The Stogie Guys

Nearly everyone knows the obvious elements that make for a good cigar shop. Selection, comfort, prices, welcoming atmosphere, etc. But there are a few things that I think make a good shop and an outstanding one—the sort you want to frequent again and again. And they’re not necessarily what you might think. Here are five attributes I check for:

1. Dust. Cigar shops attract it like almost no other. Smoke adheres to just about every surface, creating a vast, virtual dust magnet. I’m not just talking about the cigar boxes, either. Counters, windowsills, fan blades—you name it and it’ll get dusty without nearly constant attention. A shop owner who’s careful about dust is almost certain to be just as careful about everything else, from maintaining his stock to customer relations.

2. Hot water. Yes, this is kind of silly. But it does turn me off when the restroom has only cold water running in the sink. I have to wonder: If the shop’s pinching pennies at this level, where else is the eagle being squeezed?

3. Inventory awareness. Good owners know which cigars are selling. No one—not even the largest retailers—can stock every cigar. It’s a basic law of cigar physics: To get more in, you have to move some out. Boxes that remain full month after month mean new sticks aren’t arriving. Creative owners find ways to get those old ones out.

4. Light. People come in to enjoy a smoke for all sorts of reasons. Reading, whether it’s the newspaper, a book, a magazine, or an electronic device, is one of those reasons. I always appreciate at least a nook carved out with good lighting and good seating.

5. Wi-Fi. I put this one last because it’s probably the most obvious. With the proliferation of smartphones, tablets, laptops, and e-readers, providing good, free Wi-Fi these days should be de rigueur.

If you’re a store owner or work in one, what do you think? Is this reasonable, and are there things I’m missing? Similarly, I hope you customers out there will comment as well.

–George E

photo credit: Flickr

I don’t generally make New Year’s resolutions for the simple reason that I know that I, like most people, won’t keep them. But thinking about cigars has tempted me to come up with a few goals for 2013.

Keeping the list short and approaching it this way will, I believe, increase my chance of success. And if I don’t succeed in crossing the goal, perhaps I can at least get in the Red Zone. Here they are:

1. Concentrate more on the cigar I’m smoking. This should be easy, but because cigars are such a wonderful accompaniment to so many pleasant activities (reading, conversing, watching or listening to sports, just to name a few) I often multi-task to what is undoubtedly a loss of attention to the cigar. Right now, for example, I’m smoking a lovely Fuente Sun Grown Double Chateau while typing.

2. Check out more limited editions. These are proliferating and are adding many terrific smokes to the shelves. Unfortunately, they aren’t always easy to find. So, I’m going to try to search harder. They are a great opportunity to sample some standout cigars, even though it may be a one-time thing.

3. Smoke more mild and medium strength cigars. I seem to invariably gravitate to powerhouse sticks, which I enjoy. But when I do light up a top-notch cigar that’s less potent, I almost always relish the experience. So, I need to remind myself that power isn’t the only path to pleasure.

What are your plans for the year? Let us know in the comments section (and be sure to vote in our question of the month). Perhaps you’ll inspire the rest of us.

–George E

photo credit: Flickr

As he told the story on his blog, Gary Griffith mentioned to cigar maker A.J. Fernandez that he needed to add a Connecticut-wrapped smoke to his lineup of Emilio Cigars. This was back in 2011, and this is how the AF Suave blend was born.

“There are plenty of Connecticuts out there, and the one thing I stressed that I didn’t want was a one-dimensional cigar,” wrote Griffith when AF Suave was released in June 2012. “Instead, I said I was playing with the idea of making something that would maintain the interest of the seasoned smoker, yet not overpower novices.”

The result is the third line made by Fernandez for Emilio Cigars (the first and second being the San Andreas-wrapped AF1 and the Habano oscuro-wrapped AF2, respectively).

AF Suave features a golden Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper around Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos (the exact makeup of the binder and filler has not been divulged). It is sold in boxes of 20 and available in five standard sizes: Corona (5.5 x 42), Churchill (7 x 50), Robusto (5 x 50), Torpedo (6 x 52), and Toro (6 x 50). The latter retails for around $7.50 and boasts a sweet pre-light aroma of honey and apricot.

Consistent in feel from head to foot, the Toro’s cap cuts easily to reveal an open, airy draw that imparts spice on the lips. That spice carries over to the flavor of the opening profile, which is characterized by black pepper, coffee, and salty notes. Then, in less than a half inch, the taste mellows considerably, becoming creamy and nutty and dropping most of its stronger tendencies.

At the halfway mark and beyond the Toro is mild- to medium-bodied with a creamy, chalky texture and classic Connecticut flavors—vanilla, cream, and almond—with a backdrop of pepper and espresso. One could say Fernandez and Griffith hit the mark of crafting a blend with “flavor complexity often unattained in a cigar of this strength level.”

With a solid ash, a straight burn that requires no maintenance, and a profile that’s simultaneously restrained yet interesting, the AF Suave will find fans among newer cigar smokers and longtime enthusiasts alike. It nicely diversifies the Emilio Cigars lineup, which is quite robust—especially considering how young the company is. All told, this particular smoke is worthy of four 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.”

It’s a bit confusing, but there are actually two Timeless blends produced by Nat Sherman. In addition to the Dominican blend, a Nicaraguan-made puro was introduced summer 2012. This little cigar (4 x 52) is a great size that I wish we saw more of. The cigar is medium- to full-bodied and woody with spice, earth, and just a bit of sweetness. Enjoyable flavors combined with excellent construction makes this a definite “buy” recommendation.

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 is a killer cigar. Strong, flavorful, complex, smooth. Just about everything you’d expect from a stick that garnered a five-stogie review from Patrick S. I got this 5.5-inch beauty as a gift from him a while back and smoked it the other day. As you can tell, I was blown away. Believe me, Patrick got it absolutely right. At about $10 per stick, exclusively from Smoke Inn, it’s worth every penny.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

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) The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) isn’t the only organization stepping up its efforts to marshal resources to fight impending threats to cigar rights (see yesterday’s article for more details). Cigar Rights of America (CRA) this week made a special appeal to all cigar smokers to become official CRA members. And they’re throwing in special goodies to sweeten the pot, including a special CRA cutter and a subscription to Cigar Insider. The urgency is looming regulation from the FDA that “would do irreparable harm to the premium cigar industry and your ability to enjoy a fine cigar.” If you aren’t already a CRA member, please sign up here.

2) In last month’s “Question of the Month” (which admittedly ran significantly longer than a month), we asked readers which cigar maker made the biggest splash at this year’s industry trade show. A.J. Fernandez topped the poll with 24% of the vote, followed by Tatuaje (20%). Honorable mention goes to Joya de Nicaragua/Drew Estate, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, and General Cigar. 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 suggestion for a future poll.

3) The financial website MarketWatch this week explored what it called the half-dozen most popular U.S. neighborhoods. Topping the list was Chicago’s Old Town, which was cited for pleasantries that include “bohemian-era mainstays such as Up Down Cigar.” “With roots dating back to the 1870s, Old Town’s well-preserved Victorian-era buildings, fashionable dining scene, and its urban, pedestrian-friendly Near North Side location help explain why it’s the most searched neighborhood on Realtor.com,” explains MarketWatch. Up Down Cigar has been serving the neighborhood since 1963.

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews an Ezra Zion Reagan. Cigar Brief reviews an Oliva Serie V Maduro 2012. Tiki Bar kicks back with a VegaFina Master 2012. Cigar Fan fires up a 7-20-4 Lancero. Nice Tight Ash checks out Herederos de Robaina. Cigar Inspector inspects a Cohiba Behike BHK 52. Chuck Cowdery reviews the Evan Williams Single Barrel 2003 Bourbon.

5) Deal of the Week: We recently gave the Tatuaje Apocalypse a four-stogie rating. Fortunately, the exclusive Tatuaje releasee is still available at Smoke Inn. Five-packs and boxes of 15 of the exclusive release are still available here (along with shirts and hats).

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: CRA

In recent years, the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) has gone out of its way to crack down on non-members visiting its annual Trade Show. The IPCPR made it clear that not only were consumers not welcome, but that legitimate members, especially retailers, who brought consumers to the show could face repercussions. (Complicating matters was a debate about the status of internet media outlets.)

Now the IPCPR has officially moved to change that, and welcome consumers—specifically the cigar smoking public—to their show, for at least part of one day. Just before the new year, John Anderson, chairman of the IPCPR Board Trade Show Committee and co-owner of W. Curtis Draper’s in Washington, DC, sent an email to IPCPR members (of which StogieGuys.com is an online media member) announcing the changes, which he says are already being planned:

In an effort to raise funds for our continued and ever more expensive legislative battles, the IPCPR Board Trade Show Committee is planning two events to take place at the 2013 annual Trade Show in Las Vegas.

The first event under consideration is a Consumer Day that will take place on the last half-day of the show.

• The goal of the event is to generate $100,000 for our legislative battles.
• Each ticket will include a pre-packaged assortment of select cigars purchased by the IPCPR from volunteer manufacturers, as well as a chance to walk the Trade Show floor to meet and interface with the individuals behind the brands in the industry.
• This event will be limited to the first 500 consumers who purchase tickets (ticket price TBD based on cigar selections & cost).

The second event under consideration is a Roast. This will be an elaborate event featuring:

• A celebrity comedian as the host, a panel of well-known industry “roasters,” and a carefully selected “roastee.”
• Tickets for the Roast will cost $ (TBD based on catering selections) and will include entry to the event, heavy hors d’ oeuvres, and an open bar.
• Tables and sponsorship opportunities will be available for purchase.
• The roast will be open to the consumers who attended the Consumer Day as well as the industry and will make for a lighthearted conclusion to a busy week of work.

All money raised from the events will go directly towards funding legislative pursuits.

Analysis

The move represents a radical departure for the IPCPR, which has maintained that the Trade Show is primarily an event for buying and selling cigars. But it is not an illogical move. As we’ve noted many times, there is much for the cigar industry to do when it comes to protecting cigars from government regulation, taxation, and prohibition, and the IPCPR is one of the groups doing important work to defend cigars from anti-tobacco zealots.

While the goal—more funds to protect cigars from legislative attacks—is clearly worthwhile, the proposal raises a number of issues which should be addressed.

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