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.”

A store-exclusive release that also appeared in the recent Saints & Sinners club membership pack, the Cohete (4 x 50) is based on the Tatuaje Brown Label blend that’s made at My Father Cigars in Nicaragua. Previous versions from 2009 and 2006 were made in Miami. The cigar features lots of dark cocoa and earth, backed by oak, a hint of creaminess, and subtle leather and spice. While generally I consider the Brown Label to be medium-full, this is more straight full-bodied, and that’s a good thing. (Although it does take its foot off the gas slightly after the first third.) With excellent combustion it easily earns a recommendation.

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.”

I was a big fan of the 601 Serie “Red” line that was manufactured under the EO Brands umbrella by Erik Espinosa and Eddie Ortega before the duo split up in the summer of 2012. Until recently, I had a stock of these smokes on hand. Remarkably, only yesterday did I try the new 601 Red Label Habano that’s made by Espinosa Cigars. I was pleased to find it smoked just like the original: lots of pepper spice, excellent combustion qualities, a toasty texture, and a superb aroma. Looks like I’ll be re-stocking my supply.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Espinosa Cigars

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.”

Launched in the summer of 2012 by Tom Lazuka and Christian Eiroa, Asylum Cigars now boasts several lines, including Asylum, Asylum 13 (which is apparently the best-seller), The Ogre, and Schizo. Asylum 13 is a Nicaraguan puro with a clean, oily Habano wrapper. It comes in three sizes including Fifty (5 x 50), which is priced favorably at $5 for a single. The robusto-sized smoke has a full-bodied, aggressively spicy profile of that quickly transitions into a creamier, more balanced flavor of red pepper, dry wood, cashew, and leather. Don’t let the transition fool you, though. In all, the Asylum 13 Fifty packs a big punch. It also packs big quality for the money, making it an easy recommendation.

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.”

A highly unique band takes for its inspiration an old 8-bit color video game complete with names that I’m not even going to try to describe. Made in Nicaragua, the cigar has a medium brown Nicaraguan Habano wrapper from the Jalapa region that surrounds dual Nicaraguan binders and filler from Mexico and Nicaragua. It features lots of cedar, a tannic tingle on the tongue, and hints of coffee and black pepper spice. Construction is notably flawless and the balance is excellent.

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.”

Pondering my colleague’s recent article about what he calls “Classic Rock Cigars,” I couldn’t help but recall how much I enjoy the Padrón 2000 Maduro (5 x 50)—and how long it had been since I fired one up. No, this cigar isn’t the latest, the greatest, or the most hyped. But it does offer a fantastic, peppery profile of espresso, cocoa, raisin, and dark chocolate, all for less than $6. Like some of my favorite old rock songs, it’s classic and always reliable.

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.”

Proud of his family’s tobacco heritage, Christian Eiroa also declared his cigar independence with an eponymous creation earlier this year. It’s a Honduran puro from beginning to end, rolled at his new factory in Danlí. Four sizes have MSRPs from $8.95 to $10.95. I smoked the Toro (6 x 54) and was impressed. It’s tasty and fully lives up to Eiroa’s description of “bold and full-bodied.”

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: N/A