The Stogie Guys

We got an email recently from the commander of the 480th Fighter Squadron in Afghanistan noting that StogieGuys.com had promoted (and participated in) cigar-giving to the troops and wondering if we could help. Could there be any other answer than “yes”?

I can’t imagine anyone these days needs an explanation why cigars are so needed and appreciated by service members deployed in places like Afghanistan. But if you do, here’s a bit of Lt. Col. Cameron “Rider” Caroom’s email:

“As there is no beer, good food, or anything similar allowed in the AOR [area of responsibility], my band of warriors is evolving into a club of cigar aficionados. In fact, we have even taken to ensuring compliance with our social standards and general good order and discipline by ‘shacking ($5)’ each other and the proceeds are used to stock our humidors.  Sadly, our stocks are dwindling.”

The 480th has a distinguished history, including a Congressional Medal of Honor winner in the Vietnam War. The Afghanistan assignment came during the spring and, according to the Air Force, the squadron is at Kandahar Airfield for approximately six months to provide round-the-clock “air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack capabilities.”

I know you don’t want these men and women to be without a cigar when they have a some precious down time. Mailing cigars to the military is pretty simple. I recommend Priority because it helps cut down on delivery time. Be sure to include some humidification device to help keep the cigars in good shape.

Just check with your post office if you have any questions. Use this address:

Cameron Caroom

451 EOG/480 EFS

APO, AE 09347

When your package is on its way, light one up in honor of service members everywhere. And thank you for your support.

–George E

photo credit: Kandahar Koughers Facebook

A comment from a reader asking what I meant about a cedar sleeve being handy for lighting gave me pause. I know many StogieGuys.com readers are highly knowledgeable about cigars. But some are newcomers. So, this is for you: a few tips I hope you’ll find useful.

1. Don’t stress out over what you should and shouldn’t do. As a beginner, I remember being so intimidated by warnings not to cut too much of the cap that I wouldn’t touch a guillotine to the head of a cigar. For the longest time I used a punch or a V-cut. I was always relieved when a cigar shop proprietor offered to clip my smoke. Mine was a classic case of overreacting. Clipping the cap doesn’t rank with splitting the atom.

2. Resist the urge to purchase more than a couple of sticks at a time, at least for several months. Not only do tastes change—and not just when you’re starting out quickly—but the style and size of cigar you enjoy can also shift dramatically. Lately, I’ve become disenchanted with huge ring gauges, even for cigars I enjoy, such as the E.P. Carrillo Inch. I nearly bought a box of them when I had smoked a couple. Now I’m glad I didn’t.

3. Don’t make your selections by using the calculation of price/tobacco. You know the concept: “This Churchill is only 50 cents more than this robusto and there’s a lot more cigar.” Quantity and quality are distinct qualities, and a fair amount of the cost involves things you can’t see, such as aging tobacco, consistency, and quality control.

4. Avoid most catalog/online store samplers. Lots of smokers will disagree vehemently with this one, but, hey, these are my tips, right? My primary reason for this suggestion is that, while a few of the house brands that are used to fill out these offerings are decent smokes, my experience tells me that most of those used to fill out samplers are pretty poor. A cheap, mediocre cigar is a bargain only if you’re considering nothing but price. I’d rather measure my enjoyment. Invest your money and your smoking time in good cigars from the beginning, and I think you’ll enjoy a far, far better payoff.

–George E

photo credit: Flickr

Summer officially starts this Friday, so now is the time to prepare for the hot season of cigar smoking. With that in mind, here’s a StogieGuys.com  guide to summer:

Summer-proofing your cigars

Heat and humidity put your cigar collection at risk and, depending where you live, you’re likely to face one or both this summer. If you don’t adequately address these threats, you might end up with a beetle infestation.

To avoid that, here are some tips for keeping your cigars cool during the hot months. If you want to take things further, check out these tips for prepping your cigars, including freezing cigars to prevent cigar beetles. You can also transform a wine fridge into a large humidor. But no matter what, you’d be well-advised to perform the simple salt calibration test to ensure your hygrometers are accurate.

Summer leisure activities

Now that your cigars are protected, let’s get out and have some fun. (It’s better than freezing in the cold, right?)

Thinking about some camping on the beach? Here are a few tips to make it a good trip if you want to enjoy a few cigars.

Here at StogieGuys.com we’re also big believers that baseball and cigars go together well. (If the Mets ever win another pennant they could even celebrate like this again.)

Another natural summer pairing is golf and cigars. Here are a few ideas for selecting a golf course smoke, including making sure you bring enough if you get stuck behind a particularly slow group. Finally, we’ve explored the surprisingly wide range of gadgets designed just to hold your cigar on the course, which can be fun but certainly aren’t necessary.

Summer beverages

Chilled beverages are good for summer and good for cigars. Here are five summer beers you can pair up with a cigar.

You can’t go wrong with a properly made margarita, but rum is one of the best spirits for summer. Here are five classic rum drinks, including the Dark n’ Stormy and Mount Gay Tonic. If you prefer something straight-up or on the rocks, we highly recommend El Dorado 15, Cruzan Single Barrel, Ron Zacapa 23, or Zaya 12.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Flickr

About a year ago, I wrote about my “storage wars,” the term I’ve affectionately assigned to the concept of having multiple humidors in lieu of one central, controlled location for all of my cigars. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have one large humidor in your home, preferably a walk-in, with all the cigars easily accessible, sorted by name, and labeled with received dates?” I wrote. “It would make aging simpler, humidification easier to monitor, and your whole stash more organized.”

Having multiple humidors (as I still do) can be somewhat of a curse because each humidor has its own mannerisms, creating extra variables for sensitivity, humidity, and temperature. But my collection of disparate, smaller humidors is also a blessing, as each one comes with a story and significant sentimental value. The humidor I got for my wedding that’s engraved with my wedding date is particularly important to me.

Recently, it became clear that one of my not-so-sentimental humidors needed to be replaced. I had purchased it on Ebay in my younger days. It was very inexpensive but also very low-quality. The interior wood was not Spanish cedar. The seal on the lid was poor. And, as a result, I found myself in a constant struggle to keep the humidity at a proper level. So I manned up and got an Adorini Cedro Deluxe.

It quickly became apparent that the Adorini Cedro Deluxe would be the highest quality humidor in my collection. And it should be. The retail price for the moderate-sized (9 x 11 x 5) humidor is $324 (though you can currently pick one up from Humidor Discount for under $260). For that amount of coin you’d expect the humidor to exceed the expectations of the most discerning cigar enthusiast. After using the humidor on my own cigars for the past month, I expect it will.

Several features of the Adorini Cedro Deluxe bear highlighting. First, the interior of the lid is magnetic, which means you can remove or adjust the location of the hygrometer and the humidifier. This is a huge bonus as different cigar configurations call for different lid setups to maximize headroom. Second, the interior has unique “ventilation ribs” to improve air circulation. I haven’t seen this before; apparently it’s an Adorini protected innovation. Third, fitted separators fit into the ribs to enable you to create custom separator arrangements.

Other capabilities include a pre-calibrated hygrometer, a gold-plated humidifier with adjustable ventilation openings, extra-strong hinges, a felt bottom, and a beautiful cedar veneer. From an educational standpoint, Adorini should also be commended for including a well-written, informative pamphlet with the humidor that details why Spanish cedar is preferred, tips for storing cigars, and frequent humidor problems and solutions.

Needless to say, I’m a fan. Adorini has set a new standard for me. In the little time I’ve been using the Cedro Deluxe, I’ve found the setup to be fairly simple and the maintenance to be quite easy. True, this is a significant investment. But it’s one that promises to pay dividends for many years to come.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Green candela wrappers were once very popular with American cigar smokers. So much so that candela wrapper leafs—which go through a special quick and hot fermentation process that locks in the green color—were known as “American Market Selection,” as opposed to more traditional brown “English Market Selection” wrappers.

These days candelas are less popular and more of a novelty. Which is why cigar makers who bring American Market Selection cigars to the U.S. market often attach their release to St. Patrick’s Day, where consumers sometimes pair them with green beer (pictured).

If you’re thinking about trying a candela, this weekend (St. Patrick’s Day) is as good a time as any. To that end, here’s a quick rundown of some of the green cigars available:

Black Market Filthy Hooligan by Alec Bradley — This is 2013’s new addition to the candela ranks. It features the same blend as the regular Black Market (Panamanian and Honduran filler with a Sumatra binder) coupled with a candela wrapper. If you like the regular Black Market cigar, this is your best bet.

Illusione Candela — Illusione makes it’s original blend (Nicaraguan binder and filler) with candela in a few sizes. Back in 2011 when it first came out, we found the 88 size to be a pleasant smoke with tea and plenty of sweet flavors, and lacking the bitterness that sometimes defines candela cigars.

Viaje WLP St. Patrick’s Day — Now in it’s third annual release, this Viaje is part of the limited release “White Label Project” series. I’ve smoked a few of the 2012 edition, which features the brightest candela wrapper I’ve ever seen, and found that it equaled the Illusione as my favorite candela.

Camacho Candela Monarca — Many years ago I reviewed this candela by Honduran producer Camacho. One of the first candelas I ever smoked, it features the classic banana peel and grassy notes that I strongly associate with green wrappers.

Don Tomás Candela — My colleague reviewed this candela with some skepticism when the company claimed it was the result of three bales of candela wrappers that had been “lost” for 18 years. Ultimately, though, he found it to be a “respectable” smoke with enjoyable flavors, even if it wasn’t destined to be a regular in his rotation.

Fuente 8-5-8 Candela — Fuente’s regular line is known for smooth, mild flavors produced by Dominican binder and filler tobaccos. I smoked one of these a few years back and recall just that: a mild, balanced smoke with just a hint of classic grassy candela flavors.

Those are the candela cigars we can personally speak to, but there are a few others. La Flor Dominicana recently released their “double claro” (another name for candela). Rocky Patel makes the Edge blend with a candela for St. Patrick’s Day. And for while La Gloria Cubana also made one in a few sizes, it isn’t clear if it’s still produced.

If you’ve considered trying one before, I’d encourage you to use St. Patrick’s Day as a reason to take the plunge. Pick a brand with non-candela smokes that you like, and see what a world of difference a green wrapper can make. Finally, remember that for better or worse, with enough Jameson and Guinness, any cigar is bound to taste good.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

If you’re a new cigar smoker, this is for you. These are a few thoughts I wish someone had shared with me when I started. They might ease your path on a wonderful journey.

First, don’t worry too much. About anything. I remember vividly when I was a beginner I heard and read so much about being careful not to clip too much off the head that I was nearly petrified of using a guillotine cutter.

I was certain I’d destroy the cap and the cigar would unceremoniously unravel completely in my hands. For years, I used a punch or V-cutter, which is fine. But my fear was misplaced. A little common sense and careful observation probably would helped. Just don’t cut down too far and there’s no problem.

Then there’s the perennial cigar question, the one I think Aristotle asked when he lit his first Padrón: “Cello on or cello off?”

The truth is, it’s up to you. Cellophane has been used for decades. It helps protect cigars, particularly in transit, and it slows, but doesn’t stop, the transfer of air and the aging process.

Some manufacturers use it, some don’t. Though you can always find a discussion on the topic in one cigar forum or another, most smokers just go with the way they came.

In other words, don’t worry too much.

And my final tip along those lines is about what you’re tasting. Everyone’s different, and most smokers experience an evolution. What you find in cigars now will likely be different six months or a year from now.

Don’t get hung up on why you didn’t enjoy a cigar others are raving about. Or be too quick to adopt a favorite or two. Let yourself experience lots of cigars with different tobaccos, different sizes, and different origins.

Relax. Don’t worry. Enjoy.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

I’ve seen it time and again in cigar shops, cigar bars, or at other cigar-friendly locales: misinformed smokers who hastily tap, smash, or smear their cigars in an ashtray after almost every puff. They know not the damage they cause.

Cigar smoking is all about taste, relaxation, and enjoyment. So while I’m all for the “to each his own” mentality, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out the danger of over-ashing.

First, let’s remember that smoking a cigar is a lot like cooking dinner. You need the right amount of time and the right temperature to achieve the optimal flavor. In order to properly “cook” tobacco (i.e., in order to properly caramelize its sugars), I’m told the target is 494˚F at the foot.

No need to crack out that thermometer, though. Smoking cigars is more of an art than a science. Just remember that taking time between puffs and allowing the ash to build up will help maintain the proper temperature. You want cool, flavorful smoke. Over-ashing may increase a cigar’s heat and harshness by exposing the foot to excess oxygen.

Now I’m aware that some occasions call for more frequent ashing than is otherwise optimal. For instance, if you’re wearing new pants and don’t want to run the risk of a lapful. Or if you’re indoors and want to avoid spillage. Or if you’re trying a new stick and aren’t sure of its ash threshold.

No occasion, however, calls for the sort of over-ashing that I often observe. Likewise, it’s hard to imagine a scenario that merits stubbing out a finished premium cigar like a cigarette. Doing so results in a mass of foul odors and unpleasant smoke. An artisan craft like a handmade cigar deserves a respectful death—extinguishing in the ashtray peacefully on its own.

All this said, I’ve never considered myself one of those cigar enthusiasts who obsesses over achieving ashes of great length. Ashes that were featured by Nub in an ad campaign several years ago (pictured) are too intense for my liking. Cigars, after all, aren’t about competition. But any smoking method that produces the intended flavor profile and enhances enjoyment is worth practicing and promulgating.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Nub Cigar