The Stogie Guys

Don Tomás is one of many brands produced by General Cigar, which is either the largest or second largest cigar company in the world, depending on who you ask.

Being a label in the General Cigar portfolio carries both advantages and disadvantages. As far as disadvantages go, Don Tomás is often overshadowed by the more visible General brands, including Macanudo, Cohiba, Punch, Partagas, and La Gloria. And I think it’s safe to say that many cigar veterans tend to snub their noses at mass-produced cigars like those made by General, no matter how good they may be.

As for the advantages, Don Tomás can thank General for both its wide distribution and its affordable price. For example, the subject of today’s review, the Don Tomás Maduro Robusto, can be found at many online and brick and mortar retailers, and it can be purchased for as little as $2 to $3 when bought by the box of 25.

This cigar measures 5.5 inches long with a ring gauge of 50. It has a smooth Connecticut broadleaf maduro wrapper around Honduran and Nicaraguan long-filler tobaccos. Made at the Centro American Cigars factory in Danlí, Honduras, the Robusto makes a better impression than its price might suggest, with its firm feel and pre-light aroma of light cocoa and coffee.

Once lit, the initial profile is mild and sugary with hardly any spice. The syrupy texture tastes of raisin, dark chocolate, marshmallow creaminess, and some typical maduro sweetness. The draw is a tad tight, resulting in less smoke production per puff than I’m accustomed to. Aside from the draw, the construction qualities are outstanding—particularly for such an inexpensive smoke. The burn line is very straight and the white ash layers nicely off the foot, where it holds strong for over an inch.

I wasn’t expecting to be blown away by the Don Tomás Maduro Robusto, and I wasn’t. The flavors are just OK with little complexity and hardly any variance from start to finish (the only major change is the introduction of some woodsy spice at the end). That said, if you’re looking for an everyday maduro that won’t break the bank, you could do a lot worse. That’s why this smoke earns three out of five stogies.

[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.”

Like the Riserva di Famiglia that I reviewed in December, this blend is made for Tennessee’s Bellaterra Ranch by the Toraño family. It features Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos wrapped in a golden Ecuadorian wrapper. Italian for “the sweet life,” the blend has a light, sugary profile of honey, oak, and toffee, and the physical properties—despite a somewhat stiff draw—are excellent. This is a good selection if you’re looking for a mild lancero that’s off the beaten path.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

I’m often on the lookout for a bourbon to try, bourbon being my go-to spirit in the winter.

Johnny Drum Private Stock caught my eye the last time I was at my liquor store. I decided to pick up a 750 ml. bottle since the price was right. At about $30, the cost places this 101-proof spirit comfortably between the lower-end bourbons and the most expensive bourbons. For me, this middle ground is the most fruitful to explore.

Most of the information I wanted to learn about Johnny Drum Private Stock could be gleaned from the label or the tiny pamphlet that comes affixed to the bottle’s neck. Without even browsing the web, true or not, I discovered that the spirit is named for a young lad who served in the Civil War as a drummer boy. “At the end of the war, legend has it that Johnny returned home to settle amongst the rolling bluegrass knobs of his native Kentucky, where he staked his claim among a beautiful spring,” reads the pamphlet. “Johnny soon learned the importance of finding a way to convert his excess corn crop into a profitable item…and it wasn’t long before Johnny’s determination produced an exceptional bourbon whiskey.”

Today, Johnny Drum Private Stock is produced by the Johnny Drum Distilling Company of Bardstown, Kentucky. It is charcoal-filtered and aged for 15 years before it is packaged in wax-topped bottles. (That wax, by the way, is pretty darn hard to get off, and underneath is a disappointing plastic screw top.) The spirit is a dark reddish color in the bottle and amber when poured in a glass. It has a very faint honey aroma with a buttery creaminess. I found very little spice on the nose and virtually no alcohol bite—all of which makes this bourbon seem very approachable based on first impressions.

Sipping the Private Stock neat, the first thing you notice is the tingly spice on your lips and the front of your tongue. As this spice lingers, a smooth sweetness moves in that’s reminiscent of toffee and nougat. There are also some charry burnt notes present that add balance. But the overall affect is fairly light and vanilla-like for a bourbon.

This lightness makes Johnny Drum Private Stock quite versatile as a cigar companion. In my experience, it works well with both fuller-bodied maduros and milder Connecticut-wrapped smokes. I think the Illusione cg4, for instance, pairs really well. But I encourage you to pick up a bottle and do some experimenting of your own.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

These days, Don Pepin Garcia and his son Jaime make many smokes at their My Father Cigars factory in Estelí that are sold under many different labels. Their Nicaraguan outfit may span seven acres, but the influence of the Garcias is felt across the entire industry.

In addition to the smokes they produce for other brands, the Garcias also make several lines that are sold under their own labels, including La Reloba, Jaime Garcia, Le Bijou, and Cedros Deluxe. The most recognizable, and perhaps the finest, though, is the original My Father line, which was introduced in 2008.

My Father was developed by Jaime as a tribute to his father. The elder Garcia reportedly didn’t know Jaime was working on the project until it was near completion. But when Don Pepin sampled the blend—made with Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos and a habano/criollo hybrid wrapper from Ecuador—he loved it and was touched when Jaime told him he wanted to call it “My Father.”

The robusto-sized No. 1 (5.5 x 52) sells for around $10. It is a very attractive smoke with a gorgeous band and a smooth, oily wrapper. The pre-light aroma is characterized by notes of caramel and cocoa. Clipping the triple cap yields an easy draw.

After an even light is established, a profile of black pepper, cedar spice, coffee, and chocolate emerges. It tastes dry and tannic on the palate. The aroma from the thick, dense resting smoke is sweet and creamy. The strength and body are powerful, making this one of the rare full-bodied creations that combines boldness and complexity.

That boldness—particularly the nicotine kick—is on full display after the midway point and into the final third, where it pays to smoke slowly to keep the temperature of the foot relatively cool. Still, the My Father No. 1 is no simple sledgehammer. It has the subtlety and nuance that seasoned cigar smokers look for in cigars in this price range. And it also has outstanding physical properties, including a solid gray ash that holds firm and a straight burn line.

I’ve been a fan of this particular smoke for years now, always keeping at least a few on hand. I know I’m not alone in my adoration of this cigar, and I have no reservations about awarding the My Father No. 1 a rare 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

EO Brands has created some memorable lines since it was founded in 2003 by Eddie Ortega and Erik Espinosa. In relatively short time, the 601 Series, Murcielago, and Cubao cemented the Nicaragua-based brand as a favorite among cigar enthusiasts.

The smoke that usually comes to mind when I think of EO is the 601 Green. That habano oscuro-wrapped cigar is mighty and powerful with black pepper spice, coffee, and leather. While it may not be the most intense stick on the market, you can’t deny the sheer boldness of the so-called “Green Label.”

So when EO, now distributed by Rocky Patel, announced they would be releasing their strongest 601 to date at the 2011 industry trade show, I did a double-take. I also remember thinking that “La Bomba” is a fitting name if this blend is half as strong as it’s rumored to be.

La Bomba’s recipe includes 100% Nicaraguan tobacco and a dark, oily habano wrapper. Four explosive sizes are available: Atom (5.5 x 46), Napalm (5 x 52), Atomic (6 x 60), and Nuclear (6 x 50). Each retails for $7 to $9 apiece and is packaged in boxes of 10, and each is made at Don Pepin Garcia’s My Father Cigars factory in Nicaragua.

The Nuclear vitola has a unique pigtail cap that doubles as a “fuse” and a yellow band across the foot. Once the cap is clipped and the band is removed, it looks much more serious and a lot less gimmicky. Only then do I find myself appreciating the cleanliness of the wrapper, the extreme firmness of the roll, and the pre-light aroma of sweet cocoa and earth.

After taking note of the cigar’s smooth draw, a peppery profile of leather, dry wood, and espresso emerges. Many Don Pepin creations have strength, spice, and full body at the outset. But the power displayed here is more formidable than anything I’ve smoked in recent memory.

As it progresses, La Bomba Nuclear gives off traces of chocolate, nuts, cream, and black licorice. But the unwavering core of the smoke remains similar throughout. All the while the physical properties are superb, including a white ash that holds solid and a straight burn line.

If you’re looking for loads of complexity and nuance, this isn’t your best option. Cigars with this much power usually have the subtlety of an AC/DC song. That said, sometimes I’m in the mood for the screeching vocals of Brian Johnson and the blaring guitar solos of Angus Young. So don’t be surprised if the mood strikes you for a heavy post-meal smoke that can stand up to a stiff drink. The flavors are solid, and you won’t find anything to complain about in terms of construction. All things considered, this cigar is worthy 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

“The Ashton Classic is truly a smoke for anytime and anywhere and, like an old friend, never lets you down.” So reads the Ashton website.

I wasn’t thinking these exact words as I was browsing the humidor at one of my local shops, but I might as well have been. Going back to my earlier days with cigars—when I regularly tended toward the mild side of the spectrum—the Ashton Classic was my go-to if I wanted something special. And why not? The blend is reliable, tasty, and well-constructed.

These days, even though I still enjoy milder smokes and I make sure to include them in my rotation, I don’t find myself smoking many Ashton Classics. Not sure why. So, as I was scanning the shop’s humidor, I selected a couple Prime Ministers (6.9 x 48) for just under $10 apiece.

Like the 15 other vitolas in the line, the Prime Minister features aged tobaccos from the Dominican Republic wrapped in a golden Connecticut shade leaf. The cap is applied well and there are no soft spots from head to foot. The pre-light aroma smells of honey and hay.

Using a V-cutter to clip the cap, I find the draw is a bit stiff. This makes establishing an even light a bit more time-consuming than you’d normally expect from such a slender smoke. Once the light is set, traditional Connecticut flavors shine through. These include honey, hay, nuts, and some creaminess.

In the final third, a grassy taste becomes dominant. Then the stiff draw starts to get more difficult. As a result, I take more frequent puffs, and this probably contributes to the traces of stale flavors that emerge toward the end. Next time I’ll probably elect a guillotine cut rather than a V-cut to see if this improves the draw experience. Otherwise, the physical properties are very good, including a solid white ash and a very straight burn line.

Aside from the draw, my recent experience with the Prime Minister format was a good reminder of why I used to rely on the Ashton Classic fairly regularly. Sure, there are plenty of other Connecticut-wrapped smokes on the market, and many of them can be purchased for less. But this blend, when at its best, has a wonderfully balanced profile of traditional Connecticut flavors that’s more unique than you might expect. Keeping all of this in mind, I award the Prime Minister 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.”

Released in 2009 by cigar maker Alec Bradley, the Prensado blend sports a box press and a corojo wrapper that’s grown in Trojes, Honduras. I reviewed the Robusto (5 x 50) back in July 2010 and recently decided to spark up another that I had been storing since late 2009, just to see how time had impacted the flavors. What I found was a cigar that has the same basic profile—black pepper, coffee, a chalky texture, some sweetness—but is slightly more toned down. I’m still underwhelmed by this blend, and I think the price point is too high, even though the cost seems to have come down from the original MSRP of $10.

Verdict = Sell.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys