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.

Encased in the perfecto-style tube that distinguishes this high-end line, the Diamond smokes as good as it looks. A dark Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, a Dominican maduro binder, and Dominican filler combine for a rich, thick, tasty smoke with a pearl-white ash. The Diamond, often called “Black” after the tube color, is fairly small (5 x 54). The only real negative is the hefty price, which runs about $18-$20 individually, though I’ve seen it as low as about $12.50 when purchased by the box of eight. Worth the money, especially as a celebratory stick.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

For one cigar company, the biggest gift of the year doesn’t come under the Christmas tree but at the top of Cigar Aficionado’s annual Top 25. This year, the legendary García family scored the win with their My Father Le Bijou 1922 Box-Pressed Torpedo.

Interestingly, My Father also took the top spot on Cigar Snob’s list, but it was the El Centurion H-2K-CT Toro that landed there. Cigar Journal’s number one choice was the Eiroa Classic Prensado, which did not appear on the other two lists.

As sure as winter brings cold weather, year’s end brings a seemingly endless array of rankings of cigars from magazines, blogs, and podcasts. Smokers argue about their value and validity, but you can’t deny the lists can make a difference in sales.

StogieGuys.com, by the way, doesn’t do a best-of list. Even with three regular smokers, we know it’s possible to evaluate only so many cigars, so we opt to present, without ranking, what we found to be the best we had during the year, and those that came very close.

Unquestionably, the most discussion of lists centers on the industry’s 800-pound gorilla, Cigar Aficionado. Love it, hate it, follow it, or ignore it, there’s no denying that a top rating by the slick publication moves the market like no other. Just ask Alec Bradley or Oliva. This year, perhaps CA’s most controversial topic of conversation was choosing General’s CAO Flathead V660 Carb at the number three spot.

I spent some time going through a number of the lists, especially those from CA, Snob, and Journal, as well as looking at some past rankings.

The first thing that jumped out at me was CA’s 2013 list. There at number nineteen was that same My Father Le Bijou 1922 Box-Pressed Torpedo that was tops this time. Last year, the highest a Pepín/My Father-branded smoke made it was seventeen. Of course, the My Father crew works with numerous brand owners, such as Tatuaje and Ashton, which often rank highly, and García’s Flor de las Antillas Toro was the top pick of 2012.

A noticeable oddity: Bringing up the rear of both CA and Journal’s Top 25 lists was the same boutique cigar: Sublimes Robusto Extra. Almost as close were the magazines’ rankings for La Boheme Pittore. Journal put it at eleven, CA one notch lower.

One of the most anticipated cigars of 2015—Steve Saka’s Sobremesa—didn’t place on any of the three lists. Another hot debut smoke, El Güegüense, from Saka’s fellow former Drew Estate colleague Nick Melillo, was only on Snob’s list, at twelve.

On the other hand, the blog Blind Man’s Puff had El Güegüense first and Sobremesa second. And Stogie Review’s Ben Lee rated them fourth (Sobremesa) and third (El Güegüense).

But just to show how much cigar preferences are a matter of personal taste, Lee’s top smoke was the Avo Syncro Nicaragua Toro. That same smoke was sixteen on CA’s list and didn’t show at all on the Snob or Journal selections.

Padrón, the brand cited often by many tobacconists as their best seller, had a cigar on each of the three magazine lists. Again, though, the ratings illustrate the variations in taste. CA rated the Padrón Family Reserve 50 Years Natural at five, Journal put the Maduro version at two, and Snob went for the Padrón Damaso No. 8 at fifteen.

Whatever your feelings about year-end lists, they are invariably a good place to start when you’re looking for new smokes. At the least, you know someone thought they were good.

–George E

photo credit: N/A

Throughout the year, we smoked scores of cigars, and six of them achieved our top rating. That’s one more than last year and three times as many as in 2013.

Obviously, our top rating isn’t easy to get. Our system, which we’ve been using for nearly ten years) notes the five-stogies-out-of-five rating is reserved for cigars that are “tasty, complex” and “truly an occasion,” deserving “your full and undivided attention.” We think you’ll find these half dozen clear that high bar.

Two of our top-rated cigars for 2015 were also among the most anticipated: Nick Melillo’s El Güegüense and Steve Saka’s Sobremesa.

Reviewing the Robusto, I found “El Güegüense more than lives up to expectations.” Smoking the Sobremasa Cervantes Fino, my colleague called it “full-bodied, complex, and balanced with loads of rich flavor and a delicate peppery zing.”

Two others were from Tatuaje, a regular on our five-stogie list: the Black Robusto and the Havana VI Verocu No. 1.

My other colleague reviewed the Black Robusto. It was, he wrote, “the best of the bunch when it comes to the recent-era Tatuaje Blacks.” I found the new Verocu every bit as good as its predecessors, highlighting “smoothness and balance, as the flavors move and shift throughout the smoke.”

Another list regular, Don Gioloto’s Illusione, scored with the Singulare LE 2014 Anunnaki. For my colleague, this Singulare was “very similar to the Epernay, but with more sweetness and a velvety texture.”

The sixth spot was also held by a widely known name in cigars, José Blanco. His Las Cumbres Tabaco Señorial Paco Robusto is, according to my colleague, “the kind of cigar that makes you want to light up another as soon as it’s finished.”

If you’re looking for more suggestions, all of our five-stogie sticks through the years are here, and an alphabetical compilation of all reviews is here. And lastly, please keep in mind this best-of list is restricted not to cigars that were introduced in 2015, but rather cigars we reviewed in 2015.

–George E

photo credit: N/A

We smoked a lot of cigars in 2015, many of them truly wonderful. A handful got our top five-stogie rating, but more came awfully close. In fact, 16 cigars scored four-and-a-half stogies, while 40 earned four stogies. As we end the year with our traditional look back, we’ll focus first on those smokes that just missed the top slot. Tomorrow, we’ll come back with a look at the six that landed at the pinnacle.

The 4.5-stogie rated cigars span a wide range of manufacturers, blenders, strengths, and sizes. They’re listed in alphabetical order:

Abaddon Lancero (Blue Havana Exclusive): “An easy recommendation and a solid complement to an after-dinner serving of high-proof bourbon.”

Aging Room M19 Fortissimo Preferido: “May be the smoothest Fortissimo yet.”

Añoranzas Toro: “A box-worthy full-bodied cigar that’s consistent, complex, and downright delicious.”

Avo Heritage Short Robusto: “Beginning with cedar and a hint of the hay and grass common to many Davidoff productions, there’s quickly quite a bit of spice.”

Boutique Blends La Bohème Mimi: “Another virtuoso performance for Boutique Blends.”

Byron Serie Siglo XX Londinenses: “The flavors are as numerous as they are harmonious, and the experience is downright memorable.”

Exactus Puro Ambar Short Robusto: “If you like bold, spicy cigars, this is one to try.”

Fratello Bianco Event Exclusive: “As the cigar progresses, the complexity deepens with the additions of creamy nut, damp earth, and a dried fruit sweetness.”

Guayacan Sabor de Esteli Habana Robusto: “Teeming with taste and abundant in complexity.”

Illusione Fune d’Amour Viejos: “The flavors are a whirlwind combination of dry woodiness, hay, roast nuts, light honey, and maybe a hint of muted black pepper.”

Kilo Toro: “Balanced, cool-burning, interesting, unique, and superbly constructed.”

La Palina H-Town Lancero: “The initial profile is creamy, nutty, and bready with a significant kick of cayenne spice on the finish.”

Las Calaveras Edición Limitada 2015 LC46: “A complex smoke that began with roasted nuts, dry cocoa, and a little back-of-the-throat spice.”

Nestor Miranda Collection One Life Edition Danno Habano: “No doubt concentration will pay off in what you experience with this complex cigar.”

Padrón Serie 1964 Exclusive Natural: “You get a high-quality stick with balanced, medium-bodied flavors for your money.”

Tatuaje La Verite Churchill 2008: “Balance is wonderful and the texture is bready. The taste is bright and vibrant.”

You’ll find an explanation of our rating system here and a curated listing of our five-stogie selections through the years here. An alphabetical compilation of all reviews (spanning almost ten years!) is here. And lastly, please keep in mind this best-of list is restricted not to cigars that were introduced in 2015, but rather cigars we reviewed in 2015.

–George E

photo credit: N/A

Cigars with celebrity names usually generate skepticism.

I confess I initially had reservations about this smoke with a name that first came to prominence about 100 years ago with speedy cars and has, in recent years, become attached to fashion, leather, lighters, watches, and other luxury items.

But I also realize that judging by a name makes no more sense than judging by looks or any other superficial trait. So I lit one up wondering what I’d find.

What I found was an excellent cigar.

The Ambassador line features a beautiful Ecuadorian wrapper, a Dominican binder, and Nicaraguan filler. The Robusto (5 x 52) has an MSRP of $9.50. There’s also a $10 Toro.

The three Robustos I smoked were supplied by Bugatti.

The Ambassador has a nice peppery start that mixes with an earthiness in the first third. Those flavors mingle nicely in the middle and then pepper kicks back up in the final third, along with a delicate sweetness.

Construction, burn, and smoke production were excellent in all three samples. Strength is medium.

You may remember Bugatti cigars from a few years ago when brand owner Yigal Harel worked with Nick Perdomo to produce a line under the Bugatti name. But that collaboration ended, and the cigar now comes from Harel’s Bugatti Group, which is working with two factories in the Dominican Republic, according to company vice president Julian Correa.

Reflections of the supercar can be found on the bands. The main one features a somewhat similar “B” logo, while the smaller, red second band has a design reminiscent of Bugatti’s honeycomb grills.

I recommend this Robusto, especially for fans of Nicaraguan pepper. I think you’ll be as pleasantly surprised as I was. I give the Bugatti Ambassador four stogies out of five.

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

–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.

Last summer, I bought a five-pack of this highly regarded cigar from MoyaRuiz Cigars for $38.50 and eagerly smoked a couple. I like strong cigars, but, honestly, La Jugada Habano beat me silly. I tucked the remaining sticks in the humidor and forget about them. Until today. I’m glad I went back. A year and a half of time did wonders for this Toro (6 x 52) with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, undisclosed double binder, and Nicaraguan filler. Age toned down the power a notch and allowed other flavors to shine, especially a wonderful sweetness in the last half. If you want a powerhouse, light it up at once. But if you have patience, I think you’ll be rewarded with an even better cigar.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

MBombay has made quite an impression with high-end cigars produced in small numbers at a factory in Costa Rica, interesting packaging, and the use of Peruvian tobacco.

The KẽSara line (yes, that’s how it’s spelled) bears all of those hallmarks and a few of its own distinguishing features. The cap sports a short pigtail on a deep cap, while the foot is unfinished. The Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper is folded over the Dominican and Peruvian filler. The binder is also Ecuadorian, with no specifics released.

Mel Shah, owner of an upscale cigar and wine lounge in Palm Springs, California, is the man behind the company, Bombay Tobak.

The Robusto Larga is a 4.5-inch stick with a 54-ring gauge and an MSPR of $14.50. It comes packaged in canisters rather than traditional boxes. And, as with other MBombay lines, the traditional cigar band is covered by a large over-band featuring colorful Indian designs.

The light brown wrapper appears somewhat dry, with few veins and a sweet pre-burn aroma. Draw, burn, and smoke production were excellent in the three I smoked, all of which were provided by MBombay.

There’s a bit of sharpness in the first inch or so, which evens out soon after. Peruvian tobacco is often said to have a touch of bitterness in addition to body, which might account for that initial bite. Overall, strength was in the medium range.

The KẽSara burns slowly and lasts longer than might be expected from such a short cigar. Along the way, I experienced a variety of flavors—many very subtle and sometimes fleeting—especially in the final third, when sweetness comes fully to the fore.

With production at rather low levels and the number of retailers carrying MBombay also fairly limited, these won’t be the easiest cigars to find. But they are worth seeking out, offering, as they do, a flavor profile that stands out.

I give the short, plump KẽSara Robusto Larga three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys