s why it has been so long–too long–since I’ve enjoyed one.

I’m sure each of you can think of cigars that you really liked in the past but somehow got away from smoking as new releases elbowed their way onto the shelves. And I’m not suggesting that anyone abandon the hunt for great new cigars. Discovering them is one of the many pleasures of cigar smoking. But so is reconnecting with an old friend. Grab one of yours, and see if you agree.

–George E

photo credit: Flickr

With the 2010 International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association Trade Show coming up in three months, May is a good time to take stock in the year that was. Another barrage of cigar introductions is just around the corner. So this is an appropriate month to catch up on any releases from last year that may have fallen through the cracks.

There were many sought-after debuts at the 2009 show, but perhaps none as anticipated as Padrón’s newest creation. Padrón, unlike most cigar makers, doesn’t always put out a new cigar every year. When the company does, it’s usually in high demand.

That was certainly the case with the new Padrón Family Reserve No. 45. Released in two versions (Natural and Maduro) with one size (6 x 52), it celebrates the 45th anniversary of Padrón Cigars. Each box of ten includes an insert about the band’s little hammer—a commemoration of Cuban émigré José Orlando Padrón and his drive to work as a carpenter until he could establish a cigar company.

His dedication paid off in spades. With over 600 employees, a tremendously loyal following, and more accolades than space permits mentioning, Padrón Cigars is considered by many to be the pinnacle of cigardom. One measure—albeit a flawed one—is how the company has dominated Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 lists, including earning top honors for the Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro.

That pick didn’t come as much of a surprise. But as popular as the Maduro has been, my recent experience with two Naturals proves that this (somewhat rarer) version shouldn’t be overlooked. It, too, is a box-pressed Nicaraguan puro with 10-year-old tobacco that sells for upwards of $25 apiece. And it, too, amounts to a memorable, special occasion smoke that beckons to be tried at least once.

After a clean cut reveals an easy draw, the somewhat wrinkly No. 45 Natural opens with a chalky, textured taste of bitter leather, earth, nuts, and wood. The raw flavor of tobacco is featured prominently, as is a background of espresso.

The big difference between this two-hour smoke and the Maduro is cocoa. While the latter has plenty of sweet, decadent chocolate notes, the Natural—while medium-bodied throughout—has more of a dry, spicy edge. Both are subtle and well-balanced; they just have different profiles.

Padrón is known for its consistency and quality. I only smoked two No. 45 Naturals because of their high price point but, based on that sample set, I found near perfect construction. I wouldn’t expect anything less from a cigar that costs more than a wonderful dinner entrée.

Smoking down to the nub, I didn’t feel the slightest bit of buyer’s remorse. Would I partake in this cigar on a regular basis? No. For an occasional treat, though, you can’t go wrong with the Padrón Family Reserve No. 45 Natural. It earns four and a half 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.”

El Museo is likely Litto Gomez’s most exclusive smoke, released to benefit El Museo del Barrio, New York City’s only Latin American museum. Wrapped in a lush, oily habano sun-grown leaf, the Dominican puro (6.75 x 52) features remarkable pre-light chocolate flavors. El Museo starts out with a burst of peppery spice followed closely by a full-bodied combination of cocoa, clove, and leather. It’s a powerful smoke, but balanced enough to not be overwhelming. Construction is flawless with a notably stable, dense, dark gray ash. Sure, it retails for around $30, but I’d be surprised if you didn’t find it to be one of the finest cigars you’ve ever smoked.

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.”

Available in a ten-pack exclusive to Cigar Rights of America (CRA) members, this limited edition cigar features the same components as the normal Reserva Figurados portfolio: a sun-grown Ecuadoran Sumatra wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and a filler blend of Nicaraguan and Dominican tobaccos. But this is a new size. Called “Regalias Perfectos” (6.25 x 57), it sports a slightly tapered foot, a belicoso-shaped head, and a wide body. The result is a smoke with lots of honey, graham, and cedar spice coupled with outstanding construction. Very similar to every other natural Reserva Figurados—and that’s OK in my book.

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) When President Obama signed the “Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act” last summer, many viewed the FDA’s newfound authority over tobacco as a cigarette issue. The law, after all, doesn’t automatically apply to cigars (as it does to cigarettes and smokeless tobacco). Instead, it requires the bureaucracy to issue a specific regulation bringing cigars under its purview. This week the FDA signaled its intention to do so in June. If the proposed rule is adopted, cigar makers, retailers, and consumers worry the government will tightly restrict cigar marketing and events, as well as require cigar “ingredient disclosure”—a move that would cost manufacturers huge sums of money in testing and documentation and likely restrict innovation.

2) Politicians in Mobile, Alabama, are considering a law that would be a new frontier for anti-smoking zealotry. The proposed legislation would empower health inspectors to deduct points from businesses that allow smoking, even though there is no scientific basis for the punitive measure. As Chris McCalla of the IPCPR points out, “The fact is that OSHA [Occupational Safety and Health Administration] has set safe levels for smoking that are up to 25,000 times higher than normally found in an average bar or restaurant that allows smoking.”

3) Inside the Industry: Scandinavian Tobacco and Swedish Match will merge their cigar operations later this year, bringing CAO, General Cigar, and retailer Cigars International under one roof. In an effort to lower its prices, United Tobacco—maker of 601, Cubao, and Murcielago—is parting ways with distributor Miami Cigar & Company. Meanwhile, in celebration of Miami Cigar & Company’s founding in 1989, the Nestor Miranda Collection is adding a new blend in three sizes: “1989” will be a Nicaraguan puro made by Don Pepin Garcia that will sell for just $5.

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews a Rocky Patel Decade Edición Limitada. Keepers of the Flame fires up a La Aurora 1495. Nice Tight Ash checks out a Viaje Skull and Bones. Tiki Bar kicks back with a Liga Privada Flying Pig. Cigar Inspector inspects a Camacho Triple 11/18.

5) Deal of the Week: Last call for Tax Day Specials at Cuban Crafters. There are a number of deep discounts on our favorites like the Cupido Tuxedo, J.L. Salazar, Cubano Claro, and Miami Medina. Our favorite deal is a box of 25 Don Kiki Brown Label Torpedos for just $55. Grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: SCS

When you see cigars mentioned in a newspaper, it’s often to highlight some study on the dangers of smoking, herald a proposed tax increase, or as a prop in characterizing the lifestyle of the rich and famous.

So imagine my surprise a few weeks ago when the Tampa Tribune devoted much of its travel/lifestyle section front to cigar etiquette. The illustrated do’s and don’ts kicked off a new column written by Patricia Rossi (pictured), “America’s etiquette and protocol coach” who who speaks, writes, and appears on TV.

Of course, Tampa calls itself Cigar City and hosts numerous cigar events—often in the Ybor City area that was once a cigar-making hub. Nonetheless, I was intrigued about the subject selection and exchanged emails with Rossi for some insight.

It turns out she’s not a regular cigar smoker, though she does enjoy them on occasion. “Just when my dad visits from North Carolina,” she wrote. “We go to Ybor and have a cigar.” I also wondered whether she was concerned about the reaction her column might draw from anti-tobacco forces. Not at all, she said, adding that smoking cigars is one of “about a billion social situations” that can require subtle navigation.” In fact, Rossi said reactions she and the reporter who collaborated with her received have been positive.

Most of the items in her compilation of cigar etiquette will be familiar to regular smokers, such as admonitions not to crush a stick as if it were a cigarette and not to dip the head in a drink. She also offers suggestions like enjoy the taste and aroma without inhaling.

And what’s the most common faux pas committed by cigar smokers? Rossi said it was handling and smelling the sticks too much. “They touch where people’s mouth will be smoking,” she said. “I think it’s important to take in the aroma from the foot of the cigar.”

You can find an interactive version of Rossi’s full article on cigar etiquette here.

–George E

photo credit: PatriciaRossi.com