The Stogie Guys

It’s been quite awhile since I’ve smoked a La Gloria Cubana, and that probably has something to do with the bad taste a few Corona Gordas left in my mouth. But since I’ve heard so many good things about the Serie R line, I recently took a mid-afternoon break with a No. 4 – and was not disappointed.

This stick weighs in at a stubby four and 7/8 inches by 52 ring gauge, and the taupe-colored Ecuadorian maduro wrapper is a bit bumpy and veiny. I wouldn’t say the cigar is unattractive, however.

Living up to its reputation as a full-bodied smoke, I took in heavy notes of wood, earth, and chocolate before striking the first match. After toasting the foot and taking a few puffs, the flavor had more of a kick than I had originally anticipated, producing black pepper and rich leather flavors. The slightest bit of harshness, but not what I’d call unpleasant.

After the first third of the cigar was complete, the taste began to mellow out, and this was a welcome change for me. While the flavor of the maduro wrapper was prevalent throughout, this is a surprisingly well-balanced smoke with a good equilibrium of salty and acidic tastes. I have to say, however, that a hint of sweetness would have been nice.

Physically, Serie R boasts tightly rolled Dominican and Nicaraguan binders and fillers – especially given the line’s large ring gauges. Expect the draw to require some effort, but also expect the ash to hold superbly strong (I only had to ash twice on several of these cigars).

Although the burn remains steady and even over the course of this one hour and 15 minute smoke, a few of these cigars have a tendency to extinguish themselves at random – even with frequent puffs. The band is also prone to tearing the wrapper, so take special care while removing it.

Don’t be dismayed, however, by this stogie’s shortcomings. At about $6.50, it packs a whole lot of flavor for the money. For rich, well-balanced tastes, I give the La Gloria Cubana Serie R No. 4 Maduro a reputable four out of five stogies.

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–Patrick A

This cigar is one about which you could write almost endlessly – or say nearly nothing at all, having been left speechless. It is a superb, sublime smoke that lives up to the stellar reputation earned since the 1995 release.

Mine was a gift, so I don’t know what it cost. (I have to confess I also don’t know whether it was an A or B because I didn’t realize before smoking it that there was more than one size.) As a reference, they’re listed in Thompson’s catalog at $788 for a box of the As (6.75 inches by 43 ring gauge) and $950 a box for the B (6.5 inches by 47 ring gauge). Even with their current 15 percent off sale, that’s no small price.

Perhaps the only surprise was the nearly nonexistent prelight aroma. On just about any other measure, though, it was excellent. The abundant smoke was rich and smooth from the first draw. The white ash was nearly as solid as unburned tobacco.

The tastes were extraordinary, with “subtle” coming often to mind. Take that aged Cameroon wrapper, for example. While it has the spice often common with Cameroon, it is gentler and mixed more with the tobacco flavors. From beginning to end, the 150 is a complex, evolving stick.

I’ll be surprised if I get the chance to enjoy another of these. I feel fortunate to have gotten one.

This fantastic cigar earns a flawless rating of five out of five stogies.

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–George E

Like many cigar enthusiasts, over time I’ve found my preferences moving towards more full-flavored cigars. Still, from time to time I enjoy a mild-flavored cigar, and I had high hopes for the Ashton Classic Sovereign Torpedo.

The Sovereign was introduced at the 2005 RTDA and it is the first torpedo in the Ashton Classic line. Measuring in at 6 and 3/4 inches by 55 ring gauge, it is a large, missile-shaped cigar.

Right off the bat, the flawless silky golden Connecticut shade wrapper stood out. After a snip with my double guillotine, I noticed pre-light flavors of sweet grass and honey.

Once lit, I was treated to abundant aromatic smoke and a complex flavor profile. While the predominant tastes were mild and creamy, there were hints of cinnamon, honey and coffee that gave the Sovereign a rich, balanced flavor.

The only major complaint I had with this mild Ashton torpedo was that the draw was noticeably firm through the first two thirds of the cigar until the problem finally worked itself out.

Still, despite that drawback, the Ashton Classic Sovereign is a great mild stogie – the kind that makes those inclined to stronger, fuller-flavored smokes enjoy the delicate complexity that can be found in mild cigars. And for those of you already inclined towards mild cigars, well it goes without saying that this cigar is a must try.

For such an impressive performance, the Ashton Classic Sovereign earns four and 1/2 out of five stogies.

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–Patrick S

Sometimes you just know a cigar is going to be full-bodied as soon as you remove the cellophane. Sometimes just peeling back the clear plastic reveals instant aromas which hint at the powerful smoke that’s to come.

Such was the case with this five inch by 54 ring gauge Bolivar Cofradia No. 554. Before lighting, the Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos yielded heavy aromas of spice and earth.

I hadn’t even struck a match and I could see why General Cigar calls Bolivar “a heroic tradition all its own,” a bold tribute to “the great liberator.” As it turns out, Simón Bolívar – the brand’s namesake – was the leader of various independence movements in South America during the early 19th century.

But enough history. The stogie sports a dark, rich-looking Ecuador Sumatran wrapper with a few protruding veins. While the end of the leaf began to unpeel after I clipped the head with my double guillotine cutter, I was able to correct that over time with some trusty saliva.

Once I finally lit the smoke, I immediately noticed full flavors that reminded me of rye toast and clove. Very pleasing. And despite the heavy taste, I didn’t find the cigar too harsh (like Puros Indios).

I would have enjoyed the smoke even further, however, if the earthy flavors were balanced by some sweet tastes. But balance just isn’t in this cigar’s nature.

Aside from the aforementioned small problem with the wrapper, I incurred no construction flaws. An even burn was easily attained and maintained, and the draw was clear. Each puff produced a lot of smoke.

Overall, this cigar performed quite well – especially considering its friendly price of about $4 per stick. If you’re looking for a bold smoke with heavy earth flavors, give the Bolivar Cofradia No. 554 a try. It earns a decent three and ½ out of five stogies.

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–Patrick A

Camacho is known for producing good, potent cigars. The Select is good, not potent. It’s a medium-bodied smoke that was blended by Julio Eiroa to satisfy his preference for cigars with less kick than those favored by his son, and company president, Christian Eiroa.

I recently had a five inch by 50 ring gauge Robusto at a local cigar shop. It was a fine companion to a relaxing hour with the newspaper and TV.

The Select begins with considerable strength and pepper. But about a third of the way down, the strength diminishes and the pepper is replaced by wood and leather, as well as warm tobacco flavors. The burn was sharp, the finish was nice, and the stick was never bitter or harsh. Smoke was thick and the draw was good from beginning to end.

The Robusto lists at $5.95 for singles and $142.80 for a box of 24. Internet box prices seem to run about $10-$15 less.

On the other hand, I would have to take issue with Camacho’s advertising boast that it is “the best Cameroon wrapped cigar ever made.” They are fine cigars, but for me they lack that little extra that sends it over the line from good to really good, or even great. I certainly would not avoid the Select, but I also can’t see myself going in search of another either.

Still, the Camacho Select Robusto earns a rating of three and 1/2 out of five stogies.

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–George E

Millennium Blend is the most full-flavored of Davidoff’s many highly-acclaimed lines. Back in August, we gave the Davidoff Grand Cru No. 3 our first five stogie rating. Could the Davidoff Millennium Blend Robusto achieve the same rare feat?

This 5 and 1/4 inch by 50 ring gauge cigar has an almost seamless Colorado brown wrapper, and pre-light it revealed fantastic rich earth and deep mocha notes. The Dominican binder and filler tobaccos are packed very tight, giving the stogie a firm feel.

After lighting the cigar, we found the same rich mocha flavors we noticed from the unlit stick. But this cigar was not one-dimensional.

Along with the primary chocolate and coffee notes were a complex bouquet of floral flavors. This included a subtle saffron element. As the cigar progressed we also found that nutty flavors were developing, most noticeably almond.

Fortunately, no matter how full-bodied the smoke gets – and it gets quite strong – it never turns harsh, and the flavors stay elegantly balanced on the palate.

We found the construction, however, to be a bit lacking. While it burns evenly and produces a sturdy ash, the stogie also has a tendency to go out, even when only left unattended for a few minutes.

These flavors and physical properties were apparent on numerous Robustos, as well as a Lonsdale (which also sports a much tighter, often frustrating, draw).

Ultimately, this flavor-packed creation is a complex, rich powerhouse that lives up to the prestigious Davidoff name. At the steep price of $13.50 apiece, however, we were disappointed by the consistent construction problems.

So while this cigar doesn’t get the perfect five stogie rating of its Grand Cru cousin, the Davidoff Millennium Robusto still earns an impressive four and 1/2 out of five stogies.

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–Patrick A and Patrick S

Frustrating. I found so much conflicting information on the web about Puros Indios – too mild or too strong, loved it or hated it – that I really didn’t know what to think before lighting up a Piramide No. 3.

Thus, for what it’s worth, I really went into reviewing it with a completely open mind.

For starters, this five inch by 50 ring gauge cigar has been a pleasure to look at for the past six months or so. That is, after all, why I kept it directly under the glass top of my humidor. The Ecuadorian sungrown wrapper provides a nice oily sheen, and I think the irregular figurado shape makes it a bit more interesting.

Before I toasted the foot or took the first puff, I expected this stogie to be light and sweet. That’s what the subtle hay and honey notes led me to believe, anyways.

But once lit, I found those aromas were mere sirens calling my ship to a rocky shore. My preconceived notion of mildness was replaced by the harsh reality of a cruel black pepper spice and burning wood flavors. Not pleasant, even for a guy who enjoys full-bodied smokes.

To its credit, the stogie does mellow out a bit after the first third, but I still found this blend of Dominican, Brazilian, and Nicaraguan tobaccos to be too harsh for my liking.

Unfortunately, the stogie is plagued by some physical flaws as well. For one, it’s very cumbersome to establish an even burn (that may or may not be a side-effect of its irregular shape). Second, on multiple sticks, I found the wrapper has a tendency to tear when the band is removed. Finally, while the ash may hold firm for up to an inch or more, the edges often flake away, which makes an awful mess.

For all these reasons – and despite its friendly price of about $4 per stick – I give the Puros Indios Piramide No. 3 a substandard two out of five stogies.

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–Patrick A