The Stogie Guys

For exhibitors at the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) Trade Show, presenting something new is only part of the story. Presenting something new that gets customers excited is the real trick.

And there were quite a few things on the floor at Las Vegas with the potential to do just that. Here’s a sampling of the ones I think you’ll be seeing and hearing much more about.

Achilles. A new brand from Curivari, this full strength, lightly pressed Nicaraguan puro isn’t a limited edition, but that doesn’t mean it will be easy to find. Releases will be made only four times a year, with an initial run of 10,000 in three sizes. Unlike many Curivari lines, though, Achilles will be sold only in the United States.

CAO Flathead. I know everyone likes to disparage packaging, but the boxes and artwork for this new stick from General Cigar’s CAO division are truly something to behold. When the display goes up at your local shop, believe me, you’ll know it.

Point-of-sale. This category was big throughout the show as manufacturers obviously struggle to accommodate consumers looking for a quick smoke and retailers wanting impulse-buy displays at the cash register. Two that stood out were a four-pack from Eddie Ortega in a cardboard box that will slip right into your shirt pocket and Oliva’s slick gravity-fed countertop dispenser that’s filled with Nub tubos.

Black and White. I don’t believe I saw anyone on the floor busier than Sam Leccia. Constantly talking to retailers interested in his new Black and White lines, Sam said he’d felt things would go well on his return to the industry but hadn’t anticipated what he encountered: “It blew away my expectations.”

Mia Dora. A milder smoke than is often associated with Emilio Cigars, these likely won’t ship until the end of October, according to owner Gary Griffith. He’s dedicated Mia Dora to his girlfriend and is wildly enthusiastic about it, from the blend that features a specially fermented Habano Rosado wrapper to the packaging Gary himself calls “over-the-top.”

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

I’m truly looking forward to my upcoming trip to the IPCPR convention in Las Vegas. Last year, I attended my first, when the show was in Orlando. It was, honestly, a bit overwhelming.

Part of that was the size and scope of the show, part of it was me. Now, with some idea of what to expect, I feel I’m better prepared to deal with what’s there. As for myself, some doctor-administered performance-enhancing drugs to help with my deteriorating joints, and some weight loss should make negotiating the trade floor easier.

While I’m confessing I’ll also own up to my technological shortcomings, both skills and equipment. My cell phone is the old candy bar style, without a camera or texting capacity. Who knows if I could use either if it did? I do have an iPad, but it’s a first generation, so no camera there, either. So I’ll be leaning on both Patricks, both of whom I’m glad to say make my computer savvy positively Paleolithic.

For those who haven’t been to IPCPR, it’s somewhat difficult to grasp the breadth of exhibitors. They are by no means limited to cigars. You don’t just see My Father Cigars. You’ll also see My Cigar Chair. Hookahs might outnumber briar pipes. Matches, canes, knives, electronic smoking devices, hats, software… The list seems endless.

But cigars are at the heart of the show. “What’s new?” is the question on nearly everyone’s lips. New blends, new blenders, new lines, new sizes, new companies, new alliances.

So far, it appears there aren’t as many new offerings in 2013 as in the past couple of years, at least judging by pre-convention announcements and teases. Of course, that can change.

I would expect, though, that at least some manufacturers are finally recognizing that shops—virtual as well as concrete—have limitations on what they can stock and promote. A new line that simply displaces an old line isn’t much of an advance.

Of course, quantity isn’t the true measure. It’s quality. If there’s one new cigar introduced this year that becomes one of your favorites, that’s a success.

As for Las Vegas, you probably wouldn’t believe me if I told you how many years it has been since I visited. I’m not really much of a gambling, big-show entertainment guy.

There is one spot, though, I hope I can visit: the Bouchon Bakery at The Venetian. I’d like to try a cup of Equator Coffee. If I make it, I’ll let you know how it tastes.

–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.”

Number six in Eddie Ortega’s new line of limited smokes, Honest Abe is a peppery cigar from start finish. But it’s no one-note stick. There’s a full orchestral accompaniment weaving in and around that core, making for a very interesting and enjoyable smoke. Costing about $8.50, the vitola is 6.5 inches long with a ring gauge of 52. The filler and binder tobaccos are Nicaraguan, the wrapper reportedly Habano from Ecuador. Only 500 boxes were produced so it may not be easy to find, but it’s worth searching out.

Verdict = Buy.

–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.”

Few modern-day cigars have the cachet of Don Pepin Garcia’s original limited edition El Centurion. That has carried over to anticipation for this 10th anniversary blend recently released by My Father Cigars. Intended as a regular production line, the four sizes include a nod to the demand for big ring gauges, as one sports a 58. I smoked the more moderate-sized Toro (6.25 x 52). Blended from a variety of Nicaraguan tobaccos, the spicy start signals immediately that it is a Pepin creation, as does the fine construction, draw, and burn. About halfway down, the cigar transitions into more complex and rich flavors. It may not be as storied as its predecessor, but it is an excellent cigar.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: N/A

Tastes change. At least mine do.

More than six years ago, I reviewed the then-new Ecuadorian Connecticut-wrapped Lot 23 Toro with Nicaraguan filler and binder from a Perdomo farm. I wasn’t particularly impressed.

For whatever reason, I rarely delve into Perdomo’s extensive offerings (more info on the various brands here), so it didn’t take much for Lot 23 to slip from my consciousness after that.

Recently, though, I picked up ten Robustos at what seemed a bargain price, under $3 per stick. Something made me want to give this cigar another try. I’ve smoked a few from this new batch, and I’m glad I decided to revisit the cigar. I’ve enjoyed each of them.

For one thing, I think the Robusto (5 x 50) is better suited to the Lot 23 blend than the inch-longer Toro. I also haven’t noticed the dryness that bothered me before.

But more importantly, I believe my tastes are not the same as they were in 2007. I think I was smoking a lot of stronger cigars back then. My selections ran more toward Don Pepin Garcia, Tatuaje, La Flor Dominicana, and other potent sticks.

I also don’t think I was as open to a milder cigar. Although I continue to smoke many strong cigars, these days I seem to have moved to a different taste plane where I can appreciate subtlety and nuance as well, particularly as a change of pace.

So for this review, I’ll revise my earlier rating of the Lot 23 and award it a very solid four stogies out of five. Who knows what I’ll find if I smoke a Lot 23 in 2019?

[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.”

For a cigar that was said to be a limited edition, this one’s been around for quite a while. It’s a pressed multi-nation mix with a fair amount of power. I’ve smoked a few of the different 101s, but not enough to make a comparison. Maybe it’s just knowing the association, but this Conjura (Spanish for conspiracy, if you’re wondering) did remind me of the older-line Camacho cigars, especially with its flavors of leather and earthiness.

Verdict = Buy.

–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.”

There are times I wonder whether Ernesto Perez-Carrillo is a cigar blender or a magician. I’m not sure he has a peer when it comes to turning out excellent cigar after excellent cigar. His Short Run 2013 is no exception. It kicks off with a combination of citrus and exotic spices, and that enticing, enjoyable combination pretty much runs from beginning to end. Made in just three sizes—Robusto (4.9 x 50), Corona Gorda (5.9 x 52), and a massive Double Robusto (6.25 x 60)—it features the trademark EPC quality construction, burn, and draw. With only 1,500 boxes of each vitola, this Short Run won’t be on the shelves long. Don’t miss it.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: N/A