The Stogie Guys

In the mid-nineteenth century, about 15 years before founding Hoyo de Monterrey, Don José Gener y Batet opened a factory in Havana and began producing a line of cigars called La Escepción. The brand was ultimately confiscated by the Cuban government and discontinued in 1989 due to falling demand for strong, full-bodied cigars.

This summer, however, General Cigar introduced a new, Honduran-made incarnation of La Escepción in New Orleans. General, after all, is no stranger to naming their non-Cuban creations after brands from the embargoed communist isle. Examples include Bolivar, Cohiba, La Gloria Cubana, Partagas, Punch, and—yes—Hoyo de Monterrey.

The new La Escepción sports the world’s first binder from Ometepe, a volcanic island rising out of Lake Nicaragua with a tobacco production exclusive to General (the Macanudo 1968 also features Ometepe leaves). La Escepción is finished off with Nicaraguan tobaccos and a Honduran habano Talanga wrapper.

“To capitalize on such a classic entity as La Escepción, we chose to develop a cigar that speaks of balanced spiciness and complexity,” said Debo Mukherjee, vice president of marketing for General Cigar, in a press release. “Our intent was to provide consumers with an extremely flavorful cigar, with a sophisticated taste that honors the brand’s lineage, and I believe that we have delivered that in spades.”

Three sizes are available: Gran Gener (6.25 x 54), a figurado called Batet (5 x 54), and Excepcionales (5.5 x 52). The latter has an MSRP of $5.99.

My two Excepcionales aren’t the prettiest cigars in the world. They’re both crooked and lumpy with at least one large vein running the length of the cigar. The feel is firm, the draw slightly tight with some sweetness on the lips, and the pre-light notes of earth are muted.

Once underway, the smoke is thick and chalky with a heavy dampness. The taste—akin to walnuts, black coffee, and leather—is full-bodied yet smooth with little bite on the finish. Settling at the midway point, the toned down flavor becomes nuttier and creamier before taking a bitter turn at the final third.

It’s here I realize that La Escepción, while satisfying and well-built, lacks any distinguishing characteristics.

So even though I mostly enjoyed this cigar’s taste, burn, draw, and ash, and even though I could see myself lighting up another at a herf or on the golf course, I won’t go out of my way to seek this new blend out. It just isn’t as memorable, craveable, or complex as I’d like, resulting in a rating of three stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Fuente fans can be a ravenous bunch. Between Opus X, Hemingway, Anejo, and others, Fuente has a loyal following for its expertly-blended, full-flavored smokes.

For that reason I was somewhat surprised by the lack of buzz surrounding the launch of Fuente’s new Rosado Sungrown Magum R line. Maybe the blend’s billing as a more medium-bodied smoke left it a few notches below what many hardcore Fuente fans like best.

Rosado Sungrown Magum R debuted in early December with three sizes: 52 (5 x 52), the 54 (6.25 x 54) and the 56 (5.6 x 56). Carlos Fuente Jr. said these cigars were rolled over a year ago and have been aging ever since.

According to Fuente, the Ecuadorian wrapper was grown 8-10 years ago by John Oliva when Fuente first created their Sun Grown line. The Magunm R’s wrappers, however, are from much lower on the plant, which accounts for its milder character.

The wrappers on the thick, robusto-sized 52s I sampled for this review had a reddish hue, but were not particularly shiny or oily. Curiously, I noticed a smear of glue on the bottom of both , though the construction was otherwise excellent. Of particular note was a perfectly solid snow-white ash that accompanied a flawless burn.

Much as advertised, I found the Magnum R to be very balanced. It began as a mild-medium smoke with light cedar, roasted nuts, and cream flavors. There were also some slightly less enjoyable damp earth notes.

There wasn’t much evolution as the cigar progresses. But as the burn inched closer to the ornate, gold-trimmed band, it did become a bit more medium-bodied, as a subtle pepper spice kicked in along with some tannic flavors.

All in all, while the Sungrown Magnum R is not the most interesting smoke from Fuente, it does provide a pleasant flavor profile—albeit not as lively as some of my favorite Fuente smokes. And it does so at the very reasonable price of under $7 per stick. That combination earns the Arturo Fuente Rosado Sungrown Magnum R 52 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

Master blender Don Pepin Garcia is, without question, prolific. Aside from producing his own eponymous brand, this Cuban-born entrepreneur currently crafts cigars for such clients as United Tobacco, 5 Vegas, and Tatuaje, among others, from his perch at El Rey de Los Habanos in Miami. It goes without saying that much of his work is highly acclaimed.

Before he became a major commercial success, Ashton hired Garcia in 2007 to make a new line of cigars called San Cristobal (he also makes La Aroma de Cuba and Benchmade for Ashton). Constructed entirely from Nicaraguan tobacco, the blend consists of eight sizes. My colleague awarded the torpedo-shaped Fabuloso four stogies for its complexity and profile of earth, spice, and bitter chocolate.

Still going strong with Ashton, this summer Garcia introduced a San Cristobal offshoot at the IPCPR Trade Show in New Orleans. It is called “Selección del Sol” (Spanish for “Selection of the Sun”) in honor of the sungrown wrapper that surrounds this three-vitola line of Nicaraguan puros.

The leaf is worthy of distinction because it is from Garcia’s Estrella farm in Estelí. “Estrella sits on a picturesque plot of land surrounded by green hills, where sunlight abounds and the soil is as thick and as dark as coal,” says Ashton’s website. “Pepin and his son, Jaime, hand-selected these beautiful wrappers from the first crop of tobaccos harvested from Estrella explicitly for this cigar.”

“Beautiful” may not be the best word to describe Selección del Sol. Once you remove both flamboyant bands, you’re left with a dry, somewhat listless leaf, a rough cap, and prominent veins and seams. But beauty does not a good cigar make.

To determine this cigar’s real value, I smoked three Robustos, each of which cost $6.50 at my local tobacconist. These five inch by 52 ring gauge sticks start with pre-light notes of cocoa and coffee creamer. After lighting, they yield a profile of dry cedar, honey, and an undertone of spice. The overall effect is one of a mild- to medium-bodied smoke that’s more traditional-tasting than the bold cigars for which Garcia is known.

Rather than being disappointed, though, I’m pleasantly surprised. And the physical properties—including a solid white ash, a perfect burn, and an effortless draw—make the Selección del Sol even easier to like. The delightful aroma of the resting smoke is an added bonus.

So even though this Robusto bears little resemblance to other Garcia smokes (or other sungrown-wrapped cigars, for that matter), count me as a fan. I’m going to pick up more of these to stash in my humidor. For its sweet and enticing flavor and excellent construction, I’m happy to award the new Selección del Sol Robusto four stogies of out five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

“And crowned of thorns. No explanation here is really needed. 2 is the son of God doing battle against evil, the enlightened one, the soul-saver, all forgiving.”

That’s the explanation Illusione creator Dion Giolito gives on his website about the name of this belicoso-sized cigar. Each of the 12 vitolas in the original Illusione lineup have unique names—including cg4, 888, and hl—and each refers to either Giolito’s faith, a significant year in his life, or his favorite numbers at the craps table in his native Las Vegas. The Illusione name itself is a nod to conspiracy culture.

Whether you’re enchanted or annoyed by The Da Vinci Code-esque nature of Illusione, odds are you’re a fan of the cigars themselves. I rarely hear such universal praise for a brand from tobacconists, reviewers, and cigar enthusiasts alike. That accounts for the buzz surrounding the company since it was founded a few years ago.

In an interview conducted almost two years ago, Giolito told us he established Illusione to replicate the flavor of pre-Sandinista Nicaraguan cigars. “Nicaraguan tobacco has always had my attention from the beginning,” he said. “Joya de Nicaragua was, and still is, one of my favorite cigars, particularly the original blends.”

To recreate that flavor—and, as Giolito put it, “to be able to look someone in the eye when they ask me what my favorite cigar is and tell them it’s the one I make”—he built a Nicaraguan puro. The tobacco is grown from first-generation criollo ’98 and corojo ’99 seeds and wrapped in a reddish Colorado leaf. It is manufactured in Honduras.

The Illusione 2 (5.25 x 52) is mottled and oily with a fair amount of large veins and noticeable seams. It features a sweet pre-light aroma of milk chocolate, a firm feel, and a carefully crafted triple cap.

Once lit, it becomes immediately clear that this cigar is a Nicaraguan puro. The first half inch is characterized by a heavy black pepper taste with plenty of spice. Smoking slowly alleviates some of the strength, but the profile is definitely full-bodied.

The remainder of the cigar, to its credit, is more subdued. Flavors include roasted nuts, coffee, leather, and a hint of sweetness. Well-balanced and creamy.

In the final third, notes of charred steak occasionally overpower the Illusione’s complexity. Still, there’s no mystery why this blend has such a fervent following. With decent construction, and with limited production, the biggest drawback is lack of availability. So don’t think twice if you have the chance to grab an Illusione 2 for its asking price of $6.50-9 apiece. Delicious and savory, it earns four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Back in November, I wrote a Quick Smoke of Murcielago, one of this summer’s most anticipated releases. Now, after burning through about a quarter box of this new line from Eddie Ortega, Erik Espinosa, and Don Pepin Garcia, I am pleased to present a more thorough review.

Murcielago was one of two new blends introduced by United Tobacco at the IPCPR Trade Show in New Orleans (the other being the Cubao Maduro). According to the text printed on the tissue paper inside my box, its name—“bat” in Spanish—honors the often misunderstood creature that fertilizes tequila-producing agave plants in Mexico. “No bats, no tequila,” it reads.

Why link this cigar to Mexico and tequila? Well, the five-vitola Murcielago blend is predominantly Mexican in makeup with a San Andreas maduro wrapper and a Mexican binder. The filler tobaccos are Nicaraguan.

When the production of this blend was announced in July, Espinosa said in a press release that “the cigars were better than Eddie and I hoped for.” That struck a chord with many cigar enthusiasts who have grown to love the handful of blends United Tobacco has created since the company was founded in 2003.

Murcielago stands out among them in both name and appearance. The Belicoso (5.5 x 52) is slightly box-pressed with a smooth, dark, and rich-looking exterior leaf, accented by a red and black band. Moderately firm from head to foot, it exudes pungent pre-light notes of powdered cocoa and compost.

This cigar’s makers say Murcielago is supposed to be “medium- to full-bodied.” I think that’s about right, though fans of bold sticks should note that its thick smoke has more smoothness than strength. The chalky profile tastes of nuts, espresso, and leather with little variation throughout.

While this flavor is interesting, it isn’t as captivating as I hope it will become with some age. Otherwise, the young EO Murcielago Belicoso is an excellent smoke with above average physical properties. It’s a good value at $9-10 apiece and worthy of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

In March, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo ended his tenure with General Cigar to establish his own boutique. The move effectively left La Gloria Cubana, the brand he built from relative obscurity to industry prominence, without its leader of nine years.

Before parting ways, though, Perez-Carrillo left behind four blends in the La Gloria Cubana portfolio. One is Reserva Figurados, launched in 2004. This line of five different figurado sizes comes in either a natural Ecuadorian Sumatra leaf or a maduro Connecticut broadleaf.

The rest of the Reserva Figurados blend includes a four-year-old Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.

They are handmade at the El Credito Cigar Factory in Miami by “level seven” cigar rollers. Only 1,000 boxes of each size are produced annually before they are subjected to a cedar aging process.

With a tapered foot, a short and slender physique, and a rock-hard feel, the jet-black Felicias Maduro (4.6 x 49) looks like it could be fired from a gun. Pre-light notes are tough to come by but, if you pay close enough attention, you might notice aromas of sweet cocoa and coffee.

Snipping the cap reveals a surprisingly even draw and virtually no taste on the lips. After lighting, however, a rich and bold flavor of dry wood, pepper, and steak comes through. Medium-bodied and smooth with a rounded finish—very similar to the Flechas Especiales Maduro.

This profile is fairly consistent throughout, save for a gentle increase in spice down the home stretch. All the while, the combustion qualities are good as the straight burn works its way down the shapely cigar. The draw is easy and the white ash is solid and well-behaved.

With these qualities, and at only $4-6 apiece, the Reserva Figurados Felicias Maduro has been a staple in my humidor for awhile. And this time of year I’m thankful for that. Its stature is suited well for cold temperatures, and its flavor pairs well with warm coffee or a winter brew.

But this cigar is an excellent choice for any season. So despite lacking a great deal of complexity, this La Gloria Cubana earns four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Introduced in July 2008, the Soirée blend is among the newest from cigar traditionalist and pioneer Paul Garmirian. PG, after all, is a rarity among today’s manufacturers, resisting the pressure to constantly come out with something new.

Devoid of slick marketing and gimmickry, PG quietly blends and ages classic-tasting cigars from their headquarters in McLean, Virginia. They seem keenly interested in doing a few things right and less concerned about increasing their market share or expanding their operations. But every once in awhile PG debuts a new line.

Such was the case about 17 months ago when Paul and his son, Kevork, launched Soirée. Wrapped in a reddish Nicaraguan Colorado leaf with Dominican binder and filler tobaccos, Soirée is the result of Paul’s quest for “new blends reminiscent of the great Cuban cigars PG enjoyed in the 1950s and early 1960s.”

The blend sports four sizes, including the Connoisseur (6 x 50), which retails for $290 for a 25-count box. My dad, though, paid about $190 at his local hangout in the Chicago suburbs. He was nice enough to gift me a few for this review.

One thing becomes immediately clear when you remove the Connoisseur from its cellophane: This is one of those cigars that values substance over style. The red and toothy wrapper has some coarse veins and prominent seams, and the cap isn’t all that pretty. But the overall feel is one of quality and the pre-light notes of spicy cedar are mouth-watering.

The flavor of the Soirée Connoisseur can best be described as bold yet smooth. Rarely does a cigar come along with such a big taste and yet so much subtlety and nuance. The base flavor is one of dry wood, warm tobacco, and soft pepper—all of which is complemented by creamy caramel, earth, and even some floral notes.

This complex, well-balanced profile carries through to the midway point. As PG says on its website, it is a “full-bodied after dinner cigar with an exquisite aroma and smooth finish.” True, and it’s especially nice in the evening with a glass of rum. But it also works in the afternoon thanks to its smoothness.

I wish the construction were as delightful as the taste. The ash is unstable with a penchant for flowering, the draw is a tad tight, and the burn requires several touch-ups.

Still, the PG Soirée Connoisseur is a special smoke that will satisfy the most discriminating of cigar smokers. It earns four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys