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.”

 

Viaje is known for making its cigars in small batches, which makes the ultra-small batch White Label Project exceedingly rare and very tough to find. This particular version, of which only 5,000 cigars were made, is based on the the 50/50 Red blend. Viaje owner Andre Farkas says the blend was designed to be slightly stronger than the full production 50/50 Red line (and presumably not quite as strong as the 50/50 Black line). The well-made Nicaraguan puro is firm to the touch with no soft spot between the two blends, and features a nearly flawless criollo wrapper, a pigtale cap, and slightly closed foot.  It starts out with a burst of spice but quickly settles into a smooth, woody, medium- to full-bodied profile. After the midway point, it evolves only slightly as the sweetness picks up and the cigar develops a leathery, syrupy element. Except for a somewhat tight draw, construction was excellent on this limited but enjoyable cigar.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

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.”

Matt Booth’s Room 101 is on a tour of the country that he’s calling “Cigarmageddon.” Featured at the events is the small perfecto called “One Shot, One Kill” (the band reads: “pre-release sample”) which is apparently destined to become a three-size line. The little figuardo is well constructed with an ash that lasts nearly half the length of the four-inch smoke. It’s medium- to full-bodied but remarkably smooth with earth, leather, and a hint of citrus. Without knowing the price it’s hard to give a full recommendation, but my initial takeaway is that this is a great little cigar perfect for when you only have 30 minutes but still want something complex and tasty.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

[Editor’s Note: “Cigar Face-Off” is a new feature where we compare and contrast cigars that share at least one important attribute. Please let us know what you think about the new feature in the comments below, and feel free to suggest two cigars for a future Face-Off.]

Here’s a face-off between two thick Cuban cigars. Each has a ring gauge of 54 and sells for around $20. They both also happened to be featured in the September selection of the Diamond level of Canadian Cigar Company’s cigar-of-the-month club. (All their recent cigar club selections can be seen here.)

Montecristo Open Eagle

I didn’t have high expectations for this cigar, which was introduced a few years back as a premium Cuban for new cigar smokers. For that reason, I had avoided the entire Montecristo Open line until I smoked this 5.9-inch cigar.

What I found was pretty much as advertised: a mild smoke, with pleasant flavors and flawless construction that would probably suit a beginner nicely. Even though the flavors were a bit mild for my tastes, it had excellent balance and sweet cedar notes, and towards the end it added in some characteristic Cuban earthiness. Think of it as a tamer version of the Montecristo Edmundo.

Romeo y Julieta Duke EL 2009

Without a doubt, this is one of the best looking Cuban cigars I’ve seen in awhile. It has a dark, oily wrapper and perfectly squared triple cap. The 5.5-inch smoke was generally well-constructed,  except for needing multiple touch-ups to keep the burn even (which is disappointing for a cigar that can cost in excess of $20 each).

As for its flavors, the cigar reminded me of the 2007 Romeo y Julieta Escudos, with coffee, oak, and cocoa notes all apparent. Unfortunately, there was also a sourness that came and went throughout the cigar. Still, there was much to enjoy in this medium- to full-bodied Cuban.

Conclusion

The Montecristo Open Eagle was better than I thought, but ultimately I don’t like the Open blend as much as the regular Montecristos (the Petit Edmundo and classic Monte No. 2 both offer more flavor for less money). Meanwhile, the Romeo y Julieta Duke demonstrated some real potential and more interesting flavors, but was held back by the sour notes and inconsistent construction.

I fully expected to come out of this cigar face-off proclaiming the Duke the unanimous victor, but my ultimate conclusion isn’t so clear-cut. Ultimately, with some age, I think the Romeo y Julieta Duke will be the far superior cigar (particularly if you prefer a fuller-bodied smoke). Right now, though, the Montecristo Open is slightly better due to its balance.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Last week I was in the Dominican Republic touring General Cigar’s facilities, where La Gloria Cubana, Macanudo, Partagas, and a number of other well-known cigars are made.

Even though it’s not the first cigar factory I’ve visited, it still amazes me how many people are involved in the creation of just one cigar that sells for under $10 (often far less than that). Here are just a few of those steps:

La Gloria Cubana (and El Rico Habano) are rolled in a separate room from Macanudo and General

A La Gloria roller cuts the wrapper before rolling it around the bunched cigar.

Cigars are pressed after bunching (and before rolling) to create a solid shape and even draw. Wooden molds used to be used, but now almost every factory relies on plastic molds which last longer and are more uniform.

Production numbers are kept and quality checked. As you can see, in just three days over 60,000 cigars have been rolled.

One of the most impressive things I saw was one of their tobacco warehouses, where tobacco ages and is stored. In this particular warehouse, they estimated there was $50 million worth of tobacco. At any given point General Cigar says they have $120 million dollars of tobacco stored.

Each bale in the warehouse has a label with key information about the tobacco. This particular label features Connecticut wrapper leaf from 2008.

Curing tobacco is what begins its process from plant to cigar. Here aged tobacco is cured in a heat controlled room with misting water and plenty of airflow.

Wrapper leaves are sorted according to size and color. Size determines the size of the cigar that can be rolled, while color is more of an aesthetic consideration. For example, Genral Cigar won

Fermenting tobacco is what takes it to the final stages before it can be rolled. Fermenting tobacco generates its own heat and must be watched closely or else it can be ruined. Tubes are used to take the temperature of the tobacco.

That’s just a few of the many steps that it takes to produce a handmade cigar. Next time you smoke one, be sure to take a moment to consider the many steps it took and the attention to detail that was necessary to produce a fine cigar. A mistake in any step in the process can ruin what would otherwise be an excellent smoke.

–Patrick S

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.”

Exclusive to the online boutique New Havana Cigars, this box-pressed smoke features the same blend as the Tatuaje Brown label (with the Sumatra “Capa Especial” wrapper) in a size that’s nearly identical to the Havana Cazadores. It’s more full-bodied than the Tatuaje 7th Capa Especial, with pepper, espresso, and wood, and it falls between medium- and full-bodied. While the the cigar was a bit spongy to the touch, the construction didn’t seem to suffer at all. These sold out in just days, but if you’re fortunate enough to have the opportunity to smoke one, you should jump at the chance.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

My 2009 article on pumpkin beers laid out the case for pumpkin beers as an excellent accompaniment to a fine cigar as the leaves change and the weather turns crisp.

Frankly, if these beers were available year-round, I’m not sure I’d enjoy them so much. But because they are available for a little over a month a year, just as fall is beginning, I have really grown to look forward to their appearance on my beer store’s shelves. Looking back, my favorite of the seven beers I wrote about continues to be Shipyard’s Pumpkin Head:

Shipyard Pumpkinhead: This Maine brew is actually a “malt beverage with pumpkin spice added” according to the label, but don’t let that fool you. The copper-colored beverage has the aroma of sweet pumpkin pie.

That may be partially because it was the first pumpkin beer I tried many years ago, while attending college in Maine (where Shippyard is brewed). For whatever reason, it holds a special place in my beer universe, which is why I was eager to try a second pumpkin beer from Shipyard: Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin (part of “Pugsley’s Signature Series”).

The beer pours a bright orange, slightly cloudy color. The nose consists of faint pumpkin; it’s far more raw pumpkin than pumpkin pie and clean for a beer that boasts a 9% ABV.

The flavors are a nice combination of nutmeg, hops, malt, cinnamon, and raw pumpkin. It’s well-balanced considering the high alcohol content.

A 22-ounce bomber of the Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin sells for around $10. At that price, I’d rather pick up a six-pack of their Pumpkinhead which, while lower in alcohol, has more pronounced pumpkin pie flavors.

Still, this beer is further evidence of my contention that pumpkin beers make for an excellent pairing with a good cigar. For this beer, a mild- or medium-bodied smoke goes great. I’d suggest the La Gloria Cubana Retro Especiale or the Alec Bradley Family Blend.

We’ve now looked at eight different pumpkin beers, but there are countless others. Let us know your favorites to pair with a cigar in the comments.

–Patrick S

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.”

Ever since Sam Leccia’s departure from Oliva, the brands he was primarily responsible for—Cain and Nub—have been in search of an identity. This Cain F Lancero, introduced as part of the Studio Tobac portfolio, is part of that move. It’s a full-bodied smoke with plenty of spice that’s clearly geared towards the full-bodied cigar smoker. It’s a sneaky strong Nicaraguan puro, with heavy bread and leather flavors. The construction was excellent, which is always particularly appreciated in the hard-to-produce Lancero size.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys