Simply Stogies

Episode 52: Talking Shop with Evan from The Blend Newsletter

This episode I chat with Evan, the founder of The Blend Newsletter, via Zoom and we discuss his cigar journey, how he fell in love with cigars, how the global pandemic helped him find his passion for the leaf, and how he curates the newsletter each week. We end up talking about what it’s like…

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Cigar Review: Casdagli’s Enigma Solves the Mystery of a Truly Special Experience

Who doesn’t like a good mystery? Near the end of 2019, When I sat down with Jeremy Casdagli, founder of Casdagli Cigars, one of the last things he mentioned on the podcast was two new cigars coming the following year (2020) called the Cypher and the Enigma. The blends would be undisclosed and left up…

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Cigar Review: Casdagli Cigars Mareva Spalato No. 2 Is Worth the Price of Admission

The Casdagli Cigars Mareva Spalato No. 2 is the regular production follow-up release to the original limited production Mareva Spalato. The Mareva Spalato No. 2 was blended by Master Blender Hendrik Kelner Jr. and originally rolled in the Kelner Boutique Factory in November 2019 and the tobaccos used are all aged at least three years….

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Episode 51: Chatting at the Drawing Room QC

I visit the Drawing Room QC and chats with two of the owners, Eric Norton and Shale Sage. The trio discuss the cigar community and rich cigar history in Davenport, Iowa, the cigar industry, how cigar manufacturers sell cigars to B&Ms, and how Eric and Shale started their cigar journeys. They also discuss opening a…

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Cigar Review: Ninjaragua from Joya de Nicaragua and Cigar Dojo Is All Gimmick

The Joya de Nicaragua Ninjaragua is the latest collaborative effort from Cigar Dojo. The Ninjaragua is a Nicaraguan puro that features a dark, rich Nicaraguan habano criollo wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler. This extremely limited collaboration came with a commemorative challenge coin in the shape of a shuriken, or throwing star. With only 450…

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Cigars and Coffee Episode 13: Celebrities, Cigars, and Coffee

James and Tim sit down at David’s Fine Tobaccos in Clive, Iowa and discuss what celebrities they’d like to have a cigar with. We find out who Tim’s hall pass, how disappointed she must be, and how much better Janus Coffee Roasters Peru Capili Medium Roast is compared to Sam’s Club coffee.

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Episode 50: Sitting Down with Sean David of David’s Fine Tobaccos

I sit down with the third generation owner of David’s Fine Tobaccos in Clive, Iowa, Sean David. Sean and I discuss a wide range of topics that both his customers and cigar aficionados and enthusiasts will find interesting. We talk about the 40+ year history of David’s Fine Tobaccos, what’s changed over that time, and…

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Cigar Review: Liga Privada H99 Is a Must-Try Stick From Drew Estate’s Prestigious Line

Earlier this year Drew Estate announced that the long-awaited Liga Privada H99 would be available at all Drew Estate Drew Diplomat Retail program events held between February 1 and May 12. My “local” lounge, located an hour and half from where I live, just happens to be one of those retailers. So when Habano Cigars…

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Cigar Review: Padrón Damaso No. 15 ain’t Your Daddy’s Connecticut

I can remember the first time I tried the Padrón Damaso no. 15 at David’s Fine Tobaccos. I saw them sitting next to the other Padróns and it stood out like a sore thumb. The light Connecticut wrapper next to those deep, rich Maduro wrappers and velvety smooth natural wrappers called to me. The Damaso…

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Episode 49: Chatting with Robin Blue of Blue Smoke ATL

I welcome Robin Blue, founder and creator of Blue Smoke ATL, to the show. Robin and I discuss how she approaches creating her line of cigar pokers, flasks, and key chains. We talk about how she began her cigar journey, what prompted her to start her business, and how women are different cigar smokers than…

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