The 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. Below is our latest Friday Sampler.

1) Sherwin Seltzer, General Cigar’s vice president of trade development and a 50-year veteran of the cigar industry, announced his retirement this week. “There comes a time when you have to stop and do something else. I’ve had a great run in this business but at this stage in my life, I want to devote my time to Iris, my wife of 51 years, and my children and grandchildren,” said Seltzer, who will vacate his position at the end of October. Dan Carr, president of General Cigar, says that Sherwin “made great contributions to General Cigar, particularly in developing relationships with our trade partners and as a mentor to people in all areas of the business.”

2) We’re happy to announce that Marty of Austin, Texas, has won the first week of the Stogie Guys NFL Pick’Em Challenge. For his outstanding ability to select the winners of the first week of football games, we’ll be sending him a nice package of cigars. Congrats to Marty and good luck to everyone in the second week.

3) Our favorite cigar manners maven, Patricia Rossi, has just released a new book called Everyday Etiquette: How To Navigate 101 Common and Uncommon Social Situations. And, yes, as you might have imagined, those situations include smoking cigars.

4) Inside the Industry: Yesterday, a number of cigar makers and cigar shop owners met with politicians in Washington to ask for their support of the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act, which would protect handmade cigars from devastating FDA regulations. After spending the day on Capitol Hill, those in town joined others at the the 6th annual cigar dinner party hosted by the Ambassador of the Dominican Republic, which featured plenty of Dominican cigars and rum.

5) Around the Blogs: Tiki Bar kicks back with the Casa Fernandez Miami Reserva. Smoking Stogie smokes the El Credito War of Flavors. Stogie Review reviews the León Jimenes Maduro. Nice Tight Ash samples the Short Story Maduro. Cigar Fan tries a CAO OSA Sol.

6) Deal of the Week: Corona Cigar’s weekly deal features 10 big name cigars for just $30 (or 20 for $50). The cigars include Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, Punch, La Gloria Cubana, Macanudo, Hoyo de Monterrey, and Siglo.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: General Cigar

This new line from A.J. Fernandez, formally introduced at the 2011 industry trade show, is Oval-shaped, like a box press with more rounded corners. It features an Ecuadorian-grown Habano 2000 wrapper (though for some reason at the trade show I was told it was Brazilian), a binder from Nicaragua, and three fillers: Nicaraguan, Honduran, and a “secret filler.”

Perhaps the “secret filler” is the new propreitary seed that’s growing outside Copan, Honduras, which Cigar.com’s Alex Svenson reports was cultivated exclusively by Fernandez.

Notable is the use of the Habano 2000 wrapper, which was very popular quite a few years ago, but hasn’t really been featured, at least not in marketing materials, in recent years. Habano 2000 (or “H2000”) was developed by the Cubans as a hybrid of Habano and Connecticut tobacco (and was supposedly used on many of the Cuban EL cigars) but it soon found its way out of Cuba where it has been used on many cigars made for the American market. In the early years, it was known for its reddish Colorado color and more auspiciously because many smokers reported burn issues.

Fortunately, I found no such burn issues with the Oval samples I’ve smoked so far. (Each of the three samples were given to me at the trade show.) In fact, from pre-light to nub, the cigar drew perfectly, burned evenly, and held its ash steady for a solid inch or more.

Once I cut the head off this torpedo, the oval shape that was left reminded me of the Chisel made by Litto Gomez of La Flor Dominicana. It’s a comfortable shape that makes the 54 ring gauge seem slightly smaller than it is.

When I finally got down to smoking the Oval, I found a full-bodied cigar with excellent balance. Coffee, earth, wood, and bread were all prominent, and I also picked up faint liquorice and subtle clove spice.

It’s not dissimilar to the San Lotano Habano (my favorite of A.J.’s three original self-released lines) in terms of flavors, but just a little but better in almost every area. In particular, the Oval’s flavors are fuller, and more complex, but still more balanced and rounded.

For such a well-composed combination of flavor and balance, I can do nothing but heartily recommend this cigar, which retails for around $10 and is available only in brick and mortar stores. That’s why the San Lotano Oval Pyramid earns four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Between the excessive taxes and smoking bans, California may be the least friendly cigar state in the country. Prometheus—a Los Angeles-based purveyor the Fuente-made God of Fire smokes, as well as cutters, lighters, and humidors—pays homage to those in the City of Angels who still manage to enjoy cigars despite the efforts of politicians.

Their tribute is a cigar called Angelenos, a blend comprised of an Ecuadorian wrapper with Dominican binder and filler tobaccos. It is made at Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia under the direction of Carlito Fuente. Six sizes are available that range in price from $8.95 to $10.95: Robusto (5.25 x 50), Toro (6 x 50), Lonsdale (6.25 x 44), Gran Toro (6.5 x 54), Double Robusto (5.75 x 52), and Robusto Gordo JM (5.5 x 54). For the latter, the “JM” in the name—and the signature on the second band—is for actor Joe Mantegna, a cigar enthusiast. At the request of Mantegna, a portion of Angelenos proceeds benefits the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center.

The Robusto Gordo JM is a golden-colored smoke with an oily exterior leaf that’s smooth and almost vein-free. It smells of honey, hay, and sawdust. After toasting the foot and establishing an even light with my Magma T (what else?), a flavor of brown sugar, cream, grass, and cinnamon spice emerges. The smoke is thick and textured with a soft, rounded finish. Dried fruits and leather are also apparent, and the aroma is fragrant and nutty.

Some would call the Angelenos Robusto Gordo JM decidedly mild, but I’m more inclined to call it somewhere between the mild and medium-bodied ranges. This is especially true in the second half of the cigar where the taste intensifies and the spice becomes more pronounced on the finish.

Regardless of how you’d classify the body, there’s no denying that this cigar has outstanding construction. The white ash builds wonderfully and solidly off the foot and the burn line stays true.

I’ve always been impressed with the cigars in the God of Fire portfolio, particularly the Carlito 2006 Double Robusto. Their biggest drawback is their price, which can exceed $20 per cigar. While the Angelenos Robusto Gordo JM may not be as complex as its predecessors, it’s still a fine, supremely creamy smoke and a smart buy at $9.95 apiece. It earns four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Developing your palate for tasting cigars comes down mostly to one thing: smoking lots of cigars and paying close attention to the flavors you notice. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t things you can do to accelerate the learning curve.

For one, you can make sure your palate is clean. Sure, a neat scotch or a good rum on the rocks may be my preferred drink pairings, but there is no substitute for for some sparkling water when I want make sure I’m picking up the full spectrum of flavors in a cigar.

An excellent, but less traditional, way to improve your ability to pick up nuances in cigar flavors is to light up two at the same time. By that I obviously don’t mean drawing on two cigars at once, but rather lighting up two and alternating tastes to pick up differences and similarities. The concept is standard in wine, where multiple similar wines are sampled either vertically (the same wine in different vintages) or horizontally (where multiple wines of the same vintage and type are sampled). The results can be striking. By tasting similar wines, it becomes easier to focus on the nuances and subtle differences.

The same holds true for cigars. The best way to taste multiple cigars is by smoking similar cigars. (Like tasting a Champagne against a full Bordeaux, you’re not likely to learn much by tasting a mild Connecticut-wrapped cigar against a full-bodied Nicaraguan puro.)

Light up a full-bodied Nicaraguan cigar and you’re likely to pick up the same general flavors: earth, spice, maybe leather or cedar. However, light up two different full-bodied Nicaraguans (as I recently did in the photo above) and you’ll notice more specifics, such as the type of spice (sweeter cinnamon versus black pepper). Secondary flavors, like cocoa, coffee, and clove will also begin to stand out.

As long as you continue to keep your palate clean, you’ll be amazed at what flavors you can “discover” in a cigar when searching for differences between two cigars that smoked alone would be described in very similar terms. Plus, alternating between two cigars forces you to smoke each slowly, which will also help you notice the distinct qualities of each (smoking too quickly will overheat the tobacco and taint the flavor).

You certainly wouldn’t want to smoke most of your cigars this way, because the fun of cigars is relaxing and reflecting, not having to worry about keeping multiple cigars lit or concentrating on the small details of the flavors. Still, if every so often you smoke two (or more) at once to exercise your palate, I think you’ll find it easier to enjoy all the depth and complexity that fine cigars have to offer.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Cigar City Magazine, the vision of Lisa M. Figueredo, is Tampa’s premiere magazine for information about the history of the Tampa Bay area. Lisa feels passionately about her blended culture, history, and family and started the magazine as a celebration of her heritage.

Stogie Guys: How did Cigar City Magazine get started?

Lisa Figueredo: I owed an ad agency and was up late one night working and was thinking of when my Abuelo Lee and Abuela Nena would have fresh hot Cuban bread and butter waiting for me when I woke up with some hot café con leche. Then my Abuela Nena and I would catch the bus and ride over to Ybor City for the day or sometimes my Abuelo Lee would take me to the local cigar factories to pick up the steams and waste from the tobacco leaves that he would use to spread on people’s lawns. I was thinking about how much I missed them and how I wished I could get those days back. That’s when I came up with the idea to write about my stories and the history of Tampa.

I come from a long line of people who made a difference in Tampa. My family on my father’s side boasted the first Mayor of West Tampa who was instrumental in helping Jose Martí spark the Cuban Revolution and win independence from Spain. His name was Fernando Figueredo. On my mother’s side, her Great Grandfather Enrique Henriquez was the last Mayor of West Tampa. My Great Grandmother was also Carmen Ramirez who was a famous actress from Spain and was instrumental in raising money for the local theaters in Ybor City.

SG: What is the best part about being the publisher of Cigar City Magazine?

LF: The best part is giving back to the city I grew up in and love so much, and giving a voice to its past. People don’t realize the rich history we have here in Tampa and how lucky we are to be a part of it. If one article touches one person’s heart when they realize that, that’s the best part.

SG: What makes Cigar City Magazine different from other cigar publications?

LF: Contrary to our name, we do not rate cigars or write about individual cigars. Instead, we focus our stories on the cigar factories and how they got here. We also do feature stories on famous cigar pioneers like Arturo Fuente, Angel Oliva, J.C. Newman, and more. I got the name because back in the heyday of the cigar factories, Tampa was once nicknamed “Cigar City.” By the late 1960s, after the embargo of Cuba, factories were closing and many were going to machines. The name got lost until 2005 when I resurrected it by calling the magazine Cigar City. Seems now-a-days everyone is using it: Spirit of Cigar City, Cigar City Brewery, Cigar City Tattoo Convention, Cigar City Darlings, etc. People ask me all the time if I get upset when I see people using my trademarked name and I say, “Hell no!” We are Cigar City and I’m just happy I was able to make it come back alive. Plus, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

SG: How much space do you dedicate to cigars, cigar industry trends, and Tampa’s local cigar bars and shops?

LF: It’s hard to talk about Tampa without talking about the cigar industry. Though most of our stories are about history we do try and throw in a few things for our loyal cigar connoisseur. In our last issue we did an interview with Pete Johnson, owner of Tatuaje Cigars, and we have written stories about the famous cigar families and factories. We never rate cigars nor will we ever because we are Cigar City and we love them all.

SG: One of my favorite issues is the Fidel Castro Mob issue. Are there any forthcoming stories or issues that you are really excited about?

LF: I love each and every issue, but if I had to pick three, I would say our Mob issue, our Cuba issue, and the Cigar Woman issue. You can read them online right here.

SG: Talk a bit about some of your recurring features like “Mama Knows,” “Café Con Leche,” and the “On the Town” photos. What can readers expect from these, and other regular features in the magazine?

LF: “Mama Knows” is probably one of our most widely anticipated columns. Mama does not have a subtleness about her when it comes to giving advice; she tells it like it is. We left her out of an issue one time and I almost had a revolt on our hands from the readers. Mama gets more emails than any other staff member. Our “Café con Leche” is a cool column and mainly we interview famous and even sometimes a few infamous people now and then. Our “On the Town” is a great way to thank my readers. It’s mainly photos of them at all of the events we do or go to.

SG: Who is involved in the magazine? Tell us a bit about the major contributors.

LF: Cigar City is made up of many writers who, for the most part, just want to write about the history of Tampa. Some of these writers are famous, like Scott Deitche, author of Cigar City Mafia, to the daughter submitting a story about her father that worked in a cigar factory, to the professor at a major university. Then of course we have the great historian, Emanuel Leto, who also works at the Tampa Bay History Center, who really has made this magazine possible. Paul Guzzo, who used to write for La Gaceta, gives us many great articles like “Sleeping with the Enemy,” which tells how the Hillsborough Sheriff Office traded guns to Fidel Castro for the release of Santo Trafficante, Jr.

SG: Tampa has always taken great pride in its history and Cigar City Magazine has always celebrated that history. With such a rich history of cigars, the Cuban, Spanish, and Italian cultures, baseball and bolita, how do you decide what goes into the magazine?

LF: It’s not easy. The best way I can explain it is like this: Remember when you got that first new bike and you wanted to show it off to the whole neighborhood and you just couldn’t wait? It’s like that with many of our stories. We usually always have so many in the pipeline it’s hard to choose. But I guess that’s what has kept us around for seven years…having good material for every issue.

We thank Lisa for her willingness to sit down and talk with StogieGuys.com. Please visit Cigar City Magazine on the web to find the latest issue and subscribe. Or, if you live in the Tampa area, be sure to pick up the latest copy.

–Mark M

photo credit: LinkedIn

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 limited edition smoke features a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper, hard-to-grow Nicaraguan pelo de oro binder, and Nicaraguan filler. It’s a rich combination of earth, chocolate, black coffee, and lots of spice, especially in final third. It reminds me of the the 2009 Tatuaje La Verite, probably because both use pelo de oro, though the Jamie Garcia has a bit more bite and less balance. Ultimately, this is a good cigar with the only major drawback being the price tag, which is a hefty $16.50. At that price, I can’t give it my most enthusiastic recommendation, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth trying at least once.

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.” The following is a Guest Quick Smoke, submitted by a StogieGuys.com reader. If you’d like to submit your own for publication, please contact us.

I stopped in last night to my usual smoke shop and the owner suggested I try a new cigar he just got in over the weekend called Kangaroo Alley. The one I tried is called the Joey. It’s a robusto (5 x 50) with a Habano wrapper and Honduran tobacco. The owner said they’re handmade in Danlí, Honduras. The Joey starts off a little slow but, as you settle into this cigar, it packs a nice kick. Not a smoke for the meek. It has hints of cocoa and spice, a nice even draw, and it holds its ash very well. All that was missing was a glass of scotch or top shelf tawny port. Pretty cool presentation too; instead of a box the cigars come in a velour pouch. Check your local tobacconist for Kangaroo Alley, or buy directly from the source.

Verdict = Buy.

–Submitted by James B. Guyton of Pittsburgh, PA

photo credit: N/A