Bob and Dale bring in the new year with a live show! Bob interviews Walter Briggs of WB Brand Cigars. Angry Bill calls in on the herf line to review the Anarchy. Bryan Wolters from Menasha, Wisconsin wins the Burl Palio Cutter in the December contest.

Now you can get the same great DogWatch episodes delivered to your Android device! Click here for details.

Cigar of the Week - Walter Briggs Torpedo Maduro.

The Maduro is medium strength with a Brazilian wrapper. The filler is long leaf Dominican and Nicaraguan. The binder is a Connecticut Shade from Ecuador. This cigar has sweet spiciness with nuances of roasted coffee and cocoa. It received a 3.5 of 4.0 rating from CigarCyclopedia. The Maduro comes in the following types and sizes:

DogWatch Cigar Radio Podcast Episode #306

Bob and Dale took Christmas week off, but we still have fresh show material and an old favorite. Bob interviews Frank Herrera of La Caridad del Cobre and Colin Ganley of CigarTourism.com. On What's hot? What's not? What's next? Liz talks with Bryan Newbury from Centro Cigars in Lawrence, Kansas. In a rebroadcast of a segment from another show, Bob, Dale , Jorge Armenteros of Tobacconist University and Colin Ganley of European Cigar Journal and CigarTourism.com discuss Body vs. Flavor.

This week Bob interviews Benny Gomez of Casa Gomez. Next week the show (#306) will be pre-recorded and feature our favorite segments from the past. Hey, we need a day off too...... Now you can get the same great episodes delivered to your Android device! Click here for details. Bob and Dale are planning another live show for New Years Eve. Check out livestream.com/cigar_radio the new home for our live recording sessions and enhanced chat room. You might catch Bob & Dale at 9 pm EST on Fridays as they test the capabilities of their equipment in preparation for the live show on New Years Eve. Cigar of the Week - Hoyo de Monterrey Reposado en Cedros – Nov. release.

Cigar of the Week - Art Deco. Developed by Nestor Miranda and rolled in the My Father Cigar factory in Estelli, this cigar is distributed by Miami Cigar and Company. Introduced at the 2010 International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailer convention (IPCPR), this new cigar's blend is 60 percent Nicaraguan Corojo 99 and 40 percent Dominican San Vicente, dual Dominican Criollo '98/Nicaraguan Habano '00 binder, and a dark, oily and aromatic Nicaraguan Corojo '06 wrapper leaf with a triple cap "We wanted to get Pepin out of his comfort zone, which is using Nicaraguan tobacco," said Nestor Miranda. "He accepted the challenge and came out with an amazing blend using 40% Dominican tobacco." Instead of using traditional wooden boxes, the Nestor Miranda Art Deco will be sold in metallic art-deco designed tins with 21 cigars each. The sizes are: Coffee Break / 4.5 x 50 Robusto Grande / 5.5 x 54 Gran Toro / 6 x 60

Cigar of the Week – La Aurora 107

La Aurora is not one of the best known cigar makers in this crazy business but they should be. Guillermo Leon and Jose Blanco do not chase trends, ride motorcycles or sport rock n roll tattoos and they do not rush products to market. What they do is continually produce some of the finest, best aged and blended cigars on the shelves. With the end of the Cien Anos line ( the stock of tobacco required for this fine cigar was finally exhausted in late 2009) they have released a fine replacement, the 107 celebrating 107 years of cigar making in the Dominican Republic. An impressive for achievement for any business b ut especially a cigar company. With over forty years in the business Jose Blanco has developed one of the finest palates around and more importantly a knack for teaching it to others.

The La Aurora 107 sports an Ecuadorian wrapper, a Dominican binder, and a combination of Dominican and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos.

Although showing a hint of bitterness in the first few puffs, the cigar quickly gives way to toasty flavors with a hint of spice. The cigar exhibits a slight bit of sweetness similar to many maduros. As the medium bodied smoke evolves a pleasant cherry flavor emerges that is a nice contrast to the base woody flavors present throughout this medium bodied smoke.

Excellent construction but be sure to smoke this cigar slowly to avoid overheating and delivering a bitterness that cannot be overlooked.

During this week's show, Bob and Dale discuss retrohaling. On the What's hot? What's not? What's next? segment, Liz interviews Micah Dennison from The Party Source in Kentucky. Bob Baranek, from Weymouth, Mass., wins the November Palio Cutter contest.

Cigar of the Week - Illusione Slam 888 (6 3/4" x 48)

The 888 box press was one of a couple of recent experiments that Dion made for Fumare in Reno, Nevada. Having to remove a leaf from the filler in order to press it correctly, the blend changes slightly and it's a subtle yet exquisite change. Asked if he would make more of them, Dion replied "I haven't decided yet". So, it could be the end of an experiment - or maybe the beginning some new offerings from Illusione. Either way - they are a real treat! Made at the Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras from 100% Nicaraguan tobacco.

Cigar of the Week - LA GLORIA CUBANA ARTESANOS de OBELISCO

Created as a tribute to the virtuoso cigar makers at El Credito’s® “fabrica” in Santiago, Dominican Republic, La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Obelisco is the third installment in the Artesanos trilogy. Inspired by the iconic “Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration” situated high atop the center of Santiago, La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Obelisco heightens the innovation that has become a trademark of the Artesanos series.

This week, Bob, Dale, Liz, Craig Schneider and Colin Ganley celebrate the 300th DogWatch episode. Listeners comment on what the show means to them in entries to the DWCR 300th Episode Contest and the winners to the contest are announced. Go to http://www.cigarmedia.tv/300th-episode-contest-entries/ for a complete list of the entries.

This week, Liz sits in for Dale as co-host of the show. John Richardson of A Little Taste of Cuba is the guest on "What's Hot? What's Not? What's Next?"

This week, Brian Berman, Certified Tobacconist and Director of Membership of Cigar Rights of America (CRA) tells us about new CRA Board members and the upcoming CRA TV on "What's Hot? What's Not? What's Next?"

Don't forget that DogWatch Cigar Radio's 300th show is coming up and you can help celebrate this event. In honor of the event, listeners are being asked to send a short written, audio or video statement describing what the show means to them. What was the first show to which you listened? What show did you find the most interesting? the funniest? the most educational? Why do you like listening? Send audio, video and written submissions to theshowATcigarmedia.tv. You can also record audio submissions on the herfline at 321-594-4373 or at cigar.radio on Skype.

All submissions must be received by 5 PM (EST) November 11th to be considered for prizes. Bob and Dale want to thank New Havana Cigars, La Aurora Cigars and Brother of the Leaf, LLC for providing the 300th Show Contest prizes.

Cigar of the Week - Macanudo Cru Royale

Masterfully blended by Benji and Francisco, along with team of GCD cigar masters. Medium-bodied, aromatic smoke with a long, clean finish. Handcrafted with tobaccos exclusive to GC.

Wrapper: Ecuadoran Habano

Binder: Proprietary Dominican “La Vega Especial”

Filler: Dominican and Nicaraguan Viso with exotic Brazilian Mata Fina

Four frontmarks: Robusto (5” x 50) and Lonsdale (6 ½” x 42), both $5.79; Toro (6” x 54) $6.49; Gigante (6” x 60) $6.99