The 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.”

Before trying the new Avo 85th Anniversary, I wanted to go back and smoke one of my favorite limited edition Avo smokes from the past. The Tesoro (5.75 x 50) debuted in 2008 and it’s still a fine smoke in 2011. Sweet cream, honey, and light cedar are each elegantly balanced in this well-constructed toro. The Tesoro is proof that mild cigars need not be bland or unflavorful, and that’s why it’s still a favorite of mine.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Avo

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) China’s Ministry of Health is imposing new, far-reaching smoking regulations on the planet’s most populous country. Starting May 1, smoking will be banned in most public places, including hotels, restaurants, parks, and pedestrian walkways. “Beijing has long said it is determined to tackle the country’s smoking problem but has so far met with little success,” reports the Wall Street Journal. “In fact, the new regulations come months after China missed a Jan. 9 deadline to restrict indoor smoking, set when Beijing signed the World Health Organization’s 2005 Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2006.” It is not yet clear how the Chinese government intends to enforce the law in a country where  previous smoking regulations have gone largely ignored.

2) Tickets for Famous Smoke Shop’s annual Cigar Expo are now on sale. The theme of this year’s event, held August 26-27 in Pennsylvania, is “Cigarnival,” and attendees will be treated to “a carnival-like atmosphere replete with carnival games and performers, all they can eat and drink, plus the world’s leading cigar makers, and plenty of cigars to smoke.” Click here to purchase tickets.

3) Inside the Industry: Padilla is teaming up with Oliva to create a limited edition cigar for Oliva’s Studio Tobac project that is scheduled for an August release.  The next ProCigar, the Santiago-based Dominican cigar festival, will be held on February 19-25 of 2012. Camacho is a releasing a series of limited cigars for select retailers called Super Limitados.

4) Around the Blogs: Smoking Stogie smokes the My Father Edición Limitada 2011. Stogie Review reviews the Man O’ War Puro Authentico. Cigar Fan fires up a La Gloria Cubana Serie N. Nice Tight Ash checks out an Illusione 888 Candela. The Padrón 1964 Principe Maduro is a  top ten cigar over at YourCigarRatings.com.

5) Deal of the Week: Loyal StogieGuys.com readers can use the discount code “stogieguys” to subscribe to The Cigar Network magazine at 15% off the cover price. Just enter the code at checkout (seen here).

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

My first encounter with the Xikar EXII lighter was at the IPCPR Trade Show last August. I was sitting in the Davidoff blending seminar, ran out of matches, and didn’t have my lighter with me.

I asked Tim, co-creator of Your Cigar Ratings, if I could borrow his, and he handed me this exact lighter. I was surprised that it was soft flame and intrigued by the fact that it was supposedly “windproof.” That initial experience piqued my interest, and I thought about purchasing one for several months. I was fortunate enough to receive one as a gift.

The Havana Collection EXII is based on the original EX lighter, but has polished steel casings and the center panel features cigar-related artwork. The Havana Collection retails for $100, but you can purchase the original EX for $60. The biggest difference between the two is the casing and the art. The best part about Xikar lighters, besides their reliability, is that each comes equipped with a lifetime warranty.

Looks are great but the most important thing about a lighter is reliability and functionality. Like any product, the EXII has its pros and cons. The cons, in this case, are more tradeoffs than purely negative attributes. First, in stiff breezes it can be a challenge to get a cigar lit, even though the soft flame is windproof, as the flame behaves erratically. It’s tough to light larger ring gauge cigars, although increasing the flame size does alleviate this somewhat. Lastly, touching up a cigar can be a bit of a challenge with a soft flame, but it gets easier with a little practice.

The EXII has plenty of pros though. Over months of use I have consistently been impressed with how long the fuel lasts before the lighter needs to be filled. And my favorite feature has to be the flame adjustment wheel. It is extremely easy to adjust the flame compared to lighters with those tiny recessed adjustments. The flame is as windproof as they come although, as noted, in a strong breeze lighting a cigar can still be a challenge. The biggest benefit of using the soft flame is that it burns much cooler than a torch and won’t char the cigar like a torch can.

Ultimately, if you are in the market for a good-looking, reliable soft flame lighter, the EXII is an excellent choice. The initial expense might seem a little high, but the quality is excellent and the warranty guarantees your investment.

–Patrick M

photo credit: Stogie Guys

The J.C. Newman Cigar Company, best known for its Cuesta-Rey and Diamond Crown cigars, was founded in 1895. That’s the year a young Julius Caeser Newman crafted his first cigars in the family barn in Cleveland.

These days the Tampa-based company is honoring its originator and celebrating its 115th birthday with a new blend. Called Julius Caeser, the cigar line is the second Diamond Crown spinoff (the first being Maximus). Its Ecuadorian wrapper and “smooth, robust blend of Central American tobaccos” are the result of “years of testing blends, perfecting quality, and aging.”

“Over the years I have developed a fondness for cigars that have a certain ‘something,’” says Eric Newman, current president of J.C. Newman. “I can’t put it into words in a flavor profile, but I can tell you that our new Diamond Crown Julius Caeser cigars have it.”

The blend is available in leather cabinets of 20 cigars and sold exclusively at Diamond Crown Cigar Lounges. It is offered in four sizes: Robusto (4.75 x 52), Toro (6 x 52), Churchill (7.25 x 52), and Pyramid (6.5 x 52), each of which are adorned with the likeness of J.C. Newman dressed as the famous Roman general.

The Pyramid has a near-flawless exterior leaf, a moderately spongy feel, and soft pre-light notes of hay and caramel. Once an even burn is established, it yields a mild-mannered tasted of peppery spice and sweet graham cracker. There’s an indefinable flavor present, one that I’ve noticed in a few other mild cigars but that’s far easier to experience than it is to describe.

At the midway point and beyond it becomes clear that the Pyramid isn’t going to intensify in body or strength. Those who enjoy the cigar’s mild profile at the outset will be satisfied; others will be frustrated as they hope in vain for additional life to spring into the Julius Caeser. Either way, you’re better off pairing this cigar with a wine, a crisp beer, or a cup of coffee than a fuller-bodied spirit. Bourbons and rums are likely to drown out the subtlety of the light smoke.

The three Pyramids I sampled for this review each exhibited outstanding construction, including a straight burn, a nice draw, and a finely layered white ash. I wouldn’t expect anything less from a cigar that retails in the pricey $15-18 range.

But I was hoping for more in the flavor department. While I’ve long been a defender of mild cigars and naysayer of pepperbombs that are as subtle as a Michael Bay movie, the Julius Caeser just doesn’t have the complexity one would anticipate from a cigar with such a high price tag. I ultimately award it three stogies out of five based on its merits.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

[Editors’ Note: The following is a commentary by Stephen Boyajian, founder of The Cigar Network, a new magazine to which StogieGuys.com contributes.]

There comes a point in everyone’s life when they want something that doesn’t exist. In a way, this is what happened to me about a year ago. I had looked at just about every print cigar magazine available to me, yet none seemed to grip me enough to push me to subscribe. Some seemed to opinionated. Some didn’t seem opinionated enough, or biased to a certain degree. Some didn’t even really seem like they were about cigars. I came to this realization shortly after launching CigarFriendly.us but at the time, I didn’t give it much thought, continuing to depend on the internet for my cigar information fix.

Fast forward to the 2010 IPCPR Trade Show in New Orleans. I met a lot of bloggers that I had previously only met through forums, Facebook, or Twitter. There was a strong feeling among them all. The print cigar media that was out there just wasn’t good enough. Most of these publications rehash news old news. And the ratings…where were they getting their ratings? Some of the numbers did not make sense. Were they biased by money or personal palate? You’re guess is as good as mine.

At some point we moved towards the idea that “any cigar that scores in the 80s is a subpar product” or “if you don’t get a 90 or higher it’s time to come up with something new.” I don’t know how we got here, but I think it’s about time that misconception was laid to rest. Think back to when you were in school. If you got an 84 on a big test, were you happy or did you feel like you failed? For some, getting less than an A+ might be unacceptable. For others, a solid B is something to smile about.

It’s time to recapture the passion we all have for cigars. Cigars create a passion in many of us that can’t be explained to others. Picture two people sitting on a park bench, each with their favorite book. Odds are neither one will strike up a conversation. Now replace these people with two cigar smokers and, more often than not, they’ll spend the next 45 minutes discussing everything from their favorite brands to a recent cigar event. They may even transition to work, family, or politics. There is a good chance they’ll establish a friendship that will last long after their chance encounter.

The purpose of The Cigar Network is just that: to bring some of that passion to a format that anyone can share with someone else. We hope to educate in ways no other cigar publication has ever done, with articles written by people who share that same passion whether they be bloggers, brand managers, or even cigar company presidents.

Our ratings are solely consumer-driven, to avoid any fear of editorial bias. Some cigars will rank in the 90s, some in the 80s, and you will even see some in the 70s. Every issue will feature interviews from both members of the cigar industry as well as popular celebrities, who we promise also smoke cigars. We’ll also share cigar-friendly locations and what you can expect at each one.

As we embark on our journey to try something no other print cigar magazine has done before, we appreciate your support. Our first print issue will be released the first week in April and available at most cigar shops in limited quantities. To ensure you receive yours, visit us at TheCigarNetwork.com to subscribe for your own copy. Use coupon code “stogieguys” at checkout for 15% off the cover price.

–Stephen Boyajian

photo credit: The Cigar Network

The history of DonQ rum dates back to 1861. That’s the year Don Juan Serrallés, a first-generation immigrant from Spain, founded a sugar plantation in Puerto Rico.

Four years later, Serrallés produced his first casks of rum using a copper pot still imported from France. The Serrallés Family would later gain exclusive rights to the Río Inabón, a river that winds through Puerto Rico’s volcanic mountains, and, in 1934, introduce DonQ to the market. “The brand is named for Don Quixote, the famous literary character from the family’s favorite novel,” reads the DonQ website. “Just as Don Quixote represents the search for a perfect world, DonQ signifies the family’s quest for perfection in rum.”

To create their rum, the family—now headed by Felix J. Serrallés, Jr.— distills DonQ five times before aging it for two to seven years in charred American white oak barrels. The product is then blended and bottled on-site. “We delight in the art and science behind making our rums,” says the family.

DonQ has won numerous accolades since it was reintroduced to the U.S. market in 2006. It was named “platinum” at the International Spirits Competition and “double gold” at the San Francisco World Competition.

Poured neat, the bright golden spirit boasts a nose of rich caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, and raisin. The aroma also has a mellow alcohol tinge, and swirling the glass illustrates the rum’s low viscosity and lack of sediments. The taste is light and smoky. Notes of butterscotch, oak, and molasses are prevalent, and more subtle flavors of pineapple and tobacco are detectable to attentive sippers. The finish, while not nearly as pronounced as bolder rums, is longer and warmer than you’d expect from such a clean-tasting spirit.

At the end of the day, DonQ isn’t as complex or inspiring as the finer rums on the market. But it can hold its own neat, or better yet, in your favorite rum cocktail (the so-called “blood and tears” is especially interesting). And it will only run you about $20 per bottle.

As for cigar pairings, couple spicy medium-bodied smokes with this spirit, as they’ll balance nicely with DonQ’s sweet and fruity flavors. I’ve found the Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8 to be one of many excellent complements.

–Patrick A

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 Honduran puro from General Cigar has been a mainstay of my humidor ever since I first tried it in 2008. With outstanding construction and an interesting profile of dry cedar, clove, spice, and sweetness, the Robusto (5.5 x 50) is a fine everyday smoke for around $4 apiece.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys