The Stogie Guys

Unless you’re a complete stranger to the online cigar community, you probably know of Barry Stein. Barry is highly active on social media, the founder (and former proprietor of) A Cigar Smoker, a former employee of Miami Cigar & Co., and a current employee of the New Hampshire-based Two Guys Smoke Shop, a chain of cigar retailers.

These days Barry is also doing some marketing for United Cigar, an outfit with smokes manufactured and blended by Nelson Alfonso’s Selected Tobacco (Alfonso is known for his work with the Cohiba Behike). United Cigar’s website is under construction.

Barry was kind enough to send me a three-pack of United creations—one cigar each of the Atabey, Byron, and Bandolero blends (complete with travel humidifier tubes and a gorgeous presentation, no less). To be clear, while the three-pack is greatly appreciated, I did not petition Barry for any samples, and his generosity and thoughtfulness in no way impacts this review.

Atabey is handmade in Costa Rica using an undisclosed blend of “Caribbean and Central American” tobaccos. It bears a striking resemblance to the ultra-exclusive Cohiba Behike in several ways, including the band (dots with black and gold) and the light, clean wrapper. In addition, the Atabey name itself is a nod to the goddess the Taíno Indians would pray to through the leader of their group, known as the “Behike.”

Six vitolas comprise the Atabey portfolio: Ritos (6.1 x 55), Delirios (5.75 x 55), Sabios (5.25 x 52), Brujos (4.9 x 52), Divinos (4.25 x 50), and Idolos (4.5 x 55). All retail north of $20 for a single.

The Atabey Ritos is a large, beautiful cigar with an impeccably smooth wrapper, a well-executed triple-cap, and soft pre-light notes of sweet hay off the foot. After setting an even light, I find a balanced, medium to mild-medium profile with notes of cream, oak, white pepper and a little syrup. The texture is bready and the aftertaste leaves a gentle spice on the tongue. Towards the midway point and beyond, there’s a slight increase in intensity with flavors of walnut and black pepper joining in. Construction is perfect.

Atabey has actually been around since 2011, but never available at more than 30 retailers nationwide and always operating with a fairly low visibility. Given Barry Stein’s connections to the online cigar media, I think you’ll be seeing a lot more about this brand in 2015.

Yes, the Atabey Ritos is expensive. No, it doesn’t taste terribly similar to the Cuban Behike (I’m not sure the comparison is fair but, after all, the manufacturer is inviting it). That said, it’s a complex, balanced, wonderfully nuanced cigar, and it won’t leave you disappointed (unless you were hoping for a full-bodied powerbomb). I award it four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

While there are surely exceptions, seasoned cigar smokers generally tend to steer clear of Macanudo. “America’s best-selling premium cigar” is often viewed as a gateway brand that should be dismissed for heartier, more complex creations as one graduates from occasional smoker to full-blown cigar veteran status.

That said, I believe Macanudo’s reputation is largely a result of the ultra-mild Macanudo Café line. There are seven other lines listed on General Cigar’s website—Gold Label, Robust, Vintage, Estate Reserve, Maduro, Cru Royale, and 1968—and not all of them are geared towards beginners. I also believe, in addition to the reputation, regular smokers tend to scoff at Macanudo simply because it’s made in large quantities by a huge corporation.

But it’s good to get out of your comfort zone every once in a while. So, while I admit Macanudo cigars (of any variety) can rarely be found in my humidors, today I’m going to examine the Macanudo Vintage 1997. This blend includes a Connecticut Shade wrapper from the 1997 harvest, a Mexican binder, and Dominican Piloto Cubano filler tobaccos.

Full disclosure: Online retailer Famous Smoke Shop sent me a four-pack of Vintage 1997s in the No. 5 format (5.5 x 50) to make this review possible. As always, the samples Famous provided in no way impact my assessment of the cigar.

Several things struck me about this Robusto before I lit up the first sample. First, the wrapper looks old (no surprise there). It’s marked with wrinkles, a few bumps, and it has a rustic, dry feel. Second, the foot exhibits an ultra-tight cross-section of tobacco. Finally, and inconsequentially, two of my samples had the slightest amount of filler/binder extending beyond the cut of the wrapper leaf.

Once lit, pre-light notes of sweet hay and honey transition to a toned-down profile of cedar spice, black coffee, and syrup. The resting smoke is sweet and the finish is characterized by a soft, lingering spice on the tip of the tongue. The draw is too firm for my liking, requiring significant effort to get minimal smoke production. I’d classify the body as mild-medium.

After half an inch, the draw begins to open, increasing the smoke volume and making it a little easier to detect some complexity in the flavor—including floral notes and some citrus. The final third witnesses a slight increase in intensity. Throughout, the burn line is razor sharp and the white ash holds incredibly well.

As you might expect from a cigar with a wrapper bearing over 17 years of age, the Macanudo Vintage 1997 No. 5 is not inexpensive. Famous sells 5-packs for $74.99. That’s about $15 per cigar. Ultimately, while this robusto has some good things going for it—including a milder, well-balanced profile that remains interesting—I have a hard time reconciling the cost. There are too many excellent smokes that sell for a fraction of the price.

So, after careful consideration, I believe the most appropriate score for the Vintage 1997 No. 5 is three stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

There aren’t many cigars I’d purchase by the box without having even tasted one. Aging Room’s blends are an exception to the rule.

I’ve been a big Aging Room fan since the first one I smoked a couple of years ago, the M356 Presto. Lately, I’d been tremendously impressed by the exquisite M20 Fortissimo.

So, when I went to a recent even featuring Boutique Blends co-owner Rafael Nodal, I was intending to buy a 10-count box of those limited edition M20s. Rafael’s enthusiasm for the Bin No. 1 quickly convinced me to pick up a box of those as well. Good decision.

I’m smoking my way through the B Minor (6.125 x 52), a beauty with a dark, toffee-colored Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over well-aged Dominican binder and filler tobaccos. The cigar retails for about $12.50 and comes in boxes of 20. The other two sizes available are even bigger: C Major (6.25 x 54) and G Major (6.25 x 63).

Bin No. 1 makes quite a first impression with a large parchment-style outer band that covers nearly half the cigar. It comes off easily and reveals a more traditional band beneath.

Prelight, there’s little aroma. But the cigar makes a statement from the first puff with a combination of spice and sweetness that’s shortly joined by a dark, rich fruitiness. A little farther on, the spice shifts more to pepper and the sweetness backs off. At about the halfway point, the strength downshifts a bit, and then picks up in the final third.

Overall, Bin No. 1 is a complex, strong, and highly satisfying cigar with excellent construction, draw, and burn. With tobacco already years old, I’m guessing these may not be the best candidates for long-term aging because it would be a shame for them to lose the zesty qualities that stand out.

As with other Aging Room cigars, I recommend the Bin No. 1. It earns four stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Every November since I started smoking cigars, I’ve compiled a list. Not a “best-of” list, mind you; more like a hit-list—cigars I want to try.

Normally, I can cross everything off rather easily. But every once in a while there’s a cigar that evades me. This year, that cigar was the new Factory 57 from 7-20-4. A friend of mine got to sample it months ago and loved it, and since then I’ve been waiting for Factory 57 to hit shelves. Well, they’re finally in. And I’ve smoked three to let you know what I think.

The Factory 57 name refers, apparently, to the U.S. government’s official designation of 7-20-4 as a manufacturer of premium cigars. This cigar continues the naming trends of brand owner Kurt A. Kendall, who normally titles his cigars around the history of the company and tobacco in general. (The 7-20-4 name itself is a nod to 724 Elm Street in Manchester, New Hampshire—the address of the company’s original factory showroom.)

This specific vitola is a classic Robusto (5 x 50). It features a Nicaraguan Habano wrapper, Costa Rican binder, and filler tobaccos from Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Columbia. There’s no real discernible aroma from the foot, besides strong tobacco. The Robusto boasts a look of quality and care, with the traditional 7-20-4 artwork underlined by a black second band that has “Factory 57” in gold.

I straight-cut two of these cigars and V-cut the third. Each exhibited great draws, lit easily, and smoked down to the nub without needing corrections or getting harsh. The cold draw has an enticing sweet flavor. After setting an even light, the smoke tastes sweet and earthy. There is a unique vegetal note in the flavor profile, which is creamy and smooth. The finish of is short, with a very light spice left on the tongue.

Despite everything positive I’ve said, I have to say the Factory 57 Robusto left me underwhelmed. I look to 7-20-4 for complex, interesting smokes, and the Factory 57 just isn’t that. The first cigar I smoked for this review seemed to get stronger and more intense as I burnt it down, but the other two did not. By the third, I was so familiar with the smoke, and the vegetal note started to seem less unique.

Now, I do not mean to imply this is a bad cigar. It isn’t. If you’re looking for a medium- to full-bodied, mellow, creamy smoke, this could be a grand slam. It is constructed at a master level, and certainly has solid flavors. For me, though, the Factory 57 Robusto does not live up to the high expectations set by 7-20-4. It earns three stogies out of five.

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

–Joey J

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Back in May, on the heels of Nick Melillo’s departure, Drew Estate named Willy Herrera “master blender,” a role where he would help maintain current blends, produce new cigar lines, and report directly to Jonathan Drew.

It remains to be seen how Swisher International’s purchase of Drew Estate may change Herrera’s position at one of the world’s largest handmade cigar manufacturers. But we know that Drew Estate management—including Jonathan Drew, Marvin Samel, and Michael Cellucci—are remaining at the company for the time being. And we know these individuals have a great deal of confidence in Herrera.

That confidence stems in large part from the success of Herrera’s debut line at Drew Estate, Herrera Estelí. This “Cubanesque” blend not only diversified the Drew Estate portfolio (which lacked a visible, more traditional, non-maduro cigar,), but it also earned widespread acclaim from the online cigar community, and claimed the number eight slot on Cigar Aficionado’s list of the best smokes of 2013.

To date, my experience with Herrera Estelí has been mostly limited to the Short Corona, a cigar that’s small in stature but big in quality. Lately, I’ve fired up a few Piramide Finos (6 x 52), one of the other four sizes in the series. Like the Short Corona, the Piramide Fino is a handsome, golden-colored smoke comprised of Ecuadoran, Honduran, and Nicaraguan tobaccos with pre-light notes of hay and molasses. Only the slightest puncture of the gorgeous cap is all that’s needed to open up a smooth cold draw.

Once lit, the belicoso yields a medium-bodied, balanced taste of cream, cashew, white pepper, and dry wood. There’s a lingering sweetness in the background, and the finish is characterized by a sharp, zesty spice on the tip of the tongue. At times a cinnamon spice can take control. Other times, an earthiness that reminds me of truffle comes to the foreground.

Throughout, construction is impeccable. Drew Estate prides itself on ease of draw and high smoke production, and the Piramide Fino is no exception. Additionally, the burn line is straight and the white ash holds superbly well.

I may have to give a very slight edge to the Short Corona, simply because I think the flavors pop a little more in that smaller format. But this is an outstanding belicoso, and one of the many Drew Estate creations I hope stays consistent once the Swisher International acquisition is complete. In my book, the Herrera Estelí Piramide Fino is a truly wonderful value at $10 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

Earlier this month, I reviewed the Habano Robusto from the new Nestor Miranda Collection. Miami Cigar & Co. recently launched the series to coincide with the company’s 25th anniversary and honor its founder as Nestor Miranda slowly transitions away from active management of the business.

It’s safe to say the Nestor Miranda Collection is a preview of what we might expect from Miami Cigar & Co. over the ensuing years. Jason Wood, Miranda’s son-in-law and vice president of (and presumed heir to) the company, is the driving force behind the series. Evidently, his work was met with Miranda’s approval. “I am excited about the new vision [Jason Wood] has for our future and the re-branding of the Nestor Miranda Collection,” he said in a press release. “[He has positioned us] to make a lasting impression on the cigar industry for years to come.”

The new Nestor Miranda Collection is made at My Father Cigars and is broken up into three lines: Habano (green band), Maduro (red), and Connecticut (blue). While the former are original blends, the Connecticut has the same recipe as the old Special Selection Connecticut cigar. All come in 4 sizes—Robusto (4.5 x 50), Toro (5.5 x 54), Corona Gorda (6 x 46), and Gordo (6 x 60)—and retail for about $7 to $9 apiece.

The Maduro Robusto sports a dark, mottled, and toothy Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper around a Nicaraguan binder and a three-country filler blend from Nicaragua, Honduras, and Brazil. Rustic in appearance, it’s adorned with large veins, a few bumps, and some thick seams. The firmness is moderate, the cold draw stiff, and the pre-light notes remind me of warm tobacco.

Once lit, a chewy, peppery flavor emerges with plenty of spice and leather. I wouldn’t call it a slap-in-the-face introduction, but the body is medium to medium-full. There’s a meaty sourness on the aftertaste of which I’m not particularly fond, and the draw is a little tight for my liking.

At the midway point, the draw starts to open, the smoke production increases, and a few new flavors join the fray. They include cocoa, cream, and coffee. The finish featyres an increase in spice, strength, and richness that places the final third solidly in the full-bodied range.

Aside from early-on issues with the draw, the construction is good. My samples exhibited a solid ash and a straight burn line.

In total, I can safely say I prefer the Habano Robusto to the Maduro, and I look forward to trying the Connecticut. On its own, the Maduro Robusto is a serviceable smoke that Connecticut Broadleaf fans should try. That earns it a rating of three stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

I joined Tatuaje’s Saints & Sinners Club in its inaugural year, and I’ve been happy to renew every year since. The club includes access to a private cigar forum and an annual shipment of cigar swag and a box of 15 cigars.

The smokes alone are worth the price, as every year the selection has been an interesting mix of that includes rare Tatuajes, one-offs, and test blends. This year’s shipment included two different exclusive sizes of the Tatuaje Havana VI Verocu blend.

Smoking them reminded me so much of how I enjoy the blend, which over the years has come out in a number of different sizes. The originals were a Verocu No. 1 (Exclusivo Lado Occidental) and No. 2 (Exclusivo Zona del Este), both of which earned perfect 5-stogie ratings. A tubo torpedo came later, and the only regular release still shipping is the No. 5, a petit corona (4 x 40) size that comes in boxes of 50.

The forgotten member of the Verocu line is No. 9, a 4.5-inch, 49-ring gauge robusto sold exclusively by the Philadelphia-based Holt’s retailer. Reminded by the excellence of the line, I recently picked up a 10-pack of the No. 9 size for just $45 (normal price is $130 for a box of 20).

Like the rest of the line, No. 9 uses Nicaraguan filler and binder with a dark, oily Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. It is intended to be a more full-bodied edition of the normal Havana VI line, and it hits that mark dead on. It starts with lots of dark cocoa, oak, and earth. There’s a little pepper spice. Body is medium-full, sometimes bordering on completely full. As it progresses, a little more spice emerges.

The well-made smoke produces tons of thick smoke on the palate. Each of the four cigars I smoked for this review had a perfectly straight burn, easy draw, and a sturdy white ash.

If I had to find a flaw, it’s that there’s not a ton of transition here. But that’s not a big deal as this is an all-around excellent cigar. It’s also the type of smoke that, perhaps counter-intuitively, would be good for relatively new cigar smokers looking to expand their horizons with a smooth yet full-bodied smoke.

I really can’t find much wrong with the Verocu No. 9, except perhaps that it is not more widely available. At $4.50, it’s a steal, and even at regular price it’s a good value. That, combined with excellent, full-bodied flavors, earns the Tatuaje Verocu No. 9 a formidable rating of four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys