The Half Ashed Cigar Podcast Episode Archive

Given below is a running archive of all previous episodes of Half Ashed. Feel free to browse around and give them a listen. Each episode can be streamed or downloaded directly from its respective summary post below. Alternatively, if you would like to subscribe to the podcast, you can find us on iTunes. Unedited video from each show is also maintained on our YouTube channel. As always, you are invited to join us every Friday night while we’re recording with live video feed and chat room on our broadcast page.

Half Ashed Episode 099: 2000 Partagas Serie D Robusto

January 21, 2015 By Kip Fisher

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2000 Partagas Serie D Robusto (#4)

Welcome to Episode 099 of Half Ashed, featuring one of Craig’s selections – and quite a treat – the 2000 Partagas Serie D #4 Robusto. Craig’s words about this special cigar:

A traditional robusto which helped popularize the size in the 70’s. This classic cigar from Cuba is the only remaining specimen from a 16 cigar series from A-D & 1-4. Originally the rings escalated by letter and lengths shortened by number. This little trivia tidbit is a lesser known fact about what is now an incredibly popular cigar. Filled with classic “old school” tobacco based flavors, this cigar blossoms with “twang” and displays quite a bit of spice and bold sweetness when young. With a decade and a half of age, these samples are well rounded and smoothed out, while still being powerful enough to hold anyone’s interest.

News

In the news, we covered and explored a few items, including the stories summarized below.

We haven’t talked much in the past about Cabal, but they’ve been busily building a growing following. It’s a partnership between Chris Arolfo and Hendrik Kelner, Jr. as the flagship line for Kelner Boutique Factory in the DR. Chris posted up this week that he will be releasing a new line – the Linda, in honor of his Mom who passed away with a rare brain disorder 2 years ago. It will help support a research/support organization for Frontotemporal Degeneration. No details for the cigar, but I dig the idea already.

Jon Huber at The Crowned Heads has again hinted at another upcoming project for the company. He put up a picture captioned: “Dark..bold..& beautiful. An old vitola called “Dukes” (5 1/2 x 54). Coming #2015”. That’s all the info he’s given out thus far, but it did indeed look dark, bold and beautiful….

Longtime general manager of Davidoff’s Dominican operations Hendrik Kelner has handed over the reins. He’s not leaving the organization, but taking on “a more global role within the company.” Longtime employee and current VP of Tabadom’s cigar operations Hamlet Espinal will be taking over. “Some of Kelner’s new global roles will include government relations, corporate affairs, chairing the blending and tasting panel at Tabadom and conducting educational tasting seminars around the world.”(story from Cigar Aficionado)

The CMA, which we are a part of, put out their list of awards today. This inaugural year included three awards:

Cigar of the Year: illusione Fume D’Amour
Company of the Year: The Crowned Heads
Cigar Media of the Year: Cigar Dojo

New Orleans is trying to pass a smoking ban that would prohibit smoking at most businesses and public space throughout the city….the year IPCPR is coming to town….

Back to Nebraska! A bill has been introduced – but no action taken – by State Senator Ty Larson that would restore the ability of cigar bars to allow smoking in their establishments. It has language that differentiates cigars and pipes from other tobacco use and asserts that the exemption does not interfere with the intent behind the existing smoking ban. We’ll keep you updated on this story as it continues…..

Sam Brownback (gov., Kansas) has been busily making cuts to government in his home state…but has just this week proposed making up the near $650 million budget gap in increased taxes on tobacco and alcohol. Liquor would have an increase of about 50% (from 8% up to 12%), while tobacco would see a much bigger jump…especially cigarettes, which have the tax rate nearly tripled.

Finally, Craig had some more insight into the recent changes in U.S. relations with Cuba – and specifically how the requirements for travel are slightly different than originally promoted…

What Have We Been Smoking?

Craig – KBF Smoking Jacket, EPC La Historia, EPC 5-year Anni, Behike 52

Kip – The Crowned Heads Four Kicks, La Flor Dominicana 1994

Listener Email

We talked over one listener email question this week, from Officer Paul:

In November I picked up a pipe and a tin of Dunhill tobacco. I left the tobacco in the tin because it looked like there was a seal on the lid. I opened it last week to find it had dried out. Is there a way to rehydrate it or is it dead and gone?

Tune in for my answer!

Wrap Up

Next week, for our 100th Episode (!) we’ll be featuring the 2005 Opus X Double Corona as our Cigar of the Week. Be sure to tune in Friday night at 9:30pm EST 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 Us!” tab at the side of this page, or at the following emails: [email protected] or [email protected]. Please feel free to drop us a line if you have any questions you’d like answered, comments to make…or even compliments and complaints. We love to get your emails! Also, remember you can always go back and listen to previous episodes, which can be found in the Half Ashed Archive. You can download this week’s audio directly below (right-click “Download” and save), find us on iTunes, or subscribe with any podcast app at our RSS Feed. Video, as always, will be available at the Half Ashed YouTube Channel.

P.S. – If you have unbanded suggestions or contributions, you can get those to us by sending an email to [email protected]. This email address goes directly to my wife, so you can simply suggest an unbanded cigar for her to source, or 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 098: Bodega Premium Blends

January 13, 2015 By Kip Fisher

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Bodega Premium Blends Digestivo

Welcome back! This week, on Episode 098 of Half Ashed, we have special guest Ron Plante of Bodega Premium Blends on hand to tell us all about our featured Cigar of the Week: the Bodega Digestivo. The Digestivo is one of two cigars in their Reunión line, and carries a San Andres maduro wrapper over proprietary binder and a Nicaraguan filler blend from Jalapa & Esteli. From the Bodega Premium Blends website:

Spanish for digestif, Digestivo usually refers to: “a cocktail or other alcoholic beverage that is specifically served after a meal. The purpose of a digestif is to aid in the digestion following a meal. Spirits such as port, brandy, cognac and whisky are examples of traditional digestifs. And as Bodega Premium Blends would have it, not only does its Digestivo pair extraordinarily well with those drinks, there’s nothing finer in the humidor to finish off a meal. When enjoyed around a gathering this cigar comes to life. A Maduro in the true sense of the word, Digestivo has undergone a longer and more intense fermentation process. This marked evolution brings out the natural sugars of leaf giving the Digestivo its trademark “sweeter” flavor. Bolder than its companion, Digestivo is designed to bring the whole experience to a satisfying conclusion.

Hour Two

Join us as we chat with Ron and smoke the Digestivo. He was able to hang out for the entire first hour of the show (much thanks, Ron!), and we followed up with a regular format afterward. In the news, we cover stories from Nebraska (again), La Flor Dominicana, Fratello, and RoMaCraft. We wrapped up with some review of what we’ve been smoking this week.

Wrap Up

Next week, we’ll be featuring the Partagas Serie D 4 as our Cigar of the Week. Be sure to tune in Friday night at 9:30pm EST 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 Us!” tab at the side of this page, or at 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.

Half Ashed Episode 097: Joya de Nicaragua “Joya Red”

January 6, 2015 By Kip Fisher

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Joya de Nicaragua “Joya Red”

Welcome back for Episode 097 of Half Ashed, featuring the Joya de Nicaragua Red. Kip’s preshow notes about the cigar were:

In June 2014, Joya de Nicaragua announced a new blend to be available at IPCPR 2014 (story archived at The Cigarmy). The line was dubbed Joya Red, and marketed as a bit of a departure for the company in that it would forego the typical high-ligero content often present in their cigars. The Joya Red would be more sedate in potency, yet strive to achieve boldness in flavor. It carries a Nicaraguan Habana wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan filler from Jalapa, Condega, and Esteli. Four vitolas are available, the Short Churchill (4.75” x 48), Robusto (5.25” x 50), Cañonazo (5.5” x 54), and Toro (6” x 52). I was skeptical at first, but have come to appreciate the kinder, gentler JdN offering. I often get lots of bright, airy citrus flavors from these, with some lighter leathery flavors at times. While I can’t say that I’ve mortgaged my house to stock up on them, they’re not a rare occupant of my humidors.

Tune in to find out how it went!

News

In the news, we had several stories to catch up on after missing last week’s show. We discussed a couple of items related to Quesada, notably that they are producing a St. Patrick’s Day cigar – the Quesada Keg Edition. Similar to the Oktoberfest cigars, it is intended to be paried with a beer, this time an Irish stout. It will come in a singular 6”x50 vitola carrying a PA broadleaf wrapper over Nicaraguan filler & binder. It will launch in March, and be available in 21-ct kegs (250 keg/5250 cigar total production). MSRP is $7.95, and production is set in the Plasencia factory in Nicaragua. Secondly, they are expanding the Casa Magna lineup with a 3-vitola extension to the Domus Magnus II line. The extension is collectively called the Three Good Emperors, and features the D-shaped “Trajan” (5.5”x60), and two other vitolas (Marcus Aurelius and Hadrian), which have not had details yet released. I understand the blend will be much like the standard Domus II offerings, but with a few tweaks.

We also covered an upcoming release from The Crowned Heads. They will be introducing a 4”x42 vitola to the Jericho Hill line. They will be called “Shots” and should launch somewhere around February 2015. It is being marketed as a winter time smoke, due to its diminished size. Halfwheel is reporting total production around 50k, but some hopes of seeing them again in 2016.

Room101 non-chalantly changed their header image on Facebook today….to a teaser about upcoming Master Collection Three. No comment; no detail. Just that it’s coming in February 2015. I know a lot of listeners were fans of the first and/or second series…so get ready for the third!

Back in 2011, a short run of 5,000 cigars known as the M80 were released by Tatuaje and sold exclusively through Two Guys Smoke Shop. It was a 4×50 petit robusto, and its end has been much lamented ever since. Well, it’s returning. Pete Johnson made comment this week, detailing that the blend will remain the same (Ec Habano Maduro over Nica/Nica), but packaging will change to avoid confusion with the original release. It will be a regular production item, but still only available through Two Guys.

Also – and you’ll have to tune in to the show for this – I had a bit of a catharsis on the myriad “Top ??” lists for 2014. Every Tom, Dick and Harry put out a list this year, but I’m not sure they’re all necessary….

What Have We Been Smoking?

Craig – Santos Corona Gorda

Kip – 2014 Casa Fernandez Aniversario, more LTC Reserva Familiar, La Aurora Preferido Corona Esp. Platinum (Cameroon), and Fratello

Wrap Up

Next week, we’ll be featuring the Bodega Premium Blends “Digestivo” as our Cigar of the Week. Be sure to tune in Friday night at 9:30pm EST 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 “Click to Contact Us!” tab at the side of this page, or at 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.

Half Ashed Episode 096: illusione Fume D’Amour

December 23, 2014 By Kip Fisher

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illusione Fume D’Amour

Welcome to Episode 096! Tonight, we’re smoking the most recent full line introduction from illusione. After about a 3 year break from core additions, the Fume D’Amour (Smoke of Love) came out at the end of August 2014. One of the more interesting aspects of this line is the total absence of ligero. Dion (Giolito) claims to have found enough flavor and strength in some of the lower viso and seco primings from available AGANORSA stock. It comes in 4 vitolas (Lagunas – 4 1/4 x 42 Viejos – 5 x 50 Capistranos – 6 x 56 Clementes – 6 1/2 x 48). The illusione website remarks that it comes in these four…but more are to come. Even with a later introduction during the year, the line made it into the number three spot on Cigar Aficionado’s Top Cigars for 2014. Tune in to the show to find out how it went!

News

Cuba?!? What does it all mean? We wanted to spend some time talking over this week’s news concerning some restored relations with Cuba…and no, you can’t run out next week and buy Habanos at your local shop stateside….

Craig’s Notes:
- The council on Foreign Relations: After 2008 Cuba’s private sector has swelled as a direct result of these reforms; in 2014 it was reported to be about 20 percent of the country’s workforce. A report [PDF] by the Center for Democracy in the Americas (CDA) states that Castro’s reforms highlighted “an acceptance that market forces can play a role in economic policy and that economic growth must be the central criterion to judge economic success.”
- Am I happy about the change? You can bet your ass, I am. Do I expect anything to be different for you and I in 100 days when things take effect (affect?)? No, I do not. The majority of people out there are keeping this in perspective but I’ve seen some facebook posts that talk about “finally” being able to get their hands on a Cuban, or “when will cubans be for sale at the tobacconist?” These posts are uninformed and potentially just a spur of the moment quip. I don’t think the majority of citizens believe this is “it” in regards to the embargo. I DO believe this can be the beginning of the end of the embargo. It can also be the beginning of its strengthening if the next congress and next president are suited and like minded to claim Obama’s declarations were not only incorrect, but helpful to an enemy.
- Much will depend on Kerry’s analysis of Cuba’s status as a terrorist state and whether Cuba does truly lower some of the restrictions they have on contact to the outside world. If Cuba shows ANY legitimate human rights improvements (yes, the internet is a human right derived from free speech) there is a chance that this gains some momentum and the embargo could end after the next congress (Jan 2017) are sworn in. There is little to no chance this will occur in 2015 since the Republicans have taken power of the house. There would have to be SWEEPING change in Cuba for the likes of Rubio and others who want the 29 (27?) electoral votes in Florida to change their public opinion on this. It’s just too critical of a voting base to alienate the Southern Florida core of Anti-Castro citizens.
- If Kerry does not rescind the edict that Cuba is a state that assists terrorism (there is an official phrase here that I’m missing) OR major humanitarian improvements are not witnessed, I am fairly certain that the next president will swiftly and completely go the other direction with his ruling on the matter. Think Bush’s change in 2002, I believe. He lowered the visit limit, removed the legality of “financial assistance” to Cuban family members and made it even more difficult to travel to the nation for aide workers. We could go right back there, if not even further.
- Cuba, and its citizens, have been made more of a pawn in the recent years than ever in the past. Even in the election of 64 when it was the first chance for a new administration to address the “blockade” as it essentially was in its initial form, it was not as polarizing of a topic as it became later in the Castro regime’s tenure (I understand LBJ held office. It’s speaking to the fact that it was not a point of contention between candidates). We have to realize that the goal here is an improvement of life for the citizens of our southern island neighbor. This is the first real attempt at improving that which I can recall. I am not an expert on the topic but I don’t believe there have been public declarations from the POTUS as strongly worded as those shared Wednesday in regard to the failure of U.S. policy on the matter. There is a real chance that THIS declaration is enough. There is a real chance that Cuba will give a little in response. And there is a real chance that this may be a day we remember for the rest of our lives. It’s possible the U.S. just got a little less hypocritical in its foreign relations (think human rights & the torture report). When a major government does that, we’re all in a better position.

We finally have some “official” light shed on the Florida SunGrown project that Jeff Borysiewicz has been growing here in central FL. The tobacco is being sold exclusively to Drew Estate. From ~~THIS IMAGE:~~ “Jeff Borysiewicz from Corona Cigar Company grows the Florida tobacco exclusively for Drew Estate. The tobacco plants in the photo are experiental because they are Sumatra Seed. We have been growing and curing the Corojo Seed since 2013 and blending with the first crop. I believe that this is the first time Florida tobacco has been grown for premium cigars since 1979. It’s expensive, but we are getting more confident each passing month that it’s worth it. So proud of Jeff Borysiewicz. Waiting to see Willy Herrera and DE Production Team’s final blend from the 2013 crop.”
Fresh on the heels of the recent release of Smoke Inn’s MicroBlend Series “Pactum” from illusione, the next iteration has been announced. Drew Estate will produce the cigar in a singular 6”x40 vitola. Interestingly, the name will be the “Pope of Greenwich Village.” No real blend detail is available as yet, but it will soft launch at Smoke Inn’s Great Smoke VIP event in February. Official full launch will be later, in April.
La Flor Dominicana 707 – another 7×70 cigar…biggest ever from LFD….
Cigar Aficionado’s ever-popular/ever-controversial Top 25 list is out. Congrats to the folks at Oliva for taking the #1 spot this year with the Melanio. I was surprised with the EPC La Historia at number two. Tonight’s featured CotW is number three on that list. Rounding out the top ten were:

4. Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial (Tubo)
5. Rocky Patel Royale (?!?)
6. Opus X Perfecxion X
7. Padron Reserve 50 Years Maduro
8. Ashton ESG 22 Year
9. Monte by Montecristo Jacopo #2 (Altadis USA)
10. A. Flores 1975 Serie Privada Capa Habano

What Have We Been Smoking?

Craig

Unbanded#1 for Halfashed.com

Kip

Padron Principe – natural. I grabbed a natural version of this after Craig’s recent comments on its maduro brother. I’ve never had much experience with the natural, but I’d say these have experience blend drift as well. The couple I had this week were – like Craig’s maduro – considerably more spicy than I remember. More bold, both in flavor and strength. Still an amazing smoke.
Padilla Reserva Maduro….picked up a few on clearance at my local. Crisp, bold new-school Nicaraguan style blending. Great construction & burn. Much better as a $5 stick than $9-10. If these were to debut in the $6.50-9 “sweet spot” they have the potential to be a big hit.
L’Atelier LAT38 Special lancero…I wanted to love this cigar. I love its shorter brethren. How could I not fall head over heels for a lancero? I picked up two this week, and couldn’t finish either. Both were plagued with burn issues and absolutely refused to stay lit. I gave up on each about halfway through.

Listener Email

No listener emails discussed this week.

Wrap Up

In the next episode we will be featuring a yet-to-be-determined cigar from Craig’s offerings, so be sure to check back in Friday night at 9:30pm EST on halfashed.com where you can catch us recording and participate in the new and much improved chatroom. If you would like to contact us in the meantime, you can reach us via the “Click to Contact Us!” tab at the side of this page, or at 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.

Half Ashed Episode 095: Unbanded 019

December 17, 2014 By Kip Fisher

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Cigar of the Week: Unbanded 019

Good day, folks! Welcome to Episode 095 of Half Ashed, featuring Unbanded #019, suggested by listener Dan Crouch. Without giving away too much information, both Craig and I were completely fooled by this cigar. More so than any past Unbanded. It was a great smoke, and the reveal surprised us both profoundly. With a solid track record in the past, I suppose it was past due for us to fall flat on our faces with one…

News

In the news, we covered several items, including:

The HR Habano has launched – we talked of this a couple months ago; it is the collaboration between Alejandro Robaina’s grandson Hirochi and Omar Aleman of Cubanacan. The line comes in 4 vitolas, and features a Ec. Habano wrapper over Jalapa binder and Nicaraguan fillers. It’s available at Cubanacan Platinum accounts (somewhere around 30 stores), and retails for $19-22 per stick….pretty steep, but the feedback has been very good that I’ve seen so far. Still…

Halfwheel has a story out of San Francisco that should stand our hairs up. The city passed legislation this week that effectively eliminates the ability to open a tobacconist. There are currently 1,000 permitted tobacco sellers, but the new law limits permits to 45 for each of the city’s 11 districts (total 495). While they won’t go back and cancel any existing permits, whenever a business closes it’s permit is gone if there are 45 others in that district. The act goes on to specify that NO new permits will be issued for tobacco shops (tobacco shop = “any retailer whose principle business is selling tobacco products, tobacco paraphernalia, or both” and where 70% of gross sales receipts are derived from the sale of tobacco products or 50% of completed sales transactions includes a tobacco product or paraphernalia. “ STORY HERE

Skip Martin posted up a pic of a blending sample for an upcoming cigar celebrating Esteban’s 25 years in tobacco….Esteban is his right hand man in the Nicaraguan operation, managing much of the day-to-day operations.

AVO is freshening up a bit. They will be rebranding the whole lineup in early 2015. New packaging, new boxes, and the elimination of the Signature & Maduro lines (buy ‘em up if you like ‘em). Finally, we’ll see price drops of $.10 to $2.40 per stick. I personally have wondered what’s going on with the lineup, after seeing countless “blow-out deals” on this year’s LE, and just this week my local has the AVO Greatest Hits sampler (all the LE’s but one) on clearance for $126.95 (orig price = $194.95). I don’t think I’ve seen any taken from the stack they initially received….

The Ezra Zion guys are busily working on 2015 as well. They put up a pic of a prototype simply labeled “Unicos #2 // Mexico” this week. I imagine it’s another San Andres wrapped cigar, but I’m still anxious to give it a whirl….PICTURE

Finally, we talked a bit about this year’s “Top ??” lists from various sources….some interesting things going on there.

What Have We Been Smoking?

Our extra-curricular smoking this week was fairly subdued, with only a couple entries from Craig (Padron Aniversario 1964 Principe and the Herrera Esteli Norteño) and one from me (La Tradicion Cubana Reserva Familiar). We also gave a bit of attention to ongoing changes with the website and forum.

Listener Email

We covered one email this week, from Officer Paul…tune in to get the details on that.

Wrap Up

In the next episode we will be featuring the illusione Fume D’Amour, so be sure to check back in Friday night at 9:30pm EST on halfashed.com where you can catch us recording and participate in the new and much improved chatroom. If you would like to contact us in the meantime, you can reach us through the contact page or at 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.

Half Ashed Episode 094: Special Blind Mans Puff Guest

December 9, 2014 By Kip Fisher

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Welcome to Episode 094 of Half Ashed! This week, the vacationing Craig has been secretly replaced by special guest Aaron Loomis of Blind Mans Puff. We had a few minutes to talk about the fantastic job those guys are doing over on their site, as well as some interesting recent collaborations with us and other cigar media members. Be sure you check out the Blind Mans Puff website to get the latest in their unique style of collaborative review.

Aaron was smoking a Nomad C-276 as his chosen CotW, and I selected a 2013 La Flor Dominicana Mysterio (now known as TCFKA M….check out the show to find out why). Both cigars performed admirably during the show, so tune in to get our notes throughout. After spending the first few minutes talking about BMP, we hit a few news items – including stories from Viaje, Casa Fernandez, Espinosa, and La Flor Dominicana. We also gave some indepth coverage to a legislative item that deserves more press than it has received this past week – the fact that some folks in our nation’s capital have sent a letter to FDA requesting a change to the proposed regulating date in their restrictions on the cigar/e-cigarette market. This sounds good on the surface, but has an aspect that concerns me greatly. I don’t think we can dismiss it as simple good news for our hobby.

Finally, we gave a bit more time that might be customary for what we’ve been smoking. This was due, in part, to an overlap in our recent cigar escapades – and that we had mixed feelings about a couple of them. Finally, I wrapped up with a reminder that we would likely be doing another Pipe Show some time in January. The first attempt at it was well received, and we have gotten a good deal of positive feedback…so we’re going to run with it as a quarterly (ish) feature.

In the next episode we will be featuring an Unbanded stick, so be sure to check back in Friday night at 9:30pm EST on halfashed.com where you can catch us recording and participate in the new and much improved chatroom. The Unbanded segments are always a good way to find us humbling ourselves. If you would like to contact us in the meantime, you can reach us through the contact page or at 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.

Half Ashed Episode 093: Tatuaje La Verite 2008

December 1, 2014 By Kip Fisher

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Tatuaje La Verite 2008

Welcome, everyone, to Episode 093 of Half Ashed – featuring the 2008 Tatuaje La Vérité Churchill. Craig’s description was as follows: “Tatuaje’s La Verite 2008 Churchill is our CoTW. Released in 2010 to much fanfare, these “single origin” cigars are similar in fashion to the “farm rolled” cigars found throughout Cuba. All components were grown on Jose Garcia’s La Estrella farm in Esteli, Nicaragua and are from the 2008 vintage Habano Criollo (read: Criollo. All Criollo tobacco came from Cuba originally). Besides being a single vintage, single origin cigar, the tobacco used was not aged in bales. After fermentation it was rolled into finished cigars and box aged until sale.”

News

Tune in to find out how it went…and just how our experience went with this cigar. In the news, we only covered a few stories this week. Last week was relatively light in cigar news, except for several legislative issues that are coming to a head. We did have a couple of stories from Tatuaje, and an interesting item from Padilla and Oliva. Of course, we also spent a little time talking about what we’ve been smoking this week and covered a listener email from Don Hubbell.

Next Episode

In the next episode Craig will be vacationing with Mrs. Schneider in celebration of a milestone birthday (Happy Birthday, Ms. Craig!). I will be joined by the venerable Aaron Loomis from Blind Mans Puff. You may remember us mentioning the site over the past few weeks in reference to a series of collaborations we’ve been doing with them. Be sure to check back in Friday night at 9:30pm EST on our Half Ashed LIVE page, where you can catch the live video feed and join us, as well as other listeners, in the chatroom. If you would like to contact Craig or myself in the meantime, you can reach us through the contact page or at 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.

Half Ashed Episode 092: My Father Lancero

November 23, 2014 By Kip Fisher

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This week, we’re smoking the 7.5” x 38 My Father Lancero (aka No. 4). It features an Ecuadoran Habano Rosado wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler leaf and retails around $9.90 per stick. Our cigars this week are recent production from early 2014. These seem to be a notch or two lower on the strength-o-meter for me in comparison to many other My Father offerings within this line, yet retain much of the prototypical “Pepin spice.” Craig would disagree on that strength rating….so take it with a grain of salt. I really dig the aforementioned spice, but love it when these provide a characteristic citrus sweetness to accompany. This sweetness can at times build into tropical spice/cedar kind of mishmash that I truly enjoy. One of my favorite vitolas in this line….strangely enough, my other favorite is about as opposite as you can get: the #1 (Robusto at 5.2”x52)

In the news this week, we dedicated a bit more time to the study that recently made some bold claims about “cigar smokers” without accurately recording, measuring, or reporting any differentiation between 2-pack per day little cigar smokers and one per week premium handmade long filler cigars. The Stogie Guys have posted an insightful article after some communication with the folks behind this study. Additionally, we covered items from El Primer Mundo, Davidoff, and two interesting Drew Estate stories. As always, we also talked about a few things we’ve been smoking this week and a couple minor updates to the Cigarmy/Half Ashed merge.

One final note for this week: By popular demand, we will be publishing a second video for this show. For those who don’t have the time or desire to watch the entire 1.5-2 hour show, I will be stripping out the portions focused solely on the Cigar of the Week and publishing that on our YouTube channel. It will act as a simplified review for our focal cigar each week. It will generally run 15-20 minutes and cover our thoughts on the cigar at critical stages throughout. A subsequent post will give full details in the next couple of days.

In the next episode we will be featuring the Tatuaje La Verite 2008 as our Cigar of the Week. Be sure to check back in Friday night at 9:30pm EST on our Half Ashed LIVE page, where you can catch the live video feed and join Craig and myself, as well as other listeners, 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 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.

Half Ashed Episode 091: Tatuaje Belle Encre Reserva

November 19, 2014 By Kip Fisher

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Welcome back for another fun-filled, exciting episode of Half Ashed! This marks the 91st episode of the show, and features the Tatuaje Belle Encre Reserva as our Cigar of the Week. The cigar was one of Kip’s selections, and he described it thusly:

The Tatuaje Belle Encre Reserva was a limited run of the Belle Encre (5 ⅜” x 48 perfecto), featuring a CT Broadleaf wrapper rather than the Ecuadoran Habano found on the standard line. It’s packed with the same internal components as the regular line (Nicaraguan throughout). This was released early this year as part of the 10th Anniversary product lineup from Tatuaje, and features the 10th Anniversary band. The standard Habano-wrapped version will continue, although the Reserva was limited, and may or may not see the light of day once again. These retailed at ~$11/stick, which was about $1 more per cigar than the standard line. Total production was just under 2000 boxes of 22 (just shy of 44k cigars). I did a brief comparison of the two back in May 2014.

In the news, we covered items from Smoke Inn’s Microblend Series, Casa Fernandez, Villiger, and Davidoff. Legislatively, there were stories from Nebraska and Massachusetts. As always, we wrapped up with what we’ve been smoking, talked through the ongoing upgrades to Half Ashed and covered a listener email from Ian Winchester.

In the next episode we will be featuring one of Kip’s favorites, the My Father #4 Lancero. Be sure to check back in Friday night at 9:30pm EST on halfashed.com where you can catch us recording and participate in the new and much improved chatroom. If you would like to contact us in the meantime, you can reach us through the contact page or at 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.

Half Ashed Episode 090: Blessed Leaf Kairos

November 8, 2014 By Kip Fisher

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Welcome to Episode #090, featuring the Blessed Leaf Kairos. This week, we’re smoking one of my favorites, a blend created by the minds behind Ezra Zion Cigars and Casa Fernandez. Here’s a bit of background:

“The Kairos was put out by the “cigar ministry” arm of the Ezra Zion guys – ~~BlessedLeaf.com~~. They decided to add a line from which sales would support various Christian ministries and missions (for full disclosure, I (Kip) am actually a beneficiary of this ministry, as a donation was made toward my move into full time mission work in the Dominican Republic….so take my whole opinion for what it’s worth….however, I’m supremely confident that those who enjoy potent Nicaraguan tobacco will like it). It is produced at the Miami Casa Fernandez factory, as is often the case with Ezra Zion blends. The partnership works well for my tastes. I’m a big fan of both companies, and enjoy the blends they’ve produced together. Kairos has a great deal of symbolism in the packaging (which I can detail on the forum if anyone’s interested). The blend consists of a Nicaraguan Corojo 99 Rosado wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler leaf from both Esteli and Jalapa. It comes in a singular 6.25” x 52 box pressed vitola. A total of only 4,000 cigars were produced in 20-ct boxes and 5-packs…..and I have box #1 (which I paid for). When it was first released, I felt it ever-so slightly in need of a bit more “polish” or marriage in the blend. I have not lit one up in a few months now, so I’m hoping the wait has paid off. In typical Casa Fernandez / Ezra Zion fashion, this is not a cigar for those with weak constitution...” — Kip

In the news, we cover stories from our friends at La Tradicion Cubana and TL Johnson, some interesting survey stats from CigarSense (Craig was not a fan…), CAO, Viva Republica, and a legislative update from Nebraska. We also kick around some talk about a new study beginning to filter out from FDA. As always, we also covered a few of the cigars we’ve enjoyed this week and wrapped up some further improvements that have been made for the Half Ashed site.

In the next episode we will be featuring one of Craig’s favorites, so be sure to check back in Friday night at 9:30pm EST on halfashed.com where you can catch us recording and participate in the new and much improved chatroom. If you would like to contact us in the meantime, you can reach us through the contact page or at 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.

2000 Partagas Serie D Robusto (#4)

News

What Have We Been Smoking?

Listener Email

Wrap Up

Bodega Premium Blends Digestivo

Hour Two

Wrap Up

Joya de Nicaragua “Joya Red”

News

What Have We Been Smoking?

Wrap Up

illusione Fume D’Amour

News

Craig’s Notes:

What Have We Been Smoking?

Listener Email

Wrap Up

Cigar of the Week: Unbanded 019

News

What Have We Been Smoking?

Listener Email

Wrap Up

Tatuaje La Verite 2008

News

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