The Stogie Guys

I have a hard time sleeping on airplanes. So flying back after last month’s IPCPR Trade Show in New Orleans, I found myself mentally drooling over all the new releases that I couldn’t wait to try. Needless to say, before we landed at Dulles International, I had pretty much decided that my gorgeous sample of an Entubar Torpedo wouldn’t last long in my humidor.

This blend carries the new Berger & Argenti brand name. Based in Miami, the company was launched in August by Don Kiki Berger—who fashions the Cupido, Cubano Claro, and Don Kiki lines for Cuban Crafters—and Albert and Michael Argenti of Cuban Imports, Inc.

Entubar is Berger & Argenti’s flagship blend. According to materials I picked up at the convention, it is “a tribute to the time-honored Cuban cigar making technique” of the same name. That procedure includes “creating delicate ‘scrolls’ of rich, flavorful tobacco” and tightly bunching the Nicaraguan and Dominican filler leaves within the Nicaraguan binder.

When you glance at the Torpedo (6.75 x 56), the first thing you’re likely to notice is the twisted bunch of filler that protrudes from the foot. Closer inspection reveals a virtually flawless and oily Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed desflorado wrapper, a carefully crafted and sharply pointed cap, and a faint pre-light aroma of sweet hay. These characteristics help explain my eagerness to light up this cigar.

Entubar is marketed as “a superior smoking experience defined by a mosaic of complex flavors, a sweet finish, and an unsurpassed draw.” I won’t disagree. With a balanced variety of tastes, the first third will impress any cigar enthusiast. The profile includes cereals, cream, grass, roasted nuts, and onion spice. And the combustion qualities are downright remarkable.

As the burn line’s thick mascara moves toward the middle of the stick, the Entubar’s flavors increase in intensity. A spicy tingle is present on the lips, and notes of bitter coffee beans join in to add depth down the home stretch. I had all but fallen in love with this traditional-tasting cigar before it was time to lay it to rest.

Brilliant cigars are often expensive cigars, and the Entubar Torpedo is no exception. A single sells for around $11, and a Spanish cedar box of 20 sells for $220. This is money well spent, however, and I wholeheartedly recommend you give this treasure a try when it shows up at your local B&M. For great complexity and construction—and for everything I’ve come to expect from Don Kiki and more—the Berger & Argenti Entubar Torpedo 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 A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

United Tobacco—also known as EO Brands—has created some great blends since it was founded in 2003 by Eddie Ortega and Erik Espinosa. The 601 Green and Cubao come to mind as particularly outstanding. But before I take a look at their newest lines, Murcielago and Cubao Maduro, I thought it appropriate to review Mi Barrio, which debuted at the IPCPR Trade Show last summer.

Spanish for “my neighborhood,” Mi Barrio boxes feature the artwork of Edin Gutierrez, a Cuban-influenced artist who is good friends with Don Pepin Garcia and Orestes Espinoza (Erik’s father). The two are portrayed on Mi Barrio bands.

This blend is a limited edition seasonal release, available four times per year in batches of 100,000 sticks. While EO’s website maintains that each release will be the same unique size and shape with a different blend, we have reason to believe the opposite.

The first Mi Barrio, El Puro, was a large (7.5 x 52) Nicaraguan puro. The El Aceres that I sampled for this review, however, are clearly a different size (6 x 50) and probably the same blend. My colleague pointed out this anomaly in a recent Quick Smoke.

At any rate, El Acere hit the market in October 2008 with a price tag in the lofty $9-11 range. It features a Nicaraguan habano wrapper and binder and filler tobaccos from Esteí and Jalapa, respectively. The pre-light aroma of cocoa and vanilla is simply amazing—enough to make your mouth water.

The actual taste of the smoke, however, doesn’t really live up to expectations. While I enjoy El Acere’s unwavering flavor of cedar, spice, and dark chocolate, I wish it included more balance. The overall profile, for instance, is a tad salty for my liking. And instead of being thick and rich, the smoke is light and airy, contributing to its hollow texture.

Perhaps I’m being too critical. This is, by most accounts, a very fine medium-bodied cigar with many of good qualities. The flavor is nice, the resting smoke is intoxicating, and the combustion qualities are top-notch. But I just keep thinking how much better El Acere would be with a little more depth, especially for the price.

Maybe other sizes are better suited for this blend. So, assuming EO’s website is wrong and my colleagues and I are right, I’ll have to try the other Mi Barrio releases (El Forro and El Billetero) to see if they strike the right chord with me. For now, the El Acere earns three stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

The trend at this year’s IPCPR Trade Show, if there was just one, was affordable smokes, and Brioso certainly fits that bill. The blend was introduced by General Cigar at this year’s showin New Orleans and will be available soon for around $3-4.

As explained to us at the convention, General Cigar took many measures keep this cigar in that affordable price range, including giving their blenders a mandate to keep the cigar under $4. While they were careful to say that Brioso isn’t a “bundle cigar,” it does come in a display case, rather than a box, which can then be refilled with unboxed (some might call them bundled) smokes. The name, we were told, was picked from the many unused names that General Cigar owns; it means “lively and spirited” in Spanish.

As for the cigar itself, it features a Honduran Jamastran wrapper, a  Connecticut habano binder, and a blend of Dominican, Nicaraguan,  and four types of Mexican filler tobacco. The wrapper, framed by a rather simple band, has a slightly dry appearance, but its deep brown color is inviting.

Once lit, Brioso has a combination of earth and warm tobacco flavors. It is rather simplistic and medium-bodied. Occasionally the cigar has a somewhat unpleasant damp flavor that detracts from the otherwise enjoyable, if uncomplicated, profile.

As I’ve come to expect from General Cigar’s products, the construction is superb. The draw has just the right amount of resistance, the burn is even, and the ash is stable enough to last an inch at a time.

All it all, Brioso is a cigar that will compete nicely with similarly priced sticks. But if your expectations are too high you’ll be disappointed. I suspect company representatives would admit that you won’t be mistaking Brioso for the deep powerful flavors of a Punch or even the complexity of La Gloria Cubana (both also made by General Cigar).

Still, Brioso is serviceable cigar at a good price that I’d be glad to smoke on the golf course, or give to a friend who doesn’t yet have the palate to fully enjoy something with more complexity.  In the end, that combination earns the Brioso Robusto three stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

One of the “second tier” Cuban cigar brands, Por Larrañaga doesn’t get the acclaim or attention given to Montecristo, Cohiba, or Romeo y Julieta.

But sometimes finding that under-the-radar gem can be even more rewarding. And given it’s easy-on-the-wallet price of under $4, this small five inch by 37 ring gauge Panetela certainly has the makings of an undervalued find.

The little stick features a veiny golden wrapper that isn’t particularly pretty—we both experienced small breaks and tears. With a slight box-press, nearly complete lack of pre-light aroma, and a somewhat spongy feel, it doesn’t appear to have been rolled by an expert, and it doesn’t inspire particularly high expectations.

Once lit, a slightly leathery start soon becomes a a consistent mixture of oak and cream. As you would expect from a small smoke, it’s not terribly complex. But it’s still pleasantly surprising. The flavors are rich and smooth, even if the smoke is on the mild side.

While the appearance leads you to think construction might be an issue, there are no major flaws. The ash is somewhat unstable, a function partially of the cigar’s small width, but the draw is easy and the burn admirably straight.

Ultimately, the JFK size of this cigar makes it perfect for a cup of coffee or a short break. Por Larrañaga has been produced continuously since 1834, making it the longest running Cuban brand still in production.

If they keep making impressive, affordable gems like the Por Larrañaga Panetela, we hope that run continues for centuries to come. For that, this Cuban earns a rating of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S & George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Among the dozens of cigars that recently debuted at the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association Trade Show, perhaps none was more welcome than CAO’s La Traviata. Many enthusiasts told us, both in person in New Orleans and via email since the convention, that they couldn’t wait to try this new release.

And why shouldn’t they be excited? With its rich and oily Ecuadorian habano wrapper, ultra firm touch, and hearty pre-light notes of leather and molasses, La Traviata makes a great first impression. And the price is even better. CAO is offering this three-vitola blend with a suggested retail of $4.95 to $5.75 per cigar—a welcome price range in today’s turbulent economy.

Adding to La Traviata’s appeal is the fact that it represents a departure for CAO. The Nashville-based manufacturer is best known for its slick marketing and innovative blends. But this new line, which “harkens back to pre-nationalization Havana,” is traditional with a classic charm.

The “La Traviata” brand was initially launched in Cuba over 100 years ago at the Tabacalera Cubana, Agramonte no. 106, in Havana. CAO built this modern-day incarnation to abide “closely to [La Traviata’s] original Cuban roots in presentation and taste.”

Marketed as full-bodied, it includes a Cameroon binder and two different ligero filler tobaccos from the Pueblo Nuevo farm in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.

The five inch by 50 ring gauge Divino starts with a profile of mild leather, sweet cedar, and black pepper. With a dense yet reasonable draw, the taste develops after the first inch to include notes of cream and roasted nuts. Here, after the first inch, is where the flavor is most nuanced and satisfying.

The slow-burning Divino is fairly consistent to the nub in both taste and construction, the latter of which is near perfect. In order to counteract this robusto’s infrequent bitterness, a setback that should improve as this young tobacco ages, try pairing it with a sweet rum-based cocktail.

No matter what you drink, though, you’ll likely be impressed by La Traviata—even if it doesn’t remind you of a pre-embargo Cuban. It delivers in taste and performance far above what you’d expect for the price. For that, the Divino earns four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A & Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

I haven’t been a regular Perdomo smoker through the years. Not that I have anything against the brand or recall any particularly bad experiences. It’s just not one of the smokes I frequently reach for in my routine.

The other day, though, I noticed a six-inch Grand Cru Toro and was impressed by the deep, oily Cuban-seed Corojo wrapper. The price point, $6.50 for a single, was compelling as well.

The cigar exceeded my expectations. The burn and the draw were nearly perfect, and the taste was complex and balanced. It’s billed as big on taste—“a bold, full-flavored smoking experience,” according to Perdomo marketing materials—and I found it to live up to that hype.

Kicking off with pepper that leveled off about a third of the way in, the Nicaraguan puro also presented tastes of coffee, chocolate, and leather. There are changes and variations in strength throughout.

I’ve smoked a few of the cigars in this line, which are available in three sizes in addition to the 50-ring gauge Toro: Robusto (5 x 50), Churchill (7 x 50), and Torpedo (6 x 54). So far I’ve liked the Toro best, with the Robusto a close second. Perdomo also offers a Grand Cru Maduro line that I have yet to sample.

One complaint is Perdomo’s lack of information on its website. The Grand Cru isn’t even listed among its brands. You’ve got to check past press releases to find the May 5 introduction announcement, which notes that the tobaccos are from the 2004 crop on Perdomo’s Nicaraguan farms.

Notwithstanding that minor setback, this cigar is definitely worth checking out, especially given its reasonable price. I rate the Perdomo Grand Cru Corojo Toro four stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: Tabacalera Perdomo

Information on the Diez Small Batch No. 2 (6.25 x 54) is almost as tough to come by as the cigar itself. La Flor Dominicana’s website doesn’t appear to have been updated recently as it lists only the Small Batch No. 1.

 This cigar is flawlessly constructed with a perfect triple cap and minimal veins. The wrapper has a slight tooth that gives the cigar a rough feel. Pre-light, the aroma is predominantly of leather with a hint of sweet tobacco. The triple cap clips off effortlessly and the draw confirms the leather smell and sweetness.

The foot lights easily and the draw, as expected in such a wide cigar, is easy with just the right amount of resistance. On the first puff a large volume of creamy smoke coats my palate and tastes predominately of cedar with leather notes in the background.

About an inch in, the cedar fades slightly and the taste of red pepper emerges along with some roasted nut flavors. The overall effect is more balanced than spicy.

As the cigar progress, the burn is razor-sharp and the nice ash is solid, light, and gray. I start to notice some cinnamon and caramel notes at about the halfway mark.

All of these flavors—from red pepper and cinnamon to caramel and roasted nuts—fade in and out for the remainder of the cigar. A hint of spice enters the equation in the final third but never becomes dominant. The burn is excellent and requires no maintenance during the two-hour smoke.

The one constant flavor element in this cigar is that there is always some sort of sweetness present, either from the cedar, caramel, or red pepper. And while the core flavor is of cedar, fortunately no single flavor overpowers the others.

That makes the Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch No. 2, which retails for about $16 apiece, an exceptionally complex and well-balanced cigar. For its wonderful construction, complexity, and poise, it earns five out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick M

photo credit: Stogie Guys