The Stogie Guys

A.J. Fernandez made his mark on the industry by producing top-selling cigars for the likes of Rocky Patel, Padilla, Graycliff, Gurkha, and others. Last year he broke the mold and released his first nationally-distributed solo cigar.

The blend, San Lotano, was once a pre-Castro Cuban line. “Retired for decades, the line is being reintroduced by A.J. Fernandez, whose grandfather first started the brand in San Luis, Cuba,” reads a press release. Fernandez says that “San Lotano has been a project many years in the making for me, and it is made to honor the tradition of cigar making that I learned from my father and my father’s father.”

San Lotano is handmade at the Tabacalera Fernandez factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, which turns out nine million cigars annually. The series is available in three wrapper variations: Habano, Connecticut, and Maduro. The latter features a Mexican outer leaf, a dual binder from the Dominican Republic and Honduras, and a two-country filler blend from Honduras and Nicaragua.

With a soft box press, the Robusto (5 x 52) retails for about $6 apiece. It has the look, feel, and smell of other Mexican cigars—notably Murcielago—with a rich, sun-softened exterior and mouth-watering aromas of cocoa and earth. The cold draw is smooth and easy.

After toasting the foot and establishing an even light, a chalky profile of cayenne spice, espresso, black pepper, and sweet coffee creamer takes center stage. A bitter taste is also present, a pleasant one that reminds me of dark chocolate. The interesting sweet-versus-bitter interplay continues into the midway point, and the finale is characterized by more espresso and intensified spice.

The construction is set-it-and-forget-it kind solid. Although slightly flaky, the ash holds firm for well over an inch, and the burn line requires zero maintenance.

True, there’s much to like about the Maduro Robusto, and the price is more than fair. While it may not be as exceptional as the San Lotano Habano, which boasts impressively complex flavors and loads of body, or the Connecticut, which sports a taste of almond and subtle spice, this savory specimen is worthy 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

One hundred years is a long time in any business, particularly if the business has never left the family. That’s the case for Barclay Rex, a New York tobacco shop founded in 1910 by Vincent Nastri, a pipe maker from Salerno, Italy.

In celebration of this impressive accomplishment, the Nastri family, owner of two of the three Barclay Rex locations (and part owner of the third), asked Pete Johnson to create an exclusive Tatuaje cigar. The result, introduced November 2010, is the first in Tatuaje’s Exclusive Series.

Only 195 boxes of 25 cigars were made, each featuring a band that combines the gold trim front of the La Verite with red, white, and blue sides similar to the Tatuaje RC. I was fortunate enough to pick up the final box of this exclusive smoke over Thanksgiving weekend for $250 (or $10 per cigar).

The cigar is striking with a dark, extraordinarily oily wrapper. It features firm construction with notable details including a closed foot and a pigtail cap. Probably due to the closed foot, the first few draws are knock-you-over powerful. Were the rest of the smoke equally powerful, I don’t think I’d be able to finish it.

Fortunately, it isn’t. Still, the Barclay Rex 100th Anniversary is a powerful, full-bodied cigar. Earth dominates along with plenty of spice, espresso, and dark chocolate. Construction is excellent.

The complexity is deep and long. Near the midway point, a sweeter honey-cinnamon edge develops. Later, in the final third, a red pepper spice dominates, even as the strength falls off slightly.

It’s a wild roller coaster of a ride, and a most enjoyable one, particularly at $10 each when so many limited edition cigars go for considerably more. My only regret is not picking up more of these fine smokes when they were available.

With ample complexity, full-bodied flavor, attractive looks, and a reasonable price, it’s easy to give the Tatuaje Barclay Rex 100th Anniversary a rating of  five stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here. A list of other five stogie-rated cigars can be found here.]

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

CAO will never be the same. In the five months since Swedish Match and the Scandinavian Tobacco Group merged to create a new tobacco giant, bringing CAO into the General Cigar fold, four CAO executives stepped down and the company moved from its longtime home of Nashville to Richmond.

Many industry commentators and CAO fans are speculating that these changes will translate into new cigars that bear little resemblance to those once made under the direction of Tim Ozgener. Only time will tell if they’re right. For now, there’s plenty of old CAO inventory stocked at tobacconists across the country and at retailers online—like the three Lx2 Gordos I smoked for this review.

Released at the 2008 industry trade show, the Lx2 blend (“ligero times two”) features a hearty helping of spicy ligero leaves surrounded by a Honduran binder and a sungrown Nicaraguan wrapper. The Gordo (6 x 60) is a relatively new size in the Lx2 lineup. This massive, intimidating vitola seems like a natural fit for a blend that intends to pack a powerful, spicy punch. Dark and oily with thin veins, the Gordo smells of espresso and draws effortlessly in the cold taste.

With a higher filler-to-wrapper ratio than the other Lx2 sizes (and thus with more ligero), I was expecting this cigar to be fuller bodied than, say, the Lancero. Surprisingly, though, it starts more subdued than I remember the other Lx2 vitolas to be. The profile is bready and dry with an aftertaste of black pepper and some sweet notes. The filler tobaccos, a mix of Dominican and Nicaraguan ligero leaves, take a stronger foothold into the second third of the Gordo. Here, rich coffee flavors come to the fore and the spice amplifies. Leather, and a solid nicotine kick, join the fray at the midway point.

That’s also about when the monotonous flavor starts to wear out its welcome. Sure, this is a tasty, well-made cigar with pretty good combustion properties—including a fairly straight burn and a solid gray ash. But the profile just isn’t complex or balanced enough to hold my attention for lengthy amount of time it takes to smoke this beast.

Fortunately, these days you can find the Lx2 Gordo for less than $5 apiece when bought by the box. That’s probably a fair deal for enthusiasts who like hearty, thick cigars. While I don’t see myself making that kind of investment anytime soon, I’m awarding the Gordo three stogies out of five in recognition of what it brings to the table.

[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.”

When I first tried this blend several years ago, I found it to be somewhat lacking in flavor. My tastes have changed—or, depending on your perspective, either developed or declined. I say that because, these days, I find myself turning to the Lot 23 Robusto time and again when I need a good coffee companion. Its mild-mannered, classic profile of cream, nut, and spice seems to pair perfectly with a hot cup of Joe in the morning or afternoon. And with solid construction and a price tag of only $4-5, this Perdomo is easy to enjoy and afford.

Verdict = Buy.

–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.”

One of quite a few private label cigars marketed by Rocky Patel—this one for Famous Smoke Shop— the relatively inexpensive Rosado didn’t do much for me. Said to be a mix of Nicaraguan and Dominican filler with a seven-year-old Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, I found it bland from beginning to end. I won’t miss not smoking it again.

Verdict = Sell.

–George E

As we have since July 2006, each Friday we’ll post a mixed bag of quick cigar news and other items of interest. Below is our latest Friday Sampler.

1) Illinois may become one of the first states to weaken its statewide smoking ban. Enacted in 2008, the current law criminalizes smoking in most indoor “public” places and workplaces, including bars, restaurants, private clubs, and gaming facilities. But, on Wednesday, a House committee approved proposals that “would allow smoking in segregated, ventilated rooms in licensed casinos” and “give local liquor control commissions the power to issue licenses.” The Illinois Casino Gaming Commission reports that casino revenues have dropped over 30% since the implementation of the statewide ban.

2) Xikar, the Kansas City-based outfit best known for manufacturing lighters and cutters, announced a price cut this week on its HC Series of cigars, dropping them an average of 18% per stick to put them in the $6-8 price range. Scott Almsberger, company vice president of product development, said there will be no changes in quality standards of tobacco blends.

3) Inside the Industry: Even though they likely won’t be available until 2014, General Cigar is so pleased with the 2010 Connecticut wrappers that the company plans to use them in a Macanudo Vintage line, which it only does for the best years. Meanwhile, the Quesada España is being introduced to the Spanish market.

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews a Cain FF. Nice Tight Ash checks out a Tatuaje Havana VI. Cigar Fan fires up a Nacionales W. Smoking Stogie compares the Viaje WLP Candela to the Illusione Candela. The Barclay Rex 100th Anniversary Tatuaje broke into the top 10 at Your Cigar Ratings.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: public domain

I’ve written before that bold, rich beers can be a great pairing for a fine cigar. I’m not talking about your generic, mass-produced Bud, Coors, or Miller product; I’m talking about craft brews made with an abundance of flavorful hops and malt.

The Delaware-based Dogfish Head Craft Brewery is an example of a company that takes flavorful beers seriously. I’ve long been a fan of their 60 Minute and 90 Minute IPAs, which are (as you might have guessed) continuously hopped for 60 and 90 minutes, respectively.

My enjoyment of Dogfish Head’s 90 Minute IPA is one reason why I was excited to try the Dogfish Head Squall IPA. At one of Dogfish Head’s “Alehouses,” Squall was described to me as the traditional 90 Minute Imperial Pale Ale bottled unfiltered and bottle-aged.

The result is an aromatic brew with a deep, slightly cloudy copper color. The nose is hoppy with an inviting grapefruit tinge.

Squall reveals many classic flavors from Dogfish Head’s 90 Minute IPA: rich, sweet maltiness, dried fruit, and pine. Added to the mix is a creaminess that the standard 90 Minute lacks.

This is a rich beer with both power and finesse. It goes great with cigars that are similarly powerful yet refined. The Nicaraguan spice in the Tatuaje Black, Illusione, and Padilla 1932 fit the bill.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys