The 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) Drew Estate will apparently not have exclusive rights to the sun-grown Floridian tobacco produced by Jeff Borysiewicz, owner of the Orlando-area Corona Cigar stores. This week, Davidoff announced a cigar that will use his tobacco in a new limited edition release that commemorates Corona’s 20th anniversary. Sold exclusively at Corona’s three locations, the cigar will be a belicoso (6 x 52) with an Ecuadorian Connecticut Rojiza wrapper, a San Andrés binder, and filler tobaccos from the Dominican Republic and Florida. “We are very proud to be working with Davidoff and there is no way better to celebrate our 20-year milestone of becoming a leader in premium cigar retailing,” said Borysiewicz. “Our unique and exclusive Florida tobacco farm has truly allowed our company to come full circle as a premium cigar retailer, as well as the world’s only grower of prized Florida cigar tobacco. We are excited to be able to share with fellow aficionados this unique Davidoff cigar that is blended with our 2014 crop of heirloom Florida Sumatra-seed tobacco that was grown on our farm in Clermont, Florida.” Two years ago, StogieGuys.com broke the news that Borysiewicz was growing tobacco in Florida out of love of the leaf, and to avoid paying residential taxes on the land.

2) The second Burn by Rocky Patel cigar lounge will open in Pittsburgh, this one nearly twice the size of the original location in Naples, Florida. “Patel had always intended to expand the Burn concept to other cities like Washington DC and Las Vegas, but plans never came to fruition before now,” reports Cigar Aficionado. “As the second location, this marks the first expansion of Patel’s Burn concept. The venue features a complete portfolio of Rocky Patel cigars (plus third-party cigar brands), full bar, cocktail program, and food all set in a stylish, smoker-friendly nightclub environment.” The establishment is expected to be up and running by the spring. Patel is eyeing Indianapolis as the next potential Burn location.

3) Just in time for the kickoff of the NFL season, Nomad Cigar Co. is expanding distribution of the GB-19, a Candela-wrapped toro (6 x 60) that celebrates Nomad founder Fred Rewey’s favorite team, the Green Bay Packers. The cigar, which was previously relegated to mostly Wisconsin shops and retails for $10, is made at the Oveja Negra factory in Estelí with a green Honduran wrapper, an Ecuadorian binder, and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua.

4) Inside the Industry: MBombay announced the Vintage Reserve Lancero 1973. The yearly release weighs in at 8.5 inches long with a ring gauge of 38, and it features an Ecuadorian wrapper, Dominican binder, and filler tobacco from the Dominican Republic and Peru. Only 13,800 cigars are being made (500 boxes of 25).

5) From the Archives: In our Cigar Spirits articles, you’ll find everything from inexpensive, bottom-shelf bourbon to super-rare, high-end whiskey. Perhaps none we’ve written up is rarer than the A.H. Hirsch 16 Year Old Bourbon. In our article, we noted it is “refined and balanced with tons of oak and fruit and hints of mint, walnut, and maple syrup. The finish is long and spicy, with pepper, oak, and cedar.” At the time (2008), we also noted “two years ago bottles were available for around $80 [but today] expect to pay well over $100.” Now, in 2016, expect to pay around $2,000 to acquire a bottle.

6) Deal of the Week: In 2012, as part of the TAA exclusive offerings, My Father Cigars released the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial TAA 2012. Even though it has been sold out for years, you now have a rare chance to acquire this limited edition cigar with four years of age. A box of 16 runs you $136.95 while supplies last.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Davidoff

This new offering from Cornelius & Anthony (C&A) is a powerful, rich cigar that expands the company’s relationship with Erik Espinosa’s La Zona factory in Nicaragua.

It also represents what is probably C&A’s strongest smoke to date, with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper and filler and binder from Nicaragua. I found its power to be a notch up from the Daddy Mac, which also sports a Habano wrapper, that one from Brazil.

Venganza, Spanish for revenge, was released at this summer’s industry convention. It comes in four sizes. I smoked two samples of the Robusto (5 x 52) that were supplied by C&A. It lists for $9.25. All of the vitolas come in boxes of 20.

The pre-light aroma is mouthwatering and rich. But when I lit the first one, it was a bit sharp, especially in the initial third. That diminished a little going along, but I decided to give the second one more humidor time before I smoked it.

Wise decision. Even just a few weeks rest seemed to have smoothed out the rough edges. In fact, in the second smoke, the sharpness was replaced by a rich woodsiness in the opening.

Venganza, which sports the regular ornate C&A band and a secondary identifying one, is a fairly complex smoke. I picked up some pepper, cedar, and flavors of coffee and nuts along the way. The final third was marked by a tobacco sweetness.

And, while it is a strong smoke, it is by no means a barn-burner, nor is it likely to take the top of your head off.

Burn and smoke production were first-rate. The draw in each was excellent, and the white ash held firm until I tapped it off.

All in all, a very good cigar, and one I’d recommend. I rate Venganza four stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Instead of fizzling after its hyped-up launch, Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust’s visibility on social media has only snowballed into a boutique juggernaut. I can scarcely scroll through my Facebook feed for a few minutes without seeing one of the company’s cigars triumphantly photographed by a Dunbarton devotee, or perhaps even Steve Saka himself.

These days, I’m starting to see more pictures of Mi Querida than Sobremesa. That’s not entirely surprising, I think, because the Broadleaf-wrapped Mi Querida is new to the market, whereas Sobremesa was introduced last summer. Personally, I haven’t had a chance to try Mi Querida yet (rest assured it’s on my short list). To tide myself over, today I thought I’d review the only Sobremesa vitola I haven’t yet sampled: the Corona Grande.

As you surely know by now, Dunbarton was launched by Saka, former CEO of Drew Estate, where he played a critical role in growing the company into a Nicaraguan powerhouse that makes some of the most sought-after cigars in the world. Several lines have been announced in advance of the August 8 deadline imposed by the FDA regulations, including Mi Querida, Umbagog, and Muestra de Saka. But Sobremesa was the first. It sports 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.

The Corona Grande ($9.95 per single, $248.50 per box of 25) is the smallest Sobremesa vitola at 5.25 inches long with a narrow ring gauge of 44. Velvety and oily to the touch, its surface is moderately veined and dark with a slightly reddish hue. The pre-light notes remind me of cocoa powder, earth, and caramel, and the perfectly constructed cap clips easily to reveal a smooth cold draw.

Once lit, I find the familiar—and wonderful—Sobremesa core of cocoa, dark cherry, pepper, café au lait, baking spices, and creamy caramel. This time, though, a dry, cedar-like sensation is more pronounced, especially on the finish. The texture is syrupy and thick, and the black pepper spice coupled with the rich, spicy mouthfeel renders the Corona Grande the strongest of the Sobremesa formats.

The complexity is palpable and highly enjoyable, and the sweetness of the resting smoke is mouth-wateringly intoxicating. Fortunately, the combustion qualities do not detract from the experience; rather, they enhance it. The burn line is straight, the smoke production above average, the draw easy, and the ash holds well off the foot.

Saka says over 40 varieties of black tobacco were sampled during production, with the 27th blend ultimately being selected as the final Sobremesa recipe. I count myself lucky he went to the trouble to compose a cigar that’s truly “sin compromiso.” While not quite my favorite vitola—that honor belongs to the Cervantes Fino—the Corona Grande is a finely balanced treat that’s worthy of the excellent rating 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

Today presents the perfect opportunity to kick back, relax, and enjoy a fine cigar or two. We here at StogieGuys.com are taking our own advice, interrupting our coverage of cigar news, reviews, commentary, and tips to do what we do best—savor the pleasure that is premium tobacco. After all, you wouldn’t want us to be hypocritical, would you?

So happy Labor Day. We’ll resume our musings on the world of cigars tomorrow.

–The Stogie Guys

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) On Wednesday, for the first time in 50 years, a U.S. passenger airline completed a commercial flight to Cuba. The landing may go down as one of the enduring symbols of thawing diplomatic relations between Washington and Havana. “The JetBlue Airways Flight 387—with Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx on board—landed Wednesday in Santa Clara, Cuba,” reports Fortune. “Earlier this summer, the Transportation Department approved six U.S. passenger airlines including JetBlue and one all-cargo airline to serve cities in Cuba other than Havana. On Wednesday, the federal agency gave final approval for eight airlines to fly to Havana, including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and United Airlines. The newly approved flights will provide service to Havana from Atlanta, Charlotte, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York City, Orlando, and Tampa, Foxx said in a blog post about the historic flight.” In order to make the trip to Cuba, however, Americans must still cite a reason other than tourism, such as family visits, journalistic activity, religion, or educational activities. And, yes, there are cigar-centric tours that seem to qualify under the educational category.

2) Chicago tobacconist Hyde Park Cigars has been announced as the exclusive retailer of the new Drew Estate Liga Privada No. 9 Pork Beli (4.7 x 50). When it officially launches in the fall, the belicoso-sized smoke will boast a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, Brazilian Mata Fina binder, and filler tobaccos from Honduras and Nicaragua. “When I noticed that the name of this special yearly release was ‘Pork Beli,’ I called my dear friend Pete Johnson, and asked his permission for use of the name, as he already has a Pork Tenderloin and Chop,” said Jonathan Drew. “He was cool, as always, a class act.”

3) Even though the FDA regulations on cigars went into effect weeks ago, the FDA is only beginning to issue guidance on how the industry will need to comply. One such guidance was issued this week on warning label requirements for cigars, although the agency is asking for public comments on the rules.

4) Inside the Industry: Nomad Cigar Company announced the expansion of the SA-17 Lancero to additional retailers. The cigar (7 x 38) was blended and rolled in Estelí at Tabacalera A.J. Fernandez, and it features a San Andrés wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and filler. It comes in 21-count boxes and sells for $9.75.

5) From the Archives: Even the best cigar can be ruined by a bad cut. So read our tip on getting a proper cut. In it, we walk you though how to pick the proper cut for each cigar.

6) Deal of the Week: StogieGuys.com recommends Bespoke Post, a monthly collection of awesome items delivered to your door for just $45. Past boxes include fine bar accessories, shaving kits, coffee, exclusive E.P. Carrillo cigars, and more. You can skip or purchase every month. Currently available are boxes with themes including beer tasting, pretzel making, Asian cooking, and pizza making. Click here to sign up today.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Financial Times