The Stogie Guys

Launched less than 18 months ago, the Sindicato Cigar Group had a lot of things a start-up cigar brand could only dream of. In addition to industry veteran Jim Colucci as CEO, the company had the backing of of a handful of the best-known cigar shops in the country right from the outset.

Sindicato has been busy in its first year launching three lines: Affinity, Hex, and their “premium bundle” Cassa Bella. Now the company is following up with its eponymous lines: Sindicato and (coming this fall) Sindicato Maduro.

I received two samples of the Sindicato blend when it began shipping to stores in early May. I smoked the Corona Gorda (5.5 x 48), one of six box-pressed sizes (MSRP $10.95).

The cigar is made by Casa Fernandez in Nicaragua under the direction of it’s master blender Arsenio Ramos. Although the press materials don’t say it, it almost certainly is made completely of Aganorsa tobacco (one of the premier Nicaraguan tobacco growers and suppliers, owned by Casa Fernandez owner Eduardo Fernandez.)

The Nicaraguan puro blend uses a shade-grown Corojo wrapper grown in Jalapa, dual binders from Estelí, and a combination of Jalapa and Estelí filler tobaccos. The wrapper is slightly mottled and reddish-brown in color.

Sindicato features classic woody spice that fans of Casa Fernandez will recognize; it’s a quintessentially Nicaraguan profile. In addition, I picked up flavors of roasted nuts, black coffee, and some graham cracker towards the second half.

It starts out very full-bodied but eases back towards medium in the second half when a little creaminess reveals itself. Construction was excellent throughout.

I smoked an early prototype of this at the IPCPR Trade Show last year given to me by Jim Colucci, and whether it’s a tweaked blend or just time, it has improved greatly since then. Back then it was very strong and harsh. Now it’s far more balanced, and only medium- to full-bodied.

It’s a good cigar, and fans of Casa Fernandez lines will certainly enjoy this one (although I do wonder if they provide slightly better value given the similarities). Still, there’s plenty to like in the Sindicato cigar, and I think it may continue to get better with time. Even in it’s current state, it 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

This is a new offering from Crux, a boutique brand created by two Minnesota tobacco retailers. Like other Crux cigars, the Passport vitolas feature small ring gauges, modern marketing, and low production figures.

I received two sample Lanceros from Crux, which plans to begin shipping the line at the end of June, along with a Corona (5.5 x 44) and a Toro (6 x 48).

“Only 100 boxes of each size will be released on the first shipment and 500 boxes of each on subsequent shipments,” says to Jeff Haugen, co-owner of both the Crux brand and the Tobacco Grove shop in Minnesota. They’ll follow up in August with 500 boxes each of two additional sizes.

The cigars are rolled at the Plasencia cigar factory in Danli, Honduras, with a blend that Haugen lists as a 2009 Habano Ecuador wrapper, Habano Viso Estelí binder, and Nicaraguan filler. The MSRP is $6.99, and they come in 20-count boxes.

Crux describes Passport’s strength at the low end of full, but I’d consider it more in the medium range.

Construction was fine on both samples, with lots of smoke production and a good draw. As can often be the case with thin ring-gauge cigars, a few relights were necessary as the byproduct of trying to smoke even slower than usual.

The most prominent flavor, for me, was cocoa and a bit of pepper. There was also an earthiness and a touch of leather. I did experience some harshness at a couple of points, particularly in one of the samples, but that may work itself out through the resting process before the line is released.

The company’s website lists only four retailers in three states, so finding your Passport may not be easy. But Crux is the kind of company it’s easy to root for, and I’d urge you to pick up any of their cigars if you spot them.

For me, this Lancero rates three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

With José Blanco’s CyB and the forthcoming Joya Red, the focus of Joya de Nicaragua of late has been on cigars with more balance and less power. But the oldest cigar maker in Nicaragua built its reputation on bold, full-bodied blends, and those blends are still the cornerstone of the Joya de Nicaragua portfolio.

Antaño Dark Corojo is the line that first comes to mind when I think of Joya de Nicaragua. It was the first Joya I ever smoked and, for a while, it shaped my notion of what a Nicaraguan cigar should be. When I was just getting into cigars, I remember having a Joya on my lunch break after a light meal. I was not terribly productive for the rest of the afternoon.

These days I know better. I tend to save my Dark Corojos for the evenings, usually after a large meal and paired with a sipping rum. For me, this is the best way to enjoy what Joya calls “the embodiment of the Nicaraguan power cigar.”

The Antaño Dark Corojo is a Nicaragua puro with a mottled, oily Corojo Oscuro wrapper. It comes in six sizes: Azarosa (4.5 x 52), La Pesadilla (4.75 x 60), Peligroso (5 x 44), El Martillo (5.5 x 54), La Niveladora (6 x 52), and Poderoso (6 x 54). I smoked several in the El Martillo format for this review.

After removing the foot band, I take note of pre-light aromas of raisin, cocoa, and caramel before lighting up the cigar with a couple wooden matches. The initial flavor is heavy-handed with spice, espresso, and dark chocolate. The texture is thick and leathery. Smoking through the nose helps reveal some raisin, charred steak, and black cherry.

Make no bones about it, this is a very full-bodied cigar. At times, El Martillo’s complementary sweetness makes it seem less aggressive. But the power is sure to eventually sneak up on you—especially when you stand up after having been seated for a while.

Throughout the experience, the El Martillo’s physical properties are good, including a straight burn, a solid white ash that holds very firm off the foot, and good smoke production. My only complaint is the draw, which is too tight for my liking. Perhaps of late I’ve been smoking too many loose-drawing cigars from Drew Estate.

If you’re looking for a full-bodied cleanup hitter with ample power that won’t break the bank, look no further. The Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Dark Corojo El Martillo has all the flavor and boldness you could ask for, and it runs about $8 for a single. I always keep some on hand, and I award it three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Few cigar companies have undergone as much change in recent years as Nat Sherman. Moving its flagship shop at an impressive new location, hiring flamboyant executive Michael Herklots, bringing new and unexpected cigar lines to market. All contributed to a new image for the New York-centric brand that had often come to be associated more with colorful high-end cigarettes than with premium cigars.

The 1930 Collection, a six-vitola line introduced last year, is a big part of the maker. Using a Dominican wrapper and binder, with long-filler from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, it boasts a strength level—upper medium—beyond my image of most Nat Shermans.

For this review, I received three Gran Robustos (5.25 x 54) from the company. The stick has an MSRP of $11. Each vitola in the 1930 line comes packaged 24 to a box, except for the Super Lancero (8 x 38), which is in boxes of 10.

The Corojo wrapper makes quite a first impression with a rich and oily appearance. The cigars, rolled at Manuel Quesada’s Dominican factory, are rock hard to the touch but that is, fortunately, no indication of looming problems. Draw and construction are excellent.

The 1930 offers a satisfying smoking experience, an enjoyable cigar that should appeal to nearly any enthusiast. It is not overly complex, though there is some shift in the second half when the spice ramps up a bit. Generally, though, the flavor profile is dark and rich, with leather, coffee beans, and spice.

If the price seems a little steep, bear in mind that the Gran Robusto is quite a bit larger than your typical robusto. Other attractive attributes are tremendous smoke production throughout and a slow, cool burn that results in a lengthy smoke.

I suggest you give the 1930 Collection a try, especially if it has been a while since you smoked a Nat Sherman. It will hold up as an after-dinner cigar or enliven an afternoon. I rate this cigar four stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

I’ve hesitated to call myself a fan of the 7-20-4 brand. Not because I don’t like them—I actually enjoy the Dog Walker and Robusto—but those are the only two cigars I’ve tried. Since K.A Kendall has numerous lines, I wanted to smoke a few more before I called myself a real fan. Well, with the Hustler, I’m ready to jump on the bandwagon.

I smoked the Hustler Robusto Barber Pole (5.5 x 54) for this review, which has a Brazilian Mata Fina base with a strip of Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapped tightly around to form a barber pole. The construction is great, and the barber pole has a nice tight wrapping around it that looks really beautiful.

Let me insult this cigar in just one aspect quickly: I hate the band. The red and blue color scheme represents the Hustler magazine theme, I suppose, but to me it just looks garish and cheap. Anyway, the rest of the pre-light experience is immaculate. Pre-draw is a little tight, but not in a bad way, and there are some faint chocolate notes.

The flavor on this smoke is very balanced, and it is a really nice effect. As a general rule, I don’t care for barber poles, as I feel like they don’t really reach their goal too often. The goal would be to have both wrappers complement each other and blend together smoothly. In my experience, though, I’ve had two types of barber pole cigars: (1) one wrapper, normally a maduro, completely overwhelms the other wrapper, or (2) both of the wrappers have a really light flavor and they’re just underwhelming.

Like I said, though, the Hustler is in a different class. All of the flavors are blended together perfectly. The Mata Fina gives some nice chocolate notes with a bit of earth, and the Ecuadorian Connecticut lends a creamy texture and the eventual pepper. There is not much differentiation for me between thirds, but each puff has its own unique flavor. Some highlight the chocolate smoothness of the cigar, while others have some leather notes with pepper.

The only other complaint I’d have is the price point, which is around $9. The inclusion of Mata Fina and the barber pole craftsmanship mean this cigar is going to be pricier, but frankly it’s got some hot competition in the $9 to $10 range. If this were a few bucks cheaper I’d rate it even higher but, still, due to its smooth balance, this cigar is able to achieve four stogies out of five.

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

–Joey J

photo credit: Smoke Inn

This summer, Iconic Leaf will go after some of the milder premium cigar market with a new Recluse offshoot called Amadeus. Select retailers will soon receive shipments of the product, but the full release won’t take place until the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association Trade Show in Las Vegas in July.

Since the company was established in 2012, Iconic Leaf has erred on the side of secrecy. At its inception, the identities of its principals were left a mystery, and we were only told the operation was founded by two “well-respected legends in the cigar industry” who have “chosen to keep their identities private in a pursuit to make the very best premium boutique cigars that can be found anywhere in the world without the influence of their names.”

In addition to secrecy, innovation seems to be another Iconic Leaf theme. The Doral, Florida-based company has pioneered the “Sidewinder” cigar shape—a flattened oval with a slight box press and a bit of a taper at the cap—as well as the “Kanu,” which has a head-turning kayak-like shape. In a sense, Iconic Leaf has taken a page out of the book of Litto Gomez, who created the “Chisel” shape for La Flor Dominicana.

So far, Iconic Leaf’s core blends—Recluse and Recluse Draconian, respectively—have sported darker wrappers (Brazilian Maduro for the former, Ecuadorian Maduro for the latter). Recluse Amadeus will help diversify the company’s portfolio with a light Connecticut Ecuadorian Shade wrapper surrounding a proprietary binder and a filler blend of Dominican and Connecticut tobaccos.

Six Recluse Amadeus sizes will be available ranging in price from $7.50 to $10.50: three box-pressed, and three of the Sidewinder variety. The Toro (6.25 x 50) is spongy and box-pressed with a golden wrapper and faint notes of honey and hay. The cold draw is smooth, as one would expect from an entubar-crafted cigar.

Once lit, a traditional Connecticut profile of cream, soft cedar spice, almond, and coffee emerges. The texture is silky and the body is decidedly mild to mild-medium. The Toro becomes more interesting around the midway point as spice and roasted nut flavors build in intensity. In fact, while I typically pride myself on smoking cigars slowly to guard against heat and harshness, with the Recluse Amadeus I find myself smoking a little quicker to drive home the flavor with more force.

I smoked two pre-release samples for this review, both provided by Iconic Leaf, and found them each to have excellent construction. The Toro smokes as well as you’d expect from any cigar. The burn is straight with a thick, black mascara, the ash holds well off the foot, the draw is easy, and the smoke production is above average.

If, like me, you enjoy mild Connecticut Shade cigars, you’ll want to give the Recluse Amadeus a try when it becomes more widely available. Try it with a cup of black coffee in the morning and let the flavors grow on you (as they most assuredly will after the first inch). This new release is worthy of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

This cigar kicks off like a winner. The Dominican tobaccos create a spicy mix that’s complex and intriguing. The flavors are layered, from fiery peppers to bright clove. It’s a high-flying delight. Only later does it deflate a bit.

In the final third, most of the spice is gone and some burn issues become mildly irritating. But those issues didn’t spoil this smoke, just kept it shy of the pinnacle. Along the way there were numerous other flavors, including cedar, leather, and coffee.

Introduced at last year’s International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Trade Show by La Hoja Cigar Co., I only recently encountered the brand at a local shop. I was a bit hesitant to try it, partly because I’m not a big maduro fan and partly because of Patrick S’s hesitation about an earlier stick from La Hoja. But an enthusiastic recommendation won the day.

My first concern was quickly dispatched. Frankly, I’d never have guessed this cigar was a maduro. I think it’s also considerably different than the line my colleague tried.

The Auténtico Maduro Double Toro, with a price tag of about $12, is a 6.25-inch stick with a ring gauge of 54. It sports a soft box-press with a nice Corojo 2006 maduro wrapper and a “blend of original piloto, ligero, and seco Dominican fillers,” according to the company.

The occasional burn problems were the only construction problems I encountered. It generated a lot of smoke. Strength was in the medium to full range.

This is a cigar well worth picking up, especially if you haven’t tried some of the “new” Dominicans lately. I rate it three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: La Hoja Cigars Instagram