The Stogie Guys

I don’t buy many full boxes of cigars. I especially don’t often buy boxes that retail for over $300, or when the only vitola in stock is not one (or unlikely to be one) of my favorites. But in the case of Sobremesa—the debut blend from Steve Saka’s Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust—I’m apparently willing to make an exception.

In December, Florida-based online retailer Smoke Inn had 25-count boxes in the Gran Imperiales (7 x 54) size for just under $303.95, or about $12.16 per stick. It was the only vitola in stock at the time. Normally I’d wait for a smaller size to become available, since my tastes usually skew towards thinner, shorter cigars. After such good experiences with the Cervantes Fino and El Americano, though, I jumped at the chance to stock up on the blend—even if the large size isn’t something I’d typically go for, especially in a box purchase.

After smoking my way through eight Gran Imperiales, I’ve concluded I absolutely enjoy this cigar immensely and do not regret the box purchase in the slightest. That said, the largest Sobremesa vitola is not my favorite format in which to experience the blend, though I’ll relish firing up my remaining stash.

Like its Sobremesa brethren, Gran Imperiales boasts an Ecuadorian Habano Rosado wrapper, a Mexican binder, and a filler blend of Pennsylvania Broadleaf Ligero with four different Nicaraguan tobaccos (Gk Condega C-SG Seco, Pueblo Nuevo Criollo Viso, La Joya Estelí C-98 Viso, and ASP Estelí Hybrid Ligero). It is handmade at Joya de Nicaragua.

More than the smaller Sobremesa formats, the Gran Imperiales looks a little more rustic with its prominent seams and network of veins on full display. Across the samples I’ve smoked, several have had minor imperfections (a tiny hole in the thin wrapper leaf, a little errant adhesive, some ruggedness at the head or foot), but nothing that really detracts from the smoking experience.

Once an even burn is established, pre-light notes of cocoa powder and earth transition to a profile that’s becoming dangerously familiar and pleasing to my palate. Simultaneously creamy, smooth, sweet, and well-balanced, the most noticeable flavors include cocoa, café au lait, cinammon, and nuts, along with hints of both red and black pepper. Sometimes I pick up green raisin, other times caramel or honey.

Notably, in comparison to the Cervantes Fino, the intensity and concentration is toned down. This is the softest Sobremesa in the portfolio so, when you select it, you’re trading strength and fullness for more subtlety and (obviously) a longer smoking experience. Whatever size you choose, though, construction will be perfect. Literally every time I’ve had a Sobremesa—including the eight Gran Imperiales I smoked for this review—the combustion qualities were nothing short of top-notch.

My pledge is to review the remaining Sobremesa vitolas this year (it’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it). Many of you, I suspect, are eager to get your hands on this blend if you haven’t already done so, and I’d like to help you select the best size for your palate. In this case, the Gran Imperiales would be your choice for smoothness, intricacy, and approachability. Just make sure you have enough time to smoke before you light it up; you won’t want to extinguish this large smoke before you hit the nub. This awesome cigar is worthy of four 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.”

Some of my favorite Tatuaje cigars have been from the Exclusive Series (for example, the Barclay Rex and TAA 2015) so I was interested to see how this Lancero stacked up. Once lit, it showed roasted coffee notes, clove spice, and intense leather that borders on bitter, especially towards the first half. Construction on the medium- to full-bodied smoke was flawless. I like lanceros, and I’ve generally been very impressed by the Tatuaje Exclusive Series cigars, but I’m just not sure this size showed off the best of the blend, which was pleasant but not outstanding.

Verdict = Hold.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

Encased in the perfecto-style tube that distinguishes this high-end line, the Diamond smokes as good as it looks. A dark Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, a Dominican maduro binder, and Dominican filler combine for a rich, thick, tasty smoke with a pearl-white ash. The Diamond, often called “Black” after the tube color, is fairly small (5 x 54). The only real negative is the hefty price, which runs about $18-$20 individually, though I’ve seen it as low as about $12.50 when purchased by the box of eight. Worth the money, especially as a celebratory stick.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Last night President Obama delivered his final State of the Union address. In that spirit, I offer my thoughts on the state of the cigar industry as we enter 2016.

In many ways, the state of cigars is as strong as it has ever been. This is our tenth year publishing StogieGuys.com, and the cigars being released today are of highest quality they have ever been.

Consumers are better educated, and they demand more of their cigars. Cigar companies have largely delivered better quality and more interesting flavors. One of the best trends is that new competition continues to challenge the status quo, which drives up quality.

Take a look at various top cigar lists and you’ll see lots of newer companies represented. Fortunately, their success isn’t a result of more established companies slacking off. Rather, the bar is continually rising. I honestly believe the tenth-rated cigar on most “Best of 2015” lists would have beat the number one cigar five or ten years ago.

Another sign of the health of the state of cigars is the fact that even those who have achieved the financial success to walk away rarely do. Statistically, when someone announces they are stepping down or retiring from a job in cigars, it most likely just means they are planning their return, armed with the lessons of their experience.

At the cigar shops you can see how all this benefits cigar smokers. The days where the vast majority of cigars for sale in most shops are made by a handful of the largest companies are increasingly in the past. Cigars have to earn shelf space more than ever, and companies large and small are upping their game to compete for that valuable space.

In short, cigar smokers have more and better choices than ever before. That’s the good news. But there are dark clouds on the horizon.

Impending FDA regulation continues to hover over the cigar industry with the potential to devastate the thriving competition that we’re enjoying. The fact that we enter 2016 without those regulations is a good sign, but literally any day regulations could be finalized. One cigar company executive told me not long ago that he expected many smaller cigar companies couldn’t survive FDA regulations, and I’m afraid that’s probably true.

The delay in the finalized FDA rules shows there is division within the executive branch over the extent of the need for regulation over cigars. While that’s a testament to the work of organizations that lobby for cigar rights, it doesn’t change the fact that the only way to fully stop FDA regulation would take an act of Congress. Going forward, cigar rights groups would benefit from more long-term strategy, instead of pinning their hopes to last-minute Hail Mary attempts to slip riders into massive appropriations bills.

Elsewhere, cigar rights are on defense, too. Smoking bans are not being repealed anywhere, while proposals for expanded bans and increased tobacco taxes continue to flourish.

We have work to do. There may never have been a better time to be a cigar smoker. Keeping it that way, though, won’t be easy. The old saying is eternal vigilance is the price of freedom; when it comes to the freedom to enjoy cigars, that has never been more true.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Wikipedia

For one cigar company, the biggest gift of the year doesn’t come under the Christmas tree but at the top of Cigar Aficionado’s annual Top 25. This year, the legendary García family scored the win with their My Father Le Bijou 1922 Box-Pressed Torpedo.

Interestingly, My Father also took the top spot on Cigar Snob’s list, but it was the El Centurion H-2K-CT Toro that landed there. Cigar Journal’s number one choice was the Eiroa Classic Prensado, which did not appear on the other two lists.

As sure as winter brings cold weather, year’s end brings a seemingly endless array of rankings of cigars from magazines, blogs, and podcasts. Smokers argue about their value and validity, but you can’t deny the lists can make a difference in sales.

StogieGuys.com, by the way, doesn’t do a best-of list. Even with three regular smokers, we know it’s possible to evaluate only so many cigars, so we opt to present, without ranking, what we found to be the best we had during the year, and those that came very close.

Unquestionably, the most discussion of lists centers on the industry’s 800-pound gorilla, Cigar Aficionado. Love it, hate it, follow it, or ignore it, there’s no denying that a top rating by the slick publication moves the market like no other. Just ask Alec Bradley or Oliva. This year, perhaps CA’s most controversial topic of conversation was choosing General’s CAO Flathead V660 Carb at the number three spot.

I spent some time going through a number of the lists, especially those from CA, Snob, and Journal, as well as looking at some past rankings.

The first thing that jumped out at me was CA’s 2013 list. There at number nineteen was that same My Father Le Bijou 1922 Box-Pressed Torpedo that was tops this time. Last year, the highest a Pepín/My Father-branded smoke made it was seventeen. Of course, the My Father crew works with numerous brand owners, such as Tatuaje and Ashton, which often rank highly, and García’s Flor de las Antillas Toro was the top pick of 2012.

A noticeable oddity: Bringing up the rear of both CA and Journal’s Top 25 lists was the same boutique cigar: Sublimes Robusto Extra. Almost as close were the magazines’ rankings for La Boheme Pittore. Journal put it at eleven, CA one notch lower.

One of the most anticipated cigars of 2015—Steve Saka’s Sobremesa—didn’t place on any of the three lists. Another hot debut smoke, El Güegüense, from Saka’s fellow former Drew Estate colleague Nick Melillo, was only on Snob’s list, at twelve.

On the other hand, the blog Blind Man’s Puff had El Güegüense first and Sobremesa second. And Stogie Review’s Ben Lee rated them fourth (Sobremesa) and third (El Güegüense).

But just to show how much cigar preferences are a matter of personal taste, Lee’s top smoke was the Avo Syncro Nicaragua Toro. That same smoke was sixteen on CA’s list and didn’t show at all on the Snob or Journal selections.

Padrón, the brand cited often by many tobacconists as their best seller, had a cigar on each of the three magazine lists. Again, though, the ratings illustrate the variations in taste. CA rated the Padrón Family Reserve 50 Years Natural at five, Journal put the Maduro version at two, and Snob went for the Padrón Damaso No. 8 at fifteen.

Whatever your feelings about year-end lists, they are invariably a good place to start when you’re looking for new smokes. At the least, you know someone thought they were good.

–George E

photo credit: N/A

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.”

Last year La Flor Dominicana’s Coronado blend returned after being discontinued in 2013. In smoke shops, though, it seemed the cigar never went away at all, like the one where I found this Double Toro (7  x54) from the original run. (You can tell the new version by the new band which prominently features “LFD” in the center, while the old version only says “Coronado by La Flor” in small letters at the bottom.) The cigar features heavy oak, light cream, a little pepper, and a dusty, powdery element. It’s medium- to full-bodied with excellent construction that requires a deliberate slow pace. The original Coronado might not have sold well—hence the remaining availability despite the line being pulled from the market years ago—but I always enjoyed Coronado, and this was no exception.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys