The Stogie Guys

Magazine editors have forever believed that green is a bad color to put on their covers. After looking at the unpleasant gummy bear green tones in the CL3 band, it’s hard not to think that cigar makers might want to adopt the same shibboleth.

Of course, bands don’t count when evaluating a cigar. But they do help create a first impression and influence the decision to buy or pass. Who, for example, can really take a Helix seriously?

Another problem with the CL3 is trying to find out about it. Argenese’s website reveals almost nothing except that it is grown from “100% first generation Cuban-seed corojo.” Checks on other sites indicate the CL stands for Corojo Ligero and that it is a Dominican puro.

With the emphasis on ligero, this line touts strength and spice. If you’re looking for a Pepin-style stick on steroids, though, I think you’ll be disappointed. I found the CL3 a little slow to develop and not really all that powerful throughout.

Pepper predominates early, but backs off about halfway down to give way to leather and cedar. The biggest drawback is a sharpness that sometimes creates an unpleasant taste and finish.

The torpedo is six and 7/8 inches long with a 52 ring gauge. The price is low, with specials on boxes of 20 hitting down as low as $40. For that, they’re a bargain. They also would seem to have good potential for aging. Maybe that would smooth out some of the rough edges.

All in all, this isn’t a bad cigar. It just isn’t outstanding, either. I didn’t enjoy the Arganese CL3 Torpedo as much as my colleague, so I’d rate it three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

In September, fresh off my trip to New Orleans for the IPCPR Trade Show, I reviewed the 777 Corojo, a wonderful new release from master blender Jesus Fuego. I was impressed and made a commitment to better acquaint myself with the other lines of the relatively young J. Fuego brand.

The “Natural” blend is as good a place to start as any. It was, in late 2006, the first blend to debut after Fuego launched his eponymous brand by the Miami-based Tabacos S.A. company. Before this venture, Fuego had completed a master’s degree in agronomy at Havana University, worked at Camacho, and gained industry prominence through his instrumental role in developing Rocky Patel’s Vintage lines.

Now, in partnership with the Plasencia family, J. Fuego features the Gran Reserva, Delirium, and 777 Maduro lines—in addition to the aforementioned 777 Corojo and Natural. The latter is handmade in Honduras with Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos and a shade-grown criollo wrapper.

With a six inch by 54 ring gauge frame, the Natural Belicoso is a heavy, sizeable smoke. It sports two white bands, faint pre-light notes of grass, and a firm feel. The clean, oily wrapper is attractive despite some lumps and discoloration.

After toasting the foot, the initial flavor is of oak, damp earth, and butter with a balanced texture that’s both creamy and spicy. Black pepper keeps the taste interesting, as does a faint sweetness. But the overall effect is pretty mild.

That remains true at the midway point. Here, about 40 minutes into the cigar, the sweetness becomes more pronounced as the spice slowly dissipates. And a few new flavors—namely sage and walnut—also join in.

With a burn that requires little maintenance, a decent gray ash, and a draw as smooth as its taste, the Natural Belicoso won’t disappoint in the construction department. It smokes true to the finish, just as a $6-9 cigar should.

I think I most enjoyed this J. Fuego creation for what it isn’t. It isn’t flashy. It isn’t ground-breaking. And it doesn’t start off with a pleasant mellowness only to turn boring or harsh.

While it may not carry the character or value of the 777 Corojo, the J. Fuego Natural Belicoso is a traditional midday smoke with an agreeable taste that won’t leave you weak in the knees. It 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

Available at a only a select few stores, Tatuaje built on the success of last year’s “Frank” with two more limited release Halloween cigars in 2009: “Boris” (a Frank “out of costume”—i.e., with a different, less green wrapper) and the Drac.

Drac is a fang-shaped torpedo (6.75 x 52) with a simple red and black band around the foot. Only 1,300 boxes of 13 cigars each were made of the habano maduro-wrapped Nicaraguan puro.

Individual cigars sold for $13 each, if not a few dollars more due to the high demand for the smokes. I was fortunate enough to land a pair of the sought-after sticks from a friend of a friend who had gotten his hands on a box.

In response to some issues with those boxes, Tatuaje maker Pete Johnson put out a special bulletin on the Tatuaje website recommending that people put the cigars in their humidor without the box for a few weeks. It seems that since the coffin-shaped boxes were delayed, they smelled of fresh paint when the cigars were boxed. So Johnson recommended waiting for that odor to dissipate.

I didn’t notice any paint smells from the samples I smoked, which had spent enough time in the humidor before they were smoked. But the Drac did have a distinct aroma of sweet licorice and it left a notable bready flavor on my lips when I drew on the unlit cigar. The dark brown, matte wrapper had a few prominent veins and was slightly spongy to the touch.

The Drac opened up with an interesting combination of raisin and prune flavors mixed with a bit of chalk and subtle mint. It was also peppery on the lips. As the cigar progressed, it became leathery, occasionally to the point of some bitterness. In the final third, dry woody notes were added to the lively flavor profile.

Construction was quite good, with an exceptionally sturdy light gray ash. The torpedo produces plenty of smoke, although at times the deliberate draw bordered on tight.

This is an interesting cigar, with many twists and turns and a very unique and complex combination of flavors. The Tatuaje Drac earns four stogies out of five.

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

–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.”

This version of the Liga Privada is found exclusively in the CRA sampler, which is available only to Cigar Rights of America members. It is a well-constructed cigar with a dark, coarse Connecticut wrapper, very few veins, and pre-light notes of chocolate. It starts out toasty, but soon evolves into a dry, cool smoke with dark chocolate flavors and a hint of peppery spice.

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.”

I recently picked up this long corona (6.25 x 45) from my local tobacconist. He said it had been aging in an Old Man and the Sea limited edition book box since 2006 and, after looking over the yellowed cellophane, I was inclined to believe him. With a rough Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, a Connecticut broadleaf binder, and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua and Honduras, the Library Edition yields a leathery taste with spice and a bit of nutmeg. It smokes well with a finely layered white ash. Give one of these a try if you’re lucky enough to find an aging cache.

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) Starting on December 1, most restaurants and bars in Virginia will be forced to prohibit smoking. But Morton’s is going out with style. The evening before the law takes effect, the high-end steakhouse chain will host special “Last Hurrah” cigar dinners at three of its four locations across the commonwealth. Events at the Arlington and Tysons Corner restaurants will feature Davidoff smokes and luxurious food and wine pairings. Not to be outdone, the Reston Morton’s dinner (already sold out) will boast Paul Garmirian cigars, including the world debut of the new PG Symphony 20th Connoisseur. Grab your tickets now for what will be a night to remember—and, like last year, you might even spot a member of the Stogie Guys crew.

2) Meanwhile, Florida-based brothers of the leaf should head over to Tampa on Friday, November 20, for “Light Up the Night.” This cigar street party will feature smokes, food, drinks, live music, and appearances by the likes of Carlito Fuente. Some proceeds will benefit the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation.

3) Inside the Industry: Partagas is launching a new limited cigar called the Benji Menendez Partagas Master Series Majestuoso. To celebrate the launch, they’re throwing special “Benji Menendez Social” events in five cities in the next several weeks, and StogieGuys.com has secured a limited number of invitations for our readers. Each event, which will take place at a “secret location” to be revealed the day before it takes place, is to feature the new limited Partagas cigar, as well as drinks from sponsors like Courvoisier, Dalmore Scotch, Mount Gay Rum, and Stella Artois. To attend the event near you, enter the RSVP code here.

Dallas, TX                      Nov. 17, 2009, from 6-8 p.m.         RSVP Code: 36498D8
Los Angeles, CA         Dec. 1, 2009, from 6-8 p.m.             RSVP Code: FFCEF8C
Las Vegas, NV             Dec. 3, 2009, from 6-8 p.m.            RSVP Code: AE1C593
Chicago, IL                   Dec. 8, 2009, from  6-8:30 p.m.    RSVP Code: DA31049
New York, NY             Dec. 15, 2009, from 6-8 p.m.          RSVP Code: 71852C9

4) Around the Blogs: Keepers of the Flame breaks down five Arganese blends. Stogie Review fires up the Cuban Maduro. Nice Tight Ash lights up a San Cristobal Selección del Sol. Cohiba Club checks out the Sol Cubano Maduro. Cigar Choice reviews the Tatuaje Boris. Cigar Inspector inspects the Illusione 68.

5) Deal of the Week:  Ratings are a subjective thing, but there is no denying that this “Aficionado Rated 90+ Sampler” contains some top-notch smokes. You get a dozen cigars for just $60, including the Don Pepin Garcia Blue, Rocky Patel Sun Grown, Gurkha Legend, CAO Brazilia, La Aurora 1495, Camacho Corojo Limited, Oliva Serie G, and the Padilla 1932. Get yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Morton’s Steakhouse

Of all the cigars I’ve been lucky enough to try since the IPCPR Trade Show in August, the Entubar Torpedo remains my favorite. The only problem? That magnificent smoke, the flagship blend of the new Berger & Argenti brand, is too pricey to be an everyday stogie.

Luckily, this Miami-based boutique has another, more affordable line: Exile Wired. Its four vitolas carry MSRPs ranging from $108 to $144 per Spanish cedar box of 24.

While they currently sell under the Berger & Argenti label, they debuted back in 2008 as a product of Cuban Imports, Inc. You may recall that Albert and Michael Argenti of Cuban Imports launched Berger & Argenti in August with Don Kiki Berger, who fashions the Cupido, Cubano Claro, and Don Kiki lines for Cuban Crafters.

At any rate, the ingredients of Exile Wired include a filler blend of Nicaraguan (ligero and viso) and Dominican (seco) tobacco surrounded by a Connecticut broadleaf binder. The dry and clean wrapper is an Ecuadorian Havana-seed criollo leaf that was previously unavailable to the U.S. market.

The result tested well in the mainstream cigar media. Exile Wired was hailed by Cigar Insider as a Best Buy of 2008 and rated 90 by Cigar Aficionado—the highest score for a non-Cuban smoke in the publication’s Winter 2008 issue.

With a clean look, a firm feel, and a sharp head, the Torpedo (6 x 54) certainly appears worthy of high praise. I also find the double bands to be unique and attractive. Too bad they cause trouble when it’s time to remove them. On the two Torpedos I smoked for this review, both bands were tightly stuck to the wrapper, making it nearly impossible to take them off without tearing the exterior leaf.

Troublesome bands like these are a pet peeve of mine because they usually cause construction issues. But here, thankfully, the combustion qualities remain excellent, including a razor-sharp burn, a fortified white ash, and a smooth draw.

The medium-bodied flavor, notably consistent from light to nub, has a spicy cedar core with tones of ginger, walnut, and wine. Balanced, albeit slightly dry. The aftertaste is smooth and mellow with a soft pepper tingle.

That’s ultimately why I think this 90-minute smoke is good for beginners. It has enough flavor and nuance to keep you interested, but little strength or harshness. For me, the $5.50 Exile Wired Torpedo offers a wallet-friendly, not-too-exciting and not-too-bland change of pace from my regular rotation. It earns three stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys