CAO recently released their second installment of the Arcana line called the Firewalker.  Following the successful Arcana Mortal Coil, the Firewalker gets its name from the unique fermentation process called chincagre.  This process from the region of Masatepe is where they take the tobacco pilons and bury them deep in the volcanic soil for two months, dug up, and then fermented them for a second time at the factory.  The press release explains this in a little more detail:

Chincagre is an archaic process of primary aging used by local tobacco farmers in Western Nicaragua. There, in the region of Masatepe where the filler is grown, the tobacco is placed into a pilón that is buried deep in the volcanic soil. The subterranean conditions allow the tobacco to ferment naturally, locking in an inherently sweet and aromatic quality. After two months, the Chincagre process is complete, and the pilón is then transferred to the factory for nine months of secondary fermentation.

Size:  6 1/2 x 56

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Rosado

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Factory: American Caribbean Cigars

Final Score:  79

Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust released a new size in the Mi Querida Triqui Traca line called the No. 448.  The Mi Querida Triqui Traca was born from the Firecracker series at Two Guys Smoke Shop in New Hampshire.  The Mi Querida Triqui Traca Firecracker was very well received, so Steven Saka, president of Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust, turned it into a new line for Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust.  Triqui Traca is named after a large firecracker used in celebrations in Nicaragua which is usually set off in the streets. The No. 448 is the smallest vitola in the lineup, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in flavor.  Let’s look at the specs:

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Factory: Nicaragua American Cigars S.A. (NACSA)

MSRP:  $8.95

Final Score:  92

Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust released a new size in the Mi Querida Triqui Traca line called the No. 448.  The Mi Querida Triqui Traca was born from the Firecracker series at Two Guys Smoke Shop in New Hampshire.  The Mi Querida Triqui Traca Firecracker was very well received, so Steven Saka, president of Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust, turned it into a new line for Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust. Triqui Traca is named after a large firecracker used in celebrations in Nicaragua which is usually set off in the streets. The No. 448 is the smallest vitola in the lineup, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in flavor.  Let’s look at the specs:

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Factory: Nicaragua American Cigars S.A. (NACSA)

MSRP:  $8.95

Final Score:  92

On Episode 226, we are proud to have the one and only Alex Svenson as our special guest.

Alex has a long and respected career in the cigar business. He has worked with Cigar.com, Cigars International, STG, and Brandshopper in all aspects of the cigar business. Alex is a wealth of information and you will be in for a real treat on this episode.

We will also have our Cattle Baron Steak Question, Alec Bradley Live True segment, Sopranos, and Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Industry Deliberation segments.

References

Sopranos Trivia

On Episode 226, we are proud to have the one and only Alex Svenson as our special guest.

Alex has a long and respected career in the cigar business. He has worked with Cigar.com, Cigars International, STG, and Brandshopper in all aspects of the cigar business. Alex is a wealth of information and you will be in for a real treat on this episode.

We will also have our Cattle Baron Steak Question, Alec Bradley Live True segment, Sopranos, and Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Industry Deliberation segments.

References

Sopranos Trivia

We have reached the Final Four of the 2022 Battle of the Bands’ 90’s Madness Edition. This year we did albums from the 1990s and invited Hector Alfonso of Espinosa Cigars and John McTavish of Developing Palates to join the fun. We have reached the final four and each one of us have an album to represent us in the Final Four.  On Episode 70, our team will recap the tournament thus far make the cases for which album should win.

The four albums are:

Nirvana Nevermind (Hector)

Alanis Morissette, Jagged Little Pill (Dave)

Pearl Jam, Ten (John)

Metallica, Metallica (Coop)

Remember you can vote by following the Cigar Coop Twitter Account!  Matchups begin 24 hours after this show airs.

We will also look back at the careers of Andrew Woolfolk and Naomi Judd.

For this show, John smokes the Bass Reeves Maduro, Dave smokes the Espinosa 601 Warhead VII, Coop smokes the Fair Warning Box-Press Toro Rabito, and Hector smokes an unknown blend

As always you can follow along with our Spotify Playlists:

Full Episode 70 Playlist

References

Andrew Woolfolk, Earth, Wind & Fire Saxophonist Dead at 71

Naomi Judd Passes Away

Prime Time Jukebox 90s Madness Tournament Begins

Prime Time Jukebox Episode 66: The 90’s Madness Draft Show

90s Madness: Top Seeds Nirvana and Radiohead Advance to Elite 8

90s Madness: Top Seeds Pearl Jam and Metallica Score Wins to Advance to Elite 8

90s Madness: Dr Dre and Alanis Score Upsets and Advance to Elite 8

90s Madness: Counting Crows and Wu-Tang Clan Secure Final Spots in Elite 8

90s Madness: Alanis and Nirvana Punch Tickets to Final Four

90s Madness: Metallica Holds off Counting Crows While Pearl Jam Rolls Over Wu-Tang Clan to Earn Final Four Spots

Developing Palates: Team Cigar Review: Room101 Namakubi Ranfla 

Developing Palates: Team Cigar Review: Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Mi Querida Triqui Traca No. 448 

Prime Time Jukebox Episode 43: Album Archaeology #7 -Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette

Rick Beato YouTube Channel

Patty Griffin: Living with Ghosts

We have reached the Final Four of the 2022 Battle of the Bands’ 90’s Madness Edition. This year we did albums from the 1990s and invited Hector Alfonso of Espinosa Cigars and John McTavish of Developing Palates to join the fun. We have reached the final four and each one of us have an album to represent us in the Final Four.  On Episode 70, our team will recap the tournament thus far make the cases for which album should win.

The four albums are:

Nirvana Nevermind (Hector)

Alanis Morissette, Jagged Little Pill (Dave)

Pearl Jam, Ten (John)

Metallica, Metallica (Coop)

Remember you can vote by following the Cigar Coop Twitter Account!  Matchups begin 24 hours after this show airs.

We will also look back at the careers of Andrew Woolfolk and Naomi Judd.

For this show, John smokes the Bass Reeves Maduro, Dave smokes the Espinosa 601 Warhead VII, Coop smokes the Fair Warning Box-Press Toro Rabito, and Hector smokes an unknown blend

As always you can follow along with our Spotify Playlists:

Full Episode 70 Playlist

References

Andrew Woolfolk, Earth, Wind & Fire Saxophonist Dead at 71

Naomi Judd Passes Away

Prime Time Jukebox 90s Madness Tournament Begins

Prime Time Jukebox Episode 66: The 90’s Madness Draft Show

90s Madness: Top Seeds Nirvana and Radiohead Advance to Elite 8

90s Madness: Top Seeds Pearl Jam and Metallica Score Wins to Advance to Elite 8

90s Madness: Dr Dre and Alanis Score Upsets and Advance to Elite 8

90s Madness: Counting Crows and Wu-Tang Clan Secure Final Spots in Elite 8

90s Madness: Alanis and Nirvana Punch Tickets to Final Four

90s Madness: Metallica Holds off Counting Crows While Pearl Jam Rolls Over Wu-Tang Clan to Earn Final Four Spots

Developing Palates: Team Cigar Review: Room101 Namakubi Ranfla 

Developing Palates: Team Cigar Review: Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Mi Querida Triqui Traca No. 448 

Prime Time Jukebox Episode 43: Album Archaeology #7 -Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette

Rick Beato YouTube Channel

Patty Griffin: Living with Ghosts

On Episode 225 Aric Bey, the founder of Black Star Line Cigars makes his Prime Time debut. We’ll discuss Aric’s journey in the cigar industry and gain some insights into Black Star Line Cigars.

We will also have our Cattle Baron Steak Question, Alec Bradley Live True segment, Sopranos, and Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Industry Deliberation segments.

On Episode 225 Aric Bey, the founder of Black Star Line Cigars makes his Prime Time debut. We’ll discuss Aric’s journey in the cigar industry and gain some insights into Black Star Line Cigars.

We will also have our Cattle Baron Steak Question, Alec Bradley Live True segment, Sopranos, and Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Industry Deliberation segments.

Justin Andrews of Scandinavian Tobacco Group and Robert Caldwell of Lost & Found teamed up to create the new Bolivar Cofradia.  This cigar was released in both EMS and Oscuro wrappers in mazos of five cigars.  Justin and Robert were given full access to all the tobacco library available at the HATSA factory in Danlí, Honduras.  A description of the process was given in the press release, (you can find more information here):

Justin Andrews said, “Bolivar Cofradia made waves when we re-launched the brand in 2020. It’s fitting that we’re now partnering with Robert Caldwell, given that he’s made a lot of noise in the premium cigar category with his Lost & Found line. This collaboration gave us the opportunity to work with the hidden gems waiting to be discovered in our tobacco library, and we’ve definitely done them justice.”

Robert Caldwell noted, “Lost & Found started when a Central American factory gave me a rare blend to sell in the US, and today with the release of this capsule collection from Bolivar Cofradia, it feels like Lost & Found has come full circle. I would have never imagined standing among a sea of bales at HATSA, knowing that any tobacco we wanted to blend with was available to Justin and me. This collection represents the power of a strong collaboration.”   

Handcrafted at HATSA, Bolivar Cofradia Lost & Found comes in two varieties, Natural and Oscuro.

Vitola:  Toro

Size:  6 x 54

Wrapper:  5-8 year old Ecuadorian Sumatra

Binder:  USA Connecticut Broadleaf

Filler:  Dominican Habano Seco, Nicaraguan Habano Viso, Honduran Habano Seco

Factory:  Honduran American Tobacco SA

MSRP:  $7.49

Final Score:  88