El Rey del Mundo | Half Ashed

Episode 198: El Rey del Mundo Choix Supreme

November 1, 2019 By Kip Fisher

Note: After no shortage of technological fiascos and forays into new territory, we’re about to get all caught up. The next few episodes to publish are very late, but finally are arriving…and we’re working out the broadcast troubles we’ve experienced the past couple months to hopefully be back to regularly scheduled programming very soon! Here’s the quick and dirty for Episode 197

El Rey del Mundo Choix Supreme

Craig: FFS, it’s a cigar….

Quick & Dirty Show Summary

Facebook (and, by extension, Instagram) goes after alcohol and tobacco sales and giveaways on the platforms – between private individuals. There are exceptions, such as genuine brick and mortar shops, etc. But, no more trading between consumers. What’sit mean? What’s it matter?

Son of a Mother. Cigars International will be soon opening a 9500 ft^2 retail operation in Wesley Chapel, FL….very near my old stomping grounds. Large humidor, bar, indoor/outdoor smoking areas….even a conference room. This could have been my office.

Nicaragua’s cigar festival – Puro Sabor – will return in 2020. Registration is open, and comes in at $1600 per ticket plus airfare. Here’s a link to the website.

The allegations against Jose Dominguez have taken a step with his arrest in Santiago by the DNCD by request from the US. If he goes to trial and is found guilty, he faces up to 5 years in federal prison and a hefty monetary penalty. He’s accused of defrauding the US of $1.8million in SCHIP taxes.

A number of the on-again/off-again Dunhill blends will be coming back around under the Peterson brand. This appeared like an internet rumor, but has been confirmed by Lane Ltd. personnel. The blends are claimed to be the same as they have been produced in recent years (as with all longstanding blends, there’s a long and storied past, with many blenders and blend changes; hence the ‘recent years’ comment).

Half Ashed Episode 116: San Cristobal Mercaderes (2007)

June 20, 2015 By Kip Fisher

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San Cristobal Mercaderes (2007)

From Craig: A commemorative release from the brand meant to pay tribute Cuba’s capital. Roughly 6-½ x 48, a special vitola rolled initially just for this cigar. Filled with cocoa & graham flavors, this medium bodied and strength cigar is a slightly savory dessert like treat. Box code EMA Jan 07

Cigar News

As a followup to a story we covered several weeks ago, Gov Sam Brownback of Kansas has formally introduced his budget proposal for the upcoming year….to include increases on tobacco and liquor tax. Cigars would see an increase from 10% to 25% of wholesale pricing added to them, while cigarettes would be harder hit with a net increase of $1.50 per pack.

D’Crossier Cigars, which we smoked blindly last year, has moved their distribution to Espinosa. Their cigars are not manufactured by Espinosa; owner Isaias Diaz is simply aiming at a greater exposure and accessibility for his cigars through a bigger, more established distribution network.

I monitor some of the many bans that pass these days – there are so many it’s tough to keep close watch. One in particular hit home this past week. Waynesville, NC – a town I’m quite familiar with – has banned smoking (including e-cigarettes) in essentially all public places…including sidewalks, parks, govt. vehicles, greenways and around public buildings. Never thought I’d see the day bringing this news from NC.

For those Crowned Heads fans who are interested (like me), this year’s Las Calaveras has left the MF factory and are headed to CH headquarters. Look for them to hit store shelves in the next few weeks…

Gran Habano has released something special from George Rico’s personal reserve…the Private Humidor Selection. Apparently, GAR has stockpiled some 30,000 cigars in his personal stash in various sizes and shapes. This first release is a 7.5” x 38 lancero that has been waiting in the wings for the past 7-8 years. The Nicaraguan puro was made at Gran Habano’s Honduran factory and will retail somewhere around the $10 mark. A total of 100 boxes of 25 were released, and only a handful of retailers will be receiving them, predominantly in California, Hawaii and Texas.

Relative newcomer to the US market, Roberto P. Duran, has hired Cristano “Santo” Cardenas as their master blender. Cardenas has been in the Cuban cigar industry for 55 years, dating back to 1960. He has spent his tenure with the Upmann, Montecristo, El Rey del Mundo and Partagas marques. He also served as a global ambassador for Cuban cigars in recent years. Roberto Duran said in the press release that Cardenas had been his a major influence of his when he worked at the Partagas factory in Cuba. Cardenas will head up the company’s Nicatabaco factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

06 Party Corona – Excellent bready tobacco savory flavor
03 SLR Regio – Wonderful slightly salty sweet citrus flavor
10 AF 858 SG – Perhaps age isn’t the best for this cigar. Almost too crisp and not the slight edge that helps the young versions
03 RJ Ex#4 – Slightly too much sweet herbal flavors

Kip

United Cigars – Bandolero

Asylum Nyctophilia – made entirely of maduro leaf, featuring San Andres wrapper and Nicaraguan internal components. I tried the robusto, which retails for about $6. The other available vitolas are 6×60 and 7×70. It’s “kinda” a TAA special, in that it will only be available at TAA shops for the first several months to a year. I was apparently one of the first consumers to buy one of these, if not the first…

Ortega –

Other Rabbit Trails…

NOTE: We ended up getting off on a tangent, but here’s the excerpt from our show notes that got the whole discussion kicked off….

Is it just me or has the store-exclusive and limited schtick exploded recently? Every week, we have stories of more shop exclusives…and not just one or two. It’s mind boggling for the feeble minded like myself to try and keep track of. I have previously kept loose tabs on them, and tried to buy at least a couple from a few manufacturers…but I’m about ready to throw in the towel on even considering more than a passing glance at this point. The distinction has blurred such that most I have try hold very little interest for me. At times it seems the cigars are less likely to be a new/different blend than just another vitola in a standard production line. If I happen to be in a store with some I’ll consider it…but it would be out of the ordinary to even think of making a phone call to buy any these days. Mind you, I have no beef with house blends….just this LE shop-exclusive hype machine. Maybe I’ll eat those words at some point, but I’m fatigued with the myriad makers, lines and limited edition “specials” at this point.

Next Episode

In the next episode (117), we will be smoking the EP Carrillo La Historia Dona Elena. 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] [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,[email protected] if you have something you’d like to send in. I will provide an address to send them. Thanks!

Episode 009: 2002 El Rey del Mundo Tainos

April 6, 2013 By Kip Fisher

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Welcome back to another episode of Half Ashed, everyone! This week, we feature a 2002 El Rey del Mundo Taino as our CotW. Hopefully have most of our audio difficulties resolved and offer you a better-sounding show. You can find a brief summary of some items we cover in this week’s episode below, as well as instructions for finding the video and audio in the final paragraph. Sometime during the next couple of days, I will also post my Epilogue review into this summary as well (so check back by for that). Thanks for checking in, and be sure to send us a note if you have any comments, questions, concerns…or even complaints. We may not have a solution, but we’ll certainly have an opinion…

2002 El Rey del Mundo

This week’s featured cigar is the 2002 El Rey del Mundo Tainos, generously provided by Craig. Here are his brief preliminary notes and history with this cigar:

Craig: The king of the world, as its name translates, is the king of many serious smokers’ worlds. A unique blend giving flavors of tea, honey, cream, sweet tobacco….and heaven. It has been produced in Havana for well over 100 years. Typically mild in strength and perhaps medium in body (as a general, not definitive rule) these cigars are as full flavored as can be. Incredible complexity and very specific flavors generally render them somewhat polarizing, but those who love them, often keep them at the top of their list. The Tainos was discontinued in 2002, partly because of its contradictory appeal (mild but large) and potentially also because of its unique packaging. A slide lid cedar box packaged in a 13/12 format. Beauty in a 12×12 box.

Tune in to the show to both of our detailed opinions of the Tainos.

Industry News

Casa Fuente has, at least temporarily, had to disallow smoking in their patio area until some modifications can be made to pacify other retailers bothered with the aroma.
As published here on The Cigarmy earlier in the week, Sam Leccia has “officially” disclosed further information about his upcoming cigars, which will be produced in two different countries and contain some interesting blend components.
As was published exclusively through Halfwheel, Ezra Zion is releasing a limited edition this summer – the Tantrum.
Drew Estate is releasing an extension to the My Uzi Weighs a Ton line, showcasing a curing process not often used in cigars – the Kentucky Fire Cured.
La Flor Dominicana and Butthead’s Tobacco Emporium will be conducting a very interesting instore and online webinar, called “A Night in Santiago.”
An interesting piece of information via Cigar Coop concerning Christian Eiroa’s upcoming Asylum 13 Corojo line extension – notably the release of a 6″X80ring behemoth!
Operation Smokescreen? What is this?!?

What else have you been burning?

Craig: In preparation for the show I smoked through a number of RdMs that I have. The 1999 Gran Corona (5-5/8”x46), 1990 Demi Tasse (3-3/4”x30), 1997 Grandes de Espana (7-1/2”x38). All are unique to their vitola and highlight different aspects of the blend; The DT; milk in tea, GdE; Sweet tobacco & honey, GC; tobacco & tea
Kip: A special EP Carrillo Short Run – the Federal Cigar 92nd Anniversary edition; La Aurora Double Corona; Eddie Ortega “Island Jim”

Listener Email

We talk a good bit about an interesting email we got from Derek Matthews, referencing the impact cellophane may contribute to the process of tobacco aging.

Next week

Next week we feature the Tatuaje LE Mexican Experiment as the Cigar of the Week – one of Kip’s favorite cigars from 2012. Michael Stewart will not be able to sit in on the live show, but depending on scheduling we may have another very special guest with us to talk about his new cigars…stay tuned for that!

Again, thanks for tuning in everyone. Be sure to come back next week, when we’ll be taking a look at the Mexican Experiment. 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] 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 below (right-click “Download” and save), or find us on iTunes. Video, as always, will be available on Cigar Federation’s website, as well as the Cigarmy YouTube Channel.