The Stogie Guys

I have been a fan of V-cutters and punches since I started smoking cigars. All that talk about making sure your guillotine didn’t slice off too much of the cap and cause the wrapper to unravel made me nervous. At least that was one worry I could eliminate.

Even now that I think I have enough skill to clip the head without inflicting undue damage, I still like the V-cut. It opens up the cigar but maintains its integrity and shape. But I’d never had a good V-cutter. Until recently, the only high-quality one of which I was aware was from the Boston Cigar Cutter Company, and they’re, frankly, too pricey for me.

Enter the VX Cutter from Xikar, listing at about $50 and generally available for $10 less. I have long used and appreciated a regular Xikar cutter. I like its sharp blades, fine action, and the company’s no-questions-asked lifetime guarantee. So I took the plunge, selecting the silver VX model.

The first thing I noticed was the heft. After a succession of cheap plastic V-cutters, the Xikar’s metal construction stands out, as does the easy sliding action and the ergonomic design. The blade is extraordinarily thin and sharp. The result is a surgically clean clip through most any size cigar. The indention for the cigar head is ample, working for a ring gauge up to 64, according to Xikar.

The company also notes that the bottom of the cutter is concave and can be used to hold a cigar. I guess that might come in handy at some point, though I’m not really sure when.

I’ve used my cutter on a dozen or so cigars, and it has opened up every one perfectly. So, whether you’re afraid of unraveling your wrappers or just like a V-cut, I highly recommend the Xikar VX.

–George E

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.”

This hard-to-find, limited, Dominican-made Partagas was released in 2009 when it could be had for $16-20. Perhaps the most impressive thing about this cigar is the ten-year-old Cameroon wrapper, which is darker and more oily than any Cameroon wrapper I’ve come across. The smoke (5.5 x 50) has plenty of classic Cameroon spice, cedar, and coffee notes. It’s medium-bodied with and an elegant balance. Construction is perfect, as you’d expect from a pricey, limited release.

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.”

For $150, I signed up for Pete Johnson’s Saints & Sinners club, entitling me to discounted merchandise, exclusive cigars, and access to members-only forums. I was mailed a care package of Tatuaje swag and 15 cigars upon registration. Included was this unreleased size of the Fausto. At 4.75 inches in length, it packs a powerful taste of pepper, raisin, and espresso from its Nicaraguan tobaccos and Ecuadorian wrapper. While this blend and format isn’t Johnson’s finest, it’s a good pairing with bourbon after a heavy meal. If you didn’t sign up for the 2011 Saints & Sinners club, keep an eye out for the 2012 registration; at the very least, it’s a pleasure to get to taste blends and sizes that are unavailable to the general public.

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. Below is our latest Friday Sampler.

1) Politicians in Indianapolis are hoping to pass a smoking ban in time for the Super Bowl, which will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 5. “City-County Council President Ryan Vaughn, a Republican, said he will propose a ban that would eliminate smoking completely in bars and restaurants, exempting cigar bars, fraternal clubs, and tobacco shops,” reported ABC this week. The Hoosier State currently has no statewide ban, but that’s not for a lack of trying; anti-tobacco lawmakers and groups have been trying to pass a comprehensive ban since 2007.

2) The price of premium cigars may soon be increasing in Chicago, where the president of the county board has proposed a new $.30 per cigar tax. “This is wrong on so many levels,” said Bill Spann, chief executive officer of the IPCPR. “First of all, Cook County and Chicago residents and consumers are already paying high taxes on all tobacco products. If the County Board or City Council Increase those taxes, consumers will take their business elsewhere. In addition, bootlegging of tobacco products will be encouraged, as will their purchase over the Internet, neither of which generates taxes for any federal, state, or local entity.”

3) Around the Blogs: Tiki Bar examines a La Gloria Cubana Retro Especiale. Cigar Fan smokes a Morro Castle. Smoking Stogie fires up a La Flor Dominicana Colorado Oscuro. Stogie Review reviews the Santos de Miami. Cigar Inspector inspects the Fonseca Delicias.

5) Deal of the Week: Here’s a deal for fans of the Oliva-made Nub and Cain lines. Thirty bucks gets you each of the regular production blends: four Nub cigars (Habano, Maduro, Cameroon, and Connecticut) and four Cain cigars (Habano, Maduro, F, and Daytona).

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: ISBHC

In September, I wrote about one of my favorite bourbons: Four Roses Small Batch. It’s a complex, 90-proof Kentucky whiskey that won’t break the bank.

Recently, I visited my local liquor store to pick up more Small Batch. At least that was the plan until I saw Four Roses Single Barrel next to it.

Only a few dollars more than the Small Batch at $37, the Single Barrel version (not to be confused with the Limited Edition Single Barrel) comes in at 100-proof. Master Distiller Jim Rutledge selects just one of Four Roses ten different bourbons for the Single Barrel.

The result is a bourbon that’s complex, full-bodied, and spicy. The nose features caramelized sugar, burnt corn, and butter. On the palate, I found oak, toasted bread, roasted nut, and some pepper spice. The finish is long with nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla.

Four Roses Single Barrel is not as sweet or smooth as the Small Batch, but it makes up for it with complexity and depth of flavor. This makes it an excellent candidate for pairing with a full-bodied smoke. Three new-ish smokes I particularly enjoyed with a few fingers of Four Roses Single Barrel were the Drew Estate Undercrown, Tatuaje Black Petite Lancero, and the 7-20-4 Londres.

All in all, I might slightly prefer the Small Batch to the Single Barrel (especially when you consider that the $6 price difference can buy you a fine cigar to enjoy with it). Still, this is a good bourbon to enjoy with a cigar and one I plan on picking up from time to time.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

“Corona Gorda, the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, the white horse which is the conquer, the false prophet.”

According to the Illusione website, the unique name behind this vitola was inspired by Pete Johnson, who suggested Illusione creator Dion Giolito call it “cheval blanc.” Giolito evidently wanted to associate this cigar with French wine country, and a name that translates to “white horse” not only accomplishes that association, it also fits perfectly with the conspiracy culture that Giolito embraces.

Each of the 12 vitolas in the original Illusione lineup have unique names—including “And Crowned of Thorns” and “Necessary and Sufficient”—and each corresponding vitola digit (i.e., 23, 888, 2) refers to either Giolito’s faith, a significant year in his life, or his favorite number at the craps table. The Illusione name itself is a nod to conspiracy culture.

Like its brethren, the cg4 (5.63 x 48) is made at the Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras from three-year old Nicaraguan tobaccos. It features a reddish oscuro corojo wrapper that has some prominent veins and ample oils. Topped off with a triple cap, the cigar is firm with pre-light notes of earth and milk chocolate.

Once lit, the corojo ’99 and criollo ’98 tobaccos produce a profile of leather, spice, and plenty of sweetness on the finish—more sweetness than I have noticed in any of the other Illusione vitolas. The flavor is bold yet balanced with the sort of smooth strength that can sneak up on you given the depth of the taste.

The depth is further accented by the additions of dark chocolate and nuts towards the midway point. The roasted nut flavor and the sweetness on the finish really makes the cg4 stand out. Even with all its nuance, though, the cigar definitely falls in the full-bodied range. But unlike so many powerful smokes on the market, this one has the complexity—it’s not brute force.

I’d expect a corona gorda that costs $7-8 to have good construction, and the cg4 doesn’t disappoint. The stable ash holds firm. And the burn, while not perfectly straight, doesn’t require any touch-ups to stay mostly even.

I don’t think I’m surprising anyone by throwing my recommendation behind the Illusione cg4. The cat has been out of the bag for years now, and most would agree that the near universal praise for the Illusione recipe is justified. That’s certainly the case with this smoke, which 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

In this issue of “Random Thoughts from the Humidor” I pontificate on an odd cigar name, a Honduran puro, a legal victory for cigars, and a new supporter of Cigar Rights of America.

Would you smoke “The Gagger”?

I’m a big fan of K.A. Kendall’s 7-20-4 cigars. I’ve enjoyed both the original and the new line, and I think the “Dog Walker” size is not only a good little smoke but also clever branding. (Even non-dog owners can relate to a cigar that’s just large enough to enjoy on a short walk.) I can’t say the same for his newest size, “The Gagger.” I honestly can’t think of a worse name for a cigar. Maybe that’s what he’s going for, but personally I don’t see it working. Then again, I’m not a big fan of 60-ring gauge cigars, so I’m probably not the target audience.

Humo Jaguar

Speaking of cigars with unique names, I was skeptical when I was first told about Humo Jaguar, named after the Honduras cigar festival of of the same name. The cigar, which is distributed by Miami Cigar & Co., is a Honduran puro made by Placensia and was the winning blend at the 2011 festival, where cigars by various Honduran makers were tasted blind. It happens to be a fantastic cigar, one of my favorite from the recent IPCPR show, with depth, plenty of body, excellent construction, and quintessential Honduran sweetness. As someone who generally reaches for Nicaraguan and Dominican smokes and not for Honduran smokes (especially puros), it reminds me how good Honduran cigars can be. To that end, it certainly achieves its goal.

Free Speech for Tobacco Companies

While I’m not a lawyer, the recent federal court decision striking down the new graphic warning labels for cigarette packages strikes me as particularly important. Finally, a judge stood up for the First Amendment rights of tobacco companies by saying that they cannot be forced to put propaganda on their products. While courts haven’t always recognized it, the graphic warning labels clearly are not about providing facts to smokers so they can make an informed decision, but are designed to persuade people not to smoke. As someone who worries about the artistry of cigar boxes being ruined by similar anti-tobacco propaganda, it’s good to see a judge standing up to government attempts to force companies to propagandize their customers.

Altadis USA Steps Up

Kudos to Altadis USA for signing up with Cigar Rights of America and also making a “significant contribution” to IPCPR. Up until they signed on a few weeks ago, Altadis, one of the largest premium cigar makers, was the one missing cigar company from CRA’s list of supporters. Now that they’ve stepped up, all of the largest cigar makers are represented with CRA.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys