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.”

Last year La Flor Dominicana’s Coronado blend returned after being discontinued in 2013. In smoke shops, though, it seemed the cigar never went away at all, like the one where I found this Double Toro (7  x54) from the original run. (You can tell the new version by the new band which prominently features “LFD” in the center, while the old version only says “Coronado by La Flor” in small letters at the bottom.) The cigar features heavy oak, light cream, a little pepper, and a dusty, powdery element. It’s medium- to full-bodied with excellent construction that requires a deliberate slow pace. The original Coronado might not have sold well—hence the remaining availability despite the line being pulled from the market years ago—but I always enjoyed Coronado, and this was no exception.

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.

In our gift guide, we recommended picking up a special Cigar Rights of America sampler, which includes, among other cigars, this toro-sized Fuente Forbidden X. The Forbidden X blend features tobaccos from the same Dominican farms as the Opus X line, although the wrapper is shade-grown and the filler leaf is aged in Calvados (French apple brandy) barrels. The result is 90% of the strength of the Opus X and 50% more balance. It’s a nice medium- to full-bodied smoke with lots cedar, salt, and pepper, and a hint of red pepper spice that lingers on the lips and the roof of the mouth. Construction is good, despite a necessary touch-up towards the final third.

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.

Last summer, I bought a five-pack of this highly regarded cigar from MoyaRuiz Cigars for $38.50 and eagerly smoked a couple. I like strong cigars, but, honestly, La Jugada Habano beat me silly. I tucked the remaining sticks in the humidor and forget about them. Until today. I’m glad I went back. A year and a half of time did wonders for this Toro (6 x 52) with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, undisclosed double binder, and Nicaraguan filler. Age toned down the power a notch and allowed other flavors to shine, especially a wonderful sweetness in the last half. If you want a powerhouse, light it up at once. But if you have patience, I think you’ll be rewarded with an even better cigar.

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.

This “limited production” offering from Robert Wright’s Pura Soul Cigars is made by CLE in Honduras. Barber Pole features Corojo and Maduro wrappers around Honduran binder and filler tobaccos. The medium- to full-bodied smoke has plenty of cedary spice along with notes of roasted cashew, unsweetened chocolate, and hay. The box-pressed Robusto burns well and has excellent combustion qualities. Although the $11 price tag isn’t the best value, this is still a well-made, pleasant 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.

As Davidoff’s black band lines continue expanding beyond the company’s Dominican roots, the Escurio line features Brazilian tobacco along with Dominican inside an oily Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. It’s a spicy, complex smoke, even in this small size (3.25 x 50), which runs about $32 for a four-pack. Escurio is spicy, complex, and different. This profile likely won’t appeal to everyone, and I wouldn’t want to smoke it regularly. But as an occasional treat, it’s well worth a try.

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.”

This new limited release from Christian Eiroa has quite the story. It is said to be created from Honduran tobacco grown and kept by his father, Julio, to mark his son’s 20th anniversary in the cigar industry. The cigar’s elaborate packaging befits the lineage. The Robusto (5 x 50) runs around $12. Surprisingly, the blend is considerably less potent than the cigars with which Christian Eiroa made his mark. This one is medium in strength with a lot of the leather often found in Honduran leaves. As you smoke, that profile will almost certainly remind you of the major contributions made by the Eiroas over the years.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: N/A

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.”

Houston-based Stogies World Class Cigars has commissioned some of the industry’s best brands to produce a family of “H-Town” lanceros, including Quesada, Tatuaje, Room 101, Fratello, and La Palina. A Four Kicks Lancero from Crowned Heads was added to the series in October. It retails for about $9 and features the familiar Four Kicks recipe—Ecuadorian Habano wrapper around Nicaraguan tobaccos—in a lancero format (7.5 x 38). Bready in texture with notes ranging from crisp honey and red pepper to spicy cedar and chewy leather, this well-constructed specimen is a joy to smoke and an easy recommendation, especially if you’re a lancero admirer and/or a Four Kicks fan.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys