The Stogie Guys

I don’t want to make a habit of writing posts in response to reader comments, but in our effort to make StogieGuys.com an open forum for cigar enthusiasts – and simply for the sake of invalidating false information and idiotic opinion once purported as fact – this time I can’t help myself.

An anonymous comment was left on Friday’s post regarding our proposal to the Washington Nationals to create a temporary cigar section at RFK Stadium for an upcoming home game. As you know, the Nats rebuffed our suggestion.

But this guy – who didn’t have the balls to leave his name…and who claims to have a law degree from the University of Virginia (cough) – made some superfluous and blatantly bogus fabrications apparently in an attempt to suggest that our proposal was a bad idea.

In the following paragraphs, I will address Mr. Anonymous’ ridiculous lies and outrageous claims one by one. Enjoy.

[I]t [has] been proven unprofitable for private establishments to allow smoking because of the negative impact it has on non-smokers.

Wrong. If it was profitable for private businesses to ban smoking, they would do so on their own (thereby eliminating the need for Draconian government intervention). And who could blame them? Businesses are in business to make money, and good businesses will do what it takes to increase their profit margins. Private establishments should be able to choose what amenities to offer on their own, and many have already done so. But the sad fact is that smoking bans at their root are not about business; they’re about imposing the tyranny of the majority on minority smokers.

[I]t is also illegal for RFK Stadium to have a cigar smoking facility in the stadium. In my expert legal opinion (UVA Law School ‘04) RFK would not be exempt from the Washington, DC smoking ban. Because it would be run by Aramark, the stadium’s operator, and it would be run inside the stadium it would be counted as part of the profit of the stadium. This means it would not meet the required income from tobacco products to be exempt under DC’s smoking ban. Sorry to rain on your parade.

Well, sorry to rain on your parade, but your “expert” legal opinion is utter bullshit. The DC ban only prohibits smoking in indoor public places. If you have ever been to RFK, you will notice the giant, gaping hole where a roof would need to be for the ban to apply.

That being said, I certainly do not want to discourage readers from leaving comments on StogieGuys.com. Feedback from fellow cigar-lovers is one of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of this hobby, and constructive criticism is always appreciated. But if you’re going to leave anonymous, false, and/or dim-witted ramblings, please be advised that I just might call you out on your lies.

Finally, to whoever left the comment: Grow some balls, write back, identify yourself, and engage us in debate. Anonymously hit-and-running while claiming falsehoods as expert fact is just plain cowardly.

-Patrick A

I picked up a few Don Diegos at a promotional event run by the regional Altadis rep, and hosted by Cigar Connection in Ballston. The friendly Altadis rep was suggesting to customers that the Don Diego Grandee was a similar cigar to Altadis’ famous Montecristo.

This Domincan cigar’s Connecticut wrapper had a few large veins, but overall was very pleasing to the eye and generally well-constructed. Even after I clipped the head off of this toro-sized stogie with my double guillotine cutter, the it held together flawlessly.

The cigar was easy to light and burned evenly producing a sturdy gray ash. And with the lightest lap of my finger, that ash easily dropped off after collecting for over an inch, again a sign of flawless construction – not unlike the Montecristo it was compared to.

However, when it came to taste, not only was the Don Diego not similar to a Montecristo, it didn’t even play in the same league. Montecristos are a medium to mild cigars with complex flavors. This Don Diego, on the other hand, was completely lacking in complexity and its only flavor was the dull woody taste that was transmitted to me in the form of far-too-hot smoke.

Overall, this cigar was very disappointing. I never gave much weight to claims of this stogie’s similarity to Montecristo, but I still expected it to be worthy of the Altadis name which produces such classic smokes as Romeo y Julieta, Trinidad, Saint Luis Rey, and H Upman.

So given that unfortunate disappointment, I give the Don Diego Grandee a mere two out of five stogies.

-Patrick S

Even the most amateur enthusiast knows that cigars need humidity for proper storage. Since they are hydroscopic in nature, cigars will, over time, dry out in an arid climate or absorb moisture in a humid one. Dry cigars yield high combustion temperatures, leaving the smoke hot and acrid on the palate. And wet cigars tend to burn improperly and taste stale.

Therefore, we need to aim for a happy medium between too dry and too damp. For the most enjoyable smoke, this equates to 12 to 14 percent of the cigar’s total weight in moisture (or about 60 to 70 percent relative humidity). If you have a humidor, your hygrometer measures relative humidity. But hygrometers, whether mechanical or electronic, can be grossly imprecise and may require adjustment or replacement. So be sure to verify the accuracy of your hygrometer with the salt calibration test.

I’ll begin by mentioning that my degrees in political science and international commerce in no way qualify me to discuss the intricacies of chemistry. So I won’t try to explain why the salt calibration test works. Just please note that it does.

To perform the test on your own hygrometer, you’ll need a few basic items:

(1) Distilled water (purchased from any grocery store)
(2) Coffee stirrer (or other thin, clean object with which to stir)
(3) Bottle cap (Snapple bottle caps work perfectly)
(4) Empty wide-mouth jar with lid (like a clean mayonnaise jar)
(5) Tablespoon of plain table salt
(6) Your hygrometer

Place the tablespoon of salt within the bottle cap and slowly add distilled water to the salt while stirring with the coffee stirrer. Only add just enough water to moisten the salt so that it becomes a thick paste—do not add enough to dissolve the salt.

Next, place the bottle cap with salt/water mixture gently into your wide-mouth jar and add your hygrometer. Make certain the sensor is exposed and is not blocked by the sides of the jar. Seal the jar so there are no leaks, and put it in a place out of direct sunlight and with a stable, cool temperature (like your closet).

Leave the setup undisturbed for a minimum of eight hours. After that, check the reading on the hygrometer through the glass jar. It should read on or near 75 percent relative humidity. Most inexpensive hygrometers are only accurate to within 3 percent, so do not be surprised if yours reads 72 or 78 percent. Whatever it reads plus or minus our 75 percent benchmark is the amount of error.

If your hygrometer has an adjustment meter then, by all means, try to tweak it to exactly 75 percent relative humidity. You should repeat the salt calibration test after making any adjustments. If your hygrometer can’t be adjusted but the reading is close, then my advice is to not worry about it; just remember that your hygrometer is X percent off—either high or low. If the reading is grossly in error and you are unable to adjust it, you need to replace it.

Once you confirm your hygrometer’s accuracy and maintain a relative humidity of about 65 percent in your humidor, your cigars will age properly and be in peak condition when you’re ready to fire them up.

–Patrick A

As you know, Washington, DC has been utterly pelted by massive downpours and torrential thunderstorms over the past week or so. Unfortunately, it’s enough to drive a guy – and his floating car – crazy (but that’s a story for another time). On the plus side, this severe and unusual weather has provided many terrific opportunities to light up some fantastic cigars on my porch as I watch the lightning illuminate the night sky.

Cigars like the Arturo Fuente Privada No. 1. This six and ¾ inch by 44 ring gauge stogie has a smooth, cream-colored Connecticut Shade wrapper. And with that classic maroon and gold Arturo band and a little green ribbon around the foot, this is one of the better looking cigars I have ever had the pleasure to light up.

Once lit, I immediately found the stogie to have a gentle, smooth taste. Thankfully, though, it wasn’t too mild (like the Macanudo Natural Rothschild). At the beginning, the flavors ranged from spicy ginger to sweet molasses, all evened out by a mildness that was as pleasing as it was aromatic.

As the nice, even burn moved closer to my fingers and the long, white ash piled up at the foot, the cigar became a little spicier, transforming from ginger and molasses aromas to a delightful clove. But while this stogie was no doubt complex and flavorful, it maintained a pleasantly smooth character until the very end.

Overall, this smoke was a real pleasure, and – at only $4.50 to $5 apiece – not one I will wait too long before indulging in again. I give the Arturo Fuente Privada No. 1 a praiseworthy four and ½ out of five stogies.

Note: Special thanks to Melissa for (1) providing me with this fine cigar and (2) helping me taste and critique it.

-Patrick A

In my June 30 post announcing the Washington Nationals rebuffed our proposal to create a temporary cigar section at RFK Stadium, I argued there is an “indisputable demand for cigar friendly sections at major league ballparks.”

Demand for these facilities is evident in the highly popular cigar sections at the Pittsburgh Pirates’ PNC Park, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays’ Tropicana Field, and the latest case in point: the Camacho Cigar Bar at the Detroit Tigers’ Comerica Park.

Since it’s grand opening on June 23 (the Tigers beat the Cardinals 10-6), the new stogie haven has been inundated with Motor City baseball fans/cigar enthusiasts. And with top-shelf liquor, a delicious menu, large screen televisions, lounge sofas, and a wide assortment of Camacho cigars, it doesn’t look like the bar’s popularity will wane anytime in the near future.

The Camacho Cigar Bar is located on the Club Level of Comerica Park along the first-base side and is open to luxury suite owners and guests, and to any fan sitting on the Club Level or in the Tiger Den area. The bar is open two hours before game time and for an hour after the last out…The real attraction is the full selection of Camacho cigars, including SLR Maduros and Tubos, Corojos and La Fontanas. Prices range between $6 and $12 and humidified cigar lockers are available.

As you might have guessed, I’m going to assert this story is proof positive that our proposal to the Nats for a Stogie Guys Cigar Night at RFK would be successful. And I’m also going to take this opportunity to ask you, once again, to please consider signing our online petition to help make that event a reality.

-Patrick A

Golf and cigars go together perfectly: you’ve got hours outdoors, you can ash your cigar anywhere without getting dirty looks (except for the greens), and compared to the rest of society, golf courses generally provide cigar-friendly environments.

And there are plenty of entrepreneurs looking to cash in on this match made made in heaven with all kinds of specialty golf cigar gadgets ranging from cigar tees to hold your cigar to golf bag humidors. But we’re here to tell you that dropping a 20 spot on that cigar cutter/divot repair tool or any other gadget is completely unnecessary.

If you follow these four tips, you will have a more enjoyable cigar experience on the course without having to buy anything that average Stogie Guys doesn’t already own. Sadly, we have no tips to offer that will improve your golf game.

1. What to smoke? The golf course is no place for small cigars. Courses can get pretty crowded on the weekends, so you have nothing but time. Grab something at least as long as a toro (6 inches). The golf course is perfect for churchills or – if a smaller ring gauge is more to your liking – a lonsdale. Remember your cigar may sit unsmoked for a while as you four-putt, throw your putter in the sandtrap, and then retrieve it and find that your stogie went out. Larger cigars have a higher tolerance for re-lighting than small ones.

Also, don’t break out that super premium cigar on the links. It will be wasted as you are distracted by your sub-par golf game. Keep the Cohiba in the humidor and try to find a value cigar. Three stogie cigars are perfect for golf.

2. How to light your cigar? While golf courses are perfect for smoking a stogie, the wind that never seems to be blowing at your back can make lighting a cigar awfully difficult. If blocking the wind with your hand doesn’t get the job done, you may want to try using a hat to block the breeze. As always, a torch is preferable to matches.

Finally, while toasting the edges is still the best way to light your cigar, on the golf course you might skip that step if just keeping the flame lit proves difficult. If you do light the cigar without first toasting the edges, be sure to give your stogie a few big puffs immediately after lighting it to make sure it is completely lit.

3. Where to put your cigar? While you swing you probably will need to put the cigar down, but with no ashtrays there may not be an obvious place to put it. Plenty of places hawk special “cigar tees” but really all you need is a flat non-flammable surface: golf carts, tee box markers, or even carefully balanced on a wood (with head-cover removed) in your bag. The most abundent cigar holder of all also works well: the grass next to your ball (as long as it isn’t wet or dusty).

But remember, like your sand wedge, you should leave your cigar on the green (not on the fringe or in the ruff) while putting so you don’t forget it in the excitement of that 40 foot eagle putt. Of course the easiest way to not forget your smoke is by leaving it in your mouth.

4. How many cigars to bring? The standard is one for every nine holes, but if you have a bunch of slow-playing old ladies ahead of you, this may leave you with a few hours without a cigar on the back nine. So maybe three is really the ideal number.

Also, make sure the cigars don’t get damaged in your bag. A simple leather case will work perfectly. So do cigars that come in their own tubes.

Have a tip of your own? Leave a comment for all stogies guys to see or email us.

-Patrick S

The 230th anniversary of our nation’s independence is not only a great opportunity to barbeque, drink, and – of course – have a cigar. In unfortunate times of war, it’s also a time to somberly remember those Americans who are jeopardizing their lives in the name of the greatest country on Earth.

Lets all take a few moments today to give thanks for those brave patriots overseas. Whether or not you support the war, we can all agree to support the troops…and hope for their safe return.

Speaking of which, the photo is a friend of a friend who is currently working on predator drones for the military for Boeing in Iraq. He is seen here smoking a stogie with a gigantic sandstorm in the background. Pretty hardcore, eh? You can see all of his pictures here.

So while you’re biting into that hamburger, gulping from that bottle of Sam Adams, taking a puff from that Punch, and enjoying that splendid array of pyrotechnics in the sky, take a few moments and think of our countrymen abroad. They deserve a good cigar on Independence Day more than anyone.

-Patrick A