The 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.”

This interestingly shaped pyramid (5.5 x 58) comes complete with a box press, Nicaraguan wrapper, Ecuadorian Sumatra binder, and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. It burns well, sporting flavors of cedar and spice. I mostly like the Campana Chica Torpedo, but it isn’t quite memorable enough to merit its asking price, which usually hovers around $11.

Verdict = Hold.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

About two and a half years ago, Pedro Benitez began sampling blends from different parts of Nicaragua with hopes of creating a new cigar brand. After 18 months of searching, he hand-selected his favorite leaves from Estelí and Jalapa. Then, in January of this year, he officially established P. Benitez Fine Cigars with a factory in Estelí (it has since relocated to Managua, Nicaragua).

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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.”

Since I discovered La Caya back in 2007, I’ve been a huge fan of the Cameroon blend. The Robusto (5 x 54) is an excellent way to spend around $5. Its Dominican olor binder, sweet Cameroon wrapper, and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic combine to yield a flavor of honey, spice, and tea. And the combustion qualities are downright superb.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Say what you will about the big cigar companies. But even the most loyal devotees of small, family-owned outfits have to be impressed with the low prices that are made possible only by high-volume cigar businesses.

Sancho Panza, a brand that was launched in 2001 by tobacco giant General Cigar, is a great example. Named in honor of Don Quixote’s sidekick—and not to be confused with the Cuban brand of the same name—Sancho Panza cigars can be found for $3-5 apiece when bought by the box. They are offered in three different blends: the Connecticut shade-wrapped original Sancho Panza, the Connecticut broadleaf-wrapped Double Maduro, and the Honduran-wrapped Extra Fuerte.

The latter, a Honduran puro that’s available in six vitolas, was introduced in 2004 as the latest edition to the Sancho Panza portfolio. It is marketed as “extra bold and made for the seasoned cigar smoker who wants a kick from his smokes…It is a cigar that you can always rely on for an excellent draw and a decidedly full-bodied, but never harsh, smoking experience.”

The Extra Fuerte Madrid measures 6.25 inches long with a ring gauge of 54. It is an interesting specimen with a rough cap, a spongy feel, an oily texture, and an enticing pre-light aroma of dark chocolate. The cold draw is smooth and easy.

After toasting the foot and establishing an even light on the box-pressed cigar, a medium-bodied profile of dry wood, cayenne spice, and leather emerges. Some cocoa-like sweetness can be found in the aftertaste. The aroma from the resting smoke, interestingly, is decidedly creamier and nuttier than the actual flavor. At the midway point and beyond, black pepper becomes the dominant force, elevating the Madrid towards the fuller end of the medium-bodied spectrum.

It’s worth noting that the Extra Fuerte has its fair share of devotees, some of whom even say that it reminds them of a less sophisticated version of the Padrón Anniversary Series. I’m not that enthusiastic. This fine cigar, which burns well from light to nub, offers great bang for the buck, and I can see why many cigar fans keep it on hand as a reliable, everyday smoke. But a complex treasure it is not.

It would be unfair to expect too much from a cigar that only costs about $3 per stick when bought by the box. What you can expect, though, is an enjoyable experience and a great value. That earns the Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte Madrid three stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Over two decades ago, Avo Uvezian founded a cigar company. A Lebanese-born jazz pianist and a former jewelry designer, he was an unlikely addition to the world of cigars. But this Juilliard-trained talent, in partnership with Hendrik Kelner, would quickly make an impact on the industry, selling over 750,000 cigars in his company’s third year and inking a distribution deal with Davidoff.

More recently, Uvezian celebrated his 85th birthday with a new cigar. The release follows in the tradition he started ten years ago when he introduced a limited edition smoke to celebrate his 75th anniversary. This year, Uvezian has paired a sun-grown Dominican wrapper with a Peruvian binder and San Vicente and Piloto Cubano filler tobaccos.

The resulting Avo Limited Edition 2011 is available in only one size: Diademas (6.6 x 50). Its production is limited to 100,000 cigars worldwide, including 60,000 cigars for the U.S. market. Such exclusivity helps explain the hefty MSRP of $17.50.

Shipments of the Diademas started to hit tobacconists in late March. Those who were lucky enough to find and afford the cigar were rewarded with a stunning, double-banded perfecto that has minimal veins, a beautiful cap, and pre-light notes of hay and molasses—an aroma that’s very similar to the PG Symphony 20th, which is also crafted by Kelner.

The cold draw is surprisingly easy despite the cigar’s firm feel. Once lit, the rich, abundant tufts of smoke emit flavors of caramel, black coffee, roasted nuts, cream, and cedar spice. The aftertaste is characterized by a sharp bite on the middle of the tongue. I’d describe the profile as medium in body and moderate in strength.

Leather becomes a force into the midway point, adding bitter tones to the flavor and slightly increasing the Diademas’ overall intensity. To its credit, though, the cigar smokes more like an orchestral performance than a heavy metal rock show, displaying a fine balance from light to nub. And the combustion qualities of both of the samples I tested for this review were superb.

In the end, instead of being an example of an overpriced limited edition that’s more style than substance, the Avo Limited Edition 2011 emerges as a top performer. Sometimes you get what you pay for. In this case, that’s a good thing. So I have no qualms about echoing the chorus of praise this cigar has already received, and I’m awarding it a rare rating of five stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here. A list of other five stogie-rated cigars can be found here.]

–Patrick A

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.”

These days, when you read about the Jameson Cigar Co., you mostly see information about Santos de Miami, a new Dominican puro blend, or reviews of Declaration. But I still like the re-blended Red Label that came out in early 2009. The Perfecto (5 x 54) combines a Connecticut shade wrapper, a Honduran binder, and Dominican filler tobaccos to produce a balanced taste of cream, cedar, and floral notes. Construction is good, making this a smart buy for $6 apiece.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

When I look back on some of the finer smokes I’ve had the pleasure to enjoy over the years, a disproportionate number happen to be relatively unknown at the national level. The cigars made by the Tesa Cigar Co. are a good example.

So I’m always eager to try limited quantity cigars that I’ve never heard of before. Such was my disposition when I received a few samples of smokes in the mail from Cigari Cigars, an outfit based in Southern California.

Cigari was established in December 2009 as an exclusive offering of Zafuto’s Cigar Haven in Ontario, California. These days you can also find Cigari smokes at a handful of other tobacconists in the Southern California region, as well as several fine restaurants and country clubs. While they are currently unavailable online, I’m told that may change (the Cigari website is under construction).

Access to Cigari may be limited for the time being, but those who find these cigars will have their choice of three different wrappers: Corojo, Habano, and San Andreas. The first two are Nicaraguan puros with fillers from Estelí, Condega, and Jalapa. The latter makes use of a maduro leaf from Mexico. Whatever the blend, though, all Cigari sticks are handmade in Estelí under the supervision of a factory owner who owns four different plantations. And each comes in four vitolas: Corona ($5.50), Robusto ($6), Toro ($6.50), and Salomones ($9).

The Corojo Robusto is a beautiful-looking specimen with a silky exterior leaf, few veins, and a well-executed triple cap. Mouth-watering notes of milk chocolate emanate off the foot.

Some of these creamy, cocoa-like tones carry over to the flavor once the Robusto is lit. They are balanced by black coffee, Nicaraguan zing, Corojo spice, and traces of sweetness. Medium-bodied and nicely balanced.

As the cigar progresses, I conclude that the profile is impressive for the price point. The Cigari Corojo is neither dull nor overly powerful, neither too spicy nor too sweet. Most importantly, the combined effect of the various tastes is unique—a complement that escapes many of Cigari’s better-known competitors. And all three of the Robustos I smoked for this review displayed fair combustion qualities.

Suffice it to say that, thus far, I’m a fan of this up-and-coming brand. With hopes for a wider distribution—or at least the ability to purchase Cigari products online—I’m awarding the Corojo Robusto four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys