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.”

Exclusively sold as part of the fourth CRA Sampler to support the defense of cigar rights, this is the La Flor Dominicana Colorado Oscuro blend (Ecuadorian ligero Sumatra wrapper, Dominican Sumatra binder, and Dominican and Nicaraguan filler) in a Chisel (6 x 54) size. It features syrupy molasses flavors along with leather, coffee, and floral notes. Construction is flawless. I think I prefer the traditional sizes of this blend a little better, but it’s still a well-constructed, tasty smoke. Plus, the proceeds go to a good cause.

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.”

For a cigar that was said to be a limited edition, this one’s been around for quite a while. It’s a pressed multi-nation mix with a fair amount of power. I’ve smoked a few of the different 101s, but not enough to make a comparison. Maybe it’s just knowing the association, but this Conjura (Spanish for conspiracy, if you’re wondering) did remind me of the older-line Camacho cigars, especially with its flavors of leather and earthiness.

Verdict = Buy.

–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 latest trend in smoking bans may not necessarily come at the hands of federal, state, or local government officials. In major cities, property management companies may start preventing renters from smoking without government intervention. The most prominent example is New York City’s Related Companies, which is beginning to ban smoking within its 40,000 rental units—both inside and out. “New tenants will sign a contract agreeing not to smoke anywhere in the building (that includes private terraces and balconies.) Breaking the rules could lead to eviction,” reports NBC. “Tenants already renting won’t have to sign until they renew their lease. But with a turnover rate of 10,000 a year, all apartments could be smoke-free in just a few years.”

2) Chris Edge’s Dona Flor brand, reintroduced to the American market in 2012 after a hiatus, is once again making the Alonso Menendez line available in the U.S. “Alonso Menendez made his name in Cuba creating the Montecristo No. 2 while operating the largest cigar factory in the country. The line of Brazilian puros that carry his name has become extremely popular in European countries, largely due to the increased Mata Norte in the blends,” reads a Dona Flor press release.

3) Inside the Industry: Toraño has announced a second addition to their Vault line, the D-042, which will hit shelves in August and is being made in three sizes for $7.20-8.50.  J. Grotto has announced that their Reserve Lancero will become a regular release after initially being limited to just 1,000 cigars. Davidoff announced The Griffin’s Casino as limited release in boxes of 21 cigars (MSRP $252), with 17 featuring the “Casino” secondary band (with an Ecuadorian wrapper) and four mystery blends with a “Joker” band.

4) Around the Blogs: Cigar Fan tries the Oja Anniversary. Stogie Review reviews the J. Fuego Edición de Familia. Stogie Fresh smokes the Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve. Robby Ras lights up the Four Kicks “Mule Kick” LE. Cigar Inspector inspects a Black Market.

5) Deal of the Week: This “Best of Dominican Sampler” features some real gems from the Dominican Republic. Only $27 gets you an E.P. Carrillo Elencos, a Four Kicks by Crowned Heads, a Montecristo Platinum, a Pinar del Rio Habana, and an AVO Maduro No. 2.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

Although it isn’t widely broadcast, there are roughly 10 distilleries that make roughly 99% of all the bourbon made in the world. Many are names you know: Beam, Wild Turkey, Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace, Maker’s Mark, and Wild Turkey.

One you’re less likely to know is the Barton Brands Distillery (formerly the Tom Moore distillery), home of the 1792 Ridgemont Reserve Barrel Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The distillery, which also makes Very Old Barton, Tom Moore, Kentucky Gentleman, and Ten High, is owned by the Sazerac Company (owners of the Buffalo Trace Distillery).

Known as “Ridgewood Reserve 1792” until a judge ruled it was too close to Woodford Reserve, “1792” is a reference to the year Kentucky became America’s 15th state. I picked up my bottle for $32 at a Virginia ABC, which explains the sticker that reads, “Bottled especially for customers of the Virginia ABC.” (Although I’ve seen no reason to think it changes anything.)

Aged at least eight years before being bottled at 46.85% alcohol by volume (93.7-proof), the orange-tinted bourbon features a nose of green apple, orange peel, vanilla, and baking spices.

The flavors, like the nose, are very distinctive with dry oak, apple peel, fig, and an all-around dry spiciness, likely from the rye part of the mash bill. The finish is more dry oak with hints of leather and fruit that tapers off quickly.

Oak, spice, and fruit are the dominant flavors in this unique bourbon, and so a savory but woody cigar is my pairing recommendation. Cigars that fit that profile include the Crowned Head Four Kicks, Berger & Argenti Entubar V32, Pinar del Rio Small Batch Reserve Maduro, and (if you can get it) the Casa Fuente 800 Series.

If you’re a bourbon drinker there is plenty to like about Ridgemont Reserve, most particularly a unique flavor profile. It’s neither overly sweet, nor does it demonstrate an old woody flavor profile (the dominant trends in bourbon). But at around $30 per bottle it’s well worth a try. Drink it neat or with a splash of water.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

On average, do you tend to smoke cigars alone, or with a friend or two?

For regular readers of cigar web-magazines like StogieGuys.com—and for people like me who write for such publications—I hypothesize we smoke alone a relatively larger percent of the time. Not because we’re introverts. But because, unlike more casual cigar smokers, we don’t need a special occasion or a gathering of friends to light up. We’ll smoke alone and not think twice about it. We’ll smoke alone often if we have to.

That isn’t to say I don’t enjoy smoking with friends. I really do. And I suspect that camaraderie is a big reason why I got into cigars in the first place.

Next month, at the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) Trade Show, I’ll have the opportunity to smoke with two friends I (unfortunately) rarely get to see in person these days: Patrick S and George E. While at least one person from StogieGuys.com has personally covered the Trade Show every year for the past six years, all three of us have never attended the show simultaneously. I’m really looking forward to this.

Even if you peruse StogieGuys.com regularly, it may not be abundantly clear that Patrick S, George E, and I all write from different cities (Washington, Tampa, and Chicago, respectively). Getting all three of us in the same location is about as rare as a Cubs pennant. It’s almost as if we have a policy similar to those in line to be President: never get the President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, etc. in the same room—just in case.

I plan to make the most of our time together by sharing good smokes and covering the heck out of the Trade Show. Check back at StogieGuys.com when the convention begins for our extensive coverage. And check back in the ensuing weeks and months as we review many of the new cigars that are set to debut.

In addition to my colleagues, there are plenty of other friends I’m looking forward to seeing. These include various cigar makers, peers from other online cigar media, folks at Cigar Rights of America, etc. I think the Trade Show’s host city, Las Vegas, will provide a solid setting for fun, food, drink, and smokes.

As I’m doing all this catching up and reporting, keep in mind I’ll be asking industry leaders as many questions, and gathering as much info as possible during the trip. So if you have some burning inquiries you’d like me to ask, say, your favorite cigar maker, please feel free to leave them in the comments, and I’ll get as many answered as possible.

Until then, I’ll raise my glass—and my cigar—to a long overdue meeting of old friends.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Flickr

Summer officially starts this Friday, so now is the time to prepare for the hot season of cigar smoking. With that in mind, here’s a StogieGuys.com  guide to summer:

Summer-proofing your cigars

Heat and humidity put your cigar collection at risk and, depending where you live, you’re likely to face one or both this summer. If you don’t adequately address these threats, you might end up with a beetle infestation.

To avoid that, here are some tips for keeping your cigars cool during the hot months. If you want to take things further, check out these tips for prepping your cigars, including freezing cigars to prevent cigar beetles. You can also transform a wine fridge into a large humidor. But no matter what, you’d be well-advised to perform the simple salt calibration test to ensure your hygrometers are accurate.

Summer leisure activities

Now that your cigars are protected, let’s get out and have some fun. (It’s better than freezing in the cold, right?)

Thinking about some camping on the beach? Here are a few tips to make it a good trip if you want to enjoy a few cigars.

Here at StogieGuys.com we’re also big believers that baseball and cigars go together well. (If the Mets ever win another pennant they could even celebrate like this again.)

Another natural summer pairing is golf and cigars. Here are a few ideas for selecting a golf course smoke, including making sure you bring enough if you get stuck behind a particularly slow group. Finally, we’ve explored the surprisingly wide range of gadgets designed just to hold your cigar on the course, which can be fun but certainly aren’t necessary.

Summer beverages

Chilled beverages are good for summer and good for cigars. Here are five summer beers you can pair up with a cigar.

You can’t go wrong with a properly made margarita, but rum is one of the best spirits for summer. Here are five classic rum drinks, including the Dark n’ Stormy and Mount Gay Tonic. If you prefer something straight-up or on the rocks, we highly recommend El Dorado 15, Cruzan Single Barrel, Ron Zacapa 23, or Zaya 12.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Flickr

As we reported in our last Friday Sampler, the Davidoff-owned Camacho brand is essentially reinventing itself. Camacho’s reputation for full-bodied smokes is being embraced like never before, including new scorpion-themed packaging and claims like “bold is back with a vengeance.” And the Camacho portfolio is being narrowed down from 11 blends to 6.

Most of the blends that made the cut—Corojo, Corojo Maduro, Connecticut, Criollo, Triple Maduro, and Diploma—are getting more than just a marketing makeover. They’re getting completely re-blended and re-introduced at next month’s IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas.

Since it came out in 2009, I’ve been a fan of the Camacho Connecticut. So I was pleased to learn it is one of two lines (along with the Triple Maduro) to not get a re-blend. Looks like all I’ll have to get used to is the new look. Hopefully the price point won’t increase.

Just in case, I picked up a handful of Camacho Connecticut Toros (6 x 50) at my local shop for $6 apiece. Like the Monarca, it has a dry, pale Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper around a Honduran binder and Honduran and Dominican long-filler tobaccos. Hardly any veins are visible. The pre-light notes remind me of sawdust and hay.

One reason I always liked the Camacho Connecticut is it brings more to the table than just classic Connecticut flavors—and it does so with a little gusto. The Toro is no exception. At the outset, a zesty profile of spice, oak, and black pepper sets a bolder tone that you might expect from a typical Connecticut smoke. Then, just when you start second-guessing the makeup of the blend, more traditional tastes emerge, including cream and roasted nut. The finish witnesses a reprise of spice.

Throughout, construction doesn’t pose any issues. Every time the burn line starts to waver, it self-corrects before I reach for a wooden match to execute a touch-up. The gray ash holds firmly off the foot. The draw is smooth. And the smoke production is excellent.

The powers that be at Davidoff and Camacho made a smart decision when they opted to leave the Connecticut blend as-is. The Toro is tasty, affordable, interesting, and an excellent companion to a cup of coffee. For that, it earns a commendable rating of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys