Kip Fisher - Co-Founder, Author at Half Ashed

Half Ashed Episode 121: Las Cumbres Señorial

August 20, 2015 By Kip Fisher

Las Cumbres Señorial

Manufactured for José Blanco at Tabacalera La Palma by Jochi Blanco, the Señorial is the first line of cigars to be released by Blanco under his company, Las Cumbres Tabaco. Tonight’s vitola is the Paco Robusto, measuring 5-¼” X 52. It has an Ecuadoran Habano wrapper over an Estelian Binder and Dominican Piloto Cubano & Corojo filler leaves. The cigar comes across with mostly “hard” flavors of wood, slight earth, a spicy sweetness (more akin to hot cinnamon spice than baking) and a minimally salty flavor at the finish. Other available vitolas include:

Corona Gorda No.5 (5-1/2″ X 46)
Toro Bravo (6″ X 54)
Le Grand (6″ X 60)
Belicoso No.2 (6-1/4″ X 52)

Cigar News

Chogui, a brand mentioned by Skip Martin as a favored new cigar when he visited the Dominican Republic, has released a new line – the Dos77. There’s a story behind that name of the 277th (of 300) box of the company’s original line being lost in transit to Santo Domingo. The company is not distributed outside the Dominican Republic, but I’m working on tracking down a few to possibly get into the rotation. They’re produced in Tamboril, which is only a few miles from my house…. the Dos77 is produced in a single 5×52 vitola called a rogusto (robusto / gusto), and features a Dominican wrapper over a criollo 98 binder and corojo fillers (DR puro). $7 apiece in boxes of 16; initial run of 300 boxes, with upwards of 25k more on the way

General announced during IPCPR that there will be a forthcoming Margaritaville brand from CAO. They will produce a piña colada flavored offering called Margaritaville (cameroon over DR/DR) and a non-flavored, traditional cigar called Havana Daydreamin’ (Ecuadoran Connecticut over Nicaraguan fillers). Pricing across the lines will run from $5-7.

Glory be! illusione will be releasing a 7×40 lancero in the Fume D’Amour line. This line is still probably my very favorite cigar from the past 12 months. I’m fresh out, but still deeply in love with ‘em. It, like its other Fd’A brethren, will be a Nicaraguan puro produced via Casa Fernandez. No MSRP as of yet…

In an interesting move, Eddie Ortega will be taking over the sales department for Quality Importers per a story by Cigar Coop. Quality Importers is primarily a distribution company in S. FL, and will also take over distribution for Ortega Cigars. I’m anxious to see how this shakes out. Things have been fairly quiet in the Ortega camp for quite some time…although Eddie has revamped his website to reflect the integration with QI, stating that “Ortega Is Now Part Of Quality Importers Family Of Brands.” Not sure what this means in terms of ownership, etc. Time will tell…

In local news, InTabaco (the Dominican tobacco authorities) burned up 2221 boxes of fake cigars collected from tourist areas throughout the country. This was apparently a “crackdown,” but less than a week later I witnessed fakes being sold up and down the beaches on the northern coast….

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

Kelner – Yum
PSD4 – Amazing
Casa Magna – Domus Magnus – Holy sh*t

Kip

In recent days, I have slipped into a routine of smoking those cigars with which I moved to the DR in large supply. There are a handful of brands in that number, but the two I have been reaching for of late are Sam Leccia’s Luchador and My Father’s Flor de las Antillas. I love these two blends, but have to admit it’s time to acclimate a bit more and re-widen my horizons. In fact, as much as I love Nicaraguan tobacco, I suddenly have a much higher interest in Dominican offerings. I think it’s time to dabble a bit more in my local produce….

Next Episode

In the next episode (122), we will be smoking the illusione ECCJ 20th. So come by Friday night and hang out with us in the chatroom during the show. If you would like to contact us in the meantime, you can reach us via the Contact Page or the following emails: [email protected] [email protected]. Please feel free to drop us a line if you have any questions you’d like answered, comments to make…or even compliments and complaints. We love to get your emails! Also, remember you can always go back and listen to previous episodes, which can be found in the Half Ashed Archive. You can download this week’s audio directly below (right-click “Download” and save), find us on iTunes, or subscribe with any podcast app at our RSS Feed. Video, as always, will be available at the Half Ashed YouTube Channel.

P.S. – If you have unbanded suggestions or contributions, you can get those to us by sending an email to [email protected]. This email address goes directly to my wife, so you can simply suggest an unbanded cigar for her to source,[email protected] if you have something you’d like to send in. I will provide an address to send them. Thanks!

Half Ashed Episode 120: Nearing Normalcy

August 2, 2015 By Kip Fisher

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[EDITOR’S NOTE: In what has been a rapid-fire game of catch up, this is the final of 4 episodes publishing in quick order. My move to the Dominican Republic delayed our publication for a bit but I’m now suitably connected to the web and ready to get back in the game. Please pardon the condensed show notes until we get back on a normal schedule July 31st, 2015.]

This Week

In what should be our final “off” week, here’s Episode 120 – we’re finally nearing normalcy. With my move (mostly) complete, we can settle back into a regular routine and follow our standard format beginning next week (July 31, 2015). This week, however, we did cover a few news items from Padron, Hirochi Robaina, Steve Saka and Crowned Heads. We also talked a bit about my new environ and what we’ve respectively been smoking the past week.

Next Episode

In the next episode (121), we will return to our standard format and routine and will feature the Señorial by Jose Blanco as our Cigar of the Week. Come by each Friday night and hang out with us in the chatroom during the show. If you would like to contact us in the meantime, you can reach us via the Contact Page or the following emails: [email protected] or [email protected]. Please feel free to drop us a line if you have any questions you’d like answered, comments to make…or even compliments and complaints. We love to get your emails! Also, remember you can always go back and listen to previous episodes in the Half Ashed Archive. You can download this week’s audio directly below (right-click “Download” and save), find us on iTunes, or subscribe with any podcast app at our RSS Feed. Video, as always, will be available at the Half Ashed YouTube Channel.

Half Ashed Episode 119: The Craig Stands Alone

July 28, 2015 By Kip Fisher

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Hi folks. Welcome back for yet another show…and yet another twist to our format. You’ll quickly notice Half Ashed is only Quarter Ashed tonight, as Craig is co-hosting with himself in my absence. With all the craziness of my recent move, he had to tackle a show all by his lonesome and succeeded with flying colors. As if he didn’t take enough flak about voluminous oration in the past, I’m sure our esteemed listeners will give him a fair share now. So, tune in with me and see exactly what lurks in the dark recesses of Schneidervania….

Half Ashed Episode 118: Catching Up

July 24, 2015 By Kip Fisher

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[EDITOR’S NOTE: In what will be a rapid-fire game of catch up, I will be publishing 4 episodes this week. My move to the Dominican Republic delayed our publication for a bit but I’m now suitably connected to the web and ready to get back in the game. We will not likely have a live show this week, but there will be plenty of Half Ashed to keep you occupied for a while…]

This Week

This week is a bit different than normal – as has become the case during these recent tumultuous times. We take the opportunity to do a bit of catching up before my final flight to the Dominican Republic for the move. Come join us for a few laughs and maybe just an item or two of cigar news!

Next Episode

In the next episode (119), Craig will be flying solo….I can’t wait to see him self-conversate for an hour or so. Come by each Friday night and hang out with us in the chatroom during the show. If you would like to contact us in the meantime, you can reach us via the Contact Page or the following emails: [email protected]@halfashed.com. Please feel free to drop us a line if you have any questions you’d like answered, comments to make…or even compliments and complaints. We love to get your emails! Also, remember you can always go back and listen to previous episodes, which can be found in the Half Ashed Archive. You can download this week’s audio directly below (right-click “Download” and save), find us on iTunes, or subscribe with any podcast app at our RSS Feed. Video, as always, will be available at the Half Ashed YouTube Channel.

Half Ashed Episode 117: EP Carrillo La Historia

July 22, 2015 By Kip Fisher

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[EDITOR’S NOTE: In what will be a rapid-fire game of catch up, I will be publishing 4 episodes in the next week. My move to the Dominican Republic delayed our publication for a bit but I’m not suitably connected to the web and ready to get back in the game. We may not have a live show this week, but there will be plenty of Half Ashed to keep you occupied for a while…]

EP Carrillo La Historia Dona Elena

When EP Carrillo’s La Historia was released to the marketplace I immediately was drawn to the packaging (I’ll admit that). Knowing that I am generally a fan of San Andres leaf, and drawn to the beautiful packaging, I picked up a couple to try. I reviewed them back in November 2014, and thought they were a worthy Cigar of the Week…and that day has come. The line was produced in three vitolas – Dona Elena (6.125×50), E-III (6.875×54), and El Senador (5.375×52). Tonight, we’re taking a look at the Dona Elena. It carries a Mexican San Andres wrapper over Sumatran binder and Dominican/Nicaraguan fillers. The Dona Elena retails for about $8.25 per stick in the Tampa market.

Cigar News

Fresh on the heels of my little rant about shop exclusive and limited-edition craziness last week, Moya Ruiz announced the upcoming release of the Chinese Fingertrap. Well, I say announced, but they gave no details other than the fact that it will be produced at La Zona, be 6” x 50, and will ship the 1,000 boxes of 10 at the end of June. No blend details…it’s an “ancient Chinese secret.” Comes wrapped with a set of Chinese handcuffs (finger trap).

The semi-annual C.Gars auction in the UK will happen on June 15th…the 15th such auction. As usual, it will showcase some of the most incredibly rare and pricey cigars. Get your bids ready…lots of old, hard to find cigars will be available, including a lot of pre-Embargo items.

In what should not be a shock to anyone tied to the hobby, Nick Melillo has formally announced his intention to release a new cigar line to the market. His company will be called Foundation Cigars, and will initially utilize Casa Fernandez for producing his cigars. The launch will come at next month’s IPCPR trade show, although no specific details are available about the initial blend.

While we’re on the topic of former Drew Estate folks, Steve Saka’s non-compete reportedly expires just a week before IPCPR. Stogie Guys published a brief article speculating that maybe he has something up his sleeve as well, although Saka has not confirmed this as of yet. [Editor’s Note: We have reported fully on this in other episodes which have not published at the moment. You can catch those on YouTube until I get the audio podcasts published.]

After the recent reboot of AVO, we’re now seeing some more changes coming down. They are adding their first line since the revamp, called the AVO Syncro Nicaragua. The name stems from the company’s goal of synchronizing Dominican and Nicaraguan tobacco in the blend. It will feature an Ecuadoran CT wrapper over a Dominican binder and DR/Nicaragua/Peru. It will be box pressed and come in 4 vitolas – Short Robusto (4 x 52, $7.90), Robusto (5 x 50, $8.90), Toro (6 x 54, $9.90) and Special Toro (6 x 60, $10.90).

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

“SANTOS” Corona Gorda 2013 – Received in a trade with a friend, I only have a few of this particular vintage. I know my friend regularly tweaked the blend of Crisantos’ regulars and this is supposedly with extra ligero. I believe it. These have regularly been slightly erratic burners and have been substantially stronger than your average Cuban cigar. They remind me of the style I’m accustomed to from C.Fer but with the suave sensations typically expected from the island. Tobacco, pepper, mild vegetal flavors, vanilla & an earthy finish. A very interesting strong cigar. Seems very well attuned to the modern American palate.

Kip

Casa Fernandez Aniversario – 2014 edition. I stand by my earlier comments that this cigar seems a bit more “polished” than many of Casa Fernandez’s other lines. Caramel and cream really come through in this one, and markedly less strength than would typically be the case for their other offerings

La Flor Dominicana TAA 47 – A pretty straightforward LFD product with no real surprises for me. It was enjoyable, but didn’t provide anything a dozen other LFD lines might. I definitely DON’T recommend letting it go out and relighting, however. One of mine was only out about 20 minutes and refused to revive…giving lots of harsh flavors and searing on the rear palate after relight.

Next Episode

In the next episode (118), we will be taking the opportunity to “catch up” just before Kip moves to the Dominican Republic. Come by each Friday night and hang out with us in the chatroom during the show. If you would like to contact us in the meantime, you can reach us via the Contact Page or the following emails: [email protected] [email protected]. Please feel free to drop us a line if you have any questions you’d like answered, comments to make…or even compliments and complaints. We love to get your emails! Also, remember you can always go back and listen to previous episodes, which can be found in the Half Ashed Archive. You can download this week’s audio directly below (right-click “Download” and save), find us on iTunes, or subscribe with any podcast app at our RSS Feed. Video, as always, will be available at the Half Ashed YouTube Channel.

Half Ashed Episode 116: San Cristobal Mercaderes (2007)

June 20, 2015 By Kip Fisher

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San Cristobal Mercaderes (2007)

From Craig: A commemorative release from the brand meant to pay tribute Cuba’s capital. Roughly 6-½ x 48, a special vitola rolled initially just for this cigar. Filled with cocoa & graham flavors, this medium bodied and strength cigar is a slightly savory dessert like treat. Box code EMA Jan 07

Cigar News

As a followup to a story we covered several weeks ago, Gov Sam Brownback of Kansas has formally introduced his budget proposal for the upcoming year….to include increases on tobacco and liquor tax. Cigars would see an increase from 10% to 25% of wholesale pricing added to them, while cigarettes would be harder hit with a net increase of $1.50 per pack.

D’Crossier Cigars, which we smoked blindly last year, has moved their distribution to Espinosa. Their cigars are not manufactured by Espinosa; owner Isaias Diaz is simply aiming at a greater exposure and accessibility for his cigars through a bigger, more established distribution network.

I monitor some of the many bans that pass these days – there are so many it’s tough to keep close watch. One in particular hit home this past week. Waynesville, NC – a town I’m quite familiar with – has banned smoking (including e-cigarettes) in essentially all public places…including sidewalks, parks, govt. vehicles, greenways and around public buildings. Never thought I’d see the day bringing this news from NC.

For those Crowned Heads fans who are interested (like me), this year’s Las Calaveras has left the MF factory and are headed to CH headquarters. Look for them to hit store shelves in the next few weeks…

Gran Habano has released something special from George Rico’s personal reserve…the Private Humidor Selection. Apparently, GAR has stockpiled some 30,000 cigars in his personal stash in various sizes and shapes. This first release is a 7.5” x 38 lancero that has been waiting in the wings for the past 7-8 years. The Nicaraguan puro was made at Gran Habano’s Honduran factory and will retail somewhere around the $10 mark. A total of 100 boxes of 25 were released, and only a handful of retailers will be receiving them, predominantly in California, Hawaii and Texas.

Relative newcomer to the US market, Roberto P. Duran, has hired Cristano “Santo” Cardenas as their master blender. Cardenas has been in the Cuban cigar industry for 55 years, dating back to 1960. He has spent his tenure with the Upmann, Montecristo, El Rey del Mundo and Partagas marques. He also served as a global ambassador for Cuban cigars in recent years. Roberto Duran said in the press release that Cardenas had been his a major influence of his when he worked at the Partagas factory in Cuba. Cardenas will head up the company’s Nicatabaco factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

06 Party Corona – Excellent bready tobacco savory flavor
03 SLR Regio – Wonderful slightly salty sweet citrus flavor
10 AF 858 SG – Perhaps age isn’t the best for this cigar. Almost too crisp and not the slight edge that helps the young versions
03 RJ Ex#4 – Slightly too much sweet herbal flavors

Kip

United Cigars – Bandolero

Asylum Nyctophilia – made entirely of maduro leaf, featuring San Andres wrapper and Nicaraguan internal components. I tried the robusto, which retails for about $6. The other available vitolas are 6×60 and 7×70. It’s “kinda” a TAA special, in that it will only be available at TAA shops for the first several months to a year. I was apparently one of the first consumers to buy one of these, if not the first…

Ortega –

Other Rabbit Trails…

NOTE: We ended up getting off on a tangent, but here’s the excerpt from our show notes that got the whole discussion kicked off….

Is it just me or has the store-exclusive and limited schtick exploded recently? Every week, we have stories of more shop exclusives…and not just one or two. It’s mind boggling for the feeble minded like myself to try and keep track of. I have previously kept loose tabs on them, and tried to buy at least a couple from a few manufacturers…but I’m about ready to throw in the towel on even considering more than a passing glance at this point. The distinction has blurred such that most I have try hold very little interest for me. At times it seems the cigars are less likely to be a new/different blend than just another vitola in a standard production line. If I happen to be in a store with some I’ll consider it…but it would be out of the ordinary to even think of making a phone call to buy any these days. Mind you, I have no beef with house blends….just this LE shop-exclusive hype machine. Maybe I’ll eat those words at some point, but I’m fatigued with the myriad makers, lines and limited edition “specials” at this point.

Next Episode

In the next episode (117), we will be smoking the EP Carrillo La Historia Dona Elena. So come by Friday night and hang out with us in the chatroom during the show. If you would like to contact us in the meantime, you can reach us via the Contact Page or the following emails: [email protected] [email protected]. Please feel free to drop us a line if you have any questions you’d like answered, comments to make…or even compliments and complaints. We love to get your emails! Also, remember you can always go back and listen to previous episodes, which can be found in the Half Ashed Archive. You can download this week’s audio directly below (right-click “Download” and save), find us on iTunes, or subscribe with any podcast app at our RSS Feed. Video, as always, will be available at the Half Ashed YouTube Channel.

Cigar News: Miami Cigar Unveils Nestor Miranda Danno

June 4, 2015 By Kip Fisher

Miami Cigar & Co. set to Unveil Limited Nestor Miranda Collection “Danno”

Earlier this week, Miami Cigar announced the upcoming release of the “Nestor Miranda Collection Danno,” a limited edition extension of the Nestor Miranda Collection which pays homage to Miranda’s late son Daniel, who passed away in 2008.

The 2015 NMC Danno will be unveiled through a series of events that follow the recently rebranded Collection. According to the company, “the new visual identity has been well embraced, along with its accompanying tagline #OneLife. The message of the brand has inspired many supporters, to enjoy life and of course, a great smoke.”

Only 3,000 boxes of the Danno will be produced, in quantities of 1,000 boxes for each of the three available wrappers. While the blend components remain the consistent with this year’s brands, the proportions have been adapted in an effort to balance the blend for the Danno vitola.

Nestor Miranda said, “As you all can imagine, the Danno cigar holds a very special place in my heart, and I am very excited to be releasing it under the new NMC brand. This cigar has always been the epitome of my brand, and I am so proud to present you with our newest version.”

The NMC Danno is available in a singular 7″ x 56 vitola, with the following wrappers:

Connecticut: Ecuadorian CT wrapper
Habano: Nicaraguan Habano wrapper
Maduro: Broadleaf Maduro wrapper

Beginning June 12th, Nestor Miranda will host six events in a tour scheduled as follows:

June 12th Sanj’s Smoke located at 419 Broad St, Bloomfield, NJ 07003 Phone :( 973) 743-0693
June 13th Wooden Indian Tobacco Shop and Cigar Lounge located at 95 S Eagle Rd, Havertown, PA 19083, Phone:(610) 449-7001
June 17th Barrister located at 2565 US-22, Union, NJ 07083, Phone :( 908) 964-3000
June 18th, El Humidor located at 1116 Hwy 315, Plains, PA 18702, Phone :(570) 822-3544
June 19th Tobacco Park located at 161-17 29Th Avenue Flushing, NY 11358 United States
718-357-3510
June 20th Two Guys Smoke Shop located at 304 South Broadway (Rt. 28) Salem NH 03079
(603) 898-2221

About Miami Cigar & Co.

Miami Cigar & Co. proudly celebrates its 25th Year in the cigar industry. Founded by Nestor and Mariana Miranda, Miami Cigar & Co. has become one of the premier distributors of premium cigars boasting a portfolio which includes Tatiana, Don Lino and the Nestor Miranda brands. Miami Cigar & Co. also serves as the exclusive United States distributor for La Aurora, S.A and all Viva Republica brands.

Follow Miami Cigar & Company on Social Media here:

Facebook: Miami Cigar & Company
Instagram: MiamiCigar
Hashtag: OneLife

Half Ashed Episode 115: Ashton Symmetry with Bob

June 1, 2015 By Kip Fisher

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Ashton Symmetry

When the Ashton Symmetry was released in Fall 2014, it was the first new Ashton line in almost 10 years. It, like most other cigars to carry the Ashton marque, is a Fuente produced product, and features a “cloud-grown” Ecuadoran habano wrapper. Internally, it has some Dominican leaf from Villa Gonzalez and the Fuentes’ Un Buen Vecino farm in Estelí, Nicaragua. It comes in 5 vitolas, including this corona gorda called the Prism, and retails for $11-12.50 depending on size.

Tune in with Kip and special guest Bob McDuffee to chat up what he’s been up to lately and a few rabbit trails just begging to be followed….

Cigar News

I’m a big fan of Fratello – one of the newer lines out there, owned by Omar de Frias. The corona in his first lineup is a phenomenal cigar…and now he is coming out with a maduro. It will have a soft launch with a handful of retailers in the next few weeks, and full availability at IPCPR. The Bianco will come with a Mexican San Andres wrapper, Dominican binder and a filler blend containing Peruvian, Nicaraguan, and Pennsylvania broadleaf. It’s coming out of Esteli, but there’s no mention of the factory. It will be available in 20-ct boxes, in 3 vitolas – 6.25×44, 6×50, and 5×56. A fourth, event exclusive 5×44 will also be produced. The line isn’t a spinoff from their first line, which launched in 2013. It’s an entirely new blend according to Omar. Subsequent picture

After going thus far with a single vitola (although two were planned since IPCPR 2014), Drew Estate is releasing an extension to the Nica Rustica line. It’s a 7.5”x54 belicoso called the “Belly.” It will have a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper over Mexican San Andres binder and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos. It’s scheduled to begin shipping nationally in September, but will have a soft launch at an event July 30th in Louisville, KY. Pricing is expected to be around $8/stick.

Fresh off our recent discussions about cigar companies making cigars specifically to be paired with or flavored by beverages (Drew Estate’s PVW, C&C’s Dram, Asylum’s Dragon’s Milk, etc.), Perdomo is throwing their hat in the ring. They will be releasing the Craft Series, intended to be cigars for beer enthusiasts. This line is very much akin to C&C’s Dram series – with the Dram intended to be paired with whiskey, and the Craft Series with beer. It will include a CT-wrapped (Pilsner), Sungrown (Amber) and Maduro (Stout). While I understand the idea behind these pairing series, I guess I’m a bit of a skeptic. Most of my experience has shown good pairings to be more experimentation and happy accident than hard science…and it seems most folks’ ideas about what goes well together are different enough to make it inconsistent at best. In any event, the line will come in 3 vitolas (5.5”x54 robusto, 6.5”x54 epicure, and 6”x60 gordo), and retail for $7-8.50 depending on vitola.

Pinar del Rio is releasing a whole new line, composed of surplus tobaccos from other blends. They’ve emphasized that this is not the typical “Cuban sandwich” cigar, though. It will be all long filler, but be rolled using this leftover tobacco. The line will be an inexpensive bundle stick, retailing for about $2.75 to $3 per cigar, and will use the surplus from large purchases of leaf for other lines. It will, however, consistently have an Ecuadoran Habano wrapper, Dominican binder and Nicaraguan fillers, and feature about 80% leftover leaf. It’s called the “A Crop” and will come in 3 vitolas: 5”x50 robusto, 6”x52 toro, and 6”x58 gordo.

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Bob

Had some really bad smoking Maduro’s from a well known Miami Cigar Company

Lighters – it’s hard to find a good lighter that will last, prices are too high for most lighters and yet the cheap ones are just that, cheap.

For the most part I am finding the quality of today’s cigars to be excellent to acceptable

Kip

Asylum’s new Nyctophilia robusto

Tatuaje Verocu Havana VI #5 4”x40

Don Arturo Destino al Siglo Familiar 6.5”x46

Next Episode

In the next episode (116), Craig will return to his duties and we’ll be smoking one of his selections – the San Cristobal Mercaderes 2007. So come by Friday night and hang out with us in the chatroom during the show. If you would like to contact us in the meantime, you can reach us via the Contact Page or the following emails: [email protected] or [email protected]. Please feel free to drop us a line if you have any questions you’d like answered, comments to make…or even compliments and complaints. We love to get your emails! Also, remember you can always go back and listen to previous episodes, which can be found in the Half Ashed Archive. You can download this week’s audio directly below (right-click “Download” and save), find us on iTunes, or subscribe with any podcast app at our RSS Feed. Video, as always, will be available at the Half Ashed YouTube Channel.

P.S. – If you have unbanded suggestions or contributions, you can get those to us by sending an email to [email protected]. This email address goes directly to my wife, so you can simply suggest an unbanded cigar for her to source, [email protected] if you have something you’d like to send in. I will provide an address to send them. Thanks!

Prepping for an international move

May 28, 2015 By Kip Fisher

Almost a year-and-a-half in the making, our move to the Dominican Republic is finally upon us. Brain tumors and myriad other hurdles have been negotiated, our house has sold in record time and we are in the final throes of packing up our possessions. Our flight has been arranged and we’ll be departing on June 24th for Santiago. I am stoked to say the least.

I’ve settled in this morning for wrapping up some final work issues and putting down some notes on this La Tradicion Cubana Reserva Familiar Maduro, which I should have reviewed months ago. I have to admit, its natural-wrapped brother set a high bar – but the maduro is really shining so far. It will be a tossup as to which I’d reach for first in the future. I suppose I’ll have to buy them in pairs :). Thankfully Luis Sanchez, the manufacturer, has his factory near where I’ll be living….Hopefully, I’ll figure out a good way to buy them once in-country.

So…what cigar so accurately reflects your preferences that you’d pick up and move to another country to be near the factory? Not that this is what I’m doing…but I’m not saying it isn’t either :).

Kip

Half Ashed Episode 114: Unbanded 024

May 25, 2015 By Kip Fisher

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Unbanded 024

A traditional 6.5″ x 42 Lonsdale vitola with a slightly green tinged claro wrapper and a simple triple cap. The wrapper appears “dry” and mildly toothy.

News

TL Johnson and La Tradicion Cubana have – from all outward appearances – parted ways amicably. This was announced by posts to both companies’ social media accounts. TL Johnson will additionally be opening a factory in the Dominican Republic to manufacture their own cigars and the Counsellor line that was announced this past year. They will also be providing manufacturing capacity for custom cigar production as the need arises.

Casa Fernandez and relative newcomer Warped have announced a new cigar to be released at this year’s IPCPR. The Futuro is being promoted as something “different” from what the two companies might normally offer…although with a Nicaraguan puro using most or all criollo and corojo from the late 90’s I’m not sure how much of a departure this will actually be for Casa Fernandez. I love AGANORSA, but it’s not exactly the most diverse profile in tobaccodom. It will be available in 2 vitolas – a 6×52 Futuro Seleccion 109 and Seleccion Suprema (5-⅝”x46). 400 boxes of 20 for each vitola will be made available at the show, with future production possible as well.

The numbers are in. The Cigar Association of America’s annual report (via Cigar Aficionado) for cigar importation into the US shows a pretty flat year in 2014. Both Dominican and Nicaraguan imports dropped, with a slightly larger Dominican reduction…but neither are significant. What’s interesting is the slowed import flattening for Nicaragua. You may remember a mere two years ago that Nicaragua was poised – at its then-current rate – to overtake the DR within a couple years. They’re holding strong at second place, only separated by a few million sticks…but the growth has stalled for the past year.

The L’Atelier Cote D’Or has begun shipping. It debuted to a soft launch a few months ago, but has begun showing up nationwide now. It’s a 7×47 soft pressed churchill (the only vitola), and has a production run of 2100 boxes of 10. It uses the Ecuadoran Sancti Spiritus wrapper (Same as the Seleccion Speciale from L’Atelier), over Nicaraguan internals. I picked up a few of these this week, and we’ll feature it soon on the show. It’s a bit of a step out for L’Atelier with its $15-ish price tag, as most of their lines fall in the typical “sweetspot” we so often talk about.

Erik Espinosa will be relaunching the Murcielago blend. Originally, this was an EO Brands line, produced by My Father. Through all the splits, Espinosa retained the rights to the name, and says he thinks he has reverse engineering the blend to be the original. The only blend details are a Mexican San Andres wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and fillers. Pricing has not yet been announced…and I’m more than a little piqued at how this blend will be and how it will compare to the original….since it was made by My Father at a time when they used AGANORSA tobacco. I’d like to know the details of how they have reconstructed it. Who knows? Maybe it’ll be a dead match. It just seems bold to declare an exact match.

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

Pipe tobacco!

CAO Midnight Ride

Margate

Kip

Asylum Insidious – Ec CT over Honduran fillers; made at CLE’s El Aladino factory. Might not have tried this one had I known its makeup…but I’m glad I did. The sweetness provided a nice surprise, with only some bitter notes toward the very end. With a 6”x52 going for about $4, it’s a win in my book. I’d not resist having a few around, but it wouldn’t be a frequently smoked stick for me.

On Dale’s recommendation, I gave the Camacho Triple Maduro another try. Why do I keep doing that?!? Tight draw, wonky burn – which, in unison, created a weird “solvent” kind of flavor I didn’t care for. Made it about ⅓ of the way through the robusto. Still not my cup o’ tea…although it once was.

Next Episode

In the next episode (115), we will have special guest Bob McDuffee. Kip and Bob will be smoking the Ashton Symmetry. So come by Friday night and hang out with us in the chatroom during the show. If you would like to contact us in the meantime, you can reach us via the Contact Page or the following emails: [email protected] or [email protected]. Please feel free to drop us a line if you have any questions you’d like answered, comments to make…or even compliments and complaints. We love to get your emails! Also, remember you can always go back and listen to previous episodes, which can be found in the Half Ashed Archive. You can download this week’s audio directly below (right-click “Download” and save), find us on iTunes, or subscribe with any podcast app at our RSS Feed. Video, as always, will be available at the Half Ashed YouTube Channel.

P.S. – If you have unbanded suggestions or contributions, you can get those to us by sending an email to [email protected]. This email address goes directly to my wife, so you can simply suggest an unbanded cigar for her to source, or [email protected] if you have something you’d like to send in. I will provide an address to send them. Thanks!

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