The Stogie Guys

I was smoking a cigar the other day with a cup of coffee. About a third of the way into the stick, it dawned on me that I wasn’t enjoying this one as much as I normally do. I drained the coffee cup and picked up a soft drink and, almost at once, the cigar began to taste better.

Naturally, it made me think about drinks and smokes and writing for StogieGuys.com. I know there are smokers who think, for instance, that it’s a mistake to drink anything other than water when evaluating a cigar. Some think a review shouldn’t be attempted before smoking at least three of the cigar or that a review needs to contain data such as the time of day the cigar was smoked and what other cigars were smoked previously. I find that kind of information interesting sometimes, too, but you won’t always see it in what I write here.

For starters, I don’t think of myself as a “cigar reviewer.” All I’ve got to do is read and listen to some of the real experts out there to know I’m not qualified for such an appellation. Instead, I consider myself a fellow smoker who goes out of his way to keep up with what’s happening in the cigar industry, to try many different sticks, and to let you know what I think of them – much like someone in the neighboring leather chair at your local B&M might recommend a cigar or offer words of warning as you venture into the humidor.

Sometimes that involves giving you my impressions after smoking a single stick; at other times my thoughts are formed after smoking a dozen or more. Among the things I really like about our format is the flexibility it provides. I can write a full review when it seems appropriate or just give you a short Quick Smoke if that works best. And when readers write in with their thoughts, reactions, questions, etc., it makes it all even better.

For me, smoking cigars and writing about them is a pleasure. I don’t want to be locked in to procedures that would dictate how I do it. The last thing I want to do is turn cigar smoking into work.

–George E

photo credit: Flickr

The French word “nonpareil” literally means “unparalleled,” or “without equal.” I didn’t find the Indian Tabac Nonpareil to be that, exactly. But at $3 per stick, this well-crafted six inch by 52 ring gauge Toro certainly offers a decent value for a modest price.

The Nonpareil is a Nicaraguan puro sold in either a Connecticut shade or a Natural wrapper. I opted for the darker Natural. With a rich brown color, tight roll, and nearly veinless body, this was certainly a good-looking cigar. Pre-light aromas from the foot and the freshly cut head revealed hints of cocoa, butter, and leather. I lit up the stogie and was immediately greeted by a soft air of wood and tobacco.

The initial flavor of the cigar was of leather and faintly burnt cedar – not an altogether complex combination, but certainly acceptable for a $3 smoke. Unfortunately, this combination persisted, more or less unchanged, throughout my two-hour smoke. Toward the middle third, a grassy tone and peppery aftertaste made an appearance. But these new flavors did little to offset the boredom of having experienced the same taste, over and over, for as long as I had.

Perhaps I’m asking too much of this bargain-priced cigar. But I’ve come to expect a great deal from any stick bearing a Rocky Patel brand, much less a “nonpareil” boast.

Still, I don’t want to shortchange the Nonpareil. It is a serviceable, enjoyable, economical cigar that neither asks for, nor requires, your undivided attention. It will make a fine companion on the golf course or at the poker table, so I give the Indian Tabac Nonpareil Toro three out of five stogies.

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

–Jon N

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Now that the 2008 NCAA Tournament is set, we are teaming up with our friends at CigarsDirect.com to offer the best cigar prizes ever for a March Madness bracket challenge. The fantastic prizes, courtesy of CigarsDirect.com, are as follows:

Grand Prize: Padilla 1932 Signature Humidor filled with 45 Padilla cigars ($1,500.00 retail value)

2nd Place: Box of Fuente Fuente Opus X Robusto ($799.95 retail value)

3rd Place: Box of Arturo Fuente Anejo #77 “Shark” ($579.95 retail value)

4th Place: Box of Fuente God of Fire Churchill ($239.95 retail value)

5th Place: Box of Fuente Hemingway Short Story ($139.99 retail value)

As always at StogieGuys.com, entry is 100 percent free. Please fill out your bracket here. You must register with CBS Sportsline, then after you log in with your username and password you will be asked to enter our league password (which is “cigars”).

Rules: Please make sure to enter a valid email address when signing up. CigarsDirect.com will notify all winners via email at the end of the tournament. If you do not respond within two weeks, the prize will go to the player with the next highest point total. All brackets must be filled in by March 20.

Fine Print: The contest is in no way affiliated with CBS Sportsline, and no one will have access to your personal information (except for your email and name). There must be at least 50 entries or else the prizes may change.

Good luck!

[Additionally, CigarsDirect.com is including free shipping on all other orders placed during the NCAA tournament. For free shipping simply enter the code “stogieguys” at checkout.]

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: NCAA

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

This pudgy little smoke (4″ x 50) has an attractive vein-free Ecuadorian wrapper. The flavor is of wood and paper with a tiny hint of black pepper spice. The draw on this mild smoke is good, but this is a hard purchase to justify at over $7 apiece.

Verdict = Hold.

–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.

One of the six original Cohibas known as the Línea Clásica, this four and 7/8 inch by 50 ring gauge Robusto is an admirable smoke with excellent construction. I found pleasant flavors of sweet hay and honey with a touch of spice – not unlike my colleague’s full review. Expect to pay anywhere from $12 to $15, which is a fair price if you’re a lover of mild- to medium-bodied smokes.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: 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) Add a few Pennsylvania religious groups to the list of nanny-staters who advocate government- mandated smoking bans. It was reported this week that a handful of Christian groups in the Keystone State are pushing legislators to pass an intrusive statewide ban with no exemptions for bars or cigar shops – ironic for a state that was founded on religious freedom.

2) In slightly happier news, lawmakers this week carved out exemptions for bars, restaurants, and casinos in Iowa’s proposed statewide smoking ban. One anti-smoking zealot said the ban would be “pretty much useless at this point.”

3) Arganese, maker of such sticks as the Presidente Maduro, recently decided to streamline its convoluted assortment of cigars. According to Cigar Aficionado, the company will no longer make every stogie available in three different strength levels and three different wrapper varieties.

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews the Rocky Patel Fusion Double Maduro. Cigar Inspector inspects a Davidoff Anniversary No. 2. Keepers of the Flame tries a Nestor Reserve Maduro. Cigar Jack smokes a Canimao Torpedo. Stogie Baby fires up an Illusione 88.

5) Deal of the Week: Need to travel, but don’t want your smokes damaged? Check out this Traveler Sampler. For just $39.99 you get five top smokes from General Cigar (Macanudo, Hoyo de Monterrey, La Gloria Cubana, Punch and Partagas) plus a travel cigar case. Grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: ArganeseCigars.com

Finding wonderfully blended and constructed cigars that won’t put a dent in your budget is a top priority for me. That’s why it gives me such pleasure to review the Cupido Criollo.

Like J.L. Salazar, Don Kiki (Brown and White), La Carolina, Cabinet Selection, and Cameroon, this is another fine, under-priced Cuban Crafters product from the fields of Estelí. It is made with a criollo wrapper and Cuban-seed habano long leaf binders and fillers.

The Corto vitola sports a unique perfecto shape with a slight box press, and measures four and ½ inches with a 56 ring gauge at its widest point. With a metallic, Valentine-inspired band, a near flawless wrapper, and a distinctive form, this is the kind of gorgeous cigar that makes you really appreciate the fine art of rolling tobacco.

Establishing an even light is as easy as touching a flame to the tiny foot. I am immediately greeted with rich coffee and wood flavors and a smooth, nicely rounded spice.

At its widest girth, the flavor is well-balanced and medium-bodied with a slightly bitter finish. It picks up down the narrow stretch, but never becomes harsh or hot. The smoke is cool, abundant, and floral.

The physical properties are also impressive. It is a great joy to watch the firm, finely layered ash build off the foot in the cigar’s unique shape – I only ashed once during the 45-minute smoke. The burn starts and remains fairly even to the nub, and it stays lit even when left neglected. The band removes easily and without incident.

These flavor and construction characteristics were completely consistent for the six Cortos I smoked for this review. Amazing, especially since they sell at the low price of $65 for an individually numbered box of 25 ($2.60 per stick). Only 9,000 boxes are manufactured each year.

I am convinced this is one of the best sub-$3 cigar experiences I’ve ever had. If you like criollo tobacco and don’t have a lot of time, this should be your new everyday smoke. I give the Cupido Criollo Corto four and ½ out of five stogies.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here. To purchase this cigar from a StogieGuys.com affiliate, click here.]

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys