James Giehm

Quick Review: Guardian of the Farm Apollo

Previous Next Cigar Notes Construction Good Flavor Chocolate, Wood, Baking Spices Strength Medium/Full Enjoyment Good Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo 99 (Jalapa) Binder: Nicaragua Corojo 99 Filler: Nicaragua (Corojo 99, Criollo 98) Length: 6″ Ring Guage: 44 Vitola: Lonsdale MSRP: $8.00 The Guardian of the Farm Apollo is a collaborative effort from Kyle Gellis . . ….

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Cigars and Coffee Episode 35: Turkish Coffee and La Aroma de Cuba Pasión

James visits Habano Cigar Lounge in Davenport, Iowa and reviews their Turkish Coffee and the La Aroma de Cuba Pasión. The La Aroma de Cuba Pasión was released in September of 2021 and this was the first chance I had to try it. How does it do? And how well does it pair with Turkish…

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Cigar Review: Sweep the Leg from Nomad by Ezra Zion is a Solid Hit

If you’ve read my review of the Freakshow from Nomad by Ezra Zion, then you know that Nomad releases can sometimes speak to my inner geek. In this instance, Sweep the Leg scratches that nostalgia itch that Hollywood has figured out we all have. Beyond that, myself and our former content director (Mike Breig) have…

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Episode 69: The One and Only Tommy Zman

I chat, via Zoom, with the one and only Tommy Zman. Tommy “Zman” Zarzeki is a writer, producer, voice actor, humorist, and content creator. While he has worked on projects outside of the cigar industry, Tommy is well-known for his work in the cigar industry. Tommy talks about how he broke into the cigar industry…

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Episode 68: Bonus Episode with Lucas Da Silva of Oxford Cigar Company

I welcome Lucas Da Silva, owner of oxfordcigarcompany.com, back to the podcast. We discuss the state of cigar retail, what it’s like to do business during the second cigar boom, and how Oxford Cigar Company chooses what new cigar manufacturers to carry. Lucas also talks about the current logistical problems plaguing the industry and why…

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Cigars and Coffee Episode 33: Montecristo No. 2 (Cuban) and Three Rivers Coffee Company’s Hotel Bravo

James returns after his bout with COVID-19 and reviews the Montecristo no. 2 (Cuban) while drinking the Hotel Bravo blend from Three Rivers Coffee Company. The Montecristo no. 2 is the quintessential Cuban cigar experience. With notes of coffee, baking spices, barnyard, chocolate, and white pepper, how will James score this classic cigar? Three Rivers…

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Cigar Review: The Warped Chinchalle is a Wonderful First for Warped Cigars

The Chinchalle is a first for Warped Cigars, as it’s the first time they’ve produced a cigar in the Dominican Republic. The Chinchalle also happens to be one of the first cigars produced at Tabacalera La Isla, a factory owned by Hostos Fernandez Quesda. Theses “firsts,” coupled with my love of Dominican grown tobacco, demanded…

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Episode 67: The Cuba Episode with Nick Syris of LH Premium Cigars

I welcome Nick Syris, the owner and Master Blender of LH Premium Cigars and a Subject Matter Expert on all things Cuban cigars, to the show. Nick and I run the gamut of Cuban cigars, as we discuss the U.S. embargo on Cuba and some of the effects on the Cuban people, the changing U.S….

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Lounge Review: Prime Cigar Company in Brookfield, WI

Hidden away in a corner of the Galleria West Shopping Center in Brookfield, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee, sits Prime Cigar Company. It is owned by the one and only Johnny Piette of Isabela Cigars. Prime Cigar Company has been in business for over 14 years, but there are changes coming. Johnny told me that…

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Lounge Review: The Outlaw Cigar Company in Overland Park, KS is a Bucket List Cigar Destination…with a Caveat

I have said before that the Midwest seems to be largely overlooked by the cigar industry. There are a few exceptions, like Up Down Cigar in Chicago or Safari Cigars in Omaha, NE. There are a few in St. Louis that seems to get some love, too. But by-in-large, most cigar shops throughout the Midwest…

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