Cigars and Other Happenings

Lots has been happening around the Hillbilly Hilton of late. The biggest happening was that, after 3 long months of searching, I finally went back to work.  I accepted a position with the West Valley View.  A twice weekly, 100% advertising supported, newspaper with a distribution of just under 80,000.  

It's hard to explain but once the "ink gets in your blood" there is something about the smell of  ink going on the paper and noise when a 12 unit web press is running. I have experienced this only once before. When I spent a lot time around the CART, Champ Car/Indy Car Series and was often heard saying "I love the smell of Methanol in the morning"

For me this is also the first time since 2006, that my commute is actually less 45 minutes. The offices of the West Valley View are about 5 miles from the house and I'm loving it. Community Newspapers are a completely different environment, than working at a metro daily, and I am glad to back in this environment.

The end of my being  a "ward of the state," a euphemism for unemployment, was celebrated with an Epicurean Armando Gutierrez (AG) Vintage 2007 from Steve Ysidron.  I would describe this cigar as fairly  complex with a variety of flavors. Construction seemed to be a bit of an issue and several touch ups were needed.  All in all it was good smoke and I believe that it will only get better with a month or two in the humidor.

Monday was President's Day and I couldn't think of a better cigar to smoke than the Reagan 40th from my friends at Ezra Zion.  In a nutshell the Reagan 40th, the first in the Ezra Zion Honor Series, is flavorful and well constructed. It did not require a single touch-up and well I smoked it down to the nub.  As of this writing the Ezra Zion is available, in Phoenix, only at Goodfellas Cigar Lounge.  Shaun actually sold out eight (8) boxes in three (3) day's!  EIGHT BOXES IN THREE DAYS!

Reaganomics is making a comeback with this cigar!

We have a good little group in the West Valley Cigar Club. All totaled I think there are about 100 members.  At our monthly meet-ups we usually have about 20-25 members in attendance   During the summer months, our meet-ups are held at one of three locations, Fair Oaks Cigars, Ambassador Cigars West, or Fine Ash Cigars. When it is cooler we meet on the cigar friendly patio of Johnny Foxes Public house in Peoria. 

The meet-ups at Johnny Foxes you bring your own cigars, in which case Thursday was Good Day for Guinness and an Emilio Cigars AF-2

Last month I was fortunate to spend a bit of time with Lana Frasier, the premium event manager for General Cigar Company.  This Partagas Series Z perfecto was a gift from Lana.  Thanks Lana and it was a pleasure meeting you.

Until next time...

#KeepATightAsh

Dissemination

So it's been about two weeks since I announced that I had been asked to be a Disseminator or "Brand Ambassador" if you will, for Emilio Cigars and the lines that they distribute,  These lines are some of the hottest boutique brands on the market and include in no particular order Nomad Cigar Co, 1502, Epicurean, Guaycan, Rodrigo and Herederos de Robania.

These brands have been rewarded with, for lack of a better word, 90 plus ratings by several industry publications and websites. To help you, my readers and followers, identify the Emilio Cigars and they lines they distribute I will use the hashtag #Disseminator to those mentions on this blog.

A couple of weeks ago I received a message from the Atlantic City Cigar Company, that I had won a bundle of Padilla Habano Reserva Torpedos.I have smoked one or two of them but as it is a fairly new release, August 2012, it does need some time to rest in the humidor to realize its full potential 

I love it when I head into cigar lounge and a customer or employee tells me that I have to try something new.

That was the case with the EH Cultura the end result of a collaboration with between Edgar Hoill and CLE.

I liked the unique shape and size of this vitola called a Trompeta which is a  4 1/2" x 38 x 54 ring gauge.  This Cigar is a Nicaraguan Puro in its finest form 

Epicurean Cigars (#Disseminator) is the brainchild of Steve Ysidron, formerly of Savinelli, and launched almost a year ago,  The first two cigars were the Armando Gutierrez (AG),which is a tribute to Ysidron's Great Grandfather, and the Gonzo.  The Gonzo is a limited release cigar that is has or will have a total of 50,000 cigars produced in 5 sizes. At the IPCPR, in August of 2012, Epicurean announced the third cigar in the line, the AG Azul.

As of today, I have enjoyed the Gonzo, a 6' x 52  box pressed cigar, that I smoked to the final half inch.

My last post, talked about the Emilio Cigar (#Disseminator) AF-Sauve, AF-1 and  AF2   there are two other lines in their portfolio the La Musa (formerly the Grimalkin) and the Draig K.

In the La Musa lines there are two blends to tickle your palette  The medium bodied Mousa and the fuller bodied Melete. I can tell you these cigars did not disappoint.  Again it is no wonder that the Mousa received a 92 rating in the May/June 2012 issue of Cigar Snob!

Ah the Draig K, been wanting to try this one for a long time.  I knew of one place in the PHX that was fortunate to have this in their humidor. I was on the east side of the valley for an interview so it made sense to swing by Fox Cigar Bar in Gilbert for a cigar and a cheesesteak from Geno's.

Full disclosure here I do not think this establishment is affiliated in any way shape for form the with the Original Geno's in Philadelphia, but they do have Tastykakes!

Dark and Oily, and due to the wrapper ability to retain moisture, it was recommended to me the that Idry box the cigar for 24 hours before smoking. A day or so before I wanted to smoke this bad boy, I took it out of my humidor and placed it in a non humidified travel case with a cedar lining. This really helped with along the way, I did not have to relight or touch up this cigar, and the burn was even, consistent with the other cigars from Emilio. I would describe the cigar as medium bodied but full of flavor. 

BREAKING NEWS: (#Disseminator) Goodfellas Cigar Lounge, as of yesterday, is the ONLY store in the PHX to have the Ezra Zion line of cigars in its humidor and according to Shaun, at Goodfellas,  they are flying off the shelves! So Go Getcha Self Some! NOW! Like right this very minute!

Ezra Zion debuted in July of 2012, and lets just say the reviews are nothing short of phenomenal. Yesterday,  I enjoyed the Jamais Vu, one of the last with the Inception label on the foot.  I must say this cigar lived up to the "hype."  I can only imagine what will happen to this cigar after it rests in the humidor for a while.

Currently there are two cigars in Ezra Zion's portfolio. The Reagan 40th is the first cigar released under Ezra Zion Honor Series banner, and is a tribute to our 40th President.  I am saving this cigar, for a battle of the Presidents with Jon Shattuck (@cigarguy86) who has an Obama 44 from Segovia Cigars in his humidor.
There is no doubt in my mind the Reagan 40th will dominate this battle.

During an interview ast week, on Cigar Chat, the folks at Ezra Zion revealed that they have three new releases planned for 2013. One of the releases will be the 2nd cigar in the Honor Series which will be a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, and will be called the MLK.  Thinking about future releases I'd like to start lobbying for a fellow Brother of the Leaf, the great NYC Mayor and America's Mayor Rudolph Giuliani be named to a future Honor Series Cigar.

Until next time....

Go figure on this one, while heading into a super secret  meeting to plan a super secret event to occur in  November, I was pointed in the direction of this little gem The Perdomo P2 Limited Edition 2008.  The cigar is a medium to full bodied that is extremely well balanced. BTW The Chairman tried to swipe the bands for his collection, Homey don't play that! I need it for my Journal!

Continuing to work my way through the Emilio family of Cigars, yesterday I took from my humidor, which by the way is FINALLY stabilized nicely at 68-70%, the Emilio AF-1. The  last time I had one of these was, back in September, during a launch party at Fine Ash Cigars here in Avondale.   This Cigar is currently available in two locations in Arizona, Fox Cigar Bar in Chandler and Goodfella's Cigar Lounge in Phoenix.

This cigar has a dark and somewhat oily San Andreas Maduro wrapper. I smoked it down to the nubbin, again using my small eyeglass screwdriver to hold the nubbin try to get every thing out of this Robusto that I could.

Logic dictates that the next cigar I smoke should, in theory, be the AF-2

Anyway, Super Bowl Sunday tomorrow, not sure where I am going to watch the game. Rest assured there will be plenty of cigars.

Stay tuned for information about the Super Secret Event in November.

Exciting News

dis·sem·i·nate  

Verb Spread or disperse (something, esp. information) widely

/diˈseməˌnāt/

Earlier this week I as was asked to be part of a pilot program for Emilio Cigars called the Disseminators.  Emilio Cigars is the manufacturer/distributor of the AF Series (AF Suave, AF-1, AF-2), Series H, Draig K, and the La Musa lines of cigars.  Additionally Emilio Cigars distributes the Ezra Zion, 1052 (GPC), Epicureon, Rodrigo, Herederos De Robaina, Guayacan,and Nomad Cigar Co., brands of Cigars.

Gary Griffith, Owner of Emilio Cigars, announced the formation of the Disseminators on his blog, From Seed to Smoke earlier today.  Click on the link to learn more about what I will doing in my role as a Disseminator.

What up everybody so glad you're here. It's Coolio with the flow back in your ear. 

Been busier than a one legged man in an ass kicking contest.  Job searching is a job in itself hopefully something will come up soon.  

January - March is the season, event season, in the PHX. Auction week kick off the events,  Auction week includes Barrett Jackson, Russo and Steele, Gooding and Co., RM Auctions and Kruse Auction and this year alone there was nearly $234,000,000 in sales.  Among the top sellers was the George Barris' Batmobile which went to some asshat for $4,200,000!  

Auction Season, is followed by the Waste Management Phoenix Open, NASCAR at PIR, and Cactus League Spring Training.

I got to spend some time with Lana Fraser, the Premium Event Manager for General Cigar, when she was hanging out in the Cohiba Lounge at Barrett Jackson.

Recently, I enjoyed a La Gloria Cubana Wavell a very nice medium bodied cigar that I think is often overlooked. This is prompting me to bring back Wavell Wednesday. I mean look at the ash on that cigar....

One of the more unique cigars I have acquired is the CAO Left Coast.  Exclusive to Cigar Shops on the West Coast, this massive 6 3/4 x 74, is actually shaped like a Trapezoid.

As I am unemployed, and Arizona Unemployment Benefit is a paltry $240 per week, I am all about the budget cigar.  Ambassador Fine Cigars has a bundle package of 10 Cigars for $45.  The retail value of the cigars is approximately $100.  There is a little bit of this and a little bit of that in each package but I tell you these cigars have some serious age to them. Which make smoking them all the more enjoyable.   This past weekend, I enjoyed the Gurkha Beast (MSRP was roughly $21).For this picture I put the cigar and the wrapper up against my wife's portable photo studio to show the age as evidenced by the discoloration of the wrapper. 

So I am sitting on the Hillbilly Hilton (TM) minding my own business, and I drop my lighter.  Now the damn thing won't work. I grab my wife's bic and the cedar that wrapped the a fore mentioned Gurkha.  The cedar won't stay lit, the metal on the lighter burnt my fingers trying light this behemoth of a cigar.  Getting frustrated I decide use this bad boy toast my cigar.  Thank God, the profile didn't change to that of Lamp Oil! 

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:

If your wife, girlfriend, mother, grandmother are into paper arts (card making, scrap-booking, etc.,) follow my wife's blog Passionate Paper Creations

The photo below actually uses a box from Kristoff Cigars as its "foundation." I am very proud of her especially since her work was recognized by Hobby Lobby and by design teams as far away as Australia.

There is this cigar line that I have been trying to get my hands on, and when I set my mind to doing something I get er done.  Emilio Cigars, as of last count I think there is only one, maybe two stores,  that carries them in Arizona (Fox Cigar Bar in Chandler and Goodfella's in Phoenix).  Earlier this week, courtesy of  Kevin Bishop, I added to my Humidor the  Emilio AF-Sauve, the AF-1, the AF-2 and the Le Musa Movao.  Part of  the reason I was hellbent on getting these cigars was because Gary Griffith, the owner of Emilio Cigars, was one of my first followers when I started posting #NowSmoking Tweets.  Gary's interaction with his customers, retailers, and other manufacturers is second to none and I respect that.

Yesterday I lit up the Emilio AF-Suave, This cigar has beautiful Ecuadorian Connecticut Wrapper and for a Connecticut was fairly complex. I smoked it down to the nubbin, using a small eyeglass screwdriver to hold the nubbin try to get every thing out of this Robusto that I could.

Finally, Saturday marked one year since our friend Bruce Gaudet was taken from us.  Bruce was a Sales Rep for General Cigar in the Western Region.  I also had to priviledge of working with him on the promotion of several events held at Ambassador Cigars

RIP Bruce and know that you are missed...

My First Blog Post of 2013

Feliz Ano's Nuevo....

So far it's been a smokin new year, with lots of great cigars to be enjoyed.  I will be doing things differently this year.  Chris Davidson (@psu_chris) brought up the question about tracking your inventory.  I, with a boatload of help from Chris, have been playing with a variety of options, everything ranging from Cigar Boss and other apps, to my Journal, to excel.  At this juncture I am leaning towards the excel option until someone (hint, hint) develops or releases a better mouse trap.  Here are a couple of snapshots of what I have been doing, it also is helping me with my handwritten journal, which will soon consist of "many leather bound books."PS I also keep a printed copy folded inside my journal.

I started off the year, with another Foundry at the suggestion of another #BOTL,  this time I tried the Cayley.

The Cayley measures 6 1/2 x 60 x 56 x 43 and has a wrapper that is proprietary to General Cigar. The Cayley was a much more enjoyable smoke that the Wells or the Lovelace, but it still not what a boutique cigar should be.  With the Cayley I also experienced some construction issue up near the band, which I am beginning to thing has something to do with the metal gear positioned over the band itself.

The Mundos Semilia Habano Grand #1,  Little is known about this cigar, except that this is or was a Tatuaje project.  As I understand this particular cigar uses B & C grade tobacco and my experience with this particular blend was that it was a bit on the tight side and not overly complex.

I am becoming a big fan of the San Cristobal line from Ashton.  Here is the San Cristobal Classico, this cigar had a nice amount  age on it and good flavors throughout, it was dark, oily, earthy with notes of chocolate and espresso.

Short on time pick one of these up, the Oliva Series G SPCL G, a great value at $4.55.  A nice medium bodied cigar, with a nice tight white ash.

I am also a big fan of Habano wrappers, This EP Carillo Club 52 had a bit of earth, wood, and leather.  However there were some construction issues which consisted of unraveling in the last third of the cigar.

I love perfecto cigars, which is narrow at both ends and slightly bulged in the middle. I don't know why I just do.  This Avo 787 is well aged, which is becoming quite common for my humidor, medium-bodied with plenty of sweetness and excellent balance. The cigar developed into a creamy cigar with flavors of  roasted nut flavors.

Dark in color very oily, and very full bodied is the best way to describe the Viaje 50/50 black label.  It is definitely not a first stick of the day.  Viaje does it again, and is one of my favorite boutique cigars.

Here is a solid, and I mean solid, medium bodied cigar with a wood flavor profile that transitioned into a  flavor profile that is not only rich, but earthy and includes notes of chocolate in the last third. This cigar is  also slightly box pressed, which I liked a alot.  Thanks to Stephen La Pre Jr (@CigarChairman) for the gift it was very much appreciated.  

Until next time stay toasting, uh toasty...it's cold in the PHX!

My Final Post for 2012

I smoked a lot cigars this year...and I am actually working on a list if the Top 10 (maybe Top 25) of the Cigars that I enjoyed in 2012. There is more activity to be posted not to mention adding to my written Journal the last few bands and notes from the cigars I smoked in December.

One of the first smokes I had when we returned from Maul, was the Graycliff Crystal PG, which I paired with a Big Wave Ale, from the Kona Brewing Compnay.  The Graycliff line is relatively expensive, $20 or so per stick, this particular stick was part of a Groupon promotion, $100 worth of Cigars for $45)  that I was aloud to purchase without purchasing the actual Groupon.  The nice thing about this Groupon is the Cigars were well aged, some 10 years or more.

New releases, I like trying new releases, however on occasion they let you down.  This was the case with the Foundry, General Cigar Co's, attempt at creating a "Boutique Cigar"  The metal gear on the band is interesting but I think the weight contributes to construction issues that I, and many others, have experienced with this cigar (see second photo). This is the 6 x 50 or "Wells" which is its given name...

This A Torrent Puro Corojo Robusto is rich in flavor and complexity....

How about the age on this here Avo Signature Robusto...

Sunday is for football, which requires a bit of a longer smoke, here is the Jose Seijas Signature Series Belicoso.  This cigar was very well received in 2005 and 2006, having Cigar Insider named Seijas Signature Series the best cigar made in the Dominican Republic in its December 2005 issue. Cigar Aficionado chose Seijas Signature Series as one of the 10 best cigars of 2006, and Robb Report included it among its Best of the Best!

Due to a heavy travel schedule I missed the West Valley Cigar Club dinner this year.  Churchill's Fine Cigars in Glendale held a private tasting for 21 members (as that is the number of cigars in a box) of the Papacayo XXL, a lovely little 6 x 60, and thanks again Chet for providing the Yuengling.

Until some Brothers of the Leaf got together and sent a friend who was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer I never tried a Xikar HC Series Cigar.  That sounds odd but here's the back story a few weeks back a  few of us, who connected on #Twitter, chipped in $10 to purchase a pick me up gift for Scott.  When Xikar got wind of this, they donated to our cause a Xikar Lighter, we in turn sent him  Xikar Cigars and Visa Gift Card.  

Below is the Xikar HC Series Churchill...here's to Scott's nuts!

CAR PORN

Did you know Tesla has a dealership in Scottsdale, AZ? Yup that's right it's in a Mall!

I think I am one of the few that actually enjoy the Zino Platinum lines, I haven't had a bad cigar from this line

This is the 643C ( or 6 x 43 Corona)...Now if only I could procure the Zino Mobile lounge to chauffeur me around for interviews that would be awesome.

Great Cigar from Gurkha, I believe it is one of the Master Select's that has been sitting in the humidor of Ambassador Fine Cigars for a long time.and yes that's a v-cut!

So 12/21/12 was supposedly the end of days, in fact I learned that the time that this was to occur was 11:11am.  So I arrived at Portofino's Fine Cigars at 11am and lit up an Illusione 68.  The world did not end, but damn I enjoyed this cigar.

MORE CAR PORN

All I want for Christmas

I got neither...

I've been getting some flack about not visiting my old friends at the Scottsdale Location of Ambassador Fine Cigars, so I made an appearance to spread my Christmas Cheer.  Here is the 2012 Holiday Edition Cigar from Viaje, the Candy Cane. AKA a Barbershop Pole Cigar.  This Cigar comes in one size a 6 x 54 and has closed foot and has been described as an entertaining cigar.

Illusione has become one of my favorites....here is the Illusione mj12 which to me is a stellar cigar in Construction, Appearance, Flavors and Price!

This had all the makings of a disaster! I carefully selected this cigar from my humidor, walked outside to side smoke and damn near walked through the glass arcadia door! the Cigar was the first thing to make contact with the door! It smoked great with really no other issues other than my own stupidity.

Romeo y Julieta used to be my go to smoke. Since Grady Watson told me I wasn't aloud to smoke any more of these I really haven't smoked any of them, then when LJ arrived it was on! On liker Donkey Kong.  Here is the Romeo y Juliets 1875 Anniversario Robusto (5 x 52)

This year I have a few Cusano's none of which blew my socks off.  This one different the Cusano 10th Anniversary.  As I understand it Michael Chiusano hoped to mimic the blend of the Montecristo #4 Habano, and apparently he got damn close!

So that's it another year in the books.  I'll close the book with my top 25 cigars that I smoked in 2012.  There is no particular order to My Top 25

• Cuenca y Blanco 
• Ortego Series D Maduro
• La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor Reserva
• CLE Corojo
• San Lotano Oval Maduro 
• My Fathers Flor de las Antillas
• Emilio AF-1 
• Tatuaje Cojonu 2012
• Nat Sherman Timeless Collection Hermoso
• Four Kicks Selection #5
• Tatuaje Old Man & the C (2012)
• Aging Room F55
• Aging Room Havao
• Tatuaje TAA 2012
• L'Atelier LAT52
• El Suelo Prado Belicoso
• Asylum Premium Torpedo
• Trocadero Cambon
• Perdomo 20th Anniversary Maduro
• 262 Revere Toro
• CAO Concert
• Room 101 Daruma Mutante
• Crowned Heads Headley Grange 
• San Cristobal Papacayo XXL
• La Duena Belicoso #2 

Onto 2013....