Tag Archives: Smoke Inn

by | December 13, 2014 · 6:46 am

CigarCraig’s 12 Spectacular Days of Cigar Giveaways 2014 Day 3: Smoke Inn

Day 2 is in the books and we are going to keep forging ahead!  I’m up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday and can’t think of anything to write, so the winner of the Drew Estate present is Matt Henrich! Many thanks again to all the folks at Drew Estate for providing these gifts!

 

 

Smoke Inn/Kiss My Ash Radio

 

Smoke Inn

 

Day 3 brings us to the fine folks at Smoke Inn and Kiss My Ash Radio.  Since today is Saturday, if you are reading this early enough, you can tune into Kiss My Ash radio and listen live at KissMyAshRadio.com from 10am to noon Eastern Standard Time, or download the podcast and listen whenever you want. Abe at Smoke Inn has provided two boxes from his Microblend series, the 601 La Bomba Bunker Buster, a 5½ x 56 box pressed Figurado (box of ten) and the Quesada Oktoberfest Dunkel, which is a Broadleaf wrapped version of the Oktoberfest line (box of 15).  These are both delicious, both limited production and will look great sitting on the rim of the huge KMA Ceramic Ashtray. A KMA cap rounds out today’s present.  Could I have split this up into two spectacular days? Sure, but whats the fun in that? Thanks to Abe and his gang at Smoke Inn and Kiss My Ash Radio!

 

Rules

All you have to do to enter is to leave a comment on that day’s post and if you like, in one sentence tell us what comes to mind when you think of Smoke Inn.  It’s not a condition to win, but I’d like for the folks who make this all possible to come away with some consumer feedback.  Also, be sure to visit the links for each item. Comments on Facebook, Twitter, or anywhere else will not count, but feel free to spread the word!

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Until tomorrow,

 

CigarCraig

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by | November 20, 2013 · 8:07 pm

Balls of Steel, Smoke Inn Toy Drive and Felipe Gregorio Defiant Cigars

I have to mix things up a little bit from time to time, so before I get into the cigars I’ve enjoyed on my evening walks, I’d like to share a couple of opportunities to be charitable.  The first item I’d like to share is from Origi

nalBOS.com.  Balls of Steel is an ice alternative for those of you who enjoy chilled spirits. Fifteen percent of the proceeds go toward testicular cancer research. I don’t drink, but I do have testicles, as do many of you, I’m sure, so I felt it appropriate to share here.  Here’s what they have to say:

 

Balls of Steel“OriginalBOS was founded to create a community for men with a very serious issue in a light-hearted way that gives every man the opportunity to feel like a distinguished gentleman by using Balls of Steel Whiske

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y Chillers. By providing a useful and conversation-starting product – really, it might sound like a 17 year old named it, but

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just try to say  ‘Balls of Steel’ to a stranger without an explanation – OriginalBOS is opening up a national dialogue about the realities of testicular cancer while hopefully encouraging some smiles . . . and probably a few furrowed brows.”

So grow a pair and buy s

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ome!  They make a great Christmas present, can’t you picture Santa pulling them out of his sack and putting them under y

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our tree? I know you can’t wait to get your hands on a pair of these. There have to be a handful of funn

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y jokes about this product, but I can’t think of any. Nuts!  

 

In other news, Smoke Inn in Florida is holding a toy drive benefitting kids with cancer.  You could possibly win some very nice cigar prizes just for shipping them a new toy.  Details are

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in the graphic below (or above, depending on the device you use to read this).  There are some incredible prizes, but thinking of the little bit of joy you could bring to a child is worth the cost of a toy.

 

Defiant RobustosOn to the cigars. I’ve been working my way through some more IPCPR samples, and figured I’d smoke my way through the three varieties of the Defiant from Felipe Gregorio. Of course, I always smoke from darkest to lightest when given the opportunity, so I went with a reddish, oily wrapped cigar which was the Habano Marron first, then the Corojo, and finally the Connecticut. All three were 5” x 50 robustos and all had the same band. These are a nice representation of how much the

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wrapper changes the flavor of a cigar, since these are all the same filler and binder with the only difference being the wrapper. I have to say, I personally enjoyed the Connecticut more of the three, oddly enough. They all had bee in my humidor since the trade show in July, and they all exhibi

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ted similar burn problems, uneven burns, and some tunneling. The Habano Marron had a bitterness that I didn’t particularly care for, and the Corojo wasn’t bad, but wasn’t particularly memorable. The Connecticut had a pleasant sweetness that I enjoyed, although the burn was a distraction. I’m anything but typical, and walking the dog in the dark may not be the

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perfect environment, but most of my cigars burn well and give me enjoyment. I’m sorry to say that this line probably won’t be on my re-smoke list, but your mileage may vary.

That’s it for now, until the next time,

CigarCraig

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by | September 15, 2013 · 4:06 pm

Berger and Argenti, Smoke Inn’s Quesada Micoblend and Fratello Cigars

BergerArgenti_Fatso_DipperI’m still working on smoking IPCPR show samples, but a couple smokes came into my possession since the show that I thought needed mentioning. Thursday evening I smoked a Berger and Argenti “Fatso” Dipper.  This funny little 4″x 62 perfecto is severely square pressed.  It actually measures about one inch x one-half inch, giving it the same proportions as a 2×4.  The first example I smoked a couple weeks ago left me in quite a quandary as to how to cut it.  I tried the V cutter and ended up butchering it pretty good.  This time I used my new Xikar MTX scissors and was able to get a clean cut. I’ve been getting used to using these scissors and they are razor sharp.  The last thing one should to is try to wipe any bits of scrap tobacco off the blades with ones finger.  Just saying.  Anyway, back to the Fatso.  This cigars have Nicaraguan fillers, an Ecuador Sumatra binder and a Nicaraguan maduro wrapper.  I’ve enjoyed a bunch of cigars from these guys, the Mooch Schnorr being my favorite, but this little cigar is fun to smoke and has some interesting and unique flavors that keep my attention.  The unusual shape in the hand and mouth take a little getting used to.

 

SI_QuesadaOctoberfest_DunkelAbe Dababneh at Smoke Inn has had some terrific smokes in his Micro Blend series.  Of the couple I’ve had the pleasure of smoking, most have been right up my alley in flavor, notably the Tatuaje Apocalypse and the Room 101 Big Delicious. This week they are releasing the next in the series, the Quesada Octoberfest Dunkel.  Full disclosure: I’ve not smoked any of the previous Octoberfest cigars, and my experience with Quesada cigars is limited to he Casa  Magna lines to the best of my recollection.  The Dunkel wraps the standard Quesada Octoberfest blend with a Connecticut broadleaf maduro wrapper, finished with a thin strip of  Ecuador Connecticut at the foot.  This makes it look a little like a dark beer with a head on it.  This cigar is blended to pai

r with beer.  I quit drinking 20 years ago so if I were to pair this with anything it would be root beer or ginger beer.  Having neither of these on hand, I just hitched up the dog and took a nice long walk.   The little bit of Ecuador Connecticut at the foot makes it start out with a creamy flavor, which gives way to the sweet, rich broadleaf quite quickly.  For me, this was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.  I loved the flavor. It probably would have burned perfectly if not for the breeze, and the fact that I was lazy and threw the bag with the cigars and a Boveda pack with a 72 on it in he humidor instead of talking them out.  I have a second one that I’ll let dry a little.  Smoke Inn is launching this cigar on Friday, so I figured if they were nice enough to send me a couple, I should write about it before then. Thanks to Abe and his gang.

 

Fratello_CoronaToday I smoked a cigar that was new at this year’s IPCPR show.  Fratello Cigars made quite an impression at the show.  Omar de Frias is a former professional basketball player, worked for NASA, and grew up next to a cigar shop in the Dominican Republic.  He’s also very tall.  I came home from the show with a Fratello corona, and an appreciation for Omar and his cigar line.  First off, the band is not shaped like a normal band.  Off of the cigar it has a chevron shape, and must take some extra effort in the factory to apply properly.  It’s red and clearly states the name of the cigar.  The wrapper is a Nicaraguan Habano, the binder is Ecuador Sumatra and the fillers are Nicaraguan and Peru

vian.  These tobaccos all team up to make for a very nice smoke, medium to full bodied with loads of flavors.  I enjoyed this cigar for a little over an hour on this beautiful, late summer Sunday on the back deck.  If you happen to find yourself in the Washington D.C. area on Friday, September 20, 2013, stop in to W. Curtis Drapers in Bethesda, MD for the release party.  Omar is a terribly nice gentleman and he’s making some very tasty cigars! The video interview I did with Omar tells the story better than I can:

 

That’s all for now, until the next time,

 

CigarCraig

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by | March 24, 2013 · 10:59 am

A 262 Cigars Event at Ned’s and a Room101 Big Delicious and Some Cigar News

I’m trying to get back in the swing of things after the interruption of my trip to California.  I figured the best way to do that was to jump in with both feet and head an hour west to Newtown, PA and Ned’s Cigars where Clint Aaron of 262 Cigars was having an event.  Clint has done something exceptional with 262, he’s left a career in finance behind and launched a successful cigar brand.  Ned’s is a nice little shop on a quaint little street, located in a building that probably dates back to the 1700s.  We were well received by Luca, the owner, who is a super nice guy and a terrific host.  Clint sold me a couple cigars, I started with a 262 Paradigm Lancero, which was a stellar smoke.  I followed it up with the 262 Revere which was the free cigar that I received for buying 4 cigars.  I thought the Revere had a nice sweetness that the Paradigm didn’t have, and both cigars burned dead even and had perfect draws.  I have a few more of the Paradigms left and still have an Ideology floating around from the IPCPR show.  It was a fun event, the traffic in the store wasn’t too bad.  The lounge is small but comfortable, and between watching “Used Cars” and a basketball game on the TVs, and the great cigars it was an entertaining evening.

 

Room101_BigDeliciousSaturday I took a walk around lunchtime since it was a nice, sunny day.  Unfortunately, it’s still cold (where’s Spring? They are forecasting 5-8″ of snow tomorrow!).  A Couple weeks ago I received a pair of pre-release samples of Smoke Inn‘s latest micro-blend release, the Room101 Big Delicious.  This cigar is a box pressed torpedo with a nice, dark wrapper and an untrimmed foot, great for getting a big blast of wrapper upon lighting.  Last weekend I smoked and loved the last micro-blend release, the Tatuaje Anarchy Apocalypse, but I think I enjoyed the Big Delicious even more!  It had a unique and different flavor that excited my taste buds. Was it the right cigar for a pre-lunch walk?  Probably not.    It probably would be better after a sumptuous feast instead of some supermarket donuts from last night, but it was still a most enjoyable smoke that was filled with surprises and didn’t disappoint.  Two thumbs up to Abe and Matt on this one, it’s a winner!   I’ve had fun reading along with the comic strip on the website as well.

 

 News

Here’s the latest news from CAO cigars:

CAO Brazilia Carnivale Hits Retail

CAO Brazilia Carnivale is hitting cigar shops as we speak. The 6 ½” x 60 box-pressed beauty is a limited edition release that puts an innovative spin on the popular Brazilia blend.

 

“Carnivale” is made with ligeros from the DR, Honduras and Nicaragua, and a binder from Brazil. The wrapper is a rare Habano Grueso leaf cultivated only in small quantities. 

 

Rick Rodriguez who heads up blending for CAO said, “We haven’t changed any CAO blends since we took over the brand. But that doesn’t mean we couldn’t put our spin on one of them. That’s exactly what we did with Carnivale…it’s my and my team’s take on Brazilia. We added a new wrapper, made the original wrapper the binder, and cranked the whole thing up with more ligero.”

 

You won’t miss CAO Brazilia Carnivale at your favorite cigar shop. It’s in an eye-catching, bright yellow, 12-count box, and is a must-have for the CAO collector. Single CAO Brazilia Carnivale cigars are on sale for $8.30 until the limited supply is gone.

 

Rick hinted that there could be another small batch twist on the horizon for another one of CAO’s top blends. “My team and I have been experimenting with some fantastic tobaccos, so CAO fans should be on the lookout to see what we come up with next.”

 

I look forward to smoking this one, as I’ve always enjoyed the Brazilia.  Since Ricky took over the blending at CAO I’ve been pretty impressed with the new releases. Both the OSA Sol and the Concert had something that appealed to me, and the cigars in the Last Stick Standing promotion were all pretty tasty.

 

In other news, the Midwest Smokeout is coming up in about a month.  This year’s Smokeout will be held on April 25 at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, In.  They will have a bunch of cigar makers on hand and it looks like a $150 ticket will get you a load of cigars.  They also offer a $95 ticket that doesn’t include the cigars.  I’ll try to get more information on the event and pass it on.   

 

That’s it for today.  I want to thank whoever took advantage of the Gotham Cigars Living Social link I posted.  At least three people purchased the deal so I got it for free.  I used it to purchase a Xikar VX  cutter and a couple cigars to make up the difference.  I’ve been thinking about buying the V-cutter for  a while.  Truth is, I’ve never spent more than about $3 on a cigar cutter.  The V-cut takes me back to when I first started smoking cigars, buying them one at a time and cutting them on the Boston cutter on the counter in the shop.  It’s certainly not that I needed a cutter, I’ve got plenty ranging from cheapos to nice Colibris and the like, but I didn’t have a good V cutter and it was a perfect opportunity to get one.  Gotham’s service was exceptional and I look forward to the delivery of this order.

 

Until the next time,

CigarCraig

 

 

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by | November 7, 2012 · 8:23 pm

Cape May, a NUb and a La Gloria Cubana Cigar, and Some News

Last weekend my wife and I took a little trip to Cape May, NJ to just relax and recharge. Fortunately the superstorm from last week wasn’t as mean to the little town on the southern tip of the state and we had a nice visit.  We happened across a nice little cigar shop in the Washington Street Mall, which is a three block long pedestrian mall a couple blocks off the beach.  The store is called “Up In Smoke” and has a pretty good sized walk in humidor.  The gentleman working there, Buddy, seemed to be knowledgeable and helpful, however the combination of New Jersey’s cigar tax, resort prices, and the absence of a place to smoke kept me from making my usual courtesy buy (and I tried to buy an issue of CigarPress magazine, but Buddy hooked me up).  The Opus X Lancero priced at $100 wasn’t even tempting!  I’m, admittedly, spoiled living in Pennsylvania and not having a cigar tax like most of the other states, but seeing cigars that retail around $4 at home priced at $10 scares me off.  However, I had no problem paying $10 each for some beautiful, hand blown glass Christmas ornaments for our tree this year (as un-macho as that sounds!).  These two ornaments spoke to me and I had to have them!  I didn’t have a cigar on the trip, but it was still a really nice weekend away with my wife, we were able to relax and unwind.

 

Monday evening called for a walk and a smoke.  I decided to give one of the NUb 464Ts that I got from the aforementioned Thompson’s auction to see how they were.  I picked a maduro.  I hadn’t had a NUb maduro, and it looked really good.  I snipped a bit off the end and the draw was really easy, a good sign.  I’m sure I’ve mentioned before that cold weather really increases my desire for maduros, I think because they have such a strong flavor.  Not that maduros are strong

nicotine-wise, it’s just that a lighter, more delicate flavored cigar will get lost in the cold air. This NUb had a pretty potent dose of power right off the bat, but it mellowed out as it got warmed up and was a very entertaining smoke.  One must take care smoking this shape as one wrong move and the cigar can shoot out of your mouth like a torpedo.  I always thought is was called a torpedo due to the shape!  Anyway, I think these need so

me more humidor time, but that probably won’t keep me from trying the other wrappers.  These will be good on the other side of winter.

 

Tuesday evening I opted for a rare treat of a cigar that I like a great deal, which is a shame because I may not get to smoke many of these in the future.  The regular production La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Tabaqueros have a Connecticut shade wrapper on the first couple inches of the cigar, followed by and Ecuador Sumatra wrapper.  These are excellent cigars, but for special events they made some cigars that start out with the Sumatra wrapper and morph into a rich, dark Connecticut broadleaf wrapper that is just amazing.  I came across a lonely little robusto version of this that I picked up at an event last December and fired it up.  I have to say that I had endured a day of frustration, always happens when one dares take time off work.  It was a day of catching up and putting out fires, and I needed the respite of a great smoke.  It was also freezing cold!  It had been the first “bike-worthy” day in nearly 2 weeks and I had to take the scooter to work. I found out the following: 23 degrees is too darned cold to spend 30 minutes outside driving to work.  I wish the bike had a heater.  Anyway, I digress.  This cigar was awesome.  Rich, earthy and full flavors that gave me a nice hour to settle do

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wn and return to normal.  If

you ever get to attend a La Gloria event, don’t just do it to get one of these awesome smokes, if you can hang out with Michael Giannini you will be doubly rewarded, because he’s a really cool guy who know his stuff.

 

 

News

I’m pleased to be able to say that the 12 Days of Spectacular Giveaways is coming along nicely. I’ve already got five of the days just about completed, with confirmations for another 6 of the days.  If you thought last year’s contest series was spectacular, just wait until you see what’s in store this year! I don’t want to rush things, time goes by fast enough as it is, but I’m getting really excited about this!   Mark December 12

-24th on your calendars.

 

In other news, Smoke Inn announced today the release of the latest cigar in their “microblend” series, the  Tatuaje Apocalypse.  I got a press release, other’s have posted it, so just head over to http://www.tatuajeanarchy.com/ to see what it’s all about!

 

That’s all I got, until the next time,

 

CigarCraig

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