ACHP Episode 445
Transcript
Music.
Welcome to episode 445 of the
Cigar Hustler podcast.
Now every weekday at 5 AMI am
Terrence Riley.
You probably don't notice that
'cause you can hardly see me
from agnoris to cigars.
And yes, I am this tall.
Today in engineering we have
Boots, Magoo and Palmer.
Then as my Co host Mikey, I wish
I was as tall as Terrence.
Step on cabbage I.
Do wish I was as tall as
Terrence.
None of this makes life
phonetically.
Spelled your your name for him
so that he could say it.
Very nice, very nice.
Thank you for having me today.
On today's show we have a
calling in six story naming
contest, a bang of a bang of a
Florida story.
Then in cigars we have a new
hire, couple new cigars and a
mini game of what's the score?
But first, Mikey, how do I get
some of that CHPOD swag?
CHPOD swag.
Nice, Terrence, Thanks so much
for asking, bud.
What you want to do is you want
to go on the Chapter pod.com and
check out all of our latest
swag.
If you buy 1, you get the 2nd
140% off.
And if you spend $100 or more,
you're going to get free
shipping.
Oh, wow.
Also, make sure you like and
subscribe to this show wherever
you're watching.
I know that you don't like or
subscribe that you just watch
the short clips which is very
hurtful as well as now.
I'm not going to watch anything,
to be honest.
That's now you're going to.
Yeah, that's good.
Well, he lived.
It was it.
I lived it.
I lived to watch it now.
You win 1, you lose some, I
don't know what to, you know, it
is what it is.
But before we kind of get it,
before we get any further here
for one, thank you very much for
signing up to our Patreon.
That was very nice of you.
I appreciate it.
I'll make sure that you get the
link.
Thank you to do that.
So and we're going to take $10 a
month from Terrence.
Oh.
Nice, I'll pay in chocolate
Bunny heads.
Chocolate Bunny heads slightly.
It's $10 worth.
Which and are you looking for?
Compensation Just a little bit.
Yes.
We will take Bunny heads.
We did just launch the Postagna
San Andreas, Corona Gorda, and I
did want to start giving shout
outs to the retailers who were
already getting them.
So we're going to do 5A day for
the upcoming month.
So shout out to Harry Smoke Shop
in Philadelphia, Brass Pipe in
Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, FL
Sorry guys.
Cigar is in Fort Pierce.
Fort Pierce, That's what I
meant.
Well, it says something else on
the you.
Said Fort Lauderdale.
And then you said Fort.
Myers I know, but like on the
this is.
Why I don't watch the show to be
honest.
Yeah, this is it.
We're geographically challenged.
Because we don't know what's
going on I.
Didn't want to say it, but I'm
glad you summed it up for me.
I mean, but here's the the
reality is I just don't care.
That's that's.
I can I can tell.
Wait, it's even better when when
Boots starts talking, you're
going to love it.
Cigar Vault.
Oakdale, PA.
Smoker's Haven.
Seneca, New York and of course
small batch cigars out in Cali.
What a nice group.
Yeah, those are some good dudes.
They are, you know, so we got
more of that, but I just want to
do 5 at a time.
And, you know, if you have a
retailer that wants to carry our
product, have them reach out to
us.
Comment below or e-mail
mikep@pochiccigars.com.
POSP i.e.
C hcigars.com.
Master Chief, are we going to
get the beanies?
Ohh, you like the fact that oh,
Master Chief?
Ohh, you're you're you're in on
the Master Chief comment.
Yeah, yeah.
Master Chief is tall like
Terrence.
Do you watch Halo?
Did you watch Halo?
Yeah, he is actually tall.
Tall like Terrance.
It's a nice alliteration.
Well, tall like Terrance, yeah.
It's a it's a reference of size
now.
Yeah.
How tall are you?
I'm Terrance tall.
It's like Terrance tall.
Yeah, that was not in the
script, by the way.
He came up with that.
Oh, wow.
Yeah, that was.
Sharp today.
We're really good.
I got to make up for my, you
know, my Fort Myers mess up.
Yeah, I was trying to forget
about that, but you brought it
back.
Up.
Yeah.
I like to really kind of bury it
when I screw up.
There you go.
Drive it.
Home.
I can.
I can see that, yeah.
All right.
So hey, go ahead and carry on.
Oh no.
Now the news.
Yeah.
NASA is facing a rare medical
situation aboard the
International Space Station ISS
that has prompted the space
agency to rethink its schedule
and crew plans.
Officials confirmed that one
astronaut on the ISS developed a
medical issue this week, leading
NASA to cancel a planned
spacewalk that has been set for
Thursday.
The astronaut's identity and the
specific nature of the illness
have not been disclosed due to
privacy protections, but NASA
says the individual is in stable
condition and being monitored
closely by flight surgeons.
This development is significant
because NASA is now actively
evaluating all options,
including the possibility of
bringing the current ISS crew,
known as Crew 11, back to Earth
early, earlier than originally
planned.
The four person team, which
includes 2US astronauts, a
Japanese astronaut from JAXA and
a Russian cosmonaut, launched
the orbiting laboratory in
August and was slated to remain
on the station through mid
February.
OK, how does that make you feel?
Are you a big astronaut guy?
Not really, no.
No, You know, like.
For me, Earth is I don't want to
go.
You you prefer Earth?
Yeah, I'm, I'm more Earth than
space.
I don't think they'd fit you in
a in a space.
Ship.
Yeah, we'll never find out
'cause I'm.
Not going it won't.
Fit.
Yeah.
Like when they want to colonize
Mars.
Like.
I'm not going.
No.
Good luck.
You're good here.
Yeah, I'm fine here.
What if you were to go up there
and be like the first person to
ever grow tobacco in on Mars?
No, I'm not going.
You're not doing it.
You would just send somebody.
I, I don't, I don't know if I'm
that high up on the totem pole
to send anybody anywhere, but,
but yeah, it wouldn't be me.
I wouldn't be going 'cause I can
tell you that.
Would you think you could
convince Fabian to go?
No, you he's, he's even less
likely to go than me, I think.
Even less likely.
That would be a rare rare leaf
though, I mean.
Fabian would only go to Mars if
he was the only person that was
gonna be there.
Yeah.
OK, so hear me out on this.
Like Mars, you get tobacco, and
we call it supreme Supreme Rare,
Rare, Supreme leaf.
Yes, I would add Mars.
Seems a little Mars.
Seems a little.
Redundant.
Seems a bit redundant, think
it's a little over the top.
I'm not gonna take a turn to
negative town, but I hate it.
The box the colors of the box
looks very marsy.
Yeah, we could do like you could
do the.
The pink and blue or whatever,
pink and purple or whatever.
Orange and purple or.
Am I supposed to keep reading
this?
There's more stuff about this
whole medicine.
No, this is the way it works.
They interrupt you and then you
really don't get back to the.
Story.
Start making fun of whatever the
topic is.
It's kind of like being in a
cigar land, OK?
What could be wrong with the
astronaut that he has to come
home?
They won't say because the HIPAA
violation they can't say.
Hepatitis.
Bad case Hepatitis.
Any type of STD or something?
Is that traveling in the in the
spaceship?
Yeah, you know.
They're, they're not cleaning
the toilets or something.
Yeah, but they left those other
people up there for eight
months.
This guy with him.
No, no, the two people that went
up and then their ship got broke
or something.
So they were there for almost a
whole another year and then this
guy, they're trying to get back
as soon as possible.
Maybe he's having a panic
attack.
Maybe he's got some type.
Of claustrophobic and he didn't
know him, yeah.
Maybe he's got like some type of
internal bleeding or a tear or
something inside his body.
Yeah, something.
That would make more sense.
Well.
There's no gravity, so it won't
come out.
I don't know that that can't be
good, you know what I mean?
Oh, but I just curious what
would be wrong with?
Him.
You know, Paul, I'm going to say
when you said that there's no
gravity so it won't come out, I
really believed that.
I just ignored it and kept
moving it would it would float
around.
OK, it's the blood to go all.
Right.
This, this story is not that
interesting, to be honest with
you.
I'm gonna, I'm gonna go to the
next one.
OK, that's fine.
We're.
Gonna do that a lot.
We're gonna, we're gonna adjust.
We're gonna fix your camera for
you.
Now Oh, thank you.
It's about time can.
We so why he reads like he can
fix the camera.
All right, here's the we.
Didn't know he was that tall.
News story in Animal Park in.
Mercy.
Wait, wait, wait.
No, I'm not supposed to read.
Yeah, the part in parentheses
you don't read, that was your
spacing so that you just don't
go from one story.
To that's right, yeah, yeah,
yeah.
Well, it can be.
I can say that that doesn't
hurt.
It doesn't say like.
No, it's great actually, Yeah.
It just doesn't hurt the flow.
No, in fact, you interrupting
kind of didn't.
An animal park in Mercer County.
Where's Mercer County?
Keep reading it it'll it'll say
it in the story.
Oh my God.
Actually, it doesn't look bad.
Yeah, it looks good though.
All right, fine.
Don't look too much, I'm going
to try to read the story for the
third time here.
Perfect, an animal park in
Mercer County is celebrating the
arrival of a new baby and
inviting the public to help
choose her name.
Keystone Safari has announced
the birth of a female giraffe.
Calf.
Oh my God.
Tuesday morning just wow.
This week at 9:00 AM.
The newborn weighs in at 154 lbs
and already stands in at
pressive 6 feet tall.
He is the 4th calf born to the
Parks resident giraffe pair Levy
and Blue Jeans Levi.
I guess in Blue Jays.
The birth was carefully
monitored by the park's animal
care team who allowed the mother
and calf on her up to time to
bond before conducting a
Wellness check.
After an exam by the park's
veterinarian and senior staff,
the calf was given a clean bill
of health with no immediate
concerns reported.
Levi and Blue Jeans were
originally raised at a living
treasure at Living Treasures
Wild Animal Park in Newcastle
and relocated to Keystone Safari
in late 2018.
Their growing family includes
Calvin, born 2017, Timber, born
2021 in KRE, born 2023.
Nice.
And I'm not, I'm not going to
read that, I mean.
That's OK, that's fine.
No, no, no, no.
He's got to.
Keep going.
Oh yeah, I got to keep going.
They launched A naming contest
for the new calf.
The contest runs through Labor
Day and guests who purchased
park admission receive 1 entry.
Submissions are collected at the
Giraffe Barn, where staff will
immediately select the winner.
Ultimately select the winner.
The person whose entry is chosen
will receive 2 season passes to
the park.
I will the prize if we can get
enough entries to name the
giraffe Terrence, it's a girl.
Doesn't matter a girl.
Giraffe doesn't matter.
We don't start the details, you
know what I mean?
We.
Don't know how it is you.
Can name Terry, can.
Either way, Terry works.
I'll be OK with that.
Visitors can see the draft
family at the Draft Barn, though
the park asks guests to speak
softly.
I do that too.
The the the barn may temporarily
close for short periods to allow
the calf to rest and nurse, with
viewing still available through
observation windows.
Keystone Safari is 144 acre
animal and adventure park
located in Grove City, PA.
OK, there you go.
So when you go to visit your
niece in the zoo, will you
parlay with additional of cigar
events or will you just go
directly?
Is there a specific age where
you're like, OK, I can go and
see her now or what?
I'm just going to ignore this
whole line of you can't.
You can't.
He doesn't like this.
I charge.
I got the whole.
Time I'm in charge.
New story.
I'm not supposed to read that.
Oh, my goodness.
Well, you know, congratulations
on the new addition of the
family, buddy.
Excited for you.
Thank you.
Yeah, this is good stuff.
Yep, of all the people I know,
you're one of them.
I appreciate that.
Yeah, I get.
That to Pete Hernandez.
Job that is yeah, that's that is
a Pete.
That's where we're going today.
That is, that is wow, good you
got the reference.
Of all the reps, he's wonderful.
Is he a Rep anymore?
Yeah, it's a broker.
He's a shop owner.
He can be many things.
He's, yeah, he's all things to
all people.
He's doing what he can, he's
doing his best.
Yeah, Aren't we all?
We're doing what we can with
what we got.
That's it.
And.
Then some of us are doing a
podcast.
Yeah, yeah.
Well, can't all be glory.
That's it.
All right.
New story.
Perfect.
A A piece of history turned into
a public safety moment this week
along Florida's Treasure Coast.
World War 2 era bomb was
discovered on a Port Saint Lucie
beach, prompting a swift
response from authorities and a
controlled detonation to ensure
public safety.
The unusual find occurred when
scuba diver Tom Gramlich was
exploring shallow waters near
the shoreline and noticed an
old, suspicious metal object
beneath the surface.
Recognizing it could be
dangerous, Gramlich, who I'm
sure I'm mispronouncing his
name, didn't take any chances.
He immediately lured law.
Local law enforcement deputies
quickly secured the area and
called in a specialized bomb
squad trained to handle
explosive ordnance.
Once on scene, the team
carefully moved the device to a
safe, isolated section of the
beach.
There, bomb disposal experts
conducted a controlled
detonation, sending sand and
debris high into the air but
keeping onlookers and residents
out of harm's way.
Officials believe the explosives
The explosive dates back to
World War 2A period when parts
of Florida's coastline,
particularly around the Treasure
Coast, were used for military
training exercises involving
live munitions.
It's not the first time remnants
from those activities have
surfaced, but it serves as a
vivid reminder that decades old
ordnance can still pose risks
Today.
Authorities are urging
beachgoers and divers who
encounter unfamiliar metal
objects in the sand or water to
stop immediately, mark the area
of possible and contact local
authorities without touching it.
Responders will take it from
there to protect the public and
safely dispose of any hazardous
material.
Mikey, do you have any video for
us?
Maybe one of you and Larim.
No, I don't have any.
I don't have any videos of me
and Lorene, unfortunately, but
like, OK, so but we're not going
to talk about the bomb thing at
all.
I.
Don't think there's anything
he's.
Look at me for he's the one with
the control over there.
I know.
What was there to talk about?
A World War 2 bomb was just
found.
Yeah, that's what I just read.
Yeah, off the coast, that's.
Usually what happens, like
there's a news article.
So like a news, you don't see a
news article on the news and you
don't talk about it at all.
You just say, oh, news.
I don't know what it what
there's the talk about.
Yeah, it didn't.
Nobody got.
Blown up.
So if somebody blew up, then
you'd wanna talk about it?
Listen, I'm gonna.
Be more to talk about.
Look, I'm not having the ice
conversation with you, okay?
I'm not touching that one.
So there's no way.
There's no way.
I'm just saying the bomb, it
must have been a slow week in
news.
I don't know if that's a really.
It's hard to get news every
single day.
That's true.
That's a good point.
Yeah.
You found the baby giraffe
story.
That was impressive.
Thank you.
Yeah, that's a short notice
thing too.
I only said I was.
Coming.
For all we know, it could be
made-up.
No, no, it's true.
That's true.
That's good point.
There were three draft stories.
Yeah, this could be fake that.
Was the best one, surprisingly.
A lot of draft stories this
week.
Yeah, there was.
It was weird.
I mean, it's pretty interesting
that they finally found this
bomb, I mean.
You don't find that fascinating?
It's been sitting for how many
years?
Yeah, 70 years?
80 years?
How long they?
Found like, I don't know, a
treasure chest or something from
like pirates.
That's kind of interesting.
I don't know, it's just a bomb.
Well.
That's why they call that the
Treasure Coast.
There's supposedly a lot of
shipwrecks out that way, but.
Yeah, see that's, that's an.
Interesting World War 2 bomb
though.
I mean, that'd be dropped from.
Something.
Yeah.
Where did it come from?
Right, It just said in the story
they were training out there
with live munitions back in the
day.
No, I don't listen.
The story is self-contained.
We didn't.
We didn't pay attention to your
reading.
Yeah, I mean, you started just
kind of rambling there for a
minute, so.
I'm just reading what's put in
front of me, so blend yourselves
We.
Just checked out.
Yeah, even the stage direction.
He's reading something, Yeah.
They look left.
OK, alright, perfect.
Read the story right to the
joke.
So you didn't?
Catch it?
There was no break in.
The next thing it was supposed
to say, there's a break in.
Then he's not really good at.
We're working on that.
It's, you know, it's seven
years.
Reading and I set it up so I
know how.
To maybe, maybe for the 10th
anniversary, you'll be up and
running a tight ship.
Here.
Yeah.
Tenth.
Yeah, another three.
Yeah, we're almost there.
Or two years.
So by the way, I'm smoking this.
Can you see that?
Twist it a little other way.
Yes, Arsenio, OK.
Arsenio.
Yeah, what am I smoking here,
Mr. Riley?
A wonderful Arsenio.
Arsenio was the head blender of
Agonorsa for many years.
He was one of the guys, Eduardo
Fernandez, the owner of the
company of Agonorsa.
He was not.
He's Cuban, but he's not a
tobacco guy himself.
So he went to Cuba when he
started up in the 90s and and
brought over a whole bunch of
Cuban agronomists to come work
for Agonorsa.
And the reason he was able to
bring them is that these guys
had kind of been forced out.
They were retired, but they had
not been party members.
So Arsenio was the most
important of these guys and he
was able to take a bunch of them
over to Nicaragua, start growing
tobacco.
And Arsenio was really the guy
that developed Agonosis's
signature flavor and aroma.
He passed away in 2018.
And this blend was the blend he
smoked.
We came out with it in three
sizes, but this size that you're
smoking, the Corona is actually
the size that he enjoyed
smoking.
So well, yeah, this is
delicious, by the way.
But listen, I mean, we couldn't
have done, like, anything a
little bit nicer for him on this
band.
Maybe it's him.
It looks like he's straight out
of The Simpsons bro.
Is it exactly?
That it's him.
That's what he looks like.
He really looks like though,
yeah.
Does he drive like a pink sedan?
No, he doesn't like The
Simpsons.
He never like that blue hair.
This.
Is like that blue.
Hair that sticks up kind of like
a beehive.
Yeah, well, here I am.
Look in the O in the band is a
smoke ring.
But she didn't even.
Notice that I didn't.
That is.
That is very good.
Yeah, see that is good instead.
Of making funny jokes, maybe.
Did you pay attention?
Look at look at the band a
little bit more.
I didn't get one of those.
Palmer, did you get?
One.
No, I didn't get one either.
You guys aren't?
Super boxes right there.
You get a super rare supreme
something.
You know, I would have probably
have noticed the.
Which could be anything so.
I can only give so many of these
out guys.
Yeah, it's a select number.
I understand this cigar did
really well with a lot of review
sites.
It it ranked last year.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Dojo did well with it a bunch.
You know, we got some good
reviews on it.
So yeah, again, it was, we kind
of thought it was he liked to
smoke.
It was, I mean, obviously he
didn't have bands on it when he
had it.
But you know, the guy had been
doing it a long time, 50 years
in Cuba and another 20 for us.
So it's cool to see what a guy
that smoked that long and was so
involved in tobacco thought a
cigar should taste.
Like why did you release it
after he died?
Well, again, he he passed and
then we want to do something to
honor him.
And at first that's why, yeah,
at first we thought, you know,
what's come up with something
new.
But then it's like, why don't we
just release the cigar he was
smoking?
It seemed like a good idea.
So makes sense.
We we utilized his his blend.
OK, cool.
And that's ALE or is that a core
line?
It's a core line.
Got it.
Yeah, man, this size is really
good.
Nice, really good.
You guys should try it one day.
You're going to love it.
Maybe.
Maybe one day.
Yeah, one day I'm not going to
make any promises, OK?
Next time I see Groover, I'll
ask for one.
Good luck with that.
Yeah, it's like squeezing blood
from a stone.
Yeah, yeah, he leaves like he.
Always gives me cigar.
He slides like something out
here.
And always make sure he gives me
one for my wife.
He's very nice.
Yeah.
That's always the flavor infused
stuff.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
He remembers he has a good.
Member, he does it.
All right, let's move along with
this.
OK, we're still a little stale.
I'm.
Very sorry sorry.
Please keep Terrance like our
chit chat.
I tried to get a chlorine
Terrance.
Just tried to give you a nice
plug.
Whatever.
Hey, screw me, no problem.
Keep.
Going Yeah, I saw, I I read this
already, but I'm gonna read it
again.
Mikey, do you have a video for
US1 of you and La Ream?
No, I still don't have a video
of me and La Ream.
No, no, but he's my bestie now.
He's a great man.
Oh, he's the he's a great.
Man.
I saw that guy with that when he
was doing the Zeno thing.
Oh.
I'm sorry, are we bothering you?
With the Zeno thing is that.
Fabian or Groover?
Look left.
What was I saying?
I don't even know what.
I was saying.
Now, Yeah, yeah.
Like we're setting up the whole,
the whole Zeno booth and
everything, the whole thing, it
was like 95° out and he's
setting that whole thing up like
he's running around working
hard.
He's driving all the.
I was like this poor guy.
So I'm glad he's doing well.
I'm glad he's just crushing.
Yeah, he's crushing it out
there.
He's a Great American.
He really is.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I mean, he's like, he's up
there, man, as far as, if, as
far as if he ever became
available to, to jump to another
corporation.
Like, I don't know how anybody
let's that guy go.
He's, he's awesome.
We worked with him before
because we did.
He did a bunch of videos for us
for our YouTube.
Channel Oh, so you let him go
then he.
Was a contract.
He was a contract.
He hired him.
He left us.
Here we go, he left.
Us like all right.
Thanks so much for your time
bro.
I'll see you.
Thanks for the value.
Let's move it along.
Keep it moving.
Karen's in a hurry, must have
somewhere to go.
Last week, General Segarco began
shipping the 2026 batch of the
Cao Amazon Basin, one of the
company's most popular limited
editions with some of the rarest
tobacco in the world.
Super rare.
This is the third consecutive
year that General has sent a
batch of the original Amazon
basin to stores in the first
part of the new year.
So rare it's available again.
The cameos have been full and we
are bringing it back again this
year.
The cigar, which debuted in
2014, is a 6 by 52 Toro that
uses an Ecuadorian Sumatra seed
wrapper, A Nicaraguan binder and
filler.
Tobacco is grown in Brazil,
Colombia and the Dominican
Republic.
Like most CEOs, it is made at
STG Esteli in Nicaragua.
The Brazilian tobacco is known
as baranca Baranca Baranca, a
varietal grown in the Amazon
rainforest that journal says
only can be harvested once every
three years, and actually they
only should be after harvested
only can be harvested only once
every three.
Years only harvested once every
three.
Years.
They put it out for the last.
Three years release comes out
every year.
The tobacco plants are placed a
full yard apart, further than
most tobacco plants, and once
the leaves are harvested, they
are rolled into tubes called
carrots.
You should know all this stuff.
Don't.
I didn't think he'd have a
problem with doing the.
Tobacco for six months of aging.
When the cigar was introduced,
General said the tobacco was
transported out of the Amazon
via boat.
General declined to disclose
production numbers.
Last year's release had an MSRP
of 1449 per cigar.
Amazon Basin became such a
success that has inspired
offshoots such as the Cao
Amazon, Fumo M Corda, Cao Amazon
Anaconda and Cao Orayana.
Yep.
Each release uses strings of
tobacco instead of the
traditional paper band.
Because it's so rare that we
added four more.
He added other blends, other
Vitolas.
Once every three years.
Cynicism.
This is a lot of cynicism on
this show.
There must have been extra
boats.
Just I call it entertainment
boats, you know, you, you call
it whatever you.
Want tomato?
I like, I like that he's like
not getting involved either.
He's like, OK, I'm just this is
they're under attack.
They're attacking someone.
He's going to end up so he
can't, you know, he can't make
fun of anybody.
Say anything.
I will not say anything that
will protect my best interest at
all cost.
I'm in.
I'm in Switzerland, man.
Yeah, I got.
It he's.
Going to disclaimer at the.
End well.
I love Justin Andrews of STG,
but he's the only one I know.
It's a great company.
And Matt Booth.
I love Matt Booth, but he's not
really, you know, he's kind of.
Everyone's out there doing the
best they can with what they
got.
They.
Are and I'm going to make fun of
all of them.
Good.
You see your equal opportunity.
That's what matters.
Yeah.
I mean, don't pick.
Don't be a bully.
Don't pick on people.
Yeah, that's good.
You're a bigger guy, so people
are intimidated by you.
So you know, I think it would be
wrong to to do that.
Yeah, that's not OK.
Exactly.
That's not on the same page.
I agree that's not OK, but I
mean, you know, listen, you got
to have fun in this industry,
man, You know what I mean?
Sometimes people take it too
far.
It goes overboard sometimes.
I'm not saying you, I'm saying
it happens.
I'm just trying to give you a
little warning.
Yeah, who takes it too far?
I'm not going to get into the
name.
What have you heard?
But there are there are there
are instances, there are things
that have happened.
We know and you know.
Yeah, I do.
I'm winking for the people
listening, little winking on it
and a little wink, you know?
I don't know.
New story.
Wait, there was some jokes in
there that you skipped?
Look left, other wasn't.
STG.
How about the canoe?
That's OK.
Keep.
Go ahead.
There's no joke.
There's nothing there.
All right?
Yeah.
You didn't put it in.
Wow, you missed it.
Sansparai has announced that it
has appointed Joseph Perkins the
company's new VP of National
Sales.
Perkins joined the company in
July 2025 in an interim role
similar to his new full time
position.
David Swinburne, president of
Sansparai, told Half Will that
this was intentionally
structured as a trial period
based on Perkins background and
sales leadership, relationship
development and strategic
growth.
While Perkins does not come from
a background in the tobacco
industry, he has experience in
luxury products that require a
consultative, hand sold approach
to the right clientele,
Swinburne said, adding that his
performance in that capacity was
exceptional, consistently
leading his team month over
month, exceeding targets and
driving measurable market
expansion.
In addition to overseeing the
company's all US accounts and
broker relationships, Perkins
will focus on cultivating long
term relationships with select
US tobacconists and partners,
helping to ensure that SAN Prize
portfolio is presented in
environments that reflect the
brand's enduring values of
exclusivity, integrity and
craftsmanship, according to a
press release.
Joe's presence, confidence and
ability to command the room were
immediately apparent, said
Swinberg.
Equally impactful were the
relationships he demonstrated
with the patrons of the
establishment.
Relationships that, in my view,
reflect the foundation upon
which this industry is built.
Additionally, Joe referenced
several pre-existing
relationships that had
historically been difficult to
establish, which further
reinforced our confidence in
proceeding with the trial
period.
Perkins was previously with MSI,
a company specializing in
countertops, tile and other
surfacing products.
Obviously high trained with tons
of experience in the cigar
industry.
Boy, that was a lot of reading.
No wonder.
You wanted me to do this and he.
Didn't even pick up on it.
OK, so first of all, Sweeney's
cool.
That's Swinberg.
We all know Sweeney.
Sweeney, he's a good guy.
Oh, is that Sweeney?
I wonder if Swinberg.
That's Sweeney, OH.
Sweeney Yeah.
Yeah, Sam Perry, I.
Was going to ask what happened
to Boots's buddy.
So like, what would you do?
What would you like?
What's what's the right
approach?
If you had a a ultra premium
line and that was pretty much
what you focused on, like what
would be the approach that would
be different than it was regular
core line, you know, kind of
availability, something you
would do because you're super
intelligent.
Oh.
Well, you think, oh, you're
smart.
You're tall.
You.
Oh.
He's going to open up now, yeah.
Now that he's.
So many mark it down.
I got a compliment for Mike
Boots.
Boots apparently laws out.
I, I don't know enough about the
company really to to to give a
thorough analysis of what your
approach would be.
I mean, again, obviously the,
the higher in the product, the
more the the environment is
important to its to its sell.
So if if you're, you know, the
Davidoffs of the world and
things like that and it's in a,
you know, a case in a gas
station that doesn't play well.
So I think that's the main thing
you have to kind of look like is
what if my product is sold here?
What does it say about the
product?
So I think that's the main.
What about like marketing?
Do you think you'd market more
like Robberport or something
like that or?
Like, you know, I mean, again,
I, I, I think that the, the more
important thing is, is finding,
is finding places that can
really move the product.
Well, you know, I mean, it's
important to advertise, it's
important to do those things,
but it's, it's always, I think
hard to say how much of that
really works, you know, OK, so
you did an ad, how many people
saw it, how many people did
anything from it?
You know, the jokes always half
your advertising works.
And I think on that stuff it's
even harder because it's you're
appealing to even more narrow
group of people, so.
You guys market with anybody you
advertise.
We do a couple, yeah, we do
some, yeah.
But but we focus I'd say more in
the last few years on working
with the the retail partners,
doing stuff promotion wise,
working with them to get the
product in people's hands.
You sponsor any podcasts?
Yeah, Any podcasts?
No, leave them.
You leave them alone.
You leave them alone.
We'll talk after kids.
There are no sponsors on this,
yeah.
When we're smoking the the
Smokey O arsenios.
Smoking there.
Yeah.
I'll leave you guys a couple
maybe.
We'll see how this goes.
Perfect.
New story.
OK all.
Right, carrying on.
We're going to blast through
this podcast fast.
One, yeah, we're at 26.
Yeah, I know.
I can see it.
There's an all new Playboy
branded cigar, this time coming
from Kingmakers.
In the 1990s there was a Playboy
by Don Diego brand and later
just a Playboy branded cigar
from Altas USA.
Kingmakers has introduced the
new Playboy Toro, the first
cigar in the company's new
Playboy cigar collection.
It measures 6 by 54 and uses an
Ecuadorian Habano Creoleo
wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder
and Nicaraguan fillers.
The cigar is made at an
undisclosed factory in Estele,
Nicaragua.
Each cigar has an MSRP of $12.00
and is offered in boxes of 10.
The Playboy Toro has gone on
sale online and will be offered
in brick and mortar retailers.
Playboy shaped an era where
culture, style and indulgence
intertwined.
Our goal was to honor that
heritage while crafting
something distinctly modern,
said Claudio Torres, Co founder
and COCOO of Kingmakers and a
press release.
The result is a cigar that
resonates with a legacy while
speaking to today's discerning
audience.
The Playboy Toro joins
Kingmaker's portfolio of
licensed cigars, which includes
products with the The Country
band Midland and basketball
stars Carmelo Anthony and Kelsey
Plum.
Oh, a cigar you're by for?
What the heck does it say?
A cigar you're by for?
The article is not the Playboy
covers that adorn the inside of
the box.
That's the joke.
Yeah, I got it.
It took a second.
Had hit the wall first.
Have you smoked a Kelsey Pump
cigar?
No, no, I haven't either.
No, I mean, I don't for me, you
know, like a Playboy Bunny
doesn't really seem like a good
marketing strategy.
I mean, more often than not, I
think that if a person that's
trying to consume cigars,
especially if they don't dabble
in it on the regular, they're
looking for some type of kind of
masculine approach just for a
cigar, right?
Like if a cigar says, you know,
I mean Supreme Leaf, like,
that's still an attractive name,
right?
Not as not as attractive as
Supreme Supreme Rare Rare leaf.
But well, listen.
Mars.
That's only for key accounts,
buddy, you know, and
unfortunately it'll never be
here until it's home, you know,
But one, maybe one day, maybe
one that's a TAA exclusive from
what I heard.
It's always tough to combine
things with cigars because cigar
market is a very, you know,
select group of people.
There's only, you know, how many
millions of people in the whole
country that will have a cigar
period?
About three, yeah, some, let's
say 3 million people.
So you have 3 million people.
Out of that, how many of them
are fans of X team or of X
individual or what?
So now you're taking that pie
and you're cutting it down even
smaller.
It's hard to.
It's hard to make that work.
But even if you're like an older
guy that likes that, likes
Playboy magazines, I can't see
you going in saying, Oh yeah,
Bunny, I will buy that cigar.
I.
Don't think they make the
magazine anymore, do they?
It's just on the.
Line, I think it's online now
it's just online.
Yeah, I think it's just a
digital.
The brand's kind of played.
I mean, if they did it maybe 20
years ago or something.
Yeah.
A.
Lot of people don't even know
what that is.
Yeah, right.
What is this Bunny?
Oh, this is a bad Bunny.
Is.
This an only fans thing I don't
understand.
Well, again, but you also
there's still a lot of smokers
that are from that generation
that, you know, might be
nostalgic for him.
Oh yeah, I remember Playboy and
have a.
There'll be certain markets,
certain countries where it'll
still work I.
Think you're being very
gracious.
You know, unfortunately I just
don't think that this is a good
idea.
Yeah, it's like a nostalgic.
See, we'll see what happens.
Yeah, I'll tell you, a lot of
cigars in this industry, people,
everyone thought they were bad
ideas.
And then you never know.
Which one was the biggest
surprise for you?
I would say nub was a pretty big
surprise.
Nub.
I remember everyone was like
that's the dumbest idea I've
ever heard of. 1/2 a cigar or it
doesn't make any sense and then
everyone's got that size now.
So it just depends, you know, or
even with you know, like with
the big ring gauge stuff.
I mean that.
Who would have thought that that
would have?
Become taken off.
Yeah, as popular as it is.
Yeah, that's true.
So you never know.
Well, you.
Never really older vintage
covers on the inside of the lid.
Yeah.
Of like Playboy.
Covers, yeah, but I don't think
that does.
Anything not not the ones where
you would see more skin.
They're more the.
So it's more of like a
collector.
Yeah, Collector's edition cigar.
OK.
Yeah, I mean, like, look, I want
everybody to succeed, but I'm
just going to get my opinion if
I don't think it's it's a good
idea or a bad idea.
That's fair, Yeah.
No, I think you gave a fair
assessment.
Yeah.
Does Kingmaker make any regular
cigars?
Are they all celebrity type
stuff?
I think it's all celebrity from
what I've seen.
So this would.
They do the Ojo Cinco one too,
yeah.
Did they or?
Are you just young?
No.
No, from when we when we met him
at PCA, Yeah, Yeah, it was
Kingmakers.
Yeah.
OK.
Because I had never heard of
them.
And then I saw they came out
with Carmelo Anthony.
But who's the celebrity for
Playboy it.
Would just be Playboy.
I guess the it's iconic brand
or.
Whatever.
Yeah, just just the logo.
There's a Bunny.
The Playboy Bunny's on the band.
And it well, it doesn't king
does king make, does king maker
sell to other retailers or they
just sell direct and that's it?
It says in the article they sell
the some brick and mortars too.
They do, yeah.
Yeah.
OK.
Now a mini game of what's the
score?
And with that, we have the
master of what's the score, Mike
Palmer.
Yeah.
So, OK, so you obviously don't
want to show, but this is how
this is going to work.
Mr. Palmer is going to announce
a cigar that Half Wheel has done
a review on somewhere in the
span of 2005 and 2025.
And we're going to guess what we
think the score is going to be.
And we're going to guess
periodically, you're going to
guess three or four times
depending usually on the title
like the description.
And then there's going to be two
or three kind of questions or
statements about the review.
And then the final thought will
come in and we will try our best
to guess the proper score.
Do we know what the cigar is or
it's just?
He's going to announce.
OK, so we know what the cigar is
too.
And I got a feeling that it's
going to be an agonorsa.
Because you're all great.
Or if he I mean if he was really
gangster, he would have went
Quesada I.
Can't remember the other brand
but I didn't do Agonorsa because
I figured he would know.
Yeah, that's true.
That's.
That's.
Fine, well, there was one more
you forgot at the end though,
that Boots is going to win.
Boots.
Is on a run.
Boots is on a little bit of a
tear right now.
He's he's won so far this year.
Really.
Yes, which?
Is not, he guesses, the score,
he just remembers it.
Or no, like, well, what's weird
is I, you know, I like, I
usually have a tendency to kind
of nail the score.
But if he's all if he guesses
and I go higher or lower or I
guess and he goes higher and
lower and he's closer, then he
wins.
But I he did you nail one.
I think you nailed 1, nailed 1.
Yeah, 2 actually, 'cause he
thought the first one I was
cheating.
Yeah.
And then I nailed the.
Second one, he cheated on.
He was cheating so.
Palmer's here, but now Palmer is
here, yeah.
He's going to see it.
I don't cheat.
Unless he told you prior to
maybe, but then he'd have to be.
In Oh, that would have been
funny.
Yeah, I didn't think of that.
All right, you guys ready?
Yep.
All right.
This one is from September 2nd,
2025.
Brooks Whittington did the
review.
It is the adventure of Blue Eyed
Jacks revenge Maduro high tide.
The.
Blue eyed Jack.
Revenge Maduro, High tide.
Do we do we know when this
review is done or?
Yeah, September 2nd, 2025.
OK oh so just did it this.
Is recent.
It was the end of last year are.
We going to let guest go first.
By Brooks Yeah, go ahead and
pick your.
Number somewhere between 1 and
100. 87.
It's a good number.
It's a good number.
I'm going to go 88.
I'm going to go 89.
OK.
You're just sticking with us.
Yep.
OK.
All right, it's the adventure of
Blue Eyed Jack Revenge Maduro
High tide Country of origin
Dominican Republic Factory
Tablicalera Mina del Rey rappers
Mexican San Andreas Maduro
binders Dominican Republic Orla
Filler Dominican Republic linked
6 1/2 by 50 and they smoked 3
cigars.
OK, now you have some Intel
about the rapper, the the length
and all those.
And obviously who made the
cigar?
It's Aventura.
So you would change your score,
keep it the same, whatever you
want to do.
Is that their factory?
Mina de Mina del Rey.
I'm keeping this, I don't know.
I'm keeping the score because I
not because of I haven't even
had the cigar, but I I think
it's probably a little higher
than 87, but I'm going to stick
to 87.
Yeah, I'm going to.
I'm going to inch up here to 90.
I'm going to go 90 to start.
For the for the blue eyed Jack.
Yeah, because then I just
realized where it was coming
from.
A mistake at 89.
OK.
All right, clue #1 the cigar
delivers a rich, evolving
profile, highlighted by sweet
cedar and creamy peanut butter,
supported by complex secondary
notes like cocoa nibs, cinnamon
popcorn or cinnamon, sorry
popcorn and Baker spices,
keeping the experience engaging
from start to finish.
Coco Nibs is a go to for Brooks.
He loves.
Coco loves Coco.
Always slides that in.
We're not sure what it is, but.
Yeah, he must love.
Those he's a big Coco nibs guy.
Coco nibs are good, yeah.
It's good quality.
We should make him a shirt that
says I'm just here for the Coco
nibs.
Or send him some Coco nibs.
Yeah.
With the shirt.
My score doesn't change. 87 OK,
I'm a stick 90.
I I've noticed in my opinion,
like the descriptions like don't
help you at all.
And I've read half will reviews
that like I'm like, that sounds
like the most amazing cigar
ever.
And then it's like, Oh yes, have
a great rating.
And then other times I'm like,
I'm like, Oh man, this is going
to be terrible.
And then it's a good rating, so.
96.
I I my score, whatever you read
is not going to alter my opinion
at all because I've never been
able to kind of like figure out
by reading the description what
the score will be.
I never guess it based on that.
Maybe just not paying attention.
Maybe.
There's a couple of facts here
that you need to start kind of
breaking down.
Number one, who did the review?
No, that's, that's, you know, so
that, but that factors into like
what I think the score will be.
Some, I think right a little
bit, you know, more strictly
than others, but but in terms of
the actual like, like notes and
things like that, like I, I've
never been able to use that to
figure out what the score will
be.
You got to also remember that
one of the biggest things that
impact half wheels reviews is
construction draws or anything,
anything like that, so listen
for that.
That's a good point, OK.
So where you at there Bootsy?
I'd go after you.
Yeah.
What'd you say, 90?
Oh, 89.
All right, clue #2 construction
is consistently strong with
excellent draws, solid smoke
production and mostly sharp burn
lines, allowing the flavors to
shine with minimal interface
throughout all three thirds.
Same.
So construction good, Brooks.
How many clues do we get total?
33 and then the final.
Thought so.
There's one more.
One more and then you get the
final thought.
So and then you get to.
OK, so I'm sticking where I am.
I'm not.
Moving 87, OK, that kind of just
solidifies 90 for me. 89.
I like that you're kind of
pigeonholed here, because at
this point, if it's not an 88 or
an 89, you're screwed.
Yeah.
I mean, I mean, yeah, OK, I got
to hear the final thought.
We can run defense.
Final thought does give away
that we can make sure.
And then just make sure that
he's not going to win.
Oh, now you're trying to team
up.
Yeah.
Oh, was this the plan for the
beginning?
It's a team effort.
Oh, OK.
All right, clue #3 there is a
noticeable inconsistency in the
cigar feet shapes.
Oh.
Look, I got a text message.
And two samples required minor
burn touch ups in the second
third, slightly detracting from
an otherwise polished
presentation.
It might actually be an 88, but
I'm sticking with 87.
Yes.
OK, I don't think that the the
foot inconsistency is going to
change anything.
I'm so weird.
I'm going to stick with 90.
The feet shapes are different,
yeah.
Boots, the only thing it's
because it's Brooks.
I think it might be a little
higher, but I'll stick with what
I have.
I'm going to go 86.
Oh wow, you're dropping down?
Yeah.
He's just trying to mess with
you.
Oh, wow.
This is a strategy of his.
Yeah, yeah.
Mind games here?
Yeah, this is getting intense.
He knows he has one more chance,
so I can tell you what.
See if you can throw me off,
huh?
That's exactly.
What make you go lower?
Don't be fooled I.
Get what you're doing, Aaron,
this is.
All right, this is the final
thought gentlemen.
I have made no secret of how
much I have enjoyed the vast
majority of ADV and McKay
releases that I have smoked and
the adventure of Blue Eyed Jacks
Revenge Maduro High Tide is just
the latest example.
The blend features a complex and
nuanced flavor profile along
with great transitions between
thirds, but that is just the
start of the story.
There's also the extremely good
construction and an amazing
balance between the medium plus
strength, the light spice
present on my tongue, and the
combination of red pepper and
sweetness on the retro hill.
There are not many cigars that
nail virtually every aspect of
what makes a great cigar, but
the Aventura Blue Eye Jacks
Revenge Maduro High Tide is
definitely one of them.
Oh man, no, I got to move up to
a 90 on that.
I'm moving up to a 90.
Oh, Mikey.
All right.
I'm going to go 92.
Watch it again I.
Think his head's going to
explode?
I love that.
Who's this Brooks?
Brooks, make sure I turn my
phone so we can see. 89. 91 you
should have you should have
thread the nail.
Man.
I thought you had it.
I.
Was I was so torn because I'm
like, you know, Brooks does this
whole number thing.
We're like, dude, he says he
really loves it, and then he
scores it low and then he says
he doesn't like it.
It was set up.
I was gonna you.
Never thought it I.
Was going 91 but man that that
final thought was just so
loving.
I know.
There's just, I went from 87 to
90 on it, Yeah.
So it was a big change for me.
Damn, you had your shot and it.
Was almost five in a row.
Almost.
Almost.
Your streak is over, so you guys
split.
It is.
That so remember, Johnny?
No, no.
We'll give it to our guests.
Terrence is the winner.
Congratulations.
Good job.
Nicely done, Sir.
Nicely.
Done.
I know I don't want to brag.
I don't.
Want to I don't want.
To make a big deal.
About it, you know, we'll
listen.
You should make a big deal.
Take the dub, buddy.
Enjoy the victory lap.
OK?
Is there anything else to add?
Just if he wants to plug
anything or are you going to be
anywhere he got any events going
on, where are you going to be?
I'm just running around the
whole country this month.
I don't travel too much to be
honest with you.
We have our select program where
retailers can partake and as
Cigar Hustler is 1 been a great
partner to us for many years.
So that takes a lot of time in
the office with all a bunch of
stuff.
So actually it's one of the few
months I don't make too many
trips as January.
Supreme leaf time.
Supreme leaf time?
Yep.
New Supreme leaf coming, new
size One O 9 head Toro, we're
calling it Toro one O 9.
I don't know why we're calling.
It.
That doesn't make any sense.
Well, because nobody knows what
a one O 9 is.
And so like if you call it a
Toro, then they're like it's a
Toro but then it's a one O 9
head.
Why don't we teach them?
Yeah, it's a lot of work.
That's that's too much.
Too much maybe Lol can help you
do a video.
I remember one time, so like I
didn't know anything, what a one
O 9 was and Roma craft came out
with the chromatic timeline,
which is a one O 9 Bellicoso or,
you know, ish whatever rounded
top.
So and Brooks was there and he
goes, is it a 109 head?
And he was talking I'm a tool of
of fable and he's like, I don't
know.
And then like Brooks was pissed
and he looked at me and he goes,
is it a 109 head?
And I'm like, I have no idea
what the hell you're talking
about either.
I don't know what that means.
So then he explains it to me,
you know, and how it's just kind
of like a rounded.
It's like a Toro and a torpedo
had a baby.
Right.
It's a love child.
Yeah.
Yes.
Illicit love child.
Yes.
Yes.
So once he explained that baby
giraffe.
Yeah.
So once he explained it, once he
explained it, I was like, oh,
yeah, that's exactly what it is.
So it's good to tell people
these things, you know?
Yeah, it's nice stories.
Yeah, provide the knowledge,
right?
You're a plethora of knowledge.
Plethora a good word.
Yeah, I got a couple, yeah.
Well, by the inch he can store
more knowledge.
Yeah.
Is there anywhere you want?
Yeah, by the inch for sure.
Is there anywhere you want
anybody to follow you?
Instagram.
Whatever.
Yeah, Agonoris Leaf on
Instagram.
We got a great group on Facebook
called Agonoris Acolytes.
Unlike other groups that are out
there, we're we're, you know,
we're not draconian in our
rules, you know, So please,
please join YouTube channel,
please Agnor sleep great videos
on there and you know, and stay
in touch.
Like I said, like one of the
nice things about this is you
get to stay in touch with a lot
of people through the social
media is the negative side to
social media positive is get to
really keep your, you know,
finger on the pulse of things.
So as I always say, I don't have
a lot of good ideas.
I just take other people's and
pass them off as my own and
that's been really good for me.
So I I need you guys out there
to keep sending me greater
ideas.
That's fantastic.
I really feel like your video's
kind of tanked though, once you
let Law go.
Yeah, well.
I feel that too, to be honest
with you.
They're mostly filmed by me now.
All right.
Perfect, man.
Well, thanks so much for coming
on, dude.
I appreciate it.
Thank you.
No, thank you guys for thank you
for having me.
It was a great time.
And again, you guys have been
great partners since the
beginning.
So thank you so much.
Thanks brother.
Not not one flex, huh?
There you go.
Oh, there it is.
All right, bye.
What about yours?
Mine.
You got actually a good fight we
should have.
Used your arm for?
I don't have any.
Yeah, no, Come on.
It's just for show.
Come on.
They're inflated.
That's it.
Come on, take the shirt off.
Like you do ever.
Be the most watched show, don't
do.
These things.
Take the.
Ratings.
Take the radio.
Can't just do a quick.
Flex it off.
Don't make this weird flex for
us.
I'm not doing it for all you
people out there just listening.
Mikey took his shirt off.
That's not happening.
Oh my God.
Nope.
All right.
Just a shirt.
Just a shirt.
Just a shirt.
Just a shirt.
All right.
Thanks, everybody.
Bye, guys.
Bye.
Bye.
Guys.
Welcome to the Cigar Hustler
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Show Notes
On today’s show we have a calling in sick story. A naming Contest, a bang of a Florida Story then in cigars we have a new hire, couple new cigars and a mini game of what’s the score