The Stogie Guys

With a full name that weighs in at a whopping 22 syllables, you’re better off simply calling this stick “delicious.” That adjective, after all, is a more apt description of the cigar (not to mention a lot easier to utter in a single breath).

“This line of smokes is essentially La Gloria Cubana’s take on Fuente’s Hemingway idea,” wrote our friend Chris in a February Guest Quick Smoke. “All the vitolas are perfecto-shaped (barring the pyramid) and are comprised of top-tier tobaccos with specialized and extensive aging.”

The blend includes a sungrown Ecuadoran Sumatra wrapper, a four-year-old Nicaraguan binder, and filler tobaccos from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. General Cigar says the five Maduro vitolas “derive their distinctive taste from a special cedar aging process.” Only 1,000 boxes of each size are produced annually, and only “level seven” rollers work on Reserva Figurados under the supervision of the legendary Ernesto Perez-Carrillo.

Judging by the stogie’s impressive appearance, “level seven” must be the designation for the black belts of cigar rollers. The 6.5 inch by 49 ring gauge Flechas Especiales has the look of a winner with a smooth, oily wrapper. Tightly packed, it exudes attention- grabbing pre-light notes of sweet cocoa and coffee, and the yellow band serves as a nice contrast to the dark leaf.

The unique shape offers more than mere aesthetics; it also enhances the smoking experience. The tiny foot makes establishing an even light very easy, which yields a powerful taste of freshly ground black pepper. A cedar spice also comes roaring through, only to smooth out after the first few inches. The meaty flavor takes on burnt steak-like qualities in the final third.

I’ve always thought it is a little more fun to smoke figurados, so take note of how the straight and true burn works its way down the cigar. The draw is on the tighter side (though not necessarily an encumbrance) and the white, finely layered ash holds firm.

When it’s all said and done, this top-quality, full-bodied cigar is a real treat—with or without all the syllables. You can find these for $100-145 per box of 20 or $6-8 apiece, and that’s a pretty fair price. One last word to the wise: The La Gloria Cubana Reserva Figurados Flechas Especiales Maduro isn’t for the timid, so have a few stiff drinks along the way to loosen your nerves. I did, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and I give it four out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Cigar Aficionado recently released a series of videos on their website about the process they use to review the dozens of cigars that are rated in every issue of the magazine. The problem is, under New York State law, every review is probably illegal.

You see, cigars are usually smoked in their New York offices. They say they make a point of always smoking their cigars in the same place to ensure that the environment isn’t affecting the ratings.

This is a problem because the New York State Clean Indoor Air Act (Public Health Law, Article 13-E) “prohibits smoking in virtually all workplaces.” Unlike an exemption-filled New York City law, the state law does include a few exemptions (including for “retail tobacco businesses” and “cigar bars”), but none that would seem to exempt a magazine’s office (unless the pages of CA are actually printed on paper made from tobacco, which would make the magazine a tobacco retailer).

So, unfortunately, the facts are clear: Technically Cigar Aficionado is likely violating the New York State law. But as you might guess, my purpose in making this observation isn’t to get the magazine in trouble, but to show just how absurd anti-smoking laws are.

The employees of Cigar Aficionado, many of whom are the ones doing the “illegal” smoking, clearly didn’t decide to work there to be in a smoke-free environment. In fact, the writers were chosen for their expertise in cigars, and Cigar Aficionado‘s employees all knew that they would be working in a smoke-filled environment. After all, the word “cigar” is right on the front door.

In other words, there is no victim if and when Cigar Aficionado violates New York State’s smoking ban. Except that having a ridiculous, victimless law on the books diminishes public respect for laws in general. There won’t be—and shouldn’t be—anyone beating down Cigar Aficionado‘s doors to demand that they stop smoking.

Here at StogieGuys.com, we regularly focus on smoking bans in bars, cigar lounges, and cigar parties, but workplace smoking bans are just as wrong. Surely most employers would, as they rightfully should be able to, ban smoking in the workplace.

And that fact goes to show just how unnecessary and unfair workplace smoking bans are. Instead of letting freedom of choice work by allowing most places to ban smoking voluntarily, one-size-fits-all smoking bans are now affecting places where no reasonable person would ever suggest that smoking should be banned.

Now let’s all light up a cigar in honor of violating unjust cigar bans everywhere!

–Patrick S

[Editor’s Note: The article has been updated to reflect the complicated nature of Byzantine anti-tobacco laws and to distinguish between the New York State and New York City smoking bans. Additionally, we have contacted Cigar Aficionado for comment.]

photo credit: Stogie Guys

As I wrote in January when I recommended readers check out the Zippo Blu lighter, “every cigar enthusiast should have at least one good butane lighter” because “certain situations just call for a burst of clean-burning flame.” All this from the same old-fashioned guy who repeatedly extols the virtues of wooden matches.

As much as I enjoy the novelty of my Zipp Blu, I have to admit it’s a bit finicky. Cold weather seems to diminish its performance, the flame requires a short recharge break before it will ignite again, and replacing the flint every month isn’t all that fun. That’s why, time and again, I find myself reaching for my Ronson JetLite instead.

This product shouldn’t be unfamiliar to regular StogieGuys.com readers. We first recommended the refillable, windproof lighter in December 2006 and have mentioned it off and on since. But many of the enthusiasts I meet still have never heard of this particular lighter and are always amazed when I tell them about it. In any event, I thought a full post was merited for several reasons.

First, mine has been working exceptionally well. Flame adjustment is a cinch and I haven’t run into the same problems that often befall many other butane lighters—including inconsistency and a general lack of durability. Granted, I haven’t owned a Ronson for a terribly long time (George E was nice enough to send one up from Florida a few months ago), but I’ve really put it to the test.

Second, and perhaps most importantly, the JetLite is surprisingly inexpensive. It sells for under $3 at Wal-Mart (look for them at the register that displays goodies like cigars, cigarettes, and lighters). This is an important quality in an item that often gets lost between seat cushions or “accidentally” commandeered by fellow smokers.

Finally, this lighter proves you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on fancy cigar lighters and other gadgets to get the most out of your smoking experience. You just need to be informed and prepared.

So go ahead and pick up a few Ronson JetLites—for your home, your car, your golf bag, etc. You never know when or where you’ll need one, and you can certainly afford to have several on hand.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

This cigar is a near perfect example of a conundrum I’ve brought up before: How many individual sticks should I smoke before writing about a particular cigar?

In this case, I’ve smoked one. I’ll probably try another one sometime. But they’re expensive, and when I have to make the decision about what to pick up I‘ll definitely weigh trying it once more or getting something I’ve enjoyed in the past. Or giving a new cigar a try.

I was eager to try the San Cristobal and picked up a 6 inch by 50 ring gauge Supremo. Cosmetically, it was excellent. The wrapper was virtually flawless. The draw was good and the burn went straight from the foot on down. As you are no doubt aware, the San Cristobal is another Don Pepin Nicaraguan puro, made this time for Holt’s. It has gotten a lot of attention and many good reviews.

I certainly can’t say anything bad about the San Cristobal. But to me it was underwhelming.

I expected a flavorful, complex, rich cigar. What I got, though, was a relatively mundane cigar that, while powerful, was flat and unexciting. Sure, maybe it was just that stick, or my mood that day or what I’d recently eaten or…who knows? Rolling the dice on a nearly $9 cigar is OK once, but do I want to do it again on the chance that I’ll come up with a winner this time?

Let us know what you think about this and what you think about the San Cristobal. In the meantime, I can give this cigar only three out of five stogies.

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

–George E

photo credit: Ashton Cigars

StogieGuys.com will be featured on the Livin’ Large with Geoff Pinkus radio show on WIND 560 AM in Chicago today. The show runs from 5-7 pm Central (6-8 Eastern) and Patrick A is scheduled to be on around 5:35 pm Central (6:35 Eastern).

Feel free to call in at 877-560-WIND to ask a question on the air. And if you’re not in the Chicago area, you can listen live here (if you miss it, a podcast will be available here).

–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.

I read my colleague’s May 2007 review of the Generoso vitola of this line as I lit up this 5 inch by 50 ring gauge Invictos. Despite the difference in size, George E’s take on the Don Pepin Garcia Blue Label is almost identical to mine. I too found a “cornucopia of flavor” with pepper, leather, clove, coffee, cedar, and earth. The abundant smoke starts strong and, to its credit, settles down to become sweet and creamy. At about $6 per stick or $125-150 per box of 25, this Nicaraguan puro—a well-constructed corojo/criollo blend that earned a rating of 88 in the August 2006 issue of Cigar Aficionado—is truly an easy recommendation.

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.

If you prefer mild cigars or if you smoke several a day, give this criollo-wrapped stick from Rocky Patel’s former blender a try. Introduced last year by the gregarious Jesus Fuego, these are touted as an everyday smoke. Although the wrapper was marked with a couple of splotches, construction was fine. The cigar begins with some spice that quickly dissipates then makes an occasional return. Overall, the flavors are light, with the Nicaraguan and Honduran filler mix creating a distinctive taste. The 4.5 inch, 46 ring gauge corona generally runs about $5.50 per stick.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys