Ken Hamlin is a former NFL star who played Safety for the Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, and Baltimore Ravens. In 2007, he earned a trip to the Pro Bowl. Following a successful career, Hamlin started his own cigar brand, known as the Arrival. The cigar is produced by La Aurora Cigars and Hamlin was present at the 2022 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show at La Aurora's booth

Originally Hamlin wanted to call his cigar "El Martello" which is Spanish for "The Hammer". However as Hamlin pointed out "the lawyers said no" and went to the name "The Arrival". It's a motto he has used, and the name fits the cigar of making an "impact and impression".

Hamlin is the second former professional athlete to have a cigar made at La Aurora. NBA Hall of Famer Karl Malone produces his cigars at La Aurora.

In this interview Hamlin talks how he got into the cigar business and his plans for his cigar brand.

We are kicking off our coverage of the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show a little different. This video was recorded at the Cigar Media Compound the evening the Trade Show closed. Luciano Meirelles of Ace Prime came over with a library of tobacco and held an impromptu blending seminar.

In this video Luciano covers the best practices constructing and deconstructing a blend as well as what to look for when tasting a blend. This was such an educational session, we are kicking this off with our coverage!

We recommend watching the video to get the most out of this.https://cigarcoop.podbean.com/e/pca-2022-blending-seminar-with-luciano-meirelles-of-ace-prime/

We are kicking off our coverage of the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show a little different. This video was recorded at the Cigar Media Compound the evening the Trade Show closed. Luciano Meirelles of Ace Prime came over with a library of tobacco and held an impromptu blending seminar.

In this video Luciano covers the best practices constructing and deconstructing a blend as well as what to look for when tasting a blend. This was such an educational session, we are kicking this off with our coverage!

In this interview from our archives, we interview Matt Booth of Room101 Cigars. This interview took place at the 2017 IPCPR Trade Show.

This was Matt's first Trade Show since his split with Davidoff, and coming "out of retirement".  We talk about his new products for 2017 and even discuss video games.

In this interview from our archives, we interview Matt Booth of Room101 Cigars. This interview took place at the 2017 IPCPR Trade Show.

This was Matt's first Trade Show since his split with Davidoff, and coming "out of retirement".  We talk about his new products for 2017 and even discuss video games.

After a five-year hiatus, EP Carrillo has brought back the Short Run.  The Short Run was a small batch run using a different wrapper each year except for two years in which they used Ecuadorian Sumatra.  The 2021 Short Run is brought back using a retro theme as it uses the original bands from the first run and is available in three sizes.  For this review, I'm taking a look at the Short Play, robusto size.  Check out Coop's review of the Extended Play here.

Size:  5 x 50

Vitola:  Robusto

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic

Factory: Tabacalera La Alianza

MSRP:  $7.50

Final Score:  89

After a five-year hiatus, EP Carrillo has brought back the Short Run.  The Short Run was a small batch run using a different wrapper each year except for two years in which they used Ecuadorian Sumatra.  The 2021 Short Run is brought back using a retro theme as it uses the original bands from the first run and is available in three sizes.  For this review, I'm taking a look at the Short Play, robusto size.  Check out Coop's review of the Extended Play here.

Size:  5 x 50

Vitola:  Robusto

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic

Factory: Tabacalera La Alianza

MSRP:  $7.50

Final Score:  89

On Episode 74 of Prime Time Jukebox, we continue our recap of the Rolling Stone’s recent refresh of their Top 500 songs of all time. This segment will cover songs 200 to 151 and Dave and Coop will go through some of their favorites that made the list, and assess how fairly these favorites were ranked.

Plus we cover a wide array of both music and cigar news.

For this show, Dave smokes the Viaje Skull and Bones 2022 MOAB and Coop smokes the Bandolero and Perdomo Firecrackers.

As always you can follow along with our Spotify Playlists:

Full Episode 74 Playlist

References

Rolling Stone Top 500

Cigar Big Board

Ace Prime: Maria Lucia

Ace Prime: Mas Igneus

Crowned Heads: Le Pâtissier (Regular Production)

Crowned Heads: Sfumato in C Major

Ozgener Family Cigars: Bosphorus

Ozgener Family Cigars: Pi Synesthesia

Team Cigar Review: Bolivar Cofradia Lost & Found EMS Toro 

Top 10 Tracks from the 80s and 90s that Deserve the Kate Bush Treatment

Beyoncé’s Break My Soul: The Summer Track of 2022 is A Cross Between 2005 Madonna and a Night in Ibiza

Sinead O’Connor: I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got

On Episode 74 of Prime Time Jukebox, we continue our recap of the Rolling Stone’s recent refresh of their Top 500 songs of all time. This segment will cover songs 200 to 151 and Dave and Coop will go through some of their favorites that made the list, and assess how fairly these favorites were ranked.

Plus we cover a wide array of both music and cigar news.

For this show, Dave smokes the Viaje Skull and Bones 2022 MOAB and Coop smokes the Bandolero and Perdomo Firecrackers.

As always you can follow along with our Spotify Playlists:

Full Episode 74 Playlist

References

Rolling Stone Top 500

Cigar Big Board

Ace Prime: Maria Lucia

Ace Prime: Mas Igneus

Crowned Heads: Le Pâtissier (Regular Production)

Crowned Heads: Sfumato in C Major

Ozgener Family Cigars: Bosphorus

Ozgener Family Cigars: Pi Synesthesia

Team Cigar Review: Bolivar Cofradia Lost & Found EMS Toro 

Top 10 Tracks from the 80s and 90s that Deserve the Kate Bush Treatment

Beyoncé’s Break My Soul: The Summer Track of 2022 is A Cross Between 2005 Madonna and a Night in Ibiza

Sinead O’Connor: I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got

For the third year in a row, we are once again bringing the Virtual Trade Expo Concept back. The concept is very simple. We give a cigar company a 15-minute slot to come on and talk about their summer/upcoming releases.

We are scheduling this over two shows. This should eliminate backlog and provide a little more time for discussion:

Day 1 – June 23, 2021

Day 2 - June 30, 2021

Tonight its Day Two and we have the following lineup (which could be subject to change):

Terence Reilly, Aganorsa Leaf

Casey Haugen, Crux Cigars

Don Williams, AJF Cigars

Pete Johnson, Tatuaje Cigars

Luis & Alec Cuevas, Casa Cuevas

Joe Gro, Drew Estate Juan Cancel and Kevin Keithan, Protocol Cigars

Steve Saka, Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust

Nelson Alfonso & Oliver Nivaud, United Cigars