10 May 2011
About two and a half years ago, Pedro Benitez began sampling blends from different parts of Nicaragua with hopes of creating a new cigar brand. After 18 months of searching, he hand-selected his favorite leaves from Estelí and Jalapa. Then, in January of this year, he officially established P. Benitez Fine Cigars with a factory in Estelí (it has since relocated to Managua, Nicaragua).
9 May 2011
[Editors’ Note: In celebration of the five-year anniversary of StogieGuys.com, we’re updating and re-publishing some of our oldest articles, many of which focused on cigar basics. Our hope is to encourage a discussion among readers and reacquaint the community with important cigar fundamentals.]
Cigar smokers are all Wall Street fat cats who are condescending, elitist snobs that are out of touch with everyday, hard-working Americans.
That’s how Hollywood often portrays us lovers of the leaf, and many non-smokers simply accept this stereotype as reality. While you and I know that nothing could be further from the truth—that cigars are an affordable luxury enjoyed by wearers of blue collars and white collars alike—it’s important to keep this stereotype in mind. We should do our best not to reinforce it, especially when we’re around non-smokers. This is best accomplished by adhering to a reasonable code of conduct.
Where to smoke. When you’re smoking on your own property alone, you can obviously feel free to smoke away. But if you have a non-smoking guest in your presence, it never hurts to ask. “I’d like to smoke a cigar. Do you mind?” In my experience, rarely, if ever, will the guest object. But he or she will always appreciate your thoughtfulness.
8 May 2011
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.”
Only 2,000 boxes of this 5-inch, 52-ring gauge limited edition smoke are available. The pigtail-capped Dominican puro features an oscuro wrapper, Habano binder, and a filler with corojo, Habano and criollo ’98 tobacco. The medium-bodied smoke is dominated by powdered dark chocolate notes. Underneath are roasted nut and earth flavors. It’s extraordinarily balanced, well-constructed, and, at under $5 per stick, it’s easy to recommend.
Verdict = Buy.
photo credit: Stogie Guys
7 May 2011
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.”
Since I discovered La Caya back in 2007, I’ve been a huge fan of the Cameroon blend. The Robusto (5 x 54) is an excellent way to spend around $5. Its Dominican olor binder, sweet Cameroon wrapper, and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic combine to yield a flavor of honey, spice, and tea. And the combustion qualities are downright superb.
Verdict = Buy.
photo credit: Stogie Guys
6 May 2011
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) Politicians in Louisiana are mulling a bill that would increase the state excise tax on cigars by 50%. “Higher taxes on tobacco products will only drive whatever business is left into the hands of Internet, out-of-state, mail-order merchants and criminals who do not pay taxes to Louisiana and do not employ Louisiana’s citizens,” said Chris McCalla, legislative director of the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association. “Of the 57 excise tax increases that states implemented between 2003 and 2007, only 16 met or exceeded revenue targets. New Jersey, for example, increased its cigarette tax in 2006 and instead of gaining a projected $30 million in revenue, the state lost over $22 million.”
2) Other Cigar Rights Alerts: In California, where a new bill threatens to expand the state’s smoking ban, the IPCPR has drafted an amendment to maintain an exemption for retail tobacco shops. Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy hopes to increase state tobacco taxes by 50%. Several politicians in Alabama hope to pass an exemption-free statewide smoking ban.
3) Stogie Guys in the Media: Looking for gifts for your groomsmen and best man? FashionableBride.com (of all places) cites StogieGuys.com in this article, which features gift recommendations for the guys who will stand by you on your big day.
4) Around the Blogs: Cigar Fan fires up a Toraño Master Blend. Cigar Inspector inspects La Aurora Para Japón. Stogie Review reviews a J. Fuego Casa Fuego. Stogie Fresh lights up a Siglo Limited Reserve. Smoking Stogie smokes the Tatuaje La Verite 2009. The Fuente Añejo No. 49 hits the top ten at Your Cigar Ratings.
5) Deal of the Week: A limited number of Tatuaje Anarchy cigars are still available. Boxes of 15 run $150, or pick up a five-pack for $50 while supplies last.
photo credit: Flickr
5 May 2011
Say what you will about the big cigar companies. But even the most loyal devotees of small, family-owned outfits have to be impressed with the low prices that are made possible only by high-volume cigar businesses.
Sancho Panza, a brand that was launched in 2001 by tobacco giant General Cigar, is a great example. Named in honor of Don Quixote’s sidekick—and not to be confused with the Cuban brand of the same name—Sancho Panza cigars can be found for $3-5 apiece when bought by the box. They are offered in three different blends: the Connecticut shade-wrapped original Sancho Panza, the Connecticut broadleaf-wrapped Double Maduro, and the Honduran-wrapped Extra Fuerte.
The latter, a Honduran puro that’s available in six vitolas, was introduced in 2004 as the latest edition to the Sancho Panza portfolio. It is marketed as “extra bold and made for the seasoned cigar smoker who wants a kick from his smokes…It is a cigar that you can always rely on for an excellent draw and a decidedly full-bodied, but never harsh, smoking experience.”
The Extra Fuerte Madrid measures 6.25 inches long with a ring gauge of 54. It is an interesting specimen with a rough cap, a spongy feel, an oily texture, and an enticing pre-light aroma of dark chocolate. The cold draw is smooth and easy.
After toasting the foot and establishing an even light on the box-pressed cigar, a medium-bodied profile of dry wood, cayenne spice, and leather emerges. Some cocoa-like sweetness can be found in the aftertaste. The aroma from the resting smoke, interestingly, is decidedly creamier and nuttier than the actual flavor. At the midway point and beyond, black pepper becomes the dominant force, elevating the Madrid towards the fuller end of the medium-bodied spectrum.
It’s worth noting that the Extra Fuerte has its fair share of devotees, some of whom even say that it reminds them of a less sophisticated version of the Padrón Anniversary Series. I’m not that enthusiastic. This fine cigar, which burns well from light to nub, offers great bang for the buck, and I can see why many cigar fans keep it on hand as a reliable, everyday smoke. But a complex treasure it is not.
It would be unfair to expect too much from a cigar that only costs about $3 per stick when bought by the box. What you can expect, though, is an enjoyable experience and a great value. That earns the Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte Madrid three stogies out of five.
[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]
photo credit: Stogie Guys
4 May 2011
After being on the defensive for decades, advocates of cigar rights are finally in the advantageous position of being able to push for a bill, instead of just trying to block the passage of bills that further infringe on the rights of cigar smokers.
On April 15, House Resolution 1639—”The Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2011″—was introduced in Congress by Rep. Bill Posey of Florida. Four other representatives joined as original co-sponsors: Ken Calvert (R-CA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Tom Cole (R-OK) and Candice Miller (R-MI).
The proposed bill would stop the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from regulating premium cigars, which would likely be disastrous for cigar makers and consumers.
The step is necessary after a 2010 law that instructed the FDA to regulate cigarettes, but left the door open to the regulation of cigars. While some observers predicted it would take years for the FDA to add cigars to its already large portfolio of regulated products, by April 2010 bureaucrats had already started the process, which could move forward at any moment.
If you are represented by one of the five Congressmen already on record in support of The Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2011, then you should take the time to thank them. But if your Representative is one of the 430 that hasn’t indicated their support yet, then it is even more important that you contact them today. That’s what I did recently when I sent the following letter to my Congressman, Jim Moran:
I write to express my strong support for HR 1639, the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act. Please join the bipatisan group of co-sponsors of this bill that would protect jobs here in Northern Virginia and all across America.
As a cigar enthusiast, I can assure you that premium handmade cigars are very different from mass-produced cigarettes. If the FDA regulates handmade cigars like cigarettes, a process it has already initiated, it will have a devastating impact on the cigar industry. Unlike cigarettes, whose primary purpose is to deliver nicotine, cigars are a hobby that is more like fine wine. If you visit the cigar shops I frequent (which are in your district), you’ll find people of all walks of life stopping in to relax for 30 minutes or an hour with a fine cigar while they enjoy the camaraderie of their neighbors. But all that may come to an end if the FDA imposes strict rules on handmade cigars and treats these artisan-made products like a mass-produced industrial product.
That’s why it is critical that Congress pass the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act, to protect cigars and instruct the FDA to use its resources in other areas. I hope you will become a co-sponsor of this important legislation and will push for passage through the House.
If you haven’t already, please join me in writing your Congressman to pass this important bill. You can find more information about how bad FDA regulation would likely be for handmade cigars here.
© 2012 The Stogie Guys. All Rights Reserved.
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Patrick Ashby
Patrick Semmens
George Edmonson