The Stogie Guys

I don’t like to write a full review based on only one stick, but there are times when it’s unavoidable. Case in point: this Tatuaje Black, which is exclusively available in the sampler for Cigar Rights of America (CRA) members (limit one per member).

Like the original Tatjaue Black, known as Tatuaje founder Pete Johnson’s personal cigar, the CRA Sampler edition of the Black is a Nicaraguan puro, made by Don Pepin Garcia. The most obvious difference between the two is that the CRA version is slightly larger  (6 x 50) than the regular version (5.6 x 46).

The Tatuaje Black CRA edition features a dark and oily (though not particularly shiny) wrapper that is folded over the foot, fuma style. Below the plain black Tatuaje band is a second CRA band that reads “Become a CRA Member – CigarRights.org – 818-541-1535” on the side that faces the cigar.

This toro has a delicious pre-light aroma of roasted nuts, a pre-cursor to the roller coaster of flavor that follows.

The profile starts with a burst of heavy leather, followed almost immediately by a strong burst of pepper. Then, about an inch in, it transforms again into a medium- to full-bodied woody combination with some lingering leather. The finish includes  a ramped-up combination of leather, licorice, and earth.

This is an impressively complex cigar, even though it’s not always balanced or particularly nuanced. With so many twists and turns, the Tatuaje Black CRA edition is an immensely interesting smoke.

Thanks to  excellent construction, which leaves those flavor shifts to speak for themselves, the Tatuaje Black CRA Sampler Exclusive earns four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: CRA

If you haven’t heard of the Vartan Zoravar, you’re not alone. I was sent these cigars as part of a blind tasting and, as of now, they are only available in one shop in the country: Ambassador Fine Cigars in Scottsdale, Arizona.

But Ambassador owner Vartan Seferian has plans to change that, as a national distribution rollout is underway. The Zoravar (named after an Armenian hero, which translates as “Iron Man”) is a most unusual house blend.

Instead of going the traditional route of simply reselling a low-priced bundle cigar, Seferian employed Henke Kelner, head blender for Davidoff, to make his cigars.

Kelner’s blend uses a deep brown Nicaraguan Cuban-seed corojo wrapper around an Ecuadorian sungrown binder (a Connecticut/Cuban-seed hybrid), and Dominican piloto, olor, and San Vicente filler. It’s lumpy with a sharp taper at its head.

Pre-light, the Vartan is aromatic with a combination of barnyard, cinnamon, and notes of rum. The belicoso starts out with a balanced woody flavor that ends in a long, peppery, toasty finish.

As the cigar evolves, cocoa and cedar appear around the midway point. Then it becomes a bit creamy. Throughout, it’s medium-bodied with an abundance of sweet, aromatic smoke.

Surprisingly for a Henke Kelner creation, I noticed some construction issues in two of the three samples I smoked for this review. While the draw was perfect, an uneven burn and unstable ash distracted from the smoking experience.

Not surprisingly, though, the Vartan carries a price more like a Davidoff than like most discount house brands. But for $17 you get a cigar far more interesting than the average “house blend”—even if that makes it less likely to be your daily smoke.

That complexity earns this unique house blend a most respectable rating of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Along with 1961 and Corojo Especial, “Patel Bros.” was one of three blends released by Rocky Patel at the 77th annual International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) Trade Show in New Orleans. Inaugural shipments of the new line are arriving at retailers across the U.S. as we speak.

This appropriately named four-vitola blend represents the first collaboration between Rocky and his brother, Nimesh. According to Rocky’s website, “the duo worked for years to find a robust and unique wrapper to accompany a special Nicaraguan filler and binder blend.” They finally settled on an interesting choice: a broadleaf wrapper from the fields of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The result is rumored to taste similar to Rocky’s popular Winter Collection.

I was fortunate enough to grab a Patel Bros. Toro (6.5 x 52) when I was covering the IPCPR event back in August. So please note that this review is based off a single pre-release sample.

As you can see, my sample doesn’t include Rocky’s finished band, which features gold lettering on a black and white background. But it does include a dark and toothy wrapper, an absence of large veins or seams, a heavy weight, and a firm feel.

Pre-light, I find intense, mouth-watering aromas of sweet chocolate and espresso, especially off the foot. The well-constructed cap clips neatly to reveal an easy draw and some spice and sweetness on the lips.

Patel Bros. is full-bodied from the start. The first few puffs greet you with a rich taste of coffee, cocoa beans, and black pepper. Then, after the first inch, the flavor mellows slightly while remaining vigorous. A bit chalky, this profile reminds me of the Cain Habano—but perhaps with a little more depth.

Leather comes to the foreground as the winding yet self-correcting burn works down to the final third. All the while, the draw remains clear and the gray ash holds decently.

I enjoyed the young Patel Bros. Toro today, but I fully expect it to improve with age tomorrow. Still, absent any further development, it is already worth its price tag of $6-9 apiece and worthy of 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 take on a single cigar.

With classic Avo looks, this exclusive cigar—featuring an attractive, delicate, vein-free, light brown wrapper—makes you want to join CRA (if you haven’t already). It has the excellent construction you’d expect from an Avo. Flavor-wise, I found graham cracker, grass, and subtle peanut butter notes. With mild to medium notes and a toasty finish, it’s balanced and complex.

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 take on a single cigar.

I’d heard of El Titan de Bronze cigars, rolled for more than a decade on Calle Ocho in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood, long before having the chance to try one. The Gold line is particularly affordable for a high-quality U.S.-made smoke. I found a Robusto (5 x 50) for $5.50. Complex with medium strength, this Connecticut-wrapped stick moves from pepper to leather and earth. Well worth trying.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

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) While flavored cigarettes have been illegal in the U.S. since September, Canadian politicians outdid their American counterparts this week by passing sweeping anti-tobacco legislation. The new law bans most flavored cigarettes and cigars, prohibits print ads for tobacco products, and criminalizes the sale of single cigars. These measures, coupled with a nationwide smoking ban, place Canada among the least cigar-friendly nations on the planet.

2) New York City officials are aiming to expand on  FDA regulations by banning all flavored tobacco that isn’t intended for hookahs or pipes. The bill, now on Mayor Bloomberg’s desk, would make illegal flavored and infused cigars like Acid by Drew Estate, Flavours by CAO, and Java by Rocky Patel.

3) Inside the Industry: Frank Herrera’s 1608 La Caridad del Cobre cigars are set to debut on October 24 in Orange Beach, Alabama. Angelenos, a new cigar by Funete and Prometheus (who already partner to make God of Fire), will debut this fall.

4) Around the Blogs:  Stogie Review lights up a Perdomo Patriarch Maduro. Keepers of the Flame fires up a Verdadero Organic. Cigar Reviews samples the Berger & Argenti Entubar. Nice Tight Ash reviews a DPG Cuban Classic.

5) Deal of the Week: Via email, we got wind of these special Halloween deals over at Cuban Crafters, which you won’t find from their regular homepage. Included are boxes of the Don Kiki Green Label ($30), La Carolina ($75), Cuban Crafters Cameroon ($75), Cupido Tuxedo ($110), and a sampler of the 1959 Miami Medina ($30). Grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

It’s been almost ten months since the StogieGuys.com team published a new list of Gold Star Smokes. As you might recall, this special designation celebrates cigars that we feel are worthy of strong recommendations. They don’t necessarily have to be five stogie-rated—just commendable smokes we turn to time and again.

In our previous three Gold Star Smokes articles, we highlighted cigars like the Rocky Patel Vintage 1992 Torpedo, El Rey Del Mundo Robisto Larga, Punch Champion, EO 601 Serie “Green” La Fuerza, Montecristo Petit Edmundo, Cuban Crafters Cameroon Robusto, Blend 376 Robusto Extra, Arturo Fuente King B, and La Gloria Cubana’s Medaille d’Or No. 1 Maduro. Today we select four more.

Co-Founder & Editor in Chief Patrick A

The newly released 777 Corojo Robusto by J. Fuego strikes a great chord for me. It certainly wasn’t the most flashy or highly anticipated cigar at the IPCPR Trade Show in August. But, for about $5 apiece, it does offer an oily wrapper, good construction, and an interesting flavor of wood, pepper, citrus, and sour cream. I’ll always have a spot in my humidor for this silky smoke.

Co-Founder & Publisher Patrick S

As a reviewer of cigars, I enjoy regularly trying new and different smokes. But there are only a few that I find myself coming back to again and again. One such blend is Cubao by EO Brands. It’s a rare smoke that truly has balance,  intensity, and complexity—which is particularly impressive at the reasonable price of around $6 each by the box. Having sampled all the sizes, I’ve found the  Cubao No. 4 (4.9 x 50) best showcases all this blend has to offer.

Tampa Bureau Chief George E

The more I smoke the Camacho Connecticut Churchill, the more I like it. Great flavor, smooth, nicely constructed—and weighing in at only $6. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more satisfying medium- to full-strength cigar at such a reasonable price. Light one up, grab a drink, switch on the TV, and enjoy the game. (Here’s a review of the robusto-sized Monarca).

Contributing Reviewer Patrick M

I don’t always have two or more hours to dedicate to smoking. When I’m pressed for time, I often turn to Arturo Fuente’s Hemingway Short Story. It can be had for around $5 and offers all the wonderful balance, spice, and sweetness you’d expect from a Cameroon-wrapped cigar. Light one up when you’re short on time but looking for a quality experience.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Stogie Guys