The Stogie Guys

As we reported Friday, a legal ruling in the decade-long battle over the Cohiba brand name could be a major setback for the General Cigar Co. General, a subsidiary of Swedish Match AB and one of the largest premium cigar makers in the world, makes and distributes such famous brands in the U.S. as Macanudo, Partagas, Punch, Hoyo de Monterrey, Bolivar, La Gloria Cubana, and many others.

But the General brand at the heart of the controversy is Cohiba, perhaps the most famous trademark in cigars. Last month Cubatabacco, the storied Cuban tobacco monopoly (also known as Habanos SA), won a major victory in the latest decision in the protracted legal fight with General over the Cohba name. The key decision changed the standard that determines who has the rights to the Cohiba trademark—rendering a 2004 ruling against General Cigar Co. upheld.

The decision rests on a legal standard known as the “famous marks doctrine,” which states that a trademark is protected in a given nation if it is well-known, even though the mark is neither used nor registered there. The court found that despite the fact Cubatobacco didn’t file for a trademark on the Cohiba name, under the famous names doctrine it still retains the name’s rights.

The case is complicated by the fact that the Cuban trade embargo means that Cubatobacco can’t sell Cohibas in the U.S. Notwithstanding that well-known fact, the judge held that consumers were likely to be confused between Dominican-made and Cuban Cohiba cigars.

Judge Notes Cubatobacco’s ‘Cozy’ Relationship with Cigar Aficionado

The 2004 decision also provides a unique look into the premium cigar business. The first 70 pages of the decision read like a history of the Cohiba name and of cigar marketing practices, including fascinating details of the role played by Cigar Aficionado in establishing the Cuban Cohiba’s mystique.

At one point, in a discussion over how well-known the Cuban Cohiba was in the early nineties, the judge observes a “cozy relationship between…Cubatabaco’s marketing department and the editorial staff of Cigar Aficionado” that resulted in multiple “puff pieces,” or positive publicity for Cohiba.

The Future of General Cigar’s Cohiba Line is Uncertain

If the current ruling stands, the decision will mark the end of General Cigar’s “Red Dot” Cohiba lines. As part of the 2004 ruling, the judge ruled that General must turn over all its cigars and other materials that contain the Cohiba name. However, that order seems to be pending any appeal by General Cigar.

In a statement provided to StogieGuys.com, General Cigar’s Dan Carr, the senior vice president of sales and marketing, said “we strongly disagree with the Judge’s ruling and will continue to vigorously defend our position, up to and including (if necessary) taking an appeal of his ruling.”

We asked General Cigar what the ruling means for the immediate future of the Dominican Cohiba line, and if the company would continue to market and produce the cigar. We are told, however, that aside from the above statement, “given that this is pending litigation, we cannot comment further.”

–Patrick S

photo credit: Wikipedia

The other day I had a little time for a smoke, so I began looking through my stash for a small cigar. But before finding one, I noticed a green thing, roughly robusto-sizes, that had been there for quite awhile: an Iguana from Thompson that I almost certainly picked up at one of their cigar events I’ve attended. I thought, “Hey, I’ll give it a try. If my memory of the last candela I smoked is correct, I won’t like it very much and it’ll end up being a short smoke.”

Well, I ended up smoking about half of it. In all honesty, it began fairly nicely. Mild, with a touch of sweetness and tobacco. But that didn’t last. The Iguana produced a lot of smoke—again, not what I recall from previous candelas—but it quickly became so dry and tasteless that I could imagine I was smoking dry pine needles rather than tobacco.

So, that leads to question number one: Does anyone smoke candelas on a regular basis?

The second question was prompted by a recent visit to a cigar shop where I found myself gazing at some of the pipes displayed on the wall. I smoked a pipe years ago during one of my attempts to quit smoking cigarettes. I enjoyed it but eventually gave up because of what seemed like too much process and too little enjoyment. Poking around on the web I found quite a few sites related to pipe smoking, two of the most interesting being the Old Toby podcast and the Bootleg Bon Vivant blog.

I haven’t taken up a pipe again, but I am thinking about. Hence, question number two: How many of you out there smoke pipes and how do you compare it to cigar smoking? I’m eager to read your answers.

–George E

photo credit: Old Toby

This past summer, Davidoff announced it would be releasing the first maduro cigar in the company’s storied history. The announcement caught many, including myself, by surprise. After all, Davidoff’s strength is generally considered to be its complexity and balance often in mild to medium cigars. Maduro wrappers present significant challenges to that formula, not to mention that Davidoff’s master blender Henke Kelner is reportedly not a fan of maduro cigars.

Still maybe the introduction of Davidoff’s first maduro should not have been a complete surprise. I’m just speculating here, but given Davidoff’s special connection with the Cuban Cohiba brand, maybe we should have expected Davidoff to follow when Cohiba introduced its first Maduros under the Cohiba line in 2007. (The introduction of Cohiba’s Siglo line in 1992 was widely considered to be a move to replace Davidoff’s Cuban lines, after Davidoff stopped making cigars in Cuba following disputes with the Cuban government.) More than any other non-Cuban company, Davidoff directly competes with Cohiba and other handmade Cuban cigars, so the move may be a reaction to competition from the new Cuban maduros.

But no matter the impetus for the cigar, it is one of the new releases that I was most looking forward to reviewing. The cigar is a five inch by 52 ring gauge robsuto (the maduro is only offered in the robusto), and it consists of a Dominican wrapper and a San Vincente binder with a sungrown Nicaraguan Cuban-seed “natural maduro” wrapper from the Jalapa Valley.

The maduro wrapper is the color of dark roasted coffee beans. Before lighting, I notice cocoa and vanilla bean flavors.

Once lit, I’m greeted with a combination of classic Davidoff flavors—balanced cedar and coffee—along with some new flavors including a little, though not an overwhelming amount, of the classic maduro sweetness. I also notice hints of charred oak, banana peel, and maybe even saffron.

Both cigars I smoked for this review developed uneven burns, but both self-corrected before they became problems. Besides that, the construction was flawless, with a predictably easy draw and firm, sturdy ash. One word of advice: Take this cigar slowly. Rush it and the rich, balanced flavors will develop a bitter edge.

While there wasn’t much variation as the cigar progressed, the complexity of the flavor was more than enough to keep me interested. And it strikes me as a cigar with some tremendous aging potential.

I paid $15 each for these cigars, which is in line with Davidoff’s MO. At that price you expect a superior cigar and it delivers, though it still doesn’t gain any points for value.

Those who enjoyed the Millennium Blend, another fuller-flavored Davidoff, should definitely give this cigar a try. As should fans of maduro cigars, particularly those who think that maduros need to have overpowering sweetness or must be one dimensional.

For this well-balanced blend of the best of maduro and classic Davidoff flavors, the Davidoff Maduro R receives a rating of four and a half 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 take on a single cigar.

It’s a sin that we haven’t reviewed a Rocky Patel Decade yet. I managed to try one Toro (6.5 x 52), however, when my dad picked up a pair from a local shop after Thanksgiving. This box-pressed beauty features a gorgeous Ecuadoran wrapper with Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. It draws smoothly, burns wonderfully, and tastes of spice and creamy cocoa. Big on flavor, light on strength. Forgive the comparison, but the Decade almost feels like a cross between an Olde World Reserve and a Vintage. Not too shabby.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

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.

Nearly a year ago, my colleague rated the Robusto-sized EO 601 Serie “Green” La Fuerza highly, calling it “one of the most full-bodied smokes I’ve ever had the pleasure to enjoy.” I couldn’t have agreed more, as the 601 Green rates as one of my all-time favorites. With that in mind I tried its larger brother, the 6 and 1/8 inch by 58 ring gauge Trabuco. The wrapper wasn’t quite as oily as the robusto, but it’s still attractive and nearly vein-free. The flavor had similar roasted coffee and nut flavors, but it wasn’t quite as full-flavored (if the robusto was a ten on the strength scale, this is merely a nine). Still, it is a meticulously balanced cigar for its strength with a base of cedar, earth, and leather. Just like its smaller cousin, this large toro had flawless physical properties.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

In our ongoing effort to make StogieGuys.com as entertaining and informative as possible, each Friday we’ll post a mixed bag of quick cigar news and other snippets of interest. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) General Cigar Co. may be in a heap of trouble. In the latest twist of a protracted legal battle, a U.S. District Court judge recently ruled that the company’s use of the Cohiba name is “unfair trade by misappropriation.” The Cuban government has been seeking General’s profits from Dominican Cohiba cigars and an enjoinder to prevent the U.S. company from using the trademark for 11 years. Stay tuned to StogieGuys.com for developments and additional coverage next week.

2) We are pleased to congratulate friend of the website Luis Tiant, better known as El Tiante, for becoming a finalist in the Class of 2009 at the Baseball Hall of Fame. The right-hander and three-time All-Star pitched 19 seasons before founding his own cigar company. The Veterans Committee vote will be announced on Monday.

3) There’s still time to enter our “What Do Cigar Rights Mean to You?” contest. Simply leave a comment here for a chance to win a dozen of Rocky Patel’s finest cigars, three punch cutters, and Rocky’s new five-torch Diplomat table lighter—all generously provided by the good people of the Duque Cigar Company. Entries must be submitted before the stroke of midnight on December 14.

4) Inside the Industry: Rocky Patel will be releasing only 4,000 boxes of his Winter Blend. Holt’s will be the exclusive retailer of a new Padrón 1926 vitola, the six inch by 48 ring gauge Legacy.

5) Around the Blogs: Cigar Jack smokes a Gurkha Black Dragon. Keepers of the Flame lights up a Diamond Crown Maximus. Cigar Spy reviews a Cohiba Siglo III. Cigar Inspector surveys the Romeo y Julieta Escudos 2007 LE. Stogie Review takes on the El Titan de Bronze.

6) Deal of the Week: If the “2008 Cigar Innovation Award” existed, it most certainly would go to Nub—the short, thick cigars designed to skip right to the heart of flavor. This Nub Sampler will help you get acquainted with the hot new brand. You get singles of all 12 Nub sticks for under $40. Grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: General Cigar Co.

As I wrote in early November, I’m a big fan of Jameson’s original blend. Aside from bearing my middle name, the spirit is an excellent, top-notch, reliable whiskey that doesn’t command an unreasonable price.

But maybe you’re looking for something a little more exquisite this holiday season. Whether you’re shopping for yourself, a friend, or a loved one, I don’t think you can go wrong with the new Jameson Irish Whiskey Gold Reserve.

Gold Reserve was released in March as part of Jameson’s expanding Reserve Line of whiskeys. At about $65 per 750 ml. bottle, it’s more affordable than Rarest Vintage Reserve ($250) and the 18 Year Old Limited Reserve ($85), but pricier than the 12 Year Old Special Reserve ($35). Don’t let that ranking fool you, though; this is one phenomenal spirit that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Pernod Ricard, Jameson’s distributor, had this to say when Gold Reserve joined the Jameson Family: “Jameson Gold Reserve is a unique blend of three whiskeys of advanced years, one of which is matured in virgin oak barrels lending a satisfying complexity and honey toasted sweetness.”

Not unlike the original blend, the pour is crisp and clean with an amber hue. I find fresh oak, syrup, and sweet sherry on the nose. The complex taste features a wonderful interplay between spice and honey, and the slightest tinge of vanilla fades in and out to keep things interesting. Intricate and enjoyable.

The black pepper finish is extremely long and warm, a welcome characteristic that I think makes this whiskey easily compatible with most mild- to medium-bodied cigars. Since the sturdy flavor lingers long enough to take and taste a puff of smoke, you’ll have ample time to explore the relationship between the spirit and your cigar. Let me recommend trying Gold Reserve with a CAO Black, Davidoff Grand Cru, PG Gourmet II, or an Oliva Serie G.

Either way, whether you’re picking out something for that whiskey connoisseur on your list or rewarding yourself for conquering your Christmas shopping early, Jameson Gold Reserve will not disappoint.

–Patrick A

photo credits: Stogie Guys