January 20, 2026· 1h 4m

ACHP Episode 451 Halfwheel Has MadeTheir Choice for #2

Transcript

All right, I like how I can't

even see.

They just go, Oh yeah, you look

funny.

Yeah, it's fine.

It's perfect.

All right.

Welcome to a Cigar Hustler

podcast episode 451.

I'm Mike Palmer, your host.

And with me in engineering is

Phil, our chief Engineer, back

and just one day away from his

camera, back from Yemen, back

from Yemen.

Wow.

And with me, as always, my Co

host.

Mikey.

Stop asking me about the damn

beanies.

Stefan Gevich.

Are we getting them 'cause it's

getting a little cold?

I'm about to.

Be on the race.

I have given mine up.

Just so everybody knows, I have

passed on mine.

Surrendered yours AS Roma Chan

would like 1.

If you can ever get them made,

sell mine.

I do not.

He's such a sweet guy.

He's like, no, it's OK, don't

worry.

Yeah, it's OK.

I don't want to take Palmer from

him.

Like fucking Palmer doesn't need

one.

I'll wear it once and it'll go

in the drawer.

Yeah, that's all.

That was the ultimate weaseling.

What do you mean ultimate?

Weaseling.

No, I don't need one.

No, don't take palmers.

No, don't take Palmers.

How's Weaseling?

He's going to buy it.

Oh no, but but that was to make

sure he secured 10. 2.

Bucks.

He listened to yesterday's show

and it said we had three of them

or whatever it was.

And that's, I think that's

accurate.

So how many did you order?

Do we only have three because

you've melted several?

Or did we only buy like?

Or did we only buy like 5?

I think well, OK, so it's a

question of how this is going to

play out because I think I

bought like 4 black ones OK, and

I destroyed one for sure right.

All right now I've worn that

black 1.

I don't care even if it if I

look homeless with it I still

put it on.

Does it have the patch?

It's just melted.

It has the bear, it's not

melted, it has the patch, but

like the it's all kind of the

the fabric is messed up.

People are going to want that

one like they want the melted

bear.

Melted bear, Yeah.

That should be like the the one

for the VIP.

The boots and Palmer experience.

You get the melted hats.

I mean, you know, people spend

$500 on a Kanye West holy shirt.

Really.

Oh yeah, All kinds of money on

his.

Wow.

Yeah, a shirt with holes I.

Don't think we're Kanye.

Boots, kid scissors.

And then I had two other.

I bought two other ones that are

military Gray and black.

Like, like camo?

Yeah.

Like the warbeare sera coded.

Correct.

That was my thought.

Gotcha.

OK, and you ruined those too.

No, I haven't touched those.

I haven't touched those.

Just checking.

So that's kind of where I'm at.

Oh, so I guess I could if, if

you wanted me to, I could do

probably 5 if I didn't screw

them up.

So 3. 3 Black two of the.

No.

So I mean, you're going to be

able to do 3 you said, if I

don't mess them up.

I'm going to, I'm going to get

the I'm going to nail these.

So what?

What is the actual problem?

Is it the figuring out the heat

that that melts the patch but

not the beanie?

There's a lot to it, like you

got to heat it, you got to press

it so that you don't mess up the

fabric of the of the hood

beanie.

Thank you.

That's that's what's happening.

How close are you with the first

responder cigar guys drewing

them?

Yeah, they make their own hats

and stuff.

Do they make them themselves?

Yes, they do.

They have a hat press.

They make their own.

Do they make their own beanies?

I don't know if they had beans.

He had baseball hats Saturday.

Because remember, the beanies

were different.

Yeah, but I mean, they seem like

they know what they're doing

most of most things.

We'll figure it out.

All right, on today's show, a

Falcons get a new coach.

TSA is going to become a pay

service.

Florida may charge a syntax.

Then in cigars, we've got a

couple new sticks, an update on

that terrible shooting from last

week, and then by a slim margin

of .079.

We'll explain that later.

Plus a full round of what's the

score.

But first, how do we get some of

that hot, hot chapter pad,

chapter pad, chapter pod swag

and beanies, Michael.

First off, before we get to

that, let me you.

Have ash on your shirt.

Thank you you burn the BDP on my

this is my favorite shirt my.

BDP you wear it every Monday.

I champion you, I champion you.

Let me shout out blend and

barrel in Sanford FL Hairy smoke

shop in Philadelphia.

Woo.

Woo, Harry.

'S and Sir Louie cigars in

Wilbraham now Sir Louie I got to

tell you one thing about Sir

Louie and this kind of kind of

bring me the chapter pod like I

had a good conversation said hey

you know like I really love

those hats and I said well look

man the I'm sorry but like the

hats are detached they

purposely.

Detached.

Separate business, right?

I detached.

It from anything because I want

to promote apparel in the

podcast boom.

That's it right and he goes well

how many have left and I said I

think I have 4:00 We wound up

having three.

He goes OK I'll buy them.

Oh.

That's why they're up there.

I wondered why they're up.

There, so he bought them all

from chapter pod the last three

nice so shout out to shalui.

Thank you so much for the

support from.

For Sir Louie Hassan.

Supporting the podcast, What you

want to do is if you would like

some of the chapter pod swag go

to chapterpod.com.

If you buy 1 you get the 2nd

140% off and if you spend $100

or more you get free shipping.

Which Palmer?

He loves so he got free shipping

and he only paid for he didn't.

Get free shipping to go on his

wholesale order.

So they're not paying for

shipping anyway.

Yeah, yeah.

But buy one, get 140% off it.

Didn't cost us anything.

For work, the discount code

didn't work on the hat for some

reason.

OK, it didn't.

That's fine.

So, and I got news for you.

Yeah, I don't think that this

guy would even care.

No, he probably would not.

Sounds like he.

Wouldn't you know what wouldn't

throw in a $500 VIP experience

for him as well?

Right.

He just he wants to come down

for the for the VIP experience

with the Boots and Palmer.

We'll find we will compliment

him a one.

Yeah, you know, I I like, I love

the fact that we're always kind

of being jovial and joking about

things.

But here's the truth.

Oh, we're not joking.

No, we're going to do it for

free, we're sure.

No, here's the truth.

Like these are the type of

retailers we want to be working

with.

Oh, sure.

Yeah.

The guys that support us say,

hey, I love what you're doing.

I love.

I believe in the product, I

believe in the brand.

And let me do what I can to help

support you so we can grow

together.

Right.

That's amazing.

So, so thank you so much, bro.

I appreciate it, Sir.

Thank you guys is.

His name Louie.

Is it really Louie?

Oh, is that Sir Louie?

Is is that just the name of the

shop?

Or is.

Oh, you did?

Yeah, sorry.

So.

Yeah.

This is not to be confused with

low ball Louise, no.

Not even close.

Sir Lewis.

Sir Louis.

So check out our Patreon.

I got some good things to talk

about this week for the Patreon.

I have a couple.

Things I got Me too 00.

Now both of you guys are up the

bathroom.

Notes We may.

We may have to write these down.

We may have a month's worth of

Patreon stuff between the two.

Mines.

I wrote mine.

You wrote yours down, OK?

And make sure you like and

subscribe wherever you're

watching or viewing our podcast.

Please smoke and subscribe.

Smoke and subscribe, which is

our newest.

Our newest shirt with the

triangles.

Yeah, pick it up.

Any comments we want to talk

about from the Last Post, let me

see here.

More misinformation from boots

for or fell from Yemen.

Right Boots can't be getting

that big into college ball if he

doesn't even know what teams are

playing from team money.

Wow, I'd still pick the winner.

That just happened too that one.

Just came up.

That's that's yeah, but you said

they beat the wrong team.

Man, team money's really going

hard on me 'cause he did the

last comment too.

He did.

Let's see.

Well, team money, money makers,

there's a connection there.

And BW Racing, Ben, he said,

yeah, he can't wait to get him a

beanie, wait to wear it next

year in winter.

Right, Yeah, next, next year

you.

Can wear it and Brett Mercurio,

he says 20 bucks is 20 bucks

talking about the Verizon thing

and yeah he's right man you know

it's. 20 bucks.

So did we ever find out if Brett

Fry still watches his show?

I don't think he does right now.

I think he's on a hiatus.

I don't think, you know, we're

not, though.

So you know, you know.

All right, we ready to move?

Yeah, now the news.

Oh, wait.

Oh, now no news.

No news.

If you if you are a retailer or

your friend is a retailer and

you want your friend to carry

Posana cigars or whatever, reach

out to us at info@chapterpod.com

or Mike.

Make sure they're aware that

you're reaching out because

sometimes they go.

I don't care what that person

said.

No, I have we'll.

Have the retailer get in touch

with us one way or the.

Other retailer came, that's

fine.

But if you if if like I didn't

work at a shop and I have a

shop, I want to carry it and

then they just throw me the

shop's information and the shop

guy sometimes gets a little mad

that I don't carry everything.

Everybody is.

Just make sure you told them

that you're telling us.

I think it's funny though that

some guys, they go to their

shop, they go to the retail and

say, hey, I would really love to

buy this from you.

And then they don't.

They don't.

Yeah, it makes no sense.

They don't pick it up right?

They're like, no, I'm not doing

that.

Like what?

What are you doing?

Are these new shops that you

announced earlier, are they

carrying the number 2 cigar of

the year?

I'm.

Halfway.

Those are the ones that recently

just acquired.

A story later, please don't work

ahead.

Oh, I'm.

Sorry, they recently recently

acquired the Posania San Andreas

Corona Cora, which is our most

recent release, our first

release of 2026, which makes it

viable for reviews in 20 twenty

26th to make the top 25 list.

Is that how it works on half

wheel?

It has to be released in the

year.

I think so.

Was the War Bear released too

late in the season?

Yeah, I probably slid in too

late for it.

I mean, it did hit a couple of

review sites.

Someone asked if we were if we

were on the best packaging of

the year thing and I said well I

think it came out a little too

late to get on that list.

Yeah, yeah, that's a good point.

We weren't on best packaging.

No, no.

But there were other ones that

were would say not as good or as

you know, different designers.

Were I thought our packaging was

pretty badass.

Right.

It was.

That's why I, you know, they're

like, oh, I bet you made the

best packaging list.

I'm like, I think it came out

too late.

Maybe it'll fall into next year.

Maybe I don't know how that

works.

We can re release it today and

then it'll be in 20 and now and

now releasing.

All right, all right, now the

news is OK.

Yes, go.

Are you sure?

I think so.

I'm just kidding.

How does your microphone get

back up?

Mine, yeah, it didn't move.

What happened?

As he talks, he slides down.

Am I sliding down?

It's a slick.

Was this a slippery seat?

We need to get you.

We get like things to put on the

ground to put my feet down, so I

don't.

Know we need to get you like a

1990s phone book to sit on.

Oh.

It had to be slicker, I think.

Slickerer.

OK, Yeah.

Chet, can you come down here on

the floor and just hold my feet

so I don't move?

Thank you.

The Atlanta Falcons have

officially turned the page on a

new era.

On Saturday night, the team

announced the hiring of Kevin

Stevansky.

It's one of your people,

Michael.

Yes.

He's a ski.

Ski as their new Polish head

coach, bringing in one of the NF

LS most respected offensive

minds to lead a franchise

desperate for stability and

success.

Stevansky, 43, met with Falcons

owner Arthur Blank earlier

Saturday for his second

interview.

What do you think they do with

these interviews for this type

of level of employment?

That's a great question.

I know I was thinking about it

when I saw because they

mentioned in the article other

people they interviewed.

I'm very curious to what this I

mean.

Is it a phone?

Do they fly them in?

Is it?

I think that it's an in person

meeting in.

Person they have like dinner or

they bring them into the office

and.

It's a wine and dine bro and

it's probably scenario based.

And they just talk about.

That's what I thought.

Is it more you want to work

there or they want you to work

there?

How do you think?

I think that you got to kind of

get to know the person.

It's just more of a personal

interview, not like.

So what's your coaching style

and how do you think we should

do?

I think that the coaching style

is kind of determined they but

they may ask about their

thoughts about specific staff

members and how they feel about

offensive coordinators, defense

coordinators.

What's your vision?

Yeah, you know, not like we're

going like perfect.

Yeah, of course.

We all know that.

Right, we're going to.

Win.

Carry me a win.

Yes, I guarantee a win.

Perfect.

OK, you're hired.

Good job.

Thank you.

You know, so because like, I

don't know how Miami gets rid of

Dan Campbell.

I don't know how Miami gets rid

of Brian Flores.

Like those are both guys that I

think are head coach material.

I don't know what's going on

with Mike Tomlin.

I guess he's done.

He he, well, I saw a statement

from him where he just wants to

concentrate on his family right

now.

I don't, I don't blame him.

I I mean, that guy is a great

head coach.

He's a great head coach.

He's never had the pieces.

Of he one of the guys that got

fired recently.

He just stepped down from.

Pittsburgh, yeah.

Somebody on the radio, I didn't,

I didn't catch the beginning of

the story, but somebody had been

fired.

But he still gets paid for like

the next three years or four

years or something.

So he's just taking the money

now.

Sean McDermott.

Probably, yeah, Probably the

Bills coach, I don't know.

Yeah.

No, the no Mike Tomlin, I I

think he'll come back.

But you know, hey, man, he's

been a coach for a long time,

right?

He had heroin.

He first started coaching.

He had what?

He had heroin.

Oh, hair.

I thought he said he had heroin

when he first started like that.

No.

So, you know, when he first

started coaching, you know, he

probably wasn't getting paid as

much.

And this was more of a longevity

type job, right, To get paid the

right money.

Nowadays, it's like, you know,

Harbaugh's getting 20 million a

year.

Yeah.

You know, so Tomlin's probably

seeing what the playing feels

like.

He's going to get hired whether

he takes a year off or whatever.

He's still on.

He's still with Pittsburgh.

He didn't.

He wasn't fired.

No.

Well, he stepped down from head

coaching.

Yeah, he's still there.

Yeah, but they had to fill that

role, so he will not be a head

coach.

What I'm saying is if he wanted

to go somewhere else tomorrow,

Pittsburgh would have to trade

him.

Yeah, I thought he resigned.

No, he stepped down.

It doesn't matter.

He wasn't fired.

He's still part of the team.

The coach stepped down.

Do they trade coaches?

I guess they do.

If they wanted to, I guess you

could.

I don't think I've ever seen a

coach traded yet.

Doesn't mean they couldn't.

Yeah, they just haven't.

Yeah, did I hear the Harboro guy

went from 12 million to now 20

million?

There's two of them.

OK, I don't know which one it

is.

But yeah, I know you're correct.

You're talking about the the

Ravens.

Yeah, he was.

Former Ravens, well, former

Ravens, he was getting paid 12

and now the new team's getting

paid 20.

So he really doesn't care.

That's that's another $8

million.

Last time I checked, that's more

right.

It's probably one of the only

reasons why he signed with the

Giants.

You think so?

I think there's a lot of

opportunity there.

I think there's 22, maybe three

guys.

OK, let's go back to Stefanski

or whatever.

OK, I'm sorry.

All right, so.

This is about him.

Oh, back to this story.

Yeah.

Oh, sorry.

So I thought this was over.

Started to Fast forward.

Do you think Cleveland should

have fired him?

I think he he did an OK job with

Cleveland.

I they weren't the worst team in

the league, right?

The Raiders were.

Yeah.

I mean, that's a step up.

I think he should have been

fired if he was the one

responsible for taking on

Deshaun Watson.

Was he the one?

I don't know.

I don't think so.

But if he was, and I don't know,

no matter how intelligent the

guy is, I don't know if I'd want

him in my organization because

he makes some bad calls.

Yeah, Deshaun Watson thing was a

bad.

So.

So I don't know who did that,

but if it was him other than

that.

I don't think he did a horrible.

Job.

He's got some.

He's got some potential.

I don't, I don't like him in

Atlanta because I'm the Bucks

guy.

Yeah, you know that.

Could be.

Well, Atlanta's got a lot of

buildings still too.

Though they still got a lot, but

they got good pieces, Yeah, they

got a great tight end, a great

receiver, I think a decent

quarterback if they can build

them up.

Yeah, but they need a better

line.

OK, that's easy to fix.

Once they get a better line,

Bijan will be phenomenal.

Oh yeah, Bijan, I forgot about

that.

He's like the best running out

in the league, Yeah.

They're like bijou.

Nope.

No, totally different.

Atlanta's added a powerful new

position with the organization

president of football.

That's a new position.

That's what there's claiming.

Oh.

In a move that instantly

energized the fan base, that

role was given to franchise

legend Matt Ryan, the former

quarterback who spent fourteen

seasons leading the Falcons and

remains the greatest player in

team history.

What is president of football

do?

I would guess I'd be like

president of football operations

Mean just president of football.

Is that like brand manager for

cigars?

Yeah, that's exactly president

of football.

Yeah, Ryan has been directly

involved in the coaching

interviews and played a major

role in evaluating Stevanski,

bringing both football

intelligence and emotional

investments to the decision

making process.

Now, with Stefanski at head

coach Ryan guiding football

operations and a general manager

search underway, the Falcons are

clearly signalling this rebuild

is about long term credibility,

not quick fixes.

For a franchise that lived too

long and mediocrity, this moment

represents hope, accountability

and a belief that the next

chapter can finally change the

narrative.

In Atlanta, the Falcons aren't

just changing coaches, they're

changing direction.

Do you have anything covering

the last the two games, the

playoff games this weekend or

no, No, all right.

Can we briefly talk about that

before we move on to the next

thing as well?

The next.

Thing is about TSA, it's very

important.

Just to briefly surmise here,

number one, it was a catch.

Brandon Cook's caught that ball.

Look, I know you hate the Bills.

Oh, whatever, bro.

For whatever reason, I know you

you hate the Bills.

I don't like the Bills coach.

And I guess what?

Problem solved.

He's gone it.

I'm sorry that it took you 7

years to come to that

conclusion.

That's.

Not the coach I hate.

You just hate the bill.

You just hate the down to hurf

guys.

No, I hate Josh Allen.

You hate?

Why do you hate Josh Allen?

Why?

Does he hate the down to hurf?

You know what?

Let me rephrase that.

Actually, I do not hate Josh

Allen.

You know why?

Why 'cause he did exactly what I

thought he was going to do, as

usual.

Blow up in the post season.

That's right.

It was a catch, It was a catch.

And if you go to the Chicago

game, Chicago game had the same

scenario and it was a catch.

Well, different roughing crew,

different situations.

You could argue that, or you

could argue the fact that maybe

it's rigged.

I don't know for Buffalo never

to make it past the first round.

Yeah, it's wild.

And man, you know what, dude?

I was rooting for Chicago.

That throw.

Did you see that Caleb Williams

throw to Cole Comet?

You know, I'm wild.

I fell asleep.

Did you before the end of the

game?

Because when I fell asleep, I

was like, oh, this game's, you

know, screwed up.

I had to reword myself there.

Yeah, good for you.

It's screwed up.

You know, Stafford's going to

win this game.

And then when I woke up in the

morning, I was like, holy, this

is great.

Yeah, this is I There was a

reason why?

Because the money makers were on

top.

So that's why you went to bed,

because you thought it was.

Tough.

Yeah.

I was like, ah, this is over.

It's a horrible game.

The snow messed up both these

games, you know.

Yeah.

The first game was horrific, but

there was a lot of snow coming

down.

Yeah, in the beginning, not as

much, which was crazy because in

the beginning they were running

more, which you would have

thought, if there's not as much

snow, let's get the passing out

of the way and get that game

moving and then start running

when that snow starts falling.

But.

Interesting stuff.

OK, Are you ready?

Now we're going.

Back to the show.

Yeah, sorry.

I slid down in the seat.

Sit up, sit.

Up, sit up.

Sorry, I was getting.

Comfortable.

I didn't know how long that was

going to be.

We're going.

To put some grips in that chair

for you.

You.

Just need the 2 planks and a

floor OK right?

Airport security has been

evolving.

Starting in July 2025, the

Transportation Security

Administration, or TSA, has

allowed travellers to keep their

shoes on when passing through

checkpoints.

That also banned some items,

including certain cordless hair

tools and external batteries

from checked luggage.

As of February 1st, a new TSA

policy may require you to pay a

fee to get through the security

line.

A fee.

There's a fee, fee.

There's a fee.

Now, if you want to get on the

plane, there's going to be a.

Fee could be a fee might be fee

we're.

Going to charge additional.

We're going to charge you period

right now where there's no fee.

There's ATSA fee.

Why?

TSA fee February 1st.

Well, let's read on.

How you going to get on the

plane?

TSA may charge a fee to get

through security without a REAL

ID, passport or a passport.

In November 2025, TSA revealed

it would start requiring non

REAL ID travelers to pay an

$18.00 fee to get through

security at the airport.

The administration later

increased the fee to $45.00

effective February 1st, 2026,

according to TSA website.

Under the new rule, travelers

without required identification,

such as a REAL ID or passport,

will have their identity

verified by TSA at security

checkpoints.

The fee would cover the costs

and resources used to verify

someone's identity, according to

ABC News.

So how do you pay this $45.00

fee?

Well, you have to go online

before you travel.

TSA offers an online portal, TSA

Confirmed ID, where travelers

can pay the $45.00 fee before

arriving at the airport.

Passengers can then pass through

a checkpoint without an ID for

10 days based on the date of

payment.

So if you have a two week

flight, you got to pay twice.

How are they going to know?

Like how would how would you

know that you have a real ID or

not?

It must be in there.

Well, because your driver's

license is the real ID of the

new ones.

There's still some states that

don't offer that.

It's got a little star on it.

I understand that, but like,

let's say I go and book a ticket

at Delta, right?

Is Delta going to inform me

that?

Hey, just so you know, do you

have a real ID?

Doing stories like this out.

I mean, they announced it two

years ago that you haven't had a

REAL ID to fly, right?

And then apparently you could

pay $18.00, which I didn't hear

about that one, and get your

identity verified online before

you go, but now it's 45 because

apparently it costs more to do.

And you have to you still have

to do it you.

Have to go online and that so

you have 10 days from the minute

you get on the plane the first

time for that verification to be

active, right?

So if you're on a two week trip

and you fly out, you would have

to do it again to fly back.

This sounds like a complete

disaster.

Why don't?

They just make everybody get a

real ID.

It's not that hard to do

anymore.

Well, I thought that was

happening anyways when?

Right.

But now I guess some people are

like, no, I don't want to.

So now they're like, OK, here's

your other option.

Pay $45.00.

Fill out this form and pay

online.

Yeah, and.

Just make everybody get one.

Every state offers it now, so

it's only people who have one

who have not got a new one.

Got it.

So like your driver's like, oh,

my driver doesn't expire for

another three years.

Well then you don't get to

fucking fly for three years.

Very gassed up today, you see

that?

I think this is.

Ridiculous.

It causes all sorts of problems.

There's already long lines of

TSA.

I think the only people that

this helps are the people that

we didn't want to fly and take

over the planes.

Yeah, well, how does it help

them?

Well, because now they don't

have to be really identified.

Well, yeah, they do.

They have to go online and fill

out these forms.

Oh yeah, that's hard.

They have to have a real ID, you

know.

Those guys filled out a whole

bunch of forms when they were

taking the plane class over here

in Sanford too.

That was how to fly a plane in

self-defense with a box cutter.

Two different classes, no forms.

Yeah, the two totally different.

Classes, right?

And less than $45.00,

apparently.

Wow, they travel again within

that time frame.

They have to do it again.

Travelers can give a confirmed

ID receipt to CSA officials and

proceed through security

checkpoint as usual after

presenting the non compliant

documents and proof that they

completed the confirm ID

process.

So you have to print.

Out that reminds me of like.

To print out a receipt.

How many fake fake receipts are

you going to get?

Now that's funny that you know

that reminds me of that reminds

me of when they just put in like

the X-ray scanners, right?

And you could opt out and they

would.

Frisk go to the pat down.

And yeah, and I remember Greg

opted out and I'm like, what are

we doing?

What are we doing opt out for?

Yeah, he was right.

There's somebody going to see

his little Wiener.

You want to get touched.

You want to get touched in the

butt?

Yeah, that's what he's looking.

For the rubbie Rubbie.

Feeling a little frisky?

Don't they take you back to the

room for that one?

Opted out.

OK, OK, buddy.

We get stopped everywhere we go.

Where?

Sometimes it doesn't.

It doesn't.

Matter in China, they took him

to a back room.

I I mean they took him away.

Well, he's got 75 accessories

on.

Yeah, you know what I mean?

Like multiple things.

I can't help him.

Bracelets.

I don't know where they took

him.

How does he?

Get dressed.

Like, how much time does it take

him to get?

Yeah.

To put all that stuff on.

Yeah, yeah.

It's wild.

Well, it takes him a while

because he doesn't come in.

He's just until about 10:11.

Yeah, well, maybe that's why it

takes a long time to get ready

in the.

Morning.

Let's call it noon.

Get that hat.

Just right, you know, get all

the rings right?

It's got to be perfect.

Well, not, not anymore.

Now you know, he's got the

crutch and all that stuff.

Right now he gets confused.

Did I put him on this hand?

I put him on this hand.

I don't remember.

What's my name?

The process, however, doesn't

guarantee TSA's ability to

verify a traveler's identity.

Oh, so you might pay it and it

don't work, right?

I love all of those this also.

Ching they're just cancel, pass,

cancel, pass.

If you don't have a real ID,

just drive.

Right, that's what I'm saying.

Just get one for God's sake.

How much it cost to get a

license less than $45.

I don't know.

Yeah, you would think.

Yeah.

Maybe one time.

You only get to do it one time.

How many jobs does?

This have to renew it.

Yeah, I know.

But you got to renew anything.

So even if it doesn't, when you

get the new one, it does.

So just go early, right?

So even if you paid the fee, you

could be denied boarding.

OK.

How irate would somebody get

when you pay the $45.00, right?

You come over there with your

little piece of paper.

You wait.

You've already waited in line

for an hour.

Kids are screaming.

Your wife's got a good idea.

You don't.

Your flight leaves in an hour,

yeah.

Right.

You get to the front of the

line, you give them the receipt

and they look it up and they go,

oh, I'm sorry Sir, we couldn't

verify you.

I'd hate to be a TSA agent.

I don't know, right?

I don't think they mess around

though.

You start screaming, I think

they just take you away.

Yeah, Oh, he's irate.

He's terrorists.

Take him away.

Can you?

Imagine just that profiling.

No it's not.

You're an asshole.

Can you imagine just having a

job though where just people are

just shit at you all day?

Like man, that's rough.

That's rough all.

Right now, back to Florida.

Florida gubernatorial candidate

has ignited.

What is that?

Gubernatorial He's running for

governor.

A gubernatorial.

That's that's what the word is,

is that.

With A, B or V.

It's with a B Guber Guber

GUBRNATORIAL Okay Guber

candidate has ignited debate

with a bold and controversial

controversial proposal.

A 50% syntax on income earned by

only fans operators who live in

the state.

No more only fans.

No, I'm just, I'm, I'm out at

when I hear the word syntax.

Because if you know, tobacco is

a syntax.

That's what they did to

cigarettes.

Alcohol's a syntax.

These are all things that are

bad.

And it's like you print the

money, bro.

Give me a break.

They want 50% of your only fans.

50% well, look. 50% Well, look,

that doesn't affect me

personally in any fashion

whatsoever.

I'm going to tell you right now

it's.

Ridiculous.

You still against it?

Yeah.

Republican candidate James

Fishbach, an investor and

political newcomer running in

2026 governor's race, unveiled

the idea this week as part of

his campaign platform.

Oh, it's just a campaign.

He's got to live in his mother's

basement or something.

Yeah, he looks like he does.

That's always picturing.

Oh, really?

He says that if elected, he

would push for a first of its

kind tax reclining only fans

content creators to pay half of

their earnings from the platform

to the state.

We don't want taxes.

You're in Florida, buddy.

Get out of here.

That's right.

We don't want more taxes.

And we want to take money from

the tourists.

We don't want stopping.

Them can only fans just randomly

change the name of who they pay

you from?

Yeah, they just move from A to a

different state, right?

Like dude.

Pay from the Virgin Islands or

something.

You know what man?

So.

Dumb.

Well, furthermore, this guy's

probably not getting voted in.

He's not What?

Brian again?

No, no, he doesn't look like

he's.

Kind of somebody, somebody

always wanted him eliminated

from is like, here's what you

need to do.

You need to go for this.

Right.

Well, if he hadn't done this, we

wouldn't be.

Talking about him, that's a good

point.

That's a very good.

Point as an online degeneracy

platform and argues that the tax

would both discourage

participation in the adult

content economy and generate

significant revenue for public

programs.

Why would it deter them?

They're instead of getting 8

million, I only get 4.

OK, if this is what I have to

do, yeah.

Dude, 50% tax is obnoxious.

Well, sure, it is obnoxious so.

Yeah, it would deter that.

2,000,000 is better than no

million no.

I mean, you just whatever.

There's probably a better way to

go about it.

Yeah, bro, I'm not showing my

wing Ding for 4 million.

I want 8 million.

Yeah, he's he's just wing.

What's the wings?

Wing Ding.

Well, Mikey said we have to be

New T-shirt, Michael.

There's the new T-shirts.

Picture of boots going like this

going.

Can't see my wing.

Ding, Who wants to see my wing?

Ding.

Fishback estimate what a name

Fishback estimates the tax could

raise roughly 200 million

annually, and he has said he

would direct those funds toward

education initiatives, including

higher teacher pay, improved

school lunches and other

programs such as crisis

pregnancy centers and a proposed

mental health czar for men.

What?

The Hell Czar, the interview and

social media post.

The candidate framed the

proposal as a moral stance,

arguing that the tax could deter

young people from joining the

platform and encourage them

pursue other work.

He even directly tagged a high

profile creator on social media,

telling her to pay up or quit.

Only fans.

That just means they'll make a

new one.

Yeah, so it's this is dumb.

This just then Fishback just

dropped out of the race.

It started an Only Fans account.

Fish back, Fish back, it's just

called.

The response from content

creators has been swift in

intense.

Some, including top Only Fans

earners, describe the proposal

as unfair and poorly conceived.

Critics argue such tax would be

difficult to administer and

would clash with Florida's

constitution.

There you go, which currently

prohibits personal income tax.

Ha ha.

You're out of here, pal.

You're out greater lawless.

Swamp and WE have also pushed

back on the moral framing,

saying they may use the platform

voluntarily to support

themselves and their families.

Some have accused Fishback of

overreach of targeting

individuals rather than focusing

on broader policy solutions.

Yeah, you can't just come from

California and think you're

going to make some type of rule

over here.

Can't start taxing now.

This is Florida for.

God's sake, yeah.

If I want to show my boobies and

get paid, I'm going to show my

boobies.

That's right, you show your

boobies, Palmer.

I'm going to show my wing.

If I want to show my wing Ding,

I'm going to show my wings.

He's going to wants.

To see there's a platform for

that, I mean from you're from

the 1940s.

Yeah, wingding.com.

Yeah.

Wing Ding dot.

Com show your wing Ding. 1940

Wing Dings. 1940 Wing.

Ding, I got to get out of this

conversation right now.

If you have a suggestion for a

new website for Boots to show

his wing Ding, please say so in

the comments.

Please let us know.

The inbox is going to be

cluttered now.

His name is laughing at all the

possibilities.

His name is Phil by the.

Way All right, Michael Cigar

news or unless you have a video.

Do you have a video?

I mean I have a video.

No, is it?

But they don't.

We don't want to see Preston's

clips that I now have to see

every time I log into Oh.

That's a shot.

Log into YouTube.

That's a shot.

OK, well, I do have a video, but

I feel like you're going to kind

of get to this anyways.

Oh.

Then don't you?

So I will tell you this, yes, by

the way, we just took #8 on

consensus for Pasania San

Andreas as well.

I know.

I think you don't have that.

And I watched some of the the

top 25 lists from the YouTube

guys online and we did an

interview with this guy at PCA.

His name is Lee Mack.

I think it's Lee Mack 912.

Have you guys ever watched his

YouTube videos?

No, it is by far the funniest

and like realist YouTube for

cigars I have ever seen.

It is more than us.

That's what we gotta say more

than ours.

Funnier than wingding?

No, I mean, we're pretty funny,

not including us.

Oh, obviously, like this guy, he

did his top 25 man, he did it in

his car smoking a sex tooth.

That's why.

And and he's just keeping it

real the whole time.

You know how hard it is to run

one of these things by yourself?

What was his number?

10 in the car it's it's close to

impossible.

Yeah.

Was it the Predomo legacy?

No, it was not Thank God That's

that's a sponsored show.

Look, regardless if you agree or

disagree with the top 25 of

somebody sure like this guy was

legit this guy It was awesome.

I was laughing as he was talking

and stuff.

I mean I really.

He's doing a lot of this because

he's driving, trying to watch,

no.

He's sitting.

He's sitting in his parked car.

Oh, safe.

He's safe.

Yeah.

And he's like, and he called it

like the traveling ashcan or

something like that.

It was.

Oh.

I have heard of that one.

It was pretty funny and when he

was talking it just, it just

felt legit.

It was pretty.

It was pretty authentic and he

carried himself well.

So go check out Lee Mack.

You'd like to come on the show

and do the Boots and Palmer

experience?

Yes, 450.

No, don't you charge that man.

That guy's out here.

We.

Got to charge somebody.

For God's sakes, Michael, we

came up with a way for Boots not

to make money.

Yeah, we've discounted it.

We've given 2 away for free.

Jesus, come on, help us out here

a little.

Bit.

Yeah, listen, you'd have some

money you.

Can see boots wingding for 4:50.

Listen, we'd have somebody.

We didn't have to buy that damn

hat press.

But we did, and we still can't

make.

We're just.

Building an empire, buddy.

It's coming, it's coming.

The the first responder guys had

their own hat press too.

Yeah, Irish cost more.

Yeah, did you ha, ha, Did you

ha?

I didn't Ha ha.

No.

You.

You've met these guys.

They kill.

They used to kill people for a

living.

I'm not ha ha in them.

Oh.

They're fun to ha ha ha ha well.

Drew's very nice.

He does.

He was a preacher, so he's OK.

He's a good guy.

You can ha ha him.

Yeah.

Alright, so cigar news.

We're moving on.

Yeah, that was it.

That was just my little.

Are we doing a money makers?

It's Monday.

We normally do a money maker,

no?

He doesn't have one.

I thought we did you retire he.

Doesn't have one, Yeah.

No, I just don't have one.

Just mentioned two teams.

You didn't get it right last

week.

I would, I would actually, I

would love to do the one for the

night.

Pick a.

Football.

And pick a basketball team and

say which one would be.

I'll tell you what, do the one

for tonight, because then we'll

just talk about it again

tomorrow because you probably

screwed it up.

Miami's money line.

Who are they playing?

You're just picking Miami you.

Think Miami's going to outright

beat Indiana, Dude, I hope

you're right.

I hope you're right because that

that would be awesome.

These guys have come from

absolutely nothing.

Yeah.

And they have beaten teams that

they should never been in the

conversation for, OK?

They should have definitely

never been in the playoffs, all

right?

And here they are.

I'm not, you know what, dude, I

I'm not disagreeing with any of

that.

And, and the reality is that the

majority of the world is going

to be on Indiana.

Oh, I know.

That's why I'm saying, hey,

let's go Miami.

What's the spread?

It's like +2 and a.

Half.

That's it.

I think, yeah, I think it's

close.

Wow.

Let me double check because I

know somebody's going to team

money or whatever is going to

tell me I'm wrong.

Plus 7 1/2.

Sorry. 07 and 1/2 is a big

difference from 2 and a.

Half sorry +7 and. 1/2 OK And

you took the money line?

Yeah, you took Miami outright.

I took it on the last game.

The Michigan one, Yeah.

Yeah.

That didn't happen.

No.

Not the Michigan.

January 30th.

No, the last game Miami played,

yeah, I took it on them.

And then, once more, money.

And then did did OK, so let's I

can't wait to talk about this

tomorrow.

Yes.

Is this the Hurricanes that

yeah, OK, the game we're talking

about where you pay $757 depart?

Yes, So the game is gonna be

tonight, but when this releases,

it was last night, Right, Right,

right.

All right.

So this would be good.

I can't wait.

All right, Cigar News United

Cigars is releasing the

Independence Firecracker in

June.

I shouldn't have read the title.

I can't.

Guys, stop copying the title in

halfway.

We told you, Rogers.

I know United Cigars and Arnold

Andre, a German cigar company,

Our team, he just said whoever

wants to make a firecracker and

I pick somebody new each year,

we would like to do the

firecracker next year.

We can't.

Don't know.

We don't.

Know we'd like to, but we can't.

There's no way.

Who tonight would like to next

year?

Yes, as long as you come down

for the VIP experience.

Which I will hand roll them

ourselves they will be.

Beautiful.

You leave my friend Dave

Garoppolo alone.

He's not the one who buys him,

though.

My friend, your friend, Mr.

Santa Maria.

Mr. Ed Ed Santa Maria.

He buys him.

There's a new firecracker blend

commemorating the 250th

anniversary of the United States

Independence.

Firecracker.

Wait.

The 250th anniversary of the

United States firecracker.

Cigars being made by a German.

I mean, I guess that I guess

that makes sense.

All right, the independent

firecrackers are 3 1/2, like

200.

And 50th anniversary cigar.

Port America, you got to do the

hand thing and they go, I'm

sorry, no.

No, no, you're not allowed.

To do that anymore, see, you

won't push the line.

You gotta push the line,

Michael.

You kidding me won't push the

line.

I just spoke, what are you

talking about?

No, but you wouldn't do the hand

because.

He's because he's Polish.

His hand won't go above his

phone.

Yeah, that's OK.

I mean, you know, they, they did

kill some of my family just just

to be fair.

Yeah.

You know, go back with the the

Falcons coach, you and I, you

guys talk about it.

OK.

I don't know how that segued,

but all right.

He's your people.

He's my people.

He's.

He's got ski on his life.

So clearly he's.

Clearly, he's Polish.

Yeah, we're kindred spirits.

Right, yeah, Blend wise, the

cigars made with a Habano

wrapper grown in Mexico, covered

a Dominican binder in Dominican

Republic and Nikki Raguan

filler.

The cigars are being made at the

Arnold Andre Dominican SRL

factory.

Eat cigars in MSRP.

Of how much are the firecrackers

gentlemen?

German made American celebrating

firecrackers with Mexican

tobacco.

I mean, you could go Volkswagen

Beetle, which could be very

cheap.

You could go Mercedes.

That's right.

I'm going to say 15 dollars, 12

bucks. 9 yes.

Oh my God, that's also German.

Yeah, I meant you were wrong.

Yeah, it's a $7.00 cigar, $9 in

the package in 12 count, 10

boxes that can also be used as

an ashtray.

When asked about production

numbers, Oliver Nevada, director

of operations for United Cigars,

sold half wheel.

That we don't have set

qualities, quantities, sorry, no

qualities.

It's just qualities now for

boxes as some will be used in

different ways.

But overall the production

numbers are over 30,000 cigars.

Our partnership with Arnold

Andre began a few years ago and

the profile became together

after many hours together in the

factory.

The company has purchased some

amazing tobaccos over the years

and we were blessed to work with

these aged leaves.

United Cigars is the American

distributor for Arnold Andre.

The Firecracker series dates

back to 2007.

Two Guy Smoke Shop in New

Hampshire based chain of

retailers owned by Mr. David

Garofalo, who also owns United

Cigars.

And is a nice guy.

Yes, he's a very nice man.

Over the years, various

manufacturers made firecracker

series, including Agronorsa, All

Saints, Dunbarton, Tobacco

Trust, El Artista, Fratello,

Christophe, La Florida,

Mendicana, My Father, Perdomo,

Roma Craft.

There's too many.

Yeah, we got it.

Early releases were exclusive. 2

guys.

The series is now distributed

nationwide by United Boxes of

the Independence Firecracker,

scheduled being shipping in June

there.

You go right before what are we?

Going to carry him here.

You know that one?

I don't know, but I think that

we're going to have to pull the

trigger on some United stuff

here, you know, got a support.

Yeah, this is a guy I can't

pronounce ARA hyphen or

apostrophe O.

That's exactly it.

ARA apostrophe O yes.

Anybody.

Anybody got a suggestion?

Arro.

Arro arro arro arro arro cigars

releases Tehran Maduro line.

Oh, very nice.

The newest line from Arro Cigars

is arriving to stores as the

company recently began shipping

its fourth core line, Tehran

Maduro.

The blend features a Habano

Maduro wrapper from Honduras and

Yamastran region, a Habano

binder also from Yamastran, and

a filler that contains A Bano

Secco from Nicaragua, Alapa

region, Broadleaf Secco from

Honduras, La Hero from

Nicaragua, Estelle Religion and

Vizio Leaves from Hamistran.

The blend has been a development

for over a year and we're

excited about how it's coming

together, said Hiram Diaz of

Araro Cigars.

There's stuff about the sizes.

You got many sizes.

All right, Araro, Many.

Sizes Araros is all the cigars

at Tabico de Oriente S de RL,

the Placencio factory in

Honduras.

The company launched its

operation in January 2025,

debuted with three lines, the

Yugo, the Noringa, the Cebu

Aroro currently lists roughly 30

retailers in US and cigars.

Abrobororo.

It's very exciting.

It sounds like a weird blend.

They're from all over.

I don't know.

It's a bunch of weird names.

Yeah, right.

It's with deep sadness at the

premium cigar industry continues

to reflect on the loss of true,

true pillars of the business.

Last week, All American

Tobacco's confirm that founders

Charles and Rick Garage.

How'd we say their last name?

I had it right.

Yeah.

Last week, yeah.

Don't remember what you said?

No.

Well, they both passed away

unexpectedly.

A heartbreaking moment for a

company, a family, an entire

industry that knew them not just

as businessmen, but as trusted

partners and friends.

Apparently Groover was down that

way when it happened.

Well, he lives down there, so

that would make sense.

Well, he was one of the smoke in

that's closest to wherever their

office is.

Oh, Boynton Beach, because you

said Boca and it was in Boynton

Don't remember.

I remember because I saw

somebody correct it.

Oh, yeah, I just read the story.

I don't write them.

Chuck and Rick, alongside their

brother Ron, built All American

Tobacco on a foundation that

went far beyond products.

They built integrity, loyalty.

All right.

The main part of the story is

they have another brother, yeah,

who is taking over the business.

Oh, there's another.

There's a fourth.

Brother, there's a fourth

brother.

All American Tobacco also shared

an important update regarding

the company's future leadership.

Ron, another brother, the Co

founder and business partner for

more than 30 years, will now

assume the role of Chief

Executive Officer.

Ron has been actively involved

in the company since day one and

is deeply rooted in the values

and visions.

The company made it clear that

he will continue leading All

American Tobacco in the same

spirit, dedication and

commitment to Chuck and Rick

embodied throughout their lives,

and this is incredibly difficult

chapter.

It's also a moment that reflects

the strength of family, legacy

and continuity well.

That's good, you know.

Yeah.

So there's a fourth brother,

yeah, who can step in and take

over, who's been part of the

company since the beginning.

Yeah, the whole, oh, he's been

part of the company the whole

time.

That's what I said.

Yeah, he's deeply rooted in

their vision.

Deeply.

I mean, it's in the vision,

Yeah.

Terrible tragedy.

I know that.

We already kind of spoke about

that.

Yeah.

Well, but it's it's nice to

hear, I guess.

Yeah, that they have another

brother that they go over that

because we had questioned what

was going to happen to the

company.

But that's kind of.

It will go on.

No changes are expected.

You know, everybody's going to

be speaking.

I mean, like, that's, that's got

to be tough.

Yeah, I couldn't imagine, you

know, So, I mean, there's really

not much to speak about on that

article.

No.

So all right.

And finally, the last story of

the day, big news in the world

of premium cigars.

The Postagna San Andreas

Bellicoso has been named the

number 2 Cigar of the Year for

2025 by Halfway.

What?

Whoa, I didn't know that.

A major honor for one of the

most respected voices in cigar

journalism.

This isn't just a win on paper,

it's a statement about the

quality and craftsmanship coming

out of Postagna Cigars, a brand

that is steadily built a

reputation for delivering bold,

nuanced smoking experiences.

San Andreas Bellicoso is part of

the company's fourth regular

production line, blending and

Mexican sanitary wrapper and

Ecuadoran Habana binder and a

mix of Dominican Republic and

Nicaraguan fillers, all

meticulously rolled at Fabrica

de Tobacco, Nicosia and

Nicaragua.

What really set the vitola apart

for half wheels panel was its

near flawless construction.

Distinctive flavor profile

reviewers noted unexpected yet

delightful tasting notes like

gingerbread, sweet bread,

pepper, earthiness and even

potatoes.

Potatoes.

Controlling to Polish, yeah.

Pierogies.

Pierogies, man.

Yeah, latkes or whatever they.

Was latkes.

They don't taste like potatoes.

That's not potatoes.

No, I don't know.

I'm not Polish carrying to a

rich and memorable smoke that

stood out across dozens of

contenders.

And here's the kicker.

Half Wheel pointed out that the

gap between the number one and

the number two this year was

incredibly slim.

Less than 110th of a point.

Wow.

Showing just how close the

competition was at the top.

It's actually .079 from being

the number one cigar. .07. 90

man, she gave me that dub.

I would take that number.

Oh my.

Goodness, who was the number

one?

Padrone.

Uh, a padrone that is a Natalie

for two guys.

Two guys exclusive.

So the Pedrone was the number

three and then Pedrone was #1 So

Postani Cigars is slightly

better than Pedrone, but not

quite as good as Pedrone.

Well, that's our new slogan.

We're just gonna say it's the

number one core line.

The number one regular

production cigar in America.

There you.

Go.

Yeah, yeah, because you

according to.

Half of those, it was the Maduro

and the natural, and we're right

in the middle.

According to half Wheel,

according to half, that was

Dude, I got to tell you that

was.

Wait.

Hold on.

Hold on, hold on.

Let's hold on, let's interview.

I was going to talk.

That's fine.

So Mikey, how do you feel about

this situation?

You can say something something.

Insightful and emotional.

Like hold on, let me dumb this

down real quick.

Tell me how you feel.

Tell.

Me your What do you say?

You're like Erin Andrews at the

wow at the 50.

Like, oh, so you're half time.

What do you got to do to win the

game?

Like, well, we need to stop them

from scoring.

Yeah, perfect.

All right.

Thanks.

Back to you al all.

Right back to you, Mikey.

No, man, so this was, thank you

so much, Phil.

So I missed Phil.

No, this one was really cool,

man.

This was really cool.

Dude.

I was riding high on Friday

'cause it was like, I'm

listening to this, right?

You know, and I'm working or

whatever and you know, they're

rattling off.

They're, you know, 1514, 1098.

I get to 3.

I'm like, OK, well fuck, I guess

they I guess.

I guess we didn't do anything.

I guess we're just not

acknowledged, whatever.

But yeah, but for me, it's just

like, all right, back to the

grind.

Whatever, keep doing what we're

doing, you know, we'll just keep

focusing.

And then when they said 2 coming

to two posts, I'm like I just

jumped out of my chair.

Man yelled from the back of the

store.

Yeah, I was like.

Let's.

I thought he heard himself.

It was awesome.

Was there any emotions from

Greg?

He was.

He was not here.

We didn't bother telling him.

We didn't tell him.

When the congratulatory text

started coming and then he got

included in one or two of them,

he texted me.

He goes, why are people

congratulating us?

I said.

Because you made it to New

Jersey on a safe flight.

Yes, never tell, he goes.

That's not it.

I go, yeah, we're all just happy

you made it to.

New Jersey, very exciting.

Never tell him.

And then when he finally figures

out go.

Well, we told you that, Greg.

Did you forget about that?

So Richie from Espinosa texts

like the four of us, right?

And he didn't understand what

was going on.

And then apparently, somehow we

figured it out.

Yeah.

And then then I wrote.

Greg has entered the chat.

He.

Said like fuck yeah or

something.

He went nuts.

Like you can find out you landed

too good.

But you know, we also, like I

said, we also took the eight on

the consensus.

So you know.

That was just announced.

Yeah.

So thank you very much.

What is that?

I'm not familiar.

It's cigar media like Youtubers.

Oh, as everybody has a logger.

Everybody submits their list to

YouTube.

YouTube compiles all the half

wheel.

Oh half wheel, sorry.

They compile all the information

and then they break it down with

out of all the podcasts that do

reviews.

This is how everybody fell.

Who ranked where?

Who was #1 did?

You, my father blew OK.

Really.

Yeah, yeah.

So that was that was a.

Big so should just give Greg

that list for him to make a sign

go.

These are all the people, Greg,

that.

It doesn't show that, it just

shows where you rank.

He's got, but if you go to a

different post, he ranks

everybody who's on the

consensus.

Charlie does.

OK, yes, he ranks everybody

that's on the consensus, but it

doesn't show where those ranks

came from.

No, but Greg just wants to know

who ranked us right?

Isn't that what he wants to

know?

No.

So, yeah.

So if you want to know who

ranked us, you can't look at the

consensus.

You have to figure out who

actually ranked us and submitted

it to.

We will just tell Greg that

everybody on this list ranked us

in some point or fashion.

Oh, so he's just going to list

out the 50?

Right, because he wants to make,

you know, it's going to be a

very big sign he's going.

To have no, I will tell you that

Lemac did, you know,

surprisingly he did the

catastrophic failure, which not

a lot of people picked up on

because I don't think that we we

didn't do anything for media for

that.

So that means that that guy just

went out and smoked.

I don't think that we had enough

to really pass out.

They were gone.

In a blink, yeah, they were

gone.

So.

Far, they didn't sell right

away, they sold three weeks

later, right so.

So with that coming out this

year, what chance did you think

we got of maybe get number one

for 2026 with the catastrophic

failure?

Well.

I mean, we're going.

There's only one spot.

There's only one spot to go.

Right here, we only need one

more.

We're going for the number one

spot without.

Question.

I went after you, Pedrone.

Was it remember I think Roma was

like in a number two spot a

couple years.

Ago they had the number one for

the maestronza.

Oh, it was the number one.

OK I was gonna say I was

wondering if they were the

number 2.

Was Pedrone above them as well?

No, they had the Mastronza last

year number.

One, that's what.

It was.

Is it unusual for?

I mean, basically it's the same

cigar with a different wrapper

and 1:00 and 3:00.

It's a completely different

blend, yeah.

Well, I know, but I mean if you

look at it, it's got the exact

same name except one says Maduro

once, etcetera.

I understand it's a different

cigar, but it just.

Are you talking about the

Padrones?

Yes #1 and 3.

What's pretty remarkable is to

see how consistent both of them

are that they took so high up

that it's like the one and the

three.

You got to give it to them, man,

You know?

Yeah, like I said, Postana

cigars slightly better than

padrone, but not quite as good

as padrone.

Do you T-shirt with the number

two spot?

Do you do you think you'll ever

do here in the near future?

The placards, like a lot of the

other people do where they do

like #2 half will.

Maybe we do some shelf talkers

or something?

Is that what we're?

Talking about shelf.

Talkers.

Yeah, something like that.

He, he didn't know.

He wasn't, he doesn't go to the

meetings anymore.

Yeah, well, he's not allowed to

go to the meetings.

Anymore you're out of here.

I don't know, man, you know,

like I'm just excited, man.

I'm very grateful for for all of

our all of the consumers that

smoke the product and believe in

us, all the retailers that that

believe in us, all the all the

media coverage that we get, not

just half wheel, but everybody

else.

I mean, Dojo had to cover us.

Hey, we got #12 there.

Bob Cigar Guy covered us.

Lee Mack covered us.

You know there's a whole list.

Funny, Coop did not.

We didn't make his list at all.

We can talk about that on

Patreon.

I'm actually smoking one right

now.

I'll give you a couple here.

I think Chet's smoking earlier

there as well.

Casa Fumato five O 5 cigar

reviews Tiny Tim Lee Mack bear

#2 for bear was justice Cigar

Dojo gave us 12 cigar press Mr.

Fred Wui gave us number six

Cigarsense Kaplowitz Media gave

us I think #2 I don't remember

how real smoke podcast ranked

us.

The late smoke ranked us.

Catman ranked us down to her if

ranked us and then obviously

half wheel.

So you know, I shout out to all

you guys, man.

We're very grateful for that.

I mean, this was, it takes about

10 years to become an overnight

success.

That's, that's an accurate

statement.

You know it.

For us, it was 11 or we're late

bloomers.

Yeah, we're a little slow.

You know, but.

Well, this is year eleven. 2026

is year. 11 This is year 11 for

Postagna, yeah.

So I mean 10 years, it just

turned year 11 now.

Yeah, but you know what, man?

I don't know, dude.

It it, it does.

It just feels different.

Like it feels like.

Like you're part of the industry

now.

No, but like things are, I don't

know man.

It's just like.

Everything's sort of hitting.

Yeah, that and just like people

kind of understand us a little

bit better now, you know we have

great relationships with brand

owners, manufacturers, the the

retailers, the consumers.

Like all of this is it's all and

media, like all of it's just

kind of coming together.

And I'm like, wow, this is this

is a pretty good feeling.

So I'm really, really excited

about 2026.

I think that this is going to be

a great year for us on all

platforms, podcast, retail,

wholesale, all of it.

Well, congratulations.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Or Postonia.

This marks the brand's first

time cracking the top 10 on this

prestigious list, a huge

milestone for relatively young

company.

It's only been releasing

Coraline since 2015, So whether

you're a long time fan who's

followed Postonia since day one,

or you're just now discovering

what the brand is capable of,

the San Andreas Bellicoso

ranking is validation that

Postonia is quickly becoming a

serious player in premium

cigars.

And it's a cigar that every

enthusiast should try, at least.

Once.

Absolutely.

For those of you that

congratulated us, thank you so

much.

For those of you that watched

and didn't congratulate us,

thanks for watching.

We appreciate you either.

Way wait on the gifts to start

coming in I.

Don't need the gifts.

I would like.

Gifts Paul Martin Boots.

And shout out to everybody at

Half Wheel except for Brian, who

doesn't come over here and he

lives in Deltona.

He lives right in Deltona.

Everybody else Brooks, Patrick,

Charlie.

I'm going to hug Charlie PCA

this year.

Last year we talked briefly.

I thought he.

Doesn't like the touching thing

man.

Hugging, I don't care.

Oh, God, that affects my number

one.

I'm gonna be very upset 'cause

when we dropped that

catastrophic failure, dude, that

thing was tracking crazy.

Yeah.

It's OK, Charlie, just think of

it as like gingerbread.

Gingerbread.

Teriyaki.

Brooks is gingerbread.

Oh.

Yeah, no.

Brooks is Coco Nibs.

Yeah, Coco.

Nibs.

Yeah, Coco nibs.

What's Brian?

Since he lives here in Deltona,

he.

Doesn't do he doesn't do a whole

lot.

He.

Just hides.

He just hides, never comes up.

I think he's really technically

been here twice in the 10 years

that I've been, yeah.

Wow.

All right, now it's time for the

industry's favorite game, What's

the Score?

With a special hello to Doctor

Oscar Rodriguez, owner of GTO

Cigars.

He's a big fan of What's the

Score?

He came up to me Saturday and

said he loves he loves the

What's the Score?

Nice.

It's an integral part of our

podcast.

Do you remember my name?

No, but I recognize your face,

Sir.

I've seen you.

You are always.

Seen you.

We've met several times.

We met at the BCA.

I love what you do with the with

the score thing.

It is very nice.

I like the.

Very nice.

It's very nice.

Did you have fun at the Girl

Live?

At the thing, yeah, yeah, I knew

almost every vendor that was

there, so that was nice.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Very cool.

Yeah.

All right, the first cigar.

OK, Now this cigar is a little

different.

I can't give you a lot of

information because that would

give the cigar away too, too

quick.

So this is a Charlie Minato

reviewed cigar.

It is from Nicaragua and that's

all I can tell you.

Is it the Sasania San Andreas

we're going to?

Do what I'm not telling you.

You know what?

I can read that guy like a book.

Oh my God, 91.

Right 90 next.

I won you.

Guys suck, couldn't played

along.

Size 5 and three quarter by

dumb.

Cigar reviewed Undisclosed

Country of origin.

Nicaragua Factory undisclosed.

Rapper undisclosed.

Binder Undisclosed.

Filler Undisclosed.

Length undisclosed.

Ringgage 54.

Because he knew.

It's round They smoked 3 in its

regular production. 91.

I'm going to go 91.

The complexity and evolution of

the cigar are truly impressive,

from the unique pre light aromas

and constantly shifting flavor

profile.

Moving through bread, leather,

spices, potatoes, citrus and

nutty tones, the experience

never feels flat or repetitive.

92. 91.

Construction across all three

samples that outstanding draw,

burn, overall consistency are

near flawless, allowing the

focus to remain entirely on the

flavor journey.

The balance between full flavor,

medium body and controlled

strength makes it a refined yet

bold cigar expression that feels

both rich and polished. 92. 100.

Well, the flavor transitions are

interesting and the recurring

potato and starch like notes may

not appeal to every palate.

At times a profile can feel

slightly dry and restrained.

Is this the final thoughts?

No.

No, I can't do the final thought

because he says the name of the

name Cigar Fortune.

Oh, so that this is.

It this is that.

That was it.

OK, then 91. 91.

Oh, it's a tie.

And that's because he just

can't, well, copy what I did

because I didn't know the score

on that.

One, yeah, but I called it.

I was like, Oh my God, this is

the passaggio san.

Andreas, he said 90.

You didn't know what it ranked.

No, I didn't know what it

ranked, but I just knew it was

the Passaggio San Andreas.

All right, Second Cigar, Part

Six, 2015 Brooks Whittington

Cigars, Costa Rica, Felipe

Gregorio Review the the Felipe

Gregorio Pelo de Oro Corona.

Coco Nibs.

Got a long night?

85.

That's low.

Wow.

Felipe.

Felipe Gregorio Pelo de Oro. 88.

It's from Costa Rica.

The factory is Trey's Tiaras

factory rappers Costa Rican

binder, Costa Rican filler Costa

Rican 6 by 44 Corona released in

October 2014 Number of cigars.

It's a regular production and

then they smoked 3 cigars. 85.

88.

The pre light presentation is

elegant and refined with a

parchment smooth wrapper and

classic age aromas of cedar

nuts, hay and barnyard that

immediately signal an old world

style profile.

The burn performance throughout

the cigar is consistently

excellent, requiring virtually

no touch ups and maintaining

strong combustion from start to

finish. 85. 89.

Despite the flavor challenges,

the cigar maintains structural

integrity and improves.

Despite the flavor challenges.

Integrity improves slightly in

smoke production in the final

third notes of tobacco, coffee,

aged wood provide a traditional

foundation and the mild to

medium strength keeps the cigar

approachable for smokers who

prefer lighter bodied cigars.

I didn't hear cocoa nibs.

This is Brooks.

Yes. 86. 87.

Unfortunately, here we go.

The dominant wet newspaper

bitterness overwhelms a profile

across all three, all three

thirds with an increasingly

harsh finish that never fully

recovers.

The extremely tight draw further

limits the enjoyment and lack of

balance.

Sweetness or meaningful flavor

evolution makes the smoking

experience feel monotonous and

fatigued.

Are you looking it up right now?

He can't.

There's no.

He.

Doesn't know how to spell it.

I'm looking at your guys

cameras, OK?

Is that it?

With his self?

Well that was that clue, yes.

Shall I have final thoughts

left?

I was really thinking in my

head, how does 1.

That's dangerous.

Taste wet newspaper.

It's easy.

I can.

I've tasted wet newspaper.

I'm worried.

Yeah.

What's the difference in aged

wood and new wood with flavors?

It's fresher.

And what is barnyard flavors?

Is that animal animal poop?

No, it's very hay.

Kind of.

No, no.

Hay was listed as a separate

specific flavor.

Yeah.

Is that are they smelling these

flavors?

It's kind of a barn without a

hay, you know what I mean?

Like the hayless barn.

Yeah, that's exactly.

It's just like that.

That's a shot.

But it's Barnyard that's outside

the barn.

Yeah, that wouldn't be a bar.

That's like the dirt where the

chickens have been pooping and

stuff.

No, it's totally different,

Totally different.

That's chicken poop.

That's totally different flavor.

How do I know what chicken poop

tastes like?

85. 87.

So when you clean the chicken

coop, you have to wear a mask

because the feces is poisonous

to you if you get too much.

I get it ammonia or whatever.

What is that ammonia?

No no, no, that's a cat piss.

Chicken poop is different.

OK?

Sort of like barnyard and

barnyard Hay 2.

Totally different.

Things completely different.

Thank you.

Thank you for clarifying.

All right, final thought.

Yes, I'm not sure what I

expected from the first Felipe

Gregorio Pelo Dioro cigar, but

the tight, bitter, unbalanced,

wet newspaper tasting profile

that I got was not high on my

list.

It's funny, you didn't have it

on the list.

Well, the burn was excellent in

all of my samples.

Well, it had paper in it.

It burned well.

Yeah, it turned out to be the

single positive and a long list

of issues for this.

Well, it burns well.

Yeah, but it did burn well.

Some of which are insurmountable

if you want to actually enjoy

the smoking experience.

As it stands now, I can't even

come close to recommending the

Felipe Gregorio Pelo de Oro even

to try at least this Fatola.

Phil. 79.

However, when the question is,

Mikey is trying to decide if

it's entire or lower than 79.

It is definitely lower.

I'm going to go 78. 70.

What do we have for him, Johnny?

Well, you tied on the first one,

so.

So that means I win.

Yeah, he won this one.

But he.

Wins most of.

Them he wanted to watch.

No, he does not because he can't

spell Felipe E Gregorio Pelo de

Oro.

It's a long ass name.

He's like, damn, this is too

many letters.

Of.

I can't look this up.

I just don't unders.

I mean, it's, it's a Costa Rican

cigar.

I mean, it's probably not going

to be the best.

Because it's Costa Rican.

Well, yeah, that means.

Didn't Rosales's first cigar

wasn't in a Costa Rican cigar?

It was Wow.

So Rosales can't.

Rosales can't make a good cigar

either, is what.

You're trying to.

I've never smoked it.

I don't know, but most of the

Costa Rican cigars I have smoked

are not that great.

Is that like you don't like all

Dominicans except for the

Dominicans you like?

Yeah, that's pretty much what

that means, right?

Yeah.

None of the Costa Ricans are

good except the ones except.

There are a couple of Costa

Ricans, right?

Yeah, gotcha.

All right, All right, That's all

we got.

Yeah, that's it.

Like and subscribe.

Make sure you follow us wherever

you're watching.

Smoke and subscribe, Michael.

No, like and subscribe.

Yeah, I'm not.

Do we know what do we know what

cigar that we're going to?

We will be smoking on the

Patreon.

Yes, the Espinoza Sumatra.

Our first.

Redux the Redux.

We're revisiting this one.

Revisiting the cigar because we

were given so much trouble.

About as as, yeah.

This should be an interesting.

One, we're going to see where

I'm going to come in fresh

pallet, let's do it tomorrow.

All right, we'll do it tomorrow

still, so we're it'll go

Wednesday or Thursday.

Yeah, whatever.

Put it up, put it up Thursday.

Oh my God.

Consistently.

I lose Shrek of the days because

technically it's Monday, but

we're doing a show for Tuesday

and then we do the show for

Thursday on Monday, but it's

almost Tuesday.

Listen, plug this thing in.

Do it the right way.

Let's just go live.

Screw it.

Wow.

Every day.

Yeah, I'm in for that.

This is the first time I've

heard you said this.

This is great.

Let's do it.

I think that, listen, you know,

there's a reason why I'm telling

you to watch your curse words,

right?

To bring it down, you know,

because like, if we can.

Get I did it today.

We can get more refined.

It's.

Something I think I cursed

today.

Yeah, you did just one.

Yeah, me too.

So but like just one where he

uses it as umm, right.

You know what I mean.

So so you know, if we, if we

could, we can Polish a couple

things, then we need to launch a

live and see what it looks like.

What do you got to lose?

You think our you think our

listeners would like to see it

live or recorded?

I think that well, when you.

Sorry, go ahead.

No, you go ahead.

When you do it live, If we did

like a Facebook Live, there

would still be a recording.

But how does that work?

Do we still put it out as like

tomorrow morning at 5:00?

AM.

No, I'm just, no, it's just a

YouTube live.

You launch it and then it's up.

Yeah.

But what about Spotify and

Rumbo?

Then you'd have to still release

those.

The following on those two.

OK, OK, doesn't seem that hard.

I mean, me and Mikey's not doing

it.

So Palmer, we're going to see

how he figured it out.

I was playing today, there is a

button over there that says go

live but I don't know what

happens.

Well, it's got to be.

It's got to be.

Live, I did push it so somebody

might have seen me going for a

few minutes.

It's got to be linked to a

computer dude.

You keep saying that the

computer linking thing.

Yeah, yeah, keep repeating that.

All right, Episode 451 of the

cigars or podcast, we got to go

bite.

Thanks.

Bye.

Welcome to the Cigar Hustler

podcast.

The show brought to you

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But a massive shout out to our

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Cigar Hustler podcast that one

up.

Show Notes

ON today’s show Falcons get a new coach, TSA is

Going to

Become a pay service, Florida may charge a “sin tax” then in cigars we’ve got a couple new sticks and update on the terrible shooting last week and then by a margin of just .079! Plus a full round of what’s the score!