The Stogie Guys

When it comes to premium cigars from the forbidden island, Hoyo de Monterrey generally takes a backseat to more familiar brands like Cohiba and Montecristo. My recent sit-downs with a few Epicure No. 2s, however, suggest Hoyo shouldn’t be so easily dismissed.

José Gener established Hoyo in 1865 in Vuelta Abajo, a fertile region of Cuba nestled in the southern part of the Órganos Mountains. In 2001 Cigar Aficionado called this place the “land of the world’s best cigar leaves.”

Take a good look at an Epicure No. 2 and it’s easy to see why. This is a clean and elegant stick that measures four and 7/8 inches with a 50 ring gauge. It sports a beautiful, seamless, yellow-tinted wrapper that’s almost flawless and a nostalgic red, white, and gold band.

Pre-light I found notes of cinnamon, cocoa, and fruit off the freshly cut head. I was surprised and a bit concerned to discover the cigar has an inconsistent feel – soft and spongy in some places, rock hard in others.

But that concern faded as I torched the foot to reveal a dry, sandy aroma of cedar. This flavor is particularly pleasing because it’s balanced by an acidic taste, which adds saliva to the palate (bite into a lemon and you’ll see what I mean).

After an inch or so, the flavor mellows into more complexity with notes of jasmine, rose, and coffee. I am particularly struck by the thick, voluminous smoke given off by each tiny puff, the even burn that doesn’t require much attention, and the solid ash that holds firm for two or more inches. These characteristics hold true until the final inch, when the taste comes full circle by fading into spicy cedar.

Like many Cubans, the price of the Epicure No. 2 varies considerably in the U.S. from as low as $8 to as high as $17. Either way I doubt you’ll be disappointed. For a mild- to medium-bodied taste that stands up to Cohiba and Montecristo, I give the Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2 four and ½ out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

The holiday season is a time for get-togethers. If you’re lucky, and if the weather permits, at least some of the parties you attend will include some time in the backyard, patio, or other smoke-friendly location with the opportunity to smoke a cigar.

Many times, someone will ask if you have another stick. Or you’ll want to share your pleasure and make the initial offer. In either case, some of those who join you will be cigar newcomers, so you might want to plan a little in advance.

The most common recommendation is to offer a novice smoker a mild cigar, like a Macanudo or Dominican Montecristo. I disagree. I think you need something with more taste and interest. Otherwise, the new smoker’s reaction is likely to be, “Why am I sucking on these leaves? There’s just not much to it.”

Now, I’m not recommending you break out the Camacho Coyolars or powerhouse Joya de Nicaraguas. But there are many, many flavorful and interesting medium strength cigars that a newcomer could enjoy. If you need some suggestions, take a spin through the Stogie Guys Cigar Reviews Archive.

Interesting shapes, like the Punch Champion or diademas, can also make that first smoke more memorable. For length and girth, stick with smaller ring gauges and a length of five inches or less. Better that they end wanting more than wishing there was less.

So, spread the word. And the good cigars.

–George E

photo credit: Flickr

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

From Te-Amo’s World Selection Series comes the Nicaraguan Blend – a nicely built cigar with a criollo wrapper, a San Andres binder, and a Nicaraguan filler. With hearty flavors of cedar and paper, you won’t find complexity or balance from this five inch by 54 ring gauge stick. In the $2.50 to $4.00 range, I wanted to recommend this robusto, but it gets terribly sour and bitter.

Verdict = Sell.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

[Editor’s Note: Don’t forget to enter the StogieGuys.com College Football Bowl Contest for a chance to win free cigars!]

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

This toro features a rustic, yet attractive deep brownish-red corojo wrapper. I found it to be a delicious medium-flavored smoke, with cedar and honey flavors. The construction was also impressive, with a tight draw, even burn, and very sturdy ash. Unlike George’s experience with the maduro, I can thoroughly recommend this cigar.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

In our ongoing effort to make StogieGuys.com as entertaining and reader-friendly as possible, each Friday we’ll post a selection of quick cigar news and stogie-related snippets. We call ‘em Friday Samplers. Enjoy.

1) Red Sox great turned cigar producer Luis Tiant this week announced he will campaign in support of presidential hopeful Bill Richardson. We find this a perplexing move for “El Tiante,” who was nice enough to grant StogieGuys.com an interview back in August. Richardson is an ardent proponent of huge tax increases for tobacco and also an advocate of oppressive smoking bans.

2) The latest cigar publication is The Cigar Report, a quarterly magazine with an active website. The magazine recently debuted and promises to “take readers on far-reaching journeys into this centuries old passion.” It’s a product of Doubledown Media, whose other publications include up-scale magazines aimed at hedge fund managers, private airplane owners, and investment bankers. Among the entries in the first issue are a Q&A with Jimmy Smits, a profile of Drew Estate, and a guide to smoking in New York.

3) We’re not big fans of flavored sticks, but it’s worth mentioning that stogie giant General Cigar – manufacturer of such brands as Macanudo and Punch – recently acquired Havana Honeys. In a widely-distributed press release, COO Daniel Nuñez said General’s “purchase of Havana Honeys represents an opportunity to strengthen our position within the growing flavored segment of the premium cigar category.”

4) Around the Blogs: Cigar Jack smokes a Padilla 1932. Velvet Cigar puffs a Don Lino Africa. Cigar Beat tries the Primos Habana Criollo Rosado. Cigar Command smokes the Griffins 2006. The Stogie Review reviews the Flor de Oliva Corojo.

5) Deal of the Week: In honor of yesterday’s review, today’s deal is a sampler of Don Pepin cigars. For $39.99 you get eight of Pepin’s finest, including two Series JJs and two new JJ maduros. That’s only $5 per cigar, so be sure to grab yours here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Stogie Guys

I don’t believe anyone has ever used Scoville units to judge a cigar, but if they want to start, this would be the one to test. I think the first few puffs of this beautiful light brown stick would rate pretty highly on the scale that’s used to measure the “heat” from chili peppers.

The Series JJ White Label is another in what seems to be a never-ending list of cigars from Don Pepin Garcia. I smoked the five and 3/4 inch by 52 ring gauge belicoso torpedo and thought it was terrific from start to finish.

That hot start quickly changes to an interesting sharpness that, surprisingly, almost has no finish. From there, as the cigar burned, tastes came and went, ranging from wood and leather to vanilla and coffee. I was doing some work while smoking, and at several points I got so wrapped up in the cigar that I lost track of what I was doing.

The Corojo wrapper is smooth with tiny, unobtrusive veins. The Nicaraguan puro’s prelight aroma is a wonderful earthy, thick mix. The cigar clipped and toasted easily. The only negatives I found were a few spots where the draw was a little tight and the smoke not as voluminous as I’d have liked. The ash was also flaky and, near the end, I experienced a wrapper split.

Overall, though, the JJ was a joy to smoke.

The popularity of this line, which has garnered many accolades and become a favorite of cognoscenti since its release a couple of years ago, just continues to grow. Consequently, discounts aren’t deep and sometimes the cigars can be difficult to find. The belicoso seems to run around $8 to $10 per stick. Remember, too, when you’re checking box prices, that there are 24.

I think anyone who enjoys medium- to full-flavored cigars will enjoy the JJ. On the Stogie Guys scale, it earns a rating of four out of five stogies.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Baby, it’s cold outside. For those of us not lucky enough to be living in a tropical climate, December – with its diminishing humidity and freezing temperatures – is a stark reminder that winter is not the most accommodating season for cigars.

That sad fact is more apparent to smokers this winter than any other in recent history. There are more oppressive, government-imposed smoking bans in effect today than ever before, forcing thousands of decent stogie enthusiasts into the cold and out of private restaurants and bars that would otherwise welcome them with open arms.

As my colleague wrote last January, it isn’t easy to step out into the winter elements for a cigar. Jack Frost does everything he can to make standing still or sitting down intolerable this time of year, one reason why “to brave inclement weather shows true dedication to the wonderful hobby that is cigars.”

So, other than gloves, space-heaters, hats, and long underwear, I’d like to propose the following tip to make this winter a little more enjoyable: Smoke shorter cigars.

As you well know, that seven inch by 50 ring gauge Churchill you’ve been eyeing in your humidor is a serious investment in time. If you smoke slowly – as you should to maximize enjoyment – it could take two or more hours to complete. In this weather, according to authorities, such exposure could lead to frostnip, frostbite, and even hypothermia.

Luckily, we here at StogieGuys.com have reviewed a good number of short cigars lately, providing you with some excellent choices for the winter months. Some of my favorites include:

• Punch Champion
• Oliva Serie G Special
• Montecristo Petit Edmundo (Cuban)
• Don Kiki Brown Label Figurado
• Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story

Feel free to share your favorite shorty with our readers by leaving a comment. Who knows? You might even save someone from losing a finger.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys