Kip Fisher - Co-Founder, Author at Half Ashed

Half Ashed Episode 149: Ezra Zion Burnt Ends

August 21, 2016 By Kip Fisher

Ezra Zion Burnt Ends

Kip – Named after the favored “burnt ends” of a Texas BBQ brisket, this was Spring 2015 direct-to-consumer release from Ezra Zion. It had a total production of 1000 cigars, and sported a cured corojo wrapper (cured?)…but little else in terms of recipe. 6”x52 toro.

Cigar News

Carlos Fuente Sr. has passed. We offer our condolences and a few memories of Senior.

Follow up on the companies releasing epic quantities of cigars at IPCPR….

Random things I noticed at the show:

I didn’t dig in hard to the legislative seminars, but they seemed generally better-attended than in years past.
Wide range of answers when mfrs. Were asked their thoughts about FDA
Lots of new packaging on old blends
Lots of “pre-2007” blend marketing…
AJ Fernandez’ booth was crazy busy.
Macanudo Mao…
Excited about Davidoff Yamasa, EPM 10 yr (DLR), Bella Artes, Yayabo, EZ All My Exes Maduro, Pistoff Kristoff
The Cigarmy cutter….

Today’s the first of the “FDA D-day” – August 8th, 2016. Now what?

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig – A GREAT couple of weeks for me

ECCJ 20th was the dog of the show. That should tell you something
Reynaldo Canonazo 2014 from Zedman
1998 Montecristo Especials
La Atalier Racine – How polar opposite this experience was… from itself

Kip – nada

Half Ashed Episode 148: Crowned Heads and Diamond Crown 20th

August 21, 2016 By Kip Fisher

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Crowned Heads & Diamond Crown

Kip – Crowned Heads Las Calaveras 2016 – I’m having the 5×50 edition of this year’s release. It has a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper over Nicaraguan fillers. Produced by My Father. Based on my first experience, I’d liken it more akin to the 2014 version than 2015…which is great for me.
Craig – Diamond Crown 20th Anniversary – A lovely gift from Kip that seemed like it was calling out to me this evening.

Cigar News

FDA Panic much?!

Recluse….9 new lines, with 14 sizes each?!?!?
Kings Cigars will be releasing some new limited editions…to the tune of 40 new facings in 14 different blends!

1502 has given some detail – but not much – on their latest release, the Blue Sapphire. I’ve been a fan of Enrique’s style since he first hit the shelves with the Ruby & Emerald several years ago. The Blue Sapphire will again be a Nicaraguan puro, but little is yet know about the blend outside of it being described as medium-full to full. It’s strange that so little detail sparks an interest from me, but knowing how much I’ve enjoyed his past efforts I’ll be excited to try this one.

Many listeners may not be familiar with El Artista, but I’ve lived just a couple miles from their factory the past year. The company is celebrating 60 years in business, although they don’t have huge name recognition in the American market. They do a steady business of house blends and a few others you may know like the Puro Ambar. I profiled them a few years back at the 2013 show. They have a long history in growing and buying/selling leaf, as well as making cigars. This year’s new release is the Pulita, which uses negrito wrapper, criollo 98 binder and fillers from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Colombia, and Pennsylvania. The Aniversario will come in two sizes, a 5×50 Robusto and 6×54 Toro.

Celebrating a 10 year anniversary, illusione will have several changes in the works for this year’s show…but probably few will bring a tear to my eye like the fact that the eccj blend is going mainstream! The robusto, churchill, and corona gorda will become regular production items. Secondarily, my other favorite bit of news from Dion is that there will be a 5-⅝” x 46 Fume D’Amour called the Concepcion. Hoowahh!

One last item that has my knickers in a twist is the Yamasa from Davidoff. I’ll be attending a media gathering in their booth and the official launch at the opening of the Davidoff lounge in Vegas. This blend will feature tobacco from a region between Santo Domingo & Bonao in the Dominican Republic, where they have some limited tobacco crops. The region is known as Yamasa, where the cigar draws its name and wrapper. The binder will also be from here (San Vincente), and the filler will have tobacco from Condega and Estelí, Nicaragua and other Dominican tobaccos (piloto and mejorado). There’s been a good deal of science applied in their development of these tobaccos…as well as its treatment during processing. It’s available in Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 x 52), Pirámides (6 1/8 x 52) and Petit Churchill (4 x 48), and will retail between $13-23 per stick depending on size

What the frack is an “energy cigar?” The Nicaragua Cigar Distributors are banking on the energy drink phenomena with an entry this year. They claim to have infused FDA approved food grade components to provide a “boost” minutes after lighting the cigar. Interesting idea, or regulation-fodder? There will be a premium version as well as an inexpensive mass market short filler edition…

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

España Corona
Crowned Heads Four Kicks Torpedo

Kip

RoMaCraft Aquitaine Anthropology
EZ Tantrum PA
Oliva Serie V Maduro x2
Emilio Carpe Noctem & AF2

What have we been enjoying in the world of cigars lately?

Writing again! I’ve got a hankering to put a story idea down on paper. It’s somewhat autobiographical but more off, it’s a great accompaniment to the cigar.

Half Ashed Episode 147: Ezra Zion and Wildcard

August 21, 2016 By Kip Fisher

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Photo credit: ezrazionstore.com

CotW – Ezra Zion Chocolate Porter, and……

Kip – Ezra Zion Chocolate Porter: This was a limited run released by the guys at Ezra Zion a couple months ago. It features a San Andres wrapper, and had a very limited production of 645 cigars. The release promises deep, roasty flavors coupled with some vanilla, coffee bean and licorice. Also promises not to nuke your palate with strong tobaccos….let’s give it a whirl.
Craig – ….did not write his notes….

Cigar News

There are *tons* of new cigars being announced leading up to IPCPR…but woefully few details to be honest. Sure, some are forthcoming. But it seems more than ever that cigar makers are reserving specifics until the show.

Oliva has been acquired by J. Cortes…

In addition to the already-regular-production Tatuaje Black PC, a few new sizes are now going to be available full time: Petit Robusto (4 x 50), Corona Gorda (5 5/8 x 46), Cazador (6 3/8 x 43) and Gran Toro (6 1/2 x 52). I had the chance to smoke the Petit Robusto this week, and rather enjoyed it. I find these not to be too radically different by vitola. They’ve done a good job of tweaking the blend to retain its character in all the various expressions. I do dig that CG as my personal favorite size, though…

A few more surprises….

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

Crowned Heads Las Calaveras 2014 EL
la Atelier C’ote d’or

Kip

Don Carlos Personal Reserve
Undercrown Robusto
I picked up – but have not yet smoked – the Tat TAA LE for 2016, and the Crowned Heads Las Calaveras 2016. I’ll report back ASAP.

Listener Email

John From Chicago shares the response he received from US Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky after he sent her the form letter the CRA has on its website in support of HR662 “Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act”

Email 1 from John

From: U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Your recent message

Dear Mr. REDACTED:

Thank you for contacting me to express your support for H.R. 662, the Traditional Cigar Manufacturing and Small Business Jobs Preservation Act. I appreciate hearing from you.

H.R. 662 would statutorily exempt cigars from the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA). The TCA granted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to deem all tobacco products under its authority. While cigars are considered tobacco products, the existing law does not explicitly mention cigars. The Food and Drug Administration has issued a proposed rule deeming tobacco products under its jurisdiction. The FDA proposed two alternatives for the treatment of cigars – one option would make all cigars subject to FDA jurisdiction and the other option would specifically exclude cigars designated as “premium cigars” from FDA jurisdiction. The FDA accepted public comment on these two options and is currently reviewing those comments. I will closely follow this process.

While I appreciate your concerns about the proposed regulations and will work to minimize the impact of the law on small businesses, I support FDA’s authority to regulate cigars as needed to protect and promote public health. I oppose H.R. 662because there are serious health risks associated with cigar smoking, and I believe people should be made aware of them. I am committed to warning people about the health consequences associated with cigars, and I am particularly concerned with preventing teenagers from using tobacco products.

Although we disagree on this issue, I appreciate hearing from you. Please do not hesitate to contact me whenever I may be of assistance.

Sincerely,
Jan Schakowsky
Member of Congress

Email 2 from “Grey Goose”

Subject: Re: Black Dog Coffee

I am a new to CCs … and that has been awesome.

I have (interest in) some Monte #3’s, some PSD4’s, Upmann Mag 46’s, some SLR’s, a few Juan Lopez No 1’s and 2’s that I liked, but thought I’d ask what are your top few CC’s that should be on top of my list?

Have been fly fishing the St Joe and Coeur d’Alene rivers lately, the Westslope Cutthroat biting!

Cheers,

Grey Goose

Half Ashed Episode 146: Punch Exclusivo Asia Pacifico

July 22, 2016 By Kip Fisher

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Punch Exclusive Asia Pacifico

From Craig:

2006 Punch Super Robusto RE Asia Pacifico – 6.1”x50 – As we’ve discussed numerously, the Regional Edition releases have been a successful gimmick from Habanos SA. This vitola, popularized in basic format by the Cohiba Siglo VI in 2002/03, is one of the first large ring releases in the punch line. The line benefits from the added girth by bringing brown sugar & a little citrus to the typically tangy, almost whiskey-like spicy characteristics of the basic punch line. A classic performer and a standout in the already premium RE releases. A classic in the future.

Cigar News

Since the last episode, I’m sure we all celebrated “World No-Tobacco Day.” I know I did, with a couple cigars of which I chose to rid the planet in a series of very small fires. The United Nations took advantage of the occasion to advocate for plain packaging laws around the world. For those not familiar, these are the laws we talked about long ago in Australia – which essentially eliminate characteristic packaging on tobacco products. Boxes of cigars must be presented in basic, drab colors with little or nothing besides text identifying them as such (except in some cases, graphic depictions of tumors, etc.). The established standard “entails restricting or prohibiting the use of logos, colours, brand images or any promotional information other than brand and product names displayed in a standard colour and font.” U.N. thinking asserts that this lowers the demand for the product, and supports the goal of elimination from the marketplace. An official in a un.org article claims the laws have reduced the number of smokers in Australia by 100,000 in 34 months. How these folks continue to tout the huge drops in numbers of smokers while concurrently claiming rates of smoking commencement are at all time highs is beyond me. The aforementioned article concludes with a quote from the WHO Director General: ““On this World No Tobacco Day, we are telling the world to get ready for even more comprehensive tobacco control.” Brace yourselves, fellow cigar smokers….especially those in Canada and the U.S. You’re next in line for new legislation, including plain packaging proposal.

Those of you who enjoy a good flavored cigars have dodged a nearer bullet. As outlined by the CSP Daily News, a site dedicated to convenient stores and their sales, the original proposal of the new FDA regulation would have almost immediately killed off many or most flavored cigars – with a 90 day limit on the approval/substantial equivalence process. If you enjoy these cigars, be ye forewarned: they’re in the forefront of regulatory sights. Even though the original language was stricken, there was a phrase included that declared a longer goal to “eliminate characterizing flavors in all cigars including cigarillos and little cigars.”

Yesterday, Enrique Sanchez of 1502/Global Premium Cigars filed what I believe is the first lawsuit spawned from the recent FDA regulations within the premium cigar industry. There are a number of subtleties, but two overarching allegations in the suit:
- GPC claims the FDA is infringing upon First Amendment rights with the labeling requirements. The claim is that a.) the government has not provided any evidence that these labels are protective of public health and b.) the warning labels impede First Amendment rights by hindering the manufacturer’s ability “to communicate with the public through packaging, advertising, and intellectual property.”
- Secondly, the suit claims violation of Fifth Amendment rights. A clause in the amendment forbids the government from seizing property without just compensation. The claim is that the space to be occupied by labeling requirements on boxes and advertising materials has been unjustly seized without compensation. Additionally in this section, a claim is made that the February 15, 2007 grandfather date is arbitrary.
- It is also claimed that the provided pathway to approval is flawed and unlawful – in essence that no cigar maker would pursue the approval process for post-Feb 2007 products if they can’t show substantial equivalence due to the cost. Substantial equivalence procedure, according to FDA estimates, would run in tens of thousands of dollars…while the alternative to introducing a product will likely be hundreds of thousands.

As I mentioned, there are quite a few other intricacies with the suit. I will try to post a link to the info on our forum this week. During an FDA webinar last week, some guidance on the intent for the samples ban was provided. For now, at least informally, promos with purchase are safe. The simple giving of a sample is what will be prohibited. Making purchase to gain additional cigars would seemingly be allowed. No more samples from reps to shop customers, etc. though.

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

Partagas Serie du Connoisseur #1 – Much of this box has been a letdown. This cigar was not. Full, rich, spicy, everything a partagas should be. It’s always interesting to me when nearly every cigar from a box is average, then at #23 or 24 you finally get a gem. Did it just need 10 years of box time? Was it the only one with high quality tobacco in it? The world may never know…
Punch Lunch Club – These are an old Dogwatch favorite. While noticeably youthful, the flavors are there. This just goes to show that the big boys do have some mighty tasty tobacco…

Pretty run of the mill past couple weeks for me. Actually not much stuck out aside from a Ramon Allones (robusto?) and its uncharacteristic flavors…peat. Peat-fired malted barley. Weird…

Florida Sun Grown coming to Corona Cigar

June 2, 2016 By Kip Fisher

Drew Estate Announces New Florida Sun Grown “FSG”

On Half Ashed, we’ve been talking about Jeff Borysiewicz’ efforts at re-vitalizing Florida-grown cigar tobacco ever since the first crop in 2013. Those efforts are finally coming to fruition, in the form of a new line from Drew Estate – the first to utilize the tobacco. The cigar maker is now officially launching the line, dubbed “Florida Sun Grown,” or “FSG.” It features leaf grown near Clermont, FL just outside Orlando. The growing operation is spearheaded by Borysiewicz, owner of Corona Cigar Co.

The Florida Sun Grown line will feature four vitolas:

Robusto (5 x 54), MSRP $230/20ct box
Toro (6 x 52), MSRP $260/20ct box
Belicoso (6 ½ x 54), MSRP $280/20ct box
Sixty (6 x 60), MSRP $300/20ct box

The blend for the FSG features the Florida tobacco as an accent, or condiment, tobacco. It purportedly “adds nuance and depth to the blend, but [the cigar] also features select Nicaraguan fillers. The binder is a Habano seed tobacco from Honduras and the cigar is finished off with a lush Brazilian wrapper.”

In addition to the regular production items, a special limited edition “Trunk-Pressed” Toro (6 x 54) will be produced. This limited size will contain a different blend, utilizing a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper over Mexican binder and Florida Sungrown/Nicaraguan/Honduran filler components. The LE will retail for $150 per 10ct. box.

The FSG was blended by Drew Estate Master Blender Willy Herrera over the past two years that the company has been processing the new leaf.

Willy says, “it was a unique challenge working with the Florida Sun Grown tobacco. It was something completely new to me, and it took me numerous blends to figure out how to incorporate it into a blend I really loved. The final blend we’ve come up with is one I’m extremely excited about, and I can’t wait to see what everyone thinks of this special new tobacco.”

Asked about growing this tobacco, Borysiewicz said, “this has been one of the most difficult challenges of my life. Tobacco growing is just as much an art as it is a science, and growing tobacco in this area of Florida was totally uncharted territory. It took a lot of trial and error to get it to where it is today, but we couldn’t be happier with the way it’s smoking.”

Jonathan Drew, of Drew Estate, relates: “My first memorable experience with Jeff Borysiewicz was at 1am in the morning inside the DE factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. We spoke until 3am, while DE’s first seven packaging girls and myself prepared for the launch of ‘NATURAL Cigars by Drew Estate’. It must have been 2000. The next morning, after sleeping only a few hours, I drove a rented car four hours to Managua on that pothole crater-ridden Pan American Highway just to bring Jeff some samples of what would later become ‘Industrial Press Cigars’. Friendship founded, boom, for life. Here we are, now 17 years later and ready to make magic happen again. Florida Barn Smoker and the FSG Label bring me back to the earliest days when we had nothing but a dream.”

The Florida Sun Grown line will land on retailer shelves in June, and will be available exclusively at Corona Cigar Co. To be among the first to try the new Florida Sun Grown blends, attend the Florida Barn Smoker on June 4^th, 2016.

J. Grotto Anniversary line receives extension

June 2, 2016 By Kip Fisher

The J. Grotto Anniversary: A Box-Pressed Double Robusto in Maduro

I’m a little behind schedule as we begin to bring more written content back into the Half Ashed equation. This particular item from J. Grotto came through this past week….

The new J. Grotto Anniversary Double Robusto, now available

Ocean State Cigars has launched an addition to their J. Grotto Anniversary cigar line. The extension is a 5.5″ x 54 double robusto, which comes pressed and adorned with a maduro wrapper.

The new Double Robusto brings the same blend and construction characteristics as the original four vitolas in the line. The wrapper “is a naturally fermented maduro Connecticut-grown broadleaf, while the binder is a Dominican-grown Habano.”

The Anniversary line is being manufactured by Phil Zanghi at the De Los Reyes/Debonaire factory in Tamboril, Dominican Republic. Aside from the factory, the Reyes family of tobacco producers lay claim to supplying the majority of tobacco used by Dominican cigar manufacturers. Proprietor Paul Joyal is a bit secretive about the blend specifics, noting only that it is “Dominican and other Central American tobaccos.” I recently had the opportunity to visit and sit down with Zanghi, and have to admit I was more than a little impressed with the factory’s efficiency, cleanliness and “family” work environment.

Like previous Anniversary vitolas, the Double Robusto is described as medium-bodied, which is a departure from other J. Grotto cigars, which the company markets as medium-full to full-bodied.

Joyal says that, “Although many cigar lovers rave about full-bodied cigars, most buy medium-bodied brands. Make no mistake, Anniversary’s rich flavor is the full equal of highly-touted full-bodied cigars … many of which actually lack flavor, despite their power. Anniversary has earned the term ‘succulent,’ with a classic Connecticut broadleaf sweetness, plus some subtleties like cocoa, coffee and nuts. For smooth smoking, all tobaccos are aged at least 3 years; the finished cigars another 3-4 months.”

Each Spanish cedar box holds 10 cigars and bears artwork reflecting the special nature of the Anniversary line. The line’s original 2014 debut marked a year of special wedding anniversaries for the Joyal family … his parents’ 65th and his 30th. Gold coins in the art also bear the initials of immediate family members. Joyal describes what he thinks is Anniversary’s most appealing feature: “super premium quality and performance at a consumer-friendly price … $8.50.” Like all other J. Grotto cigars, the Anniversary Double Robusto is available only to brick-and-mortar tobacco shops … not Internet and mail-order discounters.

Half Ashed Episode 145: Tatuaje TAA 2014

June 1, 2016 By Kip Fisher

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Tatuaje TAA 2014

The 2014 limited edition Tatuaje TAA exclusive. This particular run was a 6” x 52 vitola, wrapped with Connecticut Broadleaf. The internal components are all Nicaraguan, and it was produced at My Father. About 56,000 of the cigars were produced, and they retailed at the time for about $11US.

Cigar News

A couple of petitions have been posted. Turnout has thus far been lackluster with fewer than 13k of the required 100,000 signatures posted as of this afternoon on the primary one. For all the bluster, I fear the industry is too splintered and complacent to mount an effective grassroots movement. I see a lot of social media jockeying by consumers, a good bit of energy from the small, “boutique” companies, and even some action from bigger companies (very little, for the most part)…but the low number of signatures on the petition and reports of overwhelming ignorance at the real-world consumer level have caused me some degree of trepidation. I fear the years of it being “someone else’s job” to inform everyone are coming home to roost; if the consumer base is largely unexposed to social media – and social media has been the default mode of communication – it’s no surprise that the average Joe cigar smoker in the shop doesn’t even know about the recent FDA changes. Unless the masses can somehow come down off the Facebook soapbox and spread the word in their local shop, this whole fiasco is destined to solidify in its present state. It takes fewer than 60 seconds to fill out this petition. There are an estimated 3,000,000 cigar smokers in the U.S., and fewer than 13,000 have signed in 10 days. Do that math. If people can’t rally now, when?

Nicholas Melillo’s Foundation Cigars has put out a new line – called The Upsetters. Interestingly, it features some Jamaican tobacco in the filler blend. The line will have eight vitolas, The 5”x 54 Django, 4.5” x 40 Small Ax, the 4.5” x 38 x 54 Skipper, 7” x 48 Rock Steady, and 4” x 32 SKA all feature a claro wrapper. The 6” x 60 Original Rude Boy and 6” x 52 ZOLA use a maduro wrapper, and the 4.5” x 38 x 54 Para El Sapo uses a candela wrapper. The factory has not been disclosed, but it will be manufactured in Estelí. Melillo says he wants to bring Jamaican tobacco back into prominence.

Nicaragua has imposed some restrictions on their foresting operations, due to an ongoing severe drought throughout the country. The current ban precludes the cutting and transport of naturally-occurring wood (at the moment, trees planted specifically for the purpose may be harvested). Those cigar box makers not prepared with long inventory may feel the sting of already increasing material prices, and should the drought persist I imagine some changes in packaging (aside from labeling requirements) will occur…

Never one to pass up an opportunity to tinker, Sam Leccia is launching a new line of cigars that will feature flavored pipe tobacco in the blend. The line, called Bumpy Roots, will come in three varieties – Cherry Stout, Dee’s Nut Ale, and Pap’s Blend. All three will have aromatic pipe tobacco included in the interior, and judging by the pictures showing up online, will be strongly influenced by the same. I really liked the addition of the Fire Cured leaf in his Black, but this is probably over the top for my tastes. Even when I smoke a pipe, I don’t smoke heavily flavored aromatics…and *never* a cherry blend…

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

98 Montecristo Especial – A friend asked if I could help out with a special cigar from the birth year of his newly graduated cousin and I was happy to oblige. I cracked the first of my boxes and was met with some white, pillowy mold. Not much but enough to remove the culprit sticks and put them to the top of my “Smoke Now” stash. They’re smoking like cigars in transition; not without flavor, rather swaying between the two profiles these cigars tend to embody. The light was tart & fruity and the first third progressed towards savory cocoa & creamy coffee. Excellent sticks that are always some of my favorites. These are not the best I’ve had but are perfectly constructed, very flavorful and really only suffered from the mold visually. My second box was clean and I passed along 2 sticks for them to enjoy.

Kip

PrimerAño from Chogui…I still like the Dos77 better. Much, much better.
Not much…fought off a headcold this past week.

Half Ashed Episode 144: Unbanded 027

June 1, 2016 By Kip Fisher

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Unbanded 027

Unbanded 027 – A 5”x50 robusto with a dark wrapper and smooth but dry complexion. There’s a faint aroma on both wrapper and foot…not much else is known. Let’s see how it goes, shall we?

Cigar News

The FDA has spoken. Now what?

Since buying Toraño a couple years ago, General has left it pretty much under the radar. Until now. They’re making four new additions to the Vault Series. The packaging is very brightly colored and you won’t have trouble locating the boxes – they’re purple, yellow, orange(ish) and turquoise. Some have remarked at some pretty close similarity to Camacho’s most recent packaging…but I digress. Each new line will retail around $5.50-6.50, in robusto (5”x50) & gordo (6”x60) respectively. The new cigars are as follows:

For B&M shops:
P-044 (yellow) =Nica puro with a sun grown wrapper and Jalapan fillers
TM-027 (purple) = Mexican San Andrés wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and broadleaf (unknown origin) and Nicaraguan fillers

For etailers and mail order:
C-033 (orange-ish) has a Mexican San Andrés oscuro wrapper, Cameroon binder and broadleaf and Nicaraguan fillers
L-075 (turquoise) has a Nicaraguan wrapper, Ecuadorian Sumatra binder and filler tobaccos from Connecticut, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua

Keeping with the themed framework of the revamped Camacho brand, they announced the upcoming launch of a new line called the Powerband Series. Aside from the motorcycle them, what piqued my interest is their new bunching process – reportedly combining an accordion style bunching process and traditional entubado bunching. They’ve dubbed the process the Powerband bunching method. I can’t say that – even with the refacing over the past couple years – I’ve had a great deal of interest in the Camacho recently. That being said, I’m intrigued by this. They believe the new process “maximizes airflow for peak performance.” As for the cigar, it contains an Habano 2000 wrapper over San Andres Negrito binder and five different filler tobaccos (Nicaragua, Honduras, & the Dominican Republic). It will come in Robusto (5”x50), Toro (6”x50), and Gordo (6”x60), and range from $11-13 at retail.

A happy birthday to Carlos Fuente Sr., who turned 81 today…

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

La Escogida (Sp?) – Gifted from Zedman. A sweet, slightly savory stick (2 vitolas!) which were cool, perfectly flavorful and wonderfully tilted towards the sugary sweet profiles I adore. A must for me to have again. I smoked my two sticks two days in a row!
My Father Limited Edition 2010 – I broke my box. I finally smoked the innagural LE from Pepin & Jaime. I knew exactly what I’d get and it didn’t surprise me. Anybody want to buy a box of nine 2010 LEs?
Ramon Allones Gigante 2002 – OSU Mar 02

Kip

A very old Maduro Short Story…
La Galera CT CG
Lots of the Yute…

Next Episode

Next episode (145), we will be smoking the Tatuaje TAA LE 2014. 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.

Cigar Review: San Cristobal de la Habana El Principe

May 5, 2016 By Kip Fisher

San Cristobal de la Habana El Principe

After three years of relentless exposure via my co-host Craig, an international move, and the newly legalized ability to buy Cuban cigars outside the U.S., I have recently begun a foray into the available offerings. I’m neither well-versed nor experienced in this arena, but I suppose writing a cigar review is writing a cigar review. I don’t think I will reach a point of complete conversion from my normal Dominican and Nicaraguan standards, but have largely enjoyed those Cuban marcas I have tried. Today, I’m covering the San Cristobal de la Habana El Principe, a tiny little cigar that’s readily available and affordable in Santiago. Vitola details are listed at right in the sidebar.

Pre Light

The El Principe is a fairly even, moderate brown color throughout with occasional slight mottling. The mottling typically presents around telegraphed wrapper bumps and handling marks. Veining in the wrapper leaf is modest. For all the examples I’ve smoked, the pack density has been acceptable to very good. Some have been slightly tighter than ideal but tolerable. The pre light draw provides hay like flavors with some sweetness. The aroma is almost nonexistent around the wrapper, with some leather at the foot.

The Smoke

Almost universally, the first few puffs have been airy with some floral notes. As with other San Cristobal vitolas I’ve tried, the El Principe quickly transitions to a more refined sweetness – caramel like, for lack of a better descriptor. By the beginning of the second third, the cigar really comes into its own to my tastes. The early sweetness subsides greatly, revealing a core set of flavors that are more in the spectrum of the “tropical spice” we so often speak of on Half Ashed. The flavors are bright, but not peppery. The spice I speak of is more akin to allspice than pepper. This will persist throughout the midsection.

Some of the El Principes I’ve smoked have had a tendency toward a wandering burn, occasionally severe. When it does occur, it’s usually in the final portion. During this final stretch, the flavors intensify, but can become sensitive to overpuffing (perhaps due to this particular vitola’s diminutive size). A woodsy core with slightly vegetal flavor is common.

Summary

Overall, I enjoy the San Cristobal de la Habana El Principe. It pairs amazingly well with café Dominicano. I think it is a very good cigar – and worthwhile around the $6.50US price point…if you’re a slow smoker. While there are a number of others I typically would reach for first, I’m not averse to keeping a few around They won’t change your life, but as an excursion into the Cuban market I’m glad to have stumbled onto them.

Half Ashed Episode 143: Club Havana Coronas Especial

April 28, 2016 By Kip Fisher

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Club Havana Coronas Especial

This Laguito #2 vitola, commonly known as the demi-lance around these parts but colloquially understood to be a 6”x38 rg, is a what’s commonly referred to as a “custom” cuban cigar.

Originally blended by the late Enrique Mons, this house blend for “Club Havana” is a brother of the commonly known “mons-dale”. Tonight’s examples were acquired in January of 2015 and are one of my favorite “customs” from the island. They are a wonderful mixture of brown sugar, sweet nutty flavors and at times a lovely mocha undertone.

Cigar News

EP Carrillo has shipped this year’s Short Run. It’s a new blend (Ecuadoran Habano over Nicaraguan internals), and it only comes in a single 6” x 52 vitola limited to 2,500 boxes of 10. The blend stands on its own, rather than being spun off another existing line like previous iterations. The most striking thing I noticed, however, is the price increase. MSRP this year is $12. Last year’s edition in this size was under $8…which makes for a greater than 50% increase. I realize it’s a more limited production run, and possibly better tobacco (although EPC hasn’t said anything to indicate what’s special in this year’s run, except for some Criollo ‘98 Comoto (Nicaragua) in the filler)…but I wonder why such a marked increase?

Legislative happenings….
Originally, on 4/13, the House Committee Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture passed the FY2017 appropriations bill – including language to exempt premium cigars from FDA regulation. The bill must go before the House Appropriations Committee to be finalized. The proposal withholds funding for the FDA to put in place their intent to regular traditional premium cigars.*

During the House Appropriations meeting, Repr. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) proposed an amendment that would *remove* the existing language that protected premium cigars. This amendment failed at vote.

Repr Tom Cole (R-OK) also introduced an amendment that removes the existing “grandfather” date of Feb 15, 2007 to the date actual FDA rules are finalized.

While this is all good news, it’s not over. A similar passage was in last year’s appropriations bill – but didn’t make it through the entire process.

* For general information, the included language qualifies a cigar as “premium” if:

rolled in 100% leaf tobacco, bunched with 100% tobacco filler AND contains no non-tobacco mouthpiece AND weights at least 6 lbs. per 1,000 cigars AND
has 100% leaf tobacco binder and is hand rolled
has 100% leaf tobacco binder & is made using human hands to lay the wrapper or binder onto only one bunching machine [i.e. Leiberman] OR
has a homogenized tobacco leaf binder & is made in the U.S. using human hands to roll the wrapper onto only 1 machine that bunches, wraps and caps each cigar AND
is not a cigarette or little cigar (per existing definition from 2009)

Tatuaje’s Skinny Monsters have begun to arrive at retailers around the U.S. I never had much of a drive to seek out the Little or Pudgy Monsters, but I’m in for these 6” x 38 petit lances. We talked about these several months ago; this week’s initial launch is for 10,000, 10-ct samplers (1 each of the existing series) – but after this summer’s IPCPR tradeshow, there should be 400, 25 count boxes of each available. I can dig it. The samplers are running $80-85 from what I’ve seen in retailer adverts – which means you can try them all now and pick up your favorite in quantity later this year.

I think we mentioned a couple weeks ago that 1502 (Global Premium Cigars) had arranged for some limited distribution in the European market – following a few other, bigger brands over the past couple years. Now, Guayacan has joined the ranks. They announced an entrance into the Netherlands this past week. I’m still wondering what the base motivation for this phenomena is? Is it simple growth by these companies into new markets? Are some just hedging bets in case of legislative catastrophe in the U.S.?

A 6.5” 46 version of the Chogüí Dos77, called the Longsdale [sic] has shipped….and I still haven’t even tried it. I had an invite from Victor Nicolás to come by the “Top Secret Nest,” but haven’t had the chance with his recent travels and my schedule not working out. Based on my appreciation of the Rogusto, I gotta get my hands on these pronto. U.S. retail should run about $9.75 on these, and the blend is listed as being the same as the Rogusto (Dominican puro – with Havana seed wrapper over Criollo ‘98 binder and Habano 2020/corojo filler).

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

Gurkha – Some Big mother *@$% from CI – As classy as its name
Cohiba Siglo II – Sick!
Ramon Allones Small Club Corona – Classy!

Kip

I expanded my Cuban sampling a bit recently, with the Hoyo de Monterrey Añejados. I honestly think I like most every other HdM I’ve tried more than these. The profile had a woodsy core that dabbled with a touch of bitterness at times. This one wasn’t worth the extra expense that came with it for my tastes.

Edouardo de Lara (El Compartir) launched a small batch of cigars locally called the Yute. The packaging is interesting, with both the band and bundle wrap being jute (the burlap material used to wrap tobacco bales). I think I actually liked these better than his original El Compartir line. They are very clean on the palate, with a bit of bright, sweet spice throughout. The price was a huge appeal as well, coming in at 156 Dominican pesos (~$3.46US) before tax. One other interesting – but perhaps controversial to some – feature is that the cigars are cut flush at the head, with a simple leaf applied over it. This necessitates either using a punch or fingernail to open the end. I don’t know that I felt one way or the other about this…I just smoke these things. It was a conversation starter, but not much more for me. I dig ‘em. So much that after trying one I committed to a bundle. The only problem is the size of the run. Only 1,000 were produced. Comes with HVA (Habana Vuelto Abajo) wrapper (Dominican) over Criollo ‘98/Habana 2020 filler.

Cigar Sidelines

Tune in toward the end of the show for a minor “crotchety old guy” rant that I had recently about how the manufacturer/distributor/authorized/non-authorized retailer system sits today. Despite differing thoughts from both Craig and Will Cooper, I’m still of the same mind as when I went into the conversation (even though I can agree with some of their points, I think the exceptions are just that – exceptions. Not the rule).

Next Episode

Next episode (144), we will be smoking an Unbanded – #027, from Dan C. 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.

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