The Stogie Guys

Arturo Fuente’s Solaris. Tatuaje’s Anarchy and Apocalypse. My Father’s El Hijo. Padrón’s 1964 Anniversary SI-15. What do these cigars have in common?

They’re all part of the Microblend Series that’s sold exclusively by Smoke Inn, a Florida-based cigar retailer. Microblend Series is inspired by the growing popularity of U.S. microbreweries, harnessing how “limited production quantities allow for a greater emphasis to be placed on quality and consistency,” according to the Smoke Inn website.

To bring the Microblend Series to fruition, Smoke Inn has partnered with some of the most respected names in the industry to produce one-time limited batches offered in one size each. These cigars have garnered high reviews from my colleagues.

The newest addition to the Microblend Series will be Big Delicious, a large torpedo (6.25 x 54) with a shaggy foot that was crafted by Abe “Big Delicious” Dababneh of Smoke Inn and Matt Booth of Room 101 (see our previous reviews of Room 101 cigars here). The cigar’s 1970s-style marketing scheme is, to say the least, unique. This promotional website includes “The Adventures of Swanky White & Big Delicious,” a comic that chronicles the fictional making of the cigar.

Big Delicious is handmade at Tabacos Rancho Jamastran in Danlí, Honduras. It has a reddish Habano 2000 wrapper around tobaccos from Brazil, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. Pre-light notes are faint and the cold draw is smooth.

I don’t know if the torpedo shape contributes to this association but, as soon as I lit up the Big Delicious, I was reminded of a cigar I used to smoke quite frequently back in 2007: the Magic Mountain by Maria Mancini. That smoke also boasts a Habano 2000 wrapper, which is a cross between Cuban-seed corojo and Connecticut shade that imparts—in my opinion—an earthy flavor with a warm, lingering spice.

With a thick, damp texture, the slow-burning Big Delicious lumbers to the midway point. There, flavors of cayenne spice, leather, and coffee creamer build to complement the musty core. The draw opens significantly as the final third approaches. Throughout, the burn line is perfectly straight and the finely layered ash holds extremely well.

In all honesty, I’m not a huge fan of Big Delicious’ immense proportions or pseudo-gimmicky marketing campaign. But I can’t deny how well it smokes, or its endearing flavor of warm, approachable spice. Keep this in mind since pre-orders start on Friday and the national release party is April 26. The cigar will sell for $8.95 (or $134.25 for a box of 15), and it’s worthy of 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

In this segment of Random Thoughts from the Humidor, I voice my contemplations about babies, head colds, and going in on cigar purchases with friends.

Six Weeks Old

My son is six weeks old today. He has truly been a blessing, and it’s amazing how I’ve only known him for 42 days yet I couldn’t imagine life without him. That said, before he was born I remember selfishly wondering how his arrival would change the amount of time I like to spend smoking, writing, and reading about cigars. So far so good. I certainly have less time for my cigar endeavors, and the opportunity cost of this time has definitely gone up. But I’ve been able to keep a reasonable pace—even if jaunting off to Nicaragua this year is out of the question. Still, I wonder how other cigar enthusiasts who are fathers handle these considerations. To what lengths do they go to keep their children from being around tobacco? How honest are they with their children about their cigar smoking? What have they learned that I may be able to benefit from?

Sudafed Blues

For the past few days I’ve been battling what’s probably nothing more than the common cold. Annoyingly, the sickness hit right around a few key cigar-smoking opportunities that I had been looking forward to. I chose to pass them up. This got me thinking about this article I wrote almost exactly three years ago. The gist? Back then I concluded that head colds rendered cigar smoking completely pointless given my inability to taste or smell clearly. I stand by that conclusion after trying to smoke a Flor de Las Antillas yesterday. All I could sense was spice and heat. I got no nuance, balance, or interesting flavors. Needless to say I’m looking forward to ending this cold and celebrating with something nice.

Buying Boxes with Friends

Sometimes there’s no room in the budget for a box purchase. But splitting a box among friends is entirely within reason. While I know this is nothing new, I just started splitting boxes recently—particularly with smokes that are either very expensive or only sold in large-count boxes (30-40 cigars). The benefits are plentiful. On one hand, I get more variety and less per-purchase pain in the wallet. I also get to pay lower per-unit costs since cigars by the box are generally cheaper than singles. On the other, I get to compare tasting notes with friends and have great conversations. If you haven’t already adopted this practice, I’d highly recommend splitting a box purchase or two. And remember you don’t necessarily have to buy boxes online. Keep an eye out for discounts on boxes at your local tobacconist.

–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.”

Before lighting it up yesterday, I believe this cigar had been resting in my humidor since the summer of 2010, when it was introduced. Corcovado (4.25 x 60) is a stout cigar with a fair burn line and an effortless draw. Like the other Brazilia vitolas, this dark, Brazilian-wrapped smoke packs a full-bodied punch with plenty of peppery spice and notes of bitter dark chocolate and roasted nut. Two-and-a-half years of rest mellowed it some and rounded off the edges, making for a very enjoyable experience.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Since the company was established last year, Iconic Leaf has erred on the side of secrecy. At its inception, the identities of its principals were left a mystery, and we were only told the operation was founded by  two “well-respected legends in the cigar industry” who have “chosen to keep their identities private in a pursuit to make the very best premium boutique cigars that can be found anywhere in the world without the influence of their names.”

Iconic Leaf’s tradition of secrecy continues with its recent announcement of Recluse Draconian, a new blend that will debut at this summer’s industry trade show in Las Vegas. It follows last year’s release, Recluse. While we know the Draconian wrapper is Ecuadorian maduro and the filler will be a mix of four tobaccos—Brazilian hybrid, Piloto Cubano, Dominican, and an exclusive ligero—the binder is not being revealed.

The sizes/formats will also remain undisclosed until July. This creates intrigue because three will be in a “Sidewinder” shape “that has never been done before in the cigar industry.” Iconic Leaf fans will recall Recluse was likewise rolled out in an inventive format called “Kanu,” which has a head-turning kayak-like shape.

For now, Draconian is being offered to five retailers in three pre-release parejo formats: Robusto, Toro, and 6 x 60. I received two Robustos from Iconic Leaf for this review. The size has an oily exterior that’s textured with tooth and mapped with thin veins. Pre-light, notes of caramel, leather, and red pepper are apparent off the foot. The draw is clear, as one would expect since Draconian is handmade in the entubado fashion by Tabacalera Leyendas Cubanas.

Now I always approach pre-release reviews with some trepidation because, even if the blend stays the same, time may change the way the tobacco smokes before the full release. What’s more, I don’t even know the specs of the anticipated Sidewinder vitolas, much less how their formats will alter the Draconian experience. So I would take the ensuing analysis with a grain of salt.

That said, based on the samples I smoked several days after receiving them in the mail, I think Draconian will be a cigar you’ll at least want to take for a test drive. The Robusto has a bold intro with lots of ligero spice, dry wood, espresso, and earth. The texture is thick and moist with a heavy smoke that coats the palate. The smoke production is excellent—an outcome of the entubado technique.

The flavor settles into the midway point with less spice and some cocoa sweetness and nutty creaminess. Still, it’s firmly medium- to full-bodied with a solid nicotine kick. All the while the construction is solid, save for the gray ash being a little flakier than I’d prefer.

I’ll be very interested to see how the blend develops with time, as well as how it performs in the Sidewinder format (whatever that format is). Judging the Robusto as it is now, I’d award it a solid rating of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

On the heels of a state judge blocking Michael Bloomberg’s ban on large sugary drinks, the New York City mayor is re-focusing his consternation on tobacco. He announced this week plans to prevent stores from displaying tobacco products.

“The proposed law would ‘prohibit display of tobacco products’ in most retail shops, Bloomberg said. ‘Such displays suggest smoking is a normal activity and invite young people to experiment with tobacco.’ He said it would be the first of its kind in the nation,” according to NBC News.

Cigar Rights of America followed Bloomberg’s announcement with an email alert, providing additional details: “Under the new legislation, sellers would be required to keep tobacco products out of sight, except during a purchase by an adult consumer or during restocking. Tobacco products would be required to be kept in cabinets, drawers, under the counter, behind a curtain, or in any other concealed location.”

In a second bill, Bloomberg is proposing to stiffen the penalties for tobacco tax evasion, outlaw tobacco coupons or discounts, and impose a price floor and packaging restrictions on cigarettes and little cigars.

StogieGuys.com Analysis

On the surface, these moves by Bloomberg don’t seem to pose grave threats for premium handmade cigars, which are sold mainly through tobacco shops and online (both would be exempt from the display restrictions). But Bloomberg’s actions should nonetheless be closely watched by cigar enthusiasts for two important reasons.

First and foremost, it’s easy to see how display restrictions on tobacco could be a slippery slope that would eventually dismantle cigar shops. At the federal level, there is already some danger of this via the impending regulations that are expected from the FDA, which has newfound authority over tobacco. Don’t underestimate the zealotry of the anti-tobacco movement; despite the fact that tobacco is legal and already heavily taxed and regulated, the movement’s ultimate goal is the outright criminalization of tobacco.

Second, Bloomberg sees New York City as a pioneer of health policies that can be exported to other cities and states, and he believes he has a far-reaching mandate to protect consenting adults from themselves. Remember, in addition to New York’s indoor smoking bans, it is also illegal to smoke outdoors in city parks or sell flavored tobacco. Bloomberg would like to see these policies in your neck of the woods, too. Sort of like New York being a shining beacon of nanny statism for the rest of the country.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Flickr

Last summer, Emilio Cigars entered into an agreement with American Caribbean Tobacco to distribute their Herederos de Robaina cigars in the U.S. Those cigars started to hit retailer shelves in September.

Since, there have been a number of reviews published about Herederos de Robaina. But they all suffer from the same deficiency that plagues the article you’re currently reading: Not much is known about this cigar. Gary Griffith of Emilio has not disclosed the makeup of the blend, so I don’t have anything to share with you about the origins of the wrapper, binder, or filler.

What I know for sure is this cigar is made in Estelí, and it’s available in four standard sizes, including the five-inch Robusto I’m sampling for this review (the others being Churchill, Toro, and Torpedo).

I can guess the name of the blend is a nod to Alejandro Robaina, a roving ambassador for Cuban cigars who passed away three years ago. Robaina is remembered as Cuba’s foremost producer of top wrapper leaves and for being the voice of small tobacco growers in Pinar del Río. He refused Castro’s request to join a government cooperative and, choosing to remain family-owned and independent, he consistently outperformed state-owned tobacco plantations.

The Herederos de Robaina Robusto retails for about $8 and is sold in boxes of 10 or 20. It features a clean, milk chocolate-colored wrapper with thin veins. The foot exhibits a moderately loose packing of tobacco with pre-light notes of cocoa and earth. A punch cut to the head is all that’s needed to free up an easy draw.

That easy draw results in voluminous smoke production once the cigar is lit. The accompanying flavor is short, salty, and biting, characterized predominantly by dry wood and clove. This is balanced by some cream and a slight sweetness on the finish. While not much changes from light to nub, attentive smokers may notice flavors like pepper, oak, and white chocolate.

Aside from the wonderful draw and great smoke production, construction leaves a little to be desired. The white ash is flaky and sandy, with bits of ash likely to scatter at any time. And the burn line requires a few touch-ups to stay even.

Distribution of the Herederos de Robaina brand, according to the Emilio Cigars website, is restricted to a handful of shops spread across seven states (Florida, Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey). I would imagine Griffith is currently working to expand this. If you find Herederos de Robaina in your local shop, pick up a Robusto or two. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed, and I also don’t think you’ll be wowed. That’s ultimately why this cigar earns three stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

There are seven different H. Upmann blends listed on the Altadis website, including Reserve Maduro, Vintage Cameroon, Cabinet Selección, Sun Grown, and 1844 Reserve. The newest is a three-vitola line called “Legacy” that’s just hitting the market.

Legacy is handmade in Honduras with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper around “a savory binder from the cloud-cooled rain forests of Nicaragua and an intense mix of prized Nicaraguan and Dominican filler tobaccos.” It features “vintage 2008 tobaccos grown from heirloom seeds treasured for generations.”

This recipe is notable because it marks the first H. Upmann with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. In addition, Altadis is not accustomed to tobacco vintage dates, so Legacy is somewhat of a departure in that regard. And the packaging is unlike any other H. Upmann.

The Legacy Toro (6 x 52) retails for $6.85. It has a rustic, rough-around-the-edges exterior, including a hastily applied cap and several thick veins that run the length of the mottled, moderately oily wrapper. The foot yields an earthy pre-light fragrance, and the head clips cleanly to reveal a smooth draw with some sourness on the lips.

Altadis is calling this an “exquisite blend” with a “vibrant, fuller-bodied smoke complemented by a myriad of subtle and complex flavors unlike any H. Upmann before it.” The three Toros I sampled—each provided to me by Altadis—started with a dry, woodsy profile of salted cashew, cedar, and dried apricot. The sensation is medium-bodied.

As the Toro progresses, it mellows into a smoother smoke with less spice and more earth and mustiness. I find the aroma to be more intriguing than the actual taste, which is pleasant though straightforward. The final third is slightly more intense but otherwise very similar to the flavor at the midway point.

Construction is top-notch. The gray ash holds firm off the foot, the burn is straight enough to not require touch-ups, the draw is clear, and each puff produces ample smoke.

This is a solid smoke at a fair price, though probably not one I’d pair with an after-dinner cocktail. Rather, for me, the Legacy Toro is better suited for the golf course. Or it would be a great choice to share with friends who aren’t regular cigar enthusiasts, as its smooth demeanor makes it very approachable. These conclusions result in a rating of three stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys