The Stogie Guys

This cigar’s smooth, light brown Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper—even with much of it hidden by the huge, ornate band—makes an inviting first impression. It’s equally enticing after lighting up.

An original line from Mel Shah’s Bombay Tobak, Classic has a Dominican binder and Dominican, Honduran, Peruvian, and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos. (I’ve also written about MBombay’s KẽSara, Habano, and Mora lines.)

One area that stood out—something I rarely notice, frankly—was the cap. It drapes quite a bit past the shoulder, making it easy to apply the cutter without fear of going too far and possibly causing the wrapper to unravel.

The Classic line is clearly aimed at the large segment of the cigar audience that prefers milder cigars, and it clearly hits the mark. I think most smokers will find the strength to be in the upper-mild/lower-medium range.

This Churchill, one of five vitolas in the line, is 7 inches long with a ring gauge of 48. The MSRP is $11.50.

My first impression was formed from the deep, rich smoke and near perfect draw in each sample I smoked. The cigar is incredibly smooth, with a light finish. I found the flavors to be light as well, the sort that I might miss if I didn’t pay attention as I smoked.

That’s one reason I enjoy the occasional milder cigar. It creates a different smoking experience, tapping into tastes that don’t usually come into play with a higher-powered smoke.

In the beginning, I noticed a little spice and cedar that wound down after about an inch, overtaken by a delicate sweetness. The dominant trait, for me, was without a doubt the creamy smoothness of the smoke.

Construction was excellent in each of the three Churchills I smoked. They were supplied by Bombay Tobak.

Whether you regularly smoke milder cigars or, like me, pick one up every once in a while, the MBombay Connecticut Classic is definitely worth your consideraiton. I rate it four stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys / Bombay Tobak

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

Robert Caldwell’s Blind Man’s Bluff, introduced at the 2015 IPCPR Trade Show, broke from his earlier releases. It is not as strong, and it’s made in Honduras, at the factory where Davidoff rolls Camacho. The Magnum (6 x 60, $9.50) features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Honduran Criollo binder, and filler from Honduras and the Dominican Republic. It burns extremely slowly, though not perfectly. Flavors start with a nice spice that quickly fades, opening up to include the common Honduran leather along with burned coffee and some sweetness. A worthwhile smoke, though perhaps better in a smaller size.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: Caldwell Cigar Co.

From its rough, rugged Connecticut Broadleaf maduro wrapper to the intense finish, The Rake would be right at home at the poker table in the Long Branch Saloon.

The Rake is the second regular production line from MoyaRuiz, a small firm that has already made an impression in the cigar world with a couple of offbeat limited editions and its initial La Jugada line.

Like La Jugada, The Rake is a powerful smoke. With filler comprising four ligero leaves—two from Jalapa and two from Estelí—the surprise would be if it weren’t. (Details on the binder were not released.)

The Fix starts with spice and pepper and a bit of a back-of-the-throat scratch. For the first third, in fact, it seemed that might be its single distinguishing characteristic. Fortunately, though, that began to lessen as the second third began, opening up to some dark flavors like burned coffee, roasted nuts, and charred wood.

As I progressed down the box-pressed frame (5.6 x 46), there was lots of smoke, a slightly loose draw, and a not-so-great burn. The thick wrapper, at times, seemed almost fireproof.

The cigars are rolled at Erik Espinosa’s La Zona factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. The Rake comes in boxes of 20, with three sizes in addition to the Fix: Cut (5 x 52), Take (6 x 52), and Vig (6 x 60). The boxes and bands, like the names themselves, all reflect a connection to poker.

In announcing the line, Danny Moya said in a release that the band’s design was “inspired by the speakeasy peep hole found in many doors at underground gambling rooms, and the cigar box has two slots on the top of the box to resemble a rake box.”

I bought a five-pack ($47.50) back in the summer and smoked a couple then and a couple recently. Six months or so in the humidor seems to have made a little difference, especially in reducing sharpness.

With such a distinctive profile, I wouldn’t regularly smoke The Rake. But I would definitely pick one up on occasion for something different. I recommend it, especially in this size, and give it four stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys / MoyaRuiz

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

Regius has gained lots of online buzz since entering the U.S. market from Great Britain. The Exclusivo, introduced in 2014, is billed as a “fusion of the old and new schools of cigar making” for American smokers. Four vitolas feature three large ring gauges and a Lancero Extra, each blended to suit the size. I paid about $12 for the Toro Extra (6.5 x 56). Made by the Plasencias in Nicaragua and distributed by Quesada, it’s a tasty, medium-strength Nicaraguan puro with wood, earth, spice, and a hint of sweetness. One complaint: Regius’ poor website. There are few to no specifics about the cigars, and the retailer page is woeful, failing to even include the Chicago shop where this line debuted. I had to rely on a Cigar Aficionado interview with the CEO.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: Regius Cigars

We all know about beginning-of-the-year resolutions. Lose weight, exercise, get more sleep… And we all know how most of them end up. Broken. (Statistically, by now, over a third of resolutions are already broken.)

But cigar resolutions are different. They can be easy to keep because they increase your enjoyment. Here are a few suggestions for 2016:

Take better care of your cutters and lighters. Neither of these tools requires all that much maintenance, but a little work will pay off. Keep your cutter clean. A blast of canned air will push out tiny bits of tobacco that can jam the mechanism and dull the blades. And while you have the compressed air handy, shoot a little in your lighter to eliminate debris and keep the butane flowing freely.

Venture outside your comfort zone. Try something from a manufacturer you never smoke, pick up a cigar with a different wrapper or blend, spring for an ultra-premium when it’s time to celebrate, or dig into the bargain basement once in a while. Sure, you will come up short on occasion, but you might find a new favorite. At the least, you’ll learn more about your likes and dislikes.

Clean up. Dump the ashtrays when you’ve finished smoking. Without fail. No one—and I mean no one—likes the sour, nasty smell of old ashes and butts.

Check out some oldies. New doesn’t always mean better. There is a reason some smokes have been around for years and years. People like them and buy them regularly. It’s also nice to know that a cigar you enjoy will always be available.

Introduce someone to the joys of cigars. We’ve all got friends who have never tried a premium cigar. Can they really turn down an invitation to watch a game, enjoy a drink, or just chew the fat at your local shop or in your backyard?

Enjoy. Whatever you find best about cigars, do a little more of it this year.

You likely can come up with more resolutions of your own. No matter what you decide, here’s to the best cigar-smoking year ever!

–George E

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.

With a multi-national combination of tobaccos—a dark Brazilian wrapper, Mexican San Andrés binder, and Dominican filler—La Nox is a strong, satisfying smoke. The Toro (6.5 x 52) is ideal for the cigar to develop along the way. For instance, it begins with a combination of spice and earth and maintains a rich, spicy finish for a third or so. Then sweetness mixes in, toning down the finish and allowing other flavors to come to the fore. Tony Gomez, son of La Flor Dominicana’s founders, has certainly created a fine limited cigar, well worth its $11 price tag.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Did Santa leave you a new lighter under the tree? A butane-burning beauty that will make you feel like a true connoisseur when you light up your prized cigars?

Congratulations. Now it’s up to you to treat it right.

We’ve all read and heard sad tales of expensive lighters that too soon ended up as non-functional paperweights. The good news is that these days lighters seem to perform much better than they did not so long ago.

You can increase the likelihood that your new lighter will age into a reliable, trusted old friend through the years by following a few simple tips.

Read the instructions. Yes, I know this runs counter to just about everyone’s instincts. But spending a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the lighter’s ins-and-outs will pay off in the long run. After all, do you really want to set your hair on fire because you turned the flame adjustment the wrong way?

Use top-grade, multi-refined butane. It is expensive, but worth it in the long run. Butane lighters have tiny openings and the smallest bits can create clogs. Butane that has been refined multiple times means cleaner fuel.

Pay attention to the fill indicator. Don’t increase pressure by trying to squeeze in more fuel than the lighter is designed to hold. It might not cause damage, but why take the chance?

Bleed before refilling. Usually this is accomplished by pressing the fill valve and allowing the remaining butane to escape, but be sure to follow your manufacturer’s directions. Again, ignoring this might not create a problem, but investing a few seconds can’s hurt.

Compressed air is a great tool. A quick blast from the can periodically will keep the lighting mechanism clean and reduce the possibility of a clog.

Finally, enjoy your lighter. And if Santa missed you this year, you can always buy yourself the gift you want.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys