The Stogie Guys

Montecristo is easily the most storied name in all of cigars. From the Cuban original to the ever-expanding list of Montecristo lines produced by Altadis in the Dominican Republic, just about every time you turn around another “Monte” is available.

Back in 2002, Altadis introduced the Montecristo Platinum as a fuller-flavored alternative to the standard Dominican version. Since then the band of the Platinum has changed – it now resembles the other Montecristo bands, only with a shiny silver color that doesn’t photograph well – but the Mexican wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and Dominican/Nicaraguan/Peruvian filler has remained the same.

The Mexican Cubano wrapper on this six and 1/8 inch by 52 ring gauge belicoso is oily, veinless, and milk chocolate in color (with the exception of one prominent vein). The cigar is silky although a bit soft to the touch, and pre-light it has a fantastically rich bouquet of flavor.

After clipping the head and lighting up, I immediately noticed that the draw is unfortunately on the tight side. However, as the cigar progressed, I found the rest of the construction to be good – with a solid ash and a burn that started out slightly uneven but quickly straightened out.

When it comes to flavor, there is no mistaking the fact that chocolate is the overwhelming flavor in this cigar. In addition, there is a subtle yet constant spice note along with a bit of leather and nuts.
That medium- to full-bodied palate of flavors held consistent until the final third when the spice increased and hints of berry and licorice joined the flavor adventure.

Overall I was pleased with the Montecristo Platinum. Until only recently, it was the Montecristo line I was least familiar with, but a handful of smokes over a few months has made for a pleasant getting-to-know-you period.

At $8 or more each, these aren’t everyday cigars. But with rich, complex flavors, solid construction, and good looks, the Montecristo Platinum Habana No. 2 earns a strong four out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick S

Tags: Cigars

Coming to a local cigar shop near you is the new Signature line from H. Upmann. Make sure to pick a few up because they’re a real treat.

Created by master blender Jesus Piñeda Henríquez and made at the Flor de Copán factory, these are the very first Upmanns to be produced in Honduras and are billed as a new and unique twist on the famed brand.

The first thing that strikes me about the Monarca, a seven inch by 54 ring gauge vitola that retails for $7.50, is that it’s simply huge. My picture – which showcases the cigar’s seamless, russet-colored wrapper – just doesn’t do this stogie’s massive size justice. I guess what I’m trying to say is that it’s big.

After toasting the foot with a wooden match and drawing a few start-up puffs, the Nicaraguan, Honduran, and Peruvian filler tobaccos mingled with the Connecticut Shade wrapper to create a mouth-watering creamy almond and butter taste. Despite the slightest traces of spice, the stogie maintained this mild flavor for what seemed like ages.

Even though I relished this easygoing aroma, I kept anticipating the spice to kick in and the true colors of the cigar to shine through. It finally got to the point where I thought that would never happen.

Then, at the halfway mark (which is a full 60 minutes into the smoke), I began to see why the cigar is advertised as “medium bodied.” A distinctive black licorice spice entered the equation that mixed with the creamy flavors to produce a wonderfully balanced taste. Good things come to those who wait.

This is what I was hoping for all along. And, in retrospect, I’m glad the blender chose to ease the flavor in over a long period of time instead of throwing it all out there from the get-go. It makes the smoker fully appreciate the complete taste once it arrives.

Aside from an unstable ash that prematurely falls off the foot at will, the Monarca’s construction is also admirable. Expect a razor-sharp burn and a smooth draw.

Overall, this is a memorable journey from mild to flavorful that does not disappoint. Just make sure you have the time and attention this cigar deserves.

Since I’m enthusiastically looking forward to my next H. Upmann Signature Monarca, I give this expertly crafted gem four and ½ out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A

The Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8 is one of Fuente’s most reasonably priced smokes, and often cited as a bargain that gets you a lot of bang for your buck.

While Fuente’s Hemmingway, Anejo, Don Carlos, and Opus X lines all regularly sell in the double figures, this six inch by 47 ring gauge smoke can be had for around $3 in many local cigar shops – far closer to the price of Fuente’s mixed-filler cigars like Brevas Royal and Curly Head. Yet the Flor Fina features a Cameroon wrapper around a binder and long filler from the Dominican Republic.

One thing I’ve often heard about this cigar is that it really benefits from some aging. So, due to that suggestion – and the fact that these 8-5-8’s remained at the bottom of my humidor where they were less able to tempt me – the two cigars that are the basis of this review had nearly a year of age in my humidor before they were smoked.

When I did finally retrieve these cigars, I found a rough and rustic Cameroon wrapper with a lot of veins. The classic Fuente band is reassuring around an otherwise unimpressive looking cigar.

After clipping the head and lighting up, I noticed a loose, easy draw. The toro-sized cigar started out with some nice nut, pine, and herbal flavors, but the finish was harsh and bitter. As the cigar progressed, the spice from the Cameroon wrapper came to the forefront as most of the nut and pine flavors faded, but unfortunately, the bitter finish remained.

This is one of the most aromatic cigars I’ve ever had; a spicy, toasty aroma radiates from the warm and bountiful smoke. And despite the persistent loose draw and dark gray ash that was a little flaky, this grand corona kept a razor-sharp burn.

Overall, the Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8 is a solid medium-bodied cigar that yields delicious smoke and has a complex blend of flavors. Unfortunately, due to its underwhelming looks and bitter finish, I can only give it a rating of three out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick S

Tags: Cigars

Affiliate link: Purchase a box of 25 from Tinderbox.com for $89.95

I was amazed, and even a little embarrassed, to realize the other day that the 5 Vegas Series ‘A’ (pronounced Cinco Vegas) had not yet been the subject of a full Stogie Guys review. (It was the subject of a February Quick Smoke.) After all, the six inch by 52 ring gauge Alpha vitola is one of my favorite everyday go-to smokes – not to ruin the ending or anything.

As you can see by the picture, this is a beautiful cigar with a dark and smooth Costa Rican maduro wrapper. Neatly adorned by a large black and gold band and a cedar strip across the foot, I always make sure to keep at least a few of these near the ceiling of my glass top humidor.

Series ‘A’ is billed as the stronger, fuller side of 5 Vegas Classic – a line that boasts the highest rated non-Cuban stogie in the Cigar Aficionado blind taste test. For only $3.50-4, the torpedo-shaped Alpha has an excellent reputation as a stick that’s low on price and big on flavor.

And that’s pretty damn accurate. After the foot catches quickly and evenly with just a few wooden matches, the rich wrapper combines with a three-country blend of four-year-old long filler to create an aromatic flavor of leather and spicy clove. A soft touch of sweet molasses evens out the flavor profile.

Like many maduros, a certain saltiness kicks in at the midway point, followed by an increase in spice. This is one of those progressive stogies that eases the smoker into the taste instead of sprinting right out of the gate.

But as full as the flavor becomes, the cigar is never harsh or overbearing. I think this has a lot to do with the exceptionally clear draw that allows ample air to mix with the smoke, giving the taste a light and fluffy appeal.

All of the other physical properties are fine, including an even burn and a solid white ash.

When it’s all said and done, the bottom line is I would be happy to pay just about double for this cigar. The Series ‘A’ is a major player in my regular rotation because it’s one of the few non-harsh sticks that yields excellent flavor and consistent construction for under $5.

Therefore, I give the 5 Vegas Series ‘A’ Alpha four out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A

If there’s anyone out there producing as many fine cigars at modest prices as Oliva, I’d love to hear about them. I’ve already sung the praises of the company’s Serie G Maduro in an April Quick Smoke.

Now let me wax poetic about the extremely tasty and tiny Oliva Serie G Special. Its shape resembles the pig-in-a-python style of the Punch Champion, though the Oliva has a more tapered end and at three and 3/4 inches it is a half inch shorter. The ring gauge is listed at 48.

I enjoyed one recently at a shop when I had already smoked something else and ended up with more time on my hands than I’d anticipated. At $2.75 per stick, it’s a bargain. For a box of 48, I’ve seen Internet prices listed at under $80. That is an absolute steal.

For what surely must be a difficult cigar to roll, it smokes magnificently. The burn, often a concern with delicate African Cameroon wrappers, was sharp, the solid ash remarkably white, and the smoke thick and plentiful.

The Cameroon wrapper generated what I think of as tobacco’s typical understated zest, and it seemed to float under the rich tobacco taste of the Nicaraguan Habano filler and the Cuban-Seen Habano binder. Not overly complex or multi-dimensional, but would you really expect that in a cigar under four inches?

I think this would be great for new cigar smokers. It’s smooth on the palate, there’s lots of smoke to play with, and it won’t last too long. Just make sure not to smoke too fast and create too much heat.

If you’re like me and find little appeal in cigars the size of cigarettes, the Oliva Special is a satisfying choice when you want a smoke but don’t have much time. Based on the taste and value, I give this special little cigar three and 1/2 out of five stogies.

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

–George E

Tags: cigars

Camacho is known for its full flavored smokes. So when the Honduran-based company announced that it was introducing the industry’s first triple maduro cigar, smokers everywhere braced for the power-packed smoke which is just starting to hit select cigar stores.

Made in Camacho’s factory in the Jamastran Valley of Honduras (just outside of Danli) the blend combines five different types of maduro tobacco – but Camacho is keeping tight-lipped about the details of the leaves that make up the blend, except to say that the wrapper and filler are grown on Camacho’s farms in Jamastran.

Measuring in at six inches with a 54 ring gauge, the Figurado is an imposing smoke with its dual silver and black bands, both of which frame the toothy, jet-black maduro wrapper. There are a few small veins, but even those tend to get lost in the darkness.

Yet despite its intimidating looks and secretive origins, the power of this cigar isn’t fully realized until you light up and take a few puffs. Once that happened, we discovered a knock-you-on-your-ass strength that even well-seasoned smokers rarely come across. Dark, rich, and earthy, the cigar starts out with a bang – and an intense tobacco buzz that some will find too intense.

Were it to continue that strong and full-bodied, we might not have made it to the end of this pyramid-shaped bomb. But fortunately, a little less than an inch into the smoke, it gained a softer, more complex edge as the overpowering earth flavors mellowed, revealing notes of black coffee and a sweet edge that usually defines maduro smokes.

The draw is on the loose side – occasionally becoming too loose – but the overall construction is quite good. The rough, gray ash holds surprisingly well (despite continuously looking as if it were about to fall off) and the burn was even to the end.

With about a third of the cigar left, its mellowness departs and again we are left with the same strong tobacco and earth flavor that welcomed us to the first ever “triple maduro” cigar.

Ultimately, we doubt the Camacho Triple Maduro will ever be a daily smoke for most people – even for the most committed “maddy” smokers. Still, it’s a fun ride, and one we suggest stogie smokers give a try. (That is except for cigar beginners, in whose hands the Triple Maduro would be a cruel joke.)

For some, once will be enough, as the maduro flavor is too overpowering; for others, this will be a new smoke to mix into a regular rotation.

All things considered, the innovative, full-bodied, intense Camacho Triple Maduro Figurado is just a bit too rich to earn a rating higher than three and 1/2 out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A & Patrick S

Ever since I was first introduced to the line back in December, I’ve been a big fan of the Toraño Signature Collection. So, with six months and approximately five sticks under my belt, I figure it’s about time for me to share my thoughts via a full review.

My vitola of choice, the six inch by 50 ring gauge Toro, is a gorgeous cigar that scored an impressive 4.7 in Smoke Magazine – the highest rating in the publication’s history, according to Toraño’s website.

It’s most noticeable feature is a seal brown Brazilian maduro wrapper. Sun-grown, it carries a few subtle seams and veins, but is otherwise very enticing. Toraño contrasts the cigar’s dark appearance by capping it off with two cream-colored bands.

Like so many other full-bodied stogies, you can tell this is going to be chock full of flavor as soon as the cellophane is removed. But instead of simply kicking your ass right out of the gate, the first few puffs amaze with a balanced taste of leather, spicy pepper, and sweet syrup.

I’m not exactly sure why the broadleaf binder was paired with the unique Dominican Cuban and Nicaraguan habano ligero filler, but it definitely works.

Advertised as a strong cigar with a complex flavor profile, the Toro doesn’t disappoint. At the halfway point, the spice amps up as new, nutty notes are introduced. Delicious.

But for all its flavor, the Signature Collection almost outdoes itself. Even full-bodied fans will need to take their time, and some may have to put the cigar down once they reach the first band. My advice: Make sure to enjoy this on a full stomach, or you won’t be enjoying it at all.

Either way, the stick’s construction won’t be a problem. The draw is moderate to easy, with each puff producing a lot of rich smoke. The burn is remarkably even with a noteworthy mascara sheen. My only complaint is the ash is not as firm as I’d expect from a tightly-rolled cigar.

All things considered, I think Carlos Toraño built a real winner with his Signature Collection. For only $5.50 apiece, each Toro packs a ton of flavor (and you can find them even cheaper online if you keep your eyes open). I’m highly recommending this cigar, and giving it four and ½ out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A