ACHP Episode 542 Cigars, Judges and Turtles
Episode Summary
Episode 542 of A Cigar Hustler's Podcast finds Mike Palmer and Mike Szczepankiewicz joined by "Triple G" Greg (Phil is a no-show) for a loose, comedy-forward roundtable that eventually gets down to real cigar business. The first half is pure banter: listener comments about gas-station and Buc-ee's bathrooms, CH Pod swag and the 4th of July shirt pre-order at chpod.com, a cutter-and-lighter giveaway, a federal judge ordering Trump's name removed from the Kennedy Center, two grudge-holding giant tortoises at an Austrian zoo, World Cup escort pricing in the New Jersey area, and Latvia's gender imbalance.
The cigar news segment centers on Boveda's new "Skipper" pack — a humidity-regulating pouch aimed at keeping refrigerator produce fresh at $14.99 per pack — which prompts the crew to question the pricing versus a standard $3–$5 Boveda 65/75 pack and whether the packs really absorb moisture as well as release it. That leads to a live phone call with Fred Rewey of Cigar Press, who explains why rehydrating a dried-out Boveda isn't recommended: you can soak it and get water vapor back, but the salt solution that sets the specific relative humidity breaks down over time, so the pack no longer self-regulates and you'd need a separate hygrometer to monitor your humidor. The hosts' practical take: at three or four bucks a pack, just replace it.
Release news includes J.C. Newman shipping the LeRoy Neiman 2026 Collector's Edition (with a discussion of who actually collects JFK/Marilyn Monroe-era art cigars), CLE Cigar Company shipping the 1916 Tabacalera Eiroa — a new blend from Santi Eiroa, the youngest son of founder Christian Eiroa, using Honduran Habano wrapper and binder with Honduran Corojo and Pinareño fillers — plus Asylum Arabian Nights, and West Tampa Tobacco Company's Chef Rick, a 6x52 Toro named for Rick Rodriguez with a Habano 2000 wrapper and Ecuadorian Sumatra binder, rolled at Tabacalera Pichardo in Nicaragua, in 3,000 boxes of 50 at $12.99 — sparking a conversation about big-count boxes and manufacturers fighting rising packaging costs. There's also industry personnel news: former Luciano national sales manager Josh Beaver has joined Espinosa Cigars as Southwest regional sales manager.
The show closes with "What's the Score," guessing Brooks Whittington's Halfwheel ratings for the Cayman Cigar Company Broadside Robusto BXP (Connecticut broadleaf over Indonesian binder and Nicaraguan filler, scored 86) and the Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust–made Don Derma limited edition for Secreto Cigars (Ecuadorian wrapper, San Andrés Negro binder, 6x48 Toro, scored 89), with tasting notes ranging from creamy cedar and cocoa to almond, espresso, and a pound-cake-to-graham-cracker retrohale.
In This Episode
- 01Swag, Comments and GiveawayCH Pod merch at chpod.com, the 4th of July shirt pre-order, Patreon, listener comments on gas-station and Buc-ee's bathrooms, and a carbon fiber cutter/lighter giveaway.
- 02Off-Topic Roundup: Kennedy Center, Tortoises and the World CupA judge blocks Trump's Kennedy Center renaming, two Austrian zoo tortoises hold a 15-year grudge, and escort bookings surge ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- 03Boveda Launches SkipperBoveda's new $14.99 Skipper pack regulates humidity in refrigerator crisper drawers, and the hosts debate whether a $5 cigar pack does the same job.
- 04Fred Rewey on Reusing Boveda PacksA surprise call to Fred Rewey of Cigar Press explains that the salt solution degrades as packs dry out, so rehydrated Boveda packs no longer self-regulate humidity.
- 05New Releases: LeRoy Neiman, 1916 Tabacalera Eiroa and Chef RickJ.C. Newman's LeRoy Neiman 2026 Collector's Edition ships, Santi Eiroa debuts the 1916 for CLE alongside Asylum Arabian Nights, and West Tampa's Chef Rick lands at $12.99 in boxes of 50.
- 06Industry Moves: Josh Beaver to EspinosaFormer Luciano national sales manager Josh Beaver announces he's joining Espinosa Cigars as Southwest regional sales manager.
- 07What's the Score: Cayman Broadside and Don DermaThe crew guesses Brooks Whittington's scores for the Cayman Cigar Company Broadside Robusto BXP (86) and the Dunbarton-made Don Derma for Secreto Cigars (89).
Brands & Cigars Discussed
Linked items are in our shop. Mentions without a link aren’t currently stocked or couldn’t be matched with confidence.
Transcript
- Put the camera on you for the clap. - And action. - Welcome to Cigar House, our podcast where cigars are just a starting point. Join me, Mike Palmer, with Mike Sztevankiewicz and Triple B We'll be right back to the show.
We'll be right back to the show. We'll be right back to the show. We'll be right back to the show. We'll be right back to the show.
We'll be right back to the show. We'll be right back to the show. We'll be right back to the show. We'll be right back to the show.
We'll be right back to the show. We'll be right back to the show. We'll be right back to the show. We'll be right back to the show.
We'll be right back to the show. We'll be right back to the show. We'll be right back to the show. We'll be right back to the show.
We'll be right back to the show. We'll be right back to the show. We'll be right back to the show. com for all your ch pod swag right now we are still We're still accepting pre-orders for the BDP, 4th of July shirt.
We're up to 11. Oh, four more to go. Four more, and you're gonna see an old man in overalls, American flag overalls. I'll be dressed like the t-shirt BDP.
Yeah, very excited. Where are you gonna get those overalls from? I already have them ordered, they're on their way. Nice.
Yeah, it's America, bro, we can get... It's the 250th anniversary, you can get anything with a flag on it this year. I suppose that's right. Exactly, exactly.
Like and subscribe wherever you're viewing or listening to this show. com A Cigar Hustlers podcast Where if you pay for the entire year You're going to get 10% off in advance And I got to do our comments don't I Our comments The busy comment weekend Let me get my phone My phone for today It says much things You're not on camera I know Have you guys Yeah but you're reading Okay, do you want me on it? Yes. Ah, there you go.
But now I can't see me. You still can in the little thing over there. Oh, I like that. That's nice.
That's very good. I like Moe, Larry, and Curly. The youngest one, and Curly. Isn't she lovely?
Okay. Here's a story. All right. " Yeah, I get it.
He's a Walmart guy, you know? Oh, and that's a terrible place to have to go. Yeah, great. Triple G, do you ever, is there a particular store that you walk into where as soon as you walk in there you need to take a poop?
No. No? Not at all. No, I just, if I have to go, I go.
It doesn't matter what store it is. No matter where. No. No conditions.
Doesn't matter. Doesn't matter the quality of bathroom. You have to be able to touch the door, don't you? You've got that weird thing.
Yeah, I don't like being too far from the door. Security issues. Yeah, 'cause they're just comin' in to raid him while he's at the toilet. You never know!
It's ridiculous. It's awkward and embarrassing. Okay, ooh, oh, there it is, B. It's B.
Okay. Bryce, stay away from Walmart. " Okay, so I guess that answers what "Blaze" is. What?
Can we talk about "Blaze"? Yeah, well that's when Phil went to, oh my god, dude. Oh, when Phil went to Blaze for the cauliflower stuff. I don't listen to him when he's on the show.
You know, you're worse than him. He doesn't remember anything in that, look at you. It was four days ago. No, it wasn't.
Friday, Monday, Tuesday, or Monday, Sunday, Saturday, Friday. Friday, Monday, Tuesday? I love that you actually had to bring out the fingers to figure out how many days ago Friday was. I wasn't checking, I was demonstrating.
Friday, today is Monday. I think, Lee, it's Tuesday. Well, for those that are going to be viewing it, it will be, yes. But for you, it was two days ago.
Yeah. Okay. " Okay, well, we didn't really ask what the best restroom was. Their stalls have full doors.
Really? Well, it's not even that. Like, the hallway leading to the stalls, they sell art. Yeah, I was going to say, it was very nice art, too.
I was like, ooh, that would look nice. Have you ever purchased a piece of art from Bucky's? I have not. No?
No. It came close once, I almost bought a cowhide rug. Oh. That's okay.
Would you hang that up? From the bathroom hall? No, it's not in that hall. It's like in the general area of the store, by the Oakleys.
What made you change your mind? What made you change your mind? I feel like I could probably get it for less than $250. No, they're expensive.
They were expensive. Yeah, wife too had to have one. It was $400. Oh, maybe $250 is a deal.
It just seemed like a lot. Maybe it's smaller. Yeah. A small cow.
A small cow. A small cow. Oh, would that solve your problem with your wife wanting a cow? No.
Get out of the rug? No, she's still going to want a cow. Okay. Would that intensify the problem of your wife wanting a cow?
Probably. She'd be constantly reminded of it. Yeah. " He's right, that's true, too.
Yeah. Wow, that's smart. If it's an upscale hotel. That's smart.
What do you mean? I don't want to go to like Motel 6. What about like a Hampton Inn? That'd be okay.
Do you consider Hampton Inn upscale? More than like a Motel 6 or a Clarion or something. Oh. Where do you stay when you travel, Motel 6?
No. No. Hampton or above. Oh.
I tried that the first time and the first hotel I was in had roaches and smelled like pot in the room. Changed room three times in that hotel. I was like, never again, Greg. They all smelled like pot.
All the roaches were smoking marijuana that day. Apparently they were, yes. at jace1911 says if mike sweeps the week with all wins phil has to wear the entire costume instead of just mask princess peach costume oh that would be fantastic would be nice yeah i don't think they make them that big they got to they got you know because you could just easily shame a company into that like hey oh you don't acknowledge you know plus size models yeah right yeah they could be a Plus Ice Princess Peach, it could happen. Ruckus Unchained is back.
Oh, that's your mom. Yeah. Your mom comes on the show frequently. She's a huge fan.
Big fan. How does that make you fun? I don't get it. That's her name, Ruckus Unchained.
Yeah. I don't get it. Yeah. We didn't make it.
That's just what it is. Yeah. Ask her about it. The Behike was 30 to 40 back then in 2012, which was still high at the time, but not nearly as inflated as they are today.
Yeah, that sounds about right. But you know, I think that if you got it from somebody else, like retailer or whatever, I'm glad to get it, they probably charge you a premium anyways, right? Your mother's very informed on pricing for cigars. Yeah, yeah, it's true.
It's true. Okay. Um, Bruce Cox, 8216 has bronchitis. Ain't nobody got time for that.
And he's correct. We do not have time for that. And I don't understand why Phil was just sucking wind that day because of his bronchitis. It was kind of obnoxious, you know?
No? Think that's what's wrong with him today? No, he's just lazy. Why is he not here?
Last minute he said he couldn't make it. Yeah. Oh. I mean, we put the show off today, waiting for him.
Oh. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, last minute, oh, I know it's one o'clock, but after the meeting now, I'm not going to make it.
Yeah. Okay. " And I guess he would be accurate on that statement. We've all been blocked now on social media.
You were telling me this. This is very interesting. Yeah. It's look, look, that's a, that's a face of a defeated man.
Look at him. Very sad. Me? Yeah, you.
I'm not sad that I'm blocked by him. It's okay. It's okay. I'm surprised I noticed.
You did though. But he can't block me from his show, apparently. No, he cannot. I can still watch him make comments.
All right. And the last one is... Oh, I already know. Next time I'm going to go, surprised I can see this.
I'm blocked on social media by this man. So weird. So strange. Hey.
Please continue. @stevenwells wrote, Mike, I think that if instead of a 17-year-old boy, your seven-year-old daughter was violated after being purposely given too much alcohol, 35 years of prison would be the least of the other person worries. And you are 100% correct. You are 100% correct.
Without hesitation, Mr. Wells, I cannot disagree with what you're saying. That's what you were saying. And I did consider that later on.
I did kind of reflect. I was like, you know, this is the other way around. 35 years isn't enough. And that's so true.
That's so true. How do you feel about that? Oh, we're talking about the lady. Yeah.
Oh, I thought we were talking. Yeah. If it was the other way around, if it was the other way, if she was a dude. Right.
And she was doing that to a 17 year old boy or 17 year old girl, excuse me. Yeah, it would be a different situation. Oh my God. Yeah.
That's just much worse. Right. Right, Greg? Yeah, no, it's not right, but it's right that we have a different perspective when it's male and female.
I think so, too. Yeah. Yeah. Justified.
If you want to hear a comment right aloud on the show, go ahead and comment below on this episode. Also, we're doing a giveaway for Cool Lighter. Greg, if you look at that orange box next to you, to the left there, see that? If we can bother you to stop smoking for a moment.
Yeah, if, you know, we know that you like to... I am the man. Oh, he's going to drop your cigar, too. We're giving away this awesome cutter lighter set through this week.
If you just comment below, you're going to be entered. That is really nice. Carbon fiber. Ooh.
Ooh. Ah. Ooh. Comment below for a chance to win.
I might keep that. That looks really nice. I am going to keep that. No, that's mine.
No, no, we're giving it away. I donated it to the show. No, no, we're giving it away. Don't use it.
You're going to get ash in it. It's never been used. Put it down. Put that down.
Put that down. Don't touch that. Don't take it out of the box. Yeah.
Now it's been out of the box. Oh, and the Cutter 2 you took out, my lord. Very nice. Okay, put it away, Cool Grid.
Put it away. Put your maximum accessories. And your funny hat. We're gonna find that box empty after the show.
" Put it under my hat, it'd be fine. Okay. Okay, Mr. Palmer, when you are ready, we are ready to get on with the show.
Oh, a federal judge ordered President Donald Trump's name removed from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, ruling that the venue cannot be renamed without congressional approval. Is that true? Can you not rename it? There's all types of crazy rules with stuff like that like so there's also rules that like a living person cannot be put on any money in the United States either it's there's there's a shitload of crazy rules.
He's got money he wants his face on. Well, he would be breaking one of those rules if he did that. Oh, I don't think he cares. Yeah.
S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, no relation, said the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees exceeds its debt. I know because I can see this guy on social media. This guy on social media still, so.
I don't get it. I don't get it. I related to Cigar Coop. Oh, got it, got it.
No relation. Got it, got it. Statutory bounds by unilaterally renaming the institution. I just went, put my name on that building.
I want it here. Well, he does a lot of that stuff. He just does things. President of the United States.
The ruling requires the Trump administration to remove signage bearing Trump's name and eliminate references to Trump/Kennedy. He even put his name first. The Trump/Kennedy Center from Official Materials. It's amazing.
And now he's bad-mouthing the place because it's a terrible place. It's a shithole anyways. Who wants the name on it anyway? Yeah, it's a ridiculous place.
But I read he wants to put out a $250 bill. $250? Okay. I mean, we currently don't have one of those.
Like for commemorative of the 250th year? Oh, that's probably why that one is. Yeah, but I'm pretty confident there is a rule, maybe even a law, that you can't do it if you're still alive. Like, you can't go on any paper money, or any money for that matter, in the United States.
Yeah, I guess you're right. Susan B. Anthony's dead. She was the last- They're all dead.
They're all dead. Well, I know the papers. They're all dead. They're all dead.
What do your doctors say? They're all dead. They're all dead. Wow.
Huh. Okay. Well, that's- You would think when you were president, you could just do whatever you want to a limit. I mean, you know, who cares?
He puts his name on the building, what's the big deal? That's why our government is structured with those three positions, so that the president can't be a dictator. Yeah, it's supposed to have the whole three things. Well, it's a dictator, he just puts his name on a building.
You know, the two other branches, remember that thing? Why didn't he just build his own center? The Trump Center for the Arts. He's gonna name the ballroom after him, the Donald J.
Trump ballroom. The Donald J. Trump ball? Yeah.
$250 bill. You know there are $500 bills and $1,000 bills? Yes. But not a $250.
Not a $250, no. so he had to pick one that they didn't already have yeah is there a 250 i would like on 250. interesting i don't think that's what he sounds like no he does i can't do trump mikey does trump give us all the accents he does he can't do a trump give us a good trump why tell me about the 250. i can't do it let's do it i just said i can't do it now you want me to do it yeah no yes how about jonathan drew wants a 250.
okay go ahead i'll settle for jd i'll settle for jonathan drew of drew estate i don't know why he can't put his name on the trump All right, at a zoo in Austria, two giant tortoises, which means more than one, became local celebrities for a reason no one expected. Anybody? I'm from Austria. Good day, mate.
No idea. I'm going to say it's something ridiculous, like they had sex for a long period of time or something like that. They can't stand each other. Oh, so they did have at one point and now.
No, they didn't, it's two males, according to zoo staff, the feud started after the tortoise allegedly stole food from the other during a feeding session like 15 years ago. That's like last week in tortoise years. Right, but the one is holding a grudge. What seemed like a small incident turned into a long-running rivalry that staff say continued for decades.
However, feeding time arrived, the two tortoises would often engage in what visitors described as arguments, bumping, blocking, and challenging each other around the food. That's nice. The pair became so well known that some guests specially visited the zoo, hoping to witness the spectacle for themselves. Turtle fight.
Watching two slow, and it's in slow motion, so of course, that's very good. Watching the two slow-moving animals hold onto a grudge for years struck many people as both amusing and surprisingly relatable. They're not actually that slow, do you know that? They're not fast, but they're not slow.
Not like you think they are. Yeah, the wife has a tortoise. Yes, we know, we've talked about these tortoises. She lets it like run around the backyard.
We're not going to let you just commandeer this all the time so you can talk about your goddamn tortoise. Okay, we're moving on. Animal behavior experts say giant tortoises are far more complex than most people realize. While they may appear calm and unbothered, they can develop strong personalities, establish routines, recognize familiar individuals, and display territorial behaviors.
Wow. Greg, we really need you on the show. Perfect. I'd love to talk about my tortoise some more.
Well, you know, a group of tortoises is called a creep. Yeah. You know, you are also a creep. You are also a creep.
Yeah. Whether it was stubborn personality or simply a territorial dispute, one thing is certain, those two tortoises showed some disagreements can move slowly, but they last a long time. Greg, have you ever been mad at somebody that ate your food? Yes.
And are you still mad at them to this day? Yes. Who is it? The tortoise on your patio?
Let me tell you about my tortoise. Let me tell you about my tortoise. You know, I have tortoise. Tell me somebody who took your food that you're upset with.
Tell us. Tell the people. I don't like it when my wife does it. Your wife does it?
Takes food off your plate? Yeah. Without asking? Yeah.
She'll just sort of do it. But it's something that you have to just tolerate. You don't have to. You can smack her little hand.
You could just... Stop that! Beat my wife? No, no.
Just slap her little hand. Just slap her little hand. Just give her a little slap. That's not acceptable.
I thought it was always the other way around. Like, I always steal my wife's food. You steal everybody's food. Yeah.
Are you eating? No, there have been times that I'm pretty sure you've done that to me as a child. As a child? As a child.
If you have sushi, I see that shit in my life. Oh, you have done that. Yeah, that's true, yeah. But I don't just take it from you.
You know what I mean? " You're not leaving that, are you? What's going on with that? Did you touch it?
He takes my sushi. He's taking my sushi food. Yeah. For Brittany, I just stare at her food.
Just kind of look at it. You would think by now she would over order and expecting to feed you also. She knows. Yeah.
She knows. She knows how to handle it. She's a pro. Right.
" Or something like that. Should have got more. Yeah. Should have got more.
Yeah. The problem with having kids is sometimes it's a whole gamble. There have been times when we're out to eat and you know you order for these three kids and two of them don't eat their meals so if I eat my meal and then they have their meal and now I'm pissed off because their food is unscathed and you know I feel obligated to eat it you're right three meals there are times so then what so then you know in my infinite wisdom what I'll do at times is you know what I'm gonna skip my meal right I'll have the app. before everybody and then afterwards i'll just eat what they're not eating right which is usually like an intact cheeseburger or something like that right but the problem is whenever i do that they eat everything they eat all of it they're like oh wait oh he didn't order so we better crush this and i'm like god man i can't win so you just go without so yeah yeah so it's either you know you're either burning an extra hundo and no one's eating or you're saving 20 30 bucks And you're hungry.
So, my name is Michael Szczevankevich, and this is my line. And extra hundred. How big is his meal? He was a very large man.
Well, you know. I don't know, but. Oh, and now Jax is at a whole nother level. Well, he knows you now.
Jax is at a whole nother level when it comes to eating. He's eating a lot now. Yeah, he's eating a lot, and he's eating at an adult level. Yeah, well, he's hitting that point in puberty where he's going to sprout up.
Yeah, yeah. Oh, but it's worse than that, Greg. It's much worse than that. We went to dinner, we went to dinner, we were at the theme parks, and we got to eat at a nice place, and he's looking at the menu, and he goes, you know, the lobster roll sounds really nice.
The most expensive piece of food on the, on the, I'm like, you saw. And it was apparently really nice because he ate the whole thing, but this is the, you know. You can't tell him no? No, I'm not gonna tell them.
Well, no, I'm not gonna tell them, no. All right. No, you don't get to, I mean, the whole, I do the whole thing, the work, the thing is so that they can have the experience, like, that's the reason. Lobster rolls.
If he wants the damn lobster roll, you can have the lobster roll, you know? I may ham and haw quietly to my wife and say this. Adrian's kids used to do that. I would like the lobster mac and cheese.
Right. What's the catch of the day? Right, exactly. What is the most, just ask, what's the most expensive thing in the menu?
" I'll take three of those. But yeah, so, that's where he's at. Alex one time ordered two meals. Really?
" Tell the listeners who Alex is. It's one of my step-sons. So, the waitress brought the one plate, and then he starts to ask where his second burrito is, and then she puts a second plate in front of him. " Did he eat it?
Nope. I made him take it home, though. He had it the next day. And you've held that grudge ever since?
Not until you just mentioned that. I'd forgotten about it. So you actually can relate to the tortoises? No, no.
I can relate to your son ordering the lobster roll. Ah. Okay. All right.
Tanner used to always order the lobster mac and cheese, please. Greg, would you like me to speak to your wife about her stealing your food? No, no, no. It's fine.
I could do that. No problem. I'd be happy. I could text her right now.
She can do what she wants. I'd be happy to have that. Mike does not like it when you take his food off his plate. She's a good woman.
If that's the only problem I've got, we're doing all right. I'd be happy to stir that pot for you. We're good. We could call her on the air right now.
Hey, Alex. Out of nowhere, really out of left field here. " He's going on and on about this. Apparently, it's quite the point with him.
He's been ranting about this for quite some time. - For quite some time. - He doesn't like you taking his, as he said, "goddamn food". - Something about a sandwich.
- And I quote. - And I quote. - Something about a sandwich. - He's been hungry ever since he met you, he said.
- Yeah, yeah. Which is odd. Which is very odd. - Right.
- Okay, all right, good. - Carrying on with our next... - Speaking of things that your wives don't like you to do, World Cup Soccer. But then the 2026 FIFA World Cup coming to New Jersey area, so are the escorts, a major increase in bookings as millions of visitors are expected to arrive.
Apparently people are making reservations before they get here. Must have them. American. That's escorts, Gregory, escorts.
Yeah, they're just hanging out. One New York escort interview by the New York Post said she charges up to $10,000 per day for certain services and has seen a surge in inquiries. Quirees tied directly to the World Cup dates. Things are up.
Now, are these people just asking, or do you think they're actually booking? That's one hell of a service for 10 grand. Well, that's for the entire day. Sleeve of wizard.
Sleeve of wizard. What is included in these services? I don't know. You would have to inquire, I imagine.
That's a lot more money than a lobster roll right there. You know, we could call and find out, but we're going to have to use your phone just for the record. Jax would like the whole day service, please. Yeah.
I just want to know, yeah, from soup to nuts, I need to start to finish the full package? Was that, yeah, go see that guy with the credit card. Go ahead. No problem.
Oh, Escorts reported increased website traffic. More clients acquire and bookings being made weeks in advance by international visitors planning their trips around the matches. Do you get the one, if you go to the website, I always heard like the one in the photo isn't like the one you get. Do you see how he said, "I always heard"?
I haven't done that. So I've heard. We all know how cheap I am. I ain't paying for a hooker.
No. Well, you're only down to 25% of your stuff after two divorces. Two divorces. Right.
But I mean, if they charge you $10,000, I need three minutes. What am I going to do? It's very expensive. With the rest of the day?
Maybe she can read a book to you or something. One of the... Oh, read? She can read to me.
It's like $3,300 a minute, Palmer. Oh, my Lord. No, I haven't done that. One of the more unusual trends mentioned was an increase in requests for couples seeking experiences.
They all have fun experiences together while visiting for the tournament. Oh, they're out of their country, you know, no one's gonna know. Right. We hear pineapples big in America, so we would like the pineapple package.
Yeah. Hmm. Hmm. Huh.
Is that why you went to Peru, Greg? No, we went to Peru to climb mountains. And a hooker? Is that what it's called?
There were no hookers. Climb mountains? Climb the mountains. There were no hookers.
There's no hookers? There's no hookers in Peru? I'm sure there are. I didn't see them.
Well, they're discreet. Yeah, I'm sure. They're dressed like Sherpa. Yeah.
There were Sherpas. Those are the hookers. I don't think so. Yeah.
That's what I've read. These were rough looking people. Well, I mean, you know, you're on a mountain, beggars can't be choosers. You know, as after his wife snatched the cheeseburger out of his plate, he said, "You know what?
Let's go get some extracurricular activities going on. " Right. You know? Me, you, and some other dude.
And some other dude. What would be a Sherpa name? Is it like Miguel or something? What's the name of a Sherpa?
Yeah. What Sherpa did you come across? It was a woman. Oh!
See? I can't recall her name, actually. Indeed it was. You don't know her name?
You didn't find her name? I know, I wasn't paying attention. Did you steal her meal? No.
No. I saw some of your wife's Instagram stuff. I didn't see any Sherpa. Saw her on a four-wheeler, saw her with a cane.
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. No Sherpa? No, she didn't see any Sherpa. No Sherpa.
Okay. Huh. Well, you know where hookers aren't a problem. Where?
Latvia. Latvia? Latvia, L-A-T-V-I-A. They're reporting facing one of the largest gender imbalances in Europe with women outnumbering the men by more than 80,000 people.
Oh, boy. What's the ratio? Does it say? One man for every 80,000 women.
What? Well, the statistic has surprisingly... According to the pictures, what it looked like. The pictures, what it looked like.
One to eight thousand, one to eighty thousand. One to eighty thousand. Can you imagine? The reasons are more complex than they first appear.
One major factor is that women generally live longer in Latvia than men. So don't move there, you'll die. As in many Eastern European countries, men have significantly shorter life expenses due to higher rates of heart disease, smoking, alcohol-related illnesses, workplace accidents, and other health risks. You have the same problem here.
Yeah. Yeah. Smoking, drinking. Smoking, drinking, falling down.
Yeah, you know why men die before their wives? Because they want to. Because they want to. Stole that from you.
You can have it. It's all you. No, I'm good. Migration also plays a role for years.
Many working age men have left in search of better paying jobs. Apparently there's not a lot of jobs in life. But apparently a lot of women. Yeah, they look like Swedish women according to the picture.
Oh, yeah, that's AI, dude. You just got on the whole topic That's a great discussion about how the image doesn't match the sale item, right? Like the cheeseburger on the McDonald's? Oh, the same thing?
Yeah, yeah, this is... I'm not going to Latvia, it's too busy. Some studies suggest the impact on male migration has been especially noticeable in certain age groups and regions. Demographics add another layer to the story.
Latvia has an aging population in low birth rates, meaning older age groups make up a larger share of the population. is this why you keep pressing me hard to open up internationally Latvia because you want to go there carry Powstanie products Italy was offering to come live there and they pay you money and give you a house and a job that's been going on for years yeah but the way they scrub the houses I don't think they were very comfortable the old stone houses Greg actually has one there we have a villa we stayed at something like that while we were over there he's actually Italian He probably bought one, but we've discussed it, because it's not expensive. He wants to release the Powstanie Italia, this is the next release, yeah, it's going to be amazing, it's a little cheroot, a little twisty twisty thing, yeah it's going to be great. The imbalance has sparked conversations about healthcare, economic opportunities, family formation, and the long term challenges facing several European nations with aging populations.
Yeah. Okay. It says 80,000 more women than men. I don't know what that...
No, no, no. That's just the total population or something. Yeah, but like, if the total population is, you know, 20 million people, and there's 80,000 more women than men, it's not that lopsided. It's not that crazy.
Well, you could pick three or four. Okay. Yeah, it's not as dramatic as you think here. Here it says women outnumbering men by approximately 80,000 to 130,000 overall.
So it's almost 80,000 men, 130,000 women, it's almost two to one. It's not even, it's not even quite two to one, 80,000 to one. All right. I have a video.
Oh, you do. I have it. I have it. I have it.
I have to find the video. Keep saying this. Oh my God. You got to trim this.
All right. And you know, that's the sad part is you won't. Okay. Don't put it on me.
When you guys put it on you. I've already seen it. Okay. I'll put it on Greg.
All right. Am I supposed to watch the volume on or the volume on? Yeah, you gotta pay the volume on. Well, you can read the bottom if you want to.
Don't read the bottom. If you haven't read the bottom, don't read it. Do you know what that is? You know what that is, Greg?
It sounded like a woman being hurt. Yeah. Oh, not really. She's getting that pussy beat up is when she was getting done.
Last week, we did a story about a federal judge who's being reprimanded because she was engaged in sexual activity with a policeman, a high-ranking policeman, during office hours between, like, cases. Yeah. On the clock. And there was no, they didn't mention her name or the police officer's name, but since then, the video there has been released and her staff has named her and the policeman.
Well, they didn't even mention that it was a she, they just had a judge and an officer. Right, yeah, they didn't mention- That was very loud. Yeah. Like, you would think they would be a little discreet.
That was the problem, they could hear them out in the hallway outside her chambers. " A game? Yeah, allegedly playing a game, yeah. That's a game called Hide the Weasel.
Yeah, apparently. So she has been reprimanded, but that's all they're doing to her. There's no, just, you know, bad, like she sold a cheeseburger off the plate. Well, that was before the video.
Yeah, now there's a video and she has been named, so it might be a little worse now. I mean, really, victimless crime. Well, yeah, so, you know, instinctively that's what I thought as well. But then when you start thinking about things, you know, is it possible to blackmail a person?
What if one of these people are married or, you know, something of that nature, right? So it could... Okay, yeah, if one of them's married, sure. Yeah, that's a mess.
Or, you know... " Right, you're right, right. Big Daddy. Big Daddy.
Big Daddy. Yes, Sergeant. Yeah. Yes, Sergeant, right.
Put me in the back of the police car, whatever she was yelling. You know, for whatever reason, I thought that the cop was the female. I don't know why. Did you really?
Yeah. Well, because instinctually, when you heard judge, you thought man. I don't... Then why would I think cop is woman?
Well, because if the judge was a man and the cop was a woman, that's how regular sex happens. I don't know. I think it's just the way that... He's not sure.
Wait, are you sure? He only has the three children. Yeah. I don't know.
Just the way that you read the story, the way that you read the article, it sounded to me like the... Oh, the cop was the female I always assumed the judge was the female. Did you? Yeah.
Interesting. See, he he thought that I didn't think that I thought the judge was the female and the cop was the male. Yeah, I don't think that it's a superiority thing or anything like that when it comes to gender or whatever. I for whatever reason, I just thought that it was the other way around.
All right, then quick test. Ready? Yes, I'm going to say a profession. I'm going to say a profession.
Tell me male or female. Ready? Okay, he's going to say, Alright, police officer. Alright.
Male. Male. Doctor. Female.
Male. Super interesting. Okay. Just the two, that's it.
You want another one? Firefighter. I know both. It's not about knowing, it's like when you see the cartoon character of that profession, what do you see?
I could see either a female or male firefighter. At the same time simultaneously. Yeah, Chicago PD has definitely done that. The cat is both dead and alive at the same time.
Yeah, it's like a virus. That's a virus. It's a living and non-living item. Right, very good.
What's Big Bang Theory? What cat? I'm sorry. Schrodinger's.
You don't know if the cat's alive or dead inside the box. Oh. It's both at the same time. It's both the same.
It's both dead and alive at the same time. It's a virus. It's living and non-living? No, I don't know.
Okay, any other ones? Like professors? Yeah, yeah. Teacher.
Female. Yeah, more female than male, I'll tell you. Right? Yeah, no, like, there are genders that are associated with professions, for sure.
Right. Okay. Pilot. Man.
Pilot. Man. Hmm. Artist.
No pronouns. Yeah, could go either way. This is the non-traditional sex. This is the they section of things.
Bob Ross. You say artist, I go happy little tree all day. You think of Bob Ross? Yeah.
Happy little problems, you know? Okay. Yeah, there's more famous male artists that I can think of than female. I can't think of one female artist.
Sure, yeah, that's true. Hairstylist. Gay man. Yeah.
Barber. Old man. Right. Hmm.
Okay. Okay, these are all interesting facts, Greg. They're not facts, they're opinions. It's good to know.
No, no, they're facts. We consider them facts. You're only gender allowed to do those jobs. That's right.
All right, moving on into Cigar News. Okay. Boveda launches Skipper. What does Skipper do?
I have no idea. Is that from Gilligan's Island? No. Does it have to do with humidification?
That's all they sell. Boveda. Yeah, it would be a humidification product. Very good, Greg.
Okay, so it's a humidification product. Yes. To keep things humidified. Is it a bag?
Would you consider the product we have upstairs in a bag? Is it in a bag? No. But like a bag that is a humidifier?
No. It's similar to what they already make. So it's just a pouch. It's a water pillow.
Yeah, yeah. But it's called Skipper. It's made specifically for something else and it has something different inside of it. As far as I can tell from the article.
Oh, it's like a scented bag or something? No. Is it for marijuana? No.
They already have that out. They do, yeah, yeah. Yeah, they have that. Alright, they're launching Skipper to help keep produce fresh.
Ok. The average American goes through 16, throws away $1600 worth of vegetables a year that go bad inside the refrigerator. I don't know what house you're living at because we'd probably burn through that a week and throw that stuff away. $1600?
Vegetables? Oh, a week? You're buying way too much then. No, I mean, I'm obviously over-exaggerating.
This is interesting. I thought it was too. The company launched the Skipper product as a way to keep produce hydrated in the cold, dry environment of a refrigerator. Yeah, because a refrigerator actually removes humidity.
Correct. Yes. While refrigerators are good at slowing moisture loss, they do not replenish it, which leads to fresh produce wilting and spoiling, as well as nutrient loss, and ultimately waste. S.
household discards roughly $1,600 of fresh produce annually, largely due to spoilage. Skipper is designed to sit inside the crisper drawer, where it releases purified water vapor and maintains the hydration balance needed to keep fresh produce crisp, vibrant, and nutrient-rich. Does it cost less than the regular Boveda's that are used for cigars? Hold on, we'll get to that in a minute.
However, instead of just adding moisture, Skipper regulates moisture the same way Boveda pack does in a humidor, adding moisture when the drawer is too dry and absorbing excess when it is too humid. Inside each pack is purified water, salt, and a type of gum, xanthan gum. Is that the same thing in the regular one? I would assume.
Well, whatever that gum is, it's a food-safe, allergen-free, thickening agent, so maybe it could be different. Yeah. I think it's the same. Probably the same.
But only water vapor flows in and out of the pack. 75 inches, a bit longer than a cell phone. 99 per pack. How many are in a pack?
Just one pack? Just one. Okay. And the packs should be replaced approximately every three months.
Or, or... Just throw the veggies away? You can just throw the Boveda packs in the drawer in the fridge. Yeah, I know, that's what I was thinking.
At a fraction of the cost. Yeah, this is kind of interesting, because, yeah, for five bucks I can just chuck one of the 75ers in that pig. Though it's the same... If it's the same thing.
Also, the statement that it will, you know, not only add humidity, but also remove it. No, it won't. It's not ever going to remove humidity, because the unit itself, the refrigerator, is constantly... The refrigerator is constantly removing humidity.
Yeah. Yeah. Huh. And their blue with white writing says, "Skipper" across it.
Nice. Why do you think they called it "Skipper"? I have no idea. It does.
It makes no sense at all. I don't know. " Oh, we'll call them "Skipper". Okay.
What about you? Any logical reason for the "Skipper" name, Greg? No idea. You think that they would have incorporated that in the story?
Like, "Hey, we called it Skipper because... " You guys, ship captains are known for their fresh produce. You think selling this at 3x, the normal Humapack pricing, will help offset some of the additional cost for... Well, they're already killing it!
I mean, like, the margins on that product have to be disgusting. Fred really put out that article two weeks ago about you can't reuse them, it's not good. Why not? Fred says it's bad.
I'm going to call Fred when we're done here. I already talked to him about it, he's not getting a cut, I asked. I have questions, I have many questions. Yeah, why can't you reuse them?
If it not only adds, but also draws humidity out, meaning it gets more full, it would remove humidity, you could add humidity to it without a problem. Does the regular one do that too? Yes. So, in case anybody doesn't know, the Boveda Humida Pack is a pouch that you put inside of your humidor, and what it does is it regulates the humidity level for your cigars.
Somewhere between 65% and 75%, you can kind of pick whichever one you want, there's, on average, I think there's like four of them regularly available, but there's a couple of ones that are really high and really low too that we don't recommend for Cigari's, and yeah, apparently, if you want to keep your apples fresh, you can do that too. And Boveda packs are a great product. 100%. Yeah, we use them, yeah, we actually tell other customers, the customers that come in that want to use the old propylene glycol, just throw that thing away.
You're wasting your time with that. Just use the Boveda pack. Just use the Boveda pack. It's much easier.
Well, supposedly after you reuse them, they're not set at 75 anymore. It's like if you have a 75 and you rehydrate it, it's not going to go to 75. It's going to swell up until you take it out. I really want to see the science on this.
I'm going to call Fred. Call Fred. I'm calling Fred. Fred Brewery at Cigar Press.
Okay. You calling Fred right now? I'm going to call Fred. He doesn't have the earpiece in?
No, well, he's not going to be able to hear it then. Oh. That's his fault. Nobody gave me the earpiece.
You declined it last time, I assumed you wouldn't want it. Yeah. Yeah. But I'm the one with the questions.
Oh? Well, you can still ask, who are you? You just won't hear it. He's probably in Bora Bora or something.
It pops. All circuits are busy. Please try your call again. All circuits are busy.
I don't think it pops on the show, though. - It does. - Oh, does it? - Yeah.
- I didn't hear it last time. - Why are all circuits busy? - Maybe something bad is happening out there, we don't know. - This could be it.
- Hey, you're on the podcast. - Hi, Fred. - Oh, exciting. - Yes, an exclusive.
- Did I win something? - Yes. - Did I win? - You did.
- Am I the ninth caller? - Congratulations, it pays. - Yeah, congratulations, you won. - Oh, thanks.
I've been trying for so long since my brother went missing, The water went missing, so this is awesome. Greg, Greg's on the podcast as well, and he has a question, but he doesn't have headphones on, so he's not going to get your answer. However, we want to know, why can't you reuse a Boveda pack and rehumidify it? What happens behind it that we cannot do this?
So, that's funny. I'm glad you, I mean, it's interesting, and it totally blew up. But look, if your purpose, in my understanding, if your purpose is just, I want water, In a pillow, in my humidor, then yeah, you can do it. I mean, they will, you can use your Boveda, it can dry up, you can soak it in water or do whatever you want, and then it expands back into water and you've got water.
My understanding is though, as it dries out and as that continues to happen is the salt that's in there, which helps the relative humidity and everything else, eventually breaks down, like disintegrates, right? So it's not doing what it's originally intended to do as accurate as it attended to. But if you're monitoring, I suppose if you're monitoring your humidor on a different method, like you've got something in there that's measuring it, and you've just got all these pillows of water in there, then you're probably okay. It's just not doing it automatically anymore.
You're going to need something else to help you watch it. That's my understanding. That's my understanding. Ask him about the skipper.
He'd be totally wrong. Okay, why did they call it skipper for the produce? They make a new one now. Did you see that?
Skipper? Why would they call it skipper? Skipper? Yeah, that's to keep the veggies good in your fridge.
Yeah, that's actually from the Egyptians that originally would take the produce to the ocean and throw it across the water based on how many times it skips, that was the predicted amount of how many weeks the produce would last. Yeah, so that, yeah, good call on them for going back to that. Good call out. You're a great source there.
I thought it was solved that problem. Greg, you didn't hear. I heard nothing. Did you get that, Greg?
Apparently, the Egyptians used to skip vegetables across the Nile to see how long they would last. So that's the name "skipper". Yeah, and "skipper". So the more times it bounces across the river, the better the vegetable is?
How long it would last. How long it'll last. How long it'll last? Well, if you think about them, because when you throw them across the river, you're not getting it back.
You've determined something. But then all the other, say, ears of corn you had, you would know it skipped seven times. Oh, this will be good for seven days or seven weeks, whatever the time is. It's rooted in science right there.
Yes, yes, yes. It's just science. It's just science. I thought it was not Gilligan's Island.
I thought it was Gilligan's Island. It's just science. I thought, didn't they have a skipper at Gilligan's Island or something? Yes, and he did wear blue, like the color of the skipper pad.
Yeah, so maybe he was a... Yeah, so that's where they got the idea from, I'm sure. Ah, makes sense. I hear he was Egyptian, so it could be.
Yeah, that makes sense. It could be. It does explain a lot. Okay.
It certainly does. All right, well, perfect. All right. Well, Skipper, Mr.
Skipper Fred Rui, we appreciate you of Cigar Press. clarifying that information and we're going to explain to Greg exactly what you just said, or maybe not, maybe we'll say something totally different, but either way, we're going to let Greg know something. And I appreciate the fact that you just answered the phone. That was really nice of you.
Well, I mean, it did come up unknown caller, so it had a shot, but speaking of which we've been trying to read you about your warranty. Oh yes, please, please. All right, brother. Well, we appreciate you, man.
All right. All right. You bet. Talk to you later.
Bye. There you go. The Fred Rue of the Sagar Press. I go to him for the answers to all my questions.
He's so smart. Yes. Yeah. Okay.
So Greg, one of these is going to be true and one of these is going to be wrong. And you got to tell me which one is inaccurate. The first one is the salt that is inside of the packet deteriorates over time, and that henceforth can no longer regulate the correct amount inside of the human pack. Okay.
Okay? All right. The second one is that the membrane that is the actual Boveda pack actually starts to deteriorate and over time can leak inside of the surface. So, one of them's true, one of them's false.
Which one is accurate? They're not both true? No. Okay, then I'm going to go with the salt theory.
Is true or false? Is true. Is true. Why?
I don't know. The way that you said the first, rather than you said the second, your body language. My body language? Yes.
He always thinks he's playing poker. He's looking for the text. Purely off of that. You're incorrect.
It's the membrane. The membrane. I'm lying. It's the salt.
It's the salt. Yes. Yes. But now, there's thousand-year-old Himalayan salt that gets sold at stores, right?
Okay. So that salt didn't deteriorate over thousands of years. Well, it's not in whatever that gooey water is that they put it in. Yeah, the gooey water.
Okay. No, I honestly think that you're right. I think that realistically, I mean, look, the water should sustain, right? right i mean it makes sense i don't i look at the end of the day we always tell people look just once it starts to dry out just throw it away sure and that's not because hey i'm trying to make the extra three dollars but it's like a three or four dollar problem yeah right so to go back in there and rehydrate and do all this crap is just ridiculous it's like a cigar like if i'm smoking And if you're taking a cigar and the cigar is plugged, I'm not fixing it.
Abandonado. I'm throwing it away. I'm, I'm, that's it. I'm, I'm moving on.
I'm, I'm not, I'm not doing this. You just took what was pleasant and now it's become a job. I don't need the job. I'm here to relax and enjoy myself.
Also, it's a bad business model to sell a product and then tell the public that you only need to buy it once. Hey, just buy it the one time and then you can build this whole mechanism of the system of rejuvenation, you know. I've never got it to work. I've tried to do that a few times.
Yeah, you wanna know why? Because it's ridiculous. It's just too much work for a little pay, you know what I mean? Right, yeah, like I said, it's a $3 or $4 item.
Yeah, just buy another one. Yeah, you gotta go buy the $5 piece of Tupperware, and then you have to put something in the bottom of it. Right, yeah, or I can just throw this one out and just go get another one. Go get another one.
Yeah, exactly. Okay, Skipper, moving on. C. Newman ships the Leroy Neiman 2026 Collectors Edition.
Leroy Jenkins. That's all we have. I didn't really care. That was it?
That was it. I didn't grab the article. Okay. If you bought it, you know it's coming.
There you go. Do you know what this is, Greg? No idea. He has no idea.
He's not even part of the industry. F. Kennedy being saying happy birthday to by, what's her name, the blonde? Marilyn Monroe.
Marilyn Monroe. And apparently that's on the inside of the box and also on the cigar. Okay. Okay.
So, there's a series of these cigars that have come out. This is the one that's shipped. Who do you think that this caters towards? Like, what customer would say, "Hey, I really want this"?
C. Newman History Buffs? I don't know. There are other brands that have done similar stuff like this before.
People have put prints of famous artists on interior boxes. Yeah, we have one upstairs. Yeah, Mumbacho did one of those, too. Was it David White or something like that?
Yeah, actually, I think that was the name. David White. Yeah. Very famous man.
He is. He's a big deal. All right, the 1916. Oh, that was it.
I told you, I don't have the information. So, I mean, we can talk about more things. Is there anything I'm doing with the Mona Lisa? Something like that would be a good one.
Well, do you think that, I mean, well, my point is that what I was trying to gravitate towards, like, the demograph. How old is your average person that can relate to JFK right now? You know what I mean? Oh, see, I'm almost 60, so it's got to be mid to late 60s.
When was he assassinated? When was he assassinated? What year? I don't know, off the top of my head.
I'm not sure, I might have been born, I don't remember exactly. I was very young back then. I had been through that area of Texas, though. It changed my assassination to sanitation, okay?
When was JFK sanitized? When was he put in the trash? Okay, when did JFK pass? Let's start that.
1963. Okay, so it was before I was born. Okay, so, dude. But for that generation, though, that's the thing.
Where were you at when John F. Kennedy was shot? Like, my generation is, where were you during 9/11? Okay, but so, you know, that happened 63 years ago.
Yeah, so 60 some odd years old. So, if you were a wee lad, At the age of 10. A wee young fella. You're 73 years old.
Right. I don't know. You know any 73-year-old big-time cigar collectors? Because the ones that I know that are in their 70s, they're all about value.
They want to smoke something. I'm sure there's some wealthier men that might find this. They're thinking, hey, I want this for my collection that I'm going to have to give up in a couple years. Right.
Won't I die? Well, maybe they don't play that time. Live forever? Maybe they're like Boveda packs and they're going to rehydrate themselves.
I mean, how long do you live realistically? Your 80s? I don't know what the current... Yeah, I think it's 80s.
Is it 80s? Yeah, early 80s. That seems old. That seems old?
Yeah. Okay. Alright, that's just kind of my point. I don't know.
Seems silly. I'm sure they sold all of them, but whatever. Probably. Alright, the 1916 Tablical Era Eroa Asylum Arabian Nights is shipping.
That was a nice, short name. Yeah, it's a very long name. Yeah. Two of CLE's cigar company's newest lines are shipping into stores.
One line, 1916 Tabula Caleroa is a new blend from Sentai, S-A-N-T-I? Sentai? Sentai. Sentai.
Sentai. Sentai. How do you say that, Craig? S-A-N-T-I.
How would you say that in Peruvian? S-A-N-T-I. Oh, right. Remember, he can't spell.
Yeah, I know. That's why it's fun. Oh, okay. Yeah.
Sentai. Santi? Santi? Santi?
It's a male, if that helps a name. San? Just call him San? Santi?
San? Santi, Santi. Maybe it's like the new Jerusalem guy. Jonathan Santi?
Santi? Santi. Anyway, this is the youngest son of CLE founder Christian Iroa. Oh, that's his name?
Santi? That's his name. Santi Iroa. Like his brothers, Christian Jr.
and Julio, Both names easier to say. Both names we can pronounce. Right. The younger Eroa is working for the CLE Cigar Company.
He didn't like this one apparently. His name is Santi. Santi. Representing the family's fourth generation, Blendwise 1916 uses a Honduran Habano wrapper and binder as well as Honduran Corojo and Pinarejo fillers.
Pinarejo. Pinarejo, yep. Spell that for Greg. Greg, say this word.
Go ahead. P-I-N-A-R-E-N with an umlaut, O. Yeah, Penareo. I don't know.
He's just... Penareo, exactly. So let's go back to Santi, S-A-N-T-I, Iroa. He's one of three sons and the one he didn't like.
You think he didn't like him? Well, he gave him the weird name. He just ran out of ideas. He is the youngest.
I mean, there are 75 Jose Ortegas, they have the same name in this industry. And they're not even from the same family. They are the same family. Yeah, but it's funny if you say they're not.
Okay, they're different families. West Tampa Tobacco Company ships the Chef Rick. Chef Rick. And it's named after Rick.
I don't know why they felt necessary to mention that, but they did. West Tampa Company has announced its latest release, which is named after Rick Rodriguez. The new Chef Rick is a 6x52 Toro that uses a Habano 2000 wrapper from an undisclosed country over an Ecuadorian Sumatra seed binder and fillers from Condega, Esteli, Jalapa, and Omitempe regions of Nicaragua. It is made at the Tabacalera Pages de Nicaragua.
Eat cigars and MSRP of? How much are these Rick Rodriguez cigars, Greg? Rick, is it an LP or is it a regular production? Um, production is limited to 3,000 boxes of 50 cigars, it's a big box.
Big box. Big box. But still not a huge production. So I'm guessing it's an LE.
$15? $16. Okay, uh, I'm gonna go under here, I'm gonna say 15. 99.
So I won. Winner, winner. It's a very nondescript, large box. Seems like now cigars are going the other way.
They're trying to find ways to make them less expensive. Well, this is interesting because here and again, we're seeing, we saw with the Viaje, but Viaje has been doing that for years when it comes to the TNT and DC4, and it's a 75 count box, not a 50. That's a lot of cigars. Yeah, that's a lot of bones, mate.
So in this scenario, I don't know if, I don't know if it's enough to say that this is a trend per se, But there is something to be said about cost of boxes in manufacturing, that's for sure. It's definitely up in comparison to what it used to be. So... I mean, was that last year he came out with that fancy box that had the cutter on it that looked like a watch?
Who was that? Rick Rodriguez. Oh, did he? Yes.
I mean, I'm more concerned about the fact that he called himself a chef. Hey, it's a little cartoon picture and he's got a little chef hat on it. And he's got a little hat on it? Yeah.
Is that what it is? Yep. Serious? Serious.
And it's just like a little cartoon drawing on the box, and then the box is not painted other than the little cartoon drawing. Like, why? Okay, I'm gonna, I'm a baseball player. Let's call Rick and see if he likes to cook.
I wasn't aware he was some famous chef. I don't have his number. He's been in this store once in his entire career. He doesn't like me.
I've told that story before. Oh, yeah? Yeah. When I went into Tobacco Cove and the son got very excited that I was there and interrupt the dad's meeting with Rick Rodriguez.
So you think that because of that, he doesn't like you? Oh, who knows? I apologize to him. I think that you're just drawing conclusions.
I don't think that you're significant enough for him to care. Yeah, I mean, I'm sure at this point he doesn't even know who I am again. Yeah, maybe after I do the short clip he'll know who you are. I'll tag him.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. " Are we friends with Viaje? Yeah, we are friends with Viaje. Okay, then I won't tell that story.
Okay. Save that for Patreon. Okay. Okay.
Oh, my goodness. My phone's going nuts over here. Uh-oh, it's Viaje calling. No, I'm getting my Best Buy membership notifications, the one that I tried to cancel.
that I tried to cancel. Oh, so you got to poop? Like, hey, just so you know. Does it affect you when you get a phone call from them too?
Is it the same thing? No, it doesn't. No, just when you go in. Yeah, I just want to.
When he goes to Best Buy, he has to poop. Yeah. Every single time. He can't explain it.
I don't know. I don't know. It's weird. Is it like the Calvin level of the lighting in there or something?
What's triggering this? All the radiation from the TVs and things that are running? Yeah, could be that. You see a large screen TV and you go, oh my God.
Hey, I just like, It's good to know that I'm not alone, you know what I mean? Other people have that incident when they're- Well, just, you know, it would be funny if everybody was Best Buy. Yeah, oh, me too. Wow, that's weird, me too.
It's crazy. Yeah, so much purging going on at Best Buy. Bathrooms are so incredibly small. All right, we have a portal entry, if we're done talking about these cigars from Chef Rick.
I just want him to cook me a sandwich. Yeah, next time I see him, I'm going to ask him to make me. Yeah, hey, here's your chef. Hey, as long as you interrupted your meeting, can you make me a little, little Snick Snack?
Yeah, you got something going on over there? Can I talk to the guy here? I'm a little hungry. A little hungry, I hear you're a good chef.
And supposedly you're a chef, so. Okay. All right, former Luciano sales manager, Josh Beaver. Yes?
Is now the Southwest regional sales manager for Espinosa Cigars. What? Get out of here. Yes, he has, there's been no press release, but he did make a post on Facebook.
So he was the national sales manager for Luciano Cigars? Wasn't he? I believe he was. Yeah, national, right, national.
Yeah, he was the national sales manager for Luciano Cigar. Okay. And now he's a rep. Southwest regional sales, I don't know what they refer to the men, but he's a regional something for them.
Okay, so he's Southwest. Right. Okay, so he's a rep. Okay.
Yeah. I don't know, they might call him regional sales manager. Yeah. I mean, we call you national sales manager.
Well, you are the national sales manager. Yeah, what the hell does that mean? Right. That means we don't have any other ones.
You just take care of all of it. Right. " The whole shebang. The whole shebang.
You know where Guam is? Yeah. We have a shebang Guam. We have a shebang Guam.
All right. " He was so surprised when they hired him, told him there was money involved, I guess. Oh, my goodness. Palmer, you're fucking amazing.
Oh, my God. That's just shares of stock? Yeah. Allegedly, that's what he said.
Holy shit. I've heard stories. Allegedly. Allegedly.
Apparently, we don't know. Well, Josh, welcome, congratulations, and to making it to the other side. Yeah, yeah, yep, you made it. You made it to the white hat, the white hat side of the industry.
The white hat side of the industry. Oh, where, where, where... Where paychecks may be small, but at least they come. They're accurate.
Oh, Greg, so how do you feel about that, Greg? You're amazing, Paul, man, you're amazing. Oh, there's a better story, but I'm not allowed to tell that one. I can't tell that one on TV.
Can't say that one. Can't say that. It's good stuff. Good stuff.
Good stuff. I think he's going to be a good addition. He seemed like a nice enough guy the few times we met him. Yeah.
When I had good, you know, I met him a couple times, and I had, it was pleasant. There was no. Yeah, no. You know, he seemed like a guy.
He seemed like we worked really hard, you know? Yeah, he was very loyal the first time we met him, but that slowly dissipated, so maybe he'll be loyal again. Well, you know, listen, here's the thing about, I can't go far into detail on this, but like, here's the thing, the whole thing about loyalty, you know, like, nevermind, nevermind. Can't, can't do it.
Nevermind, what am I saying, what am I saying? I mean, I'm sure that... So apparently Chef Rick likes to make things. Yeah, and I'm sure that Coop's gonna give it a good rating, whatever it is, you know, he's number one.
Number one. All right, it's time for the industry's favorite game. What's the Score? Hey, you even got the flick, that's right.
Oh man, you gave him the thing again? Sorry, it came with the seat. All right, first cigar, May 31st, 2026, Brooks Whittington, Cayman Cigars, the Cayman Cigar Company, Broadside Robusto BXP. Mike?
What? Okay, I'll take, I'll go, I'm gonna go 86. 85. He's trying to read again.
Read the room. He can't. He can't read. He's trying to read the room.
That's what I'm trying to explain to you. He can't. All right, so Cayman Cigar Company. Tahi.
Tahi. What? The. Oh, Tahi.
That's great. Yeah. Spell that. T-U-H-I-E.
Cayman Cigar Company, Broadside, Robusto, BXP. XP, Country of Origin is Nicaragua, Factory, Tabla Calera, Familia Disla, Wrapper, USA, Connecticut, Broadleaf, Binder, Indonesian, Filler, Nicaragua, Length 5x52, It's Pressed, and they smoked 3. 87. Sticking with 85.
Clue number 1: The Broadside delivered a rich, full-flavored profile with creamy cedar, toasted bread, coffee bean, Coffee Bean, and Cocoa Notes that stayed balanced and enjoyable throughout the entire smoke. 87. 85. Construction was excellent overall with strong smoke production, easy draws, and a smooth progression from medium strength to medium full without becoming overpowering.
87. 85. Third clue. While flavorful, the three samples became almost identical by the final third, and the need for burn corrections in all three cigars during the second third hurt the overall experience.
This could be a result of, um, never mind. Damn. Reused Bovatus? Reused Bovatus.
Uh, possibly switching out tobacco at inappropriate times. I don't know. Oh. Yeah.
Uh, 86. 85. Final thought. I absolutely love the idea behind Cayman Cigar Company's business model, and while I have not smoked many of the company's products, I was very interested to see what it brought to the table.
I found two of the broadside Robusto BXBs to be toasty, earthy, and slightly sweet, with some nice transitions and decent balance. Having said that, the light campfire note that was present in the second third made its profile more complex, but sadly, it only lasted for the first two thirds before dissipating completely. I'm curious what their business model is, there's no mention of that. What's their business model?
He says he's very happy to smoke these because he's intrigued by their business model. Oh. Have you guys heard of this company at all? No.
I haven't either. 86. 87. 86!
All the money! Oh, yeah, I got to do the... Is that what Boots does when he wins? That's what Phil does.
That's what Phil does. Don't ruin the illusion. Oh, man, off the jump. I'm already in a sweet spot here.
Nailed that. All right, second cigar, February 18, 2020. Brooks Whittington, Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust Limited Edition, the Don Derma. 80, oh wait, you're supposed to go first now.
- I go first now? - Yeah. - 88. - That was what I was gonna say.
- Well, you can have the same one, it's okay. - 88. - Cigar Viewed, the Don Durma, Country of Origin, Nicaragua, Factory, Fabrica de Tabaco, Hoya de Nicaragua. It's an Ecuadorian wrapper, it's a San Andres Negro binder.
Filler, Criolo Esteli, Criolo 99, Secco, Jalapa, and USA, Wisconsin Comstock. A 6x48 Toro, and he smoked three. - Greg? - 88.
- 87. - Comment number one. The Don Dermott delivered impressive complexity featuring evolving flavors of almond, expresso, walnuts, dark chocolate, cinnamon, And uniquely sweet retrohale that transitions from pound cake to graham cracker. Pound cake.
Pound cake. Sounds delicious. Sounds like Justin Andrews' lunch is what it sounds like. Pound cake.
Extra piece of pound cake. Double pound cake. 88. If you're curious as to what I'm referencing, go back and look at Little Debbie's Exposed with Justin Andrews on our episodes.
You said 88? Correct. It was somewhere yesterday. It looked like he had an anklet on.
Uh, yeah, my video, my video, my video, like an ankle monitor? No, no, no, no, an ankle bracelet. Is it like a, like a, like a woman would wear? Yes.
That's what I'm implying. Listen, I have a video for today, but you, you commandeered it and it's, it's in regards to Justin Andrews. So we'll, we'll do that tomorrow. We'll put that on tomorrow's episode.
Yeah. Does it involve an anklet? It might. I can't say right now, but go ahead.
Uh, would you, would you pick Greg? Staying with 88. I'm going to go I'm gonna go 87 here. Clue number two: construction was outstanding, with an excellent draw, thick smoke production, and a burn that improved nicely after a minor touch-up, making for a consistently enjoyable smoking experience by Justin Andrews and his anklet.
He loved it with his lemon cake. Still 88. I'm gonna go 87. Clue number three: The cigar can become ashy and bitter if smoked too aggressively, requiring a...
Oh, these are weird things. What? I'm laughing at the thing. The cigar became ashy and bitterly if smoked too aggressively.
So, I mean, was he... Just blown, just going away? That's correct. Requiring a slower pace...
Thank you. to appreciate the blend's nuance. nuance. He's smoking too fast.
He's like, oh, too aggressive. It tastes ashy. The cigar did become ashy. Don't they all become ashy?
They do. You would think. That would make sense. Maybe these are different.
All right, 88. 87. Final thought. There are very few blends I have tasted over the years that nail a combination of sweet and spicy on the retrohale, as well as the Don Derma.
At least for the first The first two thirds, the sweetness morphs from a distinct pound cake note in the first third to more of a graham cracker flavor in the second third, before receding noticeably into the final third, while the spice and black pepper exhibit the opposite behavior. I love Brooks. Starting out, light, the first few puffs notwithstanding, before taking over the profile in the final third. Once coarse, of course, the palate has its own combination of flavors that include a dominant combination of coffee, bean, and walnut for most of the smoking time.
Goes well with the pound cake. Oh my. But the distinctness pales in comparison to the note of the retrohale. Sweet and spicy blend lovers rejoice.
This is a cigar for you as long as you can take the strength that goes along with it. Wow. So excited. That was impressive.
Hey, so exactly. You almost need like a board. Okay, man, right here we smoked, it tastes like a nut. Down here, we're getting a graham cracker, but if you go back over here, we have some pound cake.
Like a spider chart. Right. Mm, 89. Damn, that's where I was going.
Yeah, you know what, I'm going to say 89, because I think that's where it's going to go. Really? Yeah, yeah. So who wins if you guys both pick the same thing and that's the score?
Well, I won, because I already got the last one. I don't think it's necessarily true. You split this one. Well, you win the day because you got one and a half.
Is that the way you're doing it? Are you forcing me to change right now? No, no, no, no. 89 was the score.
I just don't know how to go with it. Oh, so we both got it right? Yes. No, you don't get that.
Why do I not get that? You don't get it, because you didn't just win. That's what I'm saying. I mean, he didn't technically win, but he did technically win.
No, he didn't. He didn't. He didn't win the day, but he won. That's what I'm saying.
Careful. We don't have much of that stuff up. I keep changing it every time he hits the sparklers. Nope.
I mean, you tied. Go ahead, Greg. I'll give you your moment. Go ahead.
Go ahead. There you go. Thank you. Only podcast in the world with pyrotechnics.
Alleged. No, I'm pretty sure. Supposedly. Only cigar would.
You know, I feel like I had a little insider baseball on this one, to be honest, to be fair. I didn't know the correct score. Yes. But I do know that Ronnie is always pissed off.
Ronnie is the person that owns Secreto Cigars. Right. E. made by Dunbarton Tobacco.
Yes. And I vaguely remember him always saying that it didn't get a 90, but it was supposed to, you know, it was great and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. So I was like, I think this is going to be in the in the 80s. And then after listening to that final thought, I'm like, man, it must have been just on the cusp.
That's why I had to go 89, so. I thought you might have been familiar with it, but still, we've never done this one. Yeah, I mean, I didn't know it. I just knew that Ronnie was not happy with it.
He wanted a, you know, 97 or something. Wanted a much higher, 97. Yeah, at least a 99. There's a 99 somewhere, but I can't find it.
Is there? Supposedly. The highest one you've given us so far was like a 97 was the Davidoff or something, right? I think so, yeah.
Yeah, okay. All right. Perfect. Well, Greg, congratulations.
You lost this category, this round of what score. I don't think I've ever nailed two back-to-back. Have I ever nailed both? Oh, no, you have not.
Yeah. Damn. You want us in the chair, push the button? No, no, I'm good.
I'm good. I'm good. I just know I'm the best. That's all that matters.
As long as you know. That's it. And so do our listeners. Okay.
Yeah, as long as the listeners know. All right. Triple G, anything else to add today before we let you go and get back to work? I don't think so.
I do have to go back to work. Would you like to plug any events or any place you're going to be? Yeah, is there any place you're going to be? Where are you going to be eating dinner so they can watch your wife steal food off your plate?
Yeah, I'm just here every day, just working. You want to talk about the tortoises again? Don't you have a vacation anywhere soon? Yeah, you going somewhere?
Not that I know of. Oh yeah, he's not really advised in advance very often. You going to Venezuela and get some oil? Not Venezuela.
You going to go check out the Strait of Hormuz? No? Taking a cruise to the Strait of Hormuz? Yeah.
I don't think we're ever going to do a cruise. We're not cruise people. I don't think so. Hmm.
Okay. All right. com. I think we have like one or two of these bad boys left.
Cigar Hustlers podcast. Oh, do we, really? Yep. Mm-hmm.
Travel, travel mug. Travel mug. Like and subscribe. We're reviewing and listening to the show.
And thank you very much for listening. And we hope we provided great edutainment for you today. Mr. Palmer, anything else?
Nope. Thanks for listening, guys. We gotta go. Bye-bye.
Show Notes
On todays show A federal judge ordered President Donald Trump’s name removed, two giant tortoises became local celebrities for a reason no one expected, FiFA bring in the lets say “Tourist dollars”, we are facing one of the largest gender imbalances in Europe, and in cigars BOVEDA LAUNCHES SKIPPER, we’ve got some shipping notices so check your UPS tracking, a portal entry and then as always we have a double day of what’s The score!