Stogie Fresh 5

Tatuaje-Lesprit-de-Verite-2008

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 21:59:51 -0700

DESCRIPTION: One of Pete Johnson's latest achievements is the Tatuaje L'esprit de Verite. Verité, means truth, and the L'esprit de Verite is a cigar that is all about the spirit of truth. This new line promotes the disclosure of information, it exemplifies transparency in marketing and demonstrates revelation in packaging.

This new line, which includes two different blends, is essentially taking a vintner’s approach to cigarmaking by creating a brand using tobacco from a single vintage and a single farm. Johnson chose a 2008 harvest from the La Estrella farm of José "Pepin” Garcia in Estelí, Nicaragua. The new cigar consists of Criollo tobacco grown from Habano seed. Johnson took a decidedly unorthodox approach to constructing this brand. Not only is he using tobacco from one year, and from only one farm, he has also skipped the traditional aging process, by letting the tobacco age in the form of a completed cigar rather than aging the tobacco in bales.

Below: Pete Johnson and Jessica Crider at IPCPR trade show

Today's featured cigar is the 5-inch by 50 ring gauge L'esprit de Verite 2008 Robusto.

FEATURED LIBATION: Monk's Café, Flemish Sour Red Ale
This sour ale is produced for Monk's Café in Philadelphia by the family-owned Van Steenberge brewery in Belgium. Monk's Café is one of America's top havens for Belgian beer lovers. The emporium is co-operated by Tom Peters and Fergus Carey, whose love for Belgian beer and food runs deep. So deep, in fact, that they traveled to Belgium to have their own private label made for them.

Touted as a Sour Red Ale, this beer is actually Van Steenberge's "Flemish Burgundy" -- Tom Peters convinced them to bottle it under a private label for Monk's Café.

SPECIAL REPORT: Ramblin' Man with Skip Martin
This week is another of the interviews conducted by Skip at the recent IPCPR trade show in New Orleans. And, appropriately, I am going to be playing his interview with none other than Pete Johnson.

WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AT STOGIE FRESH:
• Update on Crush & Roll West 2010. Doc plays an interview on KPRL radio. Doc, Jac and Trish Jacobs were interviewed by Dick Mason on his regular radio program: Soundoff!

FEATURED WEB SITES:
• Tatuaje Cigars
• Monk's Café Flemish Sour Red Ale: No website
• Crush & Roll West
• Stogie Fresh TV
• Buy Stogie Fresh Accessories

Episode-235-San-Lotano-Maduro

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 01:34:02 -0700

DESCRIPTION: The history of the San Lotano brand dates back to Cuba’s pre-Castro era where the brand was one of the most popular among traditional Cuban cigar makers. After being retired for many decades, the line is being reintroduced as a signature blend by A.J. Fernandez. Fernandez, whose grandfather first started the brand in San Luis, Cuba, is making the cigars in his own Tabacalera Fernandez factory in Esteli, Nicaragua.

The San Lotano, which debuted at the 2010 IPCPR trade show, comes in 4 sizes and in three wrapper types. Today's featured San Lotano is the 5-inch by 52 ring Maduro.

Below: A. J. Fernandez and Kris Katchaturian
(photo by Joe Amos)

SPECIAL REPORT: Ramblin' Man with Skip Martin
This week Skip and DocFuego give their summary of the 2010 IPCPR Trade Show in New Orleans.

In Part 1, Skip (@ChiefHava) Joe (DocFuego), and Joe's brother Michael discuss their overall impressions of the IPCPR Trade Show and Convention. Among other things, they talk about a debate going on within the IPCPR organization regarding the attendance of consumers and media representatives at the trade show.

In Part 2, Skip, Joe and Michael continue their discussion with some of their key discoveries while at the tradeshow. They talk about their highlight experiences, people they met and talked to and give other overall impressions of the show.

WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AT STOGIE FRESH:
• Update on Crush & Roll West 2010.
• Report on a recent cigar dinner
• Update on the new (and almost live) Cigar Review Directory

FEATURED WEB SITES:
• San Lotano Cigars: No website
• Crush & Roll West
• Stogie Fresh TV
• Buy Stogie Fresh Accessories

Episode-234-Torano-Exodus-50-Yrs

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 14:53:20 -0700

DESCRIPTION: The Torano Exodus 1959 50-Years has seen its national launch this summer amid a number of other strategic moves by the Toraño Company.

The Exodus 1959 50-years sports a filler blend of Nicaraguan tobaccos from Esteli & Pueblo Nuevo. The filler is wrapped in a Honduran binder and then graced in a shimmering Brazilian Arapiraca Maduro wrapper.

According to Charlie Toraño, the Exodus 1959 Gold and Silver introductions were meant to remind the cigar world of the physical and emotional agony that the Cuban compatriots suffered. Today, however, the company message is one of celebration. Many Cuban tobacco families have realized their dreams after 50 years of dedicated work, in recreating the industry throughout the Caribbean and Central America, most notably in Honduras, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.

The 50-year is presented in boxes of 24 and is available in three vitolas: a 5" x 50 Robusto, a 5-1/2" x 52 Torpedo, and the cigar I'm featuring today a 6" x 48 ring Toro.

FEATURED LIBATION: 2007 Roxo Ruby Tradicional Port
A blend of five traditional varieties, the 2007 Ruby Tradicional mirrors a traditional Ruby of the Douro and highlights the potential of Paso Robles as a Port grape-growing region. This wine is medium-bodied, showing notes of cinnamon and cherry in the glass and earth and cigar box spice in the mouth. The Ruby Tradicional shows well now with a smooth, complex finish that lends itself to a variety of occasions.

WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AT STOGIE FRESH:
• Doc talks about a local "Concert in the Park" series in Templeton, CA
• Update on Crush & Roll West 2010.
• New Cigar Review Directory

EMAIL OF THE WEEK: Alec from Pennsylvania
Question: How do you best remove the cigar bands from cigars?

DOC'S CIGAR POSTSCRIPT: Oliva Serie V Lancero
Today's postscript cigar is the Oliva Serie V Lancero. I firstfeatured this cigar in Episode 180 on Sunday, August 2, 2009. These cigars have now been resting a total of a year and a month. This past week I pulled out a couple so I could give this batch a revisit.

FEATURED WEB SITES:
• Toraño Family Cigars
• Roxo Port Cellars
• Crush & Roll West 2010
• Stogie Fresh TV
• Buy Stogie Fresh Accessories

Episode-233-Fuente-Rosado-Magnum-R

Sun, 8 Aug 2010 13:14:13 -0700

DESCRIPTION: After several years in the making, a new line of Arturo Fuente cigars has hit the market recently and its called the Rosado Sungrown Magnum R. One of the keys to this cigar's uniqueness is the extremely old Ecuadorian wrapper culled from the lower primings of the plant. According to Fuente, the Ecuadorian wrapper was grown 8-10 years ago when Fuente first created their Sun Grown line. The Magnum R’s wrappers, however, are from much lower on the plant, which accounts for its milder character.

Carlito said he intended to go old school with this blend, moving away from the power trend that he helped create and come up with a very balanced and elegant smoke. Said Fuente, "They have a sweet, long finish. It's very flavorful, very complex—it's my father's idea of what a good cigar should be."

The cigars sport an entirely redesigned Fuente cigar band, which is reminiscent of the Fuente Añejo band. The Rosado comes in three sizes, today's featured stick is the 5-inch by 52 ring, T52 Robusto.

FEATURED LIBATION: Authentic Paloma made with El Jimador Reposado Tequila
Today's featured tequila is a Reposado, which means "rested" in Spanish. But resting is just the beginning. This tequila is made from 100% agave and aged in white oak barrels for two months. I tell you what, I am mixing this tequila today, but I have tasted it straight and it is smooth as silk and the agave aroma is absolutely heady.

AUTHENTIC PALOMA
2 oz el Jimador Reposado
5 oz grapefruit soda
Splash of fresh lime juice
Pinch of salt

Add all ingredients into highball glass filled with ice. Stir to mix. Garnish with a lime wedge.

SPECIAL REPORT: Ramblin' Man with Skip Martin
This week is the second in a two-part interview with Sean Williams of El Primer Mundo cigars.

WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AT STOGIE FRESH:
• Doc talks about the just-released version 1.4 of the Stogie Rate for iPhone application
• Update on Crush & Roll West 2010.

DOC'S CIGAR POSTSCRIPT: Davidoff Selección 702
The Davidoff Seleccion 702 debuted on the Stogie Fresh 5 podcast in Episode 178 on Sunday, July 19, 2009. The remainder of this box of 10 have been aging in my humidor for 1 yr., 1 month and I pulled out another for a revisit this past week.

FEATURED WEB SITES:
• Arturo Fuente Cigars
• El Jimador, Tequila Reposado
• Stogie Rate for iPhone version 1.4
• Stogie Fresh TV
• Buy Stogie Fresh Accessories

Episode-232-Angelenos-Toro

Sun, 1 Aug 2010 13:03:22 -0700

DESCRIPTION: For the cigar smoker in Los Angeles, California, times are extremely challenging. Besides having an extraordinarily high tobacco tax rate in California, Angelenos have had to deal with mounting anti-tobacco legislation, which is making it more and more difficult to enjoy a fine cigar in public. Perhaps that is why Los Angeles is the home of many of the world’s most passionate cigar lovers, making it the perfect tribute city for the Angelenos cigar.

Made in the Dominican Republic by the Fuente Company, the Angelenos is made with an Ecuadorian wrapper and Dominican fillers and binder tobacco.

The Angelenos comes in four sizes: a Lonsdale, Double Robusto, Gran Toro and the cigar I am featuring today, the 6-inch by 50 RG Toro.

FEATURED LIBATION: Hop Rod Rye
Bear Republic Brewing Company along with its own Brew-Pub Restaurant is located in downtown Healdsburg CA. Bear Republic is one of the many breweries that started out as a home brewing experiment and eventually evolved into a bonded boutique brewery. The recipes and their final formulations were developed over a period of several years of trial and error home brewing sessions. The lessons learned from these early years have established the solid foundations for each recipe's commercial equivalents.

The Hop Rod Rye is basically a Rye IPA.
It weighs in at 8.0% ABV and tips the IBU scale at 80.
A high gravity IPA brewed with 18% rye malt.

WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AT STOGIE FRESH:
• Doc talks about the just-released version 4.1 of the Stogie Rate for desktop application
• Update on the upcoming version of Stogie Rate for iPhone 1.4
• Update on Crush & Roll West 2010.

SPECIAL REPORT: Ramblin' Man with Skip Martin
This week is the first of a two-part interview with Sean Williams of El Primer Mundo cigars.

DOC'S CIGAR POSTSCRIPT: Davidoff Selección 702
The Davidoff Seleccion 702 debuted on the Stogie Fresh 5 podcast in Episode 178 on Sunday, July 19, 2009. The remainder of this box of 10 have been aging in my humidor for 1 yr., 1 month and I pulled out another for a revisit this past week.

FEATURED WEB SITES:
• Angelenos Cigars
• Bear Republic: Hop Rod Rye
• Cigar Rights of America
• Tobacconist University
• Stogie Fresh TV
• Stogie Rate for Desktop v. 4.1
• Stogie Rate for iPhone v. 1.4

Episode-231-Avo-XO

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 00:27:52 -0700

DESCRIPTION: Avo XO cigars represent the complexity of the talents of one Avo Uvezian. Six unique filler tobaccos from the Dominican Republic provide the base for the cigar’s complex, medium-bodied profile. The wrapper is a smooth Connecticut shade seed grown in Ecuador, while the binder is of the Olor tobacco variety, grown in the Villa Gonzalez region of the Dominican Republic. The filler is a mixture of tobaccos from various parts of the Dominican Republic and includes such tobaccos as a specially fermented Piloto Cubano, San Vicente and Olor tobaccos, which are the same varietals prized by Henke Kelner for Davidoff blends.

The Avo XO comes in 6 sizes. Today's feature XO is the 5.5-inch by 50 ring INTERMEZZO.

FEATURED LIBATION: Full Sail LTD 02
Full Sail LTD 02 is a light-bodied seasonal brew that is available from March to June. This the second recipe in the LTD series. The LTD series is a group of 3 seasonal beers, with the LTD 01 being available between January to March, LTD 02 is available March to June and the LTD 03 can be had from June to September. All of these are lagers at around 6.5% ABV. The LTD 02 weighs in at 6.4% ABV and 32 on the IBU scale.

WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AT STOGIE FRESH:
• Beer Brewing over last weekend
• Updates on Crush & Roll West 2010
• Update on the Stogie Fresh for iPhone software and Stogie Rate for Desktop.

DOC'S CIGAR POSTSCRIPT: Havana Soul
I first featured the Havan Soul Churchill in Episode 177 on Sunday July 12, 2009. The Havana Soul is a house brand made specifically for Cigar King in Scottsdale, Arizona by Jose "Pepin" Garcia.

EMAIL OF THE WEEK: Keith from Oregon
What makes the flavor change while you are smoking a cigar?

FEATURED WEB SITES:
• Avo Cigars
• Full Sail Brewery
• Crush & Roll West
• Stogie Rate for iPhone
• Stogie Rate for Desktop
• Stogie Fresh TV
• Buy Stogie Fresh Accessories

Episode-230-Torano-1916-Cameroon

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 17:45:25 -0700

DESCRIPTION: The 1916 Cameroon commemorates the Toraño family’s entry into the tobacco business. This was the beginning of a legacy, as it was the year of Don Santiago Toraño's emigration from Spain to Cuba. Now, 94 years later, his dream is still alive and is celebrated by the Cameroon 1916.

Featuring a gorgeous Cameroon wrapper that has been prepped and aged for several years, the 1916 Cameroon also sports a Nicaraguan binder and Honduran and Nicaraguan filler.

The Cameroon 1916 comes in 4 cedar-wrapped sizes. Today's featured cigar is the 5.5-inch by 42 ring CORONA.

FEATURED LIBATION: Tobin James 2007 Rock & Roll Syrah
Today's featured beer is the Big Eye with an appropriate picture of a Big Eye Tuna on the label. Ballast Point Brewery uses American Columbus and Centennial hops that are used to flavor and dry hop. The Big Eyes is available year-round in 12oz, 22oz, & draft. The beer weighs in at 85 on the International Bitterness Unit scale. It is 7% ABV and the company recommends a Serving Temperature 40-45 Degrees.

STOGIE FRESH 5 ONE-OFF WITH JIM: This week, Jim reviews the Casa Magna Robusto.

WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AT STOGIE FRESH:
• Updates on Crush & Roll West 2010
• Sponsor a Soldier Scholarship
• My visit with Tony Hyman: National Cigar Museum
• Attendance at Central Coast Wine Classic

FEATURED WEB SITES:
• Toraño Family Cigars
• Big Eye IPA from Ballast Point Brewery
• National Cigar Museum
• Sponsor a Soldier Scholarship
• Crush & Roll West
• Stogie Fresh TV
• Buy Stogie Fresh Accessories

Episode-229-Los-Blancos-Nine

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 02:17:26 -0700

DESCRIPTION: The latest cigar from Los Blancos is the NINE, which is a Nicaraguan Puro and is the company's fullest bodied cigar to date. The wrapper is an Oscuro Corojo leaf, while the Binder is from Jalapa and the Fillers are three different Ligeros all grown in Nicaragua.

David Blanco and his good friend Jose Torres, teamed with the Master Blender to produce the Los Blancos NINE. The reason it was named NINE is because it was the ninth blend that was chosen when creating the cigar. In other words, it took them 9 tries to develop the blend they were really looking for.

The Nine comes in 5 different sizes: Today's featured Nine is the 5-inch by 52 ring Robusto.

FEATURED LIBATION: Tobin James 2007 Rock & Roll Syrah

WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AT STOGIE FRESH:
• Updates on Crush & Roll West 2010.
• Update on Stogie Rate for iPhone. News about upcoming version release.

DOC'S CIGAR POSTSCRIPT: El Baton
I first featured the El Baton Double Torpedo in Episode 175 on Sunday, June 28, 2009. These cigars have been resting for nearly a year and 2 months and I torched one this past week to see how they were faring.

FEATURED WEB SITES:
• Los Blancos Cigars
• Tobin James Cellars
• Crush & Roll West
• Stogie Rate for iPhone
• Video: Retrohaling Your Cigar Smoke
• Stogie Fresh TV
• Buy Stogie Fresh Accessories

Episode-228-Docs-4th-Herf

Sun, 4 Jul 2010 19:17:13 -0700

DESCRIPTION: While most of you will be celebrating the 4th of July about now, I recently put on the Ritz with a special celebration of my own. On June 25-27, 30 cigar enthusiasts gathered together in Doc's Neighborhood in the pursuit of cigars, libations, food and fun.

Filling goodie bags on Friday

Today's special cigarcast will take you back to the scene of the prime. Prime herfing that is, at Doc's 4th annual Central Coast Herf.

Below: Some of the cigars provided by sponsors

My guests braved the near perfect weather at Doc's Rancho and proceeded to engage in an exclusive 3-day herf. This year's attendees included an all-California crowd with our northernmost guest coming from the San Francisco Bay area, while our Southern contingent came from Los Angeles. Everyone converged on the Central Coast of California and Doc's Herf Shack for the 4th iteration of Doc's annual herf.

AUDIO SEGMENTS:

OFFICIAL WELCOME

INTERVIEW: CHURROS Y PUROS

Doc interviews Churros y Puros

INTERVIEW: BILL MITCHELL - KICK ASS CIGAR TOOL

RAFFLE SEGMENT

Doc raffling prizes

INTERVIEW: BILL AND JOHN

FINAL DAY SEGMENT

SPONSOR WEB SITES:

Adrian's Cigars
http://smokeadrians.com

Atlantic Cigar
http://www.atlanticcigar.com

Camacho Cigars
http://www.camachocigars.com

Cheap Humidors
http://www.Cheaphumidors.com

Cigar Agency
http://www.cigaragency.com

Cigars of Habanos
http://cigarsofhabanos.com

Cigar Rights of America
http://www.cigarrights.org/

Cordova Cigars
http://www.cordovacigars.com

Island Smoke Shop
http://www.islandsmokeshop.com

Kick-Ass Cigar Tool
http://kickasscigartool.com

Los Blancos Cigars
http://www.losblancos.com

Roxo Port Cellars
http://www.roxocellars.com

Stogie Fresh Cigar Publications
http://www.stogiefresh.com

Sylvester Winery
http://www.sylvesterwinery.com

The Boss Cigars
http://www.thebosscigars.com

Tower Pipes & Cigars
http://www.towercigars.com

Episode-227-EP-Carrillo-Short-Run

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 01:29:57 -0700

DESCRIPTION: The EP Carrillo Cigar Company was formed in the spring of 2008 and their first cigar was appropriately named: Edición Inaugural. After the success of this initial release comes a new small-batch cigar, the E.P. Carrillo Short Run. This is another limited-production release. The Short Run is available in 3 sizes with a limited production of 1500 boxes of each size. The cigar features an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, with a Nicaraguan binder and a blend of Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers.

“The idea behind the E.P. Carrillo Short Run is to release small batches or, short runs, of unique blends throughout the year. There is just one Short Run edition planned for 2010, but many more will be issuing forth in future years.

This week's featured Short Run is the 4 7/8 inches by 50 ring Populares.

WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AT STOGIE FRESH:
• Doc recently passes the Tobacconist University Certification exam.
• Update on the recent CigarBQ in Santa Rosa, California and interviews with Dylan Austin of Camacho and Matt Booth of Room 101 Cigars.

EMAIL OF THE WEEK: Keith from Oregon
Does the cigar industry routinely dye maduro wrappers?

FEATURED WEB SITES:
• E.P. Carrillo Cigars
• Tobacconist University
• Stogie Fresh TV
• Buy Stogie Fresh Accessories

Episode-226-Quesada-Tributo

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 22:22:00 -0700

DESCRIPTION: In 2008, the 5th generation of Quesada's decided it was time to nudge the company in a new direction by creating a new Quesada family brand that would pay homage to the family tradition and heritage. In 2009, the Quesada brand was launched with the Quesada 35th Anniversary cigar in honor of Manuel Quesada and his 35 years in cigar manufacturing. This cigar, which is a 6-inch by 49 ring box-pressed limited edition was well received and sold out during the first days of the 2009 IPCPR convention in New Orleans.

From left to right: Manolín, Alvaro, Julio, Alvarito

This year marks the second cigar under the Quesada brand and that is where this story comes full circle. In February last, I was one of 40 or so people who were on hand to witness the pre-release of the new Quesada Tributo. Tributo, which means "tribute" in English, was again produced through the collaborative effort of the entire 5th generation of the Quesada clan. As the name suggests, this cigar is a tribute to those who are no longer alive, but whose lives and memories have shaped the younger generation.

The Tributo cigar, which just started shipping, comes in four sizes and bears the name of the family members whose lives are being celebrated by the sharing of this new cigar. Those names are: Manolin, Alvaro, Alvarito and Julio. Today's featured Tribute will be the 6-inch x 52 Alvaro Belicoso.

FEATURED LIBATION: Allagash Tripel Reserve Ale
Initially the definition of a tripel ale came from the strength of the beer. The single ale would be the lowest alcohol beer produced, followed by the dubbel and the strongest was the tripel. However, each of these types of ale now is more characterized by the type of beer it has become associated with. The tripel, while generally the highest in alcohol, is no longer necessarily the strongest of the three types; though most tripels today are between 8%-10% alcohol. Belgian tripels are generally quite complex and are golden hued.

The Allagash Tripel is available in: 12 oz and 750 ml bottles and also in 5.17 gal kegs. It is 9.0% ABV.

WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AT STOGIE FRESH:
• Crush & Roll West will be going to the yearly CigarBQ in Santa Rosa, CA this weekend. We will have a booth to promote Crush & Roll West.
• Update on Crush & Roll West
• The importance of joining the CRA and supporting TU.

DOC'S CIGAR POSTSCRIPT: Davidoff Maduro R
The Davidoff Maduro R was first featured on the Stogie Fresh 5 podcast in Episode 172 on Sunday, June 7, 2009. These cigars have been resting in my Daniel Marshall desktop humidor for 1 year, 1 month. And I pulled my last one out last week for a revisit.

FEATURED WEB SITES:
• Quesada Cigars
• Allagash Tripel Reserve Ale
• Cigar Rights of America
• Tobacconist University
• Stogie Fresh TV
• Buy Stogie Fresh Accessories

Episode-225-La-Flor-Dominicana-Air-Bender

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 03:30:15 -0700

DESCRIPTION: In recent years, Litto has started to blend some cigars with more complexity and less raw strength. Case in point is his newest line of cigars, the Air Benders, which is purported to be intense, sophisticated and yet powerful. According to Gomez, the intended flavor profile is of “refined power.”

The Air Bender has its roots as a blend exclusively distributed at La Flor Dominicana cigar events. However, the cigar was such a hit at these events that, in time, Litto would release it as a regular-production cigar.

According to Gomez the name Air Bender refers to the smoke coming off the end of the cigar. Says Litto: "When we smoke, we bend the air. You can see smoke split the air as it leaves a cigar. That’s why I thought 'Air Bender' would be a perfect name for my newest line."

The Air Bender sports an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, with filler and binder tobaccos from Litto’s farm in La Canela, Dominican Republic.

Air Bender is offered in six vitolas and the cigar I am featuring today is one of the two most recent cigars in this lineup. These latest vitolas are thinner in ring gauge than the original 4 cigars. Today's featured Air Bender is the 5.5 inch by 42 ring Poderoso.

FEATURED LIBATION: Pursuit of Hoppiness American Red Ale
Pursuit of Hoppiness was brewed to showcase the brash beauty of American hops: Summit, Simcoe, Chinook and Nuggets at 100 International Bitterness Units (IBU). It was brewed with Idaho 2-Row malted barley and German specialty malts to provide a rich, slightly caramel flavor and bold reddish color. At 22 degrees Plato starting gravity and about 8% alcohol by volume, this is a perfect autumn beer, thick and warming, to be shared and savored on a crisp fall evening.

WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AT STOGIE FRESH:
• Doc talks about putting on a herf.
• Latest Stogie Fresh TV video: Cigar Shapes
• Doc talks about the changes to cigar reviews on Stogie Fresh
• Latest Ask the Pipe Doc article

DOC'S CIGAR POSTSCRIPT: La Aurora 100 Años Preferido
I first featured the La Aurora 100 Años Preferidos in Episode 171 on Sunday, May 31, 2009.

These cigars have been stored in one of my custom Vanderburgh Desktop humidors for 1 year, 1.1 months. This is my postscript review of these cigars and the second and final in this series.

EMAIL OF THE WEEK: Mark from Canada
"How do I protect my un-cello'd cigars from transferring flavors to and from other cigars in which they are in direct contact?"

FEATURED WEB SITES:
• La Flor Dominicana Cigars
• Pursuit of Hoppiness: Grand Teton Brewing Company
• Cigar Shapes video
• Stogie Fresh TV Channel
• Buy Stogie Fresh Accessories

Episode-224-Nestor-Miranda-1989

Sun, 6 Jun 2010 02:47:38 -0700

DESCRIPTION: Besides commemorating the launch of the company, the new 1989 is priced competitively. In deference to the prevailing economic conditions in the U.S., the cigars sell for just $5.00 per stick.

The 1989 is blended and manufactured by the My Father Cigar Corporation in Nicaragua. Nestor Miranda described the flavor and body profile that he was looking for and Pepin Garcia created the blend to match.

Like all the other cigars in the Nestor Miranda Collection, the 1989 is made in two flavors: one with a Rosado wrapper for those preferring a medium bodied smoke and the other with an Oscuro wrapper for those wanting a medium to full bodied smoke. All of the tobaccos in the 1989 come from Nicaragua making the 1989 a Nicaraguan puro. The Nestor Miranda Collection 1989 comes in three (3) sizes: a 5-inch x 50 RG Robusto, a 6-inch by 50 ring Toro and the cigar I'm featuring today, a 6.1 inch by 52 ring Torpedo.

FEATURED LIBATION: Allagash Black
Allagash Black, is a Belgian style stout at 7.5% ABV.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE WITH ADAM: Adam finishes his series of interviews from the Texas Cigar Festival. This week, Adam interviews Pete Johnson.

WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AT STOGIE FRESH:
• Doc talks about what's been happening around the house.
• Update on Crush & Roll West
• Latest news about the Stogie Rate for iPhone application

DOC'S CIGAR POSTSCRIPT: Vegas Cubanas
I first featured the Vegas Cubanas Imperiales in Episode 170 on Sunday, May 24, 2009. These cigars have been resting in my humidor for 1 year, 1 month and I dug my last stick out of one of my Vanderburgh desktop humidors last week.

FEATURED WEB SITES:
• Nestor Miranda Cigars
• Allagash Black
• Newbie Cigar Blog
• Crush & Roll West 2010
• Stogie Fresh TV
• Buy Stogie Fresh Accessories

Episode-223-Adrian's-Maduro

Sun, 30 May 2010 16:09:28 -0700

DESCRIPTION: Adrian's Cigars are named after the son of company president Michael Rosales. They were first created for sales in Costa Rica, which is where the cigars were first produced and marketed.

After completing several blends, Adrian’s Costa Rican Cigars were born in the early part of 2008. One of Michael's friends at a local retail store in Central Texas fell in love with his Adrian’s cigars and convinced him it was time to bring these cigars to the US. According to Michael, "these blends are a unique Costa Rican treasure that will impress even the most critical palate."

There are currently 3 cigar lines in the Adrian's portfolio: a Connecticut Shade wrapped cigar, followed by the Havana 2000, and our featured cigar of this week the Maduro. Today's featured Adrian's cigar is the 6.5-inch by 52 ring Maduro Toro.

FEATURED LIBATION: Sierra Nevada 2010 Glissade Golden Bock
Sierra Nevada makes the Glissade Golden Bock each spring and releases it yearly as a seasonal ale. This Bock is a good choice as the weather warms and summer approaches. It weighs in at 6.4% alcohol by volume.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE WITH ADAM: Adam continues his series of interviews from the Texas Cigar Festival. This week, Adam interviews Orlando Padrón.

WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AT STOGIE FRESH:
• The Join the CRA Contest is officially over. Doc reveals the top prize winners.

EMAIL OF THE WEEK: James from California
"Was Corojo the only tobacco type used for wrappers in Cuba?" Also, "When did tobacco growers start experimenting with other tobaccos for wrapper?"

FEATURED WEB SITES:
• Adrian's Cigars
• Sierra Nevada, Glissade Golden Bock
• Newbie Cigar Blog
• Stogie Fresh TV
• Buy Stogie Fresh Accessories

Episode-222-Austin-Herf-2010

Sun, 23 May 2010 00:53:44 -0700

DESCRIPTION: This will be a very different show than what you usually expect. I'm on the road and I will be piecing together interviews with a whole bunch of folks here as I make the rounds in Austin, Texas.

Below: Skip outside of Heroes and Legacies Cigar shop

This is my first visit to Austin and I am really looking forward to seeing the sights. And, speaking of sights, I'll have my sites set on plenty of good Texas food and plenty of Texas libations. Not only that, but I will be hooking up with my brothers and sisters of the leaf here in Austin and I will be talking all about the cigars that I smoke and the people that I meet.

Heather of Fumée Cigar Lounge

You will be hearing from my friend John Rubio and you will also be hearing about the places that we visited. In fact, you will be hearing some live interviewing as we herf and party our way around Austin.

Also along the way, I will be hooking up with my good buddy Skip (@ChiefHava on Twitter). Skip and I met in Honduras a few years back and Skip also lives in the Austin area, so I will get to see him again.

But, my main reason for going to Austin, was to be with my son, whom I have not seen much of in the last couple of years. After basic training, some time indoctrinating prior to going over into the sand box, and then time spent acclimating in Kuwait and then a year in Iraq, I've only seen him once during that time, so I am really looking forward to catching up.

Above: One of the many cigars we smoked
Below: Brisket and Beer

Interviews:
• Skip Martin and John Rubio relate events of the first evening and day.
• Interview with Heather Haddad of Fumée Cigar Lounge

TOOLS OF THE TRADE SEGMENT WITH ADAM
This week Adam interviews Janny and Don Pepin Garcia.

More Interviews:
• Interview Nathan Rubio
• Bourbon Tasting with Skip and John. Contestants: Booker's Bourbon and Pappy Van Winkles Family Reserve 23-year-old
• Interview with Jim Harrison Habana House Cigars, Austin.

FEATURED WEB SITES:
• Habana House
• Heroes and Legacies Cigar Shop
• Fumée Cigar Lounge