The Stogie Guys

Back in January I reviewed the Dram Cask No. 3 Double Habano, a cigar specifically blended to pair with bold, spicy whiskies. Today I’m examining the Dram Cask No. 2 Double Corojo, which is intended for woody whiskies that are more medium in strength.

Both are relatively new smokes, released by Orleans Group International and C&C Cigars, and intended to “choreograph the flavors of whiskey and cigars,” according to a press release. “Cigar and whiskey aficionados alike will appreciate the depth of each blend’s complementary or contrasting flavors, magnifying the qualities of the cigar and the whiskey.”

Dram—a term referring to a small amount of spirit poured neat, especially scotch—is subscribing to the principal that “body is as essential as flavor,” so there are four Dram blends that are intended to pair with different whiskey intensities. Dram Cask No. 1 Double Connecticut is on the bolder end of the mild spectrum and marketed as a complement to light whiskies like Glenmorangie and Balvenie Single Barrel. Cask No. 3 Double Habano is for spicier spirits like Bulleit Bourbon. Cask No. 4 Double Binder Connecticut Broadleaf is for smoky, peaty scotches like Laphroaig. And Cask No. 2, the subject of today’s review, is intended for woody whiskeys like Wild Turkey 101 and Angel’s Envy.

I sampled three Cask No. 2 Double Corojo Toros (6 x 54, $9) for this review. This particular cigar is crafted in the Dominican Republic and sports a dark, mottled, slightly reddish Corojo wrapper with only thin veins, tight seams, and a well-executed cap. The feel is firm and the pre-light notes are quite sweet, reminding me of milk chocolate. The cold draw is easy and imparts some of the sweetness on the lips. The band is very attractive and of high quality.

Once an even light is set, the Cask No. 2 Double Corojo Toro exhibits a medium-bodied profile of oak, cinnamon, bread, and natural tobacco. A sharp spice lingers on the tip of the tongue, and there’s a medicinal cherry sweetness that reminds me of Luden’s cough drops. The midway point tends towards campfire, and the final third has earthy mushroom and plenty of cedar. Construction is fine throughout, including a solid ash, clear draw, and a burn line that requires a few touch-ups along the way.

I tried this Toro with and without whiskey. Either way, I have to say it really isn’t my cup of tea. The flavor seems simplistic and underdeveloped, and I’m not terribly fond of the medicinal notes. The Cask No. 3 Double Habano is a much more interesting blend. Maybe you’ll have more luck with it, but I’m respectfully settling on a score of two and a half stogies out of five for the Double Corojo Toro.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

There’s a lot to admire about Padrón Cigars. Like the company’s status as arguably the pinnacle of excellence in the industry. Or the dedication displayed by Cuban émigré José Orlando Padrón to labor as a carpenter until he had the capital to establish a cigar factory.

Another admirable trait is the company’s focused portfolio. Instead of coming out with a new series every year, Padrón only makes a few lines—lines that are crafted well and almost universally celebrated. As the Padrón website explains, “When Padrón is on the label, quality is a matter of family honor.”

One of those well-crafted lines is the Serie 1964, also known as the 1964 Anniversary Series. It was launched in 1994 to commemorate Padrón’s 30th anniversary (there’s also a 1926 Serie that honors the year of José Orlando Padrón’s birth.) The Serie 1964 has 11 box-pressed vitolas, each available in either a sun-grown Natural wrapper or a dark Maduro leaf. All of the tobaccos in the Nicaraguan puro are aged for four years.

The Exclusivo Natural (5.5 x 50) has a clean, dry, milk chocolate-colored wrapper with only the thinnest veins and barely noticeable seams. The cold draw has hardly any resistance, and the pre-light notes off the foot are nutty and creamy. The double bands are, at this point, classic and instantly recognizable. Included on the bottom band is an “individually numbered guarantee label” to help safeguard against counterfeiting.

At the outset, the profile from the Exclusivo Natural is oak, vanilla, cedar, black pepper, and almond. The texture is silky, and the spicy aftertaste lingers well on the palate. As it progresses, flavors of peanut and coffee come and go. At the midway point there’s a harmonious concoction of dry spices, and the finale has loads of warm tobacco and mixed nuts.

I smoked three Exclusivos for this review, and each exhibited construction qualities on par with the Padrón standard. The gray ash holds remarkably well off the foot, the burn line requires zero touch-ups along the way to keep it even and lit, the draw is effortless, and the smoke production is high.

As you probably already know, the Padrón Serie 1964 Exclusivo Natural is not an inexpensive cigar. Expect to pay around $11-12 for a single. The good news is you get a high-quality stick with balanced medium-bodied flavors for your money. I’m partial to the Maduro-wrapped 1964, but this specimen is no slouch and worthy of four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

I don’t usually pay much attention to cigar peripherals. But some, like the extraordinarily detailed band on EPC’s La Historia, simply demand closer inspection. The Signature’s band (above) is one of those.

An eye-catching white background showcases old-style lettering reminiscent of a nineteenth century poster, raised printing and varied typefaces, sealed with an illustration of Punch and his dog. A standout on any tobacconist shelf.

The cigar itself is also quite a fine specimen. The wrapper is smooth, oily, and displays no large veins.

This addition to the Punch lineup is getting a big push from General Cigar. There are lots of ads, giveaways, and an interactive website.

The Signature cigars for this review were supplied by General, which sent me five Robustos. They have an MSRP of $6.79 and measure 5 inches long with a ring gauge of 52. There are three other sizes: Gigante (6 x 60, $7.39), Torpedo (5.75 x 52, $6.99), and Rothschild (4.5 x 50, $5.39).

Mindful of the smokers these days who want to know not only details of the blend but the story of the cigar as well, General provided considerable information in its press release. Blender Agustin Garcia says the Signature was inspired by the original Punch blend. Work began in 2012 when he “found a small batch of Ecuadoran tobacco they wanted to use” and teamed with a grower to produce enough of the Corojo wrapper leaf to ensure fulltime production.

The Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers are those used in General’s original Punch blend, with some having been “very aged” and others younger. “The aged leaves bring flavor and balance, and the newer leaves deliver more strength,” according to the press release. The binder is a proprietary Connecticut Habano.

Over the years, StogieGuys.com has had good things to say about many Punch cigars. This posting marks a dozen Punch reviews, and there have been numerous Quick Smokes and Gold Star mentions.

I have to say I didn’t find the Signature as enjoyable as some of the others, primarily due to a sharpness that scratched at the back of my throat for much of the cigar.

Throughout the stick, there was little change in the flavors, and what there was just wasn’t enough to hold my interest by the halfway point. Smoking farther down, though, did offer a reward: By the final third, the sharpness was finally almost gone and that was the most enjoyable part of the cigar.

Signature is certainly not a bad cigar. Construction, as you’d expect from General, is spot-on with an even burn, tight ash, and lots of smoke production. I did find the draw a bit loose and, after a straight cut on the first, used a punch or a V-cut for the others, which helped.

I would certainly recommend giving the Signature a try. For me, the Punch Signature Robusto rates three stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

We’ll forgive you if you haven’t heard of Evil Genius Cigars until now. Evil Genius is a small, Pennsylvania-based operation that debuted only last summer. Its production is limited, and the retailers are few (mostly concentrated in the Keystone State).

That isn’t to say, of course, the cigars aren’t worth seeking out. I recently sat down with a couple Evil Genius White Chapel Robustos (5 x 50) to give this new, small-production smoke the fair chance it deserves. I’m glad I did.

Evil Genius has two lines, both made by La Aurora: Black Chapel and White Chapel. The former is a five-country blend with a Brazilian Maduro wrapper that’s aged in rum barrels to add sweetness. It’s billed as medium-bodied and full-flavored.

The White Chapel—perhaps unexpectedly given its less-than-imposing appearance—is fuller-bodied and medium in flavor. It has a Dominican Habano wrapper around a sun-grown Ecuadorian Sumatra binder and filler recipe that’s three-quarters Ligero and one-quarter Seco. (One of the Ligeros, by the way, is grown in Pennsylvania.)

There are four sizes available in each blend, ranging in price from $5 to $9.50: Belicoso, Gigante, Petit Corona, and Robusto. The White Chapel Robusto has a reddish Colorado hue with only thin veins and an oily, textured surface. The feel is moderately firm and the cap seems sloppily applied. Pre-light aromas include syrup, earth, and considerable sweetness.

As advertised, the strength of this cigar is palpable and apparent from the first puff. In addition to a hearty dose of nicotine, the initial profile is characterized by cedar, espresso, and both black and white pepper. The texture is dense and leathery, and the finish tends to linger with notes of warm tobacco and spice. Background flavors of molasses and cream help add balance.

At the midway point, some breadiness comes and goes, as do hints of peanut. The final third witnesses a slight increase in intensity but similar flavors. Throughout, the Robusto’s construction is impeccable. My samples exhibited straight burn lines, solid ashes, good smoke production, and draws with just the right amount of resistance.

To date, Evil Genius is sold at brick-and-mortar establishments only. That means you’ll need to visit or contact one of the 17 retailers who carry their smokes. If you do, I highly doubt you’ll be disappointed by the White Chapel Robusto. It’s a fine cigar at a reasonable price with ample strength to complement an after-dinner bourbon, rum, or scotch. It earns four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Illusione has been on a roll lately. The recently released 2014 Singulare Anunnaki earned a rare five-stogie rating. It is the first Singulare that’s in the same class as the original 2010 Singulare, as good and possibly even better depending on how it ages. And the last new full line from Illusione, the Fume d’Amour, was another outstanding release.

In addition to both being good smokes, both the Anunnaki and Fume d’Amour fall in the mild- to medium-bodied range. For that reason, I was particularly interested to try Illusione’s ~eccj~ 20th Annicersary cigar.

The original ~eccj~ debuted in 2008 to celebrate the 15th Anniverary of the European Cigar Cult Journal magazine, now just called Cigar Journal. That cigar blend, which gained a bit of a cult following, would become the popular Epernay line.

So, naturally, when Illusione brand owner Dion Giolito announced a follow-up ~eccj~ would be coming, it was eagerly anticipated. The new ~eccj~ features a tweaked blend and a slightly larger size (6.5 x 48). Boxes of 15 sell for $195, or $13 per cigar.

Using 100% Nicaraguan tobacco, including a Café Rosado Corojo ’99 wrapper, the ~eccj~ 20th Anniversary features some sneaky strength. The flavors are a complex combination of roasted nuts, breadiness, light oak, leather, and cream.

The strength builds towards a solid-medium, bordering on medium-full as it progresses, though the flavors don’t change much. There is a slightly sour edge that particularly lingers on the finish.

While it’s an excellent cigar, it might suffer from the obvious comparison to other Illusione cigars. For my tastes, it isn’t as refined as the Epernay, Fume d’Amour, or the most recent Singulare. But don’t let that high bar fool you. With sneaky flavor, complexity, and good construction, plus the potential to get better with more age, the Illusione ~eccj~ 20th earns a rating of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

At this point I can safely say RoMa Craft Tobac is on the short list of my favorite cigar makers in the world. Since RoMa Craft was put on my radar in 2011, I’ve really enjoyed smoking my way through the portfolio—including Intemperance, CroMagnon, Aquitaine, and some retailer-specific exclusives. I’ve also had the pleasure to tour Skip Martin’s small Nica Sueño factory in Estelí to see his scaled-down processes first-hand.

There’s undoubtedly a romanticism associated with a small cigar operation that grew from the ashes of a Texas brick-and-mortar store that was decimated by Hurricane Ike in 2008. And it’s hard to not root for a company that began making cigars in one of its employees’ garages, using a shower to store bales of tobacco and working off borrowed molds and presses. But that’s not what makes RoMa Craft so special; RoMa Craft is special because it produces consistently awesome cigars at hard-to-beat prices.

The Intemperance series pays homage to the American movement that overthrew Prohibition (and reminds us to stay vigilant about cigar rights). It comes in two varieties. Intemperance EC XVIII features an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper (hence “EC”) around an Indonesian binder and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. There’s also an Intemperance BA XXI line that’s wrapped in a Brazilian Arapiraca leaf.

For Intemperance EC XVIII, there are five regular-production vitolas: The Charity (4 x 46), The Virtue (4.5 x 52), The Faith (5 x 50), The Brotherly Kindness (5 x 56), and The Industry (5.5 x 54). The latter retails for $7. It has a light, yellowish wrapper with thin veins, a few wrinkles, and pre-light aromas of sweet hay. Notably, the binder/filler protrude slightly from the foot which, Martin says, gives the smoker the brief chance to sample the blend without the wrapper before it quickly changes.

Before reaching the wrapper, The Industry is dry and woodsy with cedar spice, black pepper, and earth. Once the wrapper ignites, a creamy sweetness provides harmony and complexity. As the belicoso progresses, notes of vanilla, salty peanut, and honey come and go. The texture is bready and the body is mild to mild-medium. To its credit, I only find trace bitterness, even as my puffs become more frequent. But the wonderful creaminess of the profile really shines through only if you take your time.

I’ve never lit up a cigar from RoMa Craft that didn’t have excellent combustion qualities. This was no exception. Across the three samples I smoked for this review, all exhibited straight burn lines, solid white ashes, clear draws, and above-average smoke production.

The Intemperance BA XXI blend has to be my favorite from this manufacturer (I awarded the A.W.S. IV a rare five-stogie rating), but the EC XVIII The Industry is no slouch. It’s an affordable, high-quality, interesting Ecuadorian Connecticut-wrapped smoke that consistently delivers a solid experience. In my book, it’s worthy of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

So far this year I’ve reviewed two interesting smokes from United Cigar: the Atabey Ritos, an expensive cigar that’s complex and nuanced; and the Garofalo Robusto, a mild-mannered smoke that’s affordable, flavorful, and satisfying.

Both creations are impressive, not only in their performance but also in their packaging (more on that later). So I’ve made it a point to try and smoke my way through the rest of the United Cigar portfolio, which includes Bandolero, Fleur de la Reine, La Gianna, and Byron.

The latter is named for Lord Byron, an English poet and a leader of the Romantic movement. The Byron cigar line is the revival of an old Cuban brand from the mid-nineteenth century. “Many cigar factories produced numerous brands with Anglo-American names to attract UK and US markets, which had tremendous demand for premium cigars at the time,” according to the United Cigar website.

Today Byron is made in three different blends—Siglo XIX, Siglo XX, and Siglo XXI—to represent “what Cuban cigars were in the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries.” They are handmade in Costa Rica, stored in an aging room for one year, and then packaged in beautifully ornate porcelain jars or individually humidified tubes.

The Siglo XX Londinenses (5.5 x 54) is dark, firm, and clearly crafted with care. Underneath the cedar sleeve and double bands is a virtually veinless wrapper with a well-executed cap and potent pre-light notes of green raisin, cocoa, and earth. The Byron Siglo XX’s wrapper, binder, and filler are undisclosed.

The cold draw is quite tight, which is a bit of a concern, but fortunately it seems to open immediately after setting an even light. The ensuing flavor is medium-bodied and balanced with notes of creamy nut, sweet cream, dried fruit, coffee, cedar spice, warm tobacco, and cinnamon. Yes, there’s a lot going on here. The texture is dense and the smoke production is moderate. The final third witnesses a slight increase in spice and body.

Aside from the draw being a tad too resistant for my liking, construction is absolutely perfect. The gray ash holds well off the foot, and the straight burn line doesn’t require a single-touch up.

Like Atabey, the Byron Serie Siglo XX Londinenses is competing in the ultra-premium market with a sky-high price of about $30. Surely some of that cost is sunk in the flamboyantly elaborate packaging and the humidified tube (which is reusable and excellent for the golf bag, by the way). That said, this is no mediocre cigar on masquerade. No, the flavors are as numerous as they are harmonious, and the experience is downright memorable. Pony up for an indulgence, and be prepared for a cigar that’s worthy of four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys