DogWatch Cigar Radio #245 - Third Third of a Cigar
10-25-2009 The Cigar of the Week is the HC Series Criollo Lonsdale. One of the more talked about introductions this summer, Xikar brought out their HC Series Cigar Collection in three different blends. The HC Series is blended in partnership with Jesus Fuego. This month we feature the Criollo blend in the 6 x 46 Lonsdale format. Both the wrapper & binder are shade grown Criollo leaf from Nicaragua, with the wrapper having 4 years of aging. The filler blend is Nicaraguan & Honduran tobaccos. Together they deliver a medium bodied smoke with some leather & tea flavors, complimented by some caramel sweetness.
A little follow-up on the UPC conversation started last week identifies some manufacturers making it easier on the retailers.
Craig Rich joins us from the chat room to ask the hard questions! He interviews us on our own show!
Discussion on "body" in a cigar. We try to separate myth from truth!
On the Dark Side - Marque - Bolivar, Frontmark - Petite Belicosos Edicion Limitada 2009, Vitola - Petit Pyramid, 52 x 125 mm (4.9") This cigar has the Special Release Bolivar band (the word Cuba underneath the word Habana in the center) as well as the second gold & black Edicion Limitada band. The are packaged in dress boxes of 25 cigars.
Also, the passing of of the former director of Cubatabaco, Fransisco Padron.
What Else have the DWCR guys been smokin'? Avalon 38, Oliva Series O Torpedo, Gurkha Centenary Blend Liga C-10 Micro Batch, J Sanchez y Gomez Herencia, Padron 1964, Cu Avana Intenso.
Congratulations to Tony Matsura, this week's winner of a one year subscription to European Cigar Cult Journal!
What's My Band? Bob smokes an Arganese Nicaragua Corona, Dale smokes a Gran Habanos 3 Siglos.
Opening theme music provided by 25 Smokin' Figurados from their album Divine Spirits, Holy Smoke.
Closing theme Longboard Cowboy provided by The Surfonics.
;)
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Reader Comments (6)
I found the discussion of "body" to be absolutely maddening. I thought Dale's explanation was very easy to understand, even if Bob didn't. But here's the thing that rI can't figure out: If, as Bob said, body refers to the depth or intensity of flavor, then when Bob calls a cigar "full bodied and full flavored", isn't he being redundant?
Yes it is redundant when I say full bodied and full flavored. That is why we need a common terminology. My point in the conversation was that body should refer to one or the other. Question is, how do we decide so that everyone knows what we mean when we use the words? I apologize for it being so maddening, often times discussions over semantics and terminology are but, we need to have such discussions to arrive at a common starting place. I appreciate you taking the time to comment here, this is helpful to the discussion as well.
I personally think the discussion on 'body' was hilarious and it's one of the reasons I keep coming back week after week. As always thanks for another great show Bob and Dale and keep up the good work. Cheers.
An email from Brian Parent
Hi Bob & Dale!
First...I wanted to thank you guys for putting together a fantastic show every week. All the time and effort is much appreciated by the millions of podcast listeners that "tune" you guys in each week. Personally, you are the entertainment that takes the pain out of my drive home from work each day. Also, thanks for introducing us to some great products! I especially appreciate the introduction to two brands that are now in my humidor every day...Jameson and the Puckifier. GREAT products!
I wanted to comment on some,...well,...debate that occurred in episode #245 when the two of you were discussing how to describe cigars. I have to admit, the two of you have provided quite a bit of education to me but their always did seem to be a bit of difference in how you describe cigars. On this one, (sorry Bob!) I have to clearly side with Dale. When I think of the various characteristics of a cigar, I put them into 3 categories:
* Flavor - I use this to describe the intensity of the most prominent flavors in the cigar. For instance, if the cigar has a prominent flavor of cedar, how intense (obvious) is that flavor? Mild?, Medium?, Strong?
* Body - When I think of body, I think of how much the smoke coats the mouth. An example of this might be drinking a glass of water (clean, light, short finish) to a glass of buttermilk (thick, deep, long full finish)
* Strength - Let's call this what it is....how strong the nicotine is in the cigar.
I think you guys hit the nail on the head when you said how important it is to use a consistent method of describing cigars, otherwise confusion and mass hysteria sets in!!!! Can you guys use the same terms? Bob???
Thanks guys...keep the good stuff coming!
Hi Bob,
I have looked far & wide on the Tobacco Univ's site and can not find the information you mentioned about Toothpaste. Is there anyway you can discuss this in detail next week or email me with the products I should be considering? Thanks
With Respect,
Craig
Kurtdesign1
On the question of ph and oral hygiene, in retracing my steps I discovered that I started here: http://www.tobacconistuniversity.org/taste-college/phbalance1.asp
which lead me to this on the ChiefHava blog:
http://havacigar.blogspot.com/2008/11/oral-hygiene-for-cigar-smokers.html