The Stogie Guys

Cigar maker Litto Gomez is best known for establishing La Flor Dominicana and growing the brand from its humble roots as one of many cigar boom upstarts to a widely recognized, highly successful company. He did so through slow, methodical growth and by building a loyal and passionate following for his strong, innovative smokes.

As his own recognition increased over the years, Gomez also lent his name to a number of smokes made under his direction. Most notable are the Litto Gomez Small Batch cigars that were released between 2008 and 2010. The Small Batch No. 2 and Small Batch No. 3 both received high ratings at StogieGuys.com—particularly the former, which earned a perfect rating in August 2009.

You’ll also find Gomez’s name on a blend crafted exclusively for Famous Smoke Shop, an internet retailer based in Pennsylvania. According to Famous, these cigars are “seamlessly handcrafted with a full-flavored blend of choice Nicaraguan long-fillers and Ecuadorian Sumatra-seed binders rolled inside dark, shimmering Nicaraguan wrappers.” They produce a “creamy smoke teeming with rich, earthy tobacco flavors augmented by an underlying sweetness in the mix.”

Three traditional sizes are available: Churchill (7 x 50), Robusto (5 x 50), and Toro (6 x 50). They range in price from $8.75 to $10.13 per single, not including the price breaks you can get if you purchase a 5-pack or a box of 20.

The Toro is a firm, heavy cigar with a highly mottled, heavily veined exterior leaf. A closer inspection reveals several soft spots, but the oily cigar seems to be otherwise well-constructed. A muted aroma of leather and cocoa is evident off the foot, and the cigar cuts cleanly to reveal a smooth draw.

Once lit, the Famous Signature Series Toro starts as you might expect from any Litto Gomez creation: lots of bold pepper and spice. Leather is dominant with hints of black cherry in the background. The aftertaste isn’t as sweet as advertised; instead, it has a cayenne kick.

Towards the midway point, the Toro makes the transition from spicy powerbomb to a more medium-bodied profile complete with roasted nuts and cream. The finale is characterized by a reprise of the bold flavors that dominate the outset.

With excellent construction and interesting flavors that change enough to keep the cigar interesting throughout the duration of the smoke, the Famous Signature Series Toro will be a welcome addition to La Flor fans’ humidors. But I would recommend buying by the box since the price for a single ($9.50) is too high in my opinion. All things considered, this Litto Gomez smoke 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

Maybe I’m just cynical, but many of the stories that accompany the release of new blends sound like complete B.S. Usually they involve finding a mysterious stash of fantastic leaf in a hidden corner of a factory (how disorganized is your factory?), an accident on the part of a roller (thousands of cigars were mistakenly made?), or a personal blend made only for the cigar master (which they were able to scale up to hundreds of thousands of cigars?).

Most of these “cigar creation stories” seem like the creation of a marketing department as opposed to an account of what took place. For once, I’d like to hear that someone created a cigar because they thought they could sell a ton of them and make a lot of money.

The Drew Estate Undercrown also has a creation story, though despite its complexity it rings more true to me than most. As both Drew Estate co-founder Jonathan Drew and company president Steve Saka recounted to me at the recent IPCPR Trade Show, Undercrown was born on the factory floor when the rollers responsible for Liga Privada were told they could no longer smoke Ligas while they worked because Drew Estate was already struggling to meet demand. So they created their own blend using tobacco bought for Liga Privada but not specifically used in the blend.

As it was described to me, where Liga Privada might use the seco from a particular tobacco plant, Undercrown might use viso (or vise versa). The only exception is the wrapper, which is a dark and oily San Andreas leaf on the Undercrown (Liga Privada uses Connecticut broadleaf). The result is a cigar similar to, but distinct from, the Liga Privada blend. It all actually makes sense when you consider that the tobacco in Undercrown was already being purchased (or grown) by Drew Estate, which should make Undercrown a profitable blend.

The resulting cigar is very impressive. It’s slightly milder than the Liga Privada, placing it solidly in the medium (maybe medium-full for some people) spectrum. It’s toasty with nutty flavors and coffee bean. As it develops, roasted tastes dominate and there’s a little spice in the final third.

Undercrown comes in five sizes: Robusto (5 x 54), Belicoso (6 x 52), Double Corona (7 x 54), Gordito (6 x 60), and Gran Toro (6 x 52). The cigars sell from $7.45 to $9.95.

Each of the three Gran Toros I smoked (all of which I received at the trade show in July) displayed perfect construction. The burns were even, the draw firm but not difficult, and the ashes held strong.

I think Drew Estate has another fine cigar on its hands here, though perhaps not quite as exquisite as the original Liga blend. If the Liga Privada is a fine steak, Undercrown is a perfectly cooked hamburger. And a good burger is certainly nothing to sneeze at. That’s why the Undercrown Gran Toro earns four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

The StogieGuys.com team has been writing about cigars daily for well over five years now. Yet in the 1,850 plus articles we’ve authored to date, I don’t think my colleagues or I have ever explicitly stated why we smoke cigars.

Perhaps we don’t need to. I suppose we all have our reasons. I smoke cigars. You smoke cigars. The fellow patrons at your local tobacconist, your herf buddies, perhaps even some of your family members…they all smoke cigars. At the end of the day, we’ve all come to the same conclusion: that a cigar-filled life is better than a cigar-less life. Amen to that.

And so we smoke. Despite the chorus of negative publicity, occasional dirty looks, and mountains of misinformation, we consciously select, buy, and smoke cigars. We keep carefully maintained humidors. We read about cigars. We pay high prices for rare smokes. And we routinely set aside 90 minutes or more to enjoy tobacco. This is what makes us Brothers of the Leaf.

I’ve identified four broad reasons why I love cigars, and why I go to great lengths to make room for premium tobacco in my life:

The taste. Words like leather, cocoa, nuts, pepper, cream, cedar, caramel, floral, etc. appear in just about every cigar review. Does any cigar actually taste like leather? Not really. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten leather. But there are no words in our vernacular that accurately describe the sensation of a fine-tasting cigar. This uniqueness in taste makes cigars indispensable.

Relaxation. I can’t pinpoint exactly why, but premium tobacco seems to soothe my soul unlike anything else. The sense of relaxation I get from an end-of-the-day cigar is priceless. Tobacco may be a stimulant, but what it seems to stimulate in me is peace of mind and clarity of thought.

The hobby. Loving cigars is about much more than the mere act of smoking. The combined efforts of caring for cigars, collecting them, seeking out rare smokes, and reading about the industry amount to a wonderful, dynamic hobby. When I was a kid I used to obsess over baseball cards; now I obsess over cigars.

Friends and family. Above all else, I love how cigars promote gathering and conversation among friends and family. Cigars are the ultimate icebreakers, helping me connect with new and old acquaintances alike. Some of the best, most memorable conversations that I can recall took place over a fine cigar. And nothing like a cigar helps you commemorate a special occasion with some great company.

So that’s why I smoke cigars. Feel free to let us know what you love about cigars in the comments below.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

For some smokers, the best thing to see in a cigar shop is a humidor the size of Wyoming with more facings than an LAPD mug book. Others relish a lounge that combines the ambiance of the Gilded Age with modern day big-screen TVs.

My favorite sight? It’s one I‘m sorry to say I spot only occasionally: a group of young smokers enjoying themselves. It makes me optimistic. More often, though, I find myself in a room with people much closer to my age, which is anything but young. (Young is, of course, a relative term. When I use it, I’m thinking of those up to about 35 years old.)

That worries me. Because even though numerous cigar manufacturers and brand owners appear to be working overtime to attract younger smokers, the same doesn’t seem to be true for the majority of cigar shops.

I can’t help but wonder whether there’ll be smokers to keep them going after the Grim Reaper cuts down the current crop of patrons.

As I pondered this state of affairs, I decided to consult with a few experts, including Heather Haddad, whose Fumée Cigars is just outside Austin, Texas. She is not only a young (29) entrepreneur, she’s also among the most thoughtful shop owners I know.

She said Fumée attracts a fair number of younger smokers, though they’re frequently drawn by hookah. “Occasionally they will deviate from the hookah and get a flavored cigar (this is age range 18-21),” she wrote me in an email. “In the 22-35 age range, we have a minority, but they tend to be one-off type customers that come in for an event.”

Appealing to a wide spectrum in almost any venture is tough; although no one talks about the “generation gap” these days, it still exists.

“A perfect example is the music at my shop,” Heather noted. “The older guys want something softer with the volume down low, and the younger guys want some more upbeat music at a louder volume. Someone won’t get their way. In some cases these groups can coexist fine, but other times not.”

Some of Heather’s observations can be taken to heart by cigar fans in my demographic.

“An older regular taking a 20-year-old new smoker under their wing can go a long way to making that young person a lifelong cigar smoker,” she explained. “Educating new smokers of any age is also a great tactic to really draw them into the mystique of cigars. Keeping your store a positive one, without negativity or cliques, is key to new smokers feeling welcome.

“Shop owners should feel free to experiment (new events, new cigars, louder music) until they find something that clicks with the old guard and the new guard. It is worthwhile to spend some time on this because younger ‘spend $5/week‘ smokers are your bread-and-butter regulars ten years from now.”

Sounds like good advice, and I hope it gains traction. Some of it might not appeal to me (that loud music, for instance). But then again, I’m beyond the target.

–George E

photo credit: Flickr

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.”

Arturo Fuente’s Sun Grown line has always been a favorite of mine, and this Belicoso (5.75 x 52) shows why. With a dark, oily, and somewhat veiny Ecuadorian sun grown wrapper, it has a rich, inviting look to go along with excellent construction and combustion properties. It’s more full-bodied than the newer Magnum Sun Grown line and displays intense earth and cedar with just the right amounts of spice and sweetness. It’s medium- to full-bodied with good balance. Best of all, it’s an affordable smoke (I recall buying the box of 24 for around $100) that I always feel comfortable recommending to a novice or a cigar connoisseur.

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.”

In celebration of Smoke Inn’s 15th Anniversary, Padrón was commissioned to make a special cigar for owner Abe Dababneh. The result is a thick (6 x 60) version of the 1964 Anniversary Series, available in either Maduro or Natural varieties, retailing for $18.50 each. The SI-15 Maduro is expertly constructed, as one might expect, featuring core flavors of chocolate, leather, and coffee. The large ring gauge results in a cooler, more delicate smoke. Too me the flavors are slightly more muted than I normally experience from this line. But overall this is a good cigar, and if big ring gauges and Padróns are your thing, the SI-15 Maduro is worth a try.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick M

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) J. Glynn Loope, executive director of Cigar Rights of America, is calling for a “National Cigar Town Hall” to make local politicians more aware of cigar-related issues. “[Lawmakers] need to see that cigars are not marketed to youth; that you’re enjoying a luxury product that’s not addictive and only contributes to your peace of mind and relaxation. They need to note the artisan nature of cigars, and that the walk-in humidor is not some evil death trap…” he writes. “This is our moment to use the democratic process and our grassroots movement to advance legislation needed now, more than ever.”

2) In July’s “Question of the Month,” we asked readers how they felt about the 2011 IPCPR Trade Show. “Excited about forthcoming releases” came in tops with 50% of the vote, followed by “worried about brand over-extension” (34%), “like I didn’t try many 2010 releases” (10%), and “curious about industry consolidation” (6%). Be sure to weigh in on this month’s question by voting in the sidebar to the right. And feel free to contact us if you’ve got a suggestion for a future month’s poll.

3) California’s Crush & Roll West cigar and wine festival has some major additions this year, including a one-year membership in Cigar Rights of America as part of the $125 entry fee. Besides lots of wine and cigars, the Sept. 16-17 fete at the Paso Robles Fairgrounds includes a poker tournament, entertainment, auctions, and educational seminars. Internet cigar fans will know the event from the involvement of Doc Stogie and his Stogie Fresh podcast, which helped launch the event three years ago.

4) Inside the Industry: Another new release from Altadis introduced around the IPCPR Trade Show is the “Casa de Ortez,” a value-priced ($1.50-1.83 per stick) Nicaraguan featuring an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. Habanos SA, the government-controlled Cuban tobacco monopoly, is releasing a new thick Partagas called the Serie E No. 2 (5.5 x 54).

5) Around the Blogs: Tiki Bar kicks back with an El Titan de Bronze Redemption Maduro. Nice Tight Ash checks out the My Father El Hijo. Smoking Stogie smokes a Room 101 Namakubi. Stogie Review reviews a Carlos Toraño Brigade. Cigar Fan fires up El Triunfador.

6) Deal of the Week: This Toro Madness deal from Corona Cigar features ten tasty toros. $35 gets you five each from Patel Bros. and Corona Gold Limitada, or double up for $25 more.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: CRA