Episode 11 of the Smoke and Steel Podcast brought another entertaining evening of cigar talk, personal stories, and the kind of genuine conversation that keeps bringing listeners back. Broadcasting live from our usual spot with Walt, Jim, Mark, and Eric (with Eric the Elder and Rob joining late). We covered everything from Drew Estate’s latest releases to Halloween decorations hitting stores in early September.

Opening & Community Appreciation

We kicked off Episode 11 with heartfelt appreciation for our growing community across Spotify, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. The response has been incredible, and we’re seeing familiar faces like Pedro consistently engaging on Facebook, Helen dropping by our Discord, and Cigar Craig – a longtime supporter dating back to our early Stogie Review days.

Instagram remains a challenge for us, which seems common in the cigar space. The platform appears to favor younger demographics, while our cigar community tends to skew older. Facebook continues to be our strongest platform, generating the most engagement and interaction from our audience.

Tonight’s Cigar Selection

Our lineup showcased some interesting variety tonight. Eric brought out a discontinued Phantom Queen by Stolen Throne – a cigar that had burn issues but delivered on flavor for those willing to work with it. Mark fired up the eye-catching Raw Dog by Oscar, a uniquely constructed cigar that looks like it should fall apart but somehow holds together throughout the smoke.

Walt chose a La Flor Dominican Double Ligero Chisel, while Jim went back in time with a Sultans of Smoke Legacy – a true vintage stick that’s becoming increasingly rare. These selections set the tone for an evening of diverse smoking experiences and storytelling.

Drew Estate Freestyle Live Pack Discussion

A significant portion of our discussion centered around Drew Estate’s Freestyle Live Pack program and their latest reveal – the Nica Rustica Shade. This Connecticut-wrapped cigar expands the Nica Rustica line, featuring an Ecuadorian Connecticut seed wrapper grown under shade, Mexican binder, and fillers from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Pennsylvania.

The Freestyle Live Pack program continues to intrigue us. Subscribers receive unbanded mystery cigars to try before official release, creating anticipation and engagement. Previous releases through this program included the Metallica Blackened, Nica Rustica Adobe, among others.

Master blender Willie Herrera, who we’ve had the pleasure of meeting at various events, described it as a unique addition to the Connecticut offerings from Drew Estate. The pricing is expected to remain in the accessible range – likely six to eight dollars – making it an approachable entry point for Connecticut wrapper enthusiasts.

Connecticut Wrapper Deep Dive

Connecticut wrappers sparked an extensive conversation about smoking preferences and flavor profiles. We found ourselves split on these milder cigars, with most of us not regularly reaching for Connecticut-wrapped cigars but acknowledging their place in our rotations.

The consensus emerged that Connecticut cigars serve specific purposes – morning smokes with coffee, beach cigars, or palate cleansers. We described them as having a distinctly different character: toasty, more buttery, and less sweet than our typical preferences. Several standouts were mentioned, including the Room 101 Johnny Tobacconaut, Oliva Connecticut Reserve, EPC New Wave, and the Nub Connecticut line.

One interesting observation was how Connecticut cigars seem to work better for us during specific times or settings rather than as all-day smokes. They fill a niche but aren’t typically our go-to choices when reaching into the humidor.

Candela Cigars: Love Them or Leave Them

Our conversation naturally moved to candela wrappers – those distinctive green-wrapped cigars that were once industry standards but have largely fallen out of favor. None of us smoke them regularly, though we’ve all encountered them over the years.

The general consensus was that candela wrappers impart a notably grassy flavor that works better when blended with other wrappers in barber pole constructions. Companies like Black Label incorporate candela into their Tiger series for visual appeal.

We reminisced about how candela cigars were much more common when we first got into the hobby, particularly popular with older generations. Today, they’re increasingly rare at lounges and shops, representing a fading piece of cigar history.

Labor Day BBQ Stories

Labor Day provided perfect material for our barbecue discussion. Eric the Elder shared his ambitious weekend of smoking multiple pork butts – two for a work cookout and another with a Spanish marinade twist for home. The process involved overnight cooks, precise timing, and the satisfaction of perfectly pulled pork after 12-13 hours of patient smoking.

Halloween Season & Retail Trends

September 1st Halloween decorations at major retailers sparked discussion about seasonal creep and changing shopping patterns. We marveled at how Halloween has become the second-largest spending holiday after Christmas, with elaborate displays and animatronics becoming neighborhood attractions.

This led to broader observations about retail trends – how gas station chains (the ones that serve food) like Wawa and Royal Farms are thriving while traditional chain restaurants struggle. We noted new locations opening locally, including a Sheets location coming to Limerick and various Royal Farms expansions offering ethanol-free gas and car wash combinations.

The conversation touched on the return of Bed Bath & Beyond with 300 new planned locations (notably avoiding California due to regulatory concerns), showing how retail landscapes continue evolving in unexpected ways.

Oak Island & Treasure Hunting

Marks’s mention of Oak Island’s return sparked our annual discussion of the show’s entertainment value versus actual treasure hunting. We contrasted the Lagina brothers’ methodical but slow approach with other treasure hunting programs that actually find significant artifacts.

Eric the Elder shared details about a Madagascar-based treasure hunting show where divers actually recovered a 100-pound silver ingot from suspected pirate shipwrecks, complete with period markings and historical significance. These real discoveries made Oak Island’s endless wood samples seem less satisfying by comparison, though we admitted we’ll keep watching regardless.

Football Season Kickoff

With the NFL season starting, we briefly touched on local team prospects and seasonal changes. The Eagles’ divisional advantages were discussed, along with celebrity endorsement deals like Saquon Barkley’s surprisingly mundane Wawa sandwich featuring turkey, American cheese, and spicy mustard.

What Makes Us Give Up on a Cigar

An important discussion emerged around our personal breaking points with problematic cigars. The unanimous answer was plugged draws – when airflow becomes so restricted that you’re working harder than enjoying the experience.

We all agreed that taste issues might be tolerable since flavors can change throughout a smoke, but construction problems that prevent proper enjoyment will end a session quickly. The frustration of spending limited smoking time fighting with a plugged cigar rather than relaxing became a relatable theme for many listeners.

Our “three poke rule” with draw tools and techniques for working with tight cigars provided practical advice, but ultimately, life’s too short for cigars that don’t cooperate.

Tatuaje Monster Series Discussion

Eric’s enthusiasm for Tatuaje’s Monster series provided insight into one of the hobby’s most collectible annual releases. The evolution from single yearly monsters to multiple formats (Pudgy, Lancero, box-pressed) and now the “redux” re-releases shows how successful limited editions can expand over time.

The original Frank, Drac, and other character-themed cigars remain fan favorites, with the hard-to-find event-only releases being particularly prized. This discussion highlighted how certain brands build dedicated followings through creative marketing and consistent quality.

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Episode 11 showcased what makes the Smoke and Steel Podcast special – genuine conversation between friends who happen to love cigars. We covered industry news, personal experiences, and the kinds of tangential discussions that make for entertaining listening.

Whether you’re interested in Drew Estate’s latest releases, looking for Connecticut wrapper recommendations, or just want to hear authentic cigar conversations, this episode delivered the relaxed, informative content our community has come to expect.

Watch the full episode embedded at the head of this post and join our growing community of cigar enthusiasts.

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The conversation continues between episodes on our social platforms, where community members share their own experiences and recommendations. Join us next time for Episode 12 of the Smoke and Steel Podcast.