Blessed Leaf | Half Ashed

Half Ashed Episode 123: Partagas Serie D EL 2010

September 3, 2015 By Kip Fisher

Partagas Serie D Edicion Limitada 2010

One of the 2010 Edicion Limitada releases from Habanos, the Partagas Serie D Especial is a take on the traditional PSD4, but with ⅝” more in length and a further processed maduro wrapper. It is a Gordito vitola, typically referred to as a Toro (5-½”x50). Its rustic, thick maduro wrapper does not impart a large amount of typical maduro flavors to the mix but certainly does help round out the typical PSD4 profile with a bit more complexity.

Cigar News

Tobacconist University, in partnership with the producer J. Fuego, has shipped the second round of the R&D Series. This batch is being released with a total production of 4,000 Churchills, and 8,000 each of the Robusto and Toro. To go with the cigars, packets of puritos are available for additional purchase (2,000 packs of these). The puritos are comprised of each of the 5 tobaccos involved in the blend: PA Connecticut wrapper, Honduran (Jamastran) habano (binder), and fillers from Nicaraguan (Ometepe) habano criollo 98, NIcaraguan (Estelí) habano criollo 98, and Nicaraguan (Jalapa) habano corojo 99. For about $17-18 you can pick up one of the blended cigars and a packet of the small (~4”x26) puritos. They are available at selected Tobacconist University Certified retailers.

The proposed 40% tax on cigars has reared its head again in Pennsylvania. After being defeated in budget approval earlier this year, governor Tom Wolf’s idea has been resurrected by state democrats in the form of SB13.

A new Blessed Leaf cigar came…and went this week. The “1611,” alluding to the year in which the King James Bible was published, has been available for pre-order for a while. It finally hit the market this week, featuring a San Andres wrapper over Nicaraguan internal components. Unlike their earlier efforts (and associated Ezra Zion products), they were produced at Noel Rojas’ Aroma de Estelí (Guayacan) factory in Estelí. It came in a single 6”x50 toro, in limited quantity of 1,000 cigars. Interestingly, the cigar was sold direct by Ezra Zion – as were very limited runs of a couple other cigars (one of which we will be featuring on the show soon). The cigars went for $6-7 in either 5- or 10-packs, but they’ve all sold…

Cuba News:
Habanos Dismissals Article
US Embassy open Article

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

La Riqueza – Churchill en cello – Some tie in or connection to the Boris
01 La Gloria Cubana Tainos – Woof!
Asylum Schizo Maduro – Interesting…

Kip

Quesada Seleccion España mini-belicoso
Ashton VSG Tres Mystique
illusione ECCJ 20th

Next Episode

In the next episode (124), Kip will be joined by none other than Will “Cigar Coop” Cooper. 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]alfashed.com 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.

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!

Blessed Leaf to release a new cigar: Kairos

March 24, 2014 By Kip Fisher

[NOTE: I’m a little late with this, and we talked about it at length on last week’s Half Ashed, but here’s a new cigar headed down the pike that I think you ought to check out….

March 13, 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kyle Hoover and Chris Kelly, the leaders of BlessedLeaf.com, a Christian cigar-based ministry, announce the release of the long anticipated Blessed Leaf Kairos.

“This is a project that has been in our hearts for over a year. Our vision was to produce a great cigar with vintage tobaccos and have the proceeds go to ministry and missions efforts.” noted Kyle Hoover.

“For this project, we went back to our roots: Nicaraguan tobacco This is a Nicaraguan puro in the Ezra Zion genre of blending. Since we are doing this for The Lord, it had to be the best work we could possibly do ” added Chris Kelly.

The Blessed Leaf Kairos is a 52 x 6.25 box press. The wrapper is Corojo 99 Rosado. The ﬁller includes ligeros from Esteli and Jalapa. Total production is 4000 cigars of 100 boxes and 5 packs.

The Blessed Leaf Kairos is produced at the Casa Fernandez factory in Miami, Florida.

“We chose the name Kairos because of it’s unique meaning to this project. Kairos is deﬁned as a speciﬁc moment in time when the Divine intervenes directly into your life. To us, there is a duel application. Obviously, as a person smokes the cigar they will have a “heavenly” smoking experience. Secondly, that the support raised for Christian missions will impact people’s lives with the gospel of Christ.” added Hoover.

The Blessed Leaf Kairos will be available for pre-order on BlessedLeaf.com and CigarFederation.com. The ofﬁcial launch herf will be on April 2 on BlessedLeaf.com.

Half Ashed Episode 058: Unbanded #013

March 24, 2014 By Kip Fisher

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Hello again and welcome to Episode 058 of Half Ashed. This week, we’re smoking an Unbanded – #013, supplied by Jacob Pinkas. We had quite a big of technical difficulties, but I have edited as much of those snafus out as possible. Please forgive that. In cigar news, we talked over items from Skip Martin, Eddie Ortega, Miami Cigar/Viva Republic, Blessed Leaf, Paul Stulac, and Tatuaje. We also kicked around one legislative story. We also covered what we’ve been smoking, and some listener comments. So kick back with a cigar and join us. Thanks for listening!

Next week, our Cigar of the Week has yet to be determined. 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.

Press Release: Blessed Leaf Founded

August 27, 2013 By Kip Fisher

8/27/13 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Kyle Hoover, co-owner of Ezra Zion Cigar Company and CigarFederation.com, announces the launch of a new cigar-themed Christian ministry, Blessed Leaf. “Blessed Leaf is a unique idea, something that has never been done before. It’s a faith community–or in more basic terms–an “online church” for cigar smokers.” noted Hoover.

On BlessedLeaf.com, aficionados can create a profile page to join the Blessed Leaf community. Members can post content, access media, read faith-based articles and cigar reviews designed to strengthen them in their Christian walk.

“I know two things: The Bible and cigars. This is the culmination of a dream to bring those two passions together. My prayer is that this is a catalyst for cigar enthusiasts to become closer to Jesus, whether they have a relationship with Him now or not.” Hoover continued.

Beginning September 4th at 6pm CST, “Blessed Leaf LIVE!” will air on the BlessedLeaf.com homepage. This hour long show serves as the weekly service and will air every Wednesday evening. It will be hosted by Kyle Hoover and Chris Kelly. Guests will include believers from all around the cigar industry.

“A major part of this vision is the Featured Contributors. I want to create a platform where these guys can share their testimonies and teachings that will bless and encourage the members of Blessed Leaf. These are BOTL that either work professionally in the cigar industry or are avid cigar smokers in full-time pastoral ministry. Guys like Brian Berman, Kip Fisher, Nate McIntyre, The Don Fonseca, and my pastor Niles Holsinger will be posting some life-changing stuff.”

For more information visit BlessedLeaf.com.
Follow on Twitter and Instagram: @Blessed_Leaf