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The Cigar Industry Centric Podcast
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Tuesday Dec 20, 2022
Tuesday Dec 20, 2022
Coming in at #19 is Rocky Patel Disciple Toro. Rocky Patel Premium Cigars has been on a roll in regard to its use of the Mexican San Andres wrapper. In 2021, we named the Rocky Patel Winter Collection as the Cigar Coop #1 Cigar of the Year which made use of that wrapper. Another high-profile release using that wrapper was the Rocky Patel Sixty. The Sixty made its debut at the 2021 PCA Trade Show; but at that trade show, there was a second Mexican San Andres release launched. That flew under the radar because of Sixty and that cigar is the Rocky Patel Disciple.
In addition to the Mexican San Andres wrapper, the Rocky Patel Disciple uses Nicaraguan tobaccos for the binder and filler. The Nicaraguan tobaccos are from Rocky Patel’s farms in Condega and Estelí. Production also comes from Rocky Patel’s TAVICUSA factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. The Toro size is a classic 6 x 52.
The Rocky Patel Disciple Toro is not a cigar that is going to overwhelm you with boldness. It started out mild to medium in strength and body before going to medium in the second half. That does not mean it's short on flavor. This cigar is going to deliver notes of cocoa, cedar, earth, fruit, and pepper - and they balance each other very nicely.
For Rocky Patel Premium Cigars, this marks the seventh year it has landed a cigar on the Cigar Coop Countdown, and its the third consecutive year it has landed on the Countdown (incidentally with one San Andres Mexican wrapper each of those three years). If you are keeping score at home, Nicaragua has now landed eight of the 12 cigars unveiled thus far on the 2022 Countdown.
Full Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-ok9
Monday Dec 19, 2022
Monday Dec 19, 2022
Coming in at #20 is the Alec Bradley Magic Toast Box Pressed Gran Toro. In an effort to generate more interest in the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, many companies committed to releasing exclusive offerings that could only be purchased by retailers attending the show. In 2021, the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) made an attempt to somewhat formalize these trade show releases into an exclusive series. One of those exclusive releases for the 2021 PCA Trade Show from Alec Bradley was a limited edition box-pressed Gran Toro version of its highly successful Magic Toast line – a line that landed on the Countdown in 2018.
The name Magic Toast traces back to when Alan Rubin and his partner Ralph Montero were down in Honduras at a tobacco field in the middle of the night. As they were looking at the area with a flashlight, Rubin noted how the experience was almost “magical.” Montero suggested they grab a bottle of whisky and propose a toast, thus the name Magic Toast. It also turns out that some of the tobaccos from that field would be incorporated into the Magic Toast cigar line.
The Alec Bradley Magic Toast is highlighted by a dark Honduran wrapper. As with many Alec Bradley cigars, the Magic Toast utilizes two binders – one from Honduras and one from Nicaragua. The fillers used are also from Honduras and Nicaragua. Production is handled at the Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras. At press time, the 6 x 54 Box-Pressed Gran Toro is the only box-pressed offering in the Magic Toast.
The Alec Bradley Magic Toast Box Pressed Gran Toro cigar delivered a medium-strength, medium-bodied smoking experience. The flavors delivered included earth, coffee, chocolate, bing cherry, citrus, and pepper. This blend transitioned very nicely to the box-pressed format. This was also a well-constructed cigar, and the draw on this cigar was one of the best on a box press (namely it had a touch of resistance).
For Alec Bradley, this marks the sixth year the company has placed a cigar on the Countdown.
If you are following the reveal order, we have unveiled 11 cigars and this is also the first Honduran-made cigar to place on the 2022 Countdown.
Full Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-ok6
Note: We incorrectly stated this was the second Honduran made cigar landing on the 2022 Countdown on the video. We apologize for this mistake.
Monday Dec 19, 2022
Monday Dec 19, 2022
Coming in at #20 is the Alec Bradley Magic Toast Box Pressed Gran Toro. In an effort to generate more interest in the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, many companies committed to releasing exclusive offerings that could only be purchased by retailers attending the show. In 2021, the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) made an attempt to somewhat formalize these trade show releases into an exclusive series. One of those exclusive releases for the 2021 PCA Trade Show from Alec Bradley was a limited edition box-pressed Gran Toro version of its highly successful Magic Toast line – a line that landed on the Countdown in 2018.
The name Magic Toast traces back to when Alan Rubin and his partner Ralph Montero were down in Honduras at a tobacco field in the middle of the night. As they were looking at the area with a flashlight, Rubin noted how the experience was almost “magical.” Montero suggested they grab a bottle of whisky and propose a toast, thus the name Magic Toast. It also turns out that some of the tobaccos from that field would be incorporated into the Magic Toast cigar line.
The Alec Bradley Magic Toast is highlighted by a dark Honduran wrapper. As with many Alec Bradley cigars, the Magic Toast utilizes two binders – one from Honduras and one from Nicaragua. The fillers used are also from Honduras and Nicaragua. Production is handled at the Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras. At press time, the 6 x 54 Box-Pressed Gran Toro is the only box-pressed offering in the Magic Toast.
The Alec Bradley Magic Toast Box Pressed Gran Toro cigar delivered a medium-strength, medium-bodied smoking experience. The flavors delivered included earth, coffee, chocolate, bing cherry, citrus, and pepper. This blend transitioned very nicely to the box-pressed format. This was also a well-constructed cigar, and the draw on this cigar was one of the best on a box press (namely it had a touch of resistance).
For Alec Bradley, this marks the sixth year the company has placed a cigar on the Countdown. If you are following the reveal order, we have unveiled 11 cigars and this is also the first Honduran-made cigar to place on the 2022 Countdown.
Full Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-ok6
Note: We incorrectly stated this was the second Honduran made cigar landing on the 2022 Countdown on the video. We apologize for this mistake.
Sunday Dec 18, 2022
Sunday Dec 18, 2022
Coming in at #21 is The American Double Robusto by J.C. Newman Cigar Company. At the end of 2020, Cigar Coop named the Toro size of The American as our #1 Cigar of the Year. It’s a unique project from J.C. Newman Cigar Company that pays homage to cigar making in the United States. The blend is made in the U.S. featuring 100% American-grown tobacco. In addition, everything about the cigar is American-made, including the boxes, the box hinges, the labels, and even the molds. The Double Robusto size was introduced in 2021, and it’s a tweaked and bolder version of the original blend.
The American Double Robusto uses a wrapper grown in Florida by Jeff Borysiewicz at his farm in Clearmont, Florida. The remainder of the blend consists of a Connecticut Broadleaf binder and fillers consisting of Pennsylvania and Connecticut Habano tobaccos. The American Double Robusto uses the same tobacco components as the original line, the one major difference is that there is an extra leaf of Pennsylvania ligero that is included in the blend. The Double Robusto measures 5 1/2 x 56, making it the thickest offering in The American line to date. Production comes from J.C. Newman’s El Reloj factory in Ybor City.
The American Double Robusto delivers a complex smoke consisting of wood, earth, mixed fruit, citrus, black pepper, graham cracker, and metallic notes. While I would categorize it as medium in strength and body, it’s still got more in the way of boldness compared to the rest of the line.
For J.C. Newman, this marks the third year it has landed a cigar on the Cigar Coop Countdown, and it’s the second cigar for The American line to place on a Countdown. This cigar also is the first cigar from the U.S. to land on the 2022 Countdown.
Full Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-ojC
Sunday Dec 18, 2022
Sunday Dec 18, 2022
Coming in at #21 is The American Double Robusto by J.C. Newman Cigar Company. At the end of 2020, Cigar Coop named the Toro size of The American as our #1 Cigar of the Year. It’s a unique project from J.C. Newman Cigar Company that pays homage to cigar making in the United States. The blend is made in the U.S. featuring 100% American-grown tobacco. In addition, everything about the cigar is American-made, including the boxes, the box hinges, the labels, and even the molds. The Double Robusto size was introduced in 2021, and it’s a tweaked and bolder version of the original blend.
The American Double Robusto uses a wrapper grown in Florida by Jeff Borysiewicz at his farm in Clearmont, Florida. The remainder of the blend consists of a Connecticut Broadleaf binder and fillers consisting of Pennsylvania and Connecticut Habano tobaccos. The American Double Robusto uses the same tobacco components as the original line, the one major difference is that there is an extra leaf of Pennsylvania ligero that is included in the blend. The Double Robusto measures 5 1/2 x 56, making it the thickest offering in The American line to date. Production comes from J.C. Newman’s El Reloj factory in Ybor City.
The American Double Robusto delivers a complex smoke consisting of wood, earth, mixed fruit, citrus, black pepper, graham cracker, and metallic notes. While I would categorize it as medium in strength and body, it’s still got more in the way of boldness compared to the rest of the line.
For J.C. Newman, this marks the third year it has landed a cigar on the Cigar Coop Countdown, and it’s the second cigar for The American line to place on a Countdown. This cigar also is the first cigar from the U.S. to land on the 2022 Countdown.
Full Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-ojC
Saturday Dec 17, 2022
Saturday Dec 17, 2022
Coming in at #22 is the Las 6 Provincias LV by Espinosa Cigars. Las 6 Provincias LV is the third installment of Espinosa Cigars Las 6 Provincias series. This is a limited edition series that pays homage to the pre-Castro era of Cuba. The name Las 6 Provincias means “six provinces” and it refers to the six provinces that existed prior to the takeover of Cuba by Fidel Castro. It is also Espinosa Cigars’ most premium limited edition series to date. Each installment of the series has a unique blend, size, and associated artwork. LV stands for the province of Las Villas.
The Las 6 Provincias LV features 100% Nicaraguan tobaccos. This is the first installment of the Las 6 Provincias which is a Nicaraguan puro. Production is handled out of AJ Fernandez’s San Lotano factory located in Ocotal, Nicaragua. The cigar comes in one size - a 5 1/2 x 54 Box Pressed Robusto Extra. One thing that was unique about the LV release is each cigar was packaged in an individual coffin.
The Las 6 Provincias LV delivers a profile of cocoa, cherry, earth, pepper, metallic, and savory notes. The cigar itself had the boldness that Espinosa Cigars is known for. It's a cigar that starts out medium to full-bodied before progressing into full-bodied in the second half. This is countered by medium to full strength.
This is a historic moment for Cigar Coop as Espinosa Cigars has now landed at least one cigar on a Cigar Coop Countdown for ten consecutive years - a number that is also an overall record for Countdown appearances. Nicaragua is once again the dominant country of origin for the Countdown. With nine cigars unveiled on the Countdown thus far, seven of them have come from Nicaragua.
Full Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-ojz
Saturday Dec 17, 2022
Saturday Dec 17, 2022
Coming in at #22 is the Las 6 Provincias LV by Espinosa Cigars. Las 6 Provincias LV is the third installment of Espinosa Cigars Las 6 Provincias series. This is a limited edition series that pays homage to the pre-Castro era of Cuba. The name Las 6 Provincias means “six provinces” and it refers to the six provinces that existed prior to the takeover of Cuba by Fidel Castro. It is also Espinosa Cigars’ most premium limited edition series to date. Each installment of the series has a unique blend, size, and associated artwork. LV stands for the province of Las Villas.
The Las 6 Provincias LV features 100% Nicaraguan tobaccos. This is the first installment of the Las 6 Provincias which is a Nicaraguan puro. Production is handled out of AJ Fernandez’s San Lotano factory located in Ocotal, Nicaragua. The cigar comes in one size - a 5 1/2 x 54 Box Pressed Robusto Extra. One thing that was unique about the LV release is each cigar was packaged in an individual coffin.
The Las 6 Provincias LV delivers a profile of cocoa, cherry, earth, pepper, metallic, and savory notes. The cigar itself had the boldness that Espinosa Cigars is known for. It's a cigar that starts out medium to full-bodied before progressing into full-bodied in the second half. This is countered by medium to full strength.
This is a historic moment for Cigar Coop as Espinosa Cigars has now landed at least one cigar on a Cigar Coop Countdown for ten consecutive years - a number that is also an overall record for Countdown appearances. Nicaragua is once again the dominant country of origin for the Countdown. With nine cigars unveiled on the Countdown thus far, seven of them have come from Nicaragua.
Full Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-ojz
Friday Dec 16, 2022
Friday Dec 16, 2022
Coming in at #23 is the Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary Edición Limitada. Oliva Cigar Company traces its heritage in the cigar industry back to 1886 when Melanio Oliva would cultivate his first tobacco crop. In 2021, Oliva Cigar commemorated the 135th anniversary of that milestone and released a special cigar from one of its most successful lines, the Oliva Serie V, to commemorate the event. The vitola for the 135th Anniversary would be a rare one – a cigar with a capped head, but a tapered footer. Since the 2021 release, Oliva has made the decision to bring back the Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary on an ongoing limited production basis.
Blend-wise, the Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary Edición Limitada features the same tobaccos as found in the rest of the Serie V line. This includes an Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper over all-Nicaraguan tobaccos. The figurado shape measures 5 1/4 x 54. Production is handled at Oliva’s TABOLISA factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.
The Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary Edición Limitada delivered earth, cedar, cocoa, nut, pepper, and floral notes. The cigar delivers a nice amount of flavor nuances. This cigar has a little more in the way of boldness for a Serie V – coming in at medium to full for strength and body.
For Oliva, this is the fourth time it has landed on the Countdown. It’s also Oliva’s first appearance on the countdown in eight years. For those keeping score at home, the Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary Edición Limitada brings the total number of cigars originating from Nicaragua on the Countdown to six. TABOLISA also is the first factory in 2022 to land multiple cigars on the Countdown.
Full Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-oi8
Friday Dec 16, 2022
Friday Dec 16, 2022
Coming in at #23 is the Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary Edición Limitada. Oliva Cigar Company traces its heritage in the cigar industry back to 1886 when Melanio Oliva would cultivate his first tobacco crop. In 2021, Oliva Cigar commemorated the 135th anniversary of that milestone and released a special cigar from one of its most successful lines, the Oliva Serie V, to commemorate the event. The vitola for the 135th Anniversary would be a rare one – a cigar with a capped head, but a tapered footer. Since the 2021 release, Oliva has made the decision to bring back the Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary on an ongoing limited production basis.
Blend-wise, the Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary Edición Limitada features the same tobaccos as found in the rest of the Serie V line. This includes an Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper over all-Nicaraguan tobaccos. The figurado shape measures 5 1/4 x 54. Production is handled at Oliva’s TABOLISA factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.
The Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary Edición Limitada delivered earth, cedar, cocoa, nut, pepper, and floral notes. The cigar delivers a nice amount of flavor nuances. This cigar has a little more in the way of boldness for a Serie V – coming in at medium to full for strength and body.
For Oliva, this is the fourth time it has landed on the Countdown. It’s also Oliva’s first appearance on the countdown in eight years. For those keeping score at home, the Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary Edición Limitada brings the total number of cigars originating from Nicaragua on the Countdown to six. TABOLISA also is the first factory in 2022 to land multiple cigars on the Countdown.
Full Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-oi8
Friday Dec 16, 2022
Friday Dec 16, 2022
On Episode 252, we welcome back Oliver Nivaud of United Cigars as our special guest.
It’s been a huge year for United – for their own brands and the brands they are partnering with. Tonight we will get the details of what’s been happening with United. Plus we will have our Alec Bradley Live True, Cattle Baron, Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Deliberation Segments, and bring out our Presidents Segment to the Thursday Show