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31 Aug 2016
Stogie Geeks Shorts - How to go to Cuba
00:11:31
Want to go to Cuba? This week on Stogie Geeks Shorts, we give the low-down on what you need to do to plan for this.
Visit http://stogieshorts.tv for all the latest episodes!
PG Symphony 20 Salamone - Knock out of them the park flavors. Cedar, earth, very cuban like. Perfect draw and great balance of flavors. They have mellowed a bit. "Box Worthy"
Partagas Lucitania - Plugged. I finally gave up and smoked a PG Symphony 20.
Jamie Garcia Limitada 2011 - Started slow, but once it got going it was great. Think these might need some more age. Great construction. "The Fiver"
Illusione 888 Candela - Enjoyable! Has some kick with those subtle herbal flavors. Medium/Full bodied. One of the best balanced Candela's I have had. "The Fiver".
Bolivar Petit Corona - Awesome! Flavors very different. Had a bit more of punch for a Cuban. Earthy and definitely a "fiver"
Bolivar Belicoso Finos - Didnt like the first stick I smoked. Second rocked my world. Draw was awesome. Versatile smoke for anytime of the day.
Opus X Chili Pepper - Unqiue format (It is shaped like a chilli pepper). Started off with blast of pepper and strength. Good but extremely strong.
Cusano Lancero - Gifted by stogie santa as an unbanded. Pig Tailed cap lancero , it unravled so couldnt make it all the way through it. Need to revisit.
Davidoff Aniversario No. 1 - Hint of grass, very smooth, well aged. Fantastic "The Fiver" Very different flavor profile.
Four Kicks Robusto - Solid medium bodies, caramel sweetness. Good summer time smoke. A definite "fiver". Good grilling smoke, strong enough but not too strong.
Rocky Patel Decade Lonsdale (2008) - This Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapped beauty offered up some rich flavors including cherry, leather, and some pepper. Construction was perfect but I found the flavor profile a bit boring. Or maybe it was just the drunk homeless man that kept insisting Al looked like Whitey Bulger (he doesn’t really). In the end, this stick was good but didn't change up much. "The Angler"
Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970 Machito (2004) - I wanted to pair something with a glass of Benjamin Prichard's Rye Whiskey I had just poured. That meant something that was a quick smoke but with a full flavor profile. I grabbed an original release of the Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970 Machito that Stogie Santa had gifted me. This Petit Corona was probably the best smoke I had all weekend. Wow! I forgot how good the Antano is and the age only added to the experience. In conclusion, it paired perfectly with the Whiskey. "Box Worthy"
El Triunfador Lancero Limited - Big Al had gifted me this beautiful 7 1/2 x 38 lancero. This Nicaraguan puro sports a triple cap with pig tail and unlike the regular line of El Triunfador, a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. This stick started medium in strength and body and went great with my AM coffee. Flavors were rich and included espresso, cedar, and some spice. The strength and body picked up a bit as it progressed. Construction, burn, and draw were perfect in every sense. A definite "Fiver"!
LFD El Jocko No. 1 Maduro - Available in either an Ecuadorian Connecticut or Mexican Maduro wrapper with a Nicaraguan binder and Dominican Piloto Cubano filler, this blend has been around for more than a decade. With it's LFD sweetness (Ligero maybe?) and A+ construction, I enjoyed it a great deal after a good meal. A definite "Fiver".
La Aroma de Cuba EE No. 2 - The a Aroma de Cuba EE No. 2 is a 5 x 50 Robusto that sports a Ecuadorian wrapper and pairs perfectly with a morning cup of coffee. It is also versatile and flavorful enough to smoke anytime of the day. Made by Ashton, these always burn and draw perfectly. The only negative thing about smoking this cigar is it was my last one. I will need to pick up some more of these ASAP. "Box Worthy"
My Father Le Bijou 1922 Federal Cigar 91st Cervantes Connecticut - The My Father Le Bijou 1922 Cervantes is an exclusive release for Federal Cigars in New Hampshire which is celebrating their 91st Anniversary this year. This 6.5 x 42 Lonsdale is available in either a Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro and a Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper. In this case, I smoked the CT in which only 50 boxes of 23 cigars were made and available for in store purchase only. Wow! Began with a blast of intense pepper and then quickly transitioned into a nice balance of roasted nuts and butterscotch with a nice buttery finish. The second third became more toasty with cedar and some spice and the last third amped up in body with the pepper returning. Hands down the best smoke I had all week. "Box Worthy" assuming they have any left.
La Aroma de Cuba Robusto - Good smoke but I am more partial to the EE and Mi Amore. I have had this blend in the lancero however which really shines.
09 Jun 2014
Episode 98, Part 1: Interview with Craig and Kip from Half Ashed
00:58:24
16 May 2016
Stogie Geeks News - May 13, 2016
00:09:47
Paul and Will bring up the latest news on cigars! Featuring the Avo Syncro Nicaragua Fogata, CLE Chele and CLE Prieto, Foundation Cigar Company - The Upsetters, and some FDA updates!
17 May 2016
Stogie Geeks 187 - Steak, Vodka, and Cigars
02:04:44
Paul and Will talk with Bryan Mussard about his Cattle Baron Cigars. Bryan Mussard is in the cattle industry, the vodka industry, and now the cigar business. In our Debonaire Ideal segment, we discuss Cigar Furniture. What is ideal to use? What isn't? Paul, Will, and Brenda discuss and review the cigars they have smoked recently. They also do blind smoke #115.
This un-banded was sent to us from SG listener Adam L.(aka: ATL @botl.org). A big thank you to Adam!
Spoiler Alert: The cigar is revealed at the end of the show notes.
This week we are drinking
What We Have Been Smoking
Paul's List
Opus X Lost City Robusto - Outstanding, fabulous, wonderful smoke! Some Opus leather, hints of sweetness, not overpowering, smooth, love everything but the $28.50 price tag.
Elogio Habano Corona - Just okay, had some nice flavors up front, but detected some bitterness in the second half. I want to re-visit. Fiver.
Viaje TNT (2011) - Cigar opened up nicely, cedar type flavors, but overall was just okay. The original TNT was FAR better. Try one to see for yourself.
Don Carlos Edicion de Aniversario - Fantastic smoke, very thin wrapper, nice easy-to-smoke flavors, wood with some sweetness. Not worth the price tag.
Liga Underdown Viva! - Viva thumbs down. Try one, did not like the flavors all that much, I guess I expected more. It is more concentrated, but so many other sticks are far better.
La Aurora Cien Anos Robusto - Outstanding flavors! Nice wood-type flavor that is very prominent, but simply enjoyable to taste and smoke. Loved every inch of this cigar, a winner for sure, box worthy.
Cohiba Siglo II (2005 - Some say this taste like flowers and soap. I got some strong floral notes, but I liked them. The finish is much deeper and rich, almost cocoa. Love this cigar!
Tatuaje Capa Especial NHC - Outstanding flavors! Nice wood-type flavor that is very prominent, but simply enjoyable to taste and smoke. Loved every inch of this cigar, a winner for sure, box worthy.
Opus X Rising 2009 - Little information about this cigar exists. It's a strong candidate for some of the best Opus X has to offer. Loved the spice, leather
Davidoff Millenium Pyramid - Nice smooth smoke, not heavy earth by any stretch, more of a light floral or wood. Nice change of pace. Still not worth the $18-$20 price tag. Fiver for sure. Too expensive for box worthy, though they age well and I sometimes consider it, however the Colorado Claro is around the same price and is so much better (boxes of 10 for the Millennium Pyramid and Claro sizes).
Padron 45th Anniversary Maduro - Nice subtle changes, lots of spice, a little pepper, and cocoa undertones. Not as good as I remember though, still, you have to have a box of these bad boys.
Davidoff Selecion 702 - This was an awesome smoke, great flavors, lots of changes, outstanding smoking experience. Tough to place the flavors, but I wish I had at least 5 of these, at $20 a stick its steep, but still worth 5. They are from 2009 though, so age plays a factor.
Paul Gamarian Symphony 20th (Toro) - The flavors are amazing, but I can't get over the strength on these! It seems they got stronger over time, I have to admit I was a little sick and I smoked it after dinner at night. However, it did seem a little wet and wouldn't stay lit, so I was puffing hard on it. Need to re-visit, this one is a fiver for now. The salamone is box-worthy for sure, smoked that one on fathers day and I'm in love with it, I don't want more, I NEED more.
La Flor Dominicana Conneticutt - This one comes from the "cheap lighter" gift set. It had very bread and buttery flavors, good smoke, grab a gift set or two, they are worth it.
My Father Le Bijou 1922 Connecticut Federal Cigar - I had reviewed the My Father le Bijou 1922 Federal 91st Cervantes back in February and I was blown away by how much the Ecuadorian CT Shade wrapper completely changed the cigar. So when I heard they were re-releasing this cigar as the house blend at Federal Cigar I ordered them immediately. In addition to the 44 x 6 1/2 Cervantes, there is also a Short Robusto and a Corona Gorda. I smoked both the new Corona Gorda and Cervantes this week. Both solid smokes but I thought the Corona had a bit more pepper and I enjoyed balance of the Cervantes more. Still "Box Worthy"
La Aurora Escogidos Robusto - This was an enjoyable smooth stick. Mild/medium in body and a solid medium in strength. The cigar had a woody core with some of that sweetness and spice that a Cameroon wrapper brings to the table. I know Paul picked these up for around $3.00 a cigar. Certainly a "Fiver" or two or three.
Viaje Late Harvest 550(2012) - The 550 is a 5 x 50 Robusto. Good construction and draw. There was a lot of wood and leather with some spice. To sum it up, I just didn't enjoy the flavor profile of this cigar. If you come across them grab one to try and decide for yourself.
Tatuaje "The Face" - In preparation, of the Tatuaje Little Monsters being released this month, I reached for the Halloween 2010 release. This 6.5 x 56 sports a Mexican wrapper with Nicaraguan binder and fillers. These are still smoking well but I did think the flavors seemed more muted than the last time I burned one (about seven months ago). Still "Box Worthy".
Arturo Fuente Anejo No. 77 "The Shark" - Not my favorite vitola in this line but you know when you reach for one, you are not going to be disappointed. This was a fantastic ending to my weekend. Still "Box Worthy" IMO.
Emilio Grimalkin Toro - I like the flavor profile of this blend. It is a nice balance coffee, dark chocolate, and something akin to some floral notes. I cannot quite place it though. Construction has been a bit of a miss for me on these. The first time I smoked one it was completely plugged, this one was a little under filled but manageable. I am going to give it the benefit of the doubt and say "Fiver".
Padilla Limitada 2006 - Sometimes too much of something can be a bad thing. There were a lot of rich, dark flavors I enjoy such as leather, espresso, and pepper. But it was just too much. There was absolutely no balance or smoothness to this cigar. I could blame the void on the second half for not finishing it, but honestly, I didn't want to finish it. "Lawn Mulch"
Silverdale - To quote my wife on the aroma of this cigar; "I don't know what a flaming bag of poop smells like but I imagine that is what it would smell like". Unfortunately, the flavors were no better. "Lawn Mulch"
Camacho Diploma Robusto - I have smoked these in the past but they had a second "Maduro" label on them. If my memory is correct, I thought Camacho made these in different wrappers at one time but their website currently only lists one. This (non-maduro) was very enjoyable but I recall liking the darker wrapper more. "The Fiver".
Guillermo Leon Signature Corona Gordo - Well constructed with a perfect draw, this stick offered up a nice balance of pepper, wood, nut, and some sweetness. The pepper is strong on the first third but settles down as the burn line progresses. This is a complex smoke that changed several times which cause me to pay a bit more attention to it. I wouldn't mind smoking more "The Fiver"
Ashton Heritage Puro Sol (2005) - I was stoked when Stogie Santa found more of these lying around. I have really enjoyed these in the past but this one seemed a bit "off". I will have to burn more as previous ones I have had have been smooth and enjoyable.
Ashton VSG (2005) - I saved this one for Father's Day morning and enjoyed it with a cup of coffee. Gifted to me by Ben of Nice Tight Ash, the man knows a value of an aged VSG. "Box Worthy"
Tatuaje Noella 2009 Reserva - I ended Father's day with my last Tatuaje Noella 2009 Reserva. Wow! These are still smoking great. Lots of rich flavors, creaminess, and large clouds of smoke. These border on the Oasis for me.
La Tradicion Cubana - This was the Torpedo. It wasn't bad. A solid mild/medium. Something I would smoke when I wanted something that didn't require a lot of attention. It did tend to burn a bit hot but once I backed off it cooled down. "The Angler"
Video: Budget Friendly Everyday Smokes & Life Changing Cigars
Segment: Budget Friendly Everyday Smokes
The Email
Listener Mark S. writes;
One thing I was wondering - although you guys smoke and review an array of fantastic cigars every show, do you have a go-to smoke? Do you have a cigar, or a couple of (perhaps inexpensive) cigars, that you buy a box of every month, and smoke your way through? Can you tell us what they are, and what draws you to them as your regular, comfort smoke?"
We have talked a lot about what we smoke at every price range but I thought it might be time to compile a short list of some regular rotation sticks that won't break the bank.
The Criteria
The price per cigar should be $6.00 or less.
The cigar must be consistent and have good construction.
Each cigar must be easy to find at local B&M or the internet.
The cigar must be "Box Worthy" in my opinion.
I choose one particular size, the Robusto, because I feel this size provides the most bang for the buck in terms of flavor and smoke time. Construction is everything with cigars regardless of price point. That said the $6.00 and less price point can be difficult in this regard compared to slightly more expensive sticks where you have a lot more options.
The List
Padron 2000 Maduro - You cannot beat a Padron in terms of performance and consistency. The Padron 2000 has a rich full flavor profile consisting of coffee, cocoa, and spice. These always pour smoke and draw perfectly. A very delicious and satisfying stick for after dinner and at less than $130 for a box of 26 you cannot go wrong!
La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Robusto - Made by Ashton without the Ashton prices. This stick sports a Mexican Maduro wrapper. The cigar has delicious rich flavors but is incredibly smooth and balanced. A box of 25 can be picked up for about $150.
K.A. Kendall's 7-20-4 Robusto - These Robusto's always perform well with a razor sharp burn and perfect draw. I love the Nicaraguan sweetness I get from this stick. It is enjoyable but does not require a lot of attention, so it is a great lunchtime smoke when hanging with co-workers. A Box of 20 will run you about $125. I am glad I am starting to see these at more local shops during the last year.
Brickhouse Robusto - Probably one of the better known value smokes on the market. There are very few shops here in the states that don't have these on the shelf which makes them convenient. This medium bodied Nicaraguan puro has good construction, an easy going profile, and fair price. This 5 x 54 Robusto is about $110 for a box of 25.
La Aroma de Cuba EE No 2 - This should be no surprise for those who listen to use regularly. I love the Ecuadorian wrapper on this cigar and it goes great with a cup of coffee after breakfast. Medium in body and strength. This stick is sweet and creamy. A steal at $140 for a box of 25.
San Cristobal Elegancia Robusto - Another Ashton brand. This Connecticut Shade is mild but has a fantastic amount sweetness and flavors. It billows clouds of white smoke. A Box of 25 is only $150.
Closing Thoughts On Budget Cigars
There are less expensive sticks out there. In my experience, however, construction gets shady and you’re going to be pissed when half the box is not smokable (not really a savings then). These cigars are affordable and you can clip a dollar or two off per cigar if you play the auctions right. Consequently, I recommend checking out Paul's previous segment on auctions here. Each of these cigars can be found for slightly less than I mentioned if you patient.
Life Changing My Ass
An online retailer, who will remain nameless, but who is pretty Famous, just sent me an email titled "6 Life Changing Cigars". Turns out I've recently smokes 5 out of the 6 cigars on the list:
Alec Bradley Black Market - I smoked one of the pre-releases. The first two thirds were good, but it did not finish strong. This is also a good everyday cigar, but my life somehow remained the same.
Aging Room Small Batch - This was good, had some unique flavors, but in the end I still had to go to work, shower, and put gas in my car.
Illusion ~88~ Candela - I did the ~888~ Candela, and as far as green cigars go, this is my favorite. It was the closest thing for life-changing for me, because now I can say that I smoked a green cigar and really liked it.
La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor - I've smoked a couple of these, and while I think its a good smoke, there are better sticks in this size/price range (like Tatuaje blends have more character and flavor). Change my life it did not.
Liga Undercrown - I've smoked the robust and the corona, and while they are good, they did not "Wow" me. The flavors seemed muted, though they burned great. I still had to cut it and light it myself without the help of a scantily clad young lady with large breasts, so thumbs down on the life changing events.
(NOT SMOKED) J. Fuego Origen Corona - Haven't smoked this one, but who knows, I may smoke it on my yacht, sipping Champagne while working on my tan.
Damn, so now after being all cocky and arrogant, I guess I gotta come up with a list of truly life changing cigars:
(In no particular order)
Padron Millenium
Opus X BBMF Maduro
LFD Factory Press II
Cohiba (toro-ish sized, ridivulously old)
Davidoff Colorado Claro Special T
Macanudo Portafino Tubo
Unbandeds Reveal
Unbanded 1: My Father Le Bijou Corona Gorda Special Edition
Origin: Wrapper: Nicaraguan Binder: Nicaraguan Filler: Nicaraguan Strength: Medium Vitola: Corona Size: 5 5/8 x 46 Age: ? MSRP: $60 for a box (20 or 25, not certain)
19 Feb 2019
Coffee & Chocolate - Stogie Geeks #296
00:28:22
Maya Selva is the Founder of Maya Selva Cigars. Since 1995, when Flor de Selva was launched in France, the Maya Selva Cigars collection continues to expand to the amazement of delight of aficionados. Consisting of three brands – FLOR DE SELVA, CUMPAY, and VILLA ZAMORANO – the collections invite the most demanding smokers to discover the tradition of handcrafted cigars, the cultivated tastes of Maya’s personally selected growing areas in Honduras and Nicaragua (their terroir or 'spirit of the land') and a uniquely creative vision of the puro.
On this episode of Stogie Geeks news, Paul and Will discuss hot topics such as a collaboration with Drew Estate and Shady records, Tatuaje Jekyll and Hyde and more. Also if you want to ship your cigars, FexEx will no longer ship within the United States. We will have to look towards USPS and UPS to move cigars around.
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08 Jun 2016
Stogie Geeks 189 - "Summertime Cigars"
02:08:15
This week on the Stogie Geeks show, Will and co-host Thomas Person Riste Ristevski from Jas Sum Kral Cigars! In our Debonaire Ideal segment, they talk about the cigars that are best for the summertime!
15 Jan 2016
Stogie Geeks 169: (full episode) Interview with Robert Holt
01:59:20
This week Robert Holt from Southern Draw Cigars joins us. In this interview we talk about the history of the company, all of the current offerings from Southern Draw including blend details and cigar culture. In Debonaire Ideal we talk about cigar top 10 and top 25 lists. How do you create a list? What can you learn from reading all of these lists? How do people review cigars that go on the list? What was Will's #1 cigar of 2015? Finally in Stogies of the Week, Paul covers almost every rating, everything from a try one to an Oasis. Will does a flavored cigar and we do a contest!
12 Mar 2014
Episode 87, Part 3 - Around the Cigar Blogs
00:29:36
29 Mar 2018
Nostalgic Value - Stogie Geeks #267
01:21:27
This week, Joe Hollywood runs the show interviewing Fouad Kashouty and George Dakrat of Hiram and Solomon Cigars! Hollywood will then wrap up the episode with the Stogies of the Week segment joined by Chris Clarke of Hiram and Solomon, and more on this episode of the Stogie Geeks show!
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)
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.
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.
Tatuaje Black Petit Lancero - This one was just okay in my opinion, nothing really wowed me about it.
Viaje late harvest - Great Viaje flavors, one of the better new Viaje releases. Most of which however, missed the mark.
Viaje WLP Candela - If you are looking for something different, this is a great choice. Good stick, but not top ten worthy.
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!
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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!
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!
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.
Viaje Exclusivo Short (2011) - Great little smoke from Andre Farkas but suffered from a high price point in my opinion.
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.
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.
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~.
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.
E.P. Carillo Maduro - A good solid maduro from EPC at a great price. I recommend keeping these in regular rotation.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Andre Garcia - Supposed to be some of the nicest travel cases around. There are several styles to choose from, the cheapest being about $80:
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.
12 Jul 2015
Stogie Geeks Episode 148
02:00:30
20 Apr 2014
Episode 92, Part 2: Stogies of the Week
00:55:08
20 Jun 2015
Stogie Geeks Episode 145
02:04:23
This week we interview Scott Kolesaire, the brand manager for the Avo and Zino cigar lines, we talk proper ash management in our Debonaire Ideal segment, Will reviews a unique cutter and Paul reviews LUj, a cuban, and a new Connecticut shade, all that and more so stay tuned.
08 Jan 2016
La Aurora Blending Seminar Part 1 - Peruvian - Stogie Geeks Shorts
00:09:09
Will and Paul smoke puro #1, the Peruvian.
30 Jan 2019
The Best Thing Ever - Stogie Geeks #294
01:11:42
Seventh Consecutive Year Shipments Top 300 Million. Chris Clarke, a cigar enthusiast, joins us for Stogies of the Week and commentary. Doug White also joins us for these segments. Doug White is a Cybersecurity professor and the President of Secure Technology. He is an avid cigar smoker and is consistently trying new cigars. Doug is a man of his stories.
Joe, Doug, and Chris rate the cigars they smoked for the week!
This week, we interview Justo Eiroa and Bernie Rodriguez from JRE Cigars.
09 Jun 2020
Internally Centered - SG #331
02:29:49
This week Drew and Joe, interview Steve Saka Founder of Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust. Steve’s path toward cigar stardom began not a century ago in Cuba, but in the 1980s—and that path was one he forged on his own.
This week we look at some White Label Extensions in Davidoff. A Factory not known for Connecticut Shade goes in that direction. Espinosa has a lot of post IPCPR activity and our FDA update.
12 Nov 2015
Stogie Geeks #163: Interview with Eric Guttormson of Cigar Dojo
02:03:38
Interview with Eric Guttormson of Cigar Dojo
This week, we interview Eric Guttormson of Cigar Dojo. We discuss a new feature to be added to the Cigar Dojo app and Eric tries his hand at our 20 cigar trivia questions.
Debonaire Ideal: Corojo Trivia
Paul and Will go over 10 questions all about Corojo, from history, uses by different manufacturers, hybrids and more!
For a list of cigar retailers that carry Debonaire Cigars, visit stogiegeeks.com/debonaire.
Stogies of the Week
This week, Paul and Will smoke top-quality sticks including the sought after Indian Motorcycle and the Avo Classic Covers 2015.
For a full list of cigars smoked, visit the blog at http://stogiegeeks.com/category/ep163 for pictures and ratings.
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01 Jul 2016
Stogie Geeks News - July 1, 2016
00:10:36
This week on Stogie Geeks News Casa Magna releases an IPCPR Exclusive, Joya de Nicaragua expands its Joya line, and three U.S. diplomats told to leave Nicaragua.
09 May 2016
Stogie Geeks News - May 6, 2016
00:19:32
Here you can get the latest Cigar News! Paul and Will, discuss the FDA. What will happen in the next 90 days? Where does pipe tobacco, vapes, and cigars come into play?
29 Aug 2017
Stogie Geeks #242 - Off Record
02:11:14
We discuss the upcoming fight and review our sticks of the week!
25 Apr 2017
Stogie Geeks #229 - Try That Prescription
01:35:19
Jorge Mendizabal joins us, we demonstrate how to use the Cigharpoon, and we review our stogies of the week!
Episode 95, Part 2: Interview with Phil Zanghi and Paul Joyal (Part 2)
00:26:10
29 Nov 2016
Stogie Geeks #211 - Fratello Road
02:15:57
Omar de Frias of Fratello Cigars and fellow stogie geek Stace Berkland join us, our Debonaire Ideal covers cigar dinners, our Hot Topics segment is back, and we cover our stogies of the week. Stay tuned!
20 Mar 2018
Up-Hill Productions - Stogies Geeks #266
02:18:09
This week, Joe Hollywood runs the show interviewing the Executive Producer and cast from Uphill Productions! This will be a two part interview including the last segment, Stogies of the Week. All that and more on the Stogie Geeks Show! E-mail joeh@stogiegeeks.com with questions and comments.
Global Premium Cigars is a tobacco company Proudly Nicaraguan, which owns the most renowned and prestigious brand 1502. CEO and Founder Enrique Sanchez joins Joe Hollywood this week for an interview!
Paul and Joe discuss various cigars and brands, including limited editions and discontinued releases. They reminisce about their favorite cigars and share their thoughts on aging cigars. They also touch on the business side of the industry and the challenges faced by retailers. The conversation covers brands such as Arturo Fuente, Padrón, AVO, and more. In this conversation, Paul and Joe review a variety of cigars that they have rated highly in the past. They discuss cigars from brands like Quesada, AVO, Tatuaje, Davidoff, Don Carlos, Opus X, Paul Gamarian, EP Carrillo, and more. They reminisce about the flavors and experiences of smoking these cigars and express their desire to find similar cigars to enjoy in the future.
Cigar brands often release limited editions and discontinued releases, which can become highly sought after by enthusiasts.
Aging cigars can enhance their flavors, but it's important to find the right balance and not wait too long, as some cigars can age out.
The business side of the cigar industry can be complex, with tiered levels and requirements for retailers to carry certain brands.
Certain brands, such as Padrón and AVO, have become category kings and are highly regarded by cigar enthusiasts.
The availability of certain cigars can vary by region and retailer, making it important to explore different shops to find specific brands and releases. Many of the highly rated cigars discussed in this conversation are no longer available or difficult to find.
The La Aurora Puro Vintage 2003 and the La Aurora Preferido Cameroon were particularly memorable cigars.
The Opus X Angel Share Reboosto and the Byron Siglo 21st Distinguido were also highly regarded.
The hosts express their desire to find similar cigars to the ones they have rated highly in the past.
Montecristo #2 - This one had 3 years of age on it, and was outstanding. Great balance of flavors, wood, earth, sublet spice.
Liga Privada Dirty Rat - This was an excellent smoke, loved the flavors coming off this stick, smooth, balanced. However, not worth the $11 price tag.
My Father Federal Cigars 91st (Broadleaf) - Some good toasty flavors up front, but then it did nothing for me the rest of the way. Did not enjoy this one unfortunately, could just be my pallet.
La Aurora Cien Anos Preferido - This smoke was awesome. The change up in flavors as this thing smoked was so great, loved it.
Tatuaje Cojonu 2012 (Broadleaf) - Love this smoke, awesome Tatuaje classic flavors, this one is going to age extremely well.
CAIN F Daytona - What a great smoke! Came in that sampler box, and produced excellent flavors, somewhat sweet, hints of wood.
Tatuaje Cojonu 2012 (Sumatra) - Great stick, however, this one had TOO LOOSE of a draw. I think the flavors suffered some as a result, can't wait to try more.
Jamie Garcia Connecticut - Was not a fan, lots of pepper, and other flavors that just really never came together for me.
Liga Privada #9 - Again, this one started out AMAZING, then got weird, and "fizzled out".
Padron 1964 Anniversary - Great cocao-like deep flavors. Stronger than I remember, smoked this one right before I went to Magic Kingdom, and was a little sick from it. Then went on the tea cups, not recommended.
CAO Sapranos (Soldier) - Great smoke, nice flavors, by far my favorite from CAO. Thanks Jeff!
My Father Federal Cigars 91st - I had high hopes for this, but had huge construction issues. The flavors were good, but uncharacteristic construction problem for this brand did not allow me to give it a fair review.
Ashton VSG Eclipse - I absolutely love this smoke. The box I have is a bit young, needs time. I smoked one from the new box, and gave one to a friend. We both seemed to agree its a bit unbalanced and needs time to age. Can't wait til' these are covered in plume!
Davidoff Colorado Claro Special T (2012) - Nice flavors, a tad grassy, very smooth. Needs more time to live up to the ones from 2008, but very happy with my box (10 count) purchase.
Partagas Serie P Torpedo - This one was good, but lacked some of the flavors you find in lots of other Partagas smokes. I would say try one or two and see what you think.
La Flor Dominicana Factory Press II - These were OUTSTANDING a couple of years ago. I had one covered in plume. This one was good, but lost flavor, big time. If you have these, smoke em'.
Viaje Friends and Family - Beautiful cigar that offered a rich and earthy flavor profile that was extremely balanced. Flavors included espresso, dark chocolate, leather, and pepper. I would love to have tried more than one but considering many shops only received a single fifteen count box, I consider myself lucky to have received this one as a gift.
Room 101 One Shot One Kill (OSOK) Filero.html - Interesting flavor profile of earth, leather, wood, and an occasional floral note. Full flavored but medium/full in strength. Construction was perfect. When I revisit, it will be after dinner with a bourbon.
Viaje WLP Winter Classic - This stick was a pleasure to smoke and I think it went unnoticed by many since it was released at the same time as the Viaje Super Shot. Medium in body and strength, it offered a nice balance of mocha, pepper, and malt. It didn't change up for me much but found it enjoyable and satisfying after lunch. A definite "Fiver" or two.
Montecristo Petit Edmundo - Box date on these is April 2011. After a few weeks of rest I decided to see how they were burning at lunch this week. Good burn and draw. Nice wood core but I found the flavors slightly harsh and unbalanced compared to the Grand Edmundo we smoked on the show a few months back. I think another year will do these good. Now to be patient!
Olivares Aging Room M356 Rondo - Nice smoke! Dominican puro with a nice balance of cedar and spice and some sweetness on the finish. Great construction and burn. I would certainly recommend a "Fiver" to check it out.
EP Carillo New Wave CT Short Run Exquisitos - What a great stick! These just landed and I have to say the addition of the Broadleaf as the binder adds just the right amount of spice to the already creamy, nutty profile. A 4 7/8 x 50 Robusto, it is the perfect size for an early Am or lunch time smoke. "Box Worthy"
Viaje Super Shot 12 Gauge - Andre hit it out of the park with this release! Two weeks ago I smoked the Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge and was blown away by that stick. So when Stogie Santa texted that the 12 Gauge had arrived, I immediately had him send me some. This little 3.5 x 52 shot gun shell is rich in flavor including; earth, espresso, dark chocolate, leather, and red pepper. The flavor profile is full as is the strength. "Box Worthy" if you can find any left.
Viaje WLP Candela 2012 - The 2012 release has a bright green wrapper and is a slightly larger (5 x 52). Much like the 2011, the wrapper is razor thin and I did have some cracking occur. Regardless, this stick performed well and offered up some great flavor on Saint Patrick’s day. Medium in body and strength. The wrapper offered some nice grassy undertones but did not overpower the cigar. Worth a try when you want something different.
Le Hoyo du Roi - Gifted to me by Bill Berris of The Cigar Snapshot, this twelve year old Corona from the land of forbidden fruit had superb balance and smoothness. It was the perfect way to end the weekend. Nub’d it! “Box Worthy” or maybe I should say “Cab Worthy”.
Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Connecticut Shade New England Exclusive - Thus far these has been shipped to about fifteen shops in the New England area. Available in four sizes, I smoked both the Short Robusto and Belicoso. It had a nice balance of almonds and graham crackers with a faint sweetness and an occasional appearance of mild pepper. Burn and draw were perfect. It is a great medium bodied smoke which was the perfect size and strength to enjoy at lunch or after breakfast. Well balanced and smooth but flavorful and satisfying. “Box Worthy”.
CroMagnon Anthropology - One of the cigars included was a CroMagnon Anthropology from RoMa Craft Tobac. This Grand Corona was well constructed and burned perfectly. Great draw, lots of smoke, and some good dark flavors while never becoming harsh. A solid medium/full in strength, I will be looking to grab a “Fiver” or two of these to enjoy again.
Tatuaje Cojuno 2012 - Great performance and great flavor. Typical Pete Johnson flavors. I did enjoy this more than the Sumatra. "Box Worthy"
Stogie Tech: Cigar Smoking Tips for the Traveler
I spent more time on the road in March than I did at home. This is a rare thing for me, but it worked out that I had three events to do this month. I learned a lot about smoking when traveling:
Bring Cigars - Always bring your own cigars! Sometimes I bring too many, sometimes not enough. Wait, there is no such thing as too many! I used the hard case traveling cases with Boveda packs. Never put cigars in your checked luggage, always take them with you on the plane (gets too cold in the luggage). Cigars in tubes and cellophane travel extremely well.
Bring Matches and Cheap Cutters - I always put matches in my bag along with a cheap cutter. Matches are a-okay with TSA. Cutters have mixed success. Rarely do they question it, however once this month they pulled it from my bag and looked at, then sent me on my way (with my cutter). I never bring an expensive one, just in case.
NEVER Pack a Torch lighterr
- I've been toying with bringing a Bic lighter with a soft flame. Anything that is a torch will be taken by TSA, even if you check it. Xicar makes one with a soft flame, but TSA will inspect it almost every time, which is annoying.
Find a local place - I always try to find a local cigar shop, look around, meet people, and find smokes that you may never find anywhere else! Also, don't buy cigars from the hotel, Marriott wanted $50 for a Padron!
Share your cigars - When I go to teach there is always at least one person who loves cigars. Its a great way to meet people and make friends, so invite people to smoke cigars. Some hotels are better than others. Marriott in downtown Charlotte NC has a lounge, most other places let you smoke outside, in Orlando we could smoke on the balcony, so you never know.
Stogie Tech: Keeping a Digital Cigar Journal
Why Keep a Cigar Journal?
I first started keeping a cigar journal because I wanted to track what smoked I had tried and enjoyed. I quickly learned, however, of some trends in the origin and types of tobacco I preferred in different situations. It also helped me gain experience in detecting different flavors and aromas that different blends had to offer. I would often find myself referring back to notes on a specific flavor or aroma I detected in the past to compare the origin or type of tobacco used.
Types of Digital Journals
I have come across a lot of excel sheets and apps but most of them didn't seem to offer the flexibility I wanted or just seemed clunky. Initially I began using TiddlyWiki, which is a small Wiki contained in a single JavaScript enabled HTML file. It was easy and flexible but I couldn't access it from my iPhone or remotely on the web. Also, I wanted to ability to tag notes such as "favorite" or "wish list" and share them with family and friends, particularly around the holidays.
What is Evernote?
Evernote is a note taking application. According to the Evernote website:
Evernote makes it easy to remember things big and small from your everyday life using your computer, phone, tablet and the web.
Features:
Cross Platform - Windows, OS X, Blackberry, iOS, Android, and Web
Sync - All platforms synchronize via Evernote's web servers.
Flexibility - You can create text notes, audio notes, video notes, or free hand "ink" notes. Moreover, you can attach files to your notes (i.e. pictures).
Finding Notes - You can group notes, tag notes, link notes, and have full search ability of your notes.
Sharing - Last, but not least, you can make notes public and share them with the world or just a group of people of your choosing.
Free Verse Premium:
Evernote is free but does have some limitations. I did not have any issues using the free version but for $4.99 a month you can purchase the premium version if so you choose. The most compelling reason to spend the five dollars is the 60 MB limit a month on uploads. I came nowhere close to hitting this limit but I kept my attachments (pictures) small. The premium version bumps you up to 1 GB.
My Journal
I tried to keep it simple. I document wrapper, binder, filler, vitola, size, and age along with some of my thoughts on the smoke. I chose four tags to start; favorite, collection, limited, and wish list. If the opportunity presents itself I include a picture. As an example, I shared a dozen or so from my journal here.
Tip: The one tip I have is to create a note as a template. There is no template functionality in Evernote yet, but you can use a blank template note and copy it to save some time typing each time you add a new smoke.
A fascinating post by BOTL member Jim on his recent trip to Cuba with his Dad. Packed full of useful tips for anyone considering such a Pilgrimage. Interesting to anyone who enjoys cigars and the culture associated with them.
27 Nov 2014
Episode 119
01:37:34
17 Jan 2023
SG #375 - Andrew Thorp King
01:53:15
This week the Stogie Geeks interview Andy Thorp King he’s a speaker, investor, spy novelist, an ex-bodybuilder, and serial entrepreneur. What’s one of his secrets to success? ….. Cigars! He started his music career managing big-name bands (like Hatebreed), before he created two of his own independent labels. Today, begin to learn, firsthand, all the principles Andy uses to coach his clients (without paying for all the coaching fees!) in His latest book FAILURE RULES! The 5 Rules of Failure for Entrepreneurs, Creatives, and Authentics.
This week we kick it off with a Debonaire Ideal segment on ashtrays, interview Jack Torano of Roberto P Duran cigars, and tell you what we've been smokin' in our stogies of the week, so stay tuned!
05 Feb 2016
Stogie Geeks News - December 17, 2015
00:08:13
Paul and Will talk about the cigar news this week, including new releases from Oliva and Arturo Fuente, plus an update on FDA cigar regulations.
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
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.
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
09 Oct 2015
Stogie Geeks News - October 9, 2015
00:08:30
This week in stogie news Paul and Will discuss Camaco cigars, including the Ditka and Throwback. Will also teases the Johnny Tobacconault from Room 101.
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07 Jun 2021
Great Things Happen - SG #363
02:04:24
This week, the Stogie Geeks Interview Michael Correia, owner of Regency Cigar Emporium about Regency Cigar Emporium becoming the First Cigar Retailer in the U.S. to Accept Cryptocurrency!
This week, Drew and Joe interview Nick Gervais of MyMonthlyCigars.com, and David Rivera of Martinez Hand Rolled Cigars Factory. They are collaborating on an event, but we will have a round table discussion on Cigar Clubs and hand-rolled factories that are still around today. Cigar news, and stuff you might need to know right here on Stogie Geeks!
E-mail joeh@stogiegeeks.com or drew@stogiegeeks.com with questions and comments!
"Welcome to the Stogie Geeks Show!" "This is episode 15 of Stogie Geeks, where the cigars sometimes burn as crooked as the local politicians and the bourbon flows steady… Joining me in the studio is Tim "I ride the short bus to pronunciation school" Mugherini! Mark, who is a big fan of the unbanded cigar, is also here, welcome Mark!.
Tonight Tim and Mark are smoking an unbanded cigar provided by myself. I am smoking an unbanded cigar from Stogie Santa, who could not be with us tonight. I will reveal to Tim and Mark what their cigar is at the end of the show, and Stogie Santa is going to text me the details of my cigar to be revealed at the end of the show.
Editors Note: We have reached a new milestone hear on the Stogie Geeks show. After episode 15 we had our first member vomit from excessive drinking. Congrats to Ben!
This week we are drinking
Ron Anejo Santiago de Cuba
Paul's List
Hoyo de Monterrey Du Roi (cuban) - This smoke was outstanding. Granted it was 10 years old. Makes me want to buy a cab of 50 of these and sit on them for 10 years. Nice smooth, wood flavors, still had tons of flavor and was not aged out. This cigar was also equally as good from start to finish, where I burned my fingers off! Thanks to Bill from the Cigar Snapshot podcast for this gift!
God of Fire Serie B Robusto - Nice toasty flavors on this smoke, poured smoked, but in the end it was no where close to being a $22.00 cigar. I'd pay maybe $10 for it.
Padron 45th Anniversary - Still the benchmark high end smoke. The flavors just keep building throughout, getting better and better as the cigar progresses. But, there are not buts, get yourself one of these smokes and enjoy it with a nice cup of coffee. Tip: Dry box this smoke first before smoking it!
CAO Sapranos Associate - I really love the flavors in this cigar, first 2/3 were really nice, almost a citrus sweetness. The finish wasn't bad, but wasn't good either.
La Riqueza - When I lit this up the flavors just poured in my mouth, however, it was plugged and I pitched it. I need to re-visit.
San Cristobol - I smoked one of these last summer, and it was totally amazing. I bought a bunch, and they are just not as good now. Flat, and not a lot of flavor.
Benji Menendez Master Series - What a great smoke, sweet flavors, complexity, balance, spice, this cigar has a lot going for it. Its cameroon wrapper will surely please. It should be noted this is the original release, the re-release in a toro size is just as good. Aging will be kind to these smokes as well, so seek them out.
Tim's List
Kristoff Criollo Madador - I did some grilling with the company of this 6.5 x 56 Toro from Kristoff. This stick performed well with a free flowing draw and a ton of smoke. The flavor profile didn’t change up much but it was enjoyable. Something I would certainly smoke again in a similar situation. “The Angler”
Bolivar Petite Corona - This three year old Cuban was gifted to me by Paul. My first Bolivar actually. Perfect construction and a smooth earthy profile made this 5 x 42 stick a pleasure to smoke. I am typically not a fan of "earthy" but this stick pulls it off in a not "in your face" manner that it is completely enjoyable. "Box Worthy"
Arturo Fuente Short Story - A great way to start my Easter morning. A refreshing classic from AF IMHO. I always keep a fiver around.
Camacho Liberty 2010 - Paul gifted me this Camacho Liberty 2010 that had a fair amount of plume on it. I had tried the 2009 but felt it didn't quite meet my expectations for such a high price tag. The 2010, however, was a different story. Smooth and complex, I really enjoyed the cedar sweetness on the last third. Besdies the Camacho 11/18 is still a favorite vitola of mine. "Box Worthy"
Paul Garmirian Reserva Exclusiva Gran Panatela - A fantastic smoke I enjoyed at lunch this week. Thank you Paul and Stogie Santa for gifting me this. This stick measures in at 7 1/2 x 40 and was just as toasty and complex as the Corona I reviewed a while back here. I wish I had more. "The Oasis"
Diamond Crown Julius Caesar Robusto - Well constructed with a beautiful wrapper. The flavor profile was very earthy with some woodsy notes and an occasional sweeteness. Not bad but not great.
Padron 2000 Natural - With a MSRP around $4.00, the Padron 2000 in either the Natural and Maduro is probably one of the best price concious Nicuraguan Puro's on the market. The natural offers up a profile of wood, hay, and coffee. A definite "fiver".
Stogie Tech: How To Find Aged Cigars
Some of the listeners I've been talking to were wondering how we find aged cigars. I also talk to many people in the local lounge asking the same question, usually when they ask what I am smoking and its something older than 5 years! Here are some tips:
Get friendly with your local shop - Look, don't just walk into your local shop and ask, "Got anything with age on it?". Instead, try to start a relationship with them. Talk with them about cigars, about which ones you like, which brands they carry, etc… Then, have a list of cigars and brands that you like. Do your research, find out what may have been limited some time ago and prove your knowledge. When you start asking about rare or aged stuff in an intelligent manner, they may be more inclined to break out stuff that has been laying around. Also, don't be afraid to look around. Some good signs of age are yellow cellophane, plume, or boxes that lok old (e.g. Davidoff small white boxes that look like they have been dragged through the dirt). Stogie Santa and I would have lots of conversations about aged stuff, I'd ask for all kinds of crazy stuff that I read about online, and I scored some gems this way. From then on, he clued me in on several more vintage smokes.
Look online - Online shops sometimes have a "vintage" section, and this goes for Cuban and non-Cuban smokes. It will typically be buried on the site, but you can find some neat stuff if you look hard enough. With Cubans, feel free to email and find the box dates (all Cubans have a date on the box, for the most part). The other thing is to note when a limited release was produced, and search for that limited release. You will be surprised with what you find.
Trade with friends - Again, its about telling people what you like. Talk to your friends, tell them you've always wanted to try a specific cigar. Or that you had an aged cigar you really liked, they may be willing to trade with you.
Online Forums - I will let Tim and Mark handle most of this one, but often you can find aged cigars by buying and trading in the forums.
Diversion of the Week
Stogie Fresh: Why are Cuban cigars so Expensive?
David "Doc" Diaz two part post outlining the historical, social, political, and financial reasons affecting the cost of Cuban's can be found here; part 1 and part 2. A very education and interesting read.
Stogie of the Week
Gurkha Black Dragon Imperial Presidente
Origin: Honduras
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Dominican
Strength: Medium
Vitola: Presidente
Size: 7 x 56
Age: 1 Year in the humidor
MSRP: $288.00 box of 20, $14,40 each. Paid $5.00 ($46.00 for 10 on cigarbid.com)
Paul was smoking an Ashton VSG Double Corona with 2 years of age.
27 Sep 2014
Episode 111
01:57:15
28 Apr 2014
Extra: Interview with Robert Wright
00:06:43
31 Oct 2012
Episode 32 - "Sudafed Brothers"
01:41:22
Unbanded and the crew talks about cigar flavors and tastes
24 Jan 2017
Stogie Geeks #218 - Don’t Try This At Home
02:32:28
Robert Holt of Southern Draw joins us, we go through Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 Cigars of 2016 list, and review our stogies of the week. Stay tuned!
18 Sep 2017
Stogie Geeks #243 - Freakin' Awesome!
01:06:43
Paul and the Joes talk about their fantasy humidors and their stogies of the week!
01 Jun 2020
Complex Decisions - SG #330
01:16:36
This week Drew and Joe, interview Adetola “Aric” Wimberly-Bey! His love and knowledge of the leaf encouraged him to fulfill his dreams. With the help of his childhood friend Derrick Bell this was possible. It literally took Derrick and Aric a year of cold calling the secretary at El Titan and sending flowers to Sandy to get her attention. Once Sandy finally spoke with Derrick and Aric she welcomed them with open arms to the El Titan De Bronze family.
Casey Haugen of Crux Cigars joins us for an interview, we discuss cigar media, and review our stogies of the week!
02 Sep 2016
Stogie Geeks News - September 2, 2016
00:18:51
This week on Stogie Geeks News, we look at some high profile IPCPR releases involving seed regeneration, La Flor Dominicana's IPCPR releases, and we have an FDA Update.
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19 Sep 2015
Stogie Geeks Shorts - Avo Syncro Nicaragua
00:13:57
This week Brenda and Jarrid join Paul in studio. Will joins us via Skype to discuss the various blends, sizes, and build styles of the Avo Syncro cigar.
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26 Sep 2017
Stogie Geeks #245 - Digital Humidor
01:07:57
Paul and Joe talk buying cigars online and review their stogies of the week!
13 Sep 2016
Stogie Geeks 200 - "Number 200"
02:45:26
We celebrate our 200th episode with an interview with Abe Flores of PDR Cigars, we take a look back at our favorite smokes, discuss the future of the cigar industry, and review our stogies of the week. Stay tuned!
15 Jan 2019
Pivot Point - Stogie Geeks #292
00:35:49
This week, Joe "Hollywood" Hozempa talks about some changes to the cigar industry, some interesting moves, and more! In the Stogies of the Week, he reviews the Brick House by JC Newman Cigar Company, Casa Turrent 1880, Arturo Fuente Sun Grown 858, and the Mombacho by Casa Favilli!
This week, Joe and Drew sit down with Dean Parsons, Owner, and Founder of Epic Cigars! In the second segment, we welcome Storm Boen from Cigars for Warriors!
Stogie Geeks Shorts: La Flor Dominicana Big Game Show
00:23:39
This episode, Paul and Will talk to Tony Gomez and John Carney from La Flor Dominicana about creating the La Flor Dominicana Special Football Edition 2016 cigar.
08 Feb 2018
Nailed It - Stogie Geeks #261
01:46:21
This week, joined by Jake Healey, Hollywood and Rainman interview Phil Zanghi of Debonaire Cigars! In the Stogie Geeks segment, they discuss spotlight industry and perspective! Hollywood and Rainman will wrap it up with Stogies of the Week, and more on this episode of the Stogie Geeks show!
This week Drew and Joe interview Nestor Andrés Plasencia, known as the largest grower of tobacco in the world with more than 6000 employees, and 8 plantations. He and his family also produce 40 million cigars in 4 factories in Nicaragua and Honduras, among them their own brands Plasencia Cosecha 146, Plasencia Reserva, Alma del Campo, Alma Fuerte, and Alma del Fuego.
"When you die, someone else is going to smoke your cigars…"
The cello gets very yellow, I've even heard of fakes going around, and people dying the cello.
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Opus X rosado
Binder: Opus X rosado
Filler: Opus X rosado
Strength: FULL
Vitola: Double Corona
Size: Double Corona
Age: 1995
MSRP: $14.50-$16.00 (Original releases now go for between $40.00 (which is what I paid) and $80.00+)
Background Information
Here is some more information about this stick from www.vitolas.net:
Ecuadorian Rosado seed planted in 1992 ("seeds of hope") yielded the first Dominican puro when the Fuente Fuente Opus X cigars debuted for sale in late 1995, and more widely in 1996. The original name for these cigars was "Project X from Planet 9" which is what they were known as inside of Fuente before the name "Opus X" had been decided upon.They were not sold west of the Mississippi river until the late 1990's.
All Opus X cigars use 100% Dominican tobacco that is cured in rum barrels for a few months before being rolled into cigars.The cigars are then aged for a year or so before they are color sorted, boxed, and shipped to customers.Even prior to rolling, the tobacco is aged: current 2006 production Opus (which will be on sale in 2007) are made up of tobacco predominantly from the 1999 crop. ...an Opus X cigar is a blend of 5 distinct types of tobacco rolled together.
The original cigars had no gold lettering on the cellophane, and came in slide-top boxes that were eventually discontinued due to warping issues with the box top. The last Slide Lid Box (SLB) Opus were sold in 1997. Opus X's of this age typically have a rather yellowed cello, and only 7 sizes were sold in the original slide lid boxes.
Opus X BBMF Maduro 2009 - Barnyard, hint of cherry sweetness dominated first two thirds, final third kicked my ass. Crawl across desert!
Ashton VSG Robusto - You'd think this would be a strong stick, its not. Its full of flavor, but does not have a nicotine kick to it. Very smooth, though this one was a bit young.
Hoyo de Monterrey Churchills (REC AGO 01) - Smooth, full of flavor, I get compliments on the room aroma when smoking in mixed company. However, 2000-2001 were rough years, and this stick either ends up being plugged or under filled with holes. Paid $12 for them last year.
San Cristobal de la Habana La Fuerza (2005) - Not as good as the La Punta, this one had a tight draw and I made it through most of it, but the flavors were not as good as the La Punta.
H. Upmann Magnum 50 2005 LE - One word, plugged. This is the second one I've had from this batch that was plugged. The flavors seem like they would be awesome too. However, when its plugged I think I know where Tim gets the word "vegetal" from, because it just doesn't taste right.
H Upmann (Cuba) - Corona sized cigar, had good flavors, typical hints of earthy, room aroma smelled like a cross between cat piss and a very dirty old ashtray.
Tim's List
Cuesta-Ray Cabinet Collection No. 47 CT - This aged Connecticut began with some hay, nuttiness, and an occasion sweetness I could not place. Smooth and balanced with a medium finish this stick went well with my cup of coffee. Construction was an A+. In the end, this smoke left me satisfied and relaxed. What more can you ask for? "The Fiver".
Emilio Grimalkin Robusto - This stick had me completely turned around with it's complexity but some draw issues really prevented me from fully enjoying this smoke. The draw opened up a bit on the second third and some leather came to the forefront, but my palate was shut down again by a tight draw. Need to revisit.
San Cristobal De La Habana La Punta - This cigar had a tempting, earthy, musky scent and beautiful milk chocolate colored wrapper. The initial draw opened with copious amounts of smoke and a wonderful balance of leather and cedar but as soon as this stick began to find it’s rhythm, I began to experience some burn and draw issues. I battled the issues with three re-lights but by the mid point, I chucked it, frustrated and disappointed.
Ramon Allones Specially Selected (JUL 2011) - My oh my! These are smoking good right now. I reviewed the 2005 here and I can honestly say these 2011's are smoking just as good. I am going to have a hard time putting these away to age. Unless of course I buy another box, which may be a problem, considering Stogie Santa, Paul, and I cleaned out our supplier. "The Oasis"
Davidoff Colorado Claro Short Perfecto - I enjoyed one of these before work with a cup of coffee this week. Same great construction and flavor I talked about last month when I reviewed the Short Robusto but in a Short Perfecto. "Box Worthy" and you better believe I bought a box.
Arturo Fuente Magnum R 52 - This medium bodies stick had lots of cedar, some leather, and a toasty finish. It was smooth smooth smooth! This stick doesn't change up much but it is a great smoke and the price is right ($6.80). In the end I was left relaxed and satisfied, what more can you ask for? "The Fiver"
Stogie Tech Segment: Building A Wine Humidor - Part 3 - Humidification, Fans, and Maintenance
Humidifaction
This is obviously very important to your Wineador project! At this point you've gotten your fridge, cleaned it out, put in some shelves and/or drawers, run the unit to stabilize the temp, so now your ready to humidify this bad boy. Here are some options:
Humidification Beads - Its no secret, we're a huge fan of Heartfelt humidification beads. In fact, no matter which humidor you choose or own, use the beads. Beads absorb and release humidity. THey can be purchased in different levels, such as 69%, 70%, etc.. The choice is yours, but I prefer some at 65% and some at 70% for a nice balance. There is no magic about how many, because you can't put too many in the humidor. You can put too little, so make sure you get at least 1-2 lbs, depending on the size of your fridge. You can store them in pantyhose, tupperware with holes in it, or the bags available from heartfelt. I go with the heartfelt bags. You can also charge them with a siring, heartfelt sells them for like a $1, and just one squirt and you're good to go.
Gel - Gel is okay too, however it just releases humidity, so you may spike during the summer months. This is a nice option is you have some for the winter, throw in a puck of gel to keep more humidity in your humidor. However, you need the special polypropylene solution, which is pain and costs more than distilled water.
Cigar Oasis - I had an oasis or two in my time in my fridge. They tend to create a lot of moisture and you have to swap out the green foam cartridges. Its good because its active and will stop the fans if humidity reaches a certain level, but maintenance is required in addition to power.
Side note: You will want to plug your fridge into a UPS, making sure that power spikes or outages do not turn it off! Some fridges when they lose power will turn back on and set the temp to the LOWEST setting. This means humidity will drop. I'd hate to be on vacation and come home to cold, dry cigars. This is why beads are great too, as they don't need power :)
Fans
Moving air is important. If your fridge is not that full, the built-in fan is okay. There are several options for fans:
They can be hard to find now, but typically kick on every minute or so and run for 3 minutes on a C or D cell battery.
Maintenance Check-List
Use a quality hygrometer to check temp and humidity at all times
Check regularly for condensation
Make sure you keep it locked if your model has this feature
Always make sure the temp is set to the highest setting
Never use the light inside, it generates heat and light is generally bad
Do not overfill it as it will be bad for your cigars
Check the batteries in your humidification devices and UPS
Re-charge your beads regularly
13 Jan 2020
Clearance Sale - SG#317
01:33:13
This week, Drew and Joe discuss what to gift someone who is really into Premium Cigars! In the second segment, Joe and Drew go over the sticks they've had over the past week, including:
Stick of the Week: * Plasencia Alma del Campo Travesia 6.5×54 – Toro Extra *
Joe’s Cigars: - Casa Fernandez Miami Reserva - Crowned Heads The Jericho Hill - Arturo Fuente Destino al Siglo Drew’s Cigars: - My Uzi Weighs A Ton Bait Fish - Micallef Grande Bold Maduro 544M - Alec Bradley Project 40
The above picture shows the original sampler box, which was purchased for the inflated price of $120.00 online. It contains 4 CAIN F Lanceros, 4 CAIN Daytona Lanceros, and a Culebra of CAIN.
The above picture shows the new CAIN F Lancero as it was released recently, featuring a shiny red tubo and retails for $6.00 a stick.
Origin: Nicaraguan
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Strength: Medium/Full
Vitola: Lancero
Size: 7 x 42
Age: N/A
MSRP: $6.00
Background Information
This cigar used to only be made available at events by Studio Tobac. If you are like me, you are probably asking yourself, "Self, WTF is Studio Tobac?". I found the answer:
Studio Tobac is the research and design group within The Oliva Family Of Cigars. Studio Tobac’s goal is to provide excitement and innovation to premium cigar smokers worldwide.
Here is some more information about this stick:
The lancero will not be in regular production and therefore will not be for sale to the general public. The Cain F Lancero will only be available in The Limited Edition Studio Tobac Cigar Sampler. Expect to see The Cain F Lancero packaged in an aluminum tube, making it one of the only lanceros ever available in the “tubo” format. The Cain F Lancero, and the entire Studio Tobac Cigar Sampler, will be available as a “gift with purchase” at Studio Tobac World Tour events in 2011.
This week we are drinking
Paul's List
Punch Double Corona (2011) - This was a massive stick that burned very well and had great construction. Earth and cedar flavors that were very unbalanced and a bit young. However, you can puff away on this bad boy and it doesn't turn hot or harsh, great smoking experience, just needs some age. Fiver (though I bought a box).
Ramon Allones Specially Selected (2011) - What a nice burning and flavorful little smoke. This stick poured smoke, had outstanding flavors (earthy, hint of some other flavor like a butternut or carmel) and is priced at like $6 a stick. How can you go wrong?Box worthy.
San Cristobal de la Habana La Punta (2011) - Hands down my most favorite of the bunch. I smoked a few from 2005 and a few from 2011. All VERY good. Earthy with a hint of floral notes, almost reminded me of pipe smoke (Esp. the room aroma). I smoked one in the car the other day and it was very enjoyable. I don't think I will be able to sit on these for years… Buy two boxes, one to smoke, one to age. Crawl across desert for ones with age.
Bolivar Belicoso Finos (2011) - A much darker and deeper representation of the cuban blend. Flavors were great, a little spice, and okay construction. I have to smoke a few more of these to really get a feel for them, but I like them a lot. The box I got already had a year on it. Fiver (though a bought a box).
Montecristo Edmundo (2011) - We reviewed these on episode 4. Its a much lighter cuban stick, with very airy and smooth flavors. Not an in-your-face cedar and earthy festival, but just a nice smooth enjoyable smoke. Very smokable. Box worthy.
Paul Gamarian Gourmet Series Robusto - Excellent medium body smoke, one of my favorite little robustos that pour smoke, burn fast, and have great flavors. Great in the middle of the day or morning. Box worthy.
Paul Garmirian Reserva Exclusiva Gran Panatela - Deep rich flavors compliment a sublet spice and sweetness. Unbelievable clouds of smoked billowed from this cigar as I enjoyed it down to the nub. Crawl across the desert for this one folks!
Fuente King T Tubo - Harsh, sour tasting, tasted bad, no flavors. Lawn mulch.
Tim's List
La Flor Dominicana Reserva Especial Robusto - Holy pepper batman! The stick wasn't bad it just lacked some balance. By the second third the pepper settles down and some of the other flavors began to emmerge. The last third was where this cigar shined. The smoke ended with some cedar, nuts, and a nice toasty finish. "The Fiver"
Padilla Signature 1932 Robusto (2007) - I love everything about this stick. It's rich caramel color, the earthy/spicy scent of the wrapper, and the balance and complexity that is rare. Flavors of leather, earth, and cinnamon during the first third transition smoothy to coffee, cedar, and spice on the last third. The sweet creamy finish is unmatched! One caveat, I smoked my last one for this review! "The Oasis"
More Bait Fish! - It's friggin cold here and these are fanatastic. I may just have to change my review of this stick being a "Fiver" to "Box Worthy" because the fiver just not enough.
El Tiante Rosado Piramide - This cigar is the creation former Red Sox pitcher, Luis Tiant. A gift from friend and loyal podcast listner, Big Al! A woodiness with just the right amount of spice. Construction was a A+. Recommend checking out a couple of singles or a fiver in different sizes.
Tatuaje HCS Larga - Almost forgot I had this stick. After seeing a recent review by The Cigar Coop, I decided to go digging in my humidor and try it myself. Not a bad stick but not fantastic either. In the end worth a try. "The Fiver"
La Riqueza No. 4 - Back in December, I had reviewed the La Riqueza No. 1 by Pete Johnson & Pepin Garcia. I loved the flavor profile but had some issues with burn and draw. Consequently, I really wanted to try this blend in a different vitola and was able to pick up some of the No. 4 (Corona Gorda) from a fellow BOTL. Fantastic rich flavors and a nice finish. Lots of cocoa. Perfect burn. Look at that two inch ash! "Box Worthy"
La Gloria Cubana Serie R - A gift from you Paul. I believe this had a couple years of age on it. While this is not my typical flavor profile, I still enjoyed it. Lots of earth, hay, and leather but it was not in your face like some other smokes with similar profiles. A nice change of pace. I think the age provided some balance and smoothness. "The Angler"
Stogie Tech: Building A Wine Humidor - Part 2 - Preparation and Shelving
Once you've settled in on a refrigerator and it arrives at your house, first do a happy dance! Its an excited time, but before you go crazy be sure that you prepare it properly before putting humidification systems or cigars inside:
Clean it thoroughly - I recommend that you remove all packaging and open up the fridge first. Follow all of the instructions carefully. For example, you will likely not be plugging it in for at least 24 hours to let it settle. In the mean time take a clean sponge, some distilled water, and either baking soda or vinegar and wipe it out. They tend to have a smell. After you wipe it down leave the baking soda in the fridge for at least 24 hours to soak up any remaining odors.
Decide what to do with the drain plug - On all fridges there is a hole in the bottom that empties out into a tray. This is for condensation. You can plug this hole with silicone (do this then let it try, keeping the baking soda inside to absorb the smell, and before you put any shelves inside). You can also just put a piece of tape over the hole. You will also want to put some beads at the bottom to absorb any condensation that may happen.
Remove the shelves - Once you can power on the device, do so and leave in the baking soda. Remove the wire shelves from the fridge. I recommend that you don't use any of the shelves, they are not made for cigars and really won't help you. They are tailored towards wine bottled, and will just eat up space.
Buy or make shelves - After you've powered on your fridge, set the temp to the highest setting (typically 66). Now its time to either do some woodworking or buy some shelves. I bought some spanish cedar online for about $100, but you can order less ( I ordered too much). I just cut two pieces of shelving to size to make up one shelf and drilled some holes in them. You can also line the entire inside of the fridge with Spanish cedar if you like as well, which is a great option and will make for a great humidor. I'd also recommend covering up the glass door with Spanish cedar, as light is not your friend and should not enter your humidor. If you're going to buy shelves, consider the following two web sites:
They list which models they make shelves and drawers for so you can choose the ones for your model, if available. They can also custom make shelves and/or drawers. Figure out what you want to store, boxes or singles. Typically you'd put in a couple of drawers for singles and some shelves for box storage. Another great idea is to use spanish cedar trays, which is what I use in my Avallos. They are $10 a piece and hold about 50 sticks.
Now, no matter what you decide to do, make sure you wipe down all of your Spanish cedar trays, shelves, or drawers with distilled water first. Then put them in the humidor, then put in your humidification device. Then let it settle and hold a constant humidity and temperature setting.
17 Mar 2023
SG #378 - St. Patrick's Day Special with Jim McMurry
02:16:21
We will talk about green cigars, drink whiskey, and interview Jim McMurry!
Paul and Will talk about the cigar news this week, including new releases from Oliva and Arturo Fuente, plus an update on FDA cigar regulations.
14 Oct 2016
Stogie Geeks News - October 14, 2016
00:09:26
This week on Stogie Geeks News, we talk about a new ultra premium Davidoff, a new tubo format for Padron and good news if you are visiting Cuba!
Visit http://stogienews.tv for all the latest episodes!
30 Aug 2016
Stogie Geeks News - August 30, 2016
00:15:00
This week at why A.J. Fernandez was the star of IPCPR. Plus, we look at what Rocky Patel has unveiled at IPCPR. Plus an FDA Update.
Visit http://stogienews.tv for all the latest episodes!
08 Oct 2016
Stogie Geeks Shorts - Camacho Corojo Diadema
00:13:03
These cigars have been around for a long time.
Honduran Puro - 8 x 60
Top 25 Rating in Cigar Aficionado
Normally come in ten count boxes, but also were made available in four boxes. Visit http://stogieshorts.tv for all the latest episodes!
28 Nov 2022
SG #370 - Baller Cigar Cutters, Smokin' on the Beach, & Are Expensive Lighters Worth It?
01:47:29
This week, the Stogie Geeks smoke Lanceros and talk: Baller Cigar Cutters, Expensive Lighters worth it? Cypher 3311, Drew Estate, Don Lino Africa, Oliva Cigar Advent Calendar, Smokin' On the Beach, & more! Follow us on Twitter: @stogiegeeks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stogiegeeks Instagram: https://instagram.com/stogiegeeks Follow us on Twitter: @stogiegeeks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stogiegeeks Instagram: https://instagram.com/stogiegeeks Show Notes: https://stogiegeeks.com/sg370
30 Jun 2014
Episode 100: Looking Back...
00:51:44
23 Aug 2016
Stogie Geeks 198 - "Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cigar"
01:37:07
Azarías and Emille Mustafa of Córdoba & Morales join us, Will gives us the scoop on his trip to Cuba, and Paul and Will discuss their stogies of the week. Stay tuned!
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
13 Apr 2016
Stogie Geeks Shorts: Montecristo - Le Cigare des Arts
00:14:29
This cigar was released in 1998. Filler: Dominican Republic, Brazil Binder: Dominican Republic Wrapper: Indonesia Size: Belicoso Larga Vitola: Ring Gauge: 52 Length: 7" According to sources online this was a special wrapper and only used on this limited edition cigar.
07 Dec 2014
Episode 121
01:56:46
21 Nov 2011
Episode 4 - "Killer Spiders and setting Dave on fire"
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.
03 Jul 2015
Stogie Geeks Episode 147
01:53:50
19 May 2014
Episode 95, Part 3: Stogies of the Week
00:39:52
03 Jan 2016
Stogie Geeks Shorts: Bobby Newman, JC Newman Cigar Company
00:17:16
In this very special Stogie Geeks Shorts, Will catches up with Bobby Newman, Executive Vice President of J.C. Newman Cigar Company. We learn about Newman family's rich history in the cigar business, relationship with Arturo Fuente Cigars, and some insights into what is happening with the various lines. Special thanks to Craig Cass and Tinderbox Charlotte for making this very special interview possible.
21 Jun 2016
Stogie Geeks 191 - "Full House"
02:24:42
This week's Stogie Geeks show is aptly named - we chat with Humberto Areas of Cigar Package Design, Meluh Shah of Bombay Tobak, and our in-studio guest host Mike Bellody of Imperia Cigars! In our Debonaire Ideal segment, we discuss what cigars to smoke celebrating a newborn. Stay tuned!
13 Jul 2016
Stogie Geeks #193 - Stogie Santa Wears A Dress
01:47:46
Interviews with Brian Chinnock, Rene Castaneda, Debonaire Ideal: Retrohaling What Why and How? and Stogies of the Week.
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