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. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) Tim Ozgener, president of CAO, announced this week that he is leaving the premium cigar business and the company he inherited from his father. He plans to “pursue personal business interests in his hometown of Nashville,” according to a press release. The move comes a month after Swedish Match, parent company of General Cigar, and the Scandinavian Tobacco Group—parent company of CAO and, formerly, Toraño—merged their many well-known brands under one entity. “We remain committed to CAO and are grateful to Tim for his contributions, not only to the brand but also for sharing his knowledge with the people who will continue his legacy,” said Dan Carr, president of General Cigar.

2) Not content with California’s statewide smoking restrictions, politicians in Los Angeles are considering stricter tobacco controls for America’s second-largest city. A proposed ordinance would criminalize smoking at outdoor venues like beaches, parks, and apartment commons areas.

3) Around the Blogs: Cigar Fan lights up a La Traviata Maduro. Nice Tight Ash fires up an Origen. Smoking Stogie smokes the Oliva Edición Europa 2010. Stogie Review reviews a Warlock. The Perfect Draw draws on a Calibre. Cigar Inspector inspects a Partagas Salomones.

4) Deal of the Week:  CAO fans should jump all over this deal. It features seven of CAO’s finest blends with a special DVD about the development of CAO’s 4igars, all for just $35. Grab your “Conmemorativo Sampler” here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Yesterday, the FDA announced new graphic warning labels on cigarette packaging. The change is part of the so-called Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which was signed into law in 2009 by President Obama and gives the FDA wide-ranging powers to regulate tobacco products—including the authority to regulate cigars without any further Congressional action.

The new warning labels take up the top half of the front and back of each pack of cigarettes. Unlike previous text warnings, they include graphics and many cartoon images. All cigarette packaging will be required to use the new warnings by June 2011.

A number of the warning labels portray situations that seem to have no basis in reality. One such image portrays a smoker deliberately blowing smoke in the face of a nonsmoker. Another label shows a cigarette smoker injecting a cigarette into his arm like heroin. The new warning labels come as the FDA is moving to expand its oversight to include cigars. And they follow a trend in cities, like New York, that seek to require tobacconists to display posters of decaying lungs and other anti-smoking messages.

Analysis

Like the New York City law, these new graphic warning labels will surely be challenged on the grounds that they violate protected first amendment rights. They steal valuable space  from tobacco retailers and manufacturers (who, contrary to the wishes of anti-smoking zealots, are protected by the Bill of Rights) and force them to subsidize a message with which they may disagree.

Furthermore, some of the messages are misleading—if not outright wrong. For example, the image of smoke being breathed in by a nonsmoker implies that brief exposure to secondhand smoke can cause lung cancer, even though scientific studies cannot support such claims and only show that prolonged long-term exposure increases the risk of lung cancer.

Critics would also be right in questioning the effectiveness of such graphic labels. There is little question that smokers are already aware of the many health risks of smoking, and evidence even demonstrates that both smokers and nonsmokers overestimate the risks of smoking.

While the new FDA labels won’t immediately impact cigars, there are serious ramifications going forward. The artwork and presentation of cigars has long been an important aspect of the cigar experience, and forcing cigar makers to add ugly warnings would damage those important aesthetics. What’s more, since cigars are often sold individually, the FDA could require each individual cigar to contain a warning, which would not only damage the look of the cigar, but increase the cost and impact how cigars are packaged and, thus, aged.

–Patrick S

photo credits: FDA

This summer marked a rebirth for Augusto Reyes, a respected cigar maker who traces his Dominican tobacco roots back six generations. It was at the industry trade show that he premiered two new lines: Signature and Sixth Generation.

Before these blends were released, Reyes had been on a hiatus following an ill-fated U.S. distribution deal for his Criollo, Epicure, Grand Cru, Nativo, and Maduro cigars. But now he’s looking to bounce back on the American scene to reclaim the fan base he built after launching his own brand.

His strategy includes the Signature series, a four-vitola lineup of Dominican puros that are dressed in beautifully intricate bands of white, green, and gold with decorative ribbons across the foot. They range in price from $6-7 each.

The Robusto (5 x 50) is an attractive cigar. Its velvety wrapper has few veins, an oily sheen, and a well-constructed cap that clips neatly. The pre-light aroma is of molasses and graham cracker.

As innocent as it looks, feels, and smells, the Robusto starts with an unexpected flare of full-bodied spice. The first few puffs are on the verge of being overly harsh and meaty. But beneath the dominant taste of leather and peppercorn is a more nuanced backdrop with a sweet aftertaste.

That nuance comes to the forefront as the profile mellows, clearing the way for a creamier base and traces of honey, nuts, and vanilla. Still, the Signature is a bold, spicy smoke through the second third. Then the finale witnesses a reintroduction of the powerful flavors from the outset.

Several of the Robustos that I sampled for this review burned without incident while others required a fair amount of maintenance. The burn line, it seems, either develops perfectly or meanders to the point of annoyance. Whichever the case, the draw is always moderate and the gray, well-layered ash is always solid.

I wouldn’t say that I’m underwhelmed by the Augusto Reyes Signature Robusto. Occasional harsh and sour notes, however, prevent this cigar’s profile from displaying its full potential. I’ll be interested to see how this young specimen develops with age. For now, it earns three stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

I’ve been most impressed with the Master, a new release in the budget category from the Toraño Family Cigar Co. And I say that as a long-time fan of the company and its cigars.

Long known for an extraordinary ability to blend tobaccos from a wide variety of countries to create terrific cigars, with this release the Toraños have gone the other way. Charlie Toraño joined with Cuban blender Felipe Sosa for a cigar that features a Nicaraguan binder and filler (albeit from Esteli and Jalapa) with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper.

It is one of the most enjoyable medium-strength cigars I’ve smoked in quite awhile. I’ve smoked only the Churchill, a bargain at about $6 for a single. Construction on those I’ve tried has been excellent and the cigar burns slowly while producing volumes of smoke. The other three sizes are Robusto, Torpedo and Toro.

You won’t find the Master on the Toraño website, but in coverage promoting its release at this year’s industry trade show the cigar was described as one for sale only at B&Ms. That’s where I’ve seen it, though you can also find it online with only a minimal search.

Perhaps the first thing you’ll notice when you smoke a Master is the lower level of spice or pepper so often found in Nicaraguan tobacco. It isn’t a powerhouse. Rather, the Master is a finely balanced and flavor-filled cigar that changes as it burns. Among the more prominent flavors I found were cedar, cocoa, and sweetness woven together. The last third of the stick can get a little muddled and hot, though not terribly unpleasant.

As Toraño continues to re-make its mark in the cigar word after changing the company’s name and taking back control of its distribution, the Master is a fitting addition to its fine and expanding line. A cigar so smooth and so tasty at such an affordable price earns the Master a rating of four stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

On Friday we announced that La Sirena, a new blend from Miami Cigar & Co., would officially debut in Chicago this month. That makes today as good as any to review my pre-release samples.

Blended by Don Pepin Garcia, La Sirena is the first full-bodied creation to come out of Miami Cigar’s partnership with My Father Cigars. It features a Connecticut broadleaf maduro wrapper, a dual binder of habano and corojo Nicaraguan tobaccos, and Nicaraguan fillers comprised of criollo ’98 corojo ’96 leaves.

La Sirena is Spanish for “mermaid.” Not content with traditional names, each of the line’s five sizes sports an ocean-inspired moniker: Sprite (5.5 x 42), The Prince (5 x 50), Divine (5.5 x 52), King Poseidon (6 x 60), and Trident (7 x 50). They retail in the $8-10 range.

The Trident is a spongy, rustic-looking cigar with a clean cap and bold pre-light notes of powdered cocoa and earth off the foot. Toothy and oily, the cigar cuts neatly to reveal an easy draw. Establishing an even burn takes hardly any effort.

The initial flavor is of dark chocolate, coffee, and black pepper. I’d describe the profile as lacking in strength yet medium- to full-bodied. It tastes as though it was blended to deliver big taste with little bite—an effect for which many cigar makers strive but few successfully achieve.

Moving into the second third, the Trident gradually increases in spice. Flavors of espresso and bittersweet chocolate become prevalent. Here, the texture of the smoke becomes chalkier and more voluminous with every puff.

That carries over into the final third, a segment of the cigar that, thankfully, doesn’t become overly bitter or meaty. That’s when I start to take note of this Estelí-made cigar’s outstanding construction. The burn is even, the draw clear, and the white ash holds firm off the foot.

All things considered, this is a fine addition to the Miami Cigar portfolio, and one that’s well-suited to the cold winter months. I award the La Sirena Trident four 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.”

Much of the talk about the Hammer + Sickle cigar seems to focus on the use of a symbol used, even though the creator of Hammer + Sickle  insists the name, which comes from the brand of vodka he owns, is about the Russian people—not communism. Sensitivities in the area are understandable given the Cuban history that permeates cigars, but when I grabbed this Robusto (5 x 50) from my humidor the only thing that concerned me was if the cigar was any good. It’s a distinctly mild smoke, but a complex combination of cashew, cream, subtle cedar, and pepper makes it interesting. With excellent construction, the $7 Hammer + Sickle is a strong buy for fans of mild cigars.

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.”

Introduced in late 2009, this Robusto (5.25 x 52) is composed of Nicaraguan tobaccos dressed in a dark Connecticut broadleaf maduro wrapper. It has a bold, spicy flavor of pepper, dry wood, and espresso with acceptable construction properties. This is a fine smoke from Don Pepin Garcia’s son, but it misses out on the nuance that’s characteristic of other creations from My Father Cigars—and I’m unconvinced that its monotone profile is worthy of the $6-7 asking price.

Verdict = Hold.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys