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.”

After reading my colleague’s review of the new Joya Red, I was eager to fire up the blend up for myself. The Toro (6 x 52) is impeccably made featuring a shiny wrapper. It’s a tasty medium-bodied cigar with toasty flavors, a hint of creaminess, and a smooth woodiness. It’s very balanced and, as my colleague stated, “Nothing else in the Joya portfolio tastes like this.” It’s a welcome addition to to the Joya brand and an impressive display of the diverse blending capabilities of Joya de Nicaragua without abandoning their core Nicaraguan spirit.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

More and more, cigars that used to be introduced for the first time at the annual IPCPR Trade Show are now announced ahead of time. In the case of this new offering from Christian Eiroa, it was not only announced in the months before the show, but it began arriving in shops a few weeks before the show even opened.

The cigar is the maduro follow-up to the original self-titled Eiroa cigar, a Honduran puro, which debuted last summer. While the exact origins of the tobacco aren’t disclosed, it is 100% maduro, hence the CBT name which stands for Capa, Binda, Tripa (one of many ways to refer to the wrapper, binder, and filler).

The cigar comes in four sizes, each of which will be sold in 20-count boxes. The 4 x 48 will be box-pressed, while the other three sizes (5 x 50, 6 x 54, and 6 x 60) will be traditional parejos. The cigars sell for $9-12 each and, this year, production at the Aladino Factory in Honduras, where this is made, will be limited to 150,000 cigars. I smoked three samples in the robusto size provided by CLE Cigars for this review.

Fans of Eiroa and maduro cigars will note that this is not his first all-maduro cigar. Back in 2007, Camacho Cigars (then owned by Eiroa, before he sold it to Davidoff) made the Triple Maduro with similar undisclosed origins. Though it’s been a while since I smoked the Camacho Triple Maduro, and it has been re-blended since it was introduced, Eiroa seems less full-bodied than the Camacho version.

Hardly the pitch black maduro wrapper you sometimes see, the CBT wrapper is a more natural deep brown maduro color, in part because it uses only primings from the top of the tobacco plants. Pre-light, I picked up a notable cinnamon flavor on the draw.

Once lit, the CBT demonstrates plenty of quintessential deep dark maduro flavors: earth, coffee, and cocoa. There’s also a hint of clove and baking spices. The medium- to full-bodied cigar features consistent flavors from start to finish. Construction was excellent on all three samples I smoked, with a notably razor straight burn.

I’ll admit that given the choice between two cigars and only knowing that one is a maduro and the other isn’t, I’d select the non-maduro every time. Still, this a well-made cigar (if slightly expensive at $10) with straightforward, pleasant flavors and excellent construction. That’s enough to earn the Eiroa CBT Maduro Robusto three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Back in April, I visited the Joya de Nicaragua factory in Estelí as part of Drew Estate’s Cigar Safari. At the outset of the tour, Juan Ignacio Martínez—the 31-year-old who was named executive president as his father, Dr. Alejandro Martínez Cuenca, steps away from day-to-day operations—gave us an overview of Joya’s fascinating history. Many know that Joya is the oldest cigar maker in Nicaragua. Fewer are aware of how Joya’s legacy is intertwined with the political unrest in Nicaragua in the 20th century.

But that is a story for another time. Before walking the factory floor, we were provided samples of an unnamed blend that was under development. I only got to try one—and I had smoked many cigars that day—but I recall it being milder than the traditional Joya profile, very classic-tasting, balanced, and delicious. At the time, I didn’t know this blend would ever hit the market. I hoped it would.

Fortunately, Joya Red, as it is called, was officially announced in early June. It is currently making its worldwide debut at the IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas. Joya Red is intended to be the “new and exciting side of Joya de Nicaragua,” a product of what’s now “the youngest executive team in the industry.” A Nicaraguan puro, it features a lower priming of Habano wrappers, as well as more Viso tobacco and less Ligero than what Joya typically employs. The filler is a mixture of leaves from the Estelí, Jalapa, and Condega growing regions.

Joya Red will be sold in the affordable $5.75-$8 range in four sizes: Short Churchill (4.75 x 48), Robusto (5.25 x 50), Toro (6 x 52), and Cañonazo (5.5 x 54). (The latter was originally slated to be called “Cardinal;” it was likely changed to avoid confusion with the E.P. Carrillo Cardinal.) The Robusto is a handsome, well-made cigar with a nice cap and an unblemished exterior. The cold draw is smooth and the foot has abundant pre-light notes of hay and syrup.

Once lit, I find a medium-bodied, balanced profile of citrus, dry cedar spice, roasted nuts, and a little black pepper. The texture if light and toasty. Nothing else in the Joya portfolio tastes like this. The Robusto is classic with traditional tastes and plenty of balance and complexity. It is simultaneously understated yet full of flavor. The midway point witnesses a tendency to coffee with creamer, and the finish has a slight increase in pepper and spice. All the while the physical properties—ash, smoke production, burn, and draw—are solid.

Already there are a number of Joya Red reviews online, and the consensus is acclaim. After smoking several Robustos, I am adding to that praise. This is an excellent blend that will almost assuredly be on many year-end lists of the best smokes of 2014. For now, I’m awarding the Robusto four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Last spring, Abe Flores of Pinar del Rio Cigars (PDR) issued an announcement that PDR would be managing the sales and distribution of the El Primer Mundo (EPM) brand. “This is a great opportunity for the EPM brand,” said Sean Williams, head of the Atlanta-based EPM. “Abe and I have… some good synergies with our overlap on sales reps and key accounts. This move will just make things a lot more efficient for our reps and our retailers.”

The EPM lines now sold and distributed by PDR include Liga Miami, Epifania, and La Hermandad. The latter, which translates to “brotherhood,” has been made by Abe Flores at his factory in the Dominican Republic since its inception in 2012. (It should be noted that Flores’ factory also produces cigars for other brands outside the PDR-EPM fold, including Gurkha and La Palina).

EPM also has La Hermandad Costa Fuerte, which sports a Bahia Brazilian wrapper, a Dominican binder, and filler tobaccos that include Corojo ’06 from the Dominican and Criollo ’98 from Nicaragua. It is offered in three sizes that retail in the $8-$10 range: Caballito (5 x 50), Embajador (6 x 52), and Consejero (6 x 60).

I sampled three Caballitos for this review. Once I removed the white sleeve that covers the majority of the cigar, I notice this robusto-sized format has a number of fairly large veins across its otherwise smooth surface. The foot shows a cross-section of tightly packed tobaccos that give off some earthy pre-light notes. The cap seems hastily applied.

According to the EPM website, Costa Fuerte is intended to be a full-bodied smoke “with complex notes of spice, light coffee, and subtle creaminess.” After torching the foot and establishing an even light, a spice-forward profile of dry cedar takes center stage. The draw is virtually devoid of resistance, which I think adds to the intensity of the spice. It’s almost as though the voluminous smoke is concentrated at the tip of the tongue, rendering the profile salty and abrasive. For me, the sensation is quite agreeable. What’s more, I find it’s even better if paired with rum (Flor de Caña 18, in my case), as the sweetness of the rum offsets the cigar’s spice.

Into the second third and beyond, the Costa Fuerte mellows a bit, replacing some of the dry cedary spice and salt with notes of cream and roasted nut. Here the smoke begins to taste more along the lines of what I consider to be the profile of a classic full-bodied Cuban. It’s more balanced, and very traditional-tasting. All the while, the combustion properties are superb, including a straight burn, effortless draw, and solid ash.

We all know cigar reviews are subjective. I can see how some might be less enthralled by Costa Fuerte, especially since the first third is so dry and spicy. But the Caballito really strikes a chord with me, at least in part because I’m a fan of good cigars to pair with sweet sipping rums in the evening. After smoking through three samples this weekend, I’ve settled on an admirable score of 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.”

The annual IPCPR Trade Show opens in full today (the opening seminars and reception were yesterday), so it’s fitting I’m checking out a new release. CLE Signature Series PLdM is a small-batch line (only around 400 25-count boxes are set to be released, spread between four sizes) made in Miami by three handpicked rollers who work on Christian Eiroa’s personal blends. Details of this blend aren’t disclosed, but the profile and source suggest plenty of Honduran tobacco. The notable pre-draw flavors are an enticing combination of breadiness, spice, and sweetness. Once lit, I found a very refined combination of woodiness, bread, and caramel with a hint of clove spice. The medium-bodied Robusto (4.5 x 50) features flawless construction, which you’d expect from a cigar that retails for $16. It’s not cheap, but it’s a sophisticated step up, even from the high bar that CLE sets.

Verdict = Buy.

–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.”

I’ve aged this San Andrés-wrapped cigar for a solid two years to see if time might mellow it out, and/or bring to life some new flavors. What I found surprised me: virtually no changes whatsoever. The AF1 Toro (6 x 50) from Gary Griffith’s Emilio Cigars smokes just as it did 24 months ago. Full-bodied with a leathery, spicy texture and notes of raisin, caramel, creamy nut, and espresso. I can’t say the lack of change is disappointing, though. I liked this cigar in 2012, and I like it now—especially after a large meal with some sipping bourbon. If you decide to buy a box, however, don’t feel guilty if you mow through it; several years of patience won’t pay extra dividends.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Tatuaje recently shipped it’s Pudgy Monster sampler, a follow-up to it’s Little Monster sampler, which was comprised of smaller versions the Monsters Series Halloween cigars.

The $95 Pudgy Monster sampler features 10 cigars, six being smaller versions of the prior Monsters, with the remaining four cigars comprised of two each of two new blends. The two new cigars are both based on the Child’s Play villains: “Chuck,” after the main character Chucky; and “Tiff,” after his bride, Tiffany.

Tiff has a golden Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper around Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. (Sounds similar to another Tatuaje blend… more on that below.) It’s a petit robusto size at four inches long with a ring gauge of 50.

The cigar has a smooth, complex, mild- to medium-bodied profile. It’s dominated by sweet creaminess, along with roasted nut and woodiness, and hints of paper, graham, and spice.

There have been some questions about just how different, if at all, Tiff is from the standard Cabaiguan blend (which also has an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper around Nicarauan binder and fillers). Tatuaje owner and blender Pete Johnson said Tiff is “blended fairly stronger” than Cabaiguan, and I’d certainly agree, though the profile is very similar.

Over the course of smoking three samples for this review, I also smoked a couple Cabaiguans, and the difference is clear. Is it stronger than the Cabiguan WCD 120 (which is known to be a ramped-up Cabaiguan blend)? Maybe, although I sadly don’t have any samples to compare it too.

Exactly where it ranks strength-wise in the Cabaiguan-esque blends is up for debate, but I don’t think there’s much debate about Tiff being a fantastic cigar. It’s everything I look for in a Connecticut smoke—subtle, smooth, complex—and it earns four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys