The Stogie Geeks Cigar Podcast

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Special Guests

Chris & Ben from Nice Tight Ash

Stogie of the Week

Unbanded: Quesada Selección España Robusto

Origin: Dominican Republic

Wrapper: Arapiraca (Ecuador)

Binder: Dominican Republic

Filler: Broadleaf Conn, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua

Strength: Medium

Vitola: Robusto

Size: 5 x 52

Age: About 6 months

MSRP: $8.50

This week we are drinking

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale

Paul's List

• My Uzi Weighs A Ton Baitfish - Fabulous petite corona, can't wait to grab more of these.
• Cohiba Siglo IV - Somewhat flat, was expecting more flavor, but burned really well.
• Partagas Serie D #4 Tubo - Spot on cuban flavors, nice packaging.
• Davidoff Colorado Claro Short Perfecto - This series is my favorite from Davidoff, full of flavors, very complex, and one of the most enjoyable smokes I've ever had. It comes in three different sizes, and they are all a treat to smoke. Very expensive.
• Romeo and Julieta 2007 LE - Plugged :(

Tim's List

• My Father Le Bijou 1922 Petit Robusto - A fantastic stick that I finally got around to revisiting during my holiday break. If you like dark rich flavors, I recommend grabbing a few to try.

• Ramon Allones Specially Selected (2005) - Nice medium bodied smoke. Flavors included wood, nuts, and a mild spice. I loved the toasty finish on second half. Construction was A+. Great gift and smoke! "Box Worthy"

• La Aurora Preferidos 1903 Cameroon No. 1 - Probably one of the best Cameroon smokes out there. Flavor profile includes some mild wood, sweetness, and that familiar Cameroon spice that reminds me of ginger. A refreshing finish and enjoyable medium bodied smoke. "Box Worthy"

• Davidoff Colorado Claro Special R - A visually stunning cigar. I mean it is gorgeous. While editing the pictures for the review I wanted to grab another. Flavor profile includes nice mix of graham cracker, nuts, and a faint caramel sweetness. I detected some coffee bean and cocoa undertones on the second half. Perfect construction, burn, and draw. Recommend grabbing a box or two or three.

Download Episode 8 Here

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Be sure to view the last few minutes, then you will understand the title to this episode

Stogie of the Week

Liga Privada Ünico Serie Feral Flying Pig

Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Viso

Binder: Plantation Grown Brazilian Mata Fina

Filler: Nicaragua (5 Leaves)

Strength: Medium/Full

Vitola: Figurado

Size: 5 3/8 x 60

Age: N/A

MSRP: $14.95 (Box of 10 $149.50)

This week we are drinking

Ron Abuelo Anejo Rum 7 Anos

We will smoke something else during this show...

Download Episode 7 Here

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This week we are drinking

• Knappogue Castle® 12 Year Old
• THE BALVENIE, DoubleWood, Aged 12 Years
• Knob Creek Barrel Aged 9 Years

Paul's Top Ten Stogies of 2011

1. EP Carillo Dark Ritual's
2. Partagas Benji Menendez Re-Release
3. Paul Garmarian Symphony 20th Salamone
4. Tatuaje Fausto Avion
5. Avo LE 2011
6. Oro Reserva double torpedo or robusto
7. La Verite 2009 Robusto
8. Alec Bradley Fine and Rare
9. Quesada Oktoberfest
10. Padrón 1964 Smoke Inn 15th Anniversary Maduro

Tim's Top Ten Stogies of 2011

1. AVO 85th 2011 Limited Edition - Without one my favorite new smokes this year. I buy very few boxes and this was one of the few in 2011. "The Oasis">
2. E.P. Carillo 2011 Limitada - "Dark Rituals" - My favorite EPC release to date. Great balance, complexity, and quality. "Box Worthy"
3. Paul Garmirian Symphony 20 (2011) Short Robusto - A great stick that just pours smoke and flavor. I prefer the Short Robusto to the larger sizes. I found the Salomone to have a little too much strength and a little less flavor. "Box Worthy"
4. Tatuaje M80 - Wow! wish I had grabbed a box of these. Great flavor, strength, and construction. "Box Worthy"
5. Tatuaje La Verite 2009 Robusto - Nice mix of wood, spice, and cream. Again I preferred the Robusto to the Churchill. "Box Worthy"
6. Liga Privada Unico Serie L40 - I love everything Liga Privada! Nuff Said! "Box Worthy"
7. J. Grotto Serie Reserve Gran Corona - Wood, Spice, and cream. Love this stick. "Box Worthy"
8. Tatuaje TAA - I wish I had grabbed more of these while they were still available. Nice unique flavor profile. "The Fiver"
9. Tatuaje Black Petit Lancero - My favorite vitola in the black series. I cannot wait until Pete does some other vitola's. "The Fiver"
10. Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial (2011) - I love the new size this year. it is working for me. "The Fiver"

Other Stuff We've Been Smoking

Paul's List:

• Arturo Fuente Short Story Maduro - I think this may have the best flavors of all the maduro hemming way sticks, smooth, TONS of flavor, great burn. A winner!
• Supposed Vintage Pre-Embargo Cuban - So, I was expecting some cuban flavors of some kind, but just didn't get that. It was a well-aged stick with nice flavors, but I don't think it was Cuban.
• Illusione Mk Ultra - Strength, but lacking on flavors.
• A Real Cuban (vintage) San Cristobol De La Habana - Torpedo - Soooooo, good. Best stick I've smoked in some time.

Tim's List

• La Riqueza No. 1 by Tatuaje - Wow! Wow! Wow! Check out the review. Nuff said.
• Paul Garmirian Reserva Exclusiva Corona Extra - Another incredible smoke I recently reviewed. Fantastic medium bodied smoke with a Cuban like flavor profile. In the end, my first "The Oasis" rating given on the site.
• Unbanded - LFD Chisel Double Ligero (2003) - A gift given to me my stogie santa during the last recording. This stick still has some power after all this time.
• Unbanded - Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Toro (2nd) from 2009 - Something was so wrong with this stick. I have had RP Vintage 1990 before and never have experienced such bitter or sourness. I had to give the "Lawn Mulch".

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This week Paul and Tim review the Liga Privada Unico Serie "L40" Lancero, talk about a dozen or so cigars that didn't make the top ten released for 2011, and do a segment on why you should smoke Cuban cigars.

Stogie of the Week

Liga Privada Unico Serie "L40" Lancero

Origin: Dominican Republic

Wrapper: Connecticut Stalk Cut Habano (CT River Valley Stalk Cut & Cured Habano Leaf)

Binder: Brazilian Mata Fina (Plantation-Grown)

Filler: Nicaragua (3 Extra-Choice Nicaraguan Cuban Seed)

Strength: Medium-Full

Vitola: Parejo

Size: 7 x 40 (Lancero)

Age: One year in Paul's humidor

MSRP: $12.95 (15 count box)

Fun Facts: "L40" refers to the slightly larger ring size than the typical lancer. It contains 5 different tobaccos, bumping up the ring gauge to a 40 (from the more traditional lancer ring size of 38). Its recipe was in development for 2+ years prior to release. Other smokes in the "Unico" series include the "Dirty Rat" and the "Feral Flying Pig".

From Drew Estate:

In our ongoing creation of the Liga Privada line, hundreds of different, distinct blends and vitolas are crafted in our ceaseless search for the perfect smoke. Most samples are dismissed with only a rare, select few being deemed worthy, but regretfully due to tobacco limitations, costs, construction limitations, etc. most of these blends can not be made into a their own stand-alone line. However, they are so perfect in flavor and aroma, we continue to selfishly make them for ourselves to smoke. This is not our desire, we want the Liga Privada connoisseur to enjoy the very same cigars our "El Jefe" smokes regardless of any reason. And with this in mind, we have created the Único Serie – a home for these unique ones. All of the cigars within this series are not only different in size and recipe, but they are extra special, extremely limited and exceptionally delicious.

Reference: Liga Privada Unico Series L40 Lancero – Specs

Other Reviews:

• www.acigarsmoker.com Review
• www.casasfumando.com Review
• thecigarfeed.com Review

This week we are drinking:

• Knappogue Castle® 12 Year Old
• THE BALVENIE, DoubleWood, Aged 12 Years
• Knob Creel Barrel Aged 9 Years

Paul's Best Stogies of 2011 - The Runner Ups

1. Tatuaje Capa Especial - Very good, but the La Verite has more and better flavors. However, the La Verite is pricy, not as good of a value. Of either, the Tatuaje Cojonu 2003 is by far the better value, more stick, and great flavors.
2. Tatuaje Black Petit Lancero - This one was just okay in my opinion, nothing really wowed me about it.
3. Viaje late harvest - Great Viaje flavors, one of the better new Viaje releases. Most of which however, missed the mark.
4. Viaje WLP Candela - If you are looking for something different, this is a great choice. Good stick, but not top ten worthy.
5. J. Grotto Serie Reserve Gran Corona - I think its a little unfair to give this stick a review, as the creators are good friends of ours. Having said that, this is a great stick! Good spice and pepper up front, Smooth mellow earthy flavors, good spice in 1st third. I'd still call the flavor a smooth, earthy flavor, typical of Honduran tobacco. If you like the Alec Bradly Prensado line, you will love this cigar!
6. EP Carillo New Wave Connecticut (toro) - EP Carrillo handed me one of these personally, and it was fantastic. I've smoked several more, the Stella being my favorite size. However, I had construction issues with a couple of different sizes, which I think really changed the flavor profile. This is one that I have to re-visit until I find my favorite size.
7. EP Carrillo Short Run 2011 Robusto - Stronger than the 2010 blend, flavors were a bit young, but had a great finish. This was very close to making my top ten. I think with age these sticks will be great, however it can't hold a candle to the 2009 inaugural, 2010 limited, and 2011 dark ritual, all three of which are some of my most favorite cigars to smoke of all time.
8. Casa Fernandez Miami Reserva - Expensive yard gar.
9. EP Carillo Maduro - VERY spicy and peppery start, like 2-3/x as much as all other cigars I've smoked recently. I mean almost to the point, okay never mind I reached that point, I could not retrohale it. cocoa undertone, but the flavors are a bit young and bitter to me, almost reminds me of a Tatuaje Cojonu 2003
10. La Flor Dominicana Factory Press IV - Smooth flavors right from the start. Smoothness throughout, I'd call the flavors a woody-sweetness. Wish the draw was a tad looser and burned a little better, had to re-light a few time.
11. San Cristobal Elegancia - Great smooth mild flavors, underlying sweetness, very good cigar! I think this deserves a spot in my breakfast cigar rotation for sure. Nice mild spice. Great burn and draw.
12. Punch Rare Corojo 10th Anniversary - Great flavors, different, change of pace kind of cigar. Punch has a very distinct flavor, even Cuban Punch tastes different. Finish was not so good, kinda bitter.
13. Drew Estate Undercrown Robusto - The flavors right away reminded me of the Liga #9, though not as pronounced. I have to say, this one fell apart on me. It was my fault, I let the boveda pack get too dry, and then I was carrying this stick around with me, so it cracked and came apart. Planning on smoking another ASAP. Update: Smoked another one, the flavors in the first 3rd were amazing, then it continued to be an enjoyable smoke throughout.

Tim's Best Stogies of 2011 - The Runner Ups

1. Partagas Benji Menendez Master Series (Re-release 2011) - Great example of a Cameroon wrapper. I struggled with whether this should be on my top ten. In the end it got bumped but I recommend grabbing a few before they are gone!
2. Viaje WLP Candela - Probably the best release from Viaje all year IMO. I loved the vitola and unique herbal and grassy flavors. Construction was solid. Please make more Andre!
3. Undercrown by Drew Estate - I reviewed back in October and stated that I thought these would getter better with a little time. Sequential sticks I have smoked have indeed balanced out and are smoking good.
4. Viaje Exclusivo Short (2011) - Great little smoke from Andre Farkas but suffered from a high price point in my opinion.
5. E.P. Carillo New Wave Connecticut Stellas - We talked about this stick prior on Episode 3. One of the most flavorful shade grown Connecticut's I have ever had.
6. Tatuaje 7th Capa Especial - A solid medium bodied corona. While I am still partial to the 7th Reserva (Broadleaf Maduro) this stick s a great example of the flavor that the Sumatra wrapper can bring to the humidor.
7. Illusione 88 Maduro - One of my favorite sizes of the Illusione Series. This San Andreas wrapper offers some nice rich Maduro flavors with the same fantastic construction and draw of the ~88~.
8. Illusione 88 Candela - Same great core flavors of the 88 (Leather, earth, pepper) with a hint of sweet grass and tea (which seemed to be strongest in the first third). As always the stick burned great and with a good volume of smoke. Not something I would smoke on a regular basis but a nice change of pace on occasion.
9. E.P. Carillo Maduro - A good solid maduro from EPC at a great price. I recommend keeping these in regular rotation.
10. San Cristobal Elegancia - I agree with Paul. this stick is making it's way into my breakfast smoke rotation. Light, sweet, this cigar pours smoke!

Stogie Tech Segment

Why You Should Smoke Cuban Cigars

I read an article recently, which will go unnamed, that was knocking Cuban cigars and listed several reasons why we shouldn't smoke them. I want to argue the flip side of that coin and tell everyone why I think we should all smoke Cuban cigars.

• They Are Not THAT Expensive - I don't recommend that you pay a premium for Cuban cigars. There are several sites and people willing to trade with you at a reasonable price. I would not pay upwards of $10 for a Partagas Serie D #4, one of my favorites, but I grabbed a box for $6 a stick and smoked/traded the entire box. Many will have you believing that Cuban cigars are really expensive, and its just not true.
• The Construction Issues Are Not All That Bad - Here's the thing, tell me you've never had a construction issue with a domestic cigar? Can you? I think not, all cigars suffer from construction issues, and I've had them with Cubans and non-Cubans alike. Again, this is what people want you to believe so you will visit your local B&M and buy legal cigar brands.
• They Age VERY Well - Of all the vintage cigars I've ever smokes, Cubans age the best. They just seem to keep getting better with age and rarely "age out" or lose all of their flavors after a certain period of time.
• The Flavors Are Unique and Tasty - I love the Cuban flavor profile, and keep coming back to them because they taste so damn good!
• No One Makes Their Purchasing Decisions Based On Country Of Origin - If you take issue with the fact that these cigars come from a communist country, then according to that logic, you should not purchase any goods that come from China. Which means you will have to make all of your own cloths and create all your own electronics, or not even use computers at all. Its simply ridiculous. Look, even if you've personally been affected by tragedy that stems from the Cuban communist regime, it still shouldn't affect your purchasing as you are more so supporting the poor factory workers in Cuba than the Government by buying a box of cigars. Look at it this way, I'm Armenian, and my family was personally affected by the holicost. If Turkey made excellent cigars, I'd still buy them. In fact, several of my own family members visited the country and made purchases. Oh also, most of the oil used to make gas for your car comes from a country that has similar ideals, which means your pedaling to work buddy!
• Help The People Of Cuba - They are the ones suffering most from the embargo.
• If You Know Where To Shop and What To Look For… - You will never get a fake. Its common sense really, ask around and see where other people are buying or acquiring Cuban cigars, and use the power of social rankings to guide you to the best sites.
• I'm Not Saying Stop Buying Cigars From The B&M -
• Don't Let Yourself Be Brainwashed - Look, there are plenty of fantastic cigars available outside of Cuba. This probably started right after the embargo, but all the manufacturers and store owners will say "You don't need to smoke Cubans Cigars, there are plenty of legal ones that are just as good". This brainwashing has gone on for years, and you should be the only judge. Smoke all different kinds, shapes, and types of cigars, and then decide for yourself what you like and don't believe the hype, or non-hype.
• It Comes Down To Value - Here's the thing, you can get a $6 cuban cigar, put a year of age on it, and it will likely blow away anything in the $6 range domestically.

Download Episode 5 Here

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Stogie of the Week

Arturo Fuente Anejo #77 Shark

Origin: Dominican Republic Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro (Aged 5 years, 8 months in Cognac Barrels.) Binder: Dominican Republic Filler: Dominican Republic Strength: Medium Vitola: Boxed-pressed torpedo Size: No. 77 (pyramid/torpedo) "The Shark" (5.8" x 54) Age: One year in Paul's humidor MSRP: $10.95 (I paid $14 last year, this year I bought a box for $10.99 a stick, they sell online for upwards of $21 a stick) Fun Facts: This is the only Anejo not wrapped in cedar. More from Vitolas.net:

The Añejo Shark was actually made and named because of Marvin Shanken (Cigar Aficionado owner) and Carlito's brother in-law, Wayne Suarez.Carlito named it the "SS Shark" because they both loved this vitola and blend;one "S" stood for Shanken and the other "S" stood for Suarez. The "No.77" designation comes not from the ring gauge of this cigar, as it does for the other cigars in the Añejo line, but rather from a more amusing reason altogether.Carlito took his kids to Sea World in Orlando, FL, and there noticed that some of the sharks in the tank had two pectoral fins, which looked sort of like two 7's. Añejo (which means "aged, refined" in Spanish) cigars were originally released in June 2000 (in a very small batch), and then again in December 2000 due to Fuente being skittish about whether enough Opus X tobacco would be available after the hurricane hit their farm in 1998.

Other Anejo Shark Reviews:

• Stogie Review (2009)
• Cigar Inspector: (2010)
• Smoking Stogie "Sand Shark" Review

This week we are drinking

Knappogue Castle 12 Year Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Sam Houstin American Straight Whiskey

Paul's This Week In Smoke

• Viaje Platino Reserva - Sour notes, I like the Oro Reserva better.
• Illusione 68 - One word: "meh".
• Anejo Shark - Same ones we are smoking now, year old #77, the best in the Anejo line, hard to find, blah blah. I really want to buy another box…
• Tatuaje RC 184 - This is perhaps my most favorite of all Pete Johnson creations. Stogie Santa turned me on to these and I smoked the RC 233 and RC 184. The 184 is one of my all-time favorite sticks, top ten list, just pure blows. The mellow Cuban flavors are just awesome, pours smoke, just all around one of the most enjoyable cigars you'll ever smoke. They were recently re-released and I bought a box without question.
• Davidoff Millennium Short Robusto - Say what you will about Davidoff, pricy, but awesome smoke! Flavors poured from this smoke making this blend my all-time Davidoff favorite (right next to Colorado Claro). I think what I have found, and our listeners already know, is that I have expensive taste in cigars.
• EP Carrillo Core Line - Cedar flavors, medium body, outstanding cigar for mid-day, fishing, working in the yard, or just relaxing with coffee.
• Alec Bradley Prensado - Great earthy flavors, would buy and try again. Get a 5 pack.
• Padron Family Reserve 44th Natural - This is one of the most awesome cigars you will ever smoke, however, the 44th natural/maduro, and the 45th in the same wrapper combinations are all good. But with a price range from $25-$30 a stick, even my expensive taste and cigar budget can't justify buying a box of each, or even just one box of one kind. I can buy two sticks at $15 for that price, and you can get some awesome sticks for $15 each.
• La Aurora Cameroon Lancero - Hands down the TOP cameroon wrapper implementation in the world, at least of the ones I've ever smoked and I'm not even a really big cameroon fan. The flavors on this cigar are outstanding, in fact, I bought another half a box. Its a light creamy wonderful experience that you can smoke any time of day or night. Damn, I want to go smoke one right now!
• Tatuaje Barcalay Rex - Limited release for one store, a fantastic smoke for $10 but don't pay more.
• Montecristo #2 (cuban) - Cedar flavors just explode from this cigar, a classic cuban brand and size that will always have a spot in my humi! Buy a box or two.

Tim's This Week In Smoke

• Arturo Fuente Anejo Reserva No 50 - First time I had tried the Robusto in the Anejo line and I am glad I did. Paired fantastically with a glass of Sam Houstin American Whiskey
• Partagas Menedex Master Series (2011) - The re-release of the 2009 limited edition. The 2009 release is one of my all time favorite sticks with a Cameroon wrapper. Although I agree with Paul on the La Aurora Cameroon Lancero being Number 1! They nailed the blend in the re-release! A larger (toro'ish) size (the original release was grand corona) but all the same great flavors. These should age great! "Box Worthy" IMO
• Oliva V Serie Maduro Especial (2011) - Much better than the 2010 IMO. It had a quite bit of saltiness on the finish that I was not really a big fan of. But a good smoke for the price. A solid "Fiver"
• Casa Fernandez Miami Reserva - Released this year at the IPCPR. This stick is a 5.75 x 54 Toro with a lot of wood, exotic spice, and some burnt caramel on the finish. In the end I gave it a rating of "The Angler" mostly due to its lack of complexity. Enjoyable but nothing I would seek out again. Caveat: I am a bit more forgiving with less complexity in a smaller vitola and would love to try this blend in a Robusto
• Tatuaje Saints & Sinners - One of fifteen cigars shipped as part of Pete Johnson of Tatuaje Cigars memberhip site. This stogie is based on the Black blend and is a Corona Gorda with a Criollo '98 wrapper. It was "meh"
• Tatuaje RC184 - Most definitely the best cigar I smoked during the holiday weekend. This 184 millimeter retro Cuban lives up to its name. Paul says "The Oasis"! I say "Box Worthy!" We agree this is a fantastic stick!
• Padron 1964 Anniversary Series Maduro Principe - I mean, really? Who doesn't like a box 1964 Anniversary Padron's as a gift? Nuff' said.

Stogie Tech Segment

Cigar Wrapper 101

Some sources state the wrapper can add as much of 40% of the flavor to a smoke.

When talking about wrappers there is a lot of thinks to consider;

• Origin & Type of Tobacco - Different regions are suitable for different types of tobacco. For example, Connecticut Broadleaf often used in Maduros has specific characteristics. The climate and soil contents of the region can also have an affect (i.e. temperature, volcanic ash in the soil, etc...)
• How Grown & Harvested - Shade, Sun, etc... provides distinctive characteristics to the wrapper used.
• How Tobacco is Used - The curing, fermentaton, and aging process and times can vary greatly from one manufacturer to another and have a major outcome on the wrapper they produce for that cigar. Unfourtunately, this is often kept secret by the makers of the cigar.

All of this can affect the wrappers flavor, color, and construction and consequently the cigar you enjoy.

The color of wrapper can often give you a general indication of type of flavors that will be present (but not always).

• Double Claro - These are typically referred to as a Candela. Very light, slightly green. Leaf is picked before maturity and consequently retains some of the green chlorophyll. Not as popular as it once was. Some boutique bends, such as Illusione and Viaje, recently released cigars in a Candela Wrapper. Flavors can often be herbal or grassy nature.
• Claro - Very Light tan. This is your shade grown tobacco. The Camacho Connecticut and E.P. Carillo New Wave Connecticut talked about during Episode 3 are both great examples.
• Colorado Claro - I would characterized this as medium brown in color. This is often reffered to as a Natural which can mean a lot of different things to different manufacturers. For example, Padron's Natural wrappers are very dark compared to most.
• Colorado - Sometimes called Rosado, it has a reddish tint to it. Often associated with a Corojo wrapper such as with the Illusione Epernay line.
• Colorado Maduro - Darker brown but not quite dark enough to be a maduro. A common wrapper that falls in this category is the Cameroon.
• Maduro - A very dark brown wrapper that has gained popularity in recent years due to its rich flavors. Usually Sun grown, Connecticut Broadleaf is one of the most common examples. More recently tobacco from Mexico and Brazil has been producing some interesting maduro wrappers.
• Oscuro - Sometimes called a Double Maduro. Very black and rich in flavor. Sometimes manufacturers will dye the leaf for this effect, sometimes not. Steve Saka, President of Drew Estate, posted a great post on the ways the color of a Maduro and Oscuro wrapper can be achieved. I could not do the subject justice and recommend you read his post here

Download Episode 4 Here

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Stogie of the Week

Montecristo Edmundo

Origin: Cuba Wrapper: Cuban Binder: Cuban Filler: Cuban Strength: Medium Vitola: Robusto(ish) Size: 5.3 (135mm) x 52 Age: N/A MSRP: $12.00

Paul's This Week In Smoke

Alec Bradley Fine and Rare - Very interesting smoke with 10 different types of tobacco. I should have paid more attention to the flavors, as the changes were subtle. This is a medium bodied smoke that smokes forever (smoking time for me was almost 2 hours, but I was talking a lot during the smoke). You should buy at least 2 of these, one to smoke and one to age. One of the better AB's I've ever tried.

Partagas Serie D #4 - I have to agree with Cigar Aficionado, this is a great year for Cuban cigars. This particular smoke is exceptional. They are smoking so awesome right now. This has to be one of my most cherished robust size cigars. Considering some of the construction issues with cigars from this country, I've had great luck with this size and brand. Complex flavors, hints of sweetness and other flavors that I can't pinpoint, but for sure this is a box-worthy purchase. This one was not aged long, box dated Oct 2010 or so. My sister, who is not a regular cigar smoker, was impressed and raved about this stick!

Opus X Robusto - I actually smoked two Opus X cigars recently. Both were very good, the sizes escape me at the moment, but they were smaller robust size Opus. Both presented the typical leather flavor profile you get from Opus, burned great with a little help, and I thoroughly enjoyed them. Many people knock this blend, preferring Anejo or the Casa Fuente blend. All in all I enjoy Opus, the regular line of sizes are great, and the "Love Affair" is still by far my favorite Opus in the world.

Viaje Satori Zen (original release) - Despite the cracks in the wrapper, this was still a great smoke. The first 3rd was medium body with some earthy flavors, and I was only mildly impressed. However, this cigar came alive in the second half with some awesome toasty, dark, rich flavors, worthy of burning my fingers to crisp to finish it.

Camacho Liberty 2010 - I am going to say it, I love plume. The oily resin turned to a powdery dust is just so appealing. The 11/18 size this comes in makes for an outstanding smoke.

EP Carrillo Short Run 2010 (toro) - I smoked two of these lately and its becoming one of my favorite medium body smokes. Great earthy and woody flavors, burns great too. Tim's This Week In Smoke

Arturo Fuente Short Story Maduro – Thanks Stogie Santa! Finally had the opportunity to try one my favorite AF Hemingway sizes in the maduro wrapper. Classic, savory, maduro flavors. Less spice than the Work of Art Maduro but equally enjoyable. Extremely difficult to find but if given a chance I would buy a box of these!

Padron 1964 Anniversary Series Exclusivo – Pulled some of these out of the back of the humidor where they haven't seen the light of day in about a year. Great Padron flavor and quality. I forgot how much strength this cigar can have though and probably should have waited until after dinner. Check out our review!

Viaje Skull & Bones ? (2011) – Meh. Lot of power but the flavor just wasn't there for me. I have found previous Skull & Bones releases to be more enjoyable. The box pressed torpedo was a little better than the regular short torpedo but in the end I finished neither.

Ashton Estate Sun Grown 21 Year Salute – Reviewed the Robusto release of the Ashton ESG series. It is a complex and flavorful cigar but suffered from some construction issues. In the end, I gave it a Stogie Geeks rating of "The Fiver" with the caveat of the price.

Lots of Petit Corona's – In preparation of our Winter Smoking: The Petit Corona post this week I probably smoked about a dozen petit corona's in a few days. If you are looking for short, delicious sticks that can be smoked in 30-45 minutes, then this post is for you!

Stogie Tech Segment Best and worst places to smoke cigars, according to Paul.

• Chicago, IL - Up Down Tobacco, nice folks, awesome selection, long history. Not much of a lounge to sit and relax, but a really cool shop with a wide variety of super cool accessories. No eating or drinking in the store though. As a side note, Chicago is one of the most unfriendly places for a smoker. The people there really hate smokers, and take great joy in telling you that you can't smoke in the restaurants and bars.
• Charlotte, NC - Cutter's Cigar Bar in the Marriot downtown, nicest people I've encountered at a lounge. High prices, decent selection. You can smoke and eat in the same place, love it!
• Baltimore, MD - Cross Street Tabocco - The owner is a spurt nice guy, good selection (Padron, Opus and more). Great atmosphere and they serve coffee.
• New York City, NY - Carnagie Cigar Lounge - Where Paul and Tim had cigars together for the first time!
• Providence, RI - Cigar Masters - Expensive, but nice scenery. Best part is they are open late, which is awesome.
• Washington, DC - Shelly's Back Room in DC is by far one of my most favorite places to visit and smoke cigars.
• Belgium - Fell short of visiting a shop as it was closed, but thanks to some great friends I was able to sit outside, have dinner, and then enjoy a nice ROmeo and Juiletta.

And now, from studio B in Rhode Island comes Stogie Geeks! Stogie of the Week

Trading un-banded smokes. This should be interesting…

Spoiler Alert: The reveal is at the end of these show notes!

Download Episode 3 Here

Audio Feeds:

Paul's This Week In Smoke

Tatuaje Old Man and the C - Interesting spice, very different and a neat smoke! Couldn't believe it was actually smokable!

Quesada Oktoberfest - Maybe its the power of suggestion, but if I had to imagine what it would be like to smoke a beer, this would be it. I can't wait to smoke this one with a nice German Doppelbock or a Belgian Ale.

CAO Sopranos Tony Soprano Signature

Montecristo Edmundo - What a classic Cuban cigar! Draw was a little snug, but the flavors are just so wonderful I can get enough of this stick. Fat for a Cuban, 52 ring and I think 5.2 on the length.

Padron Family Reserve No. 44 Maduro - What a wonderful smoke! Toasty, toasty flavors, nice rich flavor profile. Changes up just a little, more powerful at the end. Would I pay $30 again for this stick? Maybe buy one or two, but not worth the $30 price tag. Try one and treat yourself.

Davidoff Aniversario #2 - Oh wow, at least 4 years of age on this cigar (because size was not on the band, which is a little trick to Davidoff). Smooth flavors, very balanced, kind of a straw and hay flavor, but in a good way. Connecticut broadleaf wrapper pours flavor and smokes awesome in this lancer type size (7x48 which I think is an "Especial").

As a side note, I got a new Avallo Humidor - It's an absolutely gorgeous humidor. I will preface this with it is by no means cheap. However, its pure quality. This model, the 2000, does both temperature and humidity and holds approximately 1200 cigars. It stands 4 feet tall and is nice enough that my wife let me put it in the living room. It really does look like a piece of furniture.

The controls are easy to use and setup, basically you get buttons to control the the temp and humidity. It requires 2 plugs for power, one for the refrigeration and one for humidity. You fill the reservoirs with distilled water and it will take 48 hours to fully adjust before you can put cigars in it.

I would call this the Cadillac of all humidors. It is very well constructed and has a lock. The only thing I don't like is the "wick". In each canister there is a foam like substance to emit humidity. I can see this collecting mold, one of my fears! There are tons of fans, 3 pull out shelves and one drawer with 10 dividers. The door makes a very tight seal. One other downside is that its sort of on the loud side when the unit kicks on. I have to say, I'm in love.

If you are serious about cigar storage and have LOTS of cigars to age, this is the way to go. Thanks to @beaker for the recommendation and Mr. J's Havana Smoke Shop (aka Joyal's) in RI for doing the transaction and getting it delivered to me.

Tim's This Week In Smoke

Tatuaje Seleccion de Cazador (aka Brown Label) Noellas – Thank You Paul! These traditional sized petit corona's are packed with flavor! They have aged well. Check out the review!

Liga Privada T52 Flying Pig by Drew Estate – A favorite of mine. I pull these out for special occasions or for a Friday night after a rough week. This 4 x 60 sausage shaped stick is packed with flavor. The big brother of this the stick, the Liga Privada T52 Ferel Pig, drops later this month. So keep an eye out as these will go fast.

Illusione Epernay – Very Creamy. Flavors include coffee, cinnamon, and a subtle sweetness. Incredible smoke for the money. Perfect draw and burn with large clouds of smoke.

Padron Delicias Maduro – Name says it all. If you like rich chocolate and coffee flavors at reasonable price (about $4.00) then this should be a go to. In my humble opinion, Padron makes one of the most consistent cigars in terms of flavor and construction.

The Stogie Geek Rating System: How do we rate cigars?

0 "Lawn Mulch" - Throw it in front of the lawn mower while mowing.

1 "The Faux Cuban" - Give it to your "friends" and tell them it's "a Cuban".

2 "The Angler" - Not bad, smoke on golf course, fishing, grilling, or some other activity.

3 "The Fiver" - Not quite good enough to drop money on a box but you will want some in you humidor. Here is a situation where the five pack is your friend.

4 "Box-Worthy" - Buy it, try it, smoke it, and enjoy it. Pick up a box if you can.

5 "The Oasis" - Pursue relentlessly. Crawl Across a desert of broken glass to find and build a new humidor to store all the boxes.

Breakfast Smokes: What and why?

There's nothing like enjoying a cigar with a hot cup of coffee on your back deck on a Sunday morning. The wife and kids are sleeping in and you decide to take advantage of the elusive silence. So pull a lounge chair, grab a cup of your favorite fresh ground coffee, and don't to forget to let the dog out.

Camacho Connecticut 11/18 – A great example of a shade grown Connecticut. Light but flavorful. A favorite Sunday AM smoke with coffee. I have smoked boxes of these over the years.

La Aroma de Cuba EE No. 2 – I love these. More medium bodied than mild but not over the top. A very versatile smoke. One of Ashton's lesser known brands. Great construction and flavor at a reasonable price. I prefer the No. 2 (Robusto).

E.P. Carillo New Wave Connecticut Stellas – Just released this year. One of the most flavorful sticks with a shade grown wrapper I have ever had. There is a nice sweetness to it but a word of caution, even though the flavors are mild, the strength can creep up on you. Recommend the corona for those AM smoking times.

The Reveal: What is my un-banded smoke? Paul Smoked: K.A. Kendall 7-20-4 Robusto

Origin: Hondurus Wrapper: Brazilian Mata Fina Binder: Columbia Filler: Nicaraguan, Mexican and Honduran Strength: Medium Vitola: Robusto Size: 5 x 50 Age: N/A MSRP: About $6.00

Tim Smoked:

Origin: Wrapper: Binder: Filler: Strength: Medium/Full Vitola: Corona Size: Age: N/A MSRP:

"And now, from a random barn somewhere in Rhode Island comes Stogie Geeks!" Stogie of the Week

E.P. Carillo Edicion Limitada (2011) "Dark Rituals" Origin: Dominican Republic Wrapper: Oscuro Maduro Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra Filler: Nicaraguan Strength: Unknown Vitola: Toro Grande Size: 6.50 x 56 Age: N/A MSRP: About $15.00

Paul's This Week In Smoke

Viaje Skull and Bones ?: Released last year, this stick is a powerhouse. Cigar coma for sure, and a year later it still packs a punch and lacks in flavor.

Tatuaje Cojonu 2003: I LOVE this stick. Especially with coffee, this is a true winner. At $10 a stick, its a bit pricy. I think I would buy a lot more of them for $8 a piece. Full of chocolaty, sweetness, and deep rich flavors.

Fuente Anejo: Sorely disappointed, no flavor, flat, and uninteresting. I don't agree with all those people that like Anejo better than Opus. Opus is 12x better.

EP Carrillo Inaugural 2009: I love this stick too, one of my favorites. Its aging very nicely. Still got spice, smoothie creaminess (I guess if you could get a nutty smoothie, it would taste like this). Just awesome. However, they fall apart on me at the end, but I think that's because I smoked the last one and this one while fishing.

Tatuaje Noellas: These have some age on them and I am in love.

Tim's This Week In Smoke

Illusione ~88~ Maduro: Same great filler and binder but with a San Andreas Wrapper. How can you go wrong? These should only get better with age. Check out the ash on this stick! Hunt these down!

Undercrown Gran Toro by Drew Estate: Unique, bold flavor profile and finish. Review posted here. Suggest grabbing a fiver, trying some for yourself, and letting the remainder rest for a few months.

Partagas 8-9-8 Varnished (2001): Smoked my last two Lonsdale's from 2001 with a friend on his birthday this week. What a great example of what age can do to a smoke. Great flavors (wood, spice, and sweetness) with perfect balance.

Rodrigo Habano Robusto: Great boutique brand. Rich flavors (coffee, chocolate, wood, & some spice) with medium amount of strength. Recommend the Toro ( 6 x 50).

Stogie Tech Segment: Paul's Top Ten Things Not To Do With Your Humidor

1) Do not use tap water 2) Do not store you humidor inside a cabinet 3) Do not put your humidor in direct sunlight 4) Never use anything that looks like a green sponge 5) Stay away from analog hygrometers 6) Do not take off the cellophane or tubes 7) Don't forget to change the sponge or humidification elements 8) Try not to use a cheap desktop humidor 9) Don't put water in your gel humidification elements 10) Don't put cigars in your humidor that are moldy or full of beetles

Audio Feeds:

"And now, from studio B in Rhode Island comes Stogie Geeks!"

Download Episode 1 Stogie Of The Week

Tatuaje Monster Series "The Face", Opus X Love Affaire

Check out the Stogie Geeks Rating System

Paul's This Week In Smoke

• Davidoff Millennium Robusto Great Davidoff flavors, not mild, sweet cedar, pricy, but ages really well

• Tatuaje "The Face": Mellowed out a lot, in fact we should be smoking these now as I think they are going to age out fast. Awesome flavors though, lost that huge punch in the end.

• PG Symphony 20 Salomone: Pure heaven, smokes so awesome, best salomone size I've ever had. A box purchase, and I think a really great value at even $18 a stick.

• Casa Fuente Lancero: Holy fucking flavor bomb batman! I could not believe how much smoked poured from this lancero. Awesome spice up front, smooth flavors, orgasmic. I only had one and they don't make them anymore....

• Tatuaje Black Tubo: Almost sweet up front, cool shaggy foot similar to face or gran cojuno, got at least 2 years on it, was my last one, small hole in beginning, turned out to be under filled! WTF had to punt

• 601 Blue Label Maduro: Good flavors up front, 2 years age, nice sweet floral flavor, correction, outstanding floral notes. spice actually picks up, its a nice spice too, flavors muted in final 3rd, kind of a disappointing finish.

Tim's This Week In Smoke

• Perdomo Edicion de Silvio Robusto: I smoked several of these for the Stogie Geeks review we posted this week. With a MSRP of $18.00+ and ten years of age, I scooped up a bunch on a sale. Thanks Stogie Santa! Read the full review here!

• Tatuaje "Exclusive Series" TAA: Part of a gift from a co-worker for my 40th Birthday. Very unique flavor profile and finish. Recommend jumping on these before they are all gone. Read the full review here!

• Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2008 & 2009: Wow! What a ride! It has been a year since I smoked either of these sticks and I had forgotten how good they are. Read the review to see which won our showdown.

• Cabaiguan (Natural) & Cabaiguan Guapos (Maduro) by Tatuaje: I have recently become a fan of these. The maduro offers some great rich flavors, while the natural is a great medium bodied smoke that can be enjoyed with AM coffee or at lunch. Construction is always perfect. The MSRP of around $9.00-10.00 might be a little high for some but you may be able to find these at deep discounts online (that's a hint folks).

• K.A. Kendall 7-20-4 Corona: This stogie has become a staple in my humidor. Medium bodied and well balanced savory flavors, the construction and draw on the Corona is always perfect. This size is perfect for lunch time but can hold its own after dinner. With a MSRP of $6.00-7.00, you cannot go wrong.