The Stogie Guys

Yesterday you got an idea of how many people it takes to make a single cigar. And if you were paying careful attention, you would have seen the care and skill that goes into making each Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic cigar.

Commonly called the Don Pepin Garcia “Black” Label to differentiate it from the Don Pepin Garcia Blue Label, this puro is made in Don Pepin’s factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. With classic five inch by 50 ring gauge robusto proportions, this cigar can be had for around $6 per stick.

The Cuban Classic’s looks were similar to the Blue Label, though just a bit darker with fewer veins. The Corojo wrapper is a lovely caramel color.

Power-packed with plenty of slightly salty ligero tobacco, this cigar starts out very spicy but soon it becomes creamier. The robusto is not as complex or balanced as the Blue Label, but it still has a pleasing, full-bodied flavor profile. As the cigar progresses, the spice fades all together, but the buzz-inducing warm tobacco taste remains. Additionally, the finish is noticeably dry and a touch bitter.

Construction was excellent with an even burn and perfect draw. The cigar was a little soft to the touch, but that didn’t seem to result in any ill effects. (Like most cigars utilizing a heavy blend of ligero tobacco, this cigar might benefit from being kept at a slightly lower humidity that usual.)

Overall, this is a quality smoke – as you would expect from Pepin – but I don’t think it is as good as many of his other lines. Still, there is a lot to like in the Cuban Classic Robusto if you enjoy full-flavored cigars.

Additionally, I think there is some serious aging potential with this stick, and I should note that the samples that made up this review were only aged for a few months. Perhaps an additional six months or a year of humidor time and this cigar would score even better.

In the end, for its full flavor and excellent construction, the Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic Robusto earns a rating of three and 1/2 out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick S

Tags: cigars

From the company that brings us such lines as La Carolina and J.L. Salazar comes the Don Kiki Brown Label. Like others in the Cuban Crafters portfolio, these sticks are “made in small batches with attention to each and every detail” from Cuban seed tobacco. The operation is run by Cubans like Kiki who fled the island in search of freedom to produce their own cigars.

The Toro is a six inch by 52 ring gauge stogie that’s six years in the making. Cuban Crafters makes no secret of the fact that they spend three years selecting and curing the best leaves, then another three aging them.

The product is attractive. The sun-grown criollo wrapper is light brown with a rugged, almost sandy feel; in contrast, the gold and brown band is flashy and metallic.

At the amazing price of less than $2 apiece when bought by the box, the cigar is advertised as well-balanced with floral notes of licorice, spice, earth, toasted nuts, and cocoa – much fuller than the White Label. Before lighting my first Brown up, I remember thinking, “If this sub-$2 stogie packs all those flavors, I’m going to have a new favorite everyday smoke.”

With a 2007 rating of 9.4/10 in Smoke Magazine, I was hoping that would be the case. Fortunately, I wouldn’t be disappointed.

The taste begins on the spicy side with prominent notes of clove and graham. Other flavors of leather and earth are quick to join in, rendering a taste that’s fitting for the cigar’s look.

Halfway though, notes of sweet chocolate are also introduced, making the flavors I’m able to pick out – with the exception of licorice – not unlike those that are advertised. Call it a self-fulfilling prophecy, but the bottom line is all 10 or 15 of the toros I’ve smoked in the past few months have been very well-balanced.

The physical properties of this one hour and 20 minute smoke are also favorable. Expect a strong, tightly layered white ash with a loose draw that produces lots of smoke. While the burn starts a bit uneven, it quickly straightens itself out. The only drawback is its inability to perform well in windy conditions, a slight flaw that’s true of most cigars.

In all, this cigar is nothing short of amazing – especially when you consider the incredible complexity versus the bargain price. For tremendous value, I give the Don Kiki Brown Label Toro four and ½ out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A

With a ratings ranging from 92 to 90 in recent issues of Cigar Aficionado, the Romeo y Julieta Exhibición No. 4 has made the magazine’s not-so-short list of “All-Time Top Cigars.” Worldwide, the stogie is a top-selling handmade habano with a reputation as an aromatic smoke with good combustion.

This five inches by 48 ring gauge Cuban can be found for anywhere from $8 to $11 apiece on the internet. Its sepia-colored wrapper is a bit bumpy with a rustic appeal, though certainly not unattractive.

Unlike the Cuban Partagas Serie D No. 4, the Romeo y Julieta band is very similar to its Dominican-made, completely unrelated counterpart that’s legally available in the U.S.. Looks like Altadis went to great lengths to bear as many similarities to the Cuban-manufactured Romeos as possible.

My smoke began with satisfying flavors of spicy cinnamon and pepper. Delicious but definitely on the salty side, so I recommend a complimentary drink.

During the first third the flavor is not overwhelming, likely because the draw is so loose. Each puff pulls through tons of air, giving the spicy flavors a light and fluffy appeal – a phenomenon that’s not uncommon among spongy-feeling stogies.

Right before the midway point some notes of sweet molasses join in, and this is where the Exhibición No. 4 is truly at its best. Plenty of balance on the profile.

But just when I was really enjoying these flavors, the final third brings tons of heat and more spice. The same spongy characteristic that kept the smoke light and fluffy in the beginning comes back to make it powerful and harsh towards the end.

My advice? Make sure to take your time with this one, and enjoy it on a full stomach.

On construction, this cigar isn’t exactly a thing of perfection. The burn requires some touch-ups to stay lit and even, and the ash is a bit flakey. I also had trouble removing the tightly sealed band without tearing the wrapper.

While the physical properties leave much to be desired, this is one heck of a treat up until the final third. It would take someone with taste buds of steel to nub it, though.

All things considered, I’m giving the Cuban version of the Romeo y Julieta Exhibición No. 4 three and ½ out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A

Atop this page is a picture of all three members of the StogieGuys.com staff. Taken circa December 2006, it shows George E., myself, and Patrick S. in front of a cigar factory in the heart of Ybor City.

Since Patrick S. and I live in Washington and George lives in Florida, this gathering was a rare occasion – but it sure was memorable. We spent an afternoon walking from cigar shop to shop, visiting several cafés for Cuban coffee and good eats.

Among our stops was King Corona Cigars, a bar/restaurant B&M owned and operated by a fifth generation cigar family. It had an impressive selection of name-brand stogies, but also carried four house brands.

One of them, simply called Ybor City Handmades, has been a staple in my humidor ever since the trip. The Torpedo, my favorite vitola, is a six inch by 52 ring gauge stick with an ultra-smooth Connecticut wrapper. I’m glad it comes naked because any band would only detract from its simple beauty.

The smoke begins with a very unique, enticing mild aroma that’s tough to put your finger on. After several puffs, I was able to conclude the taste is primarily one of butter and almond, not unlike the conclusion my colleague reached in this Quick Smoke.

At the halfway point, some spicy clove and sweet honey notes enter the equation, giving this cigar a pleasant texture. Still, it’s definitely on the mild side and not one for those who only value knock-you-on-your-ass smokes.

Like many house blends that are made in small batches with good attention to detail, Ybor City Handmades feature excellent physical properties. The draw has some (but not too much) resistance; the burn is straight or self-correcting; and the ash is sturdy and white – great for a long ashes contest.

While these gems are sold exclusively at King Corona, you can still purchase them online. At only $60 for a bundle of 25 (less than $2.50 apiece), they’re an absolute steal. What you won’t get is a cigar with name-brand recognition; what you will get is a delicious cigar with great construction at a bargain price.

Since this has been my favorite go-to cigar for mornings and early afternoons for about a year, and since I’d be willing to pay three or four times the asking price, I have no qualms about giving the Ybor City Handmades Torpedo four and ½ out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A

I have to admit I didn’t know much about this cigar until recently. As it turns out, my knowledge of Cubans is lacking – but I’m looking forward to changing that.

So I turned to the web to do a little background research on the Partagas Serie D No. 4 before diving into a couple that have been gracing my humidor. What I found was a heap of praise making the stogie out to be the greatest robusto ever created. Several reviewers claimed it was the best smoke they’ve ever had.

Needless to say, I was anxious to try the Serie D, one of the top-selling Havanas in the world. It’s reputation as a full-flavored, “New School Habano” with rich notes of wood and spice meant that I couldn’t wait any longer to give the 4.9 inch by 50 ring gauge No. 4 a try.

The golden wrapper is extremely smooth with only a few minor imperfections. With a new-age appearance, the band doesn’t look anything like what you’d expect from a company that has been rolling tobacco since 1827.

After toasting the foot and establishing an even burn with just a few wooden matches, I was underway. The Cuban leaves quickly produce a big taste of cedar and black pepper – very similar to the flavors that are advertised. While the immediate impression is milder than I expected, the strong spice really kicks in during the aftertaste.

After the first third is completed, the $13 to $23 cigar’s true colors begin to shine through. That’s when a buttery almond flavor enters the equation and the stick is at its best.

Unfortunately, I was really disappointed by the physical properties of the two No. 4s I tried before writing this review. While the draw was clear and each puff produced a ton of smoke, the burn required constant surveillance and several touch-ups to remain even and lit. Even though I took all the appropriate measures, I couldn’t prevent canoes from forming. What’s more, the ash is flakey and unstable.

As you can imagine, these construction shortcomings are quite distracting, and they completely interfere with the smoking experience. Notwithstanding the excellent flavor, I found this Cuban to be somewhat of a disappointment – especially considering all the wonderful reviews I had read.

When you get right down to it, I would not feel comfortable paying in excess of $10 for one of these again, let alone the cigar’s commanding price. For terrific flavor and unfortunate construction, I give the Partagas Serie D No. 4 three out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A

These days there are so many new cigar releases, it seems that reviews are reserved for the latest debuts. That, of course, makes sense. What would you think of a music critic raving about The Beatles, or a book reviewer ecstatic over stumbling across a fascinating novel called The Great Gatsby?

On the other hand, you can certainly do worse than to spend time listening to Beatles’ recordings, and Gatsby is among the current big read selections of the National Endowment for the Arts. We shouldn’t forget that not everyone’s heard of or been exposed to everything. I’m constantly amazed at all the things I read and hear for the first time that I feel I should have known years ago.

All of which is a Paul Byrd-style windmill windup to this revelation: I’ve been bowled over by a vitola from that one-time darling of the cigar boom, La Gloria Cubana. It is the Medaille d’Or No. 1 Maduro, a long, slim stick that appears to be oozing oil and elegance. Lighting one up, I feel the best place to smoke it would be at an outdoor French café, sipping coffee and reading Le Monde (if I read French).

Some years back, I smoked La Gloria Cubanas quite often, usually the popular Wavells and Corona Gordas. But after a couple of Serie Rs whipped up on me, I drifted away from the entire brand. I’m not sure why this stick caught my eye in a local B&M humidor, but I’m glad it did.

Over several days, I smoked three No. 1s. At a length of six and 3/4 inches by 43 ring gauge, they were consistent in taste and burn. There was the typical maduro sweetness, accentuated over the course of the cigar with tastes of leather, coffee, and damp earth.

Befitting its reputation as “Cuban-like,” the Glory of Cuba, made in the Dominican Republic, doesn’t utilize exotic tobaccos. The wrapper is Ecuadorian, the binder Nicaraguan, and the filler a mix of Dominican and Nicaraguan. They produce a tight, white ash.

I had draw problems with two of the three. They felt plugged. With one of them, I eliminated the problem by clipping a bit more at the foot. The other, though, wasn’t as easy to fix. It finally worked itself out, more or less, about half way down.

I’d call this a medium strength cigar. When the draw is going well, the smoke is thick and rich.

Like most of the multitude of LCGs, this stick is reasonably priced. I paid $5.30, while boxes of 25 run about $67 on the Internet. They aren’t always in stock, either at shops or websites, but they’re worth searching out. The draw difficulties forced me to cut my rating a little, so I give the Medaille d’Or No. 1 a solid three and 1/2 out of five stogies.

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

–George E

Blended by none other than Rocky Patel and manufactured in Nestor Plasencia’s Honduran factory, Fire by Indian Tabac has gained a reputation for packing a lot of flavor into an inexpensive stick. For only $2 to $3 – and sometimes even less – the line is lauded for its powerful, “Cuban-esque” flavor. Rocky himself even says Fire is one of his favorites “after a great, huge steak.”

But are these accolades too good to be true? I sat down with a seven inch by 49 ring gauge Double Corona Corojo to find out.

The wrapper, a dry, triple fermented capa corojo leaf, is relatively smooth with some small, noticeable wrinkles between each vein. I find the band to be unique and attractive, but am curious as to why “Rocky Patel” isn’t featured. The name, after all, carries a lot of weight in the cigar industry. My hypothesis is Rocky doesn’t want cigar enthusiasts to confuse Fire with his other lines.

Right off the bat, the foot yields a rich and tasty flavor that’s anything but overwhelming. I found the first couple inches to be the most enjoyable, with notes as varied as toast, black pepper, and sweet molasses – very complex for the price range.

I wanted to delve deeper into the many tastes and found that, when smoked through the nose, the flavor is very well-balanced on the palate. The powerful, bitter tastes are canceled out by sweetness; the dry, salty notes are countered by acidity.

Unfortunately, these sensations don’t last for the entire two hour smoke. At the midway point the spice really kicks up and the flavor leans towards harshness, even though I made sure to take my time.

Despite a tight packing of the Nicaraguan and Honduran filler tobaccos (also triple fermented), the draw is excellent and each puff produced plenty of smoke. The foot requires several touch-ups to stay lit and maintain and even burn, and the ash is not terribly sturdy.

Even so, I came away from this smoking experience feeling pretty good about the purchase. After all, for hardly any money, I enjoyed a flavor profile many $6 or $7 cigars would be proud of. I’m recommending you try at least one Fire by Indian Tabac Double Corona Corojo, and giving it three out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A