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.”

Given that it’s the St. Patrick’s Day season (apparently it’s a whole season now since I attended a St. Patrick’s Day parade last weekend), I fired up this limited release from last year. More so than any other Candela I’ve smoked, the wrapper isn’t just green, but a bright, shiny, almost kelly green hue. The cigar features roasted flavors with coffee, toast, and black pepper spice. It’s a pleasant cigar even if the balance is hurt somewhat by the grassy notes of the green wrapper. Still, you could do far worse if you want to smoke a candela-wrapped cigar for the St. Patty’s season, or for any other reason.

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.”

Since I examined the Double Robusto in God of Fire’s Serie B line—a cigar that earned a 4.5-stogie rating—I have been looking forward to trying the smaller Robusto size (5.25 x 50). In addition to being half an inch shorter and slightly thinner than the Double Robusto, the Robusto has an entirely different wrapper: a dark Ecuadorian sun-grown leaf. Compared with the Double Robusto, which boasts a Connecticut broadleaf maduro wrapper, it has a denser flavor of espresso, raisin, and cocoa that’s a little heavier on spice and a little lighter on sweetness. The overall profile is balanced, complex, powerful, and memorable, which is what you’d expect from a cigar with a $21 price tag.

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) Sindicato, a new cigar company created “by the retailers for the retailers,” has announced the hiring of Jim Colucci as president and CEO. Colucci is the former executive vice president of sales and marketing for Altadis, and he will oversee the development of Sindicato’s first two blends, which are slated for debut at the 2013 IPCPR Trade Show. “Sindicato Cigars was officially launched January 16 when a group of passionate, cigar-loving tobacconists decided to extend their cigar knowledge and experience into making cigar brands,” reads a Sindicato press release. “Their goal is to create a cigar company whose mission is to put the tobacco retailer and its customers first.”

2) Punch Rare Corojo, an Ecuadorian Sumatra-wrapped smoke from General Cigar, is coming back to the market on May 31 with a new Perfecto size (7 x 48) that will retail for $7.39. “Punch Rare Corojo started the trend toward seasonal offerings, and we are pleased to continue the tradition,” said Gus Martinez, director of marketing for Punch. “Between the breadth of frontmarks and the addition of the Perfecto to this year’s lineup, we are confident that Rare Corojo will be the go-to, springtime smoke for cigar lovers across the country.”

3) Inside the Industry: Camacho and Room101 are introducing the new Room101 Namakubi Ecuador. The cigar is billed as “a fusion” between the Namakubi and One Shot One Kill lines (though, curiously, OSOK isn’t mentioned in the marketing materials by name). Available in four sizes (three different perfecto sizes and the small Papi Chulo (4 x 42)) with a total production of just 100,000, the cigars should be arriving in shops now where they will retail for $6-12 each.

4) Event: DC-area cigar fans should strongly consider attending the DC Cigar Tweet Up. The two day event features gatherings at shops all over the Capital area with over twenty cigar makers participating and providing cigars, including the Ortega Serie D Lancero made especially for the 2013 DC Tweet Up. Proceeds benefit two charities.

5) Deal of the Week: Looking for Flor de Las Antillas, Cigar Aficionado‘s “Cigar of the Year”? The Pepin-made classic is on sale at Mike’s Cigars.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Sindicato

Jacob Grier (writer, cocktail expert, cigar smoker, and a friend of this site) has a must-read article at The Atlantic‘s website about the FDA’s approval process, or lack thereof, for new tobacco products. Essentially, the FDA is supposed to be “regulating” cigarettes but instead is blocking all new products from reaching the market.

The article describes the impossible delays and bureaucratic hurdles (over 1,000 new products are pending review but none have been approved) thrown up by the FDA under it’s authority under the Tobacco Control Act of 2009, particularly the story of Hestia Tobacco, which tried for over a year to get FDA approval for a new organic cigarette. And while the focus of the article is on cigarettes, a careful reading of Grier’s piece contains some grave warnings for cigars.

Repeatedly during the story Hestia Tobacco founder David Sley describes attempt after attempt at getting a straightforward answer from the FDA, only to be stymied repeatedly. One passage in particular, regarding aging tobacco in cedar, has important implications for cigars:

Also in October 2011, Sley asked whether his plan to age tobacco in cedar, a common practice in the cigar industry, would violate the Tobacco Control Act’s ban on characterizing flavors. David Ashley, director of the Office of Science at the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, replied by merely quoting the statute without clarification. Despite multiple follow-ups, Sley still has not received an answer. In an interview in February, Ashley said that he had not thought about the question. A spokesperson for the FDA has declined any further comment on the issue.

It wouldn’t be a stretch to estimate that the vast majority of handmade cigars are “aged” in cedar in one way or another (think cedar-lined aging rooms, cedar cigar boxes, and cedar sleeves) because cedar’s qualities (especially Spanish cedar) make it ideal for storing cigars. That means that a ruling by the FDA that aging tobacco in cedar violates statutory language against “characterizing flavors” could be one step away from a near total ban on cigars.

And every indication is that other step is only weeks away. As the article notes, the FDA plans to introduce its first rules on cigars by April. Many have speculated that this could include an extension to cigars of the flavor ban that makes flavored cigarettes (other than menthol) illegal. A group of Senators even tried to mandate such a flavored cigar ban last year by attaching it to an appropriations bill.

With the FDA unwilling (after being asked multiple times over the course of 17 months) to foreclose cedar aging being a violation of the flavor ban that is central to the FDA’s tobacco regulatory regime, the coming FDA rules on cigars could leave the FDA dangerously close to banning very common practices fundamental to the creation of the premium handmade cigars you smoke.

–Patrick S

photo credit: EPC

My colleague recently listed five bourbons Maker’s Mark fans should try, in light of that spirit’s announcement—and subsequent retraction—that it was reducing its proof from 90 to 84. It was a timely article because demand for Maker’s will outpace the supply of fully aged Maker’s, which is why officials wanted to water down the bourbon in the first place.

I like my colleague’s list, but one addition immediately came to mind: Basil Hayden’s. Maker’s is known for a smooth taste that emphasizes sweetness over spice. Likewise, Basil Hayden’s has built a reputation as an approachable bourbon with crispness over heat. So it stands to reason that many Maker’s fans might also like Basil Hayden’s, which is sold at a comparable cost ($35-40 per 750 ml. bottle).

Basil Hayden’s is the lightest bourbon in the Small Batch Bourbon Collection that’s made by Jim Beam. It’s 80-proof, as opposed to Knob Creek (100-proof), Baker’s (107-proof), and Booker’s (121- to 127-proof). And it probably has the most unique bottle of the bunch.

Basil Hayden’s is aged for eight years and has a high concentration of rye. That’s how Basil Hayden Sr.—a Catholic from Maryland who moved to Kentucky in the late 1700s—crafted the bourbon, when “Kentucky was but four years old and George Washington was president,” according to the bottle. “Today, we make Basil Hayden’s using the same skill and care that made it a favorite among America’s frontier settlers.”

Given the spirit’s low proof, I prefer to sip Basil Hayden’s with Whisky Stones which, unlike ice, won’t dilute it further. In the glass it has a light amber color and a clean nose of tea, eucalyptus, mint, and spice.

The flavor is predictably soft with only traces of pepper or heat. Instead, it’s characterized by honey, citrus, and some floral notes. The finish is brief and clean.

I’ve heard Basil Hayden’s classified as a bourbon for non-bourbon drinkers. I don’t think that’s fair. I consider myself a bourbon drinker, and I happen to appreciate it as a fine accompaniment to a mild, Connecticut-wrapped cigar. No, it doesn’t have the depth or complexity as, say, Booker’s. But it’s a nice change of pace and a smooth-tasting option for the open-minded.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

As bourbons go, Noah’s Mill is a mysterious breed. It’s a product of Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD), which until a year or two ago didn’t distill its own bourbon, instead buying bourbon from other distilleries. So the exact origin of the contents of this $50-60 bottle of Kentucky bourbon are unknown. (If you are wondering what bourbons are made where, this is one of the best lists I’ve seen at sorting out the known links between distilleries and bottles.)

Further, while for many years Noah’s Mill held an age statement of 15 years (meaning the youngest bourbon in the bottle was at least 15 years old), the bourbon recently eliminated its age statement. Multiple reports I’ve read (including this one) say that KBD was having trouble securing adequate amounts of 15-year-old bourbon, so they reformulated the recipe with bourbons ranging from 4 to 20 years of age, with a variety of different mash bills.

The result is the most acclaimed member of KBD’s small batch collection, which also includes Rowan’s Creek, Pure Kentucky XO, and Kentucky Vintage. Bottled at a “near barrel-strength” of 57.15% (or 114.3-proof) there is more unknown than known about this bourbon, which lets you simply evaluate it for how it drinks, as opposed to the decades or centuries of bourbon history that accompany many Kentucky spirits.

Noah’s Mill doesn’t have as much alcohol heat on the nose as you might expect from a nearly 115-proof spirit. Instead, the deep reddish-brown bourbon features lots of wood, leather, and brown spice aromas.

On the palate, once again, the lack of heat despite the relatively high proof surprises. Normally I’m one to water down (at least with a few drops) anything much over 100-proof, but this doesn’t need it, which predicably can lead to sneaky results if you have more than a glass or two.

Wood (to be expected given the 20-year age of some of the blend), maple syrup, baker’s spices, toffee, and raisin are all apparent. The finish is very long with woody spice and a hint of mint.

All in all, an excellent bourbon for those who like the woodiness of extra old bourbon. (Mix Booker’s with Pappy van Winkle and you’d end up with something like Noah’s Mill.) And at $50 a bottle (shop around; there’s a wide range of prices) it’s a good deal on a mysteriously tasty spirit.

Recommended cigar pairings include: Cuban Partagas Serie P No. 2, Surrogates Bone Crusher, 7-20-4 Lancero, and CyB Lonsdale Club.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

The Vintage Especial by Tesa is one of the finest, most complex mild cigars on the market—and currently my favorite Connecticut smoke. Its only drawback is its price.

So I was intrigued when Chris Kelly told me he was bringing a value-priced Connecticut blend to Tesa, a Chicago boutique with a portfolio of fantastic house blends. Picadura King, as the new blend is called, is made with a Connecticut shade wrapper and Nicaraguan long-filler mixed with short-filler scraps (called picadura).

The difference in cost between Vintage Especial and Picadura King is striking: the robusto-sized Vintage Especial Rothchild runs $14, whereas the Picadura King Robusto is about $4-5. Three other Picadura King sizes are available: Churchill (7 x 50), Toro (6 x 50), and Super Toro (6 x 62). Each also comes in a Maduro variety.

I grabbed a handful of Robustos at Tesa in early February, seeing them prominently on display within the shop’s walk-in humidor. Each has a closed foot and a delicate, pale wrapper with a few larger viens. Faint notes of sweet hay are apparent pre-light. The density is consistent from head to foot and stiffer than you might expect a mix-filler cigar to be.

After lighting the Robusto and taking a few introductory puffs, I can’t help but smile. The familiar taste is very reminiscent of the Vintage Especial: oak, sweet hay, cream, and roasted nuts. Mild, harmonious, and well-balanced with an interesting interplay between the sweetness of the smoke and the lingering spice on the finish.

For me—a cigar enthusiast who strives to smoke milder cigars about 30% of the time—the Picadura King Robusto, like the Vintage Especial Rothchild, hits all the right notes. It’s mild enough to be smoked any time of day. It’s flavorful and complex enough to keep my interest. And it never succumbs to the pitfalls of many other Connecticut smokes (namely papery or chemical-like tastes).

Construction is outstanding, which is what I’ve come to expect from Tesa’s factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. The burn is perfectly straight. The draw is smooth. Each puff releases plenty of smoke. And the ash holds pretty well given the filler mix.

Time will tell if Picadura King can be an outright replacement for Vintage Especial in my rotation. I need to smoke a few back-to-back to see if the former has all the complexity of the latter. I suspect it doesn’t (though maybe I’m just thinking it can’t given the price difference). Either way, the Picadura King Robusto is an excellent mild cigar that can firmly stand on its own legs, one that’s worthy of four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys