Making kosher sausage this time for Blowin' Smoke #156!
Indeed, the unofficial official Rabbi of the Blowin' Smoke Podcast, Steve, traveled to join us once again for some Havana Room herfing. Armed with a new Cigar of the Day, we set out and quickly found ourselves pairing it with vanilla yogurt. What's up with that?
We also talked about more government meddling in our humidors, and asked our Twitter friends to name a cigar for our freedom destroying politicians. Plus, riding a unicycle freestyle, working in a very specialized retail business, bucket list foods, and more. There's a new report on what the chicks are reading, and a new 5 Things too.
So, drop what you're doing, light a manly candle, spark a fine cigar, and check out Blowin' Smoke #156!
I really enjoy blind cigar reviews. By removing any (or most) preconceptions, they're always good for a surprise or two, and sometimes some personal re-thinking. So, in the name of fun, I roped Cretin Dan into sparking up an unknown for your Pick It or Flick It pleasure. I'll unveil the cigar's identity at the end. ~ El Freako
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Initial impression - Medium brown, very well wrapped, very little toothinness, but there are a few minor splotches of a lighter brown almost grey color near the foot. Robusto size, with a beautiful triple cap. There are two more prominent veins that are very noticeable in the feel of the stick. Nice and firm all around when gently squeezed. Not much aroma off of the wrapper, or the foot for that matter, just sweetly fermented tobacco. Maybe a faint leather off the wrapper.
Cap clipped beautifully with my Xikar MTX scissors. The cold draw has a nice fresh-mown hay flavor...a slight tanginess on the lips.
After a nice toast, I lit it up and was immediately hit with a pepperiness on the back of my tongue and in my throat. Nice! There isn't a lot of flavor, but the spice is strong enough that the leatheriness I am getting is kind of overwhelmed, but not in a bad way.
About an inch in, the flavor has changed a bit. I got some cedar, and a sweet hay flavor. The spice is very much like cracked black pepper on the retrohale. The tanginess is really nice...almost like there is a load of ligero in this stick, which surprised me, because when I looked at the foot, the telltale black leaves of ligero didn't seem to be there.
The ash is a light grey, almost white, and fell off on its own about an inch in. The burn line is pretty wavy, but this could be attributed to me having my own personal herf outside in my Florida room. The draw thus far has been what I consider perfect. Nice and Deliberate. Big mouthfuls of dense grey-blue smoke.
Entering the second third of the stick, the flavor has built to what I call full. Nice leather, pepper, and a roasted nutty flavor that stays long after the exhale. I really like this kind of finish on a cigar. I can still taste it after I set the stick on the ashtray. The nutty flavor reminds me of salted cashews. Salty and then sweet when it fades.
Just past halfway, the leather backed off a bit, and I'm getting a very slight caramel flavor, which is balanced very nicely with the salty cashew flavor. The finish has become creamy on my palate...absolutely coating my mouth.
Going into the last third of the stick, I'm starting to feel lightheaded. This is a stronger cigar, at least to me. The tangy spice has re-emerged, covering the sweetness.
I smoked this one as far as I could, until I couldn't hold it any longer. Just near the end, I got a little more sweetness before I had to put it down.
Final thoughts:
I really enjoyed this stick, and anyone who knows me knows my preference is for a smoke that has multiple flavor changes and keeps me interested. I would smoke this cigar again, and this one had plenty to work its way into my humidor. I give this stick 8.5/10. Definitely a Pick It!
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Sooooo, any guesses from the gallery? No? Okay.
The cigar that Cretin Dan smoked and reviewed for us above was the Four Kicks Robusto from Crowned Heads. It sports an Ecuador Habano wrapper with both binder and filler from Nicaragua. In addition to the 5 X 50 Robusto, Four Kicks is also available in Corona Gorda (5 5/8 X 46), Sublime (6 X 54), Piramide (6 1/8 X 52), and Seleccion No. 5 (6 1/2 X 44) sizes. The SRP ranges from $6.95 to $8.65 for singles. Check them out. ~ El Freako
One good mystery deserves another, and that means Blowin' Smoke #155!
With a full house of Cretins, and a smoke filled Havana Room, we reviewed another secret cigar trying to redeem ourselves from a less than stellar review the last time. How did it go? We also talked about nagging cigar problems, government regulation insanity, and ideas for a cigar-related reality show.
Plus, we talked about cops screening dirty movies, squeezing the boys to death, surviving on sunlight alone, and more.
Special thanks to Commonwealth Cedar Spills for providing some great giveaways, and some fun calls from our listeners trying to win them.
So, grab a mystery stick of your own, spark it up, and join the freak show that is Blowin' Smoke #155!
Mystery cigars and heavy duty pharmaceuticals. That could only mean one thing...Blowin' Smoke #154!
The Cretins assembled once again for some weekend herfin'...aches and pains be damned! After a disappointing Cigar of the Day and painful butt kicking in the last Cigar Match, the time was ripe for a mystery Cigar of the Day, perhaps to cleanse ourselves. Did it work?
Plus, the conversation covered cigar recommendations, choosing a "final" cigar, and more government cigar intrusion. We also talked about the oldest in the oldest profession, rockin' at a Motorhead concert, trends in salon treatments for guys, and more. Of course, there's a new 5 Things, and what the chicks are reading too.
So, call your pharmacist and fire up a fine handmade for Blowin' Smoke #154!
I don’t really read cigar reviews. Reviews are generally fairly useless for me. I have yet to find a blogger with a palate similar to my own. So, any tasting notes just don’t help me decide if I want to try a smoke or not. That said, part of what lies below is a cigar review, but what I have tried to do is incorporate the experience of smoking...the musings we all have as we kick back with a choice stogie. As I herf, some of the most profound and asinine thoughts flow with ease out of my mind and mouth like the smoke from the cigar I’m enjoying. So, be prepared for either the most useless piece of crap you’ll have read today, or a little entertainment.
Now put on your chaps and whip out your sticks ‘cause here we go…
I recently splurged and purchased the Intemperance Volstead Sampler from RoMa Craft Tobac. You can read more about RoMa Craft Tobac via their website www.RoMaCraftTobac.com and by following them on Twitter at @RoMaCraft. The sampler contains eight cigars. That's two in each vitola with one in each of two wrappers...an Ecuadorian Connecticut and a Brazilian Arapiraca. I wanted to compare each wrapper and, since I’m drugged up on pain killers and muscle relaxers due to a ruptured disc, I chose the smallest vitola...the 4 x 46 Petito. I figured, if I started to pass out due to modern pharmaceuticals, I could at least finish these little guys.
Note: In the photos below, the unsmoked cigar on the left is the Intemperance BA XXI Intrigue with a Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper. On the right is the Intemperance EC XVIII Charity with an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. They are reversed in the ashes photo.
I always get excited when I’m about to smoke something new for the first time and, as you can see, these suckers are striking, almost pornographic with that little bit of exposed foot poking out.
First up, the Charity - Ecuadorian Connecticut Wrapper
The wrapper smells of hay and bread, and the exposed foot gives off scents of cocoa and hay. The contrast of the caramel colored wrapper and the exposed dark chocolate of the binder and filler is really sexy. Like a bit of exposed thigh through the slit of a skirt. As I run my fingers over the body of the cigar, I’d say it's definitely an athletic thigh…sigh.
Enough foreplay, let’s light this bitch up!
Right off the bat there is an amazing sweetness that finishes slightly tart. I love tarts (in the British sense). Unfortunately, this tart is a bit tight… on the draw.
Once I hit the wrapper, there is an immediate rush of black pepper in the midst of all that tart sweetness. I’m reminded of a dark chocolate bar with chilies. As the 1st inch completes, more typical CT flavors emerge...creaminess with a touch of bitterness. The sweetness has moved to the background and there is a malty finish. The retrohale is hay and black pepper. The sweetness darkens in the 2nd inch, taking on a dark molasses-like flavor and there is an unexpected bready finish. This little lady has finally opened up to me and is producing a respectable amount of smoke. The retrohale has flavors of hops and the same bready note from the finish.
I’ve got Ruben Gonzalez playing in the background. I love this kind of old school Cuban music. Between the pain killers, muscle relaxers, and the cigar, I feel like dancing. Do you think my neighbor would mind a fat man in black latex chaps dancing in the driveway?
The Charity goes well with coffee. The smoke brings out chocolate notes in the coffee, and the coffee brings out a caramelly sweetness in the smoke.
The 3rd inch starts with a slight uptick in the bitterness...not unpleasant though.
BY ALL THAT’S HOLY! The combination of Percocet, muscle relaxers, and steroids are resulting in a portal to hell opening up in my ass! I just covered my car is ass ash! Time for a trip to the nuclear waste dump…
Ok, so as you can imagine at this point, I have to relight my smoke. Good news. This Charity is a very charitable lady and relights with no tarry bitterness.
The 3rd inch into the 4th develops a piney note while the retrohale mellows to a slight woody flavor with a mild pepper finish.
I very much enjoyed the Intemperance Charity. In 2011, E.P. Carrillo re-invigorated the Connecticut cigar market with their New Wave Connecticut. In 2012, the guys at RoMaCraft Tobac have taken the game that much farther.
Next, the Intrigue - Brazil Arapiraca Wrapper
This wrapper has a strong barnyard smell (who you call’n chicken shit?!), and the foot is pure alfalfa. Although the Intrigue is the exact same vitola as the Charity, it looks very different. This wrapper is dark and slightly oily. Except for a textural difference, the unfinished foot blends in with the wrapper. Not so sexy. Oh well. Like the Charity, the Intrigue is solid in the hand like a tootsie roll.
The Intrigue starts with black pepper and woody notes. The retrohale is has a very nice initial burnt sugar sweetness followed with earth and woodiness. Once I hit the wrapper, I get a hickory bbq savoriness with a short finish. The hickory bbq is carried over to the retrohale with an added lingering chili spice. The draw is perfect. As the 1st inch closes, there is a subtle, complex sweetness from the combination of anise and chili notes wrapped around an earthy core. The retrohale is simple by comparison with a straight forward tobacco and earth leaving a short sweet finish.
This Intrigue is a very relaxing smoke. The variance of complexity and simplicity between the palate and retrohale is melodic, seductive. The 2nd inch has a great combination of cedar and anise flavors. The retrohale is cedary with a subtle yet coating sweetness. This little lady is a siren of smoke.
I do not ascribe to the belief in humanity’s inherent goodness. I do believe in humanity’s innate ability to know goodness in thought and action.
The 3rd inch is where all the action is. It starts with a lingering herbal pepperiness on my lips, like arugula. Yes, I said arugula. There are alternating flavors of baker’s chocolate, cedar, caramel sweetness, and herbaceousness. All this with a tannic finish…and now for my “O” face. (grunt)
As I enter the 4th inch, my smoking load is spent. I have had all my senses aroused and satisfied.
The Intrigue lived up to its name and then some. She kept me guessing all the way to bliss.
The Intemperance Charity and Intrigue are well worth your consideration at an MSRP of $5.00 a stick. If you don’t at least like these smokes, you’re an idiot…or you have a very different palate than mine.
My taste buds, take ’em or leave ’em.
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~ Peter D. likes Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain. He's not into yoga, and has one and a half a brain. He likes making love dressed as Capt. Midnight in the dunes while wearing a cape. He's the love that you've looked for. Don't bother running, you cant escape. Follow Peter on Twitter HERE.
I'm thrilled that Gary Griffith of Emilio Cigars has jumped in for our next installment of "Quick 6." Let's go! (Psst. El Freako really digs the AF2. Sshhh.)
1) Tell us how you came to be a cigar brand owner.
GG: I have had the good fortune of meeting so many wonderful people in this industry that I suppose it was a natural thing that at some point I would try my hand at creating a cigar with one of them. When my first blend was well received, and I was encouraged to continue working at this by manufacturers I created the Emilio Brand.
2) Which one of your cigars holds a special place in your heart above the others and why?
GG: I hold the Grimalkin, soon to be renamed La Musa, very dear. I have a wonderful young friend who is an artist and has supported me in so many ways I could not ever repay her for that I dedicated this line to her. I have watched her fight and struggle to succeed in life, and, despite her own struggles, always have time to show me care and give me encouragement. She is unquestionably the person I hold dearest in life. I always called her my little Muse, so when the name change was needed the La Musa naming, suggested by a good friend, made all the sense in the world.
3) Describe how, for you, the beginnings of or the inspiration for a new blend happens?
GG: I like to play with tobaccos as opposed to going into a project with a fixed end result in mind. This just feels right to me. It doesn't always work out though, since every manufacturer works differently, and you have to find a way of working with them that fits the comfort zone of both parties.
4) Talking industry trends, what do you see as a positive trend, and what do you see as a negative trend right now, and why?
GG: I certainly see the emergence of so many new and wonderful boutique brands as a very positive trend in the industry. I believe the consumer deserves for us to create the very best possible products. As small production brands we are able to use tobaccos that simply are not available in the quantities needed for the bigger players. As to a negative, I see apathy on the part of consumers, retailers, and manufacturers in regards to regulatory threats as a real downer. People need to be actively engaged and quit relying on the various industry organizations to speak on their behalf.
5) What is next in the pipeline for fans of Emilio Cigars?
GG: If all goes according to plan our next release will be our first mild but flavorful cigar - the Emilio AF Suave.
6) If you could invite just six people to your ultimate herf, who would they be, and why?
GG: Obviously I'm gonna go contrary to popular wisdom here and say it would be a group of new smokers, those who need and want education and enlightenment. They are our future, and we should give all we can to encourage their enthusiasm.
Power Q) Fill in the blanks. "The best place you've never eaten is _______________. Order the _______________. Trust me."
~ Gary Griffith is the Owner & President of Emilio Cigars. He considers himself passionately curious evidenced by past careers in research & development in the precious metals industry, the jewelry business, real estate, construction, and now fine cigars. Gary has also invested much time and energy in various forms of public service believing that everyone should.
Keep up with Gary Griffith and Emilio Cigars on their website HERE, on Twitter HERE, and on Facebook HERE.
Is that Colt 45 on your breath, or are you just happy to see me? Who cares? It's Blowin' Smoke #153!
With a brand new Cigar of the Day, and a couple more cans of malt liquor, the Cretins returned for another round of herfin'. Newly baptized Cretin Doug performed his community service for the week by lending his testimony to a worthy cause. We dished out a brand new 5 Things, and checked out what the chicks are reading with our continuing investigative series.
Plus, there are women hunting men for their gentleman gravy...and this is a bad thing? Also, strippers who stepped up to help some kids, personal pleasure is now as close as your local drug store, a little look back at local icon Mr. Rogers, and more.
So, fire up a well-aged stogie, kick back, and herf with us here on Blowin' Smoke #153!
Brand new to the Blog'idor is the "Quick 6" segment. Six questions, plus a bonus...or Power Q, for some of the movers, shakers, celebrities, and or fans of the cigar industry.
I'm honored to have Sean Williams of El Primer Mundo Cigars field our inaugural "Quick 6." Let's do it!
1) Tell us about your very first cigar experience.
SW: I smoked my first cigar on New Year's 2005 on a cruise. Myself and 3 of my
lifelong friends took the wives and girlfriends on a New Year's cruise and
one of my buddies that had been into cigars for a while suggested we go to the
piano bar and grab some drinks and smoke a cigar. I picked out a Fuente
Double Chateau from the counter top humidor (only because the name sounded
familiar), and sat down with my buddies and a snifter of brandy. An hour
later, I was hooked!!
2) How did the birth of El Primer Mundo Cigars come about?
SW: After falling in love with cigars, I started a cigar social group in Atlanta,
and started doing small cigar events in different parts of the city. I
eventually started thinking of doing a cigar just for my events. I had come
in contact with a few different manufacturers in doing my events. This
eventually led to an opportunity to visit Nestor Plasencia's factory in
Esteli, Nicaragua, to work on my first blend. I flew to Nicaragua in January
of 2006 to work on my first cigar which was the Red Label which has a
criollo maduro wrapper. After finishing the blend for the Red Label, we used
the same binder and filler and wrapped it in a Connecticut shade wrapper. I
left Nicaragua with the Red Label and Blue Label done. It would be months
later before I actually put the cigars into production, and in October of
that year (2006), I got placement with my first retailer.
3) Describe your most memorable moment or experience since becoming a brand
owner.
SW: My most memorable moment is probably the 2010 IPCPR convention in New
Orleans. I'd just launched the Liga Miami and the on the second day of the
show I got swamped at my booth with orders. I thought holy shit! This was
an incredible day. Then I thought holy shit! I don't have enough cigars!!
4) Describe each line under the El Primer Mundo mark as if they were a
featured dish at an exclusive 5-star restaurant (that would never let me
in).
SW: Wow... Ok... Well, I'm from New Orleans, so my take on the menu may be a
little different... I'll try though.
The Blue Label - would probably be a blackened redfish. It's a lighter dish
but it has more kick than you would expect.
The Red Label - would probably be a nice marbled ribeye. It has nice cocoa
notes with a good mouth feel and a slight charred undertone.
The Black Label - would be an Etouffee(Crawfish or Shrimp.. your choice). It's going to be somewhat hearty with a subtle spice and a nice core
sweetness.
The Liga Miami - would be jambalaya. It's a hearty dish that gives you a
nice mix of spice, sweetness, and meatiness with the andouille and chicken.
The Epifania - would be a carpetbagger steak. It's a nice 11 oz well aged and
seasoned filet mignon stuffed with fried oysters, drizzled with a little
hollandaise sauce. It's nice and hearty with enough spice, light sweetness,
and good mouth feel.
5) What is your opinion of social media, and what role does it play for you
and El Primer Mundo?
SW: Social media is a wonderful platform! It's been a critical part of the
growth of the EPM brand and my ability to connect and communicate with cigar
smokers. I love being able to interact with cigar enthusiast instantly and
share information and get feedback. It's a critical part of my day and I look
forward to communicating with the BOTL's on a daily basis!!!
6) What can we cigar goons look forward to next from Sean Williams and El Primer Mundo Cigars?
SW: I have a couple of new lines coming out this year. Specifically, I have a new
line coming out of the Calle Ocho factory in Miami that I'm really excited
about. I'm staying with the Ecuadorian wrapper but doing a special size
cigar with a good mix of Nicaraguan and Dominican tobaccos in the filler.
I'll give you guys a heads up before it hits the streets!
Power Q - Take it to the bank. ____________ will win the NCAA
Men's Basketball Championship.
SW: Syracuse!
~ Sean Williams is the Founder & President of El Primer Mundo Cigars. When not engulfed in cigar activities, and spending time with his family, he enjoys music, travel, food, bourbon, and sports.
Keep up with Sean and El Primer Mundo Cigars on their website HERE, on Twitter HERE, and on Facebook HERE.
Ligero and malt liquor. Sounds like Blowin' Smoke #152!
Indeed, the Cretins took the herf bait of a new Cigar of the Day pairing and history was made in the Havana Room. Not necessarily bragging rights, but a momentous occasion nonetheless.
While that was going on, we talked to Tom of Commonwealth Cedar Spills about bringing back some old school style to your cigar enjoyment. We also talked up homeless performance art, what not to do if you are arrested for DUI, what your choice of positions says about you, and revisited the posterior bottle rockets demonstrations.
Plus, a brand new installment of "what the chicks are reading," and 5 Things too.
So, grab a big 24 ouncer, a big stick, and join the herf that is Blowin' Smoke #152!
Hence embedded in the divine and righteous Man Chair, smoking a Cuba Libre One robusto, and still sensing residual hints of bacon in the air from Blowin' Smoke #150, I have had it up to my double chin with all this negative blabber about "sluts."
We all have slut tendencies, or we're all downright sluts for one thing or another. I've fully admitted my sluttiness for a few things over the years, much like I have admitted to being a lesbian, but that's another conversation altogether...or maybe not. Nevertheless, being a slut nowadays doesn't always refer to the most strict definition of the word, (i.e. a dirty, slovenly woman, or a prostitute) but, really, who among us doesn't go a little slovenly from time to time? I've damn near elevated it to an art form. It's a weekend. No plans. Twelve pack of ramen noodles. Remote control. Bathing optional...for three days. Oh, you've done it, and the old DMZ was more funky than George Clinton. Slut! You were slutificated. You were at slut-con 5...by definition.
Being a slut, however, often means having a very big weakness for something. For me, I'm a slut for several things. In fact, my slutpertoire seems to keep growing. I'm a bacon slut. I love bacon and all its bacony baconness. I'm also a fresh baked bread slut. When I combine my sluttiness for bacon AND fresh baked bread, I risk contracting slutorrhea. I'm also a slut for relaxing,scenic motorcycle rides, a great cup of coffee, rich, flavorful cigars, and boobies. Big or small, my inner slut doesn't care. None of my slut triggers are bad. Nobody gets hurt.
The word "slut" is used all the time and rarely does anybody bat an eye. In Seattle, you can ride the S.L.U.T Did you know that? The Who sang "I've got the hots for the sluts in the well thumbed pages of a magazine...." Carrie Bradshaw in Sex In the City asked, "Are we simply romantically challenged, or are we sluts?" Gianni Versace said, "You dress elegant women. You dress sophisticated women. I dress sluts." I'm a lancero cigar slut. One of the Cretins is a slut for guys in chaps. Another is a slut for petting zoos. What's the big slutty deal?
So, look. Stop being so damned sensitive. Stop denying it and embrace your slutitude. It stands for something...something that you believe in, something that moves you. Be proud of your slutness. Just don't expect me to pay for it.
...and that's the way I see it From the Man Chair.
Life is good, the old adage states, and it is at the Raulerson's household.
Spring is around the corner, and with it the promise of warmer days, barbeques, and of course, the delicious cigar, smoked outside while playing dominos with family and friends.
Vacation plans are forming for the year. Cold weather will soon be ushered back to the north by warm southernly winds, and no more weather-necessitated, scurrying to hazy smoke filled rooms for the enjoyment of the leaf.
Although smoke filled rooms are a comfort and a social event in their own rite, nothing compares to enjoying a delicious cigar outdoors while surrounded by friends and the vernal gifts of Nature...longer and brighter days, warm breezes, and spring-time cocktails. My favorite vernal cocktail is the mint julep...a staple, especially enjoyed in Kentucky, is the quintessential drink of springtime in the South.
Yes, spring is almost here! That glorious point when the earth positions the sun over our equator and starts the rotation towards the summer solstice. The time has come to take stock of the humidor's inventory and plan for the wonderful transition from the dark, cold shrouds of winter to the warm, breezy days of spring.
Each season brings its own herfing opportunities, but not many things in life compare to the new born feeling a warm spring evening, the burn of my favorite whiskey, and the luxurious smoke bellowing from a finely wrapped cigar can bring. And all my friends, with whom I share the spring experience with, can rest assured I have done my homework this winter.
While many people's New Year's resolutions revolve around working out, losing weight, and all manner of never lasting activities, I have been on a resolute quest. I have been busy scouring the local, and sometimes other state's, ABC stores in search of new bourbons to savor, all for the glorious goal of making the best mint julep this spring. I have not faltered in my mission. I have remained strong, stayed the narrow path, and my liver has fought the good fight! This year's mint juleps will be made from....well, you'll just have to wait and see, or taste, as the case will be.
Now is the time to shake off the blanket of Ol' Man Winter, and be thankful that, although not for our unrelenting march, we are not yet to the winter of our own lives. So, lift up your glasses, light up your cigars, and toast the coming of springtime. Long ashes and long legs!
# # #
~ Gary enjoys cigars and bourbon*...often together. He loves his wife and daughter, and his goal is to be called your friend. Any man with a lesser liver would be dead, and he is truly happy when it rains. Follow Gary on Twitter HERE.
*(Actually any alcohol will do, and $1 PBRs are heaven.)
Cretins old and new gathered once again for herf excellence in the Havana Room. A brand new Cigar of the Day forced Cretin Dan on an undisclosed mission, and our attempts to contact a social networking cigar kingpin lead to some unusual and unexpected consequences.
We also welcomed virgin Cretin, Doug, into the fold and assigned him 5 Things duties, of course. Plus, another installment of "What The Chicks Are Reading," along with interesting discussions about pairing cigars with bad behavior on the beach, a safe haven for nursing moms, special purpose bottle rockets, and more!
So, grab some ammo, a big cigar, and light 'em up with Blowin' Smoke #151!
All hail, Bacon! All hail, Bacon! It's Blowin' Smoke #150!
In celebration of our big 1-5-0, we went hog wild with a feast of many things BACON. Really, everything IS better with bacon. Even bacon is better with bacon. It was also a great opportunity to go BIG on the Cigar of the Day too, and we did. Plus, we were also introduced to a couple other "big things" right there in the Havana Room complete with photo evidence/comparisons.
We also talked to Clint of 262 Cigars for an update on the big Manifesto tour, and checked in with some listeners in "the congregation" about our Cigar of the Day. Of course, we also continue our investigation into what the chicks are reading.
So, grab a big one from the special occasion stash, fry up some bacon, and join us for Blowin' Smoke #150!
With the big football championship game this weekend, odds are your preferred team isn't in the hunt for the trophy. You've probably created some alternative team temporary support algorythm in your head to justify rooting for one team over another just so you can avoid being a stick in the bean dip at your neighbor's game party. Whatever your method, it won't amount to squat if you don't factor in a little or a lot of cigar mojo.
I misjudged my cigar mojo last year at this time. I got sloppy. I didn't see the forest through the leaves. I lost the edge. I was holding on too tight, and it bit me in my black n gold ass. More on that in a minute.
For cigar mojo to be effective, you have to believe, and belief in the leaf undoubtedly comes to you quite unexpectedly, as it did for most of us. A moment of clarity. A chance meeting. A risk rewarded. A life-changing event. It really doesn't matter what IT was. Those are very personal things, like any faith. What did matter...what made the connection...the light bulb...the epiphany...was the cigar you had between your fingers at the time. We leaf believers and cigar mojo meisters can usually tell you what cigars we were smoking during big moments in our lives as if it was our personal Kennedy or September 11th moment.
Cigar mojo is directing your belief in the leaf toward a desired outcome. It's is very personal. It may make sense only to you. Cigar mojo can be simple, or it can be very complicated. It can be defeated by another's cigar mojo. Cigar mojo is powerful, never final, and must always be respected.
For example, let's assume you want the Patriots to lose because you just can't stand Tom Brady. He's a stud, and he porked Tara Reid. You're not, and you didn't. Your cigar mojo "may" tell you to smoke only cigars more attractive than Tom Brady during the game thereby cancelling out his studly effectiveness, OR you may smoke a shaggy foot cigar to symbolize Brady's mop top period and with you as a symbolic Madame Defarge. Let him eat turf. Two simple examples.
Let's turn it around. Maybe you like the Patriots and pretty boy Tom. (You probably also like chablis and little pink bunnies, but that's beside the point.) Your cigar mojo might be to smoke only Connecticut shade or Connecticut broadleaf wrapped cigars keeping the whole New England thing real. Your cigar mojo might direct you to smoke a Camacho Liberty bringing in the whole American Revolution, shot-heard-'round-the-world at Lexington, Mass. thing. Both are very valid cigar mojo implementations, but remember, cigar mojo is never final. A New York Giants fan with cigar mojo working could spark a Camacho Liberty against you. Remember Washginton crossing the Delaware to surprise attack the Hessians at Trenton, New Jersey? Where are the Giants really from? That's right, buttercup, and your cigar mojo was just given the Jimmy Hoffa treatment. (Another Giants reference hidden in there too.)
So, you just don't know which way the mojo will flow. Which brings me back to my personal cigar mojo experience in last year's big game. Early in the playoffs, I discovered a cigar mojo trend...a streak, if you will. When the Steelers were struggling...needed a big play...a Polamalu acrobatic anti-dandruff turnover...I had the edge. I discovered my playoff "Billy Baroo." The Vudu Robusto. Dark, spicy, tough, and, duh, symbolic. It worked. Only called upon in dire situations, the old Billy Baroo Vudu Robusto became my cigar mojo secret weapon.
Enter the big game. The heart is racing. Four-letter words are flying through the smoke of the Havana Room. It's tense. Things turn desperate. It was time...time for the old Billy Baroo...calling upon the cigar mojo wizards to shift the universe in my favor. I put down a perfectly good cigar and removed a Vudu Robusto from its protected hiding place, carefully punched the head, and commenced ignition. With the click of my torch, I believe I sealed my fate. I forgot cigar mojo is not static, but very dynamic, and I was made a fool. In my desire not to fuck with a streak, I overlooked the obvious. The playoffs were over. This was a different game. New rules were in effect, and I was using old cigar mojo.
You see, the Vudu Robusto is made by Rocky Patel. Rocky Patel is a Green Bay Packers fan.
Steelers 25 - Packers 31
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~ El Freako is the cigar smoking host of the Blowin' Smoke Podcast. He is sleep deprived, suffers from ADD, and is a cynical sonofabitch.
Herfin' toward a collective epiphany, it's Blowin' Smoke #149!
The Cretins were raring to go as they fired up a brand new Cigar of the Day...even if they couldn't pronounce it properly, and loaded up on coffee and cheesy puffs. They also fielded listener calls from Vegas, the "dingleberry" of New Jersey, and other points in between. Plus, there was some educating going on about the growing trend of "vagacials," and a big...or, perhaps, long difference between American and Rawandan women.
Also, a brand new 5 Things, another investigative report on what the chicks are reading right there in the supermarket next to the breath mints, and El Freako considers a new bio.
All that and more is straight ahead on Blowin' Smoke #149! Let's herf!
