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. 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 here.

The Punch Champion at 4 1/2 inches by 60 ring gauge is a cigar that will not disappoint any smoker. It’s wrapped in an Ecuadorian Sumatran Wrapper with a Connecticut Binder and Dominican, Honduran, and Nicaraguan fillers. This cigar is one for the ages, especially at its valuable price point. A box of 25 can be found online for about $65. Not bad at all. The smoke was really rich and creamy and had hints of sweetness as well. Burn started off uneven, but self-corrected and was good throughout. Draw is superb considering the size and shape, and after I finished this “bowling pin” shaped smoke, it left me wanting more. I would definitely recommend this cigar to anyone, and I am sure you will have a new favorite after you try this.

Verdict= Buy.

–Jeremy Daniels blogs about cigars at The Cigar Corner

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

Here’s another gem you can’t find at your local B&M, but should waste no time ordering online. This seven inch by 50 ring gauge Don Kiki White Label is a standout smoke from Cuban Crafters. Harvested back in 2000, Cuban-seed Habano long-filler tobacco and a shade-grown Connecticut wrapper combine to create smooth hay and almond notes. About halfway through a nice spice kicks in, rendering this more interesting than your average mild smoke. While the delicate wrapper has some tendency to tear, this premium boutique stogie is still exceptional – especially when you consider the price.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

Tags: 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 cigar, made completely with Dominican tobacco, was introduced to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Litto Gomez’s La Flor Dominicana brand. Packed with spice, the corona-sized smoke is a full-bodied masterpiece. Fortunately, within all that spice the Litto Gomez Americano manages to maintain a balanced taste similar to the Coronado also made by La Flor Dominicana. At $10 a pop this isn’t an everyday cigar, but with excellent construction and a unique flavor profile, I can highly recommend it.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

Tags: cigars

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

For $3.75, this was an extraordinary cigar. It would have been extraordinary at twice the price. A medium-bodied smoke, the seven inch by 50 ring gauge stick had all of the sweetness, coffee, and dark chocolate tastes associated with a fine maduro wrapper. Construction was excellent, as seen by the straight slow burn and smooth draw. Even after removing the band it never got hot or bitter. More than once I simply held the cigar up and thought that any maduro fan seeking a bargain stick need look no further. By the box of 25, some Internet prices run to just a shade over $3.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

Tags: cigars

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

At $108 for a box of 20, the Amante Toro Natural from TinderBox.com is significantly pricier than your average, run-of-the-mill boutique smoke. Then again, this smooth and flavorful five and ½ inch by 52 ring gauge stogie is better than your average, run-of-the-mill boutique smoke. Now normally I’m not a huge fan of Connecticut Shade wrappers, but Amante has a fine blend of Nicaraguan, Honduran, and Dominican filler tobaccos to back it up with a creamy, almost caramel-like taste that’s just short of exceptional. With solid physical properties, I have no qualms about highly recommending this as a great mild smoke.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

Tags: cigars

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

Victor Sinclair’s Bohemian line presents interesting looking cigars with features like twisted pigtail caps, unfinished feet, and unusual bands. I recently smoked a North Beach Bamboo (five inches by 52 ring gauge), one of several I’ve had over the past year or so. They have all been fairly mild, but also fairly inconsistent in taste and finish. Earlier sticks were tastier than my latest, which began harshly but soon leveled off. The trouble was, nearly everything leveled off. Other than a little spice, this stogie served up a relatively bland concoction. It burned fine and produced a good amount of smoke, but I’d put it in the OK category at best. You can find a 24-count Bohemian sampler of four sizes for $40 at Cigars International.

Verdict = Sell.

–George E

Tags: cigars

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 nice flavor, excellent construction, and a bargain price, the Partagas Robusto has your name all over it. And at four and ½ inches by 49 ring gauge, all this can be yours in under an hour. My only critique is that the cedar-like taste is neither complex nor particularly interesting, but it is steady. At less than $5 apiece, what have you got to lose?

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

Tags: cigars