Cigar Hacks

Dommie the Dominator and the Blue Ash tied the knot this past weekend. The rest of the family go on a mountain top vacation for the balance of the week. We initiate a new cigar smoker and make some new friends. Between the wedding, vacation, and the New England Cigar Expo far too many cigars were consumed this week – as if that’s even possible.

Local Spotlight – Wedding Cigar Bar

Joey, AKA The Godfather, AKA, Joey The Gent, has been on the show before but we have not told the story of his cigar journey until now. The Hidden Herf was an easy target for identification and receives a worthy rating. It’s a cast of Castro’s regulars with a few Hacks, so expect some fun.

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

Controversy Corner – There is no controversy.

For at least five years we have been after Roy Kirby to do an episode with us. We finally converge at the Perdomo event at Plaistow Cigar for an episode with a few surprises, including the Hidden Herf.

Local Spotlight – Perdomo Cigars at Plaistow Cigar Co; Plaistow, NH

Controversy Corner – Just sit back and relax!

Direct from the Route One Business Networking Group (BNG) event for our third year, we talk with various BNG members while enjoying cigars on the back patio at the Rosaria Restaurant. It’s the usual laughs with some new and old friends.

Local Spotlight – Route One BNG at Rosaria; Saugus, MA

There’s a Blue Moon on Enema Lake for our first episode on the boat this summer where the S.S. Low Voltage lives up to it’s name. The Hidden Herf is one of Nurse Rick’s finds from his Florida trip. No fish were harmed (or caught) during the making of this episode.

Local Spotlight – Five Lounge Rhode Island Recap

Mr. J’s Havana Cigar Lounge

Controversy Corner – The Color Blue

We return to Mr. J’s in RI with Miserable Nick to sit down with Paul Joyal of J. Grotto Cigars and Mr. J’s Havana Cigar Lounge. When we arrive we find that Mike Rosales, the “Ro” in RoMa Craft Tobac, is there on an unscheduled visit. As true Hacks we have Mike join us and talk about his experiences with making cigars and RoMa Craft. Also joining in latter is Dave Monroe the lounge manager at Mr. J’s. This is another one of those unexpected episodes where we get more than one perspective on the cigar industry.

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

Controversy Corner – The controversy is that there is no controversy !

We sit down with Netal of El Toro in Hudson NH for a small group session. Nurse Rick is in Haines City Florida and calls in with Anthony of The Cigar Quarters and John Deans of Madre Tierra Cigars. We will see you at The New England Cigar Expo on September 29th & 30th.

Local Spotlight – El Toro Cigar & Lounge; Hudson, NH

Controversy Corner – Future Controversy Predictions

For our 300th episode milestone we descend on the Tobacco Shack unannounced and set up outside in the patio area on a fine summer evening. It’s a small group recording as many Hacks are on vacation or in disrepair. Nurse Rick calls in from Florida to give us the hotel check-in report. The Hidden Herf stumps the panel and receives a decent rating.

Local Spotlight – The Tobacco Shack Side Patio; Rowley, MA

Controversy Corner – The USS Liberty Incident

Back with our regular rotation of panelists it’s a full house for the Big Sky Cigars event at Plaistow Cigar. We are joined by their new rep, and long time Hack regular, Brian Sonia. Some of us have had a few of the new line from Big Sky, but the Hidden Herf turns out to be a hit with the panel.

Local Spotlight – Plaistow Cigar Co; Plaistow, NH

Controversy Corner – Sleeper Cells to The Crazy Plane Lady

For the second week in a row we are on the road for a family event. There’s a party for the ladies going on in the house and the men are exiled to the garage for cigars, podcast juice, and to record this week’s episode. The Hidden Herf turns out to be decent after we get past a few minor issues.

Local Spotlight – The Domicile 2.0

Controversy Corner – UFOs and such