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.

I recently had occasion to light up this beauty and was once again stunned by what a magnificently flavorful and balanced cigar this  Cuban is. Its shiny wrapper hides a medium-bodied smoke with coffee, honeycomb, and cedar notes. And like my other experiences with the Short Churchill, the construction was impeccable. Anyway, you probably see where this is going; after all, there is a reason this is one of my all-time favorite cigars.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

I’ve long been familiar with Mount Gay Eclipse Rum. Mixed with some tonic water, the Mount Gay tonic is a summer favorite of mine, or for that matter any other time that I want a refreshing mixed drink. As a former sailing instructor and college sailor, the brand also holds a special meaning to me given Mount Gay’s longstanding support of the sailing community, where its red caps are ubiquitous.

Despite all that, before tasting it for this article I wasn’t all that familiar with the Mount Gay Extra Old, sometimes called Mount Gay Black. Both the Extra Old (XO) and the Eclipse are made in Mount Gay’s Barbados distillery, where rum has been made since at least 1703, making it the longest continually produced brand of rum in the world. While the Eclipse is top notch mixing rum, the Extra Old is more of a sipping rum, best appreciated straight up or on the rocks.

Blended from rums with a range of 12-17 years of age, Mount Gay Extra Old is aged in charred oak barrels, like bourbon. More expensive than the Eclipse, but still quite reasonable compared to the price of other premium spirits, the Mount Gay XO retails for around $35.

The first thing you notice about the Extra Old is its deep copper color. The photo at right (of the newly redesigned bottle and label) doesn’t do justice the brilliant amber hue. Next, I took in the nose, which featured an inviting combination of charred oak (no doubt imparted from the bourbon barrels) and ripe bananas.

The taste starts out with molasses and honeycomb sweetness, lots of oak, a touch of charcoal, and some creamy caramel. But perhaps the most distinguishable feature of the Extra Old was the smooth, long, lingering finish that ends with a peppery burst that creeps up on you. Truly unique, that spicy ending seems to kick in a few seconds after you think the rum’s taste is only a recent memory.

All in all, the XO is a fantastic sipping rum which makes it an excellent choice to pair with a fine cigar. It also strikes me as an extremely versatile spirit to pair with cigars.

A smooth and mild Macanudo gold, a rich Padrón maduro, and a cedary spicy Cameroon-wrapped Fuente Hemingway would all go well. In fact, with perhaps the exception of powerhouse cigars that so overwhelm the palate that the rum’s subtleties will go completely unnoticed, I think you’d be hard-pressed to find bad pairing (unless of course the cigar itself is already unpleasant).

Truth be told, I tend to prefer whiskey to rum when it comes to drinking spirits straight up with cigars. However, the Mount Gay Extra Old is a reminder that fine rum can bring just as much to the table.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

This is undoubtedly a popular stick among cigar enthusiasts. While researching the two Belicosos I recently smoked, I came across a slew of positive reviews from the online cigar community—and, perhaps less importantly, an 87 for the Serie JJ Maduro in Cigar Aficionado.

So, in the interest of full disclosure, I have to say I went into this Nicaraguan puro with high hopes. It’s best to start cigar reviews with a clean slate and no preconceptions; the mind, however, can’t easily trick itself. Maybe that’s why I found the 5.7 inch by 52 ring gauge Belicoso pleasurable but slightly disappointing.

This popular blend is the result of the combined efforts of José Don Pepin Garcia and his son Jaime (hence the “JJ”). Also known as the White Label, the Serie JJ Maduro has a clean broadleaf maduro corojo wrapper and attractive, cream-colored double bands. Careful observers may notice some black patches scattered about the already dark wrapper leaf.

After clipping away the rounded point with my double guillotine, I noticed a clear prelight draw and a hearty aroma of clove and dark chocolate. The smoke starts in the traditional Pepin way with full flavors of dry wood, leather, and black pepper spice. No surprise there. As the taste mellows to a more creamy profile after the midway point, the spice fades and a maduro sweetness creeps in before a reprise of pepper completes the journey.

Pepin reportedly has these cigars handmade in Miami to maintain quality control. I found that odd, especially since my two Belicosos required constant torch touch-ups to maintain an even burn and stay lit. The ash is also on the flaky side.

I must conclude, therefore, in spite of its physical flaws, this cigar’s popularity is due to its striking array of full, transforming flavors. Fair enough. But I was expecting a little more from a cigar that commands a price of about $215 per box of 24 or $50 per 5-pack. Conflicted, I give the Don Pepin Garcia Serie JJ Maduro Belicoso 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 take on a single cigar.

Like everyone else who pays attention to cigars, I’ve been inundated with Nub PR. But, until recently, I hadn’t smoked one. I’m not overly fond of large ring sizes and, while I don’t doubt the sincerity, I do doubt the “Nub Theory.” So I wasn’t sure what to expect when I lit up the Nub Cameroon. The answer: an OK cigar, but one I’d rank far behind others, such as Fuente and Cuban Crafters. I plan to try other Nubs; maybe I’ll be more impressed. On this one, though, the closest thing to a “sweet spot” that I saw was the $4 price.

Verdict = Sell.

–George E

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

This Brazilian puro rested in my humidor for over two years before I recently fired it up. I remember loving this Robusto (5 x 52) when I had hefty stash—long before Dona Flor changed the band to give it a more colorful appeal—but this last Alonso Menendez performed even better. The delectable mata fina tobacco gives the cigar a taste akin to moist chocolate cake with hints of spice and cream. And time seems to have worked some magic, vastly improving the cigar’s physical properties. Hands down, the Alonso Menendez Robusto is one of the best cigar experiences I’ve had in the past few months.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Cigars and wine are often paired, seen as complementary expressions of high style, good taste, and sophistication. So it’s no surprise when a cigar maker, in this case Cusano, goes one step further and appropriates a wine term.

“Cuvée,” with its French origins, is often used by vintners to designate a special lot, particularly with Champagne. For its part, Cusano says it uses only a very select portion of the tobacco harvest for these cigars.

Getting straight information on this cigar is a little difficult. You’d assume Cuvée’s website would be the definitive source. But in one place it describes the Blanc as “shade-grown Connecticut and Peruvian tobaccos.” In another spot, the binder and filler are listed as Dominican. Similarly, the Cuvée site says the wrapper is U.S.-grown Connecticut; other sources say it is Ecuadorian.

The Blanc, which features four vitolas, is one of four Cuvée lines. The Toro—a six inch stick with a 54 ring gauge—is one of four Blanc sizes. It runs about $7 per stick. Physically, this example was first-rate.

The wrapper was smooth, the draw and burn excellent, and the smoke production copious. As you might expect, the Blanc is a mild cigar. The flavors were smooth and sometimes sweet. They tended to run toward grass, hay, and a little bit of nuts.

Overall, the Cuvée Blanc is pleasant and worth trying if you like mild cigars. But don’t be surprised if it fails to make a big impression. I think it simply lacks the complexity and subtlety that separate the OK from the excellent.

All things considered, I rate the Cuvée Blanc Toro three and a half out of five stogies.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Few cigar merchants have generated more long-range interest in an unopened shop than Heather Waibel Haddad. For those who follow cigar blogs, podcasts, and boards, Heather is a friendly and familiar voice who has been pursuing her cigar dream for a few years. From her early anti-tax efforts in California to an online cigar operation in Texas, she recently took the next step with her Fumée Cigar Lounge in Cedar Park right outside Austin.

Nearly a year ago, we caught up with Heather for a lengthy cigar insider interview. Now that her shop is up and running, we thought you might like to know a little bit about what looks like a great place to enjoy a good cigar any time you’re in the Lone Star capital.

Stogie Guys: How are you getting the word out in the area that you are open and ready for business?

Heather Waibel Haddad: We are trying lots of things, from flyers in the neighborhood behind our store to more creative things like Meetup.com to join groups and invite them to have their meetings at our lounge. As a result, we’ve organized a bike night with a large group here in Austin. We’re also doing some traditional print ads, and have partnered with a local cigar group to have a poker night here.

SG: Since Austin’s a major university town, are you making any special efforts to reach younger smokers?

HWH: We are not, for two reasons. The first is that we are pretty far from the university. I’d say 40 minutes in traffic. The second is that we tried that strategy once. I did a cigar seminar for a fraternity and they snickered every time I said the words “long,” “big,” or “hard,” so I decided never to do that again.

SG: Another hallmark of Austin is live music. Do you have plans to try to tap into that scene to draw customers?

HWH: We are looking into having some acoustic stuff on special occasions, like our New Year’s Eve party. But our space is only 2,000 sq. ft. and a lot of hard surfaces; anything that requires an amp would just be too much. I’m thinking guitar, piano, maybe even strings, would work here.

SG: Looking at the photos on your website, the shop looks like a terrific place to enjoy a smoke. What about the Fumée Cigar Lounge sets it apart from other shops in the Austin area?

HWH: The primary thing is that we have a large lounge. There are four main competitors here in Austin. Two of them have only a couple of chairs, and the other two are very expensive private lounges. Our lounge is open to the public. We are also the only cigar shop in all of the Austin area that serves beverages. We are selling espresso, whole leaf teas, and non-alcoholic drinks until we get our liquor license.

SG: Is the shop going to affect your online sales operation, or will you do both?

HWH: It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. The shop has really helped our online store because we have a lot more inventory now. As a result we’re seeing more activity online, and that’s paying the bills for the retail store right now.

Many thanks to Heather for taking the time to give us the update.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys