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.”

This masterful smoke from Pete Johnson boasts an unfinished foot, an oily Connecticut broadleaf wrapper, and Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. Short and skinny in stature (4 x 40), the Petite Cazadores Reserva packs loads of flavor and complexity into a quick format that’s ideal for a lunch break or cold weather. I taste dark chocolate, earth, nuts, caramel, and tea. What an outstanding way to spend $4. Highly recommended.

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 limited edition smoke features a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper, hard-to-grow Nicaraguan pelo de oro binder, and Nicaraguan filler. It’s a rich combination of earth, chocolate, black coffee, and lots of spice, especially in final third. It reminds me of the the 2009 Tatuaje La Verite, probably because both use pelo de oro, though the Jamie Garcia has a bit more bite and less balance. Ultimately, this is a good cigar with the only major drawback being the price tag, which is a hefty $16.50. At that price, I can’t give it my most enthusiastic recommendation, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth trying at least once.

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.” The following is a Guest Quick Smoke, submitted by a StogieGuys.com reader. If you’d like to submit your own for publication, please contact us.

I stopped in last night to my usual smoke shop and the owner suggested I try a new cigar he just got in over the weekend called Kangaroo Alley. The one I tried is called the Joey. It’s a robusto (5 x 50) with a Habano wrapper and Honduran tobacco. The owner said they’re handmade in Danlí, Honduras. The Joey starts off a little slow but, as you settle into this cigar, it packs a nice kick. Not a smoke for the meek. It has hints of cocoa and spice, a nice even draw, and it holds its ash very well. All that was missing was a glass of scotch or top shelf tawny port. Pretty cool presentation too; instead of a box the cigars come in a velour pouch. Check your local tobacconist for Kangaroo Alley, or buy directly from the source.

Verdict = Buy.

–Submitted by James B. Guyton of Pittsburgh, PA

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.”

Back in May, I recommended this Dominican puro. Four months later, it still gets an enthusiastic thumbs up. The medium-bodied cigar has excellent balance and none of the leathery notes that sometimes dominate Dominican puros. Instead, it features a combination of cocoa, coffee, roasted nut, and earth. Construction is good with a notably white ash. Best of all, it costs under $5 per 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.”

The Heritage line, introduced in the summer of 2010, may be the fullest-bodied regular production cigar in the Avo portfolio. But that doesn’t mean it trades strength for substance. The Robusto (4.9 x 50) still has plenty of subtlety to go along with its boldness, with notes of leather, mushroom, bread, and black pepper as the most dominant flavors. The aftertaste is especially spicy. I paid $7.50 for this Ecuadorian-wrapped cigar at my local tobacconist in Chicago, and I didn’t experience any buyer’s remorse.

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.”

If a cigar ever had as much hype surrounding it as the Behike, I sure haven’t seen it. The thick (5.7 x 54) Cuban commands $50 per cigar and still is regularly sold out. It’s a complex smoke, with hay, cedar, honey, coffee, and molasses, although it doesn’t change much from start to finish. The result is a pleasant medium-bodied smoke with perfect balance. Were it not for the price I could easily recommend it. But with its hefty price tag, it may only be worth trying if you’re a true connoisseur–and it’s not a cigar to go back to again and again.

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 new line extension from Ashton and Don Pepin Garcia sports a flawless Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut wrapper around Nicaraguan filler, a combination that creates a tasty medium-strength cigar. Flavors shift several times throughout the smoke and include wood, toast, nuts, and a bit of floral notes laced with occasional spice. A pleasing cigar at about $7.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: N/A