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.

A while back, I picked up a sampler pack offering a variety from Altadis’ numerous H. Upmann lines. Overall, I found them to be OK, but nothing particularly notable. This 50 ring gauge by five inch stick features an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, a Connecticut broadleaf binder, and filler from Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua. A mild cigar, it produced lots of smoke and no bite. A straight tobacco taste predominated, accented with some leather and wood.

Verdict = Hold.

–George E

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

This lighter-bodied Dominican has what I call the typical Fuente taste: woody with enough spice and vanilla to keep things interesting. Salt is also dominant, so be sure to have a trusty beverage handy for this six and ¾ inch by 50 ring gauge journey. You may have to touch up the burn every now and again, but construction is fairly solid.

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.

I hadn’t smoked any El Tiante cigars since around the time of my review of the Maduro Torpedo last fall. If my memory serves me well, this attractive Torpedo has benefited from six months of aging. Like the Maduro, this cigar has a flavor profile that is unlike most of the new cigars being created by the industry these days. The medium-bodied flavors include cedar, grass, earth, and floral notes. The construction is flawless.

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.

The R4 is generously packed full of Nicaraguan tobacco and adorned with a silky oscuro wrapper. But that’s about where the fun stops and the pain begins. Overly tight construction leads to numerous burn problems, a stiff and unforgiving draw, and a steady buildup of tar. The thin, ropelike wisps of noxious smoke offended me and my female friend, herself a cigarette smoker, who likened the aroma to that of “burning rubber.”

Verdict = Sell.

–Jon N

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 name Petrus carries a lot of weight in the world of fine wines, and while I realized Petrus cigars (by Felipe Gregorio) bore no connection to the French chateau, my expectations were high. Calling a cigar Petrus is like calling a boat Ferrari; intellectually, you know there’s no real connection or guarantee of quality, but, emotionally, you make that connection anyway. Unfortunately, I should have listened to my brain on this one. The burn here is horrendously uneven, the packing is loose, and the flavor is bitter and unbalanced. Very disappointing.

Verdict = Sell.

–Jon N

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.

There isn’t too much for me too add to the full review done by my colleague Patrick A.  This is a rich, flavorful, attractive, and well-constructed smoke.  Quintessentially maduro, this box-pressed toro features chocolate, earth, and roasted flavors.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys