The Stogie Guys

Next Monday is Christmas Eve. After weeks of carols and crowded malls, the big day is almost here. For those of us who are cigar enthusiasts, there are a few steps we can take to help make this holiday season more enjoyable.

Give the gift of cigars. Chances are you have a cigar smoker on your shopping list. I’ve previously provided rules of thumb to keep in mind when buying a present for a fellow brother of the leaf, and I think they bear repeating at this opportune time. For one, remember to favor samplers over boxes, unless you know the target is loyal to one brand or one specific blend. Cigar accessories and books about cigars make more permanent gifts than those that are smokable. And buying someone a membership in Cigar Rights of America is both thoughtful and productive in the overall battle to protect cigar freedoms.

Winterize your humidor. This time of year poses particular challenges to the safe storage of cigars. Taking a few preventative measures now will save you time, money, and heartache in the long run. Colder air means less humidity, so pay special attention to your hygrometer; humidors will need to be re-charged with moisture more often in the winter. Be sure to keep distilled water on hand. If you use beads, solution, or some other moisture-granting mechanism, now would be a good time to order reserves. Check the seal of your humidor to ensure the moisture you are supplying isn’t leaking out.

Travel with cigars. Many will be traveling by plane to visit with friends and family over the holidays. Since they may be lost or confiscated by TSA officials, don’t pack expensive cigar paraphernalia in your carry-on luggage. In lieu of a fancy lighter, for example, bring along a Ronson (a reliable butane torch that only costs a few dollars). When it comes to cutters, opt for a simple keychain punch or a plastic guillotine. Travel humidors can be bulky, but you can achieve the same level of safety by enclosing your cigars in a simple Ziploc bag with a humi-pack, then wrapping the bag in soft items you planned to bring along anyways, such as clean boxer shorts.

Share your favorites. Those cigars you’ve been setting aside for a special occasion are just begging to be smoked and shared. Friends and family who might not otherwise partake in a cigar will be more receptive to smoking on Christmas and New Year’s Eve. So if you’re traveling, bring along more cigars than you think you’ll need. And if you’re welcoming others into your home, share the bounties of your collection. Your generosity will be rewarded and much appreciated.

Above all, my colleagues and I are wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season. If you have an additional tip you’d like to pass along, please provide it in the comments.

–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.”

Named for Dr. Alejandro Martinez Cuenca and José Blanco of Joya de Nicaragua, the new CyB brand (formerly called “Cuenca y Blanco,” as seen in my photo) has made quite a splash since it was introduced this summer. I can see why. The Torpedo Especial (6.25 x 52) has a balanced flavor of leather, cereals, cedar, and white pepper that’s derived from tobaccos from Nicaragua, Ecuador, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. It’s a departure from the Nicaraguan puros Joya de Nicaragua usually produces. With a slow burn and great physical properties, also a fine way to spend about $10.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Last November, when I reviewed the Classic Intrepidus, I was heartily impressed by the blend Willy Herrera created for Walter “Lilo” Santiago’s Crémo Cigars, which was prior to Herrera’s departure to Drew Estate.

So ever since Crémo rolled out its Classic Maduro blend at last summer’s industry trade show, I’ve been keen to take it for a test drive. It, like the original line, is crafted at El Titan de Bronze Cigar Factory on Miami’s Calle Ocho, an outfit Crémo’s website hails for its “old-school Cuban entubado techniques” and “level-nine rollers from Cuba, who have worked for Cohiba, Romeo y Julieta, Corona, and Partagas.”

Whereas the Crémo Classic sports a Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and filler from Nicaragua and the Dominican, the Classic Maduro features a dark San Andreas wrapper around Nicaraguan tobaccos. It is offered in two sizes: Excelsior (5 x 50) and Intrepidus (6 x 52).

The latter retails for $12 and boasts a beautifully executed triple-cap, a toothy exterior leaf with minimal veins, and moderate pre-light notes of nougat and dark chocolate. The black and silver band has “handcrafted in Little Havana” scribed on its side. The cross-section at the foot shows a dense bunching of leaves and the draw is unexpectedly stiff.

This is one of those cigars that imparts an earthy, somewhat spicy aftertaste on the lips and palate. The resting smoke has a decidedly sweeter aroma of candied nuts with a little leather. The smoke itself is dense and velvety, reminding me of espresso, dry wood, marshmallow, and dark chocolate. It becomes creamier at the midway point, then a bit spicier in the final third of the 110-minute smoke.

In line with my expectations as a fan of the Classic Intrepidus, the Classic Maduro Intrepidus likewise has top-notch physical properties. Included are a straight burn line and solid white ash. And the draw, while tighter than what I’m used to, is by no means burdensome, allowing bountiful volumes of smoke with each puff.

While I have to give the edge to its predecessor, the Classic Maduro Intrepidus is a fine smoke in its own right, and one you should keep and eye out for as it starts to become more widely available. In my book, 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 September, it was announced that Emilio Cigars would assume distribution of Global Premium Cigars (GPC), a Nicaraguan-based boutique headed by Enrique Sánchez Icaza.

“I am delighted to be able to help another boutique manufacturer benefit from our existing shipping and billing facilities, and even happier we were able to make this arrangement with a dear friend,” said Griffith in a press release. Sánchez Icaza shared similar sentiments, calling Griffith “a true friend, great entrepreneur, and a great cigar guru.”

With their agreement in place, you can expect to be hearing more from GPC, including reviews of the company’s three blends: Emerald, Ruby, and Black Gold. Each is sold under the “1502” name, commemorating the year Christopher Columbus discovered Nicaragua.

The 1502 Emerald is intended to be the lightest in the GPC portfolio (Black Gold is the strongest) with a “subtle strength” achieved through tobaccos from San Andrés, Estelí, and Condega. The Torpedo (6.5 x 52) sells for $6-8 apiece and sports a clean, golden wrapper with a sharp cap and faint pre-light notes of hay and caramel. The foot is semi-closed and the feel is moderately firm with no soft spots.

The profile is airy, a little salty, and leaves a fair amount of dry spice on the lips. Decidedly mild—both in terms of body and nicotine output—some sweet notes come and go throughout. Coffee and earth are in the foreground. But the 1502 Torpedo lacks the flavor components I often look for in a milder smoke, including cream and nuts. Instead, especially when puffed rather quickly, it displays hints of bitterness.

Construction-wise, it performs impeccably. The burn is straight with no need for touch-ups, the white ash holds well off the foot, and the draw is smooth and clear from light to nub.

I smoked two 1502 Emerald Torpedos for this review and found both to leave something to be desired in the flavor department, even though I’ve long been a fan of cigars from the milder spectrum. Perhaps the Ruby or Black Gold blends from GPC will be more up my alley. For my taste, though, I can’t see myself actively seeking out the Emerald Torpedo in the near future. It earns two 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.”

The Single Region from Toraño was on my short list of the best new cigars at the 2010 industry trade show. For me, it has stood the test of time and improved with age. The Robusto (5 x 52) is the best vitola in the blend, exhibiting outstanding construction and a unique profile of tea, leather, and toffee before overstaying its welcome. I’m not sure when the next Single Region will be available, but I’m content to savor these Jalapas from El Estero until then.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Over two years ago we exclusively reported the introduction of Tatuaje Anarchy, a cigar made only for the Smoke Inn stores in the Palm Beach area. Now, Smoke Inn and Tatuaje are following up that release with the Tatuaje Apocalypse.

While Anarchy (6.125 x 48-52) sported an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, the Apocalypse (5.25 x 48-52) has a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper. Pre-orders began Thanksgiving Day and the cigar, which retails for $8.95 or $134.25 for a box of 15, will officially be released on December 14th. Only 1,300 boxes will be made.

The single pre-release Apocalypse I smoked for this review was provided to me by Abe Dababneh, proprietor of Smoke Inn. Dababneh explained why my sample has the old Anarchy black band—not the new Apocalypse red band—in a letter that accompanied the smoke: “Unfortunately, unlike our other releases, we will not be receiving our shipment until just before our release date,” he wrote. “All we have is one box of 15 sticks that Pete [Johnson] brought back from Nicaragua and a bundle he gave me at the IPCPR show this year. The cigars from the bundle unfortunately do not have the correct bands…”

Frankly, I could care less which band adorns my Apocalypse. I just feel fortunate for the opportunity to test the cigar out before its debut, especially since it makes such a good first impression. With a dark, oily wrapper, an interesting cap, and potent pre-light notes of chocolate, the Apocalypse is one of those cigars I’d have a hard time letting age in my humidor.

Made at My Father Cigars in Estelí, Nicaragua, Apocalypse is intended to be “highly reminiscent” of Anarchy, but with “somewhat of a more concentrated fashion.” Based on my experience with Anarchy and my colleague’s 2010 review, I was expecting a spicy smoke with notes of leather, cream, chocolate, and coffee. What I found at the outset was pretty similar: a sandy texture with a profile of black pepper, cocoa, espresso, peanut, and dark chocolate. As it progressed, creamier notes emerged to lighten the spice and provide balance. The overall impact was a full-flavored smoke with minimal nicotine kick and tempered spice. Construction was excellent, save for a meandering burn line that required a few touch-ups.

Pre-orders are expected to ship from Smoke Inn on Monday, December 17. Folks who decide to give Apocalypse a try will be pleased with the quality and balance it offers for what I believe is a reasonable price. That’s why I’m awarding this Smoke Inn exclusive 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.”

Almost exactly three years ago, when it first came out, I acquired the Julieta size (7 x 47) from El Tiante’s La Leyenda line for $9. The blend celebrates Louis Tiant’s 1968 season with the Cleveland Indians, a year in which he won 21 games. It sports a Sumatra-seed Ecuadorian wrapper and a Nicaraguan Habano binder with three different ligeros from Nicaragua and seco tobaccos from both Nicaragua and Honduras. The result is a lot of red and black pepper spice on the palate with background notes of coffee, sweet cream, and nut. The resting smoke and finish have a mushroom component that reminds me of Davidoff and Paul Garmirian cigars, and the construction is excellent. Time has improved this zesty Nicaraguan; I wish I would have purchased more back in 2009.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys