The Stogie Guys

The best aspect of rum might be the variety of styles. Broadly speaking, the three major styles are English, French, and Spanish (associated with the countries that make up the former colonies each country).

Haitian distillery Rhum Barbancourt is proof of this colonial influence. Haiti may be on the same island as the Dominican Republic, but the techniques they use to make rhum (note the “h” as used in French) are closer to the distilleries of Martinique and the Guadeloupe Islands.

As opposed to the English and Spanish styles, which rely on molasses, Rhum Agricole is made by distilling fresh-squeezed sugar cane juice. At Barbancourt, it is distilled in a pot still to 90% ABV (considerably higher than most agricole) before being brought down in proof prior to aging in multiple sizes of barrels.

Barbancourt produces a range of rums with the 15-year-old Estate Reserve being the oldest. Unlike some producers which use suspicious age statements, every drop of spirit in the bottle (which sells for around $50) is reportedly aged at least 15 years.

The 43% ABV rhum pours a deep walnut brown color, which unfortunately is obscured by the black frosted bottle. The nose features cinnamon bread, fresh cut lumber, and butterscotch.

On the palate, Barbancourt reveals a delicate combination of oak tannin, brown sugar, butterscotch, tea, and cherries. The finish is long with wood, leather, orange peel, and the slightest hint of pepper spice.

Between the rhum’s age or Barbancourt’s distillation technique, it lacks the some of the characteristics traditionally associated with agricole, like grassy or floral notes. Still, it’s highly enjoyable, even though though it is far from quintessential French agricole style. In fact, in many ways it is more similar to a Bajan rum like Doorly’s than a fellow Argicole, like Rhum JM.

It’s a rhum to be enjoyed neat, with or without a cigar. I’d lean away from full-bodied cigars that might overpower the delicate notes of this complex spirit. Recommended pairings include: Cabaiguan, Cohiba Siglo, Davidoff Colorado Claro, and Illusione Epernay.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Like many of you, I’m sure, I’ve been a huge fan of RoMa Craft Tobac for years. In my estimation, the entire RoMa portfolio is well-made, expertly blended, and relatively easy on the wallet. The Intemperance BA XXI A.W.S. IV, especially, has long been a favorite of mine.

I tend to think of the RoMa Craft Tobac family extending beyond the core RoMa blends (Intemperance, CroMagnon, Neanderthal) to all cigars made at Fabrica de Tabacos NicaSueño S.A. in Estelí. While technically inaccurate, this frame of mind is not wholly inappropriate since, in my experience, I’ve yet to run across a NicaSueño cigar that wasn’t satisfying, tasty, and well-constructed.

Fable is one non-RoMa cigar made at NicaSueño. Powstanie is another. It is made for Pospiech Cigars, a distributor owned by CigarHustler.com owners Mike and Greg Szczepankiewicz. The name (pronounced poh-stahn-ya) honors the Warsaw Uprising—a 1944 underground operation aimed at liberating the city from German control. It comes in three blends: Habano, SBC16 (barber pole), and Broadleaf.

The Powstanie Broadleaf is available in four vitolas: Toro (6 x 52), Perfecto (5 x 50), Robusto (5 x 50), and Belicoso (5.5 x 54). In addition to a Broadleaf wrapper, these cigars feature Indonesian binders and a filler blend of Nicaraguan tobaccos (Estelí Ligero, Jalapa, and Pueblo Nuevo).

The Toro retails for about $10 and is packaged in boxes of 21. It is an oily, firm cigar with zero soft spots and attractive dual bands of red, white, and silver. The logo and colors are clearly a nod to the “anchor emblem” of the Polish resistance. The thickness of the Broadleaf wrapper results in noticeable seams and a few prominent veins.

The cold draw is slightly stiff with a pre-light flavor of dried apricot. At the foot, there is surprisingly little aroma, save for molasses and an earthy mustiness.

It’s amazing how quickly the draw opens right up as soon as an even light is established. The ensuing smoke production, which is voluminous, has a medium- to full-bodied profile of cereals, roast cashew, green raisin, and some warm tobacco sweetness on the finish. The texture is bready. As the finish lingers, I notice black pepper spice on the tip of the tongue.

As the Toro progresses, the spice remains somewhat muted, yet the body swings more decidedly towards the full-bodied spectrum. The fundamental flavors remain unchanged. Throughout, the combustion properties are solid. I would only add that the ash tends to fall off a bit prematurely, and the burn line does require a touch-up here and there to stay even.

Whatever minor shortcomings the Powstanie Broadleaf Toro has in the physical department, though, are more than made up for in flavor. This cigar has balance and complexity, and—despite the 90-minute plus smoke time—does not overstay its welcome. And here’s the kicker: For over a decade I’ve said the highest compliment I can pay a cigar is wanting to smoke another once I finish it. I feel that way about this one, which is ultimately why I’m awarding it four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

A couple times each week we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

Produced at Joya de Nicaragua’s factory, La Vencedora (Spanish for “the victor”) is a Nicaraguan puro that employs a dark, oily Habano Oscuro wrapper. It has developed nicely with over a year of aging, featuring bready notes, oak, and cocoa along with hints of citrus fruit, licorice, and smoked meats. Construction is excellent on the $10 medium- to full-bodied cigar.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

A couple times each week we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

I remember smoking REO and Vibe 15 years ago, shortly after the two were introduced by EO Brands (before EO teamed up with Don José “Pepin” Garcia for its 601 line). REO is short for the blend’s original collaborators: Rocky Patel, Erik Espinosa, and Eddie Ortega. Later, after EO was split between its founders, the REO mark (along with Vibe and Cubao) became Ortega’s, who brought back REO a couple years ago as a bundle offering. The cigar features an oily Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper around Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos. After fruit notes pre-light, the cigar reveals medium-bodied tastes of oak, black coffee, and sweet earth. With adequate construction and a most approachable price (bundles of 20 Robustos sell for around $2 per cigar), it’s perfect for budget-conscious cigar smokers.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

This little (4 x 46) cigar punches way above its weight class. That shouldn’t come as a surprise. Neanderthal has a reputation to uphold, after all, and smaller cigars tend to be the most potent in a line. The Neanderthal recipe calls for a Mexican San Andrés wrapper, a Connecticut Broadleaf binder, and a filler blend from Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and Pennsylvania. The latter is the real kicker, as the Pennsylvania Ligero leaf, known as “Green River Sucker One,” is said to have two-to-three times the nicotine as Estelí-grown Ligero, which might strike some as borderline insane. You can find HoxD for less than $7, especially when bought by the box of 15. But I recently grabbed a single for about $8 at a Chicago tobacconist. It is well-constructed with notes ranging from damp earth and char to black pepper and espresso. A bit of sweetness helps to add balance. Neanderthal isn’t for everyone. Personally, I love the blend, and I really appreciate this compact, concentrated size. Add some sipping rum into the mix for a sugary contrast between puffs.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

When the folks at NewAir inquired with me about my interest in checking out the CC-300H (yes, they sent me one free of charge to make this review possible; no, their generosity in no way impacts my opinion of the product), I decided to take them up on the offer. I’ve often longed for a large, centralized cigar storage system to help me get over the complications of managing many small- to medium-sized humidors. I was hopeful this unit would be solution that finally motivates me to donate many of my other humidors to family and friends. I’ve only had it for a couple weeks—I’d like to see how it fares through a Chicago winter before rendering a final verdict—but so far so good.

The CC-300H retails for $549.99 and arrives in a big-ass box (22.6 inches x 25.6 x 32.3, to be precise). It boasts a 400-cigar capacity (I believe this claim) and has a power consumption of 70 watts. Other features include a cooling/warming system for a range of 54-74°F, a lockable drawer, and Spanish cedar shelves.

Fresh out of the box, there’s virtually zero assembly required (which is great). There are, however, several steps needed to prepare the CC-300H for your cigars. First, it’s recommended you wipe down the interior with lukewarm water and a mild detergent (not the Spanish cedar) to help get rid of the “factory odor,” which is basically a plastic-like smell. Next, the unit needs to remain upright for several hours before first use. Finally, you need to bring the device up to the proper humidity level, which can take up to three days. After that, you can select your desired temperature and add your cigars.

First, the PROS: The seal on the door is tight, and the unit holds its humidity well, as long as you’re not opening the door often. The temperature also holds steady and is easy to change. The cedar drawers and shelves provide ample space. These are the main things you look for in a large, temperature-controlled humidor, and the CC-330H checks those boxes well. Oh, and it has a blue light!

And now for a few CONS: Since it cannot be stored in a garage, basement, or in direct sunlight, finding a place to put this contraption is likely to yield several hot-tempered conversations with your wife. It includes no humidification device, save for a plastic tray for distilled water (as you can see above, I’m employing several Boveda packs and anticipating they will last a long, long time, given the aforementioned seal). It includes no hygrometer (I borrowed a calibrated one from another humidor and positioned it so I can see the readings without opening the door). Finally, while it comes with a lock and two keys, the door can still be pried open at the top when locked, which is not ideal.

Overall, I’m quite happy with my new humidor and its home in the living room, nestled out of sight between a piano and a wall (compromises, folks). Assuming the humidity holds well in the winter (I’ll report back in a few months), the CC-330H should be a welcome addition to my cigar setup for years to come.

UPDATE: If you’d like to invest in the CC-330H, NewAir is offering StogieGuys.com readers $100 off the retail price. Please use this link and enter “PATRICK100” as the discount code.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

I’m generally not a fan of absurdly large cigars, and this one (8 x 66) seems to qualify. But I’ve been impressed by Leaf by Oscar. So when I recently had a few hours to kill I decided to give this over-sized beast a try. It features a dark Nicaragua Jalapa wrapper around Honduran binder and filler tobaccos. The profile includes nutty notes, rich earth, milk chocolate, and light oak. It’s a pleasant profile, even as it becomes monotonous when spread out over close to three hours. Given the girth (my Palio cutter was barely big enough) I was impressed by the construction. Still, I have to stop short of a full recommendation.

Verdict = Hold.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys