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 cigar has hit the Stogie Guys reverse trifecta: negative reviews from all three of us. Though the other verdicts were rendered on the natural, I didn’t find this darker sibling any better. Despite what sounds like an interesting blend – a Connecticut broadleaf maduro wrapper, a Brazilian mata fina maduro binder, and Dominican filler tobaccos – the cigar disappoints with bitter and harsh tastes. Perhaps the most amazing attribute is that a cigar with all that maduro tobacco seems to have none of the typical maduro sweetness.

Verdict = Sell.

–George E

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.

At just over four inches with a 40 ring gauge, Cohiba’s Siglo I vitola takes about 40 minutes to burn from light to nub. It packs a full, deceptive spice into a short format that’s perfect for mid-afternoon breaks. The price ($8.60 per stick) is quite steep, though, and the finish is a little hot for my liking. I’d rather take my time with a larger, smoother size from this famed Cohiba line.

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 Vibe is something of a soul mate to EO’s Reo. Both feature big and bold bands, multi-country blends, and good pedigrees. The Vibe has a Corojo wrapper and tobacco from Honduras and Nicaragua. It looks nice, has a fine draw, and burns evenly throughout. It just doesn’t have much taste. Even the spice that’s typical of Corojo wrappers is missing. Bland. Too bland, in fact, to make any poor puns about bad vibrations.

Verdict = Sell.

–George E

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.

Reo was an EO Brands hit before Pepin Garcia began blending for the company and came up with some real home runs like the 601. Its name comes not from the rock group or the old motor car company, but the initials of those involved in its creation: Rocky Patel, Erik Espinosa, and Eddie Ortega. This box-pressed stick sports a large, trendy looking band and a lovely chocolate-colored wrapper from Costa Rica. The filler is a mix of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos. Sounds interesting. But it wasn’t. After kicking off nicely with creamy smoke, the Reo soon lost all taste for a couple of inches. Then there was a little pepper, but that didn’t continue either. Overall, I found the Reo to be a pretty boring cigar.

Verdict = Sell.

–George E

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 Cuban robusto features a lovely, smooth, deep brown wrapper, draped in the classic red, gold, and white Hoyo band. The flavors are a wonderful medley of cocoa, cedar, and black cherry and the construction was good – making this is one of my favorite Cubans. No wonder Patrick A rated this cigar four and 1/2 stogies back in December.

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.

If you’re looking for a smooth, satisfying mild smoke, La Princesa de Cuba should be on your shopping list. The latest cigar from Victor de la Cruz, this time with a lovely Connecticut shade-grown wrapper from Ecuador, has a warm, light tobacco taste with a delicate finish. The six and 1/2 inch by 52 ring gauge stick burned slowly, and produced rich smoke and a crumbly ash.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

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.

With a Brazilian wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos, the Brazilia line from CAO packs some wonderful tastes of coffee and dark chocolate. Full-flavored yet smooth, the lengthy seven inch by 50 ring gauge Ipanema also offers a stable white ash, a straight burn, and an effortless draw – just like the Gol. This is an easy recommendation in the reasonable $5 price range.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys