The Stogie Guys

A.J. Fernandez made his mark on the industry by producing top-selling cigars for the likes of Rocky Patel, Padilla, Graycliff, Gurkha, and others. This year he broke the mold and released his first nationally-distributed solo cigar.

The blend, San Lotano, was once a pre-Castro Cuban line. “Retired for decades, the line is being reintroduced by A.J. Fernandez, whose grandfather first started the brand in San Luis, Cuba,” reads a press release. Fernandez says that “San Lotano has been a project many years in the making for me, and it is made to honor the tradition of cigar making that I learned from my father and my father’s father.”

San Lotano is handmade at the Tabacalera Fernandez factory in Estelí, which turns out nine million cigars annually. The series is available in three wrapper variations: Habano (already being hailed in cigar circles), Maduro, and Connecticut. The latter features an Ecuadorian-grown outer leaf, a Nicaraguan binder, and a three-country filler blend from Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic.

The Robusto (5 x 52) retails for about $6 apiece. It has a golden, toothy wrapper that’s nearly flawless, a firm feel, and a foot that reveals a cross-section of tightly packed tobacco. The pre-light aroma is faint and nutty. The cold taste exposes an easy draw and some sweetness on the lips.

After lighting, the initial flavor is of hay, creamy coffee, and citrus. Flavorful, yet very similar to many of the other Connecticut-wrapped smokes on the market. Notes of almond and subtle peppery spice soon add depth. Thereafter, the profile takes on warm tobacco flavors.

The physical properties, as I’ve come to expect from A.J. Fernandez, are superb. The burn line is even, the white ash builds wonderfully off the foot, and the draw remains clear throughout the 50-minute smoke. If only every cigar smoked this well.

Still, is the San Lotano Connecticut remarkable? No. I can’t imagine many seasoned cigar veterans being blown away by this blend. But while I’ll save my high praise for the Habano version of this tobacconist-only line, I must say that this Robusto compares favorably to some of my favorite Connecticuts, including those made by Camacho and Oliva. For that, it earns four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

About five years ago, lawyer-turned-cigar-maker Rocky Patel celebrated the tenth anniversary of Rocky Patel Premium Cigars. He later commemorated the occasion with Decade, a highly acclaimed series of Ecuadorian Sumatra-wrapped cigars.

These days Patel is honoring his company’s 15th anniversary with, you guessed it, another new blend. Aptly called “15th Anniversary,” the line includes four trunk-pressed sizes: Corona Gorda (6 x 46), Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6.5 x 52), and Torpedo (6.1 x 52). Prices range from $8 to $12 per cigar.

“I wanted a cigar that’s like the Decade on steroids,” Patel told Cigar Aficionado in July. “The 15th has the elegance and the balance of the Decade, but it has the richness, complexity, and spice that kind of puts it over the top.”

To create the series, Patel paired a Cuban-seed Ecuadorian wrapper that he had been storing for two years with binder and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua. The blend is handmade at the Tabacalera Villa Cuba S.A. factory in Estelí, Nicaragua—a facility Patel owns in partnership with Amilcar Perez.

The long, dark Toro comes complete with a reddish hue, a few large veins, and two silver bands with slightly raised lettering.

It looks like a powerful smoke that requires a heavy time investment. The pre-light scent off the foot reminds me of dry chocolate cake and powdery cocoa.

Once lit, the cigar packs a mouth-coating punch of pepper that lasts for half an inch. Thereafter, it settles into a flavor profile of leather, creamy latte, cashew, and cedar. Balanced, albeit a tad sour. The overall effect is resoundingly smoother than I had envisioned—especially given Patel’s apparent intention to build a stogie on “steroids.”

As the cigar becomes meatier and more tannic in the final third, the following physical properties make themselves apparent: the burn line is wavy but maintenance-free, the gray ash is very flaky, and the draw is effortless throughout.

On the whole, I don’t think the 15th Anniversary can stand up to the Decade. Where the former is complex and nuanced, the latter is straightforward and predominantly consistent from light to nub. Still, cashew is a taste too unfamiliar to cigars these days, and this savory flavor helps the mighty Toro earn a respectable rating of three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

If you haven’t heard of Viaje Cigars, you’re not alone. But expect to be seeing more from this relatively new manufacturer as it grows in popularity.

To bring us up to speed, Viaje is a boutique cigar company specializing in the small batch approach to cigar making. The company’s three main blends—Oro, Platino, and Fifty Fifty—are all Nicaraguan puros. “Nicaragua was chosen for its rich history and incredible tobaccos its fertile land produces,” reads Viaje’s website. “With its perfect climate and rich soil, there is no better place to produce a premium cigar.”

There’s nothing new about growing tobacco in Nicaragua. But combining two blends in one cigar? Well, that’s a unique approach. And that’s exactly what Viaje introduced last year with the Fifty Fifty Black Label—a three-vitola line with two distinct blends in each cigar to produce a transition at the midway point. Viaje’s Andre Farkas says the evolution is intended to be from “full to fuller.”

This year Viaje is expanding on its distinctive dual-filler strategy with the Fifty Fifty Red Label, a complementary line that intends to meld a medium-bodied cigar with a full-bodied one. It, too, is a Nicaraguan puro with three sizes: No. 1 (5.6 x 46), No. 2 (6 x 50), and No. 3 (7 x 47).

The Red Label No. 1 features a pigtail cap and a dark corojo ’99 wrapper with a toothy, leathery texture. Somewhat spongy to the touch, it exudes mouth-watering pre-light aromas of sawdust, dry cocoa, and earth.

After a burst of black pepper, the taste quickly settles into a mixture of dry cedar, nutmeg, herbs, and salt with meaty undertones. Flavorful yet lacking in balance or depth. The resting smoking seems more aromatic and interesting than what actually hits the taste buds.

As I approach the halfway mark, anticipation builds over the expected change. Will this cigar—already on the verge of the full-bodied spectrum—ramp up in intensity beyond the point of enjoyment? Or will the second filler blend simply add complexity to round off the profile?

Fortunately, I found the latter to be true. While the transition is less abrupt that expected, the second half is best characterized by the additions of cinnamon and cocoa to the flavor.

With good construction and a nice, albeit dry, taste, the Fifty Fifty Red Label No. 1 is a respectable cigar with two main drawbacks. First, those expecting a sea change in flavor may be disappointed by the gradual increase in power. And second, the asking price of around $8-10 is a tad high compared to other sticks in the price range. All things considered, this Viaje earns three stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Another in Pepin Garcia’s lower-priced lines, this bargain stick—I paid $5 for the nicely constructed Toro (6.25 x 52)—is a bit more complex than you might expect.

This cigar is part of a two-blend line, with its sibling sporting a Habano wrapper. And, like many of the cigars coming from My Father Cigars, you won’t find any information on it at the remarkably inadequate website.

But I was able to get some details on the cigar by calling the folks in Miami: The two Reloba lines share the same basic blend of Nicaraguan binder and filler grown on the Garcias’ farm, and the Sumatra wrapper is from Ecuador.

La Reloba fits neatly into one of 2010’s most noticeable trends: lower-priced cigars from top-flight producers. I applaud makers like My Father who have created good cigars at affordable prices.

This one produces a lot of smoke and burns evenly from start to finish. The opening is a peppery blast with undertones of leather and wood. While it’s not the depth of pepper devoted Pepin smokers may expect, it’s a couple of notches less powerful. About a third of the way down the cigar, the pepper dissipates, replaced by a nuttiness and a gradual diminishing of strength. The second half is definitely milder than the first and a good deal sweeter.

I suggest you give both the Habano and Sumatra versions a try. Each is worth it. I have enjoyed both, but prefer the Sumatra because of its greater range of tastes. And for that I give the La Reloba Selección Sumatra Toro three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Xikar is primarily known as a leading purveyor of cigar accessories like cutters, lighters, cases, and humidification devices. But this Kansas City-based company is also in the business of crafting premium cigars.

Xikar’s cigar-making partner is Jesus Fuego, a Cuban expat with a master’s degree in agronomy and five generations of tobacco cultivation in his blood. Today he has his own cigar outfit in Miami where he produces such gems as the 777 Corojo and the Origen.

Last spring, Xikar and Fuego teamed up to launch the HC Series. Named for and decorated with double bands that mimic Xikar’s Havana Collection, the line boasts three blends: Connecticut Shade, Criollo, and Habano Colorado. “No matter your time, mood, or your preference, the HC Series has the perfect blend for every cigar lover’s palate,” said Fuego in an April 2009 press release.

Each HC cigar is handmade at one of Nestor Plasencia’s factories in either Honduras or Nicaragua. The five-vitola Connecticut Shade blend, for example, originates from the Segovia Cigars factory in Nicaragua. It is made with an Ecuadorian Connecticut shade wrapper, a Sumatran binder, and a three-country filler blend from Costa Rica, Mexico, and Nicaragua.

The Robusto (5 x 50) is a dry, pale cigar with a wrinkly, somewhat veiny exterior and a spongy feel. The pre-light aroma is of sweet grass and hay.

Xikar’s marketing materials state that the Connecticut Shade blend is supposed to be “slightly stronger than the average Connecticut shade cigar, while staying true to the character of a Connecticut.” That’s apparent from the outset. From the first puff, the flavor is spicy with background notes of bread, cream, and almond.

As the taste becomes creamier and nuttier as it progresses, outstanding combustion qualities emerge. The burn is near perfect with a thick, black mascara, the gray ash is stable, and the draw remains clear.

Even though this blend stands on its own, I can’t help but compare it to other Connecticut-wrapped smokes that are permanent features of my humidor. The Camacho Connecticut has a similar texture and profile, for instance, but the HC Robusto’s price tag of $7.50-9 apiece makes it decidedly more expensive. The sub-$5 Oliva Connecticut is an even more affordable option.

Still, fans of Connecticut tobacco—myself included—shouldn’t miss the opportunity to add another blend to their rotation. With a harmonious mix of tastiness and great construction, the HC Connecticut Shade Robusto is a solid, perhaps overpriced, contender. It 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

While I had the privilege to smoke the new Guillermo León by La Aurora while I was in the Dominican Republic visiting their facilities in May, I wanted to wait to review this cigar until a production version was released. The sample I smoked was good but, since I had already smoked quite a few cigars that day, I wasn’t in any condition to pass judgment on it other than to say that I enjoyed it.

Now, a couple of weeks after the release of the production version by La Aurora at the IPCPR Trade Show, and with several Gran Coronas in hand, I am finally able to revisit it with a more critical eye and discerning palate.

The Gran Corona measures 6 inches long with a ring gauge of  47. It will be sold in boxes of 20 with an MSRP around $8.50 per cigar. In a first for La Aurora, the Guillermo León features a dual binder of Dominican corojo and Cameroon tobaccos around a four-country filler blend of Peruvian, Brazilian, Dominican, and Nicaraguan tobaccos. The cigar is finished off with a medium brown, semi-veiny, moderately oily Ecuadorian habano wrapper.

The aroma at the foot is of hay and sweet tobacco. A quick pre-light taste reveals sweetness with a hint of spice as well as an effortless draw. Upon lighting, the sweetness present in the pre-light taste is immediately apparent and reminiscent of maple syrup and light brown sugar. Very little spice is present at this point, confined mostly to the retro-hale.

After about an inch, a nutmeg-esque spice emerges and balances the sweetness well. More spice is also present in the nose along with hints of hay and earth. The mottled gray ash holds firm for about an inch at a time and the burn remains mostly even.

As the cigar moves into the second third, some very subtle notes of hay and cream also emerge. The spice and sweetness fade in and out throughout the rest of the cigar to create an interesting interplay that, at times, is a bit unbalanced.

Overall, the Guillermo León Gran Corona is a very interesting cigar with flavors that progress and change creating an interesting and often intricately subtle smoking experience. The cigar is decidedly medium in strength but full in flavor and demands your full attention—or some of the more nuanced flavors can be overlooked. For all of these reasons, the Guillermo León Gran Corona earns four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick M

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Macanudo may be the best selling cigar brand in America but, like the late Rodney Dangerfield, the brand can’t get no respect. While odds are most cigar smokers made Macanudo their very first handmade smoke, it seems many experienced smokers shy away from the brand.

Maybe they see it as a beginner smoke—too mild or not complex enough. For whatever reason, the best selling premium cigar brand in America rarely has the buzz of its lower volume competitors. This despite General Cigar’s many attempts to introduce a more full-bodied smokes.

The last time a new Macanudo brand came out, at the 2008 IPCPR Trade Show, it was the Macanudo 1968, which I described as going “a long way towards combating Macanudo’s reputation among smokers as simplistic.” Two years later, at this year’s trade show, Macanudo followed up with the new Cru Royale blend, billed as a medium-bodied smoke.

Cru Royale featues an oily, deep brown Ecuadorian habano wrapper, Dominican binder, and filler made up of Dominican and Nicaraguan tobacco. It will come in four sizes—Gigante (6 x 60), Robsuto (5 x 50), Lonsdale (6.5 x 42), and Toro (6 x 54)—and sell for $6-7 dollars each when it hits cigar shops in October.

From the first puff, it’s pretty clear that this cigar is nothing like the green and white Macanudo Cafe line. The dominant flavors in the silver, black, and blue-banded Cru Royale are espresso, earth, chocolate, and cedary spice. It’s medium bodied as billed, and while there’s little variation from start to finish, my three IPCPR samples show impressive layers of taste. Underlying the dominant flavors are bready notes that occasionally reveal a slightly sour yeasty flavor. Adding to the complexity is a bit of red pepper spice.

Construction is flawless, a trait I’ve found common to all Macanudo smokes. The burn is even, the ash sturdy, and the draw has just a hint of resistance. Despite that, the most striking aspect of this cigar is how un-Macanudo-like the Cru Royale is.

This can be explained by the blend’s origin. As I was told at the General Cigar booth in New Orleans, the blend is primarily the work of cigar master Benji Menendez, who originally intended it as an extension of the Partagas line. (So, perhaps not coincidentally, Cru Royale reminds me a bit of the Benji Menendez Partagas Masters Series.) This new Macanudo gives seasoned smokers a good reason to revisit the brand, and I’d suggest doing so with a strong cup of coffee. But whatever pairing you choose, I think the newest Macanudo is worth a try, which is why the Macanudo Cru Royale Robusto earns four out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys