The Stogie Guys

Aside from our sunshine-advantaged friends in Florida, Texas, Arizona, and the like, winter is a tough time for cigar smokers in the U.S. Unfortunately, winter is coming fast.

Humidors will require extra attention to keep from becoming too arid. Shipping cigars will become a riskier endeavor. And, worst of all, the wrath of government-imposed smoking bans will hit the hardest as aficionados clamor for rare indoor refuges from the cold.

In the not-too-distant past, back when I was living in Northern Virginia, there was no statewide smoking ban. This freedom resulted in options. Many bars, restaurants, etc. on their own accord were either completely smoke-free or not welcoming of cigars. I always respected that. But I also appreciated the less-numerous venues that catered to cigar smokers. In the winter, they became havens to escape the cold.

What a novel system. People who wanted to smoke or be around smoke could. People who wanted a smoke-free environment could have that, too. Isn’t choice great?

Nowadays, Virginia’s statewide ban prevents the market from dictating the availability of smoke-friendly locales. My current home of Chicago is no different. And chances are, wherever you happen to be reading this from, your national or local government is imposing laws that prevent business owners from catering to your needs. As I see it, your options for the cold winter months are as follows:

— Tough it out and smoke outside.
— Severely limit your smoking to fewer cigars and/or smaller cigars.
— Purchase a paid membership at a club that allows indoor smoking.
— Smoke at a tobacconist (cigars you purchased at said tobacconist).
— Equip some portion of your home for smoking.

I’ve done the latter, though I still regret the fact that I had to do the latter. I lament that gone are the days when you could cozy up to the bar at a steakhouse for an after-dinner smoke. I hang my head because I know there are destinations in my neighborhood that would allow cigar smoking if the government didn’t prevent them from doing so. I assume you share these concerns.

So what are your plans for the winter?

–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.”

Launched in the summer of 2012 by Tom Lazuka and Christian Eiroa, Asylum Cigars now boasts several lines, including Asylum, Asylum 13 (which is apparently the best-seller), The Ogre, and Schizo. Asylum 13 is a Nicaraguan puro with a clean, oily Habano wrapper. It comes in three sizes including Fifty (5 x 50), which is priced favorably at $5 for a single. The robusto-sized smoke has a full-bodied, aggressively spicy profile of that quickly transitions into a creamier, more balanced flavor of red pepper, dry wood, cashew, and leather. Don’t let the transition fool you, though. In all, the Asylum 13 Fifty packs a big punch. It also packs big quality for the money, making it an easy recommendation.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Chances are you, like me, are recognized among your friends as somewhat of an expert on cigars. Granted I’m using the word “expert” as a relative term here. And chances are, from time to time, these friends—ranging from occasional smokers to non-smokers—will ask you to recommend cigars for gifts.

This happens to me fairly regularly. The request goes something like this: “Hey, Patrick. You know a lot about cigars. Well I have a [relative, family member, etc.] I want to buy a few smokes for. [He/she] smokes cigars. Can you provide some recommendations?” This request usually comes around Christmas, a birthday, a wedding, a graduation, or the birth of a child. Such timing is a little funny to me because it’s been a long time since I’ve associated cigars with celebrations. I don’t need—and I usually don’t have—a reason to fire up a smoke.

At any rate, I’m always happy to oblige requests like these. Even if, in my head, my first reaction is, “You know I have a website loaded with searchable information, tips, etc., right? Did you happen to look there before asking me?” Of course I never actually say that.

So then I start to pepper this requester with questions. What does this person normally like to smoke? How often do they smoke? Do they own a humidor, or did you just see him/her smoking a cigar at a wedding once? How many cigars did you want to buy? How much are you looking to spend?

As I’m asking these questions, I realize the requester had given no thought to any of this, and has little knowledge of the third party’s perceived interest in cigars. I realize the requester was hoping I’d say, “Go here and buy them this,” and that would be the end of it. And as I think aloud about this, I start to better understand why so many cigar companies are now offering so many pre-packaged gift sets of smokes.

With little knowledge of the third party for whom I’m recommending cigars, and usually working within the confines of a restricted budget, I never suggest a box purchase. I’ll either point to a few legit online samplers of five or ten cigars or, time permitting, I’ll accompany the requester to a local tobacconist and help them select cigars I know almost any cigar smoker will like.

That’s exactly what I did a few days ago when a co-worker asked me to help him pick a few smokes for his stepfather. We strolled over to Iwan Ries & Co., a shop in Chicago’s Loop that’s been open for business since 1857. I actually really enjoyed talking with my co-worker about cigars, answering his questions, and picking out some excellent smokes. I left the shop with the satisfaction of helping someone else—and with a nice little sampler of my own.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

I confess that when I first got an email about a cigar coming from Roberto Duran I thought it was being put out by the boxing legend, much like those sporting the names of Mike Ditka, Gary Sheffield, and Luis Tiant. It isn’t.

These cigars are from Roberto Pelayo Duran, a Cuban who worked in the industry. His Azan Tobacco has a fascinating history. You can—and should—read it here. The story starts in 1870 when three brothers migrated from China to Cuba. It includes Azan winning the state lottery and him investing the winnings in his tobacco business, only to have the business nationalized by the government during the Cuban Revolution.

The Campana is a torpedo measuring 5.5 inches long with a ring gauge of 52. The wrapper is a beautiful Corojo grown in Ecuador, with filler from Nicaragua and Brazil, and a Nicaraguan binder.

Rolled in Nicaragua, Azan debuted in Hong Kong before being presented at the 2013 IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas, where it was introduced to the U.S. market. The company sent me three samples for this review.

In addition to the wrapper’s striking appearance, its pre-light aroma is mouth-watering. It makes the White nearly irresistible. Construction and draw are also good, and smoke production is strong. The burn generally is good, but it does get off kilter every once in a while.

The cigar is medium in strength with a bit of spice, a deep tobacco richness, and occasional sweetness. The flavors are nicely balanced and the tobaccos seem well-aged and fermented.

The suggested retail price on this stick—one of three vitolas in the White Premium line—is $7.50, and Azan says they’re making their way into stores now.

Pick one up and give it a try. I think you’ll want to smoke more than one. I award it four stogies out of five.

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

–George E

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.”

A highly unique band takes for its inspiration an old 8-bit color video game complete with names that I’m not even going to try to describe. Made in Nicaragua, the cigar has a medium brown Nicaraguan Habano wrapper from the Jalapa region that surrounds dual Nicaraguan binders and filler from Mexico and Nicaragua. It features lots of cedar, a tannic tingle on the tongue, and hints of coffee and black pepper spice. Construction is notably flawless and the balance is excellent.

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.”

Pondering my colleague’s recent article about what he calls “Classic Rock Cigars,” I couldn’t help but recall how much I enjoy the Padrón 2000 Maduro (5 x 50)—and how long it had been since I fired one up. No, this cigar isn’t the latest, the greatest, or the most hyped. But it does offer a fantastic, peppery profile of espresso, cocoa, raisin, and dark chocolate, all for less than $6. Like some of my favorite old rock songs, it’s classic and always reliable.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys