The 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 like lanceros. So when I saw this 7 inch Serie V I had to give it a try. I used a V-cutter and a conventional butane lighter, fearing a torch would be too much for the 38 ring gauge foot. It drew fine from start to finish and produced lots of smoke. I was disappointed, though, in the flavors. The cigar just wasn’t as smooth or as tasty as other Olivas I’ve enjoyed. Perhaps there’s too much of the Habano Sun Grown wrapper relative to the Nicaraguan filler. I recommend other vitolas—Cigar Aficionado named the Torpedo the fourth best cigar for 2007—in this high-quality line.

Verdict = Sell.

–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.

I decided to test “Nub theory” with this Connecticut-wrapped torpedo (4 x 64) on a sunny morning with a cup of Kona coffee. (Interestingly, the Nub website doesn’t list this size, although they were being distributed at the IPCPR show, where I grabbed this particular stick.) The medium-bodied flavors of this stubby little smoke melded perfectly with the coffee, featuring a smooth creamy base with cocoa and a touch of cedar. The construction was also impressive, with the distinctive firm solid ash.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

In our ongoing effort to make StogieGuys.com as entertaining and informative as possible, each Friday we’ll post a mixed bag of quick cigar news and other snippets of interest. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) Hurricane Gustav did some major damage to Cuba on August 30. According to reports, “winds of 140mph crashed into the western edge of the Caribbean island where much of the country’s vital tobacco crop is grown.” Gladly, Cigar Aficionado reports it was too early in the season for tobacco plants or seedlings to be in the ground; more importantly, the government reported no deaths due to the storm.

2) Yesterday marked the beginning of a new smoking ban for “all places of business” in Wichita, Kansas—unless you’ve got a government-issued smoking permit, that is. City bureaucrats were nice enough to post some of the red tape here.

3) Kansas City has been at the mercy of a Draconian smoking ban since April but, much to the chagrin of one anti-tobacco editorialist, the City Council is looking to ease some of the law’s oppressive restrictions. In a very modest improvement, they’d like to once again permit smoking in retail tobacco shops—a move you’d think even the most ardent smoke-hating zealots could live with.

4) Inside the Industry: Chicago-area readers may be interested in Stogies and Bogies, a combination cigar show/golf outing. Davidoff is introducing the Maduro R. Felipe Gregoria opened the Casa Felipe store in Miami, a cigar and wine lounge in the heart of Little Havana.

5) Around the Blogs: Cigar Jack reviews an Alec Bradley Tempus. Stogie Review smokes an Alec Bradley Maxx Vice. Keepers of the Flame lights up a La Riqueza. Matt smokes the Padilla 8/11 Miami.

6) Deal of the Week: I don’t really know why this is called the King Sampler, but it does include 10 top notch cigars for $34. Included are sticks from Romeo y Julieta, Fonseca, Cusano, La Aurora, Aroma de Cuba, CAO, and Don Pepin. Grab yours here.

– The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

When many of us pull a cigar from the humidor after six or eight months, we think of it as having some age. But for most connoisseurs of aged cigars, sticks at that stage have barely begun to get settled.

Some serious smokers wouldn’t dream of lighting up a cigar that hasn’t been set aside at least a few years; others smoke fresh and aged cigars. The one thing you can count on in any discussion about aging is that there’s little agreement and lots of personal preference.

My own experience with aging cigars is fairly limited. Most of my aging occurs more by accident than design. Other than a few sticks I’ve been holding for five or six years, the older cigars in my humidor usually result from just not getting around to smoking them in a timely fashion. Consequently, I have quite a few that have six to 18 months of age and some a little older. For example, I’m still working my way through a box of Toraño Exodus 1959 Silver Editions I’ve had for at least a couple of years. To me, they’re as tasty now as the day I smoked the first one, maybe even a bit smoother.

If you’re considering serious cigar aging, I can pass along a little advice I’ve garnered conversing with some top collectors:

1) Be sure your humidor setup is accurate, and monitor it carefully. Many connoisseurs store cigars at temperatures in the 60°-65°F range to limit the possibility of beetle infestation, and they keep the humidity below 70 percent. I think the most important factor is long-term consistency.

2) Commit to boxes. It’s obviously expensive, but you eliminate the possibility of flavors from different cigars merging, and you can try a stick periodically to check progress.

3) Don’t expect every aged cigar to be a sublime smoke. Sometimes, you’ll find the stick is no better—or even worse—than when you bought it.

4) There’s some agreement, though it’s by no means universal, that stronger cigars tend to age better and that moderate ring gauges do better as well.

In an upcoming Cigar Insider, I’ll talk with Doc Stogie of Stogie Fresh, who does extensive reviewing to evaluate the effect of aging on the cigars he rates.

–George E

photo credit: Clauss.dk

From Erik Espinoza and Eddie Ortega’s United Tobacco, the outfit that brought us the smash hit 601 Serie blends, comes a new highly anticipated cigar. Cubao, the Taino word for “where fertile land is abundant” or “a great place,” was recently introduced at this year’s IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas.

Like the older Green, Blue, and Red labels, Cubao has the advantage of the tried and true Pepin-blended, Estelí-made combination. The six vitolas are marketed as full-bodied with Ecuador Sumatra oscuro wrappers and Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos.

The robusto-sized 4 and 7/8 inch by 50 ring gauge No. 4 is oily, firm, and fragrant with an attractive band that blends into the wrapper and serves as a departure from the flashy bands of the 601s. Singles sell for about $6 and rustic boxes of 20 in the $130-150 price range.

After smoking over ten No. 4s between the two of us in the past several weeks, we’re convinced that cost is more than reasonable. We think you’ll agree from the moment you light up a Cubao, which predictably starts with a trademark blast of peppercorn that has become synonymous with Don Pepin Garica’s creations.

What we found most interesting about this blend is its unwavering balance. After the initial greeting of spice we found a variety of tastes including wheat, oak, and bread. While the profile is definitely medium to full, and while the flavor is consistent throughout, this balance keeps the smoke exciting and cool—never too spicy, too strong, or too harsh. Look for a slight increase of bitterness in the last two inches.

The mechanics of the stogie’s performance are also top-notch, probably superior to those of some cigars in the more expensive 601 blends (of which we are huge fans). We found even burns, moderate draws, and firm ashes across our array of samples.

All told, perhaps this is the best compliment we can give this new addition to United Tobacco’s lineup: This is the kind of cigar that makes you want to smoke one more right away, preferably another Cubao. So don’t hesitate putting the EO Cubao No. 4 on your “Must Try” list; we give it four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A & Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

For my money, there are few places where cigar smoking is a better accompaniment than on the golf course. I may not be playing scratch golf, but with an excellent cigar and the panoramic views of a nice course it is easy to shake off a bad three-putt.

And entrepreneurs are not oblivious to the fact that golf and cigars go so well together, especially now that the golf course is a rare public place where smoking is largely still welcomed. To cash in on this niche, there are a host of devices on the market that are specifically designed to hold your stogie on the golf course. Over the last few months I’ve played over a dozen rounds with four such devices.

Heater Holder: I first mentioned the Heater Holder over a year ago and praised the device for its simplicity. The small metal cigar holder attaches to the snaps atop golf bags that are normally designed to secure a rain cover. The basic version sells for $25, but other models are available in silver, sterling silver, and gold for those looking for a little more flash. It also features a chain that attaches to your bag, so that you won’t lose the Heater Holder if you knock it off the snaps. The device is perfect for those who prefer to walk the course, but isn’t as useful if you strap your clubs to the back of a motor cart.

Cigar Wedge: In true gadget form this cigar holder resembles a golf club, only with a V-shaped top that will cradle your cigar. Don’t try and hit a golf ball with the plastic head because it or the wooden shaft will likely shatter, but that’s OK because the $25 Cigar Wedge won’t count against your 14-club limit. If your experience is anything like mine, other players in your foursome will take notice of this gadget, which is kind of the point of gadgets anyway, isn’t it?

Puff Caddie: Like the Cigar Wedge, one end of this device is embedded into the ground while the other metal top provides a stable platform for your cigar to rest on while crushing your drive or lining up your putt. The Puff Caddie is made with a modified actual steel golf shaft with a real grip near the top just below the cigar platform. The steel shaft means it is easy to push into even the firmest tee box. Also, like the Cigar Wedge, it is a sure conversation starter.

Hole in One Cigar Holder: By far the most affordable of the group was the Hole In One, which can be had for under $5. The simple plastic device resembles a golf ball on a tee, only with a hole in the middle for you to place your stogie through. I had to learn the hard way that when placing your cigar in the Hole In One, you should be sure to place the head through, otherwise you’re likely to knock the ash off. Also, don’t bother with the huge ring gauges as I’m not sure that anything larger than 56 could fit. Still, this has all the characteristics of a successful gadget; sure it’s functional, but it also reminds you that it is a gadget designed for the golf course, form and function as it were.

All in all, none of these gadgets are must buys for the average stogie-puffing hacker, and quite frankly, given that the only requirement for a cigar holder for golf is something that will keep your cigar off the chemical-filled grass, two tees will work just as well.

But gadgets are all about flash, and each of the four devices has some in its own way. So if you’re looking for flash (perhaps to distract from your triple-digit golf score) you may want to pick one up.

If you like to walk the course I’d go with the Heater Holder. If your back already aches from teeing up your balls and marking your putts, go with the flashier Puff Caddie or Cigar Wedge. If you’re looking for function at a value, pick up the Hole In One.

Most of all, remember to use your cigar gadget proudly. After all, it’s a great conversation starter. And when you do strike up a conversation about your cigar gadget with a fellow golfing cigar enthusiasist, make sure to tell him that you read about it on StogieGuys.com.

–Patrick S

photo credits: 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 a firm ash, an even burn, and a bargain price of $105-118 per box of 25, this Honduran puro is hard not to recommend. The 6 inch by 60 ring gauge Gigante is well-balanced and satisfying, encompassing notes of dry wood, clove, and smooth spice. I’d purchase this again in a heartbeat, not so much as a stand-alone smoke, but as an excellent accompaniment to a round of 18 holes or, as Cigar Jack says, a friendly barbeque.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys