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The Cigar Industry Centric Podcast
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Monday Jan 10, 2022
Monday Jan 10, 2022
As we have in the past, we were live on the air as CA unveiled the Top 25 for 2021. Day one saw CA announce Cigars #10, #9, and #8. We have commentary up to the reveal as well as some post game commentary following the reveal.
Saturday Jan 08, 2022
Saturday Jan 08, 2022
Coming in at #3 is the 2020 edition of Perdomo Firecracker. This is a cigar that is a part of United Cigars' Firecracker Series. The Firecracker Series started out as the brain-child of Two Guys Smoke Shop owner Dave Garofalo. It's a series where he would work with leading manufacturers to produce a small 3 1/2 inch cigar with a long-fuse resembling a Firecracker. Before you ask why a shop-exclusive is on the Countdown, this is not the case. In recent years, the Firecracker Series has moved over to United Cigars and now is available for a national limited release to authorized retailers.
The Perdomo Firecracker feature 100% Nicaraguan tobaccos. The wrapper from the Firecracker is the one that is featured on the Perdomo 20th Anniversary Sun Grown. The cigar is a 3 1/2 x 50 vitola - easily the smallest cigar to land a Cigar Coop Countdown. The 2020 edition features the long fuse tucked under the cigar band. There was also a 2021 edition which didn't have the fuse tucked under the band.
The Perdomo Firecracker might be small, but there is a ton of complexity loaded in this cigar. The cigar delivers notes of earth, nut, grapefruit, natural tobacco, coffee bean, wood, and black pepper. This is also a bold little cigar - delivering strength and body in the medium to full range.
This is the second year in a row Perdomo Cigars has landed on the Countdown. This is also the third cigar Perdomo Cigar and third cigar from Tabacalera Perdomo to land on the 2021 Countdown. It's also the second cigar for United Cigars on the Countdown. Nicaragua continues to dominate the 2021 Countdown. Of the 28 cigars unveiled thus far on the 2021 Countdown, this is the 21st one from Nicaragua.
For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html
Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lOm
Saturday Jan 08, 2022
Saturday Jan 08, 2022
Coming in at #3 is the 2020 edition of Perdomo Firecracker. This is a cigar that is a part of United Cigars' Firecracker Series. The Firecracker Series started out as the brain-child of Two Guys Smoke Shop owner Dave Garofalo. It's a series where he would work with leading manufacturers to produce a small 3 1/2 inch cigar with a long-fuse resembling a Firecracker. Before you ask why a shop-exclusive is on the Countdown, this is not the case. In recent years, the Firecracker Series has moved over to United Cigars and now is available for a national limited release to authorized retailers.
The Perdomo Firecracker feature 100% Nicaraguan tobaccos. The wrapper from the Firecracker is the one that is featured on the Perdomo 20th Anniversary Sun Grown. The cigar is a 3 1/2 x 50 vitola - easily the smallest cigar to land a Cigar Coop Countdown. The 2020 edition features the long fuse tucked under the cigar band. There was also a 2021 edition which didn't have the fuse tucked under the band.
The Perdomo Firecracker might be small, but there is a ton of complexity loaded in this cigar. The cigar delivers notes of earth, nut, grapefruit, natural tobacco, coffee bean, wood, and black pepper. This is also a bold little cigar - delivering strength and body in the medium to full range.
This is the second year in a row Perdomo Cigars has landed on the Countdown. This is also the third cigar Perdomo Cigar and third cigar from Tabacalera Perdomo to land on the 2021 Countdown. It's also the second cigar for United Cigars on the Countdown. Nicaragua continues to dominate the 2021 Countdown. Of the 28 cigars unveiled thus far on the 2021 Countdown, this is the 21st one from Nicaragua.
For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html
Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lOm
Friday Jan 07, 2022
Friday Jan 07, 2022
Coming in at #4 is the Crux Epicure Maduro Corona Gorda. Crux Cigars is a company that launched in 2014, and has caught the attention of many. It was in 2016 when the company captured our #1 Cigar of the Year with the Crux du Connoisseur No. 2. Ever since the company launched, many people wondered when it would produce its first maduro line. In 2019, fans would get their wish with the Crux Epicure Maduro line, and a year later a Corona Gorda size was added – and it’s one that secures a spot in this year’s Final Four of the Countdown.
In terms of production, while Crux produces almost its entire portfolio at the Plasencia factory; the Crux Epicure Maduro line comes from AJ Fernandez’s factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. The blend features a dark San Andres Maduro wrapper over all Nicaraguan tobaccos. The Corona Gorda comes in at a 5 3/8 x 46 size.
The Crux Epicure Maduro Corona Gorda delivers quite an interesting flavor profile. Along the way thee are notes of mocha (which is a combination of chocolate and coffee), bing cherry, chili pepper, and cedar. The flavors produced are medium bodied and countered by medium strength. This cigar also consistently performed well when it came to burn and draw.
The Crux Epicure Maduro Corona Gorda returns Crux Cigars to the Countdown. This is the fifth year Crux has landed on a Countdown. This is also the sixth cigar from an AJ Fernandez factory to land on the 2021 Countdown. Meanwhile, Nicaragua continues to dominate the Countdown. Of the 27 cigars unveiled thus far, this is the 20th one from Nicaragua.
For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html
Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lNH
Friday Jan 07, 2022
Friday Jan 07, 2022
Coming in at #4 is the Crux Epicure Maduro Corona Gorda. Crux Cigars is a company that launched in 2014, and has caught the attention of many. It was in 2016 when the company captured our #1 Cigar of the Year with the Crux du Connoisseur No. 2. Ever since the company launched, many people wondered when it would produce its first maduro line. In 2019, fans would get their wish with the Crux Epicure Maduro line, and a year later a Corona Gorda size was added – and it’s one that secures a spot in this year’s Final Four of the Countdown.
In terms of production, while Crux produces almost its entire portfolio at the Plasencia factory; the Crux Epicure Maduro line comes from AJ Fernandez’s factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. The blend features a dark San Andres Maduro wrapper over all Nicaraguan tobaccos. The Corona Gorda comes in at a 5 3/8 x 46 size.
The Crux Epicure Maduro Corona Gorda delivers quite an interesting flavor profile. Along the way thee are notes of mocha (which is a combination of chocolate and coffee), bing cherry, chili pepper, and cedar. The flavors produced are medium bodied and countered by medium strength. This cigar also consistently performed well when it came to burn and draw.
The Crux Epicure Maduro Corona Gorda returns Crux Cigars to the Countdown. This is the fifth year Crux has landed on a Countdown. This is also the sixth cigar from an AJ Fernandez factory to land on the 2021 Countdown. Meanwhile, Nicaragua continues to dominate the Countdown. Of the 27 cigars unveiled thus far, this is the 20th one from Nicaragua.
For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html
Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lNH
Friday Jan 07, 2022
Friday Jan 07, 2022
Tonight we kick off 2022 and are proud to welcome Antonio Lam, owner and founder of Reinado Cigars as our special guest.
Antonio’s been in the industry for over a decade, and has been quite active the past couple of years. We’ll talk about Antonio’s journey and some of the new projects he has planned.
Plus we will have our Live True, Cattle Barron Steak Question of the Night, Sopranos, and Deliberation Segments.
Friday Jan 07, 2022
Friday Jan 07, 2022
Tonight we kick off 2022 and are proud to welcome Antonio Lam, owner and founder of Reinado Cigars as our special guest.
Antonio’s been in the industry for over a decade, and has been quite active the past couple of years. We’ll talk about Antonio’s journey and some of the new projects he has planned.
Plus we will have our Live True, Cattle Barron Steak Question of the Night, Sopranos, and Deliberation Segments.
Thursday Jan 06, 2022
Thursday Jan 06, 2022
Coming in at #5 is the Rocky Patel Quarter Century Robusto. Rocky Patel loves commemorating milestones, whether it's a birthday, anniversary, or some other event. Last year was a big one as it was Rocky's 25th anniversary in the cigar industry. As the name indicates, Quarter Century is a cigar that commemorates that milestone. It brings Rocky Patel into the Top 5 on our Countdown for the first time.
The Rocky Patel Quarter Century is highlighted by a San Andres wrapper over a Honduran binder and fillers consisting of Nicaraguan and undisclosed tobaccos. The cigars are aged two years after rolling, with tobaccos aged ten years before that. The San Andres tobaccos being used by Rocky Patel have been exceptional, and the one used on the Quarter Century is no exception. The Robusto measures 5 1/2 x 50, and production comes from Rocky Patel's TAVICUSA factory in Nicaragua.
The Rocky Patel Quarter Century Robusto delivers notes of milk chocolate, earth, natural tobacco, cedar, fruit, and white pepper. These flavors start out medium-bodied before progressing to medium to full in the second half. This is countered by medium strength.
While this is Rocky Patel's first Top Five cigar Cigar on the Countdown, Rocky is no stranger when It comes to this list. The is the sixth year that there has been a Rocky Patel cigar on the Countdown. It also is the second TAVICUSA cigar, joining Micky Pegg's All Saints St. Francis. Nicaragua continues to dominate the Countdown. Of the 26 cigars unveiled thus far, this is the 19th one from Nicaragua.
For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html
Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lNp
Thursday Jan 06, 2022
Thursday Jan 06, 2022
Coming in at #5 is the Rocky Patel Quarter Century Robusto. Rocky Patel loves commemorating milestones, whether it's a birthday, anniversary, or some other event. Last year was a big one as it was Rocky's 25th anniversary in the cigar industry. As the name indicates, Quarter Century is a cigar that commemorates that milestone. It brings Rocky Patel into the Top 5 on our Countdown for the first time.
The Rocky Patel Quarter Century is highlighted by a San Andres wrapper over a Honduran binder and fillers consisting of Nicaraguan and undisclosed tobaccos. The cigars are aged two years after rolling, with tobaccos aged ten years before that. The San Andres tobaccos being used by Rocky Patel have been exceptional, and the one used on the Quarter Century is no exception. The Robusto measures 5 1/2 x 50, and production comes from Rocky Patel's TAVICUSA factory in Nicaragua.
The Rocky Patel Quarter Century Robusto delivers notes of milk chocolate, earth, natural tobacco, cedar, fruit, and white pepper. These flavors start out medium-bodied before progressing to medium to full in the second half. This is countered by medium strength.
While this is Rocky Patel's first Top Five cigar Cigar on the Countdown, Rocky is no stranger when It comes to this list. The is the sixth year that there has been a Rocky Patel cigar on the Countdown. It also is the second TAVICUSA cigar, joining Micky Pegg's All Saints St. Francis. Nicaragua continues to dominate the Countdown. Of the 26 cigars unveiled thus far, this is the 19th one from Nicaragua.
For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html
Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lNp
Wednesday Jan 05, 2022
Wednesday Jan 05, 2022
Coming in at #6 is the Perdomo Reserve 10th Anniversary Box-Pressed Maduro Robusto. Last year when Perdomo Cigars announced they were discontinuing the Champagne Noir and Champagne Sun Grown cigars, it surprised a lot of people - including this author. However, it was clear that Nick Perdomo and his team knew they had something special with the new 10th Anniversary Maduro and Sun Grown lines. The 10th Anniversary Sun Grown landed a #23 on this year's Countdown and now the Maduro lands at number six.
The blend for the Perdomo Reserve 10th Anniversary Maduro features 100% Nicaraguan tobaccos. According to Perdomo Cigars, the 10th Anniversary Maduro uses a six-year-aged Cuban-seed wrapper, binder, and fillers from its farms in Estelí, Condega, and Jalapa. The wrapper itself also has an additional 14 months of aging on it inside bourbon barrels. Production is handled out of the Tabacalera Perdomo S.A. facility in Estelí, Nicaragua. The Robusto measures 5 x 54.
The Perdomo Reserve 10th Anniversary Box Pressed Maduro Robusto delivers notes of mocha (coffee, and chocolate fusion), citrus, oak, cedar, mineral, and pepper. The flavors start out medium-bodied before progressing to medium to full in the second half. This is countered by medium strength. On top of an excellent flavor profile, this cigar delivers a stellar performance in terms of burn and draw.
One can argue the combination of the 10th Anniversary Champagne, Sun Grown, and Maduro is one of the strongest blend trifectas ever.
This is the second year in a row Perdomo Cigars has placed two cigars on the Cigar of the Year Countdown. Of the 25 cigars unveiled thus far on the 2021 Countdown, this is the 18th one from Nicaragua.
For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria: https://cigar-coop.com/2021/12/announcement-criteria-for-the-2021-cigar-of-the-year-countdown.html
Cigar Coop Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-lMJ