The Stogie Guys

For smokers who enjoy full-flavored smokes, the Oliva Serie V needs no introduction. The highly-rated smoke has appeared on Cigar Aficionado‘s Top 25 list every year since its release, including two top 5 showings.

Building on that success, Oliva released a maduro version of the Serie V in 2008 and 2009. Produced in only one size—a Torpedo (6.5 x 52)—only 5,000 boxes of 10 were made each year.

The Nicaraguan Habano wrapper is flawless and mouthwatering, reminiscent of a bar of dark chocolate. Inside, the Nicaraguan puro is made of “specially fermented Jalapa Valley ligero” filler tobacco. The torpedo has an extremely firm construction.

Once lit, I find a full-bodied combination of earth, chocolate, and espresso. There’s also a hint of pepper, particularly in the first third of the smoke. The finish is long with dry cocoa notes.

As it evolves, a rich and chewy roasted nut flavor evolves that reminds me of cashew. In the final third more leather emerges, occasionally showing some rare bitterness.

Construction is impressive with a solid gray ash and an even burn. Despite the tight feel, there is no resistance on the draw.

I realize this may put me in the minority, but I happen to think the Maduro is even better than the highly acclaimed original Oliva Serie V. While smoking samples for this review, I found myself comparing the Maduro Especial to another favorite maduro of mine, the Padrón Serie 1964 Maduro.

That makes the price of $10 per cigar or $90 for a box of 10 eminently fair. It also earns the Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2009 an impressive rating of four and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Every cigar has a story. This one is no exception, and it starts way back in 1935.

That was the year Alonso Menéndez founded Montecristo at the Particulares Factory in Havana. A quarter century later, like so many outstanding cigar makers who resented his government’s takeover of the industry, he fled the island to take his popular brand beyond the reach of the Cuban Revolution.

His first stop was the Canary Islands. But Habanos SA, Cuba’s state-owned tobacco monopoly, slammed him with copyright litigation. Cuba had, of course, confiscated Menéndez’s trademark and continued production under the Montecristo name to capitalize on its reputation. So he moved again in the mid-1970s, this time to La Romana in the Dominican Republic. This new location would enable him to sell directly to the U.S. market—where Cuba’s rights to the brand aren’t recognized.

Now owned by Altadis, Montecristo is celebrating 75 years since it was established in Cuba. This occasion, of course, calls for a special Aniversario blend, which was introduced at the IPCPR Trade Show in New Orleans last summer.

The new Montecristo 75th Aniversario line is handmade at the Tabacalera de García factory under the watchful eye of master blender José Seijas. Available in five vitolas with suggested retail prices ranging from $10 to $18.50 apiece, this “super-premium” features a dark Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and a filler blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos.

The Lancero (7.5 x 40) starts with a heavy, chalky flavor that’s both spicy and abrasive. Quickly, however, it transitions into a smoother, earthier profile of cocoa and dark chocolate. This is a nice, albeit familiar, taste that’s satisfying on the palate.

Moving past the first inch, the biggest surprise from the 75th Aniversario is that there aren’t any surprises. This 100-minute smoke is amazingly straightforward and consistent in flavor all the way to the nub. If you’re really into the way it tastes, you’ll love it; if you aren’t enthralled, you’ll likely find the Lancero a bit monotonous—even towards the end when it becomes meatier and the finish takes on a peppery spice.

What you won’t find are any problems in construction. The slow burn is perfectly straight, the gray ash holds well, and the draw has just a bit of resistance. This is exactly the way you’d expect a cigar that sells for $15 apiece to smoke.

I remain unconvinced, however, that the flavor profile is worth the cost. At $7, yeah, I could make an easy recommendation. But this price level requires more complexity and development. So, while I enjoyed the two Lanceros I smoked for this review, I can’t give them a rating higher than three 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.”

Making appearances on our lists of the Top Ten Cigars We Reviewed in 2009 and the Top Five New Cigars of 2009—both of which were recently emailed to our free newsletter subscribers—this Pepin-made cigar is a must-try. It sports a creamy, mouth-watering flavor of hazelnut and coffee with pepper on the finish. Balanced and well-constructed, the Rosado Danno (7 x 56) is well worth its MSRP of $9.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Like it or not, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. This Sunday to be exact. And whether you’re shopping for her, shopping for him, or just looking to celebrate your individualism, finding the perfect gift can be tough.

Cigar enthusiasts can be easy to buy for, if you have the right information. There are countless sticks and cigar accessories available in almost every price range. But maybe cigar-related gifts are a bit too predictable, or maybe you just want to give that cigar fan something a little different this year. So, instead, below are three unique ideas that the average cigar enthusiast would love.

Chocolate-infused bacon. Vosges, a Chicago-based purveyor of sweet treats, carries a line of yummies that combine chocolate and applewood smoked bacon (pictured). From chocolate bars and toffees to a pancake mix and a flying pig, these delicacies are a manly take on a traditional Valentine’s day gift. Prices range from $2.50 to $62.

French press gift set. Coffee is widely considered to be a cigar complement, and no self-respecting coffee drinker should be without a French press. This method is preferred by many “brothers of the bean” because it is said to capture more flavor and more oils in each brew. This gift set includes a French press and two insulated highball glasses for only $40.

Mad Men-esque barware. Even if you don’t watch Mad Men, you can’t deny that vintage barware is pretty badass. So you’ll be pleased to learn that a Virginia-based retailer has created a line of drinking accessories inspired by the popular AMC drama. Included are flasks, travelling bar sets, muddlers, and classic roly poly glasses. Prices vary.

Hopefully these unique gift ideas make it easier to get through what many consider to be a crummy holiday. Good luck, and happy shopping.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

“Brazilian cigars have never really gained traction with American cigar smokers, something that I can’t understand just thinking about the Brazilian tobacco tradition…” So said Lorenzo Orsi in a December 2008 interview.

Five months before, Orsi introduced Monte Pascoal at the IPCPR Trade Show. This blend, named to honor the mountain that was the first piece of land spotted by Brazil discoverer Pedro Álvares Cabral, is a Brazilian puro.

It is constructed almost entirely from mata fina tobaccos with some mata norte mixed in the filler to provide power. The difference between the two, aside from the region in which they are grown, is mata fina is sungrown in sandy soil and barn-dried to yield a sweet smoke, while mata norte is planted later in the year and dried in the open air to yield a full-bodied taste of coffee and nuts.

To manufacture his creation, Orsi, a native of Italy currently living in São Paulo, bought the Brazilian factory that once produced Caravelas cigars. He then built a cedar aging room, invested in new cigar molds, and refined the system of production while retaining all of the rollers—a nine-month process that no doubt benefited from his expertise as an industrial manager in the steel industry.

Today, Monte Pascoal’s distribution in the U.S. is limited but growing. Found at select tobacconists and occasionally available online, the blend comes in six traditional sizes, two of which have earned ratings at or above 9.0 in Smoke Magazine.

The five inch by 50 ring gauge Robusto sells for $7 apiece and sports a firm feel, a gorgeous triple cap, and a pre-light aroma of cocoa. Handsome, albeit coarse, Monte Pascoal helps dispel the myth that Brazilian cigars are less attractive than their Caribbean counterparts.

The foot of the dark, reddish cigar takes to a wooden match easily to establish an easy light. From there, a dry profile of espresso, walnut, and peat emerges. Rustic and resinous with some sweetness on the finish for complexity.

While this flavor is enjoyable, it’s nothing like the chocolate cake taste I often associate with mata fina tobacco (most notably in the Alonso Menendez, another Brazilian puro). No, the Monte Pascoal has a profile all its own, and one that’s sure to please cigar enthusiasts who are looking for something a little different.

Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I must admit that this review is based off a single sample—a temptation I rarely indulge and one that I don’t plan to make into a habit. But I did test-drive this blend in several sizes, each of which exhibited similar flavors and outstanding combustion qualities. So I can heartily recommend the Monte Pascoal Robusto if you’re ready to delve into Brazilian tobacco. It earns four stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

If, for you, Canadian Club conjures images of something your dad used to drink or a simple whiskey to mix with Coke, you’re not alone. But the brand is challenging that stereotype with its new Sherry Cask Whiskey.

On the heals of other higher end releases like the Canadian Club Classic 12 Year and Canadian Club Reserve 10 Year, this one offers a new twist on Canadian whiskey: a sherry cask finish. According to Canadian Club, it is made in small batches, aged a minimum of eight years in white oak barrels, and finished in old Jerez sherry casks.

The Canadian Club Sherry Cask comes in a classic bottle, complete with a traditional wood and cork top. Each bottle of the 82.6-proof spirit is labeled with the individual cask that the whiskey came from.

The whiskey is a deep amber color with a slight reddish tinge. The nose is maple syrup.

When sipping the Canadian Club Sherry Cask, I find a pleasant toffee sweetness, and wheat notes with some subtle spice flavors. While there’s a hint of smooth sherry sweetness, I was pleased to find it not overwhelming. The finish is smooth with rye flavors and more hints of peppery spice.

This is an excellent spirit to prove that Canadian whiskey can be so much more than just an ingredient in a Manhattan. I recommend drinking it straight or with just a splash of water.

It also goes well with cigars, particularly those with a peppery spice. Full-flavored smokes like the Opus X, CAO Lx2, EO 601 Red, or  J. Fuego 777 Corojo all stand up well.

Available for around $25-30 a bottle, this is a whiskey that punches above it’s weight class, especially compared to scotch or bourbon of similar cost. And the price also means you won’t be too be disappointed if it ends up in an old fashioned.

For a change of pace for the bourbon or scotch drinker, the Canadian Club Sherry Cask Whiskey is well worth a try.

–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 following is a Guest Quick Smoke, submitted by a StogieGuys.com reader. If you’d like to submit your own for publication, please contact us.

The Lx2 Rob (5 x 52) has a beautiful-looking dark wrapper and an aroma of strong, spicy tobacco. The draw is easy and the burn slightly wavy, which I attribute to the ligero. The ash holds easily for an inch. Dark chocolate, pepper, and leather are the main flavors with a truly enjoyable balance. This blend, for lovers of full body and full-flavored cigars, is best after a light meal with a single malt to bring out its underlying sweetness. Just as good as the La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero.

Verdict = Buy.

–Submitted by Marc of Pasadena, CA

photo credit: Stogie Guys