#ELOsoFumarTakes

#ELOSOFUMARTAKES - 320th Take - with Chris Topper of Topper Cigar Company

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!

#ELOSOFUMARTAKES - 319th Take - with Thor Nielsen & Fred Rewey and Cigar Press

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/

 

#ELOSOFUMARTAKES - 318th Take - with Rafael Nodal of Tabacalera USA & Altadis USA

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 - 317th Take - with William Cooper and Tripp Waldrop of Cigar Coop Coalition

#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!

#ELOSOFUMARTAKES - 316th Take - 2024 Top Ten Cigars with George Brightman

WELCOME BACK! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

The night is here! The time is right! It's time for the #ELOsoFumarTakes Top 10 Cigars of 2024!

 

Once again, the legendary George Brightman joins us for the Top 10 Countdown for the ages!  I've sent George my top ten cigars for him to sample and taste test blind.  He gives an honest breakdown alongside my own assessments, 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.

 

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
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
No. 1: 6 1/4 x 52

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

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Maduro

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua 

Factory: (Fabrica Oveja Negra)

Robusto 5x50

 

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

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Mexican
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A.

Size: 5x50

 

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

Wrapper: San Andres Mexican
Binder: Undisclosed
Filler: Nicaragua
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Fábrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua, S.A.
Size: 5 1/2 x 54

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

Wrapper: 2LS Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Nicaragua American Cigars S.A (NACSA)

Size: 5x48 parejo

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

 Wrapper: Honduran

Binder: Honduran

Filler: Honduran

Country of Origin: Honduras
Factory: Tabacos de Oriente

Size: 6x52

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

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Pennsylvania Broadleaf
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos NicaSueño

Size: 5.5x52

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

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: My Father Cigars S.A
Size:  5 1/2 x 44

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

Wrapper: San Andrés Sumatra
Binder: Ecuadorian Habano
Filler: Nicaragua & Dominican Republic
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Fabrica de Micallef

size 5x50

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

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Corojo
Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: Tabacos de Exportación (TABADEX)

size 6.25x52

 

#ELOSOFUMARTAKES - 315th Take - with William Cooper & Mike Szczepankiewicz of Cigar Coop and Powstanie Cigars

This week on #ELOsoFumarTakes, we're back! William Cooper and Mike Szczepankiewicz celebrate the last show of 2024 with a unique cigar and discuss fatherhood, celebrations, and the year ahead.

#ELOSOFUMARTAKES - 314th Take - with Bob Peacock, Brandon Payne, Austin Borgstede, Tracy Spence & William Cooper for the memorial of Mike Peacock, Owner of Michaels Tobacco

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes welcomes some very special guests for our #314thTake - a tribute to life of Mike Peacock, Owner of Michaels Tobacco of Euless & Michaels Tobacco of Keller. We will have a panel of wonderful guests, who knew him well and some more than most. We are honored to have his son, Bob Peacock, join us. Current General Manager of Michaels Brandon Payne heads a trio of famous shop alums, along with industry reps Tracy Spence & Austin Borgstede. And finally, William Cooper who knew Mike from trips, visits and working with Mike's time on the PCA board. This is a very special tribute!

 

In memory of Mike, please make donations to The Cigar Family Charitable Foundation: https://cf-cf.org/ways-to-donate/

 

#ELOSOFUMARTAKES - 313th Take - with Joe Gro of Casa de Montecristo

This week, We welcome the return of Joe Gro of Casa de Montecristo to sit down for our #313thTake! Joe has been a man on the move since his last time on the show. From a key mover at Drew Estate to a Shaker at Quality Importers to now move' and groovin' at Casa de Montecristo, we take a deeper look back at Joe's journey, why he loves this industry and why the hell he loves the word's worst "comedian".

#ELOSOFUMARTAKES - 312th Take - with Janine Perdomo of Perdomo Cigars

#ELOsoFumarTakes is pleased to welcome for the first time the incomparable Janine Perdomo of Perdomo Cigars. For 30+ years, she’s worked side by side with her husband and family to build one of the premiere companies in the industry. It all started in a garage and now we’re here. Now, we hear her #Take! Enjoy!

#ELOSOFUMARTAKES - 311th Take - with George Brightman, William Cooper, & Guest Host Tim Wong for our 7th Anniversary!

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes turns 7!!! Our #311thTake promises a celebration you hardly ever see. Why? Because instead of celebrating the past - we look to the future! Seven burning questions for the next 7 years in the cigar industry. We've assembled William Cooper, George Brightman, Jay R. Davis, and honorary guest host - Tim Wong.