Stogie Geeks Episode 19 - Paul Joyal's Silk

Download Episode 19 Part 1 Here

Download Episode 19 Part 2 Here

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Ocean State Cigars

Stogie of the Week:

J. Grotto Series Silk

Origin: Raices Cubanas, Honduras
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade
Binder: Double Binder: Indonesian, Criollo 98
Filler: Honduran Trojes, Nicaragua Jalapa
Strength: Mild/Medium
Vitola: Toro & Torpedo
Size:
Age: N/A
MSRP: $6.75 to $7.50

Paul is the owner and operator of Mr. "J's" Havana Smoke Shop (Also lovingly called "Joyals"). He has created a new company called "Ocean State Cigars" which distributes premium handmade cigars such as the J Grotto Series and the J Grotto Series Reserve. He is here with us tonight to talk about the blending process and his new cigar called "Silk":

1. Why "J Grotto" in the name of your cigars?
2. Which country does the tobacco used in all your cigars from and where is it blended?
3. How do you choose which leaf to use for filler, binder and wrapper? What qualities do you look for when selecting wrapper, binder and filler?
4. What is different about the leaf used in all your cigars, does it come from different regions, farms or priming’s on the plant?
5. How do you select which blend will ultimately be the one used in one of your cigars?
6. Which sizes do you use to sample the blend and why?
7. How long to you age the tobacco used in your cigars? Is it aged before its rolled, after its rolled or both?
8. What seize are most popular and how do you determine which sizes your cigars will be offered in?
9. Tell us about this Slik, what is the binder, filler and wrapper?
10. What is the strength and flavor profile?
11. Why do so many people like to smoke a Connecticut shade wrapper? Why do many people not like it?

Contest

To win a five pack of the J. Grotto Reserva Corona Gorda and a couple of extra's from Stogie Santa and Tim submit a picture of you smoking a cigar to us at stogiegeeks@gmail.com by June 1, 2012. The winner will be picked on the podcast in June!

This week we are drinking

Old Weller Antique Original 107 Brand Bourbon

What We Have Been Smoking

Paul's List

1. Padron 1926 40 Years - One of the best smokes I had all week. Subtle spice, cocoa flavors, perfectly balanced, the right amount of strength and complexity, absolutely perfect burn and construction. Oasis.
2. La Flor Dominicana Ligero L300 - Nice toasty nut flavor on this stick, tons of age on it too. Came in a gift set with three sticks and a cheap cutter and lighter. Fiver.
3. El Museo by La Flor Dominicana - One word: Boring. This stick had really nothing going for it, it was flat and didn't hold my attention. It could be aged out, would have liked to smoke it when it first came in. This stick retailed for $30.00. Also, I think the band is pretty ugly.
4. Guillermo Leon Corona Gorda - I got this stick for $3 or so on auction. Its a nice smoke, nice spice and smooth toasted nuts and wood. While some find complexity with this blend, I wonder if they are smoking the same cigar. Fiver.
5. Viaje Skull and Bones WMD (March 2011) - Both the MOAB and the WMD are smoking so awesome right now, finger burners for sure. There is this hint of sweetness coupled with some spice and pepper that is just outstanding. WMD = Box worthy. MOAB = Oasis.
6. La Flor Dominicana Double Press - The first two thirds of this stick was so awesome. Carmless type sweetness, smokes perfect, easy draw. Finish was a little blah, but overall a great stick. Fiver.
7. Joya De Nicuragua Antano Dark Corojo - I smoked the bellicose, and really enjoyed it. The burn is tough, requires some touch ups. The flavors are dark, rich, and cocoa. I'm saying' Fiver right now, but with some age these could be box worthy if the construction holds up. The one I smoked was almost 3 years old.
8. La Aurora Cameroon Preferido - Love the Cameroon wrapper on this stick, it gives off some serious spice, but doesn't overpower. Its not a very strong stick, so I like these after breakfast. They have all smoked perfectly. Box worthy.
9. Quesada Oktoberfest - Draw was snug on this one, so had a tough time getting the flavors from it. I will stand by my assessment that they go really well with beer. My favorite beer of all time, hands down, is G. Schneiender and Sons Aventinus. This cigar and that beer is the perfect paring. So, if you enjoy beer, this is a box worthy purchase. I do plan to re-visit this combo very soon.
10. Opus X Magnum O - This was my smoke of the week. Paired with some scotch, this Opus did not have the overpowering nicotine strength of many Opus. It had sweetness, leather, and spice that was balanced perfectly. I loved it so much I had to poke the end and continue smoking it. Very enjoyable experience. This stick was only about 2 years old, and right now has to be one of my favorite production Opus sizes. Box Worthy (even for the non-Opus smoker).
11. God Of Fire 2005 - Thanks to Mark Jr. I enjoyed the crap out of this cigar. The complexity was amazing, sweetness, spice, toasted nuts, snug draw. The best GOF I've had to date.
12. Tatuaje Avion - This was my disappointment of the week. The draw was way too loose, and I smoked the first third and put it down. Also, this ties for my ugliest label of the week award.
13. Opus X Perfecxion X 2009 - Not the best Opus from the CFCF 2009 box, but not the worst. I like this size, draw was snug, but enjoyable flavors.
14. Partagas 898 Varnished ('98) - Nice smooth, cedar flavors, not aged out, a solid vintage Cuban. However, not the best vintage Cuban from this year (Sancho Panza was better).
15. Viaje Oro Reserva - Another one with too loose of a draw, ruined it for me.
16. La Aurora Cien Anos Lancero -
17. Arturo Fuente King T Tubo - This stick was young, in that even the second hand smoke burned your sinus. However, it got better as it went on and presented some unique flavors and was very enjoyable. This is a fiver (almost box worthy), and let them age.
18. La Verite VintageL'Esprit de Vérité Robusto- 2008 Vintage - Wrapper came apart on me, which seems to happen with this stick. I recommend you put these at 70%, not 63-66% like I had them. Carmel sweetness, need to re-visit.
19. Tatuaje Seleccion De Cazador Unicos (Brown Label) - Great smoking stick, tons of smoke, nice spice, awesome flavors, a winner. Fiver.
20. Quesada Selección Epsana Robusto - Short robust is still my favorite, I get more flavors from the short than the regular robust.
21. Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8 Rosado - Oasis Period. Mild, smooth, yummy.
22. Partagas 8-9-8 Varnished (MAY 01) - Awful construction problems, stay away from these.
23. Padron 1926 #6 Maduro - The balance of spice and cocoa make this smoke a winner every time. However, the draw was a little tight until I pulled out a stem. While Padron has awesome contraction, it leaves Davidoff as the only brand where I've never had a construction problem.

Tim's List

1. Wicked Indie Toro - This 100% Nicarguan Puro features a Habano wrapper and eight year old binder and fillers. Medium bodied and very smooth. The flavor profile initially consisted of cedar with an equal amount of spice and sweetness with a very bready base. Burn and draw were perfect and I found the smoke to be dry on the palate but not in a bad way. The strength and the spice pickup a little on the second and last third. The spice was definitely similar to what I have picked up when smoking Corojo tobacco. In conclusion, I would smoke it again while hanging around the yard. The price is right at about $5.00 a stick. "The Angler"
2. Gurkha Widow Maker - Paul gave this to me a while back after picking up some on auction at a very reduced price. CI lists the MSRP for a box of ten as $500.00 but have them currently at $125.00. This is a 7 x 52 Churchill with a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. The flavor profile was a perfect balance of coffee, chocolate, and spice with some occasional floral notes. Medium in strength but medium/full in flavor, this stick poured smoke and was smooth. Probably the best Gurkha I have had and at the reduced price "Box Worthy". At the listed MSRP not so much.
3. Gran Habano #3 Habano Pyramid - After recently smoking the Gran Habano #5 Corojo, I decided to revisit the Habano #3. This time I grabbed a smaller vitola (6 x 52 Pyramid) than the 6 x 60 Imperiales I smoked last time. Medium in bodied, this stick had a nice balance of sweet cedar, leather, and spice. The performance was good but I did find the finish to be a bit dry. I enjoyed it but to my surprise liked the larger vitola better. The larger ring gauge just seems to work for this blend. "The Angler" for the Pyramid but "The Fiver" for the Imperiales.
4. Liga Privada T52 Toro - This Liga Privada T52 Toro had been resting at the bottom of my humidor for about a year. The age has mellowed this stick a bit but it was still as comforting as always with its complex mix of flavors and subtle pepper. As always, a perfect burn with tons of smoke. You really cannot go wrong with this smoke. "Box Worthy"
5. The La Aurora Cien Anos Lancero - Wow this is probably the best burning Lancero I have ever had. 90+ minute smoke time and lots of smooth flavor. Probably the best 100 Anos I have ever had. "Box Worthy"
6. Tatuaje La Verite 2009 L’Espirit de Verite - With the Sun making an appearance for the first time in four days, I grabbed something special for lunch today. Pete Johnson's La Verite 2009 has a perfect balance of cedar sweetness and spice with an incredible creamy finish that just coats the palate. Expensive but worth every penny. "Box Worthy"
7. La Arome de Cuba Mi Amor Churchill - Notes of wood, spice, espresso and raison sweetness. The spice fades a bit and mocha later on. The finish is long and the flavors linger for quite some time which is not a bad thing! Good burn with strong ash but the Robusto is the better representation of this blend IMHO. "The Fiver" for the Churchill but "Box Worthy" on the Robusto.
8. Liga Privada Feral Pig - After five months of rest I decided to kick off the weekend by revisiting the Liga Privada Feral Pig. This little piggy began with lots of earth, leather, and some pepper. A nice syrupy sweetness creeped in on the second third and I could detect some espresso. The last third kicked my @$$ with an increase in and strength. Two hours of bliss. "Box Worthy"
9. La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero A Oscuro - Saturday afternoon, I grabbed a La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero A Oscuro gifted to me by Bill Berris of the Cigar Snapshot Podcast. This 9 x 47 cigar offered up some smooth, dark flavors including espresso, leather, and some Ligero sweetness. It did begin a little tight on the draw but opened at the halfway mark. Less strength than the Chisel but more flavor IMHO. Smooth and balanced, this two hour journey was probably the best part of my weekend. "Box Worthy"
10. CAO Sopranos - The Tony Soprano - Paul had gifted me this 6.5 x 60 beast last Fall and I have been just waiting for the temperature to rise enough to enjoy it. The age has mellowed this cigar a bit since the last time I smoked it but it was still smoking great. Coffee, leather, and spice flavors presented themselves in a very balanced manner. Burn and draw were an A+. Smoke time was about 2.5 hours. While enjoyable, I still like the Robusto (Associate) the best from this line. It may be a bit gimmicky, but it is a solid smoke IMO. "The Fiver"
11. Room 101 San Andreas Papi Chulo - This full bodied Petit Corona offered up lots of leather, earth, and pepper. It didn't change up much but it is a Petit. Great burn and draw. Took me close to an hour to finish. "The Fiver"
12. Joya De Nicaragua Antano Dark Corojo Peligroso - Wow this 4 x 42 Nicaraguan Puro has been on my short list for some time. This little power house poured flavor and anormous amounts of smoke on each draw. I will be picking up more real soon. "Box Worthy"

Weekend Redux: May 07, 2012

Some old favorites and some new ones on this list. Enjoy!

Friday Evening: Liga Privada T52 Toro

I figured I would start the weekend off with something that was tried and true. So I grabbed a glass of Woodford Reserve and a Liga Privada T52 Toro that had been resting at the bottom of my humidor for about a year. The age has mellowed this stick a bit but it was still as comforting as always with its complex mix of flavors and subtle pepper. As always a perfect burn with tons of smoke. You really cannot go wrong with this smoke. "Box Worthy"

Saturday Afternoon: Tatuaje Seleccion de Cazador Noella

After fighting with a P.G. Reserva Exclusiva that insisted on burning hot, I relinquished and lit up a Tatuaje Miami Noella. This stick was from a newer batch and it did not disappoint. It had a bit more strength than my aged stash and although it was enjoyable, this smoke is something special with a few years on it. "Fiver" if you intend to smoke now, "Box Worthy" if your patient enough to let them sit. My formal review of a three year old Noella can be found here.

Sunday Afternoon: Gran Habano #3 Habano Pyramid

After recently smoking the Gran Habano #5 Corojo, I decided to revisit the Habano #3. This time I grabbed a smaller vitola (6 x 52 Pyramid) than the 6 x 60 Imperiales I smoked last time. Medium in bodied, this stick had a nice balance of sweet cedar, leather, and spice. The performance was good and but I did find the finish to be a bit dry. I enjoyed it but to my surprise liked the larger vitola better. The larger ring gauge just seems to work for this blend. "The Angler"

Sunday Evening: Gurkha Widow Maker

Paul gave this to me a while back after picking up some on auction at a very reduced price. CI lists the MSRP for a box of ten as $500.00. Yes, you read that correctly. However, they always seem to be reduced to about $125.00 which is a lot more than Paul picked them up for on auction. I will just leave it as that.

Now the cigar itself is a Churchill with a Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper and it was actually quite enjoyable. A perfect balance of coffee, chocolate, and spice with some occasional floral notes. Medium in strength but medium/full in flavor, this stick poured smoke and was smooth. Probably one of the better Gurkha's I have had and at the reduced price "Box Worthy". At the listed MSRP not so much.

Until next week, keep burning!

Stogie Geeks Episode 18 - "Epic Smokes & Cigar Auctions"

Download Episode 18 (mp3)

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Stogie's of the Week

Tim: Tatuaje Noella Reserva (2009)	Paul: Opus X BBMF Natural 2009
Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro Binder: Nicaraguan Filler: Nicaraguan Strength: Medium/Full Vitola: Corona Size: 5 1/8 x 42 Age: 3 yrs MSRP: ~$8.00	Origin: Dominican Republic AKA: "Big Bad Mother Fucker" / "64 ring-gauged figurado" Wrapper: Opus X rosado w/maduro wrap at the top and foot Binder: Opus X blend Filler: Opus X blend Strength: Full Vitola: Figurado Size: 6" x 64 Age: 3 Years MSRP: ~$40.00-$100.00

Mark Jr: Fuente Fuente Forbidden X	Stogie Santa: 2005 Camacho Liberty
Origin: Dominican Republic Origin: Wrapper: Dominican Republic Binder: Dominican Republic Filler: Dominican Republic Strength: Full Vitola: ? Size: 6 3/8" x 49 Age: 9 years MSRP: $295.00 Note: Includes a bottle of Calvados, apple cognac made in France) X in the Bottle	Origin: Honduras Wrapper: Honduran Maduro Binder: Honduras Filler: Honduras Strength: Medium Vitola: Perfecto (11/18) Size: 6" x 52 Age: 7 Years MSRP: $13.99

This week we are drinking

Tim: Smith Woodhouse 10 Year Old Tawny Porto

Paul's List

• Casa Magna Domus Magnus Centuriones - Padronish, nuff said.
• San Cristobal De La Habana La Punta - Still easily one of my too 3 cuban smokes, could be number one! Floral notes with wood flavors, so good they don't last long in my humidor.
• La Aurora Puro Vintage 2004 - Excellent smoke, perfect burn, draw, and construction, A+ smoking experience. Needs a little age, but awesome flavors (subtle spice with sweet tobacco) and great complexity
• Ramon Allones Specially Selected - I like this smoke, good cuban change of pace cigar for me, lots of earth, not your typical cuban flavor profile.
• Tatuaje Anarchy - The most bland Tatuaje ever, could not find much flavor, and what I did get was not very enjoyable
• Montecristo Edmundo - Nice light cedar flavor, this is my new morning smoke! Goes great with coffee and isn't a really heavy or strong cigar, but is filled with flavor.
• Punch Double Corona - Weird burn and draw, but still very enjoyable. Nice flavors throughout, a bit more bold in the flavor and strength department than several other similar cigars from Cuba.
• Partagas Serie D #4 - Still one of my favorite cuban cigars, like It far better than the RASS or Bolivar Petite Corona, tons of flavor and very complex.
• Paul Garmirian Reserva Exclusiva Corona - I like the panatella better, but thats like saying you like duck better than top sirloin. Outstanding flavors on this cigar, not a lot of change (if any), but a solid smoke.
• Illusione Singulare Phantom LE 2010 - Awesome smoke, my favorite Illusione. Such amazing flavors this cigar delivers, very enjoyable!
• Opus X Forbidden X Lancero 2009 - Lots of leather, touch of sweet flavor, snug draw. Just okay, not amazing.
• La Flor Dominicana El Jocko - Super old cigar, was still full bodied and had an awesome sweetness. This cigar was from 2003.
• Hoyo De Monterey Churchill - This was also a great stick, the flavors were not as well balances as some of the other Cubans I smoked, but still a solid smoke. These need lots of age, and are good when not aged, but really come to life after 4 years. Overall, very enjoyable, and box worthy.

Tim's List

• Ortega Serie D No. 6 - This Corona from Eddie Ortega (formly of EO Brands Inc) features a Mexican San Andreas wrapper, and a binder/fillers from Esteli, Nicaragua. I paired a glass of Fonseca 10 year Old Tawny Port. Wow! What winning combination. The Ortega Serie D began with some cocoa and coffee notes and quickly transitioned to earth, leather, and pepper. I really enjoyed the smoke and will be picking up more of these soon. “Box Worthy”.
• La Aurora Puro Vintage 2004 - This was my disaapointment of the week. It is one sexy looking cigar. Unfortunately, it seemed to be a little under filled and consequently burned hot. I countered the effects by less frequent draws and was presented with a bread like flavor profile with the additional appearance of spice and burnt caramel that would take turns on my palate. The last third was a wash, as it became too hot to finish. Consequently, I am going to hold off on making an assessment until I can revisit.
• Tatuaje 109 Federal Cigar 90th Reserva - This cigar was a limited run created for Federal Cigar in New Hampshire last year. This 7 x 50 Nicaraguan cigar features a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. An opening of cocoa quickly transitioned to bitter sweet chocolate, leather, and pepper. The pepper was subtle at first but increased in strength as the cigar progressed. Burn and draw were good. An interesting cigar but it did not “wow” me either. If you come across a few singles (they are sold out now) I would grab a couple to try.
• Romeo y Juiletta Short Churchill - Box date on these are June 2011. While not as smooth and tastey of the 2010's I recently reviewed here, still an enjoyable mild/medium body smoke. I cannot wait to smoke another! "Box Worthy"
• Gran Habano Corojo #5 Imperiales - A friend gifted me this 6 x 60 monster. I was working late Monday night from home, so I decided to fire this bad boy up. This stick features a Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper, Nicaraguan Habano binder, and Nicaraguan, Mexican, and Costa Rican fillers. The burn and draw were perfect and I would describe the strength and flavor as a solid medium. It was a good smoke but didn't change up much. Having smoked the Habano #3 in the past, I do find the darker flavors of that stick more to my liking. Still a solid smoke the money and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a medium strength smoke while they work arond the yard. "The Angler"
• Kristoff Kristania Toro - Released at IPCPR 2011, this Kristoff retails for less than $6.00 and offers some nice flavors including coffee and vanilla. Burn and draw were decent. For the money a definite smoke I could keep around for when I am fishing or grilling. "The Angler".
• Padilla Miami 8&9 Belicoso Finos - Wow what a great smoke. This Nicarguan Puro from 2008 was a gift from fellow BOTL, Will. Thank You, it has been a while since I had one of these! This blend was created by Don Pepin Garcia and this particular size was an exclusive to CI (2008-2009). "Box Worthy"

Stogie Tech: Using Cigar Auction Sites

How it works

There are few auction sites on the Internet. The two that we have used most are CigarBid (From Cigars International) and Cigar Auctioneer (From Famous Smoke). Once you create an account you are able to place bids. When you create an account you give them a Credit Card number to keep on file. Then you choose when you want to have your cigars shipped, as they will ship once a week in a batch. For example, Cigar Auctioneer charges $5.99 flat rate shipping and ships to me every Wednesday. This means everything I bid on before Tuesday at midnight will be included in that shipment and usually arrives at my house on Friday.

Its also important to get to know the different auction types and terminology:

• Lots - A "Lot" is an item or a group of items that has been posted for auction. For example, "Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Robusto". Note that a lot can contain one or more items.
• English Auctions - In an English Auction, a lot is offered for sale at a given starting price. Bidders bid the highest price they are willing to pay for that lot. At the closing of the auction the lot is sold to the highest bidder at their bid price.
• Yankee Auctions - A Yankee Auction is a variation of the Dutch Auction where one or more identical items are offered for sale at the same time. In cases where a lot contains multiple identical items, at the closing of the auction, the highest bidders win the merchandise at their bid price as opposed to paying the price determined by the lowest qualified bidder (as in a Dutch Auction). (NOTE: Auto-bidding is not available for a Yankee Auction)
• Free Fall Auction - Unlike other auctions where the price is driven up by bids, the Free Fall Price is driven down by us and you decide what you are willing to pay. Free Fall Auctions allow you to purchase an item at a discounted price, eliminating the bidding process.
• QuickBuy - QuickBuy allows you to purchase an item at a discounted price, eliminating the bidding process.

CAUTION: Stay away from any auction site that charges you to bid, its pretty much a scam. Sure, you can bid $1.00 on a box and win, but everyone is paying for bids. So items that get a lot of bids make up for the box you got for a buck. Its just a scam, read about it in the forums for more information.

MORE CAUTION - Take notice on bids where you are bidding on single cigars and multiples. For example, sometimes its not clear whether the price is for EACH cigar or the entire lot. You can get yourself into trouble if you start bidding $30 on 5 cigars, and thats the cost per cigar not for all 5.

When you want to bid on cigars, here are some rules

• Rule 1: Decide the maximum price you are willing to pay before you bid - This is the most important rule. Ignore what anyone lists as the MSRP. When you find something you want to buy on auction, search around on the Internet and your local B&Ms and see who has the lowest price. Then, when you bid, make sure you are at least 10-20% below that price (Don't forget you have to pay shipping).
• Rule 2: Be mindful of the shipping cost and frequency - Sometimes I will bid on something and forget that I am outside my shipping window. So, I may have a box and 3 5-packs on the way, but the 3 cigars I just bid on won't come until next week. This is when I will bid on more stuff, just to offset the shipping.
• Rule 3: Set a reserve if you can - Reserves are great, and I love the English auctions. It really allows me to say "I would pay as much as $X for that", set my reserve, and forget about it. The cool part is sometimes you get it for the initial bid! Example, if I need to bid $100 on a box of cigars to be the highest bidder, but would pay $125, I set my reserve to $125. If I win the lot for $100, its a score!
• Rule 4: Use Favorites or Watchlists - This allows you to keep track of stuff you are interested in, which is nice. I will look at all of the stuff available on auction, and add the good stuff to my watch list for later. On Cigar Auctioneer you can look at future auctions too.
• Rule 4: Get a Larger Humidor - If you start getting good at this, you're going to need more space! I use a giant cooler with beads to store my overflow stuff. Who knows, you may be able to win a new humidor on auction cheap!

Stuff I have won on Auction recently

• La Aurora Puro Vintage Salamone 2003 - 5-Pack $29.00
• La Aurora Puro Vintage Salamone 2003 - 5-Pack - $41.00 - So I got 10 of these for $70, meaning $7.00 each. MSRP is $20.00 each, and CI is selling them for $16.95 each.
• Gurkha Cigarnivore No. V Sampler - 18 Cigars - $34.00
• La Aurora Preferidos LE Lancero Cameroon (Single) - My Winning Quantity 5 of 7 - $7.00 Each
• Guillermo Leon Corona Gorda - 5 Pack - $19.00
• Blazer CG-001 Cigar Lighter $30.00
• Alec Bradley Black Market Robusto 5 Pack $22.00
• Padron 3000 Box $112.00
• La Riqueza No. 4 5 Pack $15.00
• La Aurora Escogidos Robusto 3 @ $3.00/each

Stogie Geeks Episode 17 - "Oliva Showdown"

Download Episode 17 Audio Here (mp3)

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Stogies of the Week

Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2008	Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2009
Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Binder: Nicaraguan Filler: Nicaraguan Jalapa Valley Ligero Strength: Medium/Full Vitola: Torpedo Size: 6.5 x 52 Age: 3.5 yrs MSRP: Originally $6.75 (Sold in Boxes of 10)	Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Habano Seed Nicaraguan Binder: Nicaraguan Filler: Nicaraguan Jalapa Valley Ligero Strength: Medium/Full Vitola: Torpedo Size: 6 x 52 Age: 2.5 yrs MSRP: $9.00 (Sold in Boxes of 10)

Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2010	Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2011
Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Mexico (San Andreas Maduro) Binder: Nicaraguan Filler: Nicaraguan Strength: Medium/Full Vitola: Torpedo Size: 6 x 54 Age: 1.5 yrs MSRP: $9.00 (Boxes of 10)	Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Mexico (San Andreas Maduro) Binder: Nicaraguan Filler: Nicaraguan Strength: Medium/Full Vitola: Toro Size: 6 x 50 Age: 6 months MSRP: $9.00 (Boxes of 10)

From the manufacturer (current as of April 2012):

Serie V Maduro Serie V is a complex blend of Nicaraguan long filler tobaccos. Blended with specially fermented Jalapa Valley Ligero, and finished with a high priming Habano Sun Grown Wrapper.

The Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial first made it's appearance in 2008, after the success of a 2007 Limited Edition version of the Serie V. Since then, the Maduro Especial has made an appearance annually in November. With the 2009 release received the Number 5 spot in Cigar Aficionado's Best of 2009. We thought it would be interesting to have four people smoke all four releases during the show and compare notes. Let's burn!

This week we are drinking

Ron Abuelo 7 Años	Ron Abuelo 12 Años

We are now on the Roku! Just add the Blip.tv channel to your Roku player and search for "Stogiegeeks".

Paul's List

• Hoyo De Monterrey Des Duis (1998) - Not aged out, burn and construction were spot on, flavors were pure heaven. Crawl across the desert my friends, this 14-year-old cuban was one of the best vintage cubans I've smoked to date.
• Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2010 - Goes great with coffee, a tad bitter, needs more age.
• Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2009 - Loved the spice.
• Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial 2008 - Roasted nuts, then kinda just okay.
• Quesada Selección Espana - What wonderful floral flavors that come form this smoke, subtle spice, and very smooth. The short robust is by far my favorite. Box worthy.
• Viaje Skull and Bones Daisy Cutter - CRAWL ACROSS THE DESERT! Wow, everything they said about this stick being amazing, is true, and more. The thing that really gets me about this stick os the flavor. Unbelievable representation of coffee and cocoa flavors in the cigar. Its almost like smoking something that was infused, except its the opposite of suck. Probably the most flavor I've even gotten out of a non-cuban cigar, just wish they would make more like this, as the new cigars in this line are not even close to this.
• Hoyo De Monterey Churchill - This was also a great stick, the flavors were not as well balances as some of the other Cubans I smoked, but still a solid smoke. These need lots of age, and are good when not aged, but really come to life after 4 years. Overall, very enjoyable, and box worthy.
• Partagas Lucitaina (2005) - Thanks to this stick, I stayed warm on Sunday while smoking outdoors with co-host Tim at a cigar event in Rhode Island put on by Mr. J's Havana Smoke Shop. The stick POORED flavors for well over 1 hour and 30 minutes. Nice smooth earth and wood, classic cuban profile, excellent burn and construction. Box worthy.
• Padron Ambassador (vintage) - To be honest, I was not overly impressed with this one. It had some nice cocoa flavors, and earth, but just didn't deliver a good overall smoking experience. That being said, dry boxing could have helped, and maybe it was just this particular stick that was a little off. However, I enjoyed the torpedo more than this size.
• Por Larranaga Monte Carlo - Great smoke, they can be bitter if they are not aged. When aged, they smooth out and its like smoking orange soda.
• E.P. Carrillo Edicion Inaugural 2009 - This stick is absolutely amazing. Nice smooth, creamy smoke, full of flavor, and just keeps getting better with age! I almost get a citrus sweetness from this one now, and glad I bought an extra box just to age.
• Cabaiguan Guapos RX - This is a solid smoke, great construction, classic Tatuaje flavors, spice, wood, and a nice finish. While this isn't an over-the-top-awesome cigar, its good, so go get at least a 5-pack or a box if you can get one cheap. Great for when you're looking for an easy smoke.
• Paul Gamarian Gourmet Series - Symphony 20 - This is the original toro size that came before the salmon and the robust. It smells so awesome, smokes great, and the flavors are outstanding. The cigar still packs a punch, I would not smoke it at 11:00AM like I did, wait until after dinner!
• Unbanded La Aurora Preferido - This was a gift from my friend Jeff. Awesome smoke, nice change ups in flavor, classic La Aurora goodness.I tried to catch a picture of the oils oozing from the cigar, a sign that even though this cigar was a few years old, there were still some oils left, which means more aging potential!
• Cusano 18 - An okay mild-medium body cigar, no change ups, and just okay flavors. Buy one to try it.
• Jose L. Piedra Conservas - Budget cuban, I believe machine made binder/short filler with a hand applied wrapper. $2-$3 a stick has great cuban flavors and very enjoyable.
• Viaje Skull & Bones WMD (2011) - Nice pepper and great flavors throughout!
• Opus X El Scorpion 2009 - Major disappointment! Overpriced. Underrated. Poor construction. Just okay flavors. At this point, I would not buy another 22 count Opus X box.
• Opus X Super Belicoso XXX Power Ranger - Awesome start, boring middle, awesome finish
• Fish & Quesada! - Not a great cigar, not horrible, but I would not recommend that people go out and buy these in this size. It was a 60 Tribute, but would be much better in a corona. I also smoked a Gurhka Cellar Reserve, which was totally awesome, great flavors, great burn and construction (it held up while i was fishing!).
• La Aurora Puro Vintage 2003 - Amazing smoke! Starts of very mild, with sublet flavors, then picks up and developed a wonderful orange peel sweetness, then moves to a rush earth flavor. Simply outstanding, perfect burn and construction, you are in for a really wild ride when you smoke this one! Crawl across desert.

Tim's List

• Juan Lopez Seleccion No. 1 - Smooth, easy to smoke Cuban. I couldn't detect a lot of flavors however. There were some citris notes on first half with more spice on the second.
• Partagas Lusitanias - Gifted to me by Mark during the last EP of the podcast. This double corona, burned well and the draw was a bit tight but was still managable. Started with cedar, lots of that Cuban twang, and some mild pepper. The second half brought some toastiness. An enjoyable gift. I recently traded with someone for more of these, so I will be enjoying them again soon.
• Padron Londres Maduro - How can you go wrong with a Padron Maduro that costs $3.75. Admittedly, it is not the most attractive Padron ever produced. But this Corona is consistant in flavor and construction every time. "Box Worthy"
• Casa Magna Domus Magnus Limitada - I finally got around to trying this stick and I am glad I did. It had made some of the top ten lists of 2011 but for whatever reason, I just never reached for one until now. Nice mix of cedar spice, cocoa, and a sweetness I couldn't place. Good performance, I will be revisting this stick again.
• La Gloria Cubana Medaille d'Or No.4 - I scored one of these in a recent trade. This 6 x 32 Slim Panetela offered up a unique combination of citris and pepper. The profile didn't change up much, but it was a very enjoyable and smooth 30 minute smoke that I would certainly revisit. "Box Split"
• Bolivar Belicosos Finos - The big brother to the Bolivar Petit Corona, this stick performed perfectly with slightly stronger flavors up front than the PC. As the burn line worked its way tdown the tapered length to the more narrower gauge, the strength lessened but the earthly, smooth flavors were more similar to the Petit. "Box Worthy" but I think I do prefer the PC.
• Romeo y Julieta Short Churchill Tubo - This stick offered up a nice balance of coffee and graham cracker with subtle sweetness. The finish was medium in length and toasty. Construction was perfect on the first one I smoked but I had a void in the second one. After clipping past the void all was well. Hard to gauge with the construction issues on this one, but I ordered a box.
• Paul Garmirian Reserva Exclusiva Corona Extra - Paul and I had scored a seven year old box of these a while back and I absolutely loved them. So when I recently found a five pack available online, I immediately pulled the trigger. Not as smooth as the older sticks but enjoyable and certainly worth it. "Box Worthy" if you plan to age.

Stogie Tech: Cigar Travel Cases

I have a ton of different travel cases. I like the hard plastic cases when I travel because it protects the cigar. I like a nice leather case when I go out, because it looks classy. I am in search of something that holds a flask, cutter and lighter. I really want a nice one, but would rather have a nice box or two of cigars instead. You can use these as an overflow for your humidor. You can use cigar tube or two instead. This is largely personal preference, but I thought I would go through some different types. Several I own and several are on the wish list.

1. Two through Four Finger Soft Cases - This type of case seems to be the most commonly available. They are usually leather on the outside and some type of cedar lining on the inside. The cases are soft, and not crush-proof. Sometimes there will be a flap to open, some will slide together.

   Basic Case: $9.99

2. Cuban-Style Case with Zipper - This is a variation on the above, except there is a hard cedar insert that holds up to 4 cigars. The top is held by a zipper, and there is another compartment on the bottom for humidification.

   H. Upman Case: $189

3. Cigar Caddy/Xicar Cases:

   Xicar 5-Count: $21.38

4. Zero Halliburton Cigar Cases - Perhaps the best case I've ever seen. Simply awesome, yet discontinued and super hard to find. The real kicker is they are super expensive. A 9 cigar capacity case, without the key, was on Ebay for $125

Pictures can be found here.

5. Travel Humidors - I have a travel humdir that holds about 10 cigars. Its leather on the outside, and cedar on the inside. Its like a humidor, but only holds 10 cigars. It VERY classy looking. My Dad paid about $300 for it new at a local shop. I take it when I want to try to be classy.
6. Andre Garcia - Supposed to be some of the nicest travel cases around. There are several styles to choose from, the cheapest being about $80:

Andre Garcia Italian 4 Finger Black Leather Hard Cigar Case

Andre Garcia Italian Brown Leather Hard Cigar Case 15ct

7. Vanderburg Humidors Outback4 Leather Travel Humidor - This looks like a really nice case, except I can't help think of the Seinfeld episode with the "european carry-all". Its a "nurse" or "man purse" in my opinion and that has held me back from buying it.

Weekend Redux: April 30, 2012

The weekend began on Friday night with the recording of Episode 17 of Stogie Geeks. This week we smoked the Oliva V Maduro Especial. Which one, you ask? Well all of them of course! The episode will be posted later this week but until then, here’s some eye candy.

Saturday Evening: Ortega Serie D No. 6

This Corona from Eddie Ortega features a Mexican San Andreas wrapper, and a binder/fillers from Esteli, Nicaragua. I paired a glass of Fonseca 10 year Old Tawny Port with this rich smoke which was a winning combination. The Ortega Serie D began with some cocoa and coffee notes and quickly transitioned to earth, leather, and pepper. I really enjoyed the smoke and will be picking up more of these soon. Certainly a “Fiver” if not “Box Worthy”. Don’t forget the grab the port too!

Sunday Afternoon: La Aurora Puro Vintage 2004

Sunday I lit up something that I had been looking forward to all weekend. What’s better than a 6.5 x 52 Salomon from La Aurora? After all, La Aurora knows how to make a Perfecto! The Vintage 2004 features Dominican binder and fillers, and an Ecuador Habano wrapper. One sexy looking cigar, if you ask me. Unfortunately, it seemed to be a little under filled and consequently burned hot. I countered the effects by less frequent draws and was presented with a bread like flavor profile with the additional appearance of spice and burnt caramel that would take turns on my palate. The last third was a wash, as it became too hot to finish. Consequently, I am going to hold off on making an assessment until I can revisit.

Sunday Evening: Tatuaje 109 Federal Cigar 90th Reserva

This cigar was a limited run created for Federal Cigar in New Hampshire last year. This 7 x 50 Nicaraguan cigar features a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper.  An opening of cocoa quickly transitioned to bitter sweet chocolate, leather, and pepper. The pepper was subtle at first but increased in strength as the cigar progressed. Burn and draw were good. An interesting cigar but it did not “wow” me either. If you come across a few singles (they are sold out now) I would grab a couple to try.

Until next week, keep burning!