The Stogie Guys

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

The Nacatamale from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust’s Muestra de Saka portfolio measures 6 inches long with a ring gauge of 52. It boasts tobaccos from each of Nicaragua’s four major growing regions: Condega, Estelí, Jalapa, and Ometepe. It’s an exquisitely balanced cigar with cinnamon bread, coffee, earth, and pepper. Construction is flawless. Even though I slightly prefer the Nacatamale, the Exclusivo is is an excellent cigar.

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 verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

A few months ago, I visited El Titan de Bronze, a factory on Calle Ocho in Miami that’s small in size but big in prestige. El Titan crafts cigars for such clients as Drew Estate, Warped Cigars, La Palina, Cornelius & Anthony, Padilla, El Primer Mundo, Cremo, and many others. Less well known are the operation’s house blends. Gold, for example, sports a Connecticut Shade wrapper around an Ecuadorian binder and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. As I recall, I paid about $8 for the Gold Lonsdale No. 1 (6.5 x 44). I love the size. The expertly constructed cigar boasts a medium-bodied profile of honey, cinnamon spice, oak, almond, and white pepper with a bready texture.

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Let me state upfront I’m inherently skeptical of celebrity-endorsed products. When you feel the need to pay an actor or athlete to sell your cigar or whiskey, this suggests you’re worried the product wouldn’t sell on its own merits.

With that in mind, I had my reservations when I heard about Wild Turkey’s Longbranch Bourbon, a collaboration between Wild Turkey’s “creative director,” the Texan and actor Matthew McConaughey, and longtime bourbon man Eddie Russell. The straight Kentucky bourbon melds Kentucky tradition with a Texas twist: the aged bourbon is filtered through Texas mesquite charcoal.

Yet, further details about the bourbon made me think it may not be the usual, easily-dismissed celebrity product. First off, it’s made by Wild Turkey, which, as far as the major bourbon distillers go, tends to make solid bourbons for the price. Second, it’s got an age statement: eight years, which happens to be the age at which much now-revered Wild Turkey bourbon was bottled. Finally, although the Texas mesquite angle is a new twist, charcoal filtration is an accepted and historic method for bourbon making, as evidenced by Jack Daniels.

That Wild Turkey didn’t price Longbranch excessively also made me rethink my initial skepticism. Around $35 for an eight-year, age-stated Kentucky bourbon is, like it or not, a reasonable price in today’s overheated bourbon market.

The 86-proof Kentucky straight bourbon pours a golden amber color. The nose features vanilla sweetness and cereal grains.

On the palate, Longbranch has ripe apples, toasted oak, and vanilla flavors. The finish is long on the palate with more vanilla and a hint of smokiness that shows off the Texas mesquite influence.

If you have about $40 to pay for a bourbon, I’d prefer Russell’s Reserve 10 Year bourbon to Longbranch, but that doesn’t mean Longbranch isn’t a new and interesting bourbon well worth checking out. It’s flavorful (especially considering its relatively low proof).

It’s an excellent bourbon to pair with a fine cigar. Medium- to full-bodied cigars like the Illusione Holy Lance, Litto Gomez Diez Small Batch, Montecristo Petit Edmundo, or Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Sobremesa will work best.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Over two years ago, I examined a pre-release sample of the new La Conquista line from Gran Habano. I found the Gran Robusto to be well-constructed but a little flat.

Flash forward to this spring when my colleague favorably wrote about the same cigar. His conclusions prompted me to revisit the blend, this time in the Robusto size.

La Conquista was introduced in 2016. At that time, it had an understated band of black, cream, and gold with a simple image of a cross. Now, the band is larger and considerably more ornate, featuring a depiction of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas. It is further accented by a cedar sleeve emblazoned with “La Conquista” and a foot ribbon.

The golden, toothy Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper comes into full view once the cedar is removed. On its surface you’re likely to find at least one thick vein and perhaps some harmless green splotches of discoloration. Otherwise, though, the wrapper is attractive.

At the foot, the Nicaraguan Corojo binder combines with filler tobaccos from Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Colombia to yield sweet, grassy pre-light notes. The well-executed cap clips cleanly to reveal a smooth cold draw.

After using the cedar sleeve to establish an even light, the Robusto (5 x 52, under $7 when bought by the box of 24) starts with a medium-bodied, spice-forward profile of dry cedar, cinnamon, and cereals. The texture is bready. In the background, I find a pleasing, balanced note of café au lait.

As the Robusto progresses, the bready, cedary core remains while new flavors come and go. They include vanilla bean, oak, cashew, and a fleeting, incredibly sweet, bright taste that reminds me of candied cherries.

All the while, the construction is impeccable. Even under windy conditions I found a straight burn that required no-touch ups, along with an easy draw, solid ash, and good smoke production.

Gran Habano offers two other sizes in the La Conquista portfolio: Gran Robusto (6 x 54) and Imperial (6 x 60).

I’m glad I gave this blend another try. Either my tastes have changed, the difference in format (Gran Robusto vs. Robusto) has a big impact, the tobaccos have been treated differently, or perhaps all three. Whatever the case, I’m awarding the Honduras-made La Conquista Robusto an admirable score of 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 verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

Shipped recently to members of the Tobacconists’ Association of America, this Lancero (7.5 x 38, $10) was produced in small numbers: 1,500 boxes of 10 cigars. It’s a handsome, dark cigar with a pigtail cap. (The earlier H-Town Four Kicks LE Lancero is pictured above.) The thin frame packs a lot of flavor and some punch with a Connecticut Habano wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and filler. Performance was excellent. The good news is that Crowned Heads plans to offer its remaining supply to retailers attending the IPCPR Trade Show next week.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

Officially debuting at the upcoming IPCPR Trade Show, this limited edition Lancero (6.75 x 43) is the fourth size from Villiger’s Flor de Ynclan line. It sports an Ecuadorian wrapper around Indonesian binder and Dominican and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos. The profile is bready with light wood, hints of orange peel, and nutmeg. The well-constructed cigar is the my favorite of the line. Only 500 boxes of 25 will be made each year (suggested retail is $11 per cigar).

Verdict = Buy.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

The Fourth of July is a good time for cookouts and fireworks, but also a time to reflect on what Independence Day celebrates. There is, of course, plenty to think about when it comes to the principles of freedom. We’re a cigar website, though, so let’s use the opportunity to look at what each of us can do to protect our cigar freedoms.

With that in mind, here are three tangible, easily achievable things every American cigar smoker can do:

Tell the FDA to Not Regulate Premium Cigars

The FDA is currently reconsidering its regulation of cigars. As part of it’s new regulatory approach, the FDA announced earlier this year it was opening up a new comment period. That period ends at the end of July, so you shouldn’t put it off anymore.

Cigar trade groups should be preparing to overwhelm the FDA with an abundance of scientific evidence for why it makes no sense for handmade cigars to be regulated the same as cigarettes, especially when the stated goal of the FDA’s tobacco regulation is overall public health and tobacco use by minors. But the volume of comments also helps, and you can be sure the anti-tobacco lobbyists will be trying to drive as many people to leave comments against rolling back cigar regulation.

You don’t need to write an essay. Here are four things to cover in your comment (copy and paste them if you want):

1. The FDA has limited resources and its regulations should be focused on where it can best achieve overall goals, not occupying considerable resources on handmade cigars.
2. Handmade cigars are an inherently inefficient way to deliver nicotine, which is why those simply looking for nicotine won’t choose cigars over other tobacco products.
3. There is no evidence that youth are drawn to handmade cigars, especially considering the price.
4. Handmade cigars are an artisan, handmade product, which renders any regulation particularly burdensome.

Leave you comment here before July 25.

Write to Your Congressional Representatives

Once you’ve left your comment with the FDA, copy it and send it to your senators and congressman. Tell them you just asked the FDA to leave cigars alone, but ultimately the responsibility to fix the current problem lies with Congress.

Tell them the issue is important to you and that their stance on it is an important factor in winning your support. Tell them specifically to commit to co-sponsoring the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act. Leave the bill number (H.R. 564 for members of the House, and S. 294 for senators).

Join Cigar Rights of America

Cigar Rights of America is the only consumer-oriented group devoted to fighting for cigar rights. The more members they have, the more their voice is paid attention to on Capitol Hill.

Joining is just $35 for a year, and you get two limited edition cigars plus other benefits. Or you can buy a CRA Sampler of 10 limited edition cigars for $100, which includes a one-year membership.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys