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Home » rants and ramblings

Prepping for an international move

May 28, 2015 By Kip Fisher

Almost a year-and-a-half in the making, our move to the Dominican Republic is finally upon us. Brain tumors and myriad other hurdles have been negotiated, our house has sold in record time and we are in the final throes of packing up our possessions. Our flight has been arranged and we’ll be departing on June 24th for Santiago. I am stoked to say the least.

I’ve settled in this morning for wrapping up some final work issues and putting down some notes on this La Tradicion Cubana Reserva Familiar Maduro, which I should have reviewed months ago. I have to admit, its natural-wrapped brother set a high bar – but the maduro is really shining so far. It will be a tossup as to which I’d reach for first in the future. I suppose I’ll have to buy them in pairs :). Thankfully Luis Sanchez, the manufacturer, has his factory near where I’ll be living….Hopefully, I’ll figure out a good way to buy them once in-country.

So…what cigar so accurately reflects your preferences that you’d pick up and move to another country to be near the factory? Not that this is what I’m doing…but I’m not saying it isn’t either :).

Kip

Tagged With: rants and ramblings

The job sucks but the extra long commute is pretty awesome…

March 24, 2015 By Kip Fisher

 

 

My Father Special S

Some days, my current occupation requires a great deal of driving for things that *should* be handled remotely but can’t due to the environment in which I work. It’s those days where one just has to sit back and enjoy the peace and quiet of six hours’ worth of commute for a one hour meeting. Most would consider that burdensome. I consider it an opportunity to have about three cigars today…..

Tagged With: rants and ramblings

Tax day and I need a little help from the Angels…

February 28, 2015 By Kip Fisher

So I’m doing my taxes today. That’s never fun, but it gave me the chance to dig out a CFC2013 Angel’s Share lancero…in portrayal of the extra prayers I’ll need just to get through the process mentally intact. Not to rub my illustrious co-host’s face in it too much, but holy cow these are flippin’ fantastic. Fuente just has a way of striking at the core of my wheelhouse in terms of flavor…and construction…and blending….and….

I’m a fan of the Angel’s Share in general, but at the moment I’m rueful of the fact that I have no more of these lanceros to enjoy. I’m going to get back at it and try to savor every last puff. What are y’all smoking this afternoon?

Tagged With: rants and ramblings

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

The 8 Royal Palms

February 6, 2015 By Kip Fisher

8 royal palms chateau de la fuente
These 8 Royal Palms at Chateau de la Fuente. Who knows the story? And where do you commonly see an image of them?

Tagged With: rants and ramblings

They’re just better in Santiago….

February 3, 2015 By Kip Fisher

My smoke o’ the evening with my cohort here in Santiago is a Fuente Casa Cuba. While I know it’s largely (or entirely) psychological, Dominican cigars just taste better in their native land. Call it mind tricks, silliness, or kismet….they’re just better. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it…..

Tagged With: rants and ramblings

First cigar finally going in Santiago!

January 31, 2015 By Kip Fisher

ajf new world in santiago
It’s a little later than expected, but I’m finally alight in Santiago. Sitting with good friends at my future home (Hoowahh! Can’t wait!) and a great cigar….Doesn’t get much better’n that!

Tagged With: rants and ramblings

Humidor Diving

January 23, 2015 By Kip Fisher

My wife is not a cigar smoker. She has had a few over the years, but one cigar every year or two doesn’t really qualify her as such. That being said, she does know what she likes – which is basically one of three different marques. She enjoys the Avo XO, Ashton Classic panatela or Fuente Between the Lines. Ever the encouraging husband, I typically keep one or two of each of those cigars around (except the Between the Lines.we have a number of those tucked away).

I was in an adventuresome (read:fickle) mood this morning, and went digging into the depths of the humidor looking for something that struck my fancy. I came across the Avo’s I’d put away for her..two little XO Intermezzos (5.5″x50). I figured “Hey.these things have been in here for years. It doesn’t appear she has designs on smoking them any time soon. I might as well fire one up.” So, I just moments ago sat down set it alight.

Time has been kind.

I was never a huge Avo fan. Don’t get me wrong, I have enjoyed a number of the company’s offerings over the years; it’s just that there have never been any I felt compelled to stockpile deeply for the long haul. Just minutes into this little guy, I’m feeling a tinge of regret over that decision. I don’t know if it’s a fluke, or if this line is prone to mature in the same way, but this cigar has developed a rich, clean – almost minty – flavor that is absolutely charming. It’s chocked full of savory, mouthwatering Sweet-Tart deliciousness. Even the cold draw before lighting was delightful. It’s been several years since I’ve smoked an XO, but I certainly don’t remember being so captivated by the blend at the time. Definitely not to this degree. I have one more with the same time under its belt in my humidor. If it’s as good as this one, I see a good chance of putting some away for a rainy day.

I’ve asked recently about your favorites that might not be so well known to the rest of us.but what are some that may have national recognition, yet have fallen out of the public eye because they’re not the “latest, greatest blend”? Maybe there’s a cigar deep in your humidor just begging for you to take it out and enjoy the heck out of it “just because.” Something, perhaps, that you’ve even covered over with other cigars or forgotten about. Dig in there and find them..and let me know if you find any gems!

Tagged With: Arturo Fuente, Ashton, AVO, rants and ramblings

IPCPR and New Orleans

January 22, 2015 By Kip Fisher

ipcpr

Good News?

As expected and reported on last week’s episode of Half Ashed, the New Orleans City Council has voted on an extensive smoking ban, which had potential impact on this year’s IPCPR tradeshow in the city.  The ban, proposed by Councilwoman LaToya Cantrell, passed unanimously today.  I received an email update from IPCPR earlier this afternoon with some minor details, notably that some favorable exemptions/amendments were included in the ordinance.  From that email:

“As amended, the legislation will not impact the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailer Association’s (IPCPR) local members or our 83rd Annual Convention & International Trade Show. The ability to smoke in cigar bars, the convention center, and in facilities being used for private events is protected by the amendments.”

“Your representatives from IPCPR and the Cigar Association of America have been working diligently with the New Orleans City Council on behalf of retailers and manufacturers. Thank you to all IPCPR members who contacted the City Council to voice your concerns regarding the original legislation. With your help, we generated nearly 700 emails to the Councilmembers. Your active participation was critical to our success.”

While on the surface this seems favorable, I have reservation about declaring it a victory by any stretch of the imagination.  Granted, I’m no fan of smoking bans in just about any form, but believe an organization or entity should be left to make its own decisions about how/if/when legal behaviors are conducted on its premises.  Consumers and employees can make their own choice as to whether or not they are willing to patronize or work in a given establishment based on their support of those decisions.

Where Do We Go From Here?

I appreciate the efforts of IPCPR staff, and those of other groups like CRA.  I really do.  But, a group is only as strong as the membership.  Where do we (cigar smokers) go from here?  I don’t think we’ve thrown in the towel yet, but it gets tougher to see the light at the far end of the tunnel with every passing day.  If we can’t muster more than 1-2% of the cigar smoking public to join the effort…and, on average, 10-20% of those who have to take a few minutes to type out an email or make a phone call, we’re doomed.  Sometimes it feels as if we (the cigar community at large) are “coming home with ‘D’ on [our] report card and telling [our] parents “at least I didn’t get a F.” to quote another member of the cigar media this afternoon.  The virality of smoking bans and other anti-tobacco legislation is progressing at a more alarming rate than ever before in our lifetime (unless you were alive in 17th century England).  We continue to take our lumps and move on to tomorrow.  That approach is beneficial in some situations, but rolling over quietly has little place here.

The statement being made by the New Orleans City Council is that of disapproval for tobacco; however, they have no qualms about any direct or collateral monies received via an event such as the IPCPR tradeshow.  The governmental bodies imposing such restrictions are sending a mixed message, to be generous.  More egregious are the states who have banned smoking across the board, only to later decide some exemptions would be made if establishment owners would follow a set of guidelines and pay exorbitant fees for the privilege.  If the intent is truly to protect public health (as they so often declare), how is it appropriate to assign a value?  Why is smoking so dangerous to the innocent bystanders hanging out in cigar bars unless the owner has paid a yearly endorsement (every last dripping bit of facetiousness intended)?

God has given you one face and you make yourselves another. –William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 3 Scene 1

My Worthless $.02

I’m certainly not a proponent of outright bans.  But this cloudy gray area is often a prelude to one-sided concession, presented as a compromise.  We should fight to win, not give a mile to preserve an inch and spin it as success.  The fuzzy political lines in this battle are tiresome to say the least.  I don’t think we can continue to simply pretend we’re fighting a battle.  Lip service is not enough.  Paying an annual membership fee for our organization-of-choice and “really hoping for the best” is not enough.  There is no reason everyone reading this should be unwilling to at least pick up a phone with some regularity and call legislators…drop frequent emails…and show up at local council meetings with an opinion when (not if) affronts to this hobby sally forth.  This isn’t difficult.  It doesn’t require an advanced degree in political science or journalism.  It ain’t rocket science.  If those of us who enjoy an occasional cigar or pipe can’t get on the same page, someone is going to take the book from our hands.  Many of the folks we’ve installed to represent us have shown – and increasingly show – where they clearly stand.

“Nothing so needs reforming as other people’s habits.” – Mark Twain, Pudd’nhead Wilson’s Calendar for 1894

Let me encourage you to get involved, whether via the things I just mentioned or some other creative way to make yourselves heard.

Tagged With: IPCPR, legislation, rants and ramblings

Bring on user reviews…

January 22, 2015 By Kip Fisher

Half Ashed User Reviews

Guidelines for User ReviewsBack 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!

pipe tobacco user reviews - guidelinesSo, 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.

Tagged With: pipes, rants and ramblings

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