DogWatch Cigar Radio Podcast Episode #382 - Jerry to the Rescue

This week, Bob, Dale and guest host Craig Schneider discuss several cigar-related topics, including the House Bill to protect premium cigars, California's Proposition 29, and the recent news that America's top wine expert, Alexander La Pratt, named the La Aurora Preferidos #2 as his favorite cigar.  Jerry from Stogie Review joins the guys in the 'What Else I've Been Smokin' segment of the show.   In the 'We've Got Mail" segment, Barry from Baltimore asks how you can identify specific brands in the AJ Fernandez Overruns available from Cigars International; Al Silva is curious why you would switch wrappers on cigars;  Craig Schneider wonders what caused the bitter, tar-like flavor he experienced after a month-long hiatus from smoking;  and Bruce Stark wants to know about dry boxing cigars.  On the herf line, Big Pete from Australia reviews the Humo Jaguar. The Cigar of the Week (COW) is the Tatuaje Ambos Mundos No. 2 Robusto. Thank you to Tranquilo Cigars for providing this week's COW. Thanks also to Jeff Curtis for providing this week's unbanded cigar, the Joya de Nicaragua Antano Dark Corojo Doble Fuerte and for talking about this cigar live on the show. In the live chatroom, Neil_64 wins a box of CommonWealth Cedar Spills.  You can now purchase your own bundle of DogWatch Cigar Radio cedar spills from CommonWealth Cedar Spills (http://shop.cedarspills.com/).  NEW - The show is now on u-Tube. Watch the show live on u-Tube every Friday night at 9 pm Eastern or view it later at your leisure.

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW! You don't want to miss DogWatch Cigar Radio's first herf. Join us on July 27th starting at 6 pm for a live taping of the show and on July 28th from 10 am to 6 pm at Tranquilo Cigars in Melbourne Florida (about 1 hour's drive from Orlando, 2 hour's drive from Tampa and 3 hour's drive from Miami). Tickets are $35 and only 25 spots are available for this intimate gathering. Friday night will feature a live DWCR show with everyone in the crowd experiencing the Cigar of the Week and the Unbanded cigar. Saturday we will have a Tasting Seminar, meetings with manufacturers, lunch and door prizes. So far we have Monte Pascoal, Miami Cigar & Company, CigarVolante and Panacea Cigars, La Tradicion Cubana, Winston’s Humidor and Lou Rodriquez Cigars signed on to participate in the herf in some way. Also sponsoring the herf is Cigar Journal, Cigar Tourism and the Humidity Bead System (Cigarmony.com, Mark Neff). Special celebrity guest Frank Torre (he played for the Milwaukee Braves (1956–60) and the Philadelphia Phillies (1962–63) will also be on hand. Each registrant will receive a gift bag worth more than the $35 admission fee. To reserve your spot now, email Liz@cigarmedia.tv.

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. Be a part of the show while participating in the chatroom.

NEW RULES FOR THE PALIO CONTEST: Enter June's Palio contest to win a black Palio cutter by sending an email with a cigar fact or question to theshow@cigarmedia.tv. (Don't forget to include your mailing address and type "Palio" on the subject line.) All questions and facts will be discussed on the DogWatch show and one will be randomly selected as the winner. Remember you must re-enter each month to be eligible to win. May's contest winner of a black Palio cutter was Officer Paul.

Cigar of the Week -Tatuaje Ambos Mundos No. 2 Robusto

Released in February 2009, Pete Johnson created the Ambos Mundos blend to appeal to the masses hurt by the current economic woe. Unlike the other Tatuaje brands the Ambos Mundos is using B and C grade tobaccos. These bales are from the same plants, farms and soils as the regular Tatuaje tobacco but they do not look as fine and may need additional fermentation. The Ambos Mundos is a great option for those looking to save money or who want Tatuaje flavor but do not mind letting their cigars age a little first. These Nicaraguan cigars are available in two sizes, Robusto and Toro. The two wrappers available for the Ambos Mundos are Nicaraguan Habano and Ecuadorian Sumatra.

What else have you been smokin' Jerry Cruz from Stogie Review?

Ortega Serie D - Man he wishes he could buy these locally.  Padron-esque at a fraction of the price.  Depth & sophistication.  Dark & enjoyable maduro.

Ashton Mi Amor - Ahead of its time with the San Andreas wrapper.  Despite not being a huge fan right off the bat, the cigar ended up becoming more enjoyable after time.

Partagas 1845 - Very different from a typical Cameroon Partagas.  Rejuvenating flavor from the old school CAOs.  Medium body with well pronounced flavors.  Perhaps it’s a more tamed Partagas Black in that it is a more tamed flavor.

What else have you been smokin' Craig?

New Havana Cigars Reserva - What a wonderful cigar.  The first I’ve had in perhaps a year and it’s a good thing.  If I had been smoking them all along, there would be none left!  Cocoa, milk chocolate, sweet spice & a stewed fruity flavor.  One for the ages.

Lauro’s House Perla - A terrific and TRUE boutique cigar.  To my knowledge, only available in Playa del Carmen, Mexico from a torcedor who procures his own tobacco from local & international sources.  Terrifically twangy with deeper earth & some fruity undertones.  A great find by my father last summer.  If only I had more than just one box.

ERdM Demi Tasse - This is one of my favorite vintage cigars. A small (!-4”x32rg) cigar full of flavor & always smooth.  After experiencing a difficulty enjoying strong cigars, I needed something flavorful & approachable.  This hit the spot.

What else have you been smokin' Dale?

Luca del Toro Pequeno - Manufactured by STC Tobabacco (Gran Habano Cigars) for Los Nietos Cigars, the Luca del Toro line is an excellent small batch cigar. I smoked the Pequeno (5.5” x 52) which was featured as a COW on the show a few weeks back. Honduran filler & binder covered with a Nicaraguan wrapper. I noted mild caramel sweetness underneath a core of earthy flavors. Just a touch of spice in the first half. 

Quesada Tributo Julio - 5” x 50 - Hopefully by now everyone knows the emotional back story that has spawned these magnificent cigars. The blend is heavy on Dominican and Nicaraguan ligeros, the binder is Honduran ligero and the wrapper is an Ecuadorian grown Sumatra hybrid variety fermented to a beautiful  medium dark color.  Oak, leather, baking spices and citrus flavors are well balanced and rich. Overtones of coffee & cocoa bean waft in & out. The smoke is full bodied, the strength is medium. An awesome cigar!

EPC Core Maduro Line Regalias Real - 5.62” x 46 - One of my most favorite Dominican made cigars, the construction and attention to detail in the EPC lines are phenomenal, as are the smooth, savory flavors. Every one of the eight sizes in the Core Maduro line feature the mature tobacco flavors and nuances in the blend, with each size having it’s own character. This Corona Gorda-ish size really shines with the spices and woodiness of the Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers. The Connecticut Maduro wrapper adds a medium sweetness which balances the cigar perfectly. Some plum fruit, orange citrus and dark espresso coffee notes add a wonderful complexity to the cigar.  

What else have you been smokin' Bob?

Man O War Puro Authentico - A powerful little corona that will engulf your mouth with flavors of dark chocolate, leather and heavy nuttiness. At $6 apiece they are not cheap but a real treat.

La Aurora Guillermo Leon Toro - We fell in love with these cigars when they were first released but had not smoked them recently, until now.  Still a great flavor cigar with lots of class.                                                                                                                                       

PDR Flores y Rodriguez Cabinet Seleccion Capa Maduro - Notes of hay, cocoa, and coffee with a slight salt undertone. Delicious and complex; this is an excellent smoke.

Size: Robusto (5 x 52)
Wrapper: Dominican Habano Maduro
Binder: Dominican Vuelta Abajo
Filler: Dominican
Strength: Medium to full
Body: Full
Flavor: Full

What's my band?

Thank you to Jeff Curtis for providing this week's unbanded cigar, the Joya de Nicaragua Antano Dark Corojo Doble Fuerte.

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, or would like to provide 2-4 What's my Band? cigars, please email Executive Producer Liz at liz@cigarmedia.tv. Anyone providing samples will receive a DogWatch Cigar Radio pin and sticker!

Do you have a Cigar Review or a comment about the show? If you call and leave a cigar review or comment on the herfline and it is played on the show, you will receive a DogWatch Cigar Radio pin and sticker! 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 Surfonics.

Please visit our sponsors and let them know you heard about them from DogWatch!

• Black Dog Coffee: http://www.blackdogcoffee.net/
• Cigar Tourism: http://cigartourism.com/
• Cigar Journal: http://www.cigarjournal.co/
• Cuban Cigar Creation App: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cuban-cigar-creation/id441057146?mt=8
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• La Palina: http://www.lapalinacigars.com/
• La Tradicion Cubana: http://www.tradicion.com/
• Miami Cigar and Company: http://www.miamicigarandcompany.com/
• Mobile Stogie Pro App: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mobile-stogie-by-cigar-research/id395661756?mt=8
• Mobile Stogie Ref App: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mobile-stogie-reference/id431376892?mt=8
• Monte Pascoal Cigars: http://www.montepascoalcigars.com/
• Palio Cigar Cutters:http://paliocutters.com/
• Scotch Pro App: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/scotch-pro/id457390580?mt=8
• Tranquilo Cigars: http://www.tranquilocigars.com/
• Vanderburgh Humidors: www.vanderburghhumidors

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