Episodes

Monday Jan 23, 2023
#ELOSOFUMARTAKES - 237th Take - with Alan Rubin of Alec Bradley
Monday Jan 23, 2023
Monday Jan 23, 2023
This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes officially kicks off 2023 with the return of the distinguished, herald, and freshly inducted Hall of Famer Alan Rubin - Founder of Alec Bradley Cigars. From the latest projects to life lessons, we get the best from Alan on our #237thTake!
The Rubin Family, Abe Dababneh, and I are inviting for you to support the Boys & Girls Club of Broward County and have a little fun along the way. https://gofund.me/5f022fe6
You read that right Bradley Rubin will shave hs mustache if we hit goal! https://gofund.me/5f022fe6
The original conversation: https://youtu.be/HWsT0SS4eEg
Number 1 Cigar of 2022 for Cigar Coop: https://cigar-coop.com/2023/01/2022-cigar-of-the-year-countdown-coops-list-1-alec-bradley-fine-rare-bc-134ev.html
https://cigar-coop.com/2022/08/pca-2022-report-alec-bradley-cigar-co.html
https://cigar-coop.com/2022/10/cigar-alec-bradley-reclaimed-sampler-announced.html
Cigar Aficionado Hall off Fame: https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/cigar-aficionado-hall-of-fame-class-of-2022

Monday Jan 09, 2023
#ELOSOFUMARTAKES - 236th Take - 2022 Top Ten Cigars with George Brightman
Monday Jan 09, 2023
Monday Jan 09, 2023
This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes counts it down! That's right, our Top 10 Cigars of 2022 will be brought to you in countdown fashion. This year, I wanted to bring something special (you all know I like the twist). So, here it is - I've enlisted some help this year with my Top 10, so that's why for our #236thTake and our 2022 Top Ten Countdown the incomparable George Brightman will join us to give his own blind assessment on my Top 10!!! It'll be one to remember, Enjoy!
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.
Top 10 Cigars of 2021 (reference from last year):
1) Dissident Rave
2) Diesel Esteli Puro toro
3) Adventura The Queen's Pearls robusto
4) Rocky Patel Edicion Unico 2011 toro
5) Alec Bradley Kintsugi Robusto
6) E.P. Carrillo Pledge Prequel
7) Pichardo Clasico Sumatra
8) Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua Churchill
9) RoMa Craft Baka Ota Benga
10) Micallef A Churchill
2022 Top Honorable Mentions:
1. BLK WKS Studios Intergalatic Corona Larga
2. Alec Bradley Fine and Rare BC 1(13)4EV
3. Tatuaje Cohete Capa Especial 2022
4. Espinosa 10th
5. Powstanie SBC 20
Top 10 Cigars of 2022 (this year):
1) Espinosa Crema Box Press Toro
2) Artista Cigars Buffalo Ten Connecticut
3) St. Luis Rey Carenas Toro
4) Howard G Magic Stick Cameroon Toro
5) CAVALIER GENÈVE BII Japala Viso Robusto Gordo
6) Crux Bull & Bear Double Corona
7) Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Brulee Blue
8) Rocky Patel Disciple Robusto
9) The Arrival Robusto
10) Luciano Cigars (ACE Prime) The Seargeant
https://www.history.com/news/george-washington-little-known-facts

Tuesday Dec 27, 2022
#ELOSOFUMARTAKES - 235th Take - with Drew Newman of JC Newman Cigar Company
Tuesday Dec 27, 2022
Tuesday Dec 27, 2022
Merry Christmas everyone!!! For our very first Christmas #Take we bring you a very special simulcast on both YouTube and Facebook. Drew Newman returns for a very special #235thTake for an #ELOsoFumarTakes Christmas. Since we last spoke to Drew we've seen the expansion of his cherished The American line, rebranding throughout the portfolio, a renovation into his family's 100+ year old factory and his father's election into the Cigar Hall of Fame. Drew shares his family and cigars with us this Christmas. Enjoy!
Drew Newman and I would like to spotlight:

Tuesday Dec 20, 2022
Tuesday Dec 20, 2022
This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes invites you to our Christmas Party! Our #234thTake promises to be a good time with a pretty cool cast of characters. 'Cigar Hustler' Mike Szczepankiewicz, 'Mr. Blue Smoke' Jay Davis, and 'How 'Bout that Cigar' Garret Robinson join the celebration. Will Mike bring cereal? Will Jay smoke a Fuente? How 'bout Garret's Candy Cane grip? We'll find out and more! Enjoy!!
This week, we'd like to raise awareness, spotlight, and if you feel called, donations to:
Source for tonight's United Cigar Presidential Trivia segment: https://jimdaly.focusonthefamily.com/a-presidential-christmas-trivia/
Merry Christmas Everyone!

Monday Dec 12, 2022
#ELOSOFUMARTAKES - 233rd Take - with Steve Abbot of General Cigar Company
Monday Dec 12, 2022
Monday Dec 12, 2022
This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes welcomes a first time guest in Steve Abbot of General Cigar Company to sit down for our #233rdTake. Steve brings an incredible background in the Tobacco industry into his role at General. We smoke Macanudo and explore the journey of Abbot himself. Enjoy!
For this occasion, Steve and I would like to spotlight The Salvation Army
Please consider donating: https://give.salvationarmyusa.org/give/164006/#!/donation/checkout?amount=Other
Macanudo Estate Reserve Flint Knoll
Macanudo Inspirado Year of the Rabbit heads abroad
Eighth Inspirado hits shelves in U.S.
Fun Facts about William & Mary
United Cigar Presidential Trivia resource:
- Three U.S. presidents were educated at William & Mary: Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe and John Tyler. Four if we count George Washington's surveyor's license. https://www.wm.edu/index.php
My son makes his podcast debut (00:04:45) - all he wants for Christmas is his two front teeth!
"I just yanked it out" - My son

Monday Dec 05, 2022
#ELOSOFUMARTAKES - 232nd Take - with Ram Rodriguez of Artista Cigars
Monday Dec 05, 2022
Monday Dec 05, 2022
This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes has something very special for our #232ndTake. Ram Rodriguez of Artista Cigars returns to talk about the latest goings with his family’s company - including the fantastic re-branding. We’ll walk through a few things tonight and explore his father’s words, “Let your words be more valuable than your pocket because money comes and goes, but words stay. Make sure you deliver what you promise.” Enjoy!
Ram's Featured Charity: https://davidortizchildrensfund.org/
Please consider donating HERE
PCA 2022: https://cigar-coop.com/2022/08/pca-2022-report-artista-cigars.html

Monday Nov 21, 2022
Monday Nov 21, 2022
This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes returns to the cinema. I've wrangled the best nerds our industry has to offer as we dive into the second installment of Lord of the Rings. The Two Towers debuted 20 years ago! Our goal tonight is to revel, drink, smoke and nerd out with Matt Tye, Tripp Waldrop and, of course, Sam Spencer! Enjoy!
Just like with our foray into LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring, this #Take is dedicated in honor of my sister Reagan, who without, my life would be absent of art. Please support the Whitney Museum of American Art.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0167261/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_8
https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/two-towers/

Monday Nov 14, 2022
Monday Nov 14, 2022
#ELOsoFumarTakes turns 5 years old this week!! In those five years we'll have done 230 #Takes. This week is special, as many of you know, each year, I've invited Tim Wong of Pier 28 Premium Cigars to return as my guest, as he was my guest on the very first #Take. Tim will be back!!! Joining us will be the Cigar Coop Coalition members - Ben Lee, and Erron Nielsen. It doesn't stop there, Aaron Loomis,Co-Founder of Developing Palates will also be on hand to make sure we keep everything in order. Yes, I will be thanking a lot of people, because it took a lot of people to get us here. We have some hijinks and hilarity planned as well as smoking some good cigars. Enjoy!
Please consider donating to Sepsis Alliance
The first person to screenshot a donation of $50 or more gets their choice of a box of Espinosa Habano #4 (2017 #ELOsoFumarTakes #1 Cigar of the Year), E.P Carrillo Vallientes (2018 #ELOsoFumarTakes #1 Cigar of the Year), Kristoff Vengeance Perfecto (2019 #ELOsoFumarTakes #1 Cigar of the Year), La Barba Ricochet Cru Mexi-Sol (2020 #ELOsoFumarTakes #1 Cigar of the Year), OR Dissident Rave (2021 #ELOsoFumarTakes #1 Cigar of the Year).

Monday Nov 07, 2022
#ELOSOFUMARTAKES - 229th Take with Reinier Lorenzo of HVC Cigars
Monday Nov 07, 2022
Monday Nov 07, 2022
This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes welcomes the return of Reinier Lorenzo of HVC Cigars. Our #229thTake promises to be a good one as we dive into what it takes to open your own factory, the "new new" from HVC, and what we can expect from HVC in the next few months. It's more than that, as we dive into an all-new This or That, plus I want to know what cigars Reinier smokes when he celebrates. Enjoy!
Reinier and I, along with our friends at Cigar Dojo would like to spotlight Cigars for Warriors
Check out the Fumar & Fundraiser: Support the Troops here: https://dojoverse.com/members/eric/activity/4077625/?q=news-feed%2Fp%2F4077625%2F
Black Friday 2022: https://cigar-coop.com/2022/10/cigar-news-hvc-black-friday-2022-limited-edition-release-announced.html
PCA 2022: https://cigar-coop.com/2022/07/pca-2022-report-hvc-cigars.html
HVC 500 Salomon: https://cigar-coop.com/2022/06/cigar-news-hvc-500-years-anniversary-salomon-to-debut-at-2022-pca-trade-show.html
HVC Opens Factory: https://cigar-coop.com/2022/06/cigar-news-hvc-cigars-opens-factory-and-announces-hvc-seleccion-no-1.html

Monday Oct 31, 2022
Monday Oct 31, 2022
This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes celebrates Bear's birthday! Our #228thTake welcomes two fan favorites as well as two host favorites. First, we welcome back the
For this occasion, Coop, Saka, and I would like to spotlight:
-and-
Paladin de Saka review: https://cigar-coop.com/2022/10/cigar-review-sin-compromiso-paladin-de-saka-by-dunbarton-tobacco-trust.html