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.”

These days some seem to have forgotten about the original La Traviata, predecessor to the recently introduced La Traviata Maduro. But this 2009 release has a lot to offer—and it seems to be getting better with age. The Divino (5 x 50) now has a little less pepper than I remember and more pronounced notes of sweet cedar, cream, and roasted nuts. That makes it any easy recommendation, especially with the cigar’s superb construction and $5 price tag.

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.”

One of Dion Giolito’s most recent projects is Singulare. Singulare is a limited edition line that will feature a new blend and size every year. This year’s cigar, the Phantom (6 x 50), is a Nicaraguan puro. The Phantom is on the lighter side of medium-bodied and produces a thick, creamy smoke. The cigar changes frequently, offering up a varying mixture of caramel, cedar, wheat, honey, and some floral notes with a slight spice. Retailing for between $10 and $12 apiece, the Phantom is an excellent smoke and well worth the investment.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick M

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.”

To be honest, I knew nothing about Cuba Caiman before smoking this Doble Corona (7.5 x 49). According to their website, the cigar features an Ecuadorian habano wrapper, a Honduran binder, and filler from Mexico, Nicaragua, and Honduras. It includes an interesting combination of toasty notes and a marshmallow sweetness, but also suffers from some less enjoyable sawdust flavors. The medium-bodied smoke is well-constructed with an easy draw, even burn, and sturdy ash.

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.”

I picked up this corona-sized (5.1 x 42) smoke from my local tobacconist for about $9. It made for a wonderful lunch break, producing a harmony of flavors like leather, milk chocolate, nutmeg, and spice. The burn was perfect. I can see why Illusione creator Dion Giolito calls this his one and only “desert island” cigar.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick 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.”

Before A.J. Fernandez created his first solo release, San Lotano, he blended cigars for a host of cigar makers. He also created Diesel and Man O’ War for online and mail-order giant Cigars International. Ruination was the full-bodied followup to the original Man O’ War, made with an Ecuadorian habano ligero wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and Nicaraguan and Honduran filler. The Belicoso (5.7 x 56) features an impressive depth of flavor, including chewy nut, coffee, cream, leather, earth, and vanilla. It’s a full-bodied smoke with just a hint of black pepper on the finish. Available for around $6-7, the well-constructed Man O’ War is highly recommended for fans of strong, flavorful cigars.

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.”

From the thin, simple band to the wrapper’s rich tobacco aroma, this is a cigar that announces itself as a traditional smoke. And it follows through from name to nub. The blend is a skillful balance of sweetness and pepper, with a Nicaraguan corojo binder wrapping Nicaraguan filler tobaccos and covered in a Connecticut-seed wrapper grown in Ecuador. With a price under $8 for the Churchill (7 x 50), this stick from Berger & Argenti is well worth a try.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

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.”

Much of the talk about the Hammer + Sickle cigar seems to focus on the use of a symbol used, even though the creator of Hammer + Sickle  insists the name, which comes from the brand of vodka he owns, is about the Russian people—not communism. Sensitivities in the area are understandable given the Cuban history that permeates cigars, but when I grabbed this Robusto (5 x 50) from my humidor the only thing that concerned me was if the cigar was any good. It’s a distinctly mild smoke, but a complex combination of cashew, cream, subtle cedar, and pepper makes it interesting. With excellent construction, the $7 Hammer + Sickle is a strong buy for fans of mild cigars.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys