The Stogie Guys

Spring is finally here. At least officially, as of March 20. I guess some of us are still dealing with cooler temperatures or even snow. But the promise of warmer weather is closer than ever. Cue “Here Comes the Sun” on your iPod.

And that means good things for those of us who are lucky enough to be cigar enthusiasts. We can finally open the windows, dust off our tiki torches, and comfortably smoke cigars where cigars were meant to be smoked: outside. Soon, we’ll all be freed from the indoor smoke-friendly sanctuaries in which we’ve been hiding since the fall. That is, of course, if you’re lucky enough to have access to an all-too-rare indoor cigar haven.

I’ve been hiding in my den, which is equipped with plenty of books, more than plenty of cigars, and easy access to cold libations. My wife “allows” me to smoke in there as long as the outside temp is below 50 degrees. For that I’m very grateful.

I’m not, after all, one of these guys with an air-tight, separately ventilated room, an expensive exhaust system, and a password-protected vault door. When I smoke a cigar in the den, you can smell it throughout our home. But I like that smell. And my wife is cool enough to put up with it.

As much as I love the den, though, and as much as I enjoy such cigar-friendly locales as CXIII Rex and Shelly’s, I’m really looking forward to getting back outside. Whether it’s having a cocktail on my patio, playing a round of golf, or firing up the barbecue, outside is the place to be for this cigar fan.

Warmer temperatures aren’t the only reason spring is a great time to be a cigar smoker. This season is also a perfect chance to catch up on cigars that were released at last year’s IPCPR Trade Show. The next convention, after all, is just a few months away, and many cigar makers will start issuing press releases about their new products before you know it. It’ll be like hearing Christmas carols before Thanksgiving (a major no-no in my book).

Before you grow envious of all the new stuff you can’t buy yet, take stock in those cigars you may have missed from the 2010 convention, or reacquaint yourself with some of your favorites. Personally, I think last year’s trade show was top-notch in terms of new cigar releases. Smokes like the Avo Heritage, J. Fuego Origen, Toraño Single Region, and Guillermo León will pair nicely with the warmer temperatures and the increasing levels of sunshine.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Flickr

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) Avo Uvezian is celebrating his 85th birthday with the launch of the “85th,” the tenth annual limited edition release from Avo Cigars. About 60,000 units will hit select U.S. retailers on March 21, each with an MSRP of $17.50. “The well-balanced combination of the San Vicente and piloto tobaccos enfolded by a Peruvian binder and perfected with a special sun-grown Dominican wrapper as well as the gorgeous Diademas format make it an outstanding cigar,” reads an Avo press release.

2) Paul Garmirian, Inc. is adding two new sizes to its limited edition Symphony 20th. For the first time the Virginia-based boutique cigar maker is offering a Salomones (6.9 x 57) and a Short Robusto (4.5 x 52). They carry suggested retail prices of $210 per box of 10 and $325 per box of 25, respectively.

3) E.P. Carrillo is launching two new blends in late March and early April. The first is called the “Elencos Series” and features the exact same blend as the E.P. Carrillo Edición Limitada 2010. Its three sizes will retail for $9.50-12.50 per cigar. The second, the “New Wave Connecticut Edition,” will sell for $4.50-7.

4) Inside the Industry: General Cigar has designated March 25 as Serie N Day and is hosting the industry’s first-ever national virtual cigar tasting. The grand opening of CXIII Rex is slated for April 4. Illusione has announced that four new sizes—cg4, 88, 888 & mj12—will be released with maduro wrappers in time for the IPCPR Trade Show (in addition to the existing hl maduro).

5) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews the Cain Daytona. Cigar Inspector inspects a Davidoff Special Short Perfecto. Tiki Bar Online kicks back with a Viaje WLP Candela. Cigar Fan fires up a Macanudo Maduro Vintage. Smoking Stogie smokes an Oliva Serie V No. 4. At YourCigarRatings.com, the Guillermo León Gran Corona is currently in the top 10 with a rating of 94.

6) Deal of the Week: The Corona Cigar Co. has a St. Patrick’s Day special featuring two excellent cigars: the green-labeled Toraño 1916 Robusto and the gold-labeled Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne. For $29.95, you get five of each cigar; for $50, you get 10 of each. Make your purchase here.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Avo Cigars

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) Illinois may become one of the first states to weaken its statewide smoking ban. Enacted in 2008, the current law criminalizes smoking in most indoor “public” places and workplaces, including bars, restaurants, private clubs, and gaming facilities. But, on Wednesday, a House committee approved proposals that “would allow smoking in segregated, ventilated rooms in licensed casinos” and “give local liquor control commissions the power to issue licenses.” The Illinois Casino Gaming Commission reports that casino revenues have dropped over 30% since the implementation of the statewide ban.

2) Xikar, the Kansas City-based outfit best known for manufacturing lighters and cutters, announced a price cut this week on its HC Series of cigars, dropping them an average of 18% per stick to put them in the $6-8 price range. Scott Almsberger, company vice president of product development, said there will be no changes in quality standards of tobacco blends.

3) Inside the Industry: Even though they likely won’t be available until 2014, General Cigar is so pleased with the 2010 Connecticut wrappers that the company plans to use them in a Macanudo Vintage line, which it only does for the best years. Meanwhile, the Quesada España is being introduced to the Spanish market.

4) Around the Blogs: Stogie Review reviews a Cain FF. Nice Tight Ash checks out a Tatuaje Havana VI. Cigar Fan fires up a Nacionales W. Smoking Stogie compares the Viaje WLP Candela to the Illusione Candela. The Barclay Rex 100th Anniversary Tatuaje broke into the top 10 at Your Cigar Ratings.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: public domain

Long before the 107, Broadway, and Guillermo León blends were released, the 1495 Series was a top seller for La Aurora, the Dominican’s oldest cigar maker.

“This edition of La Aurora pays tribute to the city of Santiago de los Caballeros, the Dominican land of cigar, founded in 1495 by Christopher Columbus in the heart of El Cibao,” according to La Aurora’s website. Originally released in 2005, and still in production with four vitolas, 1495 is comprised of a Sumatra Ecuador wrapper, a corojo binder, and a filler blend of Peruvian ligero, corojo, Nicaraguan, and piloto cubano tobacco.

The new 1495 B.M.E. is a spinoff of the original 1495, pairing this same binder and filler recipe with new wrappers. The “Dominicana” version, for instance, sports a clean Dominican corojo wrapper, a moderately firm feel, and faint pre-light notes of caramel and raisin. The blend’s only size sells for around $10 and measures 5.75 inches long with a ring gauge of 54. It was named 25th on Cigar Aficionado’s list of the top 25 smokes of 2010.

Once lit, the flavor gets off to a fast start with a cedary, medium-bodied profile. Dry, woodsy spice is prevalent with background notes of cocoa and graham cracker. The aftertaste is a mixture of citrus, black pepper, and peanut. Flavors as varied as these yield outstanding balance and a fine aroma. As a bonus—while the taste doesn’t change much from light to nub, aside from settling at the midway point and then intensifying towards the end—the intricacy of the profile keeps things very interesting. Never does the Dominicana become boring or monotonous.

Near-perfect construction only enhances the experience. All of the samples I smoked for this review displayed straight burn lines, clear draws, and solid ashes that held firm for more than an inch.

I’m highly recommending this incarnation of the original 1495 Series. If you’d like to try the Dominicana yourself, don’t expect to find it online or in a catalogue. B.M.E., after all, stands for “Brick and Mortar Exclusive,” so you’ll have to check with your local tobacconist if you’re interested in the Dominicana or one of the other B.M.E. varieties (Brazilian, Ecuadorian, or Nicaraguan). Your efforts will reward you with an outstanding medium-bodied cigar, one that’s worthy 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

A.J. Fernandez, the subject of yesterday’s interview, is a prolific cigar maker who has crafted smokes for the likes of Rocky Patel, Padilla, Graycliff, and Gurkha. He also has a wonderful new solo project—San Lotano—and several limited distribution lines, including Man O’ War, Diesel, and 5 Vegas Triple-A.

The latter is not to be confused with the original 5 Vegas Series ‘A’, which sports a Costa Rican maduro wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and a three-country filler blend. For starters, it isn’t mentioned on 5 Vegas’ website. Second, the Triple-A is available in only one size: a robusto-sized smoke that measures five inches long with a ring gauge of 56. Third, while Series ‘A’ is marketed primarily as medium-bodied, Triple-A is described as a powerbomb.

With a recipe that includes Cuban-seed ligero tobaccos from Condega, Jalapa, and Estelí, that description sounds plausible enough to me. A quick examination of the Triple-A reinforces that perception. The Pennsylvania broadleaf maduro wrapper is incredibly dark, the feel is firm, and the potent pre-light notes smell of rich coffee.

Online descriptions of the Triple-A feature phrases like “earthy nuances,” “black pepper,” “oak and leather,” and “espresso and cocoa.” For the first few puffs I couldn’t really taste any of these. At the outset, the taste is so bold and overbearing that it’s difficult to pick out individual flavors. Not terribly enjoyable or interesting.

After the preliminary puffs, though, the profile settles considerably. Even though the body is still very full and the strength is still quite powerful, distinct flavors are now discernible, including a cocoa-like sweetness, dark espresso, spice, and charred meat. The overall effect is agreeable, albeit straightforward. Smoking slowly helps bring out fleeting notes of roasted nuts and cream. This is pretty much how it tastes until the nub.

While you may expect a ligero-laden cigar like the Triple-A to have combustion deficiencies, this robusto smokes like a champ. The burn line is straight, the draw is effortless, and the white ash holds tight for well over an inch.

I rarely reach for cigars that are so brash, opting instead for subtlety and balance over shear force. But enthusiasts in search of a reliable, full-bodied cigar that won’t break the bank would do well to pick up the 5 Vegas Triple-A, which retails for $5-7 online. That value helps this A.J. Fernandez creation earn three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

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) The 13th annual Habanos Festival concludes today, wrapping up a week-long extravaganza of Cuban cigars, factory tours, seminars, tastings, and plantation visits. This year’s event pays special homage to Montecristo, Partagas, and H. Upmann, with each brand debuting new cigars. Forthcoming releases include the Montecristo No. 2 Gran Reserva, Partagas Serie E No. 2 and Serie D No. 5, and H. Upmann Half Corona. Habanos SA is hoping these sizes boost sales in 2011 and continue the Cuban cigar industry’s rebound after tough years in 2008 and 2009. But there is still cause for concern. “Although Cuba’s cigar industry is cautiously optimistic about the future, officials are worried by developments in their biggest market: Spain,” reports The Telegraph. “In the grip of a financial crisis, Spanish cigar smokers are cutting back on Cuban cigars to save money, while a recently introduced ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces has also hit sales.”

2) Last Saturday, Patrick A was a featured guest at The Cigar Authority, a live internet show that’s simulcast on several New England radio stations. Click here to check out the video (Patrick’s segment starts around 1:09 and ends around 1:30, but the whole show is worth checking out). And be sure to tune in to The Cigar Authority every Saturday from noon to 2pm eastern.

3) Inside the Industry: Jon Huber, formerly the marketing manager and all around public personality for CAO Cigars, has joined forces with three other former CAO employees to start up Crowned Heads Cigars, which will be based in CAO’s former home of Nashville (details of Huber’s final days at CAO can be found here). Altadis USA launched a new website as part of their restructuring that splits off their premium handmade cigars from their domestic machine-made cigars. Davidoff of New York is the home of a new limited edition Torpedo (5.5 x 52) from My Father Cigars. The 2011 Avo limited edition will be a Dominican puro in a perfecto shape.

4) Around the Blogs: Tiki Bar smokes La Sirena The Prince. Smoking Stogie fires up the Federal Cigar 90th Anniversary 109 Rosado. Stogie Review reviews the My Father Le Bijou. Cigar Fan lights up the Alec Bradley Sun Grown. Nice Tight Ash checks out the Zino Embassy 2010. Raleigh Cigars enjoys the Liga Privada T-52. Cigar Inspector inspects the Viaje Satori. The top cigar on YourCigarRatings.com is the Tatuaje Monster Series The Frank.

5) Deal of the Week: Our friends at Citizen Cigar are offering $5 off any box under $75 and $10 off any box over $75. Signing up for the Citizen Cigar newsletter gets you an additional 10% off, so make your purchase today.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Habanos Festival

In the first 2011 issue of “Random Thoughts from the Humidor” I examine the politics of Santa’s pipe smoking, Mayor Bloomberg’s war on salt, and football:

Santa Smokes

The anti-smokers may have hit a new low. Joseph Banzhaf, head of the militant anti-smoking group Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), is politicizing Santa Claus to push his militant anti-tobacco agenda. Banzhaf claims in a press release that St. Nick was quitting his beloved pipe, even though a clay pipe has been associated with Santa Claus for as long as there has been a Santa Clause. In fact, the St. Nicholas Center traces Santa’s pipe smoking back to a book written by Washington Irving in 1809.

Dealing with Whiny Anti-Smokers

As I walked the snow-filled but unplowed streets of New York City after Christmas with a cigar in hand, I got a disappointing (if not unexpected) response from one of my fellow snowed-in New Yorkers. My fellow pedestrian felt the need to comment on how she “couldn’t stand the smell” of my Tatuaje. I thought about explaining to her how if she felt that way she should oppose Mayor Bloomberg’s smoking ban which forced me to take my smoking outside, or retorting that I couldn’t stand the sound of her shrill complaining. Ultimately, though, I just laughed and crossed the street when I was able to find a crosswalk that wasn’t blocked by a mountain of snow.

The Nanny State Doesn’t Just Impact Smokers

Mike Bloomberg hasn’t only declared war on smoking. He has also declared war on salt, soda, and other “unhealthy” foods. I couldn’t help thinking of this war on salt as the streets of New York remained uncleared and unsalted. My sentiment was summed up well in Eric Felton’s Wall Street Journal article, “The War on Good Taste” (worth the full read): “Perhaps if Mayor Michael Bloomberg spent less time keeping salt off our tables and more time getting salt on the streets, New York roads might have been passable this week.”

Cigars at the Ballgame

Yesterday I attended the Giants-Redskins game at FedEx Field outside Washington, DC. People complain about the gameday experience there, but one plus is the Montecristo Lounge, where you can fire up a cigar in the stadium. It amazes me that so few other stadiums have embraced cigar lounges. During this particular game, the lounge was full of ticket-holders drinking $8 beers and buying up cigars. How is this not a win-win for sports teams and their tobacco-enjoying fans?

–Patrick S

photo credit: St. Nicholas Center