Dogwatch Cigar Radio

The Cigar of the Week is the HC Series Criollo Lonsdale. One of the more talked about introductions this summer, Xikar brought out their HC Series Cigar Collection in three different blends. The HC Series is blended in partnership with Jesus Fuego. This month we feature the Criollo blend in the 6 x 46 Lonsdale format. Both the wrapper & binder are shade grown Criollo leaf from Nicaragua, with the wrapper having 4 years of aging. The filler blend is Nicaraguan & Honduran tobaccos. Together they deliver a medium bodied smoke with some leather & tea flavors, complimented by some caramel sweetness. A little follow-up on the UPC conversation started last week identifies some manufacturers making it easier on the retailers. Craig Rich joins us from the chat room to ask the hard questions! He interviews us on our own show! Discussion on "body" in a cigar. We try to separate myth from truth! On the Dark Side - Marque - Bolivar, Frontmark - Petite Belicosos Edicion Limitada 2009, Vitola - Petit Pyr

The Cigar of the Week is the Jameson Black Label Perfecto. This week's cigar is a 54 x 5" perfecto figurado from a line we've introduced you to before. The blend in this full falvored line is all Dominican tobaccos wrapped in a gorgious Brazilian Ariparaca wrapper. Brad Mayo, owner of Jameson Cigars has partnered with Luis Sanchez to offer these premium cigars that offer a very rich smoking experience. One of the great all time comedians, Soupy Sales passed away this week. Mark Franks asks us the question - What is a Habano Wrapper? We ask several folks to answer Mark. The Connecticut Valley is hard hit by virus and other maladies of the tobacco crop. What's My Band? Bob smokes a Tatuaje Serie P2, Dale smokes an Alec Bradley Tempus. On the Dark Side - Romeo y Julietta Exhibicion #4 - Corona Extra - Hermosos No. 4 - 48x5.0 (127mm) - Mild, full-flavored  Cuban Cigars with a well-rounded taste and good burning qualities. Enjoyable thanks to its fine aroma. The 250th episode of

Miami Circus - A wild and entertaining roundtable conversation with Frank Herrera and Gustavo (CigarLaw,La Caridad Del Cobre) , Jose Bermudez (Cuban Crafters), Manuel Medina master roller of Medina 1959 and roller of La Caridad Del Cobre cigars. We will also have Jose Montagne of Guantanamera cigars. This was a rowdy group having a good time discussing cigars.

Cigar of the Week - Camacho Connecticut Figurado – Released at the end of May this year, Camacho brings out their first and only Connecticut wrapped cigar in response to consumer requests for a Camacho on the lighter side. However, there’s still plenty of flavor and spice, just not as much strength as is usual from the line. Perhaps some of the Oettinger Davidoff influence? The line is available in 6 formats – the 54-42 x 6.3” Figurado we feature this month, and a Robusto, Toro, Churchill, a “60” and the 11/18 Figurado. The filler tobaccos in the blend are Honduran and Dominican and a Honduran binder is used. The wrapper is an Ecuadorian grown Connecticut leaf that is refined and silky. Early reports peg it at mild-medium bodied with some recognizable Corojo base flavors and a smooth finish. Available in sturdy wooden boxes of 25 cigars, our Figurado retails in the $7-$8 range.

Cigar of the Week - Panacea Red Label Maduro from Flatbed Cigars in Pennsylvania. http://www.flatbedcigarcompany.com/ . Paul Bush first told us about this cigar back in April and we have been anxious to try it ever since. PANACEA Red was released in April of 2009, eighteen months after the launch of the Panacea Black, the first cigar from Flatbed Cigars. The Red label line is a Habano/Maduro. A Brazilian Maduro wrapper with a Dominican Habano binder. The filler is Seco Cubano, Ligero Piloto Cubano, Ligero Olor Dominicano, and Ligero Nicaragua. Comes in six sizes starting with the Grande Red 760 Peace Maker, coming in at 7x60, the 560 which is a 5x60 Robusto, the 7x50 Churchill, Torpedo at 6x52,a true robusto at 5x50 and tonight's selection, the Perfecto at 6x51 figurado that is pleasing to the eye and comfortable in the hand. A full body, medium-strong in the strength department. Mellow enough to enjoy mid-day, but can stand up to a steak dinner too. We sold out the Expedition:Esteli 2010 trip in 4

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 t

Gary Arzt is one of the most unusual and straightforward characters I have ever met, in or out of the cigar industry.

Dodgeball Baggage - The Jury is out The Cigar of the Week is the Cruzado Domenicos. From the mind of Dion Giolito, creater of Illusione Cigars, we get to sample his Cruzado line. The Domenicos is a 5 5/8” by 46 ring gauge Corona Gorda (Dion lists it as a Grand Corona in Perlmans) format. You’ll find Cruzado to be a tad lighter in body & flavor than Illusione. The filler is a blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan Criollo and Corojo tobaccos. The binder is Nicaraguan and the wrapper is Nicaraguan Criollo (Perlman lists it as a Colorado Maduro). The wrapper shades will run from Cafe Claro to Cafe Rosado. Cruzado cigars are manufactured in the Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras and come packaged in wooden boxes with “partial dress” edge wrapping at 20 cigars to the box. This show is dedicated to those who lost their lives 8 years ago in the 9/11 attacks. Never forget! We announce the Expedition: Esteli 2010 trip to Nicaragua! Adventure with us for 5 days and 4 nights in the famous cigar fields and factori

Eddy and I have an insightful conversation about blending, maduro and his philosophy of cigars.

Cigar of the Week - NUB 460 Maduro – Seems only proper to start September featuring the new cigar from NUB seeing as how Sam Leccia was one of the early supporters of the DogWatch Cigar Club after IPCPR last year. This year, Sam adds a Maduro wrapper to the NUB, and we’re tasting it in the 460 size – 4” x 60 ring gauge. Manufactured by Oliva Cigars, everyone by now knows all about NUB cigar. Sam has extended the line with this fine Brazilian Maduro wrapper – look for naturally sweet and deep flavors of chocolate, spice and nuts in a full flavored cigar that lasts surprisingly long & burns cool. But is the 60 ring guage format in a short cigar really worth the effort? Find out by listening to the show! The Producer's Pick cigar in the September DogWatch Cigar Club selections is the El Primer Mundo. Sean Williams stops in to talk a bit about his new line of cigars. Bob fills Dale in on his excursion with Colin Ganley around Little Havana in Miami. Chip Eckhart is the winner of a one year subscription to E

Cigar of the Week is the Illusione CG:4 White Horse.  A Nicaraguan puro from the mind of Dion Giolito who is becoming one of the most respected blenders in the boutique and 'small batch' areana of premium cigars.  Dion is supported by the outstanding Casa Fernandez growers who produce some of the most consistent and flavorful leaf in the business. Available at FullersPullers.comWith Dale off on a romantic getaway Bob brings in a variety of guests to fill the void.  First up is tobacconist and foodie Joe Fuller to talk about some new cigars from IPCPR.  Doc Simpson joins the show after a long hiatus to talk cigars, mojitos and philosophy.  Bringing the show back to reality is the affable Tom Barbalet to tell us about his humidor construction project.  Bob wraps up the evening with Craig Shnieder and a blind review review of a hard to get Dark Side selection.Congratulations to Mike Denson, winner of a Gold Palio Cutter and Mark Oship the winner of a one year subscription to Europea

Robert Spoden and I talk about how the big cigar companies are ruining the business and how shape affects the flavor profile of a cigar.

Yellow Shoes and Bat Crap

Cigar of the Week - Don Tomas Clasico Presidente

The Cigar of the Week is the G.A.R. Gran Consul. A listener letter reminds us of Service, and the best our nation has to offer. Countdown to IPCPR....what to expect this year? On the Dark Side - Partagas Serie P No. 2, box code TEB March 08. Dale & Bob will take the Tobacconist University test for Certified Salesforce Tobacconist at IPCPR! What Else have the DWCR guys been smokin'? LaRiqueza #4, HC Series Criollo Toro, Illusione mj12, 100 Anos Perfecto Bob does his own What's my Band - The Por Larranaga. The winner of this week's contest for a one year subscription to European Cigar Cult Journal is John Magrisso. Opening theme music provided by 25 Smokin' Figurados from their album Divine Spirits, Holy Smoke. Closing theme Longboard Cowboy provided by The Surfonics.

I visited Bue Havana II back in July and was impressed by Jim's commitment to service and cigars.

The Cigar of the Week is the Sabor Cubano Gran Torpedo. DogWatch Cigar Club membership drive. As we mentioned last week, we've got a great new promotion for the Cigar Club starting today! For the next 15 members who go to FullersPullers and sign up for the club, you will receive with your first month's selection a great gift pack from our fine sponsors - a Puckifier from Cigarmony.com, a sample of coffee from Black Dog Coffee.net, a special, non-released Esencia cigar (Canonazo vitola) from BOTL and a special offer on a Palio cutter! We don't forget our loyal club members either - for all members enrolled as of Aug 1st, we want to thank you for your membership by including for you in your next month's shipment one of those special non-released Esencia cigars and that same offer for a Palio cutter. We're packing for IPCPR! Watch for new cigar updates, interviews & some special video surprises from Aug. 9-12. Cigar counterfeit ring in Alabama busted! READ MORE We give away a Palio cutter to Troy Keifer

Sean is one of the freshest faces in the cgar industry. His relative rookie status and passion for cigars brings an excitement and talent to the business. This interview was recorded at Buckhead CIgar Lounge in Atlanta, GA

The Cigar of the Week is the La Tradicion Cubana Corona. Colin Ganley sits in with us to discuss cigars, history and what's new. Excitement building - we're headed to IPCPR in just 3 weeks. You can follow us on Twitter! A herfline submission from Angry Bill and Pete Johnson! Safely storing your cigars in the heat of summer! What's my Band? Bob smokes an A. Fuente Cuban Coron, Dale smokes a Nicaraguan Presidente, Colin smokes a Bucanero Booty. Suggestions for summertime storage of your cigar collection. On the Dark Side - Diplomaticos No. 1, box code FJN July '05. Congratulations to Gunar Carlson, this week's winner of a one year subscription to European Cigar Cult Journal! Opening theme music provided by 25 Smokin' Figurados from their album Divine Spirits, Holy Smoke. Closing theme music Longboard Cowboy provided The Surfonics.

No Show due to family emergency