December 17, 2024· 1h 22m

A Cigar Hustlers Podcast Episode 366: NFL Drama, Covington vs. LeBron, Yellowstone’s Tribute, and Cigar Industry Updates

Transcript

I don't never slow up.

No I don't take shit.

I got no love that.

The fate is you want to play top

and want to hate this or go with

your mother.

Everybody stand by while

industry is.

In the house you want to play

top and want to hate this, here

he is.

The controversial but legendary

be me.

I want to hate this.

Welcome to Cigar Hustler's

podcast episode 366, recorded

live at the Mike and Mike

Production Studio in Deltona,

FL.

This is Cigar Hustler's Podcast,

the show where cigars, business,

and life collide.

Join your host Mike Stefankevich

and Mike Palmer as they bring

you the unfiltered takes on the

cigar in mystery, insider

stories, and a whole lot of

laughs.

Sit back, light up and enjoy the

hustle and me, I'm Boots your

sound and video engineer.

So again, sit back.

I forget, take it I moved the

line to make it sound better.

Enjoy the hustle.

Chad GBT I don't know what to

take.

Welcome to the Cigar Hustler

podcast.

The show brought to you

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And a massive shout out to our

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Thanks to your unawavering

support, we're able to deliver

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all the things cigars and

personalities in the cigar

world.

Your backing makes it possible

for us to keep it real.

Our listeners.

Cheers to you.

If you would like to become a

Patreon number, go to

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Cigar Hustler Podcast.

We got some trending topics

today, Michael.

We're going to talk about the

Niners.

Yeah.

Oh.

Devon de Campbell Mahomes

apparently hurt himself during

the game.

Yeah, Trump won a lawsuit and

the Yellowstone finale was last

night.

Got it.

Get over there.

Oh no, it's.

He sounds all the time.

How did he make a sound during

the soccer thing?

He yelled something because he

didn't have a microphone.

Yeah, he made this weird.

So we did the saka.

Oh yeah, the right.

There's a big Saka special on

Friday.

And that'll be coming out this

week, right?

Yeah.

On Friday, Yeah.

I don't know what the hell he

did, but there was this noise.

It was so bad.

It.

Was in the beginning he I mean,

I hadn't heard the whole thing,

but it was in the beginning

yeah, sometimes like I didn't

even mic him over there.

Just couldn't believe it.

I'm thinking to myself, you can

always count on boots to just

fucking.

And he had he he had one button

that was programmed over there

for intro, for intro music.

Yeah.

And it had a piece of blue tape

next to it, said intro music

with an arrow that pointed to

it.

Never hit it.

Never.

Played it well.

They just got right into it.

I didn't.

I mean, I didn't want to press

the button while soccer started

talking.

Oh, might as well he he wouldn't

have stopped.

That did happen, that is true

right now.

However, he was also afraid to

turn everything off when it was

done.

I'm just going to leave it all

on.

Yeah, you should have just

unplugged it.

No, I'm good because that little

board was very, very warm this

morning.

So I was hope nothing happens

today.

Yeah, Yeah, very expensive

little video Switcher board

over.

There.

Well, I was really worried

because the butt up in the top

left, I always thought there was

2 Reds, there's only one red.

So I was like, oh.

Great I only got 1 phone call so

that was good because I hit them

both right and don't know there

should be 1 red light.

He looked at me and goes, do I

what I do here?

And I was like, you FaceTime,

Palmer, That's what you gonna

do.

I'm not the guy.

I'm not gonna tell you.

You FaceTime Palmer?

But everything appears to be

there.

Soccer's microphone, which is

out of place, but that was just

that's easily fixed so.

Yeah, it was a really good

interview.

I think it went.

It was good.

Yeah, it was good, Yeah.

One of your best?

Yeah, I think it's up there.

You know, I, I honestly it look,

if you're not getting better at

what you do.

Well, certainly.

You know, so realistically a.

Lot has.

I'm sorry.

A lot has to do with the guest

you're with though also.

Yeah, that's true.

You know he's easy for

podcasting, right?

Keeping them on topic is, is the

the forever challenge.

Oh my God, let me, let me, let

me back it.

Let me bring the question back.

So do you like the steak well?

When I've been in cigars back in

the end, no, no steak.

Do you like the steak well?

You know, the tobacco was

something that I decided that

the Indians did not really do

correctly, and I thought I

would.

He would figure that.

Out, figure that out for them

and then go back in time and

correct the Indian.

It's a proper fermentation

processes, Yes, exactly that

sort of thing.

Excellent.

Cool.

Well, hey, let's get into some

stuff here, buddy.

All right, Niners scorned

selfish Devande.

DeAndre.

Is that what you say, Andre?

DeAndre Campbell.

DeAndre must be the first name

for the young man.

Yeah.

DeAndre Campbell's refusal to

play.

With injuries to their

linebackers accumulating in the

middle of the third quarter

Thursday night against the Los

Angeles Rams, the San Francisco

49ers turn to veteran DeAndre

Campbell to enter the game.

Right, they went.

You're in, you're in.

This is your big chance.

Here you go.

You're.

In you're back buddy.

Campbell and I'm I'm good.

Not so much.

He declined the invitation.

Then in the fourth quarter,

Campbell walked to the locker

room with a tile over his head

without playing a snap after the

Niners 2012 to six defeat at

Levi Stadium.

Is that. 12:00 to 6:00.

No, Levi Stadium.

Is that the the jeans company

that they they sponsor that

stadium?

Oh, head coach Kyle Shanahan

explained that that Campbell

elected not to enter the game

even though the linebackers they

What the hell with these Why all

their Dre Greenlaw had a knee

injury, apparently.

Wire.

That was easy.

And D Winters, No, all their

names start with DS.

Who's there?

It's D Winters.

The Niners Kyle Shanahan, the

coach went to Dre Greenlaw, D

Winters and Dave.

What is his name?

Dave Vondre.

Are you even going to mention

Deebo Samuels?

I mean, that guy's a stud.

He has a guy with that baby yet?

He's not.

He apparently is not a

linebacker.

Listen, Kyle Shanahan loves the

DS.

Evidently, he loves the.

D Dee Winters hurt his neck

there.

Everybody's all the linebackers.

Hurt.

They're all hurt.

Except Dave Andre went.

I don't.

Want to I'm not playing.

I'm not playing.

Everybody's getting hurt, he

said.

He didn't want to play today.

This was in my contract.

Campbell's decision and

subsequent stroll to the locker

room left Shanahan and teammates

and coaches fuming.

After the loss, Shanahan said

the plan was for Campbell to

enter the game after Greenlaw

had departed because he was

dealing with some knee soreness.

It was also Greenlaw's first

game back from an Achilles

injury he sustained in Super

Bowl.

What's LV I I that's 58?

Yeah, sure.

The 8II.

The two I.

No V I I I.

So there's 8.

What is L is L50L is 50 right?

OK, after Campbell said no, the

Niners inserted oh, Demetrius

Flanagan.

So apparently it's a

requirement.

You gotta start with AD, yeah.

They're alphabetical on the

table, right?

So when third quarter ended,

Campbell walked to the locker

room.

People noticed.

But when someone says that you

says that, you move on, Shanahan

said.

That somebody who doesn't want

to play football, it's pretty

simple.

I think our team and myself, we

know how we feel about that, so

we don't need to talk about him

anymore.

Yeah, you fire the guy.

So when asked whether Campbell

would be released, Shanahan

simply said We'll figure out

something.

Yeah, he does want to say it

flat out.

Yeah, well, just in case.

I mean, well, the reality is

that the media doesn't have to

get the news 1st and.

Foremost.

No, right?

I don't know.

Like we handle things internally

and then we deal with it and

then you'll hear about it later.

They'll talk to him and see what

the.

Problem is, no, no, what you'll

do is you'll hear about it.

Well, that was Thursday.

That was Thursday's game.

So I would say today you'll

probably hear that he was cut.

Oh, oh, apparently he doesn't

care.

Yeah, exactly.

He's.

Been around for a long time.

Is he having like a big stash of

money somewhere or is he got a

bunch of cars and stuff and.

He knows spend.

His money?

Who knows, man?

Well, I'm not familiar with the

sport, people.

'S so I don't know how.

Famous this guy is.

I mean, now you're talking

offensive lineman.

So, yeah, so it's not a big

money position.

I think it's a decent money

position, but it's not.

It's just like the unsung

heroes.

Nobody really talks about them,

you know?

I mean, if you got big sirs in

here, he'd tell you.

Let's call him.

Yeah.

Hey, Leon.

Hey, it was called Howard.

Howard don't know.

What's going on?

Howard, can you get how do?

We feel about Can you get about

You get de Vandre on the phone,

please.

Right.

Certainly.

Just a minute.

Hold on.

OK, We got things cooking.

Or what's his what's his

tagline?

We.

Got the.

Good action.

Oh, we got action.

We got.

Things I remember, I remember

what it was.

Wow.

If you'd like to use that,

Howard, feel free.

Yeah.

We got things.

We got things cooking, we got

things cooking right and we call

it action.

We got action cooking.

Oh my goodness.

OK.

All right, Covington, a UFC

fighter goes off on LeBron James

before UFC Tampa.

Just fight this over the

weekend.

Yeah, well, let's see.

Colby Covington.

They don't say his first name.

Hold on.

Let's see, that's got to be him.

So start with.

It has to be AC, not AD.

Yeah, these are all the C that

we're with.

The C stories, we're going

alphabetical.

Back got it right.

Oh, I'm sticking.

That's Colby Covington.

Covington OK, he wanted going

off on LeBron James for UFC Matt

Despite LeBron James Starr

powers one of basketball's most

influential athletes.

Covington, a proud Donald Trump

supporter, stood down Wednesday

during his UFC Tampa pre fight

media scrum while making a

scathing accusation.

I want to ask LeBron, what does

he mean by there's no party like

a Diddy party?

Covington said.

I truly want to know.

And not only that LeBron, how

many Diddy parties have you

actually been to?

I'm really curious to know.

And is that reason you left

social media because of all the

backlash you were getting from

going to so many Diddy parties?

A lot of Diddy.

He's a country guy, A.

Lot of Diddy.

I like how you changed into.

I do accents.

I do accents for people.

Press time.

James had yet to respond to

Covington's comment.

Chaos didn't stop there,

however.

It's just pathetic, Covington,

that if people think this guy's

a role model, he wants to defund

the police.

The most patriotic people in

America serving and protecting

our country.

Oh, really?

OK.

Yes, I didn't know.

That OK so he this guy's

notorious for saying specific

things in.

Covington is.

Yeah, as far as Trump, you think

he went a little too far?

I don't know why he was on the

did.

Did we ever establish if these

were recent comments by LeBron

or is this something?

I think that some of this stuff

is older, yeah.

At this point, he.

Just grabbing headlines in is

all he's trying to do because

that made him a trending topic

by talking about LeBron.

Otherwise, he probably would

not.

Have well, that's what I'm

saying.

I just think that, OK, look, the

the Diddy stuff's to be

determined, right?

Will we figure it all out?

Who knows?

Oh right, we'll ever hear

everything.

Yeah.

There'll be little stories like

last week's where you know

they're just with Jay-Z and the

little girl.

Well, yeah, but he alleged Jay-Z

already attacked.

He already went on full.

Oh, did he already fight back?

Yeah.

And I mean, I was sure I didn't

see.

Anything that was a big shocker.

Well, yeah, I mean, that was

going to happen.

Right.

So, you know, look, it's just

it's a little, it comes across

as a little lame.

Yeah, as.

Far as a little, a little late

to the party type thing, he's

like, I think he's just grabbing

headlines.

Just wants to be a a topic that

everybody's talking about.

Yeah, but you know what?

There's better ways to do it.

Yeah, but this was easy.

So, I mean, I'm sure his people

put him up to, you know, when

you get up there, say something

about LeBron.

Yeah, about about the videos

from five years ago or

something.

Oh my God.

Yeah, where he where He enjoyed

going to the Diddy party.

Like, why don't you just, why

don't you just drop a Zelensky

thing or something?

Like, keep up with the yeah, I

mean, for God's sakes.

Can you believe what he did with

that Lewinsky girl?

Huh.

Zelensky.

Oh, I thought you meant the the

girl.

The girl?

No.

The President of Ukraine.

No, that's not the thing.

I thought you were talking about

Monica Lewinsky.

No, I'm talking about Zelensky.

There's a big difference.

Well, there is a big.

There's a big difference, but he

could have been talking about

the other.

One he could have been talking

about the other one it's more

likely he's talking about her

than him I think.

OK.

All right, because I mean Diddy

and, you know, the baby oil and,

you know, so we got a dress with

a stain on it and, you know.

I just found my first clip,

that's for sure.

ABC agrees to get $15 million to

Trump's presidential library to

settle a lawsuit.

OK.

I mean, it's a really nice

library.

A lot of books.

ABC News has agreed to pay

15,000,000 toward Donald Trump's

presidential library to settle a

lawsuit over anchor George

Stephanopoulos, an accurate on

air assertion that the

president-elect had been found

civilly liable.

Civilly civilly liable for

raping writer EJ Carroll.

OK.

Oh, I know who that is.

I don't know the books.

How?

Many times do you think he's

going to we got to count the OS.

I think like the OS should be a

drinking.

A drinking game, Yeah.

Oh, every time, he says.

Oh, you guys have to take a.

Drink.

Yeah, you got to take a shot,

but do it responsibly, please.

Yes, yeah, please, according to

a settlement documents made.

You know, it is nice that he

did.

He could have taken the money

himself.

Trump could have.

I'm not surprised.

Oh, I'm not surprised he didn't

either.

I mean, it's not like he would

50 million.

He might not even notice.

No, I I think that it's a bigger

shame thing too.

It's this is.

All Oh yeah, sponsored by.

This is all taxed.

I would put up a plaque

trending topic.

It's on the Dolphins.

Yeah, it's not a good one

though.

Better than the transgender

you've had the last couple of

weeks.

All right, here we go.

The Dolphins playoff hopes took

a big hit Sunday, but that

wasn't Miami's biggest concern

coming out of its Week 15 loss

in Houston.

The focus was on Grant Duboss,

who left the NRG Stadium turf on

a stretcher at third quarter.

Duboss was attempting to reel in

a pass from 2 tag of A tag of a

Yeah 2.

How do you not even know his

name?

Figured he would.

There's no way I could have said

that.

Yeah.

How do you not know your

quarterback's last name?

How could you not say that

you're a big Dolphins guy?

Tag of Viola.

Take a Viagra.

Oh my God, take a Viagra.

This is terrible.

What are you doing?

Today is a little rough for me.

He took too much blood.

Pressure.

Too much.

I mean I I'm trying to say it

wrong and I'm saying it right.

When he took a massive hit.

When he took a massive hit from

Texan safety Caitlyn Bullock

across the middle.

The game was paused for roughly

12 minutes while medical

professionals attended the

second year white out, who had

his jersey cut off and his

helmet removed before he exited

the stadium.

The Dolphins put out a statement

shortly after the incident and

revealed the boss was in stable

condition when he arrived at a

nearby hospital.

After the game, Miami head coach

Mike McDaniel revealed there was

a positive feedback from the

imaging on Dubos's head and

neck, but the 23 year old stayed

in Houston overnight to receive

further examinations, per ESPN.

Sunday marked Dubos's third game

of the Dolphins, who claimed the

2023 seventh round pick off

waivers in late August after he

was released by Green Bay

Packers.

The Charlotte product hadn't

played since Week 2, when he

sustained a shoulder injury that

put him on injured reserve.

Oh.

My God, So this guy, he hasn't

seen the field a lot and every

time he sees the field he gets

hurt.

Yeah, he's done.

Is he an older player?

No No 2023 draft pick.

Has he been hurt several times

to where like something is

triggered easily or something?

I don't think so.

It sounds like he's just injury.

Head and neck thing, they said.

So what are they?

What are the?

Other injuries have been

shoulder.

Shoulder.

Are do you not listen when he

speaks?

You read the article did you

not?

You just tell him.

No, I didn't read.

I didn't read the article.

I just winged it.

I sent it to him.

It's about the Miami.

Oh, this?

Is the Dolphins.

Right.

Got it.

OK, cool.

For him to cover that me.

All right.

OK, that's it.

That's all you got.

Yeah, that.

Yeah.

Yeah, that's all it was, I

figured.

You guys should have more of a

back and forth.

He's a Dolphins fan, you know he

doesn't.

Even know the quarterback.

Well, there's not really like

any update.

They didn't really give

anything, I mean.

It's obviously a serious injury

if they're cutting off his

jersey and helmet on the field,

and that sucks.

That's unfortunate.

You know, I hope the guy's OK.

I'm going to take this moment to

say Mike McDaniels is a terrible

coach.

I mean, he's.

Atrocious.

Why is he a terrible?

Couple for when he vapes.

I can't stand that because he

vapes like I don't understand.

Oh, you're judging him on his?

Yeah, solely on the vaping.

I'm I already have.

Question, does he smoke

cigarettes or something when not

on the field?

Leader of men, not a vapor.

That's all I'm saying.

I'm sure the amount of stress

they have, they all smoke

cigarettes.

Look, right, so I mean, maybe

obviously you can't smoke a

cigarette on the side.

Be a man and smoke cigars, man.

What are we?

Well, he couldn't do that on the

sidelines either, could.

He don't care then.

Then do the little Zen pouches

or something.

Oh, OK, yeah, you should do

that.

At least you would know.

That in the whole vape thing?

You're sucking on a battery bro.

What?

Are we?

Because guys dip on the sides

all the time anyway.

I think that maybe not anymore.

Isn't like it't a tobacco free

yadda yadda or something?

Oh, I don't know.

Yeah, like sports, the whole

thing they.

Got all football's a tobacco.

Free sports, they get all uppity

about it.

And then meanwhile, when they

win, when somebody wins the

Super Bowl, we're celebrating

with cigar, right?

There's already, yeah.

Right.

Yeah, doesn't make any sense.

I just want it to make sense.

And, and I got on that tangent

just because Mike McDaniels,

this is terrible.

Is it a jewel?

Is it like the little skinny

one?

I think it's something like

that, Yeah.

Nice.

He got caught busting it out in

the middle.

I'm like, what are you?

What are we doing?

Maybe it wasn't.

It's a regular vape.

Yeah, maybe it was.

Listen, I could see Dan

Campbell.

I could see Dan Campbell, cigar

in his mouth, playbook in the

other hand.

You know, a big jug, a dunk, a

gallon of Dunkin' Donuts coffee,

just, you know, plowing away

being.

And that, that's my guy.

That's the guy I want, right?

If that doesn't scream America.

Yeah, if that doesn't, if that

doesn't scream masculinity, I

am, you know, I'm.

Did he have a bourbon or

something instead of the coffee?

No, don't.

Be Donuts, Coffee.

Oh, that's ridiculous.

He.

Can't be messed up on the field,

that's stupid.

He has a high tolerance.

He you'll be OK.

He can't be.

Drinking when you're coaching,

That's dumb.

You know, that's just

ridiculous.

Yeah.

The cigar.

How's this cigar?

Ridiculous.

It's not I smoke cigars all the.

Time.

Winston Churchill would

purposely put a pin like a wire

in his cigar because he believed

that the ash the length of the

ash would like determine a level

of strength and when he was in

meetings with guys he would make

sure that the ash stayed extra

long during negotiations.

Oh.

Yeah.

Oh, right there you.

Go.

I didn't know that.

Yeah, well, I mean, that seemed

like a.

The, the guy was epic.

I mean, and, and he, I'm sure

that he would be in, he's

turning over in his grave

currently saying that.

Great the the coach is vaping on

the.

Side no, because Great Britain's

currently working on a.

Oh, generational tobacco ban.

Thank you.

Right.

Yes, Yeah.

It's insane.

What are we doing?

Mike Mcdaniel's got to go, and

so does Great Britain's law.

That's what.

Other than that, the world's

fine.

That's how I segmented all of

that.

That's where that works.

Got.

Ya.

It's just absurd.

Give me a break all.

Right.

Can you hit the news button over

there boss?

Oh, sure.

And we're never going to find

out what happened about the

McDonald's guys because you are

a Dick.

Because I'm a Dick?

Oh no, because you read too

fast.

No, yes, I don't read too fast.

Yes, you read too fast.

No, I don't.

Yes, you do.

No, I don't.

When you watch the nightly news

on TV, do they read through the

story really fast?

I don't watch the nightly news

because the media is skewed.

Boom, all right, hit the news

button.

The four quarters of the world.

Yeah, to.

Find all the stuff you.

Could possibly need.

Too many bills?

Hustler podcast report with Mike

too.

Espinos Cigars announces a sales

team change in the state of

Florida.

Oh very.

We're going to limit his O's.

He can 2O's per podcast.

That's it.

Only two.

Yeah, 'cause you're already at

8, I need you to cut down.

Cut down on the O's you.

Don't like the O?

'S no take.

A third blood pressure you OK?

I am fine.

I'm actually, you know what?

I actually feel pretty good

today.

I'm not.

Maybe it's the red?

Bull.

I'm going to tell you right now

if he'd have said the statement

that he said to me about

cutting, that I'm speaking too

fast last week, I probably would

have killed him.

So no, I think that I'm in, I'm

in you're.

In a better state.

Yeah, I'm in a better state

right now.

I'm very Zen.

I'm just over here tolerating

nincompoopery from the both of

you, all right?

When you're done, I'll go on

with this.

No, I'm not done.

I'm I said when you're done.

Yeah, you.

Got the wings from the Red Bull.

You go ahead, you go ahead.

You take a break, buddy, because

this is absurd.

You're correcting me.

And he considers us to say.

Oh, you correct us.

You correct us all the time 2.

Letters in his vocabulary.

That's it.

Kind of a staple.

An H.

That's it.

Oh, an H.

Yeah, maybe he's just the.

Staple of.

The word oh, oh, if we don't

have merch that says oh, after

this, I don't know what to tell

you.

We're missing out on an

opportunity.

Yeah.

What are we doing?

Yeah, do you want me to do a new

one?

Bam.

It's, it's too many letters for

you, buddy.

It's too many letters, yeah.

It's.

A Bah.

Hurry, girl.

All right, go ahead.

Let's talk about the Espinoza,

because I I'm, I botched this

last week.

Right, this was last week's

story.

They have held the announcement

for us so that we can have the

release that which.

Is fantastic, very grateful for

the people.

Espinoza Cigars has officially

parted ways with cigar broker

Alfredo Cruz as the company

transitions to managing its

Florida operations in house.

Effective January 2nd, 2025,

Richie the Riot Otero will step

into the role of Regional Sales

Representative for the State of

Florida.

Known for his dynamic

personality and extensive

industry experience, Otero is

posed to strengthen Espinosa's

presence in Florida, a critical

market for premium cigars.

Espinosa Cigars thanks Alfredo

Cruz for his contribution and

looks forward to his next

chapter.

Their next chapter, sorry, under

Otero's leadership.

Now listen, I love Alfredo as a

person.

Right.

The bar is set pretty low for

Richie to come into Florida.

OK, he's going to Eclipse.

It.

Oh, I've noticed social media

wise he's already been sort of

transitioning into the role of

regional manager for State of.

Florida.

Well, he's done it in the past.

He's done things with Caldwell

Pryor, too.

And sure, you know.

He was with someone else before

that too, I can't remember who

it.

Was yeah, there's one more and

he's a sweetheart of a guy.

He's a great guy.

I love Richie.

It's a great fit for him.

It is, Yes, it is.

You know, do you know exactly

what he did at Espinoza before

this 'cause he was already

there, they moved him from

whatever position he was in to

this.

He was the guy.

Yeah, he was the guy.

I think that, yeah.

Whatever they needed done, he

was the guy, I think.

In store, like in office stuff,

he fixed a lot of those, right?

Whatevers, you know, as you

know, Michael, there's a lot of

things.

Oh, there's a lot of things.

Like you're the you're the guy.

Yeah, right, right.

It's.

True.

Sure.

I don't.

I think that you're overly

abused in in too many scenarios,

especially when it comes to my

brother but.

Yes, yes.

Yes.

That's it.

That's all you got to say.

About your brother.

About just things in general.

I mean, the podcast was done

you, we had the private lounge

event, right?

You pretty much single handedly

move the chairs in here because

you didn't want anybody else to

do anything.

Well, it's not that I want to do

anything, but I've seen how they

move stuff into the into the

storage room.

Right, he likes it his way.

Well, no, when you put it, when

they put stuff in the storage

room, basically they just open

the door and start cramming

stuff in.

Yeah, I didn't want anything

broken in here, so I wanted to

move the furniture into here,

right, so that nothing got

broken.

It's the Keanu and Ryan kind of

way.

Right.

But I thought they would, you

know, move it back out would be

fine because, you know, it was

the end, not the out.

I was concerned, right?

Sure.

So like when I was going to, I'm

going to go move the chairs at

the end of the event, my

brother's like, no, no, no, we

don't want to mess the Palmer

stuff.

So then here you are.

You get stuck with the whole job

of moving chairs.

Back, well, everything from in

here at that point was over

there.

So there, I mean, there was

nothing to break to move it out.

Yeah, but he like he's so

comfortable making.

Well, you hear about the the

bread thing too.

The bread thing No the.

Bread thing he had arranged

'cause I was out of town, he had

arranged for me to have Connor

available so he could do the

bread at the house, which was

the plan.

Yeah, well, he never called

Connor, never did the bread at

the house.

OK.

So Connor's, you know, Connor

hurried home from work.

So he was there because the dogs

had to be put away and so the

Greg would have access to the

house at 839 o'clock.

Connor texted me.

He goes.

I haven't heard from Greg.

I guess we're not We're.

Not doing the.

Bread, not doing the bread.

So I texted Greg and he said, I

don't know.

He said something I remember.

But I told Connor, OK, go ahead

and eat, take a shower or

whatever you need to do.

I'm sorry you stayed there for

the last three hours waiting on

this to happen.

So then Greg tried to call me

and I refused his phone call.

I refused his phone call.

You know, you got to, you have

to push back on him.

I'm going to tell you for years,

for years, I would let him just

mow me over.

Oh, you're just following.

I'm like, eventually I got to a

point I was like, no, I'm not.

Right.

You're going to do it.

I'm not fixing your problem

right?

So you got to.

So he's buying Connor a gift as

an apology.

He was apologizing to me.

And I go, I wouldn't want to sit

at the house for 3 1/2 hours

waiting for you to show up to

make bread, right?

So.

To bake.

Yeah, I was.

Well, it's just a toast.

What even to bake?

Yeah, he toasted on the grill.

We'll see.

I like whatever how it worked.

Would have been nice to have

that communicated to you.

Well, I mean, I gave him

Connor's phone number.

He could, you know, hey, we're

not going to do that.

You're you can do whatever it is

you have to do, right?

Super busy.

He actually was busy.

I'm sure he was, but I mean, he

could should have taken a second

of course.

You know, yeah, there's no

excuse for that, right?

I agree.

Hey Connor, I don't have much

time but I don't need the toast

done.

Thanks.

Yeah.

Do you want me to call Jack

about the Oh?

Yeah, yeah.

So there is a there is a new

cigar organization in the Middle

East.

Jack was invited to the meeting.

Excellent the.

PCA had a meeting with his new

organization.

Does Jack know we're calling?

I mentioned to him when he told

me about it, but that was a

week.

Ago.

Yeah, sure.

Jack, you're on the podcast.

How are you, Sir?

Oh, wow.

Good.

But we just broke the news of

the new acquisition for Espino

Cigars with Richie Riot now

taking over the state of

Florida.

Yeah, that's that's big breaking

news, big news, big news, big

news, big news.

Thank you for for giving us that

Intel.

We're very excited about that.

I think that Richie is going to

be a fine upgrade for the state

of Florida.

Well, anything with an upgrade.

Alfred moving on to greener

pastures.

He's retiring.

I don't know.

Which line did Groover give up?

So they were.

I was with Groover on Saturday

and I couldn't figure out which

one of the 42 lines he was

repping that day was where.

Where did you see him at?

At a multi vendor here.

Down here at So what?

I wanna smoke this.

Nice.

Very nice.

Yeah, Yeah, we had a we had a

really nice time.

Very cool.

So go ahead.

So so yes, Richie, Richie will

remain key accounts.

He will still handle the the

biddies of the world, the ABC's

of the world, the smoker

friendlies of the world.

And he will.

He will assume the Florida Rep

roll.

So we have high hopes for

Richie.

See, we weren't fully aware of

what he did in the office other

than just solve the general.

Hector and I weren't aware of it

either.

He kind of just wanders around.

But he's very busy.

He's usually delegated at things

like, hey, we need this fixed.

He always, he always looks very

busy, right?

Yeah.

The exercise is a Costanza

thing.

If you look frustrated, nobody

bothers you.

Moves with a purpose.

Richie's very good at that, yes.

Yeah, it's an excellent yeah.

And then we and then Palmer

wanted to briefly tap in on

another thing that you.

Were talking you were at a or

you were invited to APCA meeting

with a group from the Middle

East.

Yeah, yes, they're looking to do

a trade show in Dubai.

Apparently there has been a

trade show called The World to

Back, but it mostly deals with

vape and shisha, she whatever

the hell that's called and all

that stuff.

And now they're adding a similar

to what the TPE does that they

added the the premium cigar

footprint.

But this is going to be in a

completely different Convention

Center running at the same time

as World to Back.

So they have, I think they've

hired the PCA as consultants in

order to get everybody on board.

And they had a meeting and, and

for all of us and, and they had

a little nosh and it was a nice

little meet.

Tell us what it was all about.

Actually, it's, it's very

similar to the, to the, to the

TP in the sense that, you know,

it's not expensive to be there.

What is expensive is the travel,

unlike TP and the cigars have

100% tax on importation.

Oh wow.

So, yeah, so that that, that,

that hits it kind of hard.

But I think a lot of my I spoke

to some of the guys that were

there at the multi vendor and

and they're still kind of have

some questions.

So I think we're all going to

get together and and put

together questions and see if

it's worth it.

It'll be in a it'll be in.

When was it Hector?

When is the schedule for NNNN?

You know, kind of kind of makes

it, you know, kind of it's right

after Dortmund, right after TP,

right after the the TAA for us.

And then the following week,

which would be either the week

before or the week of Lazona

Palooza.

We would have to move Lazona

Palooza if we're going to be in

in Dubai.

So we're we're kind of looking

at it.

Or we could have Luzonapalooza

in Dubai look.

Yeah, hear me out on this drive

over.

Yeah, we will drive over couple.

Things, couple things number #1

we can, we can reach out to some

Sheik or something to cover

airfare.

It'd be nothing.

They would send over a plane,

right?

No big deal, correct.

Yeah, watch for us.

Yeah, and #1 #2 if you guys need

us to represent, we have no

problem going in there

representing for you.

No problem.

Sure, I'll go in.

I'll take Richie.

Well, Palmer will will say.

We love those pajama things.

Yeah, we'll say.

Palmer is Jack Terano, you know,

And then I can go around.

You could be Hector.

I was gonna say I'm gonna I'll

go as Eric.

Oh, there you go, I'm sure.

I'm Eric.

Honestly, I'm still a little

concerned about Palmer's

performance on catastrophic

failure.

So.

Oh, those.

Shots fired, man.

No kidding.

All right, well, we gotta go.

That's sorry, that's Patreon

can.

We get can we get Hector's

number or we're gonna start

calling actor.

Actor's sitting right in front

of me guys.

Actor's just as bad.

Same phone.

We're call Richie.

We're gonna call Richie.

Yeah, you're gonna think you're

gonna get a little bit of a

leeway from Actor.

Actor Will fucking.

We'll call Tyler.

That's the guy Tyler will tell

you how great you are, Tyler.

We gotta go get Tyler quickly.

Wonderful.

You know what it is like though.

He did.

Even though I, I, you know, you

guys made no comment about your

boy Tyler Jones.

But he did laugh at my joke on

the thread.

So.

He gets a pass.

Yeah, he gets a.

Pass so many you know, it's like

I think it's like one negative

thing.

One negative thing requires 3

positive things.

At this point Tyler can say 700

negative things about us.

He's but he's banked his

negativity.

Yeah yes, he'd be at about Even

so, you know, I think they hung

up on me.

No, we're still here.

All right, guys, if I'm still

there, Yeah, you're still.

I'll let you go.

Did you do something over there?

You're still here.

OK, it was beautiful.

Hello.

We can still hear you.

Hello.

Did you?

Mute him with your phone.

He's gone.

Oh.

Thank Facebook Calling.

Wow, Facebook, that's weird.

And all of a sudden, and the

call got clear when he couldn't

hear us because he was cutting

it out.

He goes, oh, I think they hung

up.

Maybe that was him.

That was his way to get off the

phone, Yeah.

We did not hang up.

We heard everything you said.

All right, go on the next show.

All right, to the next show.

All right, this has been episode

367.

Come on.

Perfect.

First Gelles.

Speak very slow though, please.

First Gelles.

Oh, we'll see.

I enunciate and I speak clearly

when I read the stories.

Yeah, that way you can.

Would you like me to do it?

All words wrong, would you like

me to do it at your speed?

I'd love to see you try.

Hold on this.

So this this one, this one's

short.

OK.

The first Cigarni gallows family

PC series is heading into

storage.

That's a city of 52 Toro that

uses Ecuadorian Connecticut C

rapper and ASP over Nicaraguan

binder and village from the

Dominican Republic, Nicaragua.

As with other cigars from

gallows Family Cigars, a new

brand from Kyle Gallows, founder

of Warp Cigars, is made by table

Calera Isla in the Dominican

Republic.

Notably, the company says the

cigars were aged for one year

after rolling.

OK, so Warp Cigars is now making

a new cigar.

New cigar brand.

No, warps isn't making warps not

making it the owner.

Yeah, Kyle Gelas has made a new

brand called Gelas Cigars,

right?

And it's Ecuador in Connecticut.

Gelas family cigar.

And it's about 40 bucks I think

is what you said.

Gelas family cigar.

Yeah.

No, actually I stopped before I

said the the price.

No, you said 40.

No, I think that was the next

line.

I said age for when you're after

rollings where I stopped so it

is 40.

The next line says each cigar is

MSRP of well, you read it

upstairs.

Oh, I did, yes, OK.

So what do you know about the

Gallows Family Cigars, Michael?

You know, Warp Cigars have been

in the industry for a while.

It's interesting to hear like

branch out and creating of a new

brand.

But the distributorship is going

to be same under Warp Cigars.

So I don't know what the purpose

is of it unless he's trying to

build, unless he's trying to

build like this higher end brand

or something.

Well, it says he is.

He was the founder to Maybe he

doesn't own Warp anymore and

he's looking to make another

brand of cigars.

That's not under.

That would make sense.

Get your investors and then go

away and go make something.

You don't have a non compete

clause so.

Right.

Well, it's expired.

I can do what I want now.

Interesting.

So now I'm making Gellis.

Gellis I mean that that's an

interesting story to cover.

I'm curious to hear Kyle's side

of that because, you know, look,

one thing that you could always

do how to mess up a business is

get the wrong partners.

Sure.

So, and this is all speculative,

I have no idea.

I don't know Kyle that well, but

I would guess if if that's

that's the reason why he's

branching out, it's a

possibility that hey, these

other guys came in and messed up

the whole thing.

Right now they're running warped

and I don't get to do anything.

Now I just step aside and do my

own thing.

You know, trying to do something

else.

He's made one cigar and it comes

in a box with an ashtray.

There you go.

Nice.

Apparently he likes watches.

I actually have that article

right here too 'cause I have

your.

You have a copy of it there?

Yes, Yes.

What type of watches?

But you read it wonderfully.

It's too fast and I stumbled on

some words because it's so fast.

So then slow down.

Another example world is

inspiration.

Oh, he he uses the watch world

as inspiration for cigars and

origin pieces.

Piece Unique refers to a one one

of one watch, typically reserved

for a brand's most prized

customer or charity auction like

Only watch.

In this case, there are 7500

cigars that will be sold.

There won't be a one-on-one

cigar, but it will be a one and

done blend.

Listing at Drop Cigar Club says

that the interior blend will

only be used once, hence the

name.

There you go.

The Gallows family cigars

described as a separate entity

from Warp.

The cigars are are distributed

by Warped right.

So he is using his distribution

system he already has in place

to distribute these cigars that

he's made this one off cigar

that has something to do with

his.

Watches.

I haven't seen anything from

him.

Well, this is the first that

we're hearing of his name and

this other brand.

I mean, I don't remember hearing

anything before.

It's curious to to hear what has

kind of transpired in the past

year or two as far as his brand

and to why he's going this

direction.

So Kyle, if you want to talk

about it.

Give us a call, Kyle.

Or just private message me if

you don't want to make it public

or I'm kind of curious.

Oh, just for you to know, we

won't say anything.

If he doesn't want me to say it.

Winky, winky, winky.

No, no, no, Winky.

Winky won't.

Say anything Winky, winky.

All right, go ahead.

All the Dish USA announces a

price increase coming for 2025.

This is interesting.

Why?

Why is it interesting?

Because you've had so many

tremendous price hikes over the

past two years, if not 3-3

years, right?

Like COVID and then boom, boom,

boom, boom.

Like everything went up through

the roof.

And, you know, I'm curious to

see what the percentage is,

'cause I haven't read this

article.

And how many other companies are

going to kind of follow suit

with this?

And is it even justifiable?

Did they do one last year?

Yeah, they all.

I don't remember.

They did.

Let's see.

Go.

Go well, but like we don't every

year, but we did last year.

So as are in 2025, at this time

we don't have plans to do

another.

Well, realistically, honestly, I

have to sit back with Skip and

kind of talk about that like

with projections coming up, are

we, you know, are we feeling

that there's going to be another

price hike?

I don't want there to be.

But you know, looking back, if I

had given myself cushion moving

forward year after year after

year of a 3 or 4% increase, I

wouldn't have got had to whack

the consumer on the head at 20

or 30% increase.

Ah.

I got you.

Right.

It would have just been OK.

So some some companies could

just be doing just a little

precautionary increase so they

don't have a big one later.

Yeah, but I mean this company.

Well, yeah, this is a big

company.

Question mark testing the

waters.

Wow.

Yeah, could be testing the

water.

Although This USA has informed

its retailers it will implement

a price increase beginning

January 2nd, 2025 and a message

to retailers.

Did we get the message?

I did not get a message.

The companies and he was just

here.

He was just here.

Ryan was just here and a message

to retailers.

The company said that while it

strives to absorb increasing

costs, they need to make a

change.

That they need to make a change

was due to rising costs

associated with premium tobacco

production, packaging and supply

chain.

The company did not provide any

specific details of how much

increase would be, which lines

might be affected or more

significantly the than others,

or if any lines would be subject

to an increase.

So they they're what?

It's very confusing.

Why not increase across the

we're?

We're going to, right?

Yeah.

Well, that was the question.

But no, but they're saying, OK,

we're going to have an increase.

We don't know how much, we don't

know which lines, and we don't

know why we're doing.

It yeah.

So OK, here's what I can tell

you is that CC will go out and

reach out to people and say,

hey, do you have price increases

going out next year?

Oh, so he's fishing for him.

He's looking.

For him, yeah, as good media

does, right?

You go out and you try and find

the stories.

Hey, what's going on?

He's trying to get ahead of

things.

Do you have?

So because it's the end of the

year, he knows traditionally the

beginning of the next year,

that's usually when the

increases come.

So he's calling people to go,

hey, you gonna do an increase?

Well, the beginning of the

increases didn't originally

happen at the beginning of the

year.

They happened a month before the

trade show.

But now the trade show is Q1

instead of Q.

Three, right?

Yeah, Yeah.

So they.

Should come sooner.

Yeah, they're gonna, they're,

you know, you're gonna see

January, February, you'll start

to see hear about price

increases.

So Charlie's just trying to get

ahead of it, which is smart.

Now unfortunately, the way that

this falls, I don't think a lot

of these brands inclusive to big

or small has really thought that

much about that yet.

I think that you're looking at

Q4 here and they're thinking,

OK, how do we, how do we make

our hard push to close out the

year solid, right?

Because at this point, a lot of

retailers will complain and say,

hey, it's cold out, no one's

smoking.

There's always something, you

know what I mean?

I I have, I have a floor tax

that I have to cover and I don't

want to have inventory, you

know?

Yeah, those are the things that

you hear.

So you know, it's a bigger

uphill battle for brand owners

and manufacturers at at end of

year.

I think that's why you see a lot

of the Fuente push stuff with

like the Inejo and all this

other stuff.

Right, the pinks that just

showed up.

Yeah, it's a, it's a really,

it's a great way to solidify

your year because all of you

know any retailer will look at a

lot of that product and be like,

OK, perfect, because I'm, I'm

not holding on to this.

Right.

Yeah, I'll flip this pretty

easy.

This will be in and out, right

and some of it's that increased

margin.

Just like catastrophic failure

that you could buy.

I like the reorders that we're

getting.

That's fantastic from the on the

side.

Surprised.

So how does Charlie have He has

that means the price was

approximately 440 shoes that

spans wide range blah, blah, and

therefore a range of increase.

But here's a sampling.

It's too fast.

So well, I was just trying to

rush through that sampling of

changes to the MSRP.

So this is an actual

information.

This is what he thinks might

happen.

Is that what this is?

Yeah, yeah.

So, you know, obviously I think

that he got this Intel from

somebody, but they couldn't

confirm it.

Oh, OK, I understand.

Right, that that's what, that's

how I read this.

Like this is what we're specking

on.

This is what he specs but I

can't happen.

But I can't tell you for certain

that this is what it's going to

be, but you're seeing increases

from $16.46 to like 1699.

Yeah, not huge things. 1028 to

1060.

Six.

Yeah, Well, look at Monte

Crystal Churchill, 1994 to 2484.

Oh yeah, that's a big one.

That's huge.

That is actually the biggest

one.

That's weird.

Well, it's a question of who's

did they move the factory over?

Is that something that a JS

doing now or somebody else is

doing or whatever the case may

be, you know?

Right.

I'll tell you right now, the new

Monte Cristo, I don't know if it

just came out or it's about to

come out.

It's pretty good.

It was good.

I was surprised.

I lit it up, I smoked and I go,

Oh yeah, we'll take that.

Yeah, I love that.

You know what's awesome is when

you light a cigar up and it's

brand new and it impresses you

off the jump, Like, oh shit, OK,

yeah.

Right, Yeah, This isn't a Monte

Crystal White.

This is this is better.

'Cause after I just ridiculed

him.

Right, nothing that.

I like.

Right.

Oh.

God, what else do you have?

I can smoke that I might like.

That's usually my line, right?

Like give me something terrible.

I mean, you know pretty much

anything from your line, right?

And I lit it up.

I was like, Oh well this is good

so.

All right, Left-handed Cigar

Company is releasing the High

Maka Maka this week.

High Maka maka.

Maka Left-handed Cigar Company,

a brand created by Ryan

Rodriguez of Ohana Cigars, is

releasing a new limited edition

this week called the High Maka

Maka, What Do?

We you're right over there,

Boots.

It's kind of.

Leap.

Oh, maka, maka.

Boots is kind of laid back right

now.

His head's kind of sideways.

The cigar is a 6 by 52 Torah.

If he needs CPR, it's all up to

you.

He's.

He's going to die.

Cigar.

Don't.

Do that.

The cigar, the 6 by 52 Toro that

uses the Connecticut will go get

Keano.

To give him up, Keano.

Keano, come here.

Like, Oh no.

Keano Boots is dead, but he said

for his dying where she wanted

you to make out with.

Right.

Use a lot of tongue in that

mouth to mouth.

Like, okay.

Cigar is a 6 by 52 Toro that

uses a Connecticut broad leaf

wrapper in a duel binder of

Ecuador and Habano and tobacco's

from Nicaragua's Halapa region

and a Nicaraguan filler and

tobacco from Oma, Tempe, Halapa

and Gondaga regions.

The cigar is finished off by a

fan cap, a differentiator from

the original pig style pigtail

style cap that Rodriguez usually

uses.

They were heading Hawaiian

cigars.

I don't like you can see my

notes.

We carried a cigar here for a

brief time that that had

Hawaiian tobacco in it.

Yeah, I think.

It's a long time ago.

Well, I bought the last box and

a half because Greg just

couldn't get rid of it and I

liked it.

Yeah.

I mean, I'm sure they had good

tobacco there.

I could imagine that that they

wouldn't.

Right now this is a company

from.

Hawaii.

Hawaii, but it's not Hawaiian

tobacco.

Right.

It seems like a lot of

Nicaragua.

What was that?

Nicaragua, right, A lot of

Nicaragua.

Right.

The High Maca Maca comes with a

new band designed as well as

Rodriguez change the logo to

feature a pair of skeleton hands

making the letters L&H.

The original logo, used when the

brand launched in July 2018,

depicted a cigar being held in a

person's left hand.

But Rodriguez said that they

received feedback on that

initial logo that suggested a

change might benefit the brand,

so he came up with the new

design.

Hi Maka.

Maka has made a tablicular

Pichardo.

Got it.

The first time that Rodriguez

has worked with this factory?

Well, now it's his again.

Yeah, he took it back.

We can talk about that on

Patreon.

According to Rodriguez, the name

means pretentious in Hawaii in

Hawaiian, a name he chose

because of cigars.

Price with an MSRP of 1599 is

one of the most expensive cigars

created for either Left Hand or

Ohana cigars.

I chose the best wrapper, binder

and fillers I could, Rodriguez

told Half Wheel, adding that the

binders and fillers were aged

between two and four years.

It's not really a long time, is

it?

I mean.

Normally when somebody says how

long is it like I was aged for

15 years, 27 years, like 2, I

just, I was just sitting around

look.

A lot of good tobacco is aged 12

to 18 months, year and a half,

and it's really good, right?

Like I don't, I just never

understood that well, this is 6

year age like OK and then I.

Mean they found it.

And then you hear shit that's 20

year age and like, OK, you're

just so full of shit, you know,

at this point. 20 years.

So 2000 at 2004, somebody put

this in a pillow and it's been

rotated this entire time.

Yeah, it probably not rotated.

It would decay if you don't

rotate.

It.

Oh, really?

Yeah.

Well, you figure 20 years, it's

been like putting it back in the

barn somewhere and somebody,

hey, look what we found.

If that was the case, it'd be it

would be destroyed.

Oh, so they still been in?

Terms of like compost, yeah, you

have to monitor the temperature

of the tobacco and then rotate

it in and out.

So how many different guys work

at a factory over the span of 20

years?

Yeah, exactly.

And I'm going to tell you right

now.

And they keep accurate records.

The math is not math.

Right this.

Doesn't make sense.

Come here.

I'm gonna show you something

before I leave.

Come here.

This pillow on here, I've been

flipping it for eight years.

Make sure that you keep going

with this a little.

Keep this up.

Need to keep this up.

Now I'm leaving.

But I need you to keep it up.

And by chance you should leave,

make sure you pass it on to the

next.

Fellow, I'm gonna tell you right

now when that guy, when the

first guy left, right, He didn't

leave giving information, he

left.

Yeah, he left.

Fuck this place, right?

Exactly.

I want nothing to do with you

guys.

Right.

Yeah, You know what?

You're fired, Pedro.

OK, but hold on.

I need to talk to the next man

to show my magic.

Pallone, I have going here.

What happened is Pedro didn't

show up one day.

He's like.

Right, I'm done.

He's at home, you know?

I'm not going back, I don't

think.

I'm thinking it's over.

I really hope someone finds my

magic tobacco.

My magic tobacco.

With the card on it, we.

Need to keep this going.

We need to keep it so it's age

20 years.

Yes, hello.

Hello, Fernandez.

Yes, to go find the magic put on

in the back.

It's in the back.

Make sure you flip it because

someone will find it one day.

It's just, it's just absurd.

And make the haka haka.

Yeah, Maka, maka.

And there's no way this.

Is a different one.

Maka Maka's two years.

Haka Haka is 20 years.

Yeah, yeah.

There's no way to take right?

The guard's gotten wet by now.

Wait, how old is this tobacco?

Two years.

OK.

Two to four years, but it took

him a year to make.

This and four years. 224 years.

How long has Pichardo been in

business?

Two to four years. 22 to four

years.

So he's been sitting on this

balloons for two to four years.

On the very it's the first one I

have at this factory.

This is the first one I bought.

I had to hide it from the other

phone.

Luciano didn't just take it out

of there, no.

I hid it.

I hid it it.

Wasn't Asian enough yet?

It.

Doesn't.

Matter.

I think the card on top said it

was brand new.

If it wasn't bolted down, I'm

sure it was taken.

And it took him a year to make

the cigar, so does that mean it

was when he started it was just

a year old?

Yeah, then it was then there.

Was you know this is not right.

We must wait.

It must be aged.

We need the aging on top of the

aging.

Call Fernandez.

Find out where the other

tobacco.

He's not answering.

He's.

Not answering the phone.

He told us to go fuck ourselves.

Hi Maka.

Maka will be a one time release

with 5000 cigars produced and

offered in 20 count boxes.

Cigars will debut Friday,

December 13th at Underground

Cigar Shop in Fort Worth, TX and

then we'll begin shipping to

other retailers following the

event.

Excellent.

I love Underground.

Yeah, they get a lot of stuff

like this.

He's a good dude.

Is he?

Yeah, good.

Do you buy catastrophic values?

I don't sell it.

Do you sell it?

Well, I thought he might have

been one of the bigger ones

that.

Called you?

No might want to call him.

Oh, he backwards.

He probably, well, if he's on

the list, he's been contacted at

least twice, Yeah, Now if he

answers, I can't make them

answers the problem or read

their emails or respond to text

messages.

OK.

We're good.

Where'd it go?

2024 Premium cigar imports

remain record high through Q3.

This is very interesting.

This is interesting.

Yeah, the US appears to be on

track for yet another record

setting year premium cigar

imports, according to the new

data released by the CAA and

Industry trade Group.

Through the first though,

through through the 1st 3/4 of

2024, the US imported 3 point or

314.7 million premium cigars, up

3.8% from 2023.

If this pace continues, it will

mark the 4th consecutive year

starting at 2020 that the US has

broken to C as previous mark for

record imports, blah blah, blah.

So how is everybody saying sales

are down?

Where are all these cigars

going?

Yeah.

Well, first of all, when did we

break over 350 million?

Was it this time or last year,

2019?

29th in this paste.

There's one more reporting every

year starting in 2020.

OK, that it's up.

So that's the first time that

we've exceeded cigars past the

US population.

I guess you could legitimately.

I see.

Yeah, there's cigar for every

person type.

Yeah.

And that was for the entire

year.

Last year it was no, that's just

up through third quarter.

OK.

It's exploded and exceeded 450

million cigars in 2122 and 23.

So I mean that's over 100

million more than the US

population.

I think that it's a, you can't

really gauge like you can see

what's being imported, but you

don't know what's being sold,

right.

So I think what you're going to

see is it's kind of like a

bottleneck approach where all of

these cigars are coming in and.

They're sitting in a warehouse

somewhere.

Well, they're not moving.

They're not going to move at a

pace.

So what happens?

You have a price correction.

Right, price goes down.

Yeah, you have a force bundle

purchase or you know, buy 5, get

one or some of these other crazy

deals and whatever and what have

you.

Then Alta this has to announce a

price decrease.

No, they'll never announce.

A decrease as a decrease.

What they'll do is they'll do

creative marketing, so they'll,

they'll, they'll open it up to

their big accounts and they'll

say, hey, if you buy X of this,

we'll mark it down 20%.

Right.

Or like I said, buy 10, get one,

buy 5, get 2, whatever.

Well, buy 5, get one, it's only

an 18% discount, it's not 20,

right, Right.

So they, if they looked at a

bigger account and say, hey,

man, we'll give you 2530 points

off, I need you to break 4050K

or whatever the case may be.

Like.

That's what you'll see.

Realistically, retailers get

stuck holding a lot of the bag

and then they got to figure out

ways to then move the product.

Yeah.

So I think there's some

challenges coming up here.

Curious see what happens in the

fourth quarter?

What happens?

The scary part is that when some

of these, like medium level

retailers get a hold of these

deals, they wind up going broke.

Oh, 'cause they buy so much.

'Cause they over leverage, you

know, you can't spend 2030 K on

a brand of cigars thinking that

because you're getting a deal,

you're going to be able to move

them.

When you don't have that market

share of a consumer, you know,

you, you're, you have your local

dudes or whatever the case may

be and maybe you can entice them

to buy a little more, sure.

But you know, 10X or 20X.

Right, you got to buy 10 times

what you normally buy.

It's.

Just too much so.

So what happens these guys, they

go belly up, he's sleeping, they

go belly up, I'm up, they go

belly up and you know, they're

stuck with all those cigars and

then they blow out whatever and

try and salvage any type of cash

they can get.

Sure.

And more often than not, it's, I

think the, the retailer side is

really the side where you see

the, the instant hit of going

out of business like it's, they

slowly bleed out and then boom,

it's like, OK, we're done.

Right.

They get to the point where

there's just no money left.

And it's an announcement and

they're going out.

And then all of a sudden

everybody goes and sees them,

like giving them their farewell.

Like where the hell have you

guys been for the past 12 years?

Right, exactly well, I came to

pick the meat off your skeleton

is what I'm here for, so I'll

give you by that box for $5.00

but the.

But the other side of things as

far as the brands are concerned,

your manufacturer's concerned,

they don't crash and burn, just

disappear.

Like they slowly kind of fade

out like they're still around.

They may have produced 10,000

sticks this year.

Right, a smaller amount of 1000.

That's yeah.

That's why I was going to ask if

something like that happens

where you start doing the deals

because there's too much

inventory, do they still keep

producing this mass amount of

cigars?

Like next year is going to be

another 8% increase?

Well, something's got to be

adjusted.

They still have to make

something new to stay relevant.

I mean, what could happen

potentially is, I mean,

obviously job cuts, I think

that, you know, there's more

stuff that we can talk about on

Patreon when it comes to stuff

like that.

But like at this point, if

you're ramping up production and

you're trying to grab everybody

you possibly can for pears to

make cigars and cigars wind up

being, some of them wind up

being really shitty because of

that.

Eventually it catches up with

you and you say, hey, we need to

make cuts.

And you start with the people

that suck the most, right?

People are the most unreliable.

And then you see kind of like a

economic downturn in a lot of

these countries.

So yes, I do think that they

try, you know, that the, it's,

it's, it's a lag indicator is

what it is.

It's not a lead indicator for

our for your overall tempo of

sales.

That's the problem with looking

at those numbers.

And if you, if you look at the

number of imports for the year

and think that's a lead

indicator of additional sales

that's about to occur, I think

that you can't you have you have

to look at that as a lag

indicator.

Manufacturers and brands are

trying to catch up and bring

more stuff to the table, and now

the market has exceeded what

they're bringing, in my opinion.

Now, realistically, could the US

consume 450 million cigars

annually?

The answer to me is, is yes.

I think that that's very

possible.

Sure.

What do you have?

335,000,000 average population,

call it.

What do you think?

7% cigar consumers, maybe less.

Maybe less, but I'll give you 7.

OK, so let's.

Like 300,000.

Let's run some simple math here.

Run the math.

So just at 7%, right?

Let's call it 360.

No, it's less than that. 330

million.

Oh God, I got new buttons here.

Got a new phone?

1-2 I got new button. 30,000,300

and 30 million divided by carry

the one, so you're saying 23

million consumers?

OK.

Right.

So if you had 23 million

consumers and you have 450

million cigars coming in, right,

Right.

You're talking about every

consumer consuming about 20

cigars annually.

Yeah.

So that's a year that's not

hard.

So that's less than one every

two weeks.

Right.

So average is what?

Average is 19.56.

No, no.

No, the average, average.

Consumer.

Consumes.

How many cigars average is that?

Like in a one or two a month or

something?

Yeah, your average consumer

probably does that, yeah.

Right.

So, OK, so essentially, you

know, maybe that number makes

sense at 4 and A50.

Yeah, yes, maybe it's low.

You know, I don't, I don't think

that that's the case.

You know, the crazy part is, and

what's not really being

accounted for is your consumer

that just buys stuff and just

keeps it and saves it.

Right.

Doesn't smoke it just keeps it,

yeah.

Collectors.

Yeah.

Like those are the guys, those

are your bigger buyers.

And those guys eventually say,

hey, I'm spending too much

money.

Right, Yeah, I have plenty of

cigars.

I just start smoking some.

Of them, I'm going to cut back

and I'm going to burn through

some of this stuff.

And there's no there's no

mathematical equation in there

for new consumers.

Well, that's what I'm saying.

I'm saying that if actually you

increase that number to like

10%, even if you had a 3% uptick

on cigar consumers and that

brought you to, you know?

So it sounds like a big number,

but it's really it's not.

Yeah, if it brought you to 33

million consumers in the US,

right, that number is, it's

definitely achievable. 450

million doesn't meet the supply,

doesn't meet the demand.

That's why there's back orders

on some cigars.

No, I don't think I think that.

Well, no, that's a totally

different thing.

I think you have back orders on

cigars because particular cigars

you don't have the right

components to continually make.

And that's where that kind of

falls short.

I mean, amongst other things,

production issues, employees,

right costs.

What kind of time we had over

there.

We're well past an hour.

An hour or 12 minutes.

Yeah, we're way past.

You want to skip that domain

thing and say that for the

Patreon?

Sure.

All right.

And I have a quick floor story

and then we'll be done.

OK.

Lakeland woman threatens

insurance company, says delay,

deny and depose.

OK, do.

You know what that's from?

I've heard that before.

From the shooter, it's part of

his Luigi.

Yeah, Luigi Magistrone or

whatever his.

Name is the guy who killed the

Yeah.

It was part of his little

writing thing, he.

Shot the healthcare guy.

Allegedly.

Allegedly, yeah.

A Lakeland woman was charged

Tuesday after police said she

needed a call to an insurance

company with the words delayed

denying to pose in an arrested

affidavit that Lakeland Police

Department said officers were

contacted by the FBI on Tuesday,

December 10th regarding an

alleged threat made over the

phone.

Brianna Boston, 42, had

reportedly placed a call to the

Blue Cross Blue Shield regarding

recent medical insurance claims.

She was denied.

The entire phone call was

recorded, according to an

affidavit.

Near the end of the call,

investigators said Boston could

be heard stating delayed,

denied, opposed.

You people are next.

The first 3 words are similar to

those written on the ammunition

that a gunman used in killing of

United Healthcare CEO Brian

Thompson, New York City last

week.

That's it.

Yeah, the affidavit notice some

of those.

Well, I was pausing for you to

comment.

The affidavit noted the

similarities between the

incident, stating that those

words have become nationally

recognized as a phase directed

against insurance companies.

She see what was she based?

It's not the trigger.

Yes, she was charged with

threats to conduct a mass

shooting or an act of terrorism,

according to the affidavit.

OK, well, that's not good.

We don't want that.

No, no, we don't want that.

No, no, but they made this guy

like a folk hero.

Well, I mean, there's something

to be said about our healthcare

being totally.

Oh sure, it's it's completely

wrong, but still, you can't

justify shooting.

No, it's not OK.

No, you know, unfortunately it

had to get to that in order for

it to be highlighted to, hey,

this is a serious problem.

Like that's very unfortunate.

Sure.

Delayed, denied the pose.

I'm sure that that's some stuff

that CE OS and other people in

insurance allegedly talk about,

right?

Like that's probably a term that

they use.

Here's what you're going to do

when they call.

Yeah, right.

That that's, that's what I'm

getting from those words.

You're going to delay.

Them.

Well, apparently he wrote those

on the bullets.

Right, but I'm saying but he.

So they probably said it to him

is what you?

Said he probably, he probably

found himself in a conversation

or saw somewhere that like,

here's what you do as a tactic

as an insurance company.

Sure, right.

You're going to delay them.

You're going to hold off as long

as you can, right?

And then when a lawsuit comes,

you're going to deny

responsibility, right?

Yeah.

And then?

We'll depose them and we'll tell

them they're wrong.

Right.

Sure.

So I believe that's probably how

how healthcare.

She might have been OK if she

didn't yell.

You people are next.

Yeah, you probably can't.

Yeah, probably.

Look, nobody wants that.

No, nobody wants to see people

shot at for no reason.

No, and it's a very normal

looking woman too.

They showed her her mugshot.

She's probably really

frustrated.

Oh, I'm sure you know what I

mean.

You think with this whole

situation that happened a little

with Luigi, now there's another

lady, do you think that anything

changes or?

Well, you hope for some change

in our healthcare.

It's totally.

Regulatory change that have to

happen.

The way that it's designed is

totally messed up.

Sure it doesn't.

It doesn't make sense.

You're not even supposed to keep

people healthy.

Right.

Oh no, they want you to be sick

so they make more money.

So they can medicate you sure.

You know, that's where all the

money is.

I don't know, I mean pharma,

look, it's gonna be interesting

the next four years and I'm

curious to see how RFK handles a

lot of these things as far as

health and you know, all this

other, you know, like he's made

statements about specific dyes

and stuff that we use in food

that are owned by they're.

Finally taking the red dye #5 or

whatever it is.

That they're alleged that these

companies are allegedly owned by

Big Pharma as well, and they get

you coming and going.

You know, I don't know if

there's any truth to that, but

it wouldn't surprise me if there

was.

So you know.

Sure, there's some truth to it.

Right.

So hey, you know what?

Like, let's clean it up, man.

Let's get it right.

Let's take care of people the

right way.

And I don't think that funding

Healthcare is the right way.

I think that restructuring how

Healthcare is taken care of in

this country is the right way.

I don't know what it looks like,

but what we're doing is totally

wrong.

There you go.

All right.

No, I'm just trying to wrap it

up.

We're fine.

It doesn't matter.

We're having a good

conversation, having a good.

Conversation, you're already

over an hour or so.

Yeah, that's fine.

All right.

You got to listen to the week.

Yes.

How do you feel about

healthcare, Michael?

It's it's not, it's not running

right.

I get my prescriptions outside

of healthcare, not outside of.

But I don't use my insurance for

it because it's cheaper.

Right.

How does that make sense?

It doesn't, yeah.

They have a program at the

pharmacy where, you know,

they're like you hear your

insurance, it'll cost this.

If we run into this other

program, it'll cost this and I

go we'll do it on the other one.

Then do you want to talk about

your mom at all?

I mean, your mom's going through

this whole thing.

With healthcare.

I mean, she's, she's having

dyslexia, not dyslexia.

I'm sorry.

She can't read dementia.

Dementia.

Sorry.

Yes.

But I mean there's there's no

medication for that.

What's it?

What's it happening?

But what do you do so right, But

like, instead of it being fixed,

instead of having someone take

care of her, maintain help you

provide aid along the way, she's

stuck at her house all this

time.

Well, she could.

We could put her somewhere she

refuses to go.

Right.

So we good I would just find out

in Missouri there's a program

where my sister was telling me

about it and there's only 5

states to participate but I

could make they would pay me to

take care of her the the the

state government.

Yeah, they.

Have really.

Yeah, yeah.

I forget what the ACT is called,

but she sent me the link last

night and looked in.

Florida does not participate in

it.

They have a certain type though,

but she has to be like disate,

like completely disabled.

I don't know anything about that

but.

It's something to do with

Medicare because it's cheaper to

pay me to take care of her if I

keep her at home then for them

to pay to put her in a facility.

I see that.

Yeah, they basically give them a

a check, a lump sum.

Yeah, well, no, they give, they

give you a monthly paycheck.

Right.

You become like a paid

healthcare worker.

Right.

But now flip side of that coin,

I could see that being easily

abused.

Oh yeah, right.

Certainly.

Well, yeah, but it also takes

all the responsibility off of

the insurance company and.

Or yeah, off the Medicaid.

What was the one the what was

it?

Happy Gilmore.

With his grandma.

Yeah, what's Ben Stiller out of

everybody Knitting and stuff?

He.

Was running like this mill with

her.

Old ladies were knitting quilts

and stuff.

Yeah.

Anybody else's fingers hurt

'cause you just pulled garden

detail?

Jeez, my fingers hurt.

Out in the garden for you

Granny.

That's.

It you're out of here, All

right, Who'd you got for

Listener of the Week?

I don't know his last name, but

Mike from Macalif.

Mike from Macalif, yes, he's a

good dude.

He is a good dude.

He is the Florida territory

manager for Macalif's Cigars.

I don't have know he was last.

Name.

I have a listener.

Huh.

Yes, you want shop of the week.

I do tobacco land.

Tobacco Land.

Jerry's Place.

Exactly.

Illinois.

Jerry with AG.

Another good dude.

Yep.

All right.

All right, it's been episode

366.

Wraps it up.

Of the Cigar Hustler podcast.

Thank you everybody.

We gotta go.

Yeah, you know what?

Fuck Alfredo, wouldn't I?

Music.

Show Notes

This week on the Cigar Hustlers Podcast, Episode 366 brings you a mix of trending topics and cigar news. We dive into the Niners calling out De’Vondre Campbell, Colby Covington’s heated words for LeBron James before UFC Tampa, and Patrick Mahomes’ ankle injury against the Browns. Plus, we unpack ABC’s $15 million settlement over Trump’s presidential library and Yellowstone’s emotional finale tribute.

On the cigar side, we cover Espinosa’s sales team changes in Florida, Altadis U.S.A.’s upcoming price increases, Lefthand Cigar Co.’s High Maka Maka launch, and record-high premium cigar imports in 2024. Don’t miss details on Domain Cigars’ new Entropy release and the debut of the first Gellis family cigar to hit stores.

We wrap up with a classic Florida story: a Lakeland woman’s wild threats to her insurance company. Tune in for all the action!