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.”

While I’d heard of Alec Bradley’s new Black Market line, I hadn’t paid enough attention to know anything about it. I was intrigued when I saw them on the shelves—the thick paper sleeve and wooden crate-style boxes are eye catching—but, of course, they offered no information about the tobacco. At $6.25 for a Churchill (7 x 50), I thought it was worth a try. I was wrong. Smoking it was a major disappointment. About the only flavor I got was the dirt taste I associate with Mexican tobacco. Since learning the cigar’s makeup—Nicaraguan wrapper, Sumatran binder, and filler from Honduras and Panama—I’m guessing the “dirt tobacco” was that Panamanian. Unless you’re a fan, I’d stay away.

Verdict = Sell.

–George E

photo credit: N/A

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) The House of Representatives bill to protect premium cigars from regulations imposed by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has broken 100 cosponsors. At least 102 representatives from both parties have signed on (including Guam’s, who unfortunately has no vote on the floor). This is good news for cigar smokers but no time to quit. It’s still fewer than half of the 218 that will be needed to get the bill approved and to the Senate. If your rep hasn’t signed on, get in touch now and urge passage of HR1639. Remember: FDA regulation of cigars would likely lead to decreased industry innovation and the restriction of marketing efforts.

2) To help the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) fight for cigar rights and against tobacco taxes and bans, Altadis U.S.A. has made a “significant contribution” to the group’s legislative efforts. “IPCPR has been particularly active on a variety of state and federal legislative issues – past and current. We wanted to show our support of those successful strategies and actions,” said Javier Estades, general manager of premium cigars for Altadis, in a press release.

3) Inside the Industry: Rocky Patel is introducing a new seasonal blend called the Summer Collection 2012. The cigar features a Habano wrapper, dual binders from Costa Rica and San Andreas, and filler from Nicaragua and Panama. The cigar, which comes in three sizes (robusto, toro and torpedo), will ship December 5th.

4) Around the Blogs: Tiki Bar reviews the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial LE. Smoking Stogie smokes a Cremo Excelsior. Cigar Inspector inspects a Tatuaje Fausto. Cigar Explorer tries a My Father 9/11 Commemorative Blend. Stogie Fresh lights up a Toraño 1916 Cameroon.

5) Deal of the Week: This deal features 10 cigars for just $30. Included are five La Gloria Cubanas and five Chateau Reals.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

“Made in the U.S.A.” is a phrase not often associated with premium cigars. But that’s the sort of spirit Walter “Lilo” Santiago wants to bring to his new brand, Crémo Cigars.

When Crémo actually hits the market in early 2012, Santiago will be promoting the fact that the cigars are crafted at the El Titan de Bronze Cigar Factory on Miami’s Calle Ocho. The factory, according to a recent Crémo press release, is “known best for its old-school Cuban entubado techniques, [and] is a family owned and operated ‘fabriquita’ which employs level-nine rollers from Cuba, who have worked for Cohiba, Romeo y Julieta, Corona, and Partagas. These torcedores, like a painter to a canvas, handcraft each cigar with meticulous detail.”

I recently received several samples of Crémo’s inaugural blend—called “Classic”—in the mail from Santiago. Sure enough, along the side of each cream-colored band is the phrase “handcrafted in Little Havana.” But the tobacco within the blend is not American. It is comprised of a Habano wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and filler from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.

Exclusively blended by Willy Herrera prior to his departure to Drew Estate, Classic will be offered in three vitolas: a corona gorda called Magnum Opus (5.75 x 46), a robusto called Excelsior (5 x 50), and a toro called Intrepidus (6 x 52). The robusto will carry an MSRP of $8 while the other two formats will be priced in the $10-12 range.

The Intrepidus is a pale-looking smoke with a roadmap of thin veins across its otherwise smooth surface. The cap is constructed well, and there’s a moderately soft feel from head to toe. I notice faint pre-light notes of honey and hay as I take a draw before touching fire to the foot.

After establishing an even light, the cigar starts with a dry wood flavor, some coffee, and plenty of Nicaraguan kick. The latter taste, which comes across as a black pepper spice, slowly fades after the first inch, leaving a creamier texture and a more rounded profile. I’d be willing to say the Intrepidus starts fairly full-bodied and transitions to the medium-bodied range rather quickly. That’s where it remains until the end, giving off floral notes and cedar along the way. Construction on the toro is about as close to perfect as you can get.

Santiago tells me Crémo will be introducing a maduro line at the company’s official launch at next summer’s IPCPR Trade Show in Orlando. I look forward to trying that. For now, the Classic Intrepidus has made an impression on me, with all three samples smoking well, yielding complex flavors, and producing aromatic resting smoke. For these reasons, I have no qualms about rating this up-and-coming smoke four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

There are many ways to discover an enjoyable cigar. My latest came about because I’m a sucker for cedar. So, when I noticed two sizes of My Father cigars sheathed in what looked to be branded cedar, I picked up the Cervantes for about $7.50.

I’d smoked several of the regular line of My Father cigars and thought they were pleasant enough. Nothing to get too excited about, but certainly a good smoke. Until I saw the Cervantes and the corona gorda Eminentes, I wasn’t even aware that there was a cedar subset.

Unfortunately, the brand website currently has no information on any of its cigars, so I had to look elsewhere for details. According to several other sites, the binder and filler are Nicaraguan while the wrapper is an Ecuadorian hybrid. I’m guessing that the two cedared vitolas have the same blend as regular My Father cigars.

But I found the taste to be significantly different. The Cervantes opens with lots of cedar and pepper that blasts along for the first half or so of the 6.5-inch smoke. For the remainder of the cigar, there’s strong leather and wood as the cedar and pepper drop back. With attention, you’ll also find numerous other flavors among the deep, rich tobacco.

I’ve smoked four of these 44-ring-gauge lonsdales, and they were remarkably consistent. Construction and draw were excellent on each, with a thick burn line and a tight, grainy white ash. The cigars themselves were a little lumpy, though the brown wrapper is smooth and firm.

If, like me, you’d found the My Father line OK but not outstanding, I suggest you keep an eye out for the Cedros Deluxe. I rate the lonsdale-sized My Father Cedros Deluxe Cervantes four stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: My Father Cigars

Ask any cigar enthusiast to name his top three cigar brands, and there’s an excellent chance Padrón will be one third of his answer. This vertically integrated company has been in the business for almost 50 years, and it has produced some of the most sought-after cigars this side of Cuba—including the Anniversary Series (both 1926 and 1964) and Family Reserve.

Not to be overlooked is the original Padrón line, which includes over a dozen vitolas that are available in either Natural or Maduro formats. (By the way, with similar wrapper shades and no distinguishing markings, it’s really hard to tell a Natural from a Maduro without holding two next to each other.) Each is comprised of Cuban-seed Nicaraguan tobacco that’s aged for two and a half years.

The Executive is a double corona that measures seven and a half inches long with a ring gauge of 50. I picked it up for $7 at a tobacconist in downtown Chicago. It’s a long, rugged-looking cigar that takes a good two hours to smoke to completion. Before setting fire to the foot, it’s impossible not to take note of the Executive’s pungent pre-light aroma of chocolate and earth.

I’ve read that the draw on this vitola can be a bit airy, especially for its length. Using a punch instead of a guillotine cutter yields a perfect draw. Once an even light is established, a syrupy taste of coffee, leather, and pepper emerges. And while there’s a bit of sweetness on the finish, the cigar is far less chocolatey than expected.

I don’t really mind that because the Executive’s taste is agreeable and the resting smoke is very aromatic and pleasant. These are important points, especially since the profile hardly changes from beginning to end. A two-hour smoke with an unwavering flavor can often be a bad thing. But, in this case, the taste is interesting and balanced enough to hold my attention.

With superb physical attributes—including a solid white ash and a straight burn—the Executive Maduro is a great way to get that classic Padrón quality without paying top dollar. Sure, the complexity doesn’t match the Anniversary Series or the Family Reserve, but try finding those premier smokes for $7. I rate this vitola three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–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.”

Matt Booth’s Room 101 is on a tour of the country that he’s calling “Cigarmageddon.” Featured at the events is the small perfecto called “One Shot, One Kill” (the band reads: “pre-release sample”) which is apparently destined to become a three-size line. The little figuardo is well constructed with an ash that lasts nearly half the length of the four-inch smoke. It’s medium- to full-bodied but remarkably smooth with earth, leather, and a hint of citrus. Without knowing the price it’s hard to give a full recommendation, but my initial takeaway is that this is a great little cigar perfect for when you only have 30 minutes but still want something complex and tasty.

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.”

This A.J. Fernandez cigar has been my go-to maduro in recent weeks. Sure, I’ve enjoyed it since it was launched in 2010, but a year of age has improved this Mexican-wrapped smoke, making the chalky taste of espresso, black pepper, and cayenne spice more balanced and sweeter. Expect more chocolate and nuts from the first generation of San Lotano Maduros, and expect them to be quite tasty. That makes the Robusto (5 x 52) a good investment at around $6 apiece.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys