The Stogie Guys

In March I gave the Cupido Criollo Corto a well-deserved, glowing review as “one of the best sub-$3 cigar experiences I’ve ever had.” I’ve gone through plenty more since then because of the Corto’s delicious taste, excellent construction, bargain price, and short format.

The Commemorative vitola boasts the same blend of tobaccos—a criollo wrapper and Cuban-seed habano long leaf binders and fillers—in a larger, 5 inch by 54 ring gauge layout. Also a Nicaraguan puro from the Cupido Vegas field of Estelí, Cuban Crafters produces only 9,000 individually numbered boxes of 25 annually for under $70 each.

These smooth, oily, relatively dark criollos are box-pressed and sold as heady, deep cigars that are naturally sweet, spicy, and creamy. Take a few moments to enjoy the dark cocoa notes before striking the first match.

I’m convinced, by the way, that wooden matches are the ideal way to light cigars like the Corto and the Commemorative. The tiny foot makes it easy to establish an even light, and torch-brandishers will have a tendency to ignite more tobacco than necessary, a mistake that’s prone to ruining burns.

One drawback of this cigar’s unique shape is the tight draw you’ll experience on the first few puffs. Don’t worry; everything opens up nicely after a few patient minutes with lots of spice and a dry, woody taste. After the first inch or so the flavor begins to resemble black coffee and roasted nuts. I think seasoned cigar veterans will really enjoy this full-bodied (albeit one-sided) phase and noting how it smoothly transitions into a more balanced, floral taste in the last two inches.

I found few physical imperfections across the seven Commemoratives I smoked for this review. Expect a fairly stable ash and a burn that requires a few touch-ups here and there.

The Commemorative may not rate as exceptionally well as the Corto viotla in my book—namely due to the Corto’s virtually perfect combustion qualities—but it’s still another fine, under-priced smoke from the makers of Stogie Guys favorites like J.L. Salazar, Don Kiki (Brown and White), La Carolina, Cabinet Selection, and Cameroon. I give the Cupido Criollo Commemorative four stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here. To purchase this cigar from a StogieGuys.com affiliate, click here.]

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Nearly a year ago to the day I took a look at the exclusive Johnnie Walker Blue Label. Today I’ll evaluate the Blue Label’s slightly younger brother: Johnnie Walker Gold Label, also known as “The Century Blend.”

Like the Blue Label, the Gold is a blended scotch made with some of the most exclusive single malts Scotland has to offer. Originally created by Sir Alexander Walker in 1920 to celebrate 100 years of the Johnnie Walker brand, the Gold Label is comprised of at least 15 different single malts, all at least 18 years old and some many years older (although reportedly the Gold blend is sometimes bottled with the youngest scotches being 15 years in age).

While not nearly as expensive as the Blue Label, which can cost as much as $200 per bottle, a 750 ml. bottle of Johnnie Walker Gold Label will normally run $70-80. Like the Blue Label, the Gold challenges the commonly held notion that single malts represent the pinnacle of scotches.

As soon as you open the bottle you are struck by two things: the deep golden color and the incredible aroma which I enjoyed for a full 20 minutes before I even indulged my taste buds. I found the aroma to be an inviting mix of apricot, orange peel, and honey.

When I finally got around to sipping this golden whiskey, I found some rich fruit and vanilla with a lingering honey and subtle smoke and spice. The finish is delicate but long.

According to the Johnnie Walker website, the Gold Label blend is best enjoyed out of the freezer allowing for the flavors to come to life on the palate as it warms in your mouth. I tried it both at room temperature and frozen, and found their description accurate. However, the downside of the chilled whiskey was that it somewhat muted the fantastic aromas that were produced when I enjoyed the Gold Label at room temperature.

With such a glowing review, you won’t be surprised to find that this scotch is best enjoyed with a fine cigar, and most fine cigars will go very well with a Johnnie Walker Gold Label. My recommendation would be to avoid the extremes when pairing the Gold Label with a cigar, so avoid the most mild and most full-flavored smokes.

I enjoyed this with a Davidoff Special R, which I would classify as medium- to full-bodied, and the pairing was excellent. An Ashton VSG or Arturo Fuente Sun Grown are two others that come to mind as excellent pairings, though I would be weary of trying to match a maduro with the subtle honey flavors of the Gold Label.

Overall, the Gold Label is an excellent, complex scotch that will pair well with a variety of cigars. While not as exquisite as the Blue Label, it punches above its weight at nearly a third of the price and is a must try for anyone who enjoys whiskey with their cigars.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Despite the brand’s popularity among a considerable population of cigar smokers, I’ve steered clear of Puros Indios since my subpar experience with a harsh and physically flawed Piramide No. 3. But I’ve been told by a reliable source that the relatively obscure Double Maduro line is worth a look.

The blend is comprised of Nicaraguan, Dominican, and Brazilian filler tobaccos rolled in an Ecuadorian binder and wrapped in an Ecuadorian sungrown Sumatra double maduro leaf. You’ll have a hard time finding these, including the 6 inch by 53 ring gauge Toro Especial, which retails for $55-70 per box of 20.

Like other blends in the Puros Indios lineup, Double Maduro is produced south of Danlí, Honduras, under the guidance of Rolando Reyes Sr. On a quick side note, Señor Reyes “claims to be the only factory owner who also retains the atmosphere of Cuban cigar factories of old by having a full-time lector read the day’s news and other literature to the rollers as they work.”

He also refuses to use chemicals or taste additives and “continues to inspect all cigars manufactured in his factory.” Maybe the inspection standards for physical appearance aren’t terribly high. The two toothy and rustic Toro Especiales I smoked for this review included some big veins and sloppy seams.

Taste counts much more in my book, though, so I lit up with an open mind. I was greeted with rich notes of pepper, cocoa, and nut that quickly transitioned into a deep tobacco flavor. Not unlike the Montecristo Classic, I also found a bit of marshmallow hollowness. But the Double Maduro—which on the whole I would describe as full-bodied but not strong—is far less complex, remaining largely unchanged until ramping up the spice at the very end.

Both of my Toro Especiales exhibited uneven burns that extinguished themselves from time to time, clear draws that produced ample tufts of smoke with each puff, and flaky and unstable ashes.

Altogether, despite the $2.75-3.50 per stick price, I wasn’t terribly impressed with this particular vitola. There are better values to be had. For homely appearance, pleasant yet less-than-enticing flavor, and unfortunate construction, I give the Puros Indios Double Maduro Toro Especial two and ½ stogies out of five.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Devil’s Weed is an interesting and colorfully named cigar line recently released by the Molina Cigar Company. The brand seeks to honor the early history of mainstream tobacco use—beginning with Christopher Columbus’s introduction of the plant to Europe, and culminating in the condemnation of tobacco by the Spanish Inquisition (from whence the phrase “devil’s weed” originated).

The Jerez is a 6.25 inch by 46 gauge specialty vitola in the Devil’s Weed lineup, and it most closely resembles a belicoso. It is named for Rodrigo de Jerez, one of Columbus’ trusted lieutenants, whose penchant for the heretical herb famously landed him a seven-year sentence in a Spanish prison.

I’m a sucker for history and clever marketing, and Devil’s Weed offers plenty of both. Not only are the vitolas named for various 16th-century figures and places, but they’re presented in a fairly unique fashion: individually wrapped not in cellophane, but in logo-stamped brown paper. Molina Co. claims the paper offers better air circulation than plastic, and I can’t really argue that point one way or the other. Either way, it looks cool, and I dig it.

Remove the paper and you reveal a smooth, khaki-colored claro with minimal veins, a tiny bit of tooth, and practically invisible seams. The cap is a bit sloppily applied, but otherwise the Jerez is an almost flawless-looking stick. It turns out to be a mild-bodied smoke with lots of butter, very subtle hints of cedar, and some toast and honey on the finish and nose. The combustion and construction properties are excellent; the Jerez draws beautifully and requires no touchups or relights during its brief but relaxing 60-minute duration.

Ordinarily I’d consider this sort of mild, pleasant, everyday morning smoke—not outstanding, but certainly serviceable, delightful, and easy. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be readily available individually. You have to buy Jerezes by the box, and at $121 for 25 sticks, that’s a price I’m not sure I’d pay. A more reasonable $4.50-5 seems about right for this stick, but I’d love the option to buy singles.

Ultimately, the Devil’s Weed Jerez is an uncomplicated yet enjoyable smoke that I wish were more readily available for value-minded consumers. I give it three and 1/2 stogies out of five.

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

–Jon N

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.

This fat new Robusto Grande (5 x 52) is a new addition to the Montecristo White line that I picked up at the IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas. It features the same mild cream and honey flavors I’ve come to expect and enjoy from the blend with excellent construction characteristics. The size is one of two new tubed sizes that will be hitting shops this month (the other a 6 x 54 Toro Grande).

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 take on a single cigar.

While I enjoyed Bucanero’s Treasure and Cañon Cubano, this is definitely my favorite blend from Robert Spoden’s impressive boutique outfit. The 6 inch by 54 ring gauge Belicoso boasts creamy notes of oak and spice and a wonderful burn with a finely layered white ash. If you let the $6-7 per stick price prevent a purchase you’ll miss out on a great cigar.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Not long ago I enjoyed a cigar with one of my best friends and his new wife in the backyard behind their house. Large, airy, and lushly landscaped, this is the sort of place I hope to own someday. Backyards are at a premium here in Los Angeles, and to me they’re more important than the houses built around them. They can be shared with friends and family, or they can be intensely private places of tranquil meditation and uninterrupted reflection. If people elsewhere around the world take such open space for granted, here we consider it sacred and inviolable—a small, but personal plot held fast against the encroachment of a sprawling, noisy, and land-hungry city.

This particular backyard was, as I’ve said, pretty big by LA standards. Unfortunately, the view was “fenced in” on the west side by a neighbor’s addition to her home—an ugly, three-story guest house with a window overlooking my friend’s entire yard. Nevermind the fact that building a three-story structure is illegal in this part of the city; what was particularly onerous about this building was its violation of my friend’s privacy. In shape, form, rule-flouting design, and hostile spirit, this building pretty much embodied the neighbor herself. She, a 70-something widow, was notoriously paranoid, litigious (again, ironic, given that her guest house was in clear violation of building codes), angry, and conniving. She was always around, never left her house, and never ran out of excuses to harass or even sue her various neighbors.

And on this particular day, as we smoked in peace, or so we thought, we’d noticed her popping up every now and then from behind the curtain in that watchtower window. She’d appear for a few seconds, glower at us, then disappear. Eventually she thrust open the window and started shouting at us. She demanded that we extinguish our cigars, as the smoke was “choking her to death.”

We complied, if only because she was old and because she was so lawsuit-happy; pressing the conflict just wasn’t worth the time and expense, even though my friend probably would have prevailed in court.

But part of me couldn’t help thinking that we were simply appeasing a madwoman. For one thing, there was basically no way that the smoke had drifted the 50-odd feet into the air, up toward her sealed window, and through it—an especially difficult feat given that the wind was blowing in a different direction. More likely than not, she had been spying on us and was simply looking to pick a fight, as is apparently her modus operandi. She and my friends hadn’t been getting along ever since they moved in next door, and this was one more complaint in her endless litany. She was bullying them, establishing dominance. If they didn’t challenge her this time, she probably figured, she could keep getting her way in the future.

The real question, however, is this: What would you have done in this situation? Have you been in such circumstances before? Does your neighbor have the right to complain about what goes on in the confines of your private property? And will such situations arise more frequently in the future, thus giving the anti-smoking lobby a proverbial invitation into our houses?

–Jon N

photo credit: Flickr