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Home » illusione

Half Ashed Episode 148: Crowned Heads and Diamond Crown 20th

August 21, 2016 By Kip Fisher

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Wildcard Smokes

Crowned Heads & Diamond Crown

Kip – Crowned Heads Las Calaveras 2016 – I’m having the 5×50 edition of this year’s release. It has a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper over Nicaraguan fillers. Produced by My Father.  Based on my first experience, I’d liken it more akin to the 2014 version than 2015…which is great for me.
Craig – Diamond Crown 20th Anniversary  – A lovely gift from Kip that seemed like it was calling out to me this evening.

Cigar News

FDA Panic much?!

Recluse….9 new lines, with 14 sizes each?!?!?
Kings Cigars will be releasing some new limited editions…to the tune of 40 new facings in 14 different blends!

1502 has given some detail – but not much – on their latest release, the Blue Sapphire. I’ve been a fan of Enrique’s style since he first hit the shelves with the Ruby & Emerald several years ago. The Blue Sapphire will again be a Nicaraguan puro, but little is yet know about the blend outside of it being described as medium-full to full. It’s strange that so little detail sparks an interest from me, but knowing how much I’ve enjoyed his past efforts I’ll be excited to try this one.

Many listeners may not be familiar with El Artista, but I’ve lived just a couple miles from their factory the past year. The company is celebrating 60 years in business, although they don’t have huge name recognition in the American market. They do a steady business of house blends and a few others you may know like the Puro Ambar. I profiled them a few years back at the 2013 show. They have a long history in growing and buying/selling leaf, as well as making cigars. This year’s new release is the Pulita, which uses negrito wrapper, criollo 98 binder and fillers from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Colombia, and Pennsylvania. The Aniversario will come in two sizes, a 5×50 Robusto and 6×54 Toro.

Celebrating a 10 year anniversary, illusione will have several changes in the works for this year’s show…but probably few will bring a tear to my eye like the fact that the eccj blend is going mainstream! The robusto, churchill, and corona gorda will become regular production items. Secondarily, my other favorite bit of news from Dion is that there will be a 5-⅝” x 46 Fume D’Amour called the Concepcion. Hoowahh!

One last item that has my knickers in a twist is the Yamasa from Davidoff. I’ll be attending a media gathering in their booth and the official launch at the opening of the Davidoff lounge in Vegas. This blend will feature tobacco from a region between Santo Domingo & Bonao in the Dominican Republic, where they have some limited tobacco crops. The region is known as Yamasa, where the cigar draws its name and wrapper. The binder will also be from here (San Vincente), and the filler will have tobacco from Condega and Estelí, Nicaragua and other Dominican tobaccos (piloto and mejorado). There’s been a good deal of science applied in their development of these tobaccos…as well as its treatment during processing. It’s available in Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 x 52), Pirámides (6 1/8 x 52) and Petit Churchill (4 x 48), and will retail between $13-23 per stick depending on size

What the frack is an “energy cigar?” The Nicaragua Cigar Distributors are banking on the energy drink phenomena with an entry this year. They claim to have infused FDA approved food grade components to provide a “boost” minutes after lighting the cigar. Interesting idea, or regulation-fodder? There will be a premium version as well as an inexpensive mass market short filler edition…

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

España Corona
Crowned Heads Four Kicks Torpedo

Kip

RoMaCraft Aquitaine Anthropology
EZ Tantrum PA
Oliva Serie V Maduro x2
Emilio Carpe Noctem & AF2

What have we been enjoying in the world of cigars lately?

Writing again! I’ve got a hankering to put a story idea down on paper. It’s somewhat autobiographical but more off, it’s a great accompaniment to the cigar.

Tagged With: Arturo Fuente, Crowned Heads, Davidoff, Diamond Crown, El Artista, illusione, Kings Cigars, new format, Recluse

Half Ashed Episode 123: Partagas Serie D EL 2010

September 3, 2015 By Kip Fisher

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partagas serie d robusto el 2010

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] 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.

 

Tagged With: Ashton, Blessed Leaf, cigar, Cuba, Guayacan, illusione, J. Fuego, limited edition, Partagas, Tobacconist University

Half Ashed Episode 122: illusione ECCJ 20th

August 20, 2015 By Kip Fisher

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illusione eccj 20th

illusione ECCJ 20th

As a follow up to the 2008 release of a 15th anniversary cigar, illusione has once again teamed with Cigar Journal for the ECCJ 20th.  It hit the market a bit late to the party in February 2015, but still drew a great deal of interest from many of us who smoked the first effort.  The cigar features a Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan Criollo ’98 & Corojo ’99 filler leaf.  Total production was 30,000 (2,000 boxes of 15), and came out of the TABSA factory (AGANORSA/Casa Fernandez).  The ECCJ 20th can be differentiated from the original 15th by its slightly larger size (6.25″ x 48 versus 5.625″ x 46).  The original anniversary would go on to become the Epernay line.  Tune in to see what we thought about the new edition…

Cigar News

Craig’s favored Quesada España Petit Beli will be heading to W. Curtis Draper in Washington, DC.  They are the latest retailer to be slated for receipt of a 100-ct box. Each month a different Quesada retail account receives a box.  So, get in line if you like ‘em like Craig…

In a story that has me conflicted as to whether it’s marketing schpiel or educational tool, La Aurora is releasing a “Training Kit.”  It will include a couple marketing items – branded lighter, cutter etc.  However, it will also have several puritos to showcase specific tobaccos (one seco, one viso and two ligero).  The kit will also include a larger vitola that has a number of wrappers across its length (a la Jose Blanco’s seminar cigar), including bare, EC CT, EC Cameroon, EC Sumatran, Brazilian Ariparaca, US Broadleaf and DR corojo.  Also included are instructions & DVD…the kit promises to provide for a tasting seminar without a rep onsite.  No pricing or availability details.

I caught a stray tweet from the Charlie Minato that a new trademark had been filed by BOTL, LLC on the Palio cutter.  Who knew?  They’re still around….

Still mulling over IPCPR stuff…and in light of the 2015 departure of Nate McIntyre and Gary Griffith, I wonder how House of Emilio is doing.  From all appearances, at least 4 of the previous 9 companies represented have fallen away from the fold.  In fact, I understand none of the 4 had a real presence at the show (Rodrigo, Epicurean, Bodega and Herederos de Robaina).  Post-Gary, owner Scott Zucca is stepping forth in a more prominent role.  I’ve never met him, nor even heard the name really, until Gary left.  I suppose I can say the same of new Brand Manager Spencer McGuire.  I wish them the best, as I truly enjoy a great number of their offerings;  I just wonder what the future holds.  This will be a tough story for me to follow now that I’m outside the US.  I won’t have my close tabs on a large number of American shops.

The latest installment of Alec Bradley’s Fine & Rare has been announced.  Once again, it will contain 10 different tobaccos.  Total production is set at 2,000 boxes of ten.  This time around it’s a 6.5”x56;  I wasn’t able to get pricing info, but last year ran about $18/stick.  This is one of few AB cigars I enjoy, but once they got up past the $14-ish mark I’ve pretty much fallen away from them.  It’s interesting every year, and I’ve been quite impressed with their ability to format such a cigar with so many types of leaf.  I’m anxious to see if they do that $475 kit with all the blend components in puritos.  My formerly local shop had a couple and I’m not sure they ever got rid of ‘em….

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig: Ramon Allones Gigantes 2006

Kip: OR Fuente Destino al Siglo; 858 Claro (candela)

Next Episode

In the next episode (123), we will be smoking the one of Craig’s offerings, a Montecristo #2.  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.

Tagged With: cigar, illusione, Nicaragua

REALLY digging @illusionecigars latest works…

February 26, 2015 By Kip Fisher

illusione eccj 20

I’m thoroughly enjoying Dion Giolito’s latest efforts. I fell in LOVE with the Fume D’Amour (see what I did there…). It may very well have supplanted the f9 as my favorite from the illusione stable. After only a few examples, the ECCJ 20th would be a toss-up for 2nd or 3rd on that list. In the end, I’d probably put it in 2nd if it were regular production; 3rd with it being limited. I’ve been a fan for several years, but have to admit illusione is really hitting a stride with my personal preferences in cigars these days. Kudos.

Tagged With: illusione, rants and ramblings

Half Ashed Episode 099: 2000 Partagas Serie D Robusto

January 21, 2015 By Kip Fisher

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partagas serie d robusto

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!

Tagged With: CMA, Crowned Heads, Cuba, Davidoff, EP Carrillo, illusione, La Flor Dominicana, legislation, Partagas, robusto

@illusionecigars Fume D’Amour. Dee-friggin-licious

January 10, 2015 By Kip Fisher

 illusione Fume D'Amour
The Fume D’Amour has smitten me like nothing else in a long while. My adoration for it may be bordering on unnatural. If not my very favorite of the illusione blends, certainly a top 2 with the f9 (and possibly the original ECCJ). It’s quite an impressive offering. I chose not to make a Top “X” list for 2014, but if I had, this guy would’ve been at or near the top. Anybody else digging these?

Tagged With: illusione, rants and ramblings

Half Ashed Episode 096: illusione Fume D’Amour

December 23, 2014 By Kip Fisher

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illusione fume d amour

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.

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!

 

Tagged With: Cuba, Drew Estate, illusione, Oliva

Half Ashed Episode 030: illusione ECCJ and a giveaway!

August 31, 2013 By Kip Fisher

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illusioneHappy Labor Day weekend, everyone, and welcome back for Episode 030 of Half Ashed.  This week, we’re smoking the illusione ECCJ, a cigar originally produced for the 15th anniversary of the European Cigar Cult Journal (now known as Cigar Journal).  Tune in to get our thoughts on this how time has treated this phenomenal cigar.  Our giveaway for this month is coming to a close – the prize this time around is a 10 pack of fantastic cigars.  This is a selection of cigars that I enjoy and wanted to share with someone else.  They are pictured below.  With the exception of the new Cubao, these are from my personal humidor.  The Cubao were some extra samples provided by Eddie Ortega – I think the soon-to-be-re-released line is an outstanding smoke and wanted to share a couple with a lucky listener.  All you have to do to enter into this giveaway is send me or Craig an email ([email protected] or [email protected]) with a comment, question, complaint, or compliment about Half Ashed.  That will get your name in the running when we randomly pull one from the pile next week (Sept. 6).

The current giveaway (Left to Right):

  1. aug giveaway half ashedTatuaje Wolfman (2012 Halloween)
  2. Ortega Cubao (prerelease)
  3. Ortega Cubao (prerelease)
  4. Casa Fernandez Miami toro
  5. Opus X
  6. Sam Leccia Black robusto
  7. Sam Leccia Black robusto
  8. JC Newman Julius Caeser
  9. Fuente Anejo 46
  10. Fuente Between the Lines


In other news, we also discussed the current charity 
raffle going on over at Cigar Federation.  Every $10 donated to the chosen organization gets you an entry into the raffle – which has about two dozen prizes, ranging from hats and T-shirt prize packs, boxes of cigars, and other swag – culminating in a grand prize of a 3-day trip to the Dominican Republic to visit cigar factories and other local attractions.

We also covered a couple of Gran Habano/GAR items, some sweeping changes to the executive team at Joya de Nicaragua, a partnership formed in the world of online cigar media, and some packaging issues in the recent Viaje DESII.  Finally, we talked over what we’ve been smoking this week, had some pipesmoking chat, and reviewed a few emails that have been postponed the past couple of weeks.

Next week, we’ll be featuring the Casa Miranda Chapter Two when we have guest Barry Stein of Miami Cigar sitting in with us.  Be sure to check back in then as Barry is a great guest, and has an upcoming cigar line in the works that you’ll want to hear about.  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 Video Archive.

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!

Tagged With: cigar, illusione

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