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.

Cuesta-Reys rarely get the attention their Fuente cousins enjoy. But the Centenarios offer appealing smokes at reasonable prices. The six inch by 50 ring gauge maduro I smoked at a local shop was typical of these medium strength Dominican sticks: a nice aroma, creamy smoke, and warm, sweet tobacco tastes. At $40 or so for a box of 10, adding a few to your humidor can give you a new taste without breaking the bank.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

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

1) In another bizarre twist in Fidel Castro’s protracted battle for health, Reuters reported this week that the wavering communist dictator is signing five elaborate humidors to be auctioned off at Cuba’s annual Habanos festival. As you will recall, emergency surgery forced El Comandante to cede control of his impoverished island nation to his brother on July 31.

2) Toraño Cigars Inc. is celebrating 90 years in the business by releasing a limited-edition Noventa stogie. The sticks, which can already be found in many retail shops, sport a Habano Nicaragua wrapper and sell for about $10 apiece.

3) A cigar store Indian sold for an astonishing $69,000 this week at an antique show in Pennsylvania. The wooden figure – attributed to Sam Robb, New York, circa 1885 – stands over six feet tall while holding a package of cigars and a cube of tobacco. Click here for a brief history on these fascinating sculptures.

4) Representative Keith Ellison – the Minnesota Democrat who made waves in November by becoming the first Muslim elected to Congress – is waging a war against Colorado Republican Tom Tancredo. Because of Tom’s conservative stance on immigration? No. Because he smokes cigars in his office, which is right next door to Ellison’s.

5) Finally, here are our deals of the week: 12 premium big-name cigars (La Gloria, Hoyo, Gurkha, Torano, Rocky Patel, and more), a travel case, and a hat for under $30: Ultimate Cigar Sampler – $29.95. Also, you can claim a free Montecristo cigar with this offer we found in the January issue of The Robb Report: www.freemontecristosample.com. Enjoy!

–The Stogie Guys

We hope you DC-area readers can attend our first Stogie Guys Meetup tonight at Carpool in Ballston from 6:30-9 p.m. (See here for more details.) We will be there enjoying drinks, BBQ, pool, darts, cigars, and – most importantly – the company of fellow stogie enthusiasts.

But even if you cannot attend tonight, we hope you will get out and enjoy the many cigar events that take place every week all around the country. Cigar manufacturers and retailers often hold events to attract new customers.

Yet, for the average Stogie Guy, these promotional events can be much more than just an opportunity to score some freebies. (Although we like free cigars as much as the next guy!) For us, these events are best seen as an opportunity to meet your fellow cigar smokers and learn about the many complexities of stogies.

In October, George wrote about a Punch event that included a specially-designed cigar tasting kit, complete with three mini-cigars and detailed instructions. Patrick A and I attended a similar Davidoff tasting in August and a Macanudo event in June.

And even if a representative from a cigar company isn’t planning an event, just meeting up with your fellow smokes can provide a wealth of information as you talk stogies over stogies.

In the past we’ve written about the need for cigar companies to continue to educate their customers because, while cigar booms may be created by “Don (fill in the blank)” cigars and flashy advertising campaigns in Cigar Aficionado, sustainable growth is realized through educating consumers on the wonders and intricacies of premium handmade cigars.

Additionally – whether for one’s own knowledge, or to impress the next person who asks you “Whatcha smoking?” – learning the story behind the cigar also leads to a greater appreciation of the time and dedication that goes into creating it, from planting and cultivating the tobacco to developing the blend, hand rolling, and aging.

In short, these events are a win-win for buyers and sellers alike – particularly when the promotions include education about the products. The most complete list of cigar events we’ve come across is maintained here. General Cigar’s website also has a good list.

So even if we don’t see you tonight (and we hope we do), we highly recommend you take advantage of the cigar events in your area, so you can learn a little more about the hobby we all love.

–Patrick S

Tags: cigars

For what it’s worth, I happen to think Valentine’s Day is a pretty craptacular “holiday.” I don’t mean to be a party pooper, but, if you’re a clueless guy like me, February 14 is an annual lose-lose day.

On one hand, if you’re in a relationship (as I currently am – sorry ladies), Valentine’s poses huge potential for disaster. For example, if you don’t know what her favorite flowers and/or candies are or – worse – if you forget to get her something altogether, count on not scoring for awhile.

On the other hand, if you’re single, the entire day is a 24-hour reminder of what a loser you are. Might as well break out some hard alcohol and cry yourself to sleep.

In fact, I’d wager the only people who actually enjoy this sick day are chicks who are in relationships and Hallmark executives.

Nonetheless, in a pathetic effort to tie in the holiday with stogies, I thought you would enjoy reading what some other cigar enthusiasts have to say about love. And don’t worry: February 15 is right around the corner.

“A woman is just a script, but a cigar is a motion picture.” — Samuel Fuller

“After a truly good meal, an outstanding cigar is still the most satisfying after-dinner activity that doesn’t involve two human beings.” — Brad Shaw

“Women are jealous of cigars. They regard them as a strong rival.” — William Makepeace Thackeray

“If I paid $10 for a cigar, first I’d make love to it, then I’d smoke it.” — George Burns

“Smoking is indispensable if one has nothing to kiss.” — Sigmund Freud

“Lastly (and this is, perhaps, the golden rule), no woman should marry a man who does not smoke.” — Robert Louis Stevenson

“If your wife doesn’t like the aroma of your cigar, change your wife.” — Zino Davidoff

–Patrick A

Tags: cigars

Many months ago we gave you some tips on selecting a spirit to pair with your cigar.

Now I like a stiff drink as much as the next guy, but there are many times when a bourbon, scotch, cognac, port, or rum (the more traditional cigar cocktail pairings) just aren’t appropriate or desirable.

On these occasions, might I suggest you reach for a cup of Joe? Coffee isn’t the most exotic drink – over half of all Americans consume it everyday, and the per capita consumption is 1.6 cups a day – but a fine cigar paired with a good brew can turn the average to the exotic.

Coffee and a cigar before noon, in the early afternoon, or after dinner (when a stronger spirit just isn’t possible, like when you need to drive home) can be delightful.

And the flavors in a good cup of coffee are highly complimentary to cigars. Vanilla, mocha, chocolate, and roasted notes, as well as nuttiness and earth, can all be found in both cigars and coffee. In fact, tasting wheels used for coffee tasting would help any cigar smoker identify flavors in his tasty tobacco treat.

But much like bad cigars, too often when people think of coffee they think of bad coffee, like that sludge they serve at your workplace. But doing so would be like thinking that all cigars are like Phillies. I fear that, despite the billions of cups of coffee Americans drink ever year, many people have never had a really good brew.

Personally, I make a pot every morning with my French press coffee maker using freshly ground beans from my manual burr grinder. Some people take it a step further, roasting their own beans from their initial green color to the deep brown we identify with coffee, while other have thousand-dollar fully automatic espresso machines. But such a set up isn’t necessary for good coffee.

Whatever machine you use, try coffee that you grind yourself at the supermarket or local coffee store, as opposed to pre-ground canned coffee. And buy it in small amounts so that it isn’t sitting around getting stale, which can massively change the flavor. (I bought my grinder after noting how much more I enjoyed coffee right after I bought it compared to after it sat in my kitchen cabinet for a week.)

Finally, try different types of coffee from different countries and companies. Not surprisingly, Cuban coffee pairs excellently with cigars, but so can a good cafe au lait, latte, or espresso.

Like cigars, you need to try a variety to find your favorite. And when you do, you may find that, from time to time, you’ll pass over the alcoholic beverages in favor of a good cup of Joe.

–Patrick S

Tags: cigars

Time and again, whenever I have a special occasion to celebrate – like a birthday or a good friend coming to town – I break out something from Rocky’s Vintage 1992 line. Why? Because no matter how high my expectations get before the first light, I’m never disappointed.

The Rocky Patel Vintage 1992 Torpedo is a six and ¼ inch by 52 ring gauge slice of heaven. An unblemished, well-textured, ten-year-old Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper engulfs a binder and filler that have been accumulating flavor and character for seven years.

A fresh slice off the head provides the lucky smoker-to-be with a cross-section of cigar rolling mastery. Despite tightly packed tobaccos, the draw is clear and true.

After toasting the foot, I noticed rich earthy notes of oak and almond. Oddly, despite the easy draw, each tasty puff produced relatively small tufts of smoke.

The stogie doesn’t show its true colors, however, until the second third of the smoke. Here, the aforementioned wood and nut flavors mature into notes of dark roasted coffee beans.

It’s at this point that I usually have to audibly remind myself to smoke slower; I find the flavors so enticing that only taking one or two puffs per minute is like asking a child to be patient and not bite into a Tootsie Pop.

As far as physical properties are concerned, my many experiences with these stogies have uncovered no noticeable flaws. If you can’t get an even burn, a firm ash, or an effortless draw, you’re doing something wrong (and you might want to consult our Tips).

Clocking in at about $8.75 apiece, this is obviously no cheap stick. But considering the Vintage 1992 line’s complexity, full-bodied flavors (that hands-down outmatch the Vintage 1990 line), and aging, it’s still a great bargain.

So, keeping in mind the guidelines for StogieGuys.com’s unique ratings system, I’m wholeheartedly giving the Rocky Patel Vintage 1992 Torpedo five out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A

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

The J.L. Salazar y Hermanos Reserva Especial Torpedo was the first Cuban Crafters house brand I tried. With dark, rich chocolate notes, this full-flavored box-pressed torpedo was quite tasty. The construction was impressive too, with a perfectly even burn and abundant smoke.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

Tags: cigars