The Stogie Guys

Miami Cigar & Co. made a splash in 2009 with the Nestor Miranda Special Selection 20 Aniversario. The cigar was launched to celebrate of two decades of producing a Special Selection line named for company founder Nestor Miranda. Both the Rosado and Oscuro varieties received fanfare and very positive reviews.

But there were two problems. First, the 20 Aniversario was a very limited release with only 2,000 boxes made in the original size. Second, Miami Cigar—distributor of such acclaimed brands as La Aurora, Don Lino, and León Jimenes—was faced with the daunting task of deciding how to top last year’s success.

The company’s answer? Combining Nestor Miranda’s marketing talents with the blending expertise of Don Pepin Garcia and the tobacco cultivation experience of Guillermo León of La Aurora. According to a press release from Miami Cigar, the trio worked for nine months on a special project to “pay tribute to the tobacco and cigar heritage of the Dominican Republic.”

The result is Dominicano, a new B&M-only blend that was officially unveiled in March. Made at Garcia’s My Father Cigars factory in Nicaragua, it features Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos wrapped in a leaf from the same farm that produced the 100 Años wrapper for La Aurora. It is Garcia’s first Dominican-wrapped cigar.

Five sizes are available, all of which retail between $6-8 and come with either a Rosado or Oscuro exterior leaf: Belicoso (6.1 x 52), Coffee Break (4.5 x 50), Lancero (7.5 x 40), Robusto Grande (5.5 x 54), and Ruky (5.6 x 48 x 52). The Rosado Robusto Grande has a rustic, silky wrapper, with ample oils, a neat cap, and pre-light notes of sweet earth. The cold draw is easy and peppery on the lips.

After toasting the foot, the first third is characterized by leather, warm tobacco, and bread with a spicy cinnamon finish. Plenty of bite and no trouble producing lots of smoke. I’d argue the dry profile registers towards the lower end of the full-bodied spectrum.

As the white ash meanders into the second third, the taste evens out to include sweet toffee and a bit of cream. The ensuing balance is the highlight of the smoke—a memorable equilibrium that is sure to please a wide array of enthusiasts.

In the end, I can’t help but compare this new release to the 20 Aniversario Rosado. While the Dominicano isn’t as subtle or complex, it does offer a similar profile for a fraction of the price. And it can stand on its own as a well-balanced, well-built cigar with enjoyable flavors. That’s why, despite some minor construction flaws, the Nestor Miranda Dominicano Rosado Robusto Grande is worthy of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Back in 1995, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo was expanding his booming El Credito Cigar Company. His marquis brand, La Gloria Cubana, had been discovered by connoisseurs around the country, creating booming demand. He was making 2.2 million cigars a year between his factories in Miami and the Dominican Republic.

Now, a decade and a half later, he has sold his company to industry giant General Cigar, which he left in 2009 to to start up his own boutique manufacturer, E.P. Carrillo. E.P. Carrillo came on the scene with a bang in late 2009 when the EP Carrillo Edición Inaugural 2009 was introduced. Only 125,00 cigars  were made.

It was thought that that cigar would be the only release from Carrillo until the regular line debuted at the IPCPR in August. But with little fanfare, the new Short Run line is now available. The concept behind Short Run is simple: a one-time blend released once or twice a year made in limited numbers. (Only 108,000 of the 2010  version of the Short Run will ever be made.)

The Short Run 2010, which will be the only Short Run of 2010, utilizes an Ecuadorian-grown, Sumatra-seed wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and filler tobaccos from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. The blend comes in three sizes: Dominantes (6.25 x 60), Populares (4.9 x 50), and Delirios (5.9 x 52). Prices for the 2010 Short Run range from $6.25-8.50.

The Ecuadorian wrapper on the Delirios is a muted brown color with lots of small veins. The toro is firmly constructed, just as I’ve come to expect from E.P. Carrillo cigars—whether made by El Credito or his new family-run outfit.

Once lit, the Delirious reveals woody spice, sweet graham cracker, and toasty notes. It’s a quintessential Ecuadorian smoke (imparted no doubt by the Ecuadorian wrapper) with sweet spice and buttery flavors. These flavors are consistent throughout, with only a slight leather flavor emerging in the final third. Still, it’s not enough to undo the balanced, medium-bodied flavors.

Construction is flawless. The ash holds admirably and the burn is perfectly straight while it produces clouds of smoke through an effortless draw.

All in all, the EP Carrillo is a fantastic smoke, even if it isn’t quite as superb as the Edición Inaugural 2009. But for almost half the price ($7) the Delirious may be an even better value. Personally, I plan on grabbing a few more of the Short Run before its run ends. For that reason, along with its tasty, medium-bodied flavors and excellent combustion characteristics, the E.P. Carrillo Short Run Delirios earns four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Hoyo de Monterrey is yet another Cuban brand that has been hijacked by a U.S. company in an effort to confuse American consumers. The original Hoyo, founded by José Gener in 1865, remains one of my favorite brands from the forbidden isle, anchored by the Epicure Especial, Double Corona, and Epicure No. 2.

While the Honduran Hoyos manufactured by Estelo Padrón for General Cigar are unrelated but in name, they are not to be dismissed as mere marketing gimmicks. Such blends as the Dark Sumatra and Excalibur Legend have attracted loyal followings in their own right.

About two years ago, the Hoyo de Tradición blend joined the Hoyo de Monterrey portfolio. It sports a Jamastran viso rosado wrapper leaf, a Connecticut binder, and a three-country filler combination of Honduran San Agustin, Dominican piloto cubano, and Nicaraguan tobacco from the volcanic island of Ometepe.

The four box-pressed Hoyo de Tradición vitolas—Corona, Epicure, Toro, and Toro Grande—are handmade in Cofradia, Honduras. They each carry regal white, red, and gold bands that are strikingly similar to those found on Hoyo Double Coronas from Cuba. Must be a coincidence.

I smoked four Epicures (5.25 x 50) for this review. Each included a mottled and toothy wrapper, a rough cap, and a consistently firm feel. Fragrant pre-light aromas of sweet earth and coffee creamer are enticing.

After toasting the foot, establishing an even burn, and studying the first few puffs, I find a straightforward flavor of bitter coffee and black pepper spice. A stale aftertaste occasionally crops up as tastier notes of almond and cream fade in and out. The aromatic resting smoke keeps things  more interesting than they otherwise would be.

Past the midway point, the Epicure drops the bitter and stale flavors for a smoother profile of cocoa, caramel, and spice. This is the sweet spot. The final third is sour and meaty.

All the while the physical properties are impeccable. The white ash layers nicely and sturdily off the foot, the burn line is even, and the draw is easy and productive—each puff yielding bountiful bunches of thick smoke.

I paid just over $5 per Epicure at my local tobacconist. At that price this cigar is a decent purchase. It may not have the subtle complexities of a special occasion smoke, but it certainly satisfies as a respectable everyday selection if you’re looking for a fragrant stick with great construction. Those qualities earn the Hoyo de Tradición Epicure three stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

With the 2010 International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association Trade Show coming up in three months, May is a good time to take stock in the year that was. Another barrage of cigar introductions is just around the corner. So this is an appropriate month to catch up on any releases from last year that may have fallen through the cracks.

There were many sought-after debuts at the 2009 show, but perhaps none as anticipated as Padrón’s newest creation. Padrón, unlike most cigar makers, doesn’t always put out a new cigar every year. When the company does, it’s usually in high demand.

That was certainly the case with the new Padrón Family Reserve No. 45. Released in two versions (Natural and Maduro) with one size (6 x 52), it celebrates the 45th anniversary of Padrón Cigars. Each box of ten includes an insert about the band’s little hammer—a commemoration of Cuban émigré José Orlando Padrón and his drive to work as a carpenter until he could establish a cigar company.

His dedication paid off in spades. With over 600 employees, a tremendously loyal following, and more accolades than space permits mentioning, Padrón Cigars is considered by many to be the pinnacle of cigardom. One measure—albeit a flawed one—is how the company has dominated Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 lists, including earning top honors for the Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro.

That pick didn’t come as much of a surprise. But as popular as the Maduro has been, my recent experience with two Naturals proves that this (somewhat rarer) version shouldn’t be overlooked. It, too, is a box-pressed Nicaraguan puro with 10-year-old tobacco that sells for upwards of $25 apiece. And it, too, amounts to a memorable, special occasion smoke that beckons to be tried at least once.

After a clean cut reveals an easy draw, the somewhat wrinkly No. 45 Natural opens with a chalky, textured taste of bitter leather, earth, nuts, and wood. The raw flavor of tobacco is featured prominently, as is a background of espresso.

The big difference between this two-hour smoke and the Maduro is cocoa. While the latter has plenty of sweet, decadent chocolate notes, the Natural—while medium-bodied throughout—has more of a dry, spicy edge. Both are subtle and well-balanced; they just have different profiles.

Padrón is known for its consistency and quality. I only smoked two No. 45 Naturals because of their high price point but, based on that sample set, I found near perfect construction. I wouldn’t expect anything less from a cigar that costs more than a wonderful dinner entrée.

Smoking down to the nub, I didn’t feel the slightest bit of buyer’s remorse. Would I partake in this cigar on a regular basis? No. For an occasional treat, though, you can’t go wrong with the Padrón Family Reserve No. 45 Natural. It earns four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

The hammer and sickle flew on the flag of the Soviet Union from 1923 until the disintegration of the USSR in 1991. In that period and since it has served as an emblem for communism, intending to represent “proletariat” industrial and agricultural workers.

This controversial symbol strikes me as a curious logo to brand a product destined for sale in the U.S.—a country where communism is widely despised. But that’s exactly what the people at Hammer + Sickle Vodka did when they launched their spirit in 2005.

Hammer + Sickle is more than just a luxury vodka, according to company chairman Eric Hanson. The brand is a “lifestyle offering” that crossed over to cigars at the 2009 IPCPR Trade Show. “Like Hammer + Sickle Vodka,” says the company website, “these cigars are an authentic experience for the creative aficionado.”

While the vodka is made in Klin, Russia, the cigars are handmade in the Dominican Republic with five-year-old Connecticut wrappers and three-year-old Dominican binder and filler tobaccos. They are distributed by Victor Vitale’s The Cigar Agency. This New Hampshire outfit is also responsible for Ortsac 1962, a blend named for the Kennedy Administration’s plan for a military strike against Cuba.

Hammer + Sickle is available in four traditional sizes: Churchill, Toro, Torpedo, and a five inch by 50 ring gauge Robusto. Retailing for about $7-9 apiece, the latter features a smooth, caramel-colored wrapper with few veins, a well-applied cap, and pre-light notes of honey. The feel is slightly spongy.

Once lit, the Robusto kicks things off with a medium-bodied flavor that’s very salty and somewhat peppery. The nutty resting smoke smells far more interesting than the cigar tastes. After only half an inch, though, notes more commonly associated with Connecticut tobacco come to the fore: cream and almond. They are complemented by the original salt and pepper profile, making for a lively, mild-mannered cigar.

This well-balanced interplay continues for the remainder of the 60-minute smoke. All the while, the physical properties are near perfect with a straight burn, an effortless draw, and a gray ash that holds firm for over an inch.

I’m always on the lookout for mild cigars that strike a harmonious balance, don’t break the bank, and exhibit consistently good construction. Based on the two samples I smoked for this review (both provided by The Cigar Agency), I’ve found a winner. That’s why the Hammer + Sickle Robusto, notwithstanding its insignia, is worthy of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

La Caridad del Cobre is a fairly new cigar company having debuted at the 2009 IPCPR Trade Show. The man behind La Caridad is Frank Herrera, a South Florida intellectual property attorney and author of cigarlaw.com. Production of the La Caridad del Cobre 1608 Maduro Natural is handled by Luis Sanchez of La Tradicion Cubana.

Sanchez will also be producing a line extension, La Fiera, that La Caridad del Cobre will debut at the 2010 IPCPR. The company’s website is fairly basic but does include the information the consumer would be looking for, which is more than can be said for some others in the industry.

The Maduro Natural Robusto is five inches by 46 ring gauge and covered with a semi-toothy medium brown Brazilian arapiraca wrapper. The binder and filler are both from the Domincan.

The cigar appears to be constructed well with no soft spots and an expertly applied cap. It starts off with a very slight hint of spice and some sweetness typical of many maduros.

As the cigar progresses, the spice vanishes and the cigar settles into a flavor profile of chocolate and espresso. There is also a hint of gingerbread that comes and goes in the final third of the cigar. The burn is straight and gray ash holds firmly.

Overall, the La Caridad del Cobre Maduro 1608 Natural Robusto is an interesting and enjoyable cigar. In the end I would have liked a little more spice to balance out the overall sweetness.

The construction and burn properties are excellent and, with an MSRP of $7 per cigar, the Maduro Natural competes well with other cigars in its price range. It earns four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick M

photo credit: Stogie Guys

For fans of Arturo Fuente’s  Hemingway Maduro line, Christmas comes twice a year. The blend, like the rare Anejo, is released annually at Christmas and again usually before Father’s Day.

Produced in limited quantities, the Fuente Hemingway Maduro features the same blend of Dominican binder and filler as the regular Hemingway line, but with a broadleaf maduro wrapper instead of  Hemingway’s characteristic Cameroon wrapper. The leaf is almost jet black with plenty of tooth and oils.

The Hemingway Signature is a six inch by 47 ring gauge perfecto (all the Hemingways are perfectos). It has a very firm feel, an easy draw, and, once lit, produces an abundance of thick, white smoke.

The Hemingway Signature begins with classic maduro sweetness. Dry chocolate and roast coffee flavors are dominant while initial notes of leather quickly fade.

The medium-bodied smoke is exquisitely balanced. In the second half of the cigar, subtle undertones of fruit reveal themselves. The burn is even and the layered gray ash is sturdy for at least an inch.

All in all, the Hemingway Signature Maduro is a rich smoke. Compared to the original Hemingway, the maduro is more savory and complex, while maintaining the same balance that Hemingway fans have come to appreciate.

With such interesting, rich, and savory flavors combined with excellent construction and impressive balance and depth, the Arturo Fuente Hemingway Signature Maduro earnes a rating of four and a half stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here. Cigars for this review were provided by CigarsDirect.com.]

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys