The Stogie Guys

I’ve had mixed results with Cuban limited editions over the years. On one hand, despite being a bit young (by Cuban standards), the Montecristo 2008 LE Sublime was one of the finest cigars I’ve smoked. Others, like the Cohiba Pirámides Edición Limitada 2006 (while not bad) were underwhelming given the high price.

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Maryland made news recently when a law went into effect that banned the direct sales of cigars, along with other non-cigarette tobacco products in the “other tobacco products” (OTP) category, by out-of-state retailers to the state’s residents. The law, which was introduced at the request of the state comptroller, passed in 2010 but took effect on May 1.

Only days later, Pennsylvania-based online and catalog retailers Holt’s and Cigars International reportedly sent emails to their Maryland customers criticizing the bill and asking them to contact the State Comptroller who pushed for its passage. Cigars International called the bill “anti-choice, anti-freedom, and anti-American.”

Cigars International also accused Maryland lawmakers of trying to protect cigar shops from out-of-state competition. Statements from Maryland officials deny such charges, but do say that banning shipments will help them collect OTP taxes.

Still, it’s true that the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) doesn’t oppose such legislation. Chris McCalla, legislative director for the group, says the group is “neutral” on the issue of shipping bans. Apparently, the brick and mortar cigar shops that make up most of the group’s membership were split on the issue in the past.

That some store owners think making out-of-state competition illegal would benefit them is no surprise. But the question isn’t if store owners can gain an advantage from interstate shipping bans, it’s whether such bills are good for cigar smokers and the industry. To get prospective, I asked some people in the industry for their thoughts on the issue.

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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.”

This new size of Davidoff’s Winston Churchill line is a well-constructed belicoso (4.5 x 46) version of the small Spitfire vitola. Medium-bodied and well balanced, the Ecuadorian sun-grown wrapper imparts warm buttery flavors. It’s a tasty smoke with coffee bean, warm tobacco, and oak notes. Selling in tins of four for $23, this cigar a good way to enjoy the Winston Churchill blend in a compact, less time-consuming format.

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.”

Only 2,000 boxes of this 5-inch, 52-ring gauge limited edition smoke are available. The pigtail-capped Dominican puro features an oscuro wrapper, Habano binder, and a filler with corojo, Habano and criollo ’98 tobacco. The medium-bodied smoke is dominated by powdered dark chocolate notes. Underneath are roasted nut and earth flavors. It’s extraordinarily balanced, well-constructed, and, at under $5 per stick, it’s easy to recommend.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

After being on the defensive for decades, advocates of cigar rights are finally in the advantageous position of being able to push for a bill, instead of just trying to block the passage of bills that further infringe on the rights of cigar smokers.

On April 15, House Resolution 1639—”The Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2011″—was introduced in Congress by Rep. Bill Posey of Florida. Four other representatives joined as original co-sponsors: Ken Calvert (R-CA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Tom Cole (R-OK) and Candice Miller (R-MI).

The proposed bill would stop the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from regulating premium cigars, which would likely be disastrous for cigar makers and consumers.

The step is necessary after a 2010 law that instructed the FDA to regulate cigarettes, but left the door open to the regulation of cigars.  While some observers predicted it would take years for the FDA to add cigars to its already large portfolio of regulated products, by April 2010 bureaucrats had already started the process, which could move forward at any moment.

If you are represented by one of the five Congressmen already on record in support of The Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act of 2011, then you should take the time to thank them. But if your Representative is one of the 430 that hasn’t indicated their support yet, then it is even more important that you contact them today. That’s what I did recently when I sent the following letter to my Congressman, Jim Moran:

I write to express my strong support for HR 1639, the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act. Please join the bipatisan group of co-sponsors of this bill that would protect jobs here in Northern Virginia and all across America.

As a cigar enthusiast, I can assure you that premium handmade cigars are very different from mass-produced cigarettes. If the FDA regulates handmade cigars like cigarettes, a process it has already initiated, it will have a devastating impact on the cigar industry. Unlike cigarettes, whose primary purpose is to deliver nicotine, cigars are a hobby that is more like fine wine. If you visit the cigar shops I frequent (which are in your district), you’ll find people of all walks of life stopping in to relax for 30 minutes or an hour with a fine cigar while they enjoy the camaraderie of their neighbors. But all that may come to an end if the FDA imposes strict rules on handmade cigars and treats these artisan-made products like a mass-produced industrial product.

That’s why it is critical that Congress pass the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act, to protect cigars and instruct the FDA to use its resources in other areas. I hope you will become a co-sponsor of this important legislation and will push for passage through the House.

If you haven’t already, please join me in writing your Congressman to pass this important bill. You can find more information about how bad FDA regulation would likely be for handmade cigars here.

–Patrick S

photo credit: CRA

I distinctly remember my first Punch Rare Corojo. A friend dropped by with a few Rare Corojo Tubos (thick, magnum-sized robustos, if I recall correctly) to celebrate a birthday. Fortunately, I was able to repay the debt a few years later when I provided some Cubans in celebration of his engagement.

I enjoyed those original Rare Corojos but never smoked very many of them, in part because they have always been difficult to find since they’re only released occasionally. Despite only sporadic releases, General Cigar (corporate parent of the non-Cuban Punch brand) obviously felt there was enough demand for a new Punch Rare Corojo.

Yet instead of rushing out another batch of Rare Corojos, they decided to introduce another blend under the Rare Corojo name—only this time with a proprietary Connecticut-grown “corojo” wrapper. The unique deep brown wrapper surrounds a Connecticut broadleaf binder and a combination of Dominican, Honduran, and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos.

Available in only one size (5.5 x 50), the Rare Corojo 10th Anniversary comes in a box of 25 that sells for around $130 (a reasonable $5.50 per cigar). It features a slight box press and dual bands. I received some pre-release samples of this smoke that tasted a little young but, fortunately, after a few weeks they settled into their own. From then on, the medium-bodied smokes boasted dominant flavors of leather and cream.

While there is little change from beginning to end, I found undertones of roasted flavors and a slight fruit cassis from time to time. It’s a very balanced smoke, even if it lacks complexity. As nearly every cigar from General Cigar tends to be, I found excellent construction with a even burn and nice draw.

Overall, I don’t expect people to be blown away by the Rare Corojo 10th Anniversary—at least not yet, though it does improve greatly with minimal aging. But those who try this smoke will enjoy a balanced, well-constructed, pleasant experience. That’s why the Punch Rare Corojo 10th Anniversary earns a rating of three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Last month, I wrote about the Squall IPA by Dogfish Head Brewery and what a great pairing it made with a full-bodied cigar. It reminded me how the right beer can be as good of an accompaniment to a fine cigar as scotch, bourbon, or rum.

Afterwords, I decided to hit the beer store and pick up more IPAs to see if I could find more solid pairings. Unlike the Buds, Millers, and Coors of the world, these beers pack some real flavor. After all, India Pale Ales supposedly got their name because English brewers needed to make a beer strong enough to survive the long trip to India by ship. There’s actually quite a bit of evidence to suggest that common explanation of the name isn’t actually true, but the fact that it is so easily believed is testament to the strong, hoppy characteristics of IPAs.

For this article I selected four beers (two from each coast) so that most Americans will be able to at least find one of them in any store that features a decent selection of beer:

Stone IPA — Made by Stone Brewery in Southern California, this IPA features an orange hue and a citrus nose. It’s a medium-bodied, well-balanced IPA with just the right amount of bitterness. Only recently has this beer been widely available here in the DC area, and I’m glad it has because it goes great with a full-bodied maduro like the Fuente Añejo.

Redhook Long Hammer IPA — Made in New Hampshire, this was the mildest of the beers I tried and also my least favorite. Relatively bland for an IPA, it features herbal notes with citrus and clove. Even though it’s not particularly exciting, it drinks easy and goes well with a medium-bodied cigar like the La Arora 107.

Victory HopDevil IPA — Crafted at the Pennsylvania Victory Brewing Company, this is a big, flavorful IPA. Slightly less carbonation means the creamy bitterness comes through in a lasting finish. The devilish ale pairs well with a full-flavored Nicaraguan puro like the EO 601 Red Label.

Stone Ruination IPA — This flavor bomb proudly claims it will be “ruinous” to your palate. The intense hop punch certainly packs a big whack, but behind the beer’s intimidating front is a flavorful combination of citrus, pine, malt, and grassiness. Enjoy it with a peppery smoke like the Opus X.

All these beers confirmed (once again) that hoppy, flavorful beers go great with flavorful cigars. Stone IPA has been a favorite of mine since I tried it a few years ago in San Diego. And the Ruination IPA and Victory are now in my regular rotation, when I want bold IPAs to pair with a fine cigar.

Got a favorite IPA for pairing with a cigar? Let us know in the comments.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys