The Stogie Guys

While enjoying a fine stogie is certainly more of an art than a science, there a few essential skills you should master in order to get the most out of the experience. While much of what makes cigars so great is the relaxed, ceremonial nature of smoking, when it comes to cutting your cigar, that artistry takes a back seat to function. The goal is simple: a cut that best allows you to enjoy the cigar.

The cut that is best will enhance the flavors of the cigar by regulating the draw and appropriately focusing the flavors on your palette.

It’s worth pointing out that when it comes to cigar cutting, there are many different tools. Some people use specially-crafted cigar scissors, some use a sharp knife, a cigar punch, a V-cutter—some even use their teeth. But the most common tool, by far, is the guillotine-style cigar cutter, which comes in both the one blade (single) and two blade (double) varieties.

Here are a few general tips on deciding what tool to use:

• ● Cigar scissors are quite elegant, but tend to require a bit more skill and precision than other cutters. Also, while a dull blade hurts any cutter, scissors become particularly difficult if the blades aren’t ideally sharp and calibrated.

• ● Guillotines are the most popular cigar cutters with good reason. They are easy to use and are the most versatile. A double blade guillotine will usually prevent the pinching and tearing that can occur with a single blade cutter. Also remember to use firm, consistent pressure to get a clean cut.

• ● V-cutters can be perfect for cigars with small ring gauges, since they increase the surface area of the cut.

• ● Punch cutters are ideal for stogies with tightly-packed fillers because they can ease the draw, but a punch cutter is almost useless on a belicoso.

• ● If you find yourself without a cutting tool, skip your teeth and use your fingernail. A relatively precise cut can be made on non-torpedo cigars by using your nail to slice a circle in the wrapper and binder, which can then be lifted off to expose the filler.

• ● Knives are rarely a good idea, but if you are going to use one, use it to cut like you would your fingernail (see above).

Where to place your cut is another variable in the science of cigar cutting. With a guillotine cutter, take the head of the cigar (that’s the uncut end) and position it so the blade will enter the stogie just above the shoulder (where the cigar stops being round). If you’re planning to smoke a torpedo, a good rule of thumb is to slice off about half an inch, but it really depends on how much you want to focus the smoke with a smaller cut, versus how large you need the cut to have a draw that isn’t difficult.

Finally, remember to try out different cutters. While a cutter can’t actually improve a cigar, the cut can either bring out the best of a cigar or ruin it.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Flickr

No suspense here. It’s one terrific cigar, a full-bodied corona gorda that more than matches the hype. From the Tatuaje-decorated ceramic container to the unclipped foot and simple cap, this cigar is designed to stand out.

Limited production and the luster of being Pete Johnson’s “personal cigar” put the Black on par with other highly sought sticks such as the Opus X and Ashton’s VSG. But with a price tag around $13, this Nicaraguan puro is far more affordable.

Prelight, I found surprisingly little aroma from the wrapper or the nearly closed foot. The brown wrapper was smooth with no large veins and the cigar felt a little soft from head to foot, but nothing stood out.

When lit, the cigar kicked off, as do so many of Pepin Garcia’s blends, with pepper. But what a pepper—not just hot, but full, rich, biting, and interesting. It was a taste that would build, fade, and build again throughout the cigar’s five and 5/8 inches. The flavors were complex and shifted often. Among those I encountered were leather, hay, dry cocoa, hints of ginger, and even at one point honey. Individually, the tastes would have been enjoyable; woven through with the pepper, they were great.

The draw on the 46 ring gauge stick was nearly perfect from beginning to end. The burn, which left a jet-black ring, was straight and required no attention. The ash was so tight that it required a tap to loosen it in the ashtray.

Perhaps most surprising was the fact that the Black never got harsh. And the finish was long and satisfying.

If you like full-strength cigars, smoke the Black if you can find it. I can’t imagine you won’t like it. I certainly did. In fact, I’d put it up among the best cigars I’ve had. On the other hand, I wouldn’t want it for my daily diet, even if I could afford it. There’s just a little too much power. Nonetheless, I can’t think of a cigar I would enjoy more occasionally. So, I can’t see how the Tatuaje Black deserves anything less than five out of five stogies.

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

–George E

photo credit: Vitolas.net

A friend and fellow cigar enthusiast recently told me that he won’t smoke “anything less” than a full-bodied cigar. To me, the designation “anything less” seems a bit ridiculous in such context—every bit as silly as if I’d claimed not to drink “anything less” than a cabernet sauvignon, or eat “anything less” than dark chocolate. “Anything less” implies a degree of quality, and we should not confuse quality with strength.

It’s true that many of the finest cigars available happen to be full-bodied cigars. It’s also true, however, that many are medium- or even mild-bodied sticks. Davidoff, for instance, has long been one of the finest cigar brands available, and the company specializes in milder stogies. You’d be hard-pressed to argue that a milder Davidoff is inferior to a fuller cigar of lesser craftsmanship and flavor.

Many of us like to say we “graduate” from milder to fuller cigars as we delve deeper into this shared hobby of ours. Be that as it may, let’s not forget that milder cigars can and should remain part of a well-balanced collection. We should not consider ourselves too macho, too old, too cool, or too proud to smoke mild or medium sticks.

In fact, I’d argue that one sign of a truly sophisticated connoisseur is the ability to appreciate sticks of all vitolas, wrappers, strengths and bodies. Such an aficionado may have his favorites, but he is always trying out new stogies and never turning them down on the basis of style alone.

I’m not suggesting that you force yourself to endure mild sticks if you absolutely don’t like them. But at the same time, I ask that you not conflate mildness with low quality, or fullness with high quality. Quality and body are two very separate things.

–Jon N

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

This cigar is a bundle of flavor. It starts with light pepper and, as you burn down the 5.75 inch beautiful deep brown Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, you’ll encounter leather, nuts, and coffee in a smooth blend. This box-pressed, 50 ring gauge produced lots of smoke, burned straight, and had a quite satisfying finish, especially with a cup of coffee. At $6 a stick, this is one to try when you’re seeking a full-flavored, medium strength stick.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

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

I often find myself agreeing with George E’s well-thought-out opinions on various cigars, and his review of the Serie G Toro is no exception. This 6 inch by 50 ring gauge achievement packs soothing flavors of cream, toast, butter, and leather. What’s more, the Cameroon wrapper, Cuban-seed habano binder, and Nicaraguan habano filler combine to turn out exemplary physical traits, particularly for a cigar that sells for under $60 for a box of 25 and around $3.25 for a single.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

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) Winston Churchill may be the all-time most towering individual in the world of cigars, but he’s got nothing on Jack Priestly. This English grandfather of six recently celebrated his 100th birthday—despite smoking ten cigars a day for 91 years. “Since his first puff in 1917 he has smoked 153,000 cigars and 715,400 cigarettes and drunk a shot of whisky in his morning cup of tea every day since the age of 24. He has not suffered any serious health problems related to smoking or drinking,” reports the Telegraph.

2) This is a final reminder to DC-area Stogie Guys to come out to Morton’s in Reston Town Center on Monday, July 21 for a special event with Paul Garmirian Cigars. For a mere $220, you’ll get five courses of Morton’s signature cuisine paired with fine wines and premium Paul Garmirian smokes—not to mention a chance to dine with Patrick A and Patrick S. See the Special Events tab for more details and to register. Patrick S spoke with Paul Garmirian’s son Kevork about the dinner at the IPCPR show in Las Vegas, and he promised an event you won’t want to miss.

3) Inside the Industry: Rocky Patel will be releasing a cigar called the Renaissance this fall (details are sketchy at this point, but look for a Stogie Guys review in the next few weeks). J.C. Newman Cigars is working with the Fuentes on a fuller-bodied Diamond Crown Maximus called the “Julius Caesar” to come out in 2009. For more industry news be sure to read StogieGuys.com’s coverage of this week’s IPCPR Trade Show.

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews the Ashton Aged Maduro. Cigar Jack smokes the Ashton ESG. Cigar Spy lights up a Cabaiguan. Cigar Inspector inspects an Oliva Serie V. Keepers of the Flame continues its vertical review of the Padrón line with the Panetela.

5) Deal of the Week: Try out the brand new Macanudo 1968 with this special offer from General Cigars. For just $9.95, including shipping, you get three different sticks from the blend. Grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: The Guardian

Earlier this month, Patrick A. wrote about a press release by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) advocating greater smoking restrictions and citing a “new survey” that found “57% of the people in Ireland support a ban on smoking in all homes and cars.”

My antennae always go up when I see references to polls or surveys with no accompanying information. Years of editing news stories made me quite skeptical about polling. Of course there are legitimate polls, but there are many, many more completely useless reports that attempt to gain credibility by artfully disguising their lack of any objectivity or scientific validity.

As an Irish Times columnist wrote recently, “The past decade has seen an explosion in snappy surveys, accompanied by amazing statistics and all-important lists. There are few things, it seems, that our culture enjoys more than a list. It is information in its simplest, most digestible, most satisfying form; that it is utterly worthless information hardly seems to matter.”

If you want to spend a few minutes improving your poll knowledge, check the National Council on Public Polls’ “20 Questions a Journalist Should Ask about Poll Results.”

Now let me confess right away that I failed utterly in my efforts to actually get a copy of what ASH referred to. I did, however, learn several things that I found interesting and increased my skepticism.

First, I read the ASH release, which uses the 57% figure to support a lead stating, “A clear majority wants smoking banned in all homes, even if children are not present, and even if the smoke is not drifting into an adjoining dwelling.” I emailed the Irish ASH branch, asking if they could direct me to the survey. The reply? “We have not released this data—do you have any further details?” I sent the website address for the ASH release and followed up asking again if they had any further info. I’ve gotten no further response from them.

Searching on the web, I also found a release from a large private Irish health insurer, Vhi Healthcare, that cited the survey and noted that it had been commissioned by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. This was interesting for several reasons. For starters, Pfizer has come under intense fire in the wake of possible links between its anti-smoking drugs and suicidal tendencies among some users, which the company disputes. As sales slumped, the company initiated a massive advertising campaign. Pfizer also maintains a huge operation in Ireland.

Vhi, though, wasn’t able to tell me much of anything. The company’s PR office told me, “Unfortunately, what we received from Pfizer is what was posted on our website and we do not have any further information from the survey to provide to you.” They suggested I check with Pfizer.

First, though, I e-mailed Professor John F. Bazhaf, ASH executive director, to see if he could direct me to a copy of the survey. He sent me the email address for the Vhi release. When I told him I’d seen that and was seeking the full data, he responded that “you have all of the information I have on this particular study. For more information, I suggest you contact the authors and/or sponsors.” He also suggested I call with any other questions.

Now, I was more than happy to call, but I wanted him to know why I was calling. Again, my journalism background doesn’t allow for deception. So, I e-mailed him detailing my cigar background and telling him that I really had only a couple of questions:

Was there a reason you did not cite Pfizer (which has a vast operation in Ireland) as the sponsor of the survey, given the alleged link between the company’s smoking cessation drug and suicidal tendencies by users, as well as Pfizer’s massive U.S. publicity campaign on behalf of its drug? Are you comfortable citing the results of a survey about which you know so little, such as what the questions were, how they were asked, who was questioned, the margin of error, etc.?

He replied that “my role is to try to put the study in context, and relate it to ASH’s so-far successful attempts to ban smoking in homes in certain circumstances,” not to “provide details about the study itself—a job for journalists who report on it to the general public.”

I will give the professor an A+ for being upfront about his intentions and methods. But I don’t think he’d get a passing grade on the quest for truth.

Pfizer was a tougher nut to crack. The website for the company’s Irish operation had no email addresses that I could find. I’ve called the company’s PR office at the New York headquarters several times and left voicemail messages with no response. My email has also not been answered.

The bottom line is I don’t really know much more about the survey than when I started. But the little I’ve learned—Pfizer’s involvement, unquestioned echoing of results, no access to the study—has increased my skepticism.

–George E

photo credit: CNN