The Stogie Guys

Back in July, StogieGuys.com was in Las Vegas for the 79th annual IPCPR Trade Show. We reported on two new releases from General Cigar: the highly anticipated CAO OSA Sol and the La Gloria Cubana Retro Especiale.

The Retro Especiale just started to ship in late September, which makes this a good time to review the new line. It is comprised of a Honduran-grown Connecticut-seed wrapper with dual Nicaraguan and Mexican binders around filler from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. The wrapper, according to a press release, was specifically cultivated to allow “each of the cigar’s components to enjoy equal bearing on the overall taste of the cigar,” rather than having any one part dominate.

Packaged in attractive art deco wooden boxes that were inspired by an antique humidor found at the El Credito factory, Retro Especiale is available in four sizes: Taino (7 x 52), Habanero (6 x 52), Cubano (6.5 x 58), and Club (5.75 x 47). Each carries an MSRP between $7 and $8.15.

The Club has faint pre-light notes and a light exterior leaf that’s far from intimidating. Despite its golden hue, though, General Cigar says “the blend is brash in its full flavor and engages the entire palate.” That’s certainly true upon first light, where the cigar has a powerful, somewhat salty taste that’s characterized by dry wood.

I don’t find overt saltiness particularly appetizing, so I’m pleased to report that the profile becomes much less abrasive after only a few puffs. Core flavors like peanut, cedar, cream, black coffee, and citrus emerge. The result is a more balanced cigar that stands firmly in the medium- to full-bodied range. Each puff produces large volumes of smoke, and the resting smoke is aromatic and sweet.

I really like the taste of this cigar, even if some stale notes waft in and out in the final third. All the while the construction is what I’ve come to expect from General Cigar creations: a straight burn line, a clear draw, and a solid ash that holds well.

At $175 per 25-count box, the Club is a solid buy. This young cigar, which I think shows good aging potential, is a nice addition to the La Gloria Cubana portfolio and worthy of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

[Editor’s Note: “Cigar Face-Off” is a new feature where we compare and contrast cigars that share at least one important attribute. Please let us know what you think about the new feature in the comments below, and feel free to suggest two cigars for a future Face-Off.]

Here’s a face-off between two thick Cuban cigars. Each has a ring gauge of 54 and sells for around $20. They both also happened to be featured in the September selection of the Diamond level of Canadian Cigar Company’s cigar-of-the-month club. (All their recent cigar club selections can be seen here.)

Montecristo Open Eagle

I didn’t have high expectations for this cigar, which was introduced a few years back as a premium Cuban for new cigar smokers. For that reason, I had avoided the entire Montecristo Open line until I smoked this 5.9-inch cigar.

What I found was pretty much as advertised: a mild smoke, with pleasant flavors and flawless construction that would probably suit a beginner nicely. Even though the flavors were a bit mild for my tastes, it had excellent balance and sweet cedar notes, and towards the end it added in some characteristic Cuban earthiness. Think of it as a tamer version of the Montecristo Edmundo.

Romeo y Julieta Duke EL 2009

Without a doubt, this is one of the best looking Cuban cigars I’ve seen in awhile. It has a dark, oily wrapper and perfectly squared triple cap. The 5.5-inch smoke was generally well-constructed,  except for needing multiple touch-ups to keep the burn even (which is disappointing for a cigar that can cost in excess of $20 each).

As for its flavors, the cigar reminded me of the 2007 Romeo y Julieta Escudos, with coffee, oak, and cocoa notes all apparent. Unfortunately, there was also a sourness that came and went throughout the cigar. Still, there was much to enjoy in this medium- to full-bodied Cuban.

Conclusion

The Montecristo Open Eagle was better than I thought, but ultimately I don’t like the Open blend as much as the regular Montecristos (the Petit Edmundo and classic Monte No. 2 both offer more flavor for less money). Meanwhile, the Romeo y Julieta Duke demonstrated some real potential and more interesting flavors, but was held back by the sour notes and inconsistent construction.

I fully expected to come out of this cigar face-off proclaiming the Duke the unanimous victor, but my ultimate conclusion isn’t so clear-cut. Ultimately, with some age, I think the Romeo y Julieta Duke will be the far superior cigar (particularly if you prefer a fuller-bodied smoke). Right now, though, the Montecristo Open is slightly better due to its balance.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

I have a lot of respect for Tabacalera Perdomo. When politicians raised federal taxes on “large” cigars by 700% for SCHIP, the folks at Perdomo responded by dropping their prices and absorbing the tax hike on most of their portfolio.

“We’re all in this together in these tough economic times,” said Nick Perdomo, the company’s president. “You should be able to afford great cigars at great price points.” So, in 2009 and 2010, Tabacalera Perdomo made many of their best-selling brands more affordable. Today, Perdomo creations are, generally speaking, a great value given the quality of the tobacco and the fine craftsmanship.

The Habano Corojo Robusto (5 x 52) is no exception. One of seven sizes in the line (which is also available in Maduro and Connecticut varieties), this smoke retails for $4 to $6 apiece. It comes adorned with ornate double bands, the larger of which honors the three different growing regions of Nicaragua: Estelí, Condeda, and Jalapa. This is, of course, a nod to the fact that the cigar is comprised of Cuban-seed tobacco from each of these regions.

The Robusto has a matte exterior leaf with several light-colored veins. Consistently firm from head to foot, the cap is applied nicely and it clips easily to yield a moderate draw. The pre-light notes are potent and reminiscent of earth, caramel, and peanut.

Once lit, the cigar has a medium-bodied flavor of spice, oak, and a tart taste on the finish. A gentle sweetness is also present that contributes balance. The overall effect isn’t terribly complex, but it’s satisfying and straightforward.

Don’t expect too many changes in flavor along the way, but you can count on the physical properties to be excellent. All three samples I smoked for this review displayed straight burn lines and solid ashes. The draw is tighter than most other 52-ring gauge cigars, but not to the extent that it causes smoking difficulties.

While I don’t foresee seasoned cigar veterans being blown away by the Habano Corojo Robusto, you can’t deny the value this Nick Perdomo creation brings to the table. I always seem to have at least a handful of these in my humidor to fill the need for a solid everyday smoke. That’s ultimately why this Perdomo earns three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Last week I was in the Dominican Republic touring General Cigar’s facilities, where La Gloria Cubana, Macanudo, Partagas, and a number of other well-known cigars are made.

Even though it’s not the first cigar factory I’ve visited, it still amazes me how many people are involved in the creation of just one cigar that sells for under $10 (often far less than that). Here are just a few of those steps:

La Gloria Cubana (and El Rico Habano) are rolled in a separate room from Macanudo and General

A La Gloria roller cuts the wrapper before rolling it around the bunched cigar.

Cigars are pressed after bunching (and before rolling) to create a solid shape and even draw. Wooden molds used to be used, but now almost every factory relies on plastic molds which last longer and are more uniform.

Production numbers are kept and quality checked. As you can see, in just three days over 60,000 cigars have been rolled.

One of the most impressive things I saw was one of their tobacco warehouses, where tobacco ages and is stored. In this particular warehouse, they estimated there was $50 million worth of tobacco. At any given point General Cigar says they have $120 million dollars of tobacco stored.

Each bale in the warehouse has a label with key information about the tobacco. This particular label features Connecticut wrapper leaf from 2008.

Curing tobacco is what begins its process from plant to cigar. Here aged tobacco is cured in a heat controlled room with misting water and plenty of airflow.

Wrapper leaves are sorted according to size and color. Size determines the size of the cigar that can be rolled, while color is more of an aesthetic consideration. For example, Genral Cigar won

Fermenting tobacco is what takes it to the final stages before it can be rolled. Fermenting tobacco generates its own heat and must be watched closely or else it can be ruined. Tubes are used to take the temperature of the tobacco.

That’s just a few of the many steps that it takes to produce a handmade cigar. Next time you smoke one, be sure to take a moment to consider the many steps it took and the attention to detail that was necessary to produce a fine cigar. A mistake in any step in the process can ruin what would otherwise be an excellent smoke.

–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.”

Exclusive to the online boutique New Havana Cigars, this box-pressed smoke features the same blend as the Tatuaje Brown label (with the Sumatra “Capa Especial” wrapper) in a size that’s nearly identical to the Havana Cazadores. It’s more full-bodied than the Tatuaje 7th Capa Especial, with pepper, espresso, and wood, and it falls between medium- and full-bodied. While the the cigar was a bit spongy to the touch, the construction didn’t seem to suffer at all. These sold out in just days, but if you’re fortunate enough to have the opportunity to smoke one, you should jump at the chance.

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.”

Touted as an all-Corojo cigar, this relatively new line from Martin Family of Cigars definitely starts with a snap. The first half is a flavorful smoke with the strength associated with corojo, though the strength can overwhelm the flavors at times. In the second half, the voltage goes down, as dark wood and tobacco tastes dominate. Construction is generally good, though I did find a large stem in one, but it caused no real problems. If you like corojo or just want to check it out, this one’s well worth a try.

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) Ohio’s statewide smoking ban, which prohibits smoking in any indoor establishment that has at least one employee, is being reviewed by the state Supreme Court. This week, the seven justices heard arguments from the state and from a bar in Columbus called Zeno’s that has been issued $33,000 in fines for refusing to comply with the law, which went into effect in 2007. “The justices seemed interested in the process that led to the citations and particularly the fact that no individual smoker ever has been cited, while numerous bars such as Zeno’s have,” reports the Toledo Blade. “After struggling to collect the fines it imposed, the state shifted gears in recent months by going after the liquor licenses of repeat offenders.”

2) Pennsylvania-based retailer Famous Smoke Shop is preparing to launch a new cigar auction site (www.CigarSniper.com) based on the penny auction model where you can “snipe” items for extremely low prices, but each bid costs money. To get a feel for it at no risk, Famous is conducting an open beta test this weekend (starting 10am today and ending 6pm Monday). By filling out a brief survey afterwards (and mentioning StogieGuys.com when you register) you can win prizes including bids worth over $100 and a sampler pack.

3) Inside the Industry: Walter “Lilo” Santiago is reviving Crémo Cigars with a new line that’s made at the El Titan de Bronze Cigar Factory. Starting on November 1, GarVino’s of The Villages, Florida, will become the newest Diamond Crown Cigar Lounge. Luis Tiant has teamed up with Don Pepin Garcia to launch new Habano Oscuro and Habano Rosado blends, both made at the My Father Cigars Factory.

4) Around the Blogs: Cigar Fan fires up a La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Magnifico. Smoking Stogie smokes the Padrón Family Reserve 85 Years. Stogie Review reviews the San Lotano. Stogie Fresh checks out a Don Ramon Maduro. Nice Tight Ash checks out the CroMagnon.

5) Deal of the Week: Smoke Inn is featuring some hard-to-find Tatuaje smokes, including the TAA edition, The Old Man and the C, the Black Label Petit Lancero and their exclusive Tatuaje Anarchy.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr