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.”

My exposure to the Cuban version of the Trinidad brand has been severely lacking, but I’ve remedied that lately with a few Robusto Extras. This vitola, which measures six inches long and comes complete with a pigtail cap, is a joy to smoke. Creamy notes are abundant and complemented by traces of cocoa and mint. Notably, though many Cubans seem to be plagued by inconsistent construction these days, this cigar always seems to burn well.

Verdict = Buy.

–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 Cameroon Cabinet line is not La Flor Dominicana’s most acclaimed line, but it might be its best. With a Cameroon wrapper, Dominican binder, and Dominican and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos, the Cameroon Cabinet No. 1 is a medium- to full-bodied smoke with immaculate balance. This corona (6.5 x 44) features classic Cameroon sweetness along with cocoa bean, leather, and cream. As it progresses, some cedary spice reveals itself. With an even burn and solid ash, it’s a most enjoyable and complex cigar.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

I’ve had mixed results with Cuban limited editions over the years. On one hand, despite being a bit young (by Cuban standards), the Montecristo 2008 LE Sublime was one of the finest cigars I’ve smoked. Others, like the Cohiba Pirámides Edición Limitada 2006 (while not bad) were underwhelming given the high price.

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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.”

This new size of Davidoff’s Winston Churchill line is a well-constructed belicoso (4.5 x 46) version of the small Spitfire vitola. Medium-bodied and well balanced, the Ecuadorian sun-grown wrapper imparts warm buttery flavors. It’s a tasty smoke with coffee bean, warm tobacco, and oak notes. Selling in tins of four for $23, this cigar a good way to enjoy the Winston Churchill blend in a compact, less time-consuming format.

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.”

This interestingly shaped pyramid (5.5 x 58) comes complete with a box press, Nicaraguan wrapper, Ecuadorian Sumatra binder, and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. It burns well, sporting flavors of cedar and spice. I mostly like the Campana Chica Torpedo, but it isn’t quite memorable enough to merit its asking price, which usually hovers around $11.

Verdict = Hold.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

[Editors’ Note: The following was written by Mark McGinty, author of The Cigar Maker. His work has appeared in Cigar City Magazine, Maybourne Magazine, and La Gaceta. You can contact him at mmcginty_32@yahoo.com.]

Cuba’s one and only cigar company, known in the industry as Habanos, was created in 1994 to oversee the distribution of all Cuban cigar brands. Cohiba, Partagas, Montecristo, and H. Upmann all belong to Habanos. And due to strong brand names that are synonymous with Cuban cigars, Habanos did not suffer the same degree of economic setbacks that other industries faced during the recession of 2008. Cigar sales declined but remained a relatively affordable product that consumers continued to purchase. While the market for $25,000 watches or $200,000 automobiles fell considerably, folks still felt comfortable spending $20 on a stick, even if they were a bit stressed economically.

The biggest question facing the Cuban cigar industry is the future of the U.S. embargo. What happens if and when the embargo is lifted?

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When Patrick A awarded a five-stogie rating to the Avo Limited Edition 2011 Diademas, a reader wondered what other cigars had garnered such a great grade.

So, I thought it was time to round up the top-rated cigars from 2010. You can catch up on previous years here and here. Going through the Stogie Guys Review Archive, I found four fives in 2010.

The limited-edition Davidoff Colorado Claro Short Perfecto was reviewed by Patrick S, who found it subtle and full of flavor. “In so many cigars, saltiness is a sign of a lack of balance—but here that flavor contributes to what makes it such a distinct and enjoyable smoke,” he wrote.

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