#ELOsoFumarTakes

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes continues to gear up for the upcoming PCA Tradeshow in New Orleans. We've asked William Cooper and Erron Nielsen to return for our #325thTake. We'll explore the "hype" around a Tradeshow release. Why does it matter? When does it matter most to release a cigar? But, I'm really excited to look back at previous cigars that had all the hype. Did they live up to deliver expectations? Let's take a look at some historical data and discuss and debate. Enjoy!!!

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes welcomes back Tripp Waldrop of the Cigar Coop Coalition and Let’s Get Pairing to sit down for our #324thTake. PCA is on the horizon and Tripp and I have had the privilege of many live interviews over the years. Which are some of our favorite? Experience the highs and the lows on tonight’s take. Enjoy!

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes welcomes Daniel Lance of Domain Cigars to sit down for our #323rdTake! The Co-Founder of Domain has teamed up with the infamous Disla family to bring some of the hottest new cigars to market in the last couple of years. Enjoy!

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes welcomes the return of the Taco Jester himself, Oliver Nivaud of United Cigar Group. Our #322ndTake promises to explore Oliver's taking the reigns and moving United Cigar to the next level over the past 7+ years. It hasn't been easy, but he's sure made it look fun. Enjoy!

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes welcomes the return of Enrique Seijas of Matilde Cigars to sit down for our #321stTake. Enrique is one of the industry's favorites and as a member of the First Family of the Dominican Republic is holding his family and his father's legacy close to his heart as he charges forth into a new era of Matilde. Enjoy!

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes welcomes the return of the definition of 'An Oldie, but a goodie'. Chris Topper is a 4th Generation, culminating 130+ years of pure, passionate American Tobacco history. Topper Cigars has proudly made cigars since the days of Grover Cleveland. Chris first appeared on this show way back on #Take40, now here is on #Take320. Enjoy!

This week, we welcome in a new duo, but familiar faces to sit down for #Take319. Thor Nielsen started Cigar Press almost a decade ago and quickly gave the cigar community a new look at print journalism. Fred Rewey has done everything in and out of the industry. Fred and Thor decided to team up and bring CIgar Press into a new era. We'll dive into that, but also have some fun along the way. Fred, Thor, and I have smoked a lot of cigars over the last 20 years, we bring some of our aged favorites to enjoy and discuss. See you tomorrow night at 9:30pm Central for our live broadcast! Enjoy!

https://cigarpress.com/

This week, Rafael Nodal of Altadis USA and the steward of herald brands like Trinidad, Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, and more joins us for our #318thTake. We catch up with Rafael and smoke the latest Top 25 placer - the Trinidad Espiritu No. 3.

Forgive the audio, but Rafael treated us all to a one-of-a-kind experience, playing piano live for us.  (01:22:45)

#ELOsoFumarTakes has a little fun amidst the "Top Cigar List" season. Our #317thTake welcomes back William Cooper Tripp Waldrop to a RE-DRAFT. In 2018, Tripp participated in his last "Top Cigar" list and Coop and I both had our respective lists. We go head-to-head in a re-draft. Let's goooooooooo!

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 2023:

1) Gran Habano 20th Anniversaro Edicion Limitada El Sueno

2) Luciano Cigars Maria Lucia

3) Black Label Trading Co Deliverance Porcelain Robusto

4) Alec Bradley Double Broadleaf Gran Corona

5) Casa Cuevas Sangre Nueva Double Perfecto

6) Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut Short Churchhill

7) Quesada Cigars Liga F toro

8) HVC Selección No. 1 Natural Poderosos

9) United Toro Maduro

10) Kristoff Cigars Guardrail Robusto

You can listen to last year's show HERE.

Honorable Mentions 2024 (Time Stamp: 00:31:24): 

United Cigar Group Gold Star Limited, Macanudo Estate Reserve Release No. 2 Churchill, The E.P. Carrillo Pledge of Allegiance 2023, BLK WKS Intergallactic Event Horizon Toro, Knuckle Sandwich Chef Special 2024

Top 10 Cigars of 2024 (this year):

1) Tatuaje Havana VI Verocu Blue No 1 Toro Grande (Timestamp: 03:01:00)

Wrapper: Shade-Grown Nicaraguan Corojo ’99

2) BLK WKS Killer Bee Robusto (Timestamp: 02:24:50)

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Maduro

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Factory: (Fabrica Oveja Negra)

Robusto 5x50

3) Room101 Johnny Tobacconaut Robusto 2023 edition (Timestamp: 02:19:20)

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut

Size: 5x50

4) Joya de Nicaragua Cinco de Cinco Robusto Gordo (Timestamp: 02:15:48)

Wrapper: San Andres Mexican

5) Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Umbagog Bronzeback (Timestamp: 01:43:11)

Wrapper: 2LS Connecticut Broadleaf

Size: 5x48 parejo

6) Plascencia Consecha 149 Azacualpa (Timestamp: 01:35:44)

 Wrapper: Honduran

Binder: Honduran

Filler: Honduran

7) Powstanie Connecticut Belicoso (Timestamp: 01:29:35)

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut

Size: 5.5x52

8) La Aroma de Cuba Connecticut Corona (Timestamp: 00:54:15)

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut

9) Micallef Blue Robusto (Timestamp: 00:48:15)

Wrapper: San Andrés Sumatra

size 5x50

10) Ferio Tego Summa Torpedo (Timestamp: 00:41:34)

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Corojo

size 6.25x52