The Stogie Guys

Labor Day is one holiday that’s seemingly made for cigars. It may be a three-day weekend, but for cigar enthusiasts it’s far more than a three-cigar break from work.

Whether heading to the beach, visiting family, or just firing up the backyard grill, Labor Day weekend is prime time for cigars. It’s  also the time to bring a few extra cigars to hand out to friends.

And as the unofficial end of summer, Labor Day should be celebrated as the culmination of good smoking weather. It serves as a reminder that winter isn’t too far away—a time when cigar smokers are driven indoors where smoking bans likely foil our ability enjoy premium tobacco.

But barbecues, good weather, and an extra day off work aren’t the only reason why Labor Day is a great cigar holiday. Labor Day celebrates the working man, and cigars are the perfect accompaniment to such a celebration. Despite their aristocratic image, there are few things that cut across class lines like good cigars.

A visit to your local cigar shop confirms that handmade cigars are enjoyed by all. At the tobacconist, you’re just as likely to see blue collar as white collar folks enjoying handmade cigars. After all, a good cigar can be had for just a few dollars—a rare affordable luxury.

I’m constantly telling the story of a visit a few years back to Holt’s iconic shop in downtown Philadelphia. Smoking a cigar in their back lounge, I encountered a typical mix of cigar smokers: a local politician, a lawyer, an electrician, a retiree, a few college students. They were all talking cigars as equals.

That’s the reason Labor Day is such a perfect cigar holiday. When your smoking cigars it isn’t about who you are or what you do. It’s just about the fact that you enjoy cigars, and the camaraderie of your fellow smokers.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Flickr

It’s been over six months since the StogieGuys.com team published a new list of Gold Star Smokes. As you might recall, this special designation celebrates cigars that we feel are worthy of strong recommendations. They don’t necessarily have to be five stogie-rated—just commendable smokes we turn to time and again.

Co-Founder & Editor in Chief Patrick A

One of my favorite Cubans is also relatively affordable, and that’s a winning combination. The Juan Lopez Selección No. 1 (5.6 x 42) has a profile of honey and graham with an earthy, woodsy core and good combustion qualities. And unlike some blends from the forbidden communist isle, this lesser-known Cuban doesn’t seem to suffer from consistency problems. A great buy for around $8.

Co-Founder & Publisher Patrick S

From time to time I get asked what my favorite maduro smoke is and, while I wouldn’t say I have just one favorite, the La Aurora Preferidos Maduro Robusto is always in the conversation. It has that classic maduro profile with plenty of creamy cocao and coffee notes. But what separates it from others is an impressive combination of complexity and balance.

Tampa Bureau Chief George E

From the dark appearance to the wonderfully deep, thick flavors, the Toraño Exodus 50 Years Blend Torpedo is an enticing smoke. It is blended for smoothness, and the Brazilian arapiraca sun-grown wrapper has a more refined taste than I’ve found in most other cigars that use it. As it burns with the Nicaraguan filler, you’re treated to a rich array of coffee, chocolate, and fruit. All this, and a reasonable price, make this a cigar to enjoy again and again.

Contributing Reviewer Patrick M

The new Tatuaje Verocu No. 5 (4 x 40) is just starting to hit the market, but I’ve already had a chance to smoke several. This cigar stays true to the blend with a core of leather, cedar, and spice. It is very similar to the Verocu No. 1, No.2, and Tubo and carries a sub-$5 price point—making it a great Gold Star Smoke.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Stogie Guys

In the third installment of “Random Thoughts from the Humidor” (previous editions here and here), I ponder the upcoming IPCPR Trade Show, cigar smoking politicians, and a basic requirement for a proper cigar shop:

Wooden Matches Please

I recently walked into a cigar shop, bought a few Padróns, and asked for some matches, as I was planning on lighting one right then and there. The employee handed me a book of paper matches, and when I asked if he had wooden matches he replied that there were none. I don’t get it. How does a proper cigar shop still not have wooden matches? Paper matches are soaked in lighter fluid and can taint the flavors of a good smoke.

A Friend of Cigar Smokers?

I find it curious to see Congressman Kendrick Meek’s Democratic primary opponent in Florida attack Meek for his ties to the cigar industry. Meek may have received money from friends in the industry, but it isn’t clear that they got anything in return. Meek reportedly enjoys his cigars, but his voting record isn’t anything special. Maybe he’s working behind the scenes. When it came to making a public stand, Meek repeatedly voted for the massive SCHIP cigar tax hike, twice in 2008 and again in 2009 to pass the bill that eventually was signed into law by President Obama.

The Senator from Nebraska

If Meek overcomes the odds in his Senate race, he certainly won’t be the first Senator to enjoy the occasional cigar. I didn’t know it before, but judging from the photo accompanying this Daily Caller article, Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) has quite the respectable cigar collection. Another photo on the Senator’s Flickr feed gives an even better view (above) of the large cabinet humidor he appears to keep in his Capitol Hill office.

Trade Show Time

I’m looking forward to the annual IPCPR Trade Show next week in New Orleans. StogieGuys.com will be covering the event with live updates from the floor, talking to cigar makers about their latest creations. When we first attended the show in 2008, members of the electronic media were few and far between. This year, it seems there are scores of bloggers descending on New Orleans. One sign of the change is that the IPCPR now warns media outlets that demanding free samples from cigar makers is grounds for revocation of their press credentials. The association is also reminding those new to the show not to disturb cigar makers while they take care of their primary mission: taking orders from retailers.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Flickr

Last week, the left-leaning Huffington Post published a hit piece entitled “Congressional Cigar Association is Front for Lobbyists.” By sensationally linking lobbyists and tobacco, the article has prompted denials by Congressmen and plenty of hand-wringing by commentators, particularly those who are predisposed to disagree with Republicans (like the one who sponsored the association) and dislike  tobacco. I’ve even seen many of my fellow cigar smokers recently refer to the article as exposing something shady.

But what exactly is wrong with the Congressional Cigar Association (CCA)? So far as I can tell, absolutely nothing.

While I’ve never attended a CCA event, I’ve been invited to them, and have spoken with people who have attended. Far from clandestine or “shady,” the events are described to me as fun and educational. They simply involve Congressional staffers enjoying cigars with a beverage or two. Tobacco, after all, is a legal product, and my experience in DC suggests that a sure way to attract low-level Hill staff and public policy types is with discount drinks.

At CCA events, typically someone from the cigar industry talks about the unique process of making handmade cigars, and maybe gives staffers some insight into the burdens placed on family businesses by cigar taxes and regulations. It’s factual information that they don’t hear from the well-funded and well-connected anti-smoking lobby.

The Huffington Post article makes a big deal of the convoluted House ethics rules (and believe me, as someone who has read parts of them, they are definitely complex and convoluted). But ultimately even that line of inquiry comes up empty, as it seems the CCA has worked with the House Ethics office since its inception, and no violations have been found.

What was conspicuously absent from the Huffington Post article, and the commentary that surrounded it, was any discussion of the fact that communicating with Congress (better known as lobbying) is a constitutionally-protected act. After all, the First Amendment specifically states that citizens have the “right to petition government for redress of grievances.”

Maybe the Huffington Post author’s real agenda is that he doesn’t think cigar smokers and cigar makers should be able to exercise these rights. But fortunately the Constitution doesn’t let the Huffington Post decide who can or cannot petition the government, no matter how they may wish they had that power.

And that seems to be the real story here. Anti-tobacco lobbyists have been circling Capitol Hill for years, pushing legislation to cripple the rights of cigar smokers. And now that the cigar industry has dared to come up to Capitol Hill to defend their product and show congressional staffers the victims of their legislation, the anti-tobacco forces want to shut them up and shut them down.

–Patrick S

photo credit: wikipedia

The aroma from an unlit Mi Barrio was stunning. If my eyes had been closed, I might have believed it was a crème de menthe thin mint near my nose, not a cigar. As perfume makers and aroma therapists can testify, smell is a powerful sense. It’s also one that many of us don’t employ enough when we enjoy cigars.

Since that recent encounter, I’ve tried to be more conscious of the fragrance of cigars before I smoke them. Most cigars have at least some aroma from the wrapper, the foot, or both. But there’s extraordinary variety, and, interestingly, I’ve noticed some significant differences among cigars from the same line.

For instance, I’ve had a 601 Blue, a maduro with a Nicaraguan wrapper, give off a thick chocolate fragrance and I’ve had another stick from the line present almost no aroma at all. On the other hand, some smokes seem remarkably consistent. I invariably inhale the smell of nuts whenever I take one of the Padrón “Thousands Line” in hand.

Another curious aspect is that a lack of pre-light aroma doesn’t indicate lack of taste. I’ve found virtually nothing emanating from the extremely tasty Cabaiguan.

I know there are smokers skeptical of those who detect different tastes in cigars. But it would be hard to argue there isn’t a wide spectrum of aromas from the wrappers and fillers of unlit tobacco. Does anyone think a Cuban Cohiba and a Marlboro give off the same air?

It’s difficult to discount the power of the nose. Brown University professor Rachel Herz, a foremost expert on “olfactory cognition and emotion,” quotes Vladimir Nabokov in one of her books. “Smells are surer than sights or sounds to make your heartstrings crack,” the novelist wrote. (If you’re interested, you will find all sorts of fascinating stuff about scents and smell at Herz’s website.)

If you don’t regularly check your cigar’s aroma before lighting up, give it a try. And if you do, let us know what you find in some of your favorites.

–George E

photo credit: Flickr

We’ve all seen them. They’re relatively rare compared to other cigar formats but can be found in cigar shops, online, and at events where manufacturers are eager to display their talents. They’re called “culebras” and, if you’re like me, they always seem to prompt the same question: Why?

Why in the world would anyone braid three cigars together like snakes engaged in some sort of weird ménage à trios? Why, with all the creative cigar shapes and sizes, do we need a twisted tobacco pretzel of cigars married by conforming shape and shiny ribbon?

And why three? Much like Schick and Gillette are ensnared in a razor blade arms race (re: Gillette’s Mach 3, Schick’s Quattro, Gillette’s Fusion), why haven’t cigar makers started to pack more sticks into culebras? More is better, right?

I suspect tradition has something to do with it. In the cigar business, tradition usually reigns supreme—as does legend. One explanation for culebras claims that 19th century cigar factories allowed rollers to take home three sticks per day. Naturally, the rollers twisted three together in an effort to bring home three times more tobacco than they otherwise could, and the culebra was born. Another (less fanciful) explanation suggests mere marketing creativity.

Whatever their origin, some culebras have stood the test of time, most notably with Davidoff, Illusione, and the original Partagas brand from Cuba. Intrigued, I recently shared a culebra from Pinar del Rio’s Selección series with two friends to see what all the hubbub is about.

First off, the drawbacks. Culebras take up more space in the humidor than three separate cigars otherwise would. They’re also difficult to travel with, prone to burn and draw issues, and often aesthetically damaged around curves. And they just feel like a damn gimmick meant to lure suckers.

That said, my inaugural culebra experience was a wonderful one. The presentation was spectacular and attention-grabbing for my two guests and I (you have to smoke a culebra with two other people simultaneously; it’s a rule). And since we were all smoking the same thing, the conversation centered on the flavor and physical properties of the Selección—both of which exceeded expectations.

So, when it comes to culebras, I guess shouldn’t be wondering “Why?” but rather “Why not?” For many of us cigars are about company and conversation. So while I can’t see myself regularly burning through culebras, I’m not going to dismiss them either. It’s a smart format to have on hand when you’re with two other cigar enthusiasts and you want a unique conversation-starter.

Three’s company? No. Sometimes three’s culebra.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

I like to think that I’m the kind of person who properly appreciates the time and talent that go into creating a fine handmade cigar, but sometimes it takes a firsthand experience to remind me just how detailed and rigorous the process is.

During my recent trip to the Dominican Republic I saw the entire process in detail. From the Guillermo León’s farm, to tasting pure grade tobacco with José Blanco, to the aging and, finally—but certainly not least—the expert bunching and rolling, you see the dozens of people necessary to create just one great cigar.

I even tried my own hand at making a cigar. After smoking five cigars made completely from one tobacco each, I selected three, proportioning them in a way that I thought (hoped?) would yield a interesting, complex, medium-bodied smoke. After making the blend, when I told León that my blend utilized 40% Dominican corojo tobacco with equal parts Nicaraguan and Brazilian bahia, he laughed and told me I had created a “bomb.” (So much for my smooth, medium-bodied smoke.)

The challenge really began when I had to bunch, bind, and wrap my cigar. Even though I used the Lieberman machine to apply the binder—many premium smokes are created completely by hand—it was a struggle to fit my cigars in the mold.

After the cigar was pressed for a few hours, I returned to apply the wrapper. Despite the experienced roller standing over my shoulder, making plenty of corrections and suggestions, the ten cigars I produced (pictured above) were decidedly sub-par. Maybe a few of them could pass for factory seconds.

As a reviewer who takes off points for faulty construction, it was a most humbling experience. Given the difficulty in the process, the consistency that even relatively inexpensive cigars have is very impressive.

And speaking of inexpensive, considering  how many hours of labor and years of skill go into every smoke, it is amazing that prices are as low as they are. If you are lucky enough to see it first hand, you’re unlikely to complain about the price of your smoke again, and you’ll certainly gain a new appreciation for cigars.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys