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Half Ashed Episode 125: Crowned Heads Jericho Hill OBS

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Crowned Heads Jericho Hill OBS

This week, we’re smoking the OBS (Orange Blossom Special), from Crowned Heads’ Jericho Hill line.  The OBS is a 4.75”x52 robusto, and Kip’s favorite from the line thus far.  The Jericho Hill is produced for Crowned Heads by My Father, and this particular vitola retails for $8.75.  It features a Mexican San Andres wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler.

Cigar News

Palio lives!  Well, kinda.  Maybe not really….Quality Importers has acquired the company.  QI is predominantly a humidor and accessory distributor who has taken over distribution for a handful of other branding in recent years (most recently Eddie Ortega’s cigars).  They did NOT assume control of the Esencia cigar line with Palio.  Halfwheel is reporting that the company will honor existing warranty claims, and that its very unlikely that production will be US-based.  Michael Giordano, QI president, doesn’t seem to think it’s feasible to continue producing the products in the U.S. due to production costs, leadtimes and inflexibility…

This year’s Tatuaje TAA blend has shipped, and I (Kip) can’t get ‘em.  For the first time in its history, I’ll be missing this release.  Reportedly, it’s based on the 2011 blend – which was the best (or 2nd best) blend for my personal tastes.  As usual, it’s only available at the 75 or so TAA retailers.  This year’s production is up significantly to 3,800 boxes of twenty; fewer than 3,000 boxes were produced last year.  Pricing is set at $11 per cigar for the 5-⅝” x 54 stick, and it will feature CT Broadleaf over Nicaraguan binder/filler.

In a move that should surprise no one, the Cubanacan/Gonzalez battle (remember…Hirochi Robaina, etc.?) has moved into the judicial system.  The Gonzalez family claims they were never paid any of the funds they were due from sales of the Soneros branded cigars.  Additionally, there are allegations of other unpaid debts, trademark issues, and various ownership disagreement.

The IPCPR is reporting to Halfwheel that Operation Chokepoint is continuing and expanding to one South Florida manufacturer. Article

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

Bolivar Petit Corona – Perhaps the best Bolivar out there. Deep dark & earthy with an amazing citrus sweetness that’s reinforced with graham cracker tastes. Ahhh…

 

Kip

TL Johnson Legend Reserve 63, taking a cue from Cigar Coop last week.

90 Miles from Flor de Gonzalez

Next Episode

In the next episode (126), we will be smoking one of Craig’s selections, the 1993 Punch Margaritas.  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 099: 2000 Partagas Serie D Robusto

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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!

Half Ashed Ep 017: Lost in the Cosmos w/Michael Stewart

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Michael Stewart home rolledHalf Ashed Ep 017: Michael Stewart

Good evening, everyone. As many of you already know, we recorded Episode 017 of Half Ashed Friday night, on which we had guest Michael Stewart to talk about his most interesting of hobbies – he buys whole leaf tobacco and blends/rolls his own cigars at home. Unfortunately, we experienced a number of technical difficulties both during and since the show. While recording, two of the three participants were booted from the Hangout a number of times with connectivity issues. While bothersome, we did manage to complete the show. However, due to some as-yet unknown YouTube fiasco, the recording is lost somewhere in the internet cosmos. Craig and I will be recording an abbreviated show during the week to announce the winner of our giveaway, as well as a few other pertinent items you will want to know about. We will be back next week with a full show as normal.  In the meantime, I have a couple of reviews lined up which I will take the opportunity to publish. The first is actually for one of Michael’s cigars that I had the opportunity to smoke recently. I have now been able to sample three of his blends, with the following review being the one I’ve enjoyed the most. So, without further ado, this is for Michael Stewart’s “Nicaragua.”  The vital stats on this cigar are as follows:  Dimensions:  Robusto; roughly 5″X50.  Wrapper: Ecuador Yellow Shade.  Binder: Ecuador Sumatran.  Filler: Nicaraguan seco, viso, & ligero.

Michael Stewart home rolledVisual Once-over:

Aside from being a budding torcedor, Michael is also a jazz trumpeter, and has appropriately named his home-rolled sticks “Casa Trompeta.” The band is a nice touch, featuring a trumpet and apropos nomenclature. From all appearances, this cigar appears to be quite well made. The wrapper on this cigar does seem delicate, and telegraphs everything beneath. In all actuality, the ONLY criticism concerning construction I could even dream up is the extremely flat cap – which made it a bit tough to clip without cutting into the body of the cigar. If I’d had the presence of mind, I would have simply reached for a punch and made it a non-issue. Nonetheless, I did manage to get a good cut without removing too much and unraveling the cigar. Overall, I am quite impressed.

The Smoke:

Before fire is applied, I get a faint aroma of tobacco and sweet hay from both the foot and wrapper. The cold draw provides more sweetness, and goldilocks resistance; not too firm, not too free. The early puffs give a noticeable nasal spice. This spice is very “bright,” with a faintly tannic finish. The flavor behind the spice carries the sweetness well, it “feels” only slightly tannic. Throughout the first inch, the burn is impeccable, remaining razor-straight and not requiring any touchup at all.
Michael Stewart home rolledThe midsection of the “Nicaragua” begins to transition into a more cedary profile, with the sweetness taking a backseat and fading significantly. I do notice that you must mind your cadence. Too aggressive a puff rate will turn it more toward a papery flavor palette. I slowed down et voilà! Back to normal.  Of course, this could be said of any cigar in the marketplace.
Going into the final inch or so of the cigar, the strength picks up a notch – but never becomes what I’d call strong. With less than an inch nub remaining, an ever-so-slight bit of tannic bitterness is the only indicator telling me it was ready to finish up. This was only barely perceptible, and never off-putting; It appeared only at the very end of the smoke, and acted as an early warning system that it was nearing its end.  I have to hand it to Michael, this cigar far exceeded my expectations for something blended and rolled by a layperson. So, kudos to him for a job well done. I don’t know if he has any ambition of ever turning his hobby into a money-making endeavor, but I know there are plenty of lesser cigars on the market selling every day. This was quite an enjoyable smoke, and one I’d be willing to buy off the shelf at my local tobacconist.

Wrap:

Once again, stay tuned for the abbreviated show (Episode 017b) this week, and come back for Episode 018 next week. We’ll be featuring the 2006 Partagas Serie du Connoisseur, one of Craig’s favorites. Also in the coming weeks, we’ll be taking a look at some of the fire-cured tobacco that is showing up in an increasing number of cigars as of late. Thanks for checking in, and we’ll see you next week!

Episode 016: 2011 EP Carrillo Short Run

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2011 EP Carrillo Short RunEpisode 016: 2011 EP Carrillo Short Run

Hello again, folks, and welcome back to Episode 016 of Half Ashed.  We appreciate you stopping by.  In this episode, we take a look at the 2011 EP Carrillo Short Run.  We’re smoking the Bombone (4 7/8 X 50), with its Ecuadoran Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and Nicaraguan/Dominican filler blend.  This is Kip’s favorite of the Short Run series so far, but tune in to get full details about how they’re smoking right now.

Show Summary

Rather than the detailed notes I might normally post, I’ll be brief and only include a short summary this week.  A busy holiday weekend coupled with my little Dude’s birthday have left me with little time to publish before our self-imposed deadline.  So, here goes:  We cover a couple of legislative items, a Camacho rebranding, an AMERICAN puro(!), as well as a few more interesting tidbits of news.  Also, we discussed what else we’ve been smoking, and Kip’s “Mad Scientist” idea for comparing some of the intriguing new cigars that are hitting the market.  Finally, we cover a couple of listener emails and updates.  Catch the full show via any of the means below to get “the rest of the story.”

Wrap Up

Firstly, a huge thank you this Memorial Day weekend to all those who have made such sacrifice to allow me the opportunity to enjoy the life and freedom I have grown so accustomed to.  As we did at show closing, I wanted to recognize the countless acts that have made that possible over the history of this nation.  Next week, we’ll have the Michael Stewart as our guest, and be taking a look at his process for sourcing whole leaf tobacco and rolling his own cigars at home.  So again, thanks for tuning in, and be sure to check back in next week for an exciting Episode 017.  In the meantime, if you would like to contact us you can reach us through the contact page or at the following email addresses: [email protected] or [email protected]  Don’t forget to get those emails in this month to be entered in our current giveaway.  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.