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.”

I’ve smoked only a few Room 101 cigars, but when I saw this year-old release on the shelf I had to try it. Touted as more powerful than other Room 101 cigars, it reminded me of the first 601 Red I experienced: spicy hot and nearly lip-numbing. I was hooked. I was smoking the 6.5-inch, 54-ring gauge vitola. I couldn’t find much about this line, except that it has a Rosado wrapper, Honduran binder, and filler from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua, and that it comes in four sizes. Whichever one you see, give it a try.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: N/A

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 there ever was a dark, menacing-looking cigar, the AF1 from Gary Griffith’s Emilio Cigars is it. This line is made by—and named for—cigar maker A.J. Fernandez. It is produced in Estelí of Nicaraguan tobaccos wrapped in a jet-black San Andreas maduro wrapper. The result is a full-bodied, spicy smoke with notes of raisin, espresso, caramel, and cream. The Toro (6 x 50) sells for around $7 to $8, and I think that’s a fair price for the balance and complexity you get from this slow-burning cigar.

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.”

It had been a few years since I last smoked a Dominican-made Montecristo White. My memory was that it’s solidly-made, mild, and creamy, and this CRA Edition, which comes in the latest CRA Sampler, met those expectations. This cigar is exceptionally well made (easy draw, razor-sharp burn, and solid ash) and features a mild-bodied combination with straw, cream, honey, and cedar notes. While this cigar doesn’t fit my profile, there’s no denying that it’s a well-made and well-balanced mild cigar—a safe choice for an occasional smoker.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credits: 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.”

As a big fan of the original My Father series, I was surprisingly disappointed by the Le Bijou 1922 blend when I first tried it. I recently decided to give the line another try with hopes that I’d have a better experience. As I remember, the construction is outstanding and the Petit Robusto (4.5 x 50) is also no slouch when it comes to appearance, with a lovely Ecuadorian Habano oscuro wrapper. But the flavor falls a little flat as notes of earth and pepper fail to develop into something more complex. While the Le Bijou 1922 Petit Robusto isn’t necessarily a bad cigar, I can think of better ways to spend $7-8.

Verdict = Sell.

–Patrick A

photo credits: 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.”

By nature I’m a fan of the “A” vitola. There’s something completely unapologetic about a cigar that’s designed to last at least two hours, and I appreciate that. The new Viaje Roman Candle is no exception. With its fuse-like cap and patriotic red tissue paper, this Nicaraguan puro is  a perfect fit for the celebratory summer season. It’s medium- to full-bodied and full of spice and earth. Construction is flawless throughout the almost three hours it takes to smoke. There’s nothing wrong with this cigar, and I wouldn’t recommend against spending two or more hours smoking one, but  for such a long cigar it lacks the complexity to keep me fully engaged. It’s the perfect cigar for the golf course, or for when your thoughts are more focused elsewhere—which might be precisely what the cigar was designed for.

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.”

This line, introduced a few months ago, celebrates both Rocky Patel’s upscale Burn cigar lounge in Naples, Florida, and the similarly named lounges he sponsors in about three dozen U.S. shops. It comes in three sizes and boasts “prorietary” Nicaraguan filler and binder with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. The Robusto has traditional dimensions (5 x 50) and lists for about $7.50. It’s full in strength but not particularly complex. While construction and performance were excellent, I was put off by a harshness that overwhelmed the flavors.

Verdict = Sell.

–George E

photo credit: N/A

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.”

One of the most recent Viaje limited releases by the prolific Andre Farkas, the Summerfest 2012 is a Nicaraguan puro (6.75 x 50) with an unfinished foot that fans out beyond the wrapper for the three-quarters of an inch. It’s $10, which is why I only picked up two of these, having not tried them before. It’s a medium- to full-bodied smoke (though it amps up slightly for he final third) with mild earth, coffee, a bit of cream, a touch of oak, and slight cinnamon spice. The Summerfest is extremely balanced and, after the wrapper-less start, it soon settles into an even burn and solid ash. All in all, it’s an excellent smoke and one I wish I had picked up a few more of.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys