Dogwatch Cigar Radio

Cigar of the Week - El Titan de Bronze Redemption Sun Grown Habano When is a Smoking ban NOT a ban? see article sent separatly from the New York Times - January 3, 2010, Blowing Smoke at a Ban by By DOUGLAS QUENQUA What else have you been smokin' Dale?- Cabaguan Guapo Jr., My Father Le Bijou 1922 Robusto, DPG Cuban Classic (black label), Cain Habano What Else have you been smoki'n Bob? - Had a cold all week, smoked very few cigars but did smoke a few from BowTie Cigars. Listen to the interview with Billie King, Jr for details. Interview with Billie King, Jr of BowTie Cigars. A different twist on getting started in the business and some different cigars. What's my band this week comes from Carl Holtman, it is the Frank Llanzea 1961 Pyramid. Bob and Dale discuss the trends for the next decade and discuss the possible use of Cuban tobacco outside the Habanos lines and the possible use of non-cuban tobacco in the Habanos lines. Music provided by 25 Smokin' Figurados and The Surfonics.

Bob and Tony Hyman continue their journey through cigar history. Tony has spent a lifetime collecting cigar memorabilia and historical documentation about cigars in America. Of course, the history of cigars in America overlaps with the history of cigars in Cuba and the rest of the Americas. You will find Tony to be interesting and he always offers up some unique insights concerning the cigar business and its impact on American business and society.

Cigar of the Week - J.L. Salazar Hermanos Series V - CHURCHILL (7¼" X 52) - J.L. SALAZAR y HERMANOS Reserva Especial cigars are typical Box-Pressed Cubans. They are silky, dark and perfectly box-pressed. he tobacco leaves are aged for over three years and specially cured through four special fermentations. The Filler is a sun-grown Cuban Seed Habano tobacco from Tabacalera Esteli. The Binder is a wrapper quality Habano 2000 leaf and the Wrapper is Ecuadorian grown Cuban Seed Habano leaf.

Cigar of the Week - Esencia Robusto - medium to full bodied Nicaraguan puro cigar available in four classic Cuban sizes. Each has been crafted in an old world Havana style using a traditional blend of Criollo and Corojo leaf of only the highest quality. Production of the Esencia is limited to the availability of the very best in raw materials. Tonights choice, the Esencia Robusto is a traditional sized 4 7/8x50 making it for me, one of the perfect sizes of cigars. One of you ask? Although there is no one perfect size of cigar, there are some sizes that I find deplorable such as anything over 60 rg! We have smoked a variety of these cigars in the different sizes and each one truly brings its own character to the table. An excellent example of how size/format influences flavor perception.

Cigar of the Week - Cupidos Campana from Cuban Crafters Cupido Criollo Compana are box-pressed with a Criollo wrapper and using Cuban-seed habano long leaf binder and filler, All the Cuban seed tobacco used in each cigar is from the Cupido Vegas, a small tobacco field in Esteli, Nicaragua that yields extra rich tobacco. Each cedar box is numbered and contains 25 cigars. It is also dated with the packing date and signed by all the cigar artisans that created these works of art. Only 9,000 boxes are made yearly for the worldwide market.

Colin Ganley sits down for a wide ranging discussion of the recently released Edicion Especial of European CIgar Cult Journal, the fate of the traditional print media, electronic book readers and a special cigar review lesson for Bob.

Cigar of the Week - 7-20-4 from KA Kendall. Kurt Kendall has been a long time cigar smoker and tobacconist with a strong sense of history. For several years he looked upon the once proud cigar factory at 175 Canal Street in Manchester, NH that housed the R.G. Sullivan 7-20-4 Cigar Factory, maker of fine $.10 cigars. The factory name of 7-20-4 was taken from the original location of the R.G. Sullivan factory at 724 Elm Street. According to Tony Hyman, the brand prospered from about 1910 until closing down in 1963. Kurt Kendal has created the new 7-20-4 cigar as a tribute to what was billed as "the finest 10 cent cigar in the world". Kendall worked for two years to recreate, as nearly as possible, the original blend. Hear more about his efforts in the interview later in the show. Available in 5 sizes, Corona, Churchill, Robusto, Torpedo and Gran Toro the line is robust and full flavored with excellent construction and a beautiful Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper, Columbian binder and fillers from several locations.

Heather Haddad and Charlie Torano discuss the new Torano Lounge, tobacconists, service and new Torano Exodus 50 Year (Copper).

Cigar of the Week - Guantanamera 310 Robusto We were introduced to this cigar through our good friend Frank Herrera (CigarLaw) at the 2009 IPCPR. Guantanamera is a target of Habanos S.A. and Altadis for using the Guantanamera name. Outstanding What's My Band segment that you don't want to miss!

Robert Emery of JJ Fox and TOR Imports in the UK discusses the state of cigars and the changing cigar market in the United Kingdom.

Cigar of the Week - Torano Virtuoso Maestro The Virtuoso is the first ever Sun-Grown wrapper cigar to be both made and grown by the Torano family. Torano describes this line as being the most full bodied cigar in their portfolio. With fillers from Nicaragua, Honduras and Panama, a binder from Honduras and that Pueblo Nuevo SunGrown wrapper from their own fields in Nicaragua, Torano says you will get a smooth and well balanced cigar full of peppery spice, roasted coffee and cocoa flavors. Since Bob has been on a Churchill kick lately, our last selection for November is the 7” by 50 Maestro vitola. Three other sizes are also available, all come in beautiful white finished cedar boxes of 25 cigars.

Cigar of the Week - El Titan de Bronze Redemption Maduro Coronitas – We’ve featured El Titan de Bronze a couple times on DWCR. The cigars are made in Miami by level 9 rollers, all cigars are made using the entubado method and are finished with the traditional Cuban triple cap. Another master roller then inspects the cigars and packages them, ensuring the cigars meet the highest standards. From the Gold, the Maduro and Redemption lines, we have always been impressed, but now comes the Redemption Maduro! Nicaragua fillers & binder, gently finished in an Ecuadorian Sun Grown Habano Maduro wrapper, provides a smoke that is one of the best new cigars of 2009. Five traditional formats are available, and we’ve selected the Coronitas (5.5” x 44) to introduce this blend to our listeners.

Jose Blanco is the man behind the La Aurora 1495, one of the best selling cigars from La Aurora. He has been in the business long enough to know a few things and shares many of those gems in this conversation.

Cigar of the Week - La Flor Dominicana Limitado IV – A 6.3” x 52 beauty, the Limitado IV is the next evolution in the Limitado series.  Released in early April, the Dominican filler & binder grown by Litto Gomez is covered with an Oscuro Nicaraguan wrapper.  Reportedly only 2,000 boxes were made - beautiful white & black wooden boxes of 48 cigars for around $430, singles usually available at your local B&M for around $10.00 (not including your state’s OTP taxes). Does a cigar with such an outstanding pedigree pass mustard with Joe and Bob?  Listen to find out.

The Cigar of the Week is the Avo Domaine No. 20 Marc Aub from Brothers Of The Leaf LLC joins us to talk about Palio Cutters, new cigars, new contests and more! What's my band? Bob smokes a Camacho H2, Dale smokes a Rocky Patel Summer Blend Lancero. In the DWCR News - Several cigar internet sites hit by a DDoS attack this past week. Also an update on the Gaspar's break-in, a second suspect has been arrested. On the Dark Side - Montecristo Especial No. 1, box code LSO June 07. What Else have the DWCR guys been smokin'? Difazio Connecticut, Don Pepin Garcia Serie JJ Robusto, Torano 1916, Torano 1959 Exodus, Casa Torano, Vengeance Maduro Ligero. The winner of this week's one year subscription to the European Cigar Cult Journal is Don Wilkins! Opening theme and bumper 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 Don Tomas Clasico Maduro in the 5 x 50 Robusto vitola. The wrapper is Connecticut Broadleaf maduro, the fillers are Honduran & Nicaraguan and the binder is Connecticut Broadleaf. The Clasico line was blended by Daniel Nunez and Estelo Padron to feature the best of Honduran tobaccos in a full flavored blend that fits today's serious cigar smoker. If you listen to our show, you'd better be a CRA member! Join the group working to preserve your right to enjoy premium cigars. We play an excerpt of Bob's interview with Nabil Shabbah, owner of the Elogio line of cigars, and this month's Producer's Pick bonus cigar. Angry Bill provides us another entertaining cigar review on the Herfline! Dale & Bob discuss cigar marketing - history, labels, packaging and where cigar marketing may go in the future. What's My Band? A unique happenstance, Bob smokes a Punch Rare Corojo Rothschild, Dale smokes a Punch Gran Puro. Bill Featherton sends in a herfline review of the El Primer

Nabil Sabbah is a dedicated cigar maker producing an excellent cigar in Estelli in his own factory and a very talented blender. This is his story

The Cigar of the Week is the Illusione Cuchillos Cubana ~47~. The Cuchillos Cubana is a mixed filler blend of 60% medium and 40% long filler tobaccos. They are handmade, use a premium quality Grade A wrapper and are Nicaraguan Puros! Available in cardboard 5 packs at about $18, this is a great value premium cigar. The ~47~ is a classic Churchill vitola, 3 other sizes are available in the line. Joe Fuller joins us to discuss some changes in the DogWatch Cigar Club. We enjoy a herfline review by Bill Featherton of the El Primer Mundo! Bob & Dale struggle to define the recognition of nicotine in cigars. Is there a taste? Do we really just "feel" the nicotine? How do you keep track of your cigars? We discuss old & new methods of keeping your cigar reviews, humidor inventory and wish lists! What's My Band? Bob smokes a San Cristobal Clasico, Dale smokes a Gurkha Ancient Warrior. On the Dark Side - H. Upmann Magnum 48 Edicion Limitada 2009. A short segment of What Else we've been smokin' - CAO

A candid conversation with Les Mann about the past, present and future of Colibri lighters.

The Cigar of the Week is the Cuba Aliados Miami Limited Edition. A cigar that doesn't get much press, but from the long pedigree of Reyes Family Cigars. Hand rolled in Miami, the filler is Nicaraguan, the binder is Dominican and the wrapper is a Habano leaf. The cigars have a cedar sleeve as well as a double band and are presented in boxes of 20 cigars. We play a herfline submission from Angry Bill on last week's Cigar of the Week - the Cuchillos Cubano ~47~. Bob discusses some of his time in Tucson - copper mining, the Titan Missle museum and getting booted from a casino for smoking cigars! Vic Vitola returns! Yes folks, check out our website for his Wrapper Chatter column. What's My Band? Bob smokes a 2008 Elogio Robusto, Dale smokes a J.Fuego Gran Reserva Belicoso. A great cigar shop in Tucson is Jerry's, with nice house blends and a wonderful lounge area. Bob talks about a few cigars he was introduced to while there. What Else hve the DWCR guys been smokin'? Cubao Maduro, Brickhouse, Punch Upp