The Stogie Guys

[Editors’ Note: The following is a guest commentary by Gary J. Arzt. Mr. Arzt is a Florida-based investor and a contributor to a number of cigar publications. In the interests of transparency, the author wants it to be known that he was first a devotee to Pepin Garcia’s cigars and has since become a good friend of Don Pepin and the Garcia family.]

Sam Driban of Black Cat Cigar Company was an early friend and fan of Don Pepin. Three years ago, Pepin started to make a cigar called Rey Miguel for him.

Last month, according to the screed on his website, Driban received a call from John Gonzales, “a man I’ve never met,” who is, nonetheless, the National Sales Manager for Don Pepin brands. Gonzales advised him that Pepin’s company could no longer make Rey Miguel for Black Cat.

Driban was “…upset, as I considered him a friend.” He felt he had been “blown off.”

But he had a plan to get even. He ordered a large quantity of Pepin’s cigars – JJs, Black labels, Blue labels, Vegas Cubans – and listed them on the Black Cat website at absurdly low prices, prefaced with this story of “betrayal.” Sending a mixed message, Driban says, “Enjoy these cigars at rock bottom prices as I no longer wish to help my former friend.” He follows this with, “I hope that one day soon our relationship can be reconciled.”

I am sure Pepin is elated at the prospect of reconciliation. Just as I am sure Pepin didn’t do what he did to damage the relationship and upset Driban. The dynamics of companies, especially companies growing at the rate of Pepin’s, change constantly and, unfortunately, Rey Miguel no longer was a good fit. Small production cigars will only cause dislocation in a Tabacalera producing Don Pepins, 601s, San Cristobals, and Tatuajes.

In an industry that I always saw as peopled by gentlemen, there has been too much acrimony of late. One has no choice, I suppose, but to yap at the heels of the top dog.

–Gary J. Arzt

[UPDATE: Mr. Driban’s response can be found here.]

photo credit: El Rey de los Habanos

Rough, toothy, a bit mottled, and prominently veiny, the Occidental Reserve Double Broadleaf Churchill isn’t what I’d classify as humidor candy. Nevertheless, when it comes to a cigar’s looks, I’m not much of a snob. Many of my favorite smokes have been a bit on the rustic side. And, after all, isn’t flavor what really matters?

Interestingly, this seven inch by 48 ring gauge maduro doesn’t pack much of a punch. That’s something I find a bit surprising coming from manufacturer Alec Bradley, whose marketing often appeals to the “bigger and bolder is better” mindset. Perhaps blender Hendrik Kelner, famous for his work with the ultra-smooth Davidoff label, had something to do with this stogie’s mildness.

At any rate, the smoothness and unassuming body of the Occidental Reserve is just fine by me. I’ve been looking around for a mild, everyday smoke to pair with a decent cup of coffee on my lazy Sunday mornings. While Davidoffs fit the bill, they can break the bank almost as quickly as a bad mortgage these days. At roughly $3 a stick, Occidental Reserves offer near-Davidoff quality for a fraction of the price.

This cigar opens with a full-bodied blast of pepper, cedar, and burnt coffee before quickly mellowing into a much smoother blend of light oak and sweet cream. A lingering, peppery finish never quite disappears from the body of the thick, heavy smoke – intensifying as the cigar reaches its final third. But it’s never enough to overwhelm the subtle character of the stick, and that’s probably for the best.

The burn is even and true, producing a light gray ash that holds for about an inch and a half at a clip. My only complaint with the ash is its tendency toward flakiness (tiny bits tended to float off the foot, here and there, throughout my various experiences). Otherwise, I find nothing worrisome about the quality of the cigar’s craftsmanship.

For outstanding value, ease, and pleasantly smooth flavor profile, I give this bargain-priced stick a solid four out of five stogies.

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

–Jon N

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.

There isn’t too much for me too add to the full review done by my colleague Patrick A.  This is a rich, flavorful, attractive, and well-constructed smoke.  Quintessentially maduro, this box-pressed toro features chocolate, earth, and roasted flavors.

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.

While many boutique and even mass-market premiums can very be hit-or-miss (Gurkha, for instance), I find most CAOs to be consistent, enjoyably challenging, and almost always rewarding. CAO’s L’Anniversaire Cameroon line is no exception. The robusto packs a stunning degree of complexity into a relatively small, box-pressed vitola. Gentle aromas of cedar and straw belie a multifaceted and medium-bodied flavor profile. I was able to taste cream, almond, lots of cedar, an excitingly full amount of pepper, and even some cinnamon in this lovely little stick.

Verdict = Buy.

–Jon N

This Sunday ( April 20) Patrick A and Patrick S will be talking cigars on the Livin’ Large with Geoff Pinkus radio show on WIND 560 AM in Chicago. The show runs from 5-7 pm Central (6-8pm Eastern) and we are scheduled to be on at the top of the second hour (after the lovely Chicago Blackhawks Ice Crew girls).

Geoff’s show is about “cigars, cars, spirits, wine, beer, restaurants, music, sports, hot chicks (hot moms), jets, harleys, guns, bikes, and fishing.” You can even call in to ask us a question on the air: 877-560-WIND.

If you’re not in the Chicago area you can listen live here (and if you miss it, a podcast will be available here).

–The Stogie Guys

In our ongoing effort to make StogieGuys.com as entertaining and reader-friendly as possible, each Friday we’ll post a selection of quick cigar news and stogie-related snippets. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) According to the suicide note left by a German bartender, Germany’s new smoking ban was the reason that Uli Stegmeier killed himself. Newspaper reports say the bar owned by 60 year-old Stegmeier had seen a 20 percent drop off in customers since the ban went into effect. And this isn’t the first time that smoking bans have killed people.

2) Matt Christiana of Matt’s Cigar Journal is participating in the Ride For Kids to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. By donating, you are entered in a drawing to win one of four boxes of cigars that includes a box of 32 Opus X Petit Lanceros. Find out more details here.

3) Inside the Industry: CAO announced this week that legendary classic rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd will be headlining their party at the IPCPR (formerly the RTDA) trade show in Las Vegas in July. Altadis announced that they will be sending 50,000 cigars to the troops. To find out more about this good cause visit cigarsfortroops.com.

4) Around the Blogs: Cigar Jack checks out the NUB Connecticut. Cigar Beat inspects a Troya Clasico LIV. Velvet Cigar smokes a Graycliff Crystal. Keepers of the Flame lights up a Fuente Anejo 48.

5) Deal of the Week: Cuban Crafters is celebrating(?) the passing of tax day by cutting prices on a number of cigars. Included are the Cabinet, Red Label, Cameroon, and White Label lines. See them all here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: CigarsForTheTroops

First, I heard cracks at the head as I inserted my punch. Then, I saw the thick stem poking through the filler. After smoking two-thirds or so of the stick, the wrapper broke and eventually just about unraveled. That was when I was finally able to pull the stem out.

At two inches in length, it looked more like something from the live oak outside than a remnant from the tobacco fields. My surgery, through, resulted in a tunnel from head to light and soon rendered the smoke extremely hot and more or less unsmokable. All in all, not a bad cigar.

Seriously, this Oliva Serie O is a good smoke, a six inch by 50 ring gauge that’s a satisfying and affordable Nicaraguan blend of tobaccos grown in different regions of the country. The prelight aroma is absolutely mouth-watering. The taste is woody and nutty, subtle and smooth. If you’re a connoisseur of ashes, you’ll want to check this one. It’s chalk white.

I don’t recall what I paid for this stick, but I think they run around $4.50 to $5. And that does factor into my evaluation. I figure that one way a company like Oliva is able to produce good cigars at relatively low prices is to cut back on some processes, like quality control or finely matching wrapper color on the cigars in a box.

That means every once in awhile I will be forced to fiddle with the cigar or abandon it sooner than I’d prefer – the kinds of situations I would find unacceptable in a high-priced stick. And if such defects were common I’d quit buying any line, regardless of the price. But that hasn’t been my experience with Oliva. In fact, this is the first of its cigars I can recall that presented any real problems.

So I can recommend the Serie O, as I would any Oliva cigar. But I can’t rate it too highly because of the difficulties. It earns a rating of three out of five stogies.

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

–George E

photo credit: JR Cigars