The Stogie Guys

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

This thick 6 inch, 56 ring gauge toro was given to me by Carlos Diez, the energetic new President of Reyes Family Cigars (known until recently as the Puros Indios cigar company) at the IPCPR Trade Show. It has a lightly colored Ecuador Sumatra wrapper with a Ecuador Sumatra binder and filler from four different countries (Brazil, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and Nicaragua). Once lit, I found the same buttery toast flavor that I noticed when I tried a robusto from this line in Las Vegas. The finish was cedary with a slightly soapy bitterness—something that was absent from the robusto. Construction was good as well. The cigar was pleasant, but I can’t help feeling that it will be better with more age.

Verdict = Hold.

–Patrick S

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

I bought a box of 25 of these box-pressed beauties for my dad and recently tried one during a trip back home to Chicago. The 5.5 inch, 44 ring gauge Corona Canela is every bit as good as the torpedo-shaped Capitan (pictured) with notes of fruit and leather, fine physical properties, and a berry-like sweetness off the wrapper. Cuban Crafters produces only 7,000 boxes annually and, at $50 a pop, you can’t go wrong.

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 take on a single cigar

This robusto features a dry, somewhat toothy maduro wrapper framed with classic white double bands. The taste is toasty with roasted coffee and chocolate flavors. Like just about every Arganese cigar I’ve tried, the construction is nearly flawless with an easy draw, even burn, and solid ash. Overall a very enjoyable cigar.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

With a Brazilian wrapper that’s grown in the shade instead of the sun, this blend doesn’t capture the chocolaty flavors I’ve come to expect from mata fina tobacco. The Green Label’s toasty sweetness, however, makes the 5.5 inch, 44 ring gauge Corona tantalizing in its own right. The strength charts somewhere between the mild White Label and the mighty Brown Label, and the construction is nothing short of superb. I think you’ll find this cigar well worth the $33 per bundle of 25 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 take on a single cigar. 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.

My neighbor introduced me to these 5.5 inch by 42 ring gauge Connecticut shade cigars, and I now have a whole spot in my humidor just for them. They are great smokes with a smooth, creamy, mild, flavor and a very even burn from start to finish—one of the few that I smoke down to an inch. With Dominican, Mexican, and Nicaraguan long-filler tobaccos, these are an easy recommendation at around $3 apiece.

Verdict = Buy.

-Submitted by Brian Keele of Fairborn, Ohio

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

This pricey ($14 per cigar…but is there any other kind of Davidoff?) stick features a somewhat rustic Connecticut shade wrapper, at least by Davidoff’s rigorous standards. Once lit I was welcomed by a cool, smooth, well-balanced smoke. The classically-sized robusto (5 x 50) is medium- to full-flavored with toasty notes and a long buttery finish. Except for requiring one unexpected relighting, the construction was superb. It paired fantastically with Johnnie Walker Gold Label.

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 take on a single cigar.

This fat new Robusto Grande (5 x 52) is a new addition to the Montecristo White line that I picked up at the IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas. It features the same mild cream and honey flavors I’ve come to expect and enjoy from the blend with excellent construction characteristics. The size is one of two new tubed sizes that will be hitting shops this month (the other a 6 x 54 Toro Grande).

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys