The Stogie Guys

Discovering an enjoyable cigar is one of the highlights of the hobby. But, as in most things, there’s a yang to the yin: picking up a stick for the first time and finding it not to your liking.

I don’t believe there’s a way to eliminate that possibility, but you can certainly increase your odds for success. Here are some things you might want try. Just remember that none of my suggestions are ironclad, and no doubt you’ll sometimes want to strike out on your own.

1. Figure out what tobacco you don’t like. With so many variations, this can be tough. But if you look at some of the less common tobaccos, it can be easier. My list, for example, begins with Mexican tobacco. Now that doesn’t mean I’ll never try a cigar that uses it, and there are a few I like. But when I see Mexican on the list of ingredients, whether wrapper, binder or filler, my antennae goes up and my interest goes down.

2. Similarly, note who makes cigars you like. This isn’t always easy to discern and isn’t always disclosed. And just because you fancied one cigar from Don Pepin or Dion Giolito doesn’t mean you’ll like their others. But it does tilt the edge in your favor.

3. Have some ideas about what you’re seeking before you go to the shop. Rarely will you find any details about a cigar’s makeup on the box. Reviews, advertisements, and personal recommendations can be informative and helpful. It’s also good to have several cigars in mind, since it seems that invariably the one you want won’t be on the shelf.

4. Maybe you’re one of those individuals who totes a cigar journal along or taps your smoking thoughts into a smartphone or computer. If you, however, are among those of us who lack the discipline to consistently take extensive notes, worry not. Jotting a couple of key points on a scrap of paper and tucking it into your shirt pocket can fill the bill. Just make sure to include the cigar’s name so you’ll recall what it was you smoked.

5. Remember, a cigar doesn’t have to be new to the market to be new to you. Now, more than ever, attention is focused on newcomers. But there’s a reason some cigars have been around for decades: people like, and buy, them. Look the humidor over carefully and note how many you have and have not smoked.

As always, this will be better and more useful if you share your thoughts and suggestions. Part II will be coming up soon.

–George E

photo credit: Flickr

ROME ― Back in June, I wrote that a “cigar vacation” can be two different things. It can be a trip to a cigar-producing country like Honduras, Nicaragua, or the Dominican Republic, where you learn about the artisan craft of handmade cigars, visit factories and fields, and learn about premium tobacco in its native environment.

Conversely, a cigar vacation can be a trip to anyplace—cigar-producing or not—where you simply allow ample time to enjoy cigars in outstanding settings. That’s what I did when I traveled to St. Thomas. And that’s also what I’m doing as I write this from Italy.

When you think of cigars and Italy, CAO’s Italia line may come to mind. That blend has a bit of Italian-grown tobacco in the filler (and is otherwise mostly Honduran). Notwithstanding this anomaly, premium tobacco from Italy is quite rare. In the hours I’ve spent driving between Rome, Sorrento, and other locales in this country, I’ve seen plenty of vineyards and fields of olive trees, but I have yet to come across a single tobacco plant.

Still, I would argue Italy is a wonderful destination for a cigar vacation. The culture here in October is very outside-oriented, meaning all of the action is in piazzas, outdoor cafés, on balconies, at open-air markets, parks, and at seaside sidewalks. So even though an unfortunate smoking ban is in effect for indoor spaces, you’ll want to be outside anyways. That’s where you get the best views and the most entertainment.

Smoking is widely accepted outside. I’ve spent afternoons sitting at a sidewalk café with a glass of wine or a cappuccino, people-watching and enjoying a fine cigar. Space may be at a premium in Rome, Sorrento, or Naples, and the tables may be packed in tight, but the locales don’t seem to mind cigar smoke. They’re all too busy puffing away at cigarettes to notice.

Another reason Italy is a great cigar locale: The food is amazing, and nothing follows a great meal like a great smoke. The best cure for a belly full of cheeses and meats is a long stroll and a good smoke. You can’t argue with that.

I’m not sure I’ll ever be back in Italy. It’s crazy expensive, and there are so many other places I’d like to visit in the world. For the short time I’m here, though, I’m going to enjoy every moment and enjoy the premium cigars I brought along. And in my book that definitely qualifies as a cigar vacation.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Developing your palate for tasting cigars comes down mostly to one thing: smoking lots of cigars and paying close attention to the flavors you notice. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t things you can do to accelerate the learning curve.

For one, you can make sure your palate is clean. Sure, a neat scotch or a good rum on the rocks may be my preferred drink pairings, but there is no substitute for for some sparkling water when I want make sure I’m picking up the full spectrum of flavors in a cigar.

An excellent, but less traditional, way to improve your ability to pick up nuances in cigar flavors is to light up two at the same time. By that I obviously don’t mean drawing on two cigars at once, but rather lighting up two and alternating tastes to pick up differences and similarities. The concept is standard in wine, where multiple similar wines are sampled either vertically (the same wine in different vintages) or horizontally (where multiple wines of the same vintage and type are sampled). The results can be striking. By tasting similar wines, it becomes easier to focus on the nuances and subtle differences.

The same holds true for cigars. The best way to taste multiple cigars is by smoking similar cigars. (Like tasting a Champagne against a full Bordeaux, you’re not likely to learn much by tasting a mild Connecticut-wrapped cigar against a full-bodied Nicaraguan puro.)

Light up a full-bodied Nicaraguan cigar and you’re likely to pick up the same general flavors: earth, spice, maybe leather or cedar. However, light up two different full-bodied Nicaraguans (as I recently did in the photo above) and you’ll notice more specifics, such as the type of spice (sweeter cinnamon versus black pepper). Secondary flavors, like cocoa, coffee, and clove will also begin to stand out.

As long as you continue to keep your palate clean, you’ll be amazed at what flavors you can “discover” in a cigar when searching for differences between two cigars that smoked alone would be described in very similar terms. Plus, alternating between two cigars forces you to smoke each slowly, which will also help you notice the distinct qualities of each (smoking too quickly will overheat the tobacco and taint the flavor).

You certainly wouldn’t want to smoke most of your cigars this way, because the fun of cigars is relaxing and reflecting, not having to worry about keeping multiple cigars lit or concentrating on the small details of the flavors. Still, if every so often you smoke two (or more) at once to exercise your palate, I think you’ll find it easier to enjoy all the depth and complexity that fine cigars have to offer.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Churchills, toros and lanceros are great, but finding the time can be difficult. A well-made Churchill (seven inches long with a 47-50 ring gauge) should take over 90 minutes to smoke. If you’re done far sooner then you’re smoking too quickly and ruining the cigar’s flavors.

Even robustos and coronas can be hard to find time for. Particularly now that smoking bans make it so difficult to enjoy a cigar indoors when it’s too cold or too hot to be outside. That’s why more and more I find myself lighting up cigars that will take only around 30 minutes to enjoy. These aren’t cigarillos, but fully formed and blended cigars, just in a smaller format. Here are five small cigars that I’ve been enjoying lately:

Tatuaje Petite Cazadores Reserva – Introduced in 2010, this is the original Tatuaje “Brown Label” blend with a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper in a 4-inch, 40-ring gauge size. It’s well-balanced, medium- to full-bodied, and features a tasty combination of earth, spice, and dark chocolate.

La Flor Dominicana Carajos Oscuro – The smallest cigar on this list (4 x 36) but perhaps the most powerful. It’s a firecracker with all the boldness of La Flor’s Double Ligero line packed into a small package.

J. Fuego Origen Originals – This little perfecto (not pictured) comes pre-clipped in a unique five-cigar paper-wrapped “softpack.” It features spice, coffee, leather, and only costs around $12 for the package. (more…)

This weekend, my local tobacconist had a special on the Guillermo León blend by La Aurora, a cigar I have been enjoying regularly since it debuted last summer. The entire Guillermo León lineup was on sale for about $4—far below the standard MSRP of $7-9 per cigar.

I was pretty thrilled about this special and made sure to stock up on (what I consider to be) a fantastic smoke. The whole experience got me thinking about the most productive ways to save money on cigar purchases. So here are five tips to help you get the most out of your cigar budget:

Try your hand at cigar auctions. Instead of ordering cigars from retailers with fixed prices, many people turn to cigar auctions to buy cigars in eBay-style markets. While not every item is going to offer substantial savings, if you look patiently and don’t get caught up in bidding wars you can find some real bargains on good cigars. Just be sure not to pay more than the fixed price. (more…)

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, ST. THOMAS — When you think of the phrase “cigar vacation,” images of factory tours in Honduras, Nicaragua, or the Dominican Republic often come to mind. As well they should. If you want to learn as much as possible about the artisan craft of handmade cigars, there’s no substitute for observing and talking to the fine people who make them, in their native environment no less.

To me, though, a cigar vacation can mean many things. My recent trip to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands certainly qualifies in my book. Here’s a pic from the hotel balcony:

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[Editors’ Note: In celebration of the five-year anniversary of StogieGuys.com, we’re updating and re-publishing some of our oldest articles, many of which focused on cigar basics. Our hope is to encourage a discussion among readers and reacquaint the community with important cigar fundamentals.]

I know it’s a cliché but, let’s face it, there just aren’t enough hours in a day. Especially if you’re a cigar enthusiast. Between work, commutes, showers, errands, friends and family, chores, three square meals, taxes, and all the other responsibilities us grown-ups shoulder, how exactly is a human supposed to set aside an hour (well, more reasonably, 90 minutes or more) to enjoy some premium tobacco?

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