The Stogie Guys

In Monday’s post, I told you how Mike Copperman of Bethesda Tobacco welcomed us into his fine store for a private cigar tasting. I also told you a little about one of the extraordinary smokes he shared with us that afternoon, the elegant Davidoff Gand Cru No. 3. Since it was one of the finest stogies I had ever enjoyed, I thought it merited its own review.

This five inch by 43 ring gauge Dominican is a medium to mild-bodied smoke with a smooth, attractive, caramel-colored wrapper. While most (even premium) cigars use two pieces of tobacco to connect the wrapper to the cap, the entire outer surface of this Davidoff is hand-made from one contiguous tobacco leaf – a skill most rollers cannot achieve.

With that in mind, instead of whipping out a double guillotine and slicing off too much premium tobacco, I used my fingernails to puncture a small hole in the cap and expose the cigar’s filler (a method that I highly recommend if you have a terrific cigar). I subsequently slowly and meticulously lit the foot with a wooden match.

What followed was an explosion of delicate toasty notes, particularly hints of sweet hay. And when I took the first puff, I could tell this was truly a match made in heaven. The delicate blend of salty Olor, acidic San Vicente, and peppery Piloto Cubano tobaccos yielded a unique harmonious flavor pleasing to the whole palate. This symphony of tastes remained fairly constant throughout the smoke, and the cigar maintained a true pull and an even burn to the end.

This stogie’s only drawback is that it’s quite expensive (you can expect to pay about $13 apiece). But you really get your money’s worth: Davidoff’s 72-point inspections are unparalleled in the industry. Also, keep in mind this is not for you if you’re looking for something to knock you on your ass. Despite its plethora of complex flavors, it’s still a very smooth, graceful, and mild smoke.

I therefore enthusiastically give the Davidoff Grand Cru No. 3 a perfect five out of five stogies, a first for StogieGuys.com.

-Patrick A

Tags: cigars

In our last Friday Sampler we told you about a deal that included eight name-brand cigars and a humidor for just $15. Never ones to talk the talk without walking the walk, today’s Stogie Review is the Gurkha Gurkha Connecticut Reserve Robusto #4, one of the eight cigars included in that heavily discounted deal.

Having never had a Gurkha before, I was looking forward to this review based on the excellent reputation that Gurkha has built up. Unfortunately I would be a little disappointed by this toro shaped “robusto” (6″ x 50 ring gauge).

The cigar had an attractive Connecticut wrapper, except for two strange black blemishes. I clipped it with the double guillotine and gave it a proper light with some wooden matches.

After a few nice puffs I decided that, given I was smoking on my front porch, I saw no need for the band, which would only get in the way once I got to the very end of the cigar. (For more on removing the band see here.) This proved to be a big mistake.

Almost instantly after removing the band, this thin shade grown Connecticut wrapper curled up exposing the grayish-brown binder. I repaired the wrapper as best I could using the magical glue-like powers of saliva, but the result was very crude: Part of the wrapper had fallen off completely while other parts were out of place, leaving binder exposed. Likely due to these construction issues, multiple touch-ups were required.

Aside from these major problems, I very much enjoyed the cigar. It had a mild to medium creamy caramel flavor with slight nutty tastes. It reminded me a little of the Romeo y Julieta Vintage (a stogie that’s rated very highly). The flavor was consistent all the way through, and the Gurkha had a nice easy draw.

Unfortunately, the awful construction cast a dark shadow over all of this cigar’s positive characteristics. (I’m hopeful that the other one of these that I have in my humidor proves this poor construction is an abberation.) Had the cigar held together it could have been a three and 1/2 or even a four stogie cigar. Instead, it only gets two out of five stogies.

[Attention DC Area Stogie Guys: Bethesda Tobacco is having a La Flor Dominicana event today from 5-9. We won’t might will be in attendance, but so feel free to let us know how the event was join us. Also, we’ve confirmed what Jerry from Stogie Review told us, that free BBQ and drinks will be provided, and there is a buy three get one free special!]

-Patrick S

The other day a friend dropped by with two Arturo Fuente Chateau Fuente Maduros to see if I wanted to sit outside and partake. I wasn’t planning on having a stogie that night, but how could I resist such a generous offer?

After removing the cedar sleeve, the Chateau Fuente’s deep brown maduro wrapper made a good first impression. The wrapper was free of large veins and a bit bumpy, but that’s to be expected because this stogie was firmer than most. Quite frankly, given that it measured only four and 1/2 inches (and a 50 ring), I’m glad it was firm because otherwise it might have been too quick of a smoke. (It ended up taking well over 45 minutes.)

Once lit, the stogie burned slowly and evenly and, while not easy, the draw was not at all difficult. The cigar produced an average amount of smoke and the gray ash held nicely for an inch until a soft tap knocked it off.

This cigar was a combination of toast and spicy flavors, with subtle hints of pepper and even less clove. These flavors held throughout with little variation, and the stogie left a slightly sweet flavor on the lips.

Overall this is a fine medium flavored cigar. Maduro-only smokers might find it lacks complexity, but for primarily natural stogie smokers who are looking to mix it up a bit, this little guy will come up big.

The Chateau Fuente Maduro receives a solid 3 and 1/2 out of 5 stogies.

-Patrick S

As we note in our ratings system, cigars that receive the impressive score of four out of five stogies should be enjoyed “after a delicious meal or with your favorite cocktail.” And no dish better prepares you for a fine cigar and a cocktail than a good steak dinner.

If you are looking for a great steak dinner for a special occasion, Charlie Palmer Steakhouse located at 101 Constitution Avenue NW (opposite the the National Mall and the Capitol building) may be your best choice in Washington. From decor and location, to presentation and service, Charlie Palmer gets high marks across the board.

As for price, Charlie Palmer is in line with DC’s other fine steakhouses such as Smith & Wollensky’s and Morton’s, so a group of four should expect to spend $100 per person for for a full meal including a moderately-priced bottle of wine from their extensive wine list (of course a more exotic selection from the expansive list could easily run several hundred dollars). But then I did say that a dinner at Charlie Palmer should be reserved for special occasions – or for those with bottomless expense accounts.

Appropriately, the steak was the highlight of the evening, though the oysters and tuna tartar appetizers were also favorites. At my table, two of us shared the Porterhouse for two, while the others tried the Filet Mignon: all were delicious. My only small complaint was that the time between when the Porterhouse was presented to us at the table and when it returned artfully sliced on our plates was too long, meaning that the steak was not as warm as it should have been.

After eating, we decided the only proper way to end the meal was to partake in an after-dinner stogie in Charlie Palmer’s cigar-friendly bar area (though sadly, only until DC’s smoking ban goes into effect January 2007). At the bar the friendly bartender poured me a generously portioned Knob Creek Bourbon on the rocks. And while I brought my own smoke, a flavorful Rock Patel Sun Grown Torpedo, which will be reviewed at a later time, I was pleased to see that they offered their own cigar menu with 20 or so stogies ranging from $9 for a CAO gold to a $25 Padron 1926.

So, in conclusion, if you have something to celebrate, and are looking for a great meal to enjoy as a prelude to a fine stogie, I highly recommend the Charlie Palmer Steakhouse.

-Patrick S

I picked up a few Don Diegos at a promotional event run by the regional Altadis rep, and hosted by Cigar Connection in Ballston. The friendly Altadis rep was suggesting to customers that the Don Diego Grandee was a similar cigar to Altadis’ famous Montecristo.

This Domincan cigar’s Connecticut wrapper had a few large veins, but overall was very pleasing to the eye and generally well-constructed. Even after I clipped the head off of this toro-sized stogie with my double guillotine cutter, the it held together flawlessly.

The cigar was easy to light and burned evenly producing a sturdy gray ash. And with the lightest lap of my finger, that ash easily dropped off after collecting for over an inch, again a sign of flawless construction – not unlike the Montecristo it was compared to.

However, when it came to taste, not only was the Don Diego not similar to a Montecristo, it didn’t even play in the same league. Montecristos are a medium to mild cigars with complex flavors. This Don Diego, on the other hand, was completely lacking in complexity and its only flavor was the dull woody taste that was transmitted to me in the form of far-too-hot smoke.

Overall, this cigar was very disappointing. I never gave much weight to claims of this stogie’s similarity to Montecristo, but I still expected it to be worthy of the Altadis name which produces such classic smokes as Romeo y Julieta, Trinidad, Saint Luis Rey, and H Upman.

So given that unfortunate disappointment, I give the Don Diego Grandee a mere two out of five stogies.

-Patrick S

As you know, Washington, DC has been utterly pelted by massive downpours and torrential thunderstorms over the past week or so. Unfortunately, it’s enough to drive a guy – and his floating car – crazy (but that’s a story for another time). On the plus side, this severe and unusual weather has provided many terrific opportunities to light up some fantastic cigars on my porch as I watch the lightning illuminate the night sky.

Cigars like the Arturo Fuente Privada No. 1. This six and ¾ inch by 44 ring gauge stogie has a smooth, cream-colored Connecticut Shade wrapper. And with that classic maroon and gold Arturo band and a little green ribbon around the foot, this is one of the better looking cigars I have ever had the pleasure to light up.

Once lit, I immediately found the stogie to have a gentle, smooth taste. Thankfully, though, it wasn’t too mild (like the Macanudo Natural Rothschild). At the beginning, the flavors ranged from spicy ginger to sweet molasses, all evened out by a mildness that was as pleasing as it was aromatic.

As the nice, even burn moved closer to my fingers and the long, white ash piled up at the foot, the cigar became a little spicier, transforming from ginger and molasses aromas to a delightful clove. But while this stogie was no doubt complex and flavorful, it maintained a pleasantly smooth character until the very end.

Overall, this smoke was a real pleasure, and – at only $4.50 to $5 apiece – not one I will wait too long before indulging in again. I give the Arturo Fuente Privada No. 1 a praiseworthy four and ½ out of five stogies.

Note: Special thanks to Melissa for (1) providing me with this fine cigar and (2) helping me taste and critique it.

-Patrick A

Signe, the Macanudo Ambassador, was in town again yesterday at Cigar Palace (4815 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia) – and Patrick and I couldn’t help but pay her another visit. After all, free stogies are free stogies. But if we were to visit her a third time today at Cigar World in Vienna, we’d probably feel like a couple of desperate Deadheads following their favorite band across the country in a dilapedated Volkswagen.

Thankfully, Signe did not seem annoyed to see me again, and promptly greeted me with another complimentary Macanudo cigar (my choice between the Natural, Maduro, and Robust lines). Since I tried the Natural Rothschild at the last event at Georgetown Tobacco, and since I have a few Maduros waiting for me in my humidor, I decided to partake in a Macanudo Robust Rothschild while I perused Cigar Palace.

Despite this 6 and ½ inch by 42 ring gauge stogie’s deceivingly light wrapper and innocent appearance, it packs a truly powerful punch. The flavors – derived from rich Dominican, Honduran, and Nicaraguan fillers and a delicious Connecticut shade broadleaf wrapper – are surprisingly rich and complex. They ranged from earthy, tea aromas at the beginning of the cigar to a spicy nutmeg and pepper taste towards end.

But the most important characteristic of this fabulous smoke (which retails at $5.50 apiece) is that notwithstanding its pleasant potency and multifarious flavors, it maintains that silky smoothness I have come to expect and love from Macanudo.

While this cigar’s draw and burn is average for a premium smoke, let’s face it: While these factors cannot be ignored, the most important characteristic when reviewing stogies is the flavor. And it’s definitely not lacking in that department.

I wholeheartedly, therefore, give the Macanudo Robust Rothschild an honest four out of five stogies.

-Patrick A