The Stogie Guys

[Editors’ Note: The following is a guest review authored by Chris Verhoeven, a friend of StogieGuys.com who is a cigar enthusiast extraordinaire.]

When I think of candela cigars, I usually think of sweet grass and caramel flavors with a dry bitterness. But that’s not what you get with the Illusione 88 Candela.

Apparently, when Dion Giolito was making his limited release Illusione Maduro cigars, he decided to make an even smaller batch of candelas to prove that it’s possible to make a good one. The Illusione Candela 88 and hl are the result. I was intrigued by the idea and picked up a 5-pack of the 88 (reputedly the better of the two) to see if he had succeeded. Being exceedingly rare, I went to my go-to rare cigar hookup at Uptown Cigar and purchased them for $8.50 per stick.

Visually, this is a stunning cigar. This robusto-sized smoke (5 x 52) features the standard white Illusione band which plays nicely off its deep olive wrapper. The veins, compared to the delicate wrapper, are rugged and give an otherwise smooth cigar some character. The head is finished in a beautifully executed triple cap.

The cigar bolts out of the gate with a strong spice—not a typical black pepper spice, but something new and difficult to explain. This quickly takes a backseat and becomes a tingle on the palette. The rest of the first third is dominated by a creamy taste with undertones of peanut.

As it progresses into the second third, the creamy profile remains but the distinct peanut flavor regresses into a less recognizable, but still enjoyable, general nuttiness. The tingling on the palette almost disappears at this point.

The final third brings hay flavors with a mild sweetness that seems familiar from the early parts of the 88 Candela, as if they had always been there, hiding in the background. Although the cigar has some of the dryness I’ve come to expect from other candelas, this dryness is in no way overpowering or unpleasant.

Despite its composition, the cigar has a respectable medium body and produces bountiful smoke, which holds my interest for the full hour it takes to smoke the stick. All the while the burn doesn’t waver much and the ash holds firm.

It seems Dion Giolito has proved it’s possible to make a whole-heartedly enjoyable candela cigar, and I hope he considers releasing more of them in the future. My only complaint comes in the form of the final third of the cigar, where the profile loses some of its complexity. Despite that fault, I’m confidently awarding the Illusione 88 Candela four stogies out of five and announcing that this cigar is well worth the effort to track it down.

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

–Chris Verhoeven

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 enjoyed this robusto when it came out early last summer, enough to go pick up a box before they were gone. Eight months of age hasn’t made this cigar markedly better, but it certainly hasn’t made it any worse. I still found the same sweet honey and graham cracker flavors. And it still has excellent balance, a long toasty finish, and flawless construction. These cigars have been sold out for some time now, but if you’re offered one I wouldn’t recommend passing on the opportunity.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

As noted by my colleague when he reviewed a pre-release Trident, La Sirena is a new, full-bodied addition to the Miami Cigar & Co. portfolio. The blend consists of Nicaraguan criollo and corojo filler tobaccos, dual Nicaraguan habano and corojo binders, and a Connecticut broadleaf maduro wrapper.

Since the samples I smoked were not pre-release, they each came with a band—and what a band it is, taking up almost two-thirds of the cigar. When removed and flattened, the band has a compass look that adds to the nautical theme of the blend.

“The Prince” is a standard Robutso size at five inches long with a ring gauge of 50 (and an MSRP of $8). Pre-light, it smells strongly of hay, almost overpoweringly so, with just a hint of chocolate. The wrapper is toothy with a dark, dull espresso color and surprisingly few oils.

Without any construction issues, the cigar takes to fire well, revealing an initial core of spice and cane syrup sweetness. The smoke is dense and mouth feel definitely puts this cigar in the full-bodied range.

Despite its fullness, as noted by my colleague, the cigar is surprisingly lacking in strength. The ash holds for about an inch before being removed with a light tap.

As the cigar progresses, the spice fades a little allowing chocolate and earth flavors to emerge. There’s also a long, sweet finish that’s quite intriguing. The remainder of The Prince displays variations on the same theme.

Notably, I found that the cigar smoked better when stored at a higher humidity. I smoked one sample that had been in my travel humidor for a few days and that sample was much flatter than the rest.

Still, La Sirena performs admirably, and fans of full-bodied maduros will certainly find this to be an enjoyable smoke. The Prince earns four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick M

photo credit: Stogie Guys

The 107 blend has been one of La Aurora’s most popular releases. It’s no surprise, then, that the Dominican’s oldest cigar maker has opted to add several vitolas.

When it was introduced in 2010 to mark La Aurora’s 107th birthday, 107 came in three sizes: Belicoso, Robusto, and Toro. Later, a Corona and a Lancero were introduced, the latter thanks to demands from fans via social networking websites.

The newest addition to the 107 lineup is the aptly-named “Gran 107,” an intimidating smoke that measures seven inches long with a ring gauge of 58. Here’s how the cigar is being marketed in promotional materials: “After our recent visit to La Aurora, we noticed that many of the rollers/blenders were smoking a 107 in a large format. We asked ‘The Big Cat’ what this was and with his blessing the Gran 107 was born.”

Like the other sizes in the blend, the Gran 107 features an Ecuadorian wrapper, a Dominican binder, and a two-country filler blend from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. It retails for $9 and makes a great first impression with an oily sheen and pre-light notes of sweet hay.

The initial flavor is slightly different than the other 107 cigars I’ve tried. While it also encompasses toasty, bready notes and a spicy aftertaste, the Gran 107 more prominently displays an element of sweet graham cracker. Roasted nuts and cream add depth as the white ash progresses. Slightly bitter notes akin to dark chocolate come and go throughout the 150-minute smoke. All the while the construction is top-notch. The burn line tends to meander but never necessitates a touch-up, which is impressive given the wide ring gauge. The draw is smooth and the ash holds firm.

I have to admit that I was skeptical of this size when I received three samples of the Gran 107 in the mail from Miami Cigar & Co., La Aurora’s distributor. I tend to appreciate the 107 most in its narrower ring gauges. My hypothesis is that the blend tastes better when the wrapper-to-filler ratio is highest.

As expected, I’ve concluded that the Gran 107 is not my favorite vitola in the blend. Aside from my preference for the Corona and Lancero in the line, I’m usually not a fan of cigars with ring gauges in excess of 52. That said, the Gran 107 is still a 107, and that means it has a well-balanced, satisfying profile with all the quality I’ve come to expect from La Aurora. So I’m awarding the Gran 107 three and a half stogies out of five and recommending that 107 fans who enjoy large cigars put this beast on their must-try lists.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Booker Noe, Jim Beam’s late grandson, introduced Booker’s in 1992 as the “highest grade bourbon” made by the James B. Beam Distilling Co. Today it still holds that title and serves as the pinnacle of the Small Batch Bourbon Collection, a lineup that includes Baker’s, Basil Hayden’s, Booker’s, and Knob Creek.

Aged six to eight years in charred American white oak barrels, this spirit “is the first ever bourbon bottled straight from the barrel—uncut and unfiltered.” Before it was made commercially available, Noe is said to have crafted the bourbon in this fashion as a holiday gift for his closest friends.

These days Booker’s is widely available for $50-60 per 750 ml. bottle. Each comes handsomely packaged in a wooden box that bears the name “Claremont, Kentucky,” which is the home of Jim Beam. Inside is a dark, wax-dipped bottle adorned with ribbon and a unique label with cursive script, presumably a representation of Booker Noe’s handwriting.

Once poured, the bourbon maintains its dark copper color in the glass as it exudes a powerful fragrance of butterscotch, vanilla, oak, and zesty barbecue. This aroma is simultaneously intense and intriguing, setting the stage for the bold flavor that follows.

The taste is forceful yet refined, extremely warm on the lips, in the mouth, and down the throat. This warmth lingers for an incredible amount of time, as does the syrupy flavor of honey, dried fruits, and caramel.

A bourbon like this can be paired with just about any full-bodied cigar without fear of one overpowering the other. I tried a number of combinations in my “research” for this article, and smokes like the Avo Heritage, La Sirena, and San Lotano Habano made the best pairings. I look forward to discovering others.

As always, I recommend you undertake some experiments of your own. I also recommend you pick up a bottle of this outstanding bourbon. Despite its price, Booker’s is an unforgettable spirit that’s unique, bold, smooth, delicious, and worth every penny.

–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.”

This cigar has been sitting in my humidor since the 2010 IPCPR Trade Show. The well-constructed robusto features a Nicaraguan wrapper, a Dominican binder, and a combination of Nicaraguan and Dominican filler tobaccos, as well as flavors of cedar, earth, coffee, and a bit of sweet toffee. It is medium-bodied smoke and relatively well-balanced. Given the approachable price point of about $5 per stick, I’m impressed with what the Augusto Reyes Sixth Generation Robusto has to offer.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

In an effort to help New York retailers who have been saddled with a 75% tobacco tax, several manufacturers have created blends that are intended to be sold exclusively at tobacconists in the Empire State. One such blend is the Broadway Series by La Aurora, which is currently offered in only one size: “Sumo Toro” (5.75 x 54). The MSRP, including the tax, is $12.25.

The Broadway Series has an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, dual binders from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, and a filler blend with Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Peruvian tobaccos. The construction is excellent with no noticeable imperfections. It is moderately toothy with some rather large veins. Pre-light, the only smell I am able to detect is that of tobacco with maybe a slight hint of sweetness.

The first thing that strikes me is how much stronger this cigar is than the last few offerings I’ve smoked from La Aurora. The Sumo Toro definitely starts off in the full-bodied range with initial flavors of cracked white pepper, earth, and candied almonds. It burns well through the first third with a solid ash and an almost perfect draw.

As the cigar progress, the white pepper spice fades and a slight hint of dark chocolate enters the mix. There’s also a flavor of fresh ground coffee, but the taste is dissimilar to brewed coffee. Throughout the last third, the aforementioned flavors come and go in varying quantities.

As my friend Barry mentioned when he reviewed this cigar, I’m not sure how a $12 exclusive cigar is going to help boost New York retailers’ overall sales. Maybe La Aurora intends to attract out-of-state buyers to New York retailers. Still, wouldn’t New York retailers and cigar enthusiasts alike be better served with a solid smoke in the $5-7 range?

All this aside, I really enjoyed my samples of the Broadway Series. The Sumo Toro reminds me of a much stronger Guillermo León, which isn’t a surprise given the similarities of the blends. While the added strength of the Broadway Series makes it more upfront and slightly less nuanced, I am awarding this extremely enjoyable smoke four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick M

photo credit: Stogie Guys