The Stogie Guys

It’s been too long since the StogieGuys.com team published a new list of Gold Star Smokes. As you might recall, this special designation celebrates cigars that we feel are worthy of strong recommendations. They don’t necessarily have to be five stogie-rated—just commendable smokes we turn to time and again.

Co-Founder & Editor in Chief Patrick A

For years I’ve been singing the praises of the fantastic cigars at Tesa, a Chicago-based boutique with Chris Kelly at the helm. While Tesa creations can be a little pricey (justifiably so, in my opinion), the relatively new Picadura King Connecticut Robusto only costs $4-5. That makes it a bargain if you like complex, mild cigars to pair with morning coffee. Look for subtle, harmonious flavors of oak, sweet hay, cream, and roasted nuts. And the physical properties are perfect, which is what I’ve come to expect from all cigars from Tesa’s factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.

Co-Founder & Publisher Patrick S

Last week I was in Nicaragua visiting Drew Estate and the experience only heightened my appreciation of the Liga Privada No. 9 Robusto. Many people like this cigar when it’s hard to find (and usually it is), but I found myself with a virtually unlimited supply (at least for a few days). It didn’t make me like the cigar any less. If anything, the opposite. Smoking multiple Robustos each day, I thoroughly enjoyed the heavy, sometimes gritty texture it leaves on the palate, resulting in earth and dry chocolate flavors, with just the right amount of sweetness. Tasty, always well-constructed, and still unlike any other cigar available, it’s a Gold Star selection.

Tampa Bureau Chief George E

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Stogie Guys

As you’ve no doubt seen if you’ve been following StogieGuys.com on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram over the past week, I was fortunate enough to participate in Drew Estate’s Cigar Safari in Estelí for the second straight year.

Like last year, I want to thank all the fine folks at Drew Estate and Joya de Nicaragua for showing us an amazing time on the incredible trip, especially Jonathan Drew, Steve Saka, Willy Herrera, Juan Martínez, José Blanco, Mario Perez, Pedro Gomez, and Johnny Brooke.

I’ll share my specific thoughts on some exciting new developments from Drew Estate and Joya in the coming days but, first, I wanted to share some photos from my trip.

Drew Estate recently finished a new mural that greets visitors on Cigar Safari. You can see the old mural here.

We visited La Finca de Joya, a tobacco farm owned by Oliva Tobacco that supplies tobacco to Drew Estate and others. This field, with tobacco as far as the eye can see, is actually on the small size. One acre produces anywhere from 1,800 to 2,400 pounds of filler tobacco.

Steve Saka discusses the process of curing tobacco inside a curing barn. The process removes moisture from the leaves as the color changes from green to brown by controlling temperature and humidity. While the technique may vary, it usually takes around six weeks. Even the relatively small curing barn we visited can hold $150,000 worth of tobacco when full.

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This is a terrific cigar, one I think you’ll enjoy smoking from the foot all the way down to the head, which is seven inches away.

For those who still think of Dominican cigars as a generally punch-less division, producing only the occasional hard-hitters like Opus X or some La Flor Dominicanas, it’s time for reconsideration.

This cigar has power. Not a heavyweight, but by no means a lightweight, either. Think Mayweather rather than Klitschko. It’s also nicely balanced and smooth. And the flavors are diverse. In fact, it’s about all you could ask for in a satisfying smoke, including a retail price of only $6.51 before taxes.

With many smokers these days opting for larger and larger ring gauges, lanceros aren’t among the most popular vitolas. Many lines eschew them altogether. That seems a shame because many cigars perform excellently with a small ring gauge, such as this 38, and a long barrel.

I didn’t detect much aroma on the pre-light or the cold draw. But when lit, I was hit with a cinnamon spice, quickly followed by citrus and fruit. That one-two combination continued through the first half or so, then the cinnamon drifted away and was replaced by the tastes of nuts and leather, again with the fruit components.

Construction was excellent and the draw was just right in those I smoked. And while smoking slowly is always best with any cigar, it can be absolutely critical with a lancero because of how rapidly the thin stick can overheat. I made an extra effort to slow down and it paid off.

Regular readers know I’m an Oliveros/Boutique Blends fan. This is another winner in its stable. I give it four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: Oliveros Cigars

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.”

As the first release from Crowned Heads, the Four Kicks line garnered lots of attention and praise. Our own Patrick S, for example, has sung its praises more than once, including a 4.5-stogie rating for the Corona Gorda. So, I was quite excited when I finally got to try one recently, the six-inch Sublime. It is Nicaraguan filler and binder wrapped in Ecuadorian Habano. And I have to say it was as good as advertised. Smooth, tasty, medium strength, and excellently constructed (in Ernesto Perez-Carrillo’s factory). Don’t pass it up.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: Crowned Heads

StogieGuys.com is once again on location in Estelí, Nicaragua. We’ll return to our daily coverage of the world of cigars on Saturday, May 4. In the meantime, feel free to follow us on Facebook and Twitter, as well as via live Instagram updates:

Be sure to come back to StogieGuys.com next week as we share exciting content from our Cigar Safari, hosted by the fine folks of Drew Estate.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Stogie Guys

The ways to judge a cigar are many and varied.

Perhaps the most common criterion is taste, which is sensible since that’s what tends to make the biggest and most lasting impression. Many smokers will tell you that’s really all they care about.

But try convincing yourself of that when poor construction begins to intrude on the experience. A bad burn will invariably corrupt the delicate mix of tobaccos and alter the taste, while overheating from frequent relights can leave a bitter, charred flavor. Similarly, a poor draw creates frustration and diminishes pleasure.

Many other factors can come into play. Consider size (“I don’t like big ring gauges.”) or availability (“I’ve got to have that latest limited edition.”). Some smokers automatically resent, and reject, high-priced smokes; others believe there’s no good cigar on the market for less than $15 or $20.

I began thinking about all this the other day as I sat smoking an Arturo Fuente Queen B.

What an excellent cigar. And one that, surprisingly, we’ve never reviewed. This, incidentally, isn’t that review. It just struck me that the Queen B affords an ideal example of what a cigar can offer. In this case, one can select almost any way in which to pass judgment and the Queen B will reign supreme.

Part of the Arturo Fuente Chateau line, construction is impeccable. Price? Only about $6 before state taxes. Size? The 50 ring gauge is one that will satisfy most smokers. Taste? Complex, balanced, varied. Strength? Not too strong, not too light. Availability? It may not be on every retailer’s shelf, but it is a regular production cigar.

I could go on, but I’m sure you get the idea.

Then there was a Cuban Classic robusto from Don Pepin that’s been in my humidor a bit over two years. Judging that one by the pre-light aroma from the wrapper would make any smoker break out the blue ribbons. Frankly, it seemed almost a shame—almost—to light it up. But it smoked as nicely as it smelled.

Cigars have a great deal to offer. If we don’t avail ourselves of what is there, we’re missing out.

–George E

photo credit: N/A

Last year around this time, Patrick A and I visited Nicaragua as part of Drew Estate’s Cigar Safari. The trip was as fun as it was informative.

We visited the Joya de Nicaragua and Drew Estate factories, toured sorting and processing facilities, made our own blends, and spent time with some of the best cigar people around, including Jonathan Drew, Steve Saka, José Blanco, and Mario Perez.

You can revisit the trip by checking out our coverage here and by watching this playlist of our videos:

But the reason I post this isn’t just for a trip down memory lane. Tomorrow, I’m heading back down for another visit to Drew Estate, Cigar Safari, and Estelí, Nicaragua.

So I wanted to ask our readers: What do you want to know about Drew Estate?

Leave your questions in the comments and while I’m in Nicaragua I’ll work to get you answers. Keep an eye on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and StogieGuys.com for responses to your questions.

–Patrick S

photo credit: N/A