The Stogie Guys

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

This magnificent specimen from RoMa Craft Tobac includes a toothy, rustic, dark Mexican San Andrés wrapper, a Connecticut Broadleaf binder, and four different types of Nicaraguan filler tobaccos. It also boasts an aromatic Dominican olor component, and a Pennsylvanian double ligero leaf known as “Green River Sucker One.” The result is a strong, full-bodied cigar with dense, rich flavors packed into a compact (4.25 x 52) format. Notes include dark chocolate, leather, espresso, black pepper, nougat, and dry oak. Construction is exquisite. There are few better ways to spend $10.

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 verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

Another in J.C. Newman’s production of lower-priced cigars, the four-vitola Perla del Mar line marries an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper with Nicaraguan filler and binder tobaccos. The G is a box-pressed 6.25-inch toro with a ring gauge of 54 and a price tag around $6. A little pepper and a little wood are the primary flavors from start to finish. It’s a fairly one-dimensional smoke, but for those who like a mild Connecticut, it is well worth lighting up, especially for the agreeable price.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: Perla del Mar

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

This Padrón Serie 1964 vitola is exclusive to Florida retailer Smoke Inn. It retails for about $12 and is presented in a small, winter-friendly format (4 x 50). Construction is sublime, and the flavor profile includes notes of cream, almond, cedar, cocoa, and vanilla. About five months have passed since I reviewed it in June, and I can’t really detect any discernible changes. That’s OK in my book, though, as this Nicaraguan puro was unsurprisingly wonderful from the get-go.

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 verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

The Honduran Criollo wrapper on this 6.25-inch torpedo from Kristoff presents a lovely floral pre-light aroma. I didn’t, however, find that when smoking it. Those flavors were more light spice, nuts, and a little woodiness. The one I smoked had a damaged foot (note to manufacturers: cellophane helps), which I assume happened during shipping. After getting past that, it was a pleasant, slow-burning cigar with lots of smoke and medium strength from its Dominican and Nicaraguan filler.

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 verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

La Aurora 107 debuted in 2010 to celebrate the storied history of the oldest cigar manufacturer in the Dominican Republic. Last year, a limited edition 107 offshoot was introduced called Cosecha 2006. It sports a Habana-seed wrapper grown in Ecuador around a Brazilian Mata Fina binder and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. The Corona Gorda (6 x 47, $10) is my favorite of three sizes. It boasts toasty, medium-bodied flavors of coffee, cedar (six months of age has softened the spice a bit, but it’s still quite sharp), cereals, and citrus. The combustion qualities are superb.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys