CIGAR REVIEW: SOBREMESA ROBUSTO LARGO Trackbacks and Pingbacks. StogieGuys.com’s Top Cigars of 2019 - The Stogie Guys - Monday, December 16, 2019. Sobremesa Robusto Largo: “After establishing an even light, I find a creamy, balanced, delightfully familiar profile of café au lait, gentle cinnamon spice, salted nuts, and a bit of cayenne heat. CIGAR REVIEW: CHARTER OAK MADURO TORO Last month I reviewed the Charter Oak CT Shade, Nicholas Melillo’s attempt at an affordably priced cigar for any time of day. I found it to have a pleasant, straightforward, mild- to medium-bodied profile of cream, white pepper, peanut, and café au lait. The “unchanging, unpretentious” taste, however, tends to overstay its welcome,

especially in

CIGAR REVIEW: CAO SESSION GARAGE They are handmade in the Dominican Republic and employ a “unique post-fermentation treatment deepens Session’s flavor and darkens its color.”. I sampled three CAO Sessions in the Garage format for this review. As with many Connecticut Broadleaf cigars, it is lumpy and toothy in appearance. The dark, thick wrapper has some CIGAR REVIEW: OLIVA SERIE G CAMEROON I often get asked to recommend a cheap blend that’s tasty enough to be enjoyable yet mild enough for a beginner. One of the first cigars that always comes to mind is the Oliva Serie G.. Now just because this Cameroon-wrapped smoke has a price and flavor profile that makes it approachable for infrequent smokers, that doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyed by seasoned cigar veterans, too. CIGAR REVIEW: UMBAGOG CORONA GORDA Umbagog “is a perfect cigar for my time upon her waters,” writes Saka on the Dunbarton website. “It is robust and durable, designed to endure the rigors of outside activity with its thick Broadleaf capa and easy-burning liga. This is a cigar that doesn’t pretend to be special or seek to elicit the ‘oohs’ or ‘aahs’ of the cigar STOGIE REVIEWS: ALEC BRADLEY MAXX THE FIX Stogie Reviews: Alec Bradley Maxx The Fix. In all honesty, I’ve pulled fewer sticks from the humidor with lower expectations. The combination of a silly name and a girth that seems more appropriate for a billy club isn’t what I look for in a cigar. On the other hand, I have read and heard good things about this line. CIGAR REVIEW: CROMAGNON BLOCKHEAD Blockhead (6 x 54) is box-pressed. It retails for about $11 for a single, or $100 for a box of 10. Not unlike the Cranium, it has a dark, reddish exterior leaf with moderate oils, plenty of tooth, and a couple noticeable veins. At the foot, the pre-light notes remind me of dark chocolate and syrup. The rough cap clips cleanly, and the cold

draw

QUICK SMOKE: CAMACHO 1962 (PRE-EMBARGO) Quick Smoke: Camacho 1962 (Pre-Embargo) 8 Oct 2017. 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.”. Especially before the Cuban embargo was loosened, Cuban tobacco in a cigar that could be legally sold in the United States was

a good

STOGIE REVIEWS: 5 VEGAS SERIES ‘A’ ALPHA I was amazed, and even a little embarrassed, to realize the other day that the 5 Vegas Series ‘A’ (pronounced Cinco Vegas) had not yet been the subject of a full Stogie Guys review. (It was the subject of a February Quick Smoke.)After all, the six inch by 52 ring gauge Alpha vitola is one of my favorite everyday go-to smokes – not to ruin the

ending or anything.

CIGAR REVIEW: L'ATELIER IMPORTS TROCADÉRO CAMBON Yesterday, my colleague reviewed the J.P.G. Little Havana Overruns Corona, a budget-priced cigar by super-blender Jose Pepin Garcia made for retailer Holt’s. Today, I look at a cigar with a similar pedigree and value-oriented price: L’Atelier Trocadéro Cambon. L’Atelier is a new company headed by Pete Johnson of Tatuaje fame. While Tatuaje (and all of CIGAR REVIEW: SOBREMESA ROBUSTO LARGO Trackbacks and Pingbacks. StogieGuys.com’s Top Cigars of 2019 - The Stogie Guys - Monday, December 16, 2019. Sobremesa Robusto Largo: “After establishing an even light, I find a creamy, balanced, delightfully familiar profile of café au lait, gentle cinnamon spice, salted nuts, and a bit of cayenne heat. CIGAR REVIEW: CHARTER OAK MADURO TORO Last month I reviewed the Charter Oak CT Shade, Nicholas Melillo’s attempt at an affordably priced cigar for any time of day. I found it to have a pleasant, straightforward, mild- to medium-bodied profile of cream, white pepper, peanut, and café au lait. The “unchanging, unpretentious” taste, however, tends to overstay its welcome,

especially in

CIGAR REVIEW: CAO SESSION GARAGE They are handmade in the Dominican Republic and employ a “unique post-fermentation treatment deepens Session’s flavor and darkens its color.”. I sampled three CAO Sessions in the Garage format for this review. As with many Connecticut Broadleaf cigars, it is lumpy and toothy in appearance. The dark, thick wrapper has some CIGAR REVIEW: OLIVA SERIE G CAMEROON I often get asked to recommend a cheap blend that’s tasty enough to be enjoyable yet mild enough for a beginner. One of the first cigars that always comes to mind is the Oliva Serie G.. Now just because this Cameroon-wrapped smoke has a price and flavor profile that makes it approachable for infrequent smokers, that doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyed by seasoned cigar veterans, too. CIGAR REVIEW: UMBAGOG CORONA GORDA Umbagog “is a perfect cigar for my time upon her waters,” writes Saka on the Dunbarton website. “It is robust and durable, designed to endure the rigors of outside activity with its thick Broadleaf capa and easy-burning liga. This is a cigar that doesn’t pretend to be special or seek to elicit the ‘oohs’ or ‘aahs’ of the cigar STOGIE REVIEWS: ALEC BRADLEY MAXX THE FIX Stogie Reviews: Alec Bradley Maxx The Fix. In all honesty, I’ve pulled fewer sticks from the humidor with lower expectations. The combination of a silly name and a girth that seems more appropriate for a billy club isn’t what I look for in a cigar. On the other hand, I have read and heard good things about this line. CIGAR REVIEW: CROMAGNON BLOCKHEAD Blockhead (6 x 54) is box-pressed. It retails for about $11 for a single, or $100 for a box of 10. Not unlike the Cranium, it has a dark, reddish exterior leaf with moderate oils, plenty of tooth, and a couple noticeable veins. At the foot, the pre-light notes remind me of dark chocolate and syrup. The rough cap clips cleanly, and the cold

draw

QUICK SMOKE: CAMACHO 1962 (PRE-EMBARGO) Quick Smoke: Camacho 1962 (Pre-Embargo) 8 Oct 2017. 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.”. Especially before the Cuban embargo was loosened, Cuban tobacco in a cigar that could be legally sold in the United States was

a good

STOGIE REVIEWS: 5 VEGAS SERIES ‘A’ ALPHA I was amazed, and even a little embarrassed, to realize the other day that the 5 Vegas Series ‘A’ (pronounced Cinco Vegas) had not yet been the subject of a full Stogie Guys review. (It was the subject of a February Quick Smoke.)After all, the six inch by 52 ring gauge Alpha vitola is one of my favorite everyday go-to smokes – not to ruin the

ending or anything.

CIGAR REVIEW: L'ATELIER IMPORTS TROCADÉRO CAMBON Yesterday, my colleague reviewed the J.P.G. Little Havana Overruns Corona, a budget-priced cigar by super-blender Jose Pepin Garcia made for retailer Holt’s. Today, I look at a cigar with a similar pedigree and value-oriented price: L’Atelier Trocadéro Cambon. L’Atelier is a new company headed by Pete Johnson of Tatuaje fame. While Tatuaje (and all of CIGAR REVIEW: UMBAGOG CORONA GORDA Umbagog “is a perfect cigar for my time upon her waters,” writes Saka on the Dunbarton website. “It is robust and durable, designed to endure the rigors of outside activity with its thick Broadleaf capa and easy-burning liga. This is a cigar that doesn’t pretend to be special or seek to elicit the ‘oohs’ or ‘aahs’ of the cigar QUICK SMOKE: CAMACHO 1962 (PRE-EMBARGO) Quick Smoke: Camacho 1962 (Pre-Embargo) 8 Oct 2017. 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.”. Especially before the Cuban embargo was loosened, Cuban tobacco in a cigar that could be legally sold in the United States was

a good

CIGAR REVIEW: LA AROMA DE CUBA MI AMOR While the nicotine kick remains low from beginning to nub, the body is full. With excellent construction, a chalky texture, solid balance, and full body despite low strength, the Mi Amor Reserva Maximo is an outstanding smoke and my new favorite among La Aroma de Cuba’s fine portfolio. It will be interesting to see how this young cigar STOGIE REVIEWS: 5 VEGAS SERIES ‘A’ ALPHA I was amazed, and even a little embarrassed, to realize the other day that the 5 Vegas Series ‘A’ (pronounced Cinco Vegas) had not yet been the subject of a full Stogie Guys review. (It was the subject of a February Quick Smoke.)After all, the six inch by 52 ring gauge Alpha vitola is one of my favorite everyday go-to smokes – not to ruin the

ending or anything.

CIGAR REVIEW: MY FATHER NO. 1 One might argue this review is unnecessary. For starters, I reviewed this same cigar (and same vitola) a little more than two years ago. In addition, the My Father line has become ubiquitous among cigar fans, earning it a solid reputation and diminishing the usefulness of yet another review stacked upon longstanding heaps of praise. CIGAR REVIEW: LA PALINA EL AÑO 1896 OSCURO ROBUSTO La Palina’s new incarnation debut came in 2010. The smoking experience of El Año 1896 is as smooth as the nearly vein-free wrapper. Strength is in the medium range with modest pepper and spice. One of the more pleasing, and somewhat surprising, flavors I

encountered was a

CIGAR REVIEW: DREW ESTATE UNDERCROWN GRAN TORO The cigars sell from $7.45 to $9.95. Each of the three Gran Toros I smoked (all of which I received at the trade show in July) displayed perfect construction. The burns were even, the draw firm but not difficult, and the ashes held strong. I think Drew Estate has another fine cigar on its hands here, though perhaps not quite as exquisite as

the

CIGAR REVIEW: LA PALINA BLUE LABEL TORO (TAA EXCLUSIVE Blue, according to numerous experts, is a soothing color. And that might just be how you feel about this limited edition available for sale from members of the Tobacconists’ Association of America (TAA). With its light brown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, my first impression of the La Palina Blue Label was that of an “everyman” cigar. STOGIE REVIEWS: DON PEPIN GARCIA CUBAN CLASSIC ROBUSTO With classic five inch by 50 ring gauge robusto proportions, this cigar can be had for around $6 per stick. The Cuban Classic’s looks were similar to the Blue Label, though just a bit darker with fewer veins. The Corojo wrapper is a lovely caramel color. Power-packed with plenty of slightly salty ligero tobacco, this cigar starts out very QUICK SMOKE: J. FUEGO PENNSYLVANIA BROADLEAF (PBL) ROBUSTO 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.” Made by Jesus Fuego, this affordable cigar ($32 for a bundle of 12) shows off a nearly black Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper. Beneath are CIGAR REVIEW: SOBREMESA ROBUSTO LARGO Trackbacks and Pingbacks. StogieGuys.com’s Top Cigars of 2019 - The Stogie Guys - Monday, December 16, 2019. Sobremesa Robusto Largo: “After establishing an even light, I find a creamy, balanced, delightfully familiar profile of café au lait, gentle cinnamon spice, salted nuts, and a bit of cayenne heat. CIGAR REVIEW: CHARTER OAK MADURO TORO Last month I reviewed the Charter Oak CT Shade, Nicholas Melillo’s attempt at an affordably priced cigar for any time of day. I found it to have a pleasant, straightforward, mild- to medium-bodied profile of cream, white pepper, peanut, and café au lait. The “unchanging, unpretentious” taste, however, tends to overstay its welcome,

especially in

CIGAR REVIEW: OLIVA SERIE G CAMEROON I often get asked to recommend a cheap blend that’s tasty enough to be enjoyable yet mild enough for a beginner. One of the first cigars that always comes to mind is the Oliva Serie G.. Now just because this Cameroon-wrapped smoke has a price and flavor profile that makes it approachable for infrequent smokers, that doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyed by seasoned cigar veterans, too. CIGAR REVIEW: CAO SESSION GARAGE You won’t find too many details about Rick Rodriquez’s career on his LinkedIn profile. Basically, it says he has been at General Cigar since 1999, and the only role listed is “blender/ambassador.” Not exactly the kind of detail I was hoping for. General’s website thankfully has more information about Rodriguez. There, we can learn

that

CIGAR REVIEW: UMBAGOG CORONA GORDA The Umbagog line from Steve Saka’s Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust is one of a select few blends that have been featured heavily in my personal rotation during the quarantine. I suspect Umbagog’s inclusion has a lot to do with my desire to not want to sacrifice quality while keeping my cigar budget relatively in check. STOGIE REVIEWS: ALEC BRADLEY MAXX THE FIX In all honesty, I’ve pulled fewer sticks from the humidor with lower expectations. The combination of a silly name and a girth that seems more appropriate for a billy club isn’t what I look for in a cigar. On the other hand, I have read and heard good things about this line.

So, with some

QUICK SMOKE: CAMACHO 1962 (PRE-EMBARGO) 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.”. Especially before the Cuban embargo was loosened, Cuban tobacco in a cigar that could be legally sold in the United States was a good way to get consumers to pay attention, even if some weren’t all that good. STOGIE REVIEWS: 5 VEGAS SERIES ‘A’ ALPHA I was amazed, and even a little embarrassed, to realize the other day that the 5 Vegas Series ‘A’ (pronounced Cinco Vegas) had not yet been the subject of a full Stogie Guys review. (It was the subject of a February Quick Smoke.)After all, the six inch by 52 ring gauge Alpha vitola is one of my favorite everyday go-to smokes – not to ruin the

ending or anything.

CIGAR REVIEW: GRAN HABANO LA CONQUISTA 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 CIGAR REVIEW: L'ATELIER IMPORTS TROCADÉRO CAMBON Yesterday, my colleague reviewed the J.P.G. Little Havana Overruns Corona, a budget-priced cigar by super-blender Jose Pepin Garcia made for retailer Holt’s. Today, I look at a cigar with a similar pedigree and value-oriented price: L’Atelier Trocadéro Cambon. L’Atelier is a new company headed by Pete Johnson of Tatuaje fame. While Tatuaje (and all of CIGAR REVIEW: SOBREMESA ROBUSTO LARGO Trackbacks and Pingbacks. StogieGuys.com’s Top Cigars of 2019 - The Stogie Guys - Monday, December 16, 2019. Sobremesa Robusto Largo: “After establishing an even light, I find a creamy, balanced, delightfully familiar profile of café au lait, gentle cinnamon spice, salted nuts, and a bit of cayenne heat. CIGAR REVIEW: CHARTER OAK MADURO TORO Last month I reviewed the Charter Oak CT Shade, Nicholas Melillo’s attempt at an affordably priced cigar for any time of day. I found it to have a pleasant, straightforward, mild- to medium-bodied profile of cream, white pepper, peanut, and café au lait. The “unchanging, unpretentious” taste, however, tends to overstay its welcome,

especially in

CIGAR REVIEW: OLIVA SERIE G CAMEROON I often get asked to recommend a cheap blend that’s tasty enough to be enjoyable yet mild enough for a beginner. One of the first cigars that always comes to mind is the Oliva Serie G.. Now just because this Cameroon-wrapped smoke has a price and flavor profile that makes it approachable for infrequent smokers, that doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyed by seasoned cigar veterans, too. CIGAR REVIEW: CAO SESSION GARAGE You won’t find too many details about Rick Rodriquez’s career on his LinkedIn profile. Basically, it says he has been at General Cigar since 1999, and the only role listed is “blender/ambassador.” Not exactly the kind of detail I was hoping for. General’s website thankfully has more information about Rodriguez. There, we can learn

that

CIGAR REVIEW: UMBAGOG CORONA GORDA The Umbagog line from Steve Saka’s Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust is one of a select few blends that have been featured heavily in my personal rotation during the quarantine. I suspect Umbagog’s inclusion has a lot to do with my desire to not want to sacrifice quality while keeping my cigar budget relatively in check. STOGIE REVIEWS: ALEC BRADLEY MAXX THE FIX In all honesty, I’ve pulled fewer sticks from the humidor with lower expectations. The combination of a silly name and a girth that seems more appropriate for a billy club isn’t what I look for in a cigar. On the other hand, I have read and heard good things about this line.

So, with some

QUICK SMOKE: CAMACHO 1962 (PRE-EMBARGO) 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.”. Especially before the Cuban embargo was loosened, Cuban tobacco in a cigar that could be legally sold in the United States was a good way to get consumers to pay attention, even if some weren’t all that good. STOGIE REVIEWS: 5 VEGAS SERIES ‘A’ ALPHA I was amazed, and even a little embarrassed, to realize the other day that the 5 Vegas Series ‘A’ (pronounced Cinco Vegas) had not yet been the subject of a full Stogie Guys review. (It was the subject of a February Quick Smoke.)After all, the six inch by 52 ring gauge Alpha vitola is one of my favorite everyday go-to smokes – not to ruin the

ending or anything.

CIGAR REVIEW: GRAN HABANO LA CONQUISTA 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 CIGAR REVIEW: L'ATELIER IMPORTS TROCADÉRO CAMBON Yesterday, my colleague reviewed the J.P.G. Little Havana Overruns Corona, a budget-priced cigar by super-blender Jose Pepin Garcia made for retailer Holt’s. Today, I look at a cigar with a similar pedigree and value-oriented price: L’Atelier Trocadéro Cambon. L’Atelier is a new company headed by Pete Johnson of Tatuaje fame. While Tatuaje (and all of CIGAR REVIEW: DON TOMÁS MADURO ROBUSTO Don Tomás is one of many brands produced by General Cigar, which is either the largest or second largest cigar company in the world, depending on who you ask. Being a label in the General Cigar portfolio carries both advantages and disadvantages. As far as disadvantages go, Don Tomás is often overshadowed by the more CIGAR REVIEW: UMBAGOG CORONA GORDA The Umbagog line from Steve Saka’s Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust is one of a select few blends that have been featured heavily in my personal rotation during the quarantine. I suspect Umbagog’s inclusion has a lot to do with my desire to not want to sacrifice quality while keeping my cigar budget relatively in check. CIGAR REVIEW: LA AROMA DE CUBA MI AMOR Perusing the shelves of one of my favorite local tobacconists last weekend, I was looking for something new to try, perhaps a cigar that debuted at the 2012 industry trade show but had since managed to escape my clutches. I almost didn’t notice the QUICK SMOKE: CAMACHO 1962 (PRE-EMBARGO) 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.”. Especially before the Cuban embargo was loosened, Cuban tobacco in a cigar that could be legally sold in the United States was a good way to get consumers to pay attention, even if some weren’t all that good. CIGAR REVIEW: MY FATHER NO. 1 One might argue this review is unnecessary. For starters, I reviewed this same cigar (and same vitola) a little more than two years ago. In addition, the My Father line has become ubiquitous among cigar fans, earning it a solid reputation and diminishing the usefulness of yet another review stacked upon longstanding heaps of praise. STOGIE REVIEWS: 5 VEGAS SERIES ‘A’ ALPHA I was amazed, and even a little embarrassed, to realize the other day that the 5 Vegas Series ‘A’ (pronounced Cinco Vegas) had not yet been the subject of a full Stogie Guys review. (It was the subject of a February Quick Smoke.)After all, the six inch by 52 ring gauge Alpha vitola is one of my favorite everyday go-to smokes – not to ruin the

ending or anything.

CIGAR REVIEW: LA PALINA EL AÑO 1896 OSCURO ROBUSTO Before we get to smoking this cigar, let’s clear up some confusion about what it is. And what it isn’t. The blend and the production location are no longer what they were. The new version of La Palina El Año 1896 Oscuro uses a Costa Rican oscuro wrapper, a Dominican binder, and Dominican and Nicaraguan STOGIE REVIEWS: DON PEPIN GARCIA CUBAN CLASSIC ROBUSTO Trackbacks and Pingbacks. Cigar Reviews from Around the Blogs - Saturday, September 1, 2007. Patrick S. reviews the Don Pepin Cuban Classic. Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic Lancero « Matt’s Cigar Journal - Wednesday, May 28, 2008. The Stogie Guys give the Robusto 31/2 stogies Lucky7 at Keepers of the FLame liked the Robusto “Very Much” The Stogie Baby wasn’t CIGAR REVIEW: DREW ESTATE UNDERCROWN GRAN TORO Maybe I’m just cynical, but many of the stories that accompany the release of new blends sound like complete B.S. Usually they involve finding a mysterious stash of fantastic leaf in a hidden corner of a factory (how disorganized is your factory?), an accident on the part of a roller (thousands of cigars were mistakenly QUICK SMOKE: J. FUEGO PENNSYLVANIA BROADLEAF (PBL) ROBUSTO 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.” Made by Jesus Fuego, this affordable cigar ($32 for a bundle of 12) shows off a nearly black Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper. Beneath are CIGAR REVIEW: SOBREMESA ROBUSTO LARGO Trackbacks and Pingbacks. StogieGuys.com’s Top Cigars of 2019 - The Stogie Guys - Monday, December 16, 2019. Sobremesa Robusto Largo: “After establishing an even light, I find a creamy, balanced, delightfully familiar profile of café au lait, gentle cinnamon spice, salted nuts, and a bit of cayenne heat. CIGAR REVIEW: CHARTER OAK MADURO TORO Last month I reviewed the Charter Oak CT Shade, Nicholas Melillo’s attempt at an affordably priced cigar for any time of day. I found it to have a pleasant, straightforward, mild- to medium-bodied profile of cream, white pepper, peanut, and café au lait. The “unchanging, unpretentious” taste, however, tends to overstay its welcome,

especially in

CIGAR REVIEW: CAO SESSION GARAGE They are handmade in the Dominican Republic and employ a “unique post-fermentation treatment deepens Session’s flavor and darkens its color.”. I sampled three CAO Sessions in the Garage format for this review. As with many Connecticut Broadleaf cigars, it is lumpy and toothy in appearance. The dark, thick wrapper has some CIGAR REVIEW: OLIVA SERIE G CAMEROON I often get asked to recommend a cheap blend that’s tasty enough to be enjoyable yet mild enough for a beginner. One of the first cigars that always comes to mind is the Oliva Serie G.. Now just because this Cameroon-wrapped smoke has a price and flavor profile that makes it approachable for infrequent smokers, that doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyed by seasoned cigar veterans, too. CIGAR REVIEW: UMBAGOG CORONA GORDA Umbagog “is a perfect cigar for my time upon her waters,” writes Saka on the Dunbarton website. “It is robust and durable, designed to endure the rigors of outside activity with its thick Broadleaf capa and easy-burning liga. This is a cigar that doesn’t pretend to be special or seek to elicit the ‘oohs’ or ‘aahs’ of the cigar STOGIE REVIEWS: ALEC BRADLEY MAXX THE FIX Stogie Reviews: Alec Bradley Maxx The Fix. In all honesty, I’ve pulled fewer sticks from the humidor with lower expectations. The combination of a silly name and a girth that seems more appropriate for a billy club isn’t what I look for in a cigar. On the other hand, I have read and heard good things about this line. CIGAR REVIEW: CROMAGNON BLOCKHEAD Blockhead (6 x 54) is box-pressed. It retails for about $11 for a single, or $100 for a box of 10. Not unlike the Cranium, it has a dark, reddish exterior leaf with moderate oils, plenty of tooth, and a couple noticeable veins. At the foot, the pre-light notes remind me of dark chocolate and syrup. The rough cap clips cleanly, and the cold

draw

QUICK SMOKE: CAMACHO 1962 (PRE-EMBARGO) Quick Smoke: Camacho 1962 (Pre-Embargo) 8 Oct 2017. 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.”. Especially before the Cuban embargo was loosened, Cuban tobacco in a cigar that could be legally sold in the United States was

a good

STOGIE REVIEWS: 5 VEGAS SERIES ‘A’ ALPHA I was amazed, and even a little embarrassed, to realize the other day that the 5 Vegas Series ‘A’ (pronounced Cinco Vegas) had not yet been the subject of a full Stogie Guys review. (It was the subject of a February Quick Smoke.)After all, the six inch by 52 ring gauge Alpha vitola is one of my favorite everyday go-to smokes – not to ruin the

ending or anything.

CIGAR REVIEW: L'ATELIER IMPORTS TROCADÉRO CAMBON Yesterday, my colleague reviewed the J.P.G. Little Havana Overruns Corona, a budget-priced cigar by super-blender Jose Pepin Garcia made for retailer Holt’s. Today, I look at a cigar with a similar pedigree and value-oriented price: L’Atelier Trocadéro Cambon. L’Atelier is a new company headed by Pete Johnson of Tatuaje fame. While Tatuaje (and all of CIGAR REVIEW: SOBREMESA ROBUSTO LARGO Trackbacks and Pingbacks. StogieGuys.com’s Top Cigars of 2019 - The Stogie Guys - Monday, December 16, 2019. Sobremesa Robusto Largo: “After establishing an even light, I find a creamy, balanced, delightfully familiar profile of café au lait, gentle cinnamon spice, salted nuts, and a bit of cayenne heat. CIGAR REVIEW: CHARTER OAK MADURO TORO Last month I reviewed the Charter Oak CT Shade, Nicholas Melillo’s attempt at an affordably priced cigar for any time of day. I found it to have a pleasant, straightforward, mild- to medium-bodied profile of cream, white pepper, peanut, and café au lait. The “unchanging, unpretentious” taste, however, tends to overstay its welcome,

especially in

CIGAR REVIEW: CAO SESSION GARAGE They are handmade in the Dominican Republic and employ a “unique post-fermentation treatment deepens Session’s flavor and darkens its color.”. I sampled three CAO Sessions in the Garage format for this review. As with many Connecticut Broadleaf cigars, it is lumpy and toothy in appearance. The dark, thick wrapper has some CIGAR REVIEW: OLIVA SERIE G CAMEROON I often get asked to recommend a cheap blend that’s tasty enough to be enjoyable yet mild enough for a beginner. One of the first cigars that always comes to mind is the Oliva Serie G.. Now just because this Cameroon-wrapped smoke has a price and flavor profile that makes it approachable for infrequent smokers, that doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyed by seasoned cigar veterans, too. CIGAR REVIEW: UMBAGOG CORONA GORDA Umbagog “is a perfect cigar for my time upon her waters,” writes Saka on the Dunbarton website. “It is robust and durable, designed to endure the rigors of outside activity with its thick Broadleaf capa and easy-burning liga. This is a cigar that doesn’t pretend to be special or seek to elicit the ‘oohs’ or ‘aahs’ of the cigar STOGIE REVIEWS: ALEC BRADLEY MAXX THE FIX Stogie Reviews: Alec Bradley Maxx The Fix. In all honesty, I’ve pulled fewer sticks from the humidor with lower expectations. The combination of a silly name and a girth that seems more appropriate for a billy club isn’t what I look for in a cigar. On the other hand, I have read and heard good things about this line. CIGAR REVIEW: CROMAGNON BLOCKHEAD Blockhead (6 x 54) is box-pressed. It retails for about $11 for a single, or $100 for a box of 10. Not unlike the Cranium, it has a dark, reddish exterior leaf with moderate oils, plenty of tooth, and a couple noticeable veins. At the foot, the pre-light notes remind me of dark chocolate and syrup. The rough cap clips cleanly, and the cold

draw

QUICK SMOKE: CAMACHO 1962 (PRE-EMBARGO) Quick Smoke: Camacho 1962 (Pre-Embargo) 8 Oct 2017. 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.”. Especially before the Cuban embargo was loosened, Cuban tobacco in a cigar that could be legally sold in the United States was

a good

STOGIE REVIEWS: 5 VEGAS SERIES ‘A’ ALPHA I was amazed, and even a little embarrassed, to realize the other day that the 5 Vegas Series ‘A’ (pronounced Cinco Vegas) had not yet been the subject of a full Stogie Guys review. (It was the subject of a February Quick Smoke.)After all, the six inch by 52 ring gauge Alpha vitola is one of my favorite everyday go-to smokes – not to ruin the

ending or anything.

CIGAR REVIEW: L'ATELIER IMPORTS TROCADÉRO CAMBON Yesterday, my colleague reviewed the J.P.G. Little Havana Overruns Corona, a budget-priced cigar by super-blender Jose Pepin Garcia made for retailer Holt’s. Today, I look at a cigar with a similar pedigree and value-oriented price: L’Atelier Trocadéro Cambon. L’Atelier is a new company headed by Pete Johnson of Tatuaje fame. While Tatuaje (and all of CIGAR REVIEW: UMBAGOG CORONA GORDA Umbagog “is a perfect cigar for my time upon her waters,” writes Saka on the Dunbarton website. “It is robust and durable, designed to endure the rigors of outside activity with its thick Broadleaf capa and easy-burning liga. This is a cigar that doesn’t pretend to be special or seek to elicit the ‘oohs’ or ‘aahs’ of the cigar QUICK SMOKE: CAMACHO 1962 (PRE-EMBARGO) Quick Smoke: Camacho 1962 (Pre-Embargo) 8 Oct 2017. 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.”. Especially before the Cuban embargo was loosened, Cuban tobacco in a cigar that could be legally sold in the United States was

a good

CIGAR REVIEW: LA AROMA DE CUBA MI AMOR While the nicotine kick remains low from beginning to nub, the body is full. With excellent construction, a chalky texture, solid balance, and full body despite low strength, the Mi Amor Reserva Maximo is an outstanding smoke and my new favorite among La Aroma de Cuba’s fine portfolio. It will be interesting to see how this young cigar STOGIE REVIEWS: 5 VEGAS SERIES ‘A’ ALPHA I was amazed, and even a little embarrassed, to realize the other day that the 5 Vegas Series ‘A’ (pronounced Cinco Vegas) had not yet been the subject of a full Stogie Guys review. (It was the subject of a February Quick Smoke.)After all, the six inch by 52 ring gauge Alpha vitola is one of my favorite everyday go-to smokes – not to ruin the

ending or anything.

CIGAR REVIEW: MY FATHER NO. 1 One might argue this review is unnecessary. For starters, I reviewed this same cigar (and same vitola) a little more than two years ago. In addition, the My Father line has become ubiquitous among cigar fans, earning it a solid reputation and diminishing the usefulness of yet another review stacked upon longstanding heaps of praise. CIGAR REVIEW: LA PALINA EL AÑO 1896 OSCURO ROBUSTO La Palina’s new incarnation debut came in 2010. The smoking experience of El Año 1896 is as smooth as the nearly vein-free wrapper. Strength is in the medium range with modest pepper and spice. One of the more pleasing, and somewhat surprising, flavors I

encountered was a

CIGAR REVIEW: DREW ESTATE UNDERCROWN GRAN TORO The cigars sell from $7.45 to $9.95. Each of the three Gran Toros I smoked (all of which I received at the trade show in July) displayed perfect construction. The burns were even, the draw firm but not difficult, and the ashes held strong. I think Drew Estate has another fine cigar on its hands here, though perhaps not quite as exquisite as

the

CIGAR REVIEW: LA PALINA BLUE LABEL TORO (TAA EXCLUSIVE Blue, according to numerous experts, is a soothing color. And that might just be how you feel about this limited edition available for sale from members of the Tobacconists’ Association of America (TAA). With its light brown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, my first impression of the La Palina Blue Label was that of an “everyman” cigar. STOGIE REVIEWS: DON PEPIN GARCIA CUBAN CLASSIC ROBUSTO With classic five inch by 50 ring gauge robusto proportions, this cigar can be had for around $6 per stick. The Cuban Classic’s looks were similar to the Blue Label, though just a bit darker with fewer veins. The Corojo wrapper is a lovely caramel color. Power-packed with plenty of slightly salty ligero tobacco, this cigar starts out very QUICK SMOKE: J. FUEGO PENNSYLVANIA BROADLEAF (PBL) ROBUSTO 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.” Made by Jesus Fuego, this affordable cigar ($32 for a bundle of 12) shows off a nearly black Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper. Beneath are CIGAR REVIEW: SOBREMESA ROBUSTO LARGO Trackbacks and Pingbacks. StogieGuys.com’s Top Cigars of 2019 - The Stogie Guys - Monday, December 16, 2019. Sobremesa Robusto Largo: “After establishing an even light, I find a creamy, balanced, delightfully familiar profile of café au lait, gentle cinnamon spice, salted nuts, and a bit of cayenne heat. CIGAR INSIDER ARCHIVES Cigar Insider: Ernest Gocaj of General Cigar. 23 Oct 2017. For anyone interested in cigars and tobacco, CAO’s Fuma Em Corda is a fascinating release. The sight of its Arapiraca ligero filler leaves fermenting in thick ropes resembling coiled anacondas is unlike any other. I was, of course, curious about the cigar, the tobacco, and the

process

CIGAR REVIEW: OLIVA SERIE G CAMEROON I often get asked to recommend a cheap blend that’s tasty enough to be enjoyable yet mild enough for a beginner. One of the first cigars that always comes to mind is the Oliva Serie G.. Now just because this Cameroon-wrapped smoke has a price and flavor profile that makes it approachable for infrequent smokers, that doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyed by seasoned cigar veterans, too. CIGAR REVIEW: CHARTER OAK MADURO TORO Last month I reviewed the Charter Oak CT Shade, Nicholas Melillo’s attempt at an affordably priced cigar for any time of day. I found it to have a pleasant, straightforward, mild- to medium-bodied profile of cream, white pepper, peanut, and café au lait. The “unchanging, unpretentious” taste, however, tends to overstay its welcome,

especially in

STOGIE REVIEWS: ALEC BRADLEY MAXX THE FIX Stogie Reviews: Alec Bradley Maxx The Fix. In all honesty, I’ve pulled fewer sticks from the humidor with lower expectations. The combination of a silly name and a girth that seems more appropriate for a billy club isn’t what I look for in a cigar. On the other hand, I have read and heard good things about this line. QUICK SMOKE: CAMACHO 1962 (PRE-EMBARGO) Quick Smoke: Camacho 1962 (Pre-Embargo) 8 Oct 2017. 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.”. Especially before the Cuban embargo was loosened, Cuban tobacco in a cigar that could be legally sold in the United States was

a good

CIGAR REVIEW: PAUL GARMIRIAN GOURMET NO. 2 ’95 The non-vintage version of the vitola (4.75 x 48) sells for $11 each; for only a few dollars more, though, you can smoke one with 22 years of age. It’s an easy decision. Pre-light, after sliding the cigar out of its slightly yellowed cellophane, the Gourmet No. 2 exhibits notes of old tobacco, leather, and hay. CIGAR TIP: CIGARS AND THE COMMON COLD Others call it the common cold. The medical community recognizes it as a “viral upper respiratory tract infection.”. No matter what the name, the symptoms are usually the same: runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, mild fatigue, and possibly a fever. And, like the summertime blues, there ain’t no cure. The average adult experiences two to CIGAR REVIEW: LA PALINA BLUE LABEL TORO (TAA EXCLUSIVELA PALINA BLACK LABEL REVIEWLA PALINA RED LABEL REVIEWLA PALINA RED LABELLA PALINA CIGAR REVIEWLA PALINA CLASSIC CIGARLA PALINA RESERVE Blue, according to numerous experts, is a soothing color. And that might just be how you feel about this limited edition available for sale from members of the Tobacconists’ Association of America (TAA). With its light brown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, my first impression of the La Palina Blue Label was that of an “everyman” cigar. CIGAR REVIEW: L'ATELIER IMPORTS TROCADÉRO CAMBON Yesterday, my colleague reviewed the J.P.G. Little Havana Overruns Corona, a budget-priced cigar by super-blender Jose Pepin Garcia made for retailer Holt’s. Today, I look at a cigar with a similar pedigree and value-oriented price: L’Atelier Trocadéro Cambon. L’Atelier is a new company headed by Pete Johnson of Tatuaje fame. While Tatuaje (and all of CIGAR REVIEW: SOBREMESA ROBUSTO LARGO Trackbacks and Pingbacks. StogieGuys.com’s Top Cigars of 2019 - The Stogie Guys - Monday, December 16, 2019. Sobremesa Robusto Largo: “After establishing an even light, I find a creamy, balanced, delightfully familiar profile of café au lait, gentle cinnamon spice, salted nuts, and a bit of cayenne heat. CIGAR INSIDER ARCHIVES Cigar Insider: Ernest Gocaj of General Cigar. 23 Oct 2017. For anyone interested in cigars and tobacco, CAO’s Fuma Em Corda is a fascinating release. The sight of its Arapiraca ligero filler leaves fermenting in thick ropes resembling coiled anacondas is unlike any other. I was, of course, curious about the cigar, the tobacco, and the

process

CIGAR REVIEW: OLIVA SERIE G CAMEROON I often get asked to recommend a cheap blend that’s tasty enough to be enjoyable yet mild enough for a beginner. One of the first cigars that always comes to mind is the Oliva Serie G.. Now just because this Cameroon-wrapped smoke has a price and flavor profile that makes it approachable for infrequent smokers, that doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyed by seasoned cigar veterans, too. CIGAR REVIEW: CHARTER OAK MADURO TORO Last month I reviewed the Charter Oak CT Shade, Nicholas Melillo’s attempt at an affordably priced cigar for any time of day. I found it to have a pleasant, straightforward, mild- to medium-bodied profile of cream, white pepper, peanut, and café au lait. The “unchanging, unpretentious” taste, however, tends to overstay its welcome,

especially in

STOGIE REVIEWS: ALEC BRADLEY MAXX THE FIX Stogie Reviews: Alec Bradley Maxx The Fix. In all honesty, I’ve pulled fewer sticks from the humidor with lower expectations. The combination of a silly name and a girth that seems more appropriate for a billy club isn’t what I look for in a cigar. On the other hand, I have read and heard good things about this line. QUICK SMOKE: CAMACHO 1962 (PRE-EMBARGO) Quick Smoke: Camacho 1962 (Pre-Embargo) 8 Oct 2017. 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.”. Especially before the Cuban embargo was loosened, Cuban tobacco in a cigar that could be legally sold in the United States was

a good

CIGAR REVIEW: PAUL GARMIRIAN GOURMET NO. 2 ’95 The non-vintage version of the vitola (4.75 x 48) sells for $11 each; for only a few dollars more, though, you can smoke one with 22 years of age. It’s an easy decision. Pre-light, after sliding the cigar out of its slightly yellowed cellophane, the Gourmet No. 2 exhibits notes of old tobacco, leather, and hay. CIGAR TIP: CIGARS AND THE COMMON COLD Others call it the common cold. The medical community recognizes it as a “viral upper respiratory tract infection.”. No matter what the name, the symptoms are usually the same: runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, mild fatigue, and possibly a fever. And, like the summertime blues, there ain’t no cure. The average adult experiences two to CIGAR REVIEW: LA PALINA BLUE LABEL TORO (TAA EXCLUSIVELA PALINA BLACK LABEL REVIEWLA PALINA RED LABEL REVIEWLA PALINA RED LABELLA PALINA CIGAR REVIEWLA PALINA CLASSIC CIGARLA PALINA RESERVE Blue, according to numerous experts, is a soothing color. And that might just be how you feel about this limited edition available for sale from members of the Tobacconists’ Association of America (TAA). With its light brown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, my first impression of the La Palina Blue Label was that of an “everyman” cigar. CIGAR REVIEW: L'ATELIER IMPORTS TROCADÉRO CAMBON Yesterday, my colleague reviewed the J.P.G. Little Havana Overruns Corona, a budget-priced cigar by super-blender Jose Pepin Garcia made for retailer Holt’s. Today, I look at a cigar with a similar pedigree and value-oriented price: L’Atelier Trocadéro Cambon. L’Atelier is a new company headed by Pete Johnson of Tatuaje fame. While Tatuaje (and all of CIGAR INSIDER ARCHIVES Cigar Insider: Ernest Gocaj of General Cigar. 23 Oct 2017. For anyone interested in cigars and tobacco, CAO’s Fuma Em Corda is a fascinating release. The sight of its Arapiraca ligero filler leaves fermenting in thick ropes resembling coiled anacondas is unlike any other. I was, of course, curious about the cigar, the tobacco, and the

process

CIGAR REVIEW: UMBAGOG CORONA GORDA Umbagog “is a perfect cigar for my time upon her waters,” writes Saka on the Dunbarton website. “It is robust and durable, designed to endure the rigors of outside activity with its thick Broadleaf capa and easy-burning liga. This is a cigar that doesn’t pretend to be special or seek to elicit the ‘oohs’ or ‘aahs’ of the cigar CIGAR REVIEW: MY FATHER NO. 1 The robusto-sized No. 1 (5.5 x 52) sells for around $10. It is a very attractive smoke with a gorgeous band and a smooth, oily wrapper. The pre-light aroma is characterized by notes of caramel and cocoa. Clipping the triple cap yields an easy draw. After an even light is established, a profile of black pepper, cedar spice, coffee, and

chocolate

CIGAR REVIEW: L'ATELIER IMPORTS TROCADÉRO CAMBON Yesterday, my colleague reviewed the J.P.G. Little Havana Overruns Corona, a budget-priced cigar by super-blender Jose Pepin Garcia made for retailer Holt’s. Today, I look at a cigar with a similar pedigree and value-oriented price: L’Atelier Trocadéro Cambon. L’Atelier is a new company headed by Pete Johnson of Tatuaje fame. While Tatuaje (and all of CIGAR REVIEW: LA AROMA DE CUBA MI AMOR While the nicotine kick remains low from beginning to nub, the body is full. With excellent construction, a chalky texture, solid balance, and full body despite low strength, the Mi Amor Reserva Maximo is an outstanding smoke and my new favorite among La Aroma de Cuba’s fine portfolio. It will be interesting to see how this young cigar CIGAR TIP: CIGARS AND THE COMMON COLD Others call it the common cold. The medical community recognizes it as a “viral upper respiratory tract infection.”. No matter what the name, the symptoms are usually the same: runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, mild fatigue, and possibly a fever. And, like the summertime blues, there ain’t no cure. The average adult experiences two to CIGAR REVIEW: PAUL GARMIRIAN GOURMET NO. 2 ’95 The non-vintage version of the vitola (4.75 x 48) sells for $11 each; for only a few dollars more, though, you can smoke one with 22 years of age. It’s an easy decision. Pre-light, after sliding the cigar out of its slightly yellowed cellophane, the Gourmet No. 2 exhibits notes of old tobacco, leather, and hay. CIGAR REVIEW: DREW ESTATE UNDERCROWN GRAN TORO The cigars sell from $7.45 to $9.95. Each of the three Gran Toros I smoked (all of which I received at the trade show in July) displayed perfect construction. The burns were even, the draw firm but not difficult, and the ashes held strong. I think Drew Estate has another fine cigar on its hands here, though perhaps not quite as exquisite as

the

CIGAR REVIEW: CURIVARI BUENAVENTURA PRALINES P554 More than once I’ve praised the Buenaventura line by Curivari as not only an excellent smoke, but an excellent value (the cigars retail for around $5 each). Over the past couple years, Curivari has begun adding extensions to the line, starting with the Pralines blend in 2015. (Since then, a Connecticut-wrapped Cremas extension and a mixed-filler Picadura version have debuted, too.) QUICK SMOKE: J. FUEGO PENNSYLVANIA BROADLEAF (PBL) ROBUSTO 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.” Made by Jesus Fuego, this affordable cigar ($32 for a bundle of 12) shows off a nearly black Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper. Beneath are CIGAR REVIEW: SOBREMESA ROBUSTO LARGO Trackbacks and Pingbacks. StogieGuys.com’s Top Cigars of 2019 - The Stogie Guys - Monday, December 16, 2019. Sobremesa Robusto Largo: “After establishing an even light, I find a creamy, balanced, delightfully familiar profile of café au lait, gentle cinnamon spice, salted nuts, and a bit of cayenne heat. CIGAR INSIDER ARCHIVES Cigar Insider: Ernest Gocaj of General Cigar. 23 Oct 2017. For anyone interested in cigars and tobacco, CAO’s Fuma Em Corda is a fascinating release. The sight of its Arapiraca ligero filler leaves fermenting in thick ropes resembling coiled anacondas is unlike any other. I was, of course, curious about the cigar, the tobacco, and the

process

CIGAR REVIEW: OLIVA SERIE G CAMEROON I often get asked to recommend a cheap blend that’s tasty enough to be enjoyable yet mild enough for a beginner. One of the first cigars that always comes to mind is the Oliva Serie G.. Now just because this Cameroon-wrapped smoke has a price and flavor profile that makes it approachable for infrequent smokers, that doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyed by seasoned cigar veterans, too. CIGAR REVIEW: CHARTER OAK MADURO TORO Last month I reviewed the Charter Oak CT Shade, Nicholas Melillo’s attempt at an affordably priced cigar for any time of day. I found it to have a pleasant, straightforward, mild- to medium-bodied profile of cream, white pepper, peanut, and café au lait. The “unchanging, unpretentious” taste, however, tends to overstay its welcome,

especially in

STOGIE REVIEWS: ALEC BRADLEY MAXX THE FIX Stogie Reviews: Alec Bradley Maxx The Fix. In all honesty, I’ve pulled fewer sticks from the humidor with lower expectations. The combination of a silly name and a girth that seems more appropriate for a billy club isn’t what I look for in a cigar. On the other hand, I have read and heard good things about this line. QUICK SMOKE: CAMACHO 1962 (PRE-EMBARGO) Quick Smoke: Camacho 1962 (Pre-Embargo) 8 Oct 2017. 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.”. Especially before the Cuban embargo was loosened, Cuban tobacco in a cigar that could be legally sold in the United States was

a good

CIGAR REVIEW: PAUL GARMIRIAN GOURMET NO. 2 ’95 The non-vintage version of the vitola (4.75 x 48) sells for $11 each; for only a few dollars more, though, you can smoke one with 22 years of age. It’s an easy decision. Pre-light, after sliding the cigar out of its slightly yellowed cellophane, the Gourmet No. 2 exhibits notes of old tobacco, leather, and hay. CIGAR TIP: CIGARS AND THE COMMON COLD Others call it the common cold. The medical community recognizes it as a “viral upper respiratory tract infection.”. No matter what the name, the symptoms are usually the same: runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, mild fatigue, and possibly a fever. And, like the summertime blues, there ain’t no cure. The average adult experiences two to CIGAR REVIEW: LA PALINA BLUE LABEL TORO (TAA EXCLUSIVELA PALINA BLACK LABEL REVIEWLA PALINA RED LABEL REVIEWLA PALINA RED LABELLA PALINA CIGAR REVIEWLA PALINA CLASSIC CIGARLA PALINA RESERVE Blue, according to numerous experts, is a soothing color. And that might just be how you feel about this limited edition available for sale from members of the Tobacconists’ Association of America (TAA). With its light brown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, my first impression of the La Palina Blue Label was that of an “everyman” cigar. CIGAR REVIEW: L'ATELIER IMPORTS TROCADÉRO CAMBON Yesterday, my colleague reviewed the J.P.G. Little Havana Overruns Corona, a budget-priced cigar by super-blender Jose Pepin Garcia made for retailer Holt’s. Today, I look at a cigar with a similar pedigree and value-oriented price: L’Atelier Trocadéro Cambon. L’Atelier is a new company headed by Pete Johnson of Tatuaje fame. While Tatuaje (and all of CIGAR REVIEW: SOBREMESA ROBUSTO LARGO Trackbacks and Pingbacks. StogieGuys.com’s Top Cigars of 2019 - The Stogie Guys - Monday, December 16, 2019. Sobremesa Robusto Largo: “After establishing an even light, I find a creamy, balanced, delightfully familiar profile of café au lait, gentle cinnamon spice, salted nuts, and a bit of cayenne heat. CIGAR INSIDER ARCHIVES Cigar Insider: Ernest Gocaj of General Cigar. 23 Oct 2017. For anyone interested in cigars and tobacco, CAO’s Fuma Em Corda is a fascinating release. The sight of its Arapiraca ligero filler leaves fermenting in thick ropes resembling coiled anacondas is unlike any other. I was, of course, curious about the cigar, the tobacco, and the

process

CIGAR REVIEW: OLIVA SERIE G CAMEROON I often get asked to recommend a cheap blend that’s tasty enough to be enjoyable yet mild enough for a beginner. One of the first cigars that always comes to mind is the Oliva Serie G.. Now just because this Cameroon-wrapped smoke has a price and flavor profile that makes it approachable for infrequent smokers, that doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyed by seasoned cigar veterans, too. CIGAR REVIEW: CHARTER OAK MADURO TORO Last month I reviewed the Charter Oak CT Shade, Nicholas Melillo’s attempt at an affordably priced cigar for any time of day. I found it to have a pleasant, straightforward, mild- to medium-bodied profile of cream, white pepper, peanut, and café au lait. The “unchanging, unpretentious” taste, however, tends to overstay its welcome,

especially in

STOGIE REVIEWS: ALEC BRADLEY MAXX THE FIX Stogie Reviews: Alec Bradley Maxx The Fix. In all honesty, I’ve pulled fewer sticks from the humidor with lower expectations. The combination of a silly name and a girth that seems more appropriate for a billy club isn’t what I look for in a cigar. On the other hand, I have read and heard good things about this line. QUICK SMOKE: CAMACHO 1962 (PRE-EMBARGO) Quick Smoke: Camacho 1962 (Pre-Embargo) 8 Oct 2017. 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.”. Especially before the Cuban embargo was loosened, Cuban tobacco in a cigar that could be legally sold in the United States was

a good

CIGAR REVIEW: PAUL GARMIRIAN GOURMET NO. 2 ’95 The non-vintage version of the vitola (4.75 x 48) sells for $11 each; for only a few dollars more, though, you can smoke one with 22 years of age. It’s an easy decision. Pre-light, after sliding the cigar out of its slightly yellowed cellophane, the Gourmet No. 2 exhibits notes of old tobacco, leather, and hay. CIGAR TIP: CIGARS AND THE COMMON COLD Others call it the common cold. The medical community recognizes it as a “viral upper respiratory tract infection.”. No matter what the name, the symptoms are usually the same: runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, mild fatigue, and possibly a fever. And, like the summertime blues, there ain’t no cure. The average adult experiences two to CIGAR REVIEW: LA PALINA BLUE LABEL TORO (TAA EXCLUSIVELA PALINA BLACK LABEL REVIEWLA PALINA RED LABEL REVIEWLA PALINA RED LABELLA PALINA CIGAR REVIEWLA PALINA CLASSIC CIGARLA PALINA RESERVE Blue, according to numerous experts, is a soothing color. And that might just be how you feel about this limited edition available for sale from members of the Tobacconists’ Association of America (TAA). With its light brown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, my first impression of the La Palina Blue Label was that of an “everyman” cigar. CIGAR REVIEW: L'ATELIER IMPORTS TROCADÉRO CAMBON Yesterday, my colleague reviewed the J.P.G. Little Havana Overruns Corona, a budget-priced cigar by super-blender Jose Pepin Garcia made for retailer Holt’s. Today, I look at a cigar with a similar pedigree and value-oriented price: L’Atelier Trocadéro Cambon. L’Atelier is a new company headed by Pete Johnson of Tatuaje fame. While Tatuaje (and all of CIGAR INSIDER ARCHIVES Cigar Insider: Ernest Gocaj of General Cigar. 23 Oct 2017. For anyone interested in cigars and tobacco, CAO’s Fuma Em Corda is a fascinating release. The sight of its Arapiraca ligero filler leaves fermenting in thick ropes resembling coiled anacondas is unlike any other. I was, of course, curious about the cigar, the tobacco, and the

process

CIGAR REVIEW: UMBAGOG CORONA GORDA Umbagog “is a perfect cigar for my time upon her waters,” writes Saka on the Dunbarton website. “It is robust and durable, designed to endure the rigors of outside activity with its thick Broadleaf capa and easy-burning liga. This is a cigar that doesn’t pretend to be special or seek to elicit the ‘oohs’ or ‘aahs’ of the cigar CIGAR REVIEW: MY FATHER NO. 1 The robusto-sized No. 1 (5.5 x 52) sells for around $10. It is a very attractive smoke with a gorgeous band and a smooth, oily wrapper. The pre-light aroma is characterized by notes of caramel and cocoa. Clipping the triple cap yields an easy draw. After an even light is established, a profile of black pepper, cedar spice, coffee, and

chocolate

CIGAR REVIEW: L'ATELIER IMPORTS TROCADÉRO CAMBON Yesterday, my colleague reviewed the J.P.G. Little Havana Overruns Corona, a budget-priced cigar by super-blender Jose Pepin Garcia made for retailer Holt’s. Today, I look at a cigar with a similar pedigree and value-oriented price: L’Atelier Trocadéro Cambon. L’Atelier is a new company headed by Pete Johnson of Tatuaje fame. While Tatuaje (and all of CIGAR REVIEW: LA AROMA DE CUBA MI AMOR While the nicotine kick remains low from beginning to nub, the body is full. With excellent construction, a chalky texture, solid balance, and full body despite low strength, the Mi Amor Reserva Maximo is an outstanding smoke and my new favorite among La Aroma de Cuba’s fine portfolio. It will be interesting to see how this young cigar CIGAR TIP: CIGARS AND THE COMMON COLD Others call it the common cold. The medical community recognizes it as a “viral upper respiratory tract infection.”. No matter what the name, the symptoms are usually the same: runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, mild fatigue, and possibly a fever. And, like the summertime blues, there ain’t no cure. The average adult experiences two to CIGAR REVIEW: PAUL GARMIRIAN GOURMET NO. 2 ’95 The non-vintage version of the vitola (4.75 x 48) sells for $11 each; for only a few dollars more, though, you can smoke one with 22 years of age. It’s an easy decision. Pre-light, after sliding the cigar out of its slightly yellowed cellophane, the Gourmet No. 2 exhibits notes of old tobacco, leather, and hay. CIGAR REVIEW: DREW ESTATE UNDERCROWN GRAN TORO The cigars sell from $7.45 to $9.95. Each of the three Gran Toros I smoked (all of which I received at the trade show in July) displayed perfect construction. The burns were even, the draw firm but not difficult, and the ashes held strong. I think Drew Estate has another fine cigar on its hands here, though perhaps not quite as exquisite as

the

CIGAR REVIEW: CURIVARI BUENAVENTURA PRALINES P554 More than once I’ve praised the Buenaventura line by Curivari as not only an excellent smoke, but an excellent value (the cigars retail for around $5 each). Over the past couple years, Curivari has begun adding extensions to the line, starting with the Pralines blend in 2015. (Since then, a Connecticut-wrapped Cremas extension and a mixed-filler Picadura version have debuted, too.) QUICK SMOKE: J. FUEGO PENNSYLVANIA BROADLEAF (PBL) ROBUSTO 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.” Made by Jesus Fuego, this affordable cigar ($32 for a bundle of 12) shows off a nearly black Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper. Beneath are

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CIGAR REVIEW: TATUAJE THE CHUCK

11 Nov 2020

The Monster Series from Pete Johnson’s Tatuaje Cigars has been around almost as long as this website—which, in cigar years, is pretty much an eternity. It started in 2008 with The Frank and wrapped up in 2019 with a dual Halloween-timed releases for The Tiff and The

Chuck.

In between, many of Johnson’s favorite characters from the horror genre were celebrated, including The Bride, The Drac

,

The Face, The Hyde

,

The Jekyll

,

The JV13, The Krueger

,

The Michael

,

The Mummy

,

and The Wolfman

.

This annual Halloween release (13 in total) constituted arguably the most sought-after, longest-running, most collectable series of limited production creations in the world of boutique cigars. Scarcity was certainly a factor at play. Traditionally, Johnson only produced 666 “dress boxes” of 13 cigars for that year’s Monster Series release, with only 13 “unlucky” retailers getting the bulk of the boxes to sell. The 2019 release of The Chuck and The Tiff, however, saw some notable differences. For one, there were two releases, and the two dress boxes interlock to form one _Child’s

Play_

-inspired

collectable piece. Also, Johnson doubled the unlucky retailers to 26 each receiving 13 dress boxes of both cigars (with another 328 boxes of each cigar sold to other retailers). Of note: The release of The Chuck and The Tiff in the preceding paragraph relates to the full Monster Series production, not offshoot Tatuaje Monster sizes like Little Monsters, Pudgy

Monsters

,

Skinny Monsters, Skinny Monsters Cazadores, or Skinny Monsters Lancero. Both The Chuck and The Tiff made appearances across all of these other formats, except Little Monsters. If all this is confusing—and it’s OK to admit it is—here’s the bottom line: In 2019, Tatuaje launched its last two full cigars in the Monster Series: The Tiff (5.9 x 52, $13, 31,000 total cigars) and The Chuck (5.9 x 52, $13, 31,000 total cigars). Today I’m reviewing The Chuck, which was made at My Father Cigars S.A. in Nicaragua with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper around Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. (In contrast, The Tiff has an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper around Nicaraguan tobaccos.) It’s a well-formed, firm cigar with an oily, dark chocolate-colored wrapper that’s not without a few large veins. The cold draw is smooth, and the pre-light aroma at the foot is reminiscent of green raisin, hay, and cereals. The Chuck starts with a burst of both red and black pepper spice along with some heavy notes of earth and leather. The texture is dry and bready. The Habano wrapper clearly takes center stage. The spice dials back after about a quarter-inch, and that leaves room for some subtle sweetness to come through. Heading into the midway point, the spice remains yet continues to fade. Here, I would classify both the strength and body as medium. Leather and cereals make up the core with some nice additions like roasted peanut, raisin, and black coffee. The final third is more of the same but with even less spice. Across the three samples I smoked for this review, construction was both consistent and admirable. The burn line requires a few touch-ups along the way, the draw is smooth, and the smoke production is adequate. The ash tends to be fairly flaky, though, and is prone to fall off prematurely. It’s impossible to smoke The Chuck and not compare it to other cigars in Tatuaje’s Moster Series. Looking back on my reviews, it seems my favorites were The Mummy

and The Jekyll

(probably in that order). I also _loved_ Boris

,

though Johnson says this release doesn’t officially count as part of the Monster Series. In any event, while The Chuck is a fine cigar, I would not put it in the same class as my favorites from the series, and have settled on a respectable score of three and a half stogies

out of five

.

_–Patrick A

_

photo credit: Stogie Guys * Comments 0 Comments * Categories Cigar Reviews

* Author Patrick A

TIPS: FIVE COLD-WEATHER DRINKS TO PAIR WITH CIGARS

28 Oct 2020

Summer is in the rear-view mirror. With autumn’s arrival, temperatures are be dropping. And if you’re smoking cigars outdoors, you may be looking for a drink pairing that works with the season. Here are five suggestions: SINGLE MALT SCOTCH — It is exceedingly rare that I drink scotch when the temperature is warm, but this time of year I find myself pouring scotch to pair with a cigar more often. Depending on your taste, peaty scotch or sherried single malt whiskey both have unexplained warming qualities. Some of my favorites (Laphroaig PX Cask, Ardbeg Uigeadail) are actually both sherried and peated. HOT TODDY — A classic that can be made with scotch (save the single malt, use a blend), bourbon, brandy, or even mezcal. It’s simple to make. Just add sugar, lemon, and cloves to boiling water and your spirit. Hot toddies pair well with Connecticut-wrapped cigars. STONEWALL JACKSON — An American classic consisting of hot cider and bourbon (but rye, Tennessee whiskey, or even spiced rum fill in nicely). As I’ve written before

,

it’s a late fall drink that pairs with stronger cigars, like the 601

Green or Fausto.

HOT BUTTERED RUM — Serially underrated (especially by those who have never tried it but think butter in a drink is just weird), hot

buttered rum

is

a little more complicated to make than other hot cocktails. After you make it a few times, though, you’ll find it’s really not too difficult. Drink yours with a medium-bodied Honduran or Nicaraguan cigar, or anytime you are outdoors and it is snowing. COFFEE — Still a classic, coffee (in its many forms) is a perfect pairing for cigars. Coffee in the morning with a mild cigar is a great pairing, same for a Cuban coffee in the afternoon or evening. If you don’t want caffeine late at night give decaf a try. (My bias against decaf stopped me from drinking it for years, but lately I’ve found some excellent decaf roasts from a local coffee shop.)

_–Patrick S

_

photo credit: Stogie Guys * Comments 0 Comments * Categories Spirits

, Tips

* Author Patrick S

CIGAR REVIEW: MI QUERIDA TRIQUI TRACA NO. 648

15 Oct 2020

The story of Triqui Traca starts with Mi Querida

,

the sophomore cigar line from Steve Saka’s Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust (DTT). Launched in the summer of 2016, Mi Querida was (and is) crafted at the Nicaragua American Cigars S.A. (NACSA) factory in Estelí by Raul Disla, under direction from Saka, with a blend of Nicaraguan tobaccos surrounded by a dark Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. Three summers later, in 2019, an offshoot called Mi Querida Triqui Traca was announced. The phrase _mi querida_ translates to “my dearest,” but in Nicaragua the phrase is most often used to describe a _secret_ mistress; _triqui traca_ is another Nicaraguan term, this one used to describe fireworks that are bound together to form a long string of fuses and ignited in the streets to mark special occasions

and holidays.

Triqui Traca is “arguably our boldest cigar released to date,” said Saka in a June 2019 press release. “At its core, it remains our quintessential Mi Querida blend with its earthy, sweet Broadleaf notes, but with the incorporation of a couple refinements.” Those refinements include the addition of a “high-octane” Dominican ligero leaf, and the replacement of the “traditional Connecticut Broadleaf mediums” used for Mi Querida wrappers with a “rarer No. 1 dark corona leaf.” As a result, Triqui Traca retains the “inherent sweet loam and chocolate characteristics” from Mi Querida, yet it “delivers a significantly heavier smoking experience,” says Saka. There are four Triqui Traca vitolas available: No. 552 (5 x 52, 20-count box), No. 648 (6 x 48, 20-count box), No. 652 (6 x 52, 20-count box), and No. 764 (7 x 64, 10-count box). These are easily distinguished from Mi Querida by their understated yet beautiful red-and-gold bands (Mi Querida sports identical bands, but the background color is blue). I sampled two Triqui Tracas in the No. 648 format ($11.75) for this review. Both are notably firm to the touch to the point where there is almost no give when lightly squeezed. They also both have toothy, slightly reddish, mouth-wateringly textured surfaces with significant oils and an almost crystallized appearance—especially when viewed in sunlight. The foot exudes a musty aroma with some sweet hints of

raisin.

The cold draw is smooth, notwithstanding the cigar’s firmness. Once an even light is established, I find a balanced, full-bodied, dense profile with notes of rich cocoa, espresso, musty earth, cereals, and cayenne heat. The texture is powdery—it’s hard to smoke this cigar without thinking about cocoa powder—and I would be remiss if I did not mention the nicotine intensity, which is typically something I don’t notice, even in strong cigars. Here, it’s noticeable but not

overbearing.

I also can’t stress enough how _heavy_ the overall taste is. This is a palate-coating cigar that lays a thick blanket of flavor that will drown out almost any beverage. As far as pairings go, I would suggest sipping neat a smoky Islay whiskey like Laphroaig, Ardbeg, or

Lagavulin.

Construction is masterful. Expect generous smoke production, a straight burn that requires no touch-ups, a smooth draw, and a white ash that holds very well off the foot. To date, my favorite DDT cigars are the Sobremesa Cervantes Fino and the Muestra de Saka Nacatamale

.

The Mi Querida Triqui Traca No. 648 is not quite on that level, but it’s close—and that earns it an exemplary rating of four and a half stogies out of five

.

_–Patrick A

_

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* Author Patrick A

CIGAR REVIEW: WUNDER|LUST GRAN TORO

28 Sep 2020

Two of the best cigars I smoked in 2013 were Abaddon

and Ouroboros

,

both of which are exclusives made by Skip Martin’s RoMa Craft Tobac for Blue Havana, a Chicago tobacconist. So when I read that Martin said, “in a lot of ways, like the American version of the Wunder|Lust,” I knew I had to get my hands

on some.

That’s easier said than done. Wunder|Lust, introduced in 2016, is made for—and exclusive to—retailers in Germany (the German prefix wunder means “wonder,” and the name also plays off the concept of wanderlust). But when I recently found a stateside RoMa sampler that included several Wunder|Lust cigars, I jumped at the chance. Made at the NicaSueño factory in Estelí, the Wunder|Lust recipe includes a Brazilian mata fina wrapper, an Indonesian besuki binder, and undisclosed filler. There are five sizes, each packaged in boxes of 40: Robusto, Petit Belicoso, Gran Corona, Fiorella, and Gran Toro. The later measures 6 inches long with a ring gauge of 52 and, depending on the exchange rate, retails for just under $11 (€9.25 in Germany). It has a handsome, understated light blue band over a white ring. Underneath is an oily wrapper with a well-executed cap and a firm feel throughout. While there are a couple prominent veins creating some minor wrinkles and lumps, there’s not enough to merit calling the cigar rustic. Once the cap is clipped, the cold draw is moderately stiff. At the foot, the pre-light notes remind me of cinnamon raisin bread. After establishing an even light with a few wooden matches, I find a dry, medium-bodied introductory profile with bready, oaky notes and a white pepper spice. Background flavors include espresso and cinnamon. As the first third turns into the second, RoMa Craft devotees who are used to Nicaraguan power might be surprised as the cigar retreats a bit in terms of strength. There is no retreat in taste, though. The aforementioned flavors still shine through but are now accented by subtle, Cuban-esque floral notes. This makes for a delightful, incredibly tasty experience, and one that remains largely unchanged

until the finale.

The physical properties—while not perfect—in no way interfere with my enjoyment of the Gran Toro. The burn requires no touch-ups or relights, but it is also prone to some uneven meandering. The white ash holds firm off the foot, the draw is smooth, and the smoke production is about average. I will resist the temptation to compare and contrast this with Abaddon or Ouroboros. My memory—and a re-read of the reviews I wrote seven years ago—seem to suggest this is a very different cigar, though one that’s equally enjoyable for different reasons. I’m a fan, and I’m glad I went out of my way to procure some Wunder|Lust; I suggest you do the same. The Wunder|Lust Gran Toro is worthy of a rating of four and a half stogies out of five

.

_–Patrick A

_

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* Author Patrick A

QUICK SMOKE: PARTAGAS SERIE P NO. 2 (CUBAN)

19 Sep 2020

_A couple times each week we’ll post a Quick Smoke

: not quite

a full review , just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or

“sell.”_

I’ve had this Cuban tubo in my humidor for at least five years. That time has served it well. The Partagas Serie P No. 2 (6.1 x 52) features notes of earth, coffee bean, cinnamon, nutmeg, cream, and toast. It’s medium-bodied with a balanced profile. While the foot was slightly frayed when removed from the tubo, it still demonstrated excellent construction with an even burn and sturdy ash.

Verdict = BUY.

_–Patrick S _

photo credit: Stogie Guys * Comments 1 Comment * Categories Quick Smoke

* Author Patrick S

CIGAR REVIEW: SOBREMESA BRÛLÉE GORDO

17 Sep 2020

When the Brûlée offshoot of the Sobremesa blend was introduced in 2019 by Steve Saka’s Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust (DTT), rumors began to swirl that the cap was sweetened. In addition to denying this allegation, Saka used his marketing genius to recently release a “Saka’s Taste For U’rself” sampler, or—in a thinly veiled jab at his detractors—“STFU.” Every cigar in the five-pack is the original Brûlée blend in the Toro format. But the catch is, some are unadulterated, some have sweetened caps, and one is

double-sweetened.

Saka will take to Facebook Live on October 1 to reveal which are which. In the meantime, today I am reviewing the Sobremesa Brûlée in its pure form, specifically in the Gordo vitola. The cigars examined were obtained at my own expense and not part of the STFU sampler. As with his other blends, Saka was very forthcoming about his motivations in crafting Sobremesa Brûlée, and the tobaccos he used to carry out this vision (I wish more cigar makers were this transparent). “Sobremesa Brûlée is a recreation of the milder, shade-wrapped ligas of my early years,” he wrote in a DTT press release. “Somewhere over the last three decades, many of the classic shade cigars have become wispy, uninspiring, and rather dull to my palate. I wanted to share with others the way I remember these blonde cigars being.” He went on to write that he does not “understand the recent trend of making strong Connecticut Shade cigars… To me this seems like an oxymoron and a fundamental lack of appreciation of the enchanting characteristics and nuances of shade-grown, Connecticut-seed tobaccos. In Brûlée, I embraced this shade capa and dedicated myself to showcasing its mild, sweet, and nutty nature.” What makes Brûlée a Sobremesa? The recipe is a variation on the core Sobremesa blend “in which the Pennsylvania-seed ligero has been removed, the Condega seco has been increased, and the wrapper is replaced with a top-shelf grade of BW Ecuador Connecticut Shade leaf.” The binder remains a Matacapan negro de Temporal leaf from

Mexico.

Originally, three Brûlée sizes were available, each ranging in price from $12.45 to $13.95: Robusto (5.25 x 52), Toro (6 x 52), and Gordo (6.25 x 60). A Double Corona (7 x 54) was added this year, along with a new limited edition variation called Brûlée Blue that (uncharacteristically, for Saka) has an undisclosed blend. When you slide the Brûlée Toro out of its cellophane, the first thing you notice is the nearly flawless, golden-colored, silky wrapper that’s affixed to the binder in such a way that the seams are barely noticeable. Veins are few and far-between and razor-thin. The pre-light notes at the foot are classic Connecticut Shade: sweet hay, almond, buttery oak, and sawdust. And the packing of tobacco is stiff, especially for a cigar with such a wide girth. Speaking of girth, I appreciate Saka employing a rounded pyramid cap for this vitola. That helps limit the awkwardness that usually accompanies smoking a 60-ring gauge cigar. Once this cap is clipped, I find a smooth cold draw with—yes—a fair amount of sweetness on the lips. While I take Saka at his word that nothing artificial is at play here, I can certainly see why many people believe otherwise. To me, the sensation reminds me of rum cake, almond cookie, and cognac. Sobremesa Brûlée is marketed as “a milder, even smoother adaptation of the Sobremesa blend that does not sacrifice its wonderfully complex flavors or aromas.” At the outset, the smoke production is low despite the smooth draw, which I attribute to the Gordo’s generous dimensions. Drawing more aggressively than I might otherwise be inclined highlights the core flavors, which include brown sugar, oak, butter, graham cracker, toast, and white pepper. The texture is bready and the body is mild-to-medium. It should be noted the ever-present sweetness on the lips likely makes a big impression on my interpretation of the flavor. The core flavors remain consistent throughout, the exception being a ramp-up in intensity in the second third, and another in the final third. That said, one important change is the draw, which opens considerably after the first third and heralds a much-improved rate of smoke production. The other physical attributes are exemplary, especially for such a large cigar. The burn is straight requiring no touch-ups, and the ash holds firm off the foot. The Sobremesa Brûlée Gordo takes a full two hours to smoke. Whether you think it is sweetened or not (again, Saka is insistent it is not, and I am inclined to believe him), that’s a big commitment with any cigar, and the reward must be either (1) phenomenal flavor that holds your attention or (2) several notable changes in flavor along the way. This cigar has the former. Connecticut Shade fans are bound to love it, and those who typically avoid this wrapper type are likely to find this to be an exception to the rule. I suspect I will enjoy any of the other sizes more—perhaps considerably more. In the case of the Gordo, I’m still a fan in spite of the size, and have settled on a very admirable score of four stogies out of five.

_–Patrick A

_

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* Author Patrick A

CIGAR REVIEW: POLPETTA

8 Sep 2020

At the end of 2019—back when the world was a much different place—Steve Saka’s Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust (DTT) announced a new event-only line called Polpetta (Italian for “meatball”). The key there is “event-only.” It’s challenging to stick to that strategy in a year when COIVD-19 effectively brought in-person cigar events to a screeching halt. Flash forward to July 16, 2020. Smoke Inn, a Florida-based retailer with a robust e-commerce presence, hosted a “Saka’s Smorgasbord” online event, which featured a conversation between Saka and Smoke Inn chief Abe Dababneh, as well as special deals on Dunbarton samplers. And, just as if the event had been conducted in-person, certain purchases included a varying number of Polpetta cigars. I jumped at what was likely my only chance to secure some Polpettas and made an online purchase of a sampler. Today I am reviewing the cigar after sampling two specimens. Saka describes this small (4 x 48) parejo as “utilizing the long leaf table trimmings from three of our current ligas.” He wrote on Facebook: “If this concept sounds familiar, it is. I have done it a few times in the past and we are now producing enough Broadleaf cigars to make it viable from a production point of view at DTT.” In addition to “meatball” being “the perfect moniker for this tasty treat,” it should be noted meatballs have a special place in Saka’s heart—and evidently he’s quite good at making them. Twice he has won the “Meatball Showdown” event held at Two Guys Smoke Shop in his home state of New Hampshire. The cigar includes a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper around a Mexican San Andrés binder. The filler is comprised of the aforementioned “table trimmings” from Saka’s Mi Querida, Mi Querida Triqui Traca, and Umbagog lines. Seemingly everything Steve Saka touches turns to gold these days. Yet Polpetta doesn’t have the look of a winner. It’s rough around the edges—literally. I realize Broadleaf makes for a thick wrapper, but here the seams stick out to the point they are prone to peel, crack, and nearly unravel. The cap isn’t pretty, either. When you get a “table trimmings” cigar, though, you’re more interested in a high flavor-to-cost ratio, not necessarily aesthetics. In terms of flavor, the outset is an interesting, bready mix of raisin, cocoa, espresso, white pepper, and earth. The mouthfeel is dry and oaky. After the first inch or so, the rest of the cigar is characterized by periods where the taste seems to stall—low intensity, papery, dry—and periods when the notes from the beginning

shine through.

In terms of physical properties, I have no complaints. The draw is smooth, the ash holds well off the foot, the burn is straight, and the smoke production is average. That said, it’s clear to me the highlight of the sampler I purchased (notwithstanding my motivations) is not the two Polpettas that were thrown in, but rather the ten other DTT cigars, including vitolas of

Sobremesa

,

Mi Querida

,

Mi Querida Triqui Traca, and Umbagog

.

While Polpetta is not a bad cigar by any means, I don’t think it’s worth going out of your way to seek out. In my book, it earns three

stogies out of five

—which

makes it the lowest-rated DTT cigar on this site.

_–Patrick A

_

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* Author Patrick A

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LAST SEVEN DAYS

* Cigar Review: Tatuaje The Chuck * Tips: Five Cold-Weather Drinks to Pair with Cigars * Cigar Review: Mi Querida Triqui Traca No. 648 * Cigar Review: Wunder|Lust Gran Toro * Quick Smoke: Partagas Serie P No. 2 (Cuban) * Cigar Review: Sobremesa Brûlée Gordo * Cigar Review: Polpetta

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