A Cigar Hustlers Podcast

Episode 600. Mike Palmer is in Estelí, he was bored, and he sent Mikey a stack of completely made-up news articles assuming he wouldn't read ahead. Mikey read ahead. He covered them anyway.Guest co-hosting is Florida broker Jeff Gruver — full-time Casa Carrillo, part-time Aganorsa Leaf, at least until Terrence Riley calls in and fires him live on the show. Phil McGuffey is in engineering. What starts as a simple question — who's the second-best sales rep in Florida? — turns into a 20-minute phone tour of the state's brokers, none of whom will answer it.Real cigar news starts at 31:18: Cavalier Genève opens a Houston-area warehouse, Crowned Heads readies the 2026 Las Calaveras, and RoMa Craft Tobac ships Scuttlebutt. Then it's What's the Score? on halfwheel's Intemperance Whiskey Rebellion 1794 review — and for the first time, a tie.CHAPTERS0:00 Cold open — heads up, today's news is fake2:00 Jeff's camera will not stop being blurry3:16 CHPOD merch, the GGG Superstar shirt & Patreon4:05 Comments from the last show5:20 Back on the eVTOL flying cars6:40 Jeff's freestyle intro7:10 So who IS the second-best rep in Florida?10:00 Calling Pete Hernandez10:20 Calling Alfredo12:20 More comments — does the government have its own cell service?14:15 Jeff is hiring a driver (ex-military or ex-cop preferred)15:40 What we're smoking: the Casa Carrillo Ascend17:20 This week's giveaway: a hat and a cigar18:40 FAKE NEWS: Disney goes all-in on TikTok20:20 "I don't plant it, I don't roll it" — what a broker actually does21:00 FAKE NEWS: first contact in Iran's Lut Desert22:50 The E.T. light-up finger that got pulled from shelves23:40 Terrence Riley calls in25:20 Terrence fires Jeff, live27:20 Alfredo calls back and still won't answer the question30:40 FAKE NEWS: Michael Jordan returns to the NBA31:00 The reveal — Palmer sent all of it from Estelí31:18 CIGAR NEWS31:20 Cavalier Genève opens a Houston-area warehouse34:00 The brand Jeff most wants to carry34:40 Asking George Padrón for a job, every single time36:40 Crowned Heads Las Calaveras Décimo 202640:20 RoMa Craft Tobac Scuttlebutt42:20 WHAT'S THE SCORE?43:40 Clue one — Intemperance Whiskey Rebellion 179450:20 Final answers51:40 The score, and a rare tie52:30 Jeff's Casa Carrillo event in Sarasota53:30 The Ascend: blend, sizes and flavor56:00 The sparklers nearly set Jeff on fire57:00 Thanks and out——————————————ABOUT CHPODThe Cigar Hustlers Podcast is a premium-cigar, news, and culture talk show — honest conversation, industry commentary, and cigar reviews, new episodes every weekday.▶ Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss an episode.👍 Like and comment — your comment might get read on a future show.GIVEAWAYComment the number Mikey guessed in What's the Score? — first correct comment wins a Casa Carrillo hat and an Ascend. Winner announced on the next episode.SUPPORT THE SHOWSupport CHPOD on Patreon: https://patreon.com/acigarhustlerspodcastCHPOD show merch (mentioned in this episode): https://chpod.comCONNECTInstagram: https://instagram.com/cigarhustlerPospiech Cigars: [ PospiechCigars.com — FILL IN ]Facebook / TikTok / X: [ @FILL IN ]MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE- E.P. Carrillo / Casa Carrillo Ascend (the cigar smoked on the show)- RoMa Craft Tobac — Intemperance Whiskey Rebellion 1794, Scuttlebutt- Cavalier Genève (new Houston-area warehouse)- Crowned Heads — Las Calaveras- Aganorsa Leaf, Padrón, Foundation, My Father Cigars- halfwheel (review source, Brooks Whittington)(Links above are references to products and shops discussed in this episode, for viewers who want to learn more.)DISCLAIMER: This channel features cigar reviews, interviews, and industry commentary for adults 21+. Nothing here is a solicitation to purchase tobacco products.#CigarHustlers #CHPOD #CigarPodcast

No U.S. cigar news today — so episode 599 of the Cigar Hustlers Podcast goes international. Mikey and Steve are on the desk with Phil McGuffey in engineering, covering Singapore's plain-packaging rollout, a new technical book on lounge air quality, and one of the best "what does your cigar say about you" conversations the show has done.Before that: Florida wants to test flying cars (eVTOL air taxis) at SunTrax in Polk County before the end of 2026, a federal judge lifts NFA restrictions on silencers and short-barreled rifles for certain Texans, and Pinellas County Schools bans Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses from campus. Then it's "What's the Score?" on halfwheel's Room 101 Johnny Tobacconaut Maduro Robusto review.

Two first-time guest hosts take over the desk on episode 598 of the Cigar Hustlers Podcast — "Siggy the beer guy" and Cheanno join the show for cigar news, a beer-and-cigar pairing, and one of the closest "What's the Score?" rounds yet.On the news desk: the Bandolero Firecracker 2026 from United Cigars ships, Miklef adds Orange to its color series, and the European Cigar Manufacturers Association flags a proposed 1300% tobacco tax change in Germany, plain-packaging consultation in the UK, and a terrace/private-club smoking ban headed to the Spanish parliament. Then it's "What's the Score?" on halfwheel's Camacho Liberty 2020 redux review, plus a real conversation about which cigars actually age well.

Episode 235 turns up the heat as the guys sit down with the Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Sobremesa Tapa Negra and catch up on everything happening around the cigar world.
Patrol Gone Wild goes completely off the rails with a Popeyes employee accused of doing the unthinkable to raw chicken, cocaine bricks stamped with Erling Haaland’s face, and an indecent exposure arrest that has to be heard to be believed.
Then Caleb’s News covers the latest releases from Lure Cigars and Room101, plus a brand-new 10-year expression from Old Elk.
And just when the show should’ve ended… Caleb makes the questionable decision to take on the Red Hot Reaper Chip Challenge, again….

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0:00 Cold open: welcome, and Palmer's very bad week

3:11 CHPOD merch, the GGG Superstar shirt & Patreon

5:00 Lounge comments: suppressors, the gun tax & Brother Ra from Australia

14:20 True crime tangent: the trial everyone's watching

17:40 News: Kirkland chocolate chips return to Costco

22:00 Costco vs. Sam's Club (and how many kids is too many)

27:00 News: Florida cemetery crime spree across nine states

29:10 Would you get frozen? The cryonics detour

35:00 Sophie Cunningham, the WNBA & trans athletes in women's sports

38:10 Reclassification in youth sports: holding your kid back

41:20 Parenting: bruises, not scars

48:20 Cigar News: City of Palms ends Caballero Cigars distribution

50:20 Brand or distributor — who's to blame when a cigar flops?

57:21 Perdomo Legacy Father & Son ships nationwide

57:50 Corey Gregory's Ohio warehouse gym & hidden cigar room

1:00:33 What's the Score? Charlie Minato reviews the Principle Martinique

1:05:00 Where to find us: Estate Cigars & Social, St. Pete, Aug 26

00:00 Cold Open

00:15 Show Intro

02:35 Announcements and CHPod Swag

04:10 Listener Comments

09:54 News Begins

10:39 Three Executions Scheduled on the Same Day

16:19 Smart Thermostat Locked at 79 Degrees

26:57 Tinder Trouble in The Villages

39:53 Cigar News

39:57 Jasim/Jas Sum Kral Cigars Expands into Canada

41:52 Suppressors, Tax Stamps, and ATF Registration

59:15 Lure Cigars Releases the Fat Matt

65:16 PCA Joins the Costa Rican Cigar Festival

73:22 “What’s the Score?” — Tatuaje Outlaw 2010

77:58 Closing and Outro

The crew dives into three executions scheduled for the same day, a smart thermostat locked at 79 degrees, and a wild Tinder encounter in The Villages. In cigar news, they discuss a Canadian expansion, Lure Cigars’ Fat Matt release, and the PCA’s involvement in a Costa Rican cigar festival—before wrapping up with “What’s the Score?”

Smart Thermostats, Sugar Babies & Cigar News Gone Wild

Podcast episode timeline

Timecodes are approximate because the transcript contains pause markers rather than absolute timestamps.

• 00:00 — Cold open and host introductions
• 01:49 — Preview of today’s stories and cigar news
• 02:43 — Subscription, merchandise, and Patreon plugs
• 04:03 — Unicorn mask auction results
• 07:29 — Phil Sweeney’s surprise mask gift
• 08:44 — Listener comments and updates to the CH Pod Lounge
• 17:29 — Main show officially begins
• 18:40 — USS Abraham Lincoln: deployment extensions, reported shortages, and sailors’ mental health
• 23:22 — Sixteen Ohio inmates hospitalized after a lightning strike
• 28:42 — FAA recruits gamers for air traffic control careers
• 31:37 — How to train your body for a more predictable morning bathroom routine
• 36:36 — Cigar news begins
• 36:40 — Viva La Vida Classic and El Pulpo price increases
• 40:55 — HVC Pan Caliente 10th Anniversary begins shipping
• 45:44 — Nestor Miranda Private Reserve Lancero returns
• 47:13 — “What’s the Score?” game begins
• 49:46 — AVO Expressions Robusto review and score predictions
• 54:46 — Final score revealed: 87
• 58:19 — Closing plugs, upcoming merchandise, and sign-off

The crew tackles reports of harsh conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, an unusual lightning strike at an Ohio prison, the FAA’s push to recruit gamers, and tips for a more predictable morning routine. In cigar news, they cover price increases, new releases from HVC and Nestor Miranda, and finish with a lively round of “What’s the Score?” featuring the AVO Expressions Robusto.

USS Abraham Lincoln Crisis, Ohio Prison Lightning Strike & Major Cigar News

ACHP Episode 594 – Timeline

00:00 – Opening Chaos / Jack Takes the Chair
Jack steps into the host role, microphone problems immediately appear, and the crew tries to get through the new Cigar Hustlers Podcast intro.

04:00 – Today’s Show Preview
The guys tease the lineup: Angry Birds, the bizarre Oreo/KFC collaboration, Robert Gilman coming home from Russia, cigar news, What’s the Score?, and an angry Jack.

05:15 – CHPod Swag & Phil’s Unicorn Mask Auction
CHPod.com and Patreon plugs lead into the ongoing auction for Phil’s infamous unicorn mask and some Daniel Lance/Skip comedy.

09:15 – Listener Comments
The crew dives into YouTube comments, including royal-family deep-fake theories, birthday arguments, Jack being challenged to “bring it,” customer-service jokes, discount codes, and plenty of shots at each other.

16:00 – Is There Too Much Cigar Hustlers Content?
Jack argues that five shows a week might be too much. Mike defends the daily format, leading to a debate over listening habits, priorities, birthdays, popcorn, ice cream and who actually watches the show.

21:50 – The Davidoff Debate
A listener asks Mike about Davidoff. Mike explains that he doesn’t hate the company but strongly disagrees with manufacturers selling exclusive cigars through their own stores after retailers helped build the brand.

24:00 – Retail Exclusives & Camacho Prediction
The conversation expands into retailer exclusives versus manufacturer-direct exclusives, followed by Mike’s prediction that Camacho could see a significant sales surge.

26:20 – Should ACHP Do a Live Show?
Jack says he’d watch a live show, which gives Mike another opportunity to point out that Jack doesn’t even keep up with the regular episodes.

28:20 – NEWS: American Airlines Bird Strike
An American Airlines flight headed for Charlotte returns to Myrtle Beach after a bird strike causes an engine problem. The guys discuss the Mayday call, smoke from the engine and the surprising number of bird strikes every year.

32:30 – Mike’s Travel & 43 States
The bird-strike story turns into Mike’s extensive flying history, the seven states he still hasn’t visited, Minnesota cigar lounges and why he keeps missing Burn.

34:30 – Airline Status Isn’t What It Used to Be
Mike talks about American Airlines loyalty status, credit-card spending overtaking actual flying, upgrades becoming harder to get and the benefits of Platinum Pro.

36:30 – KFC + Oreo Fried Chicken Cookie
KFC and Oreo team up on a fried-chicken-flavored Oreo featuring an 11-herb-and-spice-inspired filling. Jack quickly decides the story has gone on far too long and tries to kill it.

38:30 – Jack vs. the Teleprompter
The cookie story turns into an argument over skipping stories, controlling the teleprompter and Jack discovering that he apparently doesn’t have to read everything Mike gives him.

40:00 – Guy Fieri, Knuckle Sandwich & Daytona
The guys briefly talk Guy Fieri, Knuckle Sandwich cigars and whether Guy has ever been close enough to Deltona to get him onto the show.

41:50 – Robert Gilman Released From Russia
Marine veteran Robert Gilman is released after 1,666 days in Russian custody following a humanitarian pardon from Vladimir Putin. The crew discusses the allegations against him, additional prison charges and concerns over his deteriorating health.

45:00 – The Robert Gilman Video / Transition
Mike finds video related to Gilman’s arrest, the crew tries to figure out how to get it onto the show, and they begin transitioning toward cigar news.

Episode 594 goes off the rails fast as Jack Torano takes the host chair and the crew tackles bird strikes, a bizarre KFC/Oreo mashup, Robert Gilman’s release from Russia, and the viral “gravity disappears” hoax that pulled in millions of views. Plus, cigar industry debates, new releases, retailer exclusives, travel talk, and another chaotic round of What’s the Score?

ACHP SHOW TIMELINE

00:00 – Show Intro & Today’s Lineup
02:00 – Live Audience, Comments & CHP Updates
05:00 – The New Website Is Live…And It’s Chaos
07:00 – Comments From the Previous Show
10:00 – Giveaway, Auction & Live Audience Shenanigans

12:45 – Florida Woman Accused of Faking Cancer for $40K
16:00 – How Far Did the Alleged Cancer Scam Go?
19:00 – Charity Donations & the Conversation Goes Off the Rails

22:00 – SNAKE IN MY HELMET!
24:00 – Cottonmouth Found Inside Football Player’s Helmet
27:00 – Would You Ever Put That Helmet Back On?
29:00 – Snake Stories & Complete Chaos

30:00 – Radio Station Accidentally Announces King Charles Is Dead
33:00 – How the Premature Death Announcement Happened
36:00 – Radio Caroline Gets in Trouble
38:00 – Royal Family Talk Goes Sideways

40:10 – Robot Taxis Hit the Streets
41:00 – Autonomous Car Drives Into an Emergency Scene
42:15 – Should Driverless Cars Be Regulated?

42:30 – CIGAR NEWS
42:30 – El Titan de Bronze & STG End Distribution Agreement
45:00 – El Titan de Bronze Returns to Self-Distribution
47:00 – La Galera Anniversary Cigar Talk
49:20 – Eladio Diaz Honors His Mother With a New Cigar
51:00 – New Blend, Sizes & InterTabac Release
53:20 – Updated Diamond Crown Maximus Begins Shipping
54:00 – New Cigars, Retail Talk & Industry Banter

55:20 – WHAT’S THE SCORE?
56:00 – Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Edición Doble Diamante Red
57:00 – $150 MSRP Gets Everyone’s Attention
58:00 – Clue #1: Flavor Profile
59:30 – Clue #2: Construction
1:00:30 – Clue #3: Burn Problems
1:02:00 – Final Thoughts & Final Guesses
1:03:00 – THE SCORE IS 87!
1:03:45 – Winner, Reactions & $150 Cigar Debate

1:04:00 – Closing Chaos & Final Thoughts
1:05:00 – Thanks to the Live Audience & Sign-Off

This episode of A Cigar Hustlers Podcast goes from headlines to absolute chaos. The crew breaks down a Florida woman accused of faking cancer to collect more than $40,000, a high school football player who discovers a venomous cottonmouth hiding inside his helmet, and a radio station that accidentally announces the death of King Charles. Plus, robot taxis, cigar industry news, new releases, plenty of questionable commentary, and another round of What’s the Score?

This week we’re joined by Derek Matthews of Black Label Trading Co. to break down the highly anticipated 2026 Bishop’s Blend, celebrating the cigar’s 10th anniversary. We dive into the story behind the project, the updated blend, what went into this year’s release, and why Bishop’s Blend continues to be one of the most anticipated annual releases in premium cigars.In Patrol Gone Wild, we’ve got a public official’s shocking arrest, a chase that takes things to new heights, and one of the most creative distracted driving enforcement tactics you’ll ever see. Trust us—you’ll want to stick around for these.

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