The Stogie Guys

Dona Flor, a top brand in Brazil for years, was once a darling of StogieGuys.com. The company’s blends earned high praise from my colleagues and I back in 2006 and 2007.

And then a funny thing happened. Dona Flor seemingly dropped off the face of the earth. I stopped seeing Dona Flor cigars in shops. I stopped hearing others talk about Dona Flor. And when my own stash ran out, I stopped smoking Dona Flor altogether. I never investigated why. I guess I just moved on and forgot about the company that introduced me to the notion of a Brazilian puro.

So imagine my surprise when I received a press release on June 5 proclaiming Dona Flor’s re-introduction to the American market. Evidently, shortly after the brand was first introduced to the U.S. in 2005, legal issues arose that blocked domestic distribution. But now, Chris Edge—a Denver-based cigar enthusiast and businessman—is bringing Dona Flor back to North America.

Several new blends have already been announced and are available for your perusal on Dona Flor’s website, along with a description of each of the three main tobaccos used in the company’s creations: Mata Fina, Mata Norte, and Brazilian-grown Cuban-seed. Today I’m taking a look at the Seleção Robusto (5 x 52), which uses a Mata Fina wrapper, a Mata Norte binder, and a filler blend of Mata Fina and Mata Norte tobaccos. This Brazilian puro achieved a 92 rating in Cigar Aficionado. It has a suggested retail price of $8.50.

Now while I’m somewhat of a sucker for Mata Fina, I’ll be the first to admit that the leaf doesn’t make the most attractive wrapper. Like me, most people appreciate this tobacco for its taste and aroma, not its aesthetics. The Seleção Robusto, as expected, is a rugged-looking specimen with a multitude of lumps and several large veins.

One of those veins runs the length of the cigar and contributes to an uneven burn. Veins are more combustible than leaves, and this is evident as the side of the Robusto with the vein burns significantly quicker than the rest of the cigar. But the vein doesn’t produce a canoe and the burn doesn’t require any touch-ups. After an inch, this issue completely resolves itself, and the physical properties are perfect from then on, including a solid, finely layered white ash.

The profile and aroma are the highlights of the Seleção Robusto. The taste is nicely balanced and includes a unique core of sour cream and some tangy notes that remind me of barbeque sauce. Dry wood, sweetness, and a touch of black pepper spice round out the flavor. And, not to be outdone, the resting smoke boasts loads of sweet coffee.

This is the 35th year Dona Flor has been in business and its second foray into the American market. Based on my experience with the Seleção Robusto, I hope Dona Flor will stay in my homeland for good this time. Expect to hear more from this Brazilian company at this summer’s industry trade show. Until then, I’m awarding this cigar four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

My approach to aging cigars has gone from haphazard to chaotic. I frequently forget to use stick-on labels to date my purchases or give much thought to what might benefit from serious time in the humidor.

It’s not that I don’t believe some cigars benefit from aging. I’m just not organized enough to do it well. How I envy those of you who meticulously record your stash in a database.

But, as they say, even a blind hog finds an acorn once in a while. And when I pulled this 6.25-inch, lightly pressed maduro out the other day, I noted on the sticker attached to the yellowing cellophane that it had spent a bit over two years in the humidor. While I’ve long been a fan of all the 601 colors, the Serie Blue isn’t my top choice, and I suppose that’s why it had gone unsmoked.

But now I wish I had more. The aroma of the Habano wrapper and the Nicaraguan filler was deep, rich tobacco with a hint of chocolate. It clearly lived up to Cigar Aficionado’s description as “both gorgeous and delicious” when CA ranked it sixth among the top cigars of 2009.

The flavors were a rich blend of coffee, cocoa, and that appealing maduro sweetness. It burned perfectly, produced lots of smoke, and had a buttery smooth finish. It wasn’t dramatically different than one from the shelf, but aging had created a subtlety and depth that pushed it to another level.

This was Don Pepin Garcia’s first maduro and he clearly knew how to make it shine. It is brilliant with two years of age..

At around $7 a stick, I’m awfully tempted to buy more and see if I can duplicate this experience in 2014. That is, if I can remember to mark them when I buy them and then refrain from smoking them along the way.

With a full two years of age on it, I rate this EO 601 Serie “Blue” Toro a full five stogies out of five.

[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

Smoke-filled rooms are a thing of the past. With advanced air-filtration systems, comfortable elbowroom, and high definition televisions on every wall, today’s cigar bars have become havens for aficionados to come together and enjoy their pastime in a friendly, upscale environment. A good cigar bar resembles the world’s greatest playroom: free WiFi, Nintendo Wii, pool tables, live music, quality food and drink, a friendly and knowledgeable staff, a full calendar of events, and, of course, a walk-in humidor with a bountiful selection.

It’s a world of great company. A specialized club with unspoken rules. A place where one can sit in peace with a cigar to watch the local sports game, enjoy a good read, or catch up with a friend. For some folks, cigar bars have become a regular hangout. Here are some of the best in the country:

Velvet Cigar Lounge, New York City

You can bring your own beverage to this classic club in Manhattan’s East Side Village. Its brick walls and warm environment provide city slickers with a perfect place to relax. And there’s more. This lounge sells their own private boutique brand of cigars in their store, and those cigars get pretty good reviews. (80 E. Seventh St.; 212-533-5582; velvetcigars.com)

Burn by Rocky Patel, Naples

This exotic Asian/Mediterranean/Caribbean influenced lounge is owned by Rocky Patel and features his complete line plus a selection of pre-embargo Cuban cigars. A vintage H. Upmann goes for $200 per stick or the big spenders can pick up a box of old Montecristos for $12,500. (9110 Strada Pl; 239 653-9013; burnbyrockypatel.com)

Grand Havana Room, Beverly Hills

It’s members only at this private club, a home to many of Hollywood’s elite. The centerpiece is a glassed-in humidor with 350 private lockers, each fixed with a brass nameplate etched with their owner’s name. With a private elevator and a calendar filled with special events, this secret cigar lair is one of the nation’s most high-end cigar clubs. (301 N. Canon Dr.; 310-385-7700; grandhavana.com)

Shelly’s Back Room, Washington, D.C.

You might run into one of our beloved leaders at the most popular cigar spot in the nation’s capital. Shelly’s has a full bar and a menu with everything from wings to bacon-wrapped shrimp. This casual yet elegant cigar lounge features eight large screen televisions and a special selection of rare cigars, including 10 of Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25. (1331 F St. NW; 202-737-3003; shellysbackroom.com)

–Mark M

photo credit: Various

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.”

Quorum is a bundle smoke made by J.C. Newman in Nicaragua that sells for under $2 and for as little as $1 when bought by the bundle. According the J.C. Newman’s website, Quorum is “the world’s most popular handmade cigar sold in bundles.” It features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper around Nicaraguan binder and mixed Nicaraguan filler. The Habano wrapper imparts a clean, woody flavor that I’ve come to recognize and enjoy from that Ecuadorian wrapper. Overall, it’s not particularly complex but it does feature unoffensive wood and earth flavors, with an occasional burst of sourness. Construction was good on the one Quorum I smoked, just don’t expect the ash to hold very long. While I’m not really a bundle cigar smoker and it’s far from my favorite cigar, I can see what makes this cigar so popular. It’s solidly-made, medium-bodied, and, best of all, very cheap.

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.”

Introduced as a new line by Gurkha, the Wicked Indie comes in four sizes, including the Churchill (7 x 50), the only one I’ve seen or tried. The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper covers a Nicaraguan binder and filler. And they combine for a nice pepper blast in the first third. Things settle down a bit after that with a little yeast and sweet tobacco. Smooth, short finish. I’d like to try this in the Robusto format where I think quicker development might make for a more interesting smoke.

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) Most media outlets are still calling the vote too close to call, but California’s Prop. 29—a dangerous proposal that would increase already-high cigar taxes in the Golden State by a whopping 73%—appears to be headed towards defeat. “The measure was losing by just under 53,000 votes as updated tallies continued to trickle in from county elections offices,” reported the Los Angeles Times last evening. “A spokeswoman for the opposing campaign, Beth Miller, said her side does not anticipate ‘a big vote swing one way or another. But obviously we are watching it closely.’” Thanks again to everyone who voted “no” and to those who encouraged their friends and family in California to do the same.

2) H.R. 1639, the U.S. House bill that would protect premium cigars from disastrous FDA regulations, is now just 20 votes shy of a majority as Donald Manzullo (R-IL) signed on. And as if anyone needed more proof that cigars are the Great Equalizer, consider two of the latest cosponsors: C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, a Baltimore-area Democrat, and Louie Gohmert, a Republican from east Texas. You’d be hard-pressed to find two more divergent members of Congress. Ranked on ideology, Gohmert scored a 10 from Americans for Democratic Action and a 100 from the American Conservative Union, while Ruppersberger got a 90 from the ADA and a 4 from the ACU, according to The Hill.

3) Inside the Industry: In the company’s 35th year, Dona Flor Cigars has announced a re-introduction to the American market. Longtime readers will recall that StogieGuys.com was a fan of Dona Flor back in 2006, with several of the company’s blends earning high praise in reviews. Since then, legal issues have prevented the Brazilian brand from competing in the U.S. But now, Chris Edge—a Denver-based cigar enthusiast and businessman—will be bringing Dona Flor back to North America. Expect the company to generate some buzz at this summer’s industry trade show in Orlando.

4) Around the Blogs: Cigar Explorer explores the Arturo Fuente Solaris. Cigar Fan fires up an Alec Bradley Black Market. Cigar Brief smokes the Rocky Patel Edge Candela. Nice Tight Ash checks out the Alec Bradley American Classic Blend. Stogie Review reviews the El Primer Mundo La Hermandad.

5) Deal of the Week: This “Big Brand Bonanza” sampler includes 10 quality smokes for just $35 (or double up and get 20 cigars for $60). Highlights include such blends as Liga Privada Undercrown, Gurkha Ninja, Montecristo Platinum, La Aurora Preferido, Romeo y Julieta, Casa Fernandez Miami, Toraño Virtuoso, and Art Deco by Nestor Miranda.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

Ever since we got back ,we’ve been sharing videos and photos from our recent trip to Estelí, Nicaragua, with Drew Estate’s Cigar Safari. Today we wrap up our coverage of that awesome adventure with what we think is the most interesting video yet.

In the following footage, Jonathan Drew of Drew Estate talks about the challenges of building his brand and maintaining consistency. A big part of those challenges was a sabotage of his factory in 2002 at the hands of one of his former employees—an employee who was paid off by another cigar maker who didn’t want Drew Estate to succeed.

We’ll resume our normal coverage of the world of cigars tomorrow. Meanwhile, if you haven’t already seen them, you can check out photos from our trip here. And for videos, please see Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.

Finally, we’d like to once again thank everyone at Drew Estate for an unforgettable time.

–The Stogie Guys

video credit: Stogie Guys