The Stogie Guys

Chicago has no shortage of great tobacco shops, and Blue Havana is no exception. Located about 10 minutes south of Wrigley Field by foot, the tobacconist boasts a wonderful selection and the city’s largest humidor (over 700 square feet).

Bolstering Blue Havana’s position as a premier cigar destination for the region are two new exclusive smokes that are set to debut imminently. Both are crafted at Fabrica de Tabacos Nica Sueño in Estelí by Skip Martin of RoMa Craft Tobac. Many of you will recall that RoMa Craft’s portfolio includes Intemperance, CroMagnon, and Aquitaine.

The first of the two forthcoming Blue Havana exclusive cigars is called Ouroboros (named after an ancient symbol depicting a dragon eating its own tail). Available in one size (6.25 x 52) for $8.50, it has a Mata Fina wrapper from Brazil, an Indonesian binder, and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Only 40 boxes of 12 will be produced in the first run.

The second Blue Havana cigar is Abaddon (the name given to the dwelling place of the dead in the Hebrew Bible). It has a dark, oily, slightly mottled Nicaraguan hybrid (Criollo/Corojo) wrapper from Nicaragua, a Mata Fina binder, and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Like Ouroboros, only 40 boxes of 12 are being produced—at least for now—and all Abaddon cigars are in the same size (6.25 x 52). The price is $8.15 apiece.

After clipping Abaddon’s cap and establishing an even light on the closed foot, pre-light notes of sweet chocolate transition to a profile of coffee, black pepper, nut, and a flavor that reminds me a little of fennel. The texture is thick and leathery. Despite the fragrance of the unlit cigar, only a trace of sweetness is evident on the palate. While I could go on trying to name the various flavors that jump out at me, the bottom line is this: Abaddon is balanced, interesting, and, above all, complex.

It maintains my attention throughout the long, slow-burning experience, and the physical properties do not detract from my enjoyment. The draw is moderate, the smoke production solid, and the burn line straight.

Abaddon is one of the more interesting cigars I’ve smoked this year and, no, I’m not giving it extra points just because it’s ultra-exclusive (or because it’s from my hometown). With a wonderful fragrance, unique flavors, and solid construction, the sample I smoked for this review assures I’ll be heading to Blue Havana to pick up more once it’s released in September. For those outside Chicago, Blue Havana tells me they are working to accommodate phone and/or online orders, so keep your eyes open. For now, Abaddon merits a rating of four and a half 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.”

Tatuaje’s La Casita Criolla is a line I never really gave a fair chance, for one reason or another. So I recently decided to light up a Corona Gorda (5.6 x 46) that had been resting in my humidor for about six months. What I found was a cigar that burns well, produces ample aromatic resting smoke, and tastes of dry, gritty earth. Often sharp and sometimes a bit hot and harsh, this Connecticut broadleaf puro isn’t a bad smoke, but it probably won’t be working its way into my regular rotation anytime soon.

Verdict = Sell.

–Patrick A

photo credit: N/A

You wouldn’t know it by talking to the cigar vets who routinely sing the praises of trendier blends, but Macanudo remains the best-selling brand in the U.S. And now Macanudo is “embarking on a new journey,” according to Alan Willner of General Cigar.

The new direction is Macanudo Estate Reserve, an annual limited edition that aims to challenge the perception that Macanudo is only for rookie cigar fans who haven’t yet graduated to the fuller-bodied, more complex smokes on the market.

The inaugural Estate Reserve celebrates 45 years of Macanudo. To compose it, “General Cigar’s artisans sourced a delicate Connecticut Shade wrapper from an independent grower, and built an outstanding blend around it,” according to a General press release. “Unlike any other Macanudo cigar, the binder and filler are strictly Dominican, cultivated throughout the island, and aged for at least 8 to 10 years under the watchful eyes of seasoned tobacco experts.”

Three sizes are available for the super-premium price range of $16 to $18 apiece: No. I (7 x 50), No II (6 x 52), and No. III (5 x 50). Each is “individually encased in wooden coffins and elegantly sealed with gold foil.” Only 3,000 boxes of 10 will be made in each size.

I sampled several of the Estate Reserve No. III format for this review. This is a beautiful frontmark—as you’d expect for the price—with a wrapper leaf that’s clean yet wrinkled enough to suggest some age. The golden band is striking and highly detailed. Only the slightest notes of sweet hay are apparent pre-light.

After setting an even light with a couple wooden matches, a mild profile of dry cedar, almond, and cream emerges. The texture is surprisingly sharp yet there’s predictably zero harshness and very little nicotine kick. As light as the flavor is, this is one of those reserved, subtle cigars that still offers a fair amount of complexity. And the interplay between spicy cedar and sweet cream makes for an enjoyable experience, especially as that spice ramps up towards the end.

The Macanudo Estate Reserve No. III’s physical properties are as you’d expect from a super-premium manufactured by General Cigar: excellent. The burn line, draw, and ash are all nearly perfect.

I don’t know how many seasoned cigar enthusiasts are going to fork over $16 to try a robusto from Macanudo. And that’s what makes this such a difficult cigar to rate. I like the cigar itself, but I find the price to be excessive based on the return. Something tells me a lot of the $16 cost can be attributed to the (admittedly gorgeous) packaging. And there’s too many fine Connecticut Shade smokes on the market for a fraction of the price. In my book, all this adds up to a rating of three stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Sindicato was clearly one of the most anticipated new cigar companies at this month’s industry trade show in Las Vegas. And that came as no surprise. It is the first cigar outfit to be launched by a formidable “syndicate” of veteran tobacco retailers.

These retailers include Abe Dababneh (Smoke Inn in Florida), Dan Jenuwine (Quality Fresh Cigars in Michigan), Gary Pesh (Old Virginia Tobacco in Virginia), Robert Roth (Nice Ash Cigars in New York and Pennsylvania), and Jeff Borysiewicz (Corona Cigar Company in Orlando). The group is headed by Jim Colucci, formerly executive vice president of sales for Altadis. So while Sindicato is new, it’s getting a great head start with a base of 45 top retailers—not to mention some of the biggest, most sought-after retailers in the industry.

Three distinct brands comprise the Sindicato lineup. Casa Bella is a “premium bundle” smoke from the Dominican Republic with prices around $2 per cigar. Affinity is an Ecuadorian Connecticut-wrapped blend with a mild profile that “delivers a rich, flavorful, and complex taste.” And Hex, Dababneh’s personal favorite, will be sold as “a refined medium- to full-bodied cigar.”

Hex sports a dark Ecuadorian Habano wrapper around tobaccos from Condega, Nicaragua. It is available in five sizes, including the Perfecto (6.25 x 52) which retails for $183.75 for a box of 21. The Perfecto is a gorgeous, pigtail-capped smoke with an oily shine and negligible veins or seams. A big aroma of earth, cocoa, and red pepper is apparent off the tapered foot.

One might assume a cigar as dark and menacing as this would have a powerful, spicy intro. But that’s not the case. After setting an even light, a balanced, medium-bodied profile of black cherry, dry wood, and white pepper emerges. The smoke production is solid and the mouth-feel is velvety. Little changes from beginning to end, save for a slight increase in intensity.

The Perfecto burns nicely with a thick, black mascara that requires no torch touch-ups. The solid, gray ash hangs off the foot well, and the draw remains moderate throughout. Interestingly, resting smoke only emanates from the foot a few seconds after each puff; otherwise, when sitting un-smoked, virtually no smoke is produced.

This young cigar isn’t a nicotine ass-kicker or a spicy flavor-bomb. Rather, it dominates the palate in a different way: with an oily, palate-coating texture that, I think, begs to be paired with sipping bourbon. I wonder how it will age. Right now, I find it works best in the evening after a meal, and I’m awarding it a very solid rating of 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.”

Available at the Ohio-based online retailer New Havana Cigars, this Pete Johnson creation measures 6.75 inches long with a ring gauge of 42 and costs about $8 per stick. It is manufactured by My Father Cigars with a slight box press and a nice triple-cap. Sweet pre-light notes transition to a balanced bouquet of flavors including caramel, coffee, black pepper, and dry cedar. Construction is solid with the only downside being an overly airy draw that burns rather quickly and makes this enjoyable smoke a little too brief. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself lighting up another after the first NHC Selección Limitada leaves you wanting more.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

And so it begins: The flurry of reviews about cigars that debuted at the IPCPR Trade Show. I remember flying back home from Las Vegas, thinking about which cigar to light up first.

It probably won’t come as much of a surprise that I chose the new Davidoff Nicaragua blend. First off, it’s a Davidoff. While I don’t smoke many cigars from this super-premium cigar maker, I definitely enjoy the ones I can afford every so often. Second, it’s crafted by Hendrik “Henke” Kelner, a master who also blends cigars for PG and is one of the best in the business. And finally, with a price point of about $10-17, you’d expect this to be one fine smoke.

Davidoff Nicaragua is a stark departure for the brand, and not just because the black band is strikingly different from the white ones that adorn other Davidoff smokes. This is Davidoff’s first Nicaraguan line—a Nicaraguan puro, to be exact. “This is a major step for Davidoff to expand to a new territory,” said CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard in a press release. “Davidoff’s mission is to bring aficionados delightful experiences regardless of territory.”

This particular experience is derived from a 10-year-old Habano Rosado wrapper, a Jalapa binder, and filler tobaccos from Estelí, Condega, and Ometepe. It is offered in three formats: Short Corona (3.75 x 46), Robusto (5 x 50), and Toro (5.5 x 54).

The Toro is a gorgeous, reddish cigar with few veins and plenty of tooth. The feel is moderately firm from the foot to the beautiful cap. Pre-light notes are of syrup and damp earth.

In many of Kelner’s cigars I often find a light, mushroom-like flavor. Davidoff Nicaragua is no exception. After establishing an even light, the slightly peppery core is joined with background notes of creamy mushroom and dry wood. The texture is heavy yet the nicotine kick is minimal and the spice is muted.

After the first third, the Toro increases in intensity as tastes of espresso and bitter chocolate enter the equation. Traces of sweetness come and go to provide a little balance. All the while the draw is smooth, the smoke production solid, and the gray ash firm. The burn line does tend to wander, though, so touch-ups here and there are necessary to keep an even light.

This is a solid blend and one that provides some welcome diversification for the Davidoff portfolio. I may be a little unconvinced the construction and complexity are outstanding enough to justify the exclusive price. Taking all this and several samples into consideration, I’ve arrived at a rating of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

While my colleagues Patrick S and George E are still in Las Vegas before they travel back home to Washington and Tampa, respectively, I arrived back in Chicago late Sunday night. I had a wonderful time at the 2013 International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) Trade Show. My stay may have been short, but I got the opportunity to catch up with a lot of old friends, gather some great information, and try a lot of new cigars.

Even though I was only on the convention floor for one day, I left with a few key observations that bear mentioning here. What follows are three personal, generalized impressions from the first day of the biggest cigar event of the year. Nothing more, nothing less.

More neon colors. The marketplace is crowded with different brands, sizes, and blends that vie for your attention—and dollars. For the average consumer, perhaps at no other time in history have there been so many different cigars to choose from. As a result, I’ve noticed more cigar makers are starting to market and package their creations using colors and fonts that aren’t often associated with cigars. Intended to be attention-grabbing in a sea of traditional, Cuban-esque wares, I’ve never seen so many cigars with bands and boxes that predominantly feature purples, pinks, and neon incarnations of bright yellows, greens, and blues. Perhaps the best example is the new look Davidoff gave to its (scorpion-clad, Ditka-endorsed) Camacho brand.

More huge ring gauges. Nearly every booth I visited had a new cigar with a ring gauge of 60 or more. And almost every cigar maker rolled his eyes as he introduced it. Why? When I asked, the cigar makers all said something like, “These huge ring gauges aren’t for me, but they sell really well.” The market has decided. Huge smokes are here to stay, even though none of the cigar makers smoke them. A commonly accepted hypothesis among industry leaders: More casual smokers think they get more for their money with a large ring gauge. And I’d imagine others must associate larger cigars with manliness. Well that makes perfect sense, doesn’t it?

More focus on packaging and presentation. As I traveled around to the different displays of new cigars, many of the various exhibitors spent an inordinate amount of time discussing the packaging of their creations. I’d usually expect to hear about the cigars themselves more than the stories behind the boxes, names, or marketing concepts. But never underestimate the time, research, and attention to detail that goes into packaging and presentation. This emphasis on appearance was on full display at Foundry Cigars, a whole new brand offshoot by General Cigar that’s taking the original Foundry idea and running with it. Get ready for cigars in a flying-V formation, diamonds galore, and a series of smokes that honor the “War of Currents” between Tesla and Edison.

Of course StogieGuys.com’s coverage of the IPCPR Trade Show is going to extend beyond these general observations (and the live updates and videos we posted from the convention floor). Check back here in the coming weeks as my colleagues and I provide more details on the new products and new companies. And we’ll obviously soon be reviewing scores of new smokes that will be coming to a cigar shop near you.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys