The Stogie Guys

Over the next week and a half, because of the holidays, we’ll be taking a day or two off and filling in the remaining days with Quick Smokes. Think of it as our winter vacation, only we’ll be posting something nearly everyday—and each Quick Smoke gives you an opportunity to win one of the more unique cigar prizes we’ve ever given away.

Between writing about cigars, attending shop events, and the annual trade show, I end up with a lot of promotional items: T-shirts, hats, and almost anything else you can think of. So for a unique prize, I’ve decided to give away a collection of cigar swag that’s been sitting in a box in my closet unused and unopened, including four T-shirts, four hats, and an assortment of other unique items.

• Two Tatuaje XL T-shirts (one black, one white) and a Tatuaje Saints & Sinners hat
• SWAG Puro Dominicano T-shirt
• CAO Concert XL T-shirt, hat, and can coozy
• Two Cuba Aliados hats
• Crowned Heads pre-release announcement poster
• Romeo deck of playing cards
• Handful of Cuban Crafters guillotine cutters

To win, you need to do two simple things. First, sign up for our free email newsletter (either using the form next to this article or the one on this page). Second, leave a comment (using the email address you signed up with for the newsletter) on any of our Quick Smoke reviews that we publish between now and the new year, letting us know what you think of the cigar we wrote about. You get credit for an additional entry for each Quick Smoke you leave a comment about.

In January, we’ll announce the randomly-selected winner in our email newsletter. (Standard contest rules here.) Good luck and happy holidays!

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Perusing the shelves of one of my favorite local tobacconists last weekend, I was looking for something new to try, perhaps a cigar that debuted at the 2012 industry trade show but had since managed to escape my clutches.

I almost didn’t notice the section of Mi Amor Reserva cigars. The image on the band was all too familiar to me. Without actually reading the second band, I could have easily mistaken the cigars for one of the other La Aroma de Cuba lines that have long been on the market and graced my humidors. I did a double-take and purchased a few.

I bought three Maximos (5.5 x 54) for $9.25 each. One of four Mi Amor Reserva sizes—the others being Romantico (6.9 x 50), Divino (6.25 x 52), and Beso (5.625 x 48)—it is crafted by Don Pepin Garcia at My Father Cigars.

La Aroma’s distributor, Ashton, calls this blend “the finest, most exclusive La Aroma de Cuba to date.” It is intended to be a stronger version of the original Mi Amor line, which was introduced in 2010. The filler and binder are Nicaraguan and the thick Cuban-seed oscuro wrapper is from San Andreas, Mexico.

It’s hard to comment on the appearance of the slightly box-pressed Maximo without mentioning how the ornate bands of red, gold, and yellow look fantastic against the dark exterior leaf. I’m not the first one to point this out, and I won’t be the last. Beneath the bands is a mottled, textured wrapper dotted with imperfections that are likely a result of the high priming of the leaf.

The pre-light fragrances of cocoa and cayenne spice give way to a bold flavor of black pepper spice and dry cedar. After less than a half inch, though, the profile settles in strength to take on a more balanced taste of dark chocolate, earth, nut, and cream. While the nicotine kick remains low from beginning to nub, the body is full.

With excellent construction, a chalky texture, solid balance, and full body despite low strength, the Mi Amor Reserva Maximo is an outstanding smoke and my new favorite among La Aroma de Cuba’s fine portfolio. It will be interesting to see how this young cigar changes with age. As it stands now, it’s already worthy of a rare rating of four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

The key difference, in my opinion, between cigarettes and cigars is what they deliver. Cigarettes are manufactured to deliver nicotine. Cigars are created to deliver flavor.

With that in mind, e-cigarettes make sense. They deliver nicotine in the form of water vapor without smoke, tar, or other impurities ending up in your lungs (because, unlike cigar smoking, cigarettes are inhaled into the lungs). And even though the anti-tobacco zealots at the FDA won’t admit it, e-cigarettes are almost certainly healthier than inhaling real cigarettes.

Which brings me to a product I yet don’t get: the electronic cigar. I’ve had some online e-cigar sellers offer to send me a sample, but I never saw any reason to give one a try. I’m guessing whoever invented these things isn’t an actual cigar smoker. If they were, they’d know that flavorless water vapor misses the point of a product that’s all about flavor, balance, and complexity.

Plus, the best part of a cigar is that it forces you into a slower pace. Smoke it too fast and it burns hot. A slower, more contemplative pace is a necessity, as is sufficient time. All that is ruined by the on-off switch on an electronic cigar.

I don’t begrudge anyone who just wants some nicotine. This is a free country and they should be free to make that decision. Further, I feel some solidarity with cigarette smokes who are oppressed by the same anti-tobacco laws that persecute cigar smokers.

But personally, five minutes of nicotine doesn’t do anything for me. I’d smoke cigars if they didn’t have an ounce of nicotine. So you won’t find me trying any e-cigars, which eliminate the very reasons I choose to smoke cigars in the first place. I just don’t see the point.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Flickr

Next Monday is Christmas Eve. After weeks of carols and crowded malls, the big day is almost here. For those of us who are cigar enthusiasts, there are a few steps we can take to help make this holiday season more enjoyable.

Give the gift of cigars. Chances are you have a cigar smoker on your shopping list. I’ve previously provided rules of thumb to keep in mind when buying a present for a fellow brother of the leaf, and I think they bear repeating at this opportune time. For one, remember to favor samplers over boxes, unless you know the target is loyal to one brand or one specific blend. Cigar accessories and books about cigars make more permanent gifts than those that are smokable. And buying someone a membership in Cigar Rights of America is both thoughtful and productive in the overall battle to protect cigar freedoms.

Winterize your humidor. This time of year poses particular challenges to the safe storage of cigars. Taking a few preventative measures now will save you time, money, and heartache in the long run. Colder air means less humidity, so pay special attention to your hygrometer; humidors will need to be re-charged with moisture more often in the winter. Be sure to keep distilled water on hand. If you use beads, solution, or some other moisture-granting mechanism, now would be a good time to order reserves. Check the seal of your humidor to ensure the moisture you are supplying isn’t leaking out.

Travel with cigars. Many will be traveling by plane to visit with friends and family over the holidays. Since they may be lost or confiscated by TSA officials, don’t pack expensive cigar paraphernalia in your carry-on luggage. In lieu of a fancy lighter, for example, bring along a Ronson (a reliable butane torch that only costs a few dollars). When it comes to cutters, opt for a simple keychain punch or a plastic guillotine. Travel humidors can be bulky, but you can achieve the same level of safety by enclosing your cigars in a simple Ziploc bag with a humi-pack, then wrapping the bag in soft items you planned to bring along anyways, such as clean boxer shorts.

Share your favorites. Those cigars you’ve been setting aside for a special occasion are just begging to be smoked and shared. Friends and family who might not otherwise partake in a cigar will be more receptive to smoking on Christmas and New Year’s Eve. So if you’re traveling, bring along more cigars than you think you’ll need. And if you’re welcoming others into your home, share the bounties of your collection. Your generosity will be rewarded and much appreciated.

Above all, my colleagues and I are wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season. If you have an additional tip you’d like to pass along, please provide it in the comments.

–Patrick A

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.”

Named for Dr. Alejandro Martinez Cuenca and José Blanco of Joya de Nicaragua, the new CyB brand (formerly called “Cuenca y Blanco,” as seen in my photo) has made quite a splash since it was introduced this summer. I can see why. The Torpedo Especial (6.25 x 52) has a balanced flavor of leather, cereals, cedar, and white pepper that’s derived from tobaccos from Nicaragua, Ecuador, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. It’s a departure from the Nicaraguan puros Joya de Nicaragua usually produces. With a slow burn and great physical properties, also a fine way to spend about $10.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

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.”

Recluse by Iconic Leaf is one of the more unique cigars to have been released at the recent IPCPR Trade Show. Made in the Dominican Republic, the blend utilizes a Brazilian maduro wrapper, Cameroon binder, and Dominican filers. The Robusto (5 x 52) features an oily, textured wrapper. Clove, leather, coffee, and molasses all stand out in this well-made cigar that produces thick, powdery smoke. Unique and flavorful, it’s definitely worth a try.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

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) Michael Jordan is set to move into his new 28,000-square-foot, $12.4 million home, which sits on 3 acres along Jack Nicklaus’ Bear Club, an exclusive golf course in Florida. A longtime cigar fan, the former NBA superstar and current majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats took his passion for the leaf into account when building his palace. According to TMZ, Jordan will have “a giant state-of-the-art home theater…outfitted with special equipment made to handle mass amounts of cigar smoke.” His property will also boast a pool house, a guest house, and a two-story guard house. Jordan previously had a $29 million home outside Chicago.

2) If you’ve ever been in the market for a humidor, you’ve surely noticed humidor retailers including estimated cigar capacities (60-count, 150-count, etc.) along with their product specs. And you’ve probably also come to learn that such estimates are typically inflated. To address this issue, the folks at HumidorDiscount.com have created a nifty humidor calculator that tells you how many cigars (you pick the brand/size) will fit in a humidor, given its dimensions. The calculator will even tell you if the cigars should be arranged vertically or horizontally.

3) Washington has had a smoking ban in place for years. But in light of the state’s recent legalization of marijuana, one bar owner in Olympia is telling patrons they can smoke—as long as they’re not smoking tobacco. He “appears to be the first restaurant or bar owner in the state to test the recently expanded limits on recreational marijuana use,” according to CNBC. “Federal, state, and local officials appear unsure” if he is breaking the law.

4) Inside the Industry: CAO is reportedly releasing a “Left Coast” regional cigar (although the “left coast” region apparently includes pretty much everything west of the Mississippi river). The unusual cigar (6.75 x 72) will be trapezoidal-shaped and come in boxes of 14.

5) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews the Crowned Heads Four Kicks Mule Kick. Nice Tight Ash checks out the Dona Flor CC Bahia Blend. Casa Fumando smokes the Crémo Classic Maduro. A Cigar Smoker lights up the Rocky Patel 50th Anniversary.

6) Deal of the Week: A few people noticed that when Corona Cigar launched their new website, the link to the Corona Stogie Guys Sampler was broken. Now it’s fixed. And it’s still a great deal, with 7 cigars for just $29.95, including limited Davidoff and Avo cigars.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr