The 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.

When I smoked this Torpedo (6 x 54), I thought it tasted similar to the Habano blend. There was a sharpness to the first half inch before it evened out, and there were none of the flavors that I often associate with Maduro cigars. The wrapper was dark and thick and, while the roll seemed very tight, the draw turned out just fine. The smoke was incredibly thick and the burn was better than the Habano. This $6.80 stick is not a complex smoke, but it does change as it burns.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

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) New York City bureaucrats, not satisfied with the metropolis’ six-year-old indoor ban, now hope to criminalize outdoor smoking in parks and beaches. Backed by anti-tobacco zealots and the City Council speaker, the measure would outlaw cigar enjoyment in 1,700 parks and 14 miles of shoreline in the Big Apple. Even the New York Times reports that the proposal “might be going just a step too far…on the road to a nanny state.”

2) Enjoy lighting up in a rental car on vacation or a business trip? Well, steer clear of Avis and Budget. These two companies’ North American fleets will go smoke-free next month and impose $250 charges on customers who violate their policies.

3) Inside the Industry: Altadis says it is pleased with the conviction of Lauro Perez for creating what he called “Cuban Replica” cigars.  The counterfeiting conviction held because  Perez was found to be violating the U.S. trademarks owned by Altadis, including Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, and Trinidad. Responding to the conviction, Eric Workman, Altadis’ senior vice president of marketing, said, “These are important victories for Altadis U.S.A., its distributors and consumers, as well as the entire industry.”

4) Around the Blogs: Regular Guy reviews a Centro Fino Sungrown. Cigar Inspector looks at an El Rey del Mundo RE Francia.  Keepers of the Flame lights up a Condega Corojo 1999. Stogie Review torches up a J. Fuego Corojo 777.

5) Deal of the Week: Sometimes a mild smoke is just what you need and, when that’s the case, this “Smooth and Mild Sampler” will hit the spot. For just $40 you get two each from Rocky Patel Connecticut, CAO Gold, La Princessa, 5 Vegas Gold, and Macanudo.  Grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

We’ve all read those awestruck reports about a couple of aging cigar industry giants sitting down to swap smokes and stories. Well, the other evening, two self-described “little guys” in the business got together to do much the same. They had a ball and so did everyone else in attendance.

Frank Herrera (left) handed out samples of his just-released 1608 La Caridad del Cobre cigars at Arnold Serafin’s (right) small shop on the main tourist strip in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Herrera’s boxes nestled on a table near Serafin’s own brand—Serafin de Cuba—rolled right there.

It was a hastily arranged affair, but one that says a lot about the determination of cigar lovers who want to make their mark despite perilous economic times and harsh anti-smoking laws.

The two men met last month at the IPCPR Trade Show in New Orleans where Herrera introduced his cigars. When Serafin learned that Herrera, a Miami lawyer, would be in Tampa for his fulltime job, he convinced him to join him in nearby Tarpon Springs. Serafin invited customers, ordered pizza, poured drinks, and helped set up a domino game.

“I like to help the ‘little guy,’” Serafin said. “Because I’m a ‘little guy,’ too.”

Rolled by Cuban Crafters in Miami and named after the saint whose legend began around 1608 and continues to unite Cubans, the cigars are something of a hobby for Herrera. “I don’t play golf. I don’t have a boat,” he said. He does, however, spend a lot of time on cigars, including legal work representing firms in trademark disputes with Cuba. (You can learn more about this at his blog, Cigar Law.)

Herrera’s cigars are expertly constructed, memorable smokes. He hopes to have a maduro out before long. And he’s working to expand the number of shops that carry La Caridad del Cobre. When we met, he was planning an event at Our Cigar Bar, a Diamond Crown Lounge shop in Orange Beach, Alabama.

Serafin traces his Cuban cigar heritage back for generations. His father helps in the shop and rolls some small sticks. They’re especially popular with tourists looking for a quick smoke as they stroll the street lined with Greek shops and restaurants.

Serafin’s primary torcedor, who rolled in Cuba before coming to the U.S., turns out several hundred cigars a week, working at the shop on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, as well as at the many private events where they appear. Serafin buys tobacco from the Oliva Tobacco Co. in Tampa and works to produce a relatively mild, tasty, and smooth blend at a reasonable price.

With his shop approaching its second anniversary, Serafin clearly enjoys his work. He loves meeting customers, wants them to try his cigars and to tell him honestly what they think. In addition to Serafin de Cuba, Serafin’s comfortable shop features some mainline brands and quite a few other boutique cigars. His online business continues to grow, he said, as more snowbirds order after returning North.

It’s hard not to get caught up in the enthusiasm of these young generation cigar makers. And they reward you with a fine smoking experience.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

According to Corner Creek’s website, its distribution spans 30 states, not including the one in which I reside. That’s why I was surprised to find this limited production Reserve Bourbon in stock at my local liquor store in Virginia. It goes without saying that I couldn’t resist picking up a bottle for a test drive.

Corner Creek is distilled in Bardstown, Kentucky, and smoothed with pure limestone water. The blend of wheat, corn, and rye—“a selection of the distillery’s finest barrels”—is then aged for eight years in American oak barrels and packaged in shouldered punt bottles.

Notwithstanding its muted copper hue, Corner Creek’s shape and artwork makes it look more like a wine than bourbon. It’s easy to overlook in a store but looks handsome on the shelf. Each bottle (750 ml., 88 proof) sells in the affordable $25-30 range.

What makes Corner Creek stand out, according to company marketing materials, is that its Reserve Bourbon is “only lightly filtered so that it retains all its complex flavor in as pure and natural a state as possible.” This strategy will win over bourbon enthusiasts who value a hearty, rustic taste and disappoint others who want more smoothness.

The Corner Creek experience starts innocently enough with a crisp nose of charcoal, sawdust, and banana skin. The first sip, though, carries a distinct smoky flavor with notes of dry steak, syrup, and loads of spice. A bit rough around the edges for my taste.

Since this bourbon isn’t necessarily what I’d call refined or elegant, I found myself mixing it up with a splash of Diet Coke instead of drinking it straight or on the rocks. Doing so helps mediate its heavy-hitting character and long, zesty finish.

As you might imagine, Corner Creek pairs best with medum- to full-flavored smokes. I enjoyed it with a CAO Brazilia, J.L. Salazar, Punch Champion, and Sam Leccia’s Cain. All of these produced delightful combinations.

Still, your degree of satisfaction will vary greatly based on your approach to bourbon. I was neither wowed nor utterly disappointed. That said, it may be awhile before I pick up another bottle of Corner Creek Reserve Bourbon.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Litto Gomez’s Coronado by La Flor made quite a splash when it was introduced. The full-flavored smoke earned many accolades, including a five-stogie rating and the number two spot on Cigar Aficionado‘s 2006 list of Top 25 Cigars.

Litto, known for innovations like the chisel shape, is constantly experimenting with limited edition smokes. This maduro-wrapped edition of the Coronado is the result of one such experiment. According to the shops that carry it, only 83 boxes of 24 will ever be made—making the two cigars I sampled for this review more than 1/1,000th of the total run.

The cigars come in only one size: a 5 and 7/8 inch by 47 ring gauge Corona Especial. They retail for $10 each and are only available at a handful of shops. In fact, I’ve only seen them at two B&Ms: Jack Schwarz and Arnold’s.

The Dominican-made smokes feature an Ecuadorian maduro wrapper. The wrapper is dark, slightly reddish, and rustic with a many visible veins. Underneath is the same Dominican filler and Dominican corojo binder from the normal Coronado line. Pre-light, the cigar gives off a fantastic cherry aroma.

The Corona Especial starts with a burst strength. There are chocolate, nut,  and warm tobacco flavors, resulting in an intense full-bodied smoke. By the midway point it mellowed slightly with some nutty notes emerging. Later, it picks up again when a strong peppery spice comes to the forefront.

Even though they’re both flavorful cigars, the maduro version is not as balanced or nuanced as its natural counterpart. This blend does, however, give off a pleasant aroma of licorice and cherries.

Then there were the construction issues (notably uncharacteristic of Litto Gomez smokes) that just shouldn’t happen  in a $10 cigar. One sample had a straight burn but required multiple re-lights. The other sample needed multiple touch-ups to fix persistent canoeing.

All in all, the Coronado Maduro is quite a mixed bag. It has a unique and interesting combination of deep, intense flavors, yet serious construction issues and an occasional lack of  balance. That’s why the Coronado by La Flor Corona Especial Maduro earns three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Named for statesman and diplomat John Hay—perhaps best known as Abraham Lincoln’s secretary—John Hay Cigars was founded in 1882 by W.W. Stewart.

Their website, while not the most sophisticated, provides plenty of information about the history of the Pennsylvania-based company and its products.

The John Hay Anniversary, a six and a half inch by 52 ring gauge Pyramid, celebrates 125 years of John Hay Cigars. It features a light brown Habana 2000 wrapper and a “special blend” of filler.

Hand rolled in the Dominican Republic, only 1,882 of these cigars were made to commemorate the company’s founding year. Now the company says they are “down to the last couple hundred.”

The Pyramid has a rugged appearance with some prominent veins. It is so firm to the touch that it causes me to be concerned about a tight draw.

Pre-light, the John Hay Anniversary smells like hay and honey. The cap clips easily and, despite my previous concerns, reveals a very good draw. The foot lights up easily and the first few puffs yield hay, honey, and cinnamon spiciness.

Both of the samples I smoked for this review featured a burn that went ragged from the beginning but never required a touch-up.

As they progress, the hay flavor remains and the cinnamon spiciness increases, while the honey flavor diminishes.

Nearing the end, a harsher taste starts to develop and I set it down for good with a little more than an inch remaining.

On sale on the company website for $6 per stick, the John Hay Anniversary Pyramid is not a complex cigar but is nonetheless enjoyable on the mild side of medium.

With adequate construction and burn properties, its flavors earn it three stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick M

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.

At the IPCPR Trade Show in August, Nub creator Sam Leccia introduced the fourth blend of his popular Nub line featuring a Brazilian maduro wrapper. The cigar demonstrates classic maduro coffee and cocoa flavors with more subtle notes of creamy peanut butter and leather. The medium- to full-bodied smoke also includes impressive balance and classic Nub construction, with a perfect burn, easy draw, and an ash that only needs to be tapped off twice during the entire smoke. This is a must-try for Nub fans.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys