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.”

Made at the prolific Raices Cubanas factory with oversight and blending assistance from Alec Bradley’s Alan Rubin, El Diario is a full-bodied blend with a Honduran wrapper, double binders, and filler from Honduras and Nicaragua. KB is short for “Kill Bill,” because of how full-bodied La Palina founder Bill Paley found the cigar. It’s not the most full-bodied cigar you’ll smoke, but it’s no lightweight; lots of dark chocolate, earth, and spice. At $35 for a four-pack, it’s pretty expensive for such a small cigar (4.25 x 40), but it’s also plenty tasty.

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.”

If you’re the kind of cigar enthusiast who enjoys tons and tons of smoke production with each puff (I’m looking at you, Drew Estate fans), make sure to try the V32 Khilla Corona (4.9 x 50). It’s made by Berger & Argenti in the painstaking entubado fashion, which yields excellent combustion and enormous volumes of smoke. A Nicaraguan puro, it has a dark Jalapa wrapper around tobaccos from the Estelí, Condega, Jalapa, and Jinotega regions. Flavors of nougat, espresso, chocolate, and cedar abound. The cost is about $11 for a single, and it’s worth every penny. You can’t miss this smoke, what with its attention-grabbing bands and fuse-like core of ligero filler that extends beyond the foot.

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.”

I was a fan of the 7th Capa Especial (5.9 x 46) when it first was released, quickly smoking my way through one of the first boxes available. The cigar features a rustic Sumatra wrapper around Nicaraguan tobaccos. Except for the wrapper, it’s the same blend as the regular Tatuaje Brown Label. While this particular cigar had many of the coffee and earth flavors I remembered, it lacked the sweetness and balance that made the Tatauje 7th Capa Especial a favorite of mine. Maybe this particular stick was dud—I’m certainly not writing off the blend with one subpar stick out of a few dozen—but for $8-9 I would expect better.

Verdict = Hold.

–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’ve been a fan of Dona Flor since I was introduced to the Brazilian company’s cigars in 2006. More recently, when Dona Flor re-launched in the U.S. market this summer, I enjoyed reviewing the Puro Mata Fina and Seleção lines, both of which I liked. The Reserva Especial is another good blend with solid flavors of tea, earth, chocolate, and leather. But I find the Robusto (5 x 52) has occasional stale notes and some burn issues, so I can’t fully endorse the smoke—especially since it retails for $12.

Verdict = Hold.

–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 Illusione Singulare 2012 continues to improve. The toro features lots of roasted notes, along with cafe-au-lait and oak. The well-constructed cigar features perfectly balanced medium- to full-bodied flavors. Needless to say, I highly recommend it. For a surprisingly enjoyable pairing, smoke one with a glass of champagne.

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.”

Eddie Ortega’s first line on his own has been steadily gaining fans and generating positive reviews, including Patrick A’s four-stogie rating for the No. 12 size. I’d say much the same for the longer No. 10, a tasty cigar with a smooth mix of flavors and a great, long finish. It’s not as strong as many of Ortega’s past cigars, but rather sophisticated and intensely satisfying. The Ecuadorian Habano Rosado wrapper may appear a little dry, but don’t be misled. With the Nicaraguan filler mix, it’s a great combination.

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.”

A collaboration between the Quesada sisters of SAG/MATASA and Janny Garcia of My Father Cigars, 3 Reynas is made in Nicaragua with a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper around Nicaraguan binder and filler. The Robusto (5 x 50) costs $7. This sample is more full-bodied than the previous 3 Reynas cigars I’ve smoked. I’d characterize it as medium-bodied, as apposed to mild-medium. With earth, coffee, milk chocolate, and mild oak, it’s a great smoke for the Sunday paper and a good coffee.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys