Episode #15 Carlos Toranos Reserva Selecta

The Past decade has seen Torano Cigars move from behind-the-scenes manufacturer to a household name in the cigar industry with it's family name front and center of every line they make. The Reserva Selecta Robusto 5X50 features an amazingly clean Conn, wrapper and delivers a well balanced hour long smoke (yeah it was a robusto too) with creamy, leathery cedar flavors with lots of smoke. They retail at around $8.00 a stick.

Email rob@habanasmoke.com

Felipe Gregorio's Power

Just check out what Mr. Rich Perelman has to say about Felipe Gregorio Power Cigar : "If youre expecting an overpowering smoke that sets your palette on fire, forget it! The Felipe Power is full-bodied and comes in a series of large ring gauges, the smallest of which is 50. But it offers a light, even flavor with a slight lean toward caramel that provides an intriguing contrast with its presence in the mouth. Theres an unusual sweetness to this blend thats unusual and satisfying, due directly to the unique Pelo de Oro "Golden Hair" wrapper of ancestral Cuban seeds grown at the Tabacos de Cordillera in San Jose, Costa Rica. Wynne is the first manufacturer to create new blends with this leaf, but he wont be the last. The smoothness of the flavor and consistency of the smoking experience are also remarkable. This is a mellow cigar that will be much better enjoyed indoors than outside so that the delicacy of the taste can be appreciated. There are plenty of sizes in the line, ranging from $10 to $15 before local tobacco taxes and packed in boxes of 26." I really dont know what I was smoking...It was supposed to be the Power cigar but it didnt even compare to what Rich Perelman was smoking!!! What I had was bitter and nasty spitting out black tar and that was after aging in my humidor for 3 months.

The Taxation needs to stop!!

This is a copy of the letter I sent to President Bush, Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Charles Schumer . Please Please everyone this is your time of need!!! Wright to your Senate NOW!

I am writing to you in hopes that a sane voice can be heard in regards to the proposed Federal Tax Increase on Tobacco ,specifically cigars. To propose a taxation rise of 20,000% in order to fund State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in an incredibly insane and economically impossible idea.
Tying the funding for children's health care to a declining source of revenue will only prove detrimental later.
The potential for tax evading black markets in tobacco will only skyrocket if this tax were to be implemented. Personally I would have no choice but to participate if pressed. But I don't want to be an outlaw. I respect the American way of life and hope those in power also do too by doing the RIGHT thing!
As an American consumer and very active voter, I urge you to oppose any increases to the Federal Tobacco Tax!
Robert Louis Barraco
Auburn, NY USA

We cannot and should not just take this up the ass guys! Do your bit now! You can find links to the RTDA web site at cigarlive.com or just go to the RDTA web site yourself. There is a very easy form you fill out and either email and or snail mail right to your correct reps.. This is the EXACT kind of taxation that lead to the 1776 revolution. DON'T LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN!!!

5 Vegas Limitada 2006

5 Vegas Limitada 2006 is a fine example of attention to the detail of cigar blending and construction. The wrapper is a sun-grown Ecuadorian Sumatra leaf cultivated in 2000 boasting an attractive, medium-brown - almost reddish - hue. The filler blend is complex, sporting well-aged tobaccos from Brazil and Nicaragua, plus Dominican-grown Piloto Cubano long-fillers, then bound with a Cuban-seed binder. Each of these tobaccos has been aging since 2001. 5 Vegas Limitada burns slow, cool and true, and the aged recipe delivers an array of soothing flavors - it’s medium in body, creamy and smooth from foot to nub with slight hints of pepper.

rob@habanasmoke.com

In the Cigar Ministry Lounge was:

1. John Coltrane "Blue Train"

2. Jimmy Smith "See See Rider"

Episode #12 Gurkha Titan mammoth cigar with immaculate construction and very complex characteristics will give you an hour or more of a pleasurable smoke. 6.2 inches X 56 ring. Not cheap at $27 per stick but would be a very nice gift item or for that special occasion. As with everything Gurkha does this cigar is without a doubt worth a 92 rating. Listen to the cast for more specifics on the blend. Email at rob@habanasmoke.com for a chance for a torch lighter.

Episode #11 Don Thomas

The Don Thomas Special Edition Corojo Madoro is a surprising new edition to my humidor. An extremely smooth, creamy smoke with a medium- Full body that I found by "Blind" taste testing so I was able to experience this cigar without it's baggage as the mass produced General Cigar stable boy that I would have expected. This $2 per stick smoke tastes as good as any $8 cigar. The best bang for the buck. The lesson is....don't be fooled by the power of advertising agents and a pretty label. Let your taste buds do the choosing.

Episode #10 Tatuaje Love

The Tatuaje review in the Cigar Ministry Lounge. An all around excellent smoke in every way imaginable. Everything from construction to price is astounding. Castro's sister-in-law died of a long time illness this week. It wasnt the Castro we wanted to go but there it is. Email me rob@habanasmoke.com for a chance at winning the torch lighter.

Episode #9 Greycliff G2

Greycliff 's G2 is a great smoke at and incredible price! We need to march on Washington in an act of civil disobedience a million strong all smoking a Cuban Cigar to protest the cruel taxing rates and end this inane embargo of Cuban products! Lets go guys!! Check out my T-shirts at this link. Please buy a shirt or something. Granted I would only make a couple of bucks but it would help with podcast fees. Thank You. E-mail rob@habanasmoke.com

Episode #8 Alec Bradley Maxx

Cigar Sales and imports are as high as it was during the boom in the 1990's! And that without loosing the quality, and jacking the prices of cigars like we had in the 90's. In the Ministry of Cigars Lounge I review the Alec Bradley Maxx cigar where at first it looks like a little dildo. One of those "clown" cigars that are a joke but man oh man will it kick your ass! This is a powerhouse of a smoke with alot of different characteristics from it's very intricate blend. In the question section I answer the question of how not to get screwed buying so called "Legal Cubans". Click HERE for RSS.

Episode #7 Oliveros International

In the Cigar Ministry Lounge I review the Oliveros International. As much as I wanted to like this cigar, it left me completely flat and bored. Being made entirely of Dominican filler, binder, and wrapper, (Puros), one would expect a mellow smoke. If there was ever a rating below "mild" this cigar would surely fall into that category. On the plus sides this cigar did show great construction a nice even burn with a good draw and lots of blue smoke. Following up on my survey on the question..."What is the most over-rated cigar?" Overwhelmingly you answered and it pretty much boiled down the Three brands. 1. Ghurka 2. Cohiba 3. CAO..In the news...A message from Christian Eiroa alerting all to get 'em while you can! The triple maduros are limited to a number of 300,000 cigars this year! In the email segment is a offering of Cigar 411 answering the question, What determins a cigar's characteristics? As a side note, Episode #8 will come out the week after next as I am taking the family camping in the mountains of Western Mass. RSS FEED

Episode #6

The Drew Estate episode features an interview of Marvin Samel co-founder of Drew Estate when I caught up to him at the Cigars International Cigarfest. Also I review the newest baby from Drew Estate...Chateau Real. A surprisingly complex, modestly priced, medium body smoke that is certain to become a staple in many humidors. In the news...Zippo tries to make up for lost time and introduces the Zippo "BLU". It is a butane torch lighter now available in Europe and Asia and will be in the USA later this year.
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Episode #5

Saint Luis Rey review. In the news culled from cigarcyclopedia.com brings a wrap up from the Tobacco Plus Expo in Las Vagas with a movie theme. National Honey Almond of PA introduces "The Good, Bad & Ugly" cigar made in Nicaragua made in several styles and blends. A series of flavored cigars bearing the picture of Al Pacino known as Scarface. Rhode Island based real-estate developer turned cigar maker Gene Arganese sets himself up in Tamboril, D.R. offers a line of very fine, handmade cigars in several sizes and blends made to exacting specifications that retail between $5.50 and $7 a piece. Abby Cigar Products make an acrylic cigar and pipe holder that retail for $1 a piece in several colors that can also double as a ash tray if need be. Orleans Group Int'l produce a fine Tonino Lamborghini humidor called the "Pit Stop". In the Cigar Ministry Lounge we review the Sait Luis Rey Reserva Especiale which didnt leave a favorable impression following on two of the three cigars tested to have severe contruction flaws leaving a very frustrating try of smoking. The latest winner of the Tribal Torch Lighter is Vik Evans of AZ.

Episode #4

The Rolando Reyes Episode. In the news was covered a story about the now demonized tobacco plant helping in discovering a vaccine against the virus that causes cervical cancer. Dr. Miller of the Brown Cancer Center at the University of Louisville uses extracts from tobacco leaves to make the vaccine. Even though there is already a vaccine that exists the price per dose runs around $360 which makes it unobtainable to those in third world countries. Dr. Browns vaccine will be 10 times cheaper. Puros Indios is celebrating Rolando Reyes' 83rd birthday with an issue of a limited edition Honduran offering. And as a followup to a past story CAO International's Tim Ozgener describes how the CAO Vision came about with their partnership with La Aurora,SA and what the vision is for CAO's future. In the Cigar Ministry Lounge is a review of one of Rolando Reyes classics- Pirates Gold. No longer made in Honduras the Pirates Gold that Cigars International are the last of the Hondurans. A very inexpensive cigar with a powerful kick to it. Dont be fooled by a great bargain at a $1.25 a stick. This smokes as good as any $5-6 stick. The winner of the "Tribal Torch Lighter" is Greg Evans of Salt Lake City, UT! RSS FEED

Episode #3

In the news...Altadis USAcomes out with yet another cigar line in the Jose Seijas Signature series. Although it will still be in limited quantities the 2000 cigar line will be extended to more than the just one size that it has been. There will now be seven different sizes and distribution to 85 cigar shops in 29 states.
CAO goes GOLD. Maduro that is.... Out of the 4000,000 prototype blends the CAO Gold Maduro got overwhelming positive feedback to the point that they thought it should be added to the already ample line in the CAO stable.
I reviewed the Partagas Black Label in the Clasico size of 5.25 X 54 ring developed by Daniel Nunez in the General Cigar camp. It is a very well constructed black, oily maduro wrapped cigar that commands your attention from the humidor. And yet very evenly distributed peppery full flavor.
In the emails I cover Cigar etiquette from the Zino Davidoff 1967 essay for cigar connoisseurs. RSS FEED

Episode #2

Download Episode #2 here.
Episode #2featured news on the latest line from Cusano with it world wide distribution of it's Cuvee Grand "Centro" made in a very limited amount of 500 boxes, and only available to whom Dom Rey (distributors) consider to be the Top 100 tobacconists in the world.
Altadis USA is introducing a new Monticristo Serie C, the 13th different Monticristo blend since it's introduction in 1995.
Ghurkha releases it's newest in the line. The of two new blends all in several sizes at very modest prices.
Also the latest from Camacho the crown being a line called The 1962 which features Pre embargo tobcacco (with actual provenance), wrapped in a 1999 corojo. Also Christian Eiroa expertly blends an all Maduro cigar. Thats right! Maduro wrapper, binder and filler. Unheard of!
I review the Camacho Select. A medium body cigar but very complex.

Episode #1

The Maiden voyage from the Cigar Ministry at habanasmoke.com features some Cigar industry news...From the pages of cigarcyclopedia.com, the financial reports are out on the second largest maker of tabacco products, Swedish Match/General Cigar, are projecting a bit of an increase in sales for this coming year but that growth is most likely in the form of smokeless tabaccos and smaller cigars and even flavored cigars will be the bulk of this growth. Increasingly your not allowed to light up so smokeless is growing. Also smaller cigars that can be smoked faster are gaining a foothold on production. Also... CAO International is purchased By Henri Wintermans but there are no plans of changing the company line up except for the CEO of CAO.
I reviewed the Nat Sherman 1400 series cigar.
We had a comentary on the double standards of the healthcare comunity of the anti-smokers.

All of the music on the pod cast can be found on the PodSafe Music Network

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