The Stogie Guys

After devoting two Stogie Spirits articles to scotch and having both be blends, I thought it was time that I turned my attention to a single malt. Compared to many scotches, the Balvenie Doublewood 12 Year is relatively easy to find, and the price is $40-50 a bottle—quite reasonable considering the lofty prices that many single malts fetch.

But the Balvenie Doublewood isn’t an ordinary scotch. Halfway through the twelve-year distilling process the scotch is transferred from one barrel to another, hence “Doublewood,” as explained on Balvenie’s website:

The Balvenie Doublewood Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a 12 year old single malt which gains its distinctive character from being matured in two woods. During its period of maturation it is transferred from a traditional oak whisky cask to a first fill Spanish oak sherry cask. Each stage lends different qualities to the resulting single malt—the traditional casks, having previously held bourbon, soften and add character, whilst the sherry wood brings depth and fullness of flavour.

The description is apt. The Balvenie is far smoother than many single malts with little of the burning that sometimes accompanies the initial smell. Instead, on the nose I find oak, vanilla, and honeycomb. The color is a medium brown caramel.

On the palate, I find more of the wood notes, with oak and subtle cedar. There is a touch of citrus (orange peel perhaps) and some sherry flavors, likely imparted by the sherry cask. The finish is long and balanced.

My overall experience with this scotch can be summed up in one word: smooth. From the nose to the body and the finish, the whiskey is balanced and never harsh. This makes it a very approachable single malt for those just getting acquainted with Scotland’s single malts, but it also has plenty of complexity for the more seasoned scotch drinker.

That combination of smooth but complex makes the Doublewood versatile when pairing with cigars. Anything from a mild/medium to full-bodied cigar would make a solid accompaniment and, in a rarity for a single malt scotch, I even think that it can stand up to the sweetness of some maduros.

Two Cuban cigars that I enjoyed with the Balvenie Doublewood were the robusto-sized Bolivar Royal Corona and the Cohiba Maduro Magicos. But don’t think for a minute that only Cuban cigars will pair with this single malt. I would also recommend the Alonso Menendez, Arturo Fuente King B, Ashton VSG, Padilla Miami, or a San Christobal.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

As I fired up this four and 7/8 inches by 46 ring gauge Nicaraguan puro, I was reminded of the words of my colleague, Jon N, who lent his talents to Keepers of the Flame for a guest review. “This little cigar has a bit of a Napoleon complex,” he wrote. “It’s short, but it’s rugged and ready to rumble.” I couldn’t agree more. From the prelight notes of sweet cocoa, the earthy taste of leather and black pepper, and the fine physical properties, the Padrón Delicias Maduro is a hearty 50-minute smoke. You can rumble with one of these for around $3 apiece.

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 take on a single cigar.

After an excellent experience with the Nub Connectiut, I gave this slightly smaller 3 and 3/4 inch by 58 ring gauge Habano-wrapped Nub a whirl. More full-bodied than the Connecticut, it had strong cedar flavors with an earthy finish and flashes of spice. Unfortunately, there was also a slight chemical flavor that seemed to be dueling with far more pleasant notes of bittersweet chocolate. There were two noticeable imperfections with the construction: The wrapper was a bit veinny and multi-colored, particularly around the cap, and the burn started quite uneven, only to correct itself.

Verdict = Hold.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

In our ongoing effort to make StogieGuys.com as entertaining and informative as possible, each Friday we’ll post a mixed bag of quick cigar news and other snippets of interest. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) If you visit Tampa next year, you’ll have the opportunity to take a trip into cigar history at an extensive exhibit at the Tampa Bay History Center (pictured). According to an article in the Tampa Tribune, the Center—scheduled to open in December—will feature displays of old ads, a recreation of the atmosphere of Ybor City in the 1920s, and audio recordings of early residents.

2) Boston is aiming to outright forbid the sale of tobacco in certain areas, including college campuses, hookah bars, and pharmacies. Cigar Aficionado reports the overzealous move “not only would force Beantown cigar bars to shut down, but also would prevent new ones from opening.”

3) On the other side of America, Walgreen Co. has filed a legal challenge in California state court against a San Francisco ordinance that bans tobacco sales in drug stores. The pharmacy chain “alleges the new law is anticompetitive and unconstitutional, because it doesn’t ban tobacco sales at grocery stores and wholesale clubs that also have pharmacies.”

4) Inside the Industry: Master cigar maker José Séijas will be making a series of appearances as he introduces Mi Dominicana, Altadis’ new Dominican puro. Three new limited edition Cuban cigars are ready to be released: Cuaba Pirámides, Montecristo Sublimes, and the Partagas Serie D No. 5. While Hurricane Gustav didn’t do much damage to the crops in the ground when it blew over Cuba last week, it did wreak havoc on many binder and filler tobacco curing barns.

5) Around the Blogs: Cigar Jack smokes a Hoyo Excalibur Legend. Stogie Review lights up a Habanos Puros Fuerte. Keepers of the Flame reviews the Litto Gomez Chizel. Stogie Fresh weighs in on the Old Henry Toro.

6) Deal of the Week: Once again Cuban Crafters has some great specials, this time in honor of the start of football season. Included are some Stogie Guys favorites like the Cabinet Selection and La Carolina. Check them all out here.

– The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Tampa Bay History Center

Not to be over-simplistic or anything but, when it comes to cigar bands, stogie enthusiasts fall into one of two categories: those that trash ’em and those that hoard ’em. For reasons heretofore unexplained, I fall into the latter category.

I never had a good reason to carefully remove each paper ring that adorns the many sticks I’ve smoked over the years, cautiously straightening them under the weight of my torch lighter and haphazardly placing them in old, wooden cigar boxes (pictured). Like most pack rats—and this is the one and only item that qualifies me as such—I guess I always thought I would need them one day.

But that day hasn’t come, and my mound of ornate and colorful bands keeps growing. So what do brothers of the leaf do when they’re up to their necks in cigar bands?

Well, some trade them in for other (arguably more useful) stuff. Bandwagon USA accepts cigar bands, as long as they’re on a pre-accepted list of manufacturers, in exchange for all sorts of items—from flasks and money clips to polishing appliances and luggage. Even some retailers, most notably United Tobacco, are in on the game, allowing fans of their products to trade in bands for company T-shirts, humidors, and LCD TVs. This option seems to be best for smokers who find little or no inherent value in the cigar bands themselves.

Many smokers, however, do and therefore go out of the way to stash away their stockpiles. While the International Label, Seal and Cigar Band Society said back in 1994 that the popularity of U.S. cigar band collecting was dwindling, a quick search on Ebay reveals some are still willing to pay cash, albeit very little, for hundreds of bands. My understanding, though, is that you can’t get into this hobby expecting a big payout.

The final cigar band option, if you’re not going to commit them to the trash, is to use them for decoration. I’ve seen homes with framed assortments of bands on the walls and, depending on the décor, it could work. My dream is to one day have a smoke-filled study complete with wooden bookshelves, dark green walls, and leather chairs. Perhaps portions of my collection could be on display there.

But I haven’t decided what I’m going to do with my bands yet. One thing is for certain, though: I will hang on to a select group that were smoked on memorable occasions because (try not to laugh) they carry some sentimental value. Maybe I’ll trade in others for a cigar store Indian for my future den or a ridiculous coat. What will you do?

–Patrick A

photo credits: Stogie Guys

In a previous Stogie Tip, I passed along some things to remember when it comes to aging cigars. Here, we go in-depth with Doc Stogie, whose Stogie Fresh website is unique in rating cigars and evaluating their aging potential over time.

Stogie Guys: What part does aging play in your enjoyment of cigars?

Doc Stogie: I mostly smoke younger cigars that I feature on the Stogie Fresh 5 podcast or that I am just getting started with in a reviewing cycle. It is not until I get later on in the reviewing cycle of any given cigar that I may smoke a cigar that is a year and a half to two years of age. On the other hand, when I do get to smoke a cigar “just for myself,” I will often times dig into the archives. For example, I recently smoked a Dunhill from 1987 that was absolutely fabulous.

SG: Do you buy cigars specifically to age?

DS: You never can tell how good a cigar will get with age, nor can you be sure whether or not you will even like the cigar after is has some significant time in your humidor. I can taste an LFD DL Chisel, or La Aurora 100 Años, or Ashton ESG and say, man these are good, but they will have much more complexity and smoothness with a bit more age. But, you never really know until you actually try them when they are older.

SG: What sort of questions do you get from Stogie Fresh readers about aging?

DS: I do get a few questions from readers about aging, but not a huge amount. Many people who have recently gotten into cigars either don’t have the wherewithal to purchase enough cigars to lay down, or they haven’t yet had the time to enjoy the effects of long-term aging on the cigars they do have. Laying cigars down to age takes a major commitment: of time, of money, and of effort.

Time is a concept that is lost on many cigar smokers. Many people buy cigars in small batches, say five to ten cigars. They buy them that way so they can smoke one or two and then “lay down” the rest to “age.” However, long-term aging may take years and will require much patience. This is difficult for many people who don’t have the patience to let their cigars age for more than a few months.

SG: What are some of the major considerations to getting into aging cigars?

DS: Ideally you should buy cigars by the box for aging. That way you can keep them in their original box and away from the influences of other aromas and flavors of cigars in the same humidor. Plus, by buying boxes, you will have enough cigars to enjoy periodically for the long term. In any case, this could cost a lot of money. Another monetary consideration is the space to keep all these boxes of cigars. People that want to seriously age their cigars must be thinking in terms of large volume humidors. Either large coolers, or cabinet style humidors, or walk-ins. Providing space for hundreds, if not thousands, of cigars can be costly.

Finally, it takes some effort and even more patience to stick to a process that will reward you with the benefits of aging cigars. By keeping cigars in boxes you can pluck one out at various intervals and try it to note the changes that 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and more have made on the smoke. If you smoke from a box of 25 cigars, at an interval of, say, one every 3 months, that box will last you 6 years. Thus, depending on how well you think a cigar will age, you must either slow your smoking or purchase more boxes. Either way, you can see the cost and time constraints.

Many thanks to Doc Stogie for taking the time to speak with StogieGuys.com. Please check out his website, StogieFresh.com, for more great cigar information.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

“Rich, dark, and unexpected.” That’s the tag line of the new Macanudo 1968.  The newest extension of General Cigar’s best-selling Macanudo brand was introduced at the IPCPR trade show in July and began hitting cigar stores in mid-August. The blend celebrates 40 years since Ramón Cifuentes began developing Macanudo, which was eventually released in 1971.

This five inch by 50 ring gauge Robusto retails for $8.50, and is one of four sizes. The line also comes in a Toro (6x 54), a Churchill (7x 49) , and a Gigante (6x 60)—a size being emphasized by General in a number of different blends.

According to General Cigar’s promotional materials, the 1968 features tobacco “grown by General Cigar or cultivated for the company under an agreement of exclusivity…aged in tercios and charcoaled wooden barrels to further enrich its flavor.”

The blend features a Dominican and Nicaraguan filler that includes tobacco grown on the Nicaraguan island of Ometepe, volcanic land known for its rich soil that rises out of Lake Nicaragua. The binder is Connecticut Habano, wrapped in a Honduran San Agustin leaf.

Before lighting the classically proportioned Robusto, I find a highly aromatic cigar filled with leather and earth. The wrapper is oily with only a few small veins, and with classic Macanudo construction the cigar is firm to the touch with no soft or spongy areas.

Once lit, I was greeted with lots of leather, burnt cedar, and roasted coffee. The taste is distinctly chewy, and the finish had muted licorice flavors with a very subtle pepper spice. There is also an underlying salty characteristic to the 1968 that leaves your mouth dry.

Like most Macanudo sticks I’ve smoked, the physical properties are nearly flawless. The burn was even, the ash steady, and the draw firm but never difficult. The only construction complaint I have is that a few times the Macanudo 1968s I sampled for this review seemed to go out prematurely, requiring relights to enjoy the cigar as the burn neared the attractive black band.

Despite being billed as the fullest Macanudo, I would be more inclined to call the Macanudo 1968 medium- to medium-full. It reminded me of a slightly toned down Partagas Black, although the 1968 is a far more complex smoke.

Overall the Macanudo 1968 is a nice addition to the line. It will go a long way towards combating Macanudo’s reputation among smokers as simplistic or as a beginner’s cigar (a reputation I don’t think is always deserved.) The flavors won’t be enjoyed by all, but it is a unique, interesting, and complex profile that I found quite pleasant. The Macanudo 1968 Robusto earns a rating of four out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys