The Stogie Guys

In terms of new lines of American whiskey in recent years, E.H. Taylor has to be one of the more interesting. Produced by Buffalo Trace (makers of Blanton’s, George T. Stagg, Elmer T. Lee, W.L. Weller, Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace, and a little bourbon called Pappy Van Winkle) the six-whiskey line honors Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr.

Taylor is one of the founding fathers of the bourbon industry and one-time owner of what is now called Buffalo Trace Distillery. He’s largely known as a proponent of the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, which ensured quality standards for “bottled-in-bond” bourbon (back then many bourbons were mixed with things like tobacco, turpentine, or other horrible additives to appear more aged than they were). But rest assured the Feds weren’t just worried about the quality of our bourbon. The law also ensured that the federal government could more easily collect taxes.

The E.H. Taylor line consists of four bourbons (Small Batch, Single Barrel, Barrel Proof, and Warehouse C Tornado Surviving), an Old Fashioned Sour Mash (which technically might be bourbon), and this E.H. Taylor Rye. With the exception of the Barrel Proof, all are bottled at 100-proof, the minimum for a bottled-in-bond American whiskey.

What sets this rye apart is a different mashbill than previous Buffalo Trace ryes (both the Sazerac/Handy recipe, and anything made at the Buffalo Trace-owned Barton Distillery). Neither uses nearly as much rye as the the E.H. Taylor mashbill, which uses no corn (only rye and malted barley), probably in a 95/5 ratio. The age of the rye isn’t disclosed, though the straight rye designation (without any age statement) means it’s at least four years old.

The result is a lively spirit with an intense nose of honey, nutmeg, and varnish. On the palate it really shows its range. Traditional flavors include vanilla, pepper, and oils with subtle, though more dramatic, hints of mint, dried fruit, tamarind, and cinnamon. The finish is long with fruit and woody spice.

I paid $68 for this rye. And while it’s a good rye, it can’t compete with Sazerac ($30) or Rittenhouse 100 ($25) for value, nor is it as good as Sazerac 18, which has a suggested retail of around $80 (though good luck finding it, let alone at that price). And yet, E.H. Taylor is still an impressive rye, one that I not only bought one bottle of, but another right after.

Spicy, full-flavored rye calls for a full-bodied spicy cigar. The Opus X, La Aroma de Cuba Edición Especial, and the Boutique Brands Swag all fit the bill. Ultimately, it’s what I call a stage-two whiskey: not one of the first five ryes I’d recommend to someone just feeling their way through the world of American whiskey, but not something I’d deter a more seasoned rye drinker from trying.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

When I initially heard that La Flor Dominicana (LFD) was discontinuing some of their lines, I was very nervous. LFD has a plethora of high quality, enjoyable smokes and a few of them have been in my regular rotation for a while now. While it was not entirely removed, the LFD 2000 Series offerings were cut down dramatically. From now on, only one size out of the original nine will be offered.

This vitola is the No. 3 (4.625 x 40). Though this cigar is small, the myths surrounding it loom large. Some claim that a portion of the tobacco included in the 2000 series comes directly from Litto Gomez’s private 120-acre farm. I have also been told, from the sales representative for LFD who works in my region, that the 2000 No. 3 was saved because it is Litto’s personal favorite cigar. While I cannot verify whether or not any of these claims are true, they are certainly interesting.

What really interests me about this cigar is how it differs from other LFD offerings. While normally known for their nicotine-heavy, ligero-filled smokes, this cigar is instead a solid medium in both flavor and strength. Dominican and Brazilian fillers compliment the Cameroon wrapper, which has a nice smoothness to it with minimal veins.

When lit, the 2000 series has a lot to offer. The main flavors here are very nutty, with cedar compliments in the beginning. Further in to the experience the cigar adds a nice pepper, with a spicy and medium-length finish. Though I expected some sweetness due to the Cameroon wrapper, it was not really there. The flavors that are present, though, are very pleasant, and the taste remains consistent down to the nub.

This cigar is a great offering from LFD, and it is nice to see them differentiate from their normal hard-hitters. When one takes into account how quickly these cigars can be smoked, and the affordability of a box, it is hard to award this stick anything less than four stogies out of five.

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

–Joey J

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.”

 

Made by the Aganorsa kings from Casa Fernandez Nicaraguan, this Miami-made Nicaraguan puro features a Medio Tiempo Ligero wrapper. The Robusto (5.25 x 52) is well-made with admirable combustion qualities. The flavors are gritty, with plenty of wood spice, though the profile is a bit unbalanced. It’s not a bad smoke, but hardly the best from Casa Fernandez.

Verdict = Hold.

–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.”

I first smoked this cigar when retailers handed them out last month as part of the company’s National Hex Day promotion. I’ve since tried two more. With a dark Ecuadorian Habano wrapper and a pigtail cap, Hex stands out on the shelf. The robusto—5 inches long with a ring gauge of 52—is a good size to enjoy what the stick has to offer. While there’s little flavor change along the way, it’s an enjoyable trip from start to finish. Fine construction, lots of smoke, excellent burn. (See my colleague’s full review of the Hex Perfecto here.)

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: N/A

Revelation is the latest Don Pepin Garcia creation in Ashton’s San Cristobal line. Like the others, it sports a gorgeous, intricate band in addition to an identifying secondary one. (We’ve reviewed the original line here and here, the Selección del Sol, and done a Quick Smoke of the Elegancia line here.)

But what stands out is a box press that, with the 48-ring gauge Mystic, makes it resemble a wafer along the lines of the coffee-flavored Java.

Light it up, though, and you’ll quickly discover that shape is all the two have in common. Revelation—befitting its Nicaraguan binder and filler—produces quite a pepper punch in the opening, followed by a nice spice on the back of the throat. It’s not the smoothest cigar, and the sharpness becomes exacerbated if you don’t smoke very slowly.

That can require a little effort because Revelation burns effortlessly, producing smoke like a house fire. The draw in those I’ve had was excellent, as was construction throughout.

In appearance, though, the 5.6-inch stick isn’t particularly pretty. Though there are no prominent veins, the brown Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper tends to be splotchy.

Overall, I’d say Revelation is a medium-strength cigar that develops throughout with some flavor shifts. I wondered, though, if it might not be a better smoke in a larger ring gauge, featured in each of the four other vitolas. There’s even a Leviathan (6.5 x 64).

Overall, I’d recommend giving the Revelation line a try. I rate the San Cristobal Revelation Mystic three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

About a year ago, when I reviewed a pre-release version of the Recluse Draconian Robusto from Iconic Leaf, I mentioned that the sizes of the blend would not be disclosed until the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers (IPCPR) Trade Show in Las Vegas.

Typically, the announcement of vitolas is a non-event. But, last winter, well before the IPCPR convention, Iconic Leaf assured us three of the sizes would be in a never-before-seen format called “Sidewinder,” and this created some intrigue. (Iconic Leaf fans will recall Recluse was likewise rolled out in an inventive format called “Kanu,” which has a head-turning kayak-like shape).

As best as I can describe it, the Sidewinder shape is reminiscent to a flattened oval that has a slight box press and a bit of a taper at the cap. Three Sidewinders appear in the Recluse Draconian portfolio: No. 1 (5 x 57, $8); No. 2 (6 x 57, $9); and No. 3 (7 x 57, $10). They join three other standard vitolas, all of which are box-pressed: Robusto (5 x 54, $7.50); Toro (6.25 x 50, $8.50); and 6 x 60 ($9.50).

All of these cigars are rolled in the entubado style at the Tabacalera Leyendas Cubanas factory in the Dominican Republic. They share an Ecuadorian maduro wrapper around a proprietary binder. The filler includes a Ligero leaf that’s unique to Iconic Leaf, as well as Dominican Ligero, Piloto Cubano, and Braziago.

The Recluse Draconian Sidewinder No. 2 is a sleek-looking smoke with a smooth surface, minimal veins, and barely visible seams. Notes of caramel, leather, and red pepper are apparent off the foot. A small V-cut is all that’s needed to open up a clear draw, thanks to the entubado rolling technique. In a nod to its unique shape, the cigar fits comfortably in the mouth despite its large ring gauge.

Ample spice, dry wood, espresso, pepper, and bread characterize the flavor profile. The smoke is heavy, toasty, and abundant with a thick texture. Traces of cream and peanut come and go. Throughout, the construction is very good—the ash is firm and stable, the burn line straight, and the draw smooth.

I thoroughly enjoyed both Sidewinder No. 2s I smoked for this review, though I can’t say I liked either considerably more or less than the pre-release Robusto. Still, I’d imagine some will prefer the Sidewinder format over the traditional Recluse Draconian sizes because of the ability to comfortably smoke a large ring gauge, and the ability to effectively control the concentration of the smoke by choosing between a V-cut and a standard guillotine cut. In the end, this vitola is worthy of a rating of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys