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The Cigar Industry Centric Podcast
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Friday Dec 17, 2021
Friday Dec 17, 2021
Tonight, we are honored to talk to the founder and president of Crux Cigars, Jeff Haugen.
In seven years, Jeff has emerged as one of the rising stars in the cigar business – building his company in a unique way. Jeff’s taking a very hands-on approach to his products, and his efforts are certainly paying off. Tonight we’ll talk to Jeff and learn about his journey in the business.
Thursday Dec 16, 2021
Thursday Dec 16, 2021
Coming in at #24 is the Joya de Nicaragua Numero Uno Le Premier. One certainly can make the point that Joya de Nicaragua's Numero Uno has become one of the most decorated brands in the company's 50 plus year history. The story of this blend is well-documented. Numero Uno is a project that started out as a private blend where it was handed out to Nicaraguan ambassadors who would gift them to world leaders. It later became a Joya de Nicaragua event-only cigar called Joya de Nicaragua No. 1 – which was a 6 5/8 x 44 Lonsdale. In 2018, that event-only cigar was named the #1 Cigar of the Year on Halfwheel. It was a shocking selection considering the cigar was designated only for events. Following that honor, Joya de Nicaragua decided to rebrand the Joya de Nicaragua No. 1 to Joya de Nicaragua Numero Uno. In 2019, a second size was released known as the Le Premier - a near-Churchill sized offering of the brand. It's the Numero Uno Le Premier that lands on this year's Countdown.
The blend for Numero Uno features an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and fillers. When the original Lonsdale size was created, the blend itself was described as an offshoot of the Joya de Nicaragua Clasico, but still different than the Clasico. Le Premier measures 6 7/8 x 48. Numero Uno is an ongoing production, but one done on a more limited basis.
Flavor-wise, the Joya de Nicaragua Numero Uno will give you notes of cream, earth, wood, black pepper, nut, and a signature lemon-citrus note that sets this cigar apart. While the Lonsdale (known as L’Ambassadeur) certainly got a lot of accolades; don't overlook the Le Premier as it actually is the better size. It's also one of the better Connecticut Shade cigars in the near Churchill fort as I have struggled to find high-performing Connecticut Shade cigars in that format.
The Joya de Nicaragua Numero Uno marks the fifth year that Joya de Nicaragua has landed on the Cigar Coop Countdown. It is also the third Nicaraguan cigar that has landed on the Countdown as we continue to count up.
For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria:
Thursday Dec 16, 2021
Thursday Dec 16, 2021
Coming in at #24 is the Joya de Nicaragua Numero Uno Le Premier. One certainly can make the point that Joya de Nicaragua's Numero Uno has become one of the most decorated brands in the company's 50 plus year history. The story of this blend is well-documented. Numero Uno is a project that started out as a private blend where it was handed out to Nicaraguan ambassadors who would gift them to world leaders. It later became a Joya de Nicaragua event-only cigar called Joya de Nicaragua No. 1 – which was a 6 5/8 x 44 Lonsdale. In 2018, that event-only cigar was named the #1 Cigar of the Year on Halfwheel. It was a shocking selection considering the cigar was designated only for events. Following that honor, Joya de Nicaragua decided to rebrand the Joya de Nicaragua No. 1 to Joya de Nicaragua Numero Uno. In 2019, a second size was released known as the Le Premier - a near-Churchill sized offering of the brand. It's the Numero Uno Le Premier that lands on this year's Countdown.
The blend for Numero Uno features an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and fillers. When the original Lonsdale size was created, the blend itself was described as an offshoot of the Joya de Nicaragua Clasico, but still different than the Clasico. Le Premier measures 6 7/8 x 48. Numero Uno is an ongoing production, but one done on a more limited basis.
Flavor-wise, the Joya de Nicaragua Numero Uno will give you notes of cream, earth, wood, black pepper, nut, and a signature lemon-citrus note that sets this cigar apart. While the Lonsdale (known as L’Ambassadeur) certainly got a lot of accolades; don't overlook the Le Premier as it actually is the better size. It's also one of the better Connecticut Shade cigars in the near Churchill fort as I have struggled to find high-performing Connecticut Shade cigars in that format.
The Joya de Nicaragua Numero Uno marks the fifth year that Joya de Nicaragua has landed on the Cigar Coop Countdown. It is also the third Nicaraguan cigar that has landed on the Countdown as we continue to count up.
For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria:
Wednesday Dec 15, 2021
Wednesday Dec 15, 2021
Coming in at #25 is the Protocol Eliot Ness Natural. The Eliot Ness Natural is part of the second set of blends released as a part of Protocol Cigars’ Lawmen series. The Lawmen Series is intended to be a more premium line in the Protocol Cigars’ portfolio. The idea behind the Lawmen Series is to pay homage to some of the law enforcement heroes throughout history. In this case, it’s a cigar that honors Eliot Ness, the famous prohibition agent who helped bring down Al Capone. The Eliot Ness was released in two blends, a Natural and Maduro. It’s the Natural that cracked the Top 25 in 2021.
The blend to the Protocol Eliot Ness Natural features 100% Nicaraguan tobaccos. This includes a Nicaraguan Habano wrapper, a Habano binder from Estelí, Nicaragua, and all-Nicaraguan fillers highlighted by Criollo tobacco. Protocol Cigars’ has stated this is the first time it has released a blend without ligero. The cigar was released in a 6 x 52 box-pressed Toro. Protocol is still working through Espinosa Cigars for production, but this cigar is actually rolled at AJ Fernandez’s San Lotano factory – a factory to which Espinosa has offset a good portion of its own production.
The Protocol Eliot Ness Natural delivered a medium strength, medium-bodied smoking experience from start to finish This cigar produced notes of natural tobacco, earth, citrus, cream, and black pepper. The flavor notes complemented each other very nicely.
2021 marks the fourth year that Protocol Cigars has landed on the Countdown. It also marks Protocol’s first cigar on the Countdown since 2018. Protocol is a small company, but over the past six years, it has built an impressive core portfolio, and the Protocol Eliot Ness Natural is another example of the excellent quality the company can deliver.
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-lBR
Wednesday Dec 15, 2021
Wednesday Dec 15, 2021
Coming in at #25 is the Protocol Eliot Ness Natural. The Eliot Ness Natural is part of the second set of blends released as a part of Protocol Cigars’ Lawmen series. The Lawmen Series is intended to be a more premium line in the Protocol Cigars’ portfolio. The idea behind the Lawmen Series is to pay homage to some of the law enforcement heroes throughout history. In this case, it’s a cigar that honors Eliot Ness, the famous prohibition agent who helped bring down Al Capone. The Eliot Ness was released in two blends, a Natural and Maduro. It’s the Natural that cracked the Top 25 in 2021.
The blend to the Protocol Eliot Ness Natural features 100% Nicaraguan tobaccos. This includes a Nicaraguan Habano wrapper, a Habano binder from Estelí, Nicaragua, and all-Nicaraguan fillers highlighted by Criollo tobacco. Protocol Cigars’ has stated this is the first time it has released a blend without ligero. The cigar was released in a 6 x 52 box-pressed Toro. Protocol is still working through Espinosa Cigars for production, but this cigar is actually rolled at AJ Fernandez’s San Lotano factory – a factory to which Espinosa has offset a good portion of its own production.
The Protocol Eliot Ness Natural delivered a medium strength, medium-bodied smoking experience from start to finish This cigar produced notes of natural tobacco, earth, citrus, cream, and black pepper. The flavor notes complemented each other very nicely.
2021 marks the fourth year that Protocol Cigars has landed on the Countdown. It also marks Protocol’s first cigar on the Countdown since 2018. Protocol is a small company, but over the past six years, it has built an impressive core portfolio, and the Protocol Eliot Ness Natural is another example of the excellent quality the company can deliver.
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-lBR
Tuesday Dec 14, 2021
Tuesday Dec 14, 2021
Coming in at #26 is the Illusione Epernay 10th Anniversary D’Aosta. 2019 marked the tenth anniversary of Illusione’s Epernay line, and the Illusione Epernay 10th Anniversary D’Aosta was created to commemorate that occasion.The Illusione Epernay is considered somewhat of a game-changing cigar. For a long time, cigars with Nicaraguan tobaccos were often associated with strong and bold, but when it came to the Epernay line, owner Dion Giolito went in the opposite direction and delivered a cigar subtle and refined in flavor.
The 10th Anniversary D’Aosta is a 100% Nicaraguan puro. While most of Illusione’s production has shifted to TABSA in Nicaragua, the Epernay line is still produced at Raices Cubanas in Honduras. Consistent with the Epernay line, the Illusione Epernay 10th Anniversary D’Aosta is also produced at Raices Cubanas. The D’Aosta vitola is a standard 6 x 50 Toro.
The Illusione 10th Anniversary D’Aosta maintained the subtle and refined flavors I have come to expect from the core Epernay line. It’s a cigar mild to medium in strength and body, but loaded with complexity and flavor. This cigar delivers notes of natural tobacco, earth, cedar, citrus, must, baker’s spice, black pepper, cream, and nuts.
This marks the fifth year Illusione has landed on the Cigar Coop Countdown. It also is Illusione’s first countdown cigar since 2016.The Illusione 10th Anniversary D’Aosta maintained the subtle and refined flavors I have come to expect from the core Epernay line. It’s a cigar mild to medium in strength and body, but loaded with complexity and flavor. This cigar delivers notes of natural tobacco, earth, cedar, citrus, must, baker’s spice, black pepper, cream, and nuts.
This marks the fifth year Illusione has landed on the Cigar Coop Countdown. It also is Illusione’s first countdown cigar since 2016.
For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria:
Tuesday Dec 14, 2021
Tuesday Dec 14, 2021
Coming in at #26 is the Illusione Epernay 10th Anniversary D’Aosta. 2019 marked the tenth anniversary of Illusione’s Epernay line, and the Illusione Epernay 10th Anniversary D’Aosta was created to commemorate that occasion.The Illusione Epernay is considered somewhat of a game-changing cigar. For a long time, cigars with Nicaraguan tobaccos were often associated with strong and bold, but when it came to the Epernay line, owner Dion Giolito went in the opposite direction and delivered a cigar subtle and refined in flavor.
The 10th Anniversary D’Aosta is a 100% Nicaraguan puro. While most of Illusione’s production has shifted to TABSA in Nicaragua, the Epernay line is still produced at Raices Cubanas in Honduras. Consistent with the Epernay line, the Illusione Epernay 10th Anniversary D’Aosta is also produced at Raices Cubanas. The D’Aosta vitola is a standard 6 x 50 Toro.
The Illusione 10th Anniversary D’Aosta maintained the subtle and refined flavors I have come to expect from the core Epernay line. It’s a cigar mild to medium in strength and body, but loaded with complexity and flavor. This cigar delivers notes of natural tobacco, earth, cedar, citrus, must, baker’s spice, black pepper, cream, and nuts.
This marks the fifth year Illusione has landed on the Cigar Coop Countdown. It also is Illusione’s first countdown cigar since 2016.The Illusione 10th Anniversary D’Aosta maintained the subtle and refined flavors I have come to expect from the core Epernay line. It’s a cigar mild to medium in strength and body, but loaded with complexity and flavor. This cigar delivers notes of natural tobacco, earth, cedar, citrus, must, baker’s spice, black pepper, cream, and nuts.
This marks the fifth year Illusione has landed on the Cigar Coop Countdown. It also is Illusione’s first countdown cigar since 2016.
For details of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2021 criteria:
Tuesday Dec 14, 2021
Tuesday Dec 14, 2021
The Grammy Awards are scheduled for Monday January 31, 2022 and the nominations are out. On Episode 58, we take a look at the key categories and who the nominees are, then decide who we want to win and who we thin think the Grammys will pick.
We also pay homage to the late Michael Nesmith and Paquito Guzman.
On this show, Dave smokes an Oliva Serie O and Will smokes the All Saints St. Francis Oscuro Toro.
As always you can follow along with our Spotify Playlist:
References
- Top 50 of 2021 / #50 – 46: Comebacks and a Record That Lived in Myth
- Top 50 of 2021 / #45 – 41: Aussie Music Coming Strong, Musicals and California
- Top 50 of 2021 / #40 – 36: African Music Icons, K- Pop and Our First Look at Taylor Swift
- Michael Nesmith Dead at 78
- Salsa Legend Paquito Guzmán Dies at 82
- 2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Nominations List
- Kennedy Center Honors to Fete Joni Mitchell, Bette Midler, Lorne Michaels, Justino Díaz and Berry Gordy
- 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs
- Toto IV
Tuesday Dec 14, 2021
Tuesday Dec 14, 2021
The Grammy Awards are scheduled for Monday January 31, 2022 and the nominations are out. On Episode 58, we take a look at the key categories and who the nominees are, then decide who we want to win and who we thin think the Grammys will pick.
We also pay homage to the late Michael Nesmith and Paquito Guzman.
On this show, Dave smokes an Oliva Serie O and Will smokes the All Saints St. Francis Oscuro Toro.
As always you can follow along with our Spotify Playlist:
References
- Top 50 of 2021 / #50 – 46: Comebacks and a Record That Lived in Myth
- Top 50 of 2021 / #45 – 41: Aussie Music Coming Strong, Musicals and California
- Top 50 of 2021 / #40 – 36: African Music Icons, K- Pop and Our First Look at Taylor Swift
- Michael Nesmith Dead at 78
- Salsa Legend Paquito Guzmán Dies at 82
- 2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Nominations List
- Kennedy Center Honors to Fete Joni Mitchell, Bette Midler, Lorne Michaels, Justino Díaz and Berry Gordy
- 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs
- Toto IV
Monday Dec 13, 2021
Monday Dec 13, 2021
Coming in at #27 is the Quesada 1974 Robusto. The Quesada 1974 was introduced in 2019. It’s a cigar that commemorates the year the Quesada family would open its first cigar factory, Manufactura de Tabacos S.A. (MATASA, now known as the Quesada factory). Over the years, the factory has established itself as one of the premier factories in the world. Originally the Quesada 1974 made its debut early in 2019 in Spain (a strong market for Quesada Cigars) before launching in the U.S. market later that year.
The blend to the Quesada 1974 features a Cameroon seed wrapper grown in Ecuador. There are Dominican tobaccos on the binder and filler, along with some additional Nicaraguan tobacco used in the filler. The Dominican tobaccos were grown directly by the Quesada factory. The Robusto size comes in the popular 5 x 50 format.
The Quesada 1974 delivered a medium strength, medium-bodied smoking experience from start to finish This cigar produced notes of natural tobacco, dried fruit, wood, white pepper, and cream. The Quesada 1974 is a cigar that not only delivers good flavor, but also delivers very balanced flavors from start to finish.
Historically, Quesada Cigars has had a very good showing on Cigar Coop Countdowns. 2021 marks the seventh year there has been a Quesada Cigar on the Countdown. It’s also the first Dominican-made cigar to land on the 2021 edition.
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-lAy