The Stogie Guys

[Editors’ Note: The following was written by Mark McGinty, author of The Cigar Maker. His work has appeared in Cigar City Magazine, Maybourne Magazine, and La Gaceta. You can contact him at mmcginty_32@yahoo.com.]

Angel Cuesta and Peregrino Rey, both in their thirties when they started the famous cigar company in 1896, were just a pair of entrepreneurs in a city with dozens of cigar factories. In fact, the Tampa Tribune thought so little of them that the newspaper didn’t even bother to check the spelling of their names and with little fanfare, announced that Cuesta Ray [sic] had formed in Ybor City, Florida, employing 100 workers. The paper would have never expected this pair of young Spaniards to create a revolutionary cigar company that would set industry standards for quality and marketing and become one of the most recognized brands in the world.

Cuesta and Rey’s idea of cigar company management included the novel ideas of international marketing, quality control, and worker incentives, ideas that are commonplace today but bordered on being radical during the 1890’s. But it was the unique talents of each man, and their ability to divide the responsibilities of management, that played a critical role in the success of Cuesta-Rey.

Cuesta was a promoter, Rey a production manager. While Cuesta created brand identification and customer loyalty though shrewd marketing schemes, Rey ensured the quality of the product matched the reputation touted in its advertisements. He imposed a rule that no shipment of incoming tobacco would be accepted until one of the partners had personally inspected it.

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Like many cigar enthusiasts, I was enamored with the quality and value exhibited by the 777 Corojo when it was introduced in 2009 by Jesus Fuego. That cigar encouraged me to delve deeper into Fuego’s relatively young brand.

J. Fuego by the Miami-based Tabacos S.A. company, as it is called, was launched in 2006 with the help of the Plasencia family. Prior setting off on his own, Fuego had gained industry fame through his instrumental role in developing Rocky Patel’s Vintage ’90 and ’92 lines. Now, his own lineup of creations includes the Natural, Gran Reserva, Origen, Delirium, 777 Corojo, 777 Maduro, and 777 Zero blends.

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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.”

Caucus is exclusive to the DC-based Georgetown Tobacco shop. According to Georgetown’s website, its name was chosen to honor the efforts of Rocky Patel and others in the cigar industry who came to Washington to help reduce the SCHIP (State Childrens Health Insurance Program) tax hike, effectively limiting the tax from $3 to 40 cents per cigar. The Toro (6 x 50), fittingly made by Rocky Patel, sells for around $7 when bought by the box. It features a Sumatran oscuro wrapper, Nicaraguan habano binder, and filler tobaccos from Honduras and Nicaragua. It’s a medium- to full-bodied smoke with strong, sweet cedary notes with earth and pepper. With excellent construction, it’s well worth picking up the next time you’re at Georgetown Tobacco.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

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) A bill is moving its way through the Nevada legislature that would decriminalize smoking in bars that serve food and are only open to patrons over the age of 21. Its supporters cite a 17% drop in revenue and a 10% drop in employment at taverns since the state’s so-called “Clean Indoor Air Act” went into effect in 2006. Cigar Rights of America issued an email news alert this week calling for Nevada cigar enthusiasts to contact their state representatives and encourage them to “restore some freedom, improve the local economy, and send a message to other states considering similar legislation.”

2) Jose Oliva, CEO of the Oliva Cigar Co., won a primary election on Tuesday, securing the Republican nomination for Florida’s House District 110. “Technically, the race on Tuesday was a special primary election,” reports the Miami Herald. “But the results are considered a de facto victory because there is no Democrat on the ballot in the general election on June 28.” Oliva is a “founding sponsor” of Cigar Rights of America and an advocate of lower taxes, smaller government, and business-friendly policies.

3) Graycliff has appointed the Toraño Family Cigar Company as its official distributor in the U.S. “After many years of doing our own distribution, we decided that it was best if we partnered with Toraño to handle that part of our business, so we could focus on the production side,” said Paolo Garzaroli, president of Graycliff, in a press release. “We chose Toraño for the similarity in our family values and because our respective cigar brands will complement each other very well.”

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Pitchers are often advised to “mix it up.” Without some variations in speed and movement, pitches will become virtually routine to even a mediocre major league hitter, no matter the velocity or break. I have much the same feelings toward smoking cigars.

A heavy-duty La Flor Dominicana Ligero is a different experience when you smoke it after a diet of CAO Golds and Ashton Classics than it is when it caps a week filled with sticks like Cain and El Cobre.

I was struck by this recently after purchasing a box of one of my favorites, Pete Johnson’s Havana VI torpedoes, the Aristas. They’re great cigars and I’ve liked each one I’ve smoked. But after cracking open the box and smoking them for a week or so straight, I felt something missing. I went to other cigars for a few days before selecting another of the Aristas. And, as you no doubt expect, I found that experience more enjoyable.

Now, I know there are cigar smokers out there who light up the same cigar time after time. Virtually any retailer can tell you about customers who come back regularly and pick up a box of, say, Montecristo or Davidoff Aniversario. If they’re out of stock, the smoker will grumble and refuse to try something else.

And I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that. After all, if there’s one golden rule of cigar smoking it’s that you should smoke what you like, whether it’s a Black & Mild or La Palina. My aim is just to put another possibility out there, a suggestion that I believe could enhance smoking enjoyment.

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If you haven’t heard of CroMagnon Cigars, you can be forgiven since this brand hasn’t been around long. You also probably aren’t on Twitter where brand owner Skip Martin, @ChiefHava/@HavaCigarShop/@CroMagnonCigar, has been Tweeting about it non-stop since earlier this year.

Martin owned the popular Hava Cigar shop in Galveston, Texas, until Hurricane Ike wiped out the store, and a lot of the rest of Galveston, in 2008. Now re-opened as an online storefront (at least for now), it features exclusively CroMagnon cigars and other cigars by Adrian’s Costa Rican (Martin’s co-creator on the CroMagnon).

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[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.]

I know it’s a cliché but, let’s face it, there just aren’t enough hours in a day. Especially if you’re a cigar enthusiast. Between work, commutes, showers, errands, friends and family, chores, three square meals, taxes, and all the other responsibilities us grown-ups shoulder, how exactly is a human supposed to set aside an hour (well, more reasonably, 90 minutes or more) to enjoy some premium tobacco?

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