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.

Last April, George E found the Toro in this line to have excellent construction but little flavor. The five inch by 50 ring gauge Robusto isn’t much different. It starts out with a warm tobacco taste and some clove spice, but that fades into hardly any flavor at all. The physical properties are very impressive, especially for a sub-$5 stick. All the same, this has got to be the mildest cigar produced in Estelí – perhaps too mild.

Verdict = Hold.

–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.

This line of smokes is essentially La Gloria Cubana’s take on Fuente’s Hemingway idea. All the vitolas are perfecto-shaped (barring the pyramid) and are comprised of top-tier tobaccos with specialized and extensive aging. The four and 5/8 inch by 49 ring gauge maduro Felicias is delicious. The cedar aging provides a very rich, woody taste unlike any other. These are not your average maduro cigars, however, especially since they do not have any of the traditional coffee or chocolate flavors. Regardless of your taste this is a phenomenal smoke and, at around $4, it should not be overlooked.

Verdict = Buy.

–Submitted by Chris Verhoeven of Washington, DC.

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

Ashton’s consistently rate high at StogieGuys.com. And why not? Their lines present consistently high-quality cigars. Ashton Classics, with Connecticut Shade wrappers and a Dominican blend of fillers, are touted as “a consistently pleasurable smoke for all cigar lovers.” That gets no argument from me. The 8-9-8 is a six and 1/2 inch stick with a 44 ring gauge for which I paid $7.25. The burn and draw were perfect and the mild to medium flavors were a rich mix of sweetness, hay, and light spice. A classic, indeed.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: Ashton

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.

This is a strong and intense cigar, but the nicotine certainly doesn’t overpower. The draw is very easy and the burns is good and even, although a little too rapid. A smaller than normal opening cut is recommended. The main flavor is not very definitive, but I definitely detect a woody taste. Overall, not the best that Romeo y Juliet offers, but I would still recommend trying this cigar.

Verdict = Buy.

-Submitted by Chris from St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

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

This 30-40 minute smoke is a wonderful choice when you’re short on time or it’s a bit too cold to stand outside for two hours. At just over four inches with a 40 ring gauge, you’ll get spice and floral flavors similar to the Petit Edmundo, a straight burn, and a nicely layered ash. The $4.40 price tag is fairly accessible, especially compared to other similarly sized Cubans.

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.

The Camaroon wrapper was smooth and just about perfect. This Gurkha Special Edition (6.5″ x 54) was nice and creamy from start to finish. It had a very delicate balance of woodiness and floral scents. The underlying taste of cedar was less than the Gurkha Ancient Warrior, but every bit as enjoyable. It produced a clean gray ash and burned even. I like the draw of a thicker cigar and found this one to be right up my alley, producing lots of smoke.

Verdict = Buy.

-Submitted by Toby from Uniontown, PA

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

Old Henry is a house brand from Holt’s made by cigar blender extraordinaire Don Pepin Garcia. This five inch by 50 ring gauge Nicaraguan puro features a flawless chocolate brown wrapper with a grizzled bulldog on the band. Inside is medium to full flavors of chocolate, earth, and leather. Like most Pepin cigars it is flavorful yet well-balanced.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys