DogWatch Cigar Radio Podcast Episode #341 - Big Boxes and Big Bugs

Dale is back from a well earned vacation during which he visited Kansas retailers Centro Cigars and Outlaw Cigar.  This week Bob and Dale are joined by Colin Ganley, editor of Cigar Journal.  The featured 'Cigar of the Week' is the 22 Degrees North / 83 Degrees West cigar blended by Jesus Fuego.   Keith Brown calls in on the herf line to take Bob to task about his comments on big box retailers.  The  'What's My Band?' cigar, the My Father Edicion Limitada 2011, was graciously supplied by Adam Zilinski this week.

Check out the live show!  Go to http://www.cigarmedia.tv/live/ where the show is broadcast live most Friday evenings at 9 PM EST. 

Cigar of the Week  - 22 Degrees North / 83 Degrees West

Two Guys Smoke Shop named this as the 2010 Cigar of the Year.  It comes in boxes of 20 in the following sizes: 5 1/2 x 46, 4 7/8 x 49, and 6 x 50.  Here's what Two Guys had to say about this cigar:

22N/83W is the Latitude and Longitude where you will find Hacienda el Corojo, a plantation that once (1930 – 1990) grew arguably the best tobacco in the world. Today, that tobacco seed is no longer used because of its low yields and susceptiblity to disease. However, the seed still exists and is used in the entire blend of this unique cigar.

22N/83W uses authentic El Corojo seed in its entire 5-Country blend, from its Nicaraguan, Honduran and Dominican el Corojo filler, to its Costa Rican certified el Corojo binder and ending with its lush, oily Brazilian el Corojo seed Wrapper.

What else have you been smokin' Dale?  

Don Pepin Garcia Blue label “A”- 9” x 48 Picked this A size cigar up at the Outlaw event last weekend after seeing Bill Featherston smoke one during the entire event on Saturday! I’ve raved about this blend in the Lancero size, so it was only natural to go for the gusto and try it in the longest traditional format. It made 2.5 hours of my 8 hour drive home most memorable! Spice, pepper, cedar, molasses and some tangy citrus flavors. Med-full bodied with a smooth, creamy smoke.

Tatuaje Havana VI Verocu No. 5 - 4” x 40 Following the sucess of the 4 original limited release Verocu cigars, Pete released the line as an extension of the Havana VI line. Packaged in a cabinet of 50 with the traditional triple cap and no band, this is the smallest format of the Tatuaje lines, although this little stick is big on flavor. A mini spice bomb with all the savory flavors you’d expect. Also one finds a bit of floral notes on the palette and in the retrohale. All Nicaraguan blend with a Habano variety wrapper.

La Casita Criolla HCB - 5.12” x 42 Corona  An old Cuban brand name brought back to life by Pete Johnson, this blend (well, a blend only in the sense of Seco, Viso & Ligero) is pure Connecticut Broadleaf tobacco. The darker maduro leaves are used in the wrapper, and the other grades are used for filler & binder. Cedar, nuts and a mild licorice sweetness vary in intensity throughout the cigar in this med-full bodied smoke. Towards the end, a bit of chocolate and exotic spices become more apparent. A truly marvelous cigar that I will smoke often! All three sizes are traditional, the other two being the HCBC at 5.63 x 46 and the HCBF at 6.5 x 48.

Fausto FT153 - 6” x 50 Toro The T110 blend (Nicaraguan filler & binder, Ecuadorian Habano Maduro wrapper) is now the Fausto line, but the T110 size is not a part of it since it was a limited release. Said to be Pete Johnson's strongest cigar blend, I find it well balanced and very flavorful. Indeed, it’s got some power, but not unapproachable by most. Most notable is the spiciness, pepper and subtle sweetness over a leathery core. Also in 3 other sizes: FT127 - 5 x 54, FT140 - 5.5 x 52 and FT156- 6.5 x 48. As with the La Casita Criolla, the Fausto brand is an old Cuban brand resurrected and trademarked by Pete.

Gurkha Beast - 6.5 x 58  Bob talked about this cigar a couple weeks ago and I had to try it. Dominican, Honduran and Colombian fillers are surrounded by a Nicaraguna binder and a Costa Rican Maduro wrapper from the 1996 vintage. I found it med-full bodied, full flavored and medium in strength. Very high quality construction and a sweet room aroma made it a joy to smoke in spite of it’s massive girth. Dark fruit, coffee and cedar are the core flavors with some cocoa coming on in the last third. The finish is smooth and sweet.

As with it’s companion cigar, the Gurkha Beauty, when I can pick these up on sale, I will, but at almost $700 for a box of 35 cigars, they’re not on my everyday list.

What else have you been smokin' Bob?

J. Fuego Gran Reserva Corojo No 1 Originals - Loaded with cocoa in a full bodied experience that out shines the size of this tasty cigar from master blender Jesus Fuego, and at a great price

Art Deco - A sweet, slightly spicy offering from the minds at Miami Cigar & Co.  I like these and yes I like the metal Art Deco box as well.

Jesus Fuego's Sangro de Toro Original - Gotta love this format, 5 sticks in a paper package at a great price.  Tremendous flavor -  I just can’t remember what it was, but I remember I liked the slightly organic spice and leathery base.

What's My Band? - Thank you to Adam Zilinski for supplying the My Father Edicion Limitada 2011's for the unbanded segment this week.

Palio Cutter Contest: Steve Morgan from Alabama won the July contest and received a classic black Palio cutter. Enter the August contest now to win a silver cutter.    Remember, you must re-enter each month to be eligible to win the featured Palio cutter.

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.

Do you have a Cigar 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.

Music provided by the Figurados from their new album, "Lesson Two," and The Surfonics. 

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