The Stogie Guys

My last Cigar Spirits article covered one of the priciest bourbons I keep around. This time, I’m looking at one of the least expensive: Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch Bourbon.

Just $15 will land you this bourbon from Heaven Hill Distillery which, in addition to Evan Williams and the eponymous Heaven Hill, also makes Elijah Craig, Old Fitzgerald, Larceny, and Parker’s Heritage, among others. Parker’s Heritage refers to Parker Beam (of the famous Beam bourbon family), master distiller at Heaven Hill along with his son, Craig. Since it’s founding in 1935, Heaven Hill has had a member of the Beam family as its master distiller.

The bourbon’s namesake, Evan Williams, was a Welshman who came to Kentucky via Virginia (although technically what is now Kentucky was part of Virginia then). According to legend, he became “Kentucky’s first distiller” in 1783. He was also a politician and a businessman.

Like the flagship “Black Label” bourbon, about a decade ago the small batch Evan Williams 1783 dropped its age statement. Prior to that, it was a 10-year-old bourbon (the Black Label was a 7-year-old back then). Now we only know that its designation as a straight Kentucky bourbon without an age statement means the youngest bourbon it can contain is at least four years old, but presumably it averages a bit older than the Black Label, which also has the same restriction.

The bourbon pours a light copper color and the nose reveals honey, sawdust, and a hint of citrus. On the palate the 86-proof bourbon shows more honey along with vanilla, oak, and burnt corn. The finish is medium-length with a buttered popcorn flavor.

The result is an easy-drinking bourbon that’s enjoyable neat or with a ice cube or two, even if it isn’t as complex as many higher-priced whiskeys. Its price makes it a guilt-free ingredient in a cocktail or even a bourbon and ginger.

And obviously it goes great with a cigar. I lit up a pre-release sample of the upcoming Recluse Draconian and enjoyed the pairing. Though I actually think a more mild- or medium-bodied cigar would go even better.

Some bourbon snobs may turn their nose up at this affordable, value-packed bourbon, but don’t let that influence you. Whether you’re a seasoned bourbon drinker or a novice, this is a very respectable, enjoyable spirit that’s worth drinking with a fine cigar.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

I subscribe to a newsletter about American whiskey called the Bourbon County Reader. (If you’re serious about bourbon, I recommend subscribing.) In the issue that just arrived in my mailbox, editor Chuck Cowdery observes the long-term trend of cheapening older product lines, especially those with more value-oriented prices.

He notes that over the years a number of bourbons have eliminated their age statement (which designates the minimum length of time that the contained spirit aged in new charred barrels), freeing the distillers to combine any combination of straight whiskey and giving distillers increased flexibility to ramp up production more quickly without the cost of longer aging.

Other bourbons have been watered down, often from bond strength (100-proof) to 80-proof, which is the lowest a bourbon can be without being labeled “diluted whiskey” (most notably, Jack Daniels was cut from 86-proof to 80-proof). The savings here are twofold: (1) adding more water means a barrel of whiskey produces more bottled spirit; and (2) since taxes are based on alcohol content, it reduces the per-bottle tax.

This got me thinking about cigars. Are older “legacy” brands being similarly cheapened? The answer is yes, almost certainly some are. The scarier part is that unlike bourbon, there’s no easy way to know which ones are.

Whereas bourbon labels have strict standards about what claims can be made, there is no similar standard for cigars. Of course most of the time there is no need to lie, because most cigar boxes and labels say very little about how the cigars are made or what is in them.

(I feel obligated to point out here that I certainly don’t want the government to increase regulation on cigars. Though I’ll admit the prospect of FDA regulation would be far less objectionable if I were convinced the goal was simply more information for consumers, and not actually government control over which cigars are available with the underlying goal of limiting the choices that adult consumers have.)

Considering that cigar makers have to produce the “same cigar” year after year, often in increasing quantities, some variation is to be expected. If it’s just the result of attempting to make the same cigar with the next year’s crop of tobacco, then I have no objection. (Though I’d still like a box or production date.)

The problem is when they attempt to make a similar cigar using lesser/cheaper materials, and pass it off as the same product. I suspect this accounts for at least some of the cigars that decline not long after being introduced. Perhaps they figure they can make a great cigar when introducing it to wholesale buyers, the public, and critics, then cut corners later and maximize profits. But the result is cheating their most loyal fans.

So what can a discerning cigar smoker do?

Take note of which companies keep quality and consistency high. In my experience, cigar companies that aren’t constantly releasing new lines (Arturo Fuente and Padrón certainly come to mind) do a better job. Also, the largest cigar companies seem to do well. Altadis, General Cigar, and Davidoff certainly have the capital to keep their products consistent and have invested millions into building their brands, which makes them less likely to risk long-term brand loyalty for short-term profit margins.

But there are always exceptions, for good or bad. Mostly it comes down to buyer beware, or at least be aware of the possibility that brands may have been diluted over the years.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Flickr

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 well-made Nicaraguan cigar from Edgar “One Shot One Kill” Hoill is a collaboration with Christian Eiroa of Camacho. It’s a short pyramide size that’s 4.5 inches long with a ring gauge of 54 at its widest point. The smoke features dry earth, tea (especially at the beginning), coffee bean, and even a little grassiness. Mild- to medium-bodied with good construction, it’s well worth considering.

Verdict = Hold.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Namakubi Ecuador is the latest release from Camacho’s Room 101. It is a combination of two previous releases: OSOK (One Shot One Kill) and the original Namakubi.

The filler is Honduran and Dominican (the same as the Namakubi), while the wrapper and binder—Ecuador Habano and Honduran corojo, respectively—come from the OSOK. (Though OSOK conspicuously isn’t mentioned by name in Camacho’s press release for the cigar. I’ve heard that trademark will stay with Edgar Hoille, who now makes his cigars separate from the Camacho umbrella.)

The line comes in four sizes: three figuardos and one small parejo dubbed the Papi Chulo that debuted in the Namakubi line. The cigar has the same samuri-inspired packaging as the Namakubi, including paper tubes for the larger three sizes.

For this review, I smoked four of the Ranfla size, a 5.5-inch mini diadema that has a 30 ring gauge at the head, 50 in the middle, and 19 at the tapered foot. The cigars sell for $50 for a 5-pack or $90 for a box of 10 at Emerson’s.

Pre-light the draw shows some woody spice and clove. Once lit, I found roast coffee beans and burnt toast flavors along with oak and slight floral notes.

The cigar starts out medium-bodied but pretty quickly ramps up to medium- to full-bodied. The flavors really hit the front and roof of your mouth, and the interplay between the Ecuador wrapper and Honduran tobacco is evident.

Fans of Honduran tobacco should definitely seek out this new cigar. Others might find the dominating woodiness lacks balance.

Either way, it’s a welcome addition with admirable construction and a flavor combination not replicated by anything else on the market. That earns the Room 101 Namakubi Ecuador Ranfla three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

I keep a nice double-digit variety of bourbons at my house, but never more than one bottle of any particular bourbon. The only exception has been Jefferson’s Presidential Select 18 Year Bourbon, of which I currently have a stash of three unopened bottles.

And even though they run around $100 apiece, I’d probably pick up a few more if I came across them. So while it’s an understatement to say I’m a fan of this bourbon, that’s not the whole reason why I always do a quick scan for “JPS 18” in a liquor store.

Jefferson’s Presidential Select 18 is one of the last 100% Stitzel-Weller bourbons you can buy. Sitzel-Weller is the distillery that made highly regarded wheat-recipe bourbon until it was closed in 1991, including the notoriously difficult-to-find Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve, which uses the same mash bill recipe. (Reports are the distillery began production of bourbon again earlier this year, but it will be a while before that production hits the market.)

These days, Pappy Van Winkle may still use 100% Stitzel-Weller bourbon for its oldest bourbons (20 and 23, as of 2011), but the younger varieties use bourbon made at Buffalo Trace. Jefferson’s Presidential Select 18 (which was preceded by a 17 year variety, and will be followed by a 21) is 100% Stitzel-Weller. It’s also all sold out, although you may find some on a few shelves.

In other words, it’s rare and old (18 years is very old for bourbon, even if it is only slightly past middle-age for scotch). But being very old and rare doesn’t do much for me, unless it’s also very good. And the 94-proof spirit has that too.

The deep copper-colored bourbon has a nose that reminds me of aged rum, with vanilla, dates, cake-batter, and wood. On the palate it really shines with an intensity that combines lots of oaky woodiness with a silky sweetness of toffee, dried fruit, and just a hint of citrus apples. The finish is long and balanced, with more toffee, wood, and resin.

It’s a flavor rollercoaster that shows the best of well-aged bourbon without the downsides that sometimes manifest as over-the-top oak or dry spice. As such, it requires a cigar that is equally well-balanced but still flavorful. The two that specifically fit that bill are the Padrón Serie 1926 Maduro and the Arturo Fuente Añejo.

Now $100 is a lot to spend on single bottle of bourbon (think how many excellent bourbons can be bought for half that much), which makes it something of a special occasion indulgence. Still, there’s a highly limited supply (it’s all been sold to retailers at this point) and the upcoming 21-year-old edition will certainly be even more expensive. Which is why I’d suggest serious bourbon fans scoop up a bottle or two if they get the chance. I know I will.

–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.”

This Lancero edition of the the Serie D Maduro was created by Eddie Ortega just for the DC Cigar Tweetup. (Each attendee received a bundle of ten with their ticket.) Only the size is new; the blend is the same as the regular Serie D Maduro sizes: Mexican wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and filler. The cigar has sweet earth, coffee, and cocoa all particularly focused by the Lancero’s narrow size. It’s reminiscent of the Padrón 1926 Maduro, including excellent construction, but with a little more grittiness.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Dante is a brand new cigar created by two guys I know pretty well. Mike Huff and Mo Fakhro formed M Tabacos Inc. to create and distribute Dante, but I’ve known them far longer as the general manager and owner, respectively, of Cigar Connection, the shop I frequent the most here in Northern Virginia.

Over the years we’ve talked quite a bit about cigars, but more recently they started talking about a project they were very excited about. I feel obliged to point out that it would be fair to say I hope they succeed. The industry, however, is full of friendly people I wish nothing but success for, and like any other new cigar this one will have to stand on its own in field already full of good smokes. I’m convinced it does.

Like many new cigars, Dante is a collaboration with a well-known cigar maker. For Dante, the M Tabacos pair teamed up with Tabacalera Tropical/Casa Fernandez, which makes Dante at its Miami factory using the Aganorsa leaf they are known for.

The cigar is made with a deep brown San Andreas wrapper around Nicaraguan binder and filler. It comes in five sizes ranging from the Imp (4 x 44) to a large Toro (6.5 x 52). For this review I smoked four of of the corona gorda-sized Asmodeus (5.5 x 46), named after the demon king.

Pre-light the cigar, which features a small flattened pigtail cap, is full of woody oak flavors. The first few puffs show that to be a telling preview of what is to come, though once lit the woody notes are more charred and hickory flavored. In addition to wood, which also manifests as a light spice, the Dante features cocoa and a bread-like flavor that coats the palate in thick, powdery smoke. It took me a while to pick it out, but that powdery, bread-like component reminded me of the Tatuaje Anarchy.

The result is a cigar that starts out just north of medium-bodied and slowly ramps up until it’s just shy of completely full-bodied. It’s full of flavor yet also restrained. And considering my samples were rolled only a month earlier, I’m impressed by the balance. Each of the four Dantes I smoked burned wonderfully, with no touch-ups needed, and each had draw with just the right amount resistance.

The Dante range sells for $8.90-12 with the suggested retail price of the Asmodeus being $11.85. While Dante puts itself in some pretty exclusive company with that price, it’s not out of its league. Flavorful, but with subtleties and excellent balance, the Dante Asmodeus earns four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys