ACHP Cigar News and Reviews | Cigar Hustler 615
Episode Summary
Episode 615 of A Cigar Hustler's Podcast finds Mike "BDP" Palmer, Mike Szczebankewicz and engineer Phil running through listener comments, a batch of wild news stories, and the week's cigar headlines. The opening stretch is classic CH Pod banter — YouTube comments, merch and sticker plans, "Toilet Warriors," Xenomorph mask jokes — before a longer, genuinely interesting riff on how AI tools are being used in the cigar business. The hosts push back on retailers and brand people who bash AI-generated marketing imagery, arguing that plenty of shops and brands had no graphics at all before, and that the creators pushing into AI video (Juan Cancel and Eric Guttormson are name-checked) are the ones getting better by iterating. They also talk about using AI for SEO, transcripts and site development, plus Meta smart glasses and battery-life gripes.
The news block covers a Florida woman arrested after allegedly throwing a bucket of human feces at a woman she suspected of an affair with her husband, a new phone scam in which fraudsters demand payment while a bogus welfare-check call brings real (unwitting) police to your door, and a Pennsylvania Ukrainian Catholic priest accused of stealing more than $740,000 from three churches and his own mother — including a gold chalice valued near $19,400.
Cigar news starts with Crowned Heads' Starwood, a 5x50 Ecuadorian-wrapped, Nicaraguan-filler robusto made at the NACSA factory in Estelí that will only be handed out as a promo item at select events (Mission Cigar in Spring Hill, World Famous Cigar Bar in Fort Myers, and Phoenix in San Antonio), named for Nashville's old Starwood Amphitheater. The guys discuss the event-only-to-core-line funnel strategy, using Blood Medicine as the template. Next up is Aganorsa Leaf debuting the JFR Clara — an Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed, Nicaraguan-filler, non-U.S. release — and Supreme Leaf Worldwide at InterTabac 2026 in Dortmund. Terence Reilly calls in live to confirm the Clara is built light for the European palate and that Supreme Leaf Worldwide will debut at PCA in March for the U.S., while also reporting he'd just had Thai food with Fabian. J.C. Newman's Brick House Bricktoberfest returns for 2026 as a 7¾ x 48 Churchill at $12.50 with a stein promo at ten cigars.
The show closes with "What's the Score," guessing Charlie Minato's Halfwheel review of the Viaje Platino Reserva Perfecto. Big flavor praise (earth, wood, leather, creaminess, vibrant pepper, a standout retrohale) collided with repeated burn and touch-up issues that kept it out of Top 25 consideration — guesses of 81 and 85 came in under the actual 89. A closing tangent debates whether Sumatra wrappers carry a stigma with everyday consumers, using Powstanie Sumatra as the example.
In This Episode
- 01Listener comments, merch and sticker plansThe hosts read YouTube comments, joke about "Toilet Warriors" and coin/sticker merch ideas, and tease October drops and a future swag shop.
- 02AI in cigar marketingA long discussion defending brands and retailers using AI imagery and video for promotion, plus AI's role in transcripts, SEO and site development.
- 03Smart glasses and social media's futureMeta Ray-Ban smart glasses, battery-life complaints, prescription lens issues, and whether social media eventually becomes tacky.
- 04News: bucket assault, police-assisted scam, priest embezzlementA Florida feces-throwing arrest, a scam using real welfare-check calls to pressure victims into paying, and a Pennsylvania priest accused of stealing $740K including a gold chalice.
- 05Crowned Heads Starwood event-only cigarA 5x50 Ecuadorian-wrapped robusto made at NACSA, given away in four-packs at select events, named after Nashville's Starwood Amphitheater.
- 06Aganorsa Leaf JFR Clara and Supreme Leaf Worldwide at InterTabacThe non-U.S. Connecticut-seed JFR Clara and Supreme Leaf Worldwide debut in Dortmund, with Terence Reilly calling in to explain the European market's lighter palate.
- 07Brick House Bricktoberfest 2026J.C. Newman brings back the 7¾ x 48 Churchill at $12.50 with a stein promotion for ten-cigar purchases.
- 08What's the Score: Viaje Platino Reserva PerfectoGuessing Charlie Minato's Halfwheel score on a cigar with big flavor but burn problems — the hosts land on 81 and 85 against an actual 89.
Brands & Cigars Discussed
Linked items are in our shop. Mentions without a link aren’t currently stocked or couldn’t be matched with confidence.
Transcript
All right, all you beautiful people out there in TV land, we're back. Three, two, here we go! Welcome to a Cigar, this is my favorite part of the show, welcome to a Cigar, are you, got something in your backpack for us? I need to pull my laptop off.
Oh, should we wait? No, no, let's just roll. Nothing to see here. Welcome to a Cigar Hustler Podcast, premium cigars, unfiltered opinions and conversations.
P. Palmer, your host, is this right there? Joined by Mike Coase. And big in bold.
Big bold letters. Oh. Can you even see it? Yeah.
No, jump to me. Oh, hell yeah, you can even see it's on my lap. Oh, the laptop. Wait, were we talking about the hat?
I thought he was talking about the hat too. No, he was talking about getting to see the laptop. All about himself. All about him and Claude over there.
All about myself. Did Claude send you a message? I don't like you coming on and talking to me after one. Can you talk earlier please?
I need more of your time. How do we tell Greg he can't be on the show tomorrow? Join with my co-host Mike Szczebankewicz and his friend Claude, and then in engineering, the man who needs no introduction, our engineer, he's a household name, from cigars, sports, and business to pop culture and the wildest headlines, it's worth discussing, we're gonna talk about it. See, he needs no introduction.
Wait, wait, wait, where was my name? You need no introduction. I said that right in the beginning. Hello, peoples.
No safe spaces, just real perspective, big laughs and chaos at any moment. Settle in and welcome to a Cigar Hustler Podcast. Oh, both of you, thank you very much. On today's show, holy shit.
Oh, we're in trouble. A new scam alert. Apparently, gay sex is way expensive. That would be expensive.
Oh my God. What are we doing? Don't find out when you get to the story. Okay.
And then in cigars, Crown Heads makes a cigar you can't buy. Arganosa drags out Supreme Leaf one more time. Here we go. C.
Newman had a cigar so successful, they bring it back this year with a different name. Then we end with a what's the score. Nice. But first, Michael, what are the people saying on your laptop?
On, Alive, Palmer. Oh. Get in a line. Oh, there's a line?
Certainly. I'm just glad there's not like a penis store or something again. Well, maybe. Hold on.
Wow. What are you doing? Is it show-related stuff? I can't tell you.
He's trying to get in a lounge. I tell you, but I haven't. Oh, it's live. You can go to the lounge right now live.
Well, yesterday. Yeah, because this is recorded. Oh, that was it. Like and subscribe wherever you're viewing and listening to the show.
com for all your chpod swag. com, a Cigar Holsters podcast, where we talk more inside baseball and details about cigars and what's going on in the industry. A bing bong? A bing bong.
You read the comments people make. Oh, a couple comments from the chpod lounge. I felt like there was something else. Oh, another video?
Because they're quite early in the show now, which I like. It's a lot easier to find where to put them. Another video? I thought maybe that's what you were going to do.
Oh, I do have a video from Fran Soletto. Oh. I thought it was pretty funny. Oh, I saw that.
The gun guy? Yeah. Yeah, that was funny. Oh, I do.
Nice-looking shop. I think it's more like a membership lounge. The shelves are really tight. They had everything in those boxes.
I thought that was cool. I like the big wall of TV. But, of course, it was a gun range, too. No comments in the lounge.
Probably not working. No comments in the lounge. Because there's comments on the YouTube page. Things are falling apart.
I told you, you're not giving Claude enough attention. He's angry. I'm on Claude so much, I can't see. My eyes hurt.
Well, you talk to him, have him talk back. No, because they've got to implement things. Well, have him whisper. Hello, Michael, it's me, Claude.
Have him whisper? That's going to help my eyes? I don't know, maybe. Right, he talks slower, it makes your eyes feel better.
Yeah. Maybe it's just for effect. Be creepy. Hello, Michael, it's me, Claude.
It's probably going to be a creepy show today, so... Can you? We're not quite at October, but I do have a couple things in the pipeline which I'm excited about for October. For October.
Oh. For creepy shows? No, some new merch drops. Ooh.
We can do creepy shows. No, I don't want to do one. Creepy stories? No.
We can do creepy. Yeah, he freaks out. I send him videos sometimes. He never plays them.
Really? You know, like the guy that cleans the cemetery headstones and the headstones talk to him? Yeah, I'm not playing that. He hates those.
The headstones talk to him? He's got like a white noise machine that he sets on top of the grave as he's cleaning the headstone. Oh, really? And then all of a sudden a voice comes through.
Thank you for cleaning my headstone or something like that. Oh. Are you the little boy that lives there? Yes, I'm five.
And stuff like that. Oh, that's creepy. It is creepy. Yeah, I'm not watching it.
I can't watch them at night. That's a "Before the Sun Goes Down" type viewing. That's really bad. So, some comments from our YouTube page.
" Beep-bop. Beep-bop. Baby, shuck, shuck, shuck. Ruckus Unchained.
Hello, Sharon. Oh, Mikey's mom. Sharon's back. She's very irregular now.
Yeah. " Coin. Like, so they're saying if we do a coin, they'll pay for it. Make a coin that they can purchase.
Right. Okay. Works even better for us. It's a lot easier.
Sure is. Then, John, Join the Patreon. All right. So we'll talk to-- Come to Charles?
Yeah. We'll talk to Charles. I'll mention it to Charles on one of our daily chats. I mean, he should be watching this show.
Oh, that's true. He will be watching this tomorrow. So here's what you're going to do. We're not going to say anything.
Oh. Yeah. Nothing. The only way he's going to know about it is if he's watching this show.
Oh. Good deal. At Lance Frazier says, yeah, a coin with a box of the new War Bear. That makes it a little more complicated.
It does. They have to raise the price of the War Bears. We did that last year. We added metal last year.
We won't add metal this year. No, this year's going to be less. It's going to be a lower cost, for sure. And David Hasselhoffman says, "Is that mask still too tight?
" Is that mask... Actually, no, that's great. He's had some extra snacks, I think. So it just looks a little heavier.
The mask? No, you. You think so? Extra snacks?
No. Let me see. Give me a profile. Give me a straight on the camera.
Straight look at the camera. That's an angle. That's a TV screen. That's a profile.
Look at the camera. I know. That's right. It looks like a big pink panda.
It does. I love it. I love that mask. Yeah, I think it's just the mask.
Yeah, it's just the mask. It's a bigger, rounder mask. Yeah. What size is that hat?
The Xenomorph size? Yeah, I don't know, it's the biggest one the guy could get, and I'm down to, there's two holes left. Hold on, let me be right back, I gotta go to the back, hold on, let me go back. Oh yeah, to order it.
When he cuts himself, you know, 'cause he's getting older and his skin's a little thinner, it's actually acid. Acid, yeah, acid comes out. Yeah. That extra set of teeth has dentures on it.
Yeah. And then the, he's grateful that he is so old, because like, you know, the predators, they like to hunt. The Xenomorphs. However, it's got to be for sport and he's aged out of it, so he's the oldest Xenomorph to walk this earth.
He's just sitting there playing Xeno Shuffleboard. Xeno Shuffleboard. Yeah, you spit at it. Oh, you're a spitter.
You had the little thing comes out of your mouth? Right. He's in the little guy and moves it for you and runs back. David Hasselhoffman also said, "The accents are on point today.
Heard some Chinese. " @CW63 says, "I have a cool badge. " You actually have cool badges. You have two.
Oh, you have two badges. Multiple badges. I'm not saying that one. Oh, come on!
No, because I'm moving on from it. Oh, I know what you're saying. I've said it over and over and over again. I know which one you're talking about.
I want to tell them to stop. I'm not saying anything. People can do what they want. They are free to live their lives.
That's all the comments we have for today. Oh, that's it. Mm-hmm. But, if you want to hear your comment, read aloud on the show, simply comment below, and we may or may not read it out loud for you.
As long as it's nice. No, that's the thing, is like, I can, I can, if I said I'm moving on from something, I can't continue forward with it. Oh, I didn't ask, I didn't ask you what it was about. Well, you said unless it's nice.
It's not that it's nice. It actually was very nice. It was very, you know, and I appreciate it. But I liked the comment, I thought the comment was thought out, thoughtful.
The regular viewers can see that stuff, right? Yeah. So they can go read it themselves. Right.
You know? And then cut and paste it and force them to read it. Well, I'm not, I'm not, I don't know, man. Like, for one, I love all our listeners.
Sure. And I love their comments. But then we'd just be wasting more of our time. Right.
And, but, you know, the comments on the short feeds are the ones that are, like, super aggressive. Yeah, I noticed that. So the comments that we see on this stuff, the ones that we pick up, it's not even close. Like, the Claude one, did you see the Claude short?
I saw the short, I didn't read the comment. Where you mixed up, you thought that I was asking ChatGPT or Claude. Oh yeah, you're asking Claude for the answer, and they asked you if you wanted to watch, if you wanted to use ChatGPT. People are calling us, like, Goomba, they're calling us all kinds of things.
Wow. What's a goomba? It's the little thing in Mario. Oh.
I thought it was some type of Italian mafia thing or something. Probably. But I know it as this round thing that waddles that you're supposed to jump on. Gotcha.
Looks like a little mushroom head thing. Yeah. Gotcha. I could look up other terms for it if you'd like.
No, no, no, no, it's fine. Yeah, actually, yeah, let's do that. What? It also says can be called Phil.
It is an Italian, I think it's an Italian swear word. What is... Yeah, I think it's a slang word in Italian. Oh, it says in Italian.
Goomba is an informal slang term that usually means a close male friend, companion, or mentor. Oh, so it's positive. Oh, they like us. They like us.
Look at that. Oh, we're friends. Well, thank you. You're my Goomba, too.
I don't think that they meant it that way. No? But we'll take it. Well, then they're stupid because they used the term incorrectly.
Yeah. Well, maybe they used it the right way. Maybe they think we're friends? That's very nice.
Three Goombas is what it said. We're friends, all three of us. All two of us. Wow.
I can't believe you'd leave my cat like that. Oh. Yeah, so, I mean, some of the comments on the short feeds, you're like, you have no life. Damn, bro.
That's tough. We do or they do? They do. They have no life.
Because they're just commenting while they're on the toilet. Yeah, they're just like, yeah, well, you know. Coming across, right, the Toilet Warriors. The Toilet Warriors.
That's what we're gonna call 'em. Ooh, I'm just like, I'm picturing you in a xenomorph form. Oh. I'm not the Toilet Warriors.
On the toilet? I don't read our stuff on the toilet, that's stupid. Holding a shield. No, we meant like they were the Toilet Warriors.
They are the Toilet Warriors. I know what you meant. I just took it a totally different direction. Let's make a shirt for Toilet Warriors.
Toilet Warriors? Yeah. Yeah. Oh, that'd be good.
That wouldn't be. Guy sitting on the toilet, pants all ruffled up around his knees. It feels more sticker-esque to me. Oh, well, sticker, either way.
" T-I-C-T-O-C. Well, we're gonna start with... I wanna start doing some stickers. Okay.
But we'll see what it looks like. You gotta do 100 at a time. Oh, maybe find... well, it was cheaper, though.
Yeah, and I don't mind that, but I want them to kind of either disappear Or maybe that like, I gotta, we gotta sell them for like three bucks. So we just gotta see how, how people respond to it. If they, if they're happy with them, if they like them, great. If not, then we have to figure out something else.
- A hundred seems like a big number. - Huh? - A hundred seems like a big number. So like we make four stickers, we have 400 stickers sitting there.
Can we sell them to Cigar Hustler and put in the online orders? I mean, it costs, I'm happy with cost. - We're trying to make this exclusive. - Yeah, I don't know.
Well, after we, you know, after we run through, you know, we'll give it 60, 90 days, and... Oh, the going out of business sale? Yeah. We need to liquidate.
It's good for business. Yeah. I don't know. We'll see.
Greg, you bought these. To be determined. Congratulations, Greg. I mean, 'cause he stopped making them for upstairs.
Yeah, well... I mean, that's part of something that I wanted to do anyways for, like, the swag shop online, is have, like, a sticker set. I don't know. I don't know.
Like, but... I'm thinking about it. You know, the Swag Shop is kind of next to come in the development there. Right now, I'm still working on some search engine optimization stuff, which is extremely time consuming.
So Graham, I haven't forgotten about you. I know you emailed me on a couple things. Yes? Swag Shop for Cigar Hustler or Swag Shop for...
Oh, okay. Yeah. Cigar Hustler items you could get. Well, it's gonna be interlaced.
There's gonna be some things that... From brands, or whatever, and then there's gonna be like exclusive things that you can only get, yeah, so if it's, I don't know, I'm just kind of speaking out loud at this point, but like if there's something that you can buy here, like the stickers, and then they don't sell out, maybe they pop up into like a set further months down the road, you know, like five of them, and you can use your points there, whatever. Oh, nice. Nice.
I don't know. But, like, as I'm kind of going down the clawed and development path, everything's starting to kind of interweave. You know, I'm like, no, no, like, you're doing things, I know that I'm already deviating, I'm sorry. Okay.
You're doing things for the YouTube page that I've now tied into CHPod to help you develop the descriptors. Right. And these things are just nice and uniform. Well, the transcripts that you have for that are beneficial if they're tied into the website, right?
So, because we talk about Padrón cigars, we talk about Roma Craft, we talk about Fuente, we talk about Camacho, like the list goes on and on. Sure. " Like, oh, we got, you know, I'm like, whoa, I'm, we're already pulling that. Like, so now.
Stay in your lane club. So, so, well, what's happening is you're starting to see where certain things that you're doing for one site are now can be used in multiple spaces. So, like, and I figured that that was kind of inevitable. They'd all kind of be linked to some degree where they could all help each other to develop.
It's like this weird, artificial, synergistic approach, if you will. Right, I understand what you're saying. So, like, it's no extra work to you. Right.
But it actually feeds two things. So, yeah. I don't know, dude, I'm up till one, two o'clock in the morning cranking away at stuff and just doing things. Do you, as long as we're talking about it, do you ever do something and you start going down the road and then you find out, well, I just didn't work and I just wasted 45 minutes.
It's not my time. No. Well, that's good. No.
You're not wasting any time, then. Yeah, it's more along the lines of getting AI to understand your vision. Like, okay, they put this up, I'm like, no, that's not right. Yeah.
That's not what I wanted. You know, let me better explain it to you. And that's not AI's fault. That's my fault.
Sure. You take some things for granted. Yeah. Right.
So, that's kind of the thing, like, I just got to describe it better, so that it can understand things, and like, it's still a box, you know what I mean? Like, it's very capable, and the more money you spend, the higher level you use, the better it is, for sure. But you don't need to utilize that for everything. So, I develop it, and then, like, when I see the problem, I don't...
I think a lot of people will just say, "This is a problem," and throw it at AI, where if you actually utilized AI as a tool that it's supposed to be, like, okay, I have the answer to that problem, I just don't know how to get us there, and if you have it like that, if you talk to Claude or ChatGPT or whatever you use, and you use it in that fashion, you can develop faster. I had ChetGPT tell me the end of Lion S today. What? I said, based on all the information available on the internet and things that you can find, and I asked a specific question, which I don't want to ruin it for anybody, so I asked a specific question about something, when it would happen, so it went to 18 different websites, you know, and it rotates, it shows you which ones it's checking and all that stuff, so there's an 85% chance that, on the next one, blank, will happen.
Why would you do that? Yeah. I like to. I like to know what's going to happen beforehand.
Oh, man, but like that's the whole point. If you watch the trailer which came out yesterday, you can pretty much figure it out anyway. I just wanted verification. You have crazy anxiety, Obama.
It's not verification. I have ADHD. It's not verification. It's all speculative.
Yeah, but I mean it's at 85%, so, you know, and there's two episodes left, so what I thought was going to happen has to happen on the next one. Oh, that's terrible. Why? It's the way I like to watch TV?
- Yeah, because like you get to relax and you get to... - I don't relax. - That's what I said, you have terrible anxiety. - Yeah, I don't relax.
- I mean, I don't relax either, but I do... - No, I can't sit there and watch an entire show. I get up, I have to do something, and I gotta go get something to drink, I have to... - You should Claude.
- I Claude. - I should Claude? - I Claude while I watch my shows? - I have to put my phone on the other side of the house at night, just so I won't look at it every time it makes a noise.
- Death scroll? - I work on my Duolingo a little bit, you know? - Yeah, well, I mean, I'm looking for articles for the show, the Instagram goes off, somebody makes a comment, an email goes off. - It's the highlight of the day, man, just sitting there.
- Yeah, when I get up and go to the bathroom, then I'll check it then, and then-- - Sitting next to my wife, you know, she's playing something on her phone, and I'm clotting, and we're watching the show together. - Right, sitting there petting the dog, TV's on, and I go, hmm, I gotta get up, I sat still too long. - You know what's kind of crazy to me, and I vaguely touched on this with my boy Dex. He made a post, he did like a cool AI imagery of like from the 80s or whatever, and I see that's kind of trending right now.
Yeah. Like a lot of people in the cigar industry, like retailers or I don't know who you are, the Facebook guys or whatever, they're all really kind of against, not they're all, but there is a select few of you that are very anti the AI imagery. Yeah. For marketing.
Right. And whatever. " And I gotta be honest, I applaud it when everybody does it. Mm-hmm.
I feel the opposite way. I do too. Because even though, you know, a lot of it may look the same to some degree, like, these are people that are getting into it and starting to use it. Right, that's what, like, there's like a basic image that AI will do.
Right. Once you get into it and you start learning more, you learn how to tweak it and how to make it different, make it your own, so it doesn't look like everybody else's. - Yeah. - Yeah.
- But let's be honest, it all looks better. - Well, here's what I'm gonna tell ya. It's better, a lot of these people didn't even have that. - Right.
- Right, like they didn't even post. - Right, there would be no graphic for an event or anything. - Yeah, you know what would be cool is if I could promote this thing or whatever. - Right.
- And, you know, now these guys are doing it, right? Instead of my fee being filled with someone's political view that I just don't care, you know, or somebody venomously attacking somebody else because their opinions aren't aligned or whatever, you know, like, I don't mind some of it, but it got to a point, and maybe it's because we're not at the four-year point, we're not at the presidential re-election type of... Oh, so the politics are down or something? Yeah, like, I'm still catching some of them, I'm like, okay, well, Trump's great, oh, Trump sucks, oh, okay, you know, like, you're right, it's not as bad as it used to be.
Yeah, like, that's, you know, it's kind of like mid, but, you know, you're seeing these posts, and I'm like, hey, well, that's great, that's great that you guys are trying these things, that you're, you know, you're, you got to get uncomfortable, you're trying to promote and build and do fun stuff, I mean, Juan Cancel is doing these videos and shit. Yeah, he's doing the videos. Yeah, you know, he's burning. That's the next step for us, I gotta figure how to do the videos.
- Oh, boy, you're gonna burn some tokens, boy. - Yeah, I was gonna say, it's gonna be expensive. - You know, and he had Eric Gunnarsham, and they're on skateboards and stuff. - Oh, I didn't see that one.
- Yeah, for his birthday or whatever, and I'm like, that's cool. You know, I don't know. Like, he didn't start there. - Right.
- You know what I mean? He started with, hey, check out this picture, and they all look, and it'll probably all look the same. And he said, okay, what else can I do? Like, oh, now everybody else is doing this.
How do I make this better? " Like, what are you doing, dude? - You want a picture of a cigar? - Yeah, you're just sitting there bitching about things?
- Somebody takes it with their phone, and it's Terrence Riley doing this again, and it's a bad mix with the photo? - Yeah, I liked him in the small humidor. There, he hit his head. - Right, yeah, he hit his head.
- Yeah, and he had to bend all the way down for that jam. - Right, that was funny. - Do you think social media just goes away? - No.
- No, I think it becomes even more. - I think of, you know what, to be fair, I think eventually it becomes almost tacky. - Yeah, that's what I was-- - Like, I think that eventually there's a generation that says, brr, social media, you know? - Well, like, well, right now, all the young people, they don't use Facebook, they don't use, like, Reddit, you know, like, all the stuff that we were using.
- Yeah, but they're still using social media platforms. - Yeah, they're only using Instagram, and there's one other one, it's one-- - TikTok? - No. - Snapchat?
- They use TikTok? - Yeah, they use TikTok. - Not as much, though. - YouTube.
- There's another one. - They use YouTube Chorps? - They used to use Snapchat all the time, 'cause my son would say, you know, "I got somebody snapped today," or something. - The Snappy?
- The Snappy, right. - Yeah, yeah, yeah. - It's a 30-second photo of somebody eating a french fry or something. - My sister-in-law, who I consider like a daughter to me, she was a Snappy, and now she's getting older.
- Right. - You know what I mean? I'm like, huh? A little more snappy.
You've aged, no, she's still snappies, but you've aged out. Right, now it's pictures of her kids. You know? Right.
Okay, rant over. Maybe it becomes like this 3D thing that starts appearing in your living room. Oh, they have that. Apple makes a goggle.
Well, yeah, there's a goggle, but I mean, you do it without the goggle. How soon is it, do you think, that AI is directly just embedded into us? Like in our person? Or like in the TV or something?
I mean, because it's been in the houses forever with the Alexas and all that stuff. No, I believe it's called Singularity. Oh. Yeah, you and AI.
I've heard the term before. Where'd you get that from? Blade Runner or something? Yeah, Blade Runner.
Star Trek. We've entered the Singularity. Time cop. It's gonna happen.
So what do they like put a chip in your wrist or something? I don't know. And then you see it in your eyes? I have no idea.
It's part of your brain? I'm like this close to getting metaglasses. Are you? But I can't decide if it's worth the money if I would use it enough.
No, they're making them illegal everywhere. Yeah, at schools and stuff they are. You guys did that story while I was gone. I pulled that story for you.
The frustrating part for me is that sometimes the battery is dying faster now. Is it because you use it more? I guess. And if you have a big head, they're not gonna work for you.
Yeah, you need the Xenomorph edition. Oh, the Xenomorph. Well, they don't have that one out yet. Yeah.
Well there's like a Ray-Ban, re, what's it called when they fix it and put it back out or something. Refurbished? Refurbished for $175. That I could swing, but I mean I couldn't swing the $300, $400 ones.
I trade cigars. I understand you do. The hustle, baby. Yeah.
I can't, I can't afford that shit either. I mean my wife might go and get it for me if I asked her, but I mean I'm not gonna get $300 out of it. Yeah. No.
Because I have to wear regular glasses, so I mean I would have to have it put into my lenses. I mean, my lenses put into one. Yeah, realistically, the best approach for you would be to get like Ray-Bans. Yeah.
That have your script. Right. That would be the ideal for you. Yeah, but he just said at nighttime he has to put his phone across the room.
At that point, they're dead. I never considered the battery thing. That would be annoying. Yeah, it kind of pisses me off.
Like, I had them on, dropped the kids off, go to the gym, and I had them on for 10 minutes. " - If you leave them on, do they just go down while they're looking for something? - I don't know. " - That's why they're dumb.
And I would want the sunglasses one, because then, I mean, you can't wear them all day long inside the building, you would... Right. Oh, I do sometimes. Well, I've seen you, yes, I understand, but now you have to put your blue light ones on or whatever they call it.
Yeah, I need to start using my computer with braille is what I do. I need to go like that. Those will be better for me. The little ticks at the top?
Yeah. Okay. All right. A neighborhood dispute turned disgusting.
Okay. 50-year-old Yurisa Machado-Riviera confronted a woman that she thought was having an affair with her husband. Uh-oh, she's shot. Well, they're still investigating.
She allegedly forced her way inside the woman's home, threw a bucket of feces on her, and it hit the lady in the face, and then the police were called. That's assault, brother. Why didn't she throw it at her husband? Apparently he wasn't at home.
I don't know. Apparently it wasn't with her either. Yeah, no, she wasn't there. Oh, this is the wrong house?
Oh, sorry. The bucket became the key evidence. Investigators allege Riviera threw a bucket containing human feces onto the woman during a confrontation. Her explanation conflicts with witnesses.
Riviera claimed that her toilet was broke, so that's why she had the bucket with her, because she had to use it. And I don't know how she explains throwing it. That's part of the investigation. I was simply placing it in this woman's home.
Right. The bucket was only being used because my toilet was broken, but witnesses say she told them I made this special for whatever the other lady's name is. releasing the other where is that what state uh it's in florida is it yes she has a weird twitch so that's why she threw it it was in it was in manufactured homes in opelaka florida of course oh the oh what is it opelaka is that like that have you seen that tick tock that's like down by lake okeechobee it's that area i believe a little backwoodsy where the guy's like i've been a loose I'm not going to say the whole thing, but... I have no idea, but no, you're having a good time with it.
Right. I'm listening to you guys. Okay, great. She was arrested and investigation is pending.
She's in trouble. But yeah, she's in jail for... I mean, why? Why?
She's having an affair with her husband. You done did touch my husband. But the husband... Wait a sec.
I love how he goes straight to a trailer accent. Well, that's what they said it was. " Hey, those are the nicer ones. Yeah, he went straight to-- Not in Obelaca.
He went to, like, Joe Dirt. Allegedly. Joe Dirt. Well, there was a photo of the woman, too.
Oh, Tammy? They got Tammy? No, she's got four names. Yeah, there's usually a hyphen.
Of course she does. Y-I-R-S-I is her first name. Yaris? Y-I-R-S-I.
S-I. Yersey. Wow, that's super trailer, okay. Yersey Machado Riviera.
Okay. Sounds like a weird car. I don't know if she has that kind of accent, dude. That's what I went with today.
She might know you can speak English. Well, she knew how to say bucket. Okay, moving on. Before it gets too bad.
There's a new scam going around. Of course there is. Yes, there's a scam alert. Okay.
Wait, is this the second story? This is the second story. Yeah, no, is it the same one? The second story.
I'm trying to remember what you said in the beginning, so. This is the second story. It's a new scam alert. All right, go ahead.
Where they use real police. Okay. So they call you and they demand money. And they tell you if you don't pay the money, the police are going to come and they're going to arrest you.
Now, while they're doing that, someone else calls and asks for a welfare check at your address. Okay. A what? A welfare check.
No, no, I understand what a welfare check is. Yeah. You know what that is? Okay.
So, So one guy or one woman or somebody is on the phone with you going, look, you owe us money. The cops are here to take you away. The police are going to come and they're going to arrest you if you don't pay the money. Then you look out your window and the police are pulling up.
Police are not aware of the fact that you're on the phone with somebody to pay the money. So you panic and you pay them the money. That's brilliant. And then the police knock on the door, they go, is everybody okay?
And you go, wait, I just paid $7,000 to this person on the phone. Quick, give me your last four, your CBV, and your expiration date. Right. The responding officers are not involved in the scam.
They believe they are conducting a routine welfare check and have no knowledge of the payment demand. Wow. So they're saying never pay anybody on the phone. The police specifically will not call you in demand money.
Right. Right. Neither will the IRS. They don't call you on the phone either.
No. You can't even get a hold of those guys. Right. Yeah.
You think they're going to call you back? Right. Yeah, that first year we went to the PCA, Adrienne got one of those phone calls from the IRS that said she owed money on a... Well, the fake IRS.
Yeah, yeah, the fake, the fake. Yeah, the one that goes, this is the IRS, badge number 11111. So I couldn't, she would not accept the fact that they will not call you, they send letters, they don't call you. Right.
But David, what was David's last name? Hasselhoffman. - No, David and his wife, he used to come here and he only smoked Cuban cigars and high-end cigars. Do you know what I'm talking about?
- I don't know who you're talking about, yeah. - You don't remember his last name either? - It starts with a C. - Anyway, he worked for the IRS.
- Yeah. - Yeah, so he was at that PCA with Cordoba & Morales. - Right. " - Right.
- So I finally calmed her down. So, if it happens, report the scam. I haven't talked about David in a long time, because he's not even... He sort of dropped off when his wife got sick.
Yeah. I see him on TikTok every once in a while, a video about his dog. Wait, I can't remember. I can picture his face, I can picture his wife's face.
Facebook for me, number one is David Hasselhoffman, and then number two is David Garofalo, followed by David Morris. Always number two. My guy. And then David Novin.
None of those. None of those. Yeah. Cologne.
Cologne. There you go. It just popped in my head. Him.
Very nice man. Hope everything's fine with you. Great guy. Oh, I can't wait for the third story.
Here goes Mikey. Oh, my God. Blow his top. A Pennsylvania Catholic priest, Gregory Allen Medea, 69.
Yeah. McHughes of stealing more than $740,000 from three churches, parishioners, donors, and his elderly mother. Wait, did you skip a story? No, no.
Let's read on. There's more to it. Prosecutors claim nearly $320,000 was taken from three Ukrainian Catholic churches, including about $75,000 withdrawn from one church's general fund in 2021 and 2022. Medea allegedly stole approximately $250,000 from his own mother while managing her finances because she could no longer handle them herself.
- Who has that kind of money? - You know what I mean? - Apparently a Catholic priest's mother. - Wow.
- She should probably remortgage her house. - Investigators say some of the money was spent on heroin that he allegedly exchanged with another man for sexual encounters at hotels. - Oh, this is where the headline, yeah. - He also accused of using stolen money for overseas vacations, cruises, and a $35,000 Ford Mustang that he gave to the same man who later moved in with him.
- I mean, I would too. I mean, you know, you're giving me everything I need. - You're giving me heroin, brand new Mustang. - Yeah.
- We don't have to go to the hotel anymore, I'm good. - You know what? - I'll come to the house. - You're obviously the one.
I get it. - Don't tell on me. - You know? The allegations weren't limited to cash.
Prosecutors say he also stole a gold church chalice, valued at approximately $19,400. I like that. What did he do? " "Hey, there's that gold cup.
" That's a 20k. A chalice is 20 large. $20,000. Think about that.
Solid gold. You know how many people you could feed with that? 20k? That's just sitting at the Catholic Church.
Just there. Just there, sitting around. My goodness. Probably like a good $10,000.
And it was probably like an older model. It's like an antique. Yeah, it wasn't brand new. They weren't using that one anymore.
Right. Nobody was gonna use it. They don't use that for the sermon anymore. Right, yeah.
They got that new one that's plastic. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Investigators reportedly found collection envelopes in his trash, photographs of debit cards, bank documents, on all his devices. This dude is next level.
Medea was suspended from the church in February 2024. Let's say 2024. Oh, go figure. This is in Ukraine.
You know what, dude? I think that this sort of thing is more common than... Oh, I'm sure it is. Yeah.
Yeah. Were they still money and have a same-sex lover? Yes. That's exactly what I'm referencing.
That's exactly what he means. That is specifically what I'm talking about. Specifically the same-sex lover he meant. Not the money.
Right. He's been arrested in Vero Beach, Florida on August 14th. Oh, it's in Florida. Jesus.
This last month. He hasn't even been in jail 30 days yet. He's having a ball. He loves it in jail.
I think the embezzlement, I would argue that the embezzlement out of churches is probably the highest when it comes to embezzlement. I imagine so. Or at least most consistent. Allegedly.
That's why I said "I would think". Oh, okay. And he's been extradited to Pennsylvania where he faces theft, fraud, and financial exploitation charges with bail set at $25,000 or one gold chalice. He's got that covered.
Yeah. He's like, take this cup. These all remain allegations and he has not been convicted. I mean, it sounds like...
It sounds pretty much like they got it. I mean, from what they're saying, it sounds like they got a pretty established case against this guy. Yeah, it sounds like they have quite the timeline here for the man. Yeah.
For the last seven years. Yeah. His boyfriend comes in outraged. You know.
You took my car! Right. Yeah. Like, it's mine.
It's mine. You know what I had to do to get that car? Man, Ferro's not far. i had to sit on a cushion i don't know what that means but i'll leave it alone on a cushion yeah i don't know either i'm fine you don't need to explain it yeah you already explained fifi you don't have to explain the other one well the priest did not have a fifi let's just say well no well he didn't need that it was a real life he had it covered right he had it under control yeah everything's all been taken care of yeah and then i mean it started in pennsylvania And then he moved to Vero.
It's much nicer. You know what? We're going south. You know what I mean?
Right. Like, we're out of here. You know what? Let's get in the Mustang.
Yeah. Pick up the envelopes. Let's go. We'll swing by.
Yeah. Open some envelopes. Swing by on Monday or after the big hall on Sunday. I'm going to ask God to take care of this for me and he's going to answer my prayers.
Well, they... Is that what he says? I prayed for it. This is what happened.
Well, they don't recognize same thing marriages in Pennsylvania, do they? He didn't marry him. Well, maybe he wanted to. I mean, I don't know.
He can't, he's a priest. Like, who knows? There's that line. Wait a second.
This guy stole all this money. You think the priest thing is like, he's like, oh, I can't get married, I'm a priest. The line is he can't get married. That's where, you know what?
Oh, everything else is fine. I can't marry you. I'm sorry. Yeah, okay.
Hey, I'm in jail now. I'm not a priest anymore. We can get married. Oh, you're still a priest?
It doesn't go away. The church doesn't acknowledge this. What? Who cares?
But like, whatever, dude. That's what he said there, dude. Yes. But you said it was a Ukrainian?
Yeah, he said Ukrainian. Catholic Ukrainian churches. So churches specifically for Ukrainian people? That sounds to me like that's gotta be a tough one.
In Florida? Like strict policies. No, no, it's in Pennsylvania. Oh.
And then he moved to Florida is where they found him. They extradited him back to Pennsylvania. Why is there so many Ukrainian churches up in Pennsylvania? Well, it must be a big Ukrainian thing there.
Maybe he just knows the market, you know what I mean? Seems pretty north. Maybe he prefers Ukrainian-looking men. He's a man looking mid.
Who knows? Yeah. Yeah. Stop judging him.
Yeah. Yeah. Stop judging him. Somebody else will take care of that.
I'm trying to dance around this story a little bit and hopefully we move on. It's a legit story. It doesn't sound like you danced. It sounds like you dove right in head first is what it sounds like.
I can't believe he would pick the story, one, it's Catholic, two, then it's the other things. I don't know what that means. It's a legit news story. One, it's Catholic.
What does that mean? Well, it's just too, like, anyways, there was a story about this Chinese guy. I love this Chinese guy. I thought you for sure were going to bring this one up.
What Chinese guy? What is this? The Chinese kid that stole like 380 million dollars. 380 million?
I know. Is that Gen Z? No, no, it wasn't Gen Z. I love a good Phil story.
Go ahead. Continue. Yeah, please. 380 million.
Silicon Valley Chinese guy. Got it. Okay. I don't know.
I think he was from like SoCal or something. Oh, okay. All right. Keep going.
And this guy just started blowing all the money, having all these women, all these cars. And then somebody was like, man, this guy's got a lot of changes. I wonder what's going on. And this person told on him.
He stole Bitcoin. From who? You guys didn't see the story? No.
No, but I gotta be honest. I just prefer that you tell me the elaborate story that's in your brain over the actual story. That's all I got. I mean...
Who's Bitcoin? Did he get $380 million? I don't know. I didn't read that part.
But I thought you were gonna bring this up because we were talking about Chinese people yesterday. I thought you had not read that part. We were talking about Chinese people, so he figured it'd parlay. Oh, yeah.
That's logic. We'll continue the week with more Asian stories. Well, I just know your algorithm thing, like normally, like this, like this line. I mean, that's fair, that is fair, that is fair, that is fair, right, but that was technically, that was a story from Half Wheel.
I just want you to know, out of the last three minutes, that was the only thing that you said that was plausible. Okay? 380 million? I mean, look, I'll eat my own words, but that sounds like a lot of money.
That's a lot of money. It was a lot of Bitcoin. It was only three Bitcoins. Three Bitcoins.
Three. Each one's worth a million. Are they? I don't know.
Well, yeah, no, I saw them dropping this morning. They're like 66 or something like that. A million? No.
A thousand. A thousand. Oh. Alright, is that the end of all the crazy news?
Yeah, let's get into some cigar stuff. Cigar news. Oh. Crown Heads adds Starwood.
What? A new vent-only cigar. Oh. What?
Crown Heads has a new cigar that will only be offered at events. Like a previous version, its name comes from a building in the company's home city of Nashville. He's home city of Nashville. Hmm.
Okay. Starwood is a new 5x50 Robusto that uses an Ecuadorian wrapper over a mixture of Nicaraguan tobaccos. This time the company is turning to the Noxa factory in Esteli. Oh.
Broadleaf. It's going to be Broadleaf. They said Ecuador or something. What did they say?
Ecuadorian Broadway. Ecuadorian wrapper. That's all you said? Yeah.
I didn't hear you say the wrapper. So it's going to be Habano? Ecuadorian Habano, I guess. I don't know, it just says Ecuadorian.
Okay. Starwood will not be offered for sale, rather those who make a qualifying purchase will be given Starwood as a promo item. The cigars are packaged in cardboard packs of four. They'll be available at select events starting later this month.
The first three events that will feature the cigars are: September 17th at Mission Cigar in Spring Hill, Tennessee, September 18th at World Famous Cigar Bar in Fort Myers, Florida, and then September 19th at Phoenix in San Antonio. Starwood is named after the Starwood Amphitheater, an outdoor music venue that was opened from 1986 to 2006. Its final show featured Aerosmith and Motley Crue. Dude looks like a lady.
Oh, maybe it was a priest. Blood Medicine has graduated to becoming a commercial release for the company, now with its own spin-off blend. Okay, so... I don't know why that's tagged on the end of the story.
Because maybe that was their original event cigar? Oh, could be. Well, I remember we sold Blood Medicine. Yeah.
But originally... Yeah, maybe that's how it's... Oh. Maybe that's like their thing.
Maybe. So they come out with a cigar, they do event only, and then eventually it becomes... Create a small demand. Like an LE.
Right. And then it becomes like a core. Oh, that's a good idea. Do you think that this is effective?
I mean, we've seen this in the past. Yeah, I think it's about every brand ends up having some type of event only cigar. Something for a draw. Yeah, something for a draw.
It's a lot... " - Yeah. - Yeah. - He wants you to show his cigar.
- Oh. - There you go. - Thanks. - He's not just waving at you.
Is that the Abano again? - He just got lost in your eyes. Yeah. Yeah.
We're moving through these, baby. - Cigar Vault Oakdale put the Broadleaf in their box this last month. - What? - Yes.
Broadleaf Toro. - They have those? - As I said, they had to be sitting on that for a little while. - Oh my goodness.
- Yeah. One of the female influencers that really likes our cigar posted it yesterday. Oh, okay. Stogie Doe, I think her name was.
Okay. She had a very hard day. It was a long post, very nice post, very long day. This is the only thing that she wanted.
Got it. It was at Toro Broadly. Okay. Well, cool.
Yeah. Getting back to the story, though. Yes. Back to the event, only cigar.
Yeah, I think that it's smart. Yeah. Everybody likes to have a special cigar that you can't buy. you know look what i got and i i like the process that they do yeah yeah and then like releasing it and then like it kind of being established and coming to court i think that's pretty that is a good idea yeah makes sense it's almost like a funnel approach right what do you think phil yeah i think it's a great time they took 380 million dollars that's what i think i think john huber is is is that whoa i'm not saying nothing about anybody sure you're short 380 million Yeah, it's a great idea.
Yeah, it's a bitcoin and his friend hold on him. That's all I know. That's all I know. SoCal.
All I know. No, I think it's a great temperature check. I think that's how, you know, a lot of cigar companies should do releases. I mean, why do you want to make so many of a cigar if you haven't temperature checked it?
Like, a lot of these guys make a lot of the cigar and it doesn't sell, right? It's like... It's a good point. Well, I think that people make cigars in different ways.
No, yeah, no, no, I understand. You know, people make cigars just to make cigars. Because they like it. No, I didn't even get to that far.
They didn't even get to that far, far yet. They just make cigars and say, "Hey, make it," and sell it, right? - Okay. - They don't even test it.
Like, what's the cheapest cigar I can make? - Yeah, I just need to put another cigar out. - Yeah, I just need to continue-- - What do you got? - Yeah, I want to stay relevant, right?
Then there are other people that get duped, they smoke something, and they convince themselves that it's great. - Right. - And then there's people that legit go down and make a blend, or they have a blend sent to them, or, you know, either way, and then they kind of sort that out, right? By mail is the term Skip uses for that.
Yeah, and then there's people that go to the factories. The funny thing is that you don't know, of those methods, which one's going to succeed and which one isn't, because some of those guys do succeed. Yeah, some of those turn out being good cigars. Well, or they don't even turn out being good cigars, but people buy them.
Like, that happens a lot. I'm like, I'm sorry, what? You like that one? What is selling?
You like that? Do you guys have this? I love this. What?
No? Did someone - someone doesn't like you? Like, I wouldn't give that - no, no, I don't have that. Someone doesn't like you.
This is super rare and super good. I don't know whose voice he just did. Me neither. Me either.
It was just a voice. It was a good voice. Oh. Nice.
Okay. No names on this show. You should keep that in handy. You might use that again.
Okay. R. Clara and the Supreme Leaf Worldwide. Supreme Worldwide, worldwide.
Debuting at Enter Tobac 2026. Aww. So we're not even going to see it. Let's read on.
Let's read on. Next week, Agronors of Leaf will show off two new lines at the Interdeback 2026 Trade Fair in Dortmund, Germany. The new JFR Clara is an extension to the company's value-priced JFR line. S.
So that one we're not going to see, so we're not going to talk about it anymore. What is it? Oh, I'm curious. - Oh, it's an Ecuadorian, Connecticut seed wrapper over a blend of Nicaraguan tobaccos.
- Okay. - Oh, now you're done? - Oh. Keep going.
- A press release describes the profile as light with subtle sweetness, balance, and a satisfying flavor. S. market? - I don't know, unless it's too light.
- Okay. - Maybe it's too light, because the Europeans like lighter cigars. - Okay, what do you think, Phil? - I don't know, I would think that it would go into the American market.
Okay. I mean, look, these guys have been releasing Supreme Leafs. This isn't the Supreme Leaf. Talking about two completely different cigars.
Right. Yeah, he doesn't even know what's going on. Yeah, the JFR Clara is a Connecticut seed version of the JFR. Welcome back to the conversation.
Oh, sorry. We might have smoked this at one time, because at one time, when Fabian was here, he was handing out Connecticut JFRs. Again, again, like, why wouldn't it come in? Because what's their, uh, what's their lightest cigar?
Not one of the JFRs. I think there is a JFR Connecticut. Well, they have an Argonosa Connecticut. This is JFR's Argonosa, right?
Yes. Oh, we're just going straight to the source. We're asking. Carlito?
What's wrong with you? I wasn't going to do it this show, but the phone's ringing. I couldn't pass it up. I will get excited though.
Say the number, say the number. He's not gonna answer. Must be in the media. Your call has been flowing.
I wanna try. Terrence. Call Terrence. " Already?
And her back hasn't started yet. No, but he's been doing like this tour over there. Oh. I think Fabian's overseas.
Well they... Already? And her back hasn't started yet. No, but he's been doing like this tour over there.
Oh. Oh. That's what Fabian's for though. Like Fabian's- Right, that's what he does.
Yeah. Yes, that's what I mean. He's good for all of it. He's not just good for the national market, he's good for international market as well.
Right, right. Has a very nice passport. He speaks French and all this other stuff. Oh.
Yeah. Does he? Oui, oui. Oui, oui.
Parlez-vous Francais? Mm-hmm. Si. What is their lightest cigar?
French. French. French. French.
French. French. French. French.
What is their lightest cigar? The kinetic, just the Argonosa Kinetic. Yeah, I think that, So honestly, I think that this cigar is probably lighter, it's very light, and it was built specifically for that market. They're using the terms elegant and approachable.
Yeah. Which means anyone can smoke it. That was Chet GPT. I'm confused, though, because I thought there were so many issues with age limits for cigars and stuff like that, like cigar bands and stuff going on over in international.
Well, we know you're confused, and that's why we love you on this show. I don't even know what you're referencing at this point. Is he talking about where they have to put on the boxes "may cause cancer"? No, there's like a lot of generational bands like that.
Oh, I'm talking about generational bands in certain countries. No, I mean, maybe. It's Great Britain, some island, I think, something. Thailand?
Maybe Thailand. No, I think it's Malaysia. Island, Thailand. I can see why you'd mix it up now.
I think it's Malaysia. Now that I say it. I don't know. Right.
There's three places currently on this show. Right. There's three places currently. Wasn't China one of them?
The island of China. No, China's like the Wild West. You can do whatever you want there. Except leave.
Except leave. Yeah, except leave. You just can't come back. Right.
You can get in, you can't get out. Michael Z sent me some artwork, too. It was pretty funny. Oh, did he?
Yeah. Like, they all hate us, and it's us riding a submarine. Oh, he did that? Yeah, that's nice.
That was good. So just because it's lighter, why can't it be over in America? The demand for it isn't as apparent as it would be. Light for the American market.
In the European market. I mean, these guys here smoke some light cigars. Here's what I'm gonna tell you. Like, I give a guy the Posani Sumatra.
Yeah. And they're like, man, this is an amazing cigar. Yeah. This is great.
Right. Right? And then I give that same guy a Wieselito Brazilian Mana Fina. And they're like, oh my God, this thing is tough.
Right? Right. So, you know, that guy, now take that and dumb that down by like 10 or 15, and that's your European market. Right?
So, I mean, we're talking about, when you're talking about Roma and Powstanie, I mean, those are great cigars, but a lot of people don't smoke them because, I think those are great cigars, to be honest, like, they're not used to that. Because they have good flavor. Yeah, they're not used to that tobacco, right? They're not used to, like, something that has a lot of complexity and flavor.
Because they're still sitting in coach. Right. So that's what I'm saying. Like, a lot of people here, they smoke like a, I don't want to say names of cigars because I feel like it would be doubting them.
Okay, so then don't. But there is a lot of light cigars here that people smoke. Okay, now imagine this cigar being lighter than those cigars. I couldn't even imagine that.
That's the point. Right. You wouldn't smoke it. Right.
Because it's way light. So imagine a Monte Cristo. Ooh, ooh. It's like not even smoking.
Oh, he's calling. Oh. Hey, you're on the podcast. Such a weird picture.
Oh. The only time you ever call me is when you're on the podcast. I get a call once in a while. Terrence, how are you?
How are you doing? And I'd be using me for show promotion. Oh. I texted with him the other day.
Tell him to calm down. Did you hear that? He said he texted you the other day. I sent him a lovely picture of him as a giraffe.
Yeah, that was even more upsetting. It's more upsetting. In fact, yeah, just call me when you're on the show, actually. Don't, don't call me in private time.
I don't call him, no. He doesn't want me to call him and let's him on the show. I try to call him all the time, but no answer. What's going on?
Oh, we just covered the Clara. The JFR. Oh. You're aware of this?
Thank you. I just got back from lunch, but I'm glad that you are. What did you have? A Clara.
I had Thai food with Fabian. Oh, Fabian's in the country. I love Fabian. Put him on the phone.
He's such a good guy. I'll call him next. Yeah. He's in the office.
Give him a call. Do you have any of these Claras here? I want to try it. I don't think so.
I'm trying to explain to Phil here that the reason why this cigar is created and it's only in the European market is because it's a lighter cigar than what's probably demanded in our market. Is that what it is? Yeah. That was an in-depth answer.
Thank you so much. So, like, his argument is that, well, there are a lot of lighter cigars in our country, and I go, yeah, imagine it being lighter than that. I couldn't even imagine. Would that, is that still accurate or no?
I mean, I don't, I mean, you're talking like a Macanoodle, I don't think it's, I mean, it's hard for us to make something like that, but, like, for us, it's pretty light. Well, you're, yeah, you're coming from still, it's still Nicaraguan, you know what I mean? You know what I mean? So it's still gonna have flavor and profile, unlike the Macanudo, but...
It's very light. It's very light. Okay. Okay.
I wonder what one of those tastes like. Well, he says he doesn't have any. He doesn't have. We already hit him up.
There's an international market. This is what happens with you guys. You do something for international, and I get a phone call to try that. We would like to carry them here.
Just tell me I can't have it. And I'm like, I would like to taste this. Yeah, you can't have any of our portfolio. How about that?
So you want to try it out? Okay, but the Supreme is going to be in the US market or no? Yeah, the Supreme will be coming in March. It'll debut at the PCA and then we'll start chipping it in the US.
The worldwide. Worldwide Supreme. Worldwide, baby. Prestige worldwide.
That's why I did. That's why I wanted to call it. Well, perfect. Well, Terrence, I know you didn't accept my call when I called, but thank you for calling me back so promptly.
And now you can write off your lunch because you covered some marketing with it. Fabian paid for it too late. I hope he uses his corporate card. No, no, it was a treat.
He was taking me out because he likes working with me so much that he bought me lunch. That's something that Jeff Groover will never do for you. Well, he's a sick man. He's got a pointy head.
All right, brother. Thanks so much, man. I appreciate you. Take care guys, be good.
All right, bye. Love that. He's good. He's a nice guy.
He is a hell of a nice guy. He really is. He is. And he takes the ribbing so well.
He does. Yeah? Yes, he does. He does.
So there you go. You can skip that and you can skip that. We heard it from Direct. Supreme World will come out in March via PCA, yadda yadda.
I want to try the Clara. Well, they're going to go. You should ask them to bring something back when he goes. That's what you guys do.
You guys want something you can't have. How about that Churchill? You still got that one, too? Nope.
Don't have that either. Let's see. This says they will ship it to non-US stores in November. Okay.
So they're probably not even ready yet. Well, I don't remember when Inner Tobacco is. It's September. Oh.
So they're going over there to take orders for it now over there. Correct. S. S.
stores in November, so they'll ship over there in November, and we'll have it available in the spring. You're talking about the Supreme, not the Clara. No, no, Clara is not available in America. Right.
So that's in the spring, so after the March show, they'll start shipping it here, which is what he just said, the PCA. I want to try the Clara. I'm sure he'll... Tell me I can't have it.
I'm sure. Like, I need it. Maybe by the... Maybe he'll have some at the show.
They won't. Like, well, maybe he will... Maybe he will... You think he'll be like, hey, I brought these for you?
Maybe. Maybe when he gets back, he'll go, here, here's a cup. Do you think that would open up a whole new different can of worms? Well, you gave it to them.
We're a media outlet. Yeah, I mean, you know, but the media... Whatever. Don't get me started, bro.
The media people don't like us? Some do, some don't. I know, but some... Like, there's one guy in particular...
Are we really going to go down this road right now? Well, yeah, there's one guy that doesn't matter, so I understand that. So then, yes, I would like to have a dude just because he can't. Well, maybe Fabian, maybe if you call Fabian, he'll give it to us.
Maybe Fabian's got some. He likes those lighter Connecticut cigars. And he likes us. He made a cigar back in the day with Drew Estate.
I think it was called like the Dirty Fabian or something like that. It was like a natural, but it was like a Churchill. Oh, NDB? I don't remember what it was called.
Yeah, it was pretty cool. I like it when people make cigars for people that work with them. Right. That's badass.
You know? Like a BDP. Right. Sorry, I was fast-forwarding, just now we don't need to talk about that cigar.
That's okay. About the BDP? No, about the Worldwide. Oh.
Supreme Leaf, one more time, Worldwide. All right. What else you got? Brick House, Bricktoberfest returns for 2026.
C. Newman cigar that's been out before, and they're putting it out again because it did so well in 2025. Brick House? Yeah, now it is the 2026 version of the company's Brick House Bricktoberfest.
Oh, okay. So, it's the same cigar before, it's a 7 3/4 by 48 Churchill, and if you buy them when they're out, let's see, let's get to it real quick. 50 each, they went up 50 cents from last year, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, but it's, um, if you buy 10 of them, you can get one of those Bricktoberfest Steins. It's, listen, you know what, Brickhouse isn't terrible, it's a pretty good cigar for the value, you know, I know they used to use Pueblo Nuevo in that blend back in the day, I don't know if they still do, but that's a good tobacco.
Nope, they're not saying just 50 cents more, but I would like 10 of them to get one of those steins if I was a stein collector. - Yeah? - Sure. - You like steins?
- No, I don't, I said if I was. - Give you a cup? - No. - Like a $20,000 one?
- No. - I got this gorgeous. - That's not a stein. - I just take it.
- It's a chalice. - It's a chalice. It's even better than a stein. - I feel like it qualifies.
- A chalice is a stein without a lid. It's so many different. - So it's not a stein? - No, it's a chalice.
Who just said that? - You want me to get you the cup? - A Brickhouse stein or the gold cup? - No.
- If you can give me the $20,000 gold cup. Listen, listen, not this year, let's not get ahead of ourselves, you know what I mean? Uh, no, I don't want this time. Okay.
Just something else that I have to throw away later. No, no, somebody else will clean that out when you die. Oh. Yeah, it just sits there forever.
I got no place to put it anymore. I'd have to put it here. Don't bring it here. Right, see, exactly.
It's too much stuff here. Alright, now it's time for the industry's favorite game. What's the score? Can you predict a cigar score from a half-wheel review before it's revealed?
We'll give you clues. You make your guess. As the review unfolds, the answers get closer. Or does it?
Or does it? The closest guest wins. Let's play, what's the score? Today's Cigar, September 9th, Charlie Manato is the reviewer, it's the Viaje Platino Reserva Perfecto.
VIAJE, VIAJE, 87, Platino, Reserva, Perfecto, I feel like this cigar isn't gonna do well, just by all of the things that you're kind of saying to me, before I get into it, so I'm gonna go 80, all right, Cigar Reviewed, the VIAJE, Platino, Reserva, Perfecto, I feel like this cigar isn't gonna do well, just by all of the things that you're kind of saying to me, before I get into it, so I'm gonna go 80. Alright, Cigar Reviewed, the Viaje, Platino, Reserva, Perfecto, Country of Origin, Undisclosed, Factory, Undisclosed, Wrapper, uh-uh, binder, uh-uh, filler, uh-uh, they smoke three. They don't, Viaje is notorious for not telling you, you know, it's effective, it works. I mean, they even took it to the next level with their mystery.
Right, now we're not even gonna tell you what the cigar is. Yeah. Or which one you get. And I got news for you.
Like, I missed that. I missed the purchase. Oh, you missed it. But people were asking about it.
I'm sure. So, hey, it works. Yeah. That's all you got?
87. 80. I mean, you said don't read any of this stuff. It's all undisclosed.
It's all undisclosed. 80. I know how many they made. I'm not telling you.
All right, thanks. Clue number one, the cigar delivered full, detailed flavor with an enjoyable combination of earth, wood, Wood, Leather, Creaminess, and a Vibrant Pepper. Strong enough to be considered a potential top 25 cigar based on flavor alone. - Really?
Oh man, now I gotta change my whole stance. - 92. - Wow, 91. The Retro Hale was consistently the highlight, Producing bold layers of pepper, oak, meatiness, creaminess, and a bread throughout the smoking experience.
So, is this an old review or a new review? Brand new, came out on the night. Oh, wow. It's a new cigar.
92. 91. Clue number three, multiple burn and combustion problems, particularly with the first cigar. Required repeated touch-ups, and ultimately prevented it from receiving top 25 consideration.
They give it over here, then they take it away over here. - 81. - That was my number. - Well, I'm just, history repeats itself.
- Ah, I see what you did there. - Right. - 81. Final thought.
New is not always better, and this was a great reminder of that. Sure, it's a new size for the blend, but I suspect this blend does well in most shapes and sizes. Outside of construction issues, my frustration with a lot of new cigars is that I find the flavor to be thin. Lacking a richness that I remember as once being more common.
It started off with all these nice things. Is he bipolar? The Viaje Platino Reserva Perfecto has the richness. I think the uniqueness of the shape probably upped the difficulty for the construction, which is my only quibble.
- With the cigar. - Yeah, a quibble. - While it would ruin some of the novelty, this is a large part of Yahi's brand identity, I wish the blend were available on a more regular basis. - What?
- I like how they sell. I like what they do. I think it's a great design. - I don't want a quibble.
- It's like, you know, a limited run, X amount of boxes. - You can only get it now. - What a great system. Now we're making his weird size, and apparently he has a construction issue.
He literally went back and forth four times. He's helping the game. Well, you've got to remember, it's a three-hour smoke minimum for Charlie, right? Right.
And then maybe he got into a fight with somebody on the phone or something like mid, like he started off good, right? Then he took a call, and it was like bad news, just enough to irk him, and then bam, bam! Twisty, Twisty, Twisty, I likey. Well, it's not a top 25.
Right. It was. It was for a moment. Yeah, but he did say that he liked it at the end, but he was saying he was counting off for burn.
Construction issues. It's not a construction. Whatever. It's a burn problem.
It's a construction. It's not a flavor. It's not a construction? What does he say?
The Burn? That's a construction. What would it be? Yeah, but if you light that cigar, and you sit under the AC vent, and it burns wonky.
He didn't say I had to make a couple touch-ups. Just pick your number. I mean, jeez, Louise. We're over time already.
Come on. Wrap it up. Everybody watches this game. Yeah, but now they're at the point where, say the number!
They're yelling at the screen. Yeah. 84. That's a good number.
Now I don't know what to do. Pick a number? Don't you do hand signals over there. I thought he was gonna go higher than that.
Don't you, don't you dare. I think he wants me to steal third. He may have nailed that. I'm gonna say 85.
You went the right way. Oh, 89. What?! Eighty-nine.
Eighty-nine. Eighty-nine. Eighty-nine. See, that's what I'm saying.
Victory! That's what I'm saying. Like this guy, he like, he counts off for things. How did we get an 81?
Yeah, exactly. I'm still so perplexed, Charlie. Have we read? I haven't read that one.
I gotta read it. I'm still so perplexed. Construction. A lot of construction problems.
Ooh, they smell funny today. - There's no construction problems. - I feel like they're burning. Well, not on the ones that my friend Michael's been smoking, but apparently Charlie's were.
- I've smoked many of the, you're talking about Sumatra, right? - Yeah. - I've smoked many of them. - Do you think it was a mistake to-- - Did it light your turn?
- Maybe. - Do you think it was a mistake to call it Sumatra and maybe it should have been just called catastrophic failure? - No. - Postanya, catastrophic failure, and then the four sizes?
- Hmm, interesting question. - Well, why would you think that? Like, why did that come into mind? Because I feel like sometimes Sumatra has a stigma.
I'm not privy to this, so I don't... Not a well-liked rapper. Really? I think sometimes people say, well, it's not that it's not well-liked, I think that people are comfortable staying in their own wheelhouse.
You know, Habano. Right. Maduro. Like, Maduro what?
No, no, I like, I smoked the Maduro's. Yeah, I smoked Maduro's. Right, got, okay, so the dark ones. Okay, perfect.
Right. It's a color. " Yeah, I don't know, I don't know if I've had that before. Oh, I mean, when I hear-- It sounds exotic.
Yeah, exactly. That's what I think when I hear, like, something new. " Yeah, but you're, you know, you're, like, circling just outside the industry. You know what I mean?
I like how you didn't put me there. We're not letting you in. We're not letting you in. You were a little closer than this happened.
Back out, back out. Back out, back out. Get that foot out of here. No, I mean, I think it's a great cigar, but I understand what you're saying.
There's a lot of people that like what they like. And they're like, oh, I don't know what that means. Yeah, they don't want to deter. I don't get it.
Okay, well, anything else to add, Mr. Palmer? Nope, no appearances, no shows that are coming up that I'm going to be in or anything. Okay.
And Phil, where are you going to be? Cotton Grass. Yeah, I'm about to be Cotton Grass. Oh, well, where are you going to be cutting grass, meaning people want to come watch?
Yeah. Are you going to be in the mask? No. Oh.
Then they won't know it's you. Yeah, they'll have no idea. I do wear a, I don't know what it's called. A different mask?
Yeah, it's like a thing that covers my mouth and my nose. A respirator? So you don't get allergies? Yeah.
No, it's like a bandana, but... Oh, so you look like you're robbing a bank the whole time. A gator, a gator mask, that's what it's called. Oh, a gator.
Yeah. Do you do it, do you cut the grass in boots? Uh, nope. Okay.
I haven't seen the boots lately. I wear them out. Okay. Well, anyways, hey, guys, thank you so much for watching.
We hope we provide a great edutainment for you today. Like and subscribe. We're reviewing and listening to this show. com for all your chpod swag.
com, A Cigar Hustlers Podcast. We couldn't wait to get that off. Good. Thanks again, everybody.
All right, guys, thanks. We gotta go. Bye.
Show Notes
On this episode of the Cigar Hustlers Podcast, the crew reviews and discusses the latest from Camacho and Drew Estate.A full cigar-industry news discussion — reviews, interviews, and commentary, plus the week's wildest headlines.In episode 614 of the Cigar Hustlers Podcast, host Mike BDP runs from the news desk to the humidor — reacting to the week's headlines before digging into cigar news and reviews featuring Camacho and Drew Estate. Honest conversation and industry commentary, new episodes every weekday.