The Stogie Guys

With the 2010 International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association Trade Show coming up in three months, May is a good time to take stock in the year that was. Another barrage of cigar introductions is just around the corner. So this is an appropriate month to catch up on any releases from last year that may have fallen through the cracks.

There were many sought-after debuts at the 2009 show, but perhaps none as anticipated as Padrón’s newest creation. Padrón, unlike most cigar makers, doesn’t always put out a new cigar every year. When the company does, it’s usually in high demand.

That was certainly the case with the new Padrón Family Reserve No. 45. Released in two versions (Natural and Maduro) with one size (6 x 52), it celebrates the 45th anniversary of Padrón Cigars. Each box of ten includes an insert about the band’s little hammer—a commemoration of Cuban émigré José Orlando Padrón and his drive to work as a carpenter until he could establish a cigar company.

His dedication paid off in spades. With over 600 employees, a tremendously loyal following, and more accolades than space permits mentioning, Padrón Cigars is considered by many to be the pinnacle of cigardom. One measure—albeit a flawed one—is how the company has dominated Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 lists, including earning top honors for the Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro.

That pick didn’t come as much of a surprise. But as popular as the Maduro has been, my recent experience with two Naturals proves that this (somewhat rarer) version shouldn’t be overlooked. It, too, is a box-pressed Nicaraguan puro with 10-year-old tobacco that sells for upwards of $25 apiece. And it, too, amounts to a memorable, special occasion smoke that beckons to be tried at least once.

After a clean cut reveals an easy draw, the somewhat wrinkly No. 45 Natural opens with a chalky, textured taste of bitter leather, earth, nuts, and wood. The raw flavor of tobacco is featured prominently, as is a background of espresso.

The big difference between this two-hour smoke and the Maduro is cocoa. While the latter has plenty of sweet, decadent chocolate notes, the Natural—while medium-bodied throughout—has more of a dry, spicy edge. Both are subtle and well-balanced; they just have different profiles.

Padrón is known for its consistency and quality. I only smoked two No. 45 Naturals because of their high price point but, based on that sample set, I found near perfect construction. I wouldn’t expect anything less from a cigar that costs more than a wonderful dinner entrée.

Smoking down to the nub, I didn’t feel the slightest bit of buyer’s remorse. Would I partake in this cigar on a regular basis? No. For an occasional treat, though, you can’t go wrong with the Padrón Family Reserve No. 45 Natural. It earns 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.”

El Museo is likely Litto Gomez’s most exclusive smoke, released to benefit El Museo del Barrio, New York City’s only Latin American museum. Wrapped in a lush, oily habano sun-grown leaf, the Dominican puro (6.75 x 52) features remarkable pre-light chocolate flavors. El Museo starts out with a burst of peppery spice followed closely by a full-bodied combination of cocoa, clove, and leather. It’s a powerful smoke, but balanced enough to not be overwhelming. Construction is flawless with a notably stable, dense, dark gray ash. Sure, it retails for around $30, but I’d be surprised if you didn’t find it to be one of the finest cigars you’ve ever smoked.

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.”

Available in a ten-pack exclusive to Cigar Rights of America (CRA) members, this limited edition cigar features the same components as the normal Reserva Figurados portfolio: a sun-grown Ecuadoran Sumatra wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and a filler blend of Nicaraguan and Dominican tobaccos. But this is a new size. Called “Regalias Perfectos” (6.25 x 57), it sports a slightly tapered foot, a belicoso-shaped head, and a wide body. The result is a smoke with lots of honey, graham, and cedar spice coupled with outstanding construction. Very similar to every other natural Reserva Figurados—and that’s OK in my book.

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. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) When President Obama signed the “Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act” last summer, many viewed the FDA’s newfound authority over tobacco as a cigarette issue. The law, after all, doesn’t automatically apply to cigars (as it does to cigarettes and smokeless tobacco). Instead, it requires the bureaucracy to issue a specific regulation bringing cigars under its purview. This week the FDA signaled its intention to do so in June. If the proposed rule is adopted, cigar makers, retailers, and consumers worry the government will tightly restrict cigar marketing and events, as well as require cigar “ingredient disclosure”—a move that would cost manufacturers huge sums of money in testing and documentation and likely restrict innovation.

2) Politicians in Mobile, Alabama, are considering a law that would be a new frontier for anti-smoking zealotry. The proposed legislation would empower health inspectors to deduct points from businesses that allow smoking, even though there is no scientific basis for the punitive measure. As Chris McCalla of the IPCPR points out, “The fact is that OSHA [Occupational Safety and Health Administration] has set safe levels for smoking that are up to 25,000 times higher than normally found in an average bar or restaurant that allows smoking.”

3) Inside the Industry: Scandinavian Tobacco and Swedish Match will merge their cigar operations later this year, bringing CAO, General Cigar, and retailer Cigars International under one roof. In an effort to lower its prices, United Tobacco—maker of 601, Cubao, and Murcielago—is parting ways with distributor Miami Cigar & Company. Meanwhile, in celebration of Miami Cigar & Company’s founding in 1989, the Nestor Miranda Collection is adding a new blend in three sizes: “1989” will be a Nicaraguan puro made by Don Pepin Garcia that will sell for just $5.

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews a Rocky Patel Decade Edición Limitada. Keepers of the Flame fires up a La Aurora 1495. Nice Tight Ash checks out a Viaje Skull and Bones. Tiki Bar kicks back with a Liga Privada Flying Pig. Cigar Inspector inspects a Camacho Triple 11/18.

5) Deal of the Week: Last call for Tax Day Specials at Cuban Crafters. There are a number of deep discounts on our favorites like the Cupido Tuxedo, J.L. Salazar, Cubano Claro, and Miami Medina. Our favorite deal is a box of 25 Don Kiki Brown Label Torpedos for just $55. Grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: SCS

When you see cigars mentioned in a newspaper, it’s often to highlight some study on the dangers of smoking, herald a proposed tax increase, or as a prop in characterizing the lifestyle of the rich and famous.

So imagine my surprise a few weeks ago when the Tampa Tribune devoted much of its travel/lifestyle section front to cigar etiquette. The illustrated do’s and don’ts kicked off a new column written by Patricia Rossi (pictured), “America’s etiquette and protocol coach” who who speaks, writes, and appears on TV.

Of course, Tampa calls itself Cigar City and hosts numerous cigar events—often in the Ybor City area that was once a cigar-making hub. Nonetheless, I was intrigued about the subject selection and exchanged emails with Rossi for some insight.

It turns out she’s not a regular cigar smoker, though she does enjoy them on occasion. “Just when my dad visits from North Carolina,” she wrote. “We go to Ybor and have a cigar.” I also wondered whether she was concerned about the reaction her column might draw from anti-tobacco forces. Not at all, she said, adding that smoking cigars is one of “about a billion social situations” that can require subtle navigation.” In fact, Rossi said reactions she and the reporter who collaborated with her received have been positive.

Most of the items in her compilation of cigar etiquette will be familiar to regular smokers, such as admonitions not to crush a stick as if it were a cigarette and not to dip the head in a drink. She also offers suggestions like enjoy the taste and aroma without inhaling.

And what’s the most common faux pas committed by cigar smokers? Rossi said it was handling and smelling the sticks too much. “They touch where people’s mouth will be smoking,” she said. “I think it’s important to take in the aroma from the foot of the cigar.”

You can find an interactive version of Rossi’s full article on cigar etiquette here.

–George E

photo credit: PatriciaRossi.com

The hammer and sickle flew on the flag of the Soviet Union from 1923 until the disintegration of the USSR in 1991. In that period and since it has served as an emblem for communism, intending to represent “proletariat” industrial and agricultural workers.

This controversial symbol strikes me as a curious logo to brand a product destined for sale in the U.S.—a country where communism is widely despised. But that’s exactly what the people at Hammer + Sickle Vodka did when they launched their spirit in 2005.

Hammer + Sickle is more than just a luxury vodka, according to company chairman Eric Hanson. The brand is a “lifestyle offering” that crossed over to cigars at the 2009 IPCPR Trade Show. “Like Hammer + Sickle Vodka,” says the company website, “these cigars are an authentic experience for the creative aficionado.”

While the vodka is made in Klin, Russia, the cigars are handmade in the Dominican Republic with five-year-old Connecticut wrappers and three-year-old Dominican binder and filler tobaccos. They are distributed by Victor Vitale’s The Cigar Agency. This New Hampshire outfit is also responsible for Ortsac 1962, a blend named for the Kennedy Administration’s plan for a military strike against Cuba.

Hammer + Sickle is available in four traditional sizes: Churchill, Toro, Torpedo, and a five inch by 50 ring gauge Robusto. Retailing for about $7-9 apiece, the latter features a smooth, caramel-colored wrapper with few veins, a well-applied cap, and pre-light notes of honey. The feel is slightly spongy.

Once lit, the Robusto kicks things off with a medium-bodied flavor that’s very salty and somewhat peppery. The nutty resting smoke smells far more interesting than the cigar tastes. After only half an inch, though, notes more commonly associated with Connecticut tobacco come to the fore: cream and almond. They are complemented by the original salt and pepper profile, making for a lively, mild-mannered cigar.

This well-balanced interplay continues for the remainder of the 60-minute smoke. All the while, the physical properties are near perfect with a straight burn, an effortless draw, and a gray ash that holds firm for over an inch.

I’m always on the lookout for mild cigars that strike a harmonious balance, don’t break the bank, and exhibit consistently good construction. Based on the two samples I smoked for this review (both provided by The Cigar Agency), I’ve found a winner. That’s why the Hammer + Sickle Robusto, notwithstanding its insignia, is worthy of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Campari might seem like an unusual suspect for a cigar spirit pairing, but it’s such a classic cocktail ingredient I’m determined to give it a try.

Between Steve Zissou (played by Bill Murray) ordering up rounds on the rocks in the movie Life Aquatic, and Nick Naylor, the lead character in Thank You for Smoking, ordering up one vodka negroni after another in Christopher Buckley’s classic book on the nanny state, the drink is as cool as they come.

Campari, for those who don’t know, is an Italian aperitif made with a secret blend with plenty of bitters and a distinctive bright red color. It’s the main ingredient for Campari and soda, the Americano (Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda water), and the negroni (both of the gin and vodka variety).

I decided to make a few negronis and see what cigars, if any, they pair well with. The ingredients for a negroni are simple enough: one part Campari, one part gin or vodka, and one part sweet vermouth served over ice with an orange twist.

The result is surprisingly good. The bitter/sweet combination of the negroni (in both traditional and vodka varieties) goes surprisingly well with a variety of mild- and medium-bodied smokes.

My extensive testing proved that mild smokes with creamy flavors, like the Cuban Crafters Medina 1959 and the Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne, proved an excellent pairing. Meanwhile, more medium-bodied smokes like the Tatuaje Reserva SW, Tatuaje P2, and the Don Pepin Blue Label also worked well.

Ultimately, Campari cocktails are a surprisingly good complement for cigars. If you like Campari-based drinks (certainly not everyone does) you should go out of the box and make yourself a proper negroni and light up a fine cigar.

No, it won’t replace traditional pairing staples like bourbon, scotch, or rum, but for something different, particularly as a pre-dinner smoke, order up a Campari cocktail. You just may find yourself pleasantly surprised.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys