Casa Fernandez | Half Ashed

Welcome to the 40th episode of Half Ashed! This week, we’re smoking the 2012 edition of the Alec Bradley Fine & Rare. The Fine & Rare is a very limited annual release from Alec Bradley. It contains 10 different tobaccos, although little is know about the blend outside of the wrapper – which is Honduran leaf, from the Trojes region of the country. The 2012 edition is a 6″X52 torpedo, produced at the famed Raices Cubana factory. Production for that year was 2000 boxes of 10, and had an MSRP of $16.50. Personally, it is one of my favorite Alec Bradley offerings, and I look forward to it each year, and even at the pricepoint I’m in for a few. Tune in to the show for detailed description of what we thought of this particular rendition.

In the news this week, we discuss a recent report from Cigar Coop about Skip Martin’s recent revelation about an upcoming blend from RoMaCraft – the Neandertal. The fascinating piece of information from this is the fact that it will contain some Aganorsa leaf. I’m a huge fan of Casa Fernandez/Tabacalera Tropicale/Aganorsa cigars and RoMaCraft, so I’ll be waiting on this with bated breath. Speaking of Aganorsa, we also covered a couple of upcoming releases from Casa Fernandez (and the fact that Casa Fernandez will be on the show in two weeks – Nov 22nd). We also had an interesting discussion on a recent instagram post by Ernesto Padilla, hinting at a special club he has in the works for fans of his cigars. We also have some brief talk of what we’ve been smoking this week, Craig’s recent thoughts on coffee, and cover a few recent listener emails.

Next week, our Cigar of the Week will be either unbanded 011 from Jacob Pinkas, or possibly one of Michael Stewart’s personal blends. Michael will be our guest as we dive into his fascinating hobby of blending/rolling his own cigars. You may remember Michael if you were watching live during the infamous “Lost Episode” of Half Ashed. Episode 017 was lost in the cosmos, and never released to the public after YouTube decided to eat it. Michael is a very interesting guest, and we both love the idea of making your own cigar creations at home. So, 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 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 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!

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Half Ashed Ep. 021: TL Johnson Tempio

Good day and welcome back for another fun-filled episode of Half Ashed. This week, we host Terry Johnson of TL Johnson Cigars. Terry sits in for the first hour of the show, while we smoke his fantastic Tempio and talk cigars, flyfishing (TL Johnson also produces fly rods), and other gentlemanly topics. We then covered a few news items for this week, and some of the usual suspects in show segments. Thanks for tuning in, and enjoy!

Featured Cigar

This week, we take a look at the TL Johnson Tempio, a cigar that I reviewed last year and smoke on a regular basis myself. I had a suspicion that Craig would enjoy it just as much as I. I was right. Produced for Terry by Luis Sanchez at La Tradicion Cubana, the Tempio is chocked full of sweet cedar, mild citrus, and toasty oaken flavors. As is the case with Luis’ other production, the Tempio never disappoints in terms of construction and consistency. Definitely worth seeking out a retailer that carries the line – or requesting them from your local shop. It features a Pennsylvanian wrapper, draped around a Dominican and Nicaraguan binder/filler blend – and is fantastically flavorful.

Industry News

Legislatively, the only news we cover this week is the recent development for the FDA in beginning to exercise more power in controlling product introduction into the marketplace with regard to tobacco products – denying 4 of 6 requests for new cigarette products.
In cigar news, we go through a small portion of the IPCPR news this week concerning new cigars to be launched in the near future – notably, the Casa Fernandez 35th Anniversary and Reserva Maduro, a special release from Espinosa for CHATWEETUP2013, and other offerings from Royal Gold (produced by Drew Estate), Pinar Del Rio, George Rico (GAR), and House of Emilio.
We also cover the departure of a familiar face at My Father Cigars, and recent acquisition of Heavenly Cigars by Drew Estate.

What Else Have We Been Smoking?

Craig: Back to some Cuban roots this week

Kip: Sam Leccia’s Black & White

Miscellany

Family time with Craig, and a 3-day jaunt to South Florida for Kip – as well as a couple of listener emails for the week.

Wrap

Be sure you all come back next week for Episode 022, as we get into highgear leading into IPCPR. That show will likely be recorded outside our normal Friday night timeframe due to the Independence Day holiday. I will tweet/post the schedule once we finalize the timing. In the meantime, if you would like to contact us, you can reach us through the contact page or at the following email addresses: [email protected] or [email protected]. Don’t forget to get those emails in this month to be entered in our current giveaway. 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.

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 040: Alec Bradley Fine & Rare