My most recent podcast episode features Rick and Sara Rodriguez of West Tampa Tobacco Co. During our conversation, Rick discussed what it was like going from a “corporate kitchen” (CAO) full of “ingredients” (almost any tobacco he wanted to work with), to a “home kitchen” (WTTC) with few ingredients (limited access to tobacco) to work…
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Orange Virginia is the forgotten middle child of the Virginia pipe tobacco landscape. I mean that quite literally. For a flue-cured Virginia, that is, dried by indirect heat over a handful of days, there will be a gradation of color from the base to the top, which is due to the variation of chemical compounds…
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This episode, I am joined by the father and daughter team of Rick and Sara Rodgriguez of West Tampa Tobacco Co. The three of us discuss how Rick started his cigar journey, and who taught him to blend and run a cigar company. We talk about their vision for the West Tampa Tobacco Co. and…
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Rick Rodriguez is a name that most enthusiasts and aficionados have heard of. Rick has had a lot of accomplishments over his 22yrs with General Cigar Co. Learning from such Titans in the industry as E.P. Carillo, Daniel Núñez, and Benji Menendez, Rick took over as “Brand Ambassador” for CAO. There he had a string…
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Tucked away in a nondescript strip mall on the southeast side of Omaha, the Omaha Cigar Company sits in-between a dry cleaning business and a Korean food restaurant. The small storefront and lack of an eye-catching sign, it’s the kind of cigar lounge that you might pass by and not think twice about. But should…
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James returns to Habano Cigar Lounge in Davenport, Iowa to review the Bandolero Clandestinos Serie C and drink the new Simply Stogies Podcast blend from Janus Coffee Roasters. James reviews the cigar and gives an “unbiased” review of the Simply Stogies Coffee. Try our new Simply Stogies Coffee blend from Janus Coffee Roasters!
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John Laurendi, owner and co-founder of Peter James, announced his foray into cigars with his Los Estoico line. Listening to John talk about his cigars, you can hear the passion in his voice. Known for their leather cigar cases, cigars seem like the next logical step for Peter James. The Los Estoico line have a…
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James is joined by his Cuban Sub-Series host, Nick Syris of LH Cigars, as they discuss what makes Cuban cigars so unique…the soil. Before they discuss the unique properties of the soil in Cuba and the different growing regions around the island, Nick catches us up on some of the news coming our of Cuba….
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James returns to Habano Cigar Lounge in Davenport, Iowa to smoke and review the Wisdom by King Solomon (Lucky House Cigars) and pair it with Sumatra Mandheling Aged 4 Years from Janus Coffee Roasters. Don’t forget to try our very own coffee from Janus Coffee Roasters!
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Cigar smoking is about slowing down, relaxing, socializing with other people of the leaf, and shutting out all of our daily distractions. We don’t want to think of the smoke and smell that can linger afterwards; which is why most of us smoke at a lounge or outdoors. But what about when you can’t? There…
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Stay smoky, friends.