The Stogie Guys

When it comes to premium cigars from the forbidden island, Hoyo de Monterrey generally takes a backseat to more familiar brands like Cohiba and Montecristo. My recent sit-downs with a few Epicure No. 2s, however, suggest Hoyo shouldn’t be so easily dismissed.

José Gener established Hoyo in 1865 in Vuelta Abajo, a fertile region of Cuba nestled in the southern part of the Órganos Mountains. In 2001 Cigar Aficionado called this place the “land of the world’s best cigar leaves.”

Take a good look at an Epicure No. 2 and it’s easy to see why. This is a clean and elegant stick that measures four and 7/8 inches with a 50 ring gauge. It sports a beautiful, seamless, yellow-tinted wrapper that’s almost flawless and a nostalgic red, white, and gold band.

Pre-light I found notes of cinnamon, cocoa, and fruit off the freshly cut head. I was surprised and a bit concerned to discover the cigar has an inconsistent feel – soft and spongy in some places, rock hard in others.

But that concern faded as I torched the foot to reveal a dry, sandy aroma of cedar. This flavor is particularly pleasing because it’s balanced by an acidic taste, which adds saliva to the palate (bite into a lemon and you’ll see what I mean).

After an inch or so, the flavor mellows into more complexity with notes of jasmine, rose, and coffee. I am particularly struck by the thick, voluminous smoke given off by each tiny puff, the even burn that doesn’t require much attention, and the solid ash that holds firm for two or more inches. These characteristics hold true until the final inch, when the taste comes full circle by fading into spicy cedar.

Like many Cubans, the price of the Epicure No. 2 varies considerably in the U.S. from as low as $8 to as high as $17. Either way I doubt you’ll be disappointed. For a mild- to medium-bodied taste that stands up to Cohiba and Montecristo, I give the Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2 four and ½ out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

I don’t believe anyone has ever used Scoville units to judge a cigar, but if they want to start, this would be the one to test. I think the first few puffs of this beautiful light brown stick would rate pretty highly on the scale that’s used to measure the “heat” from chili peppers.

The Series JJ White Label is another in what seems to be a never-ending list of cigars from Don Pepin Garcia. I smoked the five and 3/4 inch by 52 ring gauge belicoso torpedo and thought it was terrific from start to finish.

That hot start quickly changes to an interesting sharpness that, surprisingly, almost has no finish. From there, as the cigar burned, tastes came and went, ranging from wood and leather to vanilla and coffee. I was doing some work while smoking, and at several points I got so wrapped up in the cigar that I lost track of what I was doing.

The Corojo wrapper is smooth with tiny, unobtrusive veins. The Nicaraguan puro’s prelight aroma is a wonderful earthy, thick mix. The cigar clipped and toasted easily. The only negatives I found were a few spots where the draw was a little tight and the smoke not as voluminous as I’d have liked. The ash was also flaky and, near the end, I experienced a wrapper split.

Overall, though, the JJ was a joy to smoke.

The popularity of this line, which has garnered many accolades and become a favorite of cognoscenti since its release a couple of years ago, just continues to grow. Consequently, discounts aren’t deep and sometimes the cigars can be difficult to find. The belicoso seems to run around $8 to $10 per stick. Remember, too, when you’re checking box prices, that there are 24.

I think anyone who enjoys medium- to full-flavored cigars will enjoy the JJ. On the Stogie Guys scale, it earns a rating of four out of five stogies.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Ramón Allones Specially Selected is a highly-regarded robusto from one of Cuba’s lesser-known trademarks.

The brand hails all the way back to 1845 when it was created by brothers Ramón and Antonio Allones – neither of whom is related to Antonio Allones, who brought El Rey del Mundo to fame in the late 19th century.

According to legend, Ramón Allones was the first brand to have colorful lithographs for box art, the first brand to utilize bands on cigars, and the first to package cigars in the “8-9-8” style. (Although others also claim to be the first for each of the developments.)

With a classic robusto shape (four and 7/8 inches by 50 ring gauge) and a slight box press, the “Specially Selected” is an attractive cigar. The wrapper is a nearly flawless medium-brown matte color.

Prelight, I take a moment to appreciate its rich and earthy aroma before I clip the head and use a few matches to get a good light. I also notice that the Specially Selected is very firm to the touch and it is denser than most of the other Cuban robustos I have smoked.

Immediately after lighting, I enjoy an abundant amount of leather flavors paired with pepper, earth, and even caramel. As the cigar progresses I find the spice fades out before coming back for a strong finish to this medium- to full-flavored smoke.

The overall construction of the Ramón Allones is also impressive. The draw is firm, but not overly so, and the ash is very sturdy. The only downside is the burn starts off a bit uneven, but fortunately quickly corrects itself.

Ultimately, this is one of the best Cuban cigars I have tasted, and it produced the same well-balanced flavors in each of the sticks I sampled for this review. Because it isn’t as famous as many of its Cuban counterparts, this cigar is available at a reasonable price of just $7.50 per cigar when purchased in a box of 25.

For attractive looks, solid construction, well-blended flavor, and a reasonable price, this Ramón Allones earns a rare rating of five out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Is there anything trendier in the world of cigars than the new barber pole phenomenon? The fad, characterized by two diagonally-woven, contrasting wrapper leaves, seems to be cropping up everywhere from CAO and Don Pepin to Arturo Fuente and Arganese.

But is this technique a sincere and creative attempt at new flavor combinations, or just a mere marketing gimmick? There’s only one way to find out: one at a time.

With Dos Capas, loosely translated as “two capes,” Felipe Gregorio is the manufacturer of one of the most recognizable barber poles. It sports a Connecticut-Sumatra wrapper combination with Dominican binder and filler tobaccos. (The company also makes Tres Capas, which brings a Nicaraguan candela wrapper into the mix.)

I recently tried my luck with a few Dos Capas Churchills. They weigh in at seven inches with a 50 ring gauge and sell in the $4.50 to $5.50 range. I am told they can be had for $3 or less at times on Cbid.

Made at the Tabacalera Real factory in the Dominican Republic, these sticks are a bit bumpy and uneven with some large veins. Like most barber poles, the seams are less than perfect.

After an even light, I found well-balanced, light flavors of oak, straw, and black tea. With two contrasting wrappers, I guess it’s no surprise that these earthy and woody notes – which aren’t quite mild, but aren’t quite full either – produce a taste that’s complex and even on the palate.

Once the first few inches are turned into a solid, well-layered gray ash, the flavor leads into a big, warm tobacco taste that’s familiar and inviting. I experienced a clear draw and a very even burn.

That good fortune turns sour towards the end, however, when heavy bitter notes kick in and the construction begins to suffer. I am also perturbed by the brown and gold band’s tendency to tear the frail wrapper when it is removed.

For me, this cigar demonstrates how barber poles are double-edged swords. While two or more wrappers will often yield a balanced, noble taste, they can also pose troubling construction issues. So, for a promising start and a disappointing finale, I’m giving the Felipe Gregorio Dos Capas Churchill three out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

“Professional smokers only. Smoke while sitting down.” That’s the somewhat laughable caution adorning Rocky Patel’s Edge line. But after recently smoking about five EO 601 Serie “Green” cigars, I can’t help but think how these Nicaraguan puros are infinitely more deserving of the warning.

Introduced at this year’s RTDA trade show, the Green Label is the youngest, strongest brother in the 601 family. The series – which also includes the habano maduro Blue, Ecuador Connecticut Black, and habano natural Red – is made exclusively for United Tobacco by stogie legend Don “Pepin” Garcia.

The company is headed by Erik Espinoza and Eddie Ortega (thus the “EO” brand name). Keepers of the Flame was nice enough to point out in April that the line name signifies “the date that Eddie and Erik first went to visit Pepin’s factory in Nicaragua.”

Handmade in Estelí, the La Fuerza (loosely translated as “the force”) is five and ½ inches with a ring gauge of 54. This is one fantastic-looking stick. The habano oscuro wrapper is dark and oily with few large veins. For some reason I find the highly detailed green and gold band to be mesmerizing.

A heavy black pepper spice dominates the outset of this smoke with accompanying notes of coffee and roasted nuts – very full and balanced on the palate. That strong flavor settles down after an inch or so into tastes reminiscent of leather, clove, and cocoa bean.

Down the stretch the taste turns slightly bitter. Surprisingly, though, the cigar does not fall into the trap that befalls so many full-bodied sticks by becoming harsh or overpowering at the nub.

The physical properties are exactly what you’d expect from a Pepin-blended stogie: outstanding. The burn is good, the ash holds firm, and the draw is smooth and clear.

When it’s all said and done, this is one of the most full-bodied smokes I’ve ever had the pleasure to enjoy. For about $7 you get 80 minutes of hearty, complex flavors that pair well with anything from black coffee to dark rum.

Not an everyday smoke, but clearly a real treat for special occasions, the EO 601 Serie “Green” La Fuerza is worthy of four and ½ out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

From Drew Estate, purveyor of the Acid, Sauza, and Kahlúa lines, comes Château Real, a real old-school Havana that the manufacturer calls “the new standard by which all other mild, traditional cigars will be judged.”

The building blocks of the series include an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper, a Mexican San Andreas Negro Oscuro binder, and Nicaraguan Criollo and Dominican Piloto Cubano long-fillers.

The Belicoso Favorita is six inches with a 50 ring gauge, and it retails in the $6 to $8 range. It is a golden, almost candela-tinted brown with a few wrinkles at the seams that provide some nostalgia and whimsy. The red and gold double band is simple and understated, but there’s more than meets the eye.

On the flip side of the top band you’ll find an inscription that directs smokers to the Drew Estate website under the heading of “The Rebirth of Cigars.” I find this advertising technique to be creative, and I’m surprised more manufacturers haven’t adopted the approach.

As I toasted the foot with a few wooden matches, I found a wonderful aroma of toast and hay. Thereafter, the first few puffs set the tone with a warm, buttery flavor. The creamy smoke reminds me of one of my favorite bargain cigars: the Ybor City Handmade.

Another familiar taste is also present, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. It’s dry, hollow, and a little spicy. Contrary to my predictions, the spice doesn’t pick up into the final third, keeping the Château Real soft and mild for the full hour.

Doughy to the touch, this stogie sports a fairly even burn and a clear draw. The ash, while holding firm at times, can fall off unexpectedly.

I don’t think I’m going out on a limb when I call this a real fine morning to mid-afternoon smoke. It successfully accomplishes what many cigars attempt: taste and complexity in a mild format. Still, it’s a bit overpriced, so I’m giving the Château Real Belicoso Favorita three out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

As far as cigar brands go, Graycliff can be pretty hard to come by. Sure, you’ll be able to find them at the occasional B&M or online retailer, but not nearly as frequently as you’d expect, especially from a brand that has received some glowing praise.

Various Graycliff lines – from Crystal and Profesionale to Espresso and Emerald – have earned high marks at publications like Cigar Aficionado and Smoke Magazine. With a limited production, though, the brand still seems to waver in obscurity.

Perhaps that’s a testament to Graycliff’s humble beginnings in the entranceway of a Bahaman restaurant. The company was founded by Enrico Garzaroli, a restaurateur who wanted to produce a high-end cigar to compliment the cuisine of his dining establishments in Nassau. Judging by the few Château Grand Cru PGs I’ve smoked recently, I think he hit the nail on the head.

Advertised as full-bodied with dominant flavors of leather and spice, this particular line was introduced to rave reviews at the 2005 RTDA trade show. It is composed of tobacco from Nicaragua, Honduras, and Costa Rica and retails in the pricey $12 to $19 range.

The PG is a robusto-sized stick with dimensions of 5 and ¼ inches and a ring gauge of 50. The wrapper is a bit granulated and veiny, but not unattractive, and the band is a shiny purple and gold (which, as you can see by the picture, is very difficult to photograph). Innocent-looking enough.

As unthreatening as the appearance is, though, the taste is quite full with well-balanced notes of raisin, vanilla, and roasted nuts. The aroma produced with each easy puff is bountiful and reminiscent of the Davidoff Grand Cru series.

But this stogie is stronger, especially into the halfway point as a spicy pepper flavor comes into play. With all these tastes and an even burn, the cigar is a real pleasure from light to nub – a memorable journey that takes a little over 75 minutes.

My only complaint is that the ash is a little frail and unpredictable. I was surprised by this, particularly since the filler is packed very tightly.

When it’s all said and done, however, this is a fine, well-balanced, expertly crafted, complex smoke. Too bad the cost gives me sticker shock. If the price were closer to the $8 to $10 range, I’d be willing to give the Graycliff Château Grand Cru PG an even higher rating than 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

photo credit: Stogie Guys