Oliva | Half Ashed

Half Ashed Episode 063: Unbanded 014

April 26, 2014 By Kip Fisher

Hello, everyone. Welcome to Episode 063 of Half Ashed, featuring Unbanded #014 as our Cigar of The Week. This particular cigar was supplied by long time friend of the show Maria Elena González. Here is just a sampling of a few items covered in Episode 063:

News

Barry Stein commented on his future plans in returning to cigar media, and hinted at some future potential for the Kilo (hoowahh!).

Oliva has begun shipping the extensions to their Melanio Maduro line.

Kevin Paige of acigarsmoker.com is reporting that La Sirena is moving production from My Father & La Aurora to Erik Espinosa’s La Zona factory.

The focus of our news conversation tonight was the FDA’s “Deeming document” concerning their intentions toward regulating premium cigars. At the heart of the matter is: 1. whether or not premium cigars will fall under the same classification as other tobacco products, and 2. the definition of a “premium” cigar. Tune in to get the full scoop. To summarize, for those who have any desire to continue smoking cigars, I’d strongly advise you to pay attention here. This is the “other shoe” we’ve been waiting to drop for several years. The time is now. You can find an excellent summation of the document at halfwheel, and submit your comment to the powers that be HERE for the next 75 days (through July 9th, 2014.

Other

In “What We’ve Been Smoking” this week, Craig gushed about what he considers one popular manufacturer’s Magnum Opus (and no, it’s not a Fuente). We covered a few more pedestrian smokes as well

There were a couple of embarrassing stories about myself thrown in for good measure this week….

We wrapped up with a fantastic listener email from Louis Alvarez. He made some excellent points we were happy to discuss on the show. Following that, we gave the final wrap on this week’s Unbanded….and I have to admit I was floored when I saw what it actually was. Thanks again to Maria Elena González for supplying it.

Next Episode

Next week, our Cigar of the Week will be a very special Fuente stick given out at CFC2014. We know little about it, except it’s roughly the same vitola as a Hemingway Classic, and carries their “prototype” X band and a secondary “Destino al Siglo” band. Be sure to check back in next Friday night at 9:30pm EST at ~~Cigar Federation~~ ****We will temporarily only have chat access on our Show Page on halfashed.com. We have outgrown our previous chat, and it has been overloading the server and causing various and sundry issues with our hosting provider. In fact, they shut down our site this week during the show. I have installed a stopgap chat for the time being, but it will not frame into the Cigar Federation page. We will remedy this as soon as possible.****, 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 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), or find us on iTunes to subscribe. Video, as always, will be available at the CigFed 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!

Half Ashed Episode 060: 2013 Oliva Serie V Maduro

April 8, 2014 By Kip Fisher

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It has come to an end….well, not the entire show; just our vertical tasting of all six as-yet released Oliva Serie V Maduro. This week, we’re smoking the 2013 edition, and wrapping up with a summary of our takes on all six releases. In the news, we kicked around a few topics, including stories from Cigar aficionado (a very interesting item on 2013 US cigar imports), a new blog entry from Frank Herrera, La Palina, Flor de Gonzalez, and Tatuaje. Legislatively, we had some good news from Florida. We covered what we’ve been smoking this week as always, and wrapped up with some final thoughts about all six Oliva Serie V Maduro releases that we’ve been smoking as our first formalized vertical tasting.

Next week, our Cigar of the Week will be a Kelner blend I brought back from my last trip to the Dominican Republic – which the both of us enjoy greatly. 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.

Half Ashed Episode 057: Oliva Serie V Maduro 2012

March 19, 2014 By Kip Fisher

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Welcome to Part 3 of our Oliva Serie V Maduro vertical tasting. Tonight, we’re smoking the 2012 edition of this fine series. Here’s a brief synopsis of the show…. In the news, we covered items from Quesada, Epicurean Cigars, Tarazona Cigars, GAR, Tatuaje, and an interesting legislative flop in Utah found in the Salt Lake Tribune. As usual, we talked about what we’ve been smoking this week and a few random rabbit trails. Join us for all the cigar talk and silliness we can muster!

Next week, we will be smoking something TBA…..we still haven’t traded cigars for this segment’s upcoming shows. We will be wrapping up this vertical tasting as soon as I get the 2013’s up to Craig :). 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.

Half Ashed Episode 056: Oliva Serie V Maduro 2010-11

March 11, 2014 By Kip Fisher

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Hello, and welcome to Half Ashed Episode 056! This week, we continue with our vertical tasting of the Oliva Serie V Maduro, smoking both the 2010 and 2011 editions in preparation for the show. As expected, both were enjoyable. That’s four years down, and two to go.

We announced the two winners of last week’s giveaway (graciously sponsored by Michael Stewart) – David Nichols and Ian Winchester. Congratulations to those two fine gentlemen! In the news, we had items about Cuba’s problem with this year’s rainfall and crop rot; new cigars from Herrera Esteli, Crowned Heads, and Tarazona; GAR’s new relationship with cigar.com, and a couple other stories as well. We covered a new email from Don Hubbell as well.

In other somewhat-semi-cigar related news, I (Kip) had a big announcement to make. You can cut right to the chase in the video HERE, but be sure and download the audio anyway. You need a weekly dose of Half Ashed cigar talk, right?

Next week, we will be smoking the 2012 version of the Oliva Serie V Maduro…..and the 2013 as soon as I get them up to Craig :). 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.

Half Ashed 055: Oliva Serie V Maduro Vertical Tasting

March 2, 2014 By Kip Fisher

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Hello folks. Welcome to this week’s episode of Half Ashed. I apologize for being brief; curt even. I’m in the midst of serious illness within my family and have various related matters to attend to. I wanted to give the full rundown, but for the sake of time and other duties I will be brief. So, at the risk of being blunt here’s this week’s show.

We started the vertical tasting of 2008-9-10-11-12-13 Oliva Serie V Maduro. This week, we smoked and covered years 2008 and 2009. As always, we covered a few bits of exciting news around the industry and other items – as well as had a fun time doing it. Thanks for joining us, and enjoy!

Next week, I may very well not be available for the show. If not, I will have Craig lined up with a cohort to help host. If I am able to participate, we’ll be discussing years 2010 and 2011 of our ongoing vertical tasting. 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.

Half Ashed Episode 037: Drew Estate Nica Rustica

October 20, 2013 By Kip Fisher

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Hello everyone and welcome back to another week of Half Ashed fun. Through an odd series of events, we only selected this episode’s Cigar of the Week (the Drew Estate Nica Rustica “El Brujito”) moments before showtime – a bit out of the ordinary for us, as these are usually planned weeks or even months in advance. Tune in to get our thoughts on this new offering from Drew Estate. In news this week, we cover stories from AJ Fernandez, House of Emilio, Oliva/Tampa Humidor, Joya de Nicaragua, and Torano. We also follow a few tobacco-related rabbit trails, and discussed what’s been on our minds this week, including an article I wrote over on The Cigarmy about how we perceive expertise, and what we’ve been smoking. Finally, we go over a couple of listener emails and pairing recommendations we received recently.

Next week, our Cigar of the Week will be the Quay D’Orsay Imperiales, one of Craig’s favorites. Be sure to check back in for that next Friday night at 9:30pm EST at www.halfashed.com, 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.

Half Ashed Episode 035: Fuente Unnamed Reserve

October 6, 2013 By Kip Fisher

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Half Ashed Episode 035: Fuente Unnamed Reserve

Welcome to another fun-filled episode of Half Ashed! This week, we’re taking a look at an unexpected (at the time) release from the Fuente family – the Unnamed Reserve. When this cigar showed up on select retailers’s shelves in December of 2012, little was known about it other than the facts that it was somewhat limited in scope and contained some mixture of the Don Carlos blend with a Sungrown wrapper. Join us as we enjoy a couple of the last few remaining in my humidor.

We also cover several news items, including the announcement of Tatuaje’s “Unlucky 13” retailers for 2013 (see article and poll over on The Cigarmy), a really cool Miami Cigar promotion going on tomorrow (October 7th), a scheduled timeframe for this year’s Serie V Maduro release from Oliva, and George Rodriguez’s take on bringing the consumer into the loop in blend development.

Additionally, Craig and I discuss what we’ve been smoking, a couple of associated cigar interest topics, and a few of this week’s outstanding listener emails. Join us for all the Friday night fun….

Next week, our Cigar of the Week will be Unbanded #008, provided by Steve Dorau. Be sure to check back in for that next Friday at 9:00pm EST at www.halfashed.com. 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: Padilla Vintage Reserve

June 21, 2013 By Kip Fisher

Padilla to release the new Padilla Vintage Reserve

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MIAMI, FL – June 18, 2013 – Padilla Cigars will be introducing a new cigar to the successful Padilla line; Padilla Vintage Reserve. As with the other Padilla premium cigars; Padilla Reserva, Padilla Reserva Maduro, Padilla Connecticut, Padilla Miami, and Padilla 8 & 11, the Oliva Cigar Company will be manufacturing as well as distributing the Padilla Vintage Reserve both in the United States and internationally.

Vintage Reserve offers the most select and well aged top-tier tobaccos from the acclaimed Oliva cigar factory in Nicaragua. The rich Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper, Cuban seed Corojo (aged a minimum of 36 months), and Nicaraguan Habano binder deliver a blend for the true cigar connoisseur. The fortunate cigar smokers who have had the opportunity to preview this new cigar, report rich coffee and molasses notes that result in a full bodied yet subtle smoke.

“The Padilla Vintage Reserve is a great addition to the Padilla line” says Ernesto Padilla, President of the Padilla Cigar Co. “The Vintage Reserve will come in three sizes; Robusto, Torpedo, and Churchill and will be a limited run. Hence we have included a unique number on each cigar band and box”.

The Padilla Vintage Reserve Cigars are made and distributed by the Oliva Cigar Company both in the United States and Internationally. The Oliva Family of Cigars has produced their own cigars since 1995. Every process of cigar making (growing and manufacturing in Esteli, Nicaragua; sales and marketing in Miami, FL) is directly supervised by a member of the Oliva family. Oliva takes pride in crafting cigars with uncompromising quality and exceptional value. These cigars are some of the highest rated in the industry.

Episode 006: 2012 Oliva Serie V Maduro

March 16, 2013 By Kip Fisher

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Well, Craig and I managed to put together another show this week, so we proudly present to you Half Ashed Episode 006! I hope you’ll take the time to listen and/or watch the video, and give us some feedback – you can send your questions, comments, compliments, or complaints to us via email, using either of the following address: [email protected] or [email protected], or reach us by any of the contact means listed on the “Contact” pages here at The Cigarmy. You can find the video for this show over on our YouTube page as well. The Cigar of the Week was the 2012 Oliva Serie V Maduro, for which Craig will be posting an Epilogue review in the near future, and we covered a good bit of other news items, in addition to some legislative issues and what else we’ve been smoking over the past week. Here’s a quick summary of the show:

Half Ashed Cigar of the Week:

As mentioned above, the CotW is the Oliva Serie V Maduro (2012 release). I reviewed these cigars last year for the 2011 release, and absolutely fell in love with the blend. I’ve been a fan of the maduro version of the Serie V since it first hit the market in 2008, and continue to buy them up as quickly as I can each December when they hit the shelves. The 2012 appears to be the same size as the 2011 edition, and is at the least very similar in flavor characteristics. It seems to possibly have the tiniest bit more “zing” to it, although that may be a factor of 1.)my terrible memory, or 2.)the fact that the 2011 now has an extra year of rest on it, and should not be compared side-by-side. It’s full of dark chocolate and a sweet earthiness that I find quite pleasant. I also notice some sweetened coffee in the tasting, although Craig didn’t get that in his experiences.

Industry News:

Federal Cigar Special F Event Cigar from My Father – originally reported here The Cigarmy.
Legislative Items:
- Arkansas Representative John Walker has proposed a modification of the existing state smoking ban to remove the exemptions for cigar bars & lounges, shops, and outdoor restaurants. Find the CRA Action Alert here.
- The proposed outdoor smoking ban in Florida made some progress this week, passing its second committee review in a 6-3 vote. This ludicrous bill (SB258) and its House counterpart (HB439) seem to have some legs, and must be stopped. If you are a Floridian and enjoy the freedom of having a cigar in any of our parks, beaches, or other public areas….I urge you to act right now! Visit the CRA page detailing how you can contact your representatives to voice your concerns.
J. Fuego changes: There were several announced changes at J. Fuego this week, as reported by Halfwheel.
A bit of news from Cigar Coop about Sam Leccia’s impending return to the cigar industry.
News from Gary Griffith about this year’s Draig release – the Cayuquero.

What else we’ve been smoking (listen in for details about each):

Craig – Ambos Mundos
Kip – 2011 Camacho Liberty, Ezra Zion Inception (now Jamais Vu), tons of this week’s CotW, La Tradicion Cubana corona, Joya de Nicaragua Dark Corojo.

Listener email:

We review several emails received this week from listeners, with some questions, comments, and recommendations. Keep ’em coming!

Giveaway:

Craig gave away his Tatuaje prize pack, including some cool swag as well as several hard to find Tatuaje cigars. Congratulations to Michael Stewart for winning that. We’ll be getting the package out to you ASAP, so you can enjoy one of the Tatuaje Mexican Experiments with us during the April 12th show when we feature it as the CotW.

Again, thanks for tuning in everyone. Be sure to come back next week, when we’ll be taking a look at the My Father Flor de las Antillas. In the meantime, If you would like to contact us, use the emails above or through the contact page. 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 above (right-click “Download” and save), or find us on iTunes. Video, as always, will be available on the YouTube Channel.