Back again for a new round of herfage, it's Blowin' Smoke #115!
Gathered in the famed Havana Room, the Council of Cretins sparked up a new Cigar of the Day...the Xikar HC Series Habano Colorado Toro for review along with a few PBRs and great conversation. With plenty of emails, topics also included cigar memories, goats in trunks, ogling women, and the Blowin' Smoke Podcast church wing.
Our friends on Twitter provided some great feedback, as always, along with live calls at 877-51-CIGAR.
So fire up that pleasure stick, pour an adult beverage and click play on the latest herf extraordinaire...Blowin' Smoke #115!
From a muggy Havana Room, it's Blowin' Smoke #114!
Your El Freako and a full house Council of Cretins gathered once again for herf excellence with a brand new Cigar of the Day...the Padilla Habano Robusto, and a very special announcement about taking the show to a whole new level.
Along with our friends on Twitter, we talked about bad workplace behavior, using the sleepwalking defense, superstitions and more.
So, crack a cold one, spark a spicy one and join us for Blowin' Smoke #114 right now!
Back home in the Havana Room at Chez Rob, it's Blowin' Smoke #113!
A mild, breezy and comfortable Saturday morning is the perfect time to be herfing in the Havana Room, second only to a crisp fall afternoon with Steelers football on the tube, and today was made even better as we welcomed two virgin Cretins to the show...Ken and Rick. Along with the new Cretins and a brand new Cigar of the Day, we also welcomed some of our many followers on Twitter who chimed in with some great tweets on many of the day's topics such as mixing beer and cheese for better sex, beer and cigar pairings, and road rage cigars.
One of our new Cretins took on 5 Things duties with "5 things you never want to hear inside a walk-in humidor," plus email, voicemail and more.
So, grab your favorite stick...no, the other one...and join us for Blowin' Smoke #113!
It has been some time since I've taken a jump into "Pick It or Flick It" land here at BlowinSmokePodcast.com, and even though I generally don't place cigar reviews here, I hate to pass up the opportunity to have a little fun with a review.
Being a highly influential member of the cigar media [cough-cough], my people (read: I) received an email and subsequent package from Rocky Patel's people (read: Rocky Patel's people) containing a very nice hand written note from Rocky's brother, Nish, and a pre-release sampling of the new Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary for my "review." The RP 15th are set to hit stores on July 30, 2010.
Wanting to keep it fair, and not wanting to break my own rules of creating the appearance of a "quid pro quo" when it comes to cigar reviews both here and on the show, I decided to offer up the pre-release Rocky Patel 15th as a MYSTERY cigar for a couple of the Cretins to review...thus denying myself the little bit of celebrity arrogance I might experience by smoking a pre-release Rocky Patel. You can thank me later.
Our two unknowing, but more than willing, Cretins were Kyle (maduro slut, goat buff), and Moose (skin hound, chlorine addict)
First, a little background on the new Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary taken from their website and other sources. Utilizing Rocky's new facilities in Nicaragua, the 15th features fillers from Esteli wrapped by an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. Four sizes are being released: Robusto 5 X 50 - Toro 6.5 X 52 - Torpedo 6.125 X 52 - and Corona Gorda 6 X 46. I received the torpedo.
REMEMBER! The reviewers have no idea what cigar they are smoking, and they smoked them separately.
APPEARANCE
KYLE: It was a nut brown shade, slight vein wrapper. It was very smooth to the touch, with a slight bumpiness.
MOOSE: The cigar looks like a tasty stick. Looks like a Rocky Olde World.
PRE-LIGHT : Aroma, etc
KYLE: A slight sweetness on the pre light puff.
MOOSE: Pre-light aroma is delicious with a bit of a vintage, well-aged smell. Good pyramid construction. Probably 6x50 size.
TYPE OF CUT
KYLE: I used my usual perfect cut.
MOOSE: Straight cut with perfect cutter.
DRAW
KYLE: Great draw.
MOOSE: Ridiculously easy draw; personally, I prefer more resistance.
CONSTRUCTION / BURN / ASH
KYLE: The construction was immaculate. A slight tight wrap, but not too tight. A stiff ash, and no other problems while smoking it.
MOOSE: Very easy to light. Ash is okay but I suspect I'll be dealing with an uneven burn for a while. Twenty minutes in and burn is trying to right itself. Have touched up only once so far. Thirty minutes in - had to touch up some wild spoonage. Forty-five minutes and burning better but showing signs of more spooning.
FLAVOR
KYLE: Before I took a puff, I didn't have a sip of anything. A heavy spice overcame my pallate. I'm not sure if it was the cigar or the cedar I lit it with. I started to drink Blanton's Bourbon with it. The Bourbon, at first, brought out a heavy spice, then turned into a smooth mellowness. Next up was a Great Lakes Burning River about 1/4 of the way down. The beer had the same sweet/leather tones as the cigar. Last up was the Andretti Selections Merlot wine with about 4 or so inches left. The dryness of the wine brought out more earthiness and a smooth white pepper flavor.
MOOSE: Initial taste is dry and lacking. The smoke is harsh to my nose. Not what I was expecting it to taste like. Pairing with lemon iced tea and also a glass of water. So far the tea is overpowering the cigar. Taste still lacking compared to pre-light aromas. Still unimpressive flavor and aroma. Disappointed so far. Cripe, the water is more refreshing at the moment. Just about to the 60 minute mark. About 2.5" left and souring quickly.
STRENGTH
KYLE: I would give it a high medium to a low full.
MOOSE: N/A
OVERALL
KYLE: It had a great draw, lots of smoke, great aroma, and a nice stiff ash. Heavy spice at first then smoothed out to a mellow, earthy/leathery tone, and sweet to the lips. I would give this a solid 9 out of 10. I'd say it's 75% Nicaraguan and 25% Dominican.
MOOSE: Overall an unimpressive cigar. The more I thought about what I was smoking the more I felt it should be compared to a 50 cent smoke I was given earlier this spring at a bonfire. Burn issues throughout and lack of flavor made it pain to finish it. As it is, I put it down after an hour with a little over 2" left. The big surprise was the difference between pre-light aromas and what it tasted like after sparking it up.
PICK IT or FLICK IT?
KYLE: Pick it!
MOOSE: I don't like to bash a cigar, but I will definitely have to Flick this one.
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Wow! It's amazing what happens when you're flying blind. I have a feeling Moose will be very surprised when he learns the identity of this mystery cigar, but he and Kyle were honest, and that's all we ask for.
Personally, I don't like seeing a premium handmade cigar get kicked around. It can come off as an indictment, when nothing could be further from the truth. Cigar likes and dislikes are extremely subjective and you always have to keep that in mind. A review is an opinion and the opinion today on the Pre-Release Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary Torpedo is a draw between PICK IT & FLICK IT.
It's like we always say..."We herf. You decide."
From the Man Chair - Is it just my imagination...
Posted: 2010-07-21
Hence embedded in the divine and righteous Man Chair with a Rocky Patel Junior Sumatra in one hand and an ice cold HE'BREW Chosen Beer sweating on the table next to me, I'm trying to get my imagination back.
OK, not my "imagination," but the imagination I used to have. Somewhere between now and 30 years ago I lost it...or it lost me...maybe on purpose. At least that is what I have come up with so far since I was confronted with this situation last week.
It all started when my daughter, 14, decided to clean her room...actually clean it, not just rearrange the clutter. Maybe it was us telling her that the producers of "Hoarders" were calling, or the promise to repaint and redecorate that made the real results happen. Who really knows? But it was either she gets it done or Dad is calling in a Napalm strike. For days, she went through old stuff dating back to pre-school and tossed a lot of it. I was very proud of her as I have some pack rat tendencies myself. One evening, she was showing me a large folder stuffed with pre-school art projects and drawings asking me if I remembered them when she said she wished she still had that imagination.
Wow. If a 14 year old, who is supposed to have an amazing imagination, can recognize the drastic changes in her own imagination in just ten or eleven short years and wish for the old one back, where does that leave me? The more I thought about it, the more I wanted that childhood imagination back again. Hell! I'll take the teenage imagination...at least I know it will involve beautiful girls. What used to be running around the neighborhood with no shirt and no shoes all summer long playing "smear the something that rhymes with smear", drinking out of a neighbor's garden hose and collecting buckeyes in shopping bags has become gas mileage, pulling weeds and faucets that drip. What used to be baseball cards in my spokes pretending to be Evil Knievel has become motorcycle payments and little time to ride. What used to be playing for hours and hours in snow that seemed so deep convinced that I was a US infantry soldier fighting nazis in the Battle of the Bulge (when I was actually in the woods behind a house somewhere in my neighborhood) has become heating bills, school cancellations and doppler radar.
I don't know about you, but I really miss the days of that imagination. My Big Wheel WAS a Camaro, my Huffy WAS a Yamaha, and the big old furnace in my grandmother's basement absolutely positively WAS a monster that would grab me and kill me if I didn't pedal my tricycle past it at a minimum of mach 2. I COULD run like Franco Harris. I COULD throw like Kent Tekulve, and I COULD laugh so hard I would pee my pants. OK, I still do that but for different reasons. My point is we do grow up and we do change, but do we really have to lose all of that really cool imagination from childhood? No we don't. Many, like the Disney folks, know that, but for the average shmo, like me, how do you work that into the daily grind of being a grown-up?
My 9 month old son may be the key. Pretty soon, I will be blessed to witness that childhood imagination again through his eyes. It's up to me. I can just watch it as a grown-up, or I can try sometimes to leave the grown-up behind, jump in, and be a part of it. Can you herf on Sesame Street?
LIVE from the annual Cigar Barbecue at Slippery Rock Cigars, it's Blowin' Smoke #112!
With over 100 of our closest and newest friends, we gathered again for our favorite summertime herf and had a great time. As always, the food was delicious, the drinks were cold and the cigars were smokin' as we enjoyed the company of brothers and sisters of the leaf. We kicked off the show with a total Mystery Cigar where not even your El Freako knew what it was. Joining the Council of Cretins were long time listeners Joel from Beaver Damn, Wisconsin, and Ashley "DaByrdMan" from our nation's capital. Joel brought us Horny Goat beer from home which we loved...especially Kyle and handled 5 Things duties, while DaByrdMan brought us coolness...which we all desperately needed.
Big thanks and major kudos to all the Cigar BBQ sponsors especially Sir Vin Cigars who I completely forgot to grab on the show.
Huge thanks to Joe and Jaime and everyone at Slippery Rock Cigars for creating another super herf event and under some crazy circumstances. Get well soon, Joe!!
Now, kick back, spark up a pleasure stick and herf with us at the annual Slippery Rock Cigars - Blowin' Smoke Podcast Cigar Barbecue and Blowin' Smoke #112!
The Havana Room felt like an island south of Miami as we gathered for cigars and BS for Blowin' Smoke #111!
With a full roundtable of Cretins, including the owner of Slippery Rock Cigars, and (almost) world famous boobie aficionado, Joe Durso, we fired up a brand new Cigar of the Day and witnessed a rare occurrence in the current Cigar Match battle.
Joe took on 5 Things duties this time around and, along with fun feedback from our friends on Twitter, we tackled some important issues like what to call the eventual little blue pill for women, the "furries," and what to call a bikini barista run by your El Freako.
Plus, we update the upcoming annual Cigar BBQ at Slippery Rock Cigars, and more right here on Blowin' Smoke #111. Spark one up and join us!
Time to celebrate your inner carnivore herf-aholism and get your ligero-laced ass to the annual Slippery Rock Cigars & Blowin' Smoke Podcast Cigar Barbecue!
Hot and sticky and on the road for Blowin' Smoke #110!
As they celebrated their customer appreciation days, we parked our butts at the Smoker Friendly - Cigar Express in Monroeville, PA, for some herfing fun and a brand new Mystery Cigar of the Day. Store manager, Rob, made our mystery selection, talked to us about the store and some of his special deals, and fired up the grill for some burgers and weenies too. Chris from Oliva/Cain/Nub was also on hand and joined us for a segment of the show too.
In addition to a Mystery Cigar of the Day, we had a lot of listener emails to enjoy, great stories to share from the world wide web, a new 5 Things for your brain to ponder, and a special farewell to a good friend.
So grab an icy cold PBR (or not), spark a big fatty and herf along with us right here on Blowin' Smoke #110!
From the Man Chair - Friends & Cigars
Posted: 2010-06-08
Hence embedded in the divine and righteous Man Chair with the rising smoke from a Cain F Habano 550 slowly circling the room, my thoughts are mostly memories today - memories of a friend I lost on Friday who was laid to rest today.
If you've been enjoying cigars for more than a few weeks, you know how they possess many strange yet wonderful powers. Cigars are a great equalizer able to bring different backgrounds, lifestyles, professions, politics, ages and tax brackets together in a civil, respectful and enjoyable manner. Cigars create the environment that grows strong friendships and, just as cigars require a certain commitment of your time and thoughts, the friendships formed over cigars are committed friendships lasting many years often over many miles. Cigars are how I met Mark.
When I brought this little idea called the Blowin' Smoke Podcast to market, Mark discovered the show and decided to drop me a line to comment on something we discussed. That email led to another and another and soon Mark was a contributor to the show as well as a regular attendee of some of our larger herfs during the year. Mark was one of my biggest fans and I became one of his.
I cannot recall a time that Mark traveled from Buffalo to western Pennsylvania for a crazy herf or the annual Cigar Crawl that he did not come bearing gifts - each one with a story, and each story a reflection of the man Mark was. He would remember a small detail of a passing conversation or a comment you made and use it to stumble upon or seek out the perfect thoughtful gift.
Mark loved his family and you knew it. The proud father of two fine young men, Mark was always updating us on their school work, hobbies and community service. Mark's boys have a better grasp of the world around them than most adults I know and neither one of them are old enough to have a beer with me to toast their old man. Mark and Diane have raised them well. They will succeed.
There was one thing, however, I was always jealous of with Mark - his ability to enjoy what he enjoyed. That may sound silly, but it's true. With all the stresses of life, and later a cancer diagnosis, Mark would make it a point to enjoy what made him happy as much as he could and usually bring someone else with him. Because he loved roller coasters, Mark joined a group that traveled together to enjoy famous coasters. Because Mark loved professional wrestling (to this day, Mark...I still don't get it), he got involved in his region be penning a newsletter, becoming known in the inner circles, and eventually becoming a ring announcer. Because Mark loved fireworks, he signed himself and his best friend up for pyrotechnics classes. Because of these and many other things Mark decided to jump into, things I would guilt myself out of, he always had great stories to tell. I'm going to try to be more like Mark and try new things, get more involved. Life is, indeed, too short.
When Mark told me of his cancer diagnosis a couple years ago, I only wanted to think about him beating it, being strong and winning. Mark was beating it. He was strong and he was winning. And then he wasn't. You can only take so much and Mark fought hard. Cancer took all his strength until there wasn't anymore.
When I received word that Mark had passed, I had just lit up a cigar called "Simpatico." I found that to be appropriate. So, if you don't mind me asking, please pray for and smoke one for Mark and his family. Then, take a couple of minutes to think about how your life has been enriched by the people you've come to know through cigars...these magical little cigars. Rest easy, Mark.
And that's the way I see it...from the Man Chair.
Episode #109 - LIVE from the Havana Room @ Chez Rob
Inside a hot and humid Havana Room on a Memorial Day holiday weekend, the famed Council of Cretins gathered once again for cold beer, tasty cigars and plenty of BS. This time, the Cigar of the Day was the huge Ramones El Largo. Checking in at a whopping 8.5" X 52, this thing might intimidate most, but the Cretins had them reduced to ashes in no time. Check out what they thought about this new cigar from the fine folks at Camacho.
The annual Cigar Barbecue is coming up in July at Slippery Rock Cigars and we have a chance for you to win tickets. Plus we took a look back at BS #108 and our interview with Rocky Patel as well as the recently completed annual Cigar Crawl. Plus lots of listener email, a new 5 Things, and more.
So, grab your El Largo and relax with your friends right here on Blowin' Smoke #109!
Episode #108 - LIVE from Penn-Ohio Cigars in Sharon, PA
LIVE from Penn-Ohio Cigar Co. in beautiful downtown Sharon, Pennsylvania, it's Blowin' Smoke #108!
With a big block party atmosphere and one of the biggest names in premium handmade cigars - Rocky Patel - in the house, the cigars were smokin', the drinks flowin', and our host, Penn-Ohio Cigars was rockin' as we enjoyed a fantastic event.
I am honored that Rocky Patel joined the Blowin' Smoke Council of Cretins for an entire segment to talk cigars, politics and some personal stories with us in addition to contributing some great prizes to some lucky Blowin' Smoke listeners. A true gentleman and professional, it was my pleasure to have Rocky on the show for, what I hope will be, the first of many times.
We also herfed and reviewed a new Cigar of the Day and broke in another new Cretin with 5 Things duties which he performed flawlessly, of course.
Check it out...Rocky Patel on Blowin' Smoke #108 right here, right now!
And check out some pictures of the event and Rocky's appearance on the show in the Herf & Events photo gallery on BlowinSmokePodcast.com
Episode #107 - LIVE from the Havana Room @ Chez Rob
With a brand new Cigar of the Day - the Casa Magna Colorado Robusto - the Cretins cracked open some craft beers and lit up. Along with a review of the Cigar of the Day, we also gave away some cigars in honor of the late Frank Llaneza, offered up a new 5 Things and a new challenger in the on going Cigar Match: Rumble in the Bundle.
Plus, with help from our crazy followers on Twitter, we also discussed a new survey that says more men prefer cuddle time to sex, a KFC inspired cigar double down, a "controversial" TV ad for Lane Bryant (see link below), and more.
Also a reminder to join us at Penn-Ohio Cigars in Sharon, PA, for Rocky Patel on Thursday, May 6, 2010, as well as your chance to win some snacks during that event even if you can't be there. Listen to find out how!
All that fun and more awaits right here on Blowin' Smoke #107. Join us!
With the smell of hot dogs, coffee and cigars filling the air, it's Blowin' Smoke #106!
A great day for firing up the grill, watching some hockey on the tube, and herfin' up the Havana Room, and that's exactly what we did with a brand new Cigar of the Day - the Perdomo Grand Cru Toro Connecticut. Check out what the Council of Cretins had to say about it. It's also a contender in a new Cigar Match. Be sure to vote!
Along with listener email and voicemail, we talked about a recent Freako dilemma. Perhaps you have a solution? Also, along with our Twitter tweeps, we talked up very obvious research studies, peeping smoke nazis, WalMart scooter crime fighting, and some funky flavored soda from some cheerleaders in Texas. Rah-rah! Plus, what do Sarah Jessica Parker and Equus Africanus Asinus have in common?
All that and more awaits right here on Blowin' Smoke #106! Get clickin'!
