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) A gift shop owner in Roseville, California is causing a stink over cigar smoke. Lu Winslow, who apparently sells high-end ceramic roosters and diaper bags (who buys this shit?!), this week complained to the Sacramento Bee that the cigar shop next door is making her and her customers sick. She says the smoke that somehow seeps in through the walls “eventually landed [her] at the emergency room with dreadful migraines and chest pains.” California’s restrictive statewide ban on smoking isn’t enough for Winslow, so she’s threatening to sue.

2) On Monday, Dayton Daily News’ Hall of Fame sports columnist Hal McCoy answered some reader questions. This was the first one:

Q: Can you smoke in the Arizona (Chase Field) ball park press box? — Bill, Villa Hills, Ky.

A: Only if I set myself on fire. As for smoking my beloved cigars, that’s a no-no in every major-league press box. That doesn’t stop me from sticking unlit ones in my mouth. Josh Hamilton loves to ask if he can use one of my Churchills to hit with in batting practice, “Because it’s bigger than my bats.”

3) A few companies – most notably CAO – have “Double Maduro” cigars, but here’s a new one: Camacho is releasing the first ever Triple Maduro cigar, consisting of a maduro wrapper, binder, and filler. If you’re a Maduro lover, we suggest you add this to your must-try list.

4) Deal of the Week: Last week’s original deal of the week sold out literally an hour after we posted it. Fortunately, new stock came in and now it’s back. It pretty much speaks for itself, so we’ll simply point out that for under $20 you get these nine cigars:

Don Pepin Garcia Black Robusto
CAO Brazilia Gol
CAO MX2 Toro
Arturo Fuente Double Chateau
Hoyo Excalibur 1066 Dark Knight III
Onyx Reserve Toro
Padilla Habano Torpedo
Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970
Tinder Box La Reserva No. 2 Maduro

Grab them here before they sell out again.

–The Stogie Guys

This honey-hued beauty checks in as one of the best bargains I’ve encountered lately. A four and 1/2 inch stick with a 50 ring gauge at $3.50 that’s enjoyable and well made.

I believe Suave is a new line for Nat Sherman, introduced since its affiliation with Lew Rothman. Unlike some of its other new entries, these fit in with the typical mild nature of Nats.

Don’t mistake mild for flavorless, though. This Dominican with a Connecticut shade wrapper is tasty, complex, and excellently crafted. The burn was nearly razor sharp and the ash was tight. But it’s the developing flavor that makes the De Witt a winner. It begins with pepper and a dry finish. Soon, that was overtaken by light cedar tones and then a subtle sweetness with some toast. I was drinking coffee with the stogie and they made a great combination.

For those wondering about the name, the five cigars in this line are named for New York politicians. De Witt Clinton, an 19th century governor, was instrumental in construction of the Erie Canal. Others celebrate W. Averell Harriman, Roosevelt (Teddy and FDR, I suppose), Nelson Rockefeller, and Fiorello LaGuardia (strangely, this is not the smallest, though the height of the “Little Flower” was widely remarked upon.)

If you enjoy a morning Connecticut or simply like mild cigars with taste, I’d highly recommend this cigar. The Nat Sherman Suave De Witt earns four out of five stogies.

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

–George E

Tags: cigars

In my trek through the subterranean world of cheap cigars, the Alcazar represents a step up. It’s not a huge step, though. We’re not talking about going from Woolworth’s to Saks. More like Big Lots to Kmart.

Unlike many of the ultra low-cost cigars – which wouldn’t be seen, much less stocked, in most cigar shops – Alcazars are relatively easy to find. Perhaps that’s due to their connection to the storied Fuente line. As noted on the company’s website, the “Nicaraguan Alcazar bundle” brand is produced by “partners” of the J.C. Newman Cigar Co.

It’s apparent that the Alcazar is named for a horse. Other cigars in the past also sported the moniker. Curious, I did a little research and found at least one dozen thoroughbreds with the name. But then I read that an earlier cigar honored a trotter named Alcazar famous in the late 1800s, and I’m guessing that’s the equine lineage represented by these sticks.

For a stogie readily available for less than $2 when purchased in lots of 20 (I paid $2.75 for my Alcazar No. 4 Maduro at a local shop), the cigar appears surprisingly nice. It has a dark, rough look. The cap had been applied nicely and punched easily. The draw was straightforward, it lit evenly, and the burn was straight from start to finish.

The real trouble began when I started to actually smoke the five inch by 52 ring gauge cigar. The smoke was thin. But I could at least see it so I knew I was smoking. Otherwise, I’d have thought I was simply breathing. When it comes to a lack of taste, Alcazar occupies the winner’s circle. Bland, flat, flavorless, tasteless, dull, boring, vapid. Take your pick.

Fortunately, the Alcazar burned rapidly, so I was able to reach the last third fairly quickly. Unfortunately, my hope that the profile would change along the way was unfulfilled.

I plan to let Alcazar remain in the pasture, alone and undisturbed.

Next up on my highlights of low-cost cigars: a Cuban Reject that stands in at six inches with a price tag of $1.35

[Read part 1 and part 2 of George’s continuing series on cheap cigars.]

–George E

Tags: cigars

Back in early March we asked Stogie Guys Nation, “What do you really want to know about cigars?” You responded with a wave of interesting questions, many of which were used to create questionnaires that will be distributed to various leading figures in the cigar industry.

Today you’ll finally get some answers. In the first part of our Ask a Cigar Insider series, John Sullivan – manager of the JR Cigar store in Washington, DC – discusses famous clientèle, favorite smokes, cigar aging, and more.

SG: Who’s the most interesting person to visit your store? Can you tell us a bit about your customers?

JS: We have many interesting people come into the store. Some are famous some are not. But they all love cigars. We have been visited by Jake Lamotta (The Raging Bull) and Gerry Cooney. Sen. Fred Thompson used to come in. Ambassador Joseph Wilson and Rep. Tom Delay, but not at the same time. The former DC Mayor Tony Williams came in all the time, that is until his cigar smoking became politically incorrect. The best thing about this store is when someone comes in the only label they wear is “cigar smoker.” We have university presidents talking with truck drivers. People meet and talk across all sorts of social divides.

SG: If you could only smoke one specific cigar for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

JS: I know it may seem odd but the cigar I would pick is the JR Ultimate Petite Corona Double Maduro. Just the right size to enjoy and not last too long. The maduro wrapper is a bit sweet, and this cigar can be smoked any time of day. It comes in a nice cedar box and…well, enough said. I think I’ll have one now.

SG: Conversely, what specific cigar are you surprised people keep buying?

JS: What a tough question. A “good” cigar is a cigar you like, so to pick one that’s “bad” is only a result of personal taste. But, if you must know, I personally dislike Onyx. I think it’s a cigar that doesn’t live up to it’s reputation. For a company that’s supposed to be a maduro specialist, Onyx smokes dry and too woody for my taste. No sweetness at all. But we sell the cigar at a decent rate. So again, a “bad” or “good” cigar is a personal decision.

SG: In your personal humidor(s), do you keep the cellophane on or off? Why?

JS: I do both. I have to admit my humidor is a collection of various cigars from a wide range of wrappers and blends. I keep the cello on to help protect the individual cigar from blending in taste with the one next to it. I should keep them separate, but I take care of my store much better than my personal humidor.

SG: Are you a believer that cigars get better with age? What affect do you think aging has on cigars?

JS: This question kind of goes with the cello question. I do think cigars get better with age, but only to a point. I think that when a cigar is bought it should be placed in a humidor for a period of time. This allows the cigar to pick up some moisture, and will ultimately make it much more enjoyable. Keeping cigars in a cedar-lined humidor helps them blend the different leafs into one taste. In this case, if it’s all the same cigar or blend, take the cello off to allow the effects of humidity and cedar to infiltrate the cigar. Cigars sometimes come to my store that are still too young to smoke. There is an ammonia taste. This means the tobacco has not yet aged enough.

Many thanks to John Sullivan for taking the time to answer our questions. For all you DC-area Stogie Guys out there, be sure to visit his JR Cigar store at 1730 L Street, NW.

–Patrick A

Tags: cigars

I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that Georgetown Tobacco had the Coronado by la Flor Domicana in stock. This notoriously rare smoke has been getting rave reviews – topped off by a number two ranking on Cigar Aficionado’s “Best Cigars of the Year” list for 2006.

And while I admit to being a bit skeptical about CA’s ratings, particularly when it comes to the difference between a 90 and a 93 (this double corona received a 93), I had heard enough about the cigar to know that La Flor Dominicana maker Litto Gomez came up with a hit with this blend.

So when I first saw them at the shop I picked up two, and after one I went back for a handful more before their stock sold out. I’ve tried the seven inch by 54 ring gauge double toro (and passed on the jaw-hurting seven inch by 60 corona gordas), but this review is of the seven inch by 50 double corona, which is my favorite of the vitolas.

The Nicaraguan wrapper of the Coronado was an oily sun grown leaf with a few veins and a lovely oily sheen. The cigar was adorned with a complex gold and purple band that looked like a crown.

After cutting, I found licorice flavors when I tasted the cigar before lighting it. Once lit I was greeted with toffee, warm tobacco, and very subtle paprika flavors. The cigar produced an abundant amount of dense, rich smoke and the draw was perfectly easy. All five I’ve had have burned evenly all the way to the band.

As the cigar progressed, I found a complex medium to full-bodied blend that featured coffee, earth, toffee, and a little leather.

The Coronado by La Flor took nearly two hours to smoke, but a word to the wise: Don’t rush this cigar! At seven inches long, it might be tempting to try to sneak three or four puffs a minute, but if you do so you will find that the complex flavors quickly turn a bit acidic. However, when I deliberately slowed to one puff per minute, the perfectly balanced medley of flavors was really able to shine.

Available at around $8 a cigar, the Coronado by La Flor is a tobacco treat that would stand out when pitted against stogies that cost twice as much. For its solid construction, reasonable price, and abundance of flavor, this cigar earns a rare five out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick S

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

This four and ½ inch by 44 ring gauge beauty may not be one of a kind, but it’s close. Rocky Patel’s OSG (Original Sun Grown) line is the product of very precise blending and a full-bodied Ecuadorian wrapper. In 2002, less than 50,000 were produced and – due to a change in ownership at the rolling factory – none have been made since. Despite some small cracks and tears in the wrapper, this is a nice cigar with strong notes of hops, leather, and malt. Rocky charges about $6 for one, and it’ll last you 30 minutes.

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. The following is a Guest Quick Smoke, submitted by a StogieGuys.com reader. If you’d like to submit your own for publication, please contact us here.

This beautiful Honduran Puro started off light as could be. I thought something was amiss – no flavor and tons of smoke. It settled into a spicy, medium-bodied treat after the first half, though. The four and ½ inch by 52 ring gauge cigar did have some uneven burning, but it self-corrected that issue without any help from my torch. In all, this is a nice way to get a larger-gauged, fuller-bodied smoke in 45 minutes. You can get these for under $3 apiece when you buy in bulk.

Verdict: Hold.

–Submitted by Sam Chisholm from Mendon, MA