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.

Reo was an EO Brands hit before Pepin Garcia began blending for the company and came up with some real home runs like the 601. Its name comes not from the rock group or the old motor car company, but the initials of those involved in its creation: Rocky Patel, Erik Espinosa, and Eddie Ortega. This box-pressed stick sports a large, trendy looking band and a lovely chocolate-colored wrapper from Costa Rica. The filler is a mix of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos. Sounds interesting. But it wasn’t. After kicking off nicely with creamy smoke, the Reo soon lost all taste for a couple of inches. Then there was a little pepper, but that didn’t continue either. Overall, I found the Reo to be a pretty boring cigar.

Verdict = Sell.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Cigars sit in my humidor for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes I try to hang on to them as long as I can, secure in the belief that they’ll improve with age. Others I just don’t seem to pick up when I’m choosing a cigar, even those I’ve enjoyed in the past.

Gurkhas often fall into that category. I have a few – probably 10 to 12 – from different lines, and I realized when I picked up a six inch toro Expedition the other day that it had been resting for about a year and a half. Well, I thought, that looks promising. So I picked it up.

When I slid the cedar sleeve off, I noticed a crack in the wrapper at the foot that ran close to a half inch. As I cut the 50 ring gauge cap, most of it came off, and the wrapper began to unwrap. Undaunted, I plunged ahead. After all, I keep the humidity and temperature pretty regular, but I’m always willing to take the blame when there are problems that could relate to storage.

It did light easily, and I was greeted with a pleasant cedar taste with thick, white smoke. Unfortunately, things went downhill quickly. The wrapper developed more splits than Disney on Ice. It continued unraveling as well, creating a three-dimensional barber pole effect.

Then, about halfway down, it blew up. I swear, I started looking for Allen Funt. I even checked the band, wondering if I’d been smoking the Gurkha Explosion rather than the Expedition.

I no choice but to call it quits. This is one case where I don’t think it’s fair to rate the cigar without smoking more, which I intend to do. But I wanted to see if I could first get some input from our readers.

What experiences have you had with the Gurkha Expedition? Let me know so I can bear them in mind when I try another and can include some when I do the second part of this review.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

This is a smoke to make you believe we’re truly enjoying a Golden Age of Cigars. From the gorgeous Cafe Rosado Oscuro wrapper to the ligero added to the Cuban-seed Nicaraguan filler, this is an extraordinary cigar.

I got five in a sampler pack several weeks ago and decided on a pleasant afternoon last week that I had waited long enough to smoke one. I would be hard pressed to point to any physical aspect of the cigar that’s lacking. The cap is expertly applied, cutting evenly and easily. There are no soft or hard spots from top to bottom, no problem with the burn or ash.

But it is in the smooth flavors that this five and 1/2 inch beauty from Pete Johnson really shines. For the first quarter of an inch or so, there’s a nice pepper spice. That’s soon complemented by a little sweetness. At midway, the spice is gone and there’s leather, warm tobacco, and just a floral hint. As you move down from there, the cigar develops a little zip and the pepper and spice lightly return.

The truth is this blend takes complexity to near perfection. I understand this Havana VI Verocu No. 2 and its West Coast sibling are limited production cigars. That’s a shame. At $10 a stick, it’s one I would happily smoke as often as I could, though the $500 price tag on a cabinet of 50 is a bit rich for my blood.

I rate this one an instant classic and award it the full five out of five stogies.

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

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Those of you who are interested in cheap, mild, everyday smokes are probably already familiar with Rafael Gonzalez. For everyone else who hasn’t been introduced to the somewhat reclusive brand, let’s get up to speed.

Rafael Gonzalez was launched in 1998 out of the Villazon factory in Honduras. It should not be confused with the 80-year-old Cuban brand of the same name, a blend of pure Vuelta Abajo tobaccos developed by Marquez Rafael Gonzalez.

Predictably, the Honduran line is sold to the American market as “a classic Cuban reborn.” While the Habano has a reputation as one of the mildest sticks around, “this Honduran-made edition is more medium-bodied in flavor, yet retains the smoothness, excellent balance, and inviting aroma for which Rafael Gonzalez is known.”

Sounds good enough, especially at the price. I paid about $3.25 apiece for the two Toros (6.125 x 50) I smoked for this review.

Unfortunately, one of those cigars got off to a terrible start as the top portion of the delicate Connecticut Shade wrapper separated from the Connecticut Broadleaf binder when I cut the head. (I used the same reliable cutter, mind you, that I use for all of my reviews.) I was able to correct the problem with some trusty saliva.

Aside from this defect, I have to say these cigars are quite attractive for value smokes. The wrappers are smooth and a bit oily, and while the seams may not be perfect, a cross-section of the firm stick reveals some masterful rolling.

I was pleased to find a heavy aroma of roasted almond off the three-country filler blend, even before lighting. From there the flavor begins very mild with a nutty cream taste and just a little spice in the finish. An uneven burn requires several touch-ups, and the cigar never transforms into the medium-bodied smoke it’s advertised as.

Judging it on its own merits, though, I’m still not too impressed, especially when you consider some of the really outstanding mild cigars that are available on the cheap (the Don Kiki White Label and the Ybor City Handmades come to mind). That’s why I can give the Rafael Gonzalez Toro only two out of five stogies.

[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.

This Cuban robusto features a lovely, smooth, deep brown wrapper, draped in the classic red, gold, and white Hoyo band. The flavors are a wonderful medley of cocoa, cedar, and black cherry and the construction was good – making this is one of my favorite Cubans. No wonder Patrick A rated this cigar four and 1/2 stogies back in December.

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.

If you’re looking for a smooth, satisfying mild smoke, La Princesa de Cuba should be on your shopping list. The latest cigar from Victor de la Cruz, this time with a lovely Connecticut shade-grown wrapper from Ecuador, has a warm, light tobacco taste with a delicate finish. The six and 1/2 inch by 52 ring gauge stick burned slowly, and produced rich smoke and a crumbly ash.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Even though I completely stand by the post I wrote last May praising wooden matches, I’ll be the first to say that every cigar enthusiast should have at least one good butane lighter. You’ll no doubt agree that certain situations (inclement weather, for example) just call for a burst of clean-burning flame.

With winter in full swing and winds often at gale force, I’ve been using a new Zippo Blu lighter to light my sticks. Chances are you’ve already heard about this unique product via its website, an article in Cigar Aficionado, or elsewhere.

According to a Zippo press release, the U.S.-made lighter uses “patented two-stage burner technology” and features “sleek and contemporary designs, a signature ‘Z’ patterned chimney, large fuel tank, and quick refilling options.”

I’m no sucker for trendy cigar gadgets, but my Blu has really grown on me over the past two months. Perhaps its best feature is the element of surprise. The product instantly becomes the center of attention as fellow smokers – only used to Zippo’s familiar “click and snap” producing a flame worthy of cigarettes – see a sharp, blue torch emerge from the metal plating.

I’ve found that Blu works well in the wind and delivers a fairly consistent flame. Ignition takes some getting used to, though, as you have to hold the flint-wheel down for a second before spinning it. I should also mention that Blu is not ideal for lighting more than one cigar at a time; the flame requires a short recharge break of one minute or so before it will perform again.

Even so, this is a commendable piece of equipment that combines Zippo’s iconic characteristics with a cigar-friendly blaze. I am not bothered by the fact that you can’t adjust the flame (one size seems to fit all), and refills are a snap, especially if you use premium grade Zippo butane fuel.

Blus start at a reasonable $39.95, but you can pay much more depending on the metal design and finish. Each comes equipped with a lifetime guarantee. I would imagine Zippo Blus make wonderful gifts for cigar enthusiasts – even stubborn smokers like me who prefer wooden matches.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys