The Stogie Guys

I’m truly looking forward to my upcoming trip to the IPCPR convention in Las Vegas. Last year, I attended my first, when the show was in Orlando. It was, honestly, a bit overwhelming.

Part of that was the size and scope of the show, part of it was me. Now, with some idea of what to expect, I feel I’m better prepared to deal with what’s there. As for myself, some doctor-administered performance-enhancing drugs to help with my deteriorating joints, and some weight loss should make negotiating the trade floor easier.

While I’m confessing I’ll also own up to my technological shortcomings, both skills and equipment. My cell phone is the old candy bar style, without a camera or texting capacity. Who knows if I could use either if it did? I do have an iPad, but it’s a first generation, so no camera there, either. So I’ll be leaning on both Patricks, both of whom I’m glad to say make my computer savvy positively Paleolithic.

For those who haven’t been to IPCPR, it’s somewhat difficult to grasp the breadth of exhibitors. They are by no means limited to cigars. You don’t just see My Father Cigars. You’ll also see My Cigar Chair. Hookahs might outnumber briar pipes. Matches, canes, knives, electronic smoking devices, hats, software… The list seems endless.

But cigars are at the heart of the show. “What’s new?” is the question on nearly everyone’s lips. New blends, new blenders, new lines, new sizes, new companies, new alliances.

So far, it appears there aren’t as many new offerings in 2013 as in the past couple of years, at least judging by pre-convention announcements and teases. Of course, that can change.

I would expect, though, that at least some manufacturers are finally recognizing that shops—virtual as well as concrete—have limitations on what they can stock and promote. A new line that simply displaces an old line isn’t much of an advance.

Of course, quantity isn’t the true measure. It’s quality. If there’s one new cigar introduced this year that becomes one of your favorites, that’s a success.

As for Las Vegas, you probably wouldn’t believe me if I told you how many years it has been since I visited. I’m not really much of a gambling, big-show entertainment guy.

There is one spot, though, I hope I can visit: the Bouchon Bakery at The Venetian. I’d like to try a cup of Equator Coffee. If I make it, I’ll let you know how it tastes.

–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.”

Since its inception, I’ve enjoyed the CyB line (formerly Cuenca y Blanco), the first blend from Joya de Nicaragua to use binders and fillers from countries other than Nicaragua. So I was encouraged to hear the company is adding to the line with a Lancero that will be exclusively available to members of the Tobacconist Association of America (TAA). (I received this sample from Joya de Nicaragua, but the TAA exclusive cigars will feature a secondary TAA band around the foot.) The Lancero (7 x 38) seems to have a looser draw than other CyB sizes, which makes for a slightly milder cigar, although the same flavors I’ve come to enjoy from this blend are largely the same: dry oak, cedar, floral notes, roasted nuts, leather, and spice. If you like the lancero format, this is a must-try.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Back in 2006, if you were to ask me to name my favorite cigars, I almost certainly would have mentioned Dona Flor’s Alonso Menendez. To this day I remember that smoke as capturing the flavor of moist chocolate cake like none other.

So I was disappointed when Dona Flor disappeared for a number of years. Evidently, shortly after the brand was introduced to the U.S. in 2005, legal issues arose that blocked domestic distribution. Then, about a year ago, Chris Edge—a Denver-based cigar enthusiast and businessman—brought Dona Flor back to North America. Several new blends were part of Dona Flor’s reintroduction, including Seleção.

Now Chris Edge is also bringing Alonso Menendez back, with a different band but presumably with the same recipe as the 2006 variety. The Brazilian puro features a Mata Fina wrapper, Mata Fina binder, and a filler mix of Mata Norte and Mata Fina tobaccos. The intent is to create a fuller-bodied cigar “with the same lush, creamy, smooth smoke that the Mata Fina tobacco is known for,” according to Edge. The cigar is manufactured in Brazil by Felix Menendez (his brother, Benji, started the Alonso Menendez brand in 1980).

Brazilian-wrapped smokes are never going to be as aesthetically appealing as those from, say, the Dominican Republic. Mata Fina and Mata Norte leaves are, by definition, a little rough around the edges. But the five-inch Alonso Menendez Robusto doesn’t make a bad first impression. While the wrapper is a little lumpy, this is overshadowed by the fragrant tobacco’s pre-light notes of chocolate and sweet hay.

And after all, taste is what really counts. That’s why it’s a treat to light up the Robusto and find a very familiar, very approachable, profile of milk chocolate and coffee bean. Tons of flavor yet very little nicotine kick and only the faintest black pepper spice. Call it nostalgia—call it whatever you want—but this cigar takes me back, and I like it. Only some sour notes in the final third detract from my overall experience.

The Robusto’s construction thankfully doesn’t get in the way of my enjoyment of the flavor. The burn line is very straight and requires no touch-ups to stay even or lit. The gray ash holds firm. And the draw is smooth with each puff producing lots of smoke.

My colleagues and I have written about how our tastes change with time. That’s no doubt true. Yet I’m still a big fan of this smoke, and I’d wager there will always be room in my humidor for a cigar that reminds me of moist chocolate cake. Keep an eye out for more information about Alonso Menendez—including availability and prices—following this month’s IPCPR Trade Show. For now, I award the Robusto a stellar rating of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

If you’ve heard of Nat Cicco Cigars, it’s most likely for the “Rejects” value-oriented lines. Lately, though, the company has been moving into the more exclusive end of the market.

Their most ambitious move to date is the Nat Cicco HHB, about which the company brags, “Just compare it… Especially to Cuba’s Cohiba Behike.” That’s quite a suggestion considering the Cohiba Behike is considered by many to be one of the finest cigars made, and it commands an astronomical $40 (or more) price.

At least before smoking one, there are plenty of similarities to the the most expensive widely distributed cigar in the world. Like the Cuban Behike, the HHB features a gold and black band, a black lacquer flip top box of ten, a high price (although the HHB only runs $14), and it comes in three sizes built around ring gauges of 52, 54, and 56. (Not to mention HHB is sufficiently similar to the BHK moniker Behike goes by.)

I smoked three of the 56-ring gauge variety for this review, which runs 6.25 inches in length and has a closed foot. Like the Behike, it has a pigtail cap and a Cuban triple-cap. The Ecuadorian wrapper, which surrounds Nicaraguan filler and binder tobaccos, is nearly flawless with shine, making for an excellent-looking cigar.

Enough about presentation. Fancy looks and packaging are easy to do when the price is more than a 3D movie ticket. The important question is: How does it smoke? The answer is pretty well. Pleasant, balanced, and mellow are all adjectives that come to mind. It’s not super complex, but it does feature mild- to medium-bodied roast peanut, cedar, and cream notes that stay uniform. And construction is flawless with an even burn, sturdy ash, and good draw. I could definitely see myself lighting one up on a weekend morning with the paper and a good cup of coffee.

Nat Cicco’s corporate owner Zander-Greg wants me to “just compare it” to Behike, so here goes: While there are some similarities, you won’t confuse this with the richer, more complex Cuban. What is similar is that, like the Behike, it’s a good cigar but hard to justify due to the price.

Despite the over-the-top comparisons, this is an admirable effort for a company not known for super-premium cigars. And while it would be easier to recommend if it was $5 cheaper, it still earns a most respectable rating of three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Two years ago, Miami Cigar & Co. debuted Casa Miranda at the IPCPR Trade Show, a “small-batch, ultra-premium” line comprised of an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper around Nicaraguan tobaccos. Shortly after the convention, the man responsible for blending the highly anticipated release, Willy Herrera, left El Titan de Bronze—the Miami factory where the cigar is made—for Drew Estate before Casa Miranda even came to market.

Notwithstanding Herrera’s departure (and subsequent success with the Herrera Estelí line), Miami Cigar is expected to introduce the Casa Miranda Chapter Two at next month’s convention. I was sent a pre-release sample by Miami Cigar to make this review possible.

Unlike Chapter One, Chapter Two is made at the My Father Cigars factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. It boasts a Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper around tobaccos from Brazil, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. “Just like any great novel, our story continues to gain momentum with the release of Chapter Two at this year’s IPCPR,” said Jason Wood, vice president of Miami Cigar. “I look forward to…feedback on this medium-bodied beauty.”

Four sizes will be available: Robusto (4.5 x 50), Corona Gorda (6 x 46), Toro (5.5 x 54), and Gran Toro (6 x 60). Prices will range from $6.35 for the Robusto to $8 for the Gran Toro.

As this is a pre-release review, I was only able to smoke one Toro for today’s article. The cigar is quite soft in some spots—and the foot suggests a slightly loose packing of tobaccos—yet the overall feel is one of quality. The wrapper has a noticeable absence of large veins and ample oils. The pre-light notes are faint and earthy.

The texture of the flavor is defined by the incredibly easy draw and significant smoke production. Billowy, almost airy, the taste has a spicy Corojo punch offset by a syrupy sweetness, damp earth, and creamy peanut. On the finish, the spice lingers on the tip of the tongue and the roof of the mouth. The resting smoke is particularly fragrant and sweet. The final third is leathery.

My single sample displays wonderful combustion qualities, including a straight burn and a gray ash that holds well off the foot. My only complaint might be that the Toro burns rather quickly (undoubtedly a result of the effortless draw, which might be a little too effortless).

Keep an eye out for this cigar post-IPCPR. Judging by my single pre-release experience, it’s a well-made, balanced smoke with interesting flavors and a terrific aroma. And the price point of $7.60 renders it an excellent value. I look forward to revisiting the Casa Miranda Chapter Two Toro in the near future, and am pleased to award it 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’ve enjoyed some of the Viaje Skull and Bones blends in the past, so I picked up a few of this latest Edición Limitada version when it came out in February. The thick (5 x 60) stick is presumably an all-Nicaraguan blend, although I haven’t seen that formally confirmed. It features a leathery profile with plenty of red pepper spice. Not the full-bodied bomb that some other Skull and Bones releases are, Big Ivan is more medium- to full-bodied. Construction is good, but ultimately I like the smaller releases far better.

Verdict = Hold.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys