The Stogie Guys

Barber pole cigars were all the rage back in 2007. Sure, many dual-wrapper, diagonally striped sticks are still around. But I’d argue they hit their peak three years ago when CAO released America, Camacho introduced its ’07 Liberty, and everyone seemed to be talking about other barber pole smokes from Felipe Gregorio, Gurkha, and Arganese.

Now the “dos capas” trend has shifted away from diagonal and towards two contrasting wrappers stacked on top of each other. This is evidenced by the new Artesanos de Tabaqueros from La Gloria Cubana, which features a Connecticut wrapper at the foot and an Ecuadoran Sumatra wrapper at the head.

Not to be outdone, this year Joya de Nicaragua launched its own two-wrapper line: Cabinetta. It is rolled completely in a golden Ecuadorian wrapper and topped off with a dark Nicaraguan leaf at the head. The goal is to impart a creamy, mellow taste and add a sweet spiciness to the lips.

Aside from its two wrappers, Cabinetta marks a departure for Joya de Nicaragua. The 42-year-old brand has built a reputation for power and strength anchored by its bold Antaño line. Cabinetta, however, is intended to have a mild to medium body with, according to its website, an “elegant and attractive look but also a complex and particular taste.”

Four Cabinetta sizes are available for approximately $5-6.50 apiece. The toro-sized No. 7, measuring six inches with a 50 ring gauge, has a soft feel, faint pre-light notes of sawdust, and a somewhat lumpy terrain. All three of my samples suffered from superficial aesthetic imperfections like small tears.

Once lit, the initial flavor is more papery and bready than creamy. Slowly, though, as the effortless draw produces ample tufts of smoke, the medium-bodied taste develops with hazelnut and coffee. Not terribly complex but certainly not boring—especially as the creaminess increases into the midway point.

From what I can gather, the dark second wrapper isn’t necessarily intended to be smoked. Curiosity got the better of me, though, and I pushed ahead past the band to see how the profile changes. What I found was a stub that’s too short to smoke and a flavor that’s only marginally intensified.

Nevertheless, with near-perfect physical properties, a wallet-friendly price, and a pleasant taste with aromatic resting smoke, the Cabinetta Serie No. 7 shouldn’t be dismissed as a mere gimmick. It works as a respectable complement to a morning brew or an afternoon beer. And 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

Bigger and bolder equals better. That seems to be the mantra of the industry these days, evidenced by the prevalence of 60 ring gauge cigars and the growing infatuation with Nicaraguan tobacco.

It likewise stands to reason that ligero tobacco is in demand like never before. Ligero is the most full-flavored of tobacco leaves due to its concentration of nutrients and direct exposure to sunlight at the top of the plant. Aiming to pack a bigger punch, some cigar makers are cramming more ligero into their blends than was once thought acceptable. Take Sam Leccia, for example, who introduced a “straight ligero” blend last summer.

A year before Cain, CAO released a ligero-laden blend at the IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas. Called Lx2 (“ligero times two”), it features a hearty helping of spicy ligero leaves surrounded by a Honduran binder and a sungrown Nicaraguan wrapper. It is the third installment of the Nashville-based company’s “x2 trilogy” that also includes Mx2 (Maduro) and Cx2 (Cameroon).

The Lx2 Lancero is a dark, slender smoke measuring seven and a half inches with a 38 ring gauge. Its oily, somewhat lumpy wrapper and pigtail cap make a striking first impression, as do its bold pre-light notes of espresso.

Once lit, a sharp peppery taste takes center stage with background flavors of dry wood and bitter coffee. Powerful with a bready texture. Any wishes for a more subdued profile go unheeded until the midway point where a bit of smoothness kicks in.

With no signs of creaminess or sweetness, smoking slowly is absolutely essential to prevent the Lx2 from growing too meaty. The perfect pace can be hard to achieve, though, given the Lancero’s stiff draw. The white ash and the burn line are perfect.

These physical properties were consistent across all ten Lanceros I smoked for this review. What was inconsistent, however, was the intensity of the cigar’s aftertaste. The first few, smoked over six months ago, had a heavy coarseness that rendered them too overbearing. My most recent samples had a more balanced finish.

I’m hoping this stogie ultimately confirms the hypothesis that full-bodied cigars tone down with age. If so, my Lanceros need a bit more maturity before they reach their full potential. Despite that potential, though, I’m judging my experience with the Lx2 Lancero in the here and now. And right now this cigar is lacking in balance. So while those who crave ligero’s unbridled punch are likely to rate this CAO more favorably, I’m giving it three stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Late in 2009, Pete Johnson released Verocu Tubo under his Tatuaje brand. The Tubo marks the fourth vitola released in the Verocu extension of the Havana VI line. It  retails for $11 per stick.

My colleagues have reviewed the other three vitolas: Verocu No. 1, Verocu No. 2, and Verocu No. 9. The No. 1 and No. 2 earned the coveted five-stogie rating while the No. 9 wasn’t nearly as successful.

The Verocu Tubo is a torpedo (6.1 x 52) that comes in an aluminum tube modeled after the Cuban Partagas Serie P No. 2 Tubo.

Immediately out of the tube this Nicaraguan puro smells of cedar, leather, and spice. The oily, dark brown wrapper is mottled with black spots and rough to the touch. The cigar is firm with no soft spots.

The draw is easy but not overly loose. The burn is mostly straight but the outside layer of the bright white ash, probably the wrapper leaf, is very flaky.

Those that have smoked either the Verocu No. 1 or the Verocu No. 2 will find the same core of leather, cedar, and spice that they are familiar with. The cigar starts out with a lot of spice up front, fading quickly to the background only to reemerge in the final third. The smoke is creamy and leaves a wonderful cinnamon aftertaste on the palate.

I really enjoyed this cigar and continue to believe that the Verocu blend is Pete Johnson’s finest. The Verocu Tubo displays amazing complexity. Its singular drawback is a slight metallic taste, akin to licking a 9-volt battery, that comes and goes throughout the cigar.

If that taste fades with age maybe the Verocu Tubo will be worthy of five stogies. For now, though, it doesn’t quite live up to its older brothers’ reputation, earning four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick M

photo credit: Stogie Guys

We all recognize Cuba, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic as the top growers of premium tobacco. Indonesia, Cameroon, and a few others might also make the list. But Morocco isn’t a country widely associated with cigars.

Miles away from mainstream (literally), Felipe Gregorio—a cigar maker with a résumé that includes selling helicopters in the Middle East and crafting a blend for Frank Sinatra—has branched out to cultivate tobacco in northwest Africa.

True, his path to cigardom took a fairly traditional route through Honduras and Nicaragua. But now, with a Dominican factory (Tabacalera Real de Felipe Gregorio) and a boutique shop in Miami, Gregorio is growing tobacco in Morocco for his “Moroccan Series.”

This unique line of cigars includes four different blends named for the region of Morocco in which their tobacco is grown. Imilchil, according to Felipe’s website, is a village in central Morocco that’s “located at an elevation of 2,119 meters in the valley of Assif Melloul (‘white river’). The tobacco grown at this altitude is very sweet.” The blend features 30% Imilchil tobacco, a Connecticut wrapper, and olor leaves from the Cibao Valley. Four vitolas are available.

I sampled two Amirs for this review. Measuring five inches with a 54 ring gauge, this plump robusto has a rough foot that exudes sweet aromas of honey. The pale wrapper is extremely delicate and prone to tears if mishandled. Thankfully, the double bands are loose and easy to remove and the cap clips neatly.

While toasting the foot, the Amir yields a unique incense-like resting smoke that’s aromatic and floral. The taste, intensely cedary at first, settles into a mild profile of vanilla, almond, and steak seasoning. Sharp on the finish, the combined effect, oddly enough, reminds me of jasmine rice.

The Amir’s outstanding construction enables you to enjoy this distinctive flavor without worrying about combustion deficiencies. Its burn is nearly perfect, its draw clear, and its gray ash holds strong.

While I may not remember these physical properties several weeks from now, I won’t soon forget the Imichil’s one-of-a-kind taste. Such a matchless, enjoyable flavor easily makes this my favorite Felipe Gregorio to date. So, for a unique experience on the mild side of the spectrum, I highly recommend purchasing a box for $130 at Casa Felipe (the Imilchil 30/70 Amir’s exclusive online distributor). 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

I maintain that La Aurora is an underrated cigar maker. Headed by Guillermo León and José Blanco, La Aurora doesn’t chase trends, but seems to produce solid, tasty smokes year after year, with Preferidos and Cien Años as classic examples.

Speaking of years, this year La Aurora—the oldest Dominican cigar company—celebrates its 107th anniversary. Like so many cigar companies, its celebrating with a new cigar. “We had defined our goal early on,” said León, La Aurora VP, “and that was to bring the smokers a medium-bodied, richly flavored smoke with a fair amount of spice at a very attractive price.”

Leon and Blanco created the La Aurora 107 blend with an Ecuadorian wrapper, a Dominican binder, and a combination of Dominican and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos. The Robusto (4.5 x 50) retails for $6.50. Other sizes of the cigar, due out only in brick and mortar cigar shops, are a Toro (5.5 x 54) and a Belicoso (6.25 x 52).

The Ecuadorian wrapper is oily and rough with plenty of veins. The cigar is slightly spongy to the touch but even throughout. Upon clipping the head, an easy draw is apparent which is maintained throughout the short robusto.

Upon lighting, I find a hint of bitterness in the first few puffs, which soon gives way to toasty flavors with a hint of spice. There’s also a nice bit of sweetness that I commonly associate with maduro smokes.

The 107 is medium-bodied and balanced. As it evolves, a burnt chary flavor emerges, along with more woody spices, and even a hint of Bordeaux-like wine notes. Construction is flawless with a solid ash and even burn producing thick, lush smoke.

I’m always a big believer in the idea that smoking slowly brings out the best in a cigar, and that is especially true in the La Aurora 107. When smoked too quickly, the 107 develops a slight bitterness. However, with enough patience (by limiting the 107 to no more than two draws per minute) it can be a smooth, subtle smoke.

So while you may have to work at it, the La Aurora 107 has a lot to offer. Given some aging time I think it might turn out even better. Even so, right now the La Aurora 107 Robusto earns a rating of three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

The first major shipment of Clasico cigars arrived at the Berger & Argenti headquarters in Miami on March 11. Now this new blend is hitting tobacconists across the country and heading to a retailer shelf near you.

Like Exile Wired and Entubar, Clasico is a product of the merger between Albert and Michael Argenti of Cuban Imports and Don Kiki Berger, creator of the Cupido and Don Kiki lines for Cuban Crafters. It is marketed as a “rich and flavorful cigar smoking experience offering exceptional value and affordability for discriminating cigar enthusiasts.”

Affordable it is. Clasico’s four vitolas—Corona Gorda (4.5 x 46), Rothschild (5 x 50), Belicoso (5.75 x 50), and Churchill (7 x 50)—retail for $4.50 to $7.50 apiece. This price range is especially impressive when you consider that the blend’s Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper is of the “desflorado” variety. As you may recall from my review of the Cubano Claro (another Don Kiki line), desflorado is a finicky leaf that requires the buds on its plants to be cut off before they flower.

The result is a clean wrapper, albeit lumpy and a bit splotchy, with few veins and a nicely tailored cap. The Belicoso’s feel is moderately firm and its faint pre-light notes smell of honey.

Snipping less than a quarter inch from the sharply pointed cap reveals an effortless draw. Once lit, the Clasico—sporting a Nicaraguan Havana-seed criollo binder and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos—starts with an attention-grabbing profile of spicy cedar and dry cereals. Tasty yet lacking in balance.

Less than an inch passes before the Belicoso becomes more varied and harmonious. Here, additional flavors of creamy nuts and warm tobacco are complemented by a sweet, toasty aftertaste. The overall effect is of a cigar that’s pleasing to the palate and easy to smoke any time of the day.

As the Clasico grows milder in the final third, only to ramp up in cedar spice down the home stretch, it’s impossible not to notice the cigar’s superior construction. The burn is nearly perfect, the white ash is as stable as they come, and the draw remains easy to the nub.

The MSRP on the Belicoso is $6.50 per single or $130 per box of 20—a smart purchase that won’t leave you with buyer’s remorse. For well-blended flavors and brilliant physical properties, this vitola from the Berger & Argenti Clasico line earns four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

A few weeks ago we spoke with La Flor Dominicana head honcho Litto Gomez about, among other things, his latest line. Air Bender, as it is called, was originally a blend exclusive to La Flor Dominicana in-store events. Once Gomez had stockpiled enough of the Ecuadorian Habano wrapper to ensure a few years of consistent production, he launched it with a series of events over the past couple months. Litto has previously used the wrapper on his Double Press cigar.

Underneath the dry, relatively vein-free Ecuadorian wrapper are Dominican binder and filler tobaccos from La Flor Dominicana’s farm in La Canela. Litto says the blend is not as spicy as his well-regarded Double Ligero. Instead, the intended profile is of “refined power.”

Air Bender is offered in four vitolas that retail for $7-8.25 apiece: Guerrero (6.25 x 54), Maestro (5.25 x 52), Valiente (6.25 x 60), and the Matatan (5 x 50). Each name honors a kung fu warrior. “I’m enamored with Chinese culture,” Gomez told us. In addition, Gomez says a thinner size will be available at the IPCPR Trade Show in August.

But contrary to some reports, the “Air Bender” isn’t just a reference to Kung Fu culture. “When we smoke, we bend the air,” Gomez told us. “You can see smoke split the air as it leaves a cigar. That’s why I thought ‘Air Bender’ would be a perfect name for my newest line.”

The robusto-sized Matatan is well-constructed and very firm to the touch. Pre-light there are notes of dried cranberries and cedar. Once lit, you quickly see what Gomez means by “refined power.” The Air Bender has a bourbon-like flavor with lot’s of pepper and dry oak.

It starts out with burst of full-flavored spice but soon settles into a more medium-bodied, balanced profile with continued wood and pepper joined by subtle undertones of cherry and cassis. Despite an occasionally uneven burn, construction was good with a notably solid ash, aptly described in a comment as “made out of cement.”

Between its solid construction, balanced flavor, and “refined power,” there is much to appreciate about Litto Gomez’s latest creation. That’s why the LFD Air Bender Matatan earns a rating of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys