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.

After enjoying a Ybor City Handmade recently, I’ve been drawn to those lovely brown Connecticut wrappers in the humidor. A Gran Habano Ecuadorian Connecticut-wrapped Robusto caught my eye the other day. It is a nice, slow burning cigar that induces relaxation and introspection with subtle flavors and thick, deep smoke. At six inches long and a ring gauge of 54, it fits the current trend toward large sticks. I paid $4.45. If you enjoy mild cigars, give this one a try.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

Tags: cigars

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) You don’t need to check the calendar to know that fall is finally here. Temperatures are dropping, leaves are changing colors, and – most importantly – the MLB playoffs are underway. While Patrick S. fumes about the Mets’ historical collapse and Patrick A. prays his beloved Cubs can hang on, we thought you might enjoy this Cigar Aficionado article about the best places to smoke in baseball’s playoff cities.

2) In case you were wondering, our Quick Smoke Cigar Giveaway Contest is still on. Dustin from New Hampshire and Kevin from Florida are the two big winners to date, each of whom will receive a prized Argonese sampler for their submissions. If you’d like a shot at one of the remaining three, get your submission in as soon as possible.

3) Around the Blogs:Keepers of the Flame lights up a Gran Habano 3 Siglos. Cigar Jack smokes the Olor de Cibao. Stogie Review reviews the Bolivar. Cigar Inspector tries a Gurkha Beast. Cigar Command has a Joya de Nicaragua Serie C. Cigar Monkey smokes a Victor Sinclair Bamboo. Velvet Cigar checks out the new CAO America.

4) Deal of the Week: With not one sampler but four, this deal gets you 19 quality cigars for just under $60. Included is a seven-cigar CAO sampler (with a Seed to Soul DVD), a four-cigar Hoyo sampler, a five-cigar Cuesta-Rey sampler, and a three-cigar Punch sampler. Grab it here.

–The Stogie Guys

Back in August, following the 75th Annual RTDA Trade Show, we introduced you to some of Altadis’ latest creations. Among them was a new ultra-premium, limited edition line called Cabinet Selección.

Rare and exclusive tobacco blends from the company’s most revered brands, Cabinet Selección hit select retailers only recently. Altadis Vice President Janelle Rosenfeld tells Stogie Guys that “they are selling like hot cakes.”

Featuring Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, H. Upmann, and Por Larrañaga, a company press release exclaims the line is “impeccably constructed from specially selected, perfectly aged tobaccos of exceptional pedigree” which results in “a series of intricate, singular blends of compelling character and nature.”

Sounds pretty good, eh? As it turns out, press releases from cigar manufacturers usually do. But, after smoking half a dozen Montecristo Cabinet Selección Belicosos over the past few weeks, I can honestly say this stogie lives up to that mouthwatering praise.

The Belicoso is six and 1/8 inches with a 52 ring gauge. The white and gold Montecristo band serves as a nice contrast to the dark, near seamless Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. Tightly packed with Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Peruvian filler, the cigar is firm to the touch.

Right from the beginning, the smoke’s full-bodied billing meets expectations as a distinctive black pepper and nutmeg spice dominates the flavor profile. The taste gets even more interesting from there as a soft marshmallow sweetness comes into play, a complimentary flavor that reminds me a bit of the Montecristo Classic.

But this cigar is much different. Predominantly dark, rich, and nutty, it sports characteristics most stogie enthusiasts will enjoy and seasoned stogie veterans will love.

I’d be more willing to bestow a heralded five out of five stogies rating, however, if it weren’t for a few physical imperfections. Specifically, occasional touch-ups are required to keep it lit and burning evenly, and the grey ash could be more stable.

Still, what this cigar lacks in construction it makes up in flavor – many times over. I am looking forward to sampling the Romeo, Upmann, and Larrañaga versions of this promising series, and I give the Montecristo Cabinet Selección Belicoso four and ½ out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A

This morning President Bush carried through on his promise to veto the SCHIP bill which contained large tax increases on tobacco. The veto ceremony took place quietly before he left Washington to travel to Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

The veto, which is only the forth of Bush’s presidency, stops a 256% increase of the excise tax on cigars to 53%. The proposed tax also raised the cap on from 5 cents to $3 per cigar. The combined effect would have raised the price of many premium and ultra-premium cigars by $100 or more per box.

While many in the cigar industry will applaud the veto, Bush has spoken little about the tobacco taxes. His opposition to the bill has instead been focused on a desire to halt expansion of SCHIP to children of families whose income levels are far above the threshold for government assistance. While not cited specifically by Bush, other critics of SCHIP expansion cite as an example this New Jersey family who, with assistance from SCHIP, can to afford to send their daughter to a nearly $10,000  per year private school.

As we reported earlier, SCHIP supporters in the Senate appear to have the votes to override the veto. However, the House remains short of the two-thirds threshold, meaning that at least for now cigar taxes will remain the same.

Stogie Guys Analysis

Unfortunately, cigar smokers and others who oppose these excessive and punitive cigar taxes should take little solace in this outcome.

Yes, Bush vetoed the bill, and yes they seem able to muster enough opposition in the House to sustain the veto, but this will still be very damaging long term. Anti-tobacco forces now have majorities in both houses on the record supporting large tax increases on tobacco.

So, the next time the government wants to raise taxes on tobacco, all these politicians will be on the record in support of it. Any one who changes their vote in future can be accused of “flip-flopping.”

This can (and likely will be) damaging in the future when Bush isn’t there to veto such tax increases. Right now it looks fairly likely that the next White House occupant will support raising tobacco taxes. (All the Democrats supported this increase and even Republican hopeful Mike Huckabee has indicated he is in favor of taxing/banning tobacco.)

That’s why, even though the current tax hikes might not get through, this is a very bad loss for adults who want to be able to enjoy cigars with out paying outrageous taxes on these legal products. Also, as George expressed in his commentary on Monday, the cigar industry should have done a better job on this issue.

–Patrick S

Tags: cigars

It has been well over a year since we first reported that Fidel Castro was relinquishing the reins of his communist regime to battle an “intestinal crisis” and cope with “imminent death.”

Not unlike his track record of nearly 50 years of political stability, the embattled Cuban dictator has outlasted all our predictions and, as far as we know, is still breathing some 15 months later. Clearly, we here at StogieGuys.com are better at writing about cigars than prognosticating about intestine-related medical complications.

But just because Fidel is still alive doesn’t mean he’s ready – or ever will be again – to take back control of the island nation. El Presidente hasn’t made a public appearance in over a year, and the video released last week shows him frail and lacking that certain zest you expect from a totalitarian leader who’s responsible for countless human rights violations.

So we turn our attention to his brother, Raúl. In August, I wrote, “It’s true that we can’t expect major reform from Raúl – who has been at his brother’s side from the beginning – anytime soon, but many foreign policy experts believe he is more pragmatic than Fidel, and therefore more open to economic reforms.”

Castro’s death certainly will not instantaneously lift America’s decades-long trade embargo, but Cuban economic and political reforms will go a long way towards that end. In that spirit, here’s the recent buzz on Raúl from some major media outlets.

1. Latin Business Chronicle: “Cuba will initiate some degree of economic reform – including more space for private economic activity – during the coming year…[Raúl] stated a need to examine and expand the practices that work in the agriculture sector, which would imply an expansion of private farming, where productivity is highest. He called for increased foreign investment. He called for ‘structural changes’ which, in Marxist terms, could imply a change in property relations and a selective shift away from state ownership.”

2. Reuters: “Raúl Castro has repeatedly called for more debate and constructive criticism. He also demanded studies from experts on reform proposals to raise productivity, including on the state’s ownership of the economy, which exceeds 90 percent.

3. Houston Chronicle: “The younger Castro, 76, said last week that Cubans shouldn’t be afraid to speak their minds about economic reform, saying they should do so ‘with bravery, with sincerity, without many illusions that we are magicians and are going to resolve problems.’ Raúl Castro is said to be impressed by China’s market-oriented reforms.”

These encouraging market-oriented reforms, at this point, are only speculative in nature. Still, Americans who wish an end to our hypocritical trade embargo can’t help but feel optimistic.

–Patrick A

Tags: cigars

I’ve been frustrated in recent months watching the failed efforts to combat the higher cigar taxes that are part of the proposed State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) expansion. I have no connection to the cigar industry — other than enjoying its products — and I don’t claim to have observed everything that occurred. But I do have a little knowledge about how Congress works, and it often appeared to me that tobacco’s resistance was not as effective as it could have been.

So, I thought I’d offer my suggestions for the future.

1. First, and foremost, get a godfather. The cigar industry needs someone to watch over it and take up its interests the way Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) guards the vitamin/supplement industry or Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) takes care of Wall Street. Lacking a powerful, savvy ally who is committed to your view is like being in a hatchet fight without a hatchet.

2. Concentrate on the tax. Much of the recent discussion about the cigar tax actually veered off into whether the concept of SCHIP is good or bad. Forget that. Don’t get drawn into politics. As you hear in DC almost every day, “Stick to your knitting.” For the cigar industry, the issue is the size of the cigar tax, not what it would be spent on. Let others argue about policy. Remember, when you’re counting votes, there are no Democrats or Republicans, only “yeas” and “nays.”

3. Don’t encourage Astroturf campaigns. If there’s one thing legislators know, it’s communication. Most ignore form letter communications, whether via email or fax, so constituents must make their voices heard individually by communicating their own points in their own emails, phone calls, faxes, and letters. Personal, grassroots efforts can be effective. Astroturf is not.

4. Be realistic. There is a large, powerful, not-very-reasonable anti-smoking movement out there. Cigar smokers are a small group. Recognize those facts and deal with them, rather than complain. In my opinion, some tax increase is inevitable. I’d suggest working to keep it as small as possible and trying to get other things you want along with it.

5. Increase congressional awareness. Organize congressional trips to the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Honduras so lawmakers can see the plants, talk to workers, and get a feel for the economic impact of cigars in those nations. Back home, make sure every representative and senator knows all about the jobs related to cigars. And not just in shops and in Florida, but with operations like Finck in Texas, National in Indiana, tobacco farmers in Connecticut, etc.

6. Spend wisely. I’m not inclined to tell others how to spend their money. But I would suggest that employing lobbying and PR firms intimately identified with the GOP might not be the wisest course when both houses of Congress are now controlled by Democrats.

7. Stay alert. Getting surprised by a tax proposal shouldn’t happen. The best time to have an impact is before anything is committed to paper, so stay on top of it every day.

–George E

Tags: cigars

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar. The following is a Guest Quick Smoke, submitted by a StogieGuys.com reader for our Quick Smoke Cigar Giveaway contest. If you’d like to submit your own for publication, please contact us.

Counted among the best Cuban robustos of the 90s, the Bolivar Royal Corona fell off for a time when quality control slipped and ligero shortages watered down its once-potent blend. But the “RC” is back, and many believe recent releases are some of the best in the brand’s history. At four and 7/8 inches with a 50 ring gauge, it features a smooth, nut-brown wrapper, a slight box press, and a nearly flat cap. It is earthy and nutty, with a long, leathery finish. Given its youth, it is remarkably well-balanced. Full-flavored, but without a hint of bite.

Verdict = Buy.

–Submitted by Kevin K from Land O Lakes, FL who will receive the second of five Arganese samplers.