The Stogie Guys

I’ve seen it time and again in cigar shops, cigar bars, or at other cigar-friendly locales: misinformed smokers who hastily tap, smash, or smear their cigars in an ashtray after almost every puff. They know not the damage they cause.

Cigar smoking is all about taste, relaxation, and enjoyment. So while I’m all for the “to each his own” mentality, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out the danger of over-ashing.

First, let’s remember that smoking a cigar is a lot like cooking dinner. You need the right amount of time and the right temperature to achieve the optimal flavor. In order to properly “cook” tobacco (i.e., in order to properly caramelize its sugars), I’m told the target is 494˚F at the foot.

No need to crack out that thermometer, though. Smoking cigars is more of an art than a science. Just remember that taking time between puffs and allowing the ash to build up will help maintain the proper temperature. You want cool, flavorful smoke. Over-ashing may increase a cigar’s heat and harshness by exposing the foot to excess oxygen.

Now I’m aware that some occasions call for more frequent ashing than is otherwise optimal. For instance, if you’re wearing new pants and don’t want to run the risk of a lapful. Or if you’re indoors and want to avoid spillage. Or if you’re trying a new stick and aren’t sure of its ash threshold.

No occasion, however, calls for the sort of over-ashing that I often observe. Likewise, it’s hard to imagine a scenario that merits stubbing out a finished premium cigar like a cigarette. Doing so results in a mass of foul odors and unpleasant smoke. An artisan craft like a handmade cigar deserves a respectful death—extinguishing in the ashtray peacefully on its own.

All this said, I’ve never considered myself one of those cigar enthusiasts who obsesses over achieving ashes of great length. Ashes that were featured by Nub in an ad campaign several years ago (pictured) are too intense for my liking. Cigars, after all, aren’t about competition. But any smoking method that produces the intended flavor profile and enhances enjoyment is worth practicing and promulgating.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Nub Cigar

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.”

If you’re the kind of cigar enthusiast who enjoys tons and tons of smoke production with each puff (I’m looking at you, Drew Estate fans), make sure to try the V32 Khilla Corona (4.9 x 50). It’s made by Berger & Argenti in the painstaking entubado fashion, which yields excellent combustion and enormous volumes of smoke. A Nicaraguan puro, it has a dark Jalapa wrapper around tobaccos from the Estelí, Condega, Jalapa, and Jinotega regions. Flavors of nougat, espresso, chocolate, and cedar abound. The cost is about $11 for a single, and it’s worth every penny. You can’t miss this smoke, what with its attention-grabbing bands and fuse-like core of ligero filler that extends beyond the foot.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Most of us are all too familiar with the many cigar-related gadgets on the market. From cigar holders for the golf course to unique and expensive lighters, cutters, and humidor accessories, the manufacturers and retailers of these products would have us believe that no cigar enthusiast is complete without gadgets. Nothing could be further from the truth.

But I’m willing to consider utilitarian products that I can envision being helpful on a routine basis—especially if they’re inexpensive. The new Screwpop Cigar Punch falls into this category. I’ve been using one for the past couple of weeks (provided to me by Screwpop, in the interest of full disclosure), and I’ve found it to be a decent addition to my keychain.

The Screwpop Cigar Punch is a bottle opener/punch cutter that securely clamps around a keychain (or pretty much anything else—like a clip on a golf bag, a belt loop, or the eyelet of a zipper). It has a rust-resistant body comprised of aluminum so, while it will add bulk to your keychain, it certainly won’t weigh you down.

As a bottle opener, it works perfectly. To reveal the cigar punch, simply unscrew the aluminum cap. The punch itself is sharp and functions just as you’d expect. I’ve tried it on a number of cigars of varying size and wrapper type and found no problems. Just like any other punch, though, you wouldn’t want to use it on torpedos.

My only concern with the product is the possibility of losing the screw cap that protects the punch. Once separated, there’s nowhere to affix the cap as you’re punching the cigar. Obviously, if you were to lose the cap, you may not want to keep Screwpop on your keychain or elsewhere since the sharp cutter will be exposed. Accidents happen.

That said, I can recommend this product to cigar enthusiasts who prefer punch cuts and also have an affinity for beer. And at only $7.95 from Cigars International, you won’t have to break the bank to give it a try.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

These days, when you think of Joya de Nicaragua, you might think of CyB, the company’s newest line, or José Blanco, its popular and prolific senior vice president. You may even think of Drew Estate, which distributes Joya de Nicaragua cigars in the U.S.

Just a few years ago, though, I’d bet the first thing to come to mind would be Antaño, Joya de Nicaragua’s strong line of rich cigars that was introduced in 2002. The aptly-named Antaño blend (which translates to “yesteryear”) was crafted, according to Joya’s website, “as a tribute to recapture the power and essence of the puro that made this legendary brand the most sought-after cigar in the U.S. in the post-Cuban Embargo 1970s.”

Ten Antaño vitolas are available, including Consul (4.5 x 52), which retails in the affordable $5-6 range. It is handmade in Estelí—at a factory I’ve personally had the privilege to tour with Blanco and Jonathan Drew—and is intended to be “an ultra-robust, spicy smoke with unbridled body and aroma.”

This stout, old-school cigar is firm with a dense packing of tobaccos. The Habano-seed wrapper is moderately oily with only the thinnest veins, and the rough cap cuts to reveal a smooth pre-light draw. The fragrance at the foot is of cocoa, earth, and hay.

After establishing an even light, a profile of cedar and black pepper hits hard, followed by a solid nicotine kick. The aroma is sweet and almost creamy—a nice contrast to the powerful taste of the smoke. The texture is thick and leathery. Halfway through, a dried fruit flavor emerges. Nothing terribly complex going on here, just traditional, tasty, and straightforward.

As with most cigars, smoking the Antaño 1970 Consul slowly and through the nose pays great dividends, putting all the flavors on full display and keeping the bold smoke from becoming hot or harsh. I never like to rush a cigar, especially one that smokes so well. The Consul has a wonderful burn line, an easy draw that produces ample smoke, and a solid ash that holds firm.

This creation stands as a great example that a cigar doesn’t have to be new or trendy to be good. A classic-tasting, full-bodied, after-dinner smoke at a reasonable price, the Antaño 1970 Consul earns three 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.”

I’ve been a fan of Dona Flor since I was introduced to the Brazilian company’s cigars in 2006. More recently, when Dona Flor re-launched in the U.S. market this summer, I enjoyed reviewing the Puro Mata Fina and Seleção lines, both of which I liked. The Reserva Especial is another good blend with solid flavors of tea, earth, chocolate, and leather. But I find the Robusto (5 x 52) has occasional stale notes and some burn issues, so I can’t fully endorse the smoke—especially since it retails for $12.

Verdict = Hold.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

What does a cigar smoker value? His stash of cigars, first and foremost—especially those rare sticks he’s saving for special occasions. Maybe also an expensive torch lighter, a fancy travel case, or a personalized humidor engraved with a significant date.

Aside from these obvious choices, the other day I was thinking of my other cigar-related treasures, be they tangible or intangible. The first that came to mind was my cigar sanctuary. As I write this, I’m holed up in the sealed-off den in my condo that’s equipped with a makeshift ventilation system. It’s toasty warm. Several stories below, I can see my fellow Chicagoans walking briskly on the sidewalks in a hurried attempt to reach their destinations before frost bite sets in. I observe them comfortably while enjoying a fine cigar and listening to the radio. Rest assured I value the heck out of my den in the winter.

More of a fleeting commodity, time is something I never take for granted. Cigar smoking is all about relaxation, slowing the pace of life, and taking a restful break from the day. This requires a serious investment in time, which is my single biggest constraint. I would no doubt smoke many more cigars if time were not a factor. So I definitely appreciate what time I can make. I guess time is a limited resource for all of us.

Not to get overly wistful, but I value my cigar smoking friends and the memories we’ve created. When I think of the best cigars I’ve had, I’m usually not remembering specific flavors. I’m recalling the conversations and celebrations. Perhaps the world’s best cigar was the one I smoked during my wedding reception on the steps of the Union Depot in St. Paul, surrounded by great friends and family. Which cigar was it? Doesn’t really matter.

Finally, I would be remiss to fail to point out how much I value perfect pairings. The more I smoke cigars, the more I understand that beverage pairings are more of an art than a science. For me, depending on the cigar and the time of day, my winning combos include coffee (in the morning with a Connecticut-wrapped cigar), bourbon (in the winter with something full-bodied), rum (in the summer with any cigar), red wine (milder smokes), and some beers (particularly IPAs). I’ve seen others pair up cigars with anything from orange soda and Guinness to iced tea and hot chocolate. Whatever your preference, value it—and remember that the pairing is greater than the sum of its two parts.

–Patrick A

photo credit: N/A

Cohiba is considered the pinnacle of Cuban cigars, and recent additions to the Cohiba portfolio have succeeded in capturing the attention of cigar enthusiasts the world over.

Most notable among these is the super-expensive Cohiba Behike, which was dubbed “the new standard among smokers worldwide” when it became available in May 2010—albeit in very limited quantities. The Pirámides Extra is another important development, as it was the first addition to the core Cohiba line in 20 years, a line that launched in 1982 (the Siglo line didn’t come around until later).

But perhaps no addition diversified the Cohiba portfolio like the Maduro 5 line, launched in 2007. The first Cohiba cigar to feature a maduro wrapper, it’s made in the Partagas factory in Old Havana and boasts a five-year-old wrapper with thin yet prominent veins and a mottled, reddish hue.

Maduro 5 is available in three sizes: Genios (5.5 x 52), Secretos (4.3 x 40), and Mágicos (4.5 x 52). Secretos earned the number six slot on Cigar Aficionado’s list of the best cigars of 2007 with a 93 rating. The Mágicos cigars I smoked for this review run $23-28 apiece (with a black varnished box of 25 selling for $590).

The pre-light aroma is of cocoa powder and caramel and the cold draw is moderately stiff. Once an even light is established, a profile of coffee, leather, spice, and black licorice emerges. The texture is syrupy. Notes of cream and roasted nut add complexity. The resting smoke is sweet and pleasant.

Sadly, the physical properties leave much to be desired, especially for such an expensive cigar. The burn line is atrocious and will easily canoe without close attention. And while the gray ash holds firm and the draw is smooth, the Mágicos gets exceptionally hot and burns way too quickly—even if smoked slowly and after several months resting in the humidor. Perhaps age will do this cigar well.

All this is a shame, especially since the flavor profile is so agreeable. I wish I could tell you the burn line is straight. I wish I could tell you the Mágicos burns slow enough to savor the flavor. And I wish could say this smoke is worth its high asking price. But the three samples I smoked for this review say otherwise. Torn between the depth of the interesting flavor and the substandard construction, I’m awarding this high-priced Cuban a somewhat disappointing 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