The Stogie Guys

When CAO, a family-owned cigar company based in Nashville, was purchased by the Scandanavian Tobacco Group in 2007 (and later merged with General Cigar), many were left wondering about the direction in which the brand would head.

Answers came in the form of OSA Sol, the first new CAO line to launch under the General Cigar umbrella. The blend, introduced a few years ago, features a unique sun-grown Honduran wrapper from the San Agustin valley in Olancho (hence “OSA”) with a Connecticut broadleaf binder and filler tobaccos from Honduras and Nicaragua.

Last summer, General Cigar further expanded the CAO portfolio with another new blend: Flathead. With a marketing scheme centered on muscle cars and pinup girls, Flathead “hits on all cylinders” and includes a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, Habano Connecticut binder, and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua.

Each Flathead vitola—V554 Camshaft, V642 Piston, V770 Big Block, and V660 Carb—is sharply box-pressed and sold in boxes with lids that are easily removed and intended to be used as wall art. The V554 Camshaft (5.5 x 54) sells for $7-8 apiece. It has (not surprisingly) a noticeably flat cap, along with a dark wrapper, a firm feel, and a pungent pre-light aroma of cocoa and leather.

After setting an even light, a profile emerges that’s characterized by dark chocolate, leather, cream, and black pepper spice. The most defining attribute of the taste, however, is the texture of the smoke. Rarely have I come across a cigar with a texture so dense, moist, and chalky. While the nicotine content may not be off the charts—and while the spice is often in the background—the V554 Camshaft smokes heavy and hearty. Adjectives like meaty and savory come to mind.

As for construction, each of the four samples I smoked for this review performed well. I can safely say this cigar produces an even burn line, a smooth draw, and a solid white ash that holds firm off the foot. And the smoke production is outstanding.

When it’s all said and done, the CAO Flathead V554 Camshaft is a damn good smoke that should give the General Cigar detractors reason to rethink their position. It’s also a solid value out of the box—perhaps considerably more so with patience, as I consider it a good prospect for aging. I’m awarding it a commendable rating of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

When a cigar company ventures off its familiar path, there’s almost always great interest. For Davidoff, that was apparent when it turned to Nicaragua for a new line. For Toraño, what’s different with the Finite is limiting the origin of ingredients to a single country.

The Toraño Family Cigar Co. doesn’t usually turn out puros. The company has long been known for its blending, combining tobacco from numerous countries. The flagship Exodus 1959 Gold, for example, is almost a mini-United Nations, sporting leaves from five countries.

Not this time. For the limited-release Finite, it’s Nicaragua for the filler, binder, and wrapper. Of course, that doesn’t mean there wasn’t quite a bit of blending involved. The three-size line utilizes different tobacco from various regions, strains, and primings.

According to Toraño, there was only enough of the tobacco to roll 75,000 cigars. Each box of 25 is date-stamped, a practice Toraño says it will continue to do for future limited editions.

The Toro, a 6.25-inch stick with a ring gauge of 52, retails for $8.50. The BFC (6 x 60) is $9.50 and the Robusto (4.9 x 52) is $8.

In what seems to be a continuing Toraño trend, the Finite has a foot band (displaying the infinity symbol). The regular band follows the Exodus style, with a purple background.

As you’d expect from a Nicaraguan puro, the Finite kicks off with pepper. It’s pleasant, but not overpowering, and the cigar quickly becomes a balanced, complex smoke with some fruity sweetness layered in. You’ll find other flavors and spices throughout, from cedar to cocoa. The strength is somewhere in the medium to full range.

I would have liked a little more smoke production. Construction, burn, and draw are excellent in each of the three I smoked. I prefer the Toro to the single Robusto I tried because there’s greater development and flavor variation.

I’ve always been a Toraño fan and this cigar is a great example of why I feel that way. Don’t miss it. I rate the Finite four stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: Toraño Cigars

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

The behemoth Animal Cracker (6 x 60) features an Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper around Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. It sells for $9.50. The cigar is billed this way: “Animal Cracker defines the large ring gauge as a successful wild hunt for big flavor and strength.” I’m largely inclined to agree. The perfectly constructed cigar features plenty of pepper, black coffee, and woody flavors. I was prepared to dismiss this cigar because I’m generally not a fan of thick smokes, but I must say I was impressed. Based on the one I smoked, it’s easily my second favorite from the Surrogates line.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

Before I fired it up last night, this Gran Toro (6 x 54) had been resting in my humidor for almost two years. I liked the Small Batch Reserve Habano line when it was introduced by Pinar del Rio in 2012. And I’m happy to report some age renders the fine cigar downright excellent. With time on its side, the Brazilian wrapper combines with Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos to yield a more complex, balanced profile than if it were smoked right out of the box. Look for flavors of sweet wood, milk chocolate, cream, spice, and a little leather, and expect nearly perfect construction. The smart move is to buy a box of 24 for around $170 and resist the urge to dive into it for about 24 months.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

As we have since July 2006, each Friday we’ll post a mixed bag of quick cigar news and other items of interest. Below is our latest Friday Sampler.

1) Arguably the most celebrated family in the cigar industry today has announced a new cigar that’s slated for release before the end of 2014. The Garcias, including patriarch Don Pepín Garcia (pictured), are planning a line called La Antiguedad (Spanish for “the antiquity”). It will feature an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper around double binders (Nicaraguan Criollo and Nicaraguan Corojo). The filler tobaccos will also be Nicaraguan, and it will be made at the heralded My Father Cigars factory. All five sizes will be box-pressed and the prices will range from $6 to $10.

2) “Hire the trio, experience the quartet.” Such is the marketing pitch for the new Avo Quartet, a four-pack of Avo robustos that’s sold for the price of three. Included in the $30 pack is the Avo Heritage, Signature, Lounge Edition, and a new Avo Mystery Blend. Avo is considering turning the Mystery Blend into a regular line based on feedback it receives via a special website that solicits consumer opinion from those who purchase the Avo Quartet.

3) Inside the Industry: Sam Leccia is, according to a press release, “looking to put the cigar industry in a headlock” with a new blend called Luchador (Spanish for “wrestler”). The four-size line is expected to be released on Cinco de Mayo. It will feature a Mexican wrapper around an Ecuadorian Habano binder with filler from Nicaragua, Pennsylvania, and Honduras. “I wanted to create something fun, yet different and exciting,” said Leccia. “With Luchador being a combination of exotic blends and flavors with a Mexican wrapper, I thought it was time to tap into my childhood fascination of Mexican pro wrestling. Fun branding aside, the Luchador is a seriously unique blend that goes from sweet to spicy in 0 to 60.”

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Fresh smokes the Padrón Family Reserve No. 85 Maduro. Stogie Review reviews the J. Castañón Mareba. Cigar Fan fires up the Legado de Pepín. Cigar Inspector inspects the Avo 80th Anniversary. Tiki Bar tries the Casa Miranda Chapter 2.

5) Deal of the Week: Here’s a sampler with some high-end, highly-rated cigars. Only $77 gets you one each of the following: La Jugada Habano Robusto, Drew Estate Nica Rustica, Illusione Rothchildes, L’Atelier Extension de la Racine, My Father El Centurion Belicoso, Nat Sherman 1930 Corona Grande, Leccia Black Robusto, Crowned Heads J.D. Howard Reserve Robusto, L’Atelier Maduro 54, and Drew Estate Herrera Estelí Lonsdale.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: My Father Cigars

It’s been nine months since the StogieGuys.com team published a new list of Gold Star Smokes. As you might recall, this special designation celebrates cigars that we feel are worthy of strong recommendations. They don’t necessarily have to be five stogie-rated—just commendable smokes we turn to time and again.

Co-Founder & Editor in Chief Patrick A

The La Musa Μελέτη Lancero is pretty limited (only 200 boxes are made available annually) but it is highly worth seeking out. It is a Nicaraguan puro with dark chocolate pre-light notes that transition to flavors of nougat, bread, espresso, and leather. It’s a bold, fuller-bodied smoke with plenty of complexity and excellent combustion qualities. When I have it on hand, I often reach for it as an after-dinner accompaniment to a cup of coffee.

Co-Founder & Publisher Patrick S

Winter is when I like to turn to corona-sized cigars, and one of my very favorites is the Tatuaje Noella Reserva. This Connecticut Broadleaf-wrapped Nicaraguan smoke is full of chocolate, coffee, and spice. I’ve smoked through multiple boxes and have always found them balanced and well-made. Plus it’s the type of cigar that goes equally well with a cup of coffee or your favorite spirit. It can be a bit hard to find but it’s certainly worth seeking out.

Tampa Bureau Chief George E

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Stogie Guys

I’m working my through a few more rye whiskeys before putting together a Guide to Rye, along the lines of our A-Z Guide to Bourbon (part 1 & part 2). Rye whiskey is increasingly popular these days and we want to help you sort out the over-hyped from the real gems.

High West distills whiskey and other spirits at its distillery and saloon in Park City, Utah, which bills itself as the world’s only ski-in distillery. However, the contents of Double Rye! (like most of High West’s aged whiskeys) weren’t distilled at the slope-side distillery.

Not that they hide that fact. As the back label explains, this is a combination of two straight rye whiskeys sourced by High West. One is a young two-year rye with a high rye mashbill (95% rye), probably from Lawrenceburg Distillers Indiana. The other is an old 16-year rye with a more traditional mashbill (53% rye). (My bottle was from batch “13F11” and it was bottle number 599.)

The “blend of straight rye whiskies” sells for around $35 per bottle. And the handsome bottle is notable for it’s old west style with bubbles in the glass that give the handmade appearance. The rye is a pure gold color. The nose is a very unique combination of pine and iodine, but with bits of maple candy sweetness and mint.

The palate is all about the dueling layers. The young whiskey has a raw quality to it, but there’s just enough of the smoothness and sweetness from the older rye to prevent it from being overly acrid or harsh. It’s a fresh combination of pear, honey, cinnamon, and raw wood. The finish is a bit harsh and short.

This is a tough whiskey to judge because it’s so unique. The rough nature of the 2-year-old rye that (I suspect) makes up the majority of this blend is dominant and, at times, harsh and unpleasant. But there are quite a few redeeming characteristics: sweetness, complexity, and unexpected depth.

Cigar-wise, you’ll want a spicy cigar to pair with the Double Rye! (yes the “!” is part of the appeal, and it’s descriptive of this brash whiskey). While there are more than a few better rye whiskeys, for more or less money, High West Double Rye! still has it’s charms as a bold, unique rye.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys