The Stogie Guys

I maintain that La Aurora is an underrated cigar maker. Headed by Guillermo León and José Blanco, La Aurora doesn’t chase trends, but seems to produce solid, tasty smokes year after year, with Preferidos and Cien Años as classic examples.

Speaking of years, this year La Aurora—the oldest Dominican cigar company—celebrates its 107th anniversary. Like so many cigar companies, its celebrating with a new cigar. “We had defined our goal early on,” said León, La Aurora VP, “and that was to bring the smokers a medium-bodied, richly flavored smoke with a fair amount of spice at a very attractive price.”

Leon and Blanco created the La Aurora 107 blend with an Ecuadorian wrapper, a Dominican binder, and a combination of Dominican and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos. The Robusto (4.5 x 50) retails for $6.50. Other sizes of the cigar, due out only in brick and mortar cigar shops, are a Toro (5.5 x 54) and a Belicoso (6.25 x 52).

The Ecuadorian wrapper is oily and rough with plenty of veins. The cigar is slightly spongy to the touch but even throughout. Upon clipping the head, an easy draw is apparent which is maintained throughout the short robusto.

Upon lighting, I find a hint of bitterness in the first few puffs, which soon gives way to toasty flavors with a hint of spice. There’s also a nice bit of sweetness that I commonly associate with maduro smokes.

The 107 is medium-bodied and balanced. As it evolves, a burnt chary flavor emerges, along with more woody spices, and even a hint of Bordeaux-like wine notes. Construction is flawless with a solid ash and even burn producing thick, lush smoke.

I’m always a big believer in the idea that smoking slowly brings out the best in a cigar, and that is especially true in the La Aurora 107. When smoked too quickly, the 107 develops a slight bitterness. However, with enough patience (by limiting the 107 to no more than two draws per minute) it can be a smooth, subtle smoke.

So while you may have to work at it, the La Aurora 107 has a lot to offer. Given some aging time I think it might turn out even better. Even so, right now the La Aurora 107 Robusto earns a rating of three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

I like smoking cigars so much that I cannot for the life of me understand why everyone doesn’t do it. I often recommend that friends and acquaintances try a cigar, sometimes successfully, sometimes not. I’m sure many of you do the same.

Now, we all know smoking cigars is pretty simple. Mostly, it’s step 1: light up; step 2: enjoy. But there are some steps that can help you make a friend’s first smoke a fine and memorable occasion.

1. Size — For an introductory smoke, it’s best not to go too large. Newbies should be introduced with a preview of premium tobacco, not a two-hour commitment. Opting for a smaller size, such as a petit corona or Rothschild, increases the odds of a pleasurable experience.

2. Construction — Chose a cigar that you know draws well and burns easily. A first-time smoker is best served by never having to worry about relighting or drawing hard. A cigar that maintains a tight ash is also a good idea.

3. Setting — I recommend visiting a great cigar shop, but other places can work equally well. Just be sure it’s a spot to relax and have a cigar as part of an enjoyable occasion. Pairing the smoke with a favorite drink almost certainly will enhance the appeal.

4. Strength — While conventional wisdom is to go with a mild stick, I recommend a medium-bodied cigar. With a mild cigar you run the risk that the new smoker won’t really taste much of anything and wonder what the heck it’s all about. And a full-bodied powerhouse is likely to end poorly.

5. Simplicity — Avoid spouting off dos and don’ts. (OK, one reminder not to inhale.) Focus on making sure they realize that smoking cigars is about enjoying yourself and, frequently, enjoying the company of others who like it just as much. It’s not about rules.

–George E

photo credit: Flickr

The first major shipment of Clasico cigars arrived at the Berger & Argenti headquarters in Miami on March 11. Now this new blend is hitting tobacconists across the country and heading to a retailer shelf near you.

Like Exile Wired and Entubar, Clasico is a product of the merger between Albert and Michael Argenti of Cuban Imports and Don Kiki Berger, creator of the Cupido and Don Kiki lines for Cuban Crafters. It is marketed as a “rich and flavorful cigar smoking experience offering exceptional value and affordability for discriminating cigar enthusiasts.”

Affordable it is. Clasico’s four vitolas—Corona Gorda (4.5 x 46), Rothschild (5 x 50), Belicoso (5.75 x 50), and Churchill (7 x 50)—retail for $4.50 to $7.50 apiece. This price range is especially impressive when you consider that the blend’s Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper is of the “desflorado” variety. As you may recall from my review of the Cubano Claro (another Don Kiki line), desflorado is a finicky leaf that requires the buds on its plants to be cut off before they flower.

The result is a clean wrapper, albeit lumpy and a bit splotchy, with few veins and a nicely tailored cap. The Belicoso’s feel is moderately firm and its faint pre-light notes smell of honey.

Snipping less than a quarter inch from the sharply pointed cap reveals an effortless draw. Once lit, the Clasico—sporting a Nicaraguan Havana-seed criollo binder and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos—starts with an attention-grabbing profile of spicy cedar and dry cereals. Tasty yet lacking in balance.

Less than an inch passes before the Belicoso becomes more varied and harmonious. Here, additional flavors of creamy nuts and warm tobacco are complemented by a sweet, toasty aftertaste. The overall effect is of a cigar that’s pleasing to the palate and easy to smoke any time of the day.

As the Clasico grows milder in the final third, only to ramp up in cedar spice down the home stretch, it’s impossible not to notice the cigar’s superior construction. The burn is nearly perfect, the white ash is as stable as they come, and the draw remains easy to the nub.

The MSRP on the Belicoso is $6.50 per single or $130 per box of 20—a smart purchase that won’t leave you with buyer’s remorse. For well-blended flavors and brilliant physical properties, this vitola from the Berger & Argenti Clasico line earns four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

A few weeks ago we spoke with La Flor Dominicana head honcho Litto Gomez about, among other things, his latest line. Air Bender, as it is called, was originally a blend exclusive to La Flor Dominicana in-store events. Once Gomez had stockpiled enough of the Ecuadorian Habano wrapper to ensure a few years of consistent production, he launched it with a series of events over the past couple months. Litto has previously used the wrapper on his Double Press cigar.

Underneath the dry, relatively vein-free Ecuadorian wrapper are Dominican binder and filler tobaccos from La Flor Dominicana’s farm in La Canela. Litto says the blend is not as spicy as his well-regarded Double Ligero. Instead, the intended profile is of “refined power.”

Air Bender is offered in four vitolas that retail for $7-8.25 apiece: Guerrero (6.25 x 54), Maestro (5.25 x 52), Valiente (6.25 x 60), and the Matatan (5 x 50). Each name honors a kung fu warrior. “I’m enamored with Chinese culture,” Gomez told us. In addition, Gomez says a thinner size will be available at the IPCPR Trade Show in August.

But contrary to some reports, the “Air Bender” isn’t just a reference to Kung Fu culture. “When we smoke, we bend the air,” Gomez told us. “You can see smoke split the air as it leaves a cigar. That’s why I thought ‘Air Bender’ would be a perfect name for my newest line.”

The robusto-sized Matatan is well-constructed and very firm to the touch. Pre-light there are notes of dried cranberries and cedar. Once lit, you quickly see what Gomez means by “refined power.” The Air Bender has a bourbon-like flavor with lot’s of pepper and dry oak.

It starts out with burst of full-flavored spice but soon settles into a more medium-bodied, balanced profile with continued wood and pepper joined by subtle undertones of cherry and cassis. Despite an occasionally uneven burn, construction was good with a notably solid ash, aptly described in a comment as “made out of cement.”

Between its solid construction, balanced flavor, and “refined power,” there is much to appreciate about Litto Gomez’s latest creation. That’s why the LFD Air Bender Matatan earns a rating of four stogies out of five.

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

–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.”

Introduced one year after the original Nub, the maduro version features a Brazilian wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. This “short toro” (4 x 60) starts with a rough burst of pepper. Soon, though, it smooths out into milk chocolate, coffee, and roast nut flavors. Despite its short size, the 460 provides an hour of medium- to full-bodied flavors and excellent construction.

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.”

When I reviewed the Artesanitos (5 x 46) in January 2009, it was prone to occasional spurts of intense bitterness—an unwelcome trait that tainted an otherwise delicious cigar. Now, after over a year of aging, this Ernesto Perez-Carrillo creation has a better rounded tone. The balanced flavor of cedar, nut, and spice shines through with flying colors, and the physical properties remain superb. At $8 apiece, this is an easy recommendation if you can be patient.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

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. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) Government officials in Tacoma are trying to close down a local cigar lounge for code violations. Paul Mackay, owner of El Gaucho restaurant, has spent $15,000 on renovations to bring his lounge in compliance with Washington’s statewide smoking ban, effective since 2005. But this week the county health department ordered him to stub out the cigars because of violations: the lounge sells food and is open to the public. “Here we are trying to stay alive, and they keep dumping new rules, regulations, and taxes on us,” said Mackay.

2) Other Smoking Ban Alerts: UK doctors are urging politicians to ban smoking inside all cars. California lawmakers eye a statewide ban for parks and beaches. Michigan’s private clubs are lobbying for a ban exemption. Arizona State may criminalize tobacco on its  four campuses.

3) Inside the Industry: La Gloria Cubana is introducing a new cigar called Artesanos de Tabaqueros, which features a band at the bottom third of the cigar, a Connecticut wrapper below, and an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper above. Rocky Patel is introducing a new Decade Edición Limitada with a richer, spicier blend. Online retailer Thompson Cigars has sold off its non-tobacco retail operations, leaving the company to focus on its core cigar business.

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review lights up an Avo Limited Edition 2010. Cigar Inspector inspects a Fuente Work of Art Maduro. Velvet Cigar fires up the D’Crossier Golden Blend. Cigar Examiner examines a Berger & Argenti Classico. Nice Tight Ash smokes a Rocy Patel Decade Edición Limitada.

5) Deal of the Week: We’re not sure why it’s called the “Presidential Sampler,” but it’s still a good deal. You get ten cigars from big names like Montecriso, Romeo y Julieta, Graycliff, Gurkha, Camacho, CAO, Padilla, and Cohiba, for just $60 including free shipping. Grab your here.

–The Stogie Guys

graphic credit: Stogie Guys