On the weekly radio show Mr. Jonathan was known for finding strange notes in a cigar, but with the addition of cigar blogger Barry Stein to the mix, the battle of supremacy was up for grabs with each trying to outdo the other. It was decided that these two cigar smokers would battle it out with a review. Mr. Jonathan vs Big Barry, the battle for Supremacy has begun… Barry: Every year the phenomenon known […]
This week we broadcasted live from Seabrook, New Hampshire at 2 Guys Cigars. We welcomed on the show the Costa Rica cigar guru, Don Benigno who was in town for a series of events. Listen in as we find out how he got his start in the industry and learn more about his cigars and the man himself. Also during the day in history by Classic Cigars we pit Chuck vs Mr. Jonathan vs Barry […]
The Cigar Authority will really need subtitles this week as we welcome Don Benigno. His translator will be on hand, and this could get comical as earlier this week he was translating what Benigno said to us in Spanish, basically repeating what he said. Dave being the gentlemen he was just nodded as if he understood every word. We will also have Old Fart Freddy Inside the Asylum News with Barry This Day in History […]
Debonaire is a cigar from Phil Zanghi, and if that name isn’t familiar to you, it should be. Back in 1996 Phil Zanghi and his partner at the time Rocky Patel began Indian Tabac. In fact, one can say based on a Smoke Magazine article from 1999, that it was Zanghi who was the primary reason Rocky Patel quit his day job as a lawyer to focus on cigars. Eventually the two would split up and […]
I will be the first person to admit that I never heard of Don Benigno before I moved to New Hampshire, and I suspect I many not be alone. Don Benigno cigars was created 17 years ago in Costa Rica, but the story of Don Benigno and this family’s history in tobacco began generations ago. Don Benigno Arronte was born in the 1950 in Pinar Del Rio which is right in the middle of the […]
The cigar industry has a lot of father and son combinations, and AJ Fernandez has just joined the club. New World by AJ Fernandez is the result of a combined effort of father and son. Co-Blended by Abdel Fernandez and his father Ismael this smoke was introduced at the 2014 IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas. According to the press release sent out by Creativas on behalf of AJ Fernandez. “The team at A.J. Fernandez […]
Leaf by Oscar is a creation by one of the most colorful men in the Cigar Business, Island Jim. During a factory trip with some regulars from his shop in Pittsburgh; Leaf & Bean he got to meet Oscar at Rocky Patel. Oscar who now owns his own factory in Danli, Hondurus made some test blends for Jim and he asked Oscar to wrap the cigar in a tobacco leaf. Confused at first as the […]
As we reported yesterday, Rocky Patel testified today before the Senate Finance Committee. The hearing which took place this morning was called “Tobacco: Taxes Owed, Avoided and Evaded”. The sad thing about today’s hearing while watching it was that there were more witnesses in the chamber then actual committee members of which we counted three. The chairman Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon was present along with Senator Mark Warner another Democrat from the Commonwealth […]