Cigar Review

Ezra Zion Burnt Ends

OVERVIEW VITOLA:   Box-Pressed Toro SIZE:   6″ x 52 ORIGIN:   Undisclosed FACTORY:   Undisclosed WRAPPER:   Cured Corojo BINDER:   Undisclosed FILLER:   Undisclosed STRENGTH:   Medium SOURCE: Ezra Zion website via “Dad’s Dig Ezra” Sampler ENVIRONMENT WHERE: Patio – around the firepit WHEN: July 4, 2017 @ 9 PM DRINKS: New Belgium Fat Tire Belgian-Style Ale WEATHER: Perfect summer night WHAT’S…

Read More

Episode 16: A Conversation with Jeremy Casdagli of Casdagli Cigars

I sit down with Jeremy Casdagli of Casdagli Cigars, formerly Bespoke Cigars, live from the Clayton in Chicago, Illinois. Jeremy and I discuss his cigar journey, how and why he started Casdagli Cigars, the name change from Bespoke to Casdagli, his family history and how that has influenced him, how he reacts to bad reviews…

Read More

Dapper El Borracho

OVERVIEW VITOLA:   Edmundo (Box-Pressed) SIZE:   5-1/2″ x 52 ORIGIN:   Nicaragua FACTORY:   Nicaraguan American Cigars S.A. (NACSA) WRAPPER:   Mexican San Andres BINDER:   Nicaraguan (Jalapa Habano Rosado) FILLER:   Nicaraguan STRENGTH:   Medium SOURCE: Gift from Dapper owner, Ian Reith ENVIRONMENT WHERE: Three-Season Porch at Home WHEN: January 20, 2018 at 10 PM DRINKS: Intrinsic Cabernet Sauvignon WEATHER: Great winter…

Read More

Episode 15: The Hobby Within the Hobby

James begins this episode with several big announcements! James announces interviews with Jeremy Casdagli of Casdagli Cigars and Pete Johnson of Tatuaje Cigars. He also announces a contest with pupperdor.com. Details and rules of the contest are found in this episode! Thank you to Pupperdor.com for sponsoring this contest. Have you ever wondered why there…

Read More

TATUAJE MONSTER LINE HISTORY AND OVERVIEW

HISTORY OF THE LINE It would be impressive if any avid cigar smoker had not heard of Tatuaje’s annually released Monster series of cigars.  Sometime around 2008, Tatuaje’s bossman, Pete Johnson got the novel idea to start a line of stogies based on classic monsters from the film and literature’s horror genre.  They debuted the…

Read More

Episode 14: AMA w/Nick Melillo of Foundation Cigars

I get the opportunity to sit down and chat with Nick Melillo, master blender, and founder of Foundation Cigars for a SimplyStogies.club AMA/Virtual Cut & Light via Zoom Meeting. We had a fantastic conversation about Nick’s cigar journey, how he got started, what he’s learned, and where he’s going. We discussed a slew of topics…

Read More

Ezra Zion Blessed Leaf Doxology

OVERVIEW VITOLA:   Toro SIZE:   6″ x 52 ORIGIN:   Nicaragua FACTORY:   EZ HQ WRAPPER:   Nicaraguan Corojo BINDER:   Indonesian & Nicaraguan (double binder) FILLER:   Nicaraguan Jalapa, Esteli & Ometepe STRENGTH:   Medium SOURCE: Trade w/ fellow BOTL ENVIRONMENT WHERE: Le Cigar (Dearborn, MI) WHEN: July 25, 2017 at 8 PM DRINKS: Bell’s Oberon – favorite summer-time brew WEATHER: Sitting Inside…

Read More

Ezra Zion Bee’s Knees

OVERVIEW VITOLA:   Robusto SIZE:   5″ x 52 ORIGIN:   Nicaragua FACTORY:   Undisclosed WRAPPER:   Nicaraguan BINDER:   Nicaraguan FILLER:   Nicaraguan Corojo & Criollo STRENGTH:   Mild SOURCE: Secondary Market ENVIRONMENT WHERE: Three-Season Porch at Home WHEN: July 10, 2017 at 10 PM DRINKS: Sailor Jerry Rum on some rocks WEATHER: Gorgeous summer night – low 70s, no precip WHAT’S ON:…

Read More

Drew Estate Pappy Van Winkle Robusto

OVERVIEW VITOLA:   Robusto SIZE:   5-1/4″ x 52 ORIGIN:   Nicaragua FACTORY:   La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate WRAPPER:   Kentucky Tapa Negra & Mexican San Andres BINDER:   Nicaraguan FILLER:   Nicaraguan & US (Kentucky) STRENGTH:   Mild SOURCE: Pappy’s website (only source currently) ENVIRONMENT WHERE: Three-Season Porch at Home WHEN: October 13, 2016 at Noon DRINKS: Costco Root Beer WEATHER: Nice fall…

Read More

Davidoff Yamasa Robusto

OVERVIEW VITOLA:   Robusto SIZE:   5″ x 50 ORIGIN:   Dominican Republic FACTORY:   Cigars Davidoff WRAPPER:   Dominican BINDER:   Dominican – San Vicente (Yamasa) FILLER:   Dominican – Piloto/Mejorado & Nicaraguan – Condega & Esteli STRENGTH:   Medium – Full SOURCE: Trade w. fellow BOTL ENVIRONMENT WHERE: Three-season porch at home WHEN: November 15, 2016 DRINKS: French-pressed Philz Harmonic coffee WEATHER:…

Read More