The Stogie Guys

Who among us does not relish a great cigar? But, then again, who among us can agree on just what makes a cigar great? I started thinking about this several weeks ago, and I’ve been turning it over in my mind ever since.

It started when I lit an Oliva Serie V Toro, a one-time favorite I hadn’t smoked in ages. Less than an inch into it, I thought, “Wow, this is a great cigar. Why haven’t I been smoking more of these?”

As I continued burning it, my enjoyment didn’t diminish. But my assessment did.

Why? Well, I reflected on the circumstances. The Serie V came in the wake of cigars I had smoked the previous two days that I found disappointing. By comparison, the Oliva was wonderful. But trying to approach it a little more objectively, I had to admit that, while the Serie V is a very good cigar, it failed to attain the elite status of great. While the stick’s flavors and performance were excellent, it came up a tad short in complexity and smoothness.

That led me to begin examining what qualities make for a great cigar, what accounts for a bad or mediocre cigar, and which attributes don’t really matter in any judgment.

It is fairly easy, I think, to agree on things that make for a lousy cigar. Descriptions like harsh, plugged, tasteless, bitter, and wildly inconsistent come quickly to mind. Mediocrity is a little tougher to judge, since one man’s bland can be another’s tasty.

Generally, I think, mediocre cigars are those that have nothing special, nothing that stands out. They’re not bad, they’re just not that good.

Judgments also can be clouded by considerations that I would classify as personal preference. These sometimes enter into the discussion, though I believe they often should not.

Size, usually ring gauge, is one of the most common. While many ardent smokers disdain today’s massive ring gauges, there is certainly nothing that makes them inherently bad cigars. Personally, I find myself drawn more and more to smaller sticks these days, both in ring gauge and length. Again, though, that is preference, not a standard by which to establish quality.

Another factor can be price. Too often, I believe, some smokers equate high prices with hype and nothing else. As in, “No cigar is worth (fill in your own price tag).”

Sure, that’s true sometimes. But far from always. Growing tobacco is a costly and risky enterprise, but one that can help ensure high quality and consistency, as well as stimulate creativity. Aging and stockpiling tobacco is an expensive investment, but a necessary one for those who wish to create extraordinary blends. Quality control can boost operational costs without an immediately visible effect on the bottom line. Talented workers command higher wages.

Conversely, it is extremely difficult to produce a great cigar at bundle cigar prices.

There are two common cigar-smoking mantras: “Smoke what you like, like what you smoke” and “If you like it, then it’s a good cigar.” Who could argue with either sentiment? On the other hand, can anyone honestly contend that a Ron Mexico, say, is equal to a Padrón Family Reserve, regardless of personal preferences?

The truth is, in our current Era of Magnificent Cigars we encounter a lot fewer lousy sticks than there were years ago. There are also a lot more good and very good cigars on the shelves, too.

In the second part of this commentary (tomorrow), I’ll discuss what I think makes for a great cigar.

–George E

photo credit: Flickr

The most obvious characteristic of this cigar is size. At only 3.5 inches long with a ring gauge of 46, it obviously isn’t very big. Judged by flavor and performance, though, this opera-inspired La Bohème vitola brings down the house.

As a full-blown fan of cigars coming from Rafael Nodal and Hank Bischoff, I always expect good things when I light a cigar from their Boutique Blends. So it was no surprise that I liked La Bohème, even though I was a bit unsure of what to expect from the small Mimi. After all, even Nodal has said he wasn’t too sure about it at first.

But, lighting this up, it was immediately apparent I was smoking something special.

Rich spices and red pepper lead off and continue throughout. As the Mimi progresses, those flavors are joined by cedar and wood, with nutty overtones. And nearer the foot, there’s a warm sweetness that weaves its way in.

Construction, burn, and draw are top-notch. While it’s necessary to smoke such a small cigar slowly, none of mine got hot as the burn approached the head. The ash is nearly porcelain white and hangs on as if it were glued to the foot.

The wrapper is Ecuadorian Habano, with Dominican binder and filler. Its large band is artistically striking, coming from a nineteenth century Cuban brand, according to Nodal.

La Bohème is available in three other sizes, each named after a character in the Puccini opera. So far, Mimi is the only one I’ve seen. It retails for about $6.50, which might seem high considering the size. But with Mimi you’re purchasing 45 minutes to an hour of wonderful smoking. And it would also translate to about $13 for a Churchill.

All in all, La Bohème Mimi is another virtuoso performance for Boutique Blends. I rate it four and a half 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 verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

I picked up this smoke based solely on Ben Lee’s praise in his Stogie Review posting a few weeks back. It’s a fat robusto, coming in at the typical five-inch length but with a ring gauge of 56. The line is rolled from tobacco grown on Perdomo’s Nicaraguan farms, with the wrapper leaf aged 14 months in bourbon barrels. The result: a tasty, spicy smoke that satisfies from start to finish, with a good draw and even burn.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: Perdomo Cigars

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

I’ve been a fan of La Aroma de Cuba since it was redone a few years ago by Don José “Pepin” Garcia. This large (7 x 58), modestly priced (about $7) cigar was introduced a few years back to cater to the then-emerging trend for big smokes. For me, this size seems to lack the characteristics that make the line enjoyable. El Jefe has low smoke production, muted flavors, and lacks the smooth complexity of its siblings. Try a smaller size to appreciate what La Aroma de Cuba has to offer.

Verdict = Sell.

–George E

photo credit: N/A

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

This excellent cigar comes as part of Tatuaje’s ten-pack lancero sampler inaugurated last year and expected to be a low-production annual release at a shade under $100. I’ve tried a few and, while they’re all good, this is the best so far. The medium strength and many shifting flavors create a winning combination, with near-perfect construction and draw throughout. The Cabaiguan Lancero (7 x 38) is a beauty that should please almost any cigar smoker.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

I have three cigar wishes for the new year. I’m not normally the optimistic type. More the way Billy Crystal described his grandfather: the kind of guy who always thought the glass was half full… of something that would kill you.

So, I can’t say I’m likely to see my wishes granted, but there’s always hope.

An exemption from FDA regulation. This, I think, would top every cigar smokers’ list. (Or it at least should.) If the U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesn’t accept—or have forced upon it—an exemption for premium, hand-rolled cigars, it might not be a death blow to the industry. But it will most certainly inflict a crippling injury and likely render it unrecognizable within a few years. Expectations are for the regulations to come no sooner than this summer, but the uncertainty could easily stretch further into the future.

Good weather for tobacco crops. As cigar blenders continue to experiment with tobacco from more and more countries, the global climate becomes increasingly significant. Though the quality of 2015 crops won’t be apparent until years in the future, a top harvest would be a boon for manufacturers and ensure more great smokes to come.

Clean up the catalogs. Why do major catalog retailers devote more and more pages to machine-made cigars and electronic cigarettes and cigars? Money, of course. But I think it’s penny-wise and pound-foolish. I’ve got nothing against machine-mades or e-cigs, but I hate to see them closely associated and pitched with premium cigars. As the industry struggles to separate itself from nicotine delivery devices, this type of advertising hurts. Why not print separate catalogs for those who want them?

What’s on your list as we head into 2015?

–George E

photo credit: Flickr

StogieGuys.com was born from a love of cigars. Its founders created the site (over eight years ago!) as an outlet to share their passion, and it has grown and evolved through the years, though cigars remain at the core.

I’ve spent some time reading through all our entries for 2014. In addition to scores of reviews, we’ve covered topics that range from tips for beginners to author interviews, from guides on great libations to exploring pertinent legislation. And many, many others, including reports from overseas.

As we head into a new year, it seems appropriate to do a little reassessing. To ask, as former New York City Mayor Ed Koch was fond of inquiring, “How am I doing?”

That’s where you come in.

Tell us what you’d like to see at StogieGuys.com in 2015.

Should we cover more of the growing number of high-end releases? Or scout for worthwhile low-priced sticks? Do you like to see interviews with industry leaders, or has the explosion of social media made them so visible that interviews aren’t really necessary nowadays?

One issue we struggle with is, when you’ve been doing this as long as we have, there’s a danger of being repetitive. Still, many readers are newcomers and could benefit from information or advice that may have been presented years ago.

Another big item for discussion: For the first time in years, we didn’t cover the 2014 IPCPR Trade Show in person. Our absence, mind you, wasn’t a protest; it was simply a reflection of the fact that (1) our site founders have day jobs and family obligations, and (2) travel accommodations are not inexpensive. Did you miss us not covering the event live? Or did we still give you enough reporting on the new releases and activities? Do you think it’s essential we cover this summer’s convention in New Orleans in person?

We’ve dabbled a bit into the world of pipe smoking. Should we do more?

Looking back, one area I’m particularly proud of is our coverage of federal legislation and regulation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. We’ve also tried to rally readers to the cause. The outcome has the very real potential to dramatically alter—even destroy—every cigar smokers’ ability to continue enjoying cigars. Too much? Not enough? Just right?

I could go on. As you can see, I have barely scratched the surface of areas of interest.

So, if you would, take a minute or two and leave a comment, or send us an email, with your thoughts about Stogie Guys in 2015. And trust that we really value your feedback.
I can’t promise we’ll be able to satisfy everyone, though we will certainly consider all of your replies carefully.

And I will guarantee one thing: Cigars will always be front and center. We still love them.

–George E

photo credit: N/A