The Stogie Guys

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

With its oily yet rustic wrapper and plenty of pre-ight aromas, this cigar seems like a winner. The lancero starts out with a burst of woody spice, but soon fades into a singular earthy flavor that’s medium- to full-bodied. Construction is problematic, as the burn has a tendency to go out and the ash seems to be constantly falling off. I’ve smoked and enjoyed many different sizes of the La Flor Double Ligero line, and while not a bad smoke, the lancero lacks the depth and complexity of its larger ring gauge counterparts.

Verdict = Hold.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

You might not have heard of of rhum agricole, but if you’re a rum lover, you probably should have. Agricole, which is traditionally made in countries that were formerly French colonies, is made from pure sugar cane juice, while most rums are made from distilled molasses.

Using fresh sugar cane juice is a more expensive process. Unlike molasses, which can be created anytime, rhum agricole can be made only when the sugar cane crop is at the peak of maturity, meaning it is limited to a short period of time each year. After harvesting the sugar cane, it is  naturally fermented into wine over a few days, before being distilled into agricole rum.

Rhum Clément Premiere Canne is such a rhum agricole. Made in Martinique, the white rum is a crisp, delicate spirit that sells for around $30 per bottle.

Clément Premiere Canne has a nose unlike any other rum I’ve tasted. Grass, vanilla bean, melon, and citrus are all apparent. On the palate, it is smooth and tastes much like it smells: sweet sugar cane, cantelope, and lemon. The finish is long with vanilla and plenty more sugary sweetness.

I enjoyed the Rhum Clément on the rocks, but I think it it really shines in a cocktail. The refreshing flavors made for an excellent mojito with very little simple syrup needed.

As for cigars, Clément Premiere Canne requires a delicate touch. Stick to mild cigars like the Cuban Crafters Medina 1959, Ashton Classic, or a Cuban Por Larrañaga Panetela.

Ultimately, Rhum Clément Premiere Canne is not a classic sipping rum. At first I had mixed feelings about this spirit, even thinking that it reminded me more of a fine tequila than a rum. After a few nights of sipping it, though,  I’ve come to thoroughly enjoy its unique nectar-like qualities. So if you’re a rum drinker looking to expand your horizons, I can confidently recommend Rhum Clément Premiere Canne.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Released last summer to commemorate the year Ramón Cifuentes began producing what is now America’s most popular premium cigar brand, Macanudo 1968 originally included four sizes. But last month, at the IPCPR Trade Show in New Orleans, General Cigar expanded the line with a fifth, less traditional vitola.

Called “Trompeta,” it measures five inches long with a ring gauge of 60 at the foot and 40 at the head. According to a company press release, the idea is to “maximize the flavor of the critically-acclaimed blend while providing a quicker smoking experience.” It carries an MSRP of $6.99 and is intended for sale at brick and mortars only.

Like its Churchill, Gigante, Robusto, and Toro predecessors, Trompeta features a Dominican and Nicaraguan filler that includes tobacco grown on Ometepe, a volcanic island rising out of Lake Nicaragua. The binder is Connecticut habano and the wrapper is Havana-seed Honduran. As reported by the Macanudo 1968 website, the tobacco is “aged in tercios and charcoaled wooden barrels to further enrich its flavor.”

What strikes me about this cigar, other than its unusual shape, is its uniquely firm feel, pre-light notes of leather, and absence of obvious veins. The cap clips neatly to reveal a smooth draw.

Not surprisingly, it takes some work to establish an even light—especially if you’re using wooden matches. That effort is rewarded with a chalky flavor of firewood, black licorice, and spice. Tasty and interesting, but not particularly balanced or complex.

As the ring gauge narrows to 50, notes of steak, cocoa, and damp earth gain prominence. What was once a somewhat harsh and chewy profile settles into a lighter taste with nuance and cream. This subtler transformation is a welcome change that lasts until the final third when the smoke takes on a charred meat character.

The physical properties, typical of Macanudo, are exceptional. The gray, well-layered ash builds sturdily off the foot and the burn is straight and true.

I expect this cigar to strike a chord with those who enjoyed the first four 1968 vitolas and perhaps attract those who had previously ignored the blend. While the Trompeta is no masterpiece, you should consider picking one up when the frontmark hits retailer shelves in the coming week. For its good construction and flavor that flirts with both excellence and mediocrity, this new release earns three and a half stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Today, the first provision of the so-called “Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act”—a bill that gives the Food and Drug Administration sweeping powers to restrict the manufacturing, marketing and sale of tobacco products—goes into effect. The provisions make flavored cigarettes illegal, something anti-tobacco activists say will help stop minors from buying cigarettes.

The ban exempts menthol-flavored cigarettes but includes such “adult” flavors as coffee and whiskey. The menthol exemption is thought to be the result of lobbying by Altria, the world’s largest cigarette maker, which supported the bill as a way to protect its market share.

The new law, however,  has evoked other responses besides cheers from the nanny state crowd. Small tobacconists are bracing for a decrease in sales. As Manhattan smoke shop owner Sami Mohammed told NPR, “It’s destroying us—it’s rocking the smoke shops. It’s killing us, banning all flavored cigarettes,  as well the increase on taxes.”

Cigar Rights of America board member and Orlando cigar shop owner Jeff Borysiewicz told the Orlando Sentinel he’ll lose between $100,000 and $150,000 in sales annually due to the ban. “They say the different flavors appeal to children,” he told the paper. “Applying that logic you might as well ban piña coladas and strawberry daiquiris.”

Ban Leading Regulators to Target Cigars

In response to the law, some flavored cigarette makers, such as clove maker Djarum, have introduced little cigars with the same flavors designed to replace the now prohibited cigarettes. This has already led anti-tobacco lobbyists to call for the ban to be extended to cigars.

The FDA has issued a letter asserting that it may treat flavored cigars as if they were cigarettes. That move should worry makers of flavored or infused cigars including Drew Estate, CAO, General Cigar, and Altadis, all of whom make both flavored and non-flavored cigars.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

When my colleague interviewed him back in August 2007, Jesus Fuego came across as a likable figure who loved making cigars and sharing his creations. I was pleased to learn firsthand how personable he is when I met him at last month’s IPCPR Trade Show in New Orleans.

There, Fuego told me about his new release: the 777 Corojo. Pronounced “triple siete,” it features a corojo wrapper grown exclusively by his father in Brazil. Fuego hopes to include future harvests in upcoming limited releases under his eponymous brand.

That brand, J. Fuego by the Miami-based Tabacos S.A. company, was launched in 2006 with the help of the Plasencia family. It now includes the Natural, Gran Reserva, Delirium, and 777 Maduro blends. Prior setting off on his own, Fuego had gained industry fame through his instrumental role in developing Rocky Patel’s Vintage ’90 and ’92 lines. That’s a pretty good entry on a cigar résumé.

The new 777 Corojo is an affordable lineup of four standard vitolas—Robusto, Corona, Belicoso, and Toro. In addition to the aforementioned wrapper, it includes a Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos that are two-thirds corojo and one-third criollo.

The five inch by 50 ring gauge Robusto, which retails for under $5 apiece, is densely packed and feels heavy in the hand. An ample number of fine veins roadmap the oily, rustic wrapper, and the foot smells of damp earth and pencil shavings. This cigar looks more expensive than it is, save for its somewhat sloppy cap.

While the cold taste is tight, the draw is easier once the cigar is lit. Each puff produces ample amounts of smoke and balanced notes of dry wood, pepper, and citrus. The ash is white and the wrapper leaves a bit of sweetness on the lips.

As the thick, black mascara works its way down the cigar, the flavors slowly build to include tastes of warm tobacco. A smooth characteristic that’s akin to sour cream is also a welcome addition. And I’m happy to report excellent physical properties—a straight burn that requires no touch-ups and a structured, well-behaved ash.

In all, it’s easy for me to conclude that the J. Fuego 777 Corojo Robusto is an excellent value. While seasoned cigar enthusiasts won’t be blown away, they will appreciate this cigar for what it is: a balanced, tasty, well-built everyday treat. That’s why 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 take on a single cigar.

With its veiny and somewhat dry wrapper, this cigar isn’t much to look at. Fortunately the taste has much to offer with plenty of woody spice and roasted nut flavors. This Lancero (7.5 x 41) isn’t as full-bodied as the other Tempus formats I’ve sampled, but it is a well-balanced, medium-bodied smoke. Contrcution is excellent, which is impressive given the dificulty in rolling a flawless lancero.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

We’ve all read those awestruck reports about a couple of aging cigar industry giants sitting down to swap smokes and stories. Well, the other evening, two self-described “little guys” in the business got together to do much the same. They had a ball and so did everyone else in attendance.

Frank Herrera (left) handed out samples of his just-released 1608 La Caridad del Cobre cigars at Arnold Serafin’s (right) small shop on the main tourist strip in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Herrera’s boxes nestled on a table near Serafin’s own brand—Serafin de Cuba—rolled right there.

It was a hastily arranged affair, but one that says a lot about the determination of cigar lovers who want to make their mark despite perilous economic times and harsh anti-smoking laws.

The two men met last month at the IPCPR Trade Show in New Orleans where Herrera introduced his cigars. When Serafin learned that Herrera, a Miami lawyer, would be in Tampa for his fulltime job, he convinced him to join him in nearby Tarpon Springs. Serafin invited customers, ordered pizza, poured drinks, and helped set up a domino game.

“I like to help the ‘little guy,’” Serafin said. “Because I’m a ‘little guy,’ too.”

Rolled by Cuban Crafters in Miami and named after the saint whose legend began around 1608 and continues to unite Cubans, the cigars are something of a hobby for Herrera. “I don’t play golf. I don’t have a boat,” he said. He does, however, spend a lot of time on cigars, including legal work representing firms in trademark disputes with Cuba. (You can learn more about this at his blog, Cigar Law.)

Herrera’s cigars are expertly constructed, memorable smokes. He hopes to have a maduro out before long. And he’s working to expand the number of shops that carry La Caridad del Cobre. When we met, he was planning an event at Our Cigar Bar, a Diamond Crown Lounge shop in Orange Beach, Alabama.

Serafin traces his Cuban cigar heritage back for generations. His father helps in the shop and rolls some small sticks. They’re especially popular with tourists looking for a quick smoke as they stroll the street lined with Greek shops and restaurants.

Serafin’s primary torcedor, who rolled in Cuba before coming to the U.S., turns out several hundred cigars a week, working at the shop on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, as well as at the many private events where they appear. Serafin buys tobacco from the Oliva Tobacco Co. in Tampa and works to produce a relatively mild, tasty, and smooth blend at a reasonable price.

With his shop approaching its second anniversary, Serafin clearly enjoys his work. He loves meeting customers, wants them to try his cigars and to tell him honestly what they think. In addition to Serafin de Cuba, Serafin’s comfortable shop features some mainline brands and quite a few other boutique cigars. His online business continues to grow, he said, as more snowbirds order after returning North.

It’s hard not to get caught up in the enthusiasm of these young generation cigar makers. And they reward you with a fine smoking experience.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys