The Madre Tierra team is in town for Grumpy’s First Anniversary weekend. We stretch this one out long enough to smoke and rate two Hidden Herf cigars from Madre Tierra. The results are a bit surprising.

Local Spotlight – Grumpy’s Cigars & Lounge; Hudson, NH

Controversy Corner – It’s Debatable

The Founding Fathers Executives Networking Group is based out of a speakeasy style lounge and meeting facility in Danvers, MA. We are joined by the principals of the Founding Fathers for an explanation of “Come as a guest, leave as a friend, and return as a brother”. We have a cast of many so get your score cards out to keep track of the laughs. The Hidden Herf is eventually guessed by a couple of conspiring Hacks. McGroin gives us the Ireland Cigar report and a new Hack is initiated.

Local Spotlight – Founding Fathers Executives Networking Group

Controversy Corner – It’s the definition of a conspiracy.

It’s Labor Day weekend and the summer is winding down so we head back to home-base for a relatively quiet evening with many of the OGs. The Hidden Herf did not stay hidden for very long, it’s one of those kind of obvious and unique cigars.

Local Spotlight – Plaistow Cigar Co; Plaistow, NH & Fuego By Sosa; Kissimmee, FL

Controversy Corner – Are we being set up?

We head for the sidewalk on Elm St. but the weather is so good that it’s already jammed, so we go inside the front window. The Hidden Herf is identified immediately, the panel is getting too good at this. The podcast Juice is very colorful. We are joined by special guests “Killer” of Castro’s and Theo who we just pulled in from the lounge.

Local Spotlight – Castro’s Back Room; Manchester, NH, The Owl Shop Cigar Lounge & Tobacconist; New Haven, CT, Mickey Blake’s Cigars; Southington, CT, and Cigars International; Bethlehem, PA

Controversy Corner – Grand Canyon Ancients

It’s another small-group recording from McGroin Manor where we prepare for this year’s New England Cigar Expo and recount four interviews from the 2023 Expo; Perdomo, Kristoff, Micallef, and Montecristo.

Local Spotlight – New England Cigar Expo

Controversy Corner – Grounding

Back to our regular Friday recording schedule the crew heads over to the Shack where we have a surprise visit from the Choir Boy who has been out of the podcast loop for a while. The Hidden Herf is kind of picked out despite the deceptive practice of the supplier.

Local Spotlight – The Tobacco Shack; Rowley, MA

Controversy Corner – Naturalized; what does it mean?

This week we have a last minute scheduling issue that cause us to do an impromptu small crew episode on a Wednesday. We could do a spin-off podcast called “Bad Joke Wednesday”. The Hidden Herf is picked off almost immediately.

Local Spotlight – The Original Bar and Cigar; North Conway, NH

Controversy Corner – The Woke Olympics

It’s our third summer vacation special from the north country of New Hampshire. See episodes 91 and 297 for the others in this series. The same family members from the 2023 episode join in again this year as we smoke a special set of Hidden Herfs.

Local Spotlight – On the lake; New Hampshire

Controversy Corner – Skinwalker Ranch and other topics

It’s the 7th annual summer trip on the barge and we are at the lake house for the fifth year. The weather is perfect, and many cigars are smoked. The catch phrase this year is Boot & Rally! The Hidden Herf stumps the panel and mistakes were made.

Summa-Episode numbers by year and location

Local Spotlight – On the lake; New Hampshire

Controversy Corner – Shots were fired!

Direct from the Route One Business Networking Group (BNG) event for our fourth year, we talk with the BNG members while enjoying cigars under the tent on the back patio at the Rosaria Restaurant. We have the band turn it down before we start but by the time we wrap up the volume is way up again.

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

Controversy Corner – The Money Shuffle