Prime Time Special Edition 153 kicks off the 2024 year as we welcome the newest member of the Cigar Coop Coalition team, Tripp Waldrop.

Tripp is coming on-board and bringing his Let’s Get Pairing brand into the Coalition. As the name indicates, this show will be all about pairings with cigars. We’ll get to know Tripp better and find out more about the vision for Let’s Get Pairing going forward. We will also take a look ahead to 2024, and look back at some of our favorite cigar moments.

Plus, we have our Vintage Rock-A-Feller Cigar Group U.S. History segment, Tabacalera USA Great Things are Happening Here, and Espinosa This Day in Sports History segments.

Tune in tonight as we welcome Tripp Waldrop to the  Cigar Coop Coalition!

• Maui Jewler repairing/restoring jewelry damaged in fires for free

The #7 2023 Cigar of the Year is the Las 6 Provincias CMW by Espinosa Cigars.

CMW is the fourth installment of the Espinosa Cigars Las 6 Provincias series. This limited edition series pays homage to the pre-Castro era of Cuba. The name Las 6 Provincias means “six provinces,” referring to the six provinces that existed before Fidel Castro's takeover of Cuba. It is also Espinosa Cigars’ most premium limited edition series to date. Each installment of the series has a unique blend, size, and associated artwork. The name CMW stands for Camagüey, the second-most eastern province on the island of Cuba in the pre-Castro era. Since the first installment of the Las 6 Provincias was launched in 2018, it has become one of Espinosa Cigars' most successful near-annual limited series releases. The CMW is the third release of the series to land on the Countdown.

Full Details: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-rfq

The #7 2023 Cigar of the Year is the Las 6 Provincias CMW by Espinosa Cigars.

CMW is the fourth installment of the Espinosa Cigars Las 6 Provincias series. This limited edition series pays homage to the pre-Castro era of Cuba. The name Las 6 Provincias means “six provinces,” referring to the six provinces that existed before Fidel Castro's takeover of Cuba. It is also Espinosa Cigars’ most premium limited edition series to date. Each installment of the series has a unique blend, size, and associated artwork. The name CMW stands for Camagüey, the second-most eastern province on the island of Cuba in the pre-Castro era. Since the first installment of the Las 6 Provincias was launched in 2018, it has become one of Espinosa Cigars' most successful near-annual limited series releases. The CMW is the third release of the series to land on the Countdown.

Full Details: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-rfq

It’s our In Memoriam Episode for 2023. On Episode 117. we look back and reflect on the careers and contributions of many artists who passed away in 2023.

We will also touch base on Dave’s Top 50 and OOPS lists, Coop’s Countdown, and recap the 2023 Kennedy Center Honors.

On this show, Dave smokes the La Palina KB Part Three and Coop smokes the La Palina KB TXX.

As always you can follow along with our Spotify Playlists:

• Episode 117 Playlist

• Top 50 of 2023 / #10 – 6: More Aussies, A First Timer and One Long Song Title

It’s our In Memoriam Episode for 2023. On Episode 117. we look back and reflect on the careers and contributions of many artists who passed away in 2023.

We will also touch base on Dave’s Top 50 and OOPS lists, Coop’s Countdown, and recap the 2023 Kennedy Center Honors.

On this show, Dave smokes the La Palina KB Part Three and Coop smokes the La Palina KB TXX.

As always you can follow along with our Spotify Playlists:

• Episode 117 Playlist

• Top 50 of 2023 / #10 – 6: More Aussies, A First Timer and One Long Song Title

The #8 2023 Cigar of the Year is the Kristoff Guardrail Robusto. The story behind the Kristoff Guardrail is like no other. Kristoff Guardrail debuted in 2022, but the story’s roots go back a couple of years before that. Kristoff owner Glen Case was in Oklahoma and had rented a motorcycle. He was on the road when his back tire gave way and caused him to crash into a guardrail. The accident was severe enough to land Case in the hospital for weeks, followed by many months of rehabilitation – including spending time in a wheelchair. When Kristoff Guardrail was released a couple of years later, Case was fully recovered. Those around him kept the accident quiet, so many were shocked to hear of the accident. Case felt he was given a second chance at life, and this was the inspiration for the Kristoff Guardrail.

Full Details: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-reD

The #8 2023 Cigar of the Year is the Kristoff Guardrail Robusto. The story behind the Kristoff Guardrail is like no other. Kristoff Guardrail debuted in 2022, but the story’s roots go back a couple of years before that. Kristoff owner Glen Case was in Oklahoma and had rented a motorcycle. He was on the road when his back tire gave way and caused him to crash into a guardrail. The accident was severe enough to land Case in the hospital for weeks, followed by many months of rehabilitation – including spending time in a wheelchair. When Kristoff Guardrail was released a couple of years later, Case was fully recovered. Those around him kept the accident quiet, so many were shocked to hear of the accident. Case felt he was given a second chance at life, and this was the inspiration for the Kristoff Guardrail.

Full Details: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-reD

The #9 2023 Cigar of the Year is the Tatuaje Havana VI Verocú Blue No. 1. The Verocú Blue is a regular production line that made its debut at the 2022 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show. Verocú Blue is described as an offshoot of the Tatuaje Havana VI Verocú line, which is, in turn, an offshoot of the Tatuaje Havana VI (aka Red Label) line. While there may be some DNA connections among these lines, the difference with Verocú Blue is the Shade-grown Corojo wrapper grown by the Garcia family in Nicaragua.

Full Details: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-reb

The #9 2023 Cigar of the Year is the Tatuaje Havana VI Verocú Blue No. 1. The Verocú Blue is a regular production line that made its debut at the 2022 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show. Verocú Blue is described as an offshoot of the Tatuaje Havana VI Verocú line, which is, in turn, an offshoot of the Tatuaje Havana VI (aka Red Label) line. While there may be some DNA connections among these lines, the difference with Verocú Blue is the Shade-grown Corojo wrapper grown by the Garcia family in Nicaragua.

Full Details: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-reb

The #10 2023 Cigar of the Year is the Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro Eduardo I. In 2021, Plasencia Cigars launched an offshoot of its Alma Fuerte brand known as the Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro. When Plasencia decided to bring its own brand to market in 2017, one of the first blends it introduced was the Plasencia Alma Fuerte. This cigar went on to become a very successful line. The Alma Fuerte was known for its dark Nicaraguan wrapper. As the name indicates, the Colorado Claro has a lighter shade with a slight reddish tint. The blend to the Alma Fuerte was tweaked, and thus the Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro was born. Today we take a look at the second vitola released in the Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro, the Eduardo I.

Full Details: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-rdO

Note: The photography used for these two thumbnails has made this cigar wrapper look darker and the cigar bands less green. We apologize for this, but we want to reassure you that this was the Colorado Claro Eduardo I that was used for his assessment.