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The Cigar Industry Centric Podcast
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Monday Dec 12, 2022
Monday Dec 12, 2022
Coming in at #27 is the La Palina 125 Años. The story of La Palina Cigars is one that is well known. The brand was founded back in 1896 by Samuel Paley under his Congress Cigar Company. When Samuel retired in 1926, the La Palina brand pretty much retired with him. In 2010, the La Palina Cigars as we know it was resurrected by Samuel's grandson, William C. Paley. 2021 would mark 125 years since Samuel Paley founded the brand, therefore La Palina Cigars decided it would release a commemorative cigar to mark the occasion – and the La Palina 125 Años was born.
The La Palina 125 Años is the first La Palina offering to be produced out of TABOLISA, the factory owned by Oliva Cigar Company. The cigar consists of 100% Nicaraguan tobaccos. The cigar has been released in one size - a 6 1/2 x 52 Toro Extra. Originally the cigar was released in glass jars as limited release, but this past year it has been added as a core line offering under boxes with the same blend. While the blend is identical, it is worth noting we ranked this cigar from the 2021 offering (which under our criteria is eligible).
The La Palina 125 Años delivered a flavor profile of cedar, dank earth, chocolate, natural tobacco, fruit, and white pepper. This is something quite different than anything we've seen from La Palina before, but the flavors click. The flavors delivered are medium-bodied and countered by medium strength.
For La Palina this is the 5th time it has landed on the Countdown - and the company's first appearance since 2013. If you are following along at home, we have unveiled 4 cigars thus far on the Countdown and this is the fourth cigar to land on the Countdown produced out of Nicaragua.
References
- Full Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-oet
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
Coming in at #28 is the Crowned Heads Las Calaveras Edición Limitada 2021 LC50. The name “Las Calaveras” translates to “The Skulls” and it’s a line that pays homage to those who have passed away over the past year. As opposed to being a mournful symbol, it is intended to be a celebration of those lives and remembrance of those who are no longer with us. In the past, the band of the Las Calaveras was transcribed with the initials of some people Crowned Heads will pay homage to. The line was launched in 2014, and each year has featured a different blend and different sizes. For the 2022 Countdown, it is the Las Calaveras Edición 2021 edition in the LC50 (the 5 x 50 Robusto size) that earns a slot on the list.
The Las Calaveras Edición Limitada 2021 LC50 features an Ecuadorian Sumatra Oscuro wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and fillers. It is the first edition of the Las Calaveras line to incorporate this wrapper. The cigar itself is produced out of My Father Cigars' factory.
Flavorwise the Las Calaveras Edición Limitada 2022 LC50 features notes of natural tobacco, fruit, earth, chocolate, Wood, Pepper. The flavors delivered are medium-bodied and this is countered with medium strength. The flavors complement each other very nicely and at the same time there is a nice amount of complexity on this cigar.
Las Calaveras Edición Limitada 2022 LC50 has landed Crowned Heads on the Countdown for the 4th time. If you are following the Countdown each day, this is the 3rd Nicaraguan-made cigar to be placed on the Countdown.
References
- Full Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-oeq
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
Coming in at #28 is the Crowned Heads Las Calaveras Edición Limitada 2021 LC50. The name “Las Calaveras” translates to “The Skulls” and it’s a line that pays homage to those who have passed away over the past year. As opposed to being a mournful symbol, it is intended to be a celebration of those lives and remembrance of those who are no longer with us. In the past, the band of the Las Calaveras was transcribed with the initials of some people Crowned Heads will pay homage to. The line was launched in 2014, and each year has featured a different blend and different sizes. For the 2022 Countdown, it is the Las Calaveras Edición 2021 edition in the LC50 (the 5 x 50 Robusto size) that earns a slot on the list.
The Las Calaveras Edición Limitada 2021 LC50 features an Ecuadorian Sumatra Oscuro wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and fillers. It is the first edition of the Las Calaveras line to incorporate this wrapper. The cigar itself is produced out of My Father Cigars' factory.
Flavorwise the Las Calaveras Edición Limitada 2022 LC50 features notes of natural tobacco, fruit, earth, chocolate, Wood, Pepper. The flavors delivered are medium-bodied and this is countered with medium strength. The flavors complement each other very nicely and at the same time there is a nice amount of complexity on this cigar.
Las Calaveras Edición Limitada 2022 LC50 has landed Crowned Heads on the Countdown for the 4th time. If you are following the Countdown each day, this is the 3rd Nicaraguan-made cigar to be placed on the Countdown.
References
- Full Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-oeq
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
Coming in at #29 is the Fiat Lux Insight by Luciano. Fiat Lux is a Latin expression for “let there be light” from the intellectual movement of the Enlightenment. The cigar was released originally under ACE Prime and has moved over to Luciano Meirelles' new company Luciano Cigars. The cigar that landed on the Countdown represents the ones sold by ACE Prime prior to the rebranding.
At the time ACE Prime released the cigar, the company stated "When you first light a great cigar, a space of expectation is created, where the opportunity for discovery presents itself. You taste a great blend, and you will be enlightened, both by delving into the complexity of flavors and with the possibility of introspection. It was with this sensorial and mindful journey in mind that the idea of Fiat Lux emerged, as a new blend that procures to express the birth of knowledge, to embody the consequence of its meaning: Let there be light." This was the goal with Fiat Lux.
Fiat Lux by Luciano consists of a high-priming Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. Sumatra is a wrapper that has been seen across the Luciano, Pichardo, and MxS brands and across the ACE Prime portfolio. The remainder of the Fiat Lux blend consists of all Nicaraguan tobaccos. Production is handled out of the Tabacalera Pichardo factory. The Insight size, which is a classic 5 5/8 x 46 Corona Gorda, is the one that landed on this year's Countdown.
The Fiat Lux Insight delivered notes of natural tobacco, earth, cedar, baker's spice, and black pepper. There are two hidden attributes this cigar has: 1) It has an amazingly clean finish; 2) The flavors complement and balance each other extremely well. The Fiat Lux Insight delivers a medium-strength, medium-bodied experience.
This is most likely ACE Prime's second and final appearance on the Cigar Coop Countdown. With many of the former blends moving to the new company Luciano Cigars, any subsequent release after the transition will be credited to Luciano.
References
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
Sunday Dec 11, 2022
Coming in at #29 is the Fiat Lux Insight by Luciano. Fiat Lux is a Latin expression for “let there be light” from the intellectual movement of the Enlightenment. The cigar was released originally under ACE Prime and has moved over to Luciano Meirelles' new company Luciano Cigars. The cigar that landed on the Countdown represents the ones sold by ACE Prime prior to the rebranding.
At the time ACE Prime released the cigar, the company stated "When you first light a great cigar, a space of expectation is created, where the opportunity for discovery presents itself. You taste a great blend, and you will be enlightened, both by delving into the complexity of flavors and with the possibility of introspection. It was with this sensorial and mindful journey in mind that the idea of Fiat Lux emerged, as a new blend that procures to express the birth of knowledge, to embody the consequence of its meaning: Let there be light." This was the goal with Fiat Lux.
Fiat Lux by Luciano consists of a high-priming Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. Sumatra is a wrapper that has been seen across the Luciano, Pichardo, and MxS brands and across the ACE Prime portfolio. The remainder of the Fiat Lux blend consists of all Nicaraguan tobaccos. Production is handled out of the Tabacalera Pichardo factory. The Insight size, which is a classic 5 5/8 x 46 Corona Gorda, is the one that landed on this year's Countdown.
The Fiat Lux Insight delivered notes of natural tobacco, earth, cedar, baker's spice, and black pepper. There are two hidden attributes this cigar has: 1) It has an amazingly clean finish; 2) The flavors complement and balance each other extremely well. The Fiat Lux Insight delivers a medium-strength, medium-bodied experience.
This is most likely ACE Prime's second and final appearance on the Cigar Coop Countdown. With many of the former blends moving to the new company Luciano Cigars, any subsequent release after the transition will be credited to Luciano.
References
Friday Dec 09, 2022
Friday Dec 09, 2022
This is a cigar that Room101 released for Luxury Cigar Club. Normally a cigar that is a club exclusive would not be eligible for the Countdown, but this is a cigar that Luxury Cigar Club has distributed to retailers, thus it eligible.
The Room101 Snake Shake was produced at the AJ Fernandez factory. It's a factory that brand founder Matt Booth has found success with in the past. Previously, Booth has teamed up with Caldwell and AJ Fernandez to produce The T, a cigar that landed on the 2018 Countdown. As for the Snake Shake the blend features 100% Nicaraguan tobaccos, and is was made available in one size - a 6 x 50 Toro.
The Room101 Snake Shake delivered notes of wood, cocoa, cedar, pepper, and dried fruit. For the most part this cigar delivered medium strength and medium-bodied flavors, but toward the end it creeps into medium to full territory.
This is most likely Room101's third and final appearance on the Cigar Coop Countdown. Subsequent to the release of the Snake Shake, Matt Booth sold the brand to Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) and future Room101 cigars that have been released post-acquisition will now be credited under STG.
For details of the 2022 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2022 criteria.
References: Full #30 Report
Friday Dec 09, 2022
Friday Dec 09, 2022
This is a cigar that Room101 released for Luxury Cigar Club. Normally a cigar that is a club exclusive would not be eligible for the Countdown, but this is a cigar that Luxury Cigar Club has distributed to retailers, thus it eligible.
The Room101 Snake Shake was produced at the AJ Fernandez factory. It's a factory that brand founder Matt Booth has found success with in the past. Previously, Booth has teamed up with Caldwell and AJ Fernandez to produce The T, a cigar that landed on the 2018 Countdown. As for the Snake Shake the blend features 100% Nicaraguan tobaccos, and is was made available in one size - a 6 x 50 Toro.
The Room101 Snake Shake delivered notes of wood, cocoa, cedar, pepper, and dried fruit. For the most part this cigar delivered medium strength and medium-bodied flavors, but toward the end it creeps into medium to full territory.
This is most likely Room101's third and final appearance on the Cigar Coop Countdown. Subsequent to the release of the Snake Shake, Matt Booth sold the brand to Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) and future Room101 cigars that have been released post-acquisition will now be credited under STG.
References: Full #30 Report
Friday Dec 09, 2022
Friday Dec 09, 2022
On Episode 251, we welcome Brian Motola and Sebastien Decoppet of Cavalier Genève as our special guests broadcasting from Honduras and Switzerland respectively.
2022 has almost been quite a busy year for Cavalier and tonight we will also catch up on all of the happenings around their factory, new distribution center, and product innovation. We will also get to know Brian better and his journey in the cigar business.
Plus we will have our Alec Bradley Live True, Cattle Baron, and Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Deliberation Segments.
Friday Dec 09, 2022
Friday Dec 09, 2022
On Episode 251, we welcome Brian Motola and Sebastien Decoppet of Cavalier Genève as our special guests broadcasting from Honduras and Switzerland respectively.
2022 has almost been quite a busy year for Cavalier and tonight we will also catch up on all of the happenings around their factory, new distribution center, and product innovation. We will also get to know Brian better and his journey in the cigar business.
Plus we will have our Alec Bradley Live True, Cattle Baron, and Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Deliberation Segments.
Friday Dec 02, 2022
Friday Dec 02, 2022
Tonight we celebrate Episode 250, and to mark this milestone we have Charlie Minato co-founder of Halfwheel as our special guest.
If you know Charlie, there isn’t a major news story in the cigar industry he is not on top of – and tonight we’ll get his thoughts and perspectives on plenty of items in the cigar news. Plus we will have our Alec Bradley Live True, Cattle Baron, and Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Deliberation Segment. You won’t want to miss the sone.