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.”

Not to be confused with five-vitola Series Gran Cru line that has a criollo ’98 maduro wrapper, the Gran Cru Limited Edition is new to the Tesa portfolio. It was crafted by Chris Kelly as a one-size, box-pressed blend. Only 1,000 cigars were made, and Kelly tells me he sold almost his entire Gran Cru stash in a matter of weeks. So he has ordered his Estelí factory to produce more. I think that’s a wise decision. The Gran Cru—which boasts an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper with a criollo ’98 binder from Jalapa and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos—is a testament to Kelly’s outstanding talents. The smoke has incredible balance with a woodsy core complimented by cream, salty peanut, and coffee. With top-notch construction, I’m going to get my hands on more of these while they’re still available.

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.”

Many are quick to compare the Undercrown line, which debuted about a year ago, to Drew Estate’s famed Liga Privada No. 9 blend. I understand the interest in comparing the two but, the more I smoke it, the more I find Undercrown to be an excellent creation in its own right. The Belicoso (6 x 52) is no exception. It boasts a balanced, medium-bodied profile of coffee, peanut, spice, and mocha along with superb physical properties. This is an easy smoke to recommend and a solid buy at around $7, especially if you like San Andreas-wrapped cigars.

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.”

Even though Cigar Aficionado dubbed the Prensado the “Cigar of the Year,” I must confess I haven’t smoked one in at least a year. Unintentionally, my colleague posted some skeptical thoughts about the cigar the day after the best-of-2011 announcement, which garnered considerable support in the comments. Still, when this Churchill-sized version of the Prensado (it’s not clear if this is different at all from the normal Churchill size) showed up in my CRA Sampler, it was one of the first cigars I lit up. Featuring rich dark flavors, including distinctive molasses notes along with cocoa, pepper, and black coffee, it’s not hard to see why the Prensado has garnered high awards, even if the price ($10) is a little steep. Is it the cigar of the year? Probably not if I’m picking. But I still think the Prensado is a very good cigar.

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.”

I first reviewed the Artesanos Retro Especiale Club back in October, only a month after the cigar hit the market. While I liked it then, I remember finding the initial profile a little too salty and some stale notes that occasionally interrupted an otherwise nice flavor of peanut, cedar, cream, black coffee, and citrus. I’m pleased to report several months of age have improved this cigar significantly. Gone is the overt saltiness, and the stale notes are nowhere to be found. What’s left is a cigar that burns perfectly, draws nicely, and has a balanced, nuanced taste and aroma. Purchasing a 25-count box for $175 is a solid investment that will pay dividends after only minimal age.

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.”

Viaje limited releases usually sell out quickly, so when these went on sale in May I snapped up a five-pack for just under $9 per cigar. Even though I’ve mostly had positive experiences with Viaje, the box of 35 was too many cigars to buy without trying any first. This Nicaraguan puro (6 x 48) features a pigtail cap and an oily, reddish-brown wrapper. The profile has lots of leather and wood, but also a more subtle cafe-au-lait sweetness. It starts out full-bodied but settles into a nice medium-full smoke after the first third. With tasty flavors and excellent construction, it’s a cigar I’m glad I bought.

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.”

Quorum is a bundle smoke made by J.C. Newman in Nicaragua that sells for under $2 and for as little as $1 when bought by the bundle. According the J.C. Newman’s website, Quorum is “the world’s most popular handmade cigar sold in bundles.” It features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper around Nicaraguan binder and mixed Nicaraguan filler. The Habano wrapper imparts a clean, woody flavor that I’ve come to recognize and enjoy from that Ecuadorian wrapper. Overall, it’s not particularly complex but it does feature unoffensive wood and earth flavors, with an occasional burst of sourness. Construction was good on the one Quorum I smoked, just don’t expect the ash to hold very long. While I’m not really a bundle cigar smoker and it’s far from my favorite cigar, I can see what makes this cigar so popular. It’s solidly-made, medium-bodied, and, best of all, very cheap.

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.”

Introduced as a new line by Gurkha, the Wicked Indie comes in four sizes, including the Churchill (7 x 50), the only one I’ve seen or tried. The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper covers a Nicaraguan binder and filler. And they combine for a nice pepper blast in the first third. Things settle down a bit after that with a little yeast and sweet tobacco. Smooth, short finish. I’d like to try this in the Robusto format where I think quicker development might make for a more interesting smoke.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: N/A