The 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.”

My Father Cigars makes many outstanding cigars, which might make the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial a slightly under-the-radar offering. The Connecticut Broadleaf-wrapped Robusto (5.25 x 52) has Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. It features rich, smooth flavors with powdery earth, dark chocolate, and oak notes, along with excellent construction. The Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial doesn’t feature much spice, but it does have lots of classic deep maduro flavors, and even though it’s not the most complex cigar, it’s still quite enjoyable.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

When it comes to spirit pairings, I’m an unabashed fan of bourbon and rye. No matter the season, fine American whiskey works.

As for other spirits, I’m more seasonal in my preferences. The tropical-influenced rum is ideal for the warmer months, but when it gets a little cooler I’m inclined towards scotch whiskey.

Something about the smokey, warming qualities of a single malt hits the spot. And yet, all that time with American whiskey has left me finding most of the 80- or 90-proof scotch lacking in intensity.

Fortunately, a few scotches have a higher proof. And lately, cask-strength scotches have become some of my favorites. (Unlike American whiskey, where cask-strength can mean 130-proof or higher, cask-strength single malt tends to be in the 110-120 range.) Glenfarclas 105 is one of those cask-strength single malts, weighing in at a hearty 120-proof (60% ABV). Its Highland distillery is one of the few truly independent distilleries left in Scotland, and also one of the few that produces a cask-strength scotch that is readily available in the U.S.

Glenfarclas ($80-90) has a deep golden color. The nose is an inviting combination of toffee with pear and cherry fruit.

On the palate, Glenfarclas really shines. It’s multi-layered on the palate with more pear, lots of sherry, and a slight smokiness. It has a nice, full-bodied creaminess, and a finish that fades off nicely with oak and subtle smoke.

The 105 is very even-keeled for 120-proof. It has plenty of intensity without being over the top. The richness of sherry with a champagne-like balance.

Drink it with a medium- to full-bodied cigar. Think a Cabaiguan, Davidoff Colorado Claro, Intemperance, or Tatuaje Black.

I’m sure cask-strength single malt isn’t for everyone. But if, like me, you like higher proof bourbons and ryes, but still find the smokiness of scotch up your alley, give the Glenfarclas 105 a try.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Introduced at this summer’s industry trade show, the JFR XT was designed as an addition capable of providing “added strength and body” to Casa Fernandez’s regular JFR line.

That the blenders succeeded is evident from the nice peppery start. The XT is, by no means, a powerhouse, but rather a medium- to full-bodied Nicaraguan puro that’s a pleasure to smoke.

The Corojo wrapper is smooth and has a warm, roasted nut pre-light aroma. The XT isn’t particularly complex, though flavor shifts a bit as the pepper dies down after the first half inch or so. Then there’s a pleasant rich tobacco taste and enough punch to keep it interesting.

I had three samples provided by Casa Fernandez and found them remarkably consistent. Construction is absolutely top-notch, with a straight burn, good draw, and tons of smoke.

The XT is a lightly box-pressed smoke with an untrimmed wrapper that’s folded over the foot, which is covered by an identifying foot band. The head sports a little pigtail. They are rolled at the Casa Fernandez factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.

The MSRP is a reasonable $6.92. Two other large ring gauge sizes are available: 6 x 60 ($7.30) and 7 x 70 ($8.80). Maduros with a Mexican wrapper are sized the same and cost a few cents more. All are packed in boxes of 24.

The XT is slated to hit retailer shelves this month, according to the company. I’d recommend this as a good choice for someone who’s been smoking milder cigars and wants to try a stronger smoke. Those who have a regular rotation that includes more powerful cigars should also give it a try to see whether it might find a slot.

I rate the JFR XT 654 a solid three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Buena Vista is back. After a short stint in the U.S. market in 2011, the brand disappeared due to “circumstances beyond the manufacturer’s control,” according to a press release from MGM Cigars, which now controls Buena Vista. But the brand’s reintroduction was officially declared on June 19, backed by 200,000 cigars that had been carefully stored as they patiently awaited their opportunity to be sold and smoked.

“The MGM Cigars project and first brand, Buena Vista, was nothing more than a dream in 2009. It quickly caught flight, only to be put to bed for a short while. I am thankful to have relocated to the United States where I am free to forge ahead with our project,” said José E. Borges Batista, founding partner and current president of MGM. “We look forward to re-introducing the Buena Vista brand, which pays homage to all who, through music and from one generation to another, have kept the Cuban traditions, values, and joie de vivre alive.”

The Buena Vista Reserva 2008 blend consists of a Habano ’98 wrapper from Ecuador around Dominican filler tobaccos that had been aged between 2008 and 2010 before they were rolled into cigars for the original 2011 release. Nine vitolas are available: Prominente (7 x 49), Sublime (6.3 x 54), Piramide (6.3 x 52), Doble Robusto (5.5 x 52), Robusto (5.3 x 54), Corona Larga (4.8 x 50), Corona (5.1 x 46), Petit Pyramid (4.9 x 52), and Short Churchill (4.3 x 54).

The Churchill-sized Prominente retails for $10 and, like its brethren, sports double bands of black, dark red, and chrome. It has an incredibly oily exterior with three or four prominent veins dividing an otherwise smooth surface. The pre-light notes are of subtle leather and earth, and the cold draw is moderate to moderately resistant.

The blend is marketed as a “well-balanced cigar of medium strength” that has benefited from ample aging in cedar conditioning rooms. My single sample, which was provided free of charge by Buena Vista, starts with a medium-bodied profile of red pepper, mushroom, roasted nut, and cream. On the aftertaste, a spicy heat lingers on the tip of the tongue.

As the Prominente progresses, the smoke seems to become less spicy and more creamy, with some caramel notes becoming prominent. In the final third, the overall intensity increases slightly, but the Churchill remains solidly in the medium-bodied spectrum. All the while, the physical properties are good, including a draw that opens beyond the first third, a straight burn line, and a solid gray ash.

Overall, this is an impressive cigar, and one to put on your radar if you’re looking for something off the beaten path. For its complexity and depth of flavor, the Buena Vista Reserva 2008 Prominente 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.”

I consider the Cameroon Cabinet line to be La Flor Dominicana’s most underrated cigar, likely overlooked because it doesn’t fit into the same full-bodied profile the company is known for. The robusto-sized No. 5 features the same woodiness and light spice that I’ve come to enjoy from this line, but it lacks some of the cream and cocoa depth that made the No. 1 size my favorite. Construction is excellent. Maybe time will bring out the some added complexity in this robusto, but for now I couldn’t recommend the No. 5 ahead of he lonsdale-sized No. 1.

Verdict = Hold.

–Patrick S

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.”

The corona-sized Dirty Rat may not be my favorite Drew Estate cigar—that honor actually might go to the Velvet Rat—but it’s up there. If you can track down this rare cigar, you’ll be rewarded with a balanced, full-bodied profile of dark chocolate, cream, black pepper spice, and earthy tones. The flavors are derivative of a Connecticut Havana-seed wrapper around a Brazilian binder and a filler mix of Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos. Construction is perfect, including Drew Estate’s trademark draw with copious smoke production.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

El Centurion is a brand that often resonates with seasoned cigar veterans, as it was the first limited edition line José “Don Pepín” García ever produced. That was back in 2007, when El Centurion was limited to only 850 20-count boxes of each of the inaugural sizes.

Marketed as García’s personal blend and intended to replicate the aroma of classic Cuban Cohibas, the three formats— Guerreros (robusto), Gladiadores (toro), and Emperadores (belicoso)—sported Nicaraguan Habano wrappers around Nicaraguan-grown Cuban-seed Criollo ’98 and Corojo ’99 leaves that had been aged three years. They were crafted at Tabacalera Cubanas S.A. in Nicaragua.

If any cigars from the original El Centurion release can be found today, they’re very rare and almost assuredly very expensive. However, last year García decided to commemorate his company’s tenth anniversary by introducing a revamped El Centurion that would be a permanent addition to the My Father Cigars portfolio. “My Father Cigars brings back the cigar that left everyone wanting more,” proclaimed a press release in March 2013.

This El Centurion remix is a Nicaraguan puro with a dark, sun-grown Criollo ’98 wrapper around Criollo, Corojo Habano, and Sancti Spiritus filler tobaccos. It is offered in 4 sizes with MSRPs ranging from $7.50 to $9: Belicoso (5.5 x 54), Robusto (5.75 x 50), Toro (6.25 x 52), and Toro Grande (6.5 x 58). Boxes of 20 are furnished with ornate, decorative styling in gold, red, and orange.

I was able to pick up a 5-pack of Belicosos for $34. This toothy vitola is handsome with its well-executed cap, oily shine, considerable weight, and firm feel. The wrapper and foot emit hearty pre-light notes of dark chocolate and coffee. The cold draw is smooth despite the narrow cap and firm packing of tobaccos.

After setting an even light, a medium-bodied profile emerges with hints of cocoa, coffee, roasted nut, and raisin. The spice is surprisingly muted, save for lingering cedar on the aftertaste. Towards the midway point and beyond, a flavor of black licorice also becomes apparent. Cinnamon and sweet chocolate are dominant in the final third. The smoke stays cool to the nub.

Construction is all-around solid throughout, including a solid white ash, smooth burn, and good smoke production. The burn is a little wavy, but it never requires a touch-up.

The temptation to compare this blend to the original El Centurion release is great. That’s no fault of my own, or any other cigar smoker; it’s more of a critique of My Father Cigars’ decision to keep the same name and packaging, despite the (very different blend). Fortunately for this review, I never had the opportunity to personally try the original. So I’m judging the Belicoso entirely on its own merits. With that in mind, I consider this an excellent smoke and a good value, worthy of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys