Kip Fisher - Co-Founder, Author at Half Ashed

Press Release: Nomad Releases S-307

November 4, 2013 By Kip Fisher

NOMAD RELEASES MUCH ANTICIPATED “S-307” CIGAR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Estelí, Nicaragua (November 4, 2013) – Nomad Cigar Company is pleased to announce the release of the much-anticipated S-307. The company’s first full production cigar in Nicaragua, the S-307 is a box pressed Sumatra wrapped cigar blended and rolled at the AJ Fernandez factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.

In July 2013, Fred Rewey, founder of Nomad, made a significant splash at IPCPR when he expanded from his Dominican produced core line to include the Nomad Lot 1386, a Nicaraguan Limited Edition cigar that almost immediately sold out at the show. Rewey then returned to Nicaragua with the continued goal of creating an even higher caliber cigar than the last all the while delivering competitive pricing for the consumer. The result is the Nomad S-307.

Name: Nomad S-307
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Ecuadorian Habano
Filler: Nicaraguan
Factory: AJ Fernandez
Notable: 21 count, Box Pressed

Sizes / Pricing
Toro (6×50) – $7.95 MSRP
Robusto (5×50) – $7.75 MSRP
Torpedo (6.5×52) – $7.95 MSRP

In keeping with his trend, Rewey gave meaning to the name of his new cigar as well. The “S” stands for Sumatra. The “307” pays homage to the approximate square miles of the Estelì area.

“I am really excited to get this one in the hands of cigar aficionados. I received a ton of great insight and encouragement from some industry icons in Nicaragua. I am just taking it all in, learning, listening, and enjoying the journey,” stated Rewey.

Rewey launched Nomad in 2012 and immediately started adding his own twist to the cigar industry. Rewey was the first cigar maker to add social media to the outside of a cigar band by printing his personal Twitter account (@Godfadr) – an account that has continued to grow to over 20K people as he engages in constant conversation with his followers. Nomad has been gaining international attention of cigar fans due to creative marketing and noteworthy cigars. All the while, Rewey has remained grounded.

“I try and surround myself with really smart and experienced colleagues. I am always learning new things. New techniques, new aging methods, new blends. I am thrilled Nomad cigars are so well received, it has been awesome journey so far and I look forward to the future,” said Rewey.

The S-307 is now shipping to retail locations and is Rewey’s third cigar blend offered to the retail market, following the success of the Dominican line and Nicaraguan Lot 1386.

Contact:

Sales Contact:
Nathan McIntyre, National Sales Director – House of Emilio Cigars: (615)691-1654

Fred “Godfadr” Rewey, Nomad Cigar Company
Twitter: @Godfadr
[email protected]
Phone: 855-MYNOMAD (or 855-696-6623)

Half Ashed 039: Dogwatch Revisited

November 3, 2013 By Kip Fisher

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Dogwatch Revisited

Good afternoon everyone, and welcome back for this week’s Half Ashed. For Episode 039, we bring back our friends and mentors Bob & Dale, formerly of Dogwatch Cigar Radio. We’re smoking an unbanded submission from DC – who might have facilitated a dead-nuts determination of brand and make of this cigar by Bob McDuffee (you really gotta watch these guys…..). In the news, we cover some items from Fuente (Casa Cuba!), some new New York City legislation, and the schedule for the upcoming “official” hard launch of Barry Stein’s KILO.

In the midst of all the much-anticipated and very welcome silliness that always comes with a visit from the Dogwatch brethren, we also review what each of us has been smoking this week – including a cigar that simply didn’t fill my sails with wind, and a handful of other items that came up in the conversation. As is always the case, we love it when Dale and Bob can come by and spend some time hanging out. They never fail to provide a great time of hanging out and chatting. We’re definitely looking forward to the next time they’re available to come by – which may be as soon as December, so stay tuned for that.

Next week, our Cigar of the Week will be something….we just don’t know what that is yet. We’ll surprise you with something good to smoke for sure. So be sure to check back in next Friday night at 9:30pm EST at www.halfashed.com, 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!

Half Ashed Episode 038: Quai D’Orsay Imperiales

October 26, 2013 By Kip Fisher

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Hello again, folks. Welcome to another week of Half Ashed. This week, we were forced to record on Wednesday rather than Friday by some scheduling conflicts. Thanks to the folks who did join us in the chatroom….and if you’ve never joined us on Friday nights, you should! Tune in here at halfashed.com around 9:30pm EST for the show streaming as we record every week. Episode 038 features the Quai D’Orsay Imperiales, one of Craig’s submissions to our stockpile of Cigars of the Week. Here’s what he has to say about it:

Perhaps the mildest Post Revolution Cuban cigar. This Julieta 2 (i.e. Churchill) is unique in its proliferation of “SOFT” flavors. They are predominantly syrupy and herbal with a toasty core. The toasty flavor comes across to me as a sweet wheat cereal like Life. To me, this defines the “change of pace” cigar and can even make you want to switch over to this “pace” more permanently. It is the perfect analogy for a relaxed week away from the office. Medium flavored, mild and slightly more body than light, these cigars are the proverbial “middle child”; they are low key, wonderfully kind and always standing in someone elses spotlight. In my opinion, it isn’t fair :)

In news, we cover stories from the New York judicial system, EP Carrillo, Drew Estate Charities, IPCPR, and revisit the Alec Bradley Royal Monkey Society. We also discuss a few cigars we’ve been smoking since the last show, and have a couple of trivia questions from Craig. Lastly, we wrapped up by covering a listener email from Maria Elena Gonzalez (thanks Maria!).

Next week, our Cigar of the Week will be a special Unbanded from Dan Crouch….and we’ll be joined again by Bob & Dale from Dogwatch! We love having those guys sit in on the show. It’s guaranteed to be a fun time, so be sure to check back in for that next Friday night at 9:30pm EST at www.halfashed.com, 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.

News from TL Johnson and La Tradicion Cubana

October 26, 2013 By Kip Fisher

News from TL Johnson and La Tradicion Cubana

Regular readers and Half Ashed listeners will know that I am quite the fan of TL Johnson Cigars, as well as many other cigars rolled by La Tradicion Cubana (if you’re looking for a recommendation, I’d go with the TL Johnson Tempio or LTC Corona…but you can’t go wrong with pretty much any of the products). I spoke with Terry Johnson on the phone this week, and he has passed along the press release below, as well as some related pictures. Terry (TL Johnson), Luis Sanchez (La Tradicion Cubana), and Juan Francisco Reinoso (former agronomist for Philip Morris International) have partnered to begin tobacco farming and processing operations in the coming days. They will be growing tobacco for inhouse LTC production, as well as supplying other manufacturers. The first year’s crop, a ’98 Criollo, has been planted and is slated for the Spring 2014 harvest. You may remember that earlier this year Luis and Terry joined in the production of a cigar line, as well as combining their individual strong suits for production, marketing, and distribution. Press release and pics as follows:

Press Release: Compañia de Siembra Hojas de Tradicion

October 23, 2013 (Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic) – 2013 will be hailed as the year it all started for Luis Sánchez, owner of Tabacalera LTC SRL, Terry Johnson, owner of T.L. Johnson Cigar Company and Juan Francisco “Pancho” Reinoso former agronomist for Philip Morris International with the announcement of their new Dominican farming operations and leaf company, Compañia de Siembra Hojas de Tradicion. The company’s immediate focus will be growing tobacco for combined in-house cigar production (Tabacalera LTC SRL) along with leaf production for sale. A leaf processing facility and brokerage firm is in the plans for 2014.

Planting has begun, with the first crop of Criollo98 for the spring 2014 season and expansion plans are in the works for mid-2014 season growing of Dominican filler, binder and wrapper leaf. Company agronomist Juan “Pancho” Reinoso brings on board 33 years of experience from Phillip Morris and will oversee daily farming operations. “We are pleased to have on board such an experienced partner, who is so greatly respected within the Dominican tobacco growers’ community”, said both Sánchez and Johnson.

Luis Sánchez plans to divide his time between US and Dominican Republic on a monthly basis to oversee the farming operations and to develop the processing facilities. Sánchez also plans to devote time to the expansion of Tabacalera LTC and its partnership with Cia. de Siembra Hojas de Tradicion. Sánchez brings 20 years in the cigar manufacturing industry (La Tradicion Cubana Cigars).
Terry Johnson will remain at the helm of the marketing /sales department of the cigar distribution company for the remainder of 2013 and thru 2014 with plans to work on developing relationships with International cigar manufacturers for the leaf company (Cia. de Siembra Hojas de Tradicion). Johnson has an extensive background in farming and ranching operations and will join the team on a quarterly basis in the Dominican Republic as a consultant for the farming operations.

Half Ashed Episode 037: Drew Estate Nica Rustica

October 20, 2013 By Kip Fisher

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Hello everyone and welcome back to another week of Half Ashed fun. Through an odd series of events, we only selected this episode’s Cigar of the Week (the Drew Estate Nica Rustica “El Brujito”) moments before showtime – a bit out of the ordinary for us, as these are usually planned weeks or even months in advance. Tune in to get our thoughts on this new offering from Drew Estate. In news this week, we cover stories from AJ Fernandez, House of Emilio, Oliva/Tampa Humidor, Joya de Nicaragua, and Torano. We also follow a few tobacco-related rabbit trails, and discussed what’s been on our minds this week, including an article I wrote over on The Cigarmy about how we perceive expertise, and what we’ve been smoking. Finally, we go over a couple of listener emails and pairing recommendations we received recently.

Next week, our Cigar of the Week will be the Quay D’Orsay Imperiales, one of Craig’s favorites. Be sure to check back in for that next Friday night at 9:30pm EST at www.halfashed.com, 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: Pinar Del Rio AFR-75 Sublime

October 16, 2013 By Kip Fisher

Background on the AFR-75

Shortly after IPCPR, I was offered the opportunity to try a few new Pinar del Rio blends and absolutely jumped at the chance. It’s no secret I’m a fan of some other cigars that come from Abe Flores’ factory in the Dominican Republic – notably, his PDR Small Batch maduro and the Biography he produces for Frank Herrera (which is a top-three cigar from 2012 to my tastes). Today, I’m smoking the AFR-75 Sublime (5″X56). The line takes its name from Abe Flores’ initials and year of birth, and is a quite limited production run of 500 boxes per vitola in 3 different sizes (the other two being the Edmundo at 6″X58 and Immenso at 7″X60). It also features a San Andres Maduro wrapper, and filler/binder mix of ’98 Nicaraguan Criollo, Connecticut Broadleaf, and Dominican tobaccos. For this review, I’ve smoked two samples, provided by PDR.

Pre-Light

The PDR AFR-75 comes with a lovely medium chocolate-brown complexion, evenly colored, and with no mottling whatsoever. It has a lightly oily appearance, some very fine tooth, and moderate veining. There is one significant vein turned to the outside of the wrapper on the second sample, but they’re generally light in appearance. I did notice on both cigars that the wrapper had retreated slightly from the bunch near the foot, a tell that indicates it has been properly held for some time before release. I did not notice any soft nor dense spots in the pack. Overall, both have been solidly built and provided near-perfect draw resistance. Before light, the wrapper aroma smells strongly of cedar; the foot as well, with perhaps some hay.

The Smoke

With the application of fire, the AFR-75 starts off with a bang; tons of spice on the soft palate; not quite so bold on retrohale, surprisingly. I rarely will use red pepper as a flavor descriptor, but in the first few minutes of the AFR, that’s exactly what I’m reminded of. The spice, as perceived across the soft palate, is capsaicin-like. It leaves a slight lingering tingle behind through the finish. Within a few minutes, this has tamed considerably, however. By the five minute mark, it had subsided and left behind a very enjoyable, much softer, tropical spice. This, as I’ve mentioned in a few previous reviews, is more akin to some Caribbean cooking spices than the earlier mentioned red pepper. It’s something I personally enjoy and actively seek out in a cigar. Just the right amount of that first “bite” remains to keep this stick pleasant and interesting.

The middle portion of the PDR AFR-75 brings a more cedary profile. The cedar that was so apparent on the wrapper aroma before lighting has been largely missing from the early portion of the cigar, but now begins to build significantly. Halfway through this portion, it has become the clear dominant flavor – and will remain so until the end of this portion of the cigar. In the final stretch, there was some early fade from the cedar into a sweeter profile, akin to dark chocolate. However, this was fleeting, with the cedar soon returning.

Summary

I have to admit the AFR-75 never became bitter, all the way to the very end. In fact, both my samples were finely crafted, deliciously blended cigars. The only possible cause for pause for some will be the pricing, which pushes the $15 mark at full retail. I have certainly paid more for less enjoyment in a cigar, but I know many in the marketplace may view that with a very skeptical eye. I still hold that the AFR-75 carries its weight and is definitely worth investigating. With its limited nature, presumably dear components, and admirable performance in my experience, I expect it will yet do well in the market. It is definitely worth the investment and investigation if you are at all a fan of PDR Cigars (as I find myself increasingly so).

Be honest. Be passionate. Be real. About cigars.

October 15, 2013 By Kip Fisher

I’ve been thinking about a couple of cigar related things in the wake of a discussion on Half Ashed’s previous episode, one of which I’d like to throw out some thoughts on today. I’ve been contemplating what a cigar “expert” might be. I don’t consider myself an “expert.” I’ve been smoking cigars for a very long time, and have consumed far more than probably 95% of all cigar smokers on an annualized basis. I’ve even picked up a few bits of useful knowledge here and there about cigars and tobacco – growing, processing, aging, blending, rolling, marketing, distributing….you name it. But, [Read more…]

Press Release: Cuatro Cinco by Joya de Nicaragua

October 15, 2013 By Kip Fisher

45 years of the Nicaraguan cigar industry celebrated with a Limited Edition by Joya de Nicaragua

Esteli,Nicaragua—‐1968 was the year when it all started: the first Premium Nicaraguan cigar was hand-rolled in Estelí under the Joya de Nicaragua seal. With it, the Nicaraguan cigar industry was born and a new era for Premium hand‐rolled cigars began. JOYA DE NICARAGUA S.A is proud to honor this achievement with Cuatro Cinco, a Limited Edition cigar.

Cuatro Cinco has been especially crafted to commemorate four and a half decades of history of Joya de Nicaragua, its people and the city of Estelí, where it all started. Cuatro Cinco is an authentic Nicaraguan puro, hand rolled in Estelí with tobaccos grown in the region and in Jalapa, with a special 5 year old ligero that the factory had been saving in its bodegas for this special occasion. As if time wasn’t enough, the filler tobaccos have been specially aged in oak barrels for more than a year to give them distinctive and sophisticated notes, and the silky smooth wrapper and binder are Nicaraguan grown in the Jalapa valley.

“We are very excited about Cuatro Cinco, for this is one of the few Limited Editions we have produced. With this cigar we are capturing the true Nicaraguan Spirit, rich in the tradition that embodies our cigars and that defines us as the archetypal Nicaraguan cigar maker, because before Joya, there was no Nicaraguan cigar. While this cigar promotes our heritage, it is also a celebration of the future and the many years we still have ahead of us. It’s been 45 years already, and we are just getting started!” stated Dr. Alejandro Martínez Cuenca, Chairman of JOYA DE NICARAGUA S.A.

Leonel Raudez, General Manager and Head of Production of Joya remarks: “this is also a tribute to the people of Joya, the ones that went and the ones that are still with us, even after 45 years. We Estelianos are proud of contributing to make Nicaraguan tobacco among the best in the world, and to celebrate that, we have made one of the most exceptional cigars we have rolled, using our finest local tobaccos and rolled by a selected few of our talented tabaqueros. The profile of this cigar is nothing like what we’ve produced, although the richness and complexity of the Nicaraguan grown tobaccos still predominates.“

Cuatro Cinco will be available in a single vitola: a 6 x 54 semi–‐box pressed in 10–‐count boxes. As a Limited Edition, only 4,500 boxes of Cuatro Cinco are being produced each one numbered to guarantee exclusivity. The initial batch will start shipping in the first week of November 2013 to special Joya customers in the United States and around the world.

About JOYA DE NICARAGUA S.A.

JOYA DE NICARAGUA S.A. is a family owned, Nicaragua–‐based cigar factory that handcrafts traditional cigars for the premium luxury cigar market. First opened in 1968, it is Nicaragua’s oldest cigar factory in operation and home to the legendary JOYA DE NICARAGUA® brand of cigars. Joya is regarded by many as the patriarch crafter of robust, unique puro blends of locally grown black tobaccos, and its cigars are sold in nearly 40 countries around the world. For more information, please visit www.joyacigars.com

Half Ashed Episode 036: Unbanded 010

October 13, 2013 By Kip Fisher

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Half Ashed Episode 036: Unbanded 010

Good afternoon, and welcome back for another episode of Half Ashed. This week, for episode 036, we’re smoking an unbanded submission from Steve Dorau (Thanks, Steve!). In news, we cover stories from Drew Estate, upcoming cigar festivities for anyone in the central Florida area, the education I recently received in Chicago tobacco taxes (yikes!), Sotolongo Cigars, Miami Cigar, Emilio and Emilio-distributed Nomad Cigars, as well as the upcoming availability of a budget pipe tobacco.

We also cover what we’ve been smoking (a few goodies for me, and one that just wasn’t in Craig’s sweetspot), cigar etiquette, and an update on my attempts at putting together a new website. Additionally, we did get to a couple of emails and notes we’ve gotten from folks that have been quite generous and kind toward the show. Thanks to all for that, we really appreciate the encouragement.

Next week, our Cigar of the Week will be a surprise, at this point even to us. Be sure to check back in for that next Friday at 9:30pm EST at www.halfashed.com. 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 035: Fuente Unnamed Reserve

October 6, 2013 By Kip Fisher

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Half Ashed Episode 035: Fuente Unnamed Reserve

Welcome to another fun-filled episode of Half Ashed! This week, we’re taking a look at an unexpected (at the time) release from the Fuente family – the Unnamed Reserve. When this cigar showed up on select retailers’s shelves in December of 2012, little was known about it other than the facts that it was somewhat limited in scope and contained some mixture of the Don Carlos blend with a Sungrown wrapper. Join us as we enjoy a couple of the last few remaining in my humidor.

We also cover several news items, including the announcement of Tatuaje’s “Unlucky 13” retailers for 2013 (see article and poll over on The Cigarmy), a really cool Miami Cigar promotion going on tomorrow (October 7th), a scheduled timeframe for this year’s Serie V Maduro release from Oliva, and George Rodriguez’s take on bringing the consumer into the loop in blend development.

Additionally, Craig and I discuss what we’ve been smoking, a couple of associated cigar interest topics, and a few of this week’s outstanding listener emails. Join us for all the Friday night fun….

Next week, our Cigar of the Week will be Unbanded #008, provided by Steve Dorau. Be sure to check back in for that next Friday at 9:00pm EST at www.halfashed.com. 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.