The Stogie Guys

There are many ways to discover an enjoyable cigar. My latest came about because I’m a sucker for cedar. So, when I noticed two sizes of My Father cigars sheathed in what looked to be branded cedar, I picked up the Cervantes for about $7.50.

I’d smoked several of the regular line of My Father cigars and thought they were pleasant enough. Nothing to get too excited about, but certainly a good smoke. Until I saw the Cervantes and the corona gorda Eminentes, I wasn’t even aware that there was a cedar subset.

Unfortunately, the brand website currently has no information on any of its cigars, so I had to look elsewhere for details. According to several other sites, the binder and filler are Nicaraguan while the wrapper is an Ecuadorian hybrid. I’m guessing that the two cedared vitolas have the same blend as regular My Father cigars.

But I found the taste to be significantly different. The Cervantes opens with lots of cedar and pepper that blasts along for the first half or so of the 6.5-inch smoke. For the remainder of the cigar, there’s strong leather and wood as the cedar and pepper drop back. With attention, you’ll also find numerous other flavors among the deep, rich tobacco.

I’ve smoked four of these 44-ring-gauge lonsdales, and they were remarkably consistent. Construction and draw were excellent on each, with a thick burn line and a tight, grainy white ash. The cigars themselves were a little lumpy, though the brown wrapper is smooth and firm.

If, like me, you’d found the My Father line OK but not outstanding, I suggest you keep an eye out for the Cedros Deluxe. I rate the lonsdale-sized My Father Cedros Deluxe Cervantes four stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: My Father Cigars

Ask any cigar enthusiast to name his top three cigar brands, and there’s an excellent chance Padrón will be one third of his answer. This vertically integrated company has been in the business for almost 50 years, and it has produced some of the most sought-after cigars this side of Cuba—including the Anniversary Series (both 1926 and 1964) and Family Reserve.

Not to be overlooked is the original Padrón line, which includes over a dozen vitolas that are available in either Natural or Maduro formats. (By the way, with similar wrapper shades and no distinguishing markings, it’s really hard to tell a Natural from a Maduro without holding two next to each other.) Each is comprised of Cuban-seed Nicaraguan tobacco that’s aged for two and a half years.

The Executive is a double corona that measures seven and a half inches long with a ring gauge of 50. I picked it up for $7 at a tobacconist in downtown Chicago. It’s a long, rugged-looking cigar that takes a good two hours to smoke to completion. Before setting fire to the foot, it’s impossible not to take note of the Executive’s pungent pre-light aroma of chocolate and earth.

I’ve read that the draw on this vitola can be a bit airy, especially for its length. Using a punch instead of a guillotine cutter yields a perfect draw. Once an even light is established, a syrupy taste of coffee, leather, and pepper emerges. And while there’s a bit of sweetness on the finish, the cigar is far less chocolatey than expected.

I don’t really mind that because the Executive’s taste is agreeable and the resting smoke is very aromatic and pleasant. These are important points, especially since the profile hardly changes from beginning to end. A two-hour smoke with an unwavering flavor can often be a bad thing. But, in this case, the taste is interesting and balanced enough to hold my attention.

With superb physical attributes—including a solid white ash and a straight burn—the Executive Maduro is a great way to get that classic Padrón quality without paying top dollar. Sure, the complexity doesn’t match the Anniversary Series or the Family Reserve, but try finding those premier smokes for $7. I rate this vitola three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Back in July, StogieGuys.com was in Las Vegas for the 79th annual IPCPR Trade Show. We reported on two new releases from General Cigar: the highly anticipated CAO OSA Sol and the La Gloria Cubana Retro Especiale.

The Retro Especiale just started to ship in late September, which makes this a good time to review the new line. It is comprised of a Honduran-grown Connecticut-seed wrapper with dual Nicaraguan and Mexican binders around filler from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. The wrapper, according to a press release, was specifically cultivated to allow “each of the cigar’s components to enjoy equal bearing on the overall taste of the cigar,” rather than having any one part dominate.

Packaged in attractive art deco wooden boxes that were inspired by an antique humidor found at the El Credito factory, Retro Especiale is available in four sizes: Taino (7 x 52), Habanero (6 x 52), Cubano (6.5 x 58), and Club (5.75 x 47). Each carries an MSRP between $7 and $8.15.

The Club has faint pre-light notes and a light exterior leaf that’s far from intimidating. Despite its golden hue, though, General Cigar says “the blend is brash in its full flavor and engages the entire palate.” That’s certainly true upon first light, where the cigar has a powerful, somewhat salty taste that’s characterized by dry wood.

I don’t find overt saltiness particularly appetizing, so I’m pleased to report that the profile becomes much less abrasive after only a few puffs. Core flavors like peanut, cedar, cream, black coffee, and citrus emerge. The result is a more balanced cigar that stands firmly in the medium- to full-bodied range. Each puff produces large volumes of smoke, and the resting smoke is aromatic and sweet.

I really like the taste of this cigar, even if some stale notes waft in and out in the final third. All the while the construction is what I’ve come to expect from General Cigar creations: a straight burn line, a clear draw, and a solid ash that holds well.

At $175 per 25-count box, the Club is a solid buy. This young cigar, which I think shows good aging potential, is a nice addition to the La Gloria Cubana portfolio and worthy of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

I have a lot of respect for Tabacalera Perdomo. When politicians raised federal taxes on “large” cigars by 700% for SCHIP, the folks at Perdomo responded by dropping their prices and absorbing the tax hike on most of their portfolio.

“We’re all in this together in these tough economic times,” said Nick Perdomo, the company’s president. “You should be able to afford great cigars at great price points.” So, in 2009 and 2010, Tabacalera Perdomo made many of their best-selling brands more affordable. Today, Perdomo creations are, generally speaking, a great value given the quality of the tobacco and the fine craftsmanship.

The Habano Corojo Robusto (5 x 52) is no exception. One of seven sizes in the line (which is also available in Maduro and Connecticut varieties), this smoke retails for $4 to $6 apiece. It comes adorned with ornate double bands, the larger of which honors the three different growing regions of Nicaragua: Estelí, Condeda, and Jalapa. This is, of course, a nod to the fact that the cigar is comprised of Cuban-seed tobacco from each of these regions.

The Robusto has a matte exterior leaf with several light-colored veins. Consistently firm from head to foot, the cap is applied nicely and it clips easily to yield a moderate draw. The pre-light notes are potent and reminiscent of earth, caramel, and peanut.

Once lit, the cigar has a medium-bodied flavor of spice, oak, and a tart taste on the finish. A gentle sweetness is also present that contributes balance. The overall effect isn’t terribly complex, but it’s satisfying and straightforward.

Don’t expect too many changes in flavor along the way, but you can count on the physical properties to be excellent. All three samples I smoked for this review displayed straight burn lines and solid ashes. The draw is tighter than most other 52-ring gauge cigars, but not to the extent that it causes smoking difficulties.

While I don’t foresee seasoned cigar veterans being blown away by the Habano Corojo Robusto, you can’t deny the value this Nick Perdomo creation brings to the table. I always seem to have at least a handful of these in my humidor to fill the need for a solid everyday smoke. That’s ultimately why this Perdomo earns three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Several years ago, I picked up a five-pack of cigars from La Aurora. The small white box, fashionably adorned with lions, contained one Robusto from each of the five Preferidos blends: Connecticut, Ecuador, Cameroon, Corojo, and Maduro.

The Preferidos series debuted in 1998 to honor Eduardo León Jimenes, the man who founded La Aurora in 1903. Initially, all Preferidos cigars were perfectos. About five years ago, though, La Aurora began to offer Preferidos in standard parejo shapes.

Since trying each of the Preferidos Robustos in the five-pack, I later bought several more to be able to write reviews. I reviewed the Cameroon in January, and now it’s on to the Connecticut, a golden-colored smoke with a shade-grown wrapper, a Dominican piloto binder, and filler from Brazil, Cameroon, and the Dominican.

The Connecticut Robusto has a dry, clean wrapper with a nice cap at the head and a tight cross-section of tobacco at the foot. The pre-light notes are classic Connecticut: sweet hay with a touch of almond.

Once lit, the cigar has a surprisingly spicy kick that reminds me of ginger. In the foreground of the profile is a hearty dose of dry oak. Some meaty flavors come and go, but there’s little of the traditional Connecticut taste, which usually includes nuts and cream.

Towards the midway point, the spice fades a bit, the oak becomes more dominant, and some of the flavors I had been anticipating—including almond—emerge. But the dry woodsy flavor remains an unwavering centerpiece.

Throughout the smoke, the physical properties exemplify the high standard that I’ve come to expect from La Aurora. The burn line is near perfect, the gray ash holds strong, and the draw is smooth.

The three Connecticut Robustos I bought for this review cost about $10 apiece at my local tobacconist. Notwithstanding this cigar’s outstanding construction, I simply don’t think it’s worth that price. I don’t mind that it doesn’t taste like other Connecticuts on the market but, at this price level, I expect more balance and a little less dryness and meatiness. Since you can spend $10 or less on many finer cigars—including cigars made by La Aurora—I’m giving the Preferidos Connecticut Robusto two and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

A quick look through our reviews archive and you’ll see that Paul Garmirian cigars have been a favorite of ours. And personally, living only 15 minutes from their home shop, I appreciate my ready access to all their blends (including cigars with nearly 20 years of age), which in many areas are tough to find.

So I was excited to learn earlier this year that PG was coming out with a new blend called Artisan’s Passion. The blend is a “sister cigar” to PG’s Artisan’s Selection cigar, and like the Artisan’s Selection it aims to provide the PG experience in a more value-conscious offering.

Unlike the mild Artisan’s Selection, Artisan’s Passion is a more full-bodied line, which fits in with PG’s two previous releases: the Symphony 20th and the 15th Anniversary blends. Unlike those cigars (which command as much as $20 each), this sells in the $7-9 range.

The cigar comes in three sizes: a Short Robusto (4.5 x 52), a Super Robusto (5 x 54),  and a Toro (6 x 52). I smoked three Toros for this review. Each features a rough but oily wrapper of Dominican origin. Interestingly, a version with an Ecuadorian wrapper was also tested, but ultimately this Dominican wrapper won out.

The cigar is dominated by leather and wood and accompanied by a mustiness that many who smoke cigars made by Davidoff master Henke Kelner will recognize. Artisan’s Passion is not as complex as the PG Symphony 20, but the flavors are similar with peppery spice and oak.

It’s full-bodied as advertised, though the strength fades slightly at the end. Construction is good, with an easy draw, solid ash, and even burn.

For those looking for an introduction to PG cigars, but have been scared off by the often double digit prices, the PG Artisan’s Passion is well worth a try. Just don’t think this is as good as it gets for PG cigars. Both the Symphony 20 and the 15th Anniversary offer similar flavor profiles to but with more complexity, nuance, and balance.

Despite not quite measuring up to those extraordinary though higher-priced blends, there is a lot to like about this new addition to the Paul Garmirian portfolio. That’s why the Artisan’s Passion Toro 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

Antonio Lam launched Reinado in the summer of 2010, a line of Nicaraguan puros that’s aged up to five years. “What makes this cigar very special is the fact that it’s got a unique fermentation process being employed, making the flavors extremely rich and smooth for a Nicaraguan puro yet letting a nice spice run right through it,” Lam told me.

Reinado, Spanish for “reign,” is gaining traction at tobacconists across the country as more and more cigar enthusiasts become exposed to the brand through mainstream cigar publications and the online community. I’ve been a fan since last October. That’s when I reviewed the Torpedo, a great smoke with notes of leather, espresso, and cherry.

So when Lam told me he was introducing a new size to the Reinado lineup—a Habanito that measures 4 inches long with a ring gauge of 38—I was more than interested to give it a try. Like the Torpedo, the Habanito has an oily Habano rosado wrapper and a classic-looking maroon and gold band.

Lam tells me he created the Habanito for two reasons. “I wanted to have a shorter smoke for cigar enthusiasts that do not have the time to finish a long smoke,” he says. “Secondly, I wanted to have the Reinado blend in a more compact, concentrated format where the flavors and spices could take center stage.”

The spices definitely take center stage from the outset, driving a taste that’s reminiscent of cayenne pepper and allspice. As these sensations tend to hit the tip of the tongue, the rest of the palate experiences flavors more in tune with the aforementioned Torpedo, including cherry and espresso. The profile becomes more rounded as the Habanito progresses. Conscientious smokers will notice the additions of leather and floral hints in the final third.

Throughout the short—yet slow-burning—smoke, the construction is excellent. I noticed even burns, moderate draws, and solid, finely layered ashes across the samples I smoked for this review.

Lam tells me he’s thinking about making the Habanito with a Connecticut wrapper in the near future. “The combination may be incredible,” he says. I’d enjoy trying that, too. For now, though, I can’t help but sing the praises of the Reinado Habanito, an excellent way to get tons of spicy, balanced flavors in a short format. For bringing a big taste right from the starting line and not overstaying its welcome, this cigar is worthy of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys