Sponsors: Havana Cigar Club & Oliva Cigar Company

What we are drinking

Glenlivet French Oak Reserve 15 Year

Stogie of the Week

Wynwood Factory Fresh

What We Have Been Smoking

The complete list of all cigars discussed in this segment can be found on the Episode 56 Stogies Page.

Paul's List

See Paul's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Tim's List

See Tim's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Mark's List

See Mark's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Segment: Cigar Trivia!

Stogie of the Week

Unbanded No. 4 from Gravity: Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial (2009)

Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Seed
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Jalapa Valley Ligero
Strength:
Vitola: Torpedo
Size: 6.5 x 52
Age: 4 Years
MSRP: $8.50

What We Have Been Smoking

The complete list of all cigars discussed in this segment can be found on the Episode 55 Stogies Page.

Paul's List

See Paul's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Mark's List

See Mark's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Stogie of the Week

Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Petit Robusto

Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium/Full
Vitola: Petit Robusto
Size: 4.5 x 50
MSRP: About $6.50

What We Have Been Smoking

The complete list of all cigars discussed in this segment can be found on the Episode 54 Stogies Page.

Paul's List

See Paul's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Tim's List

See Tim's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Mark's List

See Mark's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Segment: Around the Blogs

• Introducing the Cigar Flavors Wheel
• Review: Pinar Del Rio Reserva Superior Salomon | halfwheel
• Commentary: Gold Star Smokes (Part VII)
• Unique Cigars - List of Top Unique or Unusual Cigars
• Oliva – Atlantic Cigar Company 15th Anniversary Diadema
• Cigar Review: Asylum 13 6 x 80
• 5 Ways to Use Your Cigar Bands

Contest: Elogio LSV Limitada Salomon

Question: Elogio Cigars master blender, Carlos Pereda Robaina, is the grandson of the famous Cuban grower Don Alejandro Robaina who was considered to have some of the best tobacco leaves in the world. What marque (marka) was created in 1997 by S.A. Habano's in honor of the Don?

Email the answer to us at stogiegeeks@gmail.com and we will pick a winner at random after the podcast has been released.

Stogie of the Week

Quesada Oktoberfest Kurz

Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Dominican Habano
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Strength: Medium/Full
Vitola: Rothschild
Size: 4 x 50
Age: N/A
MSRP: $7.25

What We Have Been Smoking

The complete list of all cigars discussed in this segment can be found on the Episode 53 Stogies Page.

Paul's List

See Paul's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Tim's List

See Tim's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Mark's List

See Mark's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Segment: Cuban Cigar Spotlight

Facts

Legality - For those that don't know, there is this thing called an embargo. Yea, we're not supposed to have any goods from Cuba. Despite the fact that they produce awesome cigars and rum.

Are Cubans Better - No, they are cigars like any other type of cigar. They do have some great tobacco and have awesome flavors.

Construction - Yea, not-so-good. A high degree are in fact plugged. It happens, a lot more with Cuban cigars. I take that into account when it comes to price.

Classic Cuban Sizes - Corona, petite corona, short robusto, double corona.

What Cuban cigars are in your humidor right now - Hoping the police don't raid me, but list goes like this: RASS, Por Larganaga, Punch Double Corona, One special Cohiba Magico, Cohiba Siglo II, Montecristo Edmundo, Bolivar Royal Coronas. What about you guys?

What are the growing regions?

Vuelta Abajo - Vuelta Abajo is considered the finest cigar tobacco-growing land in the world. Vuelta Abajo is the main source of tobacco for Habanos, and the only region that grows all types of leaf. But even here less than a quarter of the tobacco-growing land enjoys the Vegas Finas de Primera status that is required for the growing of tobacco for Habanos.

Semi Vuelta - Second region in the western heartland of Cuban tobacco cultivation, and another location for the cultivation of Habano wrapper leaves. The area employed is very small, however, barely one per cent of Semi Vuelta's total tobacco-producing land. Most of Semi Vuelta's tobacco is grown for other purposes.

Partido - Historic group of tobacco-growing zones founded in the early 17th Century to the south east of Havana. Like Semi Vuelta, Partido specializes in the cultivation of wrapper leaves.

Vuelta Arriba - This region is to the east embracing two widely separated tobacco-growing areas

Remedios - Cuba's largest and oldest tobacco producing area, and the source of all types of leaf for one particular Habano brand: Jose L Piedra. The soil and climate have their own distinctive character, but methods of cultivation used here for Habano leaf are the same as in other regions.

Oriente - It was at Bariay in the extreme eastern part of this region that Columbus landed in 1492 and discovered Cuban tobacco. Tobacco is still grown here, but not for Habanos.

Source:

http://www.cigarcabana.com/cuban-cigars.html- Outstanding web site!
http://en.cigar-wiki.com/Cuban_Tobacco_Regions
http://www.cubancigarwebsite.com/info-production.htm

Stogie of the Week

Liga Privada Dirty Rat by Drew Estate

Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Stalk Cut USA Connecticut Sungrown Habana
Binder: Brazilian Mata Fina
Filler: Nicaraguan, Hondurus
Strength: Medium/Full
Vitola: Corona
Size: 5 x 44
Age: Varies
MSRP: About $13.00 a single

What We Have Been Smoking

The complete list of all cigars discussed in this segment can be found on the Episode 51 Stogies Page.

Paul's List

See Paul's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Tim's List

See Tim's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Mark's List

See Mark's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Segment: Around The Humidor

- Of all the new brands that we talk about on the show, what are some that are worth seeking out?

- We all appreciate good construction on a cigar, but how much smoke is too much? sometimes not enough, and some times way too much! Does too much detract from the experience?

- What are your thoughts on Internet sales? Some believe that Internet sales ruin the industry, making it hard for local shops to compete, do you think that's true?

- Summer is coming, which means high humidity, what should we be doing with our humidors now to prepare for the summer months?

- We don't talk much about ashtrays, what are your favorite types and what should you consider when purchasing an ashtray?

Contest: Liga Privada Prize Pack

Thanks to the Stogie Geeks for this week's prize package, you will receive a Stogie Geeks Golf Towel, A Stogie Geeks Sticker, One Dirty Rat cigar and one Liga Privada #9 from 2009.

Question: Both the Liga Privada Dirty Rat and T52 use Stalk Cut Wrappers, explain what the process of stalk cut entails.

Congratulations to Carl L. who correctly answered;

Stalk cut involves chopping down the entire plant by making one diagonal cut at the bottom of the stalk. The leaves are removed. The plant is flipped upside and the leaves cure while still attached the plant. The stalk continues to feed the leaves nutrients though out the entire curing process until the stalk is completely stripped of it's minerals and flavor characteristics

Stogies of the Week

From all of us at Stogie Geeks we would like to thank listener "gravity". He provided the 3 unabanded cigars for this show and sent us each a special cigar to smoke. The unbounded cigars were, well, you will just have to listen and watch the show to find out!

For our contest we are putting a prize package together for "gravity" as a thanks for sending us all those awesome, er crappy, er you will just have to watch the show to find out cigars!

What We Have Been Smoking

The complete list of all cigars discussed in this segment can be found on the Episode 50 Stogies Page.

Paul's List

See Paul's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Mark's List

See Mark's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Stogie News of the Week

Segment: Around The Humidor With The Stogie Geeks Crew

We discuss four (maybe five) different topics about cigars, including whether or not to leave the cellphone on your cigars and what some of our "white whale" cigars may be!

Stogie of the Week

Joya De Nicaragua Antaño Dark Corojo Poderoso

Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Strength: Medium/Full
Vitola: Torpedo
Size: 6 x 54
Age: Unknown
MSRP: About $9.00

Source:A Cigar Smoker's Journal

What We Have Been Smoking

The complete list of all cigars discussed in this segment can be found on the Episode 49 Stogies Page.

Paul's List

See Paul's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Tim's List

See Tim's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Mark's List

See Mark's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Segment: Top Ten Things Every Cigar Smoker Should Not Live Without

1. Good Cigars - Okay, so first the obvious. You need cigars! And I'm not talking about machine made beauties from the gas station (I love the commercial on gas station sushi, its in the same class as cigars). I'm also not talking about your $30 per stick Davidoff or Padron. Some good cigars to smoke wherever you happen to be, in the car, in the yard, on the boat, on the porch, etc… Whether it be your favorite Montecristo, Tatjuaje, Ashton or even the forbidden cuban stogie, having a good mixture of cigars is key. Check out our Box Worthy smokes to fill up your humidor.
2. Great Cigars - For the special occasion, have at least a few special cigars. Expensive or aged, keep a few really old Padron thousand series, Opus X, and any of those reserva edicione limitada especial anniversary series.
3. A good lighter - Not a zippo, not a regular match, not a bic, not a cedar "spill". A freakin' butane, blue flame torch lighter. One flame, two flames, 15 flames, doesn't matter. Xicar makes great lighters, quality is not so great, but you can get a replacement for free. The Lotus flat flame I have is great, the flat flame allows you to easily light the cigar and use it for touch ups. You can get something like that for $100 or buy a pack of 3 triple flames online for like $15. Up to you, as long as you have a lighter.
4. A good cutter - Here is where I don't recommend that you skimp. Get a Palio or a Xicar. The cheap cutters work once, then they are shredders, so buy a good one.
5. A travel humidor (a nice one) - This is a great gift, I mean, something to ask for as a gift. I got a nice Tommy Bahama one for Christmas, and Andre Garcia makes awesome ones. You want to at least look classy when you go the lounge, sometimes anyhow.
6. A travel humidor (a rugged one) - You know, the ones that looks like you could drop a nuclear bomb on them, and your cigars would come out unscathed. These are great for traveling, like on an airplane, or jumping out of an airplane (and you can throw the case first, then jump).
7. A humidor at home - People are sometimes amazed when I tell them that I have a 10-year old cigar. they comment, "Cigars last that long?". If you take care of them of course. We've covered humidors A LOT in the past, but the point is to have one, give it the proper care and feeding, and enjoy.
8. A place to smoke - The patio, the deck, wrapped in an electric blanket, the garage, the workshop, the basement, in your house, at the lounge.
9. Real Coffee - Small batch roasted, dark, rich and black. YUM.
10. Online Resources - Like the Stogie Geeks! Blogs, podcasts, videos are all good to get a feel how cigars are smoking and what people think of them. Buying cigars online is cool, especially the auctions. I mean, support your local shop, but don't pass up the deals online either!

The Stogie Geek News with Mark Jr.

Contest: Joya de Nicaragua Dark Corojo Fiver

Question: Joya de Nicaragua (Jewel of Nicaragua) was the first commercial brand manufactured in Nicaragua after Cuban immigrants fled Cuba and began growing tobacco there. Prior to Cuban's cultivating Habano seed in Nicaragua, what was the name of the native tobacco plant grown in Nicaragua and how was it traditionally cured/fermented?

Congratulations to Eddie O. who correctly answered;

Chilcagre is the native Nicaraguan tobacco. Chilcagre is a very tough, sweet tasting tobacco that is traditionally dried and put in holes in the earth where it ferments.

]]>http://www.stogiegeeks.com/read/2013/2/27/stogie-geeks-episode-48-amateur-hour.htmlAdministrator2013-02-27T13:03:08Z2013-02-27T13:03:08Z

Download Episode 48 Here

Audio Feeds:

Video Feeds:

Stogie of the Week

Nestor Miranda 70th Limited Edition

My Father Cigars Blend
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
La Aurora Blend
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Filler: Brazilian Nicaraguan, Dominican
Vitola: Lancero
Size: 7.5 x 40
MSRP: $168.00 for box of Twelve

Released on Valentines day 2013 which is Nestor Miranda's 70th birthday, there were only 1,000 twelve count boxes released. Each box has six of the My Father Cigars blend and six of the La Aurora blend. The cigar box was made in the shape of a 1960's speedster.

Sources: Cigar Aficionado and Cigar Coop

What We Have Been Smoking

The complete list of all cigars discussed in this segment can be found on the Episode 48 Stogies Page.

Paul's List

See Paul's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Tim's List

See Tim's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Mark's List

See Mark's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Segment: Top Ten Cigars and Pairings

In this week's segment we take a look at a top ten cigar and pairing list from the fine folks over at askmen.com. The Stogie Geeks crew offers their own opinions on the list and the pairings. Tim was spot on, and guessed a record 2 out of the 10 pairings, and we all have some great recommendations for spirits that pair well with cigars.

We won't reproduce the list here, but you can read the full article here. It will give you some great suggestions, though we don't particularly care to pair an Islay scotch with cigars.

Contest: Nestor Miranda 4 Pack from the Havana Cigar Club

Question: Nestor Miranda was formely in the liquor business. What was the first cigar he produced and what year was it released?

Congratulations to Jay S. who correctly answered;

He started making Don Lino in 1989, at the old UST factory in Honduras. He also established Miami Cigar & Co. in 1989.

]]>http://www.stogiegeeks.com/read/2013/2/21/stogie-geeks-episode-47-oliva-bonanza.htmlAdministrator2013-02-22T01:30:00Z2013-02-22T01:30:00Z

Download Episode 47 Here

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Video Feeds:

Sponsors: Havana Cigar Club & Oliva Cigar Company

Stogie of the Week

Oliva Serie V Melanio

Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Strength: Medium/Full
MSRP: $80.00 - $140.00 for ten count box

Released in 2012, the Oliva Serie Melanio is available in ten count boxes. There are five sizes currently available; a Churchill (7 x 50), Torpedo (6.5 x 52), Figurado (6.5 x 52), Robusto (5 x 52), and Petit Corona (4.5 x 46). More information can be found on the Oliva Website.

What We Have Been Smoking

The complete list of all cigars discussed in this segment can be found on the Episode 47 Stogies Page.

Paul's List

See Paul's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Tim's List

See Tim's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Mark's List

See Mark's List, complete with pictures, ratings and mini-reviews on his Stogie Feed.

Segment: Cigar Fact or Fiction

Contest: Oliva Eight Pack Sampler

Thanks to: Oliva Cigar Company

Question: Name the four great grand children of Melanio Oliva who actively involved with the family brand and which grand child is also a politician?

Congratulation to Mike G. who correctly answered;

Gilberto Junior, Carlos, Jeannie, and José. Gilberto Junior runs the Nicaraguan leaf growing operation and creates blends, Carlos oversees production, Jeannie runs the office in Miami Lakes, and José directs sales. Jose R. Oliva is a representative in the state of Florida.

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