The Stogie Guys

As I’ve said before, crisp fall evenings tend to make me want to pour a few fingers of scotch whisky. And so on a recent such evening I decided upon a bit of Highland Park 12 Year, a single malt from Highland Park, the northern-most distillery in Scotland.

Highland Park is one of seven Island Single Malts, which are technically part of the Highland Region. Island Single Malts vary greatly from distillery to distillery, and Highland Park is one of the few distilleries to malt its own barley, using locally cut peat.

The 12 Year expression was first produced in 1979 and has been received ever since to high acclaim. Available for around $50 a bottle, it is affordable, at least as far as scotch goes. Highland Park uses both used bourbon casks and sherry casks, which results in a rounded, balanced whisky, especially considering its young age for a single malt.

The color is golden amber and the nose is distinctly sweet with heather, honey, and fudge notes. On the palate, the Highland Park 12 reveals peat and smoke, along with the sweetness of honey, malt, and subtle tropical fruit. The finish is short and clean, with a good amount of smokiness.

All in all, this is an excellent whisky for the price. And the combination of balanced sweetness and smokiness makes it an excellent spirit to be paired with cigars. I fired up a Cuban Bolivar Belicosos Finos and found it to be an excellent choice. Although completely different, the Corona Cigar Company exclusive Little Boris was another great choice, leaving me to think that almost any good medium- to full-bodied smoke will go well with this versatile single malt.

Tasty, balanced, complex, and affordable, the Highland Park 12 Year is a strong contender for best single malt for your buck (the other, in my opinion, is the Macallan 12). Any scotch whisky fan should make a point of trying it. Personally, it’s a regular in my liquor cabinet.

–Patrick S

photo credits: Stogie Guys

Last week I interviewed Michael Frey who owns Casa Fuente in Las Vegas, a cigar destination worth visiting if you are ever in Sin City. Today, I’m reviewing the new Casa Fuente exclusive cigar, which Frey mentioned he was smoking while answering my questions.

The new smoke is the second Casa Fuente exclusive smoke, made (no surprise) by Arturo Fuente. The first, we were told by Casa Fuente manager Michael Fayerverger, was a variation of the Opus X blend made with a Cameroon wrapper.

This second, new Casa Fuente blend is quite different. According to Frey, the cigar features a Havana-seed Ecuadorian sun-grown rosado wrapper around binder and filler comprised of “secret tobaccos” from the Fuentes’ Dominican farm. The cigar, he says, was blended by Carlito and introduced earlier this year. (The rosado wrapper is likely the same as the Rosado Sungrown Magnum R blend.)

The cigar is available in three sizes: 806, 807, and 808, which I’d estimate to be a robsuto (5.25 x 52), double robusto (5.75 x 52), and toro (6 x 54). I smoked one of each and found them to be sufficiently similar to be summarized together in one review. The cigars cost $21, $22, and $24, respectively and, depending on what report you read, are strictly limited to one or two cigars per person on a given day.

The new 800 series Casa Fuente features a complex combination of clove, nutmeg, molasses, wood, leather, and earth. It’s medium- to full-bodied with excellent balance and tons of complexity. The molasses and clove build towards the second half, creating an extraordinarily savory blend.

While it contains Dominican binder and filler tobaccos, I seriously doubt it uses the same binder-filler combination as the Opus X and original Casa Fuente, as both are the same cigar except for the wrapper. This cigar has far less peppery spice than either of those cigars. Instead, it is full of clove and cinnamon spice.

Tasty, unique, complex, and, yes, expensive. The original Casa Fuente is a tremendous cigar and this new rosado-wrapped version is a worthy successor. For that, the new Casa Fuente 800 series earns a formidable four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

When I think of tasty, consistent, well-constructed cigars that don’t break the bank, a few choice brands come to mind. Oliva is always near the top of the list.

The Oliva Cigar Co. has only been around for less than two decades but, in that relatively short time, it has built a well-deserved reputation for quality and affordability (even though it also sells a higher-priced line called Master Blends). The brand’s foundation consists of lines like the Cameroon-wrapped Serie G, Connecticut Reserve, and the Habano-wrapped Serie V. All are highly-rated blends that are also wallet-friendly.

The Oliva Serie V boasts a sun-grown wrapper around a Nicaraguan binder and Jalapa ligero filler. “This cigar is blended to deliver full body taste while maintaining an unparalleled smoothness,” reads the Oliva website. “This flavorful blend exhibits complex tobacco with rich coffee and dark chocolate tones. A subtle and well-balanced spice is present throughout.”

Serie V is available in seven sizes: Churchill Extra (7 x 52), Special V Figurado (6 x 60), Double Toro (6 x 60), Torpedo (6 x 56), Belicoso (5 x 54), Double Robusto (5 x 54), and Lancero (7 x 38). The latter has a caramel-colored, somewhat reddish wrapper with minimal veins and a fair amount of oils. It sells for around $6-7.

The flavor of the Lancero, even at the outset, is strong. Not the full-bodied blast of pepper strong that’s common these days. But rather an intense nicotine strong coupled with an old-school taste of warm tobacco. Mind you, with a ring gauge of 38, the ratio of ligero filler to wrapper/binder in each puff is smaller than any of the other vitolas in the line. That said, Lanceros can be bolder than thicker cigars of the same blend because of the density of their filler tobaccos. I’d wager that comes into play with this cigar.

In addition to nicotine strength and warm tobacco, the Serie V Lancero displays flavors of cocoa, leather, espresso, earth, and a touch of toffee sweetness. It also exhibits good construction, including a reliable draw and a straight burn, albeit with a gray ash that tends to fall off a bit prematurely.

In my experience, this cigar is best enjoyed after a hearty dinner with a serving of bourbon to complement its considerable power. It’s a solid choice if you’re looking for a bold Lancero but want to spend less than $7. For that, it 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.”

If anything, this cigar got better since I first smoked it almost two months ago. Still my favorite of the two most recent Singulare releases by Illusione, the San Andreas wrapper isn’t the best-looking wrapper, but the flavors are right on point. The cigar imparts plenty of dry chocolate and earth notes, with coffee, roast nut, and a bit of pepper. Like the original 2010 Singulare “Phantom,” it has a wine-like tannic property that leaves your lips tingling. With excellent construction and complex medium- to full-bodied flavors, I highly recommend it.

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.”

With handsome double bands, a jet-black wrapper, and an unfinished foot, the Robusto (5 x 52) in the Liga Especial Reserva Superior blend looks fantastic in a humidor. This Pinar del Rio doesn’t smoke too bad, either. Blended by Abe Flores to be full-flavored, the cigar—comprised of a Dominican Habano wrapper, Brazilian and Nicaraguan binders, and ligero fillers—has a bold profile of espresso, earth, and pepper. The going rate of about $6 for a single makes this an easy smoke to recommend.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Five years ago I interviewed Casa Fuente General Manager Michael Fayerverger for one of our first “Cigar Insider” interviews. Over half a decade later, I decided to check back in on Casa Fuente, one of the most iconic cigar destinations in the U.S.

This time I interviewed Michael Frey, proprietor of Casa Fuente (as well as Rhumbar) in Las Vegas. Our discussion included my favorite drink on the Casa Fuente menu, a new Casa Fuente blend, and the Aruro Fuente Cigar Company’s 100th anniversary.

Stogie Guys: How have the past five years been?

Michael Frey: Business has continued to grow over the past five years and each year we’ve added a lot of new customers who love the experience and continue to come back.

SG: Even though we’re doing this interview by email, I suspect you have a cigar lit while you write your responses. What cigar is it?

MF: How did you know? It’s the new Casa Fuente Series 5 Special Selection 806.

SG: You’ve added to the Casa Fuente cigar line this year. Tell us about the new addition.

MF: It’s called the Casa Fuente Series 5 Special Selection. There are three cigars, the 806, 807, and 808. All three have a 50-ring gauge and range from robusto to short churchill. They feature a Havana-seed, Ecuadorian sun-grown rosado wrapper and the binder and filler are secret tobaccos from the Fuente’s farm blended by Carlito.

SG: This year is the 100th anniversary of Arturo Fuente Cigars. Any special events planned at Casa Fuente? How about special cigars?

MF: On the Saturday night of the Las Vegas Big Smoke, Carlito will be cutting a giant birthday cake. As far as cigars go, you never know what Carlito will do.

SG: As the owner of Casa Fuente, you have access to some of the rarest Fuente cigars. Which ultra-rare Fuente is your all-time favorite?

MF: I have two, the Brain Hemorrhage and the P.J.

SG: Anytime I’m in Vegas I have to stop by for one of Casa Fuente’s Don Carlos Caipirinhas, which uses a tobacco-infused Grand Marnier float. I’ve had caipirinhas all around the world, including Brazil, but that’s my favorite. Can you shed a little light on that recipe?

MF: The intense, smoky flavor comes from the Grand Marnier float which features an infusion of an aromatic pipe tobacco. It was developed by Francesco LaFranconi, a master mixologist for Southern Wine & Spirits here in Las Vegas.

SG: Because of the warehouse fire that wiped out some of their most prized tobaccos, the Fuentes have said that some of their 100th Anniversary Celebration cigars will be delayed until next year. Any insight into what we can expect?

MF: From what I understand, there will be an introduction of several new brands under the Opus X brand name, including the Angel Share which I smoked recently when Carlito came to Las Vegas for a visit. It was heavenly, living up to its name.

Many thanks to Michael Frey for taking the time to answer our questions. If you even in Las Vegas, I highly recommend stopping by Casa Fuente for some fine cigars and beverages. Speaking from personal experience, it is well worth the trip. My personal favorite is a pairing of the original Casa Fuente cigar and a Don Carlos Caipirinha.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Yesterday, Patrick A wrote about the cigars he blended while attending Cigar Safari. Today I’m looking at my creations. Like my colleague, I blended two cigars: one at Joya de Nicaragua, and the other at Drew Estate. Unlike my previous experiences blending cigars, these cigars were rolled by experienced cigar makers, which is nice since the other blends I created (at La Aurora and General Cigar’s Dominican factories) were rolled mostly by me, meaning it was had to know whether the blend or just the rolling was sub-standard.

For both cigars I had one shared goal—to create a balanced cigar—along with flavor profiles I was seeking to create. In both cases, the cigars turned out smokeable, though they certainly aren’t better than the professional blends coming from either factory.

Joya de Nicaragua Blend
Wrapper: Habano criollo
Binder: Ecuador Connecticut
Filler: Jalapa seco (25%), Estelí viso (25%), Jalapa viso (25%), Estelí ligero (25%)
Size: 5.5 x 48

Here my goal was a medium-bodied cigar with plenty of balance and only a little spice. And while it isn’t the most harmonious cigar I’ve ever tried, I think I mostly hit those goals, though I don’t really know if it ended up like the “sample” I rolled myself. It’s leathery, earthy, and oaky, all of which makes it downright pleasant to smoke. If I was grading the half dozen or so samples I’ve smoked, I’d probably give it 3.5 stogies out of five (also known as a cigar I’d actually spend money on if it was reasonably priced) which probably says more about the relatively fool-proof options we were given than my own blending skills.

Drew Estate Blend
Wrapper: Brazilian mata fina oscuro
Binder: Habano Ecuador
Filler: Estelí seco (15%), Estelí viso (15%), Jalapa criollo (30%), mata fina (40%)
Size: 6 x 46

Interestingly, though completely unplanned, my colleague and I ended up selecting fairly similar blends from the plethora of options provided by Drew Estate. Like him, I’m a big fan of Brazilian mata fina tobacco, so both our cigars ended up featuring a mata fina wrapper and significant amounts of mata fina filler. While not as balanced as I thought it might turn out, this has become much better in the almost four months since I first smoked it fresh a few days after it was rolled. Still, the large percentage of mata fina overwhelms the blend and unfortunately does so not with the dark chocolate I hoped for, but with a slight sourness that permeates the entire cigar. While I thought this might be the better of the two smokes, it turned out that the Joya de Nicaragua blend was superior in almost every way.

In previous blending seminars, I found a common mistake was to use too much ligero tobacco, which often creates a strong but unbalanced smoke. I successfully avoided that pitfall, but that didn’t necessarily mean the results were fantastic. Most of all, the experience reminded me why the great cigars we enjoy, and even take for granted, are the result of many, often dozens, of blends.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys