If there’s a theme for this Week In Smoke, it’s a mix of new cigars and relaxation. Heavy on the relaxation. Maybe a little procrastination too. It’s been a busy summer, and I for one am ready to welcome a less hectic season of bourbon and heavier beers. Sure, I drink both year round, but […]
IPCPR 2016: Complete Digest
And our IPCPR 2016 coverage is complete. It took us a little longer to get everything posted, due in large part to our decision to switch our gear and software out all at once. But it all worked out in the end. We didn’t talk to everyone we wanted to interview, but we never do. […]
IPCPR 2016: CAO
At the CAO display we saw something that seemed a little familiar, but with a name we didn’t recognize. I’m talking about the CAO Consigliere of course, not Rick Rodriguez. He wasn’t wearing a name tag when we talked to him, but I’m pretty sure his name hasn’t changed. Rick is a little bit coy […]
Cigar Boxes and Identity Crises
An occasional cigar smoking friend recently asked me how many cigars come in a standard cigar box. My answer was there isn’t a standard. 20-count boxes are common, but I’ve seen enough boxes between holding between 21 to 25 sticks to make me wonder if 20-counts are really the most common. And then there’s been […]
Brian’s The Week In Smoke, Issue 96
What a busy time of the year. Shopping for presents, travelling to deliver the presents, listening a friend or relative’s favorite yarn for the 12th time presented in stunning intox-a-vision, watching the new Star Wars, it’s hard to find time to sneak in a smoke. But somehow I always do. It’s either a gift or […]
IPCPR 2015: CAO
I made a point to stop by Rick Rodriguez and Ed McKenna’s corner of the General Cigar booth to see what CAO brought to IPCPR 2015. Rick told us about the Flatehead Steel Horse and the budget-friendly CAO Pilon. Ed brings good news to all you Parrotheads out there, CAO has entered into a partnership […]
Brian’s The Week In Smoke, Issue 84
It’s once time again for another issue of Brian’s The Week In Smoke. In case this is your first Week in Smoke, be advised that it covers many (though not necessarily all) of the cigars I’ve smoked in the past week (or the past month, or however long it has been since the last issue), […]
Brian’s The Week In Smoke, Issue 77
It’s once time again for another issue of Brian’s The Week In Smoke. In case this is your first Week in Smoke, be advised that it covers many (though not necessarily all) of the cigars I’ve smoked in the past week (or the past month, or however long it has been since the last issue), […]
CAO Rabid Reindeer – Christmas 2014
Cigar This CAO Rabid Reindeer is based on the CAO MX2 but again, like all the other Christmas CAO cigars the blend has been tweaked for this release. Starts off at a medium with a softer pepper and some coffee. The coffee has a bit of sweetness to it that takes the bitterness away. Came […]
CAO Nasty Nutcracker – Christmas 2014
Cigar I love these boxes. It is a nice departure from normal holiday samplers and such. This CAO Nasty Nutcracker is based on the CAO Gold line but has been tweaked to be a little bolder than the normal line. Starting out it has a bit of spice at the beginning which I have gotten […]