The Stogie Guys

On average, do you tend to smoke cigars alone, or with a friend or two?

For regular readers of cigar web-magazines like StogieGuys.com—and for people like me who write for such publications—I hypothesize we smoke alone a relatively larger percent of the time. Not because we’re introverts. But because, unlike more casual cigar smokers, we don’t need a special occasion or a gathering of friends to light up. We’ll smoke alone and not think twice about it. We’ll smoke alone often if we have to.

That isn’t to say I don’t enjoy smoking with friends. I really do. And I suspect that camaraderie is a big reason why I got into cigars in the first place.

Next month, at the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) Trade Show, I’ll have the opportunity to smoke with two friends I (unfortunately) rarely get to see in person these days: Patrick S and George E. While at least one person from StogieGuys.com has personally covered the Trade Show every year for the past six years, all three of us have never attended the show simultaneously. I’m really looking forward to this.

Even if you peruse StogieGuys.com regularly, it may not be abundantly clear that Patrick S, George E, and I all write from different cities (Washington, Tampa, and Chicago, respectively). Getting all three of us in the same location is about as rare as a Cubs pennant. It’s almost as if we have a policy similar to those in line to be President: never get the President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, etc. in the same room—just in case.

I plan to make the most of our time together by sharing good smokes and covering the heck out of the Trade Show. Check back at StogieGuys.com when the convention begins for our extensive coverage. And check back in the ensuing weeks and months as we review many of the new cigars that are set to debut.

In addition to my colleagues, there are plenty of other friends I’m looking forward to seeing. These include various cigar makers, peers from other online cigar media, folks at Cigar Rights of America, etc. I think the Trade Show’s host city, Las Vegas, will provide a solid setting for fun, food, drink, and smokes.

As I’m doing all this catching up and reporting, keep in mind I’ll be asking industry leaders as many questions, and gathering as much info as possible during the trip. So if you have some burning inquiries you’d like me to ask, say, your favorite cigar maker, please feel free to leave them in the comments, and I’ll get as many answered as possible.

Until then, I’ll raise my glass—and my cigar—to a long overdue meeting of old friends.

–Patrick A

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

As we reported in our last Friday Sampler, the Davidoff-owned Camacho brand is essentially reinventing itself. Camacho’s reputation for full-bodied smokes is being embraced like never before, including new scorpion-themed packaging and claims like “bold is back with a vengeance.” And the Camacho portfolio is being narrowed down from 11 blends to 6.

Most of the blends that made the cut—Corojo, Corojo Maduro, Connecticut, Criollo, Triple Maduro, and Diploma—are getting more than just a marketing makeover. They’re getting completely re-blended and re-introduced at next month’s IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas.

Since it came out in 2009, I’ve been a fan of the Camacho Connecticut. So I was pleased to learn it is one of two lines (along with the Triple Maduro) to not get a re-blend. Looks like all I’ll have to get used to is the new look. Hopefully the price point won’t increase.

Just in case, I picked up a handful of Camacho Connecticut Toros (6 x 50) at my local shop for $6 apiece. Like the Monarca, it has a dry, pale Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper around a Honduran binder and Honduran and Dominican long-filler tobaccos. Hardly any veins are visible. The pre-light notes remind me of sawdust and hay.

One reason I always liked the Camacho Connecticut is it brings more to the table than just classic Connecticut flavors—and it does so with a little gusto. The Toro is no exception. At the outset, a zesty profile of spice, oak, and black pepper sets a bolder tone that you might expect from a typical Connecticut smoke. Then, just when you start second-guessing the makeup of the blend, more traditional tastes emerge, including cream and roasted nut. The finish witnesses a reprise of spice.

Throughout, construction doesn’t pose any issues. Every time the burn line starts to waver, it self-corrects before I reach for a wooden match to execute a touch-up. The gray ash holds firmly off the foot. The draw is smooth. And the smoke production is excellent.

The powers that be at Davidoff and Camacho made a smart decision when they opted to leave the Connecticut blend as-is. The Toro is tasty, affordable, interesting, and an excellent companion to a cup of coffee. For that, it earns a commendable rating of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

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.”

This cigar (5 x 60) has been sitting in my humidor for a few years, probably since around the time my colleague wrote a full review. It features Nicaraguan viso and ligero, along with Dominican piloto cubano and olor, wrapped in a Brazilian arapiraca leaf. The cigar has a loose, easy draw. It’s slightly lumpy but still has excellent combustion. The flavors are leather, earth, coffee, and a hint of syrup-like sweetness. While I’ve never been a huge fan of this thick of a cigar, the Marco V Platinum is a well-made, pleasant smoke.

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 verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

There are times I wonder whether Ernesto Perez-Carrillo is a cigar blender or a magician. I’m not sure he has a peer when it comes to turning out excellent cigar after excellent cigar. His Short Run 2013 is no exception. It kicks off with a combination of citrus and exotic spices, and that enticing, enjoyable combination pretty much runs from beginning to end. Made in just three sizes—Robusto (4.9 x 50), Corona Gorda (5.9 x 52), and a massive Double Robusto (6.25 x 60)—it features the trademark EPC quality construction, burn, and draw. With only 1,500 boxes of each vitola, this Short Run won’t be on the shelves long. Don’t miss it.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: N/A

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) Big changes are afoot at Camacho Cigars, a Florida-based cigar manufacturer known for producing full-bodied cigars that has been owned by the Davidoff Group since 2008. For starters, the brand is embracing its reputation for strength with a new scorpion logo and distributing marketing materials that trumpet “bold is back with a vengeance” and “the world’s leader in bold cigars.” It is also revealing new branding that’s a major departure from Camacho’s older, more traditional look. It has hired Mike Ditka, Matt Booth of Room 101 Cigars (Room 101 has always been made by Camacho), and screenwriter Rob Weiss to be on the “Board of the Bold.” And it is narrowing its portfolio of 11 blends down to 6—Corojo, Corojo Maduro, Connecticut, Criollo, Triple Maduro, and Diploma—most of which will be entirely re-blended. We hear some prices may also drop as part of the reboot. This reinvention will be celebrated at a national release party in Dallas on June 20, and the new cigars will go on sale following the 2013 IPCPR Trade Show.

2) Hendrik Kelner, Jr., son of Henke Kelner of Davidoff fame, is releasing his own brand called Smoking Jacket Cigars. This inaugural release is the first cigar created in Kelner, Jr.’s newly opened Kelner Boutique Factory in Santiago. The cigar is a blend of Dominican, Brazilian, Peruvian, and Nicaraguan tobaccos and will be available in 4 sizes for $7-10 apiece.

3) Inside the Industry: Kristoff is introducing a new line of four blends called the Galerones Series, all of which will be made at Abe Flores’ factory in Tamboril. While still available from some online sellers, Cubao (now distributed by Espinosa Cigars), which has not been made since 2010, will be relaunched with slightly changed packaging. Miami Cigar is debuting the My Father Cigars-made Casa Miranda Chapter Two.

4) Around the Blogs: Cigar Fan fires up a Guayacon Torpedo. Stogie Review reviews the Fuente Don Carlos Lancero. Doc Stogie lights up the Quesada Selección España. Halfwheel smokes the Fonseca Singature Series TAA. Robby Ras checks out the 7-20-4 Lancero. Cigar Inspector inspects the Casa Magna Colorado Corona.

5) Deal of the Week: Because of the forthcoming changes detailed above, now is an excellent time to stock up on discount original blend Camacho cigars. Corona Cigar Co. is featuring 42-45% off a large selection of Camacho boxes (plus you get a Camacho hat and free shipping on your entire order). Get your cigars here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Camacho

Even for Fuente, this 2012 release is loaded with bells and whistles, like a brilliant red aluminum tube and a cloth foot band. You sense it’s something special before you light up. And when you do, there’s no doubt.

From the first rich puffs to the finger-burning last, the cigar is a powerful pleasure. The 7-inch King T line is normally encased in a Connecticut shade wrapper (check out a review here). But this line uses a sun-grown rosado wrapper. Maybe it’s true, as has been written, that this was a mistake at the factory that was allowed to go forward. But with the sterling Fuente reputation for quality, I find it hard to believe.

Whatever the reason, the result is a stunning cigar, worthy of its $10-plus price tag. The 49-ring gauge is comfortable, it burns slowly (I enjoyed one through an admittedly unusually fast baseball game) and the smoke volume is excellent. Cedar is predominant throughout, not a surprise considering the tube is lined with a Spanish cedar sheet that’s handy for lighting.

I found it to be a strong cigar, a bit more so than its royal-named siblings and others in the Chateau Fuente line. The strength, however, doesn’t come with any harshness or unpleasant bite. Surprisingly, the finish is rather light.

With the tube, the extra band, and the fairly high-dollar price, you might think of this King T as a special occasion cigar. There’s no question it can fill that role with ease. Limit it to such appearances, though, and you’ll deny yourself a treat that you undoubtedly deserve more often.

Considering what this cigar delivers, it is worthy of a rare five-stogie rating.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here. A list of other five-stogie rated cigars can be found here.]

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys