Category Archives: Smokes

Mmmm, cigars

Smoke Blog: Revolution

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Gotta love it when the cigar guy at a store doesn’t know a thing about the cigars he sells.

I went to a Friar Tuck, a large liquor store which carries a wide variety of spirits and related offerings. They don’t have a proper walk-in humidor, but they do have a humidified display cabinet with a modest selection. The Peoria location usually has Punch, Macanudo, Romeo y Julieta, and a rotating selection of other brands, so in a pinch I’m happy to shop there.

This time I spotted the Revolution, a brand I hadn’t heard of before. I like trying new brands and the price was right, so when the cigar guy came over with his key, I asked him, “What can you tell me about the Revolution?”

Revolution

The flattened face of the Revolution cigar

“It’s good!” he said.

I gave him a moment, he said nothing more. “Do you know what kind of tobacco it’s made with?”

“Uhhhh…”

Swell.

Then he says, “It’s got a medium body?”

Argh. The wrapper looked a bit dark for that, but he clearly had no idea.

There’s another chain liquor store in the Chicago area called Binny’s. They have full, walk-in humidors and they hire people who actually know cigars to manage them. If Friar Tuck can’t do all that, fine, but why not at least post similar display tags as Binny’s? Something with a description, the blend, maybe even cigar ratings from popular review sources like Cigar Aficionado?

So I bought four anyway. I’m an adventurous guy, and two of the three friends I was shopping for aren’t all that concerned about brand and blend.

Tonight's writing setup

How to make the magic happen

I’ve since learned the Revolution is part of the Altadis Te-Amo brand from Mexico, and it’s made with a blend of Nicaraguan and San Andres tobaccos, primarily Corojo. It’s box-pressed, but it’s more of an flattened oval than square, and is labeled “Ovalado.” It has a sturdy feel and a slight coarseness to the wrapper.

I smoked two before writing this review: one while hanging out with friends and one while doing some writing. I used a simple punch cutter on the first and had a difficult draw. With the second I did two overlapping punches to create a wider hole, and this worked much better. (I didn’t know if it would hold together after a scissor cut, and I don’t have a V cutter right now.) Both lost their oval shape as I smoked, which I thought was odd, but it didn’t affect the smoking experience.

The Revolution is stronger than medium, but I wouldn’t call it a full-bodied smoke like a maduro. It had a bold, spicy flavor without being harsh or peppery. Both sticks burned clean and even despite the draw of the first cigar, producing plenty of rich smoke and leaving a fine, sturdy ash.

All in all a good smoke, and because my friends selected something else out of another humidor, I still have two more. They’ll pair nicely with the remaining Boulevard craft beers in my fridge as I write this weekend.

About Mike Oliveri

Mike Oliveri is a writer, martial artist, cigar aficionado, motorcyclist, and family man, but not necessarily in that order. His Bram Stoker Award-winning first novel, Deadliest of the Species, was just reprinted by Evileye Books.

Smoke Blog: Kicking Off the Season

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It took until April, but I finally got out to the porch with a cigar.

Breaking the porch chair back in with a RyJ Lonsdale #cigar

Just a short one to kick things off

It’s finally the season where I’ll be able to sit outside with a cigar and the laptop or iPad and get some real work done. I find it’s a lot less distracting that way, and I stay more focused. In my office, it’s far too easy to get distracted by web surfing and finding other things to read.

As for the cigar, the Romeo y Julieta 1875 lonsdale is a decent little smoke. It’s a Sumatra wrapper, near as I can tell from a quick Google search, and I think the small size and tight draw made it burn a little hotter and harsher than I normally prefer. Its larger cousins from the Reserva Real line tend to be a lot smoother and more enjoyable, but I didn’t have an hour to kill smoking a toro or corona tonight.

That’s not unusual for a lonsdale, in my opinion. The size is designed for a quick smoke, something for when I’m in a hurry, or for when I’m working in the yard or washing the motorcycle. A good friend preferred them while on duty as an EMT because he had a much better chance of finishing between calls and didn’t feel bad if he had to chuck it when a call came in.

There are storms on the horizon for this week. After that, we have some nice weather again. Here’s looking forward to a productive Spring and Summer.

About Mike Oliveri

Mike Oliveri is a writer, martial artist, cigar aficionado, motorcyclist, and family man, but not necessarily in that order. His Bram Stoker Award-winning first novel, Deadliest of the Species, was just reprinted by Evileye Books.

Photo Friday: Vice

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Yep, I’m going to do Photo Friday again. I’m stubborn like that.

Vice

Every man has to have a couple of vices lest he go insane

I kicked off the New Year with my friend Mark, who also happens to be a distant cousin by marriage, a fellow cigar aficionado, and a fan of many of the same books and movies I enjoy. We went into town for some barbecue, then hit a local watering hole with a heated, cigar-friendly beer garden. He gifted me the fine cigars you see with that glass of Jameson above.

Last year, I shot 36 weeks’ worth of Photo Friday entries. This year, I’m aiming for at least 40. Yes, all 52 would be better, but it’s not worth beating myself up over it. I have gotten better at carrying my camera in my messenger bag, even if I haven’t actually pulled it out for a while (barring family events), so that will help. Now it’s just a matter of keeping my eyes open and, ideally, getting out and about a little more.

Semper Fi

Semper Fi: Mark is also a Marine veteran

To that end, I’m working on a side photography project. This will be a simple one using my Android phone, which I have on me all the time. The damned thing is like a leash, so I may as well put it to use.

I’m still working out how simple or complex I want it to be, but you’ll see more of it on Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr than you’ll see here. Feel free to hunt me down on any or all of those services.

And do feel free to send comments my way. I’m doing this for fun, but I’m also looking to improve my game.

About Mike Oliveri

Mike Oliveri is a writer, martial artist, cigar aficionado, motorcyclist, and family man, but not necessarily in that order. His Bram Stoker Award-winning first novel, Deadliest of the Species, was just reprinted by Evileye Books.

Smoke Blog: Kinky Friedman Big Richard

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Put a selection of cigars in front of me and more often than not I’ll grab something I’ve never heard of before. Yesterday, that cigar was Kinky Friedman’s Big Richard.

The Kinky Friedman Big Richard and a Jameson for the New Year.

Mr Friedman and Mr Jameson made for good company

My friend Mark came to town to hang out and catch up, and he brought a huge bag of cigars he had picked up at a herf. The Kinky Friedman smoke was the standout, so I clipped it and lit up.

I don’t know the blend on this one, but I did enjoy it. Solid build, clean burn, tight ash and copious smoke with a fine finish. There was nothing to set it above most premium cigars, though. Nothing to make me say, “Wow, I need more of these.” For a casual smoker, or something to keep to pass around to visitors, however, it would do just fine.

I may also have discovered a new place to do some writing. The bar we visited has an enclosed, heated beer garden, and most nights I show up, the place is packed and noisy. We arrived in the early afternoon, however, and found only a few people watching college football and another guy enjoying a cigar. Even better, it was nice and quiet. I could easily set up the iPad and get some work done with a cigar there.

Score.

About Mike Oliveri

Mike Oliveri is a writer, martial artist, cigar aficionado, motorcyclist, and family man, but not necessarily in that order. His Bram Stoker Award-winning first novel, Deadliest of the Species, was just reprinted by Evileye Books.

Smoke Blog: My UZI Weighs a Ton

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I griped about a crummy day a couple of weeks back, and Qweequeg stepped up with an offer to send me a few cigars. Who can turn down an offer like that? Her care package arrived by the end of the week.

Care package from @Qweequeg. Sweet! Thanks!

The Rugrats enjoyed the bonus dinosaurs

 

How cool is that?

I started with the My UZI Weighs a Ton last weekend. I’d heard of the brand, but I had never seen one before. With a little surfing I learned it’s a collaboration between Drew Estate and Joya de Nicaragua, and it’s billed as a medium- or full-bodied cigar on various sites. Opinions seem to differ on the exact tobaccos that make up the cigar, but hints of ligero in the filler caught my eye. I have yet to be let down by a ligero blend.

On first cut, I wasn’t pleased with the draw. I used my knife to poke a cross into the packed tobacco, which freed it up some. I lit up, and the problems ended there.

This, my friends, is a good smoke. Its firm construction held its ash. It burned slow and smooth, and it took me to closing time at a local watering hole. I’d put it in the medium range, with silky smoke and notes of leather. I smoked it down to the last inch or so before the bar staff kicked us out, and it never turned hot or bitter.

Collaboration or not, Jonathan Drew has done it again. The man just knows what he’s doing. Thanks again to Qweequeg for turning me onto this smoke! I look forward to trying another soon.

About Mike Oliveri

Mike Oliveri is a writer, martial artist, cigar aficionado, motorcyclist, and family man, but not necessarily in that order. His Bram Stoker Award-winning first novel, Deadliest of the Species, was just reprinted by Evileye Books.

Smoke Blog: Los Cubanos

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A friend of mine brought a few Cohibas back from a trip out of the country. He was less than impressed, so I tried one of the remainders on Saturday night.

I can’t say much about the blend. I assume Cuban seed in most, if not all, components. It was a torpedo, with a gold and yellow, embossed Cohiba band. “Habana, Cuba” in cursive script below the brand name. A dark wrapper, though not a maduro. Firm construction, easy light, smooth draw.

Taste… S’alright. Thick, heady smoke, but no remarkable flavor notes. No spice, no kick. In all, a fairly middle-of-the-road, premium cigar. But then again, Cohiba hasn’t been one of my favorites to begin with.

Here’s the thing. You want to know why people get so excited about Cuban cigars? Because the U.S. of A. says “You can’t have any.”

Cigars are all about the tobacco and the blend, but there’s nothing magical about Cuban tobacco. Sure, Cuba’s in a great climate and has the right soil, and blah blah blah, but when it comes down to it, taste is still subjective. Some brands are going to put together a really killer Cuban-blend cigar, while others are going to roll up and band some cheap leaves and call it a day. Some of them will end up in a quality cigar shop where they’re cared for until they’re sold, while others are going to get tossed in a box on a convenience store counter.

For example, a Cuban Romeo y Julieta I had some time ago kicked ass, but I tend to like their brand anyway. Some unlabeled smokes another friend purchased while vacationing on a beach in Mexico? Garbage.

Don’t get caught up in the hype. If you encounter some pre-embargo Cubans in a shop somewhere, I feel you’re going to pay a premium for their scarcity as much as for their brand and quality. Check out the brand, check out the blend, decide if it’s worth the novelty.

If not, stick to what you know and like. You won’t regret it.

About Mike Oliveri

Mike Oliveri is a writer, martial artist, cigar aficionado, motorcyclist, and family man, but not necessarily in that order. His Bram Stoker Award-winning first novel, Deadliest of the Species, was just reprinted by Evileye Books.

Smoke Blog: The Cigar Lounge, Schaumburg

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The gift of gab is critical for a successful cigar shop owner, and Tim at Schaumburg’s Cigar Lounge has it down.

After a day of attending to writing business in Chicago, my publisher from Evileye and I stopped off for cigars. The Cigar Lounge is located next to a Jared jewelers on the Woodfield Mall circle, and it’s the biggest brick and mortar store I’ve been in, featuring a huge retail area, a nice lounge with three televisions, and another room with a pool table. I browsed the inventory, and just as I located the La Flor Dominicana Double Ligeros and Airbenders, Tim struck up a conversation and steered me toward their house cigars.

I’m always up for trying local blends. It feels like supporting the little guy, and it’s nice to know it’s something that’s been cared for, not just thrown in a box to wait in a warehouse until it hits a retailer’s order. Tim tells me he works closely with the guy who selects and blends the tobacco leaves for The Cigar Lounge’s sticks, and most of their tobacco is grown in Panama. I took his recommendation to try their #5 cigar, and he cut and lit it for me.

The #5 has been aging since 2005. It’s a good-looking stick with a rich, brown wrapper and a firm feel. It started peppery, but more bold in flavor than just being too hot or too harsh. The pepper mellowed after a few minutes into a strong but pleasant flavor. It produced plenty of smoke, and it boasted a good draw and strong construction that held a nice, insulating ash. It went out on me once, which Tim apologized for, but we spent enough time yakking that I suspect a burnout was inevitable. Overall, it’s a very pleasant smoke I would recommend to anyone looking for a cigar in the medium to full-bodied range.

I enjoyed it well enough, in fact, that I left with four more of his #5s in a thicker ring gauge, some of his #7s, and a pair of his Connecticut Shade-wrapped cigars, all at less than it would have cost me to stock up on some of my other favorite brands. If I remember right he said the #7 is a little more mellow, but I’ll find out for sure when I light one up later this week.

Tim has run the Cigar Lounge for about three weeks now, and he tells us he has big plans for the place, including improved ventilation, some improvements to the lounge side, and lockers for members. He certainly gave us an education on cigars, ranging from how the tobacco is grown and sold to how it’s wrapped and how to care for them. Some of it runs contrary to what we’re all taught about keeping cigars fresh, but I may take a crack at some of it and see how it goes before I share. (I can’t very well have you all chewing me out if we screw it up, can I?)

For anyone looking for a haunt in the Chicagoland area, definitely drop by and check the place out. Talk to Tim (he’ll find you first, I’m sure) and try their house blends. I think you’ll dig it.

About Mike Oliveri

Mike Oliveri is a writer, martial artist, cigar aficionado, motorcyclist, and family man, but not necessarily in that order. His Bram Stoker Award-winning first novel, Deadliest of the Species, was just reprinted by Evileye Books.