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.”

A little over a year ago, I tried this 2011 release from Miami Cigar & Co. for the first time. I was impressed. So imagine how pleased I was when I recently found a Nestor Miranda Grand Reserve that had been hiding in one of my humidors since early 2012. Firing up the Connecticut broadleaf-wrapped torpedo (6.1 x 52), I encountered a familiar profile of dry wood, spice, coffee, and caramel sweetness. The cigar performed much as I remembered it—including excellent construction—albeit with slightly mellower flavors than a year before. This was a solid buy at $9.50.

Verdict = Buy.

–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.”

If memory serves, I received this cigar (7 x 47) as a pre-release sample back when it came out in 2009, only a little before my colleague reviewed the pyramid size. The now discontinued blend celebrates Louis Tiant’s 1968 season with the Cleveland Indians, a year in which he won 21 games. It has a Sumatra-seed Ecuadorian wrapper and a Nicaraguan Habano binder with three different ligeros from Nicaragua and seco tobaccos from both Nicaragua and Honduras. The result (after almost four years of age) is a medium-bodied smoke with an interesting combination of earth and a damp Davidoff-esque musty flavor. The legendary Cuban pitcher is now working with Don Pepin Garcia for his El Tiante lines, and while I also enjoy those cigars (though they are very different profiles) I would be pleased if I found a few more of these in the bottom of my humidor.

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) Pennsylvania has had a statewide indoor smoking ban over most “public” locales for almost five years. But now certain politicians are aiming to expand that regulation over establishments that are currently exempt, including bars, private clubs, and casinos. Interestingly, according to the Patriot News, these politicians also want to target tobacco manufacturers, wholesalers, and processors. Pennsylvania is home to significant cigar-related industry because of its unique ability to yield premium tobacco. The state also has a favorable tax climate for cigars, which is why huge internet retailers like Cigars International and Famous Smoke Shop are located there.

2) Time published a short feature about national smoking bans in which we learn some interesting information about anti-tobacco efforts overseas. For example, China’s nationwide indoor smoking ban, imposed in May 2011, has witnessed inconsistent enforcement. Some speculate this may have to do with the fact that “the government body in charge of carrying out national anti-smoking laws was also running the world’s largest cigarette maker.”

3) Inside the Industry: After we received hints from Drew Estate that the company will be making a cigar for Swisher’s new premium cigar division, Royal Gold Cigars, Cigar Insider confirmed the news and added the new smoke is scheduled for October and will be limited to 70,000 cigars in 2013. Espinosa Cigars announced a limited release addition to it’s 601 La Bomba line called “Warhead” that features a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper.

4) Deal of the Week: There are nine days until Father’s Day, and if you’re planning on getting dad cigars or a cigar-related gift, we’d appreciate it if you’d consider purchasing that gift from one of our retail advertisers (Signal Cigars, Smoke Inn, Corona Cigar Company, Mike’s Cigars or Emerson’s Cigars). Their support helps us dedicate the time and resources necessary to bring you our unique, independent daily articles about all things cigars. Many are currently featuring specials for Father’s Day. Thanks!

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

Despite the hundreds of bourbons on the market under an almost countless number of brands, nearly all of them come from not more than a handful of distilleries. Pure Kentucky is no exception, only you don’t know exactly which one it comes from.

That’s because the “small batch” Pure Kentucky is bottled and aged by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD) which, despite the name, doesn’t distill any of the bourbon it sells (at least not yet, although it has recently opened its own distillery). It does, however, bottle many well-known bourbons including Noah’s Mill, Willett, and Rowan’s Creek. (For more on the sometimes controversial phenomenon of non-distiller producers read here and here.) KBD is open about the fact it doesn’t actually distill what it bottles, and as long as they’re honest, it really doesn’t bother me.

What’s important is what the consumer buys, and if they enjoy it. According to the back label, Pure Kentucky is 12-year-old (or older) bourbon bottled at 107-proof. Available for $30-35, it has the potential to be a great value considering many similarly aged bourbons cost quite a bit more.

My bottle came from batch QBC No. 12-121 (there have been reports of significant variation between batches). Once you open the slightly infuriating plastic cap beneath a layer of blue wax, the copper-colored spirit reveals a nose of molasses, oak, and mint. The flavors are overly woody with vanilla, lots of wood spice, and a good bit of mouthfeel. The finish continues the woodiness as it lingers for seemingly a minute on your tongue.

There is a school of thought in bourbon that after nine or ten years, aging becomes detrimental to flavor. Obviously, such excellent bourbons as Van Winkle, AH Hirsch, and Jefferson’s Presidential Select 18 are the counter to that. But Pure Kentucky might be a case for limited aging, as the barrels seem to have overpowered this spirit, sapping its complexity and leaving mostly old tasting wood and spice flavors behind.

Curiously though, that doesn’t mean it isn’t a bourbon I wouldn’t pick up again. That’s because when mixed with younger bourbon it can add that well-aged flavor that can be so hard to find. (I’ve experimented with combining it with many other straight bourbons and found my favorite to be equal parts Maker’s Mark and Pure Kentucky. The result is, in my opinion and others I’ve shared it with, a reasonably close approximation of the impossible-to-find Pappy at an average cost of $30 a bottle! Try it and let me know if you agree.)

As for cigar pairings, in its pure form it requires a strong, full-flavored, spicy cigar to hold up to the spice, like a La Flor Dominicana Air Bender or Opus X. When you start playing mad chemist and mixing and matching, the possibilities become limitless.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

When Cigar Aficionado announced its top cigar of 2008, I can recall being shocked, as well as reflecting on how little I knew about the Casa Magna Colorado Robusto. I don’t place much stock in Cigar Aficionado ratings, much less the magazine’s annual Top 25 list, but this selection appeared to come out of left field—especially when you consider the pedigree of the 2008 runner-up, the Padrón Serie 1926 80 Years Maduro.

Admittedly, like many other curious cigar enthusiasts, the designation prompted me to try the smoke for myself. I did. I also tried the Torito. I grew more and more impressed by Casa Magna’s ability to generate a top-quality blend for a very reasonable price. Kudos to the partnership between Manuel Quesada and Nestor Plasencia.

In the years that followed, the Casa Magna hype seemed to die a predictable death. Maybe it’s just me, but I hear and/or read very little about the brand these days. And for one reason or another, I rarely pull a Casa Magna out of one of my humidors.

I couldn’t resist reacquainting myself with the Casa Magna Colorado when I saw the Corona vitola on sale at my local tobacconist for $5.50. Like its brethren, the Corona is blessed with a super-oily wrapper that boasts a reddish hue (hence “Colorado”). The pre-light aroma reminds me of honey and cocoa. A punch cut is all that’s needed to reveal a smooth draw.

After setting an even light with a few wooden matches, the cigar—made from 100% Cuban-seed Nicaraguan tobaccos—displays a bold taste of pepper and black cherry. Soon I start to notice the unique flavor that attracted me to the other Casa Magna Colorado formats: dried apricot. Other notes come and go throughout, including earth and peanut.

Back when Casa Magna was the talk of the town, I recall many smokers/reviewers reporting construction issues. Maybe I’m just lucky, but those issues continue to evade me. All three Coronas I smoked for this review exhibited solid white ashes, straight burn lines, and clear draws that yielded plenty of smoke with each puff.

That top rating from Cigar Aficionado in 2008 may have been the best and the worst thing to ever happen to the blend. On one hand, I think it’s safe to say many more people tried this cigar than otherwise would have; on the other, it seems like some expect this sub-$6 smoke to exceed the complexity of the best Padrón. It doesn’t. What it does is make an oily, well-constructed, uniquely flavored cigar available at a very modest price point. That affords the Corona a solid rating of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

[Note: The following is one of a series of articles regarding StogieGuys.com’s recent visit to Nicaragua as part of Drew Estate’s Cigar Safari. Read all our Cigar Safari articles here.]

One of the more interesting nuggets from the trip was Drew Estate CEO Steve Saka telling me that if production capacity allowed, he has as many as a dozen blends he thinks are market-ready. Here, I will look at some potential upcoming blends from Drew Estate.

First, one important note: I’ve only smoked one sample of each of these cigars (some in Nicaragua and some upon my return) and they may or may not be the final blend; so what follows are (obviously) not reviews, or even Quick Smokes.

My Uzi Weighs a Ton Kentucky Fire Cured

This is the “Beef Jerky” cigar (or at least a variation of it) that Saka first told me about at the 2010 IPCPR Trade Show. While you won’t see it in Drew Estate’s marketing copy—almost certainly for trademark reasons—I expect this cigar to be known by most smokers as simply “Uzi KFC” or just “KFC,” which certainly has a familiar ring to it. The blend, which I’m led to believe is pretty much finalized since it has been officially announced for the 2013 Trade Sshow, uses up to three different fire-cured tobaccos, including one as a cap for the wrapper that imparts flavor directly on the mouth. The fire-cured tobaccos definitely have a smokey, mesquite aroma and flavor, but those flavors weren’t as dominant as I thought they might be. It’s definitely different, but I for one look forward to trying more.

Drew Estate Nica Rustico

This cigar uses a unique strand of tobacco that grows wild in Nicaragua that comes from a different variation of the tobacco species than is normally used in cigars. It was described as having rough characteristics and that certainly is true from the sample I smoked. I would describe it as gritty, rustic, slightly vegetable, and even a bit grating. Those characteristics come on a bit strong at first, especially for smokers who value balance in their cigars, but it does seem to mellow slightly as the cigar continues (though perhaps just because you become accustomed to it). I find this to be an even more unique cigar than the KFC and more likely to be either loved or hated by each particular smoker.

Herrera Estelí Maduro

Possibly for release later this year, this is the maduro project that is a derivation of the original Ecuador Habano-wrapped Herrera Estelí. Dubbed “WH Project M” on the test bands, it sure seems like a finished product to me. It features medium- to full-bodied flavors and adds earth and dry chocolate to the basic profile of the original Herrera Estelí. Whether it’s just the Estelí Herrera with a different wrapper or a more extensively tweaked blend, I’m not sure. (I’d certainly believe the former, but knowing Drew Estate’s attention to detail the latter seems more likely.) Like Willy Herrera’s projects before and at Drew Estate, it maintains the Cuban-esque style he is known for. This is my favorite of the the blends listed here.

“WH Cuadrado”

This is another blend created primarily by Willy Herrera. It would be his first box-pressed cigar, hence “Cuadrado,” which translates to square. Herrera told me he’s always wanted to create a box-pressed smoke. The cigar starts very full-bodied before rounding out slightly, though it’s certainly more full-bodied than his other blends while keeping in the Cuban style.

–Patrick S

photo credit: JonathanDrew1/Stogie Guys

First, let’s talk about what this cigar is not. It is not the one handed out at Don Pepin Garcia events and said to be a replica of his storied blend for the original El Centurion.

No, this cigar is what might be referred to more aptly as the “Not-So-Special” My Father Special.

While occasionally offered for sale, nearly always in a three-pack, this line is more frequently found as the extra stick in a My Father sampler or an inducement giveaway.

According to what little information I was able to find, the light brown wrapper is Ecuadorian Habano-seed and the binder and filler are Nicaraguan tobaccos. The cigar carries typical Robusto proportions: five inches long with a ring gauge of 50.

What it isn’t, however, even for a big Pepin fan, is particularly special.

I’ve had four of them and, as you’d expect from My Father, they are consistent and well-constructed. Good draw, good burn.

It’s in the flavor that the cigar falls somewhat short. While it kicks off with a bit of the typical Pepin spice, the cigar quickly settles in with a flatter, less lively taste. There’s also little complexity, and the stick more or less maintains the same profile from head to foot.

I don’t find that at all surprising, since I wouldn’t expect a manufacturer to use its best tobacco in producing what is, essentially, a fill-in cigar.

This is by no means a bad cigar. It just isn’t anything special. As such, it fits right in to the “pretty respectable” three-stogie rating.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys