The Stogie Guys

Even though Tatuaje recently eclipsed the Fuente Opus X as the most in-demand cigar in America, for most smokers the Opus X needs no introduction. Made by Fuente in the Dominican Republic, this Dominican puro regularly sells for well over its suggested retail price.

Fortunately, I was able to find two of these cigars for $11 each at Holt’s in Philadelphia, but a quick spot check of internet sites shows this six and a quarter inch by 39 ring gauge smoke selling for $20-30 each. The short lancero is well-packed and features a torpedo head.

Like all Opus X cigars, the Petit Lancero has a Dominican rosado wrapper, grown specially on Fuente’s tobacco farm then cured in rum barrels prior to being rolled. Today there are many Dominican puros on the market (in part due to the success of Opus X), but when the Opus X was introduced in the mid-1990s the idea of using Dominican wrappers was pretty revolutionary.

Of the two cigars I sampled, one had a large soft spot that foreshadowed some serious burn issues. While very uncharacteristic of the various Opus X cigars I’ve smoked, this flaw created a horribly uneven burn that required numerous touch-ups just to remain smokable. Fortunately, the other sample had good construction with a deliberate draw and a sturdy ash.

The flavors of these cigars are classic Opus X: loads of leather, spicy pepper, and cedar. It’s not very balanced, or nuanced for that matter, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t enjoyable. The long finish is particularly nice, with sweet wood and a hint of pepper.

All in all, the petit lancero is much of what I’ve come to expect from Opus X. While it’s a bombshell of flavor, it doesn’t have the complexity of my favorite Opus X, the torpedo-shaped Perfecxion No. 2. So while the Arturo Fuente Opus X Petit Lancero loses a point for a lack of nuance and some uncharacteristic construction issues, it still earns an impressive four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Two entirely different cigars were introduced at this summer’s IPCPR Trade Show bearing the year 1961. One was the Frank Llaneza 1961 by Altadis, which commemorates the year the master blender began crafting cigars. And the other was the Rocky Patel 1961, which honors the year the cigar superstar was born.

Nothing but an odd coincidence. Names aside, the latter was one of three new blends launched by Rocky Patel in New Orleans this August (the other two being Patel Bros. and Corojo Especial). It is the first to be made at the Tabacalera Villa Cuba, Rocky’s newest factory in Nicaragua.

The Rocky Patel 1961 is built with Nicaraguan filler tobaccos, a Honduran binder, and reddish, oily habano-seed wrapper from Ecuador. It comes in four traditional sizes. Included are a Corona, Toro, Torpedo, and a five inch by 50 ring gauge Robusto that sells for approximately $6-8 apiece.

The first thing you notice about this cigar is its unique double band. The top half, displaying a tobacco plant with an intricate root system, spills over onto a maroon background band, making for a distinctive presentation.

Also distinctive is the 1961’s vigorous pre-light aroma. You don’t have to get your nose too close to the textured wrapper or the coarsely packed foot to get a heavy dose of cocoa, earth, and a bit of spice.

That spice is likewise evident on the lips for the cold taste, which pulls through smoothly despite the Robusto’s firm feel. Then, after establishing an even burn, the initial flavor takes on characteristics of black pepper, dry wood, and nutmeg. Powerful and full-bodied, to say the least.

I am thankful that, after a half inch or so, the profile starts to settle down, enabling more nuance and complexity to shine through. The new tastes include sweet candied nuts and cream—excellent compliments to the bolder base flavors. Everything stays on an even keel as long as you maintain a relaxed smoking pace.

Meanwhile, expect this Robusto’s combustion qualities to be superior to most other Rocky Patel blends. While I’ve consistently encountered the need to fix the burns on several of his lines, this one is better behaved. That adds a lot to the enjoyment of the 75-minute smoke.

So the 1961 Robusto is worthy of my recommendation, especially if you prefer big flavors. It may seem like Rocky comes out with something new every week, but don’t let this fall off your radar. It earns four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

As I’ve written before, beer is often an under-appreciated beverage to pair with a fine cigar. And winter is a great time for beers that go well with cigars.

As the weather turns colder, a number of breweries release winter beers that have rich flavors that can stand up to the flavors of a fine smoke. Recently, I picked up a selection of such seasonal beers to see what cigars would pair well with each:

Anchor 2009 Christmas Ale — Since 1975, Anchor Steam has produced this coffee-colored seasonal ale. After an aroma of nutmeg and cinnamon, you find a spicy, malty beer with a tinge of spearmint. It’s not too heavy, so I’d suggest a medium-bodied smoke that’s nice and balanced like a Tatuaje Havana VI.

Winter Hook Winter Ale — Made for 25 years by Red Hook brewery in New Hampshire, this copper ale produces a small amount of head and a malty aroma. This beer, not as heavy as Anchor, has toasted wheat flavors and some floral elements. Go with a mild smoke with this one, like an Ashton Classic.

Samuel Smith Winter Welcome Ale — With a bright amber hue, this British winter ale has a nice head and a toffee and apple aroma. It’s balanced and lager-like with toffee, grass, and caramel flavors, and a clean, hoppy finish. I’d suggest pairing this beer with a Connecticut-wrapped cigar, like the CAO Gold or Fuente King T.

Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine — While not an ale like the rest, this Barleywine, released in late November by Dogfish Head, is a kick above the competition at 15% ABV. For such a bold brew, the nose is surprisingly tame with a hint of apple cider. On the palate, the beer is a syrupy combination of intense raisin, toffee, and apples. Being a barleywine, it can stand up to a more full-bodied cigar, like an Ashton VSG or a Davidoff Millenium Blend.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

A few weeks ago, I spent a pleasant evening at Arnold Serafin’s cigar shop smoking and chatting. One of the sticks I enjoyed was Arnold’s eponymous production. I left with several others, thinking I could give them a more objective evaluation in another setting. I don’t know about you, but I usually find that when I’m having a good time, every cigar seems just a bit better.

So, I’ve now smoked several Serafin de Cubas in various sizes. With Ecuadorian wrappers around a mix of Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos, which Arnold told me he purchases from Oliva Tobacco in Tampa, these are well-crafted cigars rolled on site. They produce a ton of smoke and burn evenly.

While not particularly complex, they do offer changes from head to foot, with a little grass, nuts, and a buttery smoothness on the finish. As with many cigars, I favored the Robusto vitola, but not by a lot. I was reminded a little of one of Stogie Guys’ favorite house blends, Ybor City Handmades, though each is a distinctive smoke.

If you happen to be in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area, you can stop by Arnold’s shop in Tarpon Springs. (And I noticed on his recently revamped website that he’s added a spot to the north in Spring Hill, Florida.) Stop by on the weekend and you can usually pick up a Serafin de Cuba freshly rolled by the Cuban roller who produces these cigars. But if you can’t make it down this way, call Arnold and he’ll personally take care of you.

These cigars are value priced: Six of the seven sizes come in bundles of 25 for $100, with the seventh, a 6.5-inch by 54 ring gauge “Giant Torpedo,” going for $25 more.

If you like milder cigars, want some quality sticks on hand for the occasional smoker who stops by, or simply desire the experience of a truly small-batch smoke, give these a try. I know I need to get back up the street and buy more from Arnold. I give his cigar, the Serafin de Cuba Robusto, a rating of four stogies out of five.

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

–George E

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 five and a half inch by 52 ring gauge smoke features filler that is 50% Moroccan Azemour tobacco. The result is a medium-bodied smoke with a dry, cedary flavor and an interesting hint of plum. The taste is consistent throughout, which leaves it slightly one-dimensional. The construction is flawless, however, allowing this unique cigar to produce an abundance of aromatic smoke.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

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.”

As far as I can tell, this 6.5-inch Ashton, which came in the sampler that’s available only to CRA members, is identical to the regular VSG Illusion. But I hardly have buyer’s remorse. While it would have been nice to try a new twist on the VSG, this blend of four- to five-year-old Dominican tobacco and an Ecuadorian wrapper is a box-pressed treat. The smooth, medium-bodied flavor includes notes of nuts, dry wood, sweet chocolate, and some pepper spice on the finish. The only flaw in this memorable 90-minute smoke is its slightly stiff draw.

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) Exclusive: Last month we told you about the “Benji Menendez Social.” This five-city tour was launched on November 17 to celebrate the new Benji Menendez Partagas Master Series Majestuoso. Events have already been held in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, each featuring the new limited release from General Cigar and drinks from sponsors like Courvoisier, Dalmore Scotch, Mount Gay Rum, and Stella Artois. Until now, each event has been held at a “secret location,” revealed only the day before it takes place. But StogieGuys.com has learned that the next social, scheduled for Chicago on Tuesday, will be at the Seven Stars Lounge at the Horseshoe Casino (6:30-8:30pm). To attend, enter the RSVP code “DA31049” here.

2) Now is a great time to join the J.C. Newman Cigar Club with a modest membership fee of $18. In return, you’ll get a four-stogie Cuesta-Rey Centro Fino sampler, a golf shirt, coupons for free cigars and merchandise, and more. Plus, best of all, the fee includes a donation to the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit that raises millions to build schools and health facilities in the Dominican Republic.

3) Inside the Industry: Jaime Garcia’s latest creation, the Reserva Especial, will debut next Saturday at an event at at the Cigar Inn in New York City. The cigar, which comes in only one size (6 x 56) is composed of a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper, an Ecuadoran binder, and filler from Nicaragua. Attendees get a free box of 10  when they purchase select other Don Pepin-made cigars. The cigar isn’t scheduled to start shipping to shops until Spring 2010.

4) Around the Blogs: Weekly Cigar torches up a La Flor Limitado III. Cigar Jack lights up a Tesa Cabinet 312. Keepers of the Flame reviews the Illusione Epernay. Stogie Review smokes the 777 Corojo. Cigar Inspector inspects the La Traviata.

5) Deal of the Week: There’s a good reason why the toro is one of the most popular sizes, and this “Stellar Toro Sampler” has ten quality toros for just $29.99. Featured blends include the Don Pepin Garcia Blue Label, Perdomo ESV 1991, Rocky Patel Connecticut, Casa Toraño, Partagas, Perdomo Golf Edition, and La Aroma de Cuba.  Get yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Benji Menendez Social