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.”

I received this smoke in the mail from Cigar Rights of America (CRA) when I renewed my membership in the organization. As far as I can tell, the only thing that makes this a “CRA Exclusive” is the dimensions, which measure six inches long. The Gigante is the sole regular production Cohiba that’s exactly six inches, and I can safely say this is no Gigante, which has a super-thick ring gauge of 60. In any event, the flavor is very similar to the standard Cohiba blend, which sports a Cameroon wrapper and Dominican filler tobaccos. Somewhat spicy, kind of creamy, with a dry, woodsy core. Considering many Cohibas run in excess of $10 apiece, I’m glad I got this one as a complimentary “thank you” from CRA. I’m not sure I would have been thrilled paying that kind of money for this cigar, considering all the other smokes you can get for less than $10. Still, it’s an enjoyable treat.

Verdict = Hold.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

I doubt I’m the first to point out that there are two ways to think about the price point of Hirsch Selection Small Batch Reserve, which is about $35 per 750 ml. bottle.

The first is to consider all the other bourbons that can be had for $35 or less. Many are excellent. There are far too many to mention here, so I’ll simply refer you to the Bourbon Guide we recently published. The point is, the Small Batch Reserve has some stiff competition in its segment of the market.

But if you look at it from a different angle—comparing its price to its two sister bourbons—the regular Hirsch Small Batch Reserve seems like a steal. The 25-year-old Small Batch Reserve runs $270, and the 28-year-old variety costs nearly $450.

Since I’m definitely priced out of the two higher-end impressions, I’ll stick with the regular Small Batch Reserve as a viable option for my liquor cabinet and cigar-pairing needs. This four- to six-year-old spirit is produced by the San Francisco-based Anchor Distilling Co., which markets it as a “combination of precise distillation techniques, careful barrel selection, and patience over maturation.”

Clocking in at 92-proof, the bourbon pours very light amber in the glass with virtually zero opacity. It has a light, honey-centric nose with traces of apple and hardly any alcoholic heat. I like to add an ice cube or two to cool the surprisingly heated taste. Once mellowed, a flavor of oak, syrup, rhubarb, caramel, and vanilla takes center stage. The finish is short and crisp.

While I wouldn’t say I’m underwhelmed with Hirsch Selection Small Batch Reserve, I don’t think I’ll be jumping at the chance to buy another bottle real soon. I’m just not sure it has the balance, complexity, or finish that can be found in similarly-priced competitors.

As I finish my current bottle, I’m finding milder to mild-medium cigars offer the best pairing results. So far, my favorite combinations have included the Tesa Picadura King, J. Fuego 777 Corojo, and the Pinar del Rio Clasico Exclusivo.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Back in 2006, if you were to ask me to name my favorite cigars, I almost certainly would have mentioned Dona Flor’s Alonso Menendez. To this day I remember that smoke as capturing the flavor of moist chocolate cake like none other.

So I was disappointed when Dona Flor disappeared for a number of years. Evidently, shortly after the brand was introduced to the U.S. in 2005, legal issues arose that blocked domestic distribution. Then, about a year ago, Chris Edge—a Denver-based cigar enthusiast and businessman—brought Dona Flor back to North America. Several new blends were part of Dona Flor’s reintroduction, including Seleção.

Now Chris Edge is also bringing Alonso Menendez back, with a different band but presumably with the same recipe as the 2006 variety. The Brazilian puro features a Mata Fina wrapper, Mata Fina binder, and a filler mix of Mata Norte and Mata Fina tobaccos. The intent is to create a fuller-bodied cigar “with the same lush, creamy, smooth smoke that the Mata Fina tobacco is known for,” according to Edge. The cigar is manufactured in Brazil by Felix Menendez (his brother, Benji, started the Alonso Menendez brand in 1980).

Brazilian-wrapped smokes are never going to be as aesthetically appealing as those from, say, the Dominican Republic. Mata Fina and Mata Norte leaves are, by definition, a little rough around the edges. But the five-inch Alonso Menendez Robusto doesn’t make a bad first impression. While the wrapper is a little lumpy, this is overshadowed by the fragrant tobacco’s pre-light notes of chocolate and sweet hay.

And after all, taste is what really counts. That’s why it’s a treat to light up the Robusto and find a very familiar, very approachable, profile of milk chocolate and coffee bean. Tons of flavor yet very little nicotine kick and only the faintest black pepper spice. Call it nostalgia—call it whatever you want—but this cigar takes me back, and I like it. Only some sour notes in the final third detract from my overall experience.

The Robusto’s construction thankfully doesn’t get in the way of my enjoyment of the flavor. The burn line is very straight and requires no touch-ups to stay even or lit. The gray ash holds firm. And the draw is smooth with each puff producing lots of smoke.

My colleagues and I have written about how our tastes change with time. That’s no doubt true. Yet I’m still a big fan of this smoke, and I’d wager there will always be room in my humidor for a cigar that reminds me of moist chocolate cake. Keep an eye out for more information about Alonso Menendez—including availability and prices—following this month’s IPCPR Trade Show. For now, I award the Robusto a stellar rating of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Two years ago, Miami Cigar & Co. debuted Casa Miranda at the IPCPR Trade Show, a “small-batch, ultra-premium” line comprised of an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper around Nicaraguan tobaccos. Shortly after the convention, the man responsible for blending the highly anticipated release, Willy Herrera, left El Titan de Bronze—the Miami factory where the cigar is made—for Drew Estate before Casa Miranda even came to market.

Notwithstanding Herrera’s departure (and subsequent success with the Herrera Estelí line), Miami Cigar is expected to introduce the Casa Miranda Chapter Two at next month’s convention. I was sent a pre-release sample by Miami Cigar to make this review possible.

Unlike Chapter One, Chapter Two is made at the My Father Cigars factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. It boasts a Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper around tobaccos from Brazil, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. “Just like any great novel, our story continues to gain momentum with the release of Chapter Two at this year’s IPCPR,” said Jason Wood, vice president of Miami Cigar. “I look forward to…feedback on this medium-bodied beauty.”

Four sizes will be available: Robusto (4.5 x 50), Corona Gorda (6 x 46), Toro (5.5 x 54), and Gran Toro (6 x 60). Prices will range from $6.35 for the Robusto to $8 for the Gran Toro.

As this is a pre-release review, I was only able to smoke one Toro for today’s article. The cigar is quite soft in some spots—and the foot suggests a slightly loose packing of tobaccos—yet the overall feel is one of quality. The wrapper has a noticeable absence of large veins and ample oils. The pre-light notes are faint and earthy.

The texture of the flavor is defined by the incredibly easy draw and significant smoke production. Billowy, almost airy, the taste has a spicy Corojo punch offset by a syrupy sweetness, damp earth, and creamy peanut. On the finish, the spice lingers on the tip of the tongue and the roof of the mouth. The resting smoke is particularly fragrant and sweet. The final third is leathery.

My single sample displays wonderful combustion qualities, including a straight burn and a gray ash that holds well off the foot. My only complaint might be that the Toro burns rather quickly (undoubtedly a result of the effortless draw, which might be a little too effortless).

Keep an eye out for this cigar post-IPCPR. Judging by my single pre-release experience, it’s a well-made, balanced smoke with interesting flavors and a terrific aroma. And the price point of $7.60 renders it an excellent value. I look forward to revisiting the Casa Miranda Chapter Two Toro in the near future, and am pleased to award it four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

A few weeks back, I received a notice from Cigar Rights of America (CRA) that my membership was up for renewal. I’ve been a member pretty much since CRA’s inception, and am happy to support their efforts to defend cigars and battle against bans and taxes.

For renewing my membership, CRA sent me two complimentary cigars. One was the Vegas Cubanas by Don Pepin Garcia. Like the other cigars CRA members are entitled to, it is not available anywhere else. From what I can tell, while the makeup of the cigar is the same as the standard Vegas Cubanas blend that’s been on the market since 2005, its proportions (6 x 52) are unique, though very similar to the Generosos vitola (6 x 50), which retails for about $7.

Information is scarce about this CRA offering. Again, though, I have no reason to believe the tobaccos are any different than the original Vegas Cubanas. If that’s the case, this cigar boasts Cuban-seed corojo long-fillers, a Habano Rosado claro wrapper, and a Nicaraguan binder. It is made at El Rey de Los Habanos in Miami.

Like the other Vegas Cubanas cigars I’ve smoked over the years, the pale wrapper is slightly wrinkled, mostly dry, and has a bit of a reddish tinge. The feel is consistently soft from the foot to the triple-cap. Only the faintest pre-light notes of sweet hay are apparent. A double guillotine cut reveals a surprisingly stiff draw.

Once lit, a profile of nuts, coffee, bread, and cedar spice emerges. The spice is dominant, and heavily concentrated on the tip of the tongue. It is offset by sweet honey and a little cream. I don’t think I’m grasping at straws when I say the aftertaste reminds me of graham cracker.

Some of the spice starts to dissipate at the midway point, yet the core flavors remain. All the while the cigar’s physical properties are excellent. The draw opens significantly to enable solid smoke production, the burn line is straight, and the gray ash holds well off the foot.

Truth be told, Vegas Cubanas is not a line that’s been on my radar for some time. So credit is due to CRA for reminding me why I used to light up this line with some regularity. If you’re renewing your CRA membership—or becoming a new member for the first time—you have no way of controlling what they send you. If you happen to get this smoke, you won’t be disappointed. Either way, if you haven’t had a Vegas Cubanas in a while, pick one up. I award this size four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

On average, do you tend to smoke cigars alone, or with a friend or two?

For regular readers of cigar web-magazines like StogieGuys.com—and for people like me who write for such publications—I hypothesize we smoke alone a relatively larger percent of the time. Not because we’re introverts. But because, unlike more casual cigar smokers, we don’t need a special occasion or a gathering of friends to light up. We’ll smoke alone and not think twice about it. We’ll smoke alone often if we have to.

That isn’t to say I don’t enjoy smoking with friends. I really do. And I suspect that camaraderie is a big reason why I got into cigars in the first place.

Next month, at the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) Trade Show, I’ll have the opportunity to smoke with two friends I (unfortunately) rarely get to see in person these days: Patrick S and George E. While at least one person from StogieGuys.com has personally covered the Trade Show every year for the past six years, all three of us have never attended the show simultaneously. I’m really looking forward to this.

Even if you peruse StogieGuys.com regularly, it may not be abundantly clear that Patrick S, George E, and I all write from different cities (Washington, Tampa, and Chicago, respectively). Getting all three of us in the same location is about as rare as a Cubs pennant. It’s almost as if we have a policy similar to those in line to be President: never get the President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, etc. in the same room—just in case.

I plan to make the most of our time together by sharing good smokes and covering the heck out of the Trade Show. Check back at StogieGuys.com when the convention begins for our extensive coverage. And check back in the ensuing weeks and months as we review many of the new cigars that are set to debut.

In addition to my colleagues, there are plenty of other friends I’m looking forward to seeing. These include various cigar makers, peers from other online cigar media, folks at Cigar Rights of America, etc. I think the Trade Show’s host city, Las Vegas, will provide a solid setting for fun, food, drink, and smokes.

As I’m doing all this catching up and reporting, keep in mind I’ll be asking industry leaders as many questions, and gathering as much info as possible during the trip. So if you have some burning inquiries you’d like me to ask, say, your favorite cigar maker, please feel free to leave them in the comments, and I’ll get as many answered as possible.

Until then, I’ll raise my glass—and my cigar—to a long overdue meeting of old friends.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Flickr

As we reported in our last Friday Sampler, the Davidoff-owned Camacho brand is essentially reinventing itself. Camacho’s reputation for full-bodied smokes is being embraced like never before, including new scorpion-themed packaging and claims like “bold is back with a vengeance.” And the Camacho portfolio is being narrowed down from 11 blends to 6.

Most of the blends that made the cut—Corojo, Corojo Maduro, Connecticut, Criollo, Triple Maduro, and Diploma—are getting more than just a marketing makeover. They’re getting completely re-blended and re-introduced at next month’s IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas.

Since it came out in 2009, I’ve been a fan of the Camacho Connecticut. So I was pleased to learn it is one of two lines (along with the Triple Maduro) to not get a re-blend. Looks like all I’ll have to get used to is the new look. Hopefully the price point won’t increase.

Just in case, I picked up a handful of Camacho Connecticut Toros (6 x 50) at my local shop for $6 apiece. Like the Monarca, it has a dry, pale Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper around a Honduran binder and Honduran and Dominican long-filler tobaccos. Hardly any veins are visible. The pre-light notes remind me of sawdust and hay.

One reason I always liked the Camacho Connecticut is it brings more to the table than just classic Connecticut flavors—and it does so with a little gusto. The Toro is no exception. At the outset, a zesty profile of spice, oak, and black pepper sets a bolder tone that you might expect from a typical Connecticut smoke. Then, just when you start second-guessing the makeup of the blend, more traditional tastes emerge, including cream and roasted nut. The finish witnesses a reprise of spice.

Throughout, construction doesn’t pose any issues. Every time the burn line starts to waver, it self-corrects before I reach for a wooden match to execute a touch-up. The gray ash holds firmly off the foot. The draw is smooth. And the smoke production is excellent.

The powers that be at Davidoff and Camacho made a smart decision when they opted to leave the Connecticut blend as-is. The Toro is tasty, affordable, interesting, and an excellent companion to a cup of coffee. For that, it earns a commendable rating of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys