The Stogie Guys

Some call it a sinus infection. Others call it the common cold. The medical community recognizes it as a “viral upper respiratory tract infection.” No matter what the name, the symptoms are usually the same: runny nose, sore throat, mild fatigue, and possibly a fever. And, like the summertime blues, there ain’t no cure.

The average adult experiences two to four colds per year. I got my first (and hopefully last) case of the 2010 cold this weekend. In typical fashion, it came overnight with a scratchy throat, stuffed up my nose for a few days, and left just as quickly as it arrived. No big deal, but enough to frustratingly cause me to cancel a few weekend activities.

One activity I usually cut back on while sick is cigar smoking. I’m not really concerned that cigars will prolong the cold’s duration (although doctors say smokers tend to have longer colds—but then again, doctors say a lot of things). I just find cigar smoking a lot less enjoyable when my throat is sore or my nose is clogged.

I’d never attempt to review a cigar when my nose—the best cigar tasting instrument I have—is out of whack. Recently, though, I conducted an experiment. I fired up a Rocky Patel Vintage ’90 Toro to see if I could identify the flavors I normally associate with this cigar (cocoa, spicy wood, etc.) I couldn’t.

Not even close. I could have been smoking pretty much anything and it would have tasted like chalky, billowy air. As expected, this was a reminder of the huge role our sense of smell plays in cigar tasting and how important it is to routinely smoke through the nose.

Aside from being an impediment to appreciating premium tobacco, my cold also reminded me that I’m far from addicted to tobacco. I went a solid five days without smoking (and I’ve gone much longer under different circumstances, like when I was training for a marathon). Never once did I experience cravings, headaches, nausea, anxiety, or other symptoms common to those trying to quit cigarettes. Sure, I missed not being able to thoroughly enjoy a cigar. But it wasn’t an epic battle to lay off the leaf for awhile.

Now I’m feeling much better. I took my nose for a test drive with a 601 Red and everything seems to be back to normal. Health permitting, I’m looking forward to catching up on some new reviews and Quick Smokes in the weeks to come.

The next time I get a cold, I’ll probably get lots of sleep, drink lots of fluids, and avoid cigars—at least expensive ones. I suggest you do the same.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Flickr

Late in 2009, Pete Johnson released Verocu Tubo under his Tatuaje brand. The Tubo marks the fourth vitola released in the Verocu extension of the Havana VI line. It  retails for $11 per stick.

My colleagues have reviewed the other three vitolas: Verocu No. 1, Verocu No. 2, and Verocu No. 9. The No. 1 and No. 2 earned the coveted five-stogie rating while the No. 9 wasn’t nearly as successful.

The Verocu Tubo is a torpedo (6.1 x 52) that comes in an aluminum tube modeled after the Cuban Partagas Serie P No. 2 Tubo.

Immediately out of the tube this Nicaraguan puro smells of cedar, leather, and spice. The oily, dark brown wrapper is mottled with black spots and rough to the touch. The cigar is firm with no soft spots.

The draw is easy but not overly loose. The burn is mostly straight but the outside layer of the bright white ash, probably the wrapper leaf, is very flaky.

Those that have smoked either the Verocu No. 1 or the Verocu No. 2 will find the same core of leather, cedar, and spice that they are familiar with. The cigar starts out with a lot of spice up front, fading quickly to the background only to reemerge in the final third. The smoke is creamy and leaves a wonderful cinnamon aftertaste on the palate.

I really enjoyed this cigar and continue to believe that the Verocu blend is Pete Johnson’s finest. The Verocu Tubo displays amazing complexity. Its singular drawback is a slight metallic taste, akin to licking a 9-volt battery, that comes and goes throughout the cigar.

If that taste fades with age maybe the Verocu Tubo will be worthy of five stogies. For now, though, it doesn’t quite live up to its older brothers’ reputation, earning four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick M

photo credit: Stogie Guys

We all recognize Cuba, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic as the top growers of premium tobacco. Indonesia, Cameroon, and a few others might also make the list. But Morocco isn’t a country widely associated with cigars.

Miles away from mainstream (literally), Felipe Gregorio—a cigar maker with a résumé that includes selling helicopters in the Middle East and crafting a blend for Frank Sinatra—has branched out to cultivate tobacco in northwest Africa.

True, his path to cigardom took a fairly traditional route through Honduras and Nicaragua. But now, with a Dominican factory (Tabacalera Real de Felipe Gregorio) and a boutique shop in Miami, Gregorio is growing tobacco in Morocco for his “Moroccan Series.”

This unique line of cigars includes four different blends named for the region of Morocco in which their tobacco is grown. Imilchil, according to Felipe’s website, is a village in central Morocco that’s “located at an elevation of 2,119 meters in the valley of Assif Melloul (‘white river’). The tobacco grown at this altitude is very sweet.” The blend features 30% Imilchil tobacco, a Connecticut wrapper, and olor leaves from the Cibao Valley. Four vitolas are available.

I sampled two Amirs for this review. Measuring five inches with a 54 ring gauge, this plump robusto has a rough foot that exudes sweet aromas of honey. The pale wrapper is extremely delicate and prone to tears if mishandled. Thankfully, the double bands are loose and easy to remove and the cap clips neatly.

While toasting the foot, the Amir yields a unique incense-like resting smoke that’s aromatic and floral. The taste, intensely cedary at first, settles into a mild profile of vanilla, almond, and steak seasoning. Sharp on the finish, the combined effect, oddly enough, reminds me of jasmine rice.

The Amir’s outstanding construction enables you to enjoy this distinctive flavor without worrying about combustion deficiencies. Its burn is nearly perfect, its draw clear, and its gray ash holds strong.

While I may not remember these physical properties several weeks from now, I won’t soon forget the Imichil’s one-of-a-kind taste. Such a matchless, enjoyable flavor easily makes this my favorite Felipe Gregorio to date. So, for a unique experience on the mild side of the spectrum, I highly recommend purchasing a box for $130 at Casa Felipe (the Imilchil 30/70 Amir’s exclusive online distributor). 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.”

I’ve had this Cuban Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona resting in my humidor for over a year. With a clean light brown wrapper and a classic white, gold, and red Hoyo band, it’s a good looking smoke. The double corona is woody and earthy with a bit of spice and a hint of cream. Unfortunately, there is also lingering bitterness that comes and goes. Construction was pleasantly uneventful with an even burn and clean draw that produces an abundance of smoke. While certainly not a bad cigar, at $16-20 each I’d expect a little better.

Verdict = Hold.

–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.”

Word is that Roberto Juarez of Bravo Cigars recently teamed up with Gene Arganese to re-blend his smokes. I haven’t had the opportunity to try a new Bravo yet, but I’m still a fan of the old Colombian puro version. The Toro, measuring six inches with a 50 ring gauge, boasts top-notch construction and a mild, creamy profile of oak, vanilla, honey, and toast. Great for a relaxed morning with coffee or lazy afternoon with a cold beer.

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) The new Cohiba Behike is expected to hit non-U.S. stores in mid-June. Lauded by some as the finest cigar ever produced in Cuba or elsewhere, Behike uses a rare “medio tiempo” leaf and is being advertised as the “new standard among smokers worldwide.” Its name comes from the Tiano word for sorcerer or doctor. While the blend’s three sizes will retail for $36-57 apiece, high demand and low supply make black markets likely in countries where Cubans are legal—and almost certain in America thanks to the trade embargo.

2) The “CAO Invitational” golf tournament, sponsored by Famous Smoke Shop, will tee off Friday, April 16, at the Whitetail Golf Club in Bath, Pennsylvania. The cost of admission ($70 per person) includes greens fees, a post-round dinner, and a CAO goodie bag complete with smokes and swag.

3) Inside the Industry: All but two of the cigar rollers at the El Credito factory in Miami have been let go, Cigar Aficionado reports, as General Cigar transitions the famous space where La Gloria Cubana was created into a cigar lounge. The Cuban Stock Cigar Company is increasing its distribution of Exquisito, Chubbys, Cuban Stock Vintage, Joya de Havana, and Delicioso cigars to 130 stores nationwide.

4) Around the Blogs: Keepers of the Flame examines the science of cigar flavors. Stogie Review lights up the Illusione 88. Cigar Inspector inspects the Velazquez. A Cigar Smoker smokes the CAO Criollo. Tampa Cigar Examiner examines the Upper Cut by Punch. Nice Tight Ash checks out the Arturo Fuente Rosado Gran Reserva.

5) Deal of the Week: We’ve found yet more unpublicized deals from Cuban Crafters. There are a number of discounts, but our favorites are boxes of the Cameroon Cabinet Toro for $70, Cubano Claro Lonsdale for $60, and La Carolina Pyramid for $70. Grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

I maintain that La Aurora is an underrated cigar maker. Headed by Guillermo León and José Blanco, La Aurora doesn’t chase trends, but seems to produce solid, tasty smokes year after year, with Preferidos and Cien Años as classic examples.

Speaking of years, this year La Aurora—the oldest Dominican cigar company—celebrates its 107th anniversary. Like so many cigar companies, its celebrating with a new cigar. “We had defined our goal early on,” said León, La Aurora VP, “and that was to bring the smokers a medium-bodied, richly flavored smoke with a fair amount of spice at a very attractive price.”

Leon and Blanco created the La Aurora 107 blend with an Ecuadorian wrapper, a Dominican binder, and a combination of Dominican and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos. The Robusto (4.5 x 50) retails for $6.50. Other sizes of the cigar, due out only in brick and mortar cigar shops, are a Toro (5.5 x 54) and a Belicoso (6.25 x 52).

The Ecuadorian wrapper is oily and rough with plenty of veins. The cigar is slightly spongy to the touch but even throughout. Upon clipping the head, an easy draw is apparent which is maintained throughout the short robusto.

Upon lighting, I find a hint of bitterness in the first few puffs, which soon gives way to toasty flavors with a hint of spice. There’s also a nice bit of sweetness that I commonly associate with maduro smokes.

The 107 is medium-bodied and balanced. As it evolves, a burnt chary flavor emerges, along with more woody spices, and even a hint of Bordeaux-like wine notes. Construction is flawless with a solid ash and even burn producing thick, lush smoke.

I’m always a big believer in the idea that smoking slowly brings out the best in a cigar, and that is especially true in the La Aurora 107. When smoked too quickly, the 107 develops a slight bitterness. However, with enough patience (by limiting the 107 to no more than two draws per minute) it can be a smooth, subtle smoke.

So while you may have to work at it, the La Aurora 107 has a lot to offer. Given some aging time I think it might turn out even better. Even so, right now the La Aurora 107 Robusto earns a rating of three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys