The Stogie Guys

Don’t be too quick to clip and light this Cameroon-wrapped cigar. If you do, you’ll miss the chance to enjoy its delicious, mouth-watering pre-light aroma. It’s a great start for a fine cigar.

While much of the cigar industry often seems focused on producing limited edition sticks at higher and higher prices, Oliva continues to offer cigars that are not just easy on the wallet, but excellent in quality regardless of price. If you are a Cameroon fan, as I am, it’s hard to believe that you can buy this six inch by 50 ring gauge smoke for around $3.25.

After that wonderful aroma, the initial taste is smooth and a little spicy. That quickly settles down and the creamy smoke becomes toasty and almost buttery. About halfway down, a little leather and cocoa waft in and out. The smoke is plentiful. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better complement to a cup of coffee.

In addition to the African Cameroon wrapper, this Toro features a Cuban-seed Habano binder and a Nicaraguan Habano filler – just like the “Special” vitola. Construction is excellent. I wasn’t surprised when the delicate wrapper developed a couple of small splits, but I was pleased that the burn went past them without a problem.

With a tobacco history going back more than 120 years in Cuba, the Oliva family is proud of their heritage and the cigars they make. Last year, Cigar Aficionado (which consistently praises Oliva) reported that the company makes about 5.5 million Oliva cigars annually at its Estelí factory. I’d recommend they crank out a few more of these wonderful Cameroons.

I give the Oliva Serie G Cameroon Toro four and ½ out of five stogies.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

When I named the EO 601 Serie “Green” one of my Gold Star Smokes back in December, I wasn’t exactly going out on a limb. Since it was introduced at last year’s RTDA trade show, the cigar community has widely embraced it as an outstanding, full-bodied powerhouse, and I haven’t met many who disagree.

But the oscuro Green can be a bit overwhelming, even for some seasoned cigar veterans. If you fall into this category, I would highly recommend trying the 601 Serie “Blue,” the second strongest in Erik Espinoza and Eddie Ortega’s popular Pepin-blended line of Nicaraguans.

With an oily, practically vein-free Habano maduro wrapper, the Blue is Pepin’s first box press and also his first maduro. Like the Green, it isn’t hard to find praise on the web or elsewhere for this Estelí-made cigar.

The Toro measures a hearty six and ¼ inches with a 52 ring gauge and sells in the $7.40 to $8.50 range. Without its flashy, detailed band, it bears a striking resemblance to an RP Vintage ’90 of the same size.

The smoke starts with Pepin’s signature burst of pepper followed by savory dark chocolate notes. A natural sweetness is present, along with a taste akin to roasted nuts – not dissimilar to the Green.

The Blue, however, isn’t nearly as strong. You’ll find lots of well-balanced flavor, but little of that “Whoa, I need to sit down” feeling. The rich, bountiful tastes remain fairly consistent through the second third, and the finish sees a small increase in bitterness.

Of the six Toros I smoked for this review, half required some touch-ups to keep the burn even and half did just fine on their own. All sported a firm ash and a clear draw throughout the 70- to 90-minute smoke.

All things considered, I am once again impressed with the performance from United Tobacco’s 601 line. I hesitate to chalk up the Blue as an instant classic, but it is no doubt an excellent alternative for smokers who need something stronger than the Red but lighter than the Green. I give the EO 601 Serie “Blue” Toro four out of five stogies.

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

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

As the weather warms and that winter chill gives way to a cool evening breeze, many cigar enthusiasts start opting for longer, bigger cigars in lieu shorter sticks. So when better to review the six and ¾ inch by 50 ring gauge Arturo Fuente Double Chateau Sun Grown than the first day of spring?

This large, silky smoke comes wrapped in a cedar sleeve from foot to band. The sleeve slides off easily to reveal a neat Ecuadorian wrapper and a dark, sweet aroma that is characteristic of sungrown tobacco – no surprise thanks to Fuente’s signature black ribbon. You can buy a box of 20 Double Chateaus from CigarsDirect.com for $103.40 ($5.17 apiece).

After clipping the uniquely large cap and toasting the foot, the initial flavor is a tad salty, but evens out with some toffee undertones. Sweetened coffee rounds out the finish into the second third and, if you’re really paying attention, you might pick up on some citrus.

Spicy peppercorn, syrupy tobacco, and cedar tastes dominate down the stretch with a little bitterness coming into play at the very end. All in all, this cigar’s Dominican binder and filler tobaccos nicely complement the sungrown wrapper – a pleasant pairing that produces volumes of thin, flavorful smoke.

The burn performs well during the 90-120 minute smoke, but a few Double Chateaus required touch-ups in breezy conditions. The draw is just about right, if not slightly firm.
And the ash holds as well as you would expect from a Fuente.

Overall, this is an impressive mild- to medium-bodied cigar with a lot of interesting flavor to offer at a reasonable price. It is well-balanced, smooth, relaxing, and satisfying.

Sungrown enthusiasts who require long breaks would do well to work this into their regular rotation. We give the Arturo Fuente Double Chateau Sun Grown four out of five stogies.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here. Cigars for this review were provided by CigarsDirect.com, and can be purchased here.]

–Patrick A & George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

The French word “nonpareil” literally means “unparalleled,” or “without equal.” I didn’t find the Indian Tabac Nonpareil to be that, exactly. But at $3 per stick, this well-crafted six inch by 52 ring gauge Toro certainly offers a decent value for a modest price.

The Nonpareil is a Nicaraguan puro sold in either a Connecticut shade or a Natural wrapper. I opted for the darker Natural. With a rich brown color, tight roll, and nearly veinless body, this was certainly a good-looking cigar. Pre-light aromas from the foot and the freshly cut head revealed hints of cocoa, butter, and leather. I lit up the stogie and was immediately greeted by a soft air of wood and tobacco.

The initial flavor of the cigar was of leather and faintly burnt cedar – not an altogether complex combination, but certainly acceptable for a $3 smoke. Unfortunately, this combination persisted, more or less unchanged, throughout my two-hour smoke. Toward the middle third, a grassy tone and peppery aftertaste made an appearance. But these new flavors did little to offset the boredom of having experienced the same taste, over and over, for as long as I had.

Perhaps I’m asking too much of this bargain-priced cigar. But I’ve come to expect a great deal from any stick bearing a Rocky Patel brand, much less a “nonpareil” boast.

Still, I don’t want to shortchange the Nonpareil. It is a serviceable, enjoyable, economical cigar that neither asks for, nor requires, your undivided attention. It will make a fine companion on the golf course or at the poker table, so I give the Indian Tabac Nonpareil Toro three out of five stogies.

[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 pudgy little smoke (4″ x 50) has an attractive vein-free Ecuadorian wrapper. The flavor is of wood and paper with a tiny hint of black pepper spice. The draw on this mild smoke is good, but this is a hard purchase to justify at over $7 apiece.

Verdict = Hold.

–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.

One of the six original Cohibas known as the Línea Clásica, this four and 7/8 inch by 50 ring gauge Robusto is an admirable smoke with excellent construction. I found pleasant flavors of sweet hay and honey with a touch of spice – not unlike my colleague’s full review. Expect to pay anywhere from $12 to $15, which is a fair price if you’re a lover of mild- to medium-bodied smokes.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Finding wonderfully blended and constructed cigars that won’t put a dent in your budget is a top priority for me. That’s why it gives me such pleasure to review the Cupido Criollo.

Like J.L. Salazar, Don Kiki (Brown and White), La Carolina, Cabinet Selection, and Cameroon, this is another fine, under-priced Cuban Crafters product from the fields of Estelí. It is made with a criollo wrapper and Cuban-seed habano long leaf binders and fillers.

The Corto vitola sports a unique perfecto shape with a slight box press, and measures four and ½ inches with a 56 ring gauge at its widest point. With a metallic, Valentine-inspired band, a near flawless wrapper, and a distinctive form, this is the kind of gorgeous cigar that makes you really appreciate the fine art of rolling tobacco.

Establishing an even light is as easy as touching a flame to the tiny foot. I am immediately greeted with rich coffee and wood flavors and a smooth, nicely rounded spice.

At its widest girth, the flavor is well-balanced and medium-bodied with a slightly bitter finish. It picks up down the narrow stretch, but never becomes harsh or hot. The smoke is cool, abundant, and floral.

The physical properties are also impressive. It is a great joy to watch the firm, finely layered ash build off the foot in the cigar’s unique shape – I only ashed once during the 45-minute smoke. The burn starts and remains fairly even to the nub, and it stays lit even when left neglected. The band removes easily and without incident.

These flavor and construction characteristics were completely consistent for the six Cortos I smoked for this review. Amazing, especially since they sell at the low price of $65 for an individually numbered box of 25 ($2.60 per stick). Only 9,000 boxes are manufactured each year.

I am convinced this is one of the best sub-$3 cigar experiences I’ve ever had. If you like criollo tobacco and don’t have a lot of time, this should be your new everyday smoke. I give the Cupido Criollo Corto four and ½ out of five stogies.

[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