The Stogie Guys

You may remember a September 2006 post where we introduced Brazil Cigars, a stogie manufacturer that produces the Dona Flor, Alonzo Menendez, and Aquarius brands from Brazilian Mata Fina tobacco.

Well, last week I was lucky enough (thanks to our friend Paul Arneson) to try a rare Dona Flor Reserva Especial Robusto. This five inches by 52 ring gauge Brazilian puro comes draped in an exclusively sun-grown, highly cultivated Mata Fina wrapper. True to its South American heritage, the stick is loosely packed and a bit coarse to the touch.

After clipping the head with my double guillotine cutter, I took note of some deep black tea and cedar notes. Once lit, these earthy and woody flavors became balanced by sweet toffee and molasses. And towards the end of the smoke, the tastes intensified and shifted from spicy clove to pepper.

Now Mr. Arneson warned me that the cigar would be full-bodied. In fact, he told me to smoke it on a full stomach and expect a good night’s sleep afterwards. He wasn’t lying.

But I’m pleased to report the Reserva Especial is not merely a powerhouse stick that’s sure to knock you on your ass. It’s a complex cigar with a flavor profile that’s as balanced and complete as the finest Davidoff – a seasoned smoker’s delight.

On construction, the loose packing ensured a true and easy draw throughout the duration of the one hour and 15 minute smoke. While the burn started a bit uneven (which may have been my fault), I was able to quickly and permanently correct that.

My only complaint about this Robusto is that the ash is quite flaky and it does not hold firm.

Other than that, this one’s a keeper (if you can find it). I strongly recommend looking up your local Dona Flor retailer via Brazil Cigars’ website. You can expect to pay around $12 apiece for one of these sticks.

For outstanding, full-bodied flavor, I give the Dona Flor Reserva Especial Robusto four and ½ out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A

The first thing I noticed, after just a few puffs, was that my lips were going numb. In a good way.

The heat and pepper that introduce Don Pepin Garcia’s Serie 601 “Red,” a Nicaraguan puro from EO Brands, are a testament to its power. The way they quickly melt into an almost sweet taste on the tongue display the stogie’s complexity.

After about an inch, I found a warm, toasty tobacco flavor that waxed and waned through the rest of the stick. The pepper came back about halfway through, though not enough to induce numbness again.

I can only add to the nearly universal chorus of praise for this stogie – I enjoyed it immensely. Whether judging appearance, construction, performance, or taste, I found it to be a first-rate cigar.

The dark Nicaraguan Habano wrapper looks great. The draw is fine, and the ash is tight and white. The only problem I experienced came in the last third when there was some tunneling, which I was able to easily correct.

I didn’t notice how long the 601 lasted, but it seemed to burn fairly quickly. I tend to smoke slowly, and I don’t think this lasted as long as others its size. Maybe some of that, though, was how sorry I was to have to put it down.

The Robusto I smoked was a five and ½ inches by 50 ring gauge cigar with a retail price of $6.50, which is what I paid. You can save a few dollars with a box purchase of 20. There are also three longer vitolas: Churchill (7x 52), Esplendido (7 x 49), and Torpedo (6 x 52).

I wonder whether the 601 “Red” might get even better with aging, though I’m far from expert enough to know. Maybe aging comes to mind because of the cigar’s strength.

On the other hand, it seems a logical assumption that time might allow the blend’s characteristics to interchange interestingly. I plan to get more and hope I can resist them long enough to see if it makes a difference. (I’m also eager to smoke the 601 “Black,” which is said to be a bit milder.)

I heartily recommend this full-flavored cigar. I smoked it with coffee after a meal and that worked fine for me – I doubt I could handle it early in the day or on an empty stomach.

I give the EO 601 Serie “Red” Robusto by Don Pepin Garcia four out of five stogies.

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

–George E

After creating a huge hit with his Vintage series, Rocky Patel followed up that success with the Edge line. The unbanded cigars (though last year it was announced that a band around the foot would be introduced – as pictured) came in a rustic wooden cabinet of 100 that featured a prominently displayed warning: “Professional Smokers Only. Smoke While Sitting Down.”

This review is of the smallest cigar of the line – the 5 inches by 48 ring gauge “Missile” figurado. The line also features Toro and Torpedo sized cigars, both measuring 6 inches by 52. The Missile is usually available for about five dollars or less per stick when bought individually.

This particular stogie features a rough corojo wrapper with an oily sheen and a few bumpy veins. Pre-light, earthy chocolate notes were apparent. Overall I think the classic “naked” look is nice and, while I haven’t yet seen the new “banded” edge in person, I’m inclined to think that change is unwarranted and possibly even a negative.

Given the reputation and marketing campaign trumpeting the edge’s full flavor, I chose a strong drink to accompany this cigar – a Dewar’s White Label Scotch on the rocks.

Upon lighting the cigar honey, spice, and earth flavors came through strong and clear. Additionally, a bit of cream was noticeable. The ligero tobacco was prominent, but I would still classify this as a well-balanced smoke.

The draw was a bit firm and the smoke was not particularly dense, but the burn was perfectly even and the packed ash was a salt-and-pepper gray.

Further into the cigar the honey and cream faded and some distinctly black pepper spice came through. Additionally, some muted herbal notes revealed themselves. At this point I would describe the cigar as having a “quintessential corojo” flavor profile.

Overall the cigar was enjoyable, but not quite as strong as advertised. This particular smoke seemed more medium- to full-flavored, surprising given that the Rocky Patel website says that the Edge “will leave the seasoned smoker weak in the knees.”

In the end the Rocky Patel Missile Corojo was tasty if not overpowering. Still it did warrant a stiff drink as accompaniment – I’d leave beer in the fridge for this one. (For a really “weak in the knees smoke” I would recommend the Joya De Nicuragua 1970.) Corojo lovers will be very pleased by the combination of above-average construction, balanced flavors, and favorable price, all of which earn this cigar three and 1/2 out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick S

After you slip a Toraño 1916 Cameroon from the cellophane wrapper and peel the cedar sleeve away, take a moment to enjoy the cigar’s aroma. The fragrance is a wonderful earthy, woody mix certain to make your mouth water and set the tone for what is to follow.

The 1916 has the spice often associated with Cameroon tobacco, an abundance of smoke common to Toraño blends and a satisfying, slow-burning smoothness from start to finish. Along the way, there are touches of sweetness and a bit of pepper. It isn’t a particularly complex cigar that demands attention. Rather, it’s the type I think of as a fine companion for relaxing activities such as watching a bowl game on TV, reading, or listening to music.

I got a five pack of Robustos (five and ½ inches by 52 ring gauge) on CigarBid for $17, a little more than the rate they go for by the box of 25 – and more than you can sometimes find a fiver for on the Internet. So far, I’ve had two of them. They were remarkably consistent in everything except appearance. The first was rough with crinkles at the cap and a small crack in the wrapper about halfway down. But the clip went fine, and while there was a small burn problem at the wrapper tear, it quickly corrected itself. The second stick looked – and smoked – fine from top to bottom.

One aspect you might want to consider is what, if anything, you drink with these. The finish is a little dry. Between the two, I sipped coffee, a citrus-based soft drink, and water. I enjoyed the cigar most with the water.

I was curious about the origin of the wrapper so I called Toraño in Miami. There, a spokesman told me it is not from Central Africa but is grown in Nicaragua. The Havana seed binder is grown there as well, while the filler is a mixture of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos.

While I wouldn’t want a steady diet of 1916s, I would recommend adding some to your humidor. I’d bet you will find numerous occasions when that Cameroon spice and smooth smoke are a great fit for what you’re planning.

On the Stogie Guys scale, I give the Toraño 1916 Cameroon Robusto three and ½ out of five stogies.

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

–George E

Not long ago, Total Wine & More opened a new store not far from me. Now I don’t care much about wine, but the “& More” part is a winner. This chain – at least the shops near me – has excellent cigar prices and a good selection of mainline brands.

Checking out the cigars, I noticed two boxes of Saint Luis Rey Rothschilds (five inches by 54 ring gauge) side-by-side: natural and maduro. I seemed to recollect smoking a few in the past and finding them agreeable. And at $1.99 apiece, how could I resist? I picked up one of each, thinking it would be interesting to compare the experience of each wrapper.

I started with the maduro. It was thick and felt tight to the touch. I clipped it and the band popped off easily. That was about the last easy part of the smoke. It was difficult to get lit evenly, and even more difficult to draw.

Within a quarter of an inch, I was operating with my tool of choice, a paperclip, to try to open it up. That seemed to work for a while, but I was soon sucking hard again just to draw any smoke. So, back to the paper clip. Several more times. In between those operations, I was tending to the burn.

The taste? I hardly had time to notice. It began with a touch of spice, then a bit of toast, but by the first inch they were replaced more or less by harshness and a bitter finish. By the time I put it down, it had become virtually tasteless.

Now, it’s possible the problems were my fault. But I put the two cigars in my box nearly a month ago, and my humidity is in the 65 percent range, so I find it difficult to believe there was too much moisture. We’ll see how the natural performs when I review it in a future article.

Overall, I think my memory of the Saint Luis Rey failed me, as did this cigar itself. I’m afraid I can only give this one out of five stogies.

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

–George E

It’s probably safe to say that most cigar enthusiasts are weary of, and perhaps turned off by, the so-called “house brands” of many large stogie companies. Whether it’s the ultra-low prices, the cheesy packaging, or their gimmicky sales pitches – let’s face it – these sticks frequently get a bad rap.

And often deservingly so. But wouldn’t it be nice to cut through all the crap to find at least one cheap major house brand that’s very smokable? Well, you may not have to look any further than the Corojo Cubano Robusto by Thompson Cigar.

No, we’re not pulling your leg. And we’re certainly not going to tell you that one of these sticks is comparable in taste or physical attributes to a well-constructed premium cigar. But, honestly, this really isn’t a bad smoke.

The five inches by 50 ring gauge Robustos are composed of Dominican binders and fillers, wrapped in rich and rugged Honduran Corojo leaves. The shiny, metallic-looking gold and red bands are a nice contrast to the wrapper, albeit a tad hokey. Despite a couple large veins, we couldn’t find any serious physical defects on our sticks.

Once lit, the cigar produced an earthy taste with heavy notes of leather, coffee, and a little mocha. The second and finishing phases yielded more spice and graham. This is certainly not what you’d call a complex stogie, but it has a fairly enjoyable flavor.

We noticed even burns throughout the hour-plus smoke with a draw that put up some, but not too much, resistance. The only drawback on construction is that the ash would not hold firmly off the foot, even for an inch or so. (Patrick A found this out the hard way when a pile of gray flakes ended up on his lap.)

If you go into this smoke with high expectations, you’re going to be disappointed. But at 98 cents apiece (when you buy 50), that’s probably not going to be a problem. If you’re looking for a very cheap way to beef up your humidor stock with satisfactory golf course grade smokes, however, the Thompson Cubano Corojo Robusto wouldn’t be a bad choice. Taking into account the extraordinary value of this cigar, we give it three and 1/2 out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A and Patrick S

Loyal readers may recall a September post in which we reported Tabacalera Perdomo released a new blend called La Tradicion Perdomo Reserve Limited Golf Edition (that’s a mouthful, isn’t it?). The line – which is offered in eight sizes ranging from “Putter” to “Double Eagle” to “Hole in One” – is a creative marketing strategy aimed at taking advantage of the perfect, age-old pairing of cigars and golf.

Last night I finally had the opportunity to try the “Iron,” a five inches by 54 ring gauge Robusto with a suggested retail price of $6.55 apiece.

This stick has a creamy, five-year-old Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper that sports few imperfections and an attractive, yet relatively large, green and gold band. I had been admiring it in my humidor over the past few months.

Before lighting, I noticed sweet aromas of honey and tea. After slicing the cap with my double guillotine cutter, which unfortunately produced a less-than-clean cut, I took note of the easy draw through the Nicaraguan filler.

Once lit, the sweet flavors I previously detected had all but disappeared, leaving dry, earthy notes on the palate. The sensation might best be described as tasting a clove-flavored saltlick.

Don’t get me wrong; this isn’t a bad tasting stogie. A stranger in the pub actually asked me what I was smoking because it smelled “terrific.” I just think it’s a bit too dry for my liking.

Which brings me to an important point: For a line of cigars that’s supposed to be paired with an athletic activity in which drinks aren’t always readily available, it’s way too salty. I’d save it for the clubhouse. (For more StogieGuys.com tips on cigars and golf, please click here.)

With a firm white ash that holds strong, an easy draw, and a fairly even burn (that did require a few touch-ups with my lighter), my “Iron” tested fine on construction.

Overall, I don’t think you’ll be utterly disappointed by the La Tradicion Perdomo Reserve Limited Golf Edition Robusto, but – then again – you won’t be too impressed either. I give it three and ½ out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A