Cigar Passion

Cigars & Coffee Episode 63: La Colmena Amado No 44 & Phuck Cancer

James pairs a La Colmena Amado No. 44 from Warped CIgars with the Phuck Cancer blend from Janus Coffee Roasters. He rates and reviews both, while giving you the tasting notes of each.

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Episode 84: The Cuban Sub-Series: The Impact of the Cuban Embargo

I am joined by Cuban cigar expert and the owner of LH Cigars, Nick Syris, as we discuss the impact of the US embargo on Cuban cigars. The conversation begins with some news coming out of Cuba and quickly turns to the Habanos SA price increases. Nick gives his thoughts on why Habanos SA has…

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Cigars & Coffee Episode 61: Juan Lopez No. 2 & TB610

James stays at home for this episode and smokes a Cuban Juan Lopez Seleccion No.2 and drinks a test blend from Janus Coffee Roasters, TB610.  

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Cigars & Coffee Episode 60: Trilogy Native Cameroon & Ethiopia Longberry

James returns to Habano Cigar Lounge in Davenport, Iowa and smokes an Alec Bradley Trilogy Native Cameroon and drinks Ethiopia Longberry from FatAsh Cigar Lounge in Ashland, Kentucky. His scores may surprise you. You can order a bag of the Ethiopia Longberry from FatAsh Cigar Lounge by calling (606) 254-0484

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Episode 83: On a Zoom with John Laurendi of Peter James

I sit down, via Zoom with Peter James founder, John Laurendi. John and I discuss how he got into his cigars, and John shares with us his very first cigar experience. John tells us how Peter James came to be and the some of the obstacles that the company faced upon its inception. We then…

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Cigars & Coffee Episode 58: La Carême Belicosos Finos 2022 LE & Cyclops Blend Coffee

James returns to Habano Cigar Lounge in Davenport, Iowa and smokes the new Le Carême Belicosos Finos 2022 LE from Crowned Heads and drinks the Cyclops blend from Janus Coffee Roasters.

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Episode 82: The Cuban Sub-Series: The Innovators of Cuban Cigars

I am joined by Nick Syris, owner of LH Cigars, my co-host for our Cuban Sub-Series. We discuss the latest news from Cuba: The explosion near Hotel Saratoga in Cuba, the Biden Administrations change in Cuban policy, and Habanos S.A. dramatically raising Cuban cigar prices. We then talk about the innovators of Cuban cigars: Christopher…

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Episode 81: Bonus at My Old Kentucky Herf

For this bonus episode, I chat with Luciano Meirelles of Ace Prime Cigars, Andy Yaffee of Micallef Cigars, Oscar Valladares of Oscar Valladares Tobacco & Co, Nick Syris of LH Cigars, Greg Free of Fuerte y Libre Cigars, and Dwight Adkins of FatAsh Cigar Lounge and My Old Kentucky Herf. We find out why Dwight…

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Grace Cigar Journal Entry No. 3: Invictus

Invictus I’ve become a connoisseur of small smokes; commuter smokes are what I call them. Thirty minute smokes. That’s part of living in the Pacific Northwest, where it’s cold and wet for too god damn much of the year. The sun is starting to stick around for a day here and there. That means I’ll…

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Episode 80: Patina Cigars’ Mo Maali

I sit down with Mo Maali, the man behind Patina Cigars. We talk about the behind-the-scenes of running a cigar company. Mo opens up about lanceros, limited edition, and tobacco availability. We discuss how he gets into new shops and how he knows if a shop is the right fit. We talk about the economy,…

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