The Stogie Guys

What do the Vintage Especial Rothchild and Gran Cru No. 2 have in common? Well, other than being produced by Tesa, they both rank among the best cigars I’ve reviewed in 2009. So it’s high time I check out “Havanitas,” another one of nine blends produced by this Chicago-based boutique manufacturer.

As you may recall from my previous reviews, Tesa is headquartered in a shop on the Near North Side of the Windy City. Their cigars are, according to the company’s website, “meticulously blended by Chicago area resident Chris Kelly and crafted in the Tesa Cigar factory in Estelí.” Tesa’s naked, tiger-endorsed blends make use of a variety of wrappers and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua.

The Havanitas line, available with a Connecticut shade or criollo ’98 maduro wrapper, comes in two slender sizes: No. 1 (7 x 36) and No. 2 (5.5 x 36). Only 90,000 per vitola are made annually.

With a sharp pigtail cap, a smooth and silky wrapper, and faint pre-light notes of honey and sawdust, the Connecticut No. 1 is as gorgeous as it is elegant. The only imperfection is a harmless “frog eyes” spot near the head.

The narrow foot is easy to light with a single wooden match. As the white ash begins to build, a crisp and satisfying profile develops that includes notes of dry wine, potato, toast, and cream. Mild, yet with plenty of flavor and some spice on the finish.

Warm honey, clove, and tea join in at the midway point to add depth. With each puff producing tons of aromatic smoke, it’s here where I start to appreciate this cigar’s easy draw—especially for a lancero—and razor-sharp burn. The last two inches are characterized by increased spice and notes of  meat and cereals.

As with the others in the Tesa lineup, this cigar’s main drawback is its limited availability and high cost. The only way to get your hands on one of these is to either visit the shop in person or purchase it from Tesa’s online store for $12.15 per single.

Notwithstanding those barriers, I still hope you decide to try at least one Havanitas Connecticut No. 1. You won’t be disappointed. For its complex flavor and high-quality physical properties, 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

Here are some random thoughts on the state of the cigar industry:

Are prices scaring off potential cigar smokers?

I was recently reading the latest issue of Cigar Aficionado and was struck by the lack of affordable smokes. Maybe I’m just getting old, but I seem to remember a time when a significant portion of cigars were available in the $3-5 range. In the October issue, 77 cigars were reviewed; only one cost less than $5, and only 25% were listed as costing less than $7. Maybe it’s just the cigars CA chooses to review. But then again, Cigar Aficionado is many smokers’ first step into cigardom, meaning that these are the first prices many new smokers see. No matter what the reason, I worry that high prices are scaring away potential cigar enthusiasts.

So then what’s an “average” cigar?

Speaking of Cigar Aficionado, have you ever read their descriptions of what their numerical ratings actually mean? According to CA, a rating of 70-79 means “average to good commercial quality” and 80-89 indicates a “very good to excellent” smoke.” Yet I’m not sure I ever recall a cigar getting lower than 80 points in the magazine. While it has been quite awhile since I took a math class, I’m pretty sure it’s mathematically impossible for every single score to be better than average.

Davidoff’s acquisition of Camacho

Some cigar industry folks I spoke to were quite surprised when a year ago the Davidoff Oettinger Group announced their acquisition of Camacho Cigars. It was particularly surprising for some given the brands’ seemingly opposite cigar-making philosophies. Camacho is known for intense, full-bodied, flavor-forward cigars, while Davidoff’s cigars are usually characterized as nuanced, complex, and often on the milder end of the spectrum. We’ve already discussed the reasons for the acquisition, but there’s at least one additional way that it makes plenty of sense: With the late great Zino Davidoff no longer around, and Avo Uvezian well passed retirement age, the company now has a youthful cigar ambassador in Camacho’s Christian Eiroa (pictured) who can be groomed to fill those immensely respected shoes.

Flattery through imitation

These days there are relatively few breakthroughs when it comes to the technical aspects of cigar making. One area where we see occasional innovation, however, is in cigar shapes. Two such examples are the chisel, pioneered by Litto Gomez of La Flor Dominicana, and the Nub, created by Sam Leccia (with Oliva). Since the Nub debuted, a few other companies have created cigars clearly designed to imitate the short and thick shape. (I’m told some in the industry derisively call these cigars “Snubs.”) Yet, to my knowledge, curiously no company to date has copied the innovative chisel shape.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Facebook

I have to admit I was a little disappointed when I smoked my first cigar from the new Cubao Maduro blend. Though I knew not to expect the spice of its natural sibling, I was unprepared for the difference the wrapper would make.

The Ecuadorian broadleaf maduro wrapper truly transforms the taste of the Nicaraguan binder and filler. My initial impression was that the Cubao Maduro was a little too bitter, too rough, and lacked the notes I typically associate with maduros.

Now, however, after quite a few more No. 5s (6.125 x 50), I’ve come to enjoy the cigar for what it is—not what it isn’t. And what it is, first and foremost, is its own cigar. Despite sharing names and innards with the original Cubao, they taste like completely different blends.

This Erik Espinosa, Eddie Ortega, and Don Pepin Garcia creation from EO Brands is a meaty, leathery, heavy-duty smoke not to be taken lightly. It requires attention, not only to appreciate its taste and aroma, but also for its practicalities as well.

The dark, thick wrapper, for example, can create a challenge keeping the cigar lit and burning evenly. Let it begin to burn down one side and you’ll experience a different cigar without the wrapper fully engaged. Yet the Cubao Maduro is also easy to overheat if you draw too frequently.

Rolled out at this summer’s IPCPR Trade Show, these cigars are not as widely available as the original Cubao blend or EO’s popular 601 line. I bought a box at an event in a local shop. The per-stick price appears to be around $6-8.

All in all, I have to say I prefer the original Cubao. I gave the No. 6 four and a half stogies when I reviewed it over a year ago. For me, this new blend isn’t quite at that level, so the EO Cubao Maduro No. 5 earns 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 take on a single cigar.

This six inch by 50 ring gauge toro features a dark and flawless Connecticut broadleaf wrapper. The medium-bodied smoke has dry, dark chocolate flavors and a pronounced cedary aroma. It’s a well-balanced profile. Construction is also impressive, with an even burn, sturdy ash, and easy draw. It went well with this Lebowski-inspired cocktail.

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.

After resting in my humidor for over six months, the Vintage Regente (5 x 54) showed significant signs of improvement—performing better than my colleague reported in his May review. Its soft notes of coffee, wood, and leather seemed more harmonious. The finish, as a result, wasn’t as coarse or dry as I remembered. And since the cigar’s physical properties remain outstanding, it’s easier to justify this Connecticut shade-wrapped stick’s fairly steep price of $9-10 per single.

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) Two powerful earthquakes rocked the South Pacific earlier this week, taking hundreds of lives and causing widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure. A subsequent tsunami devastated the Samoas—“flattening villages and sweeping some residents out to sea”—and landslides on the Indonesian tobacco-producing island of Sumatra left “scores trapped in rubble.” Given the severity of the situation, the consequences of this tragedy on the cigar industry remain unknown and, for now, trivial.

2) While officials tried to criminalize smoking in Atlantic City’s 11 casinos last year, they ended up postponing the law once the recession hit. Now, as the economy continues to take its toll on the gambling industry, it looks like the ban may be deferred again. That would be welcome news for the business community and employment. When the casinos were accidentally forced to go tobacco-free in 2008, “several of the gambling halls said their revenue losses doubled.”

3) Inside the Industry: We’ve finally started to spot the new Fuente Special “T” tubo in stores, reportedly with the Fuente “Queen B”—a smaller version of the Rosado-wrapped King B torpedo. Fuente is also releasing their annual Fuente Fuente Opus X for the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation 2009 collection (priced at $950), which includes rare Opus X cigars. If you’re looking to tee it up with the pros (while smoking fine cigars), spaces for the Montecristo Cup Charity Pro-Am are still available, with a significant portion of the $5,000 entry fee going to the Montecriso Relief Organization. Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, creator of La Gloria Cubana, has launched the website for his new cigar venture.

4) Around the Blogs: Tampa Cigar Examiner reviews Brick House. NiceTightAsh looks at the La Traviata. Cigar Inspector inspects an H. Upmann Magnum 48. Keepers of the Flame smokes a Casa Farnandez.  Stogie Review asks if we need to update our definition of full-bodied.

5) Deal of the Week: Cuban Crafters is having a sale with some real bargains on quality smokes. Our picks would be a box of 25 La Carolinas for just $59, a box of 25 Cupido Criollos cfor just $55, or a humidor box of the new Cubano Claro for just $89. Get yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: USGS

It’s now officially fall and that means crisp evenings, changing leaves, football, and pumpkin beer. Yes, pumpkin beer.

Since America’s micro-brew renaissance, we’ve been fortunate enough to see great beer innovation, including a number of seasonal brews made with pumpkin flavors. I recently tasted a selection of such pumpkin beers to see what this autumn treat has to offer:

Dogfish Head Punkin’ Ale: Brown ale with wonderful spicy aroma and a dry, graham cracker spice. It’s sweet, bready, and medium-bodied.

Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale: Billed as “America’s originial pumpkin ale,” this cloudy ale has very little head and almost no carbonation. It’s a bit watery with clove flavors and a fresh aroma of pumpkin.

Post Road Pumpkin Ale: Made by Brooklyn Brewery, Post Road has a deep copper color and a rich allspice aroma. It’s a crisp, hoppy blend with a flavor that reminds me of roast pumpkin seeds.

Shipyard Pumpkinhead: This Maine brew (not pictured) is actually a “malt beverage with pumpkin spice added” according to the label, but don’t let that fool you. The copper-colored beverage has the aroma and smell of sweet pumpkin pie.

Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale: Harvest Moon is the only pumpkin ale I know made by a large beer producer (Coors/Molson). It’s less pumpkiny than many of its counterparts, but has a bit of spice to go with its otherwise smooth, if watery, flavors.

Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale: With a dark, cloudy orange color, nice head, and a cinnamon aroma, this is a rich, full-flavored ale. Malty, spicy, and balanced, it would be easy to drink a few of these.

Southern Tier Imperial Pumking: This 9% ABV brew has a delicious aroma of fresh pumpkin and vanilla. It’s a step above the other pumpkin ales in intensity and strength. You get the feeling this would be a delicious beer even without the pumpkin flavors, but the rich pumpkin spice adds a new delicious dimension.

Any of these beers would go well with a fine cigar. Stronger beers like the Southern Tier, Smuttynose, or Post Road could stand up to a more full-bodied maduro or a Cameroon-wrapped cigar. The other beers need a milder cigar or they run the risk of being overpowered. No matter what you choose, though, I recommend you embrace the season and pick up some pumpkin beer. It may not be an everyday pairing, but when the mood and season strikes, it’s a great change of pace.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys