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.”

If anything, this cigar got better since I first smoked it almost two months ago. Still my favorite of the two most recent Singulare releases by Illusione, the San Andreas wrapper isn’t the best-looking wrapper, but the flavors are right on point. The cigar imparts plenty of dry chocolate and earth notes, with coffee, roast nut, and a bit of pepper. Like the original 2010 Singulare “Phantom,” it has a wine-like tannic property that leaves your lips tingling. With excellent construction and complex medium- to full-bodied flavors, I highly recommend it.

Verdict = Buy.

–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.”

With handsome double bands, a jet-black wrapper, and an unfinished foot, the Robusto (5 x 52) in the Liga Especial Reserva Superior blend looks fantastic in a humidor. This Pinar del Rio doesn’t smoke too bad, either. Blended by Abe Flores to be full-flavored, the cigar—comprised of a Dominican Habano wrapper, Brazilian and Nicaraguan binders, and ligero fillers—has a bold profile of espresso, earth, and pepper. The going rate of about $6 for a single makes this an easy smoke to recommend.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

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 new Toro (6 x 54) has a soft box-press and will be hitting shelves later this month. It features a pale brown criollo ’98 wrapper from the San Andeas region in Mexico that surrounds a Dominican binder and Nicaraguan filler. The cigar produces pleasant mild to medium cafe au lait flavors with excellent balance and some spice that builds. Construction is excellent. A fine, well-made cigar, though it hardly wowed me.

Verdict = Hold.

–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.”

Joya de Nicaragua is (deservedly) getting a lot of attention these days for its newest release, Cuenca y Blanco. But I recently sat down with the Peligroso size (5 x 44) of the older Antaño Dark Corojo blend. This Nicaraguan puro boasts a dark, oily wrapper, excellent combustion qualities, and a bold, rich flavor of espresso, dark chocolate, and spice. It’s a wonderful smoke that’s full-bodied yet smooth and never harsh. What’s more, the Peligroso is a great value at around $5-6 for a single.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

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 spring, a fifth size was added to the Crowned Heads line: a lonsdale (6.5 x 44) simply called Selección No. 5. Made at Ernesto Perez-Carrillo’s Tabacalera La Alianza S.A. in the Dominican Republic, it utilizes a reddish-brown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and filler. Like other Four Kicks I’ve smoked, construction was flawless. The cigar starts out with spice and wood, but near the halfway point transitions into a rich combination of molasses and leather. This might be my favorite size in the Four Kicks series as the smaller ring gauge really lets the complexity of the blend shine through.

Verdict = Buy.

–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.”

Don Tomás is often obscured by the more visible brands from General Cigar, but I’ve always enjoyed the Sun Grown as a nice value smoke for the golf course. While the Clásico isn’t bad either—and the value is quite good at around $3-4 apiece—I’m not terribly enthusiastic about the profile of the Robusto (5.5 x 50). The Habano-seed Honduran wrapper coupled with tobaccos from Nicaragua and Honduras combine to yield a slightly spicy taste that’s a little too papery for me. In the future, I’ll probably just stick with the Sun Grown blend.

Verdict = Sell.

–Patrick A

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 is the latest Pete Johnson release in a line that goes back to 2003, and it lives up to both the name and the Tatuaje reputation. It is a full-powered, full-flavored smoke that is smooth and exciting on the palate. The 2012 edition comes with a twist: It is available in three wrappers, with the Ecuadorian Habano shipping only recently. I have yet to try the Ecuadorian Sumatra or the Connecticut broadleaf versions, but I cannot imagine they’re better. I also cannot imagine anyone smoking this strong cigar on a regular basis, unless Iron Man has become a BOTL. But as an occasional treat, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more enjoyable cigar for $13.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: N/A