The 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) For cigar enthusiasts, New York may be the most inhospitable major city in the country. Politicians in the Big Apple this week voted to ban smoking in many outdoor areas, including parks, beaches, and Times Square. “The smoking ban will cover 1,700 parks and 14 miles of public beaches plus boardwalks, marinas, and pedestrian plazas…,” writes the Associated Press. “The expanded smoking ban will give the city’s Parks Department the power to slap violators with quality-of-life summonses, which are tickets for minor offenses…that typically carry fines of under $100.” Smoking inside bars and restaurants has been illegal in New York City since 2003.

2) Meanwhile, in Connecticut and Maine, the right to enjoy cigars in private clubs is under attack. Lawmakers in those states have introduced bills that would ban smoking in the few places where smoking is still permitted. One Connecticut politician said the move is intended “to insure the public is protected.”

3) Inside the Industry: Gary Hyams stepped down as chairman of CAO on Monday, becoming the fourth executive to depart the company in three months. Ashton is releasing a new La Aroma de Cuba size called “Marquis”. La Aurora is adding another 107 vitola called “Gran 107” (7 x 58). Last night,  former quarterback and current ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski hosted a pre-Super Bowl cigar party to benefit the Jaws Youth Fund, which partners with the United Way to help at-risk youth.

4) Around the Blogs: Cigar Fan fires up a Warlock. Tiki Bar tries the Viaje Holiday Blend 2010. Smoking Stogie smokes the Drew Estate Double Signature. Stogie Review reviews the Oliva Master Blends 3. Cigar Inspector inspects an Avo Tesoro. Stogie Fresh lights up My Father Le Bijou.

5) Deal of the Week: We’ve rated the Cubano Claro four out of five stogies, and now is your chance to pick up this cigar at a deep discount: a box of 20 for just $59.99.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

Details on the Forbidden X, which isn’t mentioned on Fuente’s website, aren’t easy to come by. But this much is clear: The cigar was released as a “Cigar in a Bottle”—which had a Forbidden X encased in a bottle of Grand Pommier XS Calvados.

The pairing wasn’t a coincidence. The tobacco, which comes from the same Fuente Dominican farms as the tobacco from the Opus X, is aged for five years and finished in Calvados barrels imported from Normandy, France.

The samples I smoked were part of the Cigar Rights of America (CRA) sampler series. I smoked two for this review (one from the second sampler and the other from the holiday sampler).

Both samplers, which include ten cigars and yearlong memberships in CRA, sold for $100, which would be a fair price just for the cigars (it’s an even better deal considering the worthy cause). According to CRA’s website, the holiday sampler is still available.

Even though the tobacco is sourced from the same farms that produce Fuente’s popular Opus X, the Forbidden X offers a distinctive and unique flavor profile. The wrapper is lighter in color (because it is shade-grown) and not nearly as rustic as Opus’ reddish rosado sun-grown wrapper.

The toro-sized Forbidden X is far more balanced than the standard Opus X, lacking the sometimes overpowering spice of the Opus. More medium-bodied (although it ramps up in the final third), it has hints of salt and pepper, with dominant paper and cedar notes. Occasionally, I pick up subtle fruit, oak, and brandy notes, imparted, I suspect, by the Calvados barrels.

As one would expect from a smoke that, if you can find it outside the CRA sampler, will sell for well over $30, the Forbidden X has excellent construction. The burn is razor sharp, the light gray ash easily holds for an inch, and the draw is easy.

Cigars like the Forbidden X are special. Perhaps it isn’t the most complex smoke around, but the flavors are interesting and, most notably, perfectly balanced. That’s why the Forbidden X earns a rating of four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

La Aurora, as far as the (mostly traditional) cigar industry goes, is highly involved in social media. Both company president Guillermo León and director of sales José Blanco are engaged on Twitter.

This involvement in the Twitter community led to the eventual release of the Lancero vitola of the 107, a blend that was released in 2010 to celebrate the 107th anniversary of the oldest cigar maker in the Dominican Republic.

After much discussion and pleading from the masses via the web, La Aurora decided to produce 300 boxes of 107 Lanceros, a cigar that measures 7 inches long with a 40 ring gauge.

The 107 blend features an Ecuadorian wrapper, a Dominican binder, and a two-country filler blend from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Being a fan of the 107 line in general, especially the Corona, I was excited to sit down and smoke the Lancero.

The construction of the Lancero is, not surprisingly, excellent. It has no visible imperfections. Pre-light, the predominate smell is of hay with just a hint of spice detectable.

Once lit, the cigar opens up with a core of cedar and hazelnut. As it progresses, a creaminess is introduced and the hazelnut flavor increases. The ash on the cigar holds for about an inch at a time and the burn wavers but doesn’t require any correcting.

As the cigar nears the end, the creaminess continues to increase, although it is balanced out by flavors reminiscent of kettle-cooked potato chips.

Overall, I am impressed by the 107 Lancero. While I am not, generally speaking, a fan of the lancero format, this cigar is intricate and well-constructed.

And with an MSRP of $7, it is certainly worth a try, especially of you like smaller ring gauges. I think the Corona remains my favorite 107, but the Lancero is a close second, earning four out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick M

photo credit: Stogie Guys

With a self-diagnosis the other day, I discovered that I suffer from two cigar maladies: extreme aging disorder (EAD) and specialosis occasionism (SO).

These conditions can induce feelings of confusion and indecision, create overcrowded humidors, and limit smoking enjoyment. Perhaps you, or someone you know, is afflicted by one or both of these and may not even be aware of it. But don’t despair. There is hope. These infirmities can be cured.

Bear in mind that EAD and SO are related and can strike individually or in unison. And, like many dangers, they often start with good intentions, only to later develop into full-blown maledictions.

First, let’s look at EAD. Those who are afflicted often say something like this: “Oh, no, I can’t smoke that. It’s aging.” This despite the fact that the cigars in question have been in the humidor since Jimmy Carter was in the White House.

Aging cigars, of course, isn’t a bad thing in and of itself. However, what happens with a person suffering from EAD is that the part of the brain that recognizes cigars are supposed to be smoked becomes crippled.

This change can be charted with brain scans and sometimes leads to the individual morphing from a cigar smoker to a cigar collector. Their humidors are often stuffed with names such as Opus X, Cuban Montecristo, and Padrón Anniversary.

Sufferers of SO usually have a far-off look in their eye as they anticipate something like a wedding, anniversary, or special birthday. Such occasions are the only time they’ll light up a high-quality stick. “Oh, no, I’m saving that one,” you may hear them say when they open their humidor.

Just like their brethren beset by EAD, those with SO sustain brain changes, too. It’s just in a little different spot, the area that controls the capacity to enjoy the 350 or so days each year that have no major significance.

Now, let’s talk about cures. They can be simple and effective, especially when applied consistently.

When faced with EAD, the first step is to ask forcefully: “Which one do you want to get too old to smoke first: you or your cigars?” Then point out that some cigars don’t improve with age. Finally, lift a cigar from the box and gently say, “Even as you smoke this one, all the others are still getting older.”

For those with SO, the prescription is considerably simpler. Apply and repeat as necessary: “A great cigar makes any day a special occasion.”

Though EAD and SO can be serious conditions, in most cases they can be treated successfully. And, of course, success should be celebrated with a cigar.

–George E

photo credit: Wikipedia

Last year was a big one for Charlie Toraño and his family, as they renamed their company the “Toraño Family Cigar Company” and exercised their option to retake distribution from a deal with CAO. “It belongs in the family,” Charlie told us.

These days the company is getting a lot of attention about its newest creations: Master, a bundle line called Brigade, and Single Region. But the Exodus 50 Years Blend, launched in 2009, still has the cigar community talking. And, as I was told by a Toraño representative last week, it is still selling very well.

This blend is rolled in memory of the Toraño family’s 50-year exile from Cuba. It comes dressed in a Brazilian Arapiraca sun-grown wrapper with a Honduran binder and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos from Estelí and Pueblo Nuevo. The four regular production sizes—Short Churchill, Torpedo, Robusto, and Box Press—are handmade in Nicaragua, retailing for $6-8 apiece.

I picked up three Short Churchills (6 x 48) at a recent Single Region Tour event in Arlington, Virginia. I got them for about $5 each, since they were on special. This firm, slender vitola sports a moderate cold draw, pre-light notes of cocoa, and an exterior leaf as oily as it is dark.

A couple wooden matches gets the foot thoroughly toasted and lit. From there, the flavor displays a profile of black cherry, cinnamon, leather, and pepper. It’s bold, but decidedly medium-bodied and well-balanced. The thick smoke is cool—never hot or harsh—making for a smooth experience.

Despite its length, the Short Churchill’s taste doesn’t change much from light to nub. What you see at the beginning is pretty much what you get throughout, and that’s OK with me. All the while the burn is straight and the gray ash layers evenly and sturdily off the foot.

The Toraños make some excellent cigars, and the Exodus 50 Years Blend may be their finest. Don’t let all of their newest creations prevent you from trying this line if you haven’t already done so. The Short Churchill is an outstanding value and 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

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.”

When I first acquired this maudro-wrapped Churchill (7 x 52), it cost $180 for a box of 25—a price I was happy to pay given its flavor and quality. Now, almost two years later, the investment seems even wiser, despite the fact Cuban Crafters dropped the box price significantly. With perfect combustion qualities and a taste of cocoa, coffee, pepper, and black licorice, this is a fine smoke that ages beautifully, adding creamy notes with time.

Verdict = Buy.

–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 house brand for the Orlando-based Corona Cigar Company is made by Avo. The Toro (6 x 52) features a Connecticut broadleaf maduro leaf that, while not as dark as many wrappers of that variety, has plenty of oils. The filler is a combination of Dominican Olor, Cubano, and San Vicente tobaccos. The well-constructed, medium-bodied smoke displays a combination of roasted flavors, peanuts, and café au lait.  Even at $10, this is an excellent buy and a reminder that house blends need not be a cheap bundled smokes.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys