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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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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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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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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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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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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James and Tim return to David’s Fine Tobaccos (9759 University Ave, Clive, IA 50325) to talk about what they saw at the PCA 2021 Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. They discuss their experience and all the good…and not so good they saw while attending. There is never a shortage of drama in the cigar…
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I sit down at the Recluse Cigars/Iconic Leaf Cigar Company booth on the PCA Trade Show floor with owner and blender Scott Weeks. Scott and I talk about his and his family’s background in the cigar industry and how he started Recluse Cigars and Iconic Cigar Leaf Company. We talk about federal regulations and how…
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James and Tim return to David’s Fine Tobaccos in Clive, Iowa and take on their coffee arch-nemesis…Starbucks. The pair smoke a Crowned Heads Four Kicks Capa Especial LE and muddle their way through the almost unbearable coffee experience. Along the way, James regales you with tales from his high school days, and they talk about…
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I talk, via Zoom, with Nick Syris of LH Cigars. We discuss his journey from an audio business to his life as a retailer and how he eventually started LH Cigars. Nick talks about what he’s learned and where LH Cigars is going in the future. We discuss the cigar industry, what it means to be…
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Stay smoky, friends.