The Stogie Guys

In 2014, Skip Martin’s RoMa Craft Tobac—the small, Estelí-based operation that has deservedly developed a cult following for its CroMagnon, Aquitaine, and Intemperance boutique lines—came out with its first new blend since 2012: Neanderthal.

Neanderthal was billed as the strongest RoMa Craft to date, which says a lot since CroMagnon is anything but mild. Martin said the recipe fulfills his intent to make a cigar with characteristics similar to La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero or Joya de Nicaragua Antaño.

When it was introduced, Neanderthal was available in a single size called HN: a 5-inch figuardo that has a ring gauge of 56 near the foot and narrows to 52 at the cap. Interestingly, the head of the cigar is completely flat across, and not just from a press; think a bowling pin with the top few inches sawed off.

This summer, a second size was added that’s exclusive to two tobacconists: Riverside Cigar Shop in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and Serious Cigars in Houston, Texas (the former takes orders over the phone, the latter online). Called SGP, it measures 4.25 inches long with a ring gauge of 52 and retails for $10 per single, $48.75 per 5-pack, or $134.95 per box of 15.

Like HN, SGP sports a rustic, oily, dark Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper, a Connecticut broadleaf binder, and filler tobaccos that include four types of Nicaraguan tobacco. There’s also an aromatic Dominican olor component, and a Pennsylvanian double ligero leaf known as “Green River Sucker One.” The stout cigar is firm to the touch with an attractively understated band of rust orange and white. The flattened cap clips easily to reveal an airy cold draw.

Once lit, rich pre-light notes of leather and dark chocolate transition to a full-bodied profile of espresso, black pepper spice, and dry oak. Yes, you could call this a blunt force instrument given the hearty nicotine kick. Doing so, however, fails to afford the SGP credit for its subtler background notes of nougat and salty nut—background notes that persistently fight through the leathery texture of the smoke. In the same vein, I think many will be surprised by how smoothly the cigar’s flavor and strength is delivered.

Constriction is exquisite, as RoMa Craft fans surely expect. The burn line is sharp and straight, the smoke production voluminous, and the stable ash holds well off the foot.

The Neanderthal SGP is clearly not for everyone. But if you’re a seasoned cigar veteran looking for loads of flavor and strength in a compact (I really like this size, by the way), well-constructed package, this little bomb is for you. Sure, the price point is high—especially considering the dimensions of the cigar—but the quality and craftsmanship is evident. I’m awarding this RoMa Craft creation a very commendable four stogies out of five.

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

The Belicoso (6 x 52) from Drew Estate’s T52 line never disappoints. A hallmark of consistency, this cigar delivers superb construction with a rich, ultra-oily profile of leather, coffee, black pepper, cocoa, and that trademark Liga Privada sweet creamy grassiness (many of you know what I’m talking about; the ability to accurately describe the sensation escapes me). While it may not be inexpensive—keep in mind the stalk-cut “American Habano” Connecticut wrapper is costly to produce—I think you’ll agree you need to treat yourself to a T52 every now and then.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Believe it or not, the partnership between jewelry maker Matt Booth and Camacho is about six years old. Seems like only a few years since it was announced Camacho would be making cigars sold under Booth’s Room 101 brand, which is named after the torture room in George Orwell’s classic dystopian novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four.

This summer, Booth was showing off a new line at the Davidoff display at the IPCPR Trade Show in New Orleans (Camacho was acquired by Davidoff in 2008). Called Johnny Tobacconaut, the blend humorously implies the tobacco was harvested from outer space, as the black and copper boxes depict a space cadet with a backpack full of tobacco and a shovel.

“One small puff for man, one giant cascade of flavor for mankind is what our dear friend and comrade in arms Johnny Tobacconaut seeks to deliver unto you,” reads the marketing copy. “Unsheathe this smoke wagon of funkadelic flavor and afford yourself a micro escape from your day. The mini vacation you are about to embark upon, should you choose to accept it, will bring you one step closer to becoming that gentleman or gentle-lady of leisure we all know is within you.”

In reality, the leaves are from Nicaragua and the cigars are manufactured by Davidoff in Danlí, Honduras. Three sizes are available in the pricy $12 to $15 range: Fileroid (4.5 x 52), Ranflatic, (6.5 x 50), and Chingonova (8 x 60). (Ranflatic is incorrectly listed as 5.5 inches long just about everywhere.) All are perfectos. Total production is limited to 3,500 boxes of 20, or 70,000 individual cigars—though Booth says he’d make this a permanent line if it sells well.

Ranflatic is a handsome, oily specimen with thin veins and pre-light notes of dark chocolate and dried apricot. Only the slightest snip of the narrowed cap is necessary to open an easy cold draw. Once lit, a simple, familiar, medium-bodied profile emerges with flavors reminiscent of black coffee, black pepper, leather, warm tobacco, and back-of-the-throat spice.

As it progresses, Ranflatic adds a little cream, some cinnamon, and hints of salted nuts. There are few changes otherwise, aside from a dose of bitterness here and there. Throughout, the combustion qualities perform very well, including a trouble-free burn line, sturdy gray ash, and impressive smoke production.

After smoking two Ranflatics, I’ve come to the conclusion the blend—while enjoyable—is somewhat lacking in pop, complexity, or any distinguishing uniqueness that would help justify the considerable price. Maybe the blend just doesn’t strike the right chord with my palate. That’s ultimately why I’m settling on a score of two and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

The VegaFina brand made by tobacco giant Altadis usually takes a backseat to the more prominent names in the Altadis portfolio, including Montecristo, H. Upmann, and Romeo y Julieta. It’s positioned as more of a value play and marketed with the tagline, “Every day is the perfect time to enjoy a masterpiece.”

In January, VegaFina joined the growing list of brands that have launched line extensions with “Nicaragua” in the name, all of which are clearly aiming to cash in on the popularity of the Central American country that’s known for its strong, rich tobaccos.

Called simply VegaFina Nicaragua, the new series is an “impeccably blended and hand-rolled” cigar with “100% Nicaraguan” tobaccos from “the unique regions of Estelí and Jalapa.” The recipe includes a Habana 2000 wrapper, a Seco binder from Jalapa, and a mixture of Seco, Ligero, and Viso tobaccos.

Three sizes are available: Corona (5.75 x 42), Robusto (5 x 50), and Gran Toro (6 x 52). Each retails for $5.50-6.25 and is made at Altadis’ Tabacalera de García in the Dominican Republic.

The first time I took a Gran Toro out of its cellophane and held the cigar in person, I was taken aback by the color of the wrapper. Perhaps more dramatically than any other cigar I can recall, VegaFina Nicaragua is severely mottled (my picture doesn’t do this justice). There are dark streaks all over the dry surface, giving the Gran Toro an almost zebra-like appearance. I’m not saying this is an indictment of the cigar’s quality, mind you; but I also wouldn’t expect Altadis to include this wrapper on one of its flagship brands.

Once the Gran Toro is lit, delicate pre-light notes of sweet hay and grass give way to a medium-bodied profile of cream, cedar spice, paper, and café au lait. Given the blend’s name and makeup, I was expecting something bolder, spicier, and stronger. That said, the flavor is well-rounded and nuanced, and the texture strikes a surprisingly sophisticated tone.

As the Gran Toro progresses, it becomes clear the central theme is the interplay between the sweet creaminess and the spicy cedar—just the sort of cigar that pairs well with a light sipping rum. Throughout, as is to be expected from Altadis, construction is top-notch with a smooth draw, straight burn line, abundant smoke production, and solid white ash.

Seasoned cigar veterans who stray away from the likes of Altadis and General Cigar will be missing a value-priced smoke that sports great texture, balance, and complexity. Put simply, VegaFina Nicaragua is a good cigar for the money. The Gran Toro is worthy of an admirable rating of three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Our Spirits articles always conclude by listing a few cigars we think would pair well with the spirit in question. StogieGuys.com is, after all, a cigar-focused website.

But I can’t recall ever seeing recommended cigar pairings on the website of the spirit itself. That is until I came across Plantation Barbados Grande Reserve 5 from France-based Cognac Ferrand. Here’s what you’ll find on the Plantation website: “For cigars amateurs (sic), Plantation Grande Reserve 5 years goes very well with the Ashton Cabinet Selection No. 7, a cigar made with a light Connecticut shade wrapper that has a light, woody flavor and plenty of cream. It seeks out the vanilla in the rum.”

While having a recommended cigar pairing on its website is unique and somewhat helpful, that isn’t what drew me to Plantation Barbados Grande Reserve 5 in the first place. Rather, I was intrigued by the rum’s reputation as a low-cost sipping spirit that packs a ton of value and flavor into an inexpensive bottle. I paid just over $20 for a 750 ml. bottle (compared with Plantation’s flagship rum, XO 20th Anniversary, which is $45).

By way of quick background, Cognac Ferrand is primarily a producer of cognac. For years, it sold its prized cognac casks to rum producers in the Caribbean who would use the containers to age their spirits. “During these exchanges, [company founder Alexandre] Gabriel had the opportunity to discover some very old batches of rum with extraordinary richness and a diversity of aroma and flavor,” reads the Cognac Ferrand website. “Available in tiny quantities, the rums were intended either for the personal consumption of the distillery’s cellar master or used to give style to industrial rum blends. Quite naturally, Cognac Ferrand decided to bottle these special rums as a series of vintages.”

Each vintage is named for its locale of origin: Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Trinidad, and St. Lucia. The 80-proof Grande Reserve 5 is a blend of rums from Barbados that’s aged for five years in bourbon casks in the Caribbean then refined in old French oak casks at Château de Bonbonnet in France. It is presented in a stout bottle covered in a decorative netting made from palm fibers.

In the bottle and glass the rum has a light, honey-colored tint with good clarity. The nose is easy on alcohol and heavy on fruit with hints of banana, coconut, papaya, and tangerine. Butterscotch, vanilla, and caramel are also present. Once sipped, the balanced, well-rounded flavor coats the palate with banana, toffee, orange, vanilla, and nuts. The finish has a prolonged, somewhat earthy spice.

Is this one of the finest rums in the world? No. But it might be one of the best values. The taste, presentation, and complexity are far superior than what the price and young age suggest. That means you can use Plantation Barbados Grande Reserve 5 in cocktails guilt-free, and you can also sip it neat. I prefer the latter.

As for cigar pairings, take Plantation’s advice and stick with mild- to medium-bodied smokes wrapped in Connecticut shade or Ecuadorian wrappers. Anything bolder will only overpower the spirit. I’ve found the Herrera Estelí Toro Especial works well.

–Patrick A

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.

A few months ago, Boutique Blends announced the introduction of the Aging Room F59 Quattro, the follow-up to the F55 Quattro (very highly rated by my colleague in a 2012 review of the Concerto size). The F59 Quattro is a Dominican puro that’s marketed as medium- to full-bodied. It’s comprised of Cuban-seed tobaccos that are aged for ten years. The box-pressed, robusto-sized Espressivo (5 x 50) retails for about $10 and features absolutely perfect combustion qualities with rich, oily flavors of heavy cream, coffee, pepper spice, and peanut. Smooth-tasting with a bready texture, this is another winner from Rafael Nodal and highly recommended.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

In 2013, two of my favorite cigars happened to be Abaddon and Ouroboros, both of which are made exclusively for Blue Havana, a tobacconist in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. They were blended by Chris Schedel with help from Skip Martin of RoMa Craft Tobac. Both are made at Martin’s Fabrica de Tabacos Nica Sueño in Estelí.

Over the past two years, I’ve made the short walk from my home to Blue Havana several times to replenish my supply of these two fine blends (Abaddon, named for the dwelling place of the dead in the Hebrew Bible, features a Nicaraguan hybrid (Criollo/Corojo) wrapper; Ouroboros, named for an ancient symbol of a dragon eating its own tail, is wrapped in a Brazilian Mata Fina leaf).

Until recently, both were only available in a single size (6.25 x 52). During my last trip to Blue Havana a few weeks ago, though, I was greeted by a welcome site: Abaddon and Ouroboros are now both available in a Lancero format. It can only be good news when two excellent blends meet one of my favorite sizes, right? I lit up three Abaddon Lanceros to find out.

The Abaddon Lancero is available on the Blue Havana website for $108 for a 12-pack ($9 per cigar, not including outrageous Illinois taxes). Its dark, oily, slightly reddish, toothy wrapper is accented by a pigtail cap. The binder—Mata Fina—and filler—a blend of Nicaraguan and Dominican tobaccos—are not visible at the closed foot, though you can still pick up pre-light notes of sweet chocolate and baking spices. Despite the narrow ring gauge, the Lancero boasts and easy draw.

Once underway, the rich, bold profile introduces itself with a hearty dose of full-bodied espresso, cracked pepper, and leather. Perhaps not surprisingly, the overall impression is very similar to the toro-sized Abaddon, just more concentrated and more intense.

But the Lancero is more than just a blunt instrument of strength. There are also background flavors of sweet caramel and salty nut. Smoking a little slower than usual also helps quell the strength a bit and bring out more of the complexity—a task made simple by the cigar’s ability to stay lit even with long pauses between puffs.

With a straight burn line, great smoke production (especially for a Lancero), and loads of bold flavor backed up by a tones of sweetness and creaminess, the Abaddon Lancero is an easy recommendation and a solid complement to an after-dinner serving of high-proof bourbon. It’s downright delicious. I may give an ever-so-slight edge to the original Abaddon size since I believe it has marginally more going on in terms of balance and complexity, but the Abaddon Lancero rates exceptionally well at four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys