The Stogie Guys

Each Saturday and Sunday 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 consider the Cameroon Cabinet line to be La Flor Dominicana’s most underrated cigar, likely overlooked because it doesn’t fit into the same full-bodied profile the company is known for. The robusto-sized No. 5 features the same woodiness and light spice that I’ve come to enjoy from this line, but it lacks some of the cream and cocoa depth that made the No. 1 size my favorite. Construction is excellent. Maybe time will bring out the some added complexity in this robusto, but for now I couldn’t recommend the No. 5 ahead of he lonsdale-sized No. 1.

Verdict = Hold.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

The corona-sized Dirty Rat may not be my favorite Drew Estate cigar—that honor actually might go to the Velvet Rat—but it’s up there. If you can track down this rare cigar, you’ll be rewarded with a balanced, full-bodied profile of dark chocolate, cream, black pepper spice, and earthy tones. The flavors are derivative of a Connecticut Havana-seed wrapper around a Brazilian binder and a filler mix of Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos. Construction is perfect, including Drew Estate’s trademark draw with copious smoke production.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

As we have since July 2006, each Friday we’ll post a mixed bag of quick cigar news and other items of interest. Below is our latest Friday Sampler.

1) Officials of the governing board that oversees Georgia’s 31 institutions of higher learning have officially prohibited tobacco. The ban, which went into effect on Wednesday, applies “to all employees, students, contractors, and visitors on all property owned, leased, rented, or in the possession of the University System of Georgia (USG),” according to the Associated Press. “The ban will also apply to events being hosted by institutions within the system.” With over 315,000 students, USG is the fourth biggest university system in the country, behind Ohio, New York, and California.

2) About a month after launching its fifth upscale lounge in the U.S.—the latest one in Greenwich, Connecticut—Davidoff is already unveiling its newest lounge. Located in Ridgewood, New Jersey, a suburb of New York City with a population of about 25,000, the lounge will feature 2,400 square feet of smoking space, WiFi, 100 private humidified lockers, and an exclusive cigar called the Davidoff Lounge.

3) Inside the Industry: Victorinox, the company that makes the world famous Swiss Army Knives, has introduced its first knife with cigar scissors; it’s called the Cigar 36 and sells for $40. Davidoff announced it is releasing 14-count samplers of every Avo limited edition going back to 2001, except the 2005.

4) Deal of the Week: If you’re interested in the new Avo limited edition sampler (see above), consider picking it up from site sponsor Corona Cigar. They’ve knocked 11% off the price (down from $224 to $199) plus they include free shipping and a four-pack of Avo regular release cigars.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: University System of Georgia

El Centurion is a brand that often resonates with seasoned cigar veterans, as it was the first limited edition line José “Don Pepín” García ever produced. That was back in 2007, when El Centurion was limited to only 850 20-count boxes of each of the inaugural sizes.

Marketed as García’s personal blend and intended to replicate the aroma of classic Cuban Cohibas, the three formats— Guerreros (robusto), Gladiadores (toro), and Emperadores (belicoso)—sported Nicaraguan Habano wrappers around Nicaraguan-grown Cuban-seed Criollo ’98 and Corojo ’99 leaves that had been aged three years. They were crafted at Tabacalera Cubanas S.A. in Nicaragua.

If any cigars from the original El Centurion release can be found today, they’re very rare and almost assuredly very expensive. However, last year García decided to commemorate his company’s tenth anniversary by introducing a revamped El Centurion that would be a permanent addition to the My Father Cigars portfolio. “My Father Cigars brings back the cigar that left everyone wanting more,” proclaimed a press release in March 2013.

This El Centurion remix is a Nicaraguan puro with a dark, sun-grown Criollo ’98 wrapper around Criollo, Corojo Habano, and Sancti Spiritus filler tobaccos. It is offered in 4 sizes with MSRPs ranging from $7.50 to $9: Belicoso (5.5 x 54), Robusto (5.75 x 50), Toro (6.25 x 52), and Toro Grande (6.5 x 58). Boxes of 20 are furnished with ornate, decorative styling in gold, red, and orange.

I was able to pick up a 5-pack of Belicosos for $34. This toothy vitola is handsome with its well-executed cap, oily shine, considerable weight, and firm feel. The wrapper and foot emit hearty pre-light notes of dark chocolate and coffee. The cold draw is smooth despite the narrow cap and firm packing of tobaccos.

After setting an even light, a medium-bodied profile emerges with hints of cocoa, coffee, roasted nut, and raisin. The spice is surprisingly muted, save for lingering cedar on the aftertaste. Towards the midway point and beyond, a flavor of black licorice also becomes apparent. Cinnamon and sweet chocolate are dominant in the final third. The smoke stays cool to the nub.

Construction is all-around solid throughout, including a solid white ash, smooth burn, and good smoke production. The burn is a little wavy, but it never requires a touch-up.

The temptation to compare this blend to the original El Centurion release is great. That’s no fault of my own, or any other cigar smoker; it’s more of a critique of My Father Cigars’ decision to keep the same name and packaging, despite the (very different blend). Fortunately for this review, I never had the opportunity to personally try the original. So I’m judging the Belicoso entirely on its own merits. With that in mind, I consider this an excellent smoke and a good value, worthy of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Following up on our popular A-Z Guide to Bourbon (read part one and part two) we thought a similar guide was due for rye. Like bourbon, American rye has undergone a renaissance lately. A combination of the rise of cocktail culture and the renewed interest in fine whiskies means there is more, better rye available now than there has been in a long time.

To that end, here’s the Cliffs Notes version of our coverage of rye. In addition to a link to the full write-up, I’ve included my take on the defining characteristics of each whiskey. (Part one was yesterday and the conclusion is today.) And, of course, each article has a few recommended cigar pairings:

Michter’s US1 Straight Rye – Made at an undisclosed Kentucky distillery, Michter’s features a basic but pleasant combination of oak, pepper, and cedar with a minty finish.

Redemption Rye – A young 92-proof Indiana rye, it’s a good value with a vibrant nose of apple and honey.

Rittenhouse 100 Rye – A tasty bonded rye at a can’t-miss price ($20-25). Fudge and marshmallow flavors along with more classic rye flavors.

Riverboat Rye – Another Indiana-distilled rye, Riverboat is odd in that it’s 80-proof and unfiltered. The low proof mutes the flavors but you can’t knock the price.

Russell’s Reserve 6 Year Small Batch Rye – Dark copper-colored rye with lots of intensity at 90-proof. This 6-year rye from Wild Turkey is an underrated gem.

Sazerac Rye – “Baby Saz” (as it’s called to distinguish it from the very tough-to-find Sazerac 18) is a rich, floral rye that’s an excellent value at $25.

Templeton Rye – Another Indiana rye, though the company wasn’t always upfront about the rye’s origins. Still it’s surprisingly flavorful for it’s 80 proof strength with a delicious nose that’s like a bananas foster with extra cinnamon.

WhistlePig Straight Rye Whiskey – This 10-year, 100-proof rye comes from Canada via Vermont. Its 100% rye mashbill and bourbon barrel finish give it a smooth, sweet edge with good complexity and balance.

Wild Turkey 81 Rye – Buttery, drinkable, and affordable. Solid straight or as a mixer.

Willett Family Estate Small Batch Rye – Unlike the Willett Single Barrel, this 2-year-old, 108-proof rye is distilled at the Willett Distillery in Kentucky. Current two-year-old versions are good, but when these stocks get more age they’ll be special.

Willett Family Estate Single Barrel Rye (Four Year) – A single, barrel-proof, four-year-old version of the Indiana rye that’s loaded with butterscotch sweetness and baking spices.

Keep an eye out for even more additions in our Cigar Spirits articles. And, in the meantime, check out our general guide to pairing spirits with a cigar.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Following our popular A-Z Guide to Bourbon (read part one and part two) we thought a similar guide was due for rye. Like bourbon, American rye has undergone a renaissance lately. A combination of the rise of cocktail culture and the renewed interest in fine whiskies means there is more, better rye available now than there has been in a long time.

To that end, here’s the Cliffs Notes version of our coverage of rye. In addition to a link to the full write-up, I’ve included my take on the defining characteristics of each whiskey. (Part one is today; come back tomorrow for part two.) And, of course, each article has a few recommended cigar pairings:

Angel’s Envy Finished Rye – Unlike any other rye around, Angel’s Envy took Indiana-distilled rye and finished it in rum barrels, which provides a tropical edge with pineapple, citrus, and graham cracker. Dangerously drinkable.

Bulleit Rye – Bulleit represents a bold, flavorful variety of the Indiana distillate at the right price ($25). Highly recommended combination of crisp apple, pepper, wood, rock sugar, and toffee flavors with a nice sweetness on the finish.

E.H. Taylor Jr. Rye – A relatively new bonded rye from Buffalo Trace/Sazerac, it features a rye-heavy mashbill with cloying flavors and a tasty combination of sweetness and spice.

George Dickel Rye – Long known for its Tennessee Whiskey, Dickel added this rye not long ago. It takes the ubiquitous Indiana rye but adds a twist in charcoal filtering. The result is an easy-sipping rye at an excellent $25 price point.

High West Double Rye! – An innovative blend of two ryes, one two years old and the other 16 years. The result is a feisty-ness upfront with surprising complexity underneath.

Hooker’s House Rye – Another finished rye, this one uses California Zinfandel barrels to produce subtle cherry notes along with mint, spice, and vanilla.

Jefferson’s Straight Rye – One of a trio of Canada-sourced 10-year ryes, it’s a tasty combination of floral notes, sweetness, and spice. A solid value but unfortunately production has been discontinued.

Knob Creek Rye – A powerful rye from Beam that shares many of the qualities that make Knob Creek Bourbon so popular: powerful yet smooth flavors with plenty of wood, sweetness, and spice.

Masterson’s Rye – Like Jefferson’s and WhistlePig, Masterson’s sourced some excellent rye from Canada. It has a drier element than the others but it also features some tremendous complexity.

Tomorrow you can see part two. And keep an eye out for more additions in our Cigar Spirits articles. Also, in the meantime, check out our general guide to pairing spirits with a cigar.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Just like bourbon is my go-to cigar pairing in the colder months, rum is typically my libation of preference in the summer. Summer may be over, but this weekend had outstanding weather here in Chicago, and I used the sunshine as an opportunity to enjoy one of my favorite rums.

Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 is made in Guatemala, where it is blended from rum made from first-crush sugar cane juice—as opposed to molasses—and aged in oak barrels previously used for bourbon, sherries, and Pedro Ximénez wines. It employs the solera method, a system used regularly for fortified wine such as port and sherry.

Under the solera system, barrels of the oldest rum are regularly mixed with newer rum but never bottled completely. The result is a spirit with a mix of 6- to 23-year-old rum.

According to the back of the bottle, the solera process is “guided and repeated under the critical eye of the Master Blender until reaching the maturity and complexity of aromas and flavors that shape this unique premium rum.” Also key to the development of this rum is the high altitude (2,300 meters) at which it is aged in Guatemala. The low temperature and low levels of oxygen reportedly enable easier, more thorough blending.

Bottles of Centenario (750 ml., 80-proof) sell for around $50 apiece. The rum pours a dark mahogany with some reddish hues, and the nose is characterized by notes of vanilla, dried apricot, and dark chocolate. The texture is highly viscous, leaving long legs when swirled in the glass.

Served neat—which, I believe, is the only way to taste this rum—the rich, smooth flavors hit the palate with sweetness, banana, almond, oak, and cinnamon. The finish is long and balanced as it slowly transitions from intensity to subtle heat.

For quite some time, I’ve considered Zaya, Plantation, El Dorado 15, and Zacapa Centenario to be my favorite rums. Among the four, these days I’d give the slight edge to Zacapa, but you can’t go wrong with any of them. Centenario is just so damn velvety and nicely balanced. And it’s dangerously easy to sip neat.

As far as cigars go, my suggestion is to pair Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 with a medium- to full-bodied cigar that doesn’t pack a lot of sweetness. Think dark, peppery spice. The Drew Estate Liga Privada Único Serie Dirty Rat, for example, is an excellent complement. But I’m sure you’ll think of many other outstanding pairings.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys