#ELOsoFumarTakes

Criteria:

1) It's vitola based.

2) I had to have smoked the cigar for the first time in the last year and a half.*

3) It must not suck.

4)No limited edition cigars (i.e. TAA, shop exclusive) are eligible.

5) A previous number 1 cigar winner (blend-specific, i.e. 2017 Winner Espinosa Habano) cannot be on this year's Top 10 or repeat as winner.*

6) A company cannot have more than 1 cigar on the Top 10, however, may be considered for honorable mention.*

7)THE BIG ONE: frequency of smoke. Basically, I had to have the means AND opportunity AND did, in fact, smoke the cigar frequently.

Just to review, here is last year's list:

Top 10 2022:

:

1) Espinosa Crema Box Press Toro

Honorable Mentions 2023:

Macanudo Flint Knoll Churchill

Black Label La Madonna Negra

Atabey 10th Anniversary

601 La Bomba Warhead VIII

Ferio Tego Timeless Limited 10 Years

Top 10 Cigars of 2023 (this year):

1) Gran Habano 20th Anniversaro Edicion Limitada El Sueno

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo Shade Wrapper

2) Luciano Cigars Maria Lucia

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf

3)Black Label Trading Co Deliverance Porcelain Robusto

Wrapper: Connecticut

4) Alec Bradley Double Broadleaf Gran Corona

Wrapper: Honduran Broadleaf

5) Casa Cuevas Sangre Nueva Double Perfecto

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Cameroon

6) Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut Short Churchhill

• Factory: San Lotano Factory

7) Quesada Cigars Liga F toro

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Corojo (Sun Grown)

8) HVC Selección No. 1 Natural Poderosos

Wrapper: Habano ’92 Ecuador

9) United Toro Maduro

Wrapper:  Mexican San Andres (Maduro)

10) Kristoff Cigars Guardrail Robusto

Wrapper: Brazilian Arapiraca

It’s an ALL NERD ALERT! Tomorrow night, ELOsoFumarTakes welcomes back Samuel Spencer, Matt Tye, and Tripp Waldrop to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Lord of the Rings: Return of the King for our #275thTake! It’ll be a barn burner and a good-fashioned nerd out. Love these guys and am looking forward to putting the crown jewel on top of this series. Enjoy!

Film: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0167260/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt

Cast: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0167260/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_cl_sm

Awards: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0167260/awards/?ref_=tt_awd

Oscars: https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2004

Please support the Whitney in honor of Reagan Duplisea: https://whitney.org/support/individuals/annual-fund

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes welcomes back two distinguished gentlemen back for our #274thTake! Scott Pearce and Jay Robert Davis of the Premium Cigar Association sit down to talk about a first in Association history. Five months ago we had a trade show and normally, we'd gearing up for the half way point to the next trade show. Now, we're about 90 days away! For the first time in its history, the annual PCA trade show will take place in March. What are the challenges? What are the successes? We'll see what these two say about this elephant in the room, as well as other industry topics and trends! Enjoy!

https://premiumcigars.org/

https://www.bluesmokeofdallas.com/

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes is please to welcome the return of fan-favorite and birthday-loving Steve Saka back for our #273rdTake! Steve is always a good time, despite what he says. His cigars finesse the palate and his axioms boggle the mind. We'll see what we can do to enjoy both all in one night. Love our #Takes with Steve! Enjoy!

https://www.dunbartoncigars.com/

https://cigar-coop.com/2023/08/pca-2023-dunbarton-tobacco-trust.html - PCA coverage 

https://cigar-coop.com/2023/10/cigar-news-dunbarton-tobacco-trust-rebranding-original-sobremesa-line-as-sobremesa-solita.html

- Sobremesa rebranding

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes welcomes back the Gordo-Loving, Kapler-Hating, Press Release-Asking, Burger Fiend himself - Mr. William Cooper for #Take272! The Cigar Coop founder and I will sit down and throw it back! We look back at all the pods over the years and reflect on some of faves, some of the best, some of the most impactful, and yes, even some we'd like to forget. Prime Time, Special Edition, Jukebox, #ELOsoFumarTakes, and Smoking Syndicate, we talk about it all. Enjoy!

https://cigar-coop.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@WilliamCooperPrimeTime

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVzGpes143J2yslmEQd4pEw

#ELOsoFumarTakes IS TURNING 6!!!! Today marks the year 6 of #Takes and we're so please to welcome the return of two of our original #Takes to celebrate the occasion. As always, Tim Wong as agreed to return as he has every year to celebrate the festivities. Tim was my guest for my very first #Take and I will never forget it! #MrWarmth Héctor J. Alfonso Sr. of Espinosa Cigars returns as well. Hector has made numerous appearances including in #Take3 on our opening weekend! Six years in the making and I have a feeling we're just getting started!

Espinosa Cigars

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes welcomes the return of one of our favorite nerds! Matt Tye of How Bout That Cigar returns as the guest for our #270thTake! It's been almost four months since the Premium Cigar Association Trade Show back in July and believe it or not, we're gearing up for the next one as the first in Spring 2024. Plus, the end of the year is coming and that means we talk about some of the best cigars we've smoked all year. But, Matt always has a hand on the pulse of the comings and goings in the industry. We see what some of his favorite interviews of 2023 were and some thoughts on where the industry is, was and is going into the new year. It's November already and 2023 has flown by. Stop by for a great conversation with a good friend, a better man and always great cigars. Enjoy!

We are raising awareness for K9s for Warriors!

Please donate HERE.

https://howboutthatcigar.com/

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes welcomes the return of Nick R. Agua, Founder of Foundation Cigar Company to sit down for our #Take269. With the latest releases, Charter Oak Pegnataro-CT Shade and Pasquale CT Broadleaf, heading to stores this week, we unfold some of the new chapters in this next Foundation era. Nick is always fraught with unending knowledge of cigars, tobacco, and more. We explore some of the newest from Nick as well, but we never forget to explore the past.

For the entire month of October, we are raising awareness for K9s for Warriors!

Please donate HERE.

Foundation PCA recap: https://cigar-coop.com/2023/08/pca-2023-foundation-cigar-company.html

Tabernacle Knight Commander: https://cigar-coop.com/2023/06/cigar-news-foundation-cigar-co-to-release-the-tabernacle-knight-commander-at-pca-2023.html

Metapa: https://cigar-coop.com/2023/06/cigar-news-foundation-cigar-company-to-launch-metapa-at-2023-pca-trade-show.html

Metapa Shipping: https://cigar-coop.com/2023/10/102614.html

CHarter Oak Pasquale and Pegnatoro shipping this week: https://cigar-coop.com/2023/06/cigar-news-foundation-cigar-company-adding-charter-oak-pegnataro-and-pasquale.html

Tonight, #ELOsoFumarTakes welcomes two exceptional guests for our annual Bear's Birthday Extravaganza! This year Mike Szczepankiewicz & Erron Nielsen will sit down for a celebration of fun and hijinks! This annual show has always been one of my favorites and its been my goal to always welcome in folks from the industry that I consider dear friends. Mike and Erron are no exception. We tackle previous birthdays, the comings and goings of the industry and predictions for the upcoming year as we gear up for the first trade show not held in the summer! Enjoy!

For the entire month of October, we are raising awareness for K9s for Warriors!

Please donate HERE.

https://cigarhustler.com/

https://cigar-coop.com/

Tonight, #ELOsoFumarTakes welcomes the return of one of the top returning guests on this show. That's right y'all Tripp Waldrop returns for his record tieing 9th appearance for #Take267! Tonight, it's all about movies. Yes, the cinema. We break down some of our favorites in film. "To be or not to be, that is the question." Well, it really isn't, because you have TO BE here tonight. Enjoy!

For the entire month of October, we are raising awareness for K9s for Warriors!

Please donate HERE.

Our agenda today:

Top 3 Halloween Films

2005 Best Movie per movieweb: https://movieweb.com/best-movies-since-2000-every-year/#2005-star-wars-episode-iii---revenge-of-the-sith