The Stogie Guys

Last November, when I reviewed the Classic Intrepidus, I was heartily impressed by the blend Willy Herrera created for Walter “Lilo” Santiago’s Crémo Cigars, which was prior to Herrera’s departure to Drew Estate.

So ever since Crémo rolled out its Classic Maduro blend at last summer’s industry trade show, I’ve been keen to take it for a test drive. It, like the original line, is crafted at El Titan de Bronze Cigar Factory on Miami’s Calle Ocho, an outfit Crémo’s website hails for its “old-school Cuban entubado techniques” and “level-nine rollers from Cuba, who have worked for Cohiba, Romeo y Julieta, Corona, and Partagas.”

Whereas the Crémo Classic sports a Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and filler from Nicaragua and the Dominican, the Classic Maduro features a dark San Andreas wrapper around Nicaraguan tobaccos. It is offered in two sizes: Excelsior (5 x 50) and Intrepidus (6 x 52).

The latter retails for $12 and boasts a beautifully executed triple-cap, a toothy exterior leaf with minimal veins, and moderate pre-light notes of nougat and dark chocolate. The black and silver band has “handcrafted in Little Havana” scribed on its side. The cross-section at the foot shows a dense bunching of leaves and the draw is unexpectedly stiff.

This is one of those cigars that imparts an earthy, somewhat spicy aftertaste on the lips and palate. The resting smoke has a decidedly sweeter aroma of candied nuts with a little leather. The smoke itself is dense and velvety, reminding me of espresso, dry wood, marshmallow, and dark chocolate. It becomes creamier at the midway point, then a bit spicier in the final third of the 110-minute smoke.

In line with my expectations as a fan of the Classic Intrepidus, the Classic Maduro Intrepidus likewise has top-notch physical properties. Included are a straight burn line and solid white ash. And the draw, while tighter than what I’m used to, is by no means burdensome, allowing bountiful volumes of smoke with each puff.

While I have to give the edge to its predecessor, the Classic Maduro Intrepidus is a fine smoke in its own right, and one you should keep and eye out for as it starts to become more widely available. In my book, it’s worthy of a very solid rating of four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Larceny is the new bourbon from Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. “Old Fitzgerald” has been (and still is) an old name in bourbon going back to the 1880s. According to the story, John E. Fitzgerald was a bourbon maker who opened up shop in the 1870s. But that turns out to be fiction; the real story is much more interesting.

John E. Fitzgerald was a U.S. treasury agent who developed a taste for bourbon that he satisfied by stealing from the bonded warehouse he was given keys to in order to ensure taxes were properly collected. According to the story, he had a knack for finding the best barrels in the warehouse to thieve from, which eventually become known as “Fitzgerald barrels” (since no one was particularly interested in attempting to report a bonded treasury agent to the authorities).

Owned and made by Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle—a name bourbon fans no doubt recognize—the bourbon was one of the first successful wheated bourbons (using wheat instead of rye as the second grain along with corn). Introduced earlier this year, Larceny follows a similar wheat-heavy recipe and is made at Heaven Hill distillery, which makes some other impressive, if under-rated, bourbons like the Evan Williams Single Barrel, Parker’s Heritage, and Elijah Craig 18 Year.

The new whiskey comes in a distinctive bottle that plays up the story that inspired its name with a see-through keyhole. Made of bourbon between 6 and 12 years old, it’s bottled at a hearty, but not overwhelming, 92-proof and sells in the most reasonable $25-30 range. (Further, to induce people to try the new spirit, the bottles I’ve seen have all had an offer of a $10 rebate, making it a most affordable spirit.)

The nose of the copper-colored bourbon features a sweet nose with lots of butterscotch and toffee, and hints of oak and cherry. The first sip reveals quite a bit of heat but, by the second and third, I’m enjoying a sweet, smooth combination of toffee, melon, dry cinnamon, and apples. The finish has honey and bread, and fades away at a medium speed that prompts you for a quick follow-up.

While rye is known for adding spicy qualities to bourbon, wheat tends to result in a smoother blend, and that’s certainly true of Larceny. But it’s far more interesting and lively than another similarly-priced wheated bourbon, Maker’s Mark, which as I’ve gotten more and more into bourbon I’ve found trades a little too much character for it’s easy-drinking qualities.

As far as cigar pairings go, Larceny is versatile, though I’d stay away from Connecticut wrappers if there is even a hint of bitterness, and also overly spicy or very full-bodied smokes. The Tatuaje Havana line, Illusione Epernay, CAO Concert, and My Father line all seem to fit the bill nicely.

For the money (especially if you have the patience to send in for the rebate) it’s hard to not be impressed with Larceny. It’s perfect for a Maker’s Mark sipper starting to explore all that bourbon offers, but can be enjoyed by the most seasoned enthusiast. It actually is not all that dissimilar, except for price, from the highly sought-after Van Winkle Family Reserve. You might even call it a steal.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

In September, it was announced that Emilio Cigars would assume distribution of Global Premium Cigars (GPC), a Nicaraguan-based boutique headed by Enrique Sánchez Icaza.

“I am delighted to be able to help another boutique manufacturer benefit from our existing shipping and billing facilities, and even happier we were able to make this arrangement with a dear friend,” said Griffith in a press release. Sánchez Icaza shared similar sentiments, calling Griffith “a true friend, great entrepreneur, and a great cigar guru.”

With their agreement in place, you can expect to be hearing more from GPC, including reviews of the company’s three blends: Emerald, Ruby, and Black Gold. Each is sold under the “1502” name, commemorating the year Christopher Columbus discovered Nicaragua.

The 1502 Emerald is intended to be the lightest in the GPC portfolio (Black Gold is the strongest) with a “subtle strength” achieved through tobaccos from San Andrés, Estelí, and Condega. The Torpedo (6.5 x 52) sells for $6-8 apiece and sports a clean, golden wrapper with a sharp cap and faint pre-light notes of hay and caramel. The foot is semi-closed and the feel is moderately firm with no soft spots.

The profile is airy, a little salty, and leaves a fair amount of dry spice on the lips. Decidedly mild—both in terms of body and nicotine output—some sweet notes come and go throughout. Coffee and earth are in the foreground. But the 1502 Torpedo lacks the flavor components I often look for in a milder smoke, including cream and nuts. Instead, especially when puffed rather quickly, it displays hints of bitterness.

Construction-wise, it performs impeccably. The burn is straight with no need for touch-ups, the white ash holds well off the foot, and the draw is smooth and clear from light to nub.

I smoked two 1502 Emerald Torpedos for this review and found both to leave something to be desired in the flavor department, even though I’ve long been a fan of cigars from the milder spectrum. Perhaps the Ruby or Black Gold blends from GPC will be more up my alley. For my taste, though, I can’t see myself actively seeking out the Emerald Torpedo in the near future. It earns two and a half 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.”

Released just before St. Patrick’s Day earlier this year—it has been aging in my humidor since then—this Candela features a notable bright green wrapper, with a shiny appearance that is a stark contrast from most double claro wrappers, which tend to be dry and matte. The cigar has roast nut and coffee flavors, and a bit of intermittent black pepper spice. While feint, the vegetable, grassy quality that is characteristic of Candela wrappers is apparent. Still it’s an enjoyable, well-made cigar, even though I can’t help thinking the same blend with a traditional wrapper (or even without the wrapper) might be even better.

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.”

The Single Region from Toraño was on my short list of the best new cigars at the 2010 industry trade show. For me, it has stood the test of time and improved with age. The Robusto (5 x 52) is the best vitola in the blend, exhibiting outstanding construction and a unique profile of tea, leather, and toffee before overstaying its welcome. I’m not sure when the next Single Region will be available, but I’m content to savor these Jalapas from El Estero until then.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

With so many cigars out there, cigar companies are looking for every edge to persuade smokers to give their cigars a shot, even having professional athletes promote their smokes.

Ted’s Cigars is doing this with one of the best-known race car drivers in the world, Dale Earnhardt Jr. The company, which makes officially licensed Gran Marnier and Maker’s Mark flavored cigars, in addition to their non-flavored Ted’s Made by Hand line, announced today that they are releasing an officially licensed Dale Jr. “88” Cigar.

Curiously, the toro-sized cigar itself isn’t new. It’s the same blend that has been sold for some time as the Ted’s Made by Hand Connecticut Shade Tube (one which received an 88 rating, the same number as Jr.’s car). The new packaging, however, features Dale Jr.’s signature and 88 logo. The cigar comes in single cigars, three-packs, boxes of 10 and 25, and will sell for around $11 each.

Also joining the celebrity athlete cigar endorsers is legendary Hall of Fame NFL player and coach, Mike Ditka. Under a partnership with Camacho, “Da Coach” will develop a series of new cigar lines carrying the Ditka name, which will be made at Camacho’s Tabacos Rancho Jamastran in Honduras.

The first Camacho-produced Ditka cigar (Mike Ditka has had multiple other cigars sold under his name) is being introduced at a dinner at Ditka’s Chicago restaurant next Friday where he will be signing boxes for all those in attendance. Three blends are being introduced, with one box included with the purchase of a ticket to the launch dinner.

For those wondering, this isn’t a new phenomenon. Other athletes with their own cigar lines include Dennis Rodman, Luis Tiant, Gary Sheffield and Sonny Jurgenson.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Over two years ago we exclusively reported the introduction of Tatuaje Anarchy, a cigar made only for the Smoke Inn stores in the Palm Beach area. Now, Smoke Inn and Tatuaje are following up that release with the Tatuaje Apocalypse.

While Anarchy (6.125 x 48-52) sported an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, the Apocalypse (5.25 x 48-52) has a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper. Pre-orders began Thanksgiving Day and the cigar, which retails for $8.95 or $134.25 for a box of 15, will officially be released on December 14th. Only 1,300 boxes will be made.

The single pre-release Apocalypse I smoked for this review was provided to me by Abe Dababneh, proprietor of Smoke Inn. Dababneh explained why my sample has the old Anarchy black band—not the new Apocalypse red band—in a letter that accompanied the smoke: “Unfortunately, unlike our other releases, we will not be receiving our shipment until just before our release date,” he wrote. “All we have is one box of 15 sticks that Pete [Johnson] brought back from Nicaragua and a bundle he gave me at the IPCPR show this year. The cigars from the bundle unfortunately do not have the correct bands…”

Frankly, I could care less which band adorns my Apocalypse. I just feel fortunate for the opportunity to test the cigar out before its debut, especially since it makes such a good first impression. With a dark, oily wrapper, an interesting cap, and potent pre-light notes of chocolate, the Apocalypse is one of those cigars I’d have a hard time letting age in my humidor.

Made at My Father Cigars in Estelí, Nicaragua, Apocalypse is intended to be “highly reminiscent” of Anarchy, but with “somewhat of a more concentrated fashion.” Based on my experience with Anarchy and my colleague’s 2010 review, I was expecting a spicy smoke with notes of leather, cream, chocolate, and coffee. What I found at the outset was pretty similar: a sandy texture with a profile of black pepper, cocoa, espresso, peanut, and dark chocolate. As it progressed, creamier notes emerged to lighten the spice and provide balance. The overall impact was a full-flavored smoke with minimal nicotine kick and tempered spice. Construction was excellent, save for a meandering burn line that required a few touch-ups.

Pre-orders are expected to ship from Smoke Inn on Monday, December 17. Folks who decide to give Apocalypse a try will be pleased with the quality and balance it offers for what I believe is a reasonable price. That’s why I’m awarding this Smoke Inn exclusive four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys