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.”

The 601 Green was once a favorite of mine, but as the cigar changed distributors, labels, and owners I smoked fewer and fewer of them. It became a victim of out of sight, out of mind. Now it’s owned by Erik Espinosa, who makes the cigars at his La Zona factory (it was originally made by Don Pepin Garcia). At the show I was given one of the Troncos (5 x 52) and it reminded me why this was one of the fullest flavored cigars around when it came out. It’s still full-bodied (charred, earthy, and roasted) though less peppery than I remember. Even though it may have changed slightly over the years, this is still a tasty cigar. Next time I won’t wait so long before smoking another.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Before the IPCPR Trade Show show I asked 26 questions. Here are the answers:

Will the biggest ring gauge offered for sale be 70, 80, or larger?

RoMaCraft’s “Femur” is 500 ring gauge but, in the physically smoke-able category, I saw plenty of 70 ring gauge sticks, including the new My Uzi (7 x 70) and Gurkha Pure Evil Goliath.

What percentage of new exhibitors from last year is still around?

Hard to say. I didn’t notice any specifically. If I don’t realize they’re gone then that’s probably symptomatic of why they aren’t back.

Will anyone actually be kicked out under IPCPR’s “crackdown” on retailers bringing consumers?

Didn’t see any. Does that mean it’s a success?

Which booth will have the best food?

None. Very poor food selection this year, so we’ll give a nod to Miami Cigar which, while food-less, did have some La Aurora Rum, which is delicious.

Will Mike Ditka be there?

Yes, briefly before he left to play golf in another state.

Who will have the most outrageous booth?

Fantasia Tobacco Hookah Company, the perennial favorites, brought a two-story booth with more neon lights and leggy models than the rest of the show combined.

Will the bad guy from Judge Dread be there to promote his new cigar?

Spotted in the hallway… I think.

Eleven new lines from General Cigar: over or under?

Over. In fact Foundry seemed to have this covered all by itself.

Will Altadis USA’s new strategy of creating modern spinoffs of classic brands work?

It certainly seems to be working better than whatever they were doing before.

Who will be the most under-dressed attendee at Davidoff’s black tie dinner?

The guy in the jeans and Tommy Bahama shirt. A tuxedo T-shirt would have been better.

Will Wayne Newton be there again?

Nope.

Which booth will be completely empty and abandoned?

American Express… complete no-show.

What crazy artwork will Drew Estate feature in their booth this year?

Hard hats.

How many respected cigar blogs aren’t coming because IPCPR makes them pay to attend?

Two that I know of.

Will the Cigar Press party run out of beer?

Didn’t seem to but I left early to play craps.

Biggest booth: General Cigar, Davidoff, Altadis, or Drew Estate?

Close call. General Cigar wins the tiebreaker with a golf simulator and a Lamborghini.

2.5 cars on the show floor: over or under?

Over.

More bikini-clad ladies: cigar companies or hookah companies?

Hookahs by a mile.

Which C-list celebrity will unexpectedly appear?

Rob Weiss, member of the “Board of the Bold” maybe? Although his appearance wasn’t all that unexpected.

Does winning a “best booth” award actually impact sales?

Like a lot of people, I left before the winners were announced, which suggests it doesn’t.

Will there be any other cigars that use fire-cured tobacco besides Drew Estate’s MUWAT KFC and Leccia Black?

Not yet, but I’d expect some in the next 12 months.

How many online media members of the IPCPR are there anyway?

Don’t know, but some were given exhibitor badges, some “media” badges, and some “online media” badges.

Will the giant hookah (~40 feet high) be back?

Yes, but it looked smaller since the booth is now two stories high.

How many people will tell me how much better Las Vegas is for IPCPR than Orlando?

A lot. Everyday. Some people more than once.

Which trademarks from our trademark quiz will actually be put to use?

Rocky Patel, Oliva, and Altadis certainly did. Miami Cigar’s “Kilo” is only weeks away but it wasn’t shown at the show.

24 cigars that I’ll smoke while in Las Vegas for 73 hours: over or under?

Surprise of the show: Under by quite a bit. It’s hard to take notes, photos, and update Instagram all while smoking a cigar.

–Patrick S

photo credit: N/A

Will the biggest ring gauge offered for sale be 70, 80, or larger?

What percentage of new exhibitors from last year is still around?

Will anyone actually be kicked out under IPCPR’s “crackdown” on retailers bringing consumers?

Which booth will have the best food?

Will Mike Ditka be there?

Who will have the most outrageous booth?

Will the bad guy from Judge Dread be there to promote his new cigar?

Eleven new lines from General Cigar: over or under?

Will Altadis USA’s new strategy of creating modern spinoffs of classic brands work?

Who will be the most under-dressed attendee at Davidoff’s black tie dinner?

Will Wayne Newton be there again?

Which booth will be completely empty and abandoned?

What crazy artwork will Drew Estate feature in their booth this year?

How many respected cigar blogs aren’t coming because IPCPR makes them pay to attend?

Will the Cigar Press party run out of beer?

Biggest “booth”: General Cigar, Davidoff, Altadis, or Drew Estate?

2.5 cars on the show floor: over or under?

More bikini-clad ladies: cigar companies or hookah companies?

Which C-list celebrity will unexpectedly appear?

Does winning a “best booth” award actually impact sales?

Will there be any other cigars that use fire-cured tobacco besides Drew Estate’s MUWAT KFC and Leccia Black?

How many online media members of the IPCPR are there anyway?

Will the giant hookah (~40 feet high) be back?

How many people will tell me how much better Las Vegas is for IPCPR than Orlando?

Which trademarks from our trademark quiz will actually be put to use?

24 cigars that I’ll smoke while in Las Vegas for 73 hours: over or under?

–Patrick S

photo credit: N/A

We’ll be at the IPCPR Trade Show again this year (which opens Saturday), and you can expect us to get the latest and greatest from all the cigar makers you know. But there will also be cigar companies there that you’ve probably never heard of.

Today we look at two such companies that will be making their first appearance at the annual convention. Every year there are new companies. Some don’t last while others become the next buzz-worthy up-and-coming venture. These two companies, for reasons explained below, seem to have a good chance of being around for a while:

Royal Gold Cigars

Whether you’ve heard of Royal Gold or not, you’ve almost certainly heard of their parent company, Swisher, whose machine-made cigars are behind the cash register at almost every gas station and drug store in the country. While Swisher has tried their hand at the premium handmade cigar market before, this time the plan is different. Instead of investing in their own factories (as they did until about a decade ago) they are contracting some of the biggest names to produce cigars for them.

And they’ve lined up some impressive cigar makers for their introductory releases, which they are marketing as “affordable by all” and all reportedly under $8.50. Casino Gold HRS (High Roller Selection) is made by the Placencias in Honduras. Kismet is made by Augusto Reyes Sr. and Jr. in the Dominican Republic. Nirvana is being produced at Drew Estate in Nicaragua. Gold Strike is an inexpensive mixed filler cigar rolled in Nicaragua and blended by Omar Ortez (of Altadis) and Carol Jean Llaneza (daughter of legendary cigar man Frank Llaneza).

With Swisher’s backing, Royal Gold is perhaps the most interesting development in cigars in the last year. Deep pockets mean the company can afford to be patient (even lose money in the short-term) if it means long-term growth and profits. And by all reports, by bringing in Alex Goldman, Swisher has chosen a respected industry veteran to head the operation.

Sindicato Cigars

Officially launched in January, but formalized at last year’s convention, Sindicato is a new company founded by a group of veteran retailers. The group starts with a customer base that’s the envy of any new cigar company, with “a group of 45 retailers” participating according to Abe Dababneh, Chairman of Sindicato.

Heading up those retailers, as evidenced by SEC filings from last October, is Dababneh (of Smoke Inn based in West Palm Beach), Dan Jenuwine (of Quality Fresh Cigars in Michigan), Gary Pesh (of Old Virginia Tobacco in Virginia), Robert Roth (of Nice Ash Cigars in New York and Pennsylvania) and Jeff Borysiewicz (Corona Cigar Company in Orlando). Their stores alone would be top targets for any new cigar line looking for quality retailers.

According to its press releases, Sindicato was founded when “a group of passionate, cigar-loving tobacconists decided to extend their cigar knowledge and experience into making cigar brands. Their goal is to create a cigar company whose mission is to put the tobacco retailer and its customers first.” They followed up the formation announcement by selecting Jim Colucci, formerly Executive VP of Sales & Marketing for Altadis USA, as President and CEO. Sindicato will have a booth at the IPCPR Trade Show and, according to Dababneh, “debut smokes” will be available.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Royal Gold/Sindicato

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.”

Since its inception, I’ve enjoyed the CyB line (formerly Cuenca y Blanco), the first blend from Joya de Nicaragua to use binders and fillers from countries other than Nicaragua. So I was encouraged to hear the company is adding to the line with a Lancero that will be exclusively available to members of the Tobacconist Association of America (TAA). (I received this sample from Joya de Nicaragua, but the TAA exclusive cigars will feature a secondary TAA band around the foot.) The Lancero (7 x 38) seems to have a looser draw than other CyB sizes, which makes for a slightly milder cigar, although the same flavors I’ve come to enjoy from this blend are largely the same: dry oak, cedar, floral notes, roasted nuts, leather, and spice. If you like the lancero format, this is a must-try.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

If you’ve heard of Nat Cicco Cigars, it’s most likely for the “Rejects” value-oriented lines. Lately, though, the company has been moving into the more exclusive end of the market.

Their most ambitious move to date is the Nat Cicco HHB, about which the company brags, “Just compare it… Especially to Cuba’s Cohiba Behike.” That’s quite a suggestion considering the Cohiba Behike is considered by many to be one of the finest cigars made, and it commands an astronomical $40 (or more) price.

At least before smoking one, there are plenty of similarities to the the most expensive widely distributed cigar in the world. Like the Cuban Behike, the HHB features a gold and black band, a black lacquer flip top box of ten, a high price (although the HHB only runs $14), and it comes in three sizes built around ring gauges of 52, 54, and 56. (Not to mention HHB is sufficiently similar to the BHK moniker Behike goes by.)

I smoked three of the 56-ring gauge variety for this review, which runs 6.25 inches in length and has a closed foot. Like the Behike, it has a pigtail cap and a Cuban triple-cap. The Ecuadorian wrapper, which surrounds Nicaraguan filler and binder tobaccos, is nearly flawless with shine, making for an excellent-looking cigar.

Enough about presentation. Fancy looks and packaging are easy to do when the price is more than a 3D movie ticket. The important question is: How does it smoke? The answer is pretty well. Pleasant, balanced, and mellow are all adjectives that come to mind. It’s not super complex, but it does feature mild- to medium-bodied roast peanut, cedar, and cream notes that stay uniform. And construction is flawless with an even burn, sturdy ash, and good draw. I could definitely see myself lighting one up on a weekend morning with the paper and a good cup of coffee.

Nat Cicco’s corporate owner Zander-Greg wants me to “just compare it” to Behike, so here goes: While there are some similarities, you won’t confuse this with the richer, more complex Cuban. What is similar is that, like the Behike, it’s a good cigar but hard to justify due to the price.

Despite the over-the-top comparisons, this is an admirable effort for a company not known for super-premium cigars. And while it would be easier to recommend if it was $5 cheaper, it still earns a most respectable 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

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 enjoyed some of the Viaje Skull and Bones blends in the past, so I picked up a few of this latest Edición Limitada version when it came out in February. The thick (5 x 60) stick is presumably an all-Nicaraguan blend, although I haven’t seen that formally confirmed. It features a leathery profile with plenty of red pepper spice. Not the full-bodied bomb that some other Skull and Bones releases are, Big Ivan is more medium- to full-bodied. Construction is good, but ultimately I like the smaller releases far better.

Verdict = Hold.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys