The Stogie Guys

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

The most prominent feature of this cigar is the dark, oily Nicaraguan sungrown wrapper. Don’t stop there, though. Be sure to appreciate the earthy, vegetal aroma before lighting. Toraño advertises this as its most full-bodied stick, with a filler mix from Nicaragua, Honduras, and Panama. But the five inch by 56 ring gauge stick I enjoyed seemed more medium than full. It began with a spicy touch for the first half-inch or so, then moved to a smooth, rich mix of coffee, cocoa. and leather. My guess is these would age well and I look forward to smoking more from this line.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

Everything about this six inch by 54 ring gauge cigar is pretty mediocre. The flavor, driven by a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos, is of spice, clove, and warm tobacco. Pleasant, but a little dry. You get an even burn and a clear draw, but the ash is flakey and the light keeps wanting to go out. In the $4.50 to $5.10 range, I wasn’t utterly disappointed. But I wasn’t wowed either.

Verdict = Hold.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar. If you’d like to submit your own for publication, please contact us.

Given the name, I figured it an appropriate late night snack for a Monday night. The CAO Moontrance Robusto comes in at 5 inches with a 48 ring gauge, which I paid just around $4 for a couple weeks ago. It is impeccably constructed and presented. Individually lined with cedar and blue ribbon with a matching blue and gold label, she’s a real looker. She also burns as even as they come giving off bountiful amounts of smoke and holding over an inch of ash. However, this is where the praise ends.

It’s presentation and quality construction will never make up for it’s numerous shortcomings. From the minute you put the cigar to your lips, you are greeted with this sickeningly sweet taste; extremely artificial. Furthermore, upon lighting up, you realize that the flavor is relegated entirely to the wrapper. The cigar is just a plain old mild-tasting smoke. If this wasn’t bad enough, it burns quite hot, which further takes away from the experience. I’m slowly but surely learning to avoid CAO’s oddballs and marketing ploys and rely on their tried and true, time tested, quality blends.

Verdict = Sell.

–Submitted by Chris Verhoeven of Washington, DC.

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

La Unica cigars are easy to find. Many shops stock them to provide a cheap smoke from a well-known maker. The Fuente-made cigars have been around for more than 20 years since their introduction as a “premium” cigar offered in bundles rather than boxes. The maduro I smoked recently, a five and 1/2 inch by 42 ring gauge, had a rough wrapper, a couple of large veins, and little prelight aroma. Unfortunately, that seemed to foreshadow the smoking experience: uneven burn, harsh smoke, and little taste. I paid less than $3, so there wasn’t much investment. But there wasn’t much return either.

Verdict = Sell.

–George E

Tags: cigars

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

H. Upmann is an oft-overlooked line in Altadis’ stable of famous cigar names. This six and 1/2 inch by 52 ring gauge torpedo comes packaged in an attractive cedar sleeve. With a medium flavor profile and quintessential Cameron spice, this Dominican-made is nice but not great. Still, with solid construction, I can definitely recommend it.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

Tags: cigars

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

This five inch by 50 ring gauge Robusto sports some of the best physical properties I’ve ever had the pleasure to enjoy. The burn is geometrically sharp, the draw is true, and the ash holds firm for several inches. On top of that, the flawless Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper – coupled with Dominican binder and filler tobaccos – yields a mild and creamy flavor of almond and vanilla. This Arganese is well worth the $6 you can expect to pay for a single stick.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

Tags: cigars

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

I’ve mentioned before how Gurkha seems to be very hit or miss. This particular blend is a hit. With rich woody flavors and a long smooth finish, the Legend pairs perfectly with either a mojito or a hearty beer. Despite the fact that, by the end, the burn was persistently uneven, I can still recommend this six and 1/2 inch by 53 ring gauge torpedo.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

Tags: cigars