The Stogie Guys

If you thought of Avo as a predominantly mild brand, up until two years ago you’d be right. But recently Avo has taken on a more full-bodied edge, first with its 2009 and 2010 Limited Editions, and now with the Avo Heritage.

Introduced at the IPCPR Trade Show in August, the Avo Heritage is a four-size line with a Churchill (6.75 x 48), a Toro (6 x 50), a Short Robusto (4 x 56), and the Robusto (4.9 x 50) that is the subject of this review. Each costs $7-9 (this Robusto ran me $8 at a local Virginia shop).

The blend features Dominican binder and filler tobaccos with the same Ecuadorian sungrown wrapper that Avo featured in its 2009 “Compañero” Limited Edition. It is a dark, oily stick with a few prominent veins. A pre-light draw reveals musty notes and some spicy leather on the lips.

Once lit, the flavor is full-bodied with an intriguing mix of tastes. Leather, cinnamon, mustiness, peppery spice, cream, and cocoa are all evident.

Towards the final third, bready flavors are introduced as the peppery spice fades. What was once a full-bodied smoke loses a bit of its power but adds finesse as the profile takes on more rounded, balanced characteristics.

It’s very enjoyable smoke with commendable combustion qualities. Only one of my samples required a slight touch-up for an uneven burn. With an abundance of complexity, strength, and finesse, the AVO Heritage Robusto shines as one of the best new cigars of 2010 and earns an impressive rating of four and a half stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

In 2008, Pete Johnson launched a limited release around Halloween called “The Frank.” It came in coffin-shaped boxes of 13 cigars. Only 13 tobacconists nationwide got to carry these rare, treasured cigars, each of which sold for $13.

Johnson followed up the blend’s success with two new monster-inspired cigars in 2009: “Drac,” a fang-shaped torpedo (6.75 x 52) with a red and black band around the foot, and “Boris,” a Churchill that was marketed as “Frank out of costume” (because of its non-green band). Both highly sought-after cigars sold out quickly and are now being hoarded by collectors.

This year’s monster release is called “The Face,” a Mexican-wrapped, chubby cigar that Johnson calls “real ugly.” The band will be made of tobacco, enabling customers to smoke the cigar all the way through. Only 666 boxes will be shipped for an October 13 delivery, then another 1,300 boxes of 10 will be available on the week of Halloween.

Before “The Face” becomes the talk of the town—and quickly sells out—I wanted to examine the Tatuaje Boris. This cigar measures seven inches long with a ring gauge of 49. It sports a rustic Ecuadorian Sumatra rosado wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos.

Prior to sampling the two Boris cigars I smoked for this review, I had read that they smell like mint candies. I would have to agree. The pre-light aroma of this oily, firm-feeling smoke reminds me of the Frango Mints that Marshall Field’s used to make in Chicago. That takes me back.

After toasting the foot and establishing an even light, the first thing I notice is the texture of the smoke, which is simultaneously creamy and dry. Flavors include herby spice, leather, roasted nuts, and a sweet baseline of subtle mint. Superbly balanced, the Boris has a unique profile you can get lost in as its mild flavor slowly intensifies to the medium-bodied spectrum.

The cigar’s excellent physical properties allow you to do so without interruption. The white ash is sandy yet solid, the draw is easy, and the burn is straight—exactly what you’d expect from a $13 smoke. My only complaint is that, on both of my samples, at least one re-light was required.

As it concludes, the Boris stands as a wonderful example of Pete Johnson’s immense talent. This Halloween release is barely shy of tremendous after only one year of aging. So count me as one of those Tatuaje fans who will snatch up “The Face” while it lasts. Meanwhile, this rare gem is worthy of four and a half stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

With an emotional back-story, a newly introduced hybrid wrapper, and lots of publicity surrounding its release earlier this year, the Quesada Tributo is unquestionably an interesting cigar. Fortunately, it’s also a good one.

This four-vitola line was created by the latest generation of this tobacco family as it continues to move its Matasa operation from behind-the-scenes work to putting its name on cigars. In a nod to the past, they named each size for a family member or close associate, three of whom died in a 2002 airplane crash.

To make the Tributo taste something special, the Quesadas used a hybrid wrapper created from four tobaccos and grown in Ecuador. Then, they packed it full of strong ligero leaf. Even the binder is a Honduran ligero leaf, with the filler a combination of leaves from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.

I’ve been smoking the robusto called the Julio (5 x 50) after Julio Fajardo, a family friend and Matasa executive killed in the crash. It’s a standout cigar, with a dark wrapper and an enticing pre-light aroma. And it makes a statement from the first mouthful of smoke: spicy and strong.

About halfway down, the stick begins to change. The spice level drops, replaced by a darker, heavier taste laced with a little coffee. I appreciate the change but I enjoyed the second half a little less than the first.

When you pick up one of these cigars, you might be concerned about the draw because of its solid, heavy feel. But every one I’ve been through has had a near-perfect draw. I can’t say the same for the burn. As is often the case with ligero-laden cigars, getting an even, steady burn is not a given. That’s true with the Tributo, though most of those I’ve smoked have been OK. So far, only one has required numerous touch-ups and fiddling.

At under $7, this is a good cigar, and one I’d recommend, especially to fans of Pepin Garcia’s creations. On the Stogie Guys rating scale, I give it four stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

–George E

photo credit: SAG Imports

The 2010 industry convention showcased several new releases from tobacco giant General Cigar, including additions to the Macanudo and La Gloria Cubana brands.

The powers that be at General also augmented their lineup of Hoyo de Monterrey cigars with a new blend. Called “Reposado en Cedros” (Spanish for “rested in cedar), it employs a proprietary aging process designed to impart extra cedar flavors.

“Just as fine wines and spirits are aged in wooden barrels to round out their taste, cigars that mature in cedar-lined aging rooms are known for smooth, balanced flavor,” reads a press release dated July 23. “In taking this time-honored tradition to a new level, General Cigar’s Honduran team created Hoyo de Monterrey Reposado en Cedros, the company’s first collection to be created using an innovative new process called ‘Inmersión.’”

“Inmersión” includes “an extended period” of cedar aging for up to six months, which is why, according to General, only limited quantities of Reposado en Cedros are available. But that exclusivity seems to have little impact on price. Each of the blend’s three vitolas are priced to move in the affordable $6.50-7 range. They include a Churchill called “Liso” (7 x 49), a figurado called “Marco” (6.25 x 54), and a robusto called “Sueño” (5.25 x 54).

I sampled three Sueños for this review. Beneath this vitola’s cedar sleeve is a dry, rustic wrapper leaf with a pungent pre-light aroma of dill and spice. The Sueño is heavy in the hand, consistently firm, and lacking in large veins.

The initial flavor carries dominant notes of garlic and cedar. Very dry and woodsy with little balance. After the first inch is complete, however, the smoke settles, transitioning to a less abrasive, more fragrant profile. Thereafter, floral tastes add nicely to the baseline of cedar as  traces of creamy sweetness emerge.

Truth be told, I was expecting this Hoyo to taste like a marketing gimmick gone wrong. But while it may be overly cedary on the palate, the unique flavor is both interesting and aromatic. And the Sueño smokes like a champ. Its burn is straight, the draw is clear, and the white ash holds firm.

Is this cigar going to blow you away? No. It’s too monotone to be inspiring. That said, if you’re a fan of cedar and dill spice, the Reposado en Cedros Sueño is right in your wheelhouse. It earns three stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Litto Gomez’s Small Batch No. 2 was an extraordinary smoke, recognized as such when we named it our top cigar of 2009 in our exclusive best-of list sent out to email subscribers.

Following that success, Litto Gomez of La Flor Dominicana released the Small Batch No. 3 in late August. Excited to see how it measured up, I purchased a few samples from a local shop at a cost of $17 each (including tax and a 5% discount for CRA members).

Like it’s predecessors, the corona gorda-sized (6.75 x 52) cigar is a Dominican puro made with tobacco entirely from La Flor Dominicana’s farms. The wrapper is extraordinarily oily, much more so than the Small Batch No. 2, with a dark reddish shine.

None of the samples have any soft spots or noticeable deficiencies in appearance. A pre-light draw reveals a unique and interesting combination of plum, wood, and earth.

Once lit, the deliberate draw gives way to chewy leather and cedar. As the cigar progresses, it shows yeasty flavors and subtle cherry notes. It’s a medium- to full-bodied smoke that is well balanced. Pepper is only apparent when you retro-hale the dense smoke. Construction is flawless with a notably sturdy dark ash.

This is an excellent smoke, and inevitably it will be compared to earlier versions of the Small Batch. When measured against that high bar, though, the third edition, however formidable, is not as complex as its predecessors.

Still, with well-balanced rich flavors, the latest Small Batch is a fantastic cigar to enjoy with a fine rum or glass of whiskey. That’s why the Litto Gomez Small Batch No. 3 earns four stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

The story of La Caridad del Cobre is one of collaboration, persistence, and trademark law. It’s also one of good tobacco, as evidenced by my colleague’s review of the boutique manufacturer’s inaugural blend.

This year, company founder and intellectual property attorney Frank Herrera launched a new extension of his young brand. It’s called “La Charada” (Spanish for “the charade”).

The concept is derived from the old Cuban lotto system, in which players would choose numbers that corresponded to objects from their dreams. Each of the seven La Charada vitolas is named and numbered accordingly.

The ominously named “Muerto Grande” measures seven inches with a ring gauge of 54. When I asked Herrera why he chose such an intimidating size, he said “because torpedos are bad ass. So bigger torpedos are bigger bad asses.” Fair enough.

Along with the three other maduro sizes in the La Charada portfolio, the No. 64 boasts a toothy Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper leaf with binder and filler tobaccos from the Dominican Republic. Made under the direction of Luis Sanchez at La Tradicion Cubana, this immense torpedo is fairly soft in the hand with thin veins and a pre-light aroma of rich syrup and spice.

Clipping the tip of the sharp cap reveals a moderate draw. Once lit, the cigar tastes of heavy leather, sour cream, and espresso with a peppery spice on the finish. The bountiful resting smoke is aromatic and cocoa-like.

As the draw opens beyond the midway point, the profile takes on creamier characteristics—a nice, welcome change that adds complexity and depth. The combustion qualities include a white, sandy ash that holds well off the foot and a fairly straight burn that requires a few touch-ups along the way.

This is a smooth, medium-bodied cigar that’s a joy to smoke if you have a lot of time on your hands. While straightforward and fairly consistent, I never lost interest in what it has to offer.

And its $7 price tag means you get a lot of tobacco for your money. I look forward to trying the three Ecuadorian Sumatra-wrapped “natural” vitolas in the La Charada blend. Meanwhile, this “bad ass” cigar earns three and a half stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Don Pepin Garcia burst on the scene when Tatuaje, a cigar made for Pete Johnson, first started garnering high praise and plenty of buzz. By the 2007 industry trade show, Pepin, formerly a top cigar man in Cuba, had established himself as one of the most prolific makers of non-Cuban cigars. That meant he was ready to release his first solely produced limited edition cigar.

Called El Centurion, the blend was originally available in just three sizes: Guerreros (robusto), Gladiadores (toro), and Emperadores. The latter is a belicoso that measures 5.5 inches with a ring gauge of 52. It features a Nicaraguan Habano wrapper around Nicaraguan-grown Cuban seed criollo ’98 and corojo ’99 leaves that have been aged three years.

It’s a very attractive smoke with a few veins and muted sheen. The large red, orange, and gold band is ornate, and notable because only a very small script signature lets you know that this is a Don Pepin Garcia smoke.

Just 850 boxes of each size were ever produced, all of which reportedly sold out on the first day El Centurion became available. Few remain today. A handful of places still sell them for $12-15 each. (I got mine from CitizenCigar.com, which sells boxes for $230.)

El Centurion starts off with plenty of cedar along with cream and graham cracker sweetness. Adding to the complex blend are subtle pepper, paper, coffee, and bread flavors. The profile is medium-bodied but dense with flavor. It’s a deliciously complex cigar that is is well-rounded and balanced from start to finish. Time seems to have done wonders.

Each of the three samples I smoked before writing this review demonstrated excellent physical qualities. Particularly notable was a razor thin black burn line, a sign of a well-aged smoke.

This cigar reminded me of a cross between two others made by Don Pepin Garcia: My Father and the Tatuaje Reserva SW. Those are two fine smokes. And while I’ve sampled nearly all of Garcia’s creations, I must conclude that this is his finest masterpiece. (The only line I’ve yet to smoke is the new My Father Limited Edition.) With high priase like that you can probably guess how this cigar review ends. This is a special cigar that unfortunately will never be made again. That’s why it earns five stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here. A list of other five stogie-rated cigars can be found here.]

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys