The Stogie Guys

You won’t find a ton of information on the web about this blend that debuted at the IPCPR Trade Show in July, but here’s the bottom line: The Arganese ML3 makes for a tasty, slow-burning alternative to other fuller-bodied blends that command a much higher price.

Now don’t expect to find the complexity and balance that you would in a super-premium like the Opus X; with a price around $5 per 5 inch by 50 ring gauge Robusto, such a feat would be astounding. But if you’re into sticks with a kick, this needs to be on your short list of cigars to try.

That kick is the result of an all-ligero tobacco blend. Ligero leaves are situated atop tobacco plants, and their unrestrained exposure to sunlight gives them a strong taste and an unhurried burn. ML3, after all, stands for “maduro ligero times three”—an homage to its Brazilian maduro ligero wrapper and Dominican ligero binder and filler tobaccos. Arganese also came out with a CL3 blend in July (corojo ligero), and company head Gene Arganese calls both “cigars to the third power.”

The ML3 Robusto boasts few veins, smooth seams, and a firm stature. The flashy band is a departure from more traditional, family-crested Arganese smokes, and the rich aroma and dark appearance sets the stage for the experience that’s to come.

I smoked two ML3 Robustos for this review and was impressed with both from the start. The initial taste is thick with notes of dark chocolate and black coffee. The flavor mellows to nut, birch, and cream after the first inch, only to hit its zenith of bitter espresso and peppercorn in the last half of the 90-minute smoke.

While 90 minutes is a long time to smoke a classically sized robusto, that’s what you get with ligero tobacco. And, since ML3 is made by Arganese—a manufacturer I’ve come to appreciate for its consistency in construction—you also get an even burn, a clear draw, and a pretty solid ash.

All told, if you’re a fan of bold cigars, I’d recommend picking up a stash of these to have on hand (about $98 per box of 20). The price is right, the flavor full and interesting, and the physical properties solid. That’s why I give the new Arganese ML3 Robusto four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

One of the great things about being a cigar smoker these days is the incredible wealth of information available on the Internet. I couldn’t begin to name all the sticks I’ve enjoyed, and the many more I plan to try, because of something I read on a cigar site.

This 5.5 inch, 42-ring gauge corona is a perfect example. It’s a cigar I almost certainly would never have tried if I hadn’t read a review on Keepers of the Flame earlier this year. Now, their reviews are always interesting, nicely written with top-flight research—with this stick, for instance, they point out a couple of fascinating links to Pepin Garcia—and great insight. After reading what they wrote and discovering that Famous offers a box of 20 for $49.99, free shipping, and a nine-stick house brand sampler thrown in for good measure, I was hooked.

These coronas have been in the humidor about three months, and I’ve probably smoked a half dozen. I’ve found them surprisingly consistent in both taste and performance. Keepers recommends aging and, though I’ve seen no impact from the short period I’ve had them, it seems the blend might benefit from time.

What you get for $2.50 is a spicy, peppery smoke with some leather and even an occasional taste of nuts. It’s neither terribly complex nor a competitor for Cigar of the Year. But it goes well with coffee and can stand up to a heavy meal. I find it ideal for those occasions when I’m looking for a cigar I can enjoy but know I won’t be able to devote the time and attention a top-flight smoke deserves.

With today’s economy, lots of us are looking for an inexpensive cigar, and I can recommend these. Famous offers five-packs, but by the time you pay shipping, it’s probably a far better bargain to buy a box.

And if you’ve had good luck with other low-priced house brands—from Famous or elsewhere—let us know. It’s another way to help keep the golden age golden. For me, the Famous Nicaraguan Corojo Corona gets three and 1/2 out of five stogies.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

This brand could lay claim to the title of bargain cigar royalty, combining, as it does, the Don Pepin Garcia/Ashton duo with a price tag under $3 per stick. And the Nicaraguan puro isn’t even a bundle cigar. It’s packaged in cedar boxes of 25.

Sure, it’s mixed filler. Sure, the pigtail cap isn’t particularly attractive. Sure, physical characteristics and construction vary some from cigar to cigar. And did I mention it’s less than $3 a stick?

I’ve smoked a few and sampled all four sizes. The Benchmade begins with a little spice and soon settles down to being a tasty, straightforward, medium-strength cigar. You won’t confuse it with one of Pepin’s top-flight creations, but you also won’t mistake it for some bargain-bin castoff either.

I enjoyed the Cazadore most, but that’s primarily because I feel the 46 ring gauge and the 6.5 inch length make for a comfortable smoke. I paid $2.60 for it.

I have been impressed and, frankly, a little surprised at the relative consistency between smokes. One key to making low-priced cigars is looser quality standards for the tobacco. That inevitably leads to greater inconsistency. My guess would be that quite a few sticks were rolled at the same time for Benchmade’s recent introduction. Consequently, I wouldn’t be surprised to see that consistency varies more in the future.

I’ve been told the filler is from cuttings from the San Cristobal made at Pepin’s Nicaraguan factory. I don’t know if that’s true; my guess would be it’s made from leftovers of numerous cigars made at the Tabacalera Cubana S.A.

The cigar is made with a mixture of long- and cut-filler at the foot to limit tobacco falling out and at the head to keep bits of tobacco out of the smoker’s mouth, according to a June Cigar Insider web posting. Again, that’s the kind of effort that makes it difficult to keep prices this low, so I won’t be shocked if I find tobacco on my tongue in the future.

Still, it would be hard to complain too much at these prices. If you’re looking for a value smoke, give the Benchmade a try. Taking everything into consideration, I give it three and 1/2 out of five stogies.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

In March I gave the Cupido Criollo Corto a well-deserved, glowing review as “one of the best sub-$3 cigar experiences I’ve ever had.” I’ve gone through plenty more since then because of the Corto’s delicious taste, excellent construction, bargain price, and short format.

The Commemorative vitola boasts the same blend of tobaccos—a criollo wrapper and Cuban-seed habano long leaf binders and fillers—in a larger, 5 inch by 54 ring gauge layout. Also a Nicaraguan puro from the Cupido Vegas field of Estelí, Cuban Crafters produces only 9,000 individually numbered boxes of 25 annually for under $70 each.

These smooth, oily, relatively dark criollos are box-pressed and sold as heady, deep cigars that are naturally sweet, spicy, and creamy. Take a few moments to enjoy the dark cocoa notes before striking the first match.

I’m convinced, by the way, that wooden matches are the ideal way to light cigars like the Corto and the Commemorative. The tiny foot makes it easy to establish an even light, and torch-brandishers will have a tendency to ignite more tobacco than necessary, a mistake that’s prone to ruining burns.

One drawback of this cigar’s unique shape is the tight draw you’ll experience on the first few puffs. Don’t worry; everything opens up nicely after a few patient minutes with lots of spice and a dry, woody taste. After the first inch or so the flavor begins to resemble black coffee and roasted nuts. I think seasoned cigar veterans will really enjoy this full-bodied (albeit one-sided) phase and noting how it smoothly transitions into a more balanced, floral taste in the last two inches.

I found few physical imperfections across the seven Commemoratives I smoked for this review. Expect a fairly stable ash and a burn that requires a few touch-ups here and there.

The Commemorative may not rate as exceptionally well as the Corto viotla in my book—namely due to the Corto’s virtually perfect combustion qualities—but it’s still another fine, under-priced smoke from the makers of Stogie Guys favorites like J.L. Salazar, Don Kiki (Brown and White), La Carolina, Cabinet Selection, and Cameroon. I give the Cupido Criollo Commemorative four stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here. To purchase this cigar from a StogieGuys.com affiliate, click here.]

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Despite the brand’s popularity among a considerable population of cigar smokers, I’ve steered clear of Puros Indios since my subpar experience with a harsh and physically flawed Piramide No. 3. But I’ve been told by a reliable source that the relatively obscure Double Maduro line is worth a look.

The blend is comprised of Nicaraguan, Dominican, and Brazilian filler tobaccos rolled in an Ecuadorian binder and wrapped in an Ecuadorian sungrown Sumatra double maduro leaf. You’ll have a hard time finding these, including the 6 inch by 53 ring gauge Toro Especial, which retails for $55-70 per box of 20.

Like other blends in the Puros Indios lineup, Double Maduro is produced south of Danlí, Honduras, under the guidance of Rolando Reyes Sr. On a quick side note, Señor Reyes “claims to be the only factory owner who also retains the atmosphere of Cuban cigar factories of old by having a full-time lector read the day’s news and other literature to the rollers as they work.”

He also refuses to use chemicals or taste additives and “continues to inspect all cigars manufactured in his factory.” Maybe the inspection standards for physical appearance aren’t terribly high. The two toothy and rustic Toro Especiales I smoked for this review included some big veins and sloppy seams.

Taste counts much more in my book, though, so I lit up with an open mind. I was greeted with rich notes of pepper, cocoa, and nut that quickly transitioned into a deep tobacco flavor. Not unlike the Montecristo Classic, I also found a bit of marshmallow hollowness. But the Double Maduro—which on the whole I would describe as full-bodied but not strong—is far less complex, remaining largely unchanged until ramping up the spice at the very end.

Both of my Toro Especiales exhibited uneven burns that extinguished themselves from time to time, clear draws that produced ample tufts of smoke with each puff, and flaky and unstable ashes.

Altogether, despite the $2.75-3.50 per stick price, I wasn’t terribly impressed with this particular vitola. There are better values to be had. For homely appearance, pleasant yet less-than-enticing flavor, and unfortunate construction, I give the Puros Indios Double Maduro Toro Especial two and ½ stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Devil’s Weed is an interesting and colorfully named cigar line recently released by the Molina Cigar Company. The brand seeks to honor the early history of mainstream tobacco use—beginning with Christopher Columbus’s introduction of the plant to Europe, and culminating in the condemnation of tobacco by the Spanish Inquisition (from whence the phrase “devil’s weed” originated).

The Jerez is a 6.25 inch by 46 gauge specialty vitola in the Devil’s Weed lineup, and it most closely resembles a belicoso. It is named for Rodrigo de Jerez, one of Columbus’ trusted lieutenants, whose penchant for the heretical herb famously landed him a seven-year sentence in a Spanish prison.

I’m a sucker for history and clever marketing, and Devil’s Weed offers plenty of both. Not only are the vitolas named for various 16th-century figures and places, but they’re presented in a fairly unique fashion: individually wrapped not in cellophane, but in logo-stamped brown paper. Molina Co. claims the paper offers better air circulation than plastic, and I can’t really argue that point one way or the other. Either way, it looks cool, and I dig it.

Remove the paper and you reveal a smooth, khaki-colored claro with minimal veins, a tiny bit of tooth, and practically invisible seams. The cap is a bit sloppily applied, but otherwise the Jerez is an almost flawless-looking stick. It turns out to be a mild-bodied smoke with lots of butter, very subtle hints of cedar, and some toast and honey on the finish and nose. The combustion and construction properties are excellent; the Jerez draws beautifully and requires no touchups or relights during its brief but relaxing 60-minute duration.

Ordinarily I’d consider this sort of mild, pleasant, everyday morning smoke—not outstanding, but certainly serviceable, delightful, and easy. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be readily available individually. You have to buy Jerezes by the box, and at $121 for 25 sticks, that’s a price I’m not sure I’d pay. A more reasonable $4.50-5 seems about right for this stick, but I’d love the option to buy singles.

Ultimately, the Devil’s Weed Jerez is an uncomplicated yet enjoyable smoke that I wish were more readily available for value-minded consumers. I give it three and 1/2 stogies out of five.

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

–Jon N

photo credit: Stogie Guys

As with many of Fuente’s high-end cigars, the Casa Fuente line carries with it a certain mystique. This blend, for instance, is available only at the Casa Fuente store at the Caesar’s Palace Forum Shops in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is the cigar lounge’s house blend, positioned and priced to rival the OpusX as Fuente’s most exclusive consumer offering.

Recently, Patrick S. and I smoked a few while kicking back with some surprisingly manly tangerine mojitos at the Casa Fuente bar. A quick word about those mojitos, actually: They’re quite strong, and it’s entirely possible that they may have affected my ability to judge the Casa Fuente double robusto accurately and clearly. Fortunately, the mojitos also compelled me to buy a few more sticks on my way out the door—so I’ve been able to smoke some later on, in the clear light of sobriety.

At any rate, this handsome cigar sports a leathery Cameroon wrapper and a secret blend of what I believe to be Dominican binder and filler leaves (reportedly the same binder and filler as the Opus X). It is impeccably constructed and rolled, as one might expect from a rare Fuente cigar. Smooth, firm to the touch, and oily as sin, this 6.5 inch by 52 ring gauge cigar exudes luxury. The pre-light smell is deep, rich, earthy, and slightly sweet. The cap clips easily, and the draw is firm but forgiving.

Upon lighting up, I detected a lot of earthy flavors and some faint pepper in what I’d call a medium-bodied smoke. Occasionally I’d get some leather notes, and every so often I’d encounter a cinnamon-sugar sweetness that was quite fascinating. This sweet-spicy profile was much more evident in the cigar’s aroma; its intoxicating smoke carried that mysterious “Fuente smell” that only seems to show up in high-end Fuente blends. I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s got some cinnamon, some leather, and some vanilla to it.

While these flavors and smells were complex and enjoyable, they never varied. And that’s unfortunate. Many of the best Fuentes I’ve had wove different flavor profiles on and off the palate as they progressed. This cigar, however, played a much more consistent (and persistent) tune. Ordinarily I wouldn’t fault a cigar for lack of flavor transition. But when a stick carries a $25 price tag and is this hard to find, I expect not just good, and not just great, but practically sublime things.

For flawless craftsmanship, great flavor, and a beautiful nose, I’d be inclined to award the Casa Fuente double robusto a perfect five stogies. But I’m taking one away for lack of nuance. On the balance, this lovely stick gets four stogies out of five.

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

–Jon N

photo credit: Stogie Guys