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 re-blended version of the CAO Gold features a golden wrapper with some prominent dark veins and soft spots. It’s a mild smoke with roasted nut, butter, and subtle grass notes. As with most CAO cigars, the Crémant (6 x 52) is well-constructed with a sturdy ash. All in all, while it’s a tasty smoke, it doesn’t have a lot of depth. I’d be interested to see if this new version of the CAO Gold develops more complexity with time.

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.”

One of this year’s most anticipated releases, Murcielago is a product of Eddie Ortega, Erik Espinosa, and Don Pepin Garcia. The Rothschild (4.1 x 50) has surprisingly few pre-light notes. But once you add fire to the Nicaraguan filler, Mexican binder, and San Andreas maduro wrapper, it produces a big flavor of roasted nuts, sweet cocoa, and black coffee. I look forward to sampling other sizes in this well-constructed new blend.

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 version of the Liga Privada is found exclusively in the CRA sampler, which is available only to Cigar Rights of America members. It is a well-constructed cigar with a dark, coarse Connecticut wrapper, very few veins, and pre-light notes of chocolate. It starts out toasty, but soon evolves into a dry, cool smoke with dark chocolate flavors and a hint of peppery spice.

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 recently picked up this long corona (6.25 x 45) from my local tobacconist. He said it had been aging in an Old Man and the Sea limited edition book box since 2006 and, after looking over the yellowed cellophane, I was inclined to believe him. With a rough Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, a Connecticut broadleaf binder, and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua and Honduras, the Library Edition yields a leathery taste with spice and a bit of nutmeg. It smokes well with a finely layered white ash. Give one of these a try if you’re lucky enough to find an aging cache.

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.”

Montecruz bands have surrounded many different cigars over the years. This Altadis-made Montecruz, introduced January 2009, features a ten-year-old Cameroon wrapper surrounding a Nicaraguan binder and a filler of tobacco from Peru, Honduras, and Nicaragua. It’s attractive, notably silky, and vein-free. The cigar is balanced and medium-bodied, with a straightforward graham cracker sweetness with a bit of cedary spice. At around $5 each, and with excellent construction, it certainly warrants a try.

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.”

Even though this line from Erik Espinosa and Eddie Ortega is only a few years old, smoking a Toro (6 x 50) for the first time in awhile feels like catching up with an old friend. The Nicaraguan puro, dressed in an oily habano wrapper, displays a masterful balance of power and subtlety. Flavors include cocoa, pepper, and toasty tobacco. Minor burn issues detract only slightly from the outstanding taste of this Don Pepin Garcia creation.

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.”

Another Perdomo, another satisfying smoke. This dark, oily Nicaraguan puro produces a classic maduro smoke. The mixture of sweetness, cocoa, and roasted coffee is smoothly blended for a medium strength cigar. The six inch by 50 ring gauge Epicure runs a little under $7, which may be a tad high. But if you’re a maduro fan, give it a try.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E