Podcasts about vuelta abajo

Disfrutamos charlando con David de Jorge. Viajamos a Salamanca para visitar El Alquimista, un lugar ideal para disfrutar de un habano. Descubrimos las bondades de H. Upmann Magnum 50 elaborado con hojas de tabaco especialmente seleccionadas de la región de Vuelta Abajo de Cuba. El compás de la banda sonora lo pone Afro Cuban All Stars.

On this episode of the podcast we explore the Vuelta Abajo region in Cuba. This region has some of the most fertile soil in the world, perfect for growing tobacco for cigars. We explore the history of this region and what makes is so good for growing tobacco. Then we describe life and the tobacco growing process. All on this episode of - Fertile Soil

BACKGROUND: Just three short weeks ago, myself and 9 other sojourners followed Colin Ganley to Pinar del Rio and Vuelta Abajo to see firsthand the famed Robaina farm and the prized tobacco growing therein. From there, we made our way … Continue reading →

This week was all about thanking DogWatch fans who tune in on Friday nights to watch the taping of the show. Over 20 prizes were given away to live viewers who were interacting with Bob, Dale, Liz, Craig and Colin in the chatroom. Prizes included an unbanded sampler pack from Jeff Curtis and several 5-packs from Wes Gensel of Monte Pascoal. 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. The Cigar of the Week is the El Galan from Aroma de Vuelta Abajo, Inc. The cigar featured in the What's My Band segment of the show, Henry Clay Breva ala Conserva was provided by long-time listener Dan Crouch. Dan not only provides the unbanded this week, but also writes in about cigar samplers. Big Pete writes in about pairing champagne with cigars. Enter February's Palio contest by sending a photo of you or your friends enjoying a cigar to theshow@cigarmedia.tv. (Don't forget to include your mailing address and type "Palio" on the subject line.) To see the contest pictures, click on the Contest icon on the www.cigarmedia.tv home page. Remember you must re-enter each month to be eligible to win. The February contest winner will receive a silver Palio cutter. Cigar of the Week - El Galan from Aroma de Vuelta Abajo, Inc. Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Ecuador Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Dominican Republic Corona Gorda 6.5 x 56, $5.60 What else have you been smokin' Dale? Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Robusto - 5.2” x 52 - Garcia grown tobaccos covered with a silky, oily Broadleaf wrapper. This stick exhibits coffee bean, pepper, heavy cedar and other earthy flavors in a full bodied and fairly strong smoke. I love it! My Father #1 Robusto - 5.2” x 52 - A Rosado-Habano leaf from Ecuador wraps this savory-sweet cigar filled with Garcia grown Nicaraguan tobaccos. The cigar is creamy with espresso, nuts and a leather core. Pepper spice comes on as the first 3rd ends, and keeps building. Lots of complexity and great balance. Oja Oscuro Destacado - 6” x 52 - Nicaragua tobaccos from Esteli, rolled in Esteli. The line comes in 3 wrappers, with the other two being Connecticut and Habano 2000. The Oscuro version I picked up in Miami was very nice! The flavors are cocoa, nuts and exotic spices in a creamy full bodied smoke. Well aged tobaccos and excellent construction. Orinoco - A new cigar soon to be available from our good friend Kevin Edmiston and Wade Berryhill. Don’t want to say too much, as we will likely smoke it as a COW in the future, but wanted to congratulate Kevin and let you know to watch for it. What else have you been smokin' Bob? Humo Jaguar - special release made for the Pro Cigar Festival in 2010 by Miami Cigar. This cigar is not widely distributed but is a solid, full flavored smoke with hints of pepper, oak and leather that blend smoothly. Namakubi Tiburon from Room 101 Cigars - Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano; Binder:Generoso (Honduras); Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan and Honduran; Body: Medium to Full. Medium body but very nice smooth flavors of toasted grains and leather. A very good smoke. What's My Band?- This week's unbanded, the Henry Clay Breva ala Conserva, was provided by long-time listener Dan Crouch. 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 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 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 and 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 DogWatch Cigar Radio iTunes App: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dogwatch-cigar-radio-weekly/id338128296?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D6 DogWatch Cigar Radio Android App: http://www.appbrain.com/app/dogwatch-cigar-radio/tv.wizzard.android.dogwatchsocialclub850 Esencia Cigars: http://www.esenciacigar.com/ 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/ Primer Mundo Cigars: http://www.primermundocigars.com Scotch Pro App: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/scotch-pro/id457390580?mt=8 Vanderburgh Humidors: www.vanderburghhumidors.com

This week Colin Ganley of CigarTourism.com and Bob talk about the January 2011 trip to Nicaragua in which Bob will be participating. Also this week, the debut of "What's Hot, What's Not, What's Next" - Cigar retailers from around the country share buyer passions and passes and let us know what new releases are on order. This week Michael Herklots from Davidoff of Geneva, New York city stores (Madison Avenue and The Shops at Columbus Circle); Heather Haddad from Fumee Cigar Lounge in Austin, Texas; and Doug Fiore from Winston's Humidor in Midlothian, Virginia share their insights. Cigar of the Week - Esteban Carreras 5150 - The Esteban Carreras 5150 series is a medium bodied Corojo with an Ecuadorian grown Sumatra wrapper and Nicaraguan fillers and binder. Dark Side - RAMON ALLONES SMALL CLUB CORONAS Length: 110 Ring: 42 Format: Minuto Ramón Allones is one of the big names in the history of Habanos. Founded in 1837, it is also one of the oldest brands in production. A Galician by birth, Ramón Allones was the first cigar manufacturer to pack his cigars in boxes decorated with labels and stamped with his brand's emblem. He was the pioneer of the packaging that we know today. All of the Ramon Allones cigars are filled with a blend of tobaccos from the Vuelta Abajo region, characterised by their intense and complex taste. What else have you been smokin' Colin? Cruzado Mario What else have you been smokin' Dale? Torano Single Region Serie Jalapa Robusto 5 x 52 - One of the most exciting releases from IPCPR if you are into understanding how tobacco from one specific region tastes. In this case, all the tobacco in the Jalapa series comes from one farm in the Jalapa area of Nicaragua. It's very hard to make a deep, rich, complex blend from just one area, but Torano has done it with this cigar! Well balanced in strength, roundness and body, with earthy flavors & natural sweetness. The room aroma is a touch spicy and intoxicating! Try one of these to sample the character of Jalapa tobacco. Don Francisco Lancero - A gift to me from ER Doc during his visit last month, this cigar was perhaps the most flavorful cigar I smoked this week. Layer upon layer of tastes kept building, providing one of the most complex cigars I've had in a long time. Superb construction allowed a slow, cool smoke. Full bodied and medium in strength, the list of flavors noted is way long, but in the main; nuts, citrus, espresso, cedar and vanilla were the highlights. Casa Magna Colorado and Casa Magna Sungrown What else have you been smokin' Bob? CAO La Traviata Maduro - La Traviata Maduro is everything the La Traviata cigar should have been last year; why it took CAO a year to make the right cigar is beyond me. They ruined the Brazillia by making it in a monster 60 rg; however, this cigar makes up for it. The La Traviata Maduro proves that CAO can make good cigars without going all Hollywood. Torano Master - New blend from the Torano family. Carlos Torano has broken the mold at Torano CIgars and produced a slightly more full flavored cigar that is complex and pleasing. An outstanding cigar with complex flavor and great construction. Year after year the Torano family continues to put out fine cigars and now they are once again in charge of their own distribution. If you thought they only did mild-medium cigars, smoke this and you will change your mind. Macanudo Cru Royale - For me this was the biggest surprise of the IPCPR; it has flavor; it has style; and it has great construction. I want more of these. The Cru Royale demonstrates that General Cigar is not stuck in the past nor are they afraid to take a chance. I was disappointed in the results of using Ometepe tobacco in their other blends and this cigar shows you don't need trickery or gimmicks to make an excellent cigar. The PUNCH Upper Cut was a bland result of too many taste tests and committee work that resulted in a bland and disappointing cigar. The Cru Royale landed a hook on the Uppercut to put it on the mat. What's My Band? - #921 from Liz H. Upmann Reserve Maduro 5x50 Robusto with wonderful pre-smoke barnyard aromas. August Palio Cutter Contest Winner: Dave Wallace won a gold Palio Cutter. Enter the September contest to win a classic black Palio Cutter. Herf Line Reviews - 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. Music provided by the Figurados from their new album, "Lesson Two," and The Surfonics.

Colin Ganley (European Cigar Journal, CigarTourism.com) and Craig Schneider (columnist, The Shoulders We Stand On) are special guests this week. Cigar of the Week - Adrians Havana The Havanna 2000 (Criollo) wrapper, is more of a medium, full-bodied cigar, created specifically for the smoker who wants a cigar that is not too light but not too strong. Sweet on the lips at first pre-light, the strength starts to kick in as the cigar burns, heightening to levels of pure ecstasy. ECJ Awards - Review of Winners BEST BRAND Cuba – not yet announced Dominican Republic – Macanudo 1968 Honduras – Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Nicaragua – Nub Habano | Sun Grown USA – Don Pepin Garcia Blue - http://www.elreydeloshabanos.com , http://www.myfathercigars.com/ BEST CIGAR Cuba – not yet announced Dominican Republic – Davidoff Maduro, Robusto Honduras – Flor de Copan Linea Puros, Robusto - Nicaragua – Padrón Family Reserve 45 Years Maduro BEST VALUE Dominican Republic – Santa Damiana Honduras – Flor de Selva - Facebook: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=80552404279 Mexico – Te-Amo World Selection Series Nicaragua – Oliva Connecticut Reserve LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT Benjamin F. Menendez OUTSTANDING ART Vrijdag Premium Printing CHARITY & COMMUNITY Cigar Family Charitable Foundation AMBASSADOR CRA – Cigar Rights of America BEST ACCESSORY Palio Cutters Dark Side - Por Larranaga Petit Coronas Name: Petit Coronas Cab 50 Ring gauge: 42 Length: 12.90 CM / 5.0 inches Por Larranaga Petit Coronas SLB CAB - 50 cigars [5.0 x 42] Por Larrañaga is a brand with a long history. Founded in 1834 it enjoys well-earned reputation for its quality and the attractiveness of its presentation. All the tobacco in the Por Larrañaga range comes from the Vuelta Abajo region and the cigars are made using methods of production — "totalmente a mano, tripa larga" — totally hand made, long filler, "totalmente a mano, tripa corta" — totally hand made, short filler. What else have you been smokin' Colin? Tatuaje Red Churchill J. Fuego Origen (other sizes) What else have you been smokin' Craig? Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary Davidoff Puro d'Oro Notables Augusto Reyes Vintage What else have you been smokin' Bob? Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary - A medium dark, trunk-pressed cigar that's wrapped in Ecuadoran tobacco grown from Habano seeds. The binder and filler tobaccos are entirely Nicaraguan, and one of the filler varieties is grown on a farm that was specially dedicated to this cigar. The cigars come in dark boxes with metallic plates, and the double bands are the color of gun metal steel. Bucanero Canon Cubana Maduro Blend: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper; Nicaragua 2000 Maduro and Dominican fillers PINAR DEL RIO 1878 CUBANO ESPECIAL Another very good smoke from Abe Flores with strong flavors but not the spice of his earlier efforts. I need to smoke more of these to do an adequate review. A medium bodied smoke blended from small-batch Nicaraguan and Dominican long fillers, a Nicaraguan binder, and your choice of a Connecticut or Maduro wrapper. Xikar HC Series Habano Colorado A nice smoke that does not hold up against some of the better smokes of the day. Flavor is good but one dimensional and not very exciting. Relaxing smoke but not outstanding. Created by Jesus Fuego. Wrapper: Habano Colorado - Jalapa Valley Binder: Esteli Filler: Costa Rica, Jalapa, Honduras AVO Heritage Great smoke with medium flavors of Dominican sweet spice and a barnyard tobacco flavor. Thanks to Michael Herklots, this is a very good cigar. New Release from AVO cigars and Davidoff. What's My Band? - A "special edition" from Bob. Blended and rolled by Bob McDuffee. The cigar that Bob rolled in the Dominican Republic while visiting the La Aurora factory in February. Herf Line Review from Angry Bill. August Palio Cutter Contest Winner: Dave Wallace won a gold Palio Cutter. Herf Line Reviews - 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. Music provided by the 25 Smokin' Figurados from their new album, "Lesson Two," and The Surfonics.

Cigar of the Week - Cain Maduro The Oliva Cigar Company and Sam Lecia introduced a new cigar during 2009, called the ‘Cain.’ It comes in three sizes: 550 Robusto 5.7x50, 654T Torpedo 6x54, and a 660 Double Toro 6x60. The Cain is available in a Maduro or Habano wrapper. The CAIN is primarily ligero tobacco! Sam Leccia (Mr. ‘Nub’) has challenged all of us to try this very interesting blend and see how it measures up to Oliva’s Serie V, which is a double ligero.The cigar is a blend of aged ligero tobacco from Esteli, Condega, and the Jalapa Valley in Nicaragua, some of the tastiest growing regions in the world. Tonight we focus on the Maduro which sports a dark, rich, San Andreas wrapper to the 25% Esteli Ligero, 27% Condega Ligero and 30% Jalapa Ligero blend (I am no math major but that leaves 18% unaccounted for). According to the Cain website: Esteli Ligero is the strongest of all the Ligeros and as such needs to be tempered with other flavors or types of Ligero to prevent overpowering the cigar. Condega Ligero is a medium body Ligero grown north of Esteli that exhibits complex richness and a tame strength. Jalapa Ligero is the smoothest of these Ligeros and grown in the northern most area of Nicaragus. The Jalapa Valley is a unigue tobacco growing region that enjoys less direct sunlight and produces a full body leaf with a broader range of flavor. Dark Side - PUNCH ROYAL SELECCION NO 12 Length: 5 1/8 inches (129mm) Ring Gauge: 42 Factory Name: Marevas Shape: Parejo A cigar of real substance that requires some aging for best results, 5 years being the recommended time. The Punch brand was first registered in 1840 by a German named Stockman. This was at the beginning of an era that saw Cuba carved up by three major powers, US, Germany and Britian. The official Habanos web site skips over this part of history instead claiming the brand was founded by Don Manuel Lopez of Juan Valle & Co in the mid 19th Century with an eye to the booming British market. However, reality shows that the brand was transferred to Louis Corojo in 1874, the midst of the "10 Year War" for independence, one of many uprisings in Cuban history. In 1925 Punch moved to the factory where Hoyo de Monterrey was made and this long association continues to the present day. From then until 1930 the brand changed ownership twice finally settling in after the stock market crash of 1929 with Fernandez & Palicio y Cia S en C. . By 1958 Punch was a solid market cigar accounting for %13 of cigars exported. Punch shared the market with Belinda, Hoyo de Monterrey and La Escepcion. Punch has remained a leading brand of Habanos cigars since the 1959 revolution. Many have claimed that the cigar was named for the famous British humour magazine Punch, however that magazine did not exist until 1841, one year after the cigar name was registered. Punch’s distinct medium flavour created with a blend of tobaccos from the Vuelta Abajo region is available in a wide variety of sizes "totalmente a mano, tripa larga" - totally hand made, long filler. Herf line submissions: Angry Bill calls in to talk about the Nosotros cigar and the H. Upmann Magnum 50. Call the Herfline, 321-594-4373! - or cigar.radio on Skype, and leave a message or a cigar review. You can also send email to theshow@cigarmedia.tv What else have you been smokin' Dale? La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Tabaqueros 650 - a new line from LCG, the 2nd edition in the Artesanos series. Unlike the Artesanos de Miami, this line is made in the El Credito factory in the Dominican Republic by a "hand picked group of 18 master cigar makers, chosen by Benji Menedez himself". The blend is all 5 year aged tobaccos from the DR and Honduras with a combination of Connecticut Shade AND Ecuadorian Sumatra wrappers. The lighter Connecticut wrapper covers about the first 3rd of the cigar, with the darker Sumatra wrapper visible from there to the head. The line is available in 3 sizes, named for their dimensions - 650, 652 Belicoso and 750, ranging from $8 to $9 before all the confiscatory tobacco taxes in your local area. Punch Gran Cru Robusto Claro - This 5.25" x 50 beauty is filled with Dominican, Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos, covered with a Honduras binder and wrapped with a Connecticut Shade leaf that is smooth, oily and aromatic. This is a cigar with tons of complexity in a smooth, lighter bodied style than other Punch lines. Lots of leather, sweet herbals and a touch of nuttiness. For me, a great mid-day cigar when you have the time to really let it carry you away. CAO Brazilia Gol! - 5" x 56 - Bob mentioned this line last week and that reminded me to go back & smoke it again. I used to smoke these by the box a couple years ago, but with so many new cigars always coming out, had just not bought any in a while. Nicaraguan filler & binder are wrapped up in a dark Arapiraka wrapper from Brazil. Yummm! What else have you been smokin' Bob? Punch Uppercut Grand Corona - First thing I noticed was the sloppy application of the cap, certainly not a deal breaker and at $6.50 per stick I was wiling to overlook such a harmless defect. The interesting thing though was that it even registered with me since I don't normally notice such characteristics. Retrohale exhibits some interesting subtle spiciness which then becomes noticeable in the flavors. Noted a sour spice that is not like grass or straw but is really very pleasant with coffee. Padilla Dominus Double Robusto - Corojo 2006 wrapper Several complex savory flavors including spice and black pepper; this blend keeps your interest from start to finish. Excellent construction, great burn and has a long pleasant finish. Graycliff Blue Label Profesionale PGX 6x50 - Smooth-burning, Indonesian wrapper and tobacco from Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. The most pleasant Graycliff I have ever smoked. Brazilian, Nicaraguan, and Dominican fillers and a very tasty Indonesian Sumatran wrapper. One of the most beautiful cigars with no imperfections. Slightly more full flavored than other Graycliffs, I found this to be an excellent experience. What's My Band? - #911 from Liz: Tabacalera Tropical Casa Fernandez JFR Connecticut Music provided by 25 Smokin' Figurados and The Surfonics

Cigar of the Week - Capadura 898 Series Churchill – Bob & I discovered this cigar at IPCPR and we both fell in love with it! It has that wonderful Arapiraca Campesino’s 1st Choice wrapper from Brazil over a Dominican De Olor binder and a filler blend of 4 Piloto Cubano tobaccos from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. The Capadura line comes from Luba Cigar Corporation in Miami, FL. Luba Cigar Corp. has a mission of importing and distributing Artesian handcrafted cigars from small tabacaleras, who maintain consistent quality and taste by using the same tobaccos from the same fincas, and fermented by the same processors every year. Also available in Robusto, Torpedo and Jumbo sizes, Capadura cigars come packaged in wooden boxes of 25 cigars. Our Cigar of the Week selection to end the month of September is a traditional 7” x 48 ring gauge Churchill. Dale "the road warrior" is back from the Republic of Kalifornia, kudos to the Four Seasons hotel in Palo Alto for superior service! Bob finds evidence that Manuel Zelaya's return to Honduras is causing disruption again. We continue our discussion of the taste experience with cigars, delving into Spice and Heat! Based on the Tobacconist University curriculum. Dark Side Selection Marque- Ramon Allones, Frontmark, - Asia Pacific RE 2009- Celestiales Finos - 46 x 137mm (5.4"), Vitola - Britanicas (perfecto). Standard band w/ the Exclusivo Asia Pacifico 2nd band. Packaged in slb of 25 cigars, 4,000 boxes made. Ramón Allones is a pre-revolution brand introduced circa 1845. It is a Habanos Local brand with a minor market share. Comprises full strength cigars using tobacco from the premium Vuelta Abajo region. There is a non-Cuban brand with the same name. There really was a Ramon Allones who developed the brand back around 1845 and is said to be the first to employ brightly colored lithographed labels on the boxes to distinguish his brands. At the time of nationalization, the brand was owned by Cifuentes, Pego y Cia the owners of Partagas. The brand was trimmed in 2002 when 10 models were dropped. The line includes machine and hand made full bodied cigars. NY Mayor Bloomberg's continued war on tobacco - single cigar sales and bans in open air parks. What's My Band? Bob smokes an Augusto Reyes Gran Cru, Dale smokes a Romeo y Julieta. We get a nice email from Rob about the El Primer Mundo Rosado Oscuro Maduro, our Producer's Pick for the month! What Else have the DWCR guys been smokin'? Gurkha Assassin, John Hay Statesman, John Hay Anniversary Series, Fuente Hemingway Short Story, La Tradicion Cubana Special Anniversary Series Figurado. Congratulations to Mark Franks for winning the Silver Palio cutter in our Palio of the month contest! The Expedition: Esteli 2010 trip is sold out, but so many more folks want to join in - stay tuned, there may be another opportunity???? We're pleased to let Richard Baum know he is the winner of a one year subscription to the European Cigar Cult Journal! Opening theme music provided by 25 Smokin' Figurados from their album Divine Spirits, Holy Smoke. Closing theme Longboard Cowboy provided by The Surfonics.

The Cigar of the Week is the Trilogy Native Cameroon Torpedo – 6.125” x 52 Some of you may recall that the Trilogy was first introduced as a 3 sided, or tri-pressed cigar in 2002. After 2004, the tri-pressed shape was replaced with traditional parejo and torpedo shapes, as the tri-pressed design did not appeal to consumers despite rave reviews for the cigar. Now available in Robusto, Churchill and Torpedo shapes in boxes of 20 cigars, the Alec Bradley Trilogy is a sleeper premium cigar priced for every day enjoyment. The Trilogy line is available in 3 different blends: the Authentic Corojo , Exotic Maduro and the Native Cameroon Torpedo that we are featuring this month. The Authentic Corojo is manufactured by Tobacos Puros de Nicaragua while the Exotic Maduro, and Genuine Cameroon, are manufactured by Carlos Torano in Honduras. The unique blend in the Cameroon is the result of using a rich and spicy African Cameroon wrapper paired with a Honduran binder and a filler blend of Nicaraguan and Italian tobaccos. Bob Smokes a 4 year old original three sided pressing of the same named cigar from Alec Bradley. See how they compare. We have an interesting email from Dave with a tough experience from one of our bonus cigars. Robert Spoden of Bucanero Cigars sits down with Bob for an interview - we run a short piece tonight. The full interview is available as episode #005 in the Cigars One-To-One lineup. What's my Band? Bob smokes a Gran Habano Corojo #5 Lancero, Dale smokes a Cusano Corojo Toro. On the Dark Side - Marca - Saint Luis Rey, Frontmark - Regios, Vitola - Hermoso No. 4, Box code GTL May 07, 127 mm (5.0") x 48 ring gauge - The Saint Luis Rey brand was created in between 1938 & 1940 and is noted as leaning towards the lighter side in strength. The Regios has a reputation for smoking good while young and reaching most of it's potential in just a few short years. Saint Luis Rey is one of the pre-revolution brands that exemplify what cuban cigars re all about. A full bodied cigar developed in 1938 by the British firm Zamora y Guerra. Some say that its name was taken from a Thornton Wilder play “The Bridge of San Luis Rey”, which was popular at the time. However it is more likely that it refers to the town of San Luis in the heart of the Vuelta Abajo tobacco region, which is particularly famous for the superb wrapper leaves produced there. Whatever the truth may be Saint Luis Rey cigars enjoy a reputation among cigars lovers for the intensity of their flavour throughout the range. They are made with leaves from the Vuelta Abajo and Semi Vuelta regions. What Else have the DWCR guys been smokin'? Camacho Corojo Maduro, Illusione Epernay, Cusano 18 Maduro, Sabor Cubana Robusto, Buchanero Booty Maduro. The winner of the one year subscription to European Cigar Cult Journal is Daniel Claque. Opening theme music provided by 25 Smokin' Figurados from their album Divine Spirits, Holy Smoke. Closing theme Longboard Cowboy provided by The Surfonics.