James Giehm

Episode 63: Smoking with the Evil 3mpire Cigar 5ociety

I sit down with Joe from Evil 3mpire Cigar 5ociety at Prime Cigars in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Joe and I have a great conversation that covers a wide array of topics. We get to know Joe and how he started his cigar journey before getting to know what the Evil 3mpire Cigar 5ociety is all about….

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Cigars and Coffee Episode 26: Zino Nicaragua and Volado Blend by Janus Coffee Roasters

James visits Habano Cigars in Davenport, Iowa to review the Zino Nicaragua Robusto and the Volado Blend from Janus Coffee Roasters. The Zino Nicaragua is a medium to medium+ cigar with notes of cream, avocado oil, nuts, and earth. The Volado Blend coffee is a medium/dark roast with notes of barley and nuts. The pairing…

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Cigar Review: LH Cigars Colorado Toro

Initially shown off the 2015 Trade Show, the LH Premium Cigars Colorado has grown from having just three vitolas to now seven. Rolled at Tobacos de Costa Rica, the LH Cigars Colorado uses an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, over a Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan, Ecuadorian, and Peruvian filler, to bridge the gap between their Claro and…

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Cigars and Coffee Episode 25: CAO America Potomac and Cafe Bustelo

Tim kicks off our new weekly Cigars & Coffee format where we focus on the reviewing the cigar and the coffee we’re drinking. The inaugural episode in this format sees Tim reviewing the CAO America Potomac and Cafe Bustelo. Tim walks you through his CAO America cigar experience and drinks some Cafe Bustelo. If you…

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Cigar Review: The CHC Serie E 5150 from Crowned Heads Really Got Me

The Serie E was, according to Jon Huber, “sonically inspired by the guitar solo ‘Eruption’ from Eddie Van Halen in 1978 [on] the original Van Halen album.” Jon goes on to describe how the cutting, toasting and toasting of the cigar are a metaphor for the bass guitar and drums at the beginning; the majority…

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Episode 62: Chatting with Dan from the Cigar Saver

While at the PCA 2021 Trade Show, I sit down with Dan from the Cigar Saver. The Cigar Saver is a product that, well, saves your cigar. When you find it necessary to step away from your lit cigar, the Cigar Saver allows you to quickly put it out, saving your cigar to be easily…

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Lounge Review: En Fuego Cigars (Henderson, NV) Outshines the Bright Lights of Vegas

While in Las Vegas for the PCA 2021 Trade Show, I decided that I wanted to visit a cigar lounge before the show started. I arrived a day early and decided to see what Vegas had to offer. Instead of hitting up the usual suspects on the Vegas Strip, I decided to drive a few…

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Cigars and Coffee Episode 24: Don Fausto and Cigars for Warriors – Loyalty Blend

James and Tim return to Habanos Cigar Lounge in Davenport, Iowa to smoke a Don Fausto by Anya Ramirez and drink some Cigars for Warriors Loyalty Blend Coffee from Janus Coffee Roasters. Are your local B&Ms carrying enough boutique cigar brands? Are they carrying any boutique cigar brands? What’s enough? is the staff trained? Plus,…

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Cigar Review: Villa Casdagli Toro Lives Up to its Namesake

The Villa Casdagli line may have been first shown off at the 2021 Tobacco Plus Expo, but the seed (if you’ll pardon the pun) was planted eight years ago in Costa Rica when Jeremy Casdagli first met Don Olman of the, then, Vegas Santiago Factory. Since then, Jeremy has worked with Olman on special projects…

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Episode 61: An Epic Conversation with Dean Parsons of Epic Cigars

I sit down with Dean Parsons of Epic Cigars at the 2021 PCA Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dean and I discuss how his journey from Canadian hockey player, to police officer, to real estate development, to finally finding his passion and starting Epic Cigars. Dean opens up about the industry and the amount…

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