Argyle Turf Club Staff Review
Argyle Turf Club is the latest addition to the renowned Argyle portfolio, and I’m smoking an impressive 6.5-by-52 Torpedo to provide my appraisal of its taste, quality, price, and performance. Argyle has long been one of America’s leading value brands, and after the holidays, it is the perfect time to evaluate some affordable humidor-restocking options for the winter.
Turf Club typically refers to an exclusive club or dining area where the high rollers gather at a horse racing track—a place for members-only VIPs to take in a race with premium accommodations and splurge when their bets pay off. Argyle Turf Club cigars project a fittingly luxurious impression, coming in sleek, black 20-count boxes. They’re dressed in gold-and-white cigar bands with a robin egg blue accent in the center. The Torpedo tapers to a meticulous point in a soft-box-pressed size measuring 6.5 inches long.
After unsheathing the cellophane from an appealing Torpedo straight out of a new box, succulent aromas of leather, pepper, cedar, and tobacco waft to my nostrils. Turf Club comes to life before I’ve even toasted the foot, sending an enticing preview in the cold draw and in the construction when I perform a gentle pinch test from head to foot.
Seasoned artisans assemble Argyle Turf Club in five classic sizes. An oily, dark San Andrés wrapper leaf embraces an intricate blend of Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Connecticut Broadleaf long-fillers tucked inside a Dominican binder. This four-country recipe is blended from an exclusive sequence of tobaccos matured to achieve a perfectly smooth taste.
Tangy notes of mesquite and barbecue characterize the initial draws, while a steady stream of black pepper stimulates my nasal cavity when I light the Torpedo with my torch. Turf Club is a bright and zesty smoke in the beginning, but a big, malty foundation provides depth as the cigar’s sweet side heats up throughout the first fifteen minutes.
I prefer cutting a Torpedo with a V-cutter to create a draw with more surface area while maintaining the cigar’s taper at the same time. How you cut a cigar makes a difference, and Turf Club develops at a slow and steady pace with concentrated flavor as a result of the V-cut. A series of smooth, savory draws takes me into the second half of the cigar, while an undercurrent of cocoa, espresso bean, and anise contributes complexity.
Try pairing Turf Club with a vintage bourbon, like Bulleit 10 Year, during a poker night with your pals. You’re getting a lot of complementary tasting notes for a stellar value when you put the two together. After forty-five minutes, I’ve got the cigar band off, and I’m patiently savoring the nub of the Torpedo, which I plan to finish until my fingers are aglow.
A resounding crescendo of hickory, espresso bean, and spice materializes in the final stretch. If you’re a fan of other top-notch Argyle cigars, like Banquet Selection, Turf Club is an easy acquisition, and it’s fuller in body, offering greater depth, courtesy of a refined profile of well-aged tobaccos. Add a few singles of your favorite size to your next order to try Turf Club. I’m positive it won’t be long before you snag an entire box, considering the extra discounts that kick in.
