The Stogie Guys

Maybe I’m wrong about generational cigar preferences, but I think old school smokers who prefer the raw taste of natural tobacco will enjoy Punch’s Gran Puro line more than those of us who grew up in the Rocky Patel era.

As the name suggests, this blend is Honduran through and through. It boasts sungrown binder and filler tobaccos and a dark, granulated Havana-seed wrapper from the San Agustin Valley. You’ll notice some sizable seams and a few large veins but, all in all, this stick is pretty easy on the eyes.

The four and ½ inch by 52 ring gauge Santa Rita is a short and stubby vitola that was introduced in 2003. It retails for as low as $2.30 when bought by the box of 25 and as high as $4.60 for a single. I should mention here that the two Santa Ritas I smoked for this review had been aging in my humidor for over two years.

You’ll find a number of reviews on the web that say this smoke starts with a full, spicy flavor and mellows into a lighter creaminess. Interesting, especially since this is said to be Punch’s “punchiest” line.

But that’s pretty much what I found. The first inch is dominated by a warm, peppery spice with notes of clove – consistent with what I consider a typical Honduran tobacco taste. The second third is earthier with a light, smooth flavor that’s akin to sour cream. This strikes me as a very particular taste that some will love and others will hate (personally, I prefer the preceding fuller-bodied spice). I was happy to discover the cigar ends as it began with more spicy notes.

With an appearance similar to the profile of a mountain range, the burn is uneven but also not disruptive. The gray and flaky ash holds surprisingly well in breezy conditions, and the draw is just right.

All things considered, I won’t say I’m too young to enjoy this 45-60 minute smoke. There’s nothing spectacular here, but it makes a nice midday break or golf course companion. I give the Punch Gran Puro Santa Rita three out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

[Editors note: Like Sidd Finch, the left-handed Whopper, the Taco Liberty Bell, and Nixon’s 1992 run for president, this review is the result of the hijinks that ensue every year on April Fool’s Day. Read at your own risk.]

This review has been a long time coming; I’ve smoked dozens of these classic corona-sized (five and 1/2 inches by 42 ring gauge) cigars in preparation. I’ll confess that I wasn’t initially looking forward to smoking so many of these but, as you’ll read below, I found myself quite surprised at how good these “drug store cigars” are.

According to Altadis’ website, Dutch Masters is “America’s #1 natural wrapped cigar.” In production since 1911, the cigar comes in boxes featuring a Rembrandt painting.

Before lighting, I pause to notice the veinless caramel wrapper that feels like satin. Pre-light, the cigar gives off a wonderful aroma of enticing cedar and warm caramelized apples. After carefully cutting the head of this rare American puro, I was greeted with more of the cedar and sweetness. Dutch Masters lights easily with three wooden matches.

What I find can only be described as bliss in the form of warm tobacco smoke. The flavor reminded me of burnt seven-year old Madagascar vanilla with subtle freshly ground pepper and ripe Mediterranean apricots.

As the cigar progresses, I discover another level of remarkable, complex, and flawlessly balanced flavor as the vanilla transitions into a blend of brittle English toffee and Iranian prunus dulcis (better known as almonds). The whole time, I am able to focus on these wonderful tastes because of perfect construction: a razer-sharp burn, a solid ash that held for a full two inches, and a draw that was easy.

Ultimately, the Dutch Masters Corona De Luxe is as masterful as Rembrandt himself. But unlike a Rembrandt, you can buy a Dutch Masters Corona De Luxe for the absolute bargain price of just $1 (and fortunately these cigars can be found in most drugstores and even at many gas stations).

Given the economical price, flawless construction, and superbly balanced and rich flavors, the Dutch Masters Corona De Luxe earns a surprising, but well-earned, rating of five out of five stogies. Go smoke one today!

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Graycliff is a brand I’d never tried until recently, for unfortunate but obvious reasons. From Profesionale to Château Grand Cru, these cigars are notoriously hard to find, and they’re offered at prices only the richest sheikhs in Qatar would find reasonable. I received my five-pack of Graycliff Crystal PGXs as a gift so, thankfully, I was spared the $22-per-unit sticker shock that would have accompanied an actual purchase.

Now, when I take possession of five exorbitantly pricey cigars, I leave nothing to chance. I go to great lengths to maintain them, and eventually to enjoy them at what I anticipate to be their peak condition. Such was the case for this review. When I finally pulled my Graycliffs out of the humidor, they’d been resting for about six months and were coated with a layer of fine, white plume.

Each six inch by 50 ring gauge stick is quite the sight to see: tightly wrapped, yet almost bulging at the seams. The light brown, sun-grown Ecuadorian wrapper is smooth and moderately oily. A few light veins run vertically down the length of the cigar, but in an unobtrusive and visually pleasing way. The gold and white label lends a very elegant and refined touch. A delicate nose of coffee, cloves, and aged tobacco drifts up from the foot. All in all, this thing practically oozes luxury.

“Looks are all well and good,” you’re probably thinking, “but how does this pretty little bastard smoke?”

Quite impressively, I’d say, albeit with minor kinks here and there. The initial flavor is quite mellow – sort of a thin, tantalizing wisp of graham, honey, vanilla, and spice. This delicate profile, borne on a very mild body, lasts for about the first third of the cigar. By the second third, the smoke picks up a medium strength, and a nutty flavor dominates the palate. Stronger spice and a longer finish make up the final third and, by that point, a very noticeable nicotine buzz kicks in. If you’re not the slightest bit lightheaded after nubbing one of these babies, you should donate your body to science.

Now, about those “minor kinks” I mentioned earlier. The burn has a real tendency to canoe. I had to make five or six significant corrections throughout the 90 minutes that I savored each stick. When you’re trying to enjoy a serene, meditative experience with a smoke of this caliber, the last thing you want to be doing is babysitting an unruly burn.

If I were judging this cigar on flavor and aesthetics alone, I might be tempted to give it a perfect score. But because of its burn problems, inexcusable as they are for a $22 stick, the Graycliff Crystal PGX receives four out of five stogies.

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

–Jon N

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Don’t be too quick to clip and light this Cameroon-wrapped cigar. If you do, you’ll miss the chance to enjoy its delicious, mouth-watering pre-light aroma. It’s a great start for a fine cigar.

While much of the cigar industry often seems focused on producing limited edition sticks at higher and higher prices, Oliva continues to offer cigars that are not just easy on the wallet, but excellent in quality regardless of price. If you are a Cameroon fan, as I am, it’s hard to believe that you can buy this six inch by 50 ring gauge smoke for around $3.25.

After that wonderful aroma, the initial taste is smooth and a little spicy. That quickly settles down and the creamy smoke becomes toasty and almost buttery. About halfway down, a little leather and cocoa waft in and out. The smoke is plentiful. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better complement to a cup of coffee.

In addition to the African Cameroon wrapper, this Toro features a Cuban-seed Habano binder and a Nicaraguan Habano filler – just like the “Special” vitola. Construction is excellent. I wasn’t surprised when the delicate wrapper developed a couple of small splits, but I was pleased that the burn went past them without a problem.

With a tobacco history going back more than 120 years in Cuba, the Oliva family is proud of their heritage and the cigars they make. Last year, Cigar Aficionado (which consistently praises Oliva) reported that the company makes about 5.5 million Oliva cigars annually at its Estelí factory. I’d recommend they crank out a few more of these wonderful Cameroons.

I give the Oliva Serie G Cameroon Toro four and ½ out of five stogies.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

When I named the EO 601 Serie “Green” one of my Gold Star Smokes back in December, I wasn’t exactly going out on a limb. Since it was introduced at last year’s RTDA trade show, the cigar community has widely embraced it as an outstanding, full-bodied powerhouse, and I haven’t met many who disagree.

But the oscuro Green can be a bit overwhelming, even for some seasoned cigar veterans. If you fall into this category, I would highly recommend trying the 601 Serie “Blue,” the second strongest in Erik Espinoza and Eddie Ortega’s popular Pepin-blended line of Nicaraguans.

With an oily, practically vein-free Habano maduro wrapper, the Blue is Pepin’s first box press and also his first maduro. Like the Green, it isn’t hard to find praise on the web or elsewhere for this Estelí-made cigar.

The Toro measures a hearty six and ¼ inches with a 52 ring gauge and sells in the $7.40 to $8.50 range. Without its flashy, detailed band, it bears a striking resemblance to an RP Vintage ’90 of the same size.

The smoke starts with Pepin’s signature burst of pepper followed by savory dark chocolate notes. A natural sweetness is present, along with a taste akin to roasted nuts – not dissimilar to the Green.

The Blue, however, isn’t nearly as strong. You’ll find lots of well-balanced flavor, but little of that “Whoa, I need to sit down” feeling. The rich, bountiful tastes remain fairly consistent through the second third, and the finish sees a small increase in bitterness.

Of the six Toros I smoked for this review, half required some touch-ups to keep the burn even and half did just fine on their own. All sported a firm ash and a clear draw throughout the 70- to 90-minute smoke.

All things considered, I am once again impressed with the performance from United Tobacco’s 601 line. I hesitate to chalk up the Blue as an instant classic, but it is no doubt an excellent alternative for smokers who need something stronger than the Red but lighter than the Green. I give the EO 601 Serie “Blue” Toro four out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

As the weather warms and that winter chill gives way to a cool evening breeze, many cigar enthusiasts start opting for longer, bigger cigars in lieu shorter sticks. So when better to review the six and ¾ inch by 50 ring gauge Arturo Fuente Double Chateau Sun Grown than the first day of spring?

This large, silky smoke comes wrapped in a cedar sleeve from foot to band. The sleeve slides off easily to reveal a neat Ecuadorian wrapper and a dark, sweet aroma that is characteristic of sungrown tobacco – no surprise thanks to Fuente’s signature black ribbon. You can buy a box of 20 Double Chateaus from CigarsDirect.com for $103.40 ($5.17 apiece).

After clipping the uniquely large cap and toasting the foot, the initial flavor is a tad salty, but evens out with some toffee undertones. Sweetened coffee rounds out the finish into the second third and, if you’re really paying attention, you might pick up on some citrus.

Spicy peppercorn, syrupy tobacco, and cedar tastes dominate down the stretch with a little bitterness coming into play at the very end. All in all, this cigar’s Dominican binder and filler tobaccos nicely complement the sungrown wrapper – a pleasant pairing that produces volumes of thin, flavorful smoke.

The burn performs well during the 90-120 minute smoke, but a few Double Chateaus required touch-ups in breezy conditions. The draw is just about right, if not slightly firm.
And the ash holds as well as you would expect from a Fuente.

Overall, this is an impressive mild- to medium-bodied cigar with a lot of interesting flavor to offer at a reasonable price. It is well-balanced, smooth, relaxing, and satisfying.

Sungrown enthusiasts who require long breaks would do well to work this into their regular rotation. We give the Arturo Fuente Double Chateau Sun Grown four out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A & George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

The French word “nonpareil” literally means “unparalleled,” or “without equal.” I didn’t find the Indian Tabac Nonpareil to be that, exactly. But at $3 per stick, this well-crafted six inch by 52 ring gauge Toro certainly offers a decent value for a modest price.

The Nonpareil is a Nicaraguan puro sold in either a Connecticut shade or a Natural wrapper. I opted for the darker Natural. With a rich brown color, tight roll, and nearly veinless body, this was certainly a good-looking cigar. Pre-light aromas from the foot and the freshly cut head revealed hints of cocoa, butter, and leather. I lit up the stogie and was immediately greeted by a soft air of wood and tobacco.

The initial flavor of the cigar was of leather and faintly burnt cedar – not an altogether complex combination, but certainly acceptable for a $3 smoke. Unfortunately, this combination persisted, more or less unchanged, throughout my two-hour smoke. Toward the middle third, a grassy tone and peppery aftertaste made an appearance. But these new flavors did little to offset the boredom of having experienced the same taste, over and over, for as long as I had.

Perhaps I’m asking too much of this bargain-priced cigar. But I’ve come to expect a great deal from any stick bearing a Rocky Patel brand, much less a “nonpareil” boast.

Still, I don’t want to shortchange the Nonpareil. It is a serviceable, enjoyable, economical cigar that neither asks for, nor requires, your undivided attention. It will make a fine companion on the golf course or at the poker table, so I give the Indian Tabac Nonpareil Toro three out of five stogies.

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

–Jon N

photo credit: Stogie Guys