Unbanded | Half Ashed

Half Ashed 181: Unbanded 035

August 24, 2018 By Kip Fisher

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Unbanded 035

Unbanded 035, tonight’s Cigar of the Week, is roughly 5″ x 50 and has a moderate but even brown coloring. The cold draw is dusty, and there is very little aroma on either wrapper and foot. It was send in by Michael F. (much thanks, Michael), and we’re finally getting around to smoking it. Let’s see how it goes….

Cigar News

AJ Fernandez is now shipping the new Ramon Allones. As we talked about several months ago, General reached an arrangement with AJ to produce the brand. I’ve been running this through my mind in the time since it was announced, and I wonder how this is going to play out. The line shares a name with a popular Cuban marca, but doesn’t really enjoy the same success. It had seemingly faded a good bit into many folks’ memories before being revived by this arrangement with AJF. Maybe new blends and a new manufacturer will breathe new life into the line…but I’m not yet convinced. The reason? The new cigars are to retail in the $12+ range. Unless AJ has departed from his core blending style, I’m not sure I’d personally drop the money for them knowing I can buy many of his other cigars at a much lower pricepoint. I don’t know if the uninitiated will spring to try them, either…and I’m certainly not sure there’s a strong non-Cuban RA following to pick up the slack. I’m not even sure why I’m even this interested in the story, but I am anxious just to see how it shakes out. Just for those interested, it carries an Ecuadoran Habano Oscuro wrapper over Nicaraguan Corojo ‘99 binder and filler mix from several Nicaraguan regions. Available in 4 vitolas – Robusto, Toro, Churchill, Torpedo.

While we’re on the subject, AJF has some more news coming down the pike. When I was at IPCPR 2016, the Bella Artes was all the rage. I couldn’t seem to get away from it conversationally. I smoked one at the show, and a couple since – and found it to be one of his offerings that appealed to me more than most, but not life-changing. It’s very good, and while it does fall into what I call his “core” flavor profile, I found it a bit lighter in flavor and a little sweeter. This year, he is releasing a maduro version for the line. It is to have a Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper (there’s a blast from the Dogwatch days), Mexican San Andres binder, and Nicaraguan fillers. It’s available in a Short Churchill (6” x 48), Toro (6” x 54), Gordo (6.5” x 58), and Robusto (5.5” x 52). Pricing will be in the $10 range at retail.

It’s getting close to that time of year again. Well, almost. As has been the case for the past decade, Oliva will be releasing a maduro Serie V come this November. In fact, there will be two this year – the seemingly now-standard Gordo (6” x 60), and a 5” x 54 Double Robusto. Total production this year will run around 60k, and retail pricing in the $9-10 range. I, for one, couldn’t be happier to hear of the return of the Double Robusto. This is the vitola I first loved for the line. I liked the Belicosos as well, but this guy was outstanding. I’ll be arranging for some of these once they hit shelves…

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

La Flor Dominicana Air Bender Maduro (“Casita” Cigar) – This strong Maduro cigar was delightful. Really rich and aromatic both prelight and room aroma in my truck. Tip of the Day: DON’T relight this cigar. It did not fare well.
My Father Event Cigar – Truly a great approachable blend. The only My father product that smacks of sweet bready flavors. Terrific, terrific offering from the factory.ol

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 156: Cuban Travel with Zedman and Unbanded

November 29, 2016 By Kip Fisher

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Cuban Travel Episode w/Zedman and Unbanded 029

Tonight, we have an Unbanded from Dan C. and special guest Zedman, who is here to talk about his recent Cuban travel. There’s not a great deal to say about an Unbanded without spoiling our chance to humiliate ourselves…but for preliminaries, it’s 5-5/8″ x 48 and sports an attractive medium brown, supple wrapper. Tune in to see how far off we can be….

Cigar News

JC Newman (finally) launched the Black Diamond today. I’ve been hearing about this cigar for 3 years or so, and my understanding from past chats with folks within the organization is that it went through a few stages before bringing it to market officially. It was originally going to be the Diamond Crown maduro repackaged, but they had such an affinity for the name an entirely new cigar was created for it. It’s going to come in three vitolas (Emerald (6” x 52), Marquis (5-¼” x 56) and Radiant (4-½” x 54)), and retail for $16-20 per stick in boxes of 20. It, like other Diamond Crown products, is being rolled by Fuente here in Santiago. The wrapper is a CT Havana-seed wrapper grown in the DR (!), and it brings Dominican filler blend as well. It is available at Diamond Crown lounges around the U.S. – but if history repeats availability will open up to other JC Newman accounts after 6 months or so.
The Oliva Serie V Maduro is stuck in a loop. This year’s edition has begun to arrive in stores and it’s very familiar if you’re a regular fan of these. For the 3rd year running, it’s in a 6” x 60 format and features a San Andres wrapper. MSRP is about $10, with production numbers similar to recent years around 60-80k cigars.
Chogui has released its latest offering in the DR, although I haven’t yet smoked this one. The Papa Chogui began to appear in the capital last week, and should be in Santiago at this point. It will be showing up on American stores shelves already. It’s a Dominican puro, and was rolled in 2014. Total production was only 8,000 cigars, so if you’re a Chogui fan you might want to get your hands on them quickly. They’ll set you back about $9/stick.
I suppose I can go ahead and smoke the lone original Tatuaje Pork Tenderloin that I have staring back at me in the humidor. It’s making its return on the upcoming “Oh F*ck I’m Lost” tour by Tatuaje. Additionally, the Pork Chop and Le Vignoble are coming. Pete has said he tried to recreate the blends as closely as possible to the originals, using the same blend. It will be extremely limited, in that it will only be sold at the 9 stores on the tour dates…but plans are in the works for subsequent releases. The pricing is set at PT=$9, PC=$12, and LV=$12. The details on those originals were:
- Pork Tenderloin – 4” x 46 Nicaraguan puro
- Pork Chop – 5-⅛” x 52 CT Broadleaf over Nicaragua/Nicaragua
- Le Vignoble – 6” x 38 Ecuadoran Habano over Nicaragua/Nicaragua

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

We didn’t get around to this segment for Episode 156, as we were keen to talk with Zedman about his recent vacation in Cuba. You don’t want to miss his take on his trip post-American influx.

Half Ashed Episode 144: Unbanded 027

June 1, 2016 By Kip Fisher

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Unbanded 027

Unbanded 027 – A 5”x50 robusto with a dark wrapper and smooth but dry complexion. There’s a faint aroma on both wrapper and foot…not much else is known. Let’s see how it goes, shall we?

Cigar News

The FDA has spoken. Now what?

Since buying Toraño a couple years ago, General has left it pretty much under the radar. Until now. They’re making four new additions to the Vault Series. The packaging is very brightly colored and you won’t have trouble locating the boxes – they’re purple, yellow, orange(ish) and turquoise. Some have remarked at some pretty close similarity to Camacho’s most recent packaging…but I digress. Each new line will retail around $5.50-6.50, in robusto (5”x50) & gordo (6”x60) respectively. The new cigars are as follows:

For B&M shops:
P-044 (yellow) =Nica puro with a sun grown wrapper and Jalapan fillers
TM-027 (purple) = Mexican San Andrés wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and broadleaf (unknown origin) and Nicaraguan fillers

For etailers and mail order:
C-033 (orange-ish) has a Mexican San Andrés oscuro wrapper, Cameroon binder and broadleaf and Nicaraguan fillers
L-075 (turquoise) has a Nicaraguan wrapper, Ecuadorian Sumatra binder and filler tobaccos from Connecticut, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua

Keeping with the themed framework of the revamped Camacho brand, they announced the upcoming launch of a new line called the Powerband Series. Aside from the motorcycle them, what piqued my interest is their new bunching process – reportedly combining an accordion style bunching process and traditional entubado bunching. They’ve dubbed the process the Powerband bunching method. I can’t say that – even with the refacing over the past couple years – I’ve had a great deal of interest in the Camacho recently. That being said, I’m intrigued by this. They believe the new process “maximizes airflow for peak performance.” As for the cigar, it contains an Habano 2000 wrapper over San Andres Negrito binder and five different filler tobaccos (Nicaragua, Honduras, & the Dominican Republic). It will come in Robusto (5”x50), Toro (6”x50), and Gordo (6”x60), and range from $11-13 at retail.

A happy birthday to Carlos Fuente Sr., who turned 81 today…

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

La Escogida (Sp?) – Gifted from Zedman. A sweet, slightly savory stick (2 vitolas!) which were cool, perfectly flavorful and wonderfully tilted towards the sugary sweet profiles I adore. A must for me to have again. I smoked my two sticks two days in a row!
My Father Limited Edition 2010 – I broke my box. I finally smoked the innagural LE from Pepin & Jaime. I knew exactly what I’d get and it didn’t surprise me. Anybody want to buy a box of nine 2010 LEs?
Ramon Allones Gigante 2002 – OSU Mar 02

Kip

A very old Maduro Short Story…
La Galera CT CG
Lots of the Yute…

Next Episode

Next episode (145), we will be smoking the Tatuaje TAA LE 2014. 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 139: Unbanded 026

March 20, 2016 By Kip Fisher

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Unbanded #026, from K. Hasselwander

The unbanded vitals, as we have ’em before the unveiling….

Kip: 6.875” x 36; nicely assembled (from outward appearances); even-toned, dark brown, dry complexion.

Craig: My measurements have it at 6 ⅞” inch x 36 ring gauge. Very dry in appearance and slightly rustic, almost in a saturated and dried out sort of way.

Cigar News

Tampa’s new Davidoff lounge has its grand opening tomorrow…

Continuing with the TAA-limited releases, this year’s Angel’s Anvil has been announced by Crowned Heads. This year, the release will feature a CT broadleaf wrapper over Nicaraguan internal components. It’s a 5.5” x 54 box-pressed (Cañonazo?), made at Tabacalera La Alianza (EPC), and will retail for around $10.50 a stick. Expect these to begin shipping in May – only to TAA retailers who order at the annual meeting.

Next year’s federal budget could include a doubling of the federal cigar tax. A new program has been proposed – Preschool for All – which could be funded by an increase on tobacco taxes. Federal cigarette tax would increase from just over $1 to almost $2; the $.40 tax cap on cigars would increase to about $.94. Pipe tobacco would suffer a far greater fate – halfwheel is reporting an increase there from $2.83 per pound to $44.23! This is not likely to come to fruition, but like everything else it’ll come back around again….

The “La Tache” is coming from L’Atelier, a limited-edition 5.5” x 50 robusto. It is based off last year’s LE Cote D’Or (which we smoked back on episode 127) – which included Nicaraguan binder and filler. The La Tache will have a wrapper Sanctic Spiritus wrapper, but from a lower position on the plant than the original.

Tatuaje has announced the impending release of the “Skinny Monsters,” which will be offered in a sampler containing each of the past 10 Monsters Series blends…but in a 6” x 38 petit lancero. According to an interview on Cigar Chat, it appears that the blends will be available singly in 25 count boxes some time in the future. Expect these to ship between now and the July IPCPR trade show.

Congrats to Skip Martin and Michael Rosales for the opening of their new RoMaCraft headquarters in Austin, TX. The new site will house offices, packing for distribution, and a lounge area. Don’t get too excited for a visit, though. Unless you’re a retail account, I don’t believe it’s open to the public.

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

Ashton VSG Tres Mystique – I used to love these. The VSGs were my go to “luxury” cigar in the early aughts. Something has changed in them though. They’re good, but they’re not the unique, bold expression they once were. This is a little too run of the mill. It was my first cigar in 4 weeks, other than our last CotW. My palate was fresh, though I have been medicated…

Kip

Suriel – (made at Kelner Boutique Factory; Brazilian wrapper over DR/Nica/Peru…a slightly tweaked version will be hitting American shores soon).

AF SG 858 – Please, sir, I want some more…

Next Episode

Next episode (140), we will be smoking the Arturo Fuente Añejo 888. 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 129: Unbanded 025

November 1, 2015 By Kip Fisher

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Unbanded 025, from Dan C.

Kip’s preliminary observations: Unbanded #025 is a pretty straightforward 5” x 50ish (5”x52 for Craig) robusto. Construction appears spot-on for both examples; wrapper has a slight sheen and moderate-heavy veining. Somewhat sweet aroma at the foot, akin to a hay stall but with a bit of molasses if I focus enough. Milder aroma on the wrapper. Absolutely perfect cap build and, subsequently, draw. The draw has a very slight earthy nature, but overall is sweet and grainy. Tune in to find out how it went….and thanks, DC!

Cigar News

Robert Caldwell, of Caldwell Cigars, has publicly confirmed a planned maduro version of the Eastern Standard. The line will feature four vitolas (Corona (5 3/4 x 44), Piramide (6 x 49), Rothchilde (4 3/4 x 49) and Toro Gordo (6 x 50), and run somewhere near the price of the existing line, but possibly with a slight increase. The Eastern Standard can be found in the real world between $8-12 depending on size.

Omar de Frias has announced via social media and press release that Fratello will be releasing a limited edition sampler, the Boxer Series. The sampler will include the Boxer, a 6 1/4 x 52 belicoso, the Boxeador (6 x 54), Boxero (5 1/2 x 50), Boxista (5 x 48) and Boxerito (4 3/4 x 46). The blend will be the same as the original line (Nica Habano over Ec. Sumatra and Nica/Peru filler), but will be box pressed. Three thousand of the samplers will be produced, and should retail around $45…and the packaging itself is noteworthy. The box looks like a small cigar mold. I personally thought it was pretty creative and nicely done. I like it….

The game is afoot, legislatively. Since our last episode, we have learned that a.) the FDA has submitted its proposed plan to regulate premium cigars (and other tobacco products) to the Office of Management & Budget (OMB), and b.) eleven Democratic senators have urged the OMB to complete the review as quickly as possible. The OMB measures the feasibility of these types of proposals, and is expected to recommend action on it after review. As an executive agency, congressional approval or vote is not necessary for the FDA to implement new regulation – just OMB approval. What is NOT known are the exact contents of the FDA’s plan. A couple of options were thrown around in their earlier “Deeming document,” but as of yet the finalized, formalized plan has not been revealed outside government circles. As always, the aforementioned urging senators are pushing this expediency that rarely exists elsewhere in US government to prevent tobacco use by our youth. Possibilities are myriad; this is what we’ve been talking, writing letters, emailing, and calling politicians about for the past 3 years+. If you’ve not done any of those things shame. On. You. Senate bill 441, which would call for an exemption for premium cigars, has the support of 18 senators at the moment….

Following similar releases for the Davidoff and AVO segments, Oettinger Davidoff is preparing to release a Griffin’s Nicaragua. It will feature a Nicaraguan habano wrapper over Dominican piloto cubano binder and five filler tobaccos from Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua.

Epicurean Sues H.O.E.: In a move that further exemplifies the turmoil that the House of Emilio distribution giant has been experiencing in 2015, one of its original brand owners is suing the group over alleged lost/withheld income. The sum is a modest one, over 150k, but certainly represents a sizeable amount of cigars when considering the reported purchase price of 27% below wholesale that Halfwheel is reporting. That, if all attributed to purchased cigars, computes to a bit under 50k cigars. Yikes.

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

Padron Damaso: Don’t listen to the negative press on this cigar. It tastes like a Padron. It tastes like a connecticut leaf. It’s good and it’s worth trying.

Kip

Chogui!

a Fonseca from 1995…

Next Episode

In the next episode (130), we will be smoking the EP Carrillo Short Run 2015. 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 114: Unbanded 024

May 25, 2015 By Kip Fisher

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Unbanded 024

A traditional 6.5″ x 42 Lonsdale vitola with a slightly green tinged claro wrapper and a simple triple cap. The wrapper appears “dry” and mildly toothy.

News

TL Johnson and La Tradicion Cubana have – from all outward appearances – parted ways amicably. This was announced by posts to both companies’ social media accounts. TL Johnson will additionally be opening a factory in the Dominican Republic to manufacture their own cigars and the Counsellor line that was announced this past year. They will also be providing manufacturing capacity for custom cigar production as the need arises.

Casa Fernandez and relative newcomer Warped have announced a new cigar to be released at this year’s IPCPR. The Futuro is being promoted as something “different” from what the two companies might normally offer…although with a Nicaraguan puro using most or all criollo and corojo from the late 90’s I’m not sure how much of a departure this will actually be for Casa Fernandez. I love AGANORSA, but it’s not exactly the most diverse profile in tobaccodom. It will be available in 2 vitolas – a 6×52 Futuro Seleccion 109 and Seleccion Suprema (5-⅝”x46). 400 boxes of 20 for each vitola will be made available at the show, with future production possible as well.

The numbers are in. The Cigar Association of America’s annual report (via Cigar Aficionado) for cigar importation into the US shows a pretty flat year in 2014. Both Dominican and Nicaraguan imports dropped, with a slightly larger Dominican reduction…but neither are significant. What’s interesting is the slowed import flattening for Nicaragua. You may remember a mere two years ago that Nicaragua was poised – at its then-current rate – to overtake the DR within a couple years. They’re holding strong at second place, only separated by a few million sticks…but the growth has stalled for the past year.

The L’Atelier Cote D’Or has begun shipping. It debuted to a soft launch a few months ago, but has begun showing up nationwide now. It’s a 7×47 soft pressed churchill (the only vitola), and has a production run of 2100 boxes of 10. It uses the Ecuadoran Sancti Spiritus wrapper (Same as the Seleccion Speciale from L’Atelier), over Nicaraguan internals. I picked up a few of these this week, and we’ll feature it soon on the show. It’s a bit of a step out for L’Atelier with its $15-ish price tag, as most of their lines fall in the typical “sweetspot” we so often talk about.

Erik Espinosa will be relaunching the Murcielago blend. Originally, this was an EO Brands line, produced by My Father. Through all the splits, Espinosa retained the rights to the name, and says he thinks he has reverse engineering the blend to be the original. The only blend details are a Mexican San Andres wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and fillers. Pricing has not yet been announced…and I’m more than a little piqued at how this blend will be and how it will compare to the original….since it was made by My Father at a time when they used AGANORSA tobacco. I’d like to know the details of how they have reconstructed it. Who knows? Maybe it’ll be a dead match. It just seems bold to declare an exact match.

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

Pipe tobacco!

CAO Midnight Ride

Margate

Kip

Asylum Insidious – Ec CT over Honduran fillers; made at CLE’s El Aladino factory. Might not have tried this one had I known its makeup…but I’m glad I did. The sweetness provided a nice surprise, with only some bitter notes toward the very end. With a 6”x52 going for about $4, it’s a win in my book. I’d not resist having a few around, but it wouldn’t be a frequently smoked stick for me.

On Dale’s recommendation, I gave the Camacho Triple Maduro another try. Why do I keep doing that?!? Tight draw, wonky burn – which, in unison, created a weird “solvent” kind of flavor I didn’t care for. Made it about ⅓ of the way through the robusto. Still not my cup o’ tea…although it once was.

Next Episode

In the next episode (115), we will have special guest Bob McDuffee. Kip and Bob will be smoking the Ashton Symmetry. 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.

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

Half Ashed Episode 113: Davidoff Nicaragua

May 20, 2015 By Kip Fisher

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Davidoff Nicaragua Short Corona

I’m joined this week by longtime friend of the show and former Dogwatch Cigar Radio cohost Dale Roush. A huge thanks to Dale for sitting in with me and catching up. We’re smoking the Davidoff Nicaragua Short Corona, a 3.75″ x 46 beauty featuring a 10 year old Habano seed Rosado wrapper, and Nicaraguan binder/fillers. This line debuted in summer of 2013, and retails for about $9.90 depending on local tax situation. Tune in to get our thoughts on the cigar, as well as a chance to see what Dale has been up to and a bit of cigar news!

News

In a topic we talked briefly about last week as an outlying possibility for a developing trend, Camacho has announced their contribution to the world of barrel-aged cigars. The Camacho American Barrel Aged will feature bourbon barrel-aged corojo as a core component. It will also come with a 5-year old American broadleaf wrapper. In fact, it almost exclusively utilizes American grown tobacco, including the broadleaf wrapper, binder and filler – including a maduro filler tobacco from Pennsylvania. A single leaf of six year old bourbon barrel aged Corojo was added to the recipe. They are promoting a national event tour to launch the line, beginning in Orlando June 8th and ending up at Tampa Humidor December 19th. It will be shipping June 15th and retail for $10-12 per cigar. I posted a story about it on the website with full tour schedule.

United Cigar, who we’ve spoken of several times in the past 2 months, is partnering with Selected Tobacco to extend the Byron line by two vitolas. Both cigars are the largest Byron vitolas to date, and as a result each blend is tweaked a bit with a higher priming to maintain the strength and flavor required to match the larger ring gauge format. The packaging has also been revamped and will include individual humitubes with the cigars. MSRP has been set at a whopping $33 a stick. Here are the details on the cigars. See full story posted earlier.

The Serie Siglo XIX, was blended by Nelson Alfonso with a goal of best representing Cuban Cigars of the 19th Century is now available in a 6 x 56, known as the Grand Poemas.

The Serie Siglo XX – also blended by Nelson Alfonso – aims at representing Cuban Cigars of the 20th Century, and is also available in a 6 x 56 format known as Habanero.

A few weeks ago we reported on an upcoming event-only offering from Crowned Heads…just as an update, the name has changed from “Snake Oil” to “Blood Medicine.” Turns out, Kendall Culbertson of Outlaw Cigar Co. owns the trademark for Snake Oil. So, to maintain the peace, the Crowned Heads folks opted to just change the name. Other details remain the same: it’s a 5.5” x 48 “super corona”; Ecuador Habano wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler. It will not be available for stand-alone purchase, and will come through event special purchases.

The still-recovering Skip Martin is closing in on shipping the much-anticipated release of RoMa Craft’s Neanderthal this upcoming week. The line carries a Mexican San Andrés wrapper, Connecticut broadleaf binder and fillers that include tobacco from Condega, Estelí, Jalapa and Pueblo Nuevo from Nicaragua; Dominican olor ligero and Pennsylvania “Green River Sucker One” double ligero. The line will be distributed initially in a single 5” x 52/58 vitola, but will also include extensions soon. A shop exclusive/event 4.25” x 52 vitola will also be available soon for Riverside Cigar Shop in Indiana and Serious Cigars in TX. These two sizes will retail for $12 and $9 respectively.

While cruising the social media nether regions today, I noticed an article halfwheel posted up that they’d found in the Cañon City Daily Record from Dale’s home state of Colorado. It appears some folks in Cañon City CO are shooting for a ban on outdoor smoking in the Central Business District of the city. The claim is that smokers spilling out of buildings (due to an indoor ban) are giving the area an inconvenient image. Councilman James Characky, Jr. said. “I want to create an image of healthy, vibrant people, not an image of cigarette smoking, beer drinkers.” The mayor has proposed limiting the ban to Main Street alone, rather than the entire district.

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Dale

Man O” War Armada War Horse
Black Market Vandal Toro
Camacho Triple Maduro Robusto

Kip

A peculiar Tramp Stamp – Wrapper: Habano Ecuador, Binder: Nicaraguan, Filler: Nicaraguan

Next Episode

Next episode (114) we will be featuring the Unbanded #024 from zedman. 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 [email protected] if you have something you’d like to send in. I will provide an address to send them. Thanks!

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 107: Unbanded 021

March 25, 2015 By Kip Fisher

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Unbanded #021, from DC

Welcome to Half Ashed Episode 107, featuring our 21st Unbanded, which happens to have been supplied by friend of the show Dan Crouch. We can’t say much about it here in the notes without spoiling the show, except that it was a 6″ x 50(ish) torpedo. You’ll have to tune in to get the full scoop and see us once again humble our palates…

News

Recent guest of the show Bodega Premium Blends will be taking over their own distribution effective April 1st. They had announced some limited changes a while back, but will now be parting ways with House of Emilio with regard to their distribution. From all outward appearances, it’s an amicable split; BPB just wants to have more fine-tuned control over the process and the ability to focus on select markets where their products presumably do well.

A few weeks ago, we reported the Crowned Heads would be shipping a JDH Reserve “Single Action” – a 6×38 petit lancero based off the JDH line. It has begun arriving on retailers’ shelves. As mentioned, it has the JDH blend – Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper over Ec. Sumatran binder and Nicaraguan fillers. Only 2,000 boxes of 10 have been produced.

Long time listeners will remember last year when we talked about Operation: Chokepoint – a governmental program that classified some industries as “high risk” and led banking institutions to unfairly target them with the loss and/or heavy restrictions on their bank accounts. Several tobacco retailers were impacted, as were many other organizations (namely, firearms, gambling and some lenders). This past week, spurred on by the firearm industry, Arizona representative David Schweikert introduced a bill that would defund the program and prevent any future attempts at the same type of program. Several co-sponsors have already signed on to the bill, but it would have a pretty long way to go to make it to law.

Rocky Patel is releasing a special 10th anniversary Edge. It will be a singular vitola, a 6×52 barber pole. It’s to be called the “A-10” and will retail for $7.50 per stick. No specifics on the wrappers in use.

While there will NOT be an Avo “birthday cigar” this year, there WILL be a Limited Edition. Fresh on the heels of the company’s rebranding (and reduction in offered lines), parent company Davidoff has teased some details of a new limited series called the Avo Improvisation Series. It will draw its inspiration from previous Avo lines, and the 2015 LE will be Classic Covers. The installment will be based off the original Avo blend and will use Nicaraguan, Mexican and Ecuadoran tobaccos. It will only be available in a 6×50 toro and will retail for $16

What We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

Bolivar PC – For the first time I tasted Ginger in this cigar. It was terrific. It worked right into the suggestive flavors Kip has planted in me, with all of his “sweet and sour” talk. It really worked beautifully with the rich, deep earthy sweet core to this cigar.

Por Larranaga Panetelas – A sweet cigar but not cloyingly so. Brown sugar & cherry pie tastes are here. The tartness of cherry with the sweetness from the sugar made for a terrific “dessert”

Kip

Destino al Siglo – a CFC holdover. Lots of sweet, charred oaken flavor. Baking spice; typical but bold Fuente sungrown-flavor. Very good.

Crowned Heads Angel’s Anvil – last year’s TAA exclusive from CH. Ecuador over Nica/Nica. 7.125 x 49; rolled by EPC; limited to 1,000 boxes of 20. I. Love. This. Cigar. A bunch. Bright, sweetened spice with some strength – although that could be due to the cumulative effect of its size and my desire to smoke every last leaf away.

Asylum Dragon’s Milk I enjoyed this one….mostly. It began pretty nicely, with “creamy” (yeah, I said it) flavors; I remarked that the infusing knocked the edge off. Still some spice on the retrohale, but overall . The flavor from its early life in Dragon’s Milk barrel was sedate and light-handedly applied. I dug it a lot…until the final 1/3rd. It grew a bit bitter and a bit overly tannic.

Listener Email

From Christopher L.

Good evening. First off I love the show I download the podcasts and listen while driving my truck. I’ve smoked a pipe for awhile but always the same local blend never trying anything new. Which is funny because I’m always smoking new cigars. Not sure how that works. Lately I’ve tried frog Morton on the bayou and across the pond. I loved them both and was wondering if you would have any recommendations based off that. My local shop hires idiot kids so no help there. I’ve also upgraded to a nording pipe which is also a big improvement. Hope your have a great day and forgive my spelling and grammar I’m a Montana redneck.

Kip’s (abbreviated) reply – These two blends have a very similar foundation (Latakia, Turkish, VA), with On the Bayou also including some perique. The thing that stands out to me in the blend is the Turkish. It gives it that indefinable – almost cola-like quality. If that’s what you’re drawn to, you might try C&D’s Adagio – it has a good bit of Turkish as well, with a bit of nutty burley in the mix. Other notable C&D blends are: Orion’s Arrow and Virginia Gentleman. There are innumerable Balkan blends out there with Turkish components; that’s where I’d keep looking for the time being. However, you might try some of the other blends that have some Syrian latakia also. There aren’t too awful many of them around these days, but I’d recommend MacBaren’s HH Vintage Syrian. It’s quite different from the FM blends, but you might really enjoy that one. Just let it dry a bit first, as MacB blends can sometimes bite.

Wrap Up

Next episode we will be featuring Herrera Esteli Norteño Coronita. 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] [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 [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!