The Stogie Guys

Blade and Bow is a new bourbon brand launched earlier this year that uses extensively-aged bourbon, which is in increasingly short supply. Two offerings, Blade and Bow Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Blade and Bow 22-Year-Old Limited Release Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, were introduced this year.

Both feature whiskey aged at the famed Stitzel-Weller Distillery, which stopped distilling activities in 1992 but has been used to age bourbon. The standard Blade and Bow (without an age-statement) even uses a small amount of original Stitzel-Weller bourbon as part of its solera aging system in combination with other whiskies.

Despite its age, the limited release Blade and Bow 22-Year-Old bourbon doesn’t use Stitzel Weller bourbon. Instead, it is a combination of bourbons distilled at what is now the Buffalo Trace Distillery (then called George T. Stagg) and the New Bernheim Distillery (which is now owned by Heaven Hill, maker of Elijah Craig and Evan Williams).

I recently received samples of each and here are my tasting notes:

Blade and Bow Kentucky Straight Bourbon ($50)

Light gold in color with a nose featuring vanilla, apricot, and light oak. On the palate, it shows butterscotch, apple, pear, buttered cornbread, and pine. The finish features cereal grains and wood spice.

The solera aging simultaneously shows off youth and age and reminds me of a spicier, more intense version of the recently-released I.W. Harper (no age statement).

Suggested cigar pairings: Arturo Fuente King T, Las Cumbres Tabaco Señorial, Paul Garmirian Symphony 20th Connoisseur.

Blade and Bow 22-Year-Old Limited Release Kentucky Straight Bourbon ($150)

Dark copper hue and one of the most fantastic noses I’ve ever encountered, reminiscent of a Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year, with wonderfully intense wood balanced with rich sweetness. The palate doesn’t quite live up to the high standard set by the aromas, but it does show off its age with deep wood, brown spices (clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon), figs, and burnt caramel. The finish is long with wood and more vanilla.

Such a high price is always hard to justify when there are so many excellent bourbons for far less, but the this limited offering does have all the characteristics that make old bourbon sought-after by many bourbon fans.

Suggested cigar pairings: Sobremesa Cervantes Fino, Bolivar Royal Corona (Cuban), Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch.

–Patrick S

photo credits: Stogie Guys/Blade and Bow

When anticipation runs high, the possibility of disappointment seems to run even higher. There’s no doubt that this year’s releases from two former Drew Estate notables were among the most anticipated events for cigar smokers.

I haven’t yet had Steve Saka’s Sobremasa so I can’t comment, but, for my taste, Nick Melillo’s El Güegüense more than lives up to expectations.

Melillo, whose work at Drew Estate ranged from factory oversight to blending during his decade-long tenure, started Foundation Cigar Co. after going out on his own. El Güegüense (which means “The Wise Man” and is pronounced “el-way-wen-say”) honors a satirical play of that name which is an integral part of Nicaragua’s history.

Fittingly, the sticks are Nicaraguan puros and are rolled in Estelí. There are 5 sizes, packaged in boxes of 25. The 50-ring gauge Robusto is longer than average, at 5.5 inches. The individual stick price runs about $10.

Melillo went out of his way to give customers information about the cigar’s components. On his website, he describes not only the tobaccos but also the areas where they were grown, the primings used, and, in a video, even talks about the farms where he procured the tobacco.

The oily wrapper, which has a mouth-watering prelight aroma, is a shade-grown Jalapa Corojo with a nearly perfect cap. Other areas of construction and performance—draw, combustion, smoke production—are first-rate.

As you would expect, El Güegüense displays quite a bit of pepper, especially in the opening. But it is far from overwhelming, and there are many other subtle flavors that come and go.

There is not a lot of nicotine kick, and I’d say strength runs in the high-medium to low-strong range.

Overall, El Güegüense is a highly satisfying cigar, and one that I’d recommend any smoker try. In fact, it has my first five stogies rating of 2015.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here. A list of other five-stogie rated cigars can be found here.]

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

In February 2014, it was announced Drew Estate would open its first Drew Estate Lounge at Corona Cigar Company’s location in Sand Lake, Florida. “In addition to the branded Drew Estate Lounge, Corona Cigar Company will be working with Drew Estate [to create] a series of unique, limited edition, lounge-exclusive offerings,” said a press release at the time.

This September, six exclusive cigar sizes were announced for the lounge. The sizes are all presented in a toro format (6 x 50), with half featuring a soft-press and half a box-press. The blends include Undercrown (box press), Liga Privada No. 9 (box press), Herrera Estelí (box press), Natural (soft press), Tabak Especial Dulce (soft press), and Tabak Especial Negra (soft press). You’ll note the three non-infused cigars are box-pressed, while the flavored cigars have a soft press.

“The introduction of the world’s first Drew Estate Lounge has been a rousing success at Corona Cigar,” said Jeff Borysiewicz, owner of the retailer. “These exciting new offerings from Drew Estate will add another dimension to the cigar smoking experience in Corona’s Drew Estate Lounge and [are] guaranteed to excite our customers.”

The Herrera Estelí Box Press boasts the same makeup as the Herrera Estelí blend that was introduced in 2013—a golden Ecuadorian Habano wrapper around a Honduran binder and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua. (When Herrera Estelí hit the market, it provided some much-needed diversification for Drew Estate’s non-infused premium cigar business, which had previously focused on dark, full-bodied smokes; namesake Willy Herrera brought a more traditional—some would say “Cubanesque”—sensibility to blending, whereas Drew Estate had been firmly full-throttle Nicaraguan.)

The press on this lounge exclusive is notably sharp and square, rendering it strikingly dissimilar to its Herrera Estelí predecessor vitolas. Further differentiating it is a secondary band that reads “Corona Cigar Co. – Exclusivamente Drew Estate Lounge – Orlando, Florida.” The spongy cigar has familiar pre-light notes including molasses, sweet hay, and cinnamon butter. A punch cut is all that’s needed to reveal a very smooth cold draw.

Once lit, that ultra-easy draw translates to a light, airy smoke texture with toned-down flavors of oak, white pepper, syrup, cream, and almond. Herrera Estelí was never a heavy blend, but something about the square press makes it, in my opinion, lighter in body and a little drier in terms of mouthfeel. As the toro progresses, the intensity gradually steps up, though I don’t think the strength or body ever pass the medium point.

Throughout, the combustion qualities are superb. Expect a straight burn line that requires no touch-ups, above-average smoke production, and a white ash that holds well.

I personally slightly prefer the non-pressed Toro Especial (6.25 x 54) vitola in this blend (and I currently consider the Lonsdale Deluxe (6 x 44) to be the best in class). That said, the Drew Estate Herrera Estelí Box Press that’s exclusive to Corona Cigar Company’s lounge is still a treat, and certainly not a bad buy at $10. In my book, it earns four stogies out of five.

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

–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.”

Houston-based Stogies World Class Cigars has commissioned some of the industry’s best brands to produce a family of “H-Town” lanceros, including Quesada, Tatuaje, Room 101, Fratello, and La Palina. A Four Kicks Lancero from Crowned Heads was added to the series in October. It retails for about $9 and features the familiar Four Kicks recipe—Ecuadorian Habano wrapper around Nicaraguan tobaccos—in a lancero format (7.5 x 38). Bready in texture with notes ranging from crisp honey and red pepper to spicy cedar and chewy leather, this well-constructed specimen is a joy to smoke and an easy recommendation, especially if you’re a lancero admirer and/or a Four Kicks fan.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

While the clock counts down until the FDA deeming rule regulating premium cigars and OTP (other tobacco products) becomes law, tobacco industry groups impacted by the forthcoming rule continue to work to lessen the damage of FDA regulation.

The long-term stifling of innovation by FDA regulation would be devastating given the cost of bringing new cigars to market, but in the short-term the impact would be even more drastic. As we’ve explained before, FDA regulation could likely wipe out every new cigar introduced since February 15, 2007, which would retroactively be subject to FDA approval.

Given the constant innovation and hundreds of new products introduced every year, estimates claim 80% or more of the handmade cigars sold every day could be wiped out by the rule. (In theory, such products could be approved as “substantially equivalent” to products that were already on the market in 2007, but the process is extremely complicated and the FDA hasn’t shown any ability or willingness to approve new tobacco products.)

For other tobacco products, like e-cigarettes, for which there were virtually no substantially equivalent products on the market prior to 2007, the impact would be even larger. Because of this, a variety of industry groups have coordinated a push to change any grandfathered date in the deeming rules.

The simple fix would make it clear that a product cannot be subject to pre-market review by the FDA if it is introduced to market before that type of product is deemed a tobacco product for purposes of FDA regulation. The language has been introduced as House Bill 2058, but to improve the odds of it being codified into law advocates have been trying to attach the legislation to the appropriations bill that covers FDA funding.

With rumors swirling that the FDA rule sent to the White House for final approval doesn’t contain “Option 2,” which would at least exempt cigars with a retail price above $10 from FDA pre-approval, a change of the grandfathered date is particularly important. Otherwise, cigars ranging from San Cristobal (introduced in 2007) to Sobermesa (introduced last month) could be wiped out.

Currently, the FDA maintains the date cannot be changed from the 2007 date, which was included in the bill that ordered the agency to regulate cigarettes. While others have questioned that interpretation, the stance makes a legislative fix necessary.

The language has already been attached to the House appropriations bill. Now advocates are hoping to attach it to the accompanying Senate appropriations act, with hope, if it passes, pressure would prevent President Obama from vetoing the large bill over this one relatively small issue.

–Patrick S

photo credits: Stogie Guys

Being named “Whisky of the Year” is a kind of a big deal. But it was an even bigger deal when Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye, a Canadian whiskey, was selected for the honor in the just-released version of Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible.

Predictably, this blew the mind of many scotch and bourbon fans who tend to look down at simple low-proof Canadian whiskey. Not to mention the low price ($26-35) and wide availability of Northern Harvest Rye compared to the kinds of collectible, super rare whiskies that many consider to be the best of the best (I’m looking at you, Pappy).

With all that in mind, I decided to try Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye to decide for myself if it is the best whiskey ever, or the most overrated. More likely I’d find it somewhere in between.

The 95-proof spirit features a light straw color and a nose with fresh banana bread, light wood, and spice. The palate is very smooth and balanced (smoother than you’d expect from 90-proof) with wood, baking spices, and a toned-down dill flavor similar to what you might find from Bulleit Rye. The finish is short and sweet.

First, let me be clear about what Northern Harvest isn’t. It isn’t the best whiskey I’ve had in the past year (or even month). It isn’t the best rye, either. It isn’t even the best Canadian Whiskey for my taste preferences (I prefer Lot 40, which features similar flavors but with more intensity.)

That said, not being “the best” doesn’t make it bad. In fact, it has a lot going for it. It’s pleasant, balanced, smooth, approachable, and affordable.

There’s a theory that Murray chose this as his Whiskey of the Year to bring awareness to a well-made, widely distributed Canadian whiskey; a nudge of sorts for drinkers to check out what Canada has to offer, and also to prompt Canadian whiskey makers to unleash their potential. (You could say naming a Japanese whiskey Whisky of the Year last year did similar things for Japanese single malt.) Not to mention, by forgoing a rare single malt or bourbon, this year’s Whisky of the Year is something you’ll actually be able to find on shelves.

Pair it with a mild- to medium-bodied cigar so the balanced flavors don’t get overwhelmed. Try a Mexican San Andrés-wrapped maduro like the Illusione *R* Rothchildes. A good $4 cigar and a fine sub-$30 whiskey… What’s not to like about that?

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Nat Sherman, long a storied New York name in tobacco, began reasserting itself nationally a few years ago when Michael Herklots was hired away from Davidoff’s Big Apple operation.

Soon, the Timeless series was introduced and that was the beginning of a new chapter in company history. It generated critical and commercial success and other new lines followed.

Then, last year, the company released another hit, a limited edition stick in honor of the company president’s birthday: the $19 Joel Sherman 75th Celebration.

So, when it was announced this year would be marked with another limited edition, anticipation was high for the Nat Sherman 85th Anniversary.

The 6.5-inch toro gordo has a 54 ring gauge and is rolled at the Quesada factory, which has produced other Nat Sherman cigars. The wrapper is Dominican, and the filler and binder are from Nicaragua. It’s limited to 25,000 sticks and also carries a $19 price tag.

Aesthetically, it’s a lovely cigar, with a rich, dark wrapper and classy double bands. Performance in those I’ve smoked (I bought a five-pack) has also been excellent. The draw is nearly perfect, with just the right resistance as thick, rich smoke pours from the cigar. The burn line is straight, the ash tight. Strength is about medium.

It’s in the taste that I found the 85th Anniversary to be somewhat of a letdown. It begins with a heavy, earthy taste and pretty much stays that way throughout. I found very little else along the way. There was very little development or complexity.

If the flavor profile is one that you enjoy, you’ll like this cigar. Otherwise, I think you’re likely to be a little disappointed, as was I. As such—and especially taking the hefty price tag into account—I rate the Nat Sherman 85th Anniversary just three stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys