The Stogie Guys

If you do a little research on the Trinidad brand, you’ll find no shortage of inconsistencies. Some claim that Cuban Trinidads were once reserved for foreign diplomats visiting the communist isle. Castro himself refuted this. Others maintain that Trinidad was specifically crafted to appeal to American consumers who illegally purchase Cubans. This assertion remains highly controversial.

Whatever the case, today there are two separate versions of the brand that is named for the city of Trinidad, Cuba: one made by Habanos SA with Cuban tobacco, the other made by Altadis USA in the Dominican Republic. Like so many other cigar brands, the split was a direct result of Fidel Castro’s criminalization of private enterprise and the subsequent embargo. (more…)

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.”

Despite their relatively expensive price, I’ve always considered the cigars in the Ashton Classic lineup to be of excellent value. The robusto-sized Magnum (5 x 50) is no exception. I purchased this one at my local tobacconist for $7 and was rewarded with great construction and subtle flavors of nuts, cream, citrus, hay, and pepper. The Magnum is a must-try, even for those who rarely smoke Connecticut shade cigars.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

This weekend, my local tobacconist had a special on the Guillermo León blend by La Aurora, a cigar I have been enjoying regularly since it debuted last summer. The entire Guillermo León lineup was on sale for about $4—far below the standard MSRP of $7-9 per cigar.

I was pretty thrilled about this special and made sure to stock up on (what I consider to be) a fantastic smoke. The whole experience got me thinking about the most productive ways to save money on cigar purchases. So here are five tips to help you get the most out of your cigar budget:

Try your hand at cigar auctions. Instead of ordering cigars from retailers with fixed prices, many people turn to cigar auctions to buy cigars in eBay-style markets. While not every item is going to offer substantial savings, if you look patiently and don’t get caught up in bidding wars you can find some real bargains on good cigars. Just be sure not to pay more than the fixed price. (more…)

I was browsing my local tobacconist in Chicago the other day when I came across a display of Select Cabinet Reserve cigars. Alec Bradley introduced this line back in 2009, but I couldn’t remember trying any of the five vitolas.

I decided to purchase three Gran Robustos (5.5 x 60) for $7.50 apiece. I can’t say I was particularly drawn to this thick size—I’m usually not a fan of cigars wider than 52 ring gauge—but, for one reason or another, I gravitated to it over the line’s more traditional formats: Robusto (5 x 50), Corona (5.5 x 42), Torpedo (6.1 x 52), and Churchill (7 x 48). (more…)

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, ST. THOMAS — When you think of the phrase “cigar vacation,” images of factory tours in Honduras, Nicaragua, or the Dominican Republic often come to mind. As well they should. If you want to learn as much as possible about the artisan craft of handmade cigars, there’s no substitute for observing and talking to the fine people who make them, in their native environment no less.

To me, though, a cigar vacation can mean many things. My recent trip to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands certainly qualifies in my book. Here’s a pic from the hotel balcony:

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Like Entubar, Clasico, and Exile Wired, Mooch is a product of the merger between Albert and Michael Argenti of Cuban Imports and Don Kiki Berger, creator of several lines for Cuban Crafters. The blend was introduced at last summer’s industry trade show as a more affordable addition to the Berger & Argenti portfolio. (more…)

Last summer marked a rebirth for Augusto Reyes, a respected cigar maker who traces his Dominican tobacco roots back six generations. It was at the 2010 industry trade show that he premiered two new lines: Signature and Sixth Generation.

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