The Stogie Guys

As I wrote in my review of the Corojo Robusto last month, C&C Cigars is a new outfit that launched at last summer’s IPCPR Trade Show.

C&C is owned by Joe Chiusano, the former president of Cusano, a brand that ended up getting purchased by Davidoff in 2009. He and his team of former Cusano/Davidoff employees—including Jeff Aronson, Maurice Tisseur, and Shane Hays—have cooked up three premium lines that are handmade in the Dominican Republic: Corojo, Connecticut, and Limited Release Maduro.

The latter features a naturally ripened Dominican wrapper with Dominican binder and filler tobaccos. “This cigar delivers a rich, full, and aromatic medium-plus strength profile,” reads a C&C press release. “The curing process allows the proprietary maduro wrapper leaf to retain much of its natural sweetness complementing its full flavor. All natural, no dye or oils added.”

Like the other two blends, the Limited Release Maduro is available in three sizes of 18-count boxes: Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 x 52), and Churchill (7 x 50). Each size costs $3.99 to $4.49.

I sampled a handful of Robustos for this review. This vitola has a dark exterior leaf with minimal veins and moderate oils. It is light in the hand with a soft feel from head to foot. The faint pre-light aroma reminds me of milk chocolate, and the cold taste is a little musty.

Once lit, the initial flavor includes a heavy dose of espresso and some notes of charred steak. The profile is definitely bold but lacking in spice. I found myself hoping for some sweet or creamy tastes to provide balance.

Those tastes slowly creep in around the midway point, where flavors like cocoa and cashew join in. These additions help offset the mostly bitter base of espresso and add depth. All the while, the Robusto’s physical properties are outstanding for a $4 smoke. The burn line is straight, the ash holds firm, and the draw is consistently clear.

Like the Corojo, the Limited Release Maduro isn’t going to wow any seasoned cigar veterans. But this is a good choice for any everyday smoke if you like espresso flavors and want a well-built stick that won’t break the bank. For that, it earns three stogies out of five.

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

-Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

We spend a lot of time writing about spirits you can pair with a cigar. Rum, scotch, bourbon, beer, and wine have their place, but sometimes nothing beats a cup of coffee.

Whether in the morning, after lunch, or at the conclusion of dinner on a chilly night, a strong cup of coffee is often times more appropriate, or just plain better, than something stronger. On the other hand, bad watery coffee can ruin not only the immediate experience, but coffee in general. Coffee certainly isn’t the most exotic drink (over half of all Americans consume it everyday, and the per capita consumption is 1.6 cups a day) but a fine cigar paired with a good brew can turn the average to the exotic.

And the flavors in a good cup of coffee are highly complimentary to fine cigars. Vanilla, mocha, chocolate, and roasted notes, nuttiness, and earth, can all be found in both cigars and coffee. In fact, tasting wheels used for coffee tasting would help any cigar smoker identify flavors in tobacco.

But much like bad cigars, too often when people think of coffee they think of bad coffee, like that sludge they serve at your workplace. But doing so would be like thinking that all cigars are like Phillies. To fix that, here are a few tips I adhere to for making a proper cup of coffee.

First off, you need good beans. There are many good ones out there and plenty of boutique roasters to explore, but these days my go-to is Major Dickason’s blend by Peet’s, a full-flavored multi-region blend. Best of all, it’s easy to find (my local supermarket carries it) so I don’t have to order it through the mail or worry about when I’ll be able to pick some more up.

The biggest improvement the average person can make to their coffee experience is grinding them at home immediately before brewing the coffee. Burr grinders are best, as they evenly grind the coffee without burning the grinds like blade grinders do, and these days you find a decent one for $50 or $60.

Of course, some people take it a step further, roasting their own beans, and buying thousands of dollars worth of brewing equipment. But such a setup isn’t necessary for good coffee. I use one of the cheapest methods, a Melitta pour over a coffee maker that makes one cup at a time and uses easy-to-find paper filters.

When it comes to a cigar with your proper cup of coffee, there are as many good cigars to choose from as there are exotic coffee blends. Mild Connecticut smokes in the morning, dark full-bodied maduros later, is an easy rule of thumb, but you shouldn’t feel bound to any particular rule. Just don’t overlook coffee when it’s time for a cigar. And let us know your favorite coffee and cigar pairing below in the comments.

-Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

With only 13 shopping days left before Christmas, consumers across the country are traipsing through crowded malls to find the perfect gifts. Many have cigar enthusiasts on their lists but find shopping for cigars either intimidating or confusing.

Never fear. Cigar smokers need not be a difficult crowd for which to buy presents. Their dedication and passion for the hobby of cigars makes it easy to narrow down gift choices. This holiday season, you can be virtually assured of gift-giving success if you follow some simple rules of thumb.

Only give a box if you’re sure. Some cigar enthusiasts are completely loyal to one brand or one specific blend. If this is the case, you can’t do wrong by buying a box he or she is sure to love. Maybe this isn’t the most original idea—and maybe the box won’t be much of a surprise—but any cigar smoker will tell you that you can never have enough of your favorite smokes.

Samplers offer variety. Many cigar enthusiasts don’t have just one favorite cigar. For these folks, I can’t recommend buying a whole box. Instead, samplers can be terrific presents. When you give a sampler of ten different cigars, it’s like giving ten different gifts. The recipient might not love all ten, but chances are he or she will really enjoy at least a few, and you might even be responsible for turning someone on to his or her new favorite smoke.

Consider cigar accessories. Every cigar enthusiast needs a great table lighter, a travel lighter, a nice cutter, a good ashtray, etc. Instead of buying cigars, think about giving the gift of a cigar accessory. Many accessories can be personalized and, unlike cigars themselves, are likely to last for years to come. My wife gave me a wonderful alligator skin cigar case years ago and I’ve cherished it ever since.

Cigar knowledge is power. Aside from the tremendous knowledge offered by the online cigar community, many books have been written on the subject, and most of these would make an excellent gift. My favorite has to be The Gourmet Guide to Cigars by Paul Garmirian, a solid work that was published in 1990 and is now considered a classic. Other interesting reads include Playboy: The Book of Cigars, The Cigar Lover’s Compendium, and The Cigar Maker (by our very own Mark M).

Don’t forget cigar rights. Most cigar smokers have a fervent passion for defending cigar rights and opposing tobacco taxes and smoking bans. For these folks, a membership to Cigar Rights of America is an excellent gift. Benefits of membership include supporting professional lobbyists who fight for cigar freedoms, discounts at cigar shops, free cigars, and more.

I hope these tips are helpful as you shop for that cigar smoker on your list. Feel free to leave a comment if you have a tip of your own that you’d like to share. And happy holidays.

-Patrick A

photo credit: Flickr

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

This cigar, from CAO’s small batch Escaparate series, is exclusive to the Orlando-based Corona Cigar Company. It features a Costa Rican maduro wrapper, Ecuadorian binder, and Nicaraguan filler from Estelí, Jalapa, and Condega. The Corona Gorda (6.5 x 50) is a very sweet, medium-bodied smoke. It features milk chocolate, clove, subtle leather, and just a hint of spice in the second half. Construction is excellent. This is a very enjoyable smoke that has some unique qualities.

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.”

La Casita Criolla, a new blend Tatuaje creator Pete Johnson launched this summer, is made from 100% Connecticut broadleaf tobacco. But this prototype, exclusively available through the Saints & Sinners club, intermingles that Connecticut leaf with tobaccos from Nicaragua and Mexico. The result is a cigar with a full-bodied profile of earth and coffee with some sweetness on the finish and good construction. I still haven’t tried the final La Casita recipe so I can’t offer a comparison, but if it’s similar to the Proto 2 it’s worth a try.

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) Officially formed last week in papers filed with the Federal Election Commission, “Puro PAC” is a new political action committee (PAC) with the goal of protecting premium cigars from government anti-tobacco measures, and specifically pushing the “Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act.” The committee is formed as a “Super PAC,” which gives it maximum freedom to support candidates directly (subject to legal limits) and to spend as much money as it can raise on independent expenditures. Puro PAC Chairman Jeff Borysiewicz, owner of the Orlando-based Corona Cigar Company, tells StogieGuys.com that although there had been talk of forming a PAC affiliated with Cigar Rights of America, Puro PAC will be a more effective vehicle to push cigar rights since it can raise funds from individuals (not just from CRA members like a traditional affiliated PAC) and from corporations with no contribution limits. Now that the paper work has been filed, his goal is to raise a six-figure war chest that can be deployed to promote pro-cigar politicians and oppose those who advocate more restrictions on adults who choose to enjoy premium cigars.

2) The Economist reports that overall cigar sales in Britain are down about 20% over the past half decade, but small, machine-made smokes are “holding steady,” now comprising about 60% of the market. The publication cites two reasons for the disparity. First, smoking bans have decreased demand for cigars that take 45-minutes or more to smoke. Second, the cost of premium handmade cigars has gone up faster, in part due to the fact that cigars are taxed by weight. “Even firms that hand-roll cigars are responding to these shifts,” says the article. “Sales are rising of short robustos.”

3) Officials in Vancouver unanimously adopted a new law that criminalizes smoking in the city’s parks. Advocates of such outdoor bans typically cite biased secondhand smoke studies as justifications for their regulations, but this law is seemingly devoid of even flawed reasoning because it also bans smokeless tobacco products. The crime is punishable by 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

4) Around the Blogs: Smoking Stogie reviews a God of Fire Serie B. Cigar Brief fires up a Toraño Vault. Nice Tight Ash checks out the Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve. Cigar Explorer smokes the MUWAT Bait Fish. Cigar Fan lights up a Drew Estate Undercrown.

5) Deal of the Week: Smoke Inn is featuring a variety of 10-packs on sale for $38-50. When you purchase one, you can also pick up a 50-count humidor for just $25 and take advantage of site-wide free shipping through the holidays.

-The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Wikipedia

Now that we’re in the middle of the Christmas shopping season, many consumers will surely be looking for a good stocking stuffer for that cigar enthusiast on their list. They might want to consider the Ergonomic Torch Lighter from Butane Lighters Wholesale.

Butane Lighters Wholesale is a California distributor of torch lighters, cigar cutter lighters, pipe lighters, table lighters, and other products to meet your flame-related needs. The owner of the outfit, Aaron Torng, was nice enough to send me the Ergonomic Torch Lighter for this review, and I’ve been testing it out for over a month now.

First, the specs on the product. It stands four and a half inches tall with a weight of four ounces. Its unique frame, aside from looking pretty cool, fits well in the hand, and the black rubber grips make the sleek steel surface easy to grasp. Other notable attributes include an adjustable flame (screwdriver required) and a refillable butane tank.

The 45-degree angled head makes toasting the foot of a cigar a little less awkward, but I’m unconvinced it makes much of a difference. What does make a difference is the easily operated thumb slide and the reliable flame. When set to its highest level, you can light a cigar from about three inches away.

Over the past four weeks I’ve used the Ergonomic Torch Lighter extensively. I can say that the flame doesn’t disappoint, and the value is outstanding. At $19.99, this product is superior to many lighters that I’ve owned in terms of performance, and far less expensive. And each butane fill-up seems to last for a respectable time period.

While its larger size and lack of a safety mechanism makes this lighter less than ideal in terms of mobility, I’ve really enjoyed having it on my desk or out on the patio when company is over. I may even pack one of these in my golf bag when the summer rolls around, though I think it was designed to be a table lighter.

Whatever the case, the Ergonomic Torch Lighter is a solid buy for under $20.

-Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys