The Stogie Guys

First Smoke is a new series of Quick Smoke reviews, each evaluating a single pre-release cigar. Like the Quick Smokes we publish each Saturday and Sunday, each First Smoke is not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

At the Pinar del Rio booth this year at the IPCPR Trade Show, the focus was on this new super-premium offering. I’m a fan of Connecticut Broadleaf, so I’ve seen a lot of them, and in terms of dark, oily wrappers, few are as impressive as this seven-year-old wrapper. It surrounds dual binders from Nicaragua and Ecuador and filler consisting of Dominican Corojo and Nicaraguan Criollo. The cigar comes in four sizes (priced $16-19) and I smoked the Robusto (5 x 52).

The cigar starts off with slightly grassy notes, but soon settles into a more interesting combination of sourdough bread, light spice, and oak. It’s medium-bodied and well-balanced. Construction is excellent from the first draw to the final ash. Given the price, I wouldn’t rush out and buy a box of 15 when it is released later this fall. But fans of cigars with Connecticut Broadleaf wrappers shouldn’t hesitate to pick one up at their local shop.

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

Smoking Jacket is made at Hendrik Kelner Jr.’s Kelner Boutique Factory in the Dominican Republic. The line consists of four sizes each with a unique blend (in part because two sizes use a Brazilian Cubra wrapper and two, including the  Favoritos (6 x 46), use a 9-year-old Dominican Cotuí grown on Kelner family farms). The cigar starts out leathery and spicy, but settles into a medium- to full-bodied blend with cedar, earth, and a feint sweetness. It isn’t the most balanced smoke, but with lots of flavor and excellent construction it is enjoyable.

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.

My first MBombay was quite a pleasant experience. I was impressed with the cigar’s sweet spiciness and thick, rich smoke. The Churchill (7 x 48) exhibited several changes, keeping it interesting all the way. The wrapper and binder are from Ecuador, while the filler is a combination of Nicaraguan and Peruvian tobacco. My only complaint on the $13.50 stick was a not-so-hot burn that required numerous touch-ups, especially in the second half. Still, I look forward to sampling other lines from MBombay.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: MBombay

First Smoke is a new series of Quick Smoke reviews, each evaluating a single pre-release cigar. Like the Quick Smokes we publish each Saturday and Sunday, each First Smoke is not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

 

Whether by design or not, Nica Rustica has always seemed like sort of a discount version of the immensely popular Liga Privada No. 9. (Think of it as a second wine from a top Bordeaux producer.) Both feature Connecticut Broadleaf wrappers (Liga uses “Broadleaf #1 Darks” while the Nica Rustica uses a “Broadleaf Medium”), and both debuted in just one size, a Toro, before expanding to multiple vitolas. Continuing to follow in Liga’s footsteps, Nica Rustica is expanding with two new sizes this year: Belly (7.5 x 54) and Short Robusto (4.5 x 50).

The Nica Rustica Short Robusto features powdery smoke that coats the mouth in oak, earth, bread, grass, and pepper. Although the final Nica Rustica blend doesn’t use a wild Nicaraguan strain of tobacco that pre-release test blends included, the rustic, gritty characteristics are still evident, which is exactly what Nica Rustica intends. Construction is excellent and features Drew Estate’s trademark smoke production. You won’t mistake it for Liga, but with a $5.95 MSRP, the Nica Rustica Short Robusto delivers good value.

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.

I have no idea where I got this cigar or how long it’s been sitting in my humidor. But I’m pretty sure I won’t be smoking another. Not because it was bad, but because it seems that Maraya Cigars is out of business. Its New York shop closed earlier this year, the phone is out of service, and a website on the reverse of the band calls up an error page. And that’s a shame because it was an interesting smoke. The Ecuadorian Connecticut shade wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and Dominican and Nicaraguan Corojo and Criollo ’98 filler combined for a spicy, milder cigar with some sweetness and a light hay in the background. If you see one, give it a try.

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.”

CAO unveiled Concert at the 2012 IPCPR Trade Show, but now you don’t hear much about it. Only a few boxes were on display at the most recent convention, and I’ve always got the feeling the line failed to live up to some high expectations from the team behind it. The Amp (5.5 x 46) features medium- to full-bodied flavors with breadiness, cafe-au-lait, and cedar. The blend uses an Ecuadorian Habano Rosado wrapper around Nicaraguan and Honduran filler. It’s solidly made, tasty, and affordable at $5.75.

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.

Released a couple of years ago, this line from Jesus Fuego was an early adopter in identifying its use of Mexican San Andrés tobacco (binder). The other components are an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper and filler that’s half Nicaraguan Corojo and half Honduran Corojo. And, as you’d expect from the name, the 5-inch smoke is fat, with a 60-ring gauge. Unfortunately, I didn’t get much flavor or smoke, and the draw was too tight. I couldn’t help but wonder if one of the smaller vitolas would produce better performance and results.

Verdict = Sell.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys