DogWatch Cigar Radio Podcast # 303
12-6-2010 Angry Bill checks in from the LawDog Lounge and reviews a Punch Punch. Bob talks about his visit to the Ybor City Cigar and Heritage Festival where he met up with DogWatch listener Mark Hall from Dayton, Ohio. In addition to being a long-time listener, Mark administers a cigar friendly web site (http://www.tobaccoevents.com/) that lists cigar events for Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, and Illinois. The site also includes great articles of interest, product reviews, photos and videos, product offers from local retailers, and smoker-friendly locations. Bob and Dale are planning another live show for New Years Eve! Details coming soon. Check out livestream.com/cigar_radio the new home (maybe) for our live recording sessions and enhanced chat room. You might catch Bob & Dale at 9 pm EST on Fridays as they test the capabilities of their equipment in preparation for the live show on New Years Eve.
Cigar of the Week - Art Deco.
Developed by Nestor Miranda and rolled in the My Father Cigar factory in Estelli, this cigar is distributed by Miami Cigar and Company. Introduced at the 2010 International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailer convention (IPCPR), this new cigar's blend is 60 percent Nicaraguan Corojo 99 and 40 percent Dominican San Vicente, dual Dominican Criollo '98/Nicaraguan Habano '00 binder, and a dark, oily and aromatic Nicaraguan Corojo '06 wrapper leaf with a triple cap "We wanted to get Pepin out of his comfort zone, which is using Nicaraguan tobacco," said Nestor Miranda. "He accepted the challenge and came out with an amazing blend using 40% Dominican tobacco."
Instead of using traditional wooden boxes, the Nestor Miranda Art Deco will be sold in metallic art-deco designed tins with 21 cigars each. The sizes are:
Coffee Break / 4.5 x 50
Robusto Grande / 5.5 x 54
Gran Toro / 6 x 60
Dark Side - Romeo y Julieta Churchill
First produced in the 1850’s by Alvarez Rodriquez and Jose Garcia, the brand was named after the famous Shakespeare characters. In 1903 the brand was purchased by Jose Rodriquez Fernandez also known as Don Pepin. This was the personal cigar (produced only for him) of Winston Churchill until about 1947.
Factory name: Julieta 2
Ring Gauge: 47
Length: 7 inches
A true classic that ages well and is best with at least 3 years of age.Also available in an aluminum tube
What else have you been smokin' Dale?
Padilla Miami Churchill - 7 x 48 - One of the old line made for Padilla by Pepin Garcia, this cigar utilized Corojo tobacco for the wrapper & binder and Criollo for the filler. The cigar has a base of creamy smoothness with cedar, earthiness and leather being the main flavor components. There is also a definitive “Cuban Twang” type of spiciness in the last 3rd which is very nice. Room aroma was surprisingly mild, but on the palette there was plenty of flavor.
Vegas Robaina Edicion Regional Canada - 4.3” x 52 Petite Robaina - One of the 2009 ER releases, this cigar has the standard Robaina band with an additional Exclusivo Canada band below it. The factory size is actually a Petite Edmundo. Examples I smoked last year all had a tight draw, so I let a few sit a while. This latest one still was a bit snug in the draw, but very acceptable. Flavors very much like the Famosos, but perhaps a bit smoother. Lots of coffee bean, cocoa and peaty earthiness, with a creamy texture. Good spice in the middle of the cigar, growing to a sharp pepper in the last third. A wonderfully long finish accented by the coffee, but with a vanilla overtone. Thoroughly enjoyed this cigar and will dip in the box again more frequently now!
What else have you been smokin' Bob?
HC Habano Colorado - Grande 6x60 - Pre-smoke aroma is a sweet barnyard that lures you into the cigar. Although I am not typicaly a fan of 60 ring guage cigars, the aroma from the foot caused me to anxiously cut and light this fat boy. The HC Series is produced for Xikar by famed Cuban blender Jesus Fuego. The Habano Colorado engulfs the smoker in deep chocolates and a hint of sweetness that emphasizes the cigar's finely aged tobaccos. The filler is well packed with a dense ash, as if that really matters. What does matter is that the cigar smokes cool if you are careful with the draw which is gentle with only a slight hint of resistance. This is not a mild cigar but the strength is in the pure tobacco flavors and not borne of nicotine like some of today's macho blends. This is a long, engaging smoke not to be taken lightly or quickly. Just as a fine wine is meant to be savored, this is a cigar best enjoyed slowly - sipped and savored while one reflects on life and the glorious enjoyment of smoking fine cigars and the success of one's favorite sports team. Pardon me while I drift away for a few minutes enjoying this fine cigar.
I’m back, reluctantly, from a land where cigar smokers are free to enjoy their passion without oppressive laws or critical disdain from family and friends. But I digress, lets get back to the HC Series from Xikar. I have been smoking this darkly enticing cigar for about an hour now and it still shines through with its complexity shrouded in the simplicity of fine tobacco expertly blended. This is a fine cigar from Xikar and the hands of Jesus Fuego.
What's My Band? - #940: Siglo Limited Reserve VII
Bob: Another churchill, nice barnyard aroma on the foot. Slightly tannic flavor.
November Palio Cutter Contest Winner: Bob Baranek from Weymouth, Mass. won the carbon fiber Palio Cutter. Enter the December contest now to win a burl Palio Cutter.
Do you have a Herf Line Review? If you call and leave a cigar review on the herf line and it is played on the show, you will receive a DogWatch Cigar Radio patch! You can reach the Herfline at 321-594-4373 - or cigar.radio on Skype. You can also send email to theshow@cigarmedia.tv.
Origin of the term HERF: From Cigar Craig, http://cigarcraig.wordpress.com/2009/09/29/the-origin-of-the-word-herf/
Do you have a suggestion for the unbanded cigar of the week? Every week Bob and Dale include an “unbanded cigar” segment in their show in which they smoke a cigar without any markings and give their honest opinions. Bob then opens a sealed envelope and discovers the cigar’s name and manufacturer. If you have suggestions for the "What's My Band?" segment, please send them to liz@cigarmedia.tv.
Thanks to Michael Howe for bumpers and special effects in this show.
Music provided by the Figurados from their new album, "Lesson Two," and The Surfonics.
Reader Comments (2)
sorry bill, you just smoked a punch double corona. the punch punch is a corona gorda.
Thanks for keeping that straight, I appreciate your attention to the show. Thanks