The Stogie Guys

Since May we’ve been keeping you up to speed on Altadis’ war against fake cigar trafficking and the ensuing controversy.

As you will recall, the Florida-based cigar manufacturer – which holds the exclusive trademarks to the famed Montecristo, H. Upmann, and Romeo y Julieta brands – has been funding undercover Miami-Dade police investigations into fake stogie rings.

Well, while StogieGuys.com was on its holiday break, one of Altadis’ targets received his punishment. Juan Penton, a 43-year-old carpenter from Hialeah, was sentenced to five months of house arrest, five years probation, and a $7,500 fine for selling $3,000 worth of counterfeit Cuban cigars.

Altadis holds the rights to some of the most famous “Cuban” brands because its parent company, based in Spain, bought them from Cuba’s exiled cigar-baron families decades after Castro’s revolution in 1959. As such, the prosecution pitted Penton against the giant cigar company that funded part of the criminal investigation.

Throughout the trial the defense countered by accusing Altadis of manipulating police work, which included an undercover buy of 60 wooden boxes of Dominican stogies in boxes stamped “Made in Cuba.”

While counterfeiting cigars is certainly a deplorable business, let’s not forget that fake Cubans wouldn’t be in such high demand without our government-imposed, hypocritical embargo on Cuban goods. Even so, something about a large company funding police work that it stands to benefit from doesn’t sit quite right.

Well, until this whole mess is sorted out, it wouldn’t hurt to revisit our May post on how to spot a fake.

–Patrick A

Tags: cigars

After you slip a Toraño 1916 Cameroon from the cellophane wrapper and peel the cedar sleeve away, take a moment to enjoy the cigar’s aroma. The fragrance is a wonderful earthy, woody mix certain to make your mouth water and set the tone for what is to follow.

The 1916 has the spice often associated with Cameroon tobacco, an abundance of smoke common to Toraño blends and a satisfying, slow-burning smoothness from start to finish. Along the way, there are touches of sweetness and a bit of pepper. It isn’t a particularly complex cigar that demands attention. Rather, it’s the type I think of as a fine companion for relaxing activities such as watching a bowl game on TV, reading, or listening to music.

I got a five pack of Robustos (five and ½ inches by 52 ring gauge) on CigarBid for $17, a little more than the rate they go for by the box of 25 – and more than you can sometimes find a fiver for on the Internet. So far, I’ve had two of them. They were remarkably consistent in everything except appearance. The first was rough with crinkles at the cap and a small crack in the wrapper about halfway down. But the clip went fine, and while there was a small burn problem at the wrapper tear, it quickly corrected itself. The second stick looked – and smoked – fine from top to bottom.

One aspect you might want to consider is what, if anything, you drink with these. The finish is a little dry. Between the two, I sipped coffee, a citrus-based soft drink, and water. I enjoyed the cigar most with the water.

I was curious about the origin of the wrapper so I called Toraño in Miami. There, a spokesman told me it is not from Central Africa but is grown in Nicaragua. The Havana seed binder is grown there as well, while the filler is a mixture of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos.

While I wouldn’t want a steady diet of 1916s, I would recommend adding some to your humidor. I’d bet you will find numerous occasions when that Cameroon spice and smooth smoke are a great fit for what you’re planning.

On the Stogie Guys scale, I give the Toraño 1916 Cameroon Robusto three and ½ out of five stogies.

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

–George E

StogieGuys.com will be taking a few days off for the holidays so we can relax, recharge, and have a few cigars. Our hiatus will conclude on January 3, 2007 when we will resume posting daily content.

But before our little break begins, we figured a quick look at the first year of StogieGuys.com was in order. Here are a few of our favorite posts from 2006:

– On May 15 we officially launched www.StogieGuys.com with this article.

– On May 16 we introduced our readers to La Rosa Cubana, which makes handmade cigars in the heart of New York City.

– On May 25 we told you about our experience smoking cigars with best selling author P.J. O’Rourke.

– On June 1, in one of many Stogie Tips, we described the proper way to cut a cigar.

– On June 5 we documented the first of many casualties of the Washington, DC smoking ban.

– On June 15 we told the sad story of how anti-smoking zealots managed to take the cigar our of Winston Churchill’s mouth.

– On June 30 we described how, despite thousands of empty seats, the Washington Nationals rebuffed our proposal (backed by JR Cigars) for a Cigar Night at RFK Stadium.

– On July 5 we gave you some tips for smoking cigars on the golf course.

– On July 14 we introduced the first of our many weekly Friday Samplers.

– On August 10 we reviewed our first Cuban cigar, the Cohiba Siglo V.

– On August 23 we gave some suggestions for selecting a drink to enjoy with your cigar.

– On September 7 we announced a contest to win two tickets to Cigar Artisans 2006. The winner, George Edmonson, later joined StogieGuys.com as the Tampa Bureau Chief.

– On September 20 we filed an exclusive report on what cigars the New York Mets chose to celebrate their National League East Title.

– On September 26 we gave some suggestions to cigar producers for displaying names and other vital information with their cigars.

– On October 2 George Edmonson filed his report on Cigar Artisans 2006.

– On October 5 we told you about some crazy guys that run marathons while smoking cigars.

– On October 11 we gave some advice on how to avoid the pitfalls that came from the mid-90s cigar boom.

– On October 26 we told you about the sad news that nearly half of Americans support tobacco prohibition.

– On Halloween we gave you some suggestions for cigar-friendly costumes.

– On Election Night we provided live results for the many anti-smoking initiatives on ballots around the country. The next day we wrapped up the results.

– On November 21 we explained that trying to restrict the freedom to smoke isn’t a liberal or conservative thing…It’s an anti-smoking thing.

– On November 28 we gave some tips for giving the gift of cigars.

– On December 4 we told you about the Stogie Guys’ adventures in Ybor City.

– On December 11 we gave just the third perfect five out of five rating to the Padrón Serie 1926 No. 6.

– On December 18 we unveiled the new look of the StogieGuys.com website.

– On December 21 we told you what we really want for Christmas this year.

Looking back, it certainly has been quite a year. We look forward to providing you with more news, reviews, commentary, and tips in 2007.

–The Stogie Guys

Tags: cigars

Not long ago, Total Wine & More opened a new store not far from me. Now I don’t care much about wine, but the “& More” part is a winner. This chain – at least the shops near me – has excellent cigar prices and a good selection of mainline brands.

Checking out the cigars, I noticed two boxes of Saint Luis Rey Rothschilds (five inches by 54 ring gauge) side-by-side: natural and maduro. I seemed to recollect smoking a few in the past and finding them agreeable. And at $1.99 apiece, how could I resist? I picked up one of each, thinking it would be interesting to compare the experience of each wrapper.

I started with the maduro. It was thick and felt tight to the touch. I clipped it and the band popped off easily. That was about the last easy part of the smoke. It was difficult to get lit evenly, and even more difficult to draw.

Within a quarter of an inch, I was operating with my tool of choice, a paperclip, to try to open it up. That seemed to work for a while, but I was soon sucking hard again just to draw any smoke. So, back to the paper clip. Several more times. In between those operations, I was tending to the burn.

The taste? I hardly had time to notice. It began with a touch of spice, then a bit of toast, but by the first inch they were replaced more or less by harshness and a bitter finish. By the time I put it down, it had become virtually tasteless.

Now, it’s possible the problems were my fault. But I put the two cigars in my box nearly a month ago, and my humidity is in the 65 percent range, so I find it difficult to believe there was too much moisture. We’ll see how the natural performs when I review it in a future article.

Overall, I think my memory of the Saint Luis Rey failed me, as did this cigar itself. I’m afraid I can only give this one out of five stogies.

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

–George E

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

We’re taking the day off to celebrate with friends, family and good cigars. We strongly suggest you do the same.

–The Stogie Guys

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 to tide you over for the weekend. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) Hurray for the Germans who recently rejected a total ban on smoking. Europe’s largest cigar market continues to be more tolerant of smokers than its continental neighbors. Maybe that’s because smoking bans remind Germans of the Nazis, who were ardent anti-smoking zealots.

2) Every month Smoke Magazine holds two drawings. One winner gets a box of AVO cigars made by Davidoff while the other gets cigars to review for an upcoming issue of Smoke. You’ll notice that their site lists winners every month, and that last September’s winner of the cigars for review was a certain “Patrick Semmens of Arlington, VA” who just happens to also be a founder of StogieGuys.com. Sign up here so you too can be a winner.

3) Speaking of Smoke Magazine, they only recently got their fall issue online (why it took so long we have no idea). Anyhow, check out this interview with Rocky Patel, who’s cigars have fared very well here at StogieGuys.com.

4) Here’s something we never thought would exist: cigar-flavored maple syrup. Made with the very strong (four stogie-rated) Joya de Nicaragua Antaño, the creator recommends using it to make the distinguished old fashioned cocktail. At StogieGuys.com we appreciate the old fashioned too. We just prefer our cigar next to, rather than in, our glass!

5) Finally, here’s another fantastic deal for you. This web-only special includes a dozen cigars including top notch brands like La Gloria Cubana, La Perla Habana, Hoyo de Monterrey, CAO, Punch, and Onyx. And they also throw in a case and hat, all for under 30 bucks.

Use this link for the special deal: Ultimate Cigar Sampler

–The Stogie Guys

Tags: cigars

As we’ve said before…Tis’ the season for gift giving!

So your Stogie Guys each came up with a few items that we really want this year. (Screw peace on Earth!) Feel free to tell us what you want in the comments section.

Patrick A:

Padrón Millennium 1964 Series – As my December 11 review details, I enjoyed the Padrón Serie 1926 No. 6 immensely. And since I haven’t had the opportunity to try anything from the Millennium 1964 Series, perhaps nothing would be finer than to find a few of those sticks under the tree.

Montecristo Golf Set – Had I been especially good this year, I might have asked Santa to bring me this Montecristo golf club set. The clubs I have now are great (except when I’m swinging them), but wouldn’t three woods, nine irons, a mallet-style putter, and a sleek bag sporting the famous Montecristo logo look badass on the links?

Rocky Patel Java – I’ve had my eye on this box of 12 Javas for some time. A quick glance at our archived reviews page shows Rockey Patel cigars have tested well at StogieGuys.com, and I’d sure love to try a few more.

Patrick S:

Davidoff 12 Cigar Sampler – What few Davidoffs I’ve had I really, really enjoyed. But usually the price leads me to spend my cigar budget elsewhere. Hence, this would make a perfect gift. With 12 different cigars from Davidoff’s many fantastic blends, this super sampler would let me try all that the legendary brand has to offer.

CAO’s Brazilia vs. Italia: Artistry of Champions – Since CAO’s Brazilia line is one of my favorites, I was pretty intrigued when the company put this very unusual set of figuardos out. But I was left with one important question: Can you really smoke those 96 ring gauge trumpets? I’d sure like to find out!

The Companero – This nifty accessory is literally all you need to enjoy a good party: a combination cigar case, flask, torch, and double cutter.

George E:

La Flor Dominicana Ligero Mysterio – A cigar I’m eager to smoke, but one with a price tag that’s pretty intimidating. I’m also the kind of guy who’d probably want to wait for some “special occasion” to light it up, rather than smoking it when I bought it. But as a gift, that would be special enough to warrant immediate smoking.

Michael Schwab Commemorative Mug for Peet’s 40th Anniversary – I like to drink coffee when I’m smoking. This mug is an attractive way to savor the java.

Arturo Fuente Sun Grown Double Chateau – Just the sight of that shiny black band at the foot is enough to guarantee smoking pleasure. These consistent, rich beauties are always enjoyable. And when you can’t find the Mysterio, these are likely to be available.

JR Gift Card – Sooner or later, I’ll be driving up I-95 in North Carolina. What better way to spend a few minutes than winding through the towels, remaindered books, NASCAR paraphernalia, and all the other trinkets they wouldn’t take at South Of The Border to the humidor room? A fabulous opportunity to try singles that you might otherwise not see, to check out bargains, and to simply enjoy yourself.

–The Stogie Guys

Tags: cigars