The Stogie Guys

There are two ways to get your hands on this new limited edition smoke. You can either buy one for the suggested retail price of $7.99, or you can enter to win one of 13 boxes General Cigar is giving away between now and May 31.

Either way, if you want to try the new Rare Salomones vitola (7.25 x 57), you’ll need to act pretty quickly. While the Rare Corojo line is released every March—and has been since 2001, the year it was reintroduced after a wrapper shortage caused a hiatus—Rare Salomones is a 2014-only size. Once the figurado is gone, it’s gone.

While supplies last, Rare Salomones is joining the portfolio of seven other Rare Corojo vitolas, all of which are made in Honduras: Champion (4.5 x 60), Double Corona (6.75 x 48), El Doble (6 x 60), Magnum (5.25 x 54), Pita (6.1 x 50), Rothschild (4.5 x 50), and Elite (5.25 x 55).

Unlike its predecessors, which have the familiar double bands of bright red and gold, the Rare Salomones has cream-colored bands that impart a subtler, more exclusive look. Beneath are Nicaraguan, Honduran, and Dominican tobaccos, bound with a Connecticut Broadleaf binder, and wrapped in a reddish Sumatra leaf from Ecuador.

Truthfully, the Rare Salomones is one of the more beautiful cigars on the entire General Cigar roster. The difficult-to-roll shape is executed very well, and the wrapper has an oily sheen with minimal veins. Notes of earth and black cherry are apparent off the foot. The sharply pointed cap clips easily to reveal a smooth draw.

Even before the figurado gets to its widest point, the smoke production is solid and the flavor is well-developed. The profile includes dried fruit, hay, cocoa, and a little cedar spice. The texture is leathery, and it isn’t uncommon for the aftertaste to linger on the palate for a noticeably long time between puffs.

Towards the midway point, a black coffee flavor emerges. This can be misconstrued as a bitter component by those who smoke too quickly; but I find slowing the pace of my puffs (as I so often recommend) results in a much better experience.

With outstanding construction—this wouldn’t be a bad choice for a long ash competition, considering the fortitude of the ash and the remarkably straight burn—the Punch Rare Corojo Rare Salomones is a good value at $8. I fired up four for this review. If I get my hands on more, I’ll be saving them for the warmer months to accompany me to the golf course. Overall, this limited, medium-bodied smoke is worth seeking out and worthy of a solid rating of 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.”

Yet another reason to patronize your local B&Ms: Who knows what you might run across. The other day, I was trolling through the humidor and spotted a just-opened box of Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2010. How often do you get to smoke an aged, limited edition stick for MSRP ($10 in this case)? If my humidor wasn’t nearly overflowing and my wallet nearly under water, I’d have bought them all. The stick, highly sought at each annual release, lived up to its stellar reputation, though draw and smoke production dropped off in the final third. But if you stumble across these, don’t hesitate to pick up one.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

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 new release from Viaje Cigars fits what I often look for in a limited release: an enjoyable and memorable cigar, but not one I’d want to smoke too often. In this case, that’s partly price ($9.50 is fairly steep for a robusto), but more the strength and flavor profile. I can’t seem to find any information on the tobacco, but Leaded is strong, kicking off with a pepper blast and shifting to earth and leather midway. Then, it picks up with pepper and spice in the final half. It’s a tad rough, and the draw is loose. But the burn is excellent and smoke production top rate. If you have any interest in limited production smokes, be sure to pick one up.

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) Viva República, a boutique cigar brand made at La Aurora’s facilities in the Dominican Republic, will be distributed by Miami Cigar & Co. starting April 1. Jason Holly, Viva República’s “smokemaster general,” is also joining the Miami Cigar & Co. staff. He created Viva República, which debuted at the 2012 industry trade show, and its three blends: Rapture, Rapture Maduro, and Guerilla Warfare. “I am proud to have Viva República in the Miami Cigar family of lines we distribute,” said Jason Wood, vice president of Miami Cigar. “In adding Holly we bring on another valuable team member, who has seen the industry from the traditional retailer’s eye. He is highly creative and can add to our strategy immensely.” Miami Cigar is best known for distributing the Nestor Miranda and La Aurora lines. Viva República cigars are expected to continue to be produced at La Aurora under the guidance of Guillermo León.

2) Omar de Frias is adding a new vitola to his Fratello line, which is now being sold in 25 states. A box-pressed torpedo, it will measure 6.25 inches long with a ring gauge of 52. It is expected to be available at authorized retailers shortly after this summer’s IPCPR Trade Show, though a “soft launch” may put a few in circulation sooner. Fratello currently has four sizes—Corona, Robusto, Toro, and Timacle—and features a Nicaraguan Habano wrapper around an Ecuadorian Sumatra binder and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua and Peru.

3) Inside the Industry: Via Twitter, the EPC Cigar Co. announced its upcoming new release, La Historia, which will feature a Mexican San Andres wrapper. La Flor Dominicana is introducing a giant (7 x 70) version of its popular Ligero blend as an exclusive offering to retailers that are members of the Tobacconist Association of America (TAA). Also exclusively for TAA members is Angel’s Anvil by Crowned Heads, a Churchill (7.1 x 49) with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper around Nicaraguan binder and filler.

4) Giveaway: Win cigars for a year ($1,500 worth of cigars) or one of two Gran Habano prize packs (worth $500). Enter here.

5) Deal of the Week: Smoke Inn has a variety of cigars on clearance (with free shipping on all orders over $100). Notable deals include Cubao, La Dueña, Añoranza, CAO La Traviata, El Tiante Oscuro, and Nestor Miranda Danno.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Viva República

Today I’m offering something a little different than StogieGuys.com’s normal content on cigars and spirits. This article will be the beginning of a new series, aimed at introducing cigar smokers to pipe smoking.

Pipe smoking is a rich, diverse hobby with tons of exciting things going on, but it can be a little intimidating to get into. So, as they appear over the next few weeks scattered amongst our regular content, these articles will help ease you into pipes by offering advice, answering questions, and discussing the “tools of the trade” of enjoying a tobacco pipe.

For this first post, though, I wanted something a little more informal. You might be wondering why you should even bother smoking a pipe. I mean, after all, cigars are so much easier—you just clip ’em and light ’em. Well, here are five reasons to consider pipes.

To start, you know that smoking a pipe is a hobby you’ll like. It’s not really taking a gamble. By reading this web magazine you’re obviously someone who likes to smoke tobacco. So while you may find you prefer cigars to pipes, there is pretty much zero chance you’ll strongly dislike pipes.

The second reason is that pipes can be much more cost-effective than cigars. There is a bit of an economic barrier of entry (you’ll need the pipe, of course, which can be pretty expensive). However, there are cheap and good pipes on the market, and once you have your stuff established, the actual tobacco is cheap. A 1.75 tin of pipe tobacco averages anywhere from about $5 to $15 in price, and that’s about 10 to 15 bowls worth (depending on how you pack, and the size of your pipe). One $10 cigar is hard to justify over 13 smokes from a $10 tin of the same quality.

Third, pipes can fill roles cigars cannot. I know a few people who frequent the shop I work at who won’t smoke flavored cigars, but they’ll smoke flavored pipe tobaccos. Also, a big advantage to consider here is that pipe smoking can be quick. A friend of mine packs a pipe when he goes to work and lights it for 10-minute intervals on his smoke breaks. If you do that with a cigar, the cold cigar would be bitter. Pipe tobacco, though, stays fresh between relights.

On the same note of filling unique roles, pipes offer different flavors than cigars. I smoke both, frequently, because there are tastes that are unique to each side of the tobacco industry. I have never found pipe tobacco that tasted like a Four Kicks, or an LFD Airbender. I’ve also never found cigars that taste like Sam Gawith’s Full Virginia Flake, or G.L. Pease’s Westminster.

My final reason is a bit more abstract. Pipe smoking is a more personal way to enjoy tobacco, in my opinion. Everything from the shape and size of your pipe, to the way you’ve aged your tobacco, to the types of tobacco you’ve previously smoked in your pipe, to how you decide to pack your bowl can impact the way your tobacco tastes. As an example, my boss, myself, and a friend were all sitting in the lounge the other day, each smoking the same tobacco. We decided to switch pipes with each other for a minute, and were shocked at how unique all three tasted.

Those are all my reasons, and hopefully I’ve convinced some of you to try something new. Next time, as I continue this series, I’ll be discussing different types of pipes, how to pick out your first pipe, and what you will need to effectively take care of, and clean, your pipes.

–Joey J

photo credit: Flickr

Thursday marks the start of the NCAA Basketball Tournament, the only time of year where sports gambling and scoreboard watching seem to be acceptable in the American workplace. (Personally, I think this may be the year Arizona gets the job done, as long as they can hit their free throws. Or you can ask Nate Silver.)

But it’s not just me. Everyone seems to be an expert handicapper for March Madness. Fortunately, now you can prove it. Only instead of running our own bracket and giving you a handful of cigars, we’re pointing you in the direction of several free-to-enter NCAA pools where your good picks can earn you boxes of free cigars:

Take on Rick’s Picks! Join the ‘Fans of CAO Cigars’ group: http://t.co/tlT5I5bZKv Password: CAORick

— CAO Cigars (@caocigars) March 18, 2014

It’s bracket time! Join my Yahoo Sports Tourney Pick’em Pool, “Miami Cigar & Company” http://t.co/eZFfiSmJlt

— Miami Cigar & Co. (@MiamiCigar) March 18, 2014

Enter our Bracket Challenge for a chance to win some great prizes! Fill out your bracket here http://t.co/8fwiQWv97L pic.twitter.com/AARyUz3FYD

— Espinosa Cigars (@EspinosaCigars) March 17, 2014

Know of other free-to-enter NCAA pools where you can win cigars? Let us know in the comments.

–Patrick S

photo credit: N/A

This dark, attractive cigar is something of a gimmick, with Quesada concealing nearly all details about the line and promoting it with a fundamental principle of quantum mechanics. I was eager to try the Heisenberg, not because of any of that, but because I’ve enjoyed several earlier Quesada smokes.

But after going through a five-pack of Robustos—each five inches long with a ring gauge of 48—I’m not uncertain about my reactions. The Heisenberg is not for me. (My colleague had a similar reaction.)

First, let me deal with Quesada’s intention to, as it says, “dispel the stereotypes that limit our ability to enjoy a cigar and remind aficionados that sometimes it’s best to sit back, relax, and just enjoy a smoke without overanalyzing it.”

To that end, they turned to Werner Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle, a scientific principle that, like déjà vu, has been greatly altered in popular use. For Quesada, it’s more or less reduced to “embrace uncertainty.”

I think, perhaps, Quesada should name its next cigar after Robert K. Merton, who popularized the concept of unintended consequences. I’m sure many Heisenberg smokers spend a lot of time trying to guess what the tobaccos are, rather than get lost in smoke-filled wonder.

These days, with so many tobacco strains being cultivated all over, I think it’s impossible for most of us to pinpoint the origin or leaf. The only guess I’d hazard is that I’d be surprised if there’s much, if any, typical Nicaraguan in the Heisenberg.

I say that because there’s very little pepper or spice and a fairly prominent grassy taste often found in Dominican tobacco. The other prominent tastes I noted were floral notes and heavy wood.

Overall, the draw was good, as was the burn and smoke production. The ash was flaky. I paid $6.75 each, and they come in boxes of 10.

As I said upfront, the medium-strength Quesada Heisenberg Robusto isn’t my kind of smoke. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a well-made, quality stick and worth a try. I give it three stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys