The Stogie Guys

There’s so much (mis)information about this Davidoff line floating around that I didn’t want to review these until I satisfied myself that I had the straight stuff. A conversation with Michael Herklots, general manager of Davidoff’s New York stores, provided answers to my questions.

First and foremost, these long-filler handmade cigars are not Davidoff seconds, mistakes, or throwaways. “It’s a brand, just like Avo is a brand,” Herklots said. The natural’s Connecticut shade wrapper and Dominican filler is a specific blend, one that’s repeated year in and year out just like any other cigar, he said.

After going through about half a box, I have found them every bit as consistent as cigars costing three or four times more.

“We really try to go out of our way to clarify that it is not a second,” Herklots continued. He explained Davidoff ‘s strategy to control cost: simple bands and simple boxes coupled with little promotion.

And keep the price down they do. If you look around online, you can find a box of 25 of the double corona-sized No. 1 (7.75 x 48) for about $75. The Private Stock brand also includes several vitolas in maduro as well as medium-filler cigars that are even less expensive. All are parejo shapes.

If you like mild cigars, I urge you to try this cigar. Make no mistake, though. You won’t close your eyes and think you’re smoking a Davidoff Classic. While I find a little of those special Davidoff characteristics in the Private Stock, the cigar is nowhere near as complex, rich, or flavorful. But, then again, it’s a $3 cigar.

While I don’t usually favor mild cigars for newcomers because they may not get enough taste, the flavors in this case lead me to make an exception. I’d probably recommend one of the smaller sizes, though.

I plan to keep a box on hand for when I’m looking to enjoy a mild cigar. It’s tough to beat, and for me it rates four stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Here at StogieGuys.com, one of our missions is to keep you abreast of important developments that can impact cigar rights, be they local, state, or national. If you’re informed, you have a chance to change the outcome. But to be an effective voice, you need to know what works and what doesn’t. The following are suggestions from my experiences with governments and from consulting recently with some politicians and staffers.

Focus on your legislator. Politicians respond to constituents. This is as true at the city council level as it is in the U.S. Senate. Your address should be near the top of all correspondence. As a former Hill staffer said, “You have a voice they want to hear if you have a vote they need.”

Know the bill number or name. There are so many bills at so many stages of the process, even in a small locality, that it’s difficult for anyone to keep up. Being specific will ensure that you make your point effectively and precisely.

Visit if you can. No one knows the impact of the personal touch better than a politician. If possible, schedule a brief meeting. If not, send a carefully constructed, single-page letter. It will have greater impact than an email.

Don’t copy a form letter. These usually get consigned to File 13 and may not generate a reply. Use your own words to express your own thoughts. Forwarding a copied email is even less effective.

Be business-like and professional. Always keep your goal in mind. Arguing, threatening, bullying, etc., are counterproductive.

Don’t bother with petitions. These rarely matter to politicians, unless they’re huge or involve a recall effort. A handful of committed, active constituents carries much more weight than dozens of people who simply signed their names, many of whom may not even be constituents.

But there is strength in numbers. Outfits like CRA and IPCPR can be effective. Even small groups can have a strong voice. Consider inviting your local rep or city council member to a meet-and-greet night at the cigar shop.

Be brief, polite, and to the point. This should go without saying. But if you aren‘t, you’re probably wasting your time.

–George E

photo credit: Flickr

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 trying the new Avo 85th Anniversary, I wanted to go back and smoke one of my favorite limited edition Avo smokes from the past. The Tesoro (5.75 x 50) debuted in 2008 and it’s still a fine smoke in 2011. Sweet cream, honey, and light cedar are each elegantly balanced in this well-constructed toro. The Tesoro is proof that mild cigars need not be bland or unflavorful, and that’s why it’s still a favorite of mine.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Avo

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) China’s Ministry of Health is imposing new, far-reaching smoking regulations on the planet’s most populous country. Starting May 1, smoking will be banned in most public places, including hotels, restaurants, parks, and pedestrian walkways. “Beijing has long said it is determined to tackle the country’s smoking problem but has so far met with little success,” reports the Wall Street Journal. “In fact, the new regulations come months after China missed a Jan. 9 deadline to restrict indoor smoking, set when Beijing signed the World Health Organization’s 2005 Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2006.” It is not yet clear how the Chinese government intends to enforce the law in a country where  previous smoking regulations have gone largely ignored.

2) Tickets for Famous Smoke Shop’s annual Cigar Expo are now on sale. The theme of this year’s event, held August 26-27 in Pennsylvania, is “Cigarnival,” and attendees will be treated to “a carnival-like atmosphere replete with carnival games and performers, all they can eat and drink, plus the world’s leading cigar makers, and plenty of cigars to smoke.” Click here to purchase tickets.

3) Inside the Industry: Padilla is teaming up with Oliva to create a limited edition cigar for Oliva’s Studio Tobac project that is scheduled for an August release.  The next ProCigar, the Santiago-based Dominican cigar festival, will be held on February 19-25 of 2012. Camacho is a releasing a series of limited cigars for select retailers called Super Limitados.

4) Around the Blogs: Smoking Stogie smokes the My Father Edición Limitada 2011. Stogie Review reviews the Man O’ War Puro Authentico. Cigar Fan fires up a La Gloria Cubana Serie N. Nice Tight Ash checks out an Illusione 888 Candela. The Padrón 1964 Principe Maduro is a  top ten cigar over at YourCigarRatings.com.

5) Deal of the Week: Loyal StogieGuys.com readers can use the discount code “stogieguys” to subscribe to The Cigar Network magazine at 15% off the cover price. Just enter the code at checkout (seen here).

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

My first encounter with the Xikar EXII lighter was at the IPCPR Trade Show last August. I was sitting in the Davidoff blending seminar, ran out of matches, and didn’t have my lighter with me.

I asked Tim, co-creator of Your Cigar Ratings, if I could borrow his, and he handed me this exact lighter. I was surprised that it was soft flame and intrigued by the fact that it was supposedly “windproof.” That initial experience piqued my interest, and I thought about purchasing one for several months. I was fortunate enough to receive one as a gift.

The Havana Collection EXII is based on the original EX lighter, but has polished steel casings and the center panel features cigar-related artwork. The Havana Collection retails for $100, but you can purchase the original EX for $60. The biggest difference between the two is the casing and the art. The best part about Xikar lighters, besides their reliability, is that each comes equipped with a lifetime warranty.

Looks are great but the most important thing about a lighter is reliability and functionality. Like any product, the EXII has its pros and cons. The cons, in this case, are more tradeoffs than purely negative attributes. First, in stiff breezes it can be a challenge to get a cigar lit, even though the soft flame is windproof, as the flame behaves erratically. It’s tough to light larger ring gauge cigars, although increasing the flame size does alleviate this somewhat. Lastly, touching up a cigar can be a bit of a challenge with a soft flame, but it gets easier with a little practice.

The EXII has plenty of pros though. Over months of use I have consistently been impressed with how long the fuel lasts before the lighter needs to be filled. And my favorite feature has to be the flame adjustment wheel. It is extremely easy to adjust the flame compared to lighters with those tiny recessed adjustments. The flame is as windproof as they come although, as noted, in a strong breeze lighting a cigar can still be a challenge. The biggest benefit of using the soft flame is that it burns much cooler than a torch and won’t char the cigar like a torch can.

Ultimately, if you are in the market for a good-looking, reliable soft flame lighter, the EXII is an excellent choice. The initial expense might seem a little high, but the quality is excellent and the warranty guarantees your investment.

–Patrick M

photo credit: Stogie Guys

The J.C. Newman Cigar Company, best known for its Cuesta-Rey and Diamond Crown cigars, was founded in 1895. That’s the year a young Julius Caeser Newman crafted his first cigars in the family barn in Cleveland.

These days the Tampa-based company is honoring its originator and celebrating its 115th birthday with a new blend. Called Julius Caeser, the cigar line is the second Diamond Crown spinoff (the first being Maximus). Its Ecuadorian wrapper and “smooth, robust blend of Central American tobaccos” are the result of “years of testing blends, perfecting quality, and aging.”

“Over the years I have developed a fondness for cigars that have a certain ‘something,’” says Eric Newman, current president of J.C. Newman. “I can’t put it into words in a flavor profile, but I can tell you that our new Diamond Crown Julius Caeser cigars have it.”

The blend is available in leather cabinets of 20 cigars and sold exclusively at Diamond Crown Cigar Lounges. It is offered in four sizes: Robusto (4.75 x 52), Toro (6 x 52), Churchill (7.25 x 52), and Pyramid (6.5 x 52), each of which are adorned with the likeness of J.C. Newman dressed as the famous Roman general.

The Pyramid has a near-flawless exterior leaf, a moderately spongy feel, and soft pre-light notes of hay and caramel. Once an even burn is established, it yields a mild-mannered tasted of peppery spice and sweet graham cracker. There’s an indefinable flavor present, one that I’ve noticed in a few other mild cigars but that’s far easier to experience than it is to describe.

At the midway point and beyond it becomes clear that the Pyramid isn’t going to intensify in body or strength. Those who enjoy the cigar’s mild profile at the outset will be satisfied; others will be frustrated as they hope in vain for additional life to spring into the Julius Caeser. Either way, you’re better off pairing this cigar with a wine, a crisp beer, or a cup of coffee than a fuller-bodied spirit. Bourbons and rums are likely to drown out the subtlety of the light smoke.

The three Pyramids I sampled for this review each exhibited outstanding construction, including a straight burn, a nice draw, and a finely layered white ash. I wouldn’t expect anything less from a cigar that retails in the pricey $15-18 range.

But I was hoping for more in the flavor department. While I’ve long been a defender of mild cigars and naysayer of pepperbombs that are as subtle as a Michael Bay movie, the Julius Caeser just doesn’t have the complexity one would anticipate from a cigar with such a high price tag. I ultimately award it three stogies out of five based on its merits.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

The history of DonQ rum dates back to 1861. That’s the year Don Juan Serrallés, a first-generation immigrant from Spain, founded a sugar plantation in Puerto Rico.

Four years later, Serrallés produced his first casks of rum using a copper pot still imported from France. The Serrallés Family would later gain exclusive rights to the Río Inabón, a river that winds through Puerto Rico’s volcanic mountains, and, in 1934, introduce DonQ to the market. “The brand is named for Don Quixote, the famous literary character from the family’s favorite novel,” reads the DonQ website. “Just as Don Quixote represents the search for a perfect world, DonQ signifies the family’s quest for perfection in rum.”

To create their rum, the family—now headed by Felix J. Serrallés, Jr.— distills DonQ five times before aging it for two to seven years in charred American white oak barrels. The product is then blended and bottled on-site. “We delight in the art and science behind making our rums,” says the family.

DonQ has won numerous accolades since it was reintroduced to the U.S. market in 2006. It was named “platinum” at the International Spirits Competition and “double gold” at the San Francisco World Competition.

Poured neat, the bright golden spirit boasts a nose of rich caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, and raisin. The aroma also has a mellow alcohol tinge, and swirling the glass illustrates the rum’s low viscosity and lack of sediments. The taste is light and smoky. Notes of butterscotch, oak, and molasses are prevalent, and more subtle flavors of pineapple and tobacco are detectable to attentive sippers. The finish, while not nearly as pronounced as bolder rums, is longer and warmer than you’d expect from such a clean-tasting spirit.

At the end of the day, DonQ isn’t as complex or inspiring as the finer rums on the market. But it can hold its own neat, or better yet, in your favorite rum cocktail (the so-called “blood and tears” is especially interesting). And it will only run you about $20 per bottle.

As for cigar pairings, couple spicy medium-bodied smokes with this spirit, as they’ll balance nicely with DonQ’s sweet and fruity flavors. I’ve found the Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8 to be one of many excellent complements.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys