Kip Fisher - Co-Founder, Author at Half Ashed

Half Ashed Episode 045: Half Ashed – Half Dogwatch

December 17, 2013 By Kip Fisher

Welcome to Episode 045, everyone. I apologize for the delay in getting this week’s show posted. I’ve been excessively busy with the ol’ dayjob, and quite honestly it was more important to me to spend what little other time I had playing rummy with my kids :). This week, Craig was not available, for good reason. He was busy welcoming the newest Li’l Schneider into the world (Congrats to the Schnedier family). I was lucky enough to have Dale Roush of Dogwatch Cigar Radio fame join me for an especially relaxed show. We each smoked a cigar that we wanted to share with the audience (you’ll have to listen to find out what they were). We began the show with some sad news this week, as we offered condolences on the recent passing of Myrna Sherman, wife of Joel, CEO of Nat Sherman Intl. In cigar related news, we covered stories from Drew Estate, Ashton, and Eddie Ortega. We also covered a third burglary at a South Florida cigar warehouse, and a number of important legislative items.

Both Dale and I talked about several interesting cigars we’ve smoked lately, and were able to just hang out and chat, smoke, and talk cigars. A big thanks to him for sitting in with me; it is always a pleasure when he and/or Bob McDuffee can join in on Half Ashed.

Next week, Craig will be returning and our Cigar of the Week will be Unbanded 011, from Jacob Pinkas. Be sure to check back in next Friday night at 9:30pm EST at Cigar Federation (details on locating the show will be on the front page that evening an hour before showtime), where you can catch us recording and participate in the chatroom. If you would like to contact us in the meantime, you can reach us through the contact page or at the following email addresses: [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), or find us on iTunes to subscribe. Video, as always, will be available at the CigFed Half Ashed Video Archive.

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 send me an email to [email protected] if you have something you’d like to send in. I will provide an address to send them. Thanks!

Press Release: La Sirena and Miami Cigar

December 10, 2013 By Kip Fisher

NEW YORK, NY – December 12, 2013– Following a successful three-year partnership with Miami Cigar & Company, La Sirena Cigars will become independently owned and operated by Arielle Ditkowich as of December 31st, 2013. Ditkowich will remain at the helm, continuing to produce new and exciting blend profiles. Arielle is excited for La Sirena’s continued growth and looks forward to 2014 projects, industry shows and travelling to retail events.

Ditkowich is extremely grateful for everything Nestor Miranda and the entire Miami team has taught her during their partnership and will always look at the Miranda family as an extension of her own. “Miami [Cigar & Company] saw the potential in me to create a boutique brand in a challenging business dominated by men. We worked tirelessly to create distinct blends that appeal to aficionados looking for something unique” Said Ditkowich.

Distribution of La Sirena and Merlion Cigars will remain under the Miami Cigar & Co. umbrella until December 31st, 2013. Starting January 1st, 2014 distribution will be handled by La Sirena. La Sirena Cigars will continue to work with the Garcia Family at My Father Cigars and Guillermo Leon at La Aurora Cigars to make the current Sirena and Merlion Blends respectively.

La Sirena Cigars will be announcing more exciting updates, find out first by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @lasirenacigars

La Sirena Cigars was founded in 2009 by Arielle Ditkowich in partnership with Nestor Miranda of Miami Cigar & Co. The La Sirena Original blend, available in six vitolas debuted in 2009 and is rolled in Nicaragua at My Father Cigar Factory. The brand followed up with its second release in 2012, The Merlion, created by La Aurora in the Dominican Republic with the medium bodied, full flavored smoker in mind. La Sirena brand cigars are distributed nationwide and available at over 300 retail stores.

WWW.LASIRENACIGARS.COM

Half Ashed Episode 044: Crowned Heads, CigarChat, & CigFed

December 9, 2013 By Kip Fisher

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Good evening, everyone, and welcome to Episode 044 of Half Ashed. If you missed the live show, we smoked the Crowned Heads Four Kicks Corona Gorda this week, and had special guests Rob Rasmussen and Logan Lawler from Cigar Chat / Cigar Federation. We had an absolute blast with the guys, and learned a little more about both their show and the Cigar Federation. We also managed to cover a few of our regular segments as well. First off, we had our recently instituted Leaf of the Week segment, covering broadleaf this week – complete with a giveaway (which has now ended….it pays to listen live!). In the news, we covered items from Drew Estate/Herrera Esteli, Miami Cigar, and Fuente, as well as a few legislative stories of import. Additionally, we talked a bit about what we’ve been smoking this week but had to cut short before getting into emails from this week. Be sure to tune in next week – one of the emails is a review from a gentleman who reportedly paired his Opus with 9-11 Heineken!

Next week, our Cigar of the Week will be a surprise; Craig will be out tending to fatherly duties and welcoming a new little Schneider into the world (congrats Craig). I’ll be joined once again by special guest Dale Roush of Dogwatch Cigar Radio fame. Be sure to check back in next Friday night at 9:30pm EST at Cigar Federation (details on locating the show will be on the front page that evening an hour before showtime), where you can catch us recording and participate in the chatroom. If you would like to contact us in the meantime, you can reach us through the contact page or at the following email addresses: [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), or find us on iTunes to subscribe. Video, as always, will be available at the CigFed Half Ashed Video Archive.

Press Release: New Aging Room Small Batch T59 Blend

December 9, 2013 By Kip Fisher

New Aging Room Small Batch T59 Blend

[NOTE: I apologize for my lack of new content the past 3 weeks. I have had no small amount of occupational craziness and fires to put out. I should be back in a regular groove by the end of this week. Thanks for stopping by, and be sure to check out recent episodes of Half Ashed….we’ve at least kept that current!]

For Immediate Distribution – December 9, 2013: Boutique Blends Cigars is announcing the selection of the new blend to be released as the new Aging Room Small Batch Quattro T59. The Aging Room cigar line was created with the objective of releasing new and exciting blends made with limited and hard to find tobaccos. The new blend, Quattro T59, was selected with the help of consumers, as it was part of the Aging Room WildPack 2013 as blend W-IV (M-338). “The Aging Room WildPack is part of our strategy to involve the consumers in our blending process” said Rafael Nodal, president of Boutique Blends Cigars. “The selection of the new blend for the release of the Quattro is only the beginning” expanded Rafael Nodal, “as we continue to search for the next blend release with the help of the consumers who continue to vote from the WildPack blends”, concluded Rafael.

Aging Room has been one of the highest rated boutique blend lines worldwide from its insertion in 2011. The Aging Room Small Batch M356 received a rating of 94 by Cigar Aficionado and was selected as one of the TOP 25 Cigars of 2011, it was also rated 95 by Cigar Journal which also selected the M356 as one of the FINEST 25 Cigars of 2012.

The Aging Room Small Batch Quattro F55, is one of the highest rated cigars in 2013 and continues to receive praise from renowned publications around the world.

Boutique Blends Cigars also produces other brands as SWAG Cigars and its focus is on small, controlled production or small batch cigars. “I am not making cigars for everyone, I am making cigars for educated aficionados who are looking for exciting and complex blends” said Rafael.

Mentioned as one of the hardest working men in the cigar industry, Rafael Nodal is traveling around the USA and other countries, selecting the proper Boutique Blends Cigar shops and sharing with the cigar consumers his philosophy of making small batch blends and controlled productions.

Together with Hank Bischoff, Rafael has teamed up with veteran grower and cigar man in the Dominican Republic, Jose “Jochy” Blanco to create and develop these exciting blends using selected tobaccos from the famous farms of Blanco.

For information about the Aging Room Small Batch Quattro T59 or any of the products from Boutique Blends Cigars, please contact Hank Bischoff. For online or social media inquiries please contact Carlos Nodal.

Hank Bischoff, VP Carlos Nodal, Social Media

Boutique Blends Cigars Email: [email protected]

5951 NW 173^rd Drive, Suite 8 FB, Twitter: Carlos Nodal

Miami, FL 33015 Instagram: AGINGROOMCIGARS & SWAGCIGARS

Email: [email protected]

Half Ashed Episode 043: Gran Habano Corojo #5

November 30, 2013 By Kip Fisher

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Welcome to Episode 043 of Half Ashed. This week, we’re smoking one of Craig’s favorite cigars, a Gran Habano Corojo #5, from the original release. Tune in to get our thoughts on how this cigar has progressed, developed, and whether or not it has retained its original character. In the news, we cover items from Altadis/RyJ, Gurkha’s release of the Pedro Martin LE, and a couple of particularly bold legislative attacks on cigars. We also cover what we’ve been smoking this week, a few listener emails, and even delved into some smoking recipes!

Next week, our Cigar of the Week will be the Crowned Heads Four Kicks Corona Gorda, and we’ll be joined by special guests Rob & Logan from CigarChat. Be sure to check back in next Friday night at 9:30pm EST at Cigar Federation (details on locating the show will be on the front page that evening an hour before showtime), where you can catch us recording and participate in the chatroom. If you would like to contact us in the meantime, you can reach us through the contact page or at the following email addresses: [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), or find us on iTunes to subscribe. Video, as always, will be available at the CigFed Half Ashed Video Archive.

Half Ashed Episode 042: Casa Fernandez Miami Reserva Maduro

November 24, 2013 By Kip Fisher

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Hello everyone and welcome back to Half Ashed for our 42nd episode. This week, we had a last minute scheduling change and weren’t able to have our scheduled guest from Casa Fernandez. Nonetheless, we carried onward and smoked the Casa Fernandez Miami Reserva Maduro. In the news we discussed stories from Smoke Inn (upcoming Microblend Series), nicotine-free e-cigars (!), a couple legislative items, a new European market Oliva, and the Camacho Blackout. We also covered “what we’ve been smoking,” some corollary topics, and reviewed some recent listener emails (thanks; keep ’em coming).

Next week, our Cigar of the Week will be the Gran Habano Corojo #5 (Original Release). Be sure to check back in next Friday night at 9:30pm EST at Cigar Federation (details on locating the show will be on the front page that evening an hour before showtime), where you can catch us recording and participate in the chatroom. If you would like to contact us in the meantime, you can reach us through the contact page or at the following email addresses: [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), or find us on iTunes to subscribe. Video, as always, will be available at the CigFed Half Ashed Video Archive.

Cigar Review: Table 36 Integrity Corona Gorda

November 19, 2013 By Kip Fisher

Table 36 Background

Back at the 2012 Chattanooga Tweetup, one of the sticks I received in my pack of cigars was a small, nondescript cigar simply marked “36” – or so I thought. I didn’t smoked that cigar until I returned home from the trip. When I did, I enjoyed it so much I made a couple of phone calls and internet queries trying to find out some more information about it. Turns out, it was from a Missouri based company called Table 36, and the cigar was called Fellowship. I did a little more digging and came to find out that there were no retailers in my area that carried the line, and the company prefers not to have their cigars sold online. Disappointed, I went back to my normal routine of smoking what’s readily available. Fast-forward to IPCPR 2013. I happened upon Table 36 at the show, and dropped by their booth to chat up the representatives and learn more about the cigars. After spending some time talking with the folks at the booth, I learned they have a very interesting back story on how the company came to be, and that they had released a new line called Integrity. I was given a corona gorda from the Integrity line to smoke, which is the subject of today’s review.

The Integrity is a Nicaraguan puro, featuring a Jalapa wrapper, double binders (Esteli & Jalapa), and filler blend of Condega and Jalapa tobacco. It is produced by Nestor Plasencia, and is available in 4 vitolas (Corona Gorda (5.5″X46), Robusto (5″X50), Toro (6″X50), and V58 (6.5″X58). MSRP on the line ranges from $7.15-8.65. For today’s review, I smoked the sample given and another example I received through trade with an acquaintance.

Pre Light

Giving the Integrity a quick once-over, it has a medium brown coloration, with some light mottling and a smooth, oily feel to the wrapper. The veins are clearly visible but moderate in size, and I find neither dense nor soft spots in the bunch. From all appearances, it is exceedingly well made. The prelight draw has a straightforward tobacco flavor and a moderate resistance – just about perfect for my tastes. Worth mention is a slight tingle on the tongue after a cold draw – which I will learn is a precursor of things to come.

The Smoke

Upon first light, the initial puffs of the Integrity are quite bold and spicy. This being a Nicaraguan puro, I expected more spice in comparison to its older brother Fellowship (which is medium in strength and largely comprised of Honduran tobacco). However, the Integrity (to my tastes) is more than one notch above the Fellowship in terms of that familiar pepper. If pressed to assign some flavor descriptors, I’d definitely go with red pepper this early in the cigar, which is most perceived on the retrohale. There is a sort of nutty backdrop to that spice as well, which really presents on the finish. All this being said, the flavor that will likely strike a chord with readers is that of tobacco. Very good, very Nicaraguan……tobacco. About an inch or so into my time with the Integrity, the pepper has ever-so-slightly abated, although I’m not sure if this is the cigar or if my palate has adapted.

Going into the midsection of the Integrity, the “nutty backdrop” mentioned earlier continues to develop and begins to show more of a woodsy bent – a bright, cedar flavor to be precise. I have to say that smoke production on this cigar has been voluminous….not that it means anything to most folks, but I thought it worthy of note. The ash has been had a consistently mottled, rumpled texture to it. While it doesn’t cling tightly enough to set any length records, I never felt in danger of ashing myself and setting my pants ablaze. By the end of this portion of the cigar, the rusty old synapses in my mind and flavor perceptors of my palate assign a more leathery character to the flavor. The spice remains at the ready with retrohale.

The final stretch of the Integrity comes in with an upswing in prominence of that leathery flavor, yet still displaying the sweet, dry nuttiness of the Jalapa in the blend. The spice that has been interwoven throughout also picks back up remarkably in the final few minutes. I had no beverage with the Integrity either of the times I smoked it, but I imagine this would go phenomenally well with a strong cup of coffee.

Summary

While approachable for most anyone, the Integrity will be most appreciated by those who enjoy bold Nicaraguan tobacco that makes its presence known (as I do). The interplay between this spice and the nutty flavors will definitely keep even the most finicky smokers interested. I hope Table 36 has continued growth….at least enough to get a retailer in the Tampa market, as I would love to have these at hand on a regular basis. Selfishly speaking, Tampa needs this cigar (if the guys from Table 36 are reading, this is a hint). Highly recommended.

Half Ashed Episode 041: Michael Stewart (Casa Trompeta)

November 17, 2013 By Kip Fisher

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Welcome back everyone, to Episode 041 of Half Ashed. This week, we finally are able to reschedule Michael Stewart to come back and re-record a show we did with him a few months ago – the now-infamous “Lost Episode 017.” For those who don’t remember, Episode 017 took place on a dark and stormy night in Chicago, which resulted in a number of outages for Michael during the show. The recording ultimately was lost in the vast underbelly of YouTube, and we were unsuccessful in ever being able to download and publish it. So, we brought him back to talk about the hobby he has undertaken to purchase whole leaf tobacco and blend/roll his own cigars at home. Join us as we talk about how he sources his tobacco, the process he uses in creating his blends, and his rolling style. I will also be posting an excerpt of from the show displaying his method (see our YouTube Channel for that; it should be posted by midday Monday November 18th, 2013).

Next week, our Cigar of the Week will be the new Casa Fernandez Reserva maduro, with special guest Max Fernandez Pujals of Casa Fernandez. So, be sure to check back in next Friday night at 9:30pm EST at Cigar Federation (details on locating the show will be on the front page that evening before showtime), where you can catch us recording and participate in the chatroom. If you would like to contact us in the meantime, you can reach us through the contact page or at the following email addresses: [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), or find us on iTunes to subscribe. Video, as always, will be available at the CigFed Half Ashed Video Archive.

Cigar Review: Havana Sunrise Reserve "Brilliance"

November 11, 2013 By Kip Fisher

Havana Sunrise Reserve background

I recently reviewed a cigar called “Ringo” from Felix Assouline Cigars, a new company that I encountered at IPCPR. Today, I’m smoking the second of two samples they provided of another Felix Assouline offering, the Havana Sunrise Reserve (HSR), in their “Brilliance” vitola. The HSR is a reblended version of Benny Gomez’s previously available cigar bearing the same name. From the Felix Assouline website: “Havana Sunrise Reserve is our nod to the old traditions of yesterday…..[It] is a medium to full body line introduced in 5 vitolas.” The five vitolas are: Beacon (56X6.5″ Toro), Brilliance (54X6.5 Torpedo), Blaze (54X6″), Prelude (52X4.75″), and Ray (44X5.5″). The Havana Sunrise sports a Habano ’98 wrapper (of unspecified origin), Indonesian binder, and a filler blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran tobacco – this same basic theme runs through all four introductory blends offered by Felix Assouline, with adjustments to filler composition to achive differing flavor profiles. All vitolas come in boxes of 30 box pressed cigars.” MSRP for the Brilliance is $7.

Both cigars smoked for today’s review were a fairly evenly colored medium brown, with sparse spotting/mottling and an oily feel and appearance. The seams and veins are modest in appearance, and construction has been exceptional. I found no hard/soft spots within the pack, and the draw has been free but deliberate. The cold draw on both provided a mild hay flavor, and while unlit they gave a very subtle but sweet tobacco barn aroma.

The Smoke

The HSR lit exceedingly well, and very easily. I am normally a much smaller ring-gauge smoker, but I have to admit the Brilliance was quite comfortable for me – presumably due to the elongated press and tapered head of the torpedo. An early spice in the opening minutes is a surprise for me. In my mind, I suppose I was expected something more akin to the original Havana Sunrise blend – which had very little spice. Today’s HSR is more in line with what we see coming from Nicaraguan manufacturers in recent years. The flavors themselves for this early portion are a bit leathery, and the spice really only presents if you give the smoke a quick retrohale. As I progressed through the first two inches of each stick, I noticed that the tingle on retrohale began to taper, allowing the background flavors to become more pronounced and really shine through. In general, the profile at this point sweetens, but remains very much in the tanner’s corner.

Moving into the second portion of the Brilliance, the spice abated to a large degree. The cigar developed a more toasty character, and has moments of sweetness that give it a flavor I would almost classify as caramelesque. It has flashes of an interesting toasted-marshmallow nature that are very pleasant but fleeting. The influence of the Nicaraguan filler tobacco continues to be clear, although the spice remained considerably muted

In the final stretch, I was greeted with an unexpected resurgence in the early spice. While never mild in flavor, this was a bold wakeup call, in terms of both flavor and strength. I might have placed the HSR firmly in the medium range previously, but at this point I would lean toward calling it full-strength overall. It isn’t the strongest powerhouse of a blend I’ve ever smoked, but you will not lose sight of the fact that you are smoking a cigar….yet it doesn’t punch you in the throat with an overbearing strength. It’s more of a “velvet hammer” approach. The strength did begin to sneak up on me toward the very end. As for flavor, I would definitely classify the HSR as full bodied. There are some hints of coffee in the final half hour of smoking, accompanied by the earlier noted leathery, toasty character. I did experience some mild scalloping in the burn toward the end of both samples, but never anything worth more than a mention. A quick touchup with the lighter resolved all issues.

Summary

I have to say I have thoroughly enjoyed the Havana Sunrise. It’s strange; I enjoyed Benny’s previous blend…and while the current incarnation of the HSR is radically different, I have enjoyed it greatly as well. In fact, I’m hoping one of my local Tampa shops picks up the line. It’s a blend I would love to have in my regular rotation. For those of you who enjoy and appreciate Nicaraguan spice accompanied by a blending style that showcases dark, sweet flavors to provide a beautiful backdrop for it, the Havana Sunrise Reserve comes highly recommended.

Half Ashed Episode 040: Alec Bradley Fine & Rare

November 10, 2013 By Kip Fisher

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Welcome to the 40th episode of Half Ashed! This week, we’re smoking the 2012 edition of the Alec Bradley Fine & Rare. The Fine & Rare is a very limited annual release from Alec Bradley. It contains 10 different tobaccos, although little is know about the blend outside of the wrapper – which is Honduran leaf, from the Trojes region of the country. The 2012 edition is a 6″X52 torpedo, produced at the famed Raices Cubana factory. Production for that year was 2000 boxes of 10, and had an MSRP of $16.50. Personally, it is one of my favorite Alec Bradley offerings, and I look forward to it each year, and even at the pricepoint I’m in for a few. Tune in to the show for detailed description of what we thought of this particular rendition.

In the news this week, we discuss a recent report from Cigar Coop about Skip Martin’s recent revelation about an upcoming blend from RoMaCraft – the Neandertal. The fascinating piece of information from this is the fact that it will contain some Aganorsa leaf. I’m a huge fan of Casa Fernandez/Tabacalera Tropicale/Aganorsa cigars and RoMaCraft, so I’ll be waiting on this with bated breath. Speaking of Aganorsa, we also covered a couple of upcoming releases from Casa Fernandez (and the fact that Casa Fernandez will be on the show in two weeks – Nov 22nd). We also had an interesting discussion on a recent instagram post by Ernesto Padilla, hinting at a special club he has in the works for fans of his cigars. We also have some brief talk of what we’ve been smoking this week, Craig’s recent thoughts on coffee, and cover a few recent listener emails.

Next week, our Cigar of the Week will be either unbanded 011 from Jacob Pinkas, or possibly one of Michael Stewart’s personal blends. Michael will be our guest as we dive into his fascinating hobby of blending/rolling his own cigars. You may remember Michael if you were watching live during the infamous “Lost Episode” of Half Ashed. Episode 017 was lost in the cosmos, and never released to the public after YouTube decided to eat it. Michael is a very interesting guest, and we both love the idea of making your own cigar creations at home. So, be sure to check back in next Friday night at 9:30pm EST at Cigar Federation (details on locating the show will be on the front page that evening before showtime), where you can catch us recording and participate in the chatroom. If you would like to contact us in the meantime, you can reach us through the contact page or at the following email addresses: [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), or find us on iTunes to subscribe. Video, as always, will be available at the Half Ashed YouTube Channel.