pipes | Half Ashed

Episode 197: Pipe Night 4

November 1, 2019 By Kip Fisher

Pipe Night Part 4

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:

What We’re Smoking

Kip – MacBaren Burley London Blend – comprised of Burley (& some tiny amount of Virginia) tobaccos, with something hinted at anecdotally as a cocoa/chocolate topping (although this is far, far in the background if it’s even real at all). This was a frequent blend that I used to reach for, although I hadn’t in years – and was recently saddened to learn it was discontinued just before I moved out of the country. I pulled a jar upon arrival here in FL yesterday. I haven’t put fire to it yet, but honestly I don’t notice a great deal of difference in the aroma from what I remember. Before even smoking it, I will reminisce about this blend. It was my first love in burley, of which admittedly I’m not the most dedicated fan. It was always a “workhorse” blend for me – nothing fancy; just straightforward, lightly sweetened and nutty. I was happy to focus on it simply sitting in the dark on the patio, or mindlessly enjoying a bowl while tying trout flies. It was always positively plain – which is a compliment in this instance. There’s nothing boldly polarizing about it, yet much to enjoy in it. I’m sad it’s gone, but happy I have a good bit stored up….but I also hear good things about MacB’s Golden Extra as a replacement.

Craig – Dunhill Early Morning Pipe – A sweeter aroma on this tobacco will make anyone remember that quintessential pipe tobacco smell from days gone by. Its classified as an English blend but I smell more of a Virginia core than what I’d typically associate with an oriental laden old school English. Properly dry after only a short while of being rubbed. Truly an “everyday” type of tobacco that seems very far from fussy. We shall see how it smokes.

Half Ashed 183: Pipe Night Part Tres

September 29, 2018 By Kip Fisher

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Pipe Night Part Tres

Tonight, we revisit the pipe again, in Part 3 of our Pipe Night Series. Join us as we talk pipes, tobacco, and a few useful tips and tricks to getting full enjoyment from your pipe. Craig is smoking Westminster, and Kip something special….

Tonight’s Pipe Night Discussion

Pipe smoking and all its associated ephemera and methods are an art – and, a science.
Don’t focus on the tools of the trade. Get basic – but suitable – gear, and experiment with tobacco until you find what suits your preferences.
Be simple. It’s not as complicated as it looks. It’s not as cumbersome. This hobby is all about enjoyment.
Don’t be “that guy”
Try stuff. Do stuff. Experimentation is key
Relights and tongue bites – and what you can do to prevent them. Maybe a tip or two about relieving tongue bite should you have gone too far.
Tip o’the week:
Pipe cleaners – while smoking; after smoking; when cleaning.
Discuss drilling/tobacco issues: what you can do before even buying that pipe or tobacco; Tongue bite; prevention & treatment (Biotene/time, tobacco cut and drying)
Cleaning and maintenance between smokes.

Reminder: Don’t give up if at first it’s not the best experience; Do invest the time and an appropriate amount of money if you really want a lifelong hobby

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

Santos Miami
Crowned Heads Las Calaveras 2018(?)

Kip

Esencia “E”
Leccia Black
LTC Corona
GLP Virginia Cream

Half Ashed 179: Pipe Night part dos

May 22, 2018 By Kip Fisher

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Pipe Night part dos

Tonight is the long overdue 2nd installment of Pipe Night here on Half Ashed. We ended up doing a pretty free-form, rambling, 2-hour show as we’re prone to do. We covered a number of basic topics related to pipe smoking, some of which are listed below. As with all things worth doing, pipe smoking has a bit of a learning curve. We don’t intend to tell you exactly how to do it; it’s up to you to find your own happy medium for enjoying the hobby to its fullest. My only hope is to help you avoid some of the pitfalls that tend to discourage newcomers and drive them to abandon it before they even acclimate and get acquainted with the process. I (Kip) have been a regular pipe smoker for a couple decades now, and fully confess there’s a lot I don’t know. None the less, I enjoy it immensely – even if I have grown out of practice in recent years while focused more on cigars. Earlier this year, I began to get back to my pipes much more frequently and realized just how much I truly enjoy them. The pipes and their craftsmanship, the tobaccos and their many flavors, the tools and their utilitarian (and, at times, decorative) nature. The whole nine yards. I dig it, and I hope you will too. There will be follow up shows in the same vein over the coming months, where we will detail various topics like types of tobaccos and components, different blending styles, differing cuts of tobacco, pipe shapes, various artists, etc. But for starters, below are a few of the high points we hit on this episode. I hope you will join us and dive in yourself….

Loading up the pipe
Initial lighting procedure
Keeping your pipe lit
Tamping
Pipe cleaners
Other misc. tools
Cleaning and maintenance
Tongue bite

Half Ashed 175: Unbanded 033

March 27, 2018 By Kip Fisher

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Unbanded 033 from DC

Sent in by DC all the way back in 12/2016, tonight’s featured cigar, Unbanded 033, is draped in a dark”ish” wrapper (mid-tone brown with some much darker mottling) and a sweet but cedary aroma from the foot. It is 5” x 50 by my measure, with moderate veining and a wrapper that looks dry but *feels* oily and supple. Let’s see how badly we can be fooled, shall we?

Cigar News

- Habanos Festival
- PROCigar Festival
- CLE sent out an email a couple weeks ago, detailing the fact that they are making a concerted effort to fill backorders on many of their cigars…and that effective this week they will no longer be opening any new accounts until they’re caught up. The backorder situation must be sizable, as they mentioned they hope to be caught up by 3rd quarter 2018.
- Erik Espinosa is once again releasing the Wasabi. It was originally released a couple years ago as a lounge exclusive, although it’s more widely available this time around. There are only 5,000 cigars in this production run and they’ll retail around $8. There aren’t any specifics to be found about the blend, although it’s described as a “spicy candela.” This intrigues me. I’m not at all a fan of candela wrapper in general because it often comes across as “papery” or vegetal in flavor to me. For some reason, though, I’m fascinated by the idea of a spicy version….and exactly what that might mean.
- Fresh on the heels of the sale of my once-beloved Tampa Humidor, Casa de Montecristo continues their very aggressive strategy of acquiring/partnering with retail operations, this time in South Florida. The Mancave, a south FL retailer, will be opening a CdM franchise next month. The new location will be over 2k square feet, and will feature a bar in addition to the cigar lounge. This brings the CdM number of facilities up to nearly 30, with a majority owned by Imperial.
- Lots of news coming out of Tatuaje/L’Atelier. Co-founder Casper Johnson has announced his departure from L’Atelier to take a job in the music industry. Trailing this news was the announcement that L’Atelier will merge with Tatuaje by the end of this month. I’m not especially clear what this may mean to those of us who just enjoy the product. The cigars from both companies, to my knowledge, will continue to be produced by My Father and be distributed much the same.

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig –
- Unbanded DC#2 – Addition by subtraction: not spicy, not overly bold or full = Old school dominican soul?
- AVO Synchro – I’m left wanting. I enjoyed this cigar for its individuality back upon release. I did not enjoy this cigar because of its monotony at this time. It’s a shame. I wanted this line to consistantly remind me of the LE releases of the 2000s that really shined well on the legacy of AVO cigars.
- Headley Grange Drumstick – An interesting cigar. It smoked bigger than it was. This cigar is an almost 8” long lancery that took abuse, smoked quickly and NEVER harshly. Enjoyably sweet and homey. If this cigar was 5” long I’d be a regular buyer.

Kip
- Mike brought be down some RoMaCraft Aquitaine back in January. I’ve been hitting those pretty hard the past couple weeks. Too hard, based upon how quickly my stash has dwindled. I just simply can’t seem to keep my hands off them. This line may very well be my favorite Nicaraguan cigar in the marketplace today (Ecuadoran wrapper and Cameroon binder notwithstanding).
- I’m still pawing at my pipes as well. Lately, I’ve been smoking through a tin of GL Pease Sextant. I think I may have mentioned this blend last episode. KY/Latakia/Turkish/VA, with a very slight spritz of rum. The rum is applied sparingly, which leaves it plenty dry to burn well but imparts a nice, caramel note across the otherwise traditional English campfire flavor. I’m not sure I’d smoked this before popping this tin; I wish I had…I’d have bought a bunch of it back in the day to set aside. I enjoy the fact that the latakia is front-loaded. What i mean by this is that it is dominant early on, but subsides by mid-bowl and lets the Virginias bring their sweetness into the foreground. Whether by design or simple palate calibration on my part, the effect is spectacular. I love it.

Episode 160: Jas Sum Kral Red Knight Lancero

March 26, 2017 By Kip Fisher

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Jas Sum Kral Red Knight Lancero

From Craig – A lovely gift from our listener “ARKCigars”, these 7″ x 38 lanceros make a perfect addition to your art gallery or your humidor. The most beautiful twisted pigtail cap sit atop a flawless Ecuadorian Habano Light “Clario” [sic] wrapper. The binder is half Mexican San Andres and Nicaraguan Jalapa seco, all over confidential inner components. The cigar smokes with a savory, pepper core but shows a sense of suave style throughout. Blended by the brand owner Riste Risteski and Noel Rojas, the cigar was created in Esteli to maintain the “Cuban standard”. Literally translating to “I Am King”, Jas Sum Kral is a Macedonian name for a Nicaraguan cigar with a Cuban soul.

Cigar News

Casa de Montecristo is coming to Tampa. My old haunt, Tampa Humidor, is teaming up with the folks at Imperial/Tabacalera USA/JR Cigars to open a Casa de Montecristo lounge in South Tampa. It should be opening in June…which is hopefully about the time I land stateside for a (shorter) visit.

I heard a bit of a buzz this week coming out of ProCigar here in Santiago, regarding a new cigar from La Aurora that will feature Andullo (which we’ve spoken of several times here on past shows). It will be called the ADN Dominicano (Dominican DNA), and will carry a Dominican wrapper, Cameroon binder, and four different filler tobaccos – including Andullo. I’ve smoked another cigar with this tobacco (Project 805), and seen it raw in the yagua, but don’t have a great deal of experience with it…yet. I’ve asked a friend of mine to take me to some of his friends’ place where they process andullo. This tobacco is rolled up into large tubular sections for fermentation, and bound by a rope or length of vine to generate some compression. Because it’s compressed during this time, it doesn’t peel apart easily into leaves afterward – so, it’s generally just trimmed off the end and smoked in a pipe. My understanding is this won’t – at least for now – be marketed stateside. It will be available here in RD in four vitolas (5×50, 5.75×54, 6×58, 7×47) if anyone wants to come visit and give ‘em a try.

I believe Florida, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire are the last 3 remaining states that exempt cigars from most/all tobacco taxes. New Hampshire remains so after a bill was defeated to include premium cigars in the existing tax code (which would have added an additional 65% of wholesale to the final price). I can only imagine it will resurface during the next session, though….

In a move I’ve thought about for several years, Hawaii is proposing a ban on mail order/internet tobacco purchases for their residents – only allowing such ordering for licensed retail and wholesale establishments. My guess is many states will watch this closely, as it’s a way to covertly avoid some of the higher tax rates in a lot of states. The ban is, of course, “to protect the children” who might be lured into circumventing age restrictions by ordering through the mail. But, legislators know residents buy online from lesser-taxed states to avoid home state taxation over the counter. Maryland tried a similar but different move several years ago with a requirement that all etailers file/pay their taxes on internet orders. Many etailers simply posted statements that they’d no longer ship to MD, and the public outcry brought that move down. We’ll keep tabs on HI and see how it goes.

There has been some activity on the CAA/IPCPR/CRA lawsuit the past couple days, with some motions filed by other entities, although I honestly have not had time to investigate them thoroughly enough to speak intelligently of them. I will post up some info on the forum this week once I have had that chance.

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig –

Intl. Pipe Smoking Day – Margate ’07 – This blend is evolving and INCREASING in strength to my tastes. I am not enjoying it as much as the other bowls from this jar.
Padron 1926 Belicoso – These cigars are spicy to me. I just can’t handle them anymore. It’s a sad day
Tatuaje Noella Reserva – A terrific start. A poor finish…
Cuba Aliados – My pseudo IPSD celebration. I shall explain.

Kip

IPSD was Feb 20th – I took the opportunity to dig into some latakia/oriental goodness in Dunhill’s Nightcap and GL Pease’s Abingdon, both aged nicely. This week, I also broke out a 13 year old tin of Marlin Flake. Sweet Mother of all that’s Holy that is some good stuff….

Half Ashed Episode 140: Arturo Fuente Añejo 888

April 16, 2016 By Kip Fisher

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Arturo Fuente Añejo 888

I initially received prototypes of the Fuente Añejo 888 at CFC 2014, and they were released later the same year. Tonight’s samples are from around the time of this initial release (Fall/Winter ‘14). I really liked them in those early days, although they seemed to lose a step quicker than other Añejo. When they were fresh, there was an interesting spice early in the cigar that was unique for me from the Añejo line – but later developed into the familiar dark cocoa that I get from them. It had a bit of a Nicaraguan “zing” that I don’t typically find in the series. I haven’t had one in quite some time, so we’ll see how tonight goes…

Cigar News

Xikar is releasing a special 20th anniversary edition of their Xi1 cutter…in the four original colors. Production has been referred to as “limited,” although no numbers have been announced. They are going to retail for $10 more than the typical current production, which leads me to wonder “Why?” I see no difference besides color in the announced information….

Viaje has another blend-partnership in the works. “Juntos” (together, in Spanish) will be produced by Quesada in the Dominican Republic, and feature a Dominican negrito wrapper, criollo binder, and Nicaraguan filler blend. It’s coming in a singular vitola – 6” x 54. This series, originally known as Collaboration, showcases partnerships between Viaje and various factories to produce often limited run cigars. This blend will be shown at this Summer’s IPCPR trade show, and is limited to 1,000 packages of 20 cigars.

In an uncommon move, La Palina is reducing prices on some of their cigars. The Black, Red and Classic lines will have their pricing drop between $1 and $1.50 per cigar. According the information released by the company, they are simply passing along cost reductions due to higher volumes of production. Am I mis-remembering or do I recall a similar move from La Palina a couple years ago?

Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, Moya Ruiz is releasing their candela offering for this year – Pickle Juice. It comes in a single 6” x 50 vitola, and will retail just over $7.50 per cigar. It’s only going to be available via 50 retailers, who will receive 10 jars apiece. I’m not generally a fan of the crisp, grassy sharpness often delivered by candela leaf…but I know a lot of folks like to fire one up around this time of year….

Carlos Fuente Sr. Way has been named in Ybor City, Tampa as a commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Fuente & Newman Premium Cigars.

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Kip

J. London lonsdale

Pipin’ – MacB Navy Flake. Diggin’ it…

Next Episode

Next episode (141), we will be smoking the Hoyo de Monterrey “Le Hoyo de Dauphin.” 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 110: Unbanded and guest Colin Ganley

April 21, 2015 By Kip Fisher

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Unbanded #022, from SmokinSteve

This week, we’re smoking another Unbanded submission, this time from listener SmokinSteve. Steve was kind enough to send these in for us. Without giving away any spoilers (and this week was a doozy, wrecking our somewhat reliable record with unbanded cigars), Unbanded #022 was 6.75″ x 54, and featured a dark brown, toothy wrapper. Tune in to find out how poorly we did with this one. Also, we have special guest Colin Ganley on to chat some more about his Twin Engine Coffee and Cigar Tourism trips – specifically, about more scheduled trips to Cuba. I know many of you are interested in that. Tune in to get the full scoop on when the next trip will occur….

News

You may remember us reporting on a new Drew Estate production for Pappy van Winkle last November….well, it has finally begun to ship….but with modification. When we originally reported on this cigar, it was to feature an Ecuadoran Habano wrapper and Nicaraguan fillers. NOW we know that the final iteration comes with “a barrel fermented “tapa negra” style wrapper over a Mexican San Andres base wrapper.” If I’m remembering correctly from how it was presented at the 2013 tradeshow, the “tapa negra” style is simply the addition of a different wrapper over the rearward portion of the cigar. Knowing that it also has “Kentucky seed, Kentucky grown tobacco that was fire cured and then barrel fermented,” I’d guess the fire-cured leaf is the applique. The process is a way to use wrapper leaf that may have desirable flavor impact, but undesired burn characteristics. Filler blend is Nicaraguan, and the cigars will be available only through Pappy & Co.. Two vitolas – Robusto (5.25”x52) and Toro (6”x54), which will retail for $13 and $15 respectively. Also, the line was now referred to in the press release as Pappy van Winkle Barrel Fermented Cigars, rather than the Pappy van Winkle Family Reserve noted in the original information.

Gran Habano is expanding the Corojo #5 line…to include a 7×70 “Grandioso.” Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper & binder; Nica // Costa Rican fillers. $8.86 per stick.

The Chattanooga Tweetup has been scheduled for another year. It will be on August 6-8 this year, will reportedly feature a cornhole tournament!?! A full itinerary has yet to be published, but I understand this year’s $75 ticket also gets you a year of CRA membership.

Just as a service to the growing number of folks who are sending in pipe tobacco emails, smokingpipes.com [no affiliation] has a deal on Dunhill pipe tobacco tins until April 30th. Buy any 4+ 50g Dunhill tins and get 25% off!

Despite the past 3 years’ record, Viaje is reverting – at least partially – to a less-than-100% “small batch” production model. They have announced that the Exclusivo line will become regular production, available year-round. The line will feature 3 vitolas stateside (5×52 Robusto, 6×50 Toro, and 5.25×54 Double R), with one other being available in the German market. It is a Raices Cubanas Nicaraguan puro, featuring AGANORSA Criollo 98 wrapper. As a sidenote, there will be another Zombie release from Viaje this year as well. There were no further details on blend changes, etc. – but I did receive an email that one of only two accounts that will receive them will be our friend Kevin Edmiston at Winston’s Humidor in Midlothian, VA.

Cuba has been removed from the State Sponsor of Terrorism list. Obama made mention that he has contacted members of congress to support a bill to repeal the embargo. Just a friendly FYI as to the ongoing story of US/Cuba relations

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

Blind Man’s Puff – #294
H.Upmann Connie A – from Zedman
Pipes! – Margate from 2005 –
An unbanded from Kip himself!

Kip

Fratello corona 5.5×46 – Nicaraguan Habano wrapper, Ecuadorian Sumatra binder, and filler tobaccos from Peru and Nicaragua; fiery spicy beginning, which quickly drops off into a sweeter, more approachable profile. Even flashes of cinnamon in the final third. Delicious..

Southern Draw “Quick Draw” petit corona – PA broadleaf wrapper; unknown internals. Very toasty cigar, with baking spice and occasional cocoa as well. Tune in for Episode 112 when we have owner Robert Holt as our guest.

Drew Estate UF-13 – I think the torcedor was wearing mittens when he/she made this one….

Next Episode

Next episode (111) we will be featuring Crowned Heads JD Howard Reserve Single Action. So come by Half Ashed 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 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.

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 [email protected] if you have something you’d like to send in. I will provide an address to send them. Thanks!

Half Ashed Episode 101: Unbanded 020

January 31, 2015 By Kip Fisher

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*I failed to take a pic of tonight’s 6.25″x52 torpedo, so enjoy this picture of a giant stick made by my buddy Arnold!

Unbanded #020, suggested by Steve McHenry

Welcome to Episode 101, featuring our 20th Unbanded cigar, suggested by listener Steve McHenry (Thanks Steve for the submission…tune in to see how it went!). This Unbanded was a bit of a surprise to both of us at the grand reveal. I don’t believe either of us had any familiarity with the cigar, and I think it shows :). Give a listen and find out what this 6.25″ x 52 beauty turned out to be!

News

In the news, we covered several items, including the following stories:

Well, I suppose it had to happen some time. Christian Eiroa put up a pic this week for an 8”x80 behemoth coming from Asylum. Madness.

The follow up to a cigar we’ve featured – the eccj from illusione – is out nationally. The eccj 20th shipped this past week. 6.25”x48 with Nicaraguan Corojo 99 wrapper over Nicaraguan Criollo 98 & 99 fillers. 15 count boxes with an MSRP of about $12/stick.

HB1590 in VA looks to increase various tobacco taxes, including an increase from 10% to 60% of wholesale on cigars! That will basically make Virginians’ $10 cigars jump to $15! It includes several other complex increases on loose tobacco and cigarettes, but I knew a healthy number of the audience calls VA home and would want to know they’d better contact the reps….**UPDATE** Virginians dodged a bullet. This bill was tabled on Wednesday, which effectively kills it….for this session. I little doubt it won’t resurface soon.

In what’s a clear pattern with Crowned Heads, they have another LE coming soon. Some time between Feb-March, they’ll be releasing a 6×38 petit lancero called the Single Action. It will be an extension of the JDH Reserve line, and only have a production run of 2000 boxes of 10. MSRP is at $9.25/stick. Brazilian Aripiraca wrapper over Ecuadoran Sumatran binder and Nicaraguan fillers.

While I’m not a huge Viaje fan in general, I do love their SuperShot series, which hasn’t been shipped since 2013. Well, it’s coming back and will be shipping to retailers this week. This time, there is no Corojo version; only the Criollo. It comes in two sizes: the 10 Gauge (3.5”x54) and 12 Gauge (3.25”x52). I’m a sucker for the shotgun shell box-packaging on this line as well as the cigar itself….

What We’ve Been Smoking

Craig – Club Havana Laguito#2 (short Lancero), Elogio Habano, Quesada 40th, The Smoking Jacket

Kip – Avo XO Intermezzo (robusto), Gran Habano GH2

Listener Email

Officer Paul gave us an update on my advice for rehydrating some pipe tobacco from a couple weeks ago:

It worked. I put the tobacco in a canning jar with the cap of water after s few days the water was almost gone but the tobacco was the same. I think I was humidifying the air. I moved the tobacco to s much smaller Tupperware container and put another cap of water inside. After 4 or 5 days the tobacco was back. Moist and holding together somewhen I squeeze it but not completely sticking together. I’ll light it up during tonight’s show to be sure.

Wrap Up

Next episode we will be featuring one of Craig’s favorites as our Cigar of the Week – 2005 Vega Robaina Farm Rolled. Be sure to tune in next week [monitor our Twitter/FB feeds for exact time this week; I’ll be traveling and unavailable during normal recording time]. 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] [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 [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!

Bring on user reviews…

January 22, 2015 By Kip Fisher

Half Ashed User Reviews

Back in the Cigarmy days, I pilot-tested a couple of features that were never perfected. Notably, I wanted to include users in the reviewing process – or at least have user reviews available to supplement my own. I have no special reviewing superpower, and love trading feedback with other folks and their experiences with a given cigar. For whatever reason, I was never happy with what I settled for over there (which also happens to be what we’ve used here on Half Ashed for the past few months). Previously, users could leave nothing more than a comment and an anonymous overall score for a given cigar. My desire was to have it so that users could leave a detailed review with all the same criteria as what is written into my review, as well as any detailed specifics he/she would like to write up. Well, this past week I have finally had some time to install that functionality here on Half Ashed. The basic functionality is in place, although a couple of (very) minor decorative changes are still to be amended. I’d like to invite you to head over to the reviews and drop your own scores into any that you have personally smoked. This system only applies to cigars reviewed since the numerical rating was added – about 20 or so reviews as of January 2014. Of course, all new reviews are in this format so everything going forward will have the option.[/one_half]

Details

If you would first like to see details about my philosophy on the reviews, you can check out the current cigar review guidelines. There are also a couple of recent pipe tobacco reviews (and accompanying guidelines), which originated with our first pipe episode in October 2014. This is an aspect of Half Ashed that will likely grow quickly in the days to come. Our plan is to have a (roughly) quarterly episode featuring the myriad aspects of pipe smoking, along with occasional spots as well.

Come On In!

So, swing by the review listing and see if there are any for which you’d like to leave input. Any reviews that appear with a numerical score in the listing should have the user review functionality already in place. My only request is that you not be “that guy” – the jackwagon who leaves unrealistically low scores to skew the results. If you drop a few “0’s” in there, I’ll have to back them out. We’re looking for something useful to the community at large. Craig and I have proclaimed from the inaugural episode of Half Ashed that we’re all about community. This is just the latest effort in building just that.

Half Ashed Episode 088: Pipe Smoking Volume 1

October 26, 2014 By Kip Fisher

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Welcome to Episode 088, our first Pipe Smoking episode! This is Volume One of what will be an occasional feature here on Half Ashed. We spent the first hour going through the process of how you go about readying a flake tobacco for smoking (either rubbed out or folded/stuffed). Admittedly, last night’s show is much better absorbed if you watch the video – but I hope you find some value in the audio as well. We should have another pipe smoking related topic and show lined up in about three months or so. While we realize we are a cigar podcast, we’re total tobacco geeks at heart and
since pipe smoking is a big part of my life (Kip), we’d like to include some info here as well.

Once we got through the longer-than-imagined pipe smoking content, we did manage to hit a couple of news items. First and foremost the sale of Drew Estate from the past week. We also hit the high spots for some important legislative potentialities and some upcoming Cigar Tourism trips. We didn’t get to a couple of listener emails as we normally would; we will be sure to get them in next week’s show.

In the next episode we will be featuring the Cohiba Reserva Media Corona, 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 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), 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!