Warning: This episode is totally uncut and unedited. This is how it sounds after a couple days of drinking, smoking, sun, fishing and fun on the barge.

It’s the 8th annual summer trip on the barge and we are at the lake house for the sixth year. The weather is almost perfect, many cigars are smoked, and plenty of fish are caught. The catch phrases this year are “Pat McGroin is the Man!” and “Happy Birth Day!” The Hidden Herf stumps the panel, but the irony couldn’t be better.

Summa-Episode numbers by year and location

Local Spotlight – On the lake; New Hampshire

Controversy Corner – Ants and Ricky’s Retort!

Castro’s in Bedford has changed hands and changed its name. The Hacks go direct to the source for the latest information and renovation details. The Hidden Herf is a definite plant to see if Pat can pick it out since he was at an event for this line recently.

Local Spotlight – Castro’s Cigar Lounge; Bedford, NH

Conspiracy Corner – Love to Hate

It’s a week of reports from European vacations and local cigar events. Everyone on the panel who was not out of commission has an event story to share. The Hidden Herf is well received.

Local Spotlight – Plaistow Cigar Co; Plaistow, NH

Conspiracy Corner – What’s a Stone Hedge?

As we work our way through the Widow Jane that was bequeath to us by the Stogie Hunter last week, Mama McGroin joins us at McGroin Manor a for segment. The Hidden Herf is sort of guessed and is a decent smoke.

Local Spotlight – Ash Cigar Lounge; Kingston, NH – Ash Becomes a Diamond Crown Lounge

Controversy Corner – Collapse of the Petro-Dollar

The Reverend Harvey has smoked his last cigar on this earth. We gather to celebrate The Rev’s contribution to hundreds of episodes in a way that Harvey would have enjoyed. It’s a bittersweet episode with lots of Harvey content and his unique brand of entertainment. As he would always say; “Get yourself a comfortable chair and a cocktail we’re going to make you laugh. This is going to be a good one!” The Hidden Herf does not disappoint as it roll in to the #3 spot.

Local Spotlight – Castro’s Back Room; Manchester, NH

Controversy Corner – IMP stand for “Interrupt Pat McGroin”

We have a special out of town visitor this week for what is shaping up to be a Mini-Palooza. Direct from the Tobacco Shack we bring you this week’s episode and get to know a new old-friend of the show. The Hidden Herf is eventually sort-of figured out. “President Pat” and Nurse “The Face” Rick recap the visit to see Miserable Nick at Mr. J’s 5th Anniversary Event.

Local Spotlight – Mr. J’s Havana Cigar Lounge; Coventry, RI

Conspiracy Corner – Mind Control Movies

We dial things back a bit this week with a three member OG panel for a quiet evening, that is until Nashville Dave calls in. N-D is at the Nashville Fervor Festival VIP party where he puts Candice on the phone. Who knew where that would go. The Hidden Herf is also dialed back a bit.

Local Spotlight – Smokers Abbey / Fervor Festival; Nashville, TN

Conspiracy Corner – It’s Johnny D-Day

Castro’s in Bedford is changing hands and The Hacks are on top of the situation with the latest public information. The Hidden Herf is a deliberate repeat and a bit of a test to see how the cigar has changed or how the panel perceives it more than a year latter.

Local Spotlight – Castro’s Backroom; Bedford, NH

Conspiracy Corner – Cuban Cigars and Freedom of Speech

It’s a relatively small crew of six this week around the firepit for our first outdoor episode of the season. The mailbag sends us in a couple different directions. The Hidden Herf looks like an old familiar friend and garners a decent rating. Ricky tells us about Ashtray Condoms?

Local Spotlight – Granite State Cigar Shop

Conspiracy Corner – Bees and Honeys w/Pat-GPT

It was inevitable that the Hacks bring in some Artificial Intelligence outside of Conspiracy Corner. Don’t worry, there are still way too many Hacks to make this a fully AI show. We have a newly minted participant and a couple of folks we haven’t heard from in quite a while. The Hidden Herf is a blast from the past, but still does fine.

Local Spotlight – The Tobacco Shack; Rowley, MA

Conspiracy Corner – Start your own Conspiracy Theory