ACHP Episode 512 The Danger Zone Gets Sniffed
Episode Summary
Episode 512 of A Cigar Hustler's Podcast is recorded live on the PCA trade show floor in New Orleans with host Mike Palmer, co-host Mikey, and guest Matt Booth of Room 101 Cigars. The crew shares two mics, sweats through the convention hall, and works through the daily news rundown before getting into the cigar business talk — including Booth's newest release, the Jonathan P. Tabacconaut Maduro, made by A.J. Fernandez in Estelí, Nicaragua. Booth riffs on band bias (his theory that a great band genuinely makes a cigar taste better), praises A.J. Fernandez's packaging detail on the new Maduro, and confirms Room 101's new lineup additions including The Big Payback and Fuente 70s.
The news block covers a California repeat offender arrested for stalking and sniffing women in retail stores, the confirmation of a third Top Gun film announced at CinemaCon, an update on DNA evidence from the Nancy Guthrie case being sent to the FBI lab, a new Little Debbie chocolate donut (which prompts a promised on-air snack tasting), and reporting on U.S.–Iran negotiations over a three-page plan involving $20 billion in frozen funds and enriched uranium.
On the cigar side, Booth delivers a memorable rant calling 70 ring gauge cigars "the scourge of this industry" — while noting Room 101 makes the finest ones if you insist — and lays out his dream of earning the lowest rating in Cigar Aficionado history (he's petitioning for a 12). Palmer details Cigar Hustler's new "Smoke This, Trust Me" retail program: three blends (Connecticut, Habano, Maduro) in Robusto, Toro, Gordo and 6x60, all $8, sold with a buy-three-get-one-free in-store incentive designed to give small retailers a new revenue stream — roughly $50–60K a year at his own Deltona, Florida shop. The guys also cover the Macanudo Gold Label's new 6x54 box-pressed Gold Bullion vitola from Scandinavian Tobacco Group, Booth's love of the Padrón 1964 Anniversary Principe natural, and Powstanie landing at #2 on the top 25 list ahead of Padrón at #3.
The show closes with "What's the Score," where Palmer and Booth guess Brooks Whittington's halfwheel rating of the Room 101 11th Anniversary Torpedo. Palmer locks in 89 from the first guess and wins — beating Booth on his own cigar.
In This Episode
- 01Live from the PCA floor in New OrleansPalmer, Mikey and Matt Booth set up with two mics and a camera in a sweaty convention hall to record daily PCA content.
- 02News: California retail 'butt sniffer' arrested againA repeat offender on parole is arrested once more for stalking and sniffing shoppers, sparking a tangent about surveillance culture in Japan and camera-equipped Meta glasses.
- 03Jonathan P. Tabacconaut MaduroBooth debuts Room 101's new Maduro made by A.J. Fernandez in Estelí, praising the gold band, packaging detail, and his 'band bias' theory that branding changes how a cigar tastes.
- 04Top Gun 3, the Guthrie case, and Little Debbie's new donutThe news block covers a third Top Gun confirmed at CinemaCon, DNA evidence rushed to the FBI lab two and a half months into the Nancy Guthrie investigation, and a promised on-air Little Debbie snack tasting.
- 05U.S.–Iran three-page deal scoopThe guys read reporting on $20 billion in frozen Iranian funds traded for enriched uranium and riff on what's in the other two pages.
- 06Room 101's Big Payback, Fuente 70s, and the 70 ring gauge rantBooth calls 70+ ring gauge cigars a perversion of the premium cigar — then notes Room 101 makes the finest ones if you're going to do it anyway.
- 07'Smoke This, Trust Me' retail programPalmer explains the three-blend, $8, buy-three-get-one-free in-store program built to help small retailers capture value-focused buyers and add $50–60K in annual revenue.
- 08Macanudo Gold Label Gold Bullion and the $101 worst-rated cigar dreamSTG adds a 6x54 box-pressed Gold Bullion to Macanudo Gold Label, and Booth lays out his goal of earning a 12 rating from Cigar Aficionado.
- 09What's the Score: Room 101 11th Anniversary TorpedoPalmer and Booth guess the halfwheel review score of Booth's own 11th Anniversary Torpedo — Palmer nails 89 from the first clue.
Brands & Cigars Discussed
Linked items are in our shop. Mentions without a link aren’t currently stocked or couldn’t be matched with confidence.
Transcript
Oh, we should get a picture. Wait, can that take a picture of us? Is that a good picture? Can you clickety-clack that?
I can switch it to photo mode. Is that a good picture of us though? I think so. We need a little, well, Antoine, -Francois.
-Alex. -Alex. -Alex. -Paul's right here.
-Paul! -Francois. -Francois. -Francois.
-Francois. -Francois. -He speaks French. -He speaks French, so, apparently, you gotta say his name in French, so it doesn't come.
-Is that possible? -Like, you know, and you gotta-- -Yes, nice and tight. Yeah, yeah. -I don't know if he's doing it right.
-I don't know if he's doing it right. -I don't know if he's doing it right. -The camera's doing it right. -The camera looked great.
-It looked great. -Let's check, let's check, let's check. Thank you for that. Yeah, that's not right, that's not right, that's not right, that's not right, that's not right, Francois, Alex, did you do something?
No, no, he's Francois now, the rest of the trip. You're, you're a, thank you, thank you very much, you're a younger person that understands the internet, there we go, here, come on, right, so could you get a couple pictures, like, straight on of us, like, f***ing Manish, bro, you know how to do it, if you don't, do one, to all three of us. Did you get it? I just have this silent moment of you just waiting for a picture.
All right. Oh, that's it, I mean. You own it. , 1922.
1922? Yes. Hold on. Let me check.
Let me check. Wait, I'm talking. You can't do that. Here.
Okay. Straight on. Straight, straight, straight. Straight like your hooter.
Now do a stupid face. Is that going to be it? Is that going to be it? You think that's straight on?
Because I don't think that's straight on. Okay, great. Oh, we're going low again. Oh, we're going low again.
Okay. Did you get this again? Yeah, holding it. I mean, it's decent.
It's okay. Thanks. Okay. Unbelievable.
Okay. All right, so we have one mic. Okay. We share.
Okay. Okay. And he has a mic by himself. Okay.
Ready? Let me turn my ringer on. Okay. All right.
We're nice and sweaty. We are sweaty. Yeah, everybody's sweaty. We're sweaty, bro.
Can we do this tomorrow in the air condition? Are we all going to lean forward? Is that the thing? What are we doing?
Oh, you want to sit back? No, no, we lean forward. No, I look much better. Yeah, I look fast.
I saw yesterday. Manish. This is good. Okay.
Manish. Manish. Manish. Manish.
Okay, Palmer. Ready? Yes. Welcome to A Cigar This is our podcast episode 512.
I'm Mike Palmer, your host. And again, today we are on the-- you want to read? Today we're on the floor of the PCA in New Orleans. Louisiana, with me-- I have a man that-- With me, I have a man.
This is not-- I wrote it, I can read it. So, I mean, it is not grammatically correct, no. With me, have a man, that need no intro, world traveler, father and husband. I like that you brought that up.
Thank you very much. You're welcome. Mr. Matt Booth, exclamation.
And as my co-host, Mikey. No elaborate intro for you. Thank you. I don't need that.
I have one. He needs it. Oh, this is ours. This is ours.
Yeah, you hang on to that. But you got to point it when I'm talking. You got to point it. Yeah, there you go.
Good job. You're now in charge. Thank you. You're welcome.
On today's show, we have a butt sniffer, a Guthrie update, new snacks, and a scoop on the war deal. But before we get started, Michael, tell us, how do we get that CHPod swag? CHPod swag, how do you get it? com, where you can get all of our CHPod swag.
Buy one, get the second one 40% off. Spend $100 or more and get free shipping. Master Blender. Is that a CHPod swag item?
Oh, it's got the little logo on it. Yes. Ah, yes, I hide it on all of them. That's nice.
That's a great shirt. Yes. Thank you. Thank you.
com, A Cigar Hustlers Podcast, where now, if you want to get it for the entire year, you get 10% off. Yeah. Yeah. All right, now I'm with the news.
You still live in California? I don't need that. Oh, now I'm with the news. He doesn't, he's never, he lives in, he lives in Washington.
Oh, he lives, he lives in Washington. Oh, you don't live in California. I've been living in, I've been around, bro. I haven't been there for a while.
All right, well, there's a repeat offender in California that's drawn attention after multiple reports describe disturbing behavior inside retail stores. What kind of retail stores? Let's see, we had, there is a list, actually. Premium tobacconists, perhaps?
No, no, retail stores. Oh, actual retail establishments, not vile dens of tobacco. He follows women around the store. Oh, no.
And then he sneaks up behind them and bends over like he's trying to get something off the bottom rack. Yeah. He sniffs their butts. Oh my goodness.
He's a perf. He's a butt sniffer, yeah. He's a butt sniffing perf. He has violated his parole and he has been arrested.
I don't mean that. And he's been arrested once again. Just here. Just here.
My eyes are right here. Thank you. Thank you. Bring it back.
Okay, now you. Wait, what was he arrested for before? Also butt sniffing? Yeah, also same.
Really? What's the actual charge? Illicit behavior. Yes, yes.
Strike two, homie. Despite multiple arrests, the individual was repeatedly released, often returning to similar behavior. At the time of the most recent incident, he was already on parole, raising concerns among both the public and law enforcement, engaging, ongoing, safely, safely risk in everyday shopping. Wow.
So, how long is he going to jail for? It doesn't say what he was... He's out already. He got out already.
Yeah, he's out already. They arrest him and then they release him, but it's not a violent crime. In California, they don't even arrest them, they just write them a ticket and call it arrest. Right, probably.
Allegedly. Allegedly. Allegedly. Allegedly.
Oh, you have to always say allegedly. Allegedly. Yeah. Or in my opinion.
Yeah, exactly. Yeah, my opinion. Yeah. Yeah.
Okay. So initially he was just reprimanded, stopped sniffing butts, but he will not stop, so he got arrested. Damn. Have you ever come across a butt sniffer?
You know, there's a cultural situation, and it's been a forever thing and somewhat understood in Japan. They're very tightly wound in some ways. Such a beautiful culture that I have so much respect and adoration for, but also, you know, wound a little tight in some ways, right? And this comes out in the human condition and certain behaviors.
And, you know, they have a little bit of a train-perving situation there. You know, in fact, in fact, Palmer, they actually, my understanding is that like the iPhones, smartphones that are sold in Japan, actually are, they make it so that you can not actually silence the, hold that fine, yeah, that's fucking right, hold that shit. New product. We're going to get to it.
We're going to get to it. But they actually, you cannot suppress the noise of the phone. It's not a phone camera because these cats are going on the train and taking pictures from undone, but then they just download an app that lets them do it and they do it that way. Technology.
You can always circumvent the law. Or better yet, you can just circumvent what's right. The law and that are possibly two different things sometimes. Yeah, that's true.
The law isn't necessarily what's right. Or you could just circumvent the rules. You can circumvent... you can just circumvent.
A lot of circumventing. You kids circum the circumvention. You know, I was circumvented when I was born. I was just saying that.
I was circumvented. Yeah. You know, I heard that the meta vanguards, you know, the Oakleys and stuff, the Ray-Bans, you could take picture and video. I heard that at the Masters, you weren't allowed to wear them, because people were using videos and stuff, and they don't like that.
It's a big no-no. No. Understood. Yeah.
I mention that because the irony of the fact that Japan is very so tight niche and we're kind of, I would say that our culture is a little more loose, but meanwhile, at golf, no. Well, I mean, but anywhere that's going to have like a restriction on capture video photo, those glasses are going to be, they're going to be policing that, you know, because now you don't have to. Yes. Yes.
Go ahead. Yes. Circumvention. Got some cigs.
Got some new stuff. We're gonna get to that in just a moment. Jonathan, Pete, Tabacanat Maduro. Look at the gold band.
Now, Mike, as you know, you're a cigar maker. I am. And, you know... I don't know, I mean...
Okay, sure. You do well. Yes. You do decently.
And I dig what you do. You know, but as you know, the bands do make them taste different. And my bands, quite frankly, make them taste better. They're going to love these cigars.
That is correct. The bands, the bands 100% add flavor. Yeah. Without question.
Well, in fact, you cannot, you cannot enjoy the cigar sans some form of bias when it is branded. Who, who did this? Not my mom. Are we not disclosing that?
Are you talking about the cellophane? Yes. No, because here. Who made it?
Here's what I'm going to tell you, which I think is absolutely fascinating. You like this whole thing, the little wraparound action? Yes, yes, they actually took the time to put the cigars, the bands, on the outside that are in the interiors so that you see it. Yeah, so flip a lip.
Oh. J. Fernandez, baby. Is this something you asked for or they just did?
They actually just did that. J.? I noticed as well, it's very nice. But of course, meticulous attention to detail, the highest quality in craftsmanship, sensational.
Ajay Fernandes, thank you, baby, thank you. Only Ajay. Only Ajay. I mean, other people do well as well, but he's...
That's his term. Peek. He's Peek. He says only Ajay.
Oh, that's what he says? He says only Ajay? Oh, shit, I didn't know that. Yeah.
I've known him a long time. I didn't know he says it. I'm going to say that to him. When I see him, I say only Ajay.
It's written on all his cars and buildings and things. Yeah. How have I never noticed that? Yeah.
You're a very busy man. Only Ajay. Only Ajay. Wow.
Solo Ajay. Solo Ajay. Nice. Johnny Tobacco, not Maduro, bitches.
Smoke it. We're gonna get to that story in a minute. Oh, we're gonna do, are we doing more? Yeah, oh yeah, we're not done.
Oh, I'm sorry. This is an hour long show, you're here for a while. This is a f***ing hour? Yeah.
Oh, good, good, good. You have nowhere to be. Stop talking to the people. Is this the first time you've, uh, this is the first time you've done our podcast, sir?
No, no, I've done the podcast before. I really enjoy doing your podcast. Yeah, so you know. Yeah, it's an hour long.
This isn't as special. So, this is an actual show. A third Top Gun film has officially been confirmed with Tom Cruise set to return. Came out today.
Not the idea. The news was announced at Paramount's presentation during the CinemaCon convention in Los Angeles on April 16th. Which was like yesterday, I think. Was that yesterday?
Yes. Oh, so recent. This is fresh news. This is fresh news, man.
It's very nice what you guys do here. We do the show five days a week. We have to do fresh news. Yeah.
We like to keep... You do this five days a week? I know. It's crazy.
What are you guys talking about all that time, man? Well, fresh news. Yes. Five days a week.
Every day. Yes. Only Cigar Hustler. Just us.
We'll just talk over here. Okay. So, did you like the last movie? The second movie?
I mean, look, man. Here's the deal. You're never gonna recapture the magic of an '80s movie. It's not gonna happen.
And, you know, you've got, like, the volleyball scene. The second one was better than the first one. Oh, no, no. Yes.
No. 100%. No, I liked it when Star Wars did the story. That was good.
No. Yeah. Same. Wait, what?
The original Star Wars. Yeah. He flew the X-Wing fighter through the canal or into the ravine. Yeah.
Had to shoot two rockets into the little thing or two missiles into the little base. Yes. And he flew the X-Wing fighter through the canal or into the ravine. Yeah.
Had to shoot two rockets into the little thing. Yeah. Or two missiles into the little base. Yes.
Into the little thing, or two missiles into the little base. Yes. It's the exact same movie. And then pull out the other side, use the mystical force to help him do it.
Yeah! It's the same movie. What, it's "Top Gun"? Top Gun copied Star Wars.
No. They did the same story. Absolute fucking bullshit. No.
Absolute bullshit. What's up, player? It's the exact same story. No, no, no.
Listen, there are some really good principles in the second one that I like. He picked Rooster over Hangman or something like that? Yes. Hey, what about Iceman?
Well, Hangman saved a minute. Iceman died. And then he really died in life. Fuck, Iceman died?
Yeah. Damn! Yeah, cancer. Oh, man.
What's up? How's it going? Oh. Yeah.
And Iceman. Yeah, throat cancer. In the movie. Oh, not good, bro.
Yeah. Oh, that's no good. Yeah. They AI'd his voice into the movie.
But I didn't really talk. Did they? Yeah. Damn.
Oh, I enjoyed the second one, especially in a time when then we really didn't have good movies, like good family movies, like that one was kind of perfect, the way that it came out. It was more of that, had that classic feel to it. You know, like the love scene, there was not like aggressive banging. It was, you know, fade out, whatever.
Right. Yeah. No anal. Yeah.
No anal. Yeah. Um, I didn't say I didn't enjoy it. Yeah.
I said they copied the, the, the, it was better than the first one. It was better. I don't, I don't, I don't, I was, I don't think so. So, you guys do this show five days a week.
He's still on that. No, no. Oh. You're doing this tomorrow as well?
Yes. And you still... Well, it's technically Saturday, but we're going to do the weekend so that we have content for next week when we're going to be busy. And you didn't bring enough mics, and you're going to do multiple shows without enough mics?
No, this camera can only use two mics. So we share one and I wear one. Right, but you could have brought two of those. A little Fuzzy McFuzzlesteen there.
Fuzzle McFuzzlesteen is right there. Oh, that's wild. But that camera only will take two mics. Oh, it'll only take two.
Yes. I see. We couldn't bring the elaborate setup we have in the studio. Your mic restricted.
Well, we have two mics. We're doing our best, sir. You are. And I recognize that.
You're doing your best. Is there any other podcast that's delivering daily content at PCA currently? Absolutely not. com, that's right, give me a clip of that, I like that, it's f***ing marketing, yeah, I'll zoom in, yeah, yeah, dude, whatever you gotta do, whatever you gotta do, one, two, three, no, cut that, that'd be great, you cut it, he's doing the editing this week, you wanna Can you read the next story?
DNA evidence recovered from Nancy Guthrie's home is being rushed to the FBI's elite lab for cutting-edge analysis following earlier testing at a private lab so they can figure out who to blame shit on. But it says rushed. It's been two and a half months. Yeah.
Rushed. Rushed. Takes a long time. They're really far away.
They're FedExing it. Today. It's a great value. Guess they're quick.
Not too expensive. You know? Right. So true.
It's true. It's true. It's f***ing true. It's a great value.
What an embarrassment. What an absolute embarrassment for this entire thing. Wait, what? Right.
Somebody's sitting there going, it's been two and a half months. This lady's been missing for two and a half months. We're at a dead end. What should we do?
Anybody send it to the FBI? Yeah. Hey, why don't we get the FBI involved and try this cutting edge technology. We have a really special lab that you can send it to.
Or we can break this down. Okay. Rush it over there. Yeah.
Immediately. She spins. Yeah. There's no way.
She hasn't had her medicine in two and a half months. Yeah. She's ice man. 100% ice man.
You know, nothing would make me happier than here. And she's alive. Oh, that would be great, wouldn't it? Like, could you believe that?
She's in charge of the cartel now. She's risen up through the ranks and now she's in charge. She's running the cartel. Right.
You know what would be even funnier? Is if that actually happened, you want to know what would happen on social media? They would say that she's a clone. That she's some type of bot or something like that.
Like that? Skinwalker? Yeah. They say, "Look at the eyes.
" They go crazy? Yeah. Yeah. What's next?
Or are we not on? We got to keep talking about that for a minute? No, no, no. We're done.
We're done. Okay. No, don't you want to do this? Well, you seem to be enjoying it.
You're doing a great job. I like doing it. I like doing it. Do you like Little Debbie snacks?
I'm not so familiar with the... Little Debbie? Oatmeal pies, Ding Dongs, Ho-Hos. Oh, nice.
Yeah. They have a new one coming out. Whoa, Little Debbie Innovation? Yes.
Very similar to those. It's a chocolate doughnut. Oh, nice. Little Debbie doesn't make doughnuts.
They never had... I, yeah, I didn't... They don't make doughnuts. Not even a little, who makes little white, fluffy ones?
That's not Little Debbie. Little powder doughnuts? That's not Little Debbie. That's not Little Debbie?
No. Hmm. Looking intriguing, man. " Yeah.
Cover it in chocolate. Yeah, when, when you sell something, you put something out there in the market, Now, I'm going to make a bold statement here. And it hits, you want to keep chasing that dragon. Like, the market's telling you what they want.
Keep giving your consumers what they want. Right? Right. Are we doing this again?
Are we doing the finger thing? Right. Like a Johnny Tobacconaut? Maduro.
Like a Johnny Tobacconaut. You see that? Maduro. Jonathan P.
J. J. J. My man.
Okay, proceed please. Alright. Little Debbie. What's your favorite Little Debbies?
You said they make Ho-Ho's, right? Uh, their version, whatever the Ho-Ho they call it, yeah, with the chocolate swirled up with the vanilla or- I'm- They're called Swissmus rolls, you mean? Swissmus, Little Debbie is Swissmus. I'm not gonna make this call here.
You're gonna order in one of each snack, and we're gonna do a tasting, We're going to decide. I will do this. Tell Greg. Yeah, I know.
I'm asking. I will acquire the Little Debbies, and we can address this later on this week. Yeah, we're going to need, because how can you, I don't want to do this by recall. I want to have it there in real time, fresh.
Fresh. Consider it done. Oh. My f***ing beard in the thing.
I need to save that. Oh, yeah, yeah. No, you do. Do some Santeria-type shit with that.
Our own Matt Muth. Our own Matt Muth. People look at the eyes. Nobody wants that.
Nobody. Nobody wants that. Cigar industry needs two Maboo's. What's next?
We have a scoop on the war deal. Oh, do tell. Yes. Is it on or off?
What's going on? Have him read it. You want to read it? Yes.
I don't know that. Okay. Come on, let's go. S.
and Iran are negotiating over a three-page plan to end the war, so it's still on as of now. Well, we're at that two-week ceasefire thing. Okay. S.
S. officials and two additional sources briefed on the talks. We don't get any names. We don't know who's talking.
We don't know who's spelling. That T, it's very low-key. We got a call this morning. They called you?
Well, you know, they know five days a week, we need fresh content every single day, so... You know, that was actually thoughtful. You know, it's kind of discouraging to hear that this stuff is always leaked, to be honest. I know.
Where is the security and safety? But is that a leak? Or is that just talking? Well, I guess maybe they're trying to create the objects of, we're not asking for much, we just want the uranium for 20 million bucks or something.
Yeah. We'll give you your cash back. We want the thing that's probably worth umpteen million times more, and the thing that we wanted to begin with. And, you know, it's quite interesting, in my opinion, in my opinion, of course, right, but like, what's up, what's up with the desert, bro?
We just want to keep going to the cradle of motherfucking civilization? For what? There's many things that they want over there, right? Is that what's going on?
Was that leaked? There's many, but no, that was my opinion. I'm sorry, but there's, um, three pages of things people want. I don't, I honestly, I, uh, there's three pages of what?
Three pages of things that each side wants. Oh, that they want. Yeah, yeah, we only know one of the three pages. Is Little Debbie's involved at any stage, as we know as of right now?
Well, yeah, Iran wants the new donuts. They want the new donuts. They want the new donuts. They want the new, they want what's next.
Yeah, they're like, yo, and we want forthcoming releases into perpetuity. Yeah, right. That could be a deal breaker. You know what, we're just gonna bomb you.
Forget it. It's too much. Couldn't they buy more uranium with 20 billion dollars? 20 million or billion?
Billion, it's billion. Oh, it's billion. I thought you said million. No, he said billion.
Oh. Billion. It does say billion. With a B.
With a B. That makes more sense. The B makes more sense. We give them $20 billion, so we're buying the uranium from them.
Yeah. And then they go and buy more uranium with them. That's their money that we took from them anyways. Yeah, so it's their money to buy it.
Allegedly. No, no, we really took it. What kind of cash? Is it like stacks that they took from the titty bar?
Singles? I don't think it's gold. It's gold. We should go crypto, man.
Oh, then just two coins. It's easy to transfer. Is that what it was? It was Bitcoin.
Yeah. You know what? Maybe it's cigars. Or was it the new Jonathan P.
J. Fernandez, Esteli Nicaragua? Thank you. J.
J. My man. So, I mean, you be the judge. 20 bill on enriched uranium or, you know, approximately 8 to 10 American dollars for the f***ing smoke of your life.
A reasonable 8-10. Yeah. I mean, it ain't Padrón, but what is? I mean, after that, it's this.
Well, you know what it is. Well, to be fair, post-Tanya San Andreas. Also, was not as good as Padrón, obviously, but slightly better than Padrón, in the top 25 list. Padrón beat us in one, Powstanie, Padrón number three.
Wait, what top 25 list? Was it Palmer's list? What was going on? The only top 25 list, half-wish.
Yeah, mine doesn't count. Oh, I see. Okay, I see. Padrón anniversary, Principe 64, natural rapper, thank you.
I know, that's your thing. But by the way, thank you for congratulating me on getting the number two. Oh, dude, congrats, bro. That's very cool.
When did that come out? " Oh, okay. Nice. I'm not hinting or anything.
You have a cigar shop. You know, I don't know, but you know, you know what I mean. I'll get some knockoffs for you or something. Perfect.
There you go. Who makes those? Powstain and Powstain? How do you use it?
Yeah, do they make that? The Powstanie? Powstanie? Powstanie?
Powstanie, Pee-poo-pa. Huh? Pee-poo-pa? Pee-poo-pa?
Poo-poo-pee-pee. Poo-poo-poo-stain, yeah. Poo-poo-poo-pee-pee? I don't want to do that.
Okay. I don't want to do that right now. We'll do it later, though. Okay, I'll do it.
So, Greg's got the enriched uranium, Little Debbie's got the new fuckin' SAC. Right, thank you for- You've got two mics, cameras limited, field expedient. We're all caught up now. FedEx two days, a very, very affordable, sensible, express, wait for that- You're doing a great job.
Thanks. I don't want to move it up yet, because we're into cigar news. I don't want to see the next story. When someone tells you you're doing great, you know that it's- okay good let's go you want the next story no i want the next story but you tell it room 101 adds the big payback extra fuente 70s and the johnny tobaccona maduro oh bro they're right here you're not gonna believe this how how what a phenomenal coincidence remarkable it's in your like you did that before but it's in all caps did you do that real quick when i came over here no no no i had He won't let me do that, I have to have it set up beforehand.
Oh really? Oh, you get him like that, like, do your shit. Do your shit, right. Oh yeah, 100%.
What are you doing building things? We have a show to do. Stop working, and get working. So, what about the big payback?
Yeah. Oh yeah, yeah. Do you have those in your pocket? No, absolutely not.
Oh, none of those. The 70 ring gauge... In your pajamas? These are nice.
These are my finest sweatpants. They're very comfortable. You can rub them if you like. They're very rich.
These are rich people. Oh yeah, these are fancy, we can't afford these. H&M, bro. Yeah.
They're affordable, bro. H&M. Yeah. That's where Greg buys his pants.
Oh, does he? Yeah. Look at Greg. That's a value, it's a sensible choice.
I mean, you do shit like this, you fuck your clothes up, they smell like cigars, man. Like you sit in something, you know? Oh, the 70. Yeah.
The 70 ring gauge and above is an abomination. It is the scourge of this industry. It is the perversion of the premium cigar in every way, shape, and form. Okay?
I want you to know that. Now, we happen to make the finest 70 ring gauges offered in this industry, and if you're going to do that to yourself, if you're going to mount up on that hog and you just got to do it, Room 101, 70 ring gauge. The finest. The finest.
Like your pajamas. You got any cool swag this year? Absolutely not. Do you have any cool swag this year?
Absolutely not. No. No ashtray? We're lucky we got cigars.
No more statue? Oh, there's a smaller statue. Would you like to come... Oh, much easier than Gary.
I could take this one around and bring it to people? Of course. It's less dramatic than the big guy, but it'll still get the job done. I mean, it's about that big.
Oh, so we've condensed. Yeah. Okay. Yeah.
Sensible luxury. We realized that after a year of shipping these goddamn things everywhere, That we had to, we had to slab them and put them on crates, and it was a pain in the, complete pain in the ass, we needed something to fit in the FedEx box. Greg's right there. I like when he's standing sideways, gives it a little, it's nice.
That's right, I see all of them, you know what I mean? Quick, turn the camera. No. Absolutely not, that's a mistake, that's a mistake.
You can't give him too much shine, bro. Alright, next story. Oh. Posh.
What? Posh. Poshik? I'm about to pronounce the first word.
Yes. Look, man. Okay. I went to dinner last night at this Koshon joint.
Koshon? Whatever it was. And it's on. Yeah.
Right. Right. But then the pronunciation game here is off the hook. And now you're going to throw this at me, too.
That's Polish. What? Polish? Poshik.
Poshik. Yeah. Poshik. Oh, my God.
Oh, I thought it said thrust. Smoke this, trust me, with buy three, get one incentive. I swear I thought it said thrust. Just got some, I'm going through some stuff.
I thought it said, smoke this, thrust me. Smoke this, thrust me. Smoke this, thrust me. And here to tell us all about it is the owner of the company.
Could you please tell us about this? I can. First of all, but I do want to say one thing. We did this press release yesterday.
I released it. And kudos to Half Wheel and Epicure and Smokes and the other guys that took on it And released it. Because, you know, there are some other media outlets that have been kind of criticizing the fact that a press release came out so late. And look, when you got a bajillion things going on, sometimes you don't get to do the press release right away.
Hey, the news doesn't f***ing wait for you. You report the news. And the news happens when the universe says it happens. So quit your f***ing crying and release the news.
Release the news. Release the news. Release the news. Smoke this, thrust me.
Smoke this, thrust me. Yes. So, it's a... A microphone.
It is a, it's three different blends, Connecticut, Habano, Maduro, Robusto, Toro, Gordo, 660, and they're all $8. Yo. And they're all designed by an incentive package for in-store retailers, or buy three, get one free. And by the way, now, I might be going out on a limb here, but you do run a very well-established and viable retail operation in Florida.
Deltona to be exact, Cigar Hustler. So you may have some inside baseball on what your retail customers and your resellers might actually want and what might be healthier for them in terms of programming for their store to give them the most value, the most bang for their buck. You speak from both sides of the counter, manufacturer and retailer. That is 100% correct.
This is a concept that we have worked on in-store for over a decade and it's been highly effective for us. So we wanted to figure out a way, how can we implement this and help other retailers compete for that value consumer and give them that convenience of picking it up right away and not buying directly online. So what you're saying is you're not just selling them a product, you're selling them a value, a service, and an overarching business program all wrapped up in a one. That is 100% correct, Matthew.
Thanks, Matthew. That is insanely thoughtful, and what a well-baked and well-developed product proposition for our industry. Thank you very much. And it's actually legitimate long filler cigars.
There you go. Banded. With bands. Oh my God, with the bands, which makes people, it's crazy.
They'll buy them. It's nice. And they'll taste better. And they'll taste better than they would without the bands.
It's crazy. Well, they'll taste different. They'll taste different. Yeah, 100% different.
Band bias. What a sensational opportunity for people to participate in. I would run on down your little fingertips onto your little keyboard or your cellular device and diddle away, get ahold of my man and get this program in your stores. Let's go, baby.
I'm excited for it, man, because I think it's going to help a lot of these retailers that are, you know, smaller in size, and it'll create an additional set of revenue that they haven't capitalized on, right? So, I mean, for us, it probably does about $50,000 to $60,000 annually. And if somebody else could replicate that, then they're putting some coin in their pocket. Just this program?
Just this program. Just this program. So, you're saying that a retailer potentially, if they, now here's the deal, kids, my man can show up to your store in the greatest sense of partnership, greatest spirit of partnership, and there's an invisible dotted line down the center of your counter, and he can even lean in towards you and close the distance. I mean, he's in the spirit of partnership to the greatest, like the greatest sense of what he's capable of, but then you must meet him, also from the other side of the counter, but what he's saying is that if you implement this program in your store, you could have additional revenue stream, and they're doing like 50, 60 Gs a year, so hey, put another 50 Gs in your pocket, fuck it, why not?
We can go, we can all go on a little trip with that money, you make that money, and then we all go on a trip on that money. You're spending that money because you're stoked. How about that? To Rome.
We all go to Rome. We go to Rome. You know, it wasn't built in the day. I heard it wasn't.
Over 800 years. That's crazy. Architectural lasagna. Architectural lasagna.
Okay, Deb, we covered that. What's the name of the program again? Smoke This, Trust Me. Oh, that's the program name.
Smoke This, Trust Me. Smoke This, Trust Me. Trust. Trust me.
Yes. Trust me. Understood. Do you want to jump to what's the score?
Why, what else we got? Just one more story, but it's a Macanudo cigar. Oh, you're rolling at 33 minutes. So, let's keep it going.
All right, Macanudo Gold Label returns with a new Gold Bullion Vitola. Ooh. The Macanudo Gold Label line is back for another release this year and is part of the lineup. Scandinavian Tobacco Group is adding a six by 54 box press Toro Gordo Vitola called Gold Bullion.
You know what? If this is at the show, I'm going to go smoke one, and then I'm going to compare it to Jonathan P. Tabacanat Manduro, the new innovation from Room 101 Cigars, dropping now in New Orleans. Thank you very much.
But then we're going to, you know, compare and contrast, obviously. Yes, the line uses a Connecticut shade, half a special wrapper, which comes from the first and second primings. That's fine. Everything's fine.
That was nice. Thank you. He's going to do it again. He's going to do it again.
Okay. Thank you. Can you slam it again? Here comes, here comes, here comes, here comes, here comes, wait, wait, wait, oh no, he's buckling, he's buckling, he's buckling it now, okay, these lower leaves receive less sunlight, which the company says allows them to develop higher natural sugar content, ooh, and a lighter, more refined character, the blend, sounds like AI, binder comes from, it does sound like AI, well, everybody uses AI now, yeah, tobacco technology, yes, the binder, the lens binder comes from Mexico, again, using first and second primings, while the filler comes from Mexico and the Dominican Republic, ooh, this is gonna be a good one, oh, he picked it up, it comes a good slide.
36x32, and then a 6x54. Wow, they're making a lot of these, aren't they? Why so many SIGs? Why so many SIGs?
This is not skew-rationalized. What are we doing with all these rods? We're going, we're going, we're going for Shell. More shell space is what we're doing.
Oh, is that what we're doing? Yeah, that's the new model. Yeah. Value cigar, lower price point, more shell space.
Understood. Understood. 'Cause you have to make up for what you're not making on the more expensive shit, so you have to take more. Yeah.
I think what happened was, you know, like, the whole prices, they kind of got out of control. You don't say? Yeah, for a few years. Yeah.
I might have heard something about that. Yeah. One or two people, a couple $100, $150 cigars, because, you know, screw it, why not? Are those American?
I should do a $100 cigar. you should it should be terrible too i mean like a cheroot yeah just a fucking piece of trash yes that's my promise to you out there in tobacco landia i will drop it'll be 101 obviously 100 yeah yeah and it will be hot garbage but you know what the brand and the experience is going to carry that fucking bitch that's right we're going to make it it's going to sell people are going to And then, and then, my dream, my dream, one of my ultimate dreams is still to this day has not been realized, I will receive the lowest rating in the history of Cigar Aficionado, and then I will run an ad campaign central to that low rating. Worst rating ever? Ever.
Earned. By the way, earned, because you obviously don't buy ratings, they're earned. Be the worst earned rating in the history of the magazine. Absolutely.
$101. The current lowest, I think, is $47. Who got a $47? That's awesome.
I don't remember, but we had that one week. That's on Half Wheel. No, actually, the legitimate media, the publication, the global luxury publication, Cigar Eficionado. Oh, the magazine.
I get to. I get to. That explains the bought rating thing. Allegedly.
Allegedly. Allegedly. I'm going to ask Greg, Greg Mottola is going to be here. I'm going to ask him what the lowest rating is.
And I'm going to petition for $12. Oh. I want $12. - I want 12.
- I want to be obscene. - Why'd you decide on 12? - I just feel like it's so low that everyone would buy it to see what the hubbub's about. - Why not, like, 8?
- No, no, it's too low. - It's ridiculous? - Yeah, that's ridiculous. - It's gotta be double digits.
- Yeah, double digits. - Double digits. - And 10 is too low? - Yeah, yeah.
- 12 is right in the double digits. - Yeah, 12 is, yeah, yeah. - Not 13? - No.
- No, it's an unlucky number. - 14? That's a lucky number. No, you can't do 14.
17? 12. It's going to be f***ing 12. Now you're getting it up into the 20s almost.
It's just ridiculous. That is my promise to my beautiful, beautiful brothers and sisters of the leaf in our community, in our culture. 12. I will not rest until we achieve 12.
How do you get there? It's got to be a twig or something. I can't... Well, we're gonna, we're gonna do our best, as my son says, we're, we're gonna try our best.
Like, if you, maybe you took the vein out of the tobacco and just put a band on it. Just a, just a vein with a band? Tiny, tiny, tiny band. Yeah.
Cause it has to be banded, that makes a difference. Yeah. $101. Right.
For the vein. We could sell that. Oh, you call it the vein. We could sell that to like, you know, someone meticulously went through all the Lajero leaves and removed this vein.
And that's, you know, they usually do that anyways. But now we can add like this whole thing, right? Well, you could weave a couple of them together almost like Groot reforming himself, you know what I'm saying? Yeah, like three or four.
Yeah, I like it. There's some factory guys here. I should see if they've got like raw product. We'll get this done here.
And then you and I'll smoke some f***ing veins. Smoke some twigs. Smoke and veins sounds different. Yeah, it does.
Yes, indeed. There are implications to that. Right. Hopefully it's circumvented.
Okay. Are you ready? Are you ready for what's the score? Wait, what's the score?
What are we talking about here? The industry's favorite game. Is this the industry's favorite game? Yes, it is.
What's the score? Yeah, that's the game. Let's play it. Okay.
All right. So nice. You can't see the phone now. Oh, okay.
I'll go first. I'll help you. All right. Okay, sit back.
We don't have that one. We would have done that one, but we didn't have them beforehand. Oh, oh, oh, oh. There it is.
Oh, yes. You took the microphone away, and now he's going to play with the camera. Yes. And he was getting so much better with the mic, too.
It was. He was getting so much better. Okay. All right.
January 31st, 2021, Brooks Whittington reviewed, limited edition reviews, the Room 101, 11th Anniversary Torpedo. Ooh. Wait, when did he do this? 2021.
2021. Okay, okay. I'll go first. This is one of your cigars.
Yeah, yeah, no, I'm familiar. I'll go first. Okay. Room 101.
I'm going to say... By Matt Booth. I'm going to say 89. 87 okay that's the first round room 101 11th anniversary it is country of origin undisclosed undisclosed factory undisclosed undisclosed wrapper nicaragua binder nicaragua filler nicaragua it's a six by 54 torpedo for ten dollars didn't you just say undisclosed but then it's from uh where and when is undisclosed but then it gives uh the rapper yes yes he smoked three of What are these undisclosed cigars?
I'm going to stay at a firm 89. I'm going 87. All right, clue number one. The flavor profile is layered and involving, starting with that unique toasted sourdough note before transitioning into cocoa nibs, espresso, and a steady raisin sweetness.
It keeps the cigar interesting the entire way through. I'm going to move up to 90. I'm staying, I'm standing firm at 87. Alright, clue number two.
Construction rebounds nicely. After an early burn issue, it corrects itself with a great draw, strong smoke output, and overall consistency through the second and final thirds. Mmm. Another positive there.
I've already heard cocoa nibs from... I'm just, I'm just waiting for it to all fall apart, 'cause that's usually what happens in these cases, so it's like, we'll start off, we'll pet 'em a little bit, and then we'll come in with the fucking... Nice job, nice job. It's coming.
Yeah, it's coming. The pounding is coming. Yeah. However, given off of that clue, I'm going to go 90.
Standing firm, 87. Third clue. The early burn problem required attention right out of the gate, and it dropped off that standout raisin sweetness, and the final third takes away some of the cigar's most unique character. Which raisin?
88. Smells like plastic. Do you need a moment? 87.
Is it some alone time with the camera? I feel like he knows that it's 87. No, I don't. I made my decision.
I'm sticking to it. Okay. I like that. All right.
Final thought. I have enjoyed a number of more recent Room 101 releases that I have smoked. Although the 11th anniversary falls short of being in the top tier of the brand's creation, it has a nicely complex profile, full of toasted sourdough bread, He might have actually given it a decent rating. I'm gonna go 90.
Yeah, I'm gonna go 90. He might have actually given it a decent rating. I'm gonna go 90. He might have actually given it a decent rating.
I'm gonna go 90. He might have actually given it a decent rating. I'm gonna go 90. He might have actually given it a decent rating.
I'm gonna go 90. He might have actually given it a decent rating. I'm gonna go 90. I'm gonna go 90.
Okay, I'm just gonna, I'm just gonna go down with the ship, 87. Okay, what, what's the number? 89! Yes!
I won! I had it the whole time. You called 89, didn't you? Yes, off the jump, yes, yes.
Yeah, I thought he had seen it when he said the number first. No. No. Now I just, I beat you in your own cigar.
All right, he's, oh, I thought he was leaving. Hold on, wait, wait, wait, watch this. Oh, here he comes. Ooh!
Get closer, get closer. There you go. Ooh. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, oh, oh, it's fixing the focus, oh, hold on, buy this, there you go, there's not a mic on the actual camera, no, oh, there might be, transaction for your satisfaction, Jonathan P, Tobacco, Not Maduro, okay, bye-bye.
there you go all right that's it so we got okay well hey thank you very much for watching make sure you like and subscribe wherever you're viewing or listening to this podcast Mr. Booth has left the building thank you Mr. Booth wait wait wait wait thank you very much Mr. Booth and Mr.
Palmer thank you as always thank you all right guys thanks bye bye give me some good nips I will get you nips I think we got good nips
Show Notes
The Danger Zone Gets Sniffed! On today’s show Starring Matt Booth we have a butt sniffer, a Guthrie update, new snacks and a scoop on the war deal!