CMA | Half Ashed

Half Ashed Episode 136: Partagas Maduro No 1

February 15, 2016 By Kip Fisher

Partagas Maduro Number 1

At 5-⅛”x52 the Partagas Maduro Number 1 Robusto (plus) gets my vote as most controversial cigar of 2015. It’s the second “maduro” regular production cigar ever produced after the Revolution in Cuba, with the Cohiba Maduro 5 being the other. It made its debut in the 3rd quarter but trumped just about everything else Habanos put out last year, in terms of chatter. People balked at the Añejados but shouted to the heavens about the Maduro 1. The word on the street was that this cigar tasted Nicaraguan. In fact, nearly the same arguments were made about this as were made about the Maddie 5s back in 07. This cigar brings typical maduro sweetness to the game but really displays a plethora of other flavors at the forefront of sensation. It’s an enigma to me, but certainly one I enjoy exploring. FWIW, I think I might be the only person I know who enjoys them…

Cigar News

Sam Leccia departs from General….despite originally being described as an “acquisition” by General of the Leccia blends in 2014, Sam apparently still holds his own trademarks and branding. He is leaving both the distribution arrangement and his position within Foundry and striking out on his own again.

Pete Johnson has shown off a picture of this upcoming year’s Tatuaje Monster release – the Kreuger, named after Freddy Kreuger of Nightmare on Elm Street fame. Specifics for blend and exact size haven’t been revealed, but it’s a large, pressed torpedo shape.

House of Emilio has rebranded itself as Boutiques United. The company unveiled its new website and branding, showcasing the four remaining marques they distribute – Ezra Zion, Emilio, Global Premium Cigars (1502), and Nomad. Sales force and distribution arrangements reportedly remain the same.

Our friend Terry Johnson is *finally* getting Counsellor Cigars to market. The line was originally to be a joint effort between TLJ and LTC, but was held up when the two parted ways last Summer. It’s a revival of an old, long out of use trademark that Johnson picked up quite some time ago. It will feature a Mexican San Andres wrapper, Dominican criollo ‘98 binder and a corojo/criollo filler blend. Counsellor is slated to ship next month in five vitolas, boxes of 10, and will retail between $5.50 and $6.50 per cigar. I smoked a couple of these a few months ago, with spectacular results….

Since we touched on La Tradicion Cubana, Luis has announced a price *decrease* on all his products across the board. He’ll be trimming his pricing by about 10% on most all his lines. Good news, indeed!

This year’s CMA awards have been published…

Brand of the Year: Warped Cigars
Cigar of the Year: Matilde Oscura
Member of the Year: Coop

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

J. Fuego Americana

Kip

Joya Red. What happened?!?

Nick Melillo’s El Gueguense.

Next Episode

In the next episode (137), we will be smoking the Tatuaje Black Corona Gorda. 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.

Half Ashed Episode 124: Special Guest Cigar Coop

September 10, 2015 By Kip Fisher

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Special Guest Cigar Coop

This week, in Craig’s absence, Kip is joined by special guest host William “Cigar Coop” Cooper. Tune in as Kip has the chance to pick Coop’s brain about the current state of the cigar industry and some recently introduced cigars. We have lots of great conversation in store, so this is one you don’t want to miss!

Cigar News

In episode 122, I pontificated a bit about the status and future of House of Emilio. Now, just a couple weeks later, yet another member (Guayacan) has left the fold….. How does Guayacan differ from the other brands that have dropped from the fold? What is going on with House of Emilio itself? Tune in for some lively discussion on this….

Smoke Inn’s Microblend Series sampler of past offerings from the limited series (from Cigar Coop and Toasted Foot)

Earlier this week, Boutique Blends announced the promotion of Charlie Lopez to their Director of Sales. Congratulations to Charlie…and more on why this is a big step for the company.

Steve Saka’s Update on Sobremesa – 1) The 6 x 52 Belicoso Largo was replaced by the 6 x 54 Torpedo Tiempo; 2) Orders expected to ship on November 1st but because of overwhelming demand they will not be able to ship the full orders to retailers. Instead each retailer will receive an “equitable share” of the first order and the remainder will be filled as soon as possible. Saka says he wil not deviate from his production plans of 1,000 boxes per month.

Jonathan Drew has begun to feed info out of a new project he has…only it’s not a cigar venture. He’s going into the distillery business with John Drew Brands. I’m a bit uncertain what *exactly* he has planned, but the website lists Vodka, Whisk(e)y, Rum, Shine, Hard Tea and Craft Coffee (something else that seems to be taking hold with traditionally cigar-themed companies…how much involvement these companies have in developing a coffee blend is something Kip is skeptical of at this point). More details will follow, but the company is slated to launch April 2016. I’m personally a bit intrigued, but wonder how this will look in reality rather than the theory wherein it sits now. Why is Jonathan Drew opening pandoras box with announcing this now?)

I continue to be concerned with the increasingly frequent news items I see go through my feed about new legislative attacks on smoking. The stories have moved from the larger municipalities into small town America. None of this *surprises* me; I just hate to see the attacks intensify. Quite a number of new ban proposals, ranging from parks & government property to private businesses and even residences (multi-family) seem to hit the legislative floor every week. We offer more indepth analysis of the situation and how much of the news being reported by other outlets do not apply to cigar smokers. While I get it infringes on our civil liberties, I think it takes the focus off the real problem at hand with FDA control.

The AVO Syncro has now begun to hit the market. Kip hasn’t personally had the chance to try this yet, but despite being out of touch with AVO for a few years I’m intrigued to say the least. If nothing else, the novelty and willingness to try something outside the normal modus operandi of a company’s past is interesting. How “different” can a cigar be with the all too common EC CT wrapper and Dominican/Nicaraguan internal components. The addition of some Peruvian tobacco is what draws me to it right now. Coop has smoked it, and gives his analysis of the blend…

Drew Estate is releasing an exclusive extension to the KFC lineup for Alliance Cigar. I’m frankly not sure why. While I was initially intrigued by the KFC launch, I couldn’t handle the heavy handed fire cured content. Subsequently, after trying most all of the available vitolas, I don’t find much variation throughout the lineup. I’m not sure another vitola (this time 5.5”x52) will do the trick.

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Coop

Imperio Cubano Miami Natural
Dunhill Seleccion Suprema
Recluse Amadeus Habano Reserva
Tatuaje Jackel

Kip

tonight’s chosen cigar from Caldwell
Tatuaje Mexican Experiment
Tatuaje Belle Encre 10th from original 2013 launch of the vitola

Next Episode

In the next episode (125), Kip will be rejoined by Craig for regularly scheduled programming. 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 theContact Page or the following emails: [email protected] [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 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!