The Stogie Guys

If you’re like me, you probably thought this past Monday was Memorial Day, a day for pausing to think about the men and women who gave their lives to protect the freedoms we take for granted. As I did, you may have also celebrated the unofficial start of summer with some time spent outdoors, around the barbecue, and enjoying a fine cigar or two.

But, for the bureaucrats at the World Health Organization (WHO), May 31 wasn’t Memorial Day. Rather, it was “World No Tobacco Day“—a day for promoting the policies they call “Tobacco Control.”

No time to celebrate freedom, the WHO issued a Call to Action, with such action items as implementing a complete ban on advertising of tobacco; enacting total workplace smoking bans that presumably include restaurants, bars, and even tobacco shops; and creating “gender-specific tobacco control policies.”

For those of you at home counting, those are calls to violate such fundamental American principles as freedom of speech, property rights, and equal protection under the law, respectively. And it’s all part of the international organization’s “Tobacco Free Initiative” which, as it sounds, seeks to stamp out the so-called “tobacco epidemic.”

The contrast couldn’t be starker. The day we honor U.S. soldiers who gave their lives for our country, often fighting against authoritarian dictatorships, anti-tobacco forces seek worldwide enactment of laws designed to strip citizens of their choice to enjoy even an occasional cigar.

One can’t help but look back through history, when America sent soldiers to battle with a daily ration of tobacco. In World War II, a K-Ration, or daily combat ration, included four cigarettes. On the other side of the battle field, Hitler despised smoking (which he saw as a filthy Jewish habit) and led Nazi Germany to enact the first modern smoking ban.

No, they aren’t Nazis, but in today’s struggle between freedom and oppressive collectivism, international bureaucrats use the projects like the Tobacco Free Initiative at the United Nations to infringe on fundamental individual rights. Meanwhile, our troops continue to put themselves in harms way as they seek to uphold their oath to the Constitution and the individual liberties that it stands for.

That’s why I hope you joined me in honoring our troops on Memorial Day. And if you also happened to smoke a cigar as part of your Memorial Day, then all the better. Now, why not take the opportunity to donate some cigars to the troops? That’s what the last Monday in May is supposed to be all about, not stamping out our freedom to smoke.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Jim Leyland, manager of the Detroit Tigers and longtime fixture of Major League Baseball, is not above the law. So when Michigan’s statewide smoking ban took effect on May 1, he was barred from smoking cigarettes and cigars in his workplace, Comerica Park.

Leyland had been known to sneak into the bowels of the stadium for cigarettes between innings. Now, though, this occasional cigar smoker has to remain tobacco-free at the ballpark just like the rest of us.

I’ve always thought it a shame that it’s so difficult to enjoy cigars inside big league parks. (My colleague and I actually petitioned the Washington Nationals to accommodate cigars back in 2006. We failed.) Sure, a few stadiums—including Comerica—have built-in cigar bars, but admittance to these exclusive locales includes a hefty price tag and segregation from the outdoor splendor of baseball.

Too bad. Baseball and cigars are such a wonderful pairing. Unlike faster-paced sports and sports that are played indoors or out in the cold, America’s pastime is meant to take place outside under natural summer sunlight. Nowadays most teams play most games under the lights. But when I think baseball, I think suntan lotion, floppy hats, peanuts, cold beer, and frosty malts.

I also think relaxation. While many criticize baseball for its lazy pauses between pitches, batters, and innings, I’ve always enjoyed those breaks. They give you the opportunity to study the game and have conversations. Is this a hit-and-run scenario? Would the opposing manager consider a pitch-out with this count? How does this hitter fare against left-handers? Are they drawing the infield in to guard against a bunt, or are they staying at double-play depth? The answers to such questions are better pondered over premium tobacco.

That’s one of the reasons why, when I can’t be at beloved Wrigley Field to watch my hapless Cubs, I do most of my baseball watching at home. The laptop computer is such a great resource. For a price, you can watch or listen to any game—live or archived—in the comfort of your patio furniture. The atmosphere is perfect. Cigars are welcome and plentiful, and beers are more modestly priced.

So, notwithstanding the NHL playoffs, now is the perfect time to set aside an evening or a weekend afternoon, spark a big cigar, and relax to the sights and sounds of bats cracking, umps yelling, fans cheering, and beer cans opening. Each team only has about 120 games left. That may seem like an eternity, but baseball season goes by way too quickly.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Flickr

I recently opened a box of cigars to find a pleasant surprise. A small piece of paper inside let me know exactly when the cigars began aging, when they went in the box, and when they were released to be sold.

The box was a sampler of six La Aurora Preferido Maduro Perfectos. As you can see in the photo, the box includes a card with the pertinent dates and information about the batch of cigars.

It’s such simple information—amazingly, though, such information is completely absent from many of the high-end cigars that are made these days. Nevermind information about when the cigars began aging, even box dates are missing from the majority of cigars on the market.

Ironically, Cuban cigars always have box dates. Perhaps because they are often rushed out of the factory without extensive aging, it’s particularly important for Cuban smokers to know  if their cigars have had enough time to develop. Box dates on Cubans also reinforce the collectors mentality that surrounds the smokes (while serving as a check against counterfeiting). It’s a lesson that non-Cuban producers would do well to emulate.

For all the talk we hear about treating cigars as a collectors item like wine, consumers still don’t have the details they need to treat cigars like a collectors item. Good wines always have some basic information on the bottle; usually at least the vintage and basic information about the composition of the blend.

Cigars should welcome that approach, even if it means dispensing with the idea that every cigar is best smoked immediately after it is released. Doing so would encourage cigar smokers to become collectors who want to learn more about the cigars they buy and how to get the most out of them through aging.

Towards that end, others should follow the example set by La Aurora and let smokers know the vital facts about the cigars on which they spend their hard-earned money. (And, in case you were wondering, the pictured La Aurora Preferido Maduro Perfectos began aging in November 2007, were boxed on August 4, 2008, and left the factory on August 8, 2008; they’re great right now.)

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

When you see cigars mentioned in a newspaper, it’s often to highlight some study on the dangers of smoking, herald a proposed tax increase, or as a prop in characterizing the lifestyle of the rich and famous.

So imagine my surprise a few weeks ago when the Tampa Tribune devoted much of its travel/lifestyle section front to cigar etiquette. The illustrated do’s and don’ts kicked off a new column written by Patricia Rossi (pictured), “America’s etiquette and protocol coach” who who speaks, writes, and appears on TV.

Of course, Tampa calls itself Cigar City and hosts numerous cigar events—often in the Ybor City area that was once a cigar-making hub. Nonetheless, I was intrigued about the subject selection and exchanged emails with Rossi for some insight.

It turns out she’s not a regular cigar smoker, though she does enjoy them on occasion. “Just when my dad visits from North Carolina,” she wrote. “We go to Ybor and have a cigar.” I also wondered whether she was concerned about the reaction her column might draw from anti-tobacco forces. Not at all, she said, adding that smoking cigars is one of “about a billion social situations” that can require subtle navigation.” In fact, Rossi said reactions she and the reporter who collaborated with her received have been positive.

Most of the items in her compilation of cigar etiquette will be familiar to regular smokers, such as admonitions not to crush a stick as if it were a cigarette and not to dip the head in a drink. She also offers suggestions like enjoy the taste and aroma without inhaling.

And what’s the most common faux pas committed by cigar smokers? Rossi said it was handling and smelling the sticks too much. “They touch where people’s mouth will be smoking,” she said. “I think it’s important to take in the aroma from the foot of the cigar.”

You can find an interactive version of Rossi’s full article on cigar etiquette here.

–George E

photo credit: PatriciaRossi.com

April may seem far too late to be publishing a 2010 wish list. But I tend to think of the industry on a fiscal year, each one beginning with that summer’s International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) Trade Show. It’s a convenient approach because that annual event is where most new cigars debut.

Whether you consider this article four months early or four months late isn’t all that important. What is important is that I have five cigar-related wishes for 2010—and I want to share them with you. From the highly improbable to the entirely possible, here they are in no particular order:

1. Less is More

With a few rare exceptions, each year every cigar manufacturer feels compelled to come out something new. It has become nearly impossible to keep up with all the new offerings. This can lead to over-extension, inconsistency, consumer confusion, and, as my colleague writes, “lots of just plain duds.” I’d respect any company that shows up to this summer’s IPCPR Trade Show saying, “We don’t have anything new, we’re just focusing on our comparative advantage and maintaining the highest quality control.” That would be nice.

2. Join CRA

Restrictive smoking bans and outrageous tobacco taxes are out of control. With Cigar Rights of America (CRA), everyday stogie enthusiasts finally have a voice. But that voice will only grow in effectiveness and influence if more brothers of the leaf join up. I hope 2010 brings CRA great recruiting success, bolstered by the nonprofit’s discount program and members-only samplers.

3. Quality Over Quantity or Strength

The growing trend towards large cigars and full-bodied powerhouses is somewhat frustrating. Sure, I’ll enjoy a 60 ring gauge cigar or a ligero-filled pepper bomb every once in awhile, but I’m starting to fear the rise of a “bigger and bolder equals better” mindset and how that might impact the market. This year, let’s not forget how fantastic a truly magnificent mild cigar can be.

4. More Attention for Boutiques

Small-batch cigar makers are not to be ignored, especially since many are turning out some of today’s best blends. Regular StogieGuys.com readers will be familiar with the likes of Tesa, Cuban Crafters, Bucanero, and others. There are countless more just waiting to be discovered. So, in 2010, make a commitment to step outside your name-brand comfort zone and uncover a hidden gem.

5. End the Cuban Embargo

When JFK signed the embargo in 1962 (immediately after hypocritically securing himself a stash of soon-to-be criminalized sticks), it was thought that such restrictions would cripple Castro’s regime. That obviously didn’t work. Since then, the U.S. has continued to trade with other communist countries like China and Vietnam, only to see them take marginal steps towards freer enterprise. So it’s time to finally repeal this obsolete law, liberalize trade and travel with Cuba, ease the suffering of the Cuban people who have endured so much under Castro’s tyranny, and make Cuban cigars legal in the U.S.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Flickr

Here are a yet more random thoughts about cigars and the cigar industry:

Are Two Wrappers Better Than One?

Once a gimmick, now it seems to be the next frontier of cigar blending. More and more we’re seeing cigars with multiple wrappers, and not of the barber-pole type. Recently, Joya de Nicaragua and La Gloria Cubana both introduced cigars with two wrappers—one for for the beginning of the smoke, one for the end. The concept makes a lot of sense in a way. Just as dinner usually comprises of an appetizer before the main dish, these new cigars offer a progression of two distinct flavors in one cigar.

Cigars Heating Up

We’re getting to the time of year when temperatures are heating up. That’s a good thing if the cold was keeping you from enjoying a cigar in the great outdoors, but it also creates a challenge when it comes to maintaining proper humidity in your humidor. If you’re unsure about the readings you’re getting use this technique to calibrate your hygrometer.

Mexican Tobacco Surging

When Eddie Ortega told me he had never seen Don Pepin Garcia more excited than when discussing the Mexican tobacco used in the new Murcielago, I knew something was afoot. A recent article in Smoke Magazine about the resurgence of Mexican tobacco confirmed the trend. Until the mid-90s Mexican trade policy made it too costly to import tobacco, resulting in only the production of Mexican puros. Fortunately, the Mexican government is finally eliminating some of the red tape and making Mexican tobacco a viable source for multi-country blends.

No Place Like Home

We’ve said it so many times before but, especially in these challenging economic times, I’ll say it again: It’s important to support your local brick and mortar cigar shop. Sure, sometimes you get a better deal online, but there’s no substitute for a helpful tobacconist. If you don’t support your local shop, the next time you drive by it may be for a going-out-of-business sale.

–Patrick S

photo credit: LGC & JdN

These days there are no shortages of cigar reviews online. Seems everyone has an opinion and wants to share.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. But before you read every cigar review out there and take each as gospel, let’s keep in mind what a review is…and, just as importantly, let’s keep in mind what a review isn’t.

First off, a review can only be as good as the limited inputs that created it. That means whatever review you’re reading is first and foremost limited by two important factors: the reviewer, and the cigars sampled.

Be weary of reviews of based on just one cigar. Cigars are, by nature, a finicky product. What harvest was used? What year was the cigar produced? How long were the cigars aged after they were produced? Under what conditions were the cigars kept? These are just some of the factors that determine how a cigar smokes.

That’s why the first thing I look for in a cigar review is how many smokes were sampled. It’s also why I regularly smoke three or more cigars before writing a full review. (Our Quick Smokes, on the other hand, are upfront about the fact that they are based on just one smoke.) Particularly when it comes to construction, and also when it comes to flavor, a cigar can vary  greatly from stick to stick.

My standard operating procedure is to smoke three cigars of the same blend and size. If all three reveal similar characteristics I go ahead and write my review. If significant variation is detected, on the other hand, I try and smoke at least two more cigars before giving my take. And in the rare circumstance that fewer than three samples make up a review (cigars that are hard to procure, for example) I always explicitly state that in written review.

While the number of samples is an important factor in how much weight to place in a specific review, perhaps the largest and most under appreciated factor is the limitation of just who is doing the tasting. Smokers have a wide variety of palates and preferences, and failing to account for such preferences makes most cigar reviews useless.

Here at StogieGuys.com, we deal with this by assigning a name to each review. Our hope is  that, over time ,you can appreciate the subtleties of the palate of each reviewer since every time you read a review you learn a little more about that person’s preferences and biases.

And speaking of biases, don’t think that just because a “panel” has reviewed a cigar that such biases are eliminated. Cigar Aficionado‘s reviewers are a very small subset of cigar smokers, and they represent just as particular of a viewpoint as any particular reviewer here on StogieGuys.com or on any other site. I’m reminded of one prominent cigar veteran who told me he thinks that some cigar makers specifically blend their cigars to the tastes of CA‘s reviewers.

This brings me to to perhaps the most controversial aspect of cigar reviews: ratings. A rating of 95 in CA can be a goldmine for the company that makes that cigar. But I’m still not clear about what the difference is between 95 and 92 or, for that matter, 90 and 88. (Not to mention the fact that of the thousands of cigars reviewed by Cigar Aficionado in nearly two decades, only two have have been rated lower than “average to good commercial quality.”)

That’s why we employ a rating system that doesn’t pretend to know a 2-point difference out of a scale of 100. And why we place more emphasis on what is said within the review as opposed to the final score.

The lesson is that any cigar review can only be the result of a limited set of experiences by one or a few reviewers. Treating a review as anything more than a limited set of opinions misses the point. Reviews are guideposts, not gospel.

While experienced palates will have common experiences, they will always be limited in their usefulness. Ultimately, the only palate that matters is the one smoking the cigar, and the “best” cigar is the one you like the best. Nothing more, nothing less.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Flickr