ACHP Episode 518 Sloth World Never Opens, President Shooting, and 425 Million Dollars

Episode Summary

Episode 518 of A Cigar Hustler's Podcast opens with Mike Palmer, Mike Stefonkevich ("Mikey") and Phil attempting a mock news-desk bit about the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C. The crew breaks down the reporting, the viral clips (the woman grabbing champagne, the guest who kept eating his mashed potatoes) and the social-media misreading of the Stephen Miller video, using it as a jumping-off point for a broader conversation about how fast online outrage outruns the actual footage — and what any of them would do if shots were fired while out with their families.

From there it's a grab-bag news block: the permanent closure and bankruptcy of Sloth World Orlando after 31 sloths died from a cold snap and neglect before the International Drive attraction ever opened (the 13 surviving sloths went to the Sanford Zoo), a judge's approval of the $425 million Capital One 360 Savings settlement and how listeners can check eligibility, and Putin's meeting with Iran's foreign minister in St. Petersburg. Along the way the hosts read listener comments — including debates about infused cigars as "premium," generational labels, and a heckler fixated on Mikey's chin beard — and plug CHPod swag, the Patreon, and a Winged Czar hat giveaway.

The cigar news segment leans on halfwheel's extensive PCA trade show booth coverage. Highlights include Boveda's podcast-equipped booth and Drew Emmer's on-site interviews; Chogüi Cigars' correctly pronounced name and their new Pangu Double Corona (7x52, Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, Dominican and Nicaraguan filler, made at Mi Havana in Estelí, $16, boxes of 10); Avina Craft Sipping Soda, Al Bonetti's cigar-pairing sodas in Candlewood, Royal, Tower 44 and The Vinny; Lure Cigars' Lou Cross and his PCA-exclusive Wahoo box-pressed torpedoes (the Ono 6x52 and the Kingfish 6.5x52, both $16, made at La Tabacalera in Estelí); and Viaje bringing back the Geisha Jalapeño and Fat Jalapeño.

The show closes with "What's the Score," where the hosts guess halfwheel review scores. Brian Burt's 2016 review of the Chogüi Dos 77 Lonsdale (Dominican Republic, 6.5x46) lands at 91 — praised for prune, fig jam and charred oak notes despite a wobbly burn — and Patrick Lagreid's 2025 review of the Enclave by Eladio Diaz Gordo (AJ Fernandez, Tabacalera Diaz Cabrera) scores an 84, described as pleasant but forgettable. Palmer's worsening cough and self-diagnosed pneumonia runs as a gag throughout.

In This Episode

1. 01
   White House Correspondents' Dinner Shooting
   The hosts recap the gunman at the D.C. dinner, the evacuation, and the viral clips and misinformation that followed.
2. 02
   Listener Comments and Infused Cigars
   Reading comments on whether infused cigars count as premium and why the industry needs new smokers, plus generational squabbles and a beard heckler.
3. 03
   CHPod Swag, Patreon and Winged Czar Hat Giveaway
   Merch deals at chpod.com, the Patreon's inside-baseball cigar industry talk, and how to win a Winged Czar hat by commenting.
4. 04
   Sloth World Orlando Closes for Good
   The attraction files bankruptcy after 31 sloths die from failed heaters and neglect; 13 survivors are surrendered to the Sanford Zoo.
5. 05
   $425 Million Capital One Settlement
   A federal judge approves the 360 Savings settlement over steering customers to lower-interest accounts, and how to check eligibility.
6. 06
   Putin, Iran and North Korea
   A quick take on Putin's St. Petersburg meeting with Iran's foreign minister and the broader alignment of adversarial leaders.
7. 07
   PCA Trade Show Booth Roundup
   Highlights from halfwheel's PCA coverage: Boveda, Chogüi's Pangu Double Corona, Avina Craft Sipping Soda, and Lure Cigars' Wahoo PCA exclusives.
8. 08
   What's the Score: Chogüi Dos 77 and The Enclave
   Score-guessing on Brian Burt's 91-point Chogüi Dos 77 Lonsdale review and Patrick Lagreid's 84-point take on the Enclave by Eladio Diaz.

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

3, 2, 1, action. Welcome to a second. Dear God. The battery part we came off and it won't start.

Hey, hold on, hold on, I'm almost there. Just let it go, let it go. 3, 2, 1. We're fine, we're fine.

Action. Welcome to A Cicara Houser Podcast Episode 518. I'm Mike Palmer, your host, and we're going to get right into the top story of the day. Saturday night in the nation's capital, a gunman stormed the security perimeter at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

President, First Lady, the Vice President, Cabinet members, and more than 2,500 guests were gathered to celebrate the First Amendment and freedom of the press. But after shots were fired, the President was evacuated. It was at the same hotel where President Ronald Reagan was nearly assassinated by John Hinckley 45 years ago. Whoa.

Tonight's federal investigators are looking into the motive of the alleged gunman, a 31-year-old teacher from Torrance, California. He emailed what senior officials called a manifesto to his family minutes before the attack. He wrote he was targeting members of the Trump administration. We spoke with President Trump this afternoon at the White House about what happened.

Nora O'Donald said, "Mr. President, do you know if you were targeted, if you were the target of the gunman, President Trump? I don't know. It sounded to me, I read a manifesto which is, he's radicalized.

He was a Christian believer and then became an anti-Christian. " Hold on to the base of what he wrote. His brother complained about him and think reported to the police and his sister likewise complained to him about his family. He was probably a pretty sick guy.

Now it's done. Don't interrupt. Okay. Now, from my co-host, Mike Stefonkevich at the Capitol, what's going on at the Capitol, Michael?

I have no idea what you just told me. And I'm super confused. Yeah. Yeah.

You're supposed to act like you're at the Capitol and that you're talking to people. Oh. I told you to go with it. Somebody tried to shoot somebody.

They ran past security. Did you see this thing, though? I saw some of the highlights. You saw some of the footage?

Yeah. Yeah. Did you guys see the video of the lady stealing the champagne? Yes.

Yes, I did see that. And the guy still eating in the back. Yeah. The old man.

The guy eating the mashed potatoes. I paid a lot of money to be here. You paid a lot of money to be here. I'm eating my potatoes.

Right. I actually have a video for us later on tonight in the show. Yeah. And it's about part of that.

Oh, nice. The guy that jumped up to stand in front of the president, was he secret service or just some dude from the audience? How should I know? I didn't know if you guys had heard.

I don't know. Yeah. I would probably guess that it was probably Secret Service. Well, look, then, listen, here, the way that this is playing out, I just need to send you this video, because we need to just get on this before we get further into the show.

Why did we decide not to do the prequel, you know, the, hey, this is what we're gonna talk about today? We're still doing that, it's just later in the show. Oh. We went right to the top story.

This is big news. This is the third attempt on the president. Alleged. The legend, yeah.

They don't know if it was an attempt yet. Oh, really? A guy with a gun at the dinner he was at? Didn't like the service?

Maybe he wasn't happy, maybe he's not a Hilton guy. Maybe he's not a Hilton guy? Yeah. Or he didn't like the chicken.

Dear God. Maybe he's a Marriott fan. Oh, maybe. He didn't like the breakfast.

So do you know who Steve Miller is? Steve Miller Band? No. I had no idea.

Steve Miller. Okay, me neither. Do you know who Steve Miller is? Is that a reporter?

You're just asking random questions? No, I don't know, I guess he's an affiliate of the White House somehow. No, I don't know. He's a politician or something.

Okay, what, did he get shot? No, no, so what's trending today is the fact that Steve Miller, like, was blocked, he was hiding behind his wife as his person was coming in. Oh, nice. So, and that was my response.

I was like, oh, okay, well then I need to see the video. Right. So I sent you the video. Oh, we have the video of Steve Miller hiding behind his wife?

Allegedly. Oh. Are we going to just do this now? Yeah.

I had to get new glasses over the weekend because my eyes have gotten worse. Oh, no. Yeah, yeah, it was the lady in the pink, right? Yeah, in the red or whatever?

Yeah, yeah. Does it look like he's hiding behind his wife? No, it looked like he was shielding her. That's what I thought.

Yeah. It looks like the exact opposite. Unless the gunman's in front of him. Yeah, I don't think that's the case.

Oh. Maybe they were starting the Congo line. So it looked like he's protecting his wife. Yeah, it looked like his pregnant wife.

Yeah. It looked like two guys were shuffling them out the door. But it's all over the place that he was not protecting his wife. I'm not protecting his wife.

It looks like the opposite. I mean, as long as the gunman was on that side. Yeah. I mean, he had her completely covered.

He went to the stage. Yeah. He was running to the stage. Right.

Isn't that weird? Weird. Like, this is the shit that pisses me off about social media. Yeah.

It's like, you know. What about the one lady by herself? There was one lady walking around by herself following everybody that was being shuffled out. Make better husband choices.

Right. Yeah. Well, there was probably a reason why some of them made the choice they did. Yeah?

Yeah. So, I mean, if a gunman comes in at you and you have your wife with you... I spend the entire time at church watching the doors, seeing how I'm going to get my wife out if somebody comes in this door, that door, that door. Right.

Is there a lot of shootings at your church? No, but, I mean, that's where things happen. They have armed security guards. It makes me nervous.

Yeah. Wow. In Deltona? Dude, religion is wild.

Apparently the pastor gets death threats from people. I believe it. What do they say? I got to know what they say.

Are we going to kill the pastor? I don't know. If you pass me that plate one more time. Boots.

I already knew this was a set up for me. Anytime anybody gets up to go to the bathroom, it's my head cocks and I look to see if somebody's coming or going. This was a set up question for me. I already know.

It was. Yeah. But, if you're at a political party, and you're hanging out with your pregnant wife, and shots are fired, are you trying to save your wife, or are you just trying to get out of there? I mean, I try to save her, but I'm trying to get the hell out of there.

After we cut to you, who are you going to talk to people of the Capitol, we were going to cut to him in his single-person hideaway, and tell him it was okay if he could come out now. The problem is, like, you can't just do that on your own, you have to incorporate us. Yeah, why didn't you tell us about any of this? Because it's funnier when you guys don't know what's going on.

Was it funnier? Because it doesn't sound like it was going on. Well, in my head it was. It didn't work out.

Yeah, it went total, I thought you were going to introduce me as RFK. Oh no, I didn't know you were a horse until you got here. And that would have been funny. No, it wasn't.

Yeah, we're having our introductions and everything. Like, this is how Tim Allen got canceled, just so everybody remember. Tim Allen got canceled? He stopped doing introductions.

Is that what it was? Here's Al, my Jewish-loving friend, or whatever he would say. My Jewish-loving friend? What?

He would always say some weird stuff. Anti-Semite, right from the beginning. Look at that, go right and jump. All right, Mikey, how do we get some of that CHPod swag?

God, I'm so confused. com where we have all of our latest CHPod swag. Buy one and get the second one 40% off. Spend $100 or more and get free shipping.

Let's see some of our comments from this week. You'd better read the one. We promise that we'll sanitize our hands first. Which one?

The beard one? Yeah. That was on a short, but I'll read it for you. All right.

Somebody took a shot at him. At Mikey? Yeah. Yeah.

You act like it bothers me. No, it doesn't bother you, but I just want to make sure you read the one. You better read it. I mean, we get them all the time.

I want you to know, technically, I wouldn't read it because it was on a short. Oh, well, then just skip it then. No, I'm going to read it. No, if it doesn't bother you, I don't care.

Because I actually wear it like a badge of honor. I want to hear it, I want to hear it. " I agree. I think that that's very true.

What do you think? I think it's true also. Yeah, it's funny how divided people are as far as infused cigars not being considered premium cigars. Right.

Some of these cigar snobs. They need to be included, guys. They need to be included. Smoke too.

Otherwise, your industry goes away. Don't leave them out. Cigar guys. Ruckus Unchained says, does Palmer even know what generation he is from?

Generation X. We're the ones that grew up without internet. You're not Gen X. Yes, I am.

I looked it up. After you saw that comment? Yes. You're not a Gen Xer.

What year were you born in? 1967. That's not a Gen Xer. No.

That's what it said online. You're like the Goldies or something. I'm not the Goldies. If I was born in 1967, what generation am I?

It says Dennery's an ex. We're the Lasky kids, the ones that were left alone at home every afternoon. So what are we, Mikey? Me?

I'm, like, borderline millennial. Borderline or are you? No, I'm, like, right on the cusp. Well, there's a date for it.

I mean, how could you be on the cusp? If you were born in 1984, what generation are you? In junior year in high school. It says people born in 1984 belong to Generation X.

That's not true. It's not true. You had internet. AI's a liar.

You had GPS. You had internet. I've noticed I've had to correct my AI a lot lately. They're getting lazy.

Yeah. What they're doing is they're dumbing it down because they're trying to figure out how they can get as much money out of it as possible. Yeah, especially when you use it for betting. Wow.

No. Especially if you use it for betting? Yeah. Wow.

1984, considered early millennials or echo boomers, though they're often identified as Xennials. Hmm. Echo boomers. Okay, Xennials are micro generation approximately 77 to 85.

What year are you born? 87. Yeah, you're a millennial. How do you have to look that one up?

Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. At CW6383 says, "It was an awesome time Friday night.

" He's a great guy. Yeah. Yeah. He was a lot of fun.

I'm sure he is. I'm sorry that I wasn't there, man. I had to coach football. Lots of football.

Oh, um. There's a fireside chat tonight from Hooten Young. Should we crash? Ooh.

I'm not doing anything. You hear my voice? I'd like to rest. I haven't rested yet.

AtSamHotkins says, "I am Sam. You are Sam. " Sam Hopkins. Oh, that's Sam?

Yeah. Oh. RealSmokePod says, "Mikey sounds like someone's 80-year-old grandma who has chain-smoked Virginia Slims for the last 60 years. " Oh, you sound like your sister-in-law with the Virginia Slims.

Yeah. I need my Virginia Slims. " Oh. Is that true?

Is that true there, Phil? Are you more of a loose end? Not participating in that question? That's a yes.

All right, um, so yeah, I mean, so this guy, he commented on a short of ours, and he said, "I think the worst thing that happens to you is growing that weird-ass chin beard seriously doesn't help I don't know about the lack of jaw line at all. Do you know who he is? No. That's the thing about short clips.

He likes your jaw line. No, his lack of. Yeah. Oh.

Yeah. So he likes jaw lines is what I'm saying. Yeah, he's attracted to the stronger jaw line. Yeah.

" The beard or the jaw line? Yes. Beard happened at birth. Yes.

We discussed that how Polish children are born with beards. " Wow, he's quite taken with you. Yeah. Wow.

Is that Preston's secret account? Yeah. So, you know... Listen.

Wow. When random people heckle you for no goddamn reason, you've officially arrived. Oh, good for you. Oh, here we are.

Here we are. I can't wait to hear the comments about this show. If somebody doesn't comment how Mikey sounds like Terry. Who's Terry?

You don't remember who Terry is? No. Remember the lady that had to use the little electronic thing when she smoked too much? Oh, I don't understand.

I don't know. I have Terry. Yeah. Because it does.

It's even buzzing when you... It even buzzes. Oh, nice. Make sure you like and subscribe wherever you're viewing or watching.

He said like and subscribe wherever you're watching. I'm going to help. I'm sorry. I don't mean to make this worse, but just...

Like and subscribe if you're reviewing or listening to this show. Like and subscribe. It's not funny when you pause and wait. We're giving away a Winged Czar hat to somebody who comments.

Make sure you comment on our episode today. We have one more day after that and then we'll announce our winner. It's a winner. So if you want an opportunity to get the Wings of Czar's hat and somebody blew off our appointment, you can possibly win it.

So comment below on this show and maybe we'll read it out loud on next episode show. That might be my next tattoo. Oh yeah? Wings of Czar.

Adrian has offered me one for Father's Day. Ooh. She's prepping you to make sure you handle Mother's Day. Yeah, no shit.

That's what that is. Yeah, I know. I don't usually get, I mean, she has four grown children. I tell her not to give me anything for Father's Day, because she has four grown, well, I would say two.

What do you want as a man from Father's Day? What do you want? Nothing. Nothing.

I want something. What do you want? Cigars. That makes sense.

Yeah. What do you want? I just want to hear that I'm a bad motherfucker and they're grateful that I'm their dad. Oh, well there you go.

That's it. That makes me feel good. Yeah, just a little acknowledgement. Yeah.

Sure. That's all I need. Patreon. For the Patreon we're reviewing.

How's that? Good. Wahoo. The wahoo.

The lure wahoo. We got some really two good topics to talk about on this week's Patreon. Yes, we do. com, a Cigar Hustlers podcast, where if you pay for the full year, you're going to get 10% off.

Bing bong. And get some inside baseball about the cigar industry. Nice. We talk shit.

No, we don't. Oh, don't say that. We give detail. Which way do you want to word it?

We provide content. Potato, potato. We provide detail. Facts.

Potato, potato. Wow. All right, on with the show? On with the show.

He said on with the show. Now a story we've been following. Uh-oh. Sloth World Orlando has permanently closed.

No! They have filed bankruptcy. They have given up the remaining sloths. They have packed their bags and have left.

As of April, 2026, and we will never open to the public, the decision follows an investigation revealing that 31 sloths died in the company's care before the attraction planned debut on International Drive. What? 31? Yes, we covered the story, was that in the car?

On the road, yeah. We covered the story in the car, 31 of the sloth died in December and January from a cold snap. Cold snap. Sorry, they were unprepared and they did not have proper heating, water, or electricity to care for the slosh in 31.

Allegedly. That's what we thought. No, it's been confirmed. It was confirmed?

It's been confirmed. So they did it. It wasn't a virus. It wasn't a virus.

It was negligence. Negligence, yes. They call it a cold stun after heaters failed during cold temperatures while others arrived emancipated or in poor health. So, some froze.

Emancipated again? Fuck. Yeah. Sorry.

Yes. Emaciated. But they were also emancipated. They're also emancipated.

They came from their own country. They had full rights. They could make their own decisions. Wow.

Okay. So, yes. Some starved. Some froze.

Bottom line. Ben Agresta confirmed the company is entering bankruptcy court to dissolve the business, citing a lack of options. After the surviving animals were surrendered, they were surrendered to the Sanford Zoo. Oh, they're over here now.

Yeah, after the first 24 hours, the dozen, I believe it is, oh 13, 13 that survived are doing well, they've gone through quarantine, and they're all happy and, you know, they barely move, so. Fed. Uh, you know, who thought it was a good idea to create Slothworld? Apparently this guy.

Obviously some type of criminal. That guy doesn't know anything about business. Got to know anything about sloths. Taking care of animals.

Or feeding anything. Right. Hope he doesn't have kids. I think.

Oh, look, we have 30 sloths that arrived from Paraguay. What do we do now? Right. Lock them in the warehouse.

They'll be fine. Put them in the fridge. Put them in the fridge. Wow.

Right. It went to 48 degrees that night. The bottom temperature for them is 54. And dead.

And dead. Coming the next morning. I know they move slow, sir, but they're really moving slow. Sloth Cemetery, not sloth world.

Oh, Sloth Cemetery, right. So there'll be a new sloth exhibit at the Sanford Zoo. Which is exciting. But they're going to divvy them up to other relocation areas.

That makes sense. They don't need 13. That's ridiculous. What are you going to do with 13?

Don't break them up. Don't break them up? They've survived together? Yeah.

They're survivors, yeah. Keep them together. Keep them all together. The lucky 13.

Start a campaign. The lucky 13. -What do you call like a bunch of sloths? -Family?

-Sloth world. -A group of sloths? -Oh, you mean like what is a group called? -Like a group of crows, it's called a murder.

-Yeah. A snuggle. -A snuggle? -Yeah.

-Aw, they're a 13, the 13 snuggle. -A group of sloth is called a snuggle. -There you go. -Aw.

-Well, they're gonna break them up. -I thought you said hello, I thought he was on the phone. I don't know. Bing bong.

Is your watch off? Uh, nope. Is it near the board? Is your phone near the board?

Uh, yep. It was bubbling last time. Bubbling, bubbling, bubbling. Oh, yeah.

There you go. My phone wasn't there last time. Okay. That's what you say.

So, anyway, the 13 sloths, now we're moving on. So, we can close that story, unless there's something where they end up. A group of 13 sloths is broken out of the Sanford Zoo. They're escaping slowly.

All right. Judge approves a $425 million Capital One settlement. Oh, wow. How to check if you're eligible for the payout.

There's a link. You got to go find it. We don't have it. But apparently, if you had a savings account with Capital One Bank, they talked you into going to accounts with less interest than the bank.

Oh, that's not nice. That's not nice. Big news for millions of Capital One customers, there's a $425 million settlement on the table. " Go back.

Some account holders could see money following back into their bank accounts. A federal judge just approved the deal after a two-year legal batter over allegations. Capital One steered customers away from savings accounts paying higher interest rates. So there's a long list of questions that you have to answer if you go to their website, and you can click on it, and you can...

Super slothish of you. I'm trying. I'm trying to be okay. All right, good, good, good, good, good.

com. I know it's very long, and I'm very sorry. Sorry. See, this is the problem with companies, you know?

Right. Like companies take advantage of people. Right. They bring in all these good programs and they're like, okay, this one's too good.

Talk them into the other one. Yeah. So, you know, we got to make our goals. So let's make sure that we screw people.

This is the bait and switch thing. Yeah. Right. We got 1700 percent interest over here, but then you don't want that one.

There's a minimum balance and everything. Oh, over here you get two. You got to put 50 bucks on that one. You got 50.

- Yeah, nobody's got $50 cash, come on! - So wild. - Right. - Do you have a Capital One savings, Bootsy?

- Um, no. - No? Do you have a savings at all? - I do.

I wish I had a Capital One so I could get some money back. - Right. That way you're gambling on how many quarterbacks go in the first draft. - Yes.

- Money makers, baby. - Money makers. How many money makers are left? - They're still all there.

- Still all there? - Just money maker. MONEYMAKER. MONEYMAKER.

MONEYMAKER. ANY OF THEM GOTTEN WEALTHY? ALLEGEDLY? I MEAN, YEAH, THEY WENT SIX, SEVEN HUNDRED EACH DAY.

EACH DAY? YEAH. WOW. LOOK AT THAT.

YEAH, THEY GOT LAMBOS. OH. ONE OF THEM GOT PARKED ON? DID YOU SEE THAT VIDEO?

YEAH. WHAT IS IT? SOMEBODY PARKED UP ON THE HOOD OF A LAMBO. OH.

All right, Putin tells visiting Iranian FM Foreign Minister who visited Moscow, he'll do everything to help secure the Middle East. Oh. After he had his meeting with Shenyang Moon up there, and they're still friends. Shenyang Moon?

Whatever the guy's name is. Kim Jong-un? Yeah, that's him. North Korea.

What's up? They had a meeting with North Korea and they're all friends again. You friend, me friend, everything's fine. That's good.

That's good. Russian President Vladimir Putin tells Iran's top diplomat that Moscow will do everything it can to help secure peace in the Middle East. I thought you went to sleep. No.

During a meeting in St. Petersburg, not the one in Florida, the one up there. Okay. " Russian state media quotes Putin is telling Iran's foreign minister, Abbas, it sounds Japanese, but I'm going to say it anyway, Aragachi, Putin says Russian hopes the Iranian people will weather what he describes as the difficult period with the imperious pigs, I added the pig part, and that peace will prevail in the state-run RIA news agency report.

Okay. So you already did the video, so we're just gonna buzz right past that. Yeah, so what does this mean for the US? I don't know.

Everybody, all the bad guys are just getting together and reaffirming that they're bad guys. It's like a group of evil? Yeah. Maybe they should all get in a room together and have a meeting.

That's what they should do, right? Can you imagine? All of them in the same room. Can you imagine Putin, Un, and I don't know who's currently...

Whoever's in charge of Iran? Yeah, the current guy. Whoever he is. They all went into a meeting room.

Should all come here and visit. Come, it's very nice here. Lots of sent. Hold this pager.

Hold this pager. Hey, boss, you're never going to believe this again. No, no, it happened again. It happened again.

This is the third time. They're in the room. I can't believe it either. Yeah, no, seriously.

Hit the button. Hit the button. Blow up the free pagers again. Just go ahead and just...

We've got these big box of Motorola's that come the other day. Everyone get one. Here, everyone. It's so exciting.

It says, take me. It says, take one. They're free. Oh, free.

We love free. We love free here in Iran. Stupid Americans, leave this. We'll use them.

We'll use them. Perfect. Is this lithium? Turn yours on.

See if it works. Oh, no. Womp, womp, womp. But they meant to do that.

What? Yes. Yes. All right.

Do you know they can't wear leather jackets in North Korea because he doesn't want anybody copying his look? He wears the only leather jacket in the country. I am the only one. The only one.

No leather jackets, anyway. That's a great rule, by the way. I look very cool in my leather jacket. Make law.

No one else wear one. " Do you know who I am? That's right. I am the only one.

I am the leather jacket. Alright, Cigar News. Since we're almost at 30 minutes, and we have really talked about nothing. I love this show.

We've talked about it a lot. Half Wheel, we kind of have an unwritten partnership with them because we use them for our news sources. So, I would like to give them credit. Have you seen their coverage of the PCA?

It's quite extensive. No. They have talked to over 200 booths. Yeah.

And people. So, what I've done today is I grabbed some of the more memorable booths, or people, and we'll talk about their booths and how they describe them because there's still no news. Okay. All right, so Boveda probably goes to more trade shows than any other company on the trade show floor, meaning it was way more experienced with trade shows, booth, and design.

I like their booth because they set up their little podcast thing. Yeah. And they have all the fancy equipment. They do.

So, they did, Drew Emmer, oh, and by the way, one of the Boveda guys said hi to me and said he liked our show. I don't know which one it was. Yeah, me too. He said hi to me, too.

Oh, the guy with the beard and the hat's all I know. Oh. I don't know which one it was. Is that the guy with the beard and the hat?

It might have been Drew Emmer. Was it? No, no. What?

Well, I talked to a different guy. Oh. The guy you're referencing is the guy, he's a good dude. I'm sorry, I can't think of his name.

Oh my God. He's very nice. I talk to him all the time. He's from Ramsey's.

He's up in Minnesota. Awesome dude. Used to run a hot dog stand. Fred.

Can't remember his name. Hot Dog Harry. Tom. Harry's Hot Dog.

I wish I'd had half a brain today. Herman's Hot Dogs. Tim. It's gotta be an H.

An H? There's not many names that start with H. It's a hot dog, it's gotta go with hot dog. Harry.

I said Harry, I said Herman. Howl. Howl. I'm not gonna get there today.

Howl's hot dogs. I know that I'm just not. Bob, Steve. That's not H.

I know, I'm jumping around. I'm not at the mental capacity. The trigger is mine. You know what, 80% chance, his name's Mike.

Mike's hot dogs! Perfect! Anyway, Drew Emmer was still hosting podcast guests in the back area of the booth. For those who didn't see it, you can watch Drew's interviews with dozens of people in the cigar industry.

Apparently, that was going out live. Mike, Mike, he was trying to talk, but because he's sick, you ran all over it. Yeah, you didn't see the, you didn't see the video at the end of one of our shows? I did see the video of Skip watching Skip.

Skip watching Skip. Yes, it's very funny. So, the Chai Mali guys? Yeah?

They were. I thought they were gone. Nope. They were there, but it's pronounced Cha-Mali.

He does a little video at the end of the coverage and he explains how to say their names. I'm sorry, it's pronounced what? What? What?

He does a little video. How's it pronounced? What's it pronounced? Cha-Mali.

Not chai, cha. Mali? Mali. I heard that the tobacco that they made and the factory they made is not the same.

There's a whole bunch of stuff going on with it. Oh, really? That's not mentioned. That's the alleged story.

Sean Chang, who goes into the logo and explains the different characters, something about blue ink, chai molly, I don't know, I didn't understand it. Chai molly, is that like Chinese molly? But they were still there, they upgraded the booth a little, and they have put out a new cigar, their double Corona Vitola, the chai molly, Pangu double Corona is a 7x52 double Corona, Pangu is one of the company's two debut blends, It uses an Ecuador and Habano wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. It is made at the Mi Havana factory in Esteli, Nicaragua.

I thought before it was in a Drew Estate factory. I think we lost him. Oh. Dying, man.

You are dying. I'm pretty sure I have pneumonia. Oh, God, let's leave. Oh, how did yours turn into pneumonia?

Jesus. I figure we had COVID. No, I think I have pneumonia. Well, okay, this is the end of the show.

Yeah, a couple more episodes. A couple more episodes and we'll all be dead. I don't have medical coverage. I can't go to the doctor.

It's an MSRP of $16 and boxes of 10 cigars. Yeah, at his age, you can't catch an ammonia, bro. I can't catch ammonia my age. It doesn't go well.

That's one of the things we die from. I think it just developed out of the thing we had. Well, it doesn't mean mine didn't, mine's going the other way. Yeah, yours is fine.

You already sound good. I'm still coughing. Doesn't mean I can't get it again. Is that how you're gonna do the show?

Yep. Or the show could be over, whichever way you guys want to do it. I'm going to keep it going. We're at 30 minutes.

We're fine. And go. Avina Craft Sipping Soda. Did you see them?

They were across the aisle from us. I saw them. They were very, very busy. They're very nice.

I went over and talked to them. Yeah. They invited me back to sample, but we were busy. I couldn't go sample.

The idea behind these is simple, though. Maybe only... I feel worse already. Maybe only on the surface since they are the first and only soda specifically designed to be paired with cigars.

Al Bonetti created these sodas with a little known how of both chemistry and biology created a sensory experience that gives you different notes on the nose, On your tongue, as you're drinking the lingering flavors in your mouth after you swallowed the soda. And finally on the retro hail as you exhale through your nose. It's fascinating how different the notes are for each phase of tasting and even after seeing half a dozen people's faces light up with surprise as they tasted each of the four offerings. They had the company steadily opening accounts with brick-and-mortar retailers nationwide.

Albina's website is a source for ordering the soda, food, and cigar pairing suggestions as well as cocktail recipes. If you'd like to turn the non-alcoholic drink into something a little more potent. Currently, there are four flavors. There's the Candlewood, Notes of Amaretto, Cherry, Earthen, Oak Moss, Royal, Notes of Chocolate, Coffee, Nuts, and Vanilla, Tower 44, Notes of Grapefruit, Patchouli, Rose, and Saffron, and the Vinny, Notes of Allspice, Ginger, Herbs, and Molasses.

79 each, but it's a regular production item. Nice. I'm sorry I didn't get to try it. It sounded like it was different.

Were these the ones with Arganosa? No, they were in a booth by themselves. Oh, good. Fred really says it's really good.

Yeah? Hmm. Hmm. Hmm.

Hmm. Well, let's see if we can get one or two of these. Yeah, maybe we should try it. We'll see.

Yes. All right. And then, because we're smoking it today, Lure Cigars. Our buddy Lou Cross decided to concentrate on releasing an exclusive blend for retailers who order his cigars at the PCA convention and trade show.

The two box-pressed Torpedo Vitolas are being made at the La Tabla Calera factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. The Wahoo Ono is a Hawaiian name for Wahoo, which is also something preferred as Pacific Kingfish. Wrappers, Ecuadorian, Connecticut, Seed Binders, Nicaraguan, Fillers, Nicaraguan, the Wahoo, the Ono, 6x52 is $16. 5x52, it is also $16.

Production, the Ono, we don't need no production numbers. And then finally, some actual cigar news. Viaje is bringing back Geisha Jalapenos and the Fat Jalapeno. I thought we already talked about that.

I don't think so. I don't think so. With Law? Oh, you did.

We didn't do the story, the story just came out today. Does he want to know about a fat jalapeno? Oh. Alright, go ahead, read it.

That's alright, you said nobody watched this show. Yeah. The next shipment to retailers will contain four cigars, including the Geisha. Oh, we did, because he talked about Geishas have sex.

Yeah. It was a good price for a Geisha, because he's a Geisha expert. Yeah, and you asked me if you ever went there. Yeah.

Oh, yeah, we did. Well, we're talking about it again. Yep. All right, now it's time for...

What's the Score? Sick edition. A sick edition. See if Mikey can beat Phil half asleep.

Oh, does he have the thing set up? Maybe. Yes. Excuse me.

This evening, I now have pneumonia. And my cup was not turned where the hole was. It turned off. They're on.

His hit start didn't work. Thank God. All right. We're getting our money back on those.

May 17, 2016, Brian Burt is the reviewer. Our friend Brian. Brian! Cho Gui Cigars!

Is this the Deltona guy? Yes. We saw him. Where do you think you got the Cho Gui from?

I don't know, it's from 2016. The Dominican Republic, the Cho Gui Dose 77 Lonsdale. 88. This is blinking.

I don't know what that means. Call our tech guy. 87. Cho Gui Dose 77 Lonsdale, country of origin.

5 by 46, they smoked 3 cigars, 88. You know, Palmer, you were perfectly fine earlier than when he said he had pneumonia. I'm dying now. Yeah, now you're like, you're home, everything is changed.

I have pneumonia. I'm dying. I can feel it eating away at my soul. 87.

Clue number one, the flavor... Oh, God. Oh, his doctor's calling. Nope.

The flavor profile sounds outstandingly unique. Those rich prune and fig jam notes evoking the savory steak-like richness. Charred oak and spice make this sound layered and memorable. - Wow.

- The sweet to savory transition is a real standout. - 88. - 87. - Clue number two, construction seems very strong overall.

Excellent smoke production, impressive ash retention, mostly solid burn performance, and a smooth finish with complexity intact to the point to a cigar that performs as well as it tastes. - 88. Yeah, 87. The biggest knock is the burn inconsistency with an early touch-up needed and some waviness through the second third.

Minor issue, but enough to keep it from being flawless. 88. You've said 88 every time. Yeah, do you know the number on this?

No, this is pretty good. 87. Same for the Patreon. People pay for that.

He said 87 this whole time. Final thought. It was pretty excited to try the... I can't see him though.

Pretty excited to try the Lawnsdale being a flavor... I can see the feathers though. Favorite size. Just going back and forth.

Being a favorite size of mine in a blend that seems to have been well received. Fortunately, I was not disappointed in my experience with the new Dos 77 size. The only complaint they really have is about the cigar is the short period of wobbly burn, which is the scheme of things isn't too big of a deal. The rich, meaty profile was enjoyable enough from the beginning to make me forget about any minor burn issues.

Chogui has certainly made an effort to bring a quality product to market, and the first two sizes of the Dose 77 certainly are a great start. So if you can drop by Cigar Hustler, which is luckily right around the corner for me, even though I don't go, or order them online, I certainly wouldn't hesitate to give this new company and their Lonsdale, Lonsdale, Lonsdale, a try. 90. Was that the final thought?

Yes. That's why I said final thought before I read it. 91. Bingo!

He got it on the nose! Fire the lasers! Fire the lasers. Nothing.

I'm glad you guys got him. Oh. Oh. Nope.

Almost came out. Almost. Maybe you have to hold it. Maybe it's not hot.

I don't know. All right. Second cigar, because this is Monday. Tuesday.

Let's go. Let's go. See, if I stayed in 88, he just would have picked 87. Right.

You went 90. No, I would have picked 89. June 24, 2025, Patrick LaGreed, AJ Fernandez, Cigars, it is The Enclave by Eladio Diaz Itagordo. I'm first, right?

What was the year? 2025? This is new. New-ish.

This is '26. Yeah, because the last one he came out with was his birthday one, right? He always puts out a birthday one. Fred Rui has some.

Um, 87. 88. So you reviewed The Enclave by Eladio Diaz Gordo, country of origin, Dominican Republic, factory Tablicalera Diaz Cabrera. It's coming.

It's in Ecuador and Criolo, 99. It's not coming. Dominican Republic, it's a six by... What beeped?

He pushed the surge protector, he reset the stop. You turned everything off. Is it still recording? Yeah.

Yeah, all he did was hit the plug on the timer. Release date April 2025. You were almost so angry. What?

You were almost so angry. Oh, I was almost so angry. Number of cigars smoked for review, they smoked three. Keep your big feet back.

Well, maybe if somebody would actually really, you know, You know, not make these things so tangly all the time. They're not tangly. Keep those clubs that you call feet away from the power cords. And those house slippers.

Yeah, house slippers. Not today. Somebody vote. 87.

88. What? He said 88. Oh, I thought you said, eh.

What's wrong with you over there? Since the whole pneumonia thing, everything's been messed up with you. Since the what? Since the whole pneumonia thing.

The whole pneumonia thing. That's right. I don't want to get pneumonia. The flavor profile sounds outstandingly unique.

There's just clue number one over there, Phil. Hello? Those rich prune and fig jam nodes evolving into savory steak. Is this the same one?

Yeah, we just heard this. Yeah. Oh, God, here we go. This is what happens when he's afraid of sickness now.

Now we understand. No, it gave me the same stupid Chet GPD. If you want to read it, I'm telling you, lately it's been really bad. Oh wait, it's just the first one.

Isn't that weird? Alright, give us a second clue. Alright, hold on. If you say anything about Hustler again.

Construction seems very strong, even smoke production, impressive, solid burn. That was from the other one too. The biggest knock is the burn consistency. Let's skip that.

Oh my god. In the decade plus that I've been reviewing cigars and jarring experience. We're going to have no clue. We're jumping to the final thought.

Yeah, we have no clue about the cigar. We have no clues about the cigar. Final thought. Go ahead.

That I've been reviewing cigars and trying to put the experience on a certain cigar into words, I'm inclined to say that the Enclave by Eladio Diaz Gordo generated the fewest notes while smoking the cigars that I've lit up. This is the right cigar? Yeah. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

That's not necessarily a bad thing, it's a cigar starts great and stays great, that's a win. But the enclave by Eladio Diaz, Gordo, starts kind of pedestrian with a familiar flavor that doesn't challenge or stimulate my palate. In some ways, that's a good thing. Then there aren't many rough spots where the flavor is disagreeable.

He's trying to be nice. It's not a good thing. That said, there aren't many moments where it's memorable either, and there are a few spots that capture my attention. If you want a cigar that's easy to smoke and easy to enjoy with the flavor of dry snacks that you can mindlessly eat, this should be right up your alley.

For me, I just wouldn't mow it out of a cigar. I smoke, then, what the enclave by Ladio Diaz Gordo has to offer. Mikey just wants to hit the sparklers. I'm hitting him right anyway.

'Cause we finally got it to work? 'Cause it's been like a month since I've hit him. All right, with no real clues, and he said he didn't like it, but he kind of liked it. Let's go...

Let's go 81. That's a big job. Well, we didn't get any freaking clues other than the final thought. 84.

84 on the nose! Looks like one of them went off. The only one. Oh my God.

There's a fire on the ceiling. You didn't win, we tied. Tied goes to me. Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner. Winner, winner, chicken dinner. 84. Well, come back tomorrow to see who's still alive.

I'll be fine. I'm worried about me, not worried about you. Oh, God. Problem is that I didn't get a chance to rest at all.

I don't want to rest at all. You know? Yeah, that's pneumonia. Yeah, you need to rest.

I don't know what that is. Rest. So, Phil knows what that is. Phil knows what that is.

Yeah, I don't want to get pneumonia. What? All right, don't miss the Patreon this week. You better join.

Yeah, like and subscribe wherever you're viewing and listening. All right, guys, we gotta go. This has been episode 518. Thanks, everybody.

Bye. Bye. Goodbye.

Show Notes

On todays show The Presidential Assignation Attempt, Sloth world never opens, 425 Million dollar law suit and in cigars….Halfwheel rules the PCA