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.

From Te-Amo’s World Selection Series comes the Nicaraguan Blend – a nicely built cigar with a criollo wrapper, a San Andres binder, and a Nicaraguan filler. With hearty flavors of cedar and paper, you won’t find complexity or balance from this five inch by 54 ring gauge stick. In the $2.50 to $4.00 range, I wanted to recommend this robusto, but it gets terribly sour and bitter.

Verdict = Sell.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

[Editor’s Note: Don’t forget to enter the StogieGuys.com College Football Bowl Contest for a chance to win free cigars!]

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

This toro features a rustic, yet attractive deep brownish-red corojo wrapper. I found it to be a delicious medium-flavored smoke, with cedar and honey flavors. The construction was also impressive, with a tight draw, even burn, and very sturdy ash. Unlike George’s experience with the maduro, I can thoroughly recommend this cigar.

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 robusto-sized smoke is considered one of the most sought Cuban cigars currently being made. So I was surprised when it only got a three stogie rating due to seriously sub-par construction. Fortunately, my experience was different. While the burn was slightly uneven, overall construction was very good. As for flavor, after an initial bitterness the cigar blossomed into a tasty medium-bodied cigar, with cedar, subtle earth and a bit of spice. It went perfectly with a dark cup of coffee in the midday.

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.

Between giving it a great review and naming it my 2007 Thanksgiving cigar of choice, I’ve made no secret of my affinity for the Brown Label Toro. The four and ½ inch by 54 ring gauge Figurado, not surprisingly, is another winner. The sun-grown Cuban-seed criollo wrapper and corojo binder provide the same tastes of licorice, spice, earth, toasted nuts, and cocoa in a much shorter format – all for under $1.50 per stick when bought by the box.

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.

Produced in-house at Island Smoke Shop in Key Largo, Flordia, Santiago Cabana is the lesser-known sister brand of the full-bodied cult favorite, El Original. This five inch by 50 ring gauge robusto sports an evenly hued Ecuadoran wrapper with thin veins. Opens with a blast of red spice, then settles to a medium body with a distinctly meaty characteristic. Pepper returns with hints of cocoa on the close. A complex four-nation blend, excellent construction, and a $3.95 price tag make the U.S.-manufactured Santiago Cabana a keeper.

Verdict = Buy.

–Submitted by Kevin K from Land O Lakes, FL

photo credit: Kevin Kolber

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

This five inch by 50 ring gauge cigar is almost too easygoing – even for a smoker like me who’s not afraid to say he likes mild sticks. With a Connecticut Shade wrapper and Dominican filler tobaccos, the only discernible flavors from the Pioneer Valley Especiales line are paper and butterscotch. The physical properties are good, especially for a stogie that retails for just over $4, but you won’t find anything too exciting here.

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 quick smoke submitted by a reader. If you’d like to submit your own for publication, please contact us.

The Camaroon wrapper was smooth and just about perfect. It 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 Ancient Warrior, but every bit as enjoyable. It produced a clean gray ash and burned even to the green Boer band. I like the draw of a thicker cigar and found this one to be right up my alley, producing lots of thick smoke.

Verdict = Buy.

–Submitted by Toby of Uniontown, PA.