The Stogie Guys

For those of us who live in the northern part of the U.S., winter can be a crummy time to be a cigar enthusiast. The cold, arid air makes humidor maintenance more difficult. And, with a lack of indoor smoking sanctuaries thanks to government-imposed bans, we’re often forced into the frosty outdoors if we want to enjoy a premium cigar.

I live in Chicago, where the winters can be brutal. For me, as often as I like to smoke, simply going outside is not an option. I cannot be expected to bundle up and sit in the arctic frost for 90 minutes or more every time I want a cigar, notwithstanding how many times I’ve done that before, and notwithstanding how much I respect those who consistently brave the weather to light up some premium tobacco.

Thankfully, I have a loving wife who understands this, and who isn’t vehemently opposed to the delightful aroma of a premium cigar. So when we were on the market for our new home in Chicago, we specifically looked at condos that have a room that could be turned into my winter smoking den. Our requirements were as follows: the room must have a ceiling fan, several windows, a good heat source, and at least enough space for my humidors. We also wanted a hard wood floor, since carpeting tends to soak up that stale tobacco smell and get stained by errant ashes.

I’m pleased to report that the condo we ended up buying has all this and more. After some adjustments—including the installation of French doors with basic weather stripping and draft guards—I have a wonderful smoking den off of our main living room. The den is big enough to house a comfy chair, all of my humidors, lots of books, a desk for writing, and even a dartboard. And it has ample windows, each with a good view of the neighborhood.

My procedure for lighting up in this sanctuary is basically to crack open a window, fire up the radiator to offset any incoming chill, turn on the ceiling fan, and smoke away. With the doors closed, all this is enough to keep the vast majority of the smoky smell away from the rest of our home. Sure, the den isn’t air-tight. And I didn’t invest the money to buy an expensive exhaust system. But my wife doesn’t strongly oppose cigar smoke, either, so it was never my intention to completely isolate myself from the rest of the world. Heck, I find that I open the doors an average of two or three times during each cigar, usually to get a cold one from the fridge.

All this worked out fantastically well, and I understand how lucky I am to be able to pull this off. I’ll be feeling even luckier once those subzero temperatures sweep in and the snow begins to fall. So my advice is to find yourself a winter smoking sanctuary before it’s too late, be that sanctuary at a cigar lounge or in your home. Otherwise, you may want to invest in some warm gloves that leave your fingers nimble enough to cut and light a cigar.

-Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

With football on the TV, turkey in your stomach, and family gathered, Thanksgiving is a great day to enjoy a fine cigar. So, as we have each of the previous four years, today the StogieGuys.com team tells you what cigars we’ll be firing up after our big meals.

Patrick A: This year my wife and I are hosting Thanksgiving for the first time in our new Chicago home. To mark the occasion, my family will be christening my smoke-friendly den with E.P. Carrillo New Wave Connecticut Divinos cigars. This selection should be perfect because the Toro-sized smoke’s profile of cream and nuts will pair nicely with post-meal coffee.

Patrick S: Savoring a Thanksgiving cigar can be tough when you’re visiting with family and have to go outside into the cold to smoke. That’s why I’m picking the Tatuaje Petite Cazadores Reserva this year. It’s a small but hearty Boradleaf-wrapped stick that won’t last much more than half an hour. With earth, chocolate, and a bit of spice, it should go well with bourbon after a large meal.

George E: I’ve been giving a lot of thought to my 2011 Thanksgiving smoke. In the past, I’ve savored some special sticks on this holiday. And I initially considered the exquisite PG Symphony 20th. But a cigar like that deserves undistracted attention, not competition, from what should be some rare good Thanksgiving football. So I settled on one I always enjoy, and one that will complement an exciting game: the tasty Arturo Fuente Double Chateau Sun Grown. Who knows, maybe I’ll light up that PG on Friday.

Mark M: I’m going with a Sancho Panza Double Maduro and a Guinness, which is a magical combination. An interesting factoid is that I was first introduced to this combination by my wife, who was drinking a Guinness one afternoon while I was smoking a Sancho Panza. She asked to taste my cigar and later commented, “Wow, it goes really well with a Guinness!” She was right and since then it’s been one of my favorite cigar-beer combos.

Feel free to let us know what you’ll be smoking tomorrow in the comments below. And be sure to have a safe and joyous Thanksgiving.

-The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

I have been a fan of V-cutters and punches since I started smoking cigars. All that talk about making sure your guillotine didn’t slice off too much of the cap and cause the wrapper to unravel made me nervous. At least that was one worry I could eliminate.

Even now that I think I have enough skill to clip the head without inflicting undue damage, I still like the V-cut. It opens up the cigar but maintains its integrity and shape. But I’d never had a good V-cutter. Until recently, the only high-quality one of which I was aware was from the Boston Cigar Cutter Company, and they’re, frankly, too pricey for me.

Enter the VX Cutter from Xikar, listing at about $50 and generally available for $10 less. I have long used and appreciated a regular Xikar cutter. I like its sharp blades, fine action, and the company’s no-questions-asked lifetime guarantee. So I took the plunge, selecting the silver VX model.

The first thing I noticed was the heft. After a succession of cheap plastic V-cutters, the Xikar’s metal construction stands out, as does the easy sliding action and the ergonomic design. The blade is extraordinarily thin and sharp. The result is a surgically clean clip through most any size cigar. The indention for the cigar head is ample, working for a ring gauge up to 64, according to Xikar.

The company also notes that the bottom of the cutter is concave and can be used to hold a cigar. I guess that might come in handy at some point, though I’m not really sure when.

I’ve used my cutter on a dozen or so cigars, and it has opened up every one perfectly. So, whether you’re afraid of unraveling your wrappers or just like a V-cut, I highly recommend the Xikar VX.

-George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

In the previous segment last week, I laid out some ideas to help you increase the likelihood that you’ll enjoy the new smokes you try. Here are a few more thoughts to tuck in the back of your mind as you scan the humidor shelves and light up.

1. Price typically has meaning. Sure, some manufacturers tack a high price tag on a mediocre cigar hoping to convince potential customers it must be good. Conversely, the belief that smart people can find great bargains is also widely held. The truth is that good tobacco, talented workers, and proper production usually cost more and result in better cigars. Now, this doesn’t mean there aren’t fine bargain cigars to be had or that you‘ll necessarily like a high-priced smoke. But if you continually search in the low, low end you’ll find disappointment.

2. Remember that your tastes will change over time. A favorite cigar from a year ago may not now seem so good, just as one that didn’t quite hit the bull’s eye could prove a winner. When you smoke a cigar you don’t enjoy, ask yourself a few questions: Is it well-constructed? Was it too strong or too light? Were the flavors unpleasant or just not what you wanted? Depending on your answers, this could be a stick to revisit.

3. Pay attention to construction and burn. These can be key indicators of care and quality. Of course, one example isn’t enough to make a sweeping determination, but keeping track of how a manufacturer’s cigars perform is worthwhile.

4. Don’t rush to buy a box or a bundle. Sure, the cigars are individually cheaper that way, but you don’t want to be pennywise and pound foolish. Smoke a few sticks first, and try them with different beverages and at different times. Make sure you really want to smoke 20 or 25 of them.

5. When you find a cigar you like, try it in different lengths and ring gauges. Sometimes, you’ll find little or no difference. But sometimes you’ll discover a vitola that’s better.

Again, I hope you’ll add your tips and thoughts.

-George E

photo credit: Flickr

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

Looking to pull together a last-minute Halloween costume? We’re here to help. In an effort to make trick-or-treating a lot more tolerable, here are a dozen costume ideas, each that will let you smoke a cigar as part of the costume:

1. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Whether you’re going as The Governator or one of his gun-toting movie characters, a big cigar won’t look out of place.

2. Groucho Marx. Sure, it’s a little dated, but this American icon loved his stogies.

3. Mark Twain. America’s cigar-smoking author.

4. Scarface. Say hello to my little friend.

5 Bill Clinton. The president who got into trouble with cigars.

6. Mike Ditka. See photo of Patrick A from a few years ago.

7. Ernest Hemingway. The famous author loved his cigars.

8. Hot cigar girl. Enough said. (Other ideas for female costumes accepted.)

9. Winston Churchill. Leading (and smoking and drinking) England through World War II, this prime minister is by far the manliest British dude ever. By far.

10. A cigar-chomping communist dictator. Any Pinko Commie like Fidel Castro, Kim Jong Il, or Che Guevara will do.

11. The Babe. Maybe the greatest slugger in baseball history, Babe Ruth was known for his love of food, drink, and cigars.

12. Al Capone. If we’re talking mafia bosses, why not be the original? Capone was known for his enjoyment of cigars, booze, and women. Just don’t get syphilis.

Got a few costume ideas that we missed? Let us know in the comments.

-The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Stogie Guys

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