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) In a bi-partisan show of stogie pride, former Congressman Tom Delay (who’s been known to enjoy a Cuban) was spotted smoking a cigar at a Capitol Hill bar, while Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Richardson declared his appreciation of a fine cigar. When asked what they would bring to a desert island, other White House wannabes chose their wife, a good book, or even a boat, but Richardson said he’d bring his “blackberry and a Davidoff cigar.”

2) Be on the lookout for these two new cigars. Altadis is releasing another line of Montecristos. The Serie C features a Cameroon wrapper grown not in Cameroon, but in the Central African Republic. Meanwhile, Habanos S.A. is releasing the H. Upmann Tacos Imperialés in limited edition humidors.

3) Controversial filmmaker Michael Moore recently found himself in some hot water with the US Treasury Department for a trip to Cuba for his latest movie. Perhaps if he had read our tip on visiting Cuba, such much trouble could have been avoided. Of course we’re pretty certain he was there for the communism, not for the cigars.

4) Deal of the Week: We thought this deal was sold out, but fortunately it isn’t. For just $10 you get eight cigars including a CAO Criollo, a Padron, a La Gloria Cubana, a Gurkha, a Cusano, and a Toraño Silver (plus 2 Thompson house brands). Grab yours today (limit two per person) by clicking here.

–The Stogie Guys

Last June, I published one of our first Stogie Tips: a short article on how to properly light a cigar. Aside from the ever-important “toasting the foot” strategy, the bulk of piece dealt with various means with which to light a stogie.

I came to the conclusion that “due to their resistance to wind and perfect flames, the best tools for igniting cigars are butane lighters.” This is a commonly held principle among seasoned cigar smokers, but I’m here to tell you that I was wrong.

I’m sure many out there – especially lighter manufacturers and retailers – will disagree, but, truth be told, I’ll take a handful of wooden matches over the best butane torch any day of the week.

“But wait,” you ask, “don’t matches take a lot longer to light a cigar than a torch?” I won’t disagree with that. If you light a cigar properly, it could take three to four wooden matches – and upwards of several minutes – to establish a good light.

But, as Mike Copperman of Bethesda Tobacco so graciously taught me, that’s all part of the cigar-smoking process. You see, taking time to properly light a fine stogie is a ritual that shouldn’t be rushed. Before the first puff, take in the aromas as the flame dances off the tobacco. Build the anticipation. After all, the cigar hobby is meant to be enjoyed in a relaxed, slow-paced environment.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen friends, acquaintances, and video bloggers butcher their cigars by flash-frying the foot. Where’s the ceremony or nostalgia in that? Besides, it’s hard to build anticipation in .02 seconds. Like I wrote before, please take time to smoke.

Another critique of wooden matches is that, once struck, they exude sulfur, an odorous element that can alter the taste and smell of a cigar. While it’s true that modern match heads contain antimony sulfide and potassium chlorate, their effect on tobacco taste is negligible. Besides, you can easily bypass this risk by waiting one to two seconds after the match is struck before touching it to the foot.

Finally, many butane torch fans cite their method’s excellent resistance to wind as the coup de grậs. I won’t oppose that point. I’m not going out on a limb when I say that lighters are much better in a stiff breeze. Most of the time, however, I find the wind is not a major factor. Save for those occasions when I’m on the golf course, I’ll still take my matches over a lighter.

Please note that I write this not to offend or irritate, but only to prod. Maybe I’m just old fashioned, but I’m really turned off by all those fancy gadgets that have flooded the industry.

Besides, why spend $470 on a torch that you’re just going to loose between the couch cushions – especially when you can pick up a pack of wooden matches for free every time you hit up a bar or restaurant?

–Patrick A

Tags: cigars

Don Pepin Garcia makes cigars in the heart of Little Havana in Miami. And just in case you forget that while smoking the Don Pepin Garcia Blue, there’s a little American flag on the both sides of the band to remind you that this is a domestic-made cigar.

Above the little American flag is a Cuban flag to remind you of the deep Cuban heritage that goes into every cigar Jose “Pepin” Garcia makes. In Cuba, Garcia made some of the finest Cuban cigars and, now in the land of the free, he continues to produce excellent stogies such as the Tatuaje, EO 601, and the many Don Pepin Garcia lines.

The Don Pepin Garcia blue (which retails for around $8 per stick) is a Nicuraguan puro that features a corojo wrapper, a criollo binder, and a mix of criollo and corojo in the filler. The cinnamon brown corojo wrapper – wrapped into a Cuban-style triple cap – was silky to the touch despite appearing a bit veiny.

After cutting the head and toasting the foot, I took a puff to experience this very full-bodied cigar. In terms of taste, the cigar compares with the Joya de Nicuragua Antaño, but this cigar was anything but one-dimensional.

The 6 inch by 50 toro featured a cornucopia of flavor. Pepper, leather, clove, coffee, cedar, and earth were all apparent in the Generosos. Adding to the complex blend was a bitter-sweet chocolate finish.

The burn was a bit uneven, but the draw was easy and the light gray ash was sturdy. This cigar produced an abundant amount of aromatic smoke.

After the blockbuster start, I found myself thinking that if this cigar got any more full-flavored, then I might have to put it down (and I have a palate that thoroughly enjoys a potent smoke). Fortunately – as if predicting this reaction – instead of getting stronger or harsh, the Pepin Garcia Blue gained a sweet and creamy edge as it progressed. With this new smooth quality added to an already very complex array of flavors, I proceeded to smoke this cigar down to its nub.

Overall, the Don Pepin Garcia Blue Generosos is an impressive smoke, blending Nicuraguan tobacco into a rich, complex, Cuban-like flavor that earns it four and 1/2 out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick S

Back in September I reviewed a Butera from the Royal Vintage line. Overall, it was fairly pleasing, but the flavor was too subtle and the physical properties were too burdensome to merit my full approval.

My experience with the Vintage Select line – a six inch by 52 ring gauge Toro – would be much more pleasurable.

At first glance, it reminded me of the excellent, but unattractive, Alonso Menendez and Dona Flor brands by Brazil Cigars & Tobacco. Not surprising given that, like those two treasures, this stick sports a dark and coarse Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper. Those leaves are notoriously unappealing (especially to the average aesthetically obsessed American smoker), but also sweet, rich, and full-flavored.

And that’s just what I got after I lit up: an irresistible mixture of deep chocolate notes. That pleasing and rustic cocoa taste was maintained well into the second half of the smoke, where it was joined by a spicy pepper flavor. Otherwise, the taste remained consistent.

On the palate, it’s worth noting that the Nicaraguan, Honduran, and Jamaican filler tobaccos hit the salt, bitter, and sweet locales of the tongue fairly evenly, rendering this a noble smoke.

On top of these excellent flavors, this cigar also scores far better on construction than its Royal Vintage cousin. It has no tendency to go out at will, and it sustains an even burn, a sturdy ash, and a clear draw for well over an hour. Just what a smoker needs to concentrate on the first-rate flavors.

In all, this stogie sports characteristics than a $10-15 cigar would be proud of. I picked up mine for just under $8 – and I won’t hesitate to pick up more soon. For reaffirming my confidence in Butera, I give the Butera Vintage Select Toro four out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A

If you’re looking for a truly cheap smoke — something to absently puff on while you’re mowing the lawn or to hand out to acquaintances who wouldn’t know Rocky Patel from Rocky Colavito — you could do worse than picking up a pocketful of Cuban Rejects.

Now don’t get me wrong. No one’s going to mistake a Cuban Reject for a Cuban puro, unless they’ve been smoking something mind-altering beforehand. But you aren’t going to get sick either. OK, I realize that’s not exactly a ringing endorsement, but don’t forget we’re talking about a stogie that you can get for just a shade over a buck.

The biggest problem I had with the six inch by 50-ring gauge Toro maduro I tested was the smoke. It was extremely light and thin. The cigar wasn’t plugged. The draw, while a bit tight, wasn’t bad, and the burn was straight. The Reject just didn’t make much smoke.

It also didn’t generate a lot of taste. I’d put it among the mildest of cigars, with the taste almost exclusively of light tobacco. On the other hand, one of the few consistencies among really cheap cigars is that they aren’t at all consistent. Who knows what your Cuban Reject might be like?

I was curious about the cigar, since there’s not a lot of information on the web about it — and what little there is often conflicts. So, I called Phillips & King International, the tobacco distributor that imports and sells Cuban Rejects.

The cigar was introduced in 2005 and, in addition to the Toro, comes in a Churchill (7×48) and a Robusto (5×50), all in natural or maduro. The cigar, as you can see from the photo of its innards on display, is a mixed filler made with all Nicaraguan tobaccos, according to Phillips. Though I wondered if it was machine bunched with the wrapper applied by hand, a Phillips spokeswoman told me the Rejects are all handmade. She also said they can barely keep up with demand, moving them out of the warehouse as quickly as they arrive from the factory in Nicaragua.

I paid $1.35 for my Toro. If you check online, you’ll find them available in bulk — up to 200 at one site! — for as little as $1.05. Or visit some shops in your area that carry a wide range of tobacco products, not just premium cigars. I bet you’ll see a batch of the bandless Cuban Rejects.

Now, whether you want to buy one or not, I leave up to you.

Next up is the final installment on our Cook’s tour through the world of ultra-cheap cigars. Or, as I like to think of them, penny premiums.

[Please click the following links to read Part I, Part II, or Part III of this series.]

–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.

Here’s another gem you can’t find at your local B&M, but should waste no time ordering online. This seven inch by 50 ring gauge Don Kiki White Label is a standout smoke from Cuban Crafters. Harvested back in 2000, Cuban-seed Habano long-filler tobacco and a shade-grown Connecticut wrapper combine to create smooth hay and almond notes. About halfway through a nice spice kicks in, rendering this more interesting than your average mild smoke. While the delicate wrapper has some tendency to tear, this premium boutique stogie is still exceptional – especially when you consider the price.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

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.

This cigar, made completely with Dominican tobacco, was introduced to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Litto Gomez’s La Flor Dominicana brand. Packed with spice, the corona-sized smoke is a full-bodied masterpiece. Fortunately, within all that spice the Litto Gomez Americano manages to maintain a balanced taste similar to the Coronado also made by La Flor Dominicana. At $10 a pop this isn’t an everyday cigar, but with excellent construction and a unique flavor profile, I can highly recommend it.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

Tags: cigars