Oliva Archives | Half Ashed

Half Ashed Episode 060: 2013 Oliva Serie V Maduro

April 8, 2014 By Kip Fisher

It has come to an end….well, not the entire show; just our vertical tasting of all six as-yet released Oliva Serie V Maduro. This week, we’re smoking the 2013 edition, and wrapping up with a summary of our takes on all six releases. In the news, we kicked around a few topics, including stories from Cigar aficionado (a very interesting item on 2013 US cigar imports), a new blog entry from Frank Herrera, La Palina, Flor de Gonzalez, and Tatuaje. Legislatively, we had some good news from Florida. We covered what we’ve been smoking this week as always, and wrapped up with some final thoughts about all six Oliva Serie V Maduro releases that we’ve been smoking as our first formalized vertical tasting.

Next week, our Cigar of the Week will be a Kelner blend I brought back from my last trip to the Dominican Republic – which the both of us enjoy greatly. As always, we’re constantly looking for suggestions about potential Cigars of the Week, and Unbanded cigars. So if you have one drop us a line at one of the email addresses below. 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!

Half Ashed Episode 057: Oliva Serie V Maduro 2012

March 19, 2014 By Kip Fisher

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Welcome to Part 3 of our Oliva Serie V Maduro vertical tasting. Tonight, we’re smoking the 2012 edition of this fine series. Here’s a brief synopsis of the show…. In the news, we covered items from Quesada, Epicurean Cigars, Tarazona Cigars, GAR, Tatuaje, and an interesting legislative flop in Utah found in the Salt Lake Tribune. As usual, we talked about what we’ve been smoking this week and a few random rabbit trails. Join us for all the cigar talk and silliness we can muster!

Next week, we will be smoking something TBA…..we still haven’t traded cigars for this segment’s upcoming shows. We will be wrapping up this vertical tasting as soon as I get the 2013’s up to Craig :). As always, we’re constantly looking for suggestions about potential Cigars of the Week, and Unbanded cigars. So if you have one drop us a line at one of the email addresses below. 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 056: Oliva Serie V Maduro 2010-11

March 11, 2014 By Kip Fisher

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Hello, and welcome to Half Ashed Episode 056! This week, we continue with our vertical tasting of the Oliva Serie V Maduro, smoking both the 2010 and 2011 editions in preparation for the show. As expected, both were enjoyable. That’s four years down, and two to go.

We announced the two winners of last week’s giveaway (graciously sponsored by Michael Stewart) – David Nichols and Ian Winchester. Congratulations to those two fine gentlemen! In the news, we had items about Cuba’s problem with this year’s rainfall and crop rot; new cigars from Herrera Esteli, Crowned Heads, and Tarazona; GAR’s new relationship with cigar.com, and a couple other stories as well. We covered a new email from Don Hubbell as well.

In other somewhat-semi-cigar related news, I (Kip) had a big announcement to make. You can cut right to the chase in the video HERE, but be sure and download the audio anyway. You need a weekly dose of Half Ashed cigar talk, right?

Next week, we will be smoking the 2012 version of the Oliva Serie V Maduro…..and the 2013 as soon as I get them up to Craig :). As always, we’re constantly looking for suggestions about potential Cigars of the Week, and Unbanded cigars. So if you have one drop us a line at one of the email addresses below. 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 055: Oliva Serie V Maduro Vertical Tasting

March 2, 2014 By Kip Fisher

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Hello folks. Welcome to this week’s episode of Half Ashed. I apologize for being brief; curt even. I’m in the midst of serious illness within my family and have various related matters to attend to. I wanted to give the full rundown, but for the sake of time and other duties I will be brief. So, at the risk of being blunt here’s this week’s show.

We started the vertical tasting of 2008-9-10-11-12-13 Oliva Serie V Maduro. This week, we smoked and covered years 2008 and 2009. As always, we covered a few bits of exciting news around the industry and other items – as well as had a fun time doing it. Thanks for joining us, and enjoy!

Next week, I may very well not be available for the show. If not, I will have Craig lined up with a cohort to help host. If I am able to participate, we’ll be discussing years 2010 and 2011 of our ongoing vertical tasting. As always, we’re constantly looking for suggestions about potential Cigars of the Week, and Unbanded cigars. So if you have one drop us a line at one of the email addresses below. 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.

Episode 028: Skip Martin of RoMaCraft Tobac

August 18, 2013 By Kip Fisher

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Welcome to Half Ashed Episode 028, everyone. This week, we had an surprise visit with Skip Martin, of RoMaCraft Tobac – makers of such fine cigar lines as the Cro Magnon, Intemperance, and Aquitaine. Both Craig and I are huge fans of the RoMaCraft lineup, as well as Skip and his business partner Michael Rosales. I personally smoke enough of the Intemperance and Aquitaine that I could probably support the investment of shelf space from a local Tampa area retailer (that’s a big hint for all you Tampa area brick & mortar shops). This week’s show is a wealth of good information from Skip about the heart and soul behind RoMaCraft: the tobacco, the cigars, and the people. Moreso than with just about any other company today, I am impressed with the dedication and forethought invested by the RoMaCraft team into the assurance that they are releasing a quality product into the marketplace that carries a great deal of value to the consumer. I hope you all will give the show a listen; you are sure to pick up a heavy dose of what RoMaCraft is all about…and no small amount of fun to boot. Skip is a wealth of information, wisdom, and wit. This is one of the most entertaining 2+ hours Craig and I have had in a show to date.

We cover a few bits of industry information as well – some important legislative moves that are going on around the country and with our Canadian neighbors to the North. Our cigar of the week is the Oliva Masterblends I from 2003, which we discuss a few times throughout the show. It turns out, this cigar has not lost its potency over the past decade (just ask Craig).

Next week, we’ll be joined by Jeff & Nada Jumper of Nadi Cigars, so be sure to check back in then to learn what they have to offer. If you aren’t familiar with Nadi, you should be. If that’s the case, be sure you listen to get the scoop on them. 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!

Episode 006: 2012 Oliva Serie V Maduro

March 16, 2013 By Kip Fisher

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Well, Craig and I managed to put together another show this week, so we proudly present to you Half Ashed Episode 006! I hope you’ll take the time to listen and/or watch the video, and give us some feedback – you can send your questions, comments, compliments, or complaints to us via email, using either of the following address: [email protected] or [email protected], or reach us by any of the contact means listed on the “Contact” pages here at The Cigarmy. You can find the video for this show over on our YouTube page as well. The Cigar of the Week was the 2012 Oliva Serie V Maduro, for which Craig will be posting an Epilogue review in the near future, and we covered a good bit of other news items, in addition to some legislative issues and what else we’ve been smoking over the past week. Here’s a quick summary of the show:

Half Ashed Cigar of the Week:

As mentioned above, the CotW is the Oliva Serie V Maduro (2012 release). I reviewed these cigars last year for the 2011 release, and absolutely fell in love with the blend. I’ve been a fan of the maduro version of the Serie V since it first hit the market in 2008, and continue to buy them up as quickly as I can each December when they hit the shelves. The 2012 appears to be the same size as the 2011 edition, and is at the least very similar in flavor characteristics. It seems to possibly have the tiniest bit more “zing” to it, although that may be a factor of 1.)my terrible memory, or 2.)the fact that the 2011 now has an extra year of rest on it, and should not be compared side-by-side. It’s full of dark chocolate and a sweet earthiness that I find quite pleasant. I also notice some sweetened coffee in the tasting, although Craig didn’t get that in his experiences.

Industry News:

Federal Cigar Special F Event Cigar from My Father – originally reported here The Cigarmy.
Legislative Items:
- Arkansas Representative John Walker has proposed a modification of the existing state smoking ban to remove the exemptions for cigar bars & lounges, shops, and outdoor restaurants. Find the CRA Action Alert here.
- The proposed outdoor smoking ban in Florida made some progress this week, passing its second committee review in a 6-3 vote. This ludicrous bill (SB258) and its House counterpart (HB439) seem to have some legs, and must be stopped. If you are a Floridian and enjoy the freedom of having a cigar in any of our parks, beaches, or other public areas….I urge you to act right now! Visit the CRA page detailing how you can contact your representatives to voice your concerns.
J. Fuego changes: There were several announced changes at J. Fuego this week, as reported by Halfwheel.
A bit of news from Cigar Coop about Sam Leccia’s impending return to the cigar industry.
News from Gary Griffith about this year’s Draig release – the Cayuquero.

What else we’ve been smoking (listen in for details about each):

Craig – Ambos Mundos
Kip – 2011 Camacho Liberty, Ezra Zion Inception (now Jamais Vu), tons of this week’s CotW, La Tradicion Cubana corona, Joya de Nicaragua Dark Corojo.

Listener email:

We review several emails received this week from listeners, with some questions, comments, and recommendations. Keep ’em coming!

Giveaway:

Craig gave away his Tatuaje prize pack, including some cool swag as well as several hard to find Tatuaje cigars. Congratulations to Michael Stewart for winning that. We’ll be getting the package out to you ASAP, so you can enjoy one of the Tatuaje Mexican Experiments with us during the April 12th show when we feature it as the CotW.

Again, thanks for tuning in everyone. Be sure to come back next week, when we’ll be taking a look at the My Father Flor de las Antillas. In the meantime, If you would like to contact us, use the emails above or through the contact page. Also, don’t forget to go back and listen to previous episodes, which can be found in the Half Ashed Archive. You can download this week’s audio directly above (right-click “Download” and save), or find us on iTunes. Video, as always, will be available on the YouTube Channel.