The Stogie Guys

Disappointed is about the only word I can use to describe my feelings about Oliva’s 2012 version of its limited release maduro. I didn’t find a bad cigar, more like Gertrude Stein’s reaction upon returning to her Oakland home.

Start with the pre-light aroma. It was barely noticeable. Move to the opening puffs, where there was a bite and a sharp finish for much of the first third. Then the remaining four inches or so: not much of anything in the way of taste. None of the typical maduro tobacco sweetness or characteristic coffee, cocoa, or chocolate. Nothing else really apparent, either.

My disappointment comes not so much from the stick not making much of an impression. No, it’s more because I’d read and heard so much positive reaction from smokers whose opinions I respect. I’d be less than honest if I didn’t confess that it does make me wonder about my own reactions.

Construction was flawless in the three I smoked. The six-inch, 50 ring gauge smoke retails for about $9.50 and comes in boxes of 10. The Oliva web site appears hopelessly out of date, apparently describing the 2009 version. According to most reports, the 2012 sports the popular Mexican San Andrés wrapper and Nicaraguan filler and binder, as has been the case for several years, with 50,000 sticks rolled.

Two things I can point to for my lack of enthusiasm are that wrapper and maduros in general. It’s been years since I smoked maduros with any regularity and rarely find them more than passable. The same holds for that Mexican wrapper; it’s a rare smoke that utilizes it and suits my taste.

All that being said, I would urge you to consider your own tastes in thinking about purchasing the Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2012. For me, though, I can only award it three stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Namakubi Ecuador is the latest release from Camacho’s Room 101. It is a combination of two previous releases: OSOK (One Shot One Kill) and the original Namakubi.

The filler is Honduran and Dominican (the same as the Namakubi), while the wrapper and binder—Ecuador Habano and Honduran corojo, respectively—come from the OSOK. (Though OSOK conspicuously isn’t mentioned by name in Camacho’s press release for the cigar. I’ve heard that trademark will stay with Edgar Hoille, who now makes his cigars separate from the Camacho umbrella.)

The line comes in four sizes: three figuardos and one small parejo dubbed the Papi Chulo that debuted in the Namakubi line. The cigar has the same samuri-inspired packaging as the Namakubi, including paper tubes for the larger three sizes.

For this review, I smoked four of the Ranfla size, a 5.5-inch mini diadema that has a 30 ring gauge at the head, 50 in the middle, and 19 at the tapered foot. The cigars sell for $50 for a 5-pack or $90 for a box of 10 at Emerson’s.

Pre-light the draw shows some woody spice and clove. Once lit, I found roast coffee beans and burnt toast flavors along with oak and slight floral notes.

The cigar starts out medium-bodied but pretty quickly ramps up to medium- to full-bodied. The flavors really hit the front and roof of your mouth, and the interplay between the Ecuador wrapper and Honduran tobacco is evident.

Fans of Honduran tobacco should definitely seek out this new cigar. Others might find the dominating woodiness lacks balance.

Either way, it’s a welcome addition with admirable construction and a flavor combination not replicated by anything else on the market. That earns the Room 101 Namakubi Ecuador Ranfla three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Since the company was established last year, 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.”

Iconic Leaf’s tradition of secrecy continues with its recent announcement of Recluse Draconian, a new blend that will debut at this summer’s industry trade show in Las Vegas. It follows last year’s release, Recluse. While we know the Draconian wrapper is Ecuadorian maduro and the filler will be a mix of four tobaccos—Brazilian hybrid, Piloto Cubano, Dominican, and an exclusive ligero—the binder is not being revealed.

The sizes/formats will also remain undisclosed until July. This creates intrigue because three will be in a “Sidewinder” shape “that has never been done before in the cigar industry.” Iconic Leaf fans will recall Recluse was likewise rolled out in an inventive format called “Kanu,” which has a head-turning kayak-like shape.

For now, Draconian is being offered to five retailers in three pre-release parejo formats: Robusto, Toro, and 6 x 60. I received two Robustos from Iconic Leaf for this review. The size has an oily exterior that’s textured with tooth and mapped with thin veins. Pre-light, notes of caramel, leather, and red pepper are apparent off the foot. The draw is clear, as one would expect since Draconian is handmade in the entubado fashion by Tabacalera Leyendas Cubanas.

Now I always approach pre-release reviews with some trepidation because, even if the blend stays the same, time may change the way the tobacco smokes before the full release. What’s more, I don’t even know the specs of the anticipated Sidewinder vitolas, much less how their formats will alter the Draconian experience. So I would take the ensuing analysis with a grain of salt.

That said, based on the samples I smoked several days after receiving them in the mail, I think Draconian will be a cigar you’ll at least want to take for a test drive. The Robusto has a bold intro with lots of ligero spice, dry wood, espresso, and earth. The texture is thick and moist with a heavy smoke that coats the palate. The smoke production is excellent—an outcome of the entubado technique.

The flavor settles into the midway point with less spice and some cocoa sweetness and nutty creaminess. Still, it’s firmly medium- to full-bodied with a solid nicotine kick. All the while the construction is solid, save for the gray ash being a little flakier than I’d prefer.

I’ll be very interested to see how the blend develops with time, as well as how it performs in the Sidewinder format (whatever that format is). Judging the Robusto as it is now, I’d award it a solid rating of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Given this cigar’s pedigree, I’m sure it will come as no surprise to hear that the latest limited edition from La Flor is a powerful smoke. But it’s also a complex, balanced treat that fulfills the promise of a line released only every other year or so.

The V comes in a single vitola that weighs in at 6.5 inches long with a 54 ring gauge and a production level reportedly under 100,000. The price tag ranges from around $9.50 to $11, a reasonable amount considering the size and what you get for your money.

And what you get is a terrific cigar with more changes than a Rockette in the Christmas show. It begins with a nice, tangy pre-light aroma from the Dominican filler, kicks off with pepper in the first few puffs, and then quickly shifts to a deep chocolate undertone. There’s a pleasant bite to the finish that’s present from beginning to end.

This cigar rewards attention. I easily picked up leather, hay, a hint of coffee, cedar, and several spices. I’ve smoked three from a five-pack, and they’ve been remarkably consistent in both flavor and construction. The burn, draw, and ash were all first-rate from start to finish.

Previous Limitado blends featured tobacco from more than one country, and the V continues the trend. In addition to the Dominican filler, the wrapper is Ecuadorian sun grown and the binder is Nicaraguan. Those also are the three countries represented in the first Limitado.

About the only negative I could find is that La Flor packs these in boxes of 48, putting that purchase into the pricing stratosphere (around $500).

For this kind of enjoyment, the La Flor Dominicana Limitado V rates the top-of-the-mark five stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here. A list of other five-stogie rated cigars can be found here.]

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Last summer, Emilio Cigars entered into an agreement with American Caribbean Tobacco to distribute their Herederos de Robaina cigars in the U.S. Those cigars started to hit retailer shelves in September.

Since, there have been a number of reviews published about Herederos de Robaina. But they all suffer from the same deficiency that plagues the article you’re currently reading: Not much is known about this cigar. Gary Griffith of Emilio has not disclosed the makeup of the blend, so I don’t have anything to share with you about the origins of the wrapper, binder, or filler.

What I know for sure is this cigar is made in Estelí, and it’s available in four standard sizes, including the five-inch Robusto I’m sampling for this review (the others being Churchill, Toro, and Torpedo).

I can guess the name of the blend is a nod to Alejandro Robaina, a roving ambassador for Cuban cigars who passed away three years ago. Robaina is remembered as Cuba’s foremost producer of top wrapper leaves and for being the voice of small tobacco growers in Pinar del Río. He refused Castro’s request to join a government cooperative and, choosing to remain family-owned and independent, he consistently outperformed state-owned tobacco plantations.

The Herederos de Robaina Robusto retails for about $8 and is sold in boxes of 10 or 20. It features a clean, milk chocolate-colored wrapper with thin veins. The foot exhibits a moderately loose packing of tobacco with pre-light notes of cocoa and earth. A punch cut to the head is all that’s needed to free up an easy draw.

That easy draw results in voluminous smoke production once the cigar is lit. The accompanying flavor is short, salty, and biting, characterized predominantly by dry wood and clove. This is balanced by some cream and a slight sweetness on the finish. While not much changes from light to nub, attentive smokers may notice flavors like pepper, oak, and white chocolate.

Aside from the wonderful draw and great smoke production, construction leaves a little to be desired. The white ash is flaky and sandy, with bits of ash likely to scatter at any time. And the burn line requires a few touch-ups to stay even.

Distribution of the Herederos de Robaina brand, according to the Emilio Cigars website, is restricted to a handful of shops spread across seven states (Florida, Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey). I would imagine Griffith is currently working to expand this. If you find Herederos de Robaina in your local shop, pick up a Robusto or two. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed, and I also don’t think you’ll be wowed. That’s ultimately why this cigar earns three stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Dante is a brand new cigar created by two guys I know pretty well. Mike Huff and Mo Fakhro formed M Tabacos Inc. to create and distribute Dante, but I’ve known them far longer as the general manager and owner, respectively, of Cigar Connection, the shop I frequent the most here in Northern Virginia.

Over the years we’ve talked quite a bit about cigars, but more recently they started talking about a project they were very excited about. I feel obliged to point out that it would be fair to say I hope they succeed. The industry, however, is full of friendly people I wish nothing but success for, and like any other new cigar this one will have to stand on its own in field already full of good smokes. I’m convinced it does.

Like many new cigars, Dante is a collaboration with a well-known cigar maker. For Dante, the M Tabacos pair teamed up with Tabacalera Tropical/Casa Fernandez, which makes Dante at its Miami factory using the Aganorsa leaf they are known for.

The cigar is made with a deep brown San Andreas wrapper around Nicaraguan binder and filler. It comes in five sizes ranging from the Imp (4 x 44) to a large Toro (6.5 x 52). For this review I smoked four of of the corona gorda-sized Asmodeus (5.5 x 46), named after the demon king.

Pre-light the cigar, which features a small flattened pigtail cap, is full of woody oak flavors. The first few puffs show that to be a telling preview of what is to come, though once lit the woody notes are more charred and hickory flavored. In addition to wood, which also manifests as a light spice, the Dante features cocoa and a bread-like flavor that coats the palate in thick, powdery smoke. It took me a while to pick it out, but that powdery, bread-like component reminded me of the Tatuaje Anarchy.

The result is a cigar that starts out just north of medium-bodied and slowly ramps up until it’s just shy of completely full-bodied. It’s full of flavor yet also restrained. And considering my samples were rolled only a month earlier, I’m impressed by the balance. Each of the four Dantes I smoked burned wonderfully, with no touch-ups needed, and each had draw with just the right amount resistance.

The Dante range sells for $8.90-12 with the suggested retail price of the Asmodeus being $11.85. While Dante puts itself in some pretty exclusive company with that price, it’s not out of its league. Flavorful, but with subtleties and excellent balance, the Dante Asmodeus earns four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

There are seven different H. Upmann blends listed on the Altadis website, including Reserve Maduro, Vintage Cameroon, Cabinet Selección, Sun Grown, and 1844 Reserve. The newest is a three-vitola line called “Legacy” that’s just hitting the market.

Legacy is handmade in Honduras with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper around “a savory binder from the cloud-cooled rain forests of Nicaragua and an intense mix of prized Nicaraguan and Dominican filler tobaccos.” It features “vintage 2008 tobaccos grown from heirloom seeds treasured for generations.”

This recipe is notable because it marks the first H. Upmann with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. In addition, Altadis is not accustomed to tobacco vintage dates, so Legacy is somewhat of a departure in that regard. And the packaging is unlike any other H. Upmann.

The Legacy Toro (6 x 52) retails for $6.85. It has a rustic, rough-around-the-edges exterior, including a hastily applied cap and several thick veins that run the length of the mottled, moderately oily wrapper. The foot yields an earthy pre-light fragrance, and the head clips cleanly to reveal a smooth draw with some sourness on the lips.

Altadis is calling this an “exquisite blend” with a “vibrant, fuller-bodied smoke complemented by a myriad of subtle and complex flavors unlike any H. Upmann before it.” The three Toros I sampled—each provided to me by Altadis—started with a dry, woodsy profile of salted cashew, cedar, and dried apricot. The sensation is medium-bodied.

As the Toro progresses, it mellows into a smoother smoke with less spice and more earth and mustiness. I find the aroma to be more intriguing than the actual taste, which is pleasant though straightforward. The final third is slightly more intense but otherwise very similar to the flavor at the midway point.

Construction is top-notch. The gray ash holds firm off the foot, the burn is straight enough to not require touch-ups, the draw is clear, and each puff produces ample smoke.

This is a solid smoke at a fair price, though probably not one I’d pair with an after-dinner cocktail. Rather, for me, the Legacy Toro is better suited for the golf course. Or it would be a great choice to share with friends who aren’t regular cigar enthusiasts, as its smooth demeanor makes it very approachable. These conclusions result in a rating of three stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys