The Stogie Guys

The Davidoff Colorado Claro is a limited edition line using the same blend as the Davidoff Special, but featuring a darker, richer “Colorado Claro” wrapper. While it was originally released way back in 2002, it hasn’t since been available until its re-introduction in late 2009.

For this review I sampled a few Colorado Claros in the Short Perfecto (4.9 x 52) which, at $13 each, is the most affordable size. These are truly very limited smokes, with only 300 boxes of 10 cigars having been made. There are three other sizes of the Colorado Claro, each made in similarly limited numbers: a “Special R” robusto ($16), a “Special T” torpedo ($18), and a “Double R” double corona ($27).

The blend features a unique Colorado Claro Ecuadorian wrapper. It’s a lush brown leaf with nice sheen and, upon close inspection, impressively few veins.

The Short Perfecto starts off with a burst of savory saltiness, which will be the dominant flavor throughout. There is also a underlying core of slightly sweet cedar. As it progresses, it grows from a medium- to a full-bodied smoke with pleasant caramel notes and an aromatic sweetness. It puts off a good deal of smoke, and has Davidoff’s characteristic excellent construction.

The Colorado Claro has a subtle peppery finish, particularly in the second half when the saltiness fades slightly, even though it never goes completely away. Near the end a coffee bean flavor emerges for an exciting and more medium-bodied conclusion.

One of the most remarkable and defining characteristics about this blend are the salty flavors. 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.

The perfecto shape does an excellent job focusing all those flavors on the palate and helping along the subtle yet striking shifts in the 50-minute smoke. The interesting flavor, combined with superb construction and an approachable price, is what earns this cigar the year’s first rating of five of stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here. A list of other five stogie-rated cigars can be found here.]

–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 stout robusto (4.5 x 50) features the same basic blend as the Nestor Miranda Special Selection Danno, only in a more manageable format if you’re shorter on time. It’s a medium- to full-bodied smoke with warn nutty notes and some cedary spice. Construction is excellent throughout the 40 minute smoke. Much as the name suggests, it’s the perfect accompaniment to a mid-afternoon coffee break.

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.”

General Cigar went to great lengths to keep the cost of this new Jamastran-wrapped stick low. While I appreciate the Robusto’s $3-4 price tag, however, I found myself unimpressed by its shallow flavor. Singular notes of damp earth and warm tobacco leave the palate musty and stale. Sure, the combustion is excellent—something I’ve grown to expect from the manufacturer. But I’m happy to pay a few additional bucks for more depth.

Verdict = Sell.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

As a cigar enthusiast and resident of Northern Virginia, I would be remiss not to write about a luxurious new cigar lounge opening in my backyard this spring. Called CXIII Rex, it will be an expansion of the Landini Brothers restaurant in Alexandria. And, from what I saw on a recent behind-the-scenes tour, it promises to be one of the best cigar venues in the country.

CXIII Rex is the brainchild of Noe and Franco Landini (pictured above), hosts of Landini Brothers and avid cigar fans. Their restaurant—which, I can attest from more than a few visits, offers outstanding Italian cuisine—has been a haven for Washington-area cigar smokers for 30 years. But when it became clear that Virginia lawmakers would pass a statewide ban, they started to lay plans for a benchmark cigar club with unique benefits and members-only offerings.

Sure, CXIII Rex will have all the amenities of traditional cigar lounges, including a well-stocked walk-in humidor, a selection of top libations and small-batch wines, ample seating, wireless internet, private humidor lockers, and the like. But this club, slated to open in late March, will also feature more luxurious accommodations. Included will be a state-of-the-art air ventilation system, an access-only elevator, an all-female wait staff, and a private cigar blend crafted by none other than Rocky Patel.

While all these amenities are fantastic, the club’s finest asset will be the 19th century building in which it resides. Franco and Noe gave me a first-hand look at the future site of CXIII Rex on Monday. Currently under construction in a building adjacent to Landini Brothers, it is an impressive space with ample character and charm. It was only on this behind-the-scenes tour that I got a sense of the size and scope of the future multi-level club, which is complete with a dramatic staircase and a layout built for privacy, comfort, and flow.

Individual memberships, as you might expect from a club of this caliber, are not inexpensive. The cost is $5,000 to join CXIII Rex and $100 each month thereafter. Franco and Noe tell me that 200 slots are available, 160 of which are already claimed for. If, like me, this is above your price range, or if you reside outside the Washington metro area, you still have to appreciate the high attention to detail and passion that’s going in to creating a premier cigar lounge. I haven’t seen anything like it before.

And for those of you who plan to invest in a CXIII Rex membership, please feel free to invite me as your occasional guest. I’ll even throw in a few cigars.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

I was recently reading an issue of Wine Spectator in which Jack Bettridge of Cigar Aficionado wrote: “I would further steer clear of cocktails of any heat at all—excepting Irish coffee…Hot punches or toddies are just too hard to pull off in any volume, and something about heating a spirit tends to kill it.”

Well allow me to disagree. It’s mid-January, which means we’re right smack in the heart of winter. Now is the perfect time to try a cocktail with some heat beyond the proverbial warmth that a strong spirit of any temperature provides.

Last year I wrote about the Stonewall Jackson, a mix of hot apple cider and bourbon. For those looking for less sweetness and more warmth though, allow me to recommend another winter favorite: hot buttered rum.

Sure, the idea of melted butter mixed with rum may sound strange. After a tasty combination of sugar and spices, though, it’s a warming treat that goes well with a cigar on a cold evening.

The key to hot buttered rum is a good batter, and making one isn’t all that difficult. Simply mix a soft stick of butter with eight ounces of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves, 1/4 teaspoon of fresh-grated nutmeg, and a few dashes of vanilla extract. After the batter is thoroughly whipped, place it in an airtight container while it cools in the refrigerator, where the batter will stay good for a few weeks. (Place it in the freezer if you plan on keeping it longer.)

To make yourself or a welcome guest a hot buttered rum, simply put a spoonful of batter in a coffee mug with two parts boiling water and one part rum, stir well, and garnish with a cinnamon stick.  I like to use a golden rum like Bacardi Gold or Mount Gay Eclipse.

Hot buttered rum goes well with cigars, although the spices mean that you probably won’t be able to appreciate the subtleties of an overly complex smoke. So I recommend a medium- to full flavored-cigar with toasty notes like the Reyes Family Vintage, EO 601 Red, or Davidoff Special R.

No matter what cigar you choose, I hope you give hot buttered rum a try the next time you’re in the mood for a beverage that will warm your body and soul on a frigid winter day. Despite what some say, I think you’ll be glad you did.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Last May, at an event at one of my local tobacconists, I met Rene Castañeda, sales director of Miami Cigar & Company. His outfit distributes such brands as La Aurora, Nestor Miranda Special Selection, Don Lino, León Jimenes, 601, Cubao, and Mi Barrio, among others.

This occasion gave me a rare opportunity to buy and taste a very exclusive La Aurora blend called Escogidos (Spanish for “the chosen ones”). So I naturally bought a handful. Since then, I have been intending to write a review but, finding limited or inaccurate information on the web, I finally decided to contact Castañeda with a few questions.

He told me via email that this select Dominican puro blend was created by La Aurora Sales Director José Blanco in 2005 for those who tour the La Aurora Cigar Factory in Santiago. The factory is the oldest in the Dominican Republic, founded in 1903 by Don Eduardo León Jimenes. So, originally, Escogidos could not be purchased in the U.S.

But in 2007 La Aurora decided to broaden the availability of Escogidos by bringing these cigars to special in-store events like the one where we met, says Castañeda. The blend is only offered in two traditional sizes: Robusto and Belicoso.

I sampled five Belicosos for this review, each of which cost me $10. They feature an oily, reddish corojo wrapper with some tooth and a rugged terrain. Fairly firm to the touch, the pre-light aroma is of molasses and spice and the cold taste reveals a stiff draw.

After toasting the foot and taking a few puffs, a mild- to medium-bodied profile of molasses, peat, and cinnamon emerges. The combination is both complex and balanced. Then, after an inch, the draw opens up and the smoke becomes richer and more voluminous.

Still, I think most cigar enthusiasts will find the Escogidos Belicoso to be a little more subdued than expected. Rather than being disappointed, though, I’m impressed by how well this La Aurora keeps my attention. Maybe it’s the subtlety of the many flavors. Maybe it’s how the resting smoke smells of sweet cedar. Maybe it’s the spice and caramel on the finish.

Whatever the case, this cigar’s superb construction doesn’t hurt. My samples—all of which were smoked at least a month after some time in my humidor—exhibited superior burns and solid, stable ashes. My only complaint is that it can self-extinguish prematurely.

Too bad the Escogidos Belicoso is so difficult to come across. With an outstanding flavor on the mild side of the spectrum and exemplary combustion qualities, this José Blanco creation would otherwise always have a home in my humidor. For now, it’s a great excuse to attend La Aurora events, earning four 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.”

Friend of StogieGuys.com (and occasional guest contributor) Chris Verhoeven was fortunate enough to visit Rocky Patel’s factory in Danlí, Honduras, where he worked with the expert cigarmakers to create his own blend. For an amateur blender, I must say I’m quite impressed with the result. This toro has roasted nut flavors and mouth-watering dry chocolate notes. It’s remarkably well-balanced, medium-bodied, and lacking in any construction issues. Even though you’ll unfortunately never be able to purchase one, it gets my highest recommendation.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys