February 26, 2026· 1h 9m

ACHP REPLAY

Transcript

Welcome to episode What?

We're waiting on you whenever.

You're ready.

Welcome to episode 423, Cigar

Hustler podcast coming to you

every weekday at 5:00 AM.

I'm your host, Mike Palmer and

here, as always, is my Co host

mikechapterpod.com.

Step on Kevitch.

Hi, how are you did?

You switch.

How do you say that again?

Step on Kevitch and then all the

way from Hialeah, FL.

The Alpha dog himself, Eric

Espinoza, the senior from

Espinosa Cigars.

Thanks for coming dude.

We just finished our event.

Think I went.

What do you think?

How do you how did we do?

It was great.

Bro you enjoy it?

Did you have a good?

Time I did I did I you know, I'm

a little shy, but it takes me a

while before I get going and.

Yeah, it warmed up well it.

Was nice, the food was great.

Food was good, yeah.

Compliments to your wife.

Thank you very much the.

Salad was spectacular.

The salad.

Oh yeah, you had the salad.

Yeah, he had the greens.

He was chilling.

He had the Greens.

Is his microphone falling?

He.

Was tripping you, you, you got

to have some greens in your life

with the strawberries and the

cheese and all that.

It was really good.

And that that, that salad

dressing, Raspberry salad

dressing, which was great.

It's a big hit in our house,

too.

Yeah, very nice.

OK.

All right.

Well, hey, so.

So this is how this podcast is

going to work.

Obviously we've interviewed Mr.

Espinoza before.

Eric, Eric, stop with that,

Mister Espinoza.

Eric.

Michael.

Eric.

Can you cuss here or?

No, yes, say whatever the fuck

you.

Want you asked that last time

too.

All right, so we've interviewed

Mr. Espinoza before.

How many letters are in your

last name?

15. 15.

Yes, Sir, no vowels.

No vowels?

Nope.

All consonants.

Consonants.

It's a big word, I understand.

It's like eucalyptus, right?

Yeah.

All right, on today's show,

Amazon hints at ditching USPS

cloud fair face plants again,

and the Internet wants Al

Michaels to finally hang it up.

JC Newman ships the long-awaited

What's that word?

Sardesis.

Sardis.

Sardis is us.

J16 makes its debut and Crown

Heads rolls out its new TAA

exclusive.

Then we wrap it all up with the

industry's favorite game.

What's the score?

And you don't even know what the

score is, do you?

Do you know what the score is?

He's a big fan of.

This game?

No, no, no.

Don't know what the score.

Go ahead, Palmer, tell him.

OK, we take 1/2 wheel review.

I read you 3 clues from it and

tell you what the cigar is, that

you have to guess the score as

we go through the clues.

Yeah.

Closest and half wheel.

And half.

Wheel without going over.

Yeah, no, you can go over.

Whoever's close, whoever's

closest.

Now I could tell you yes, that

I've asked them many a times to

give me a 69 rating.

I've heard that.

Yeah, and he and he doesn't.

That's not the lowest rating

I've been closed though, yeah.

But I've never had Yeah, he

doesn't.

You don't really get good

ratings.

You don't really get good

ratings.

They beat you up a little bit.

I don't care.

Yeah, we don't care either, but

I'm just saying they'd be jump.

A little bit.

No.

Listen bro, it is what it is.

That's the way they structure

their ratings.

Yeah, I had weird Taco meat on

one of my.

Did you?

Yeah, I've never had weird Taco

meat.

We had teriyaki chicken on.

Earth, did we teriyaki chicken?

Also, you're forgetting that we

have one of the greatest video

managers, producers of the show

today.

And I'm very sorry I didn't add

that to the script.

Yeah.

Say hello.

Fran.

Think Bong.

All right.

So I have to guess the score,

OK.

Yeah, that'll be the end.

That's at the end, all right,

And you can't look at the screen

because you'll see.

I won't look at the.

Screen no cheating all.

Right, no cheating.

All right, Michael, before we

get started, how would, let's

say Eric get his hands on some

of that chapter pod swag?

Eric, if you're interested in

some of our apparel, what you

want to do is you want to go on

to chapter pod.com.

I've never owned any apparel.

Wish you no.

You have some, you have the hat

on you.

Got that hat that we gave on.

Shit hat that's.

Not podcast.

He wears it all, yeah.

You asked for the sweatshirt, we

gave you the sweatshirt and I

wear it.

But now we have.

All the why?

Why?

Because it's good.

It's good quality.

Yeah.

I don't wear shitty quality.

Yeah, I I told you that one day.

I mean, if somebody gives me

something, I don't want to be a

pompous asshole, but I'm not

going to wear it when they give

you that Gilden shirt and all

that.

I don't wear those stuff, right.

Everyone has.

They struggle out there because

I always wear the fine ass

shirts.

They send me shirts all the

time, Rosie and Sam, but they're

next level.

That's what I wear, yeah.

They're a nice shirt.

I don't if you're going to give

away a shirt.

Make it a good quality, Yeah,

don't.

So people want to wear it.

That's right.

We.

Don't like?

We don't want to cut corners.

You don't cut.

You know, we don't cut corners.

We hear.

That's the thing we shouldn't

do.

Yeah, don't ever cut corners.

Or eat eucalyptus.

Yeah, or.

Eucalyptus.

Yeah, yeah.

Alright, everybody ready now?

So yeah.

If you buy one piece of apparel,

you get the 2nd 140% off, and if

you break $100, you get free

shipping.

Check that out.

Yeah, that's the only way that

we can try and make money on

this thing because I refuse to

take ad space.

Why not?

Because I like to say whatever

the hell I want to say.

I, I, I would advertise with

you.

I know you say.

What you want to say?

I know you would.

Why would you talk right after

the show?

Nobody would listen.

I take cash check.

Credit cards would.

You take it in product.

I will I'll say Eric Espinoza

makes the best cigars.

There you go.

OK.

All right, now on with the news.

Amazon is reportedly ready to

drop the USPS deal if

negotiations fall through.

After over 30 years, Amazon may

be cutting ties with the United

States Postal Service as it

looks to expand its own delivery

network, as reported by The

Washington Post, the outlet

owned by Amazon founder Jeff

Bezos.

You met him.

Do you know Jeff?

Does Guy know Jeff?

Do you?

Have you had a dinner party with

Jeff?

I've never met him, no, his his

stepdad's Cuban.

Yeah.

Oh, Jeff, Yeah.

So there's that, then you have

that heritage connection with

that.

Bond Yeah.

You could.

You could be the.

You could be the next.

You could get free Amazon Prime.

I've never.

Heard of this.

I don't know why they don't use

it.

I've never ordered anything in

Amazon.

So you what?

I don't have an Amazon.

Are you kidding?

Me.

Does Richie order it for you?

Richie, do you order?

His Amazon for you actually,

Danielle.

Actually, Danielle ordered.

It for me, but I've never

ordered anything on Amazon.

Wow, OK, so you kinda have an

account, you just don't hit the

buttons?

Right, You just tell somebody

what you're looking for.

And that's it.

You're so you're so rich and

successful, you don't have to

take your own butt.

Doesn't have time, Michael.

You're a very busy man when you

take you.

Doesn't cut corners even with

ordering Amazon do I do.

When you take a shit, does

someone come in?

Would they give you the wipe?

No, that's what the bidet is

for.

Oh yeah, the bidet.

Oh.

Those are nice.

I had one of.

My I paid every day.

OK?

It's called Total.

Total totals are very nice, but.

You got to go in with your

glasses on 'cause I made a

mistake one time and I pressed

the wrong button.

Still feel it and what happened

you get.

A little swirly.

Yeah, you get, you get like a a

big pressure, Yeah, if you press

the wrong button, Yeah.

Oh wow, The seat is heated.

Does it sing too?

Does it make the music?

When I'm talking about the one

in Vegas, I don't have that one

in my house.

When in Vegas, you sit down

this.

Heat plays music.

It's when.

You press the wrong button, you

are fucked.

Hemorrhoids for for the rest of

your life.

Wow.

Wow wow, sorry to hear that.

OK, so anyways, Amazon's USPS.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos cites

anonymous sources who said

negotiation between Amazon and

Trump appointed USPS Postmaster

General David Steiner.

This guy know David Steiner?

You know, David.

I don't know, David.

Oh.

My God, do you know anybody?

I don't.

Jeez.

Have reportedly stagnated,

pushing Amazon to consider

concluding the partnership

altogether, Washington Post

reported.

Reporter Jacob Bogage noted in a

post on Blue Sky that this was

not Amazon's preferred plan.

According to Bogage, Amazon

wanted to extend its contract

with the USPS, which is set to

expire on October 1st, 2026, but

the USPS plan to auction off

last mile delivery contracts

instead.

OK, I think something's going on

here because we've ordered some

stuff on Amazon and it keeps

getting pushed back.

Oh, lately?

Is it the holiday season delays?

That's what I would assume, but

now that you're telling me this,

maybe that makes sense 'cause

I'll tell you right now my wife

is pissed.

Maybe the male's holding back

trying to.

Yeah, like, you know what

leverage.

Yeah, a little sabotage, yeah.

A little sabotage.

She's like, you know, those

little Styrofoam cups you

wanted?

Not happening, you know?

Oh, your coffee cups.

Yeah.

No, no, there's, I don't know

what she ordered them for.

There's.

Danielle ordered me some

eucalyptic.

Yeah, some eucalyptus and.

I never got them.

You never got them, they never

showed up.

That's crazy.

Sounds like Amazon.

I I do order it, Yeah.

Yeah.

You put it in in your shower.

Yeah.

Yeah, with the Steam.

Oh yeah, you put it right.

So the shower head hits it, Yes.

Yeah, yeah, it sounds like

Amazon's cutting corners.

You know what?

Mean doesn't oh, they're cutting

corners, Yeah.

Or USPS is cutting.

Or USPS.

Somebody's not doing their job.

Somebody's cutting corners.

That's wild.

No, but she's my wife is pissed

because there's specific things

she we're going to a Christmas

party on tomorrow and she

ordered it like Monday or

Tuesday and shit's not here.

Yet taking your own cups?

I don't know what she was doing

there, like these little snow

cone cups or something.

I don't know.

I don't ask questions.

Yeah.

Probably smart, yeah.

We just got something early in

my house.

Did you?

Yeah.

From Amazon.

Now it makes no sense.

And we got these wonderful

little Styrofoam cup things.

Did you?

I don't know.

What we're doing with them, we

don't remember.

Ordering them, she put some

eucalyptus in them.

We could put eucalyptus.

Yeah, yeah, it'll.

Smell a lot better.

All.

Right, I don't want to eat a

eucalyptus icy though.

That's a good point.

I don't think that tastes good.

Should be good for.

Your sinuses though.

Yeah, have you tried it?

No, I'm thinking about it now

though.

Not that I'm a big eucalyptus

fan.

All right, moving on.

All right, Cloud fare trips half

the Internet falls.

Another Cloud Fare outage

rolled.

Again with this shit.

Yes, they fell down again.

Outage rolled through the

Internet this morning and it

took some big names with it.

LinkedIn, Zoom, Down Detector,

even Canva and Shopify all

blinked offline for a bit.

Cloudfare says this wasn't an

attack.

Instead, they pushed out a

firewall adjustment to protect

customers from a newly

discovered software

vulnerability, and things didn't

go as planned.

The issue lasted about 30

minutes and was wrapped up

shortly after 9:00 AM Greenwich.

Meantime, this comes just after

a few weeks after Cloudfare's

much larger outage in mid

November, the one that knocked

out X, Open AI, Spotify, and a

pile of online games.

That one stem from a

configuration file growing way

beyond what the system expected,

causing part of Cloudfare's

traffic handling software to

crash.

Today's outage was smaller but

still noticeable.

Down Detector logged over 4500

reports once it came back

online.

And with Cloudfare being such a

major backbone of the modern

Internet, they claimed about 20%

of all websites use their

services.

Do you guys use Cloudfare?

I was going to ask that.

I don't own a fucking computer.

Do you have what your?

But do you have a website?

How the?

Fuck do I know that my son

handles.

All this shit Richie do.

Is there an Espinoza website?

Yes, there is.

Is it protected by cloudfare?

Can you text him and find out

that usually what Boots does for

us during Are you sleeping with

your kids?

Oh, oh, oh.

So his phone's broken.

You can't.

You can't text them.

Really.

Wow. 10:00 at night, he's

asleep.

You can text him.

I understand that.

Yeah.

Oh.

His dad says it's OK.

We use.

What is it called?

Cloud fair, Cloud fair there

you.

Go.

Is he getting too far away from

you, Mike?

Wants to know if you're using

Cloud Fair what?

Well, I can tell you with

somebody in the industry who

does use Cloudfare.

You do.

No, no, we don't.

We don't know it.

You know what it is either.

We're poor.

Half wheel Half wheel uses

cloudfare.

And how would you know that?

'Cause I have a source there.

His name's Charlie, and I said

you use Cloudfare.

He goes, yeah, it's the best.

I'm like, I have no idea what

the hell this thing is.

Tell him I say congratulations.

OK, Michael, text him and tell

him Eric says congratulations.

Eric says congratulations.

Is is he sleeping with your

niece and nephew?

Is he over there as well?

No, OK, just making sure people

are starting to ask whether

there's a bigger reliability

question looming.

Experts, like, all right, sounds

like they have a lot of

problems.

Experts are already chiming in.

Stephen Murdoch from University

College in London said companies

will absolutely be raising

eyebrows after two outages so

close together.

But he also pointed out it's too

early to tell whether Cloud Fair

is dealing with bad software

practices or just a streak of

bad luck.

Others, more direct

infrastructure expert Michael

Risnik Wozniak said that this is

yet another example of how

fragile the civilized Big Tech

Internet really is, noting this

is the fourth major global

outage since last late October.

When companies this large

hiccup, the whole Internet feels

it.

And that leads to the bigger

conversation.

Have these companies gotten too

big to not fail?

When you run so much of the

world's online traffic, even a

half hour stumble becomes a

global moment.

So how do you feel about Cloud

Fair now that you know about it?

Are you concerned that they're

too big?

I really don't care.

I'm glad I didn't get 3 flying

fucks about none of this this

bullshit.

I don't use none of that.

I'm going to be honest with you.

I grew up in the wrong time.

When I went to when I went to

high school, computers weren't

around.

You know, I'm 58 and I went to

school.

I went to college to learn how

to Phish computers.

Did you?

I did, and I got bored and I

hated it so much that I said to

myself that I'm going to pay

people to do it for me because I

couldn't stand it.

I went.

To school to fix.

Computers and don't have, I

don't, well, it started, it was,

it was coming.

And then I, I swear in my life,

I don't own a computer.

I do own a lot of them, you

know, in the office and stuff.

I don't have a computer in my

office now.

I do everything with my with my

phone.

That's a computer.

Not a laptop.

It's not technically, yes, OK,

so, but I don't have an actual

computer in my office and I

refuse to.

I see what it's done to a lot of

people.

Now don't get me wrong, I have

people in place that, you know,

enhance the company and whatever

we need the changes we do, we do

it.

But I pay people to do that,

Danielle, I can't stand.

I can't stand to do that.

I'm I'm old school.

I don't answer texts.

If you want to call me, if you

want to talk to me, pick up the

phone and call me, OK?

I answer my phone 99%.

All right, answer this one

question for me.

Do you have an iPad?

I do.

Do you use it every day?

Every day.

Every freaking day you use this

iPad.

To play poker to play.

Yeah, exactly.

Watch movies on the plane.

Yes, I do.

So would we consider that a

computer or no?

No, no, it's an iPad.

Because why?

Why would you not consider?

That he doesn't have a computer,

Michael.

Does it have a keyboard?

You can attach a keyboard.

Well, I did not know that then.

And I, I, I could care less and

I could care less.

You can.

Care less.

I think I I got news for you

buddy.

You're kind of using a computer

all.

Right, well then I, you know, is

it for you.

I don't own a large computer.

That would be perfect, yes.

You don't own a laptop or a

desktop computer.

OK, correct.

OK, do have an iPad and I do

have an iPhone.

OK.

All right.

You stopped badgering my.

Friend, you know what's funny is

like I I was texting him for a

while and it was going on his

iPad and he didn't know what the

fuck was going on.

Yeah, yeah, he said.

What the hell is this?

Why is this showing up?

Who is this?

Who are all these letters in?

Your name won't won't come

through.

Right.

It didn't come through.

Right.

So I have you on my phone as

Mike Hustler, right?

And I don't know why I don't see

you hustling much.

But anyway, so he used to it.

It won't come through.

I'm retired.

You know, so yeah, that's why I

struggle with all that bullshit.

You know, whatever, that's for

another.

That's the topic for another

day.

That's the topic, right?

Fucking.

Now we're moving on.

Yeah.

So you like Al Michaels, I

think.

He's soft.

You tired of him?

That's what people are saying.

Listen, he, he, he, he was good

for, you know, I think he's

gotten a little older.

I mean, I think.

He's like 98 now.

The best?

He's 98I.

Think it's what it says in the

article.

If I can ever get to it.

I think it says 98.

No way.

He's not 98 and there's no way

he was on.

He was on the other day.

Yeah, he's still on.

His contract hasn't expired, but

nobody likes him anymore.

Listen, the best ever was Madden

and Sumrall.

Yeah, in my opinion, those two

guys were were were the best.

And then when they tried the

comedian, whatever his name is,

I, I didn't care for him very

much neither.

I would go say I was good.

I was going to ask you if you

like.

You know he was drunk most of

the.

Time was he really?

Well, you know, they stopped and

his wife called the the studio

production company because he

was slurring.

Oh really?

She.

Was freaking out that he was

having like stroke or a stroke

or whatever.

He was as drunk as a skunk.

The I he's in.

The front of his way.

No, ma'am, he's drunk again.

I distinctly remember a game

where I watched.

I didn't want to say it, but

what?

Well, go ahead.

We're talking about the.

Same.

No, we're not.

We're.

Not talking.

We're not talking about the.

Same thing John Madden was

talking and he started rattling

off every single like play like

every possession and it it would

be punt, it would be, you know,

touchdown.

And instead of it saying missed

field goal, it said MFG.

And John Madden said and it was

the funniest fucking thing.

He was legit just reading right

off the prompter and said, yeah,

what was your thing?

Go ahead.

It was way better.

No, I can't.

No, his are way better than I

might say way.

Better but I.

Can't say it, it's slightly

racist.

Why can't you say it?

You.

Remember it, I know.

Well, there's a running back for

the coach going.

To say it anyway now.

And.

Jonathan Taylor.

No, no, back in the day, Back in

the day, Washington, I think was

his last name.

OK.

And then he said live on TV.

But some of the things that

happened, I remember in

baseball.

What's his name?

The guy for Harry Carey, I

remember watching, I was a big

baseball guy.

Remember, you know that there

was no lights in Wrigley Field.

So Harry Carey would be drunk by

the 5th inning.

He would drink a lot of

Budweiser's and there was the

second baseman Ryan Sandberger

hits the ball.

And then Steve Stone was the

color guy and he hit the ball

and and he would say it could

be, it might be.

And it was a family by the

second base and then Steve Stone

would have to make up for him.

Well, Harry, the wind really got

a hold of that one the ball

again.

And you know, these guys were

were were crazy.

And what's Macaulay got got

thrown out.

Also, what was the the Greek?

What was his name?

Jimmy the Greek.

Jimmy the Greek, Yeah, for

saying what he said, too.

Is that true, Jimmy the Greek?

Did you just pull that?

A No, Jimmy.

No, there's Jimmy.

Degree you listen to but you

know nothing about sports.

How do you know?

These are famous people in

history.

Oh, OK.

He used to give like the the

betting portion of.

That's why you loved him.

They were saying racist shit

too.

OK, but you liked him because

his old timers.

Were racist.

I didn't like I like Madden and

Summerall with me were the were

were the best.

I mean, I didn't even know that

they read off a a a.

Teleprompter.

I did not know that just like

this.

I thought it was.

I thought it was, I think say.

Whatever the hell they were.

I think some things they would

read off of a teleprompter,

yeah.

Or stuff off of the board or

whatever.

Yeah, probably wasn't all all

the time, you know, But, well,

now we just kind of cover the AL

Michaels conversation.

Oh, we haven't ready yet.

Without you even saying

anything.

Well, that's all, folks.

Al Michaels makes final

retirement decisions over

Thursday Night Football after

fans urge him to pack it in.

Veteran announcer Al Michaels

has opened up on his desire to

remain on Amazon's Thursday

Night Football.

The 80.

Oh, he's 81.

I told you 81.

It's not 98.

I was there was an 8 in it.

I got close. 8181 yes not 9080

was close. 81 year old was on

the call for primes, black for I

I didn't want to say black.

I talked about all the racist

stuff.

Prime's Black Friday NFL game

between the Philadelphia Eagles

and Chicago Bears.

Michaels is one of TV's most

iconic voices and has worked on

network television for over 5

decades.

I got a legend bro that the the

the hockey game will we?

We be Do you believe in

miracles?

Do you?

Believe in miracles.

I think he should go on his own

time whenever.

Oh, that's nice.

He's 81.

He can run for the president at

this point.

He's the right age, yeah.

Yeah, that's true.

He signed a three-year deal with

Amazon in 2022 to be the voice

of Prime Videos Thursday Night

Football.

Michaels is joined weekly in the

broadcast booth by regular

partner Kirk Herbert St. every

Thursday, but he was called out

by some viewers for a lack of

enthusiasm on significant plays

during last week's Thanksgiving

action.

That's what you said he was

like.

I think he should go down his

own time.

He paid his dues.

I struggle with that because

they, they got rid of Schuler.

OK.

The Dolphins have never been the

same since they got rid of

Schuler.

Nope.

You know, and, and being a

Dolphin fan and they, they fire

Schuler like if he was a scumbag

and they got rid of him and

they've never won a playoff game

since.

Well, so who replaces Al

Michaels?

Dave Chappelle.

That would be amazing.

Dave Chappelle.

I don't think there's enough

money in the world to get Dave

Chappelle to do.

Oh, I bet to win.

But that would be hilarious.

It'd be on TV every week.

But yeah, Dave Chappelle, people

will watch.

It.

Oh my God, Yeah.

Yeah.

But listen, he said the one

thing one time 100 years ago and

you're saying that he's got to

go out on his own time.

I think that it.

Wasn't him.

He never said nothing.

He said Al, Michael said do you

believe in miracles?

And he's had a fucking career

because of that.

Good for him.

Yeah, like, but like, that was

1980 something.

That was 50 years ago.

Listen guys, tell me.

Listen, I'm just.

Over exaggerating you.

Go to sports bar to watch a

game.

There's no sound, right?

I don't watch a football game to

hear these guys talk.

Yeah, I do my own analysis and

shit like that.

I don't, you know, I watch the

game.

I don't care less what they say.

I really can't.

I I could care less.

That's why I don't go to

football games anymore.

I get invited all the time.

You know, I buy tobacco from a

company who has a suite.

Philadelphic games.

They invite me all the time.

I went one time last year with

Guy because he's a Raider fan,

you know, But I just want to

watch the game because you, you

see the only thing when you see

the game live, you see the play

being developed.

You don't see that at home.

But there's nothing like

watching the game at home.

I don't care about the sound.

I really don't.

I I'm not watching it for those

guys, I'm watching the game

itself.

I really don't care what the

hell they you're just.

You're watching the over under.

I remember the what's the money

line?

I just.

Remember one time I wonder if

some important happens in life,

like the day they killed John

Lennon.

It was on Monday Night Football,

Really.

But you didn't know that?

No, they stopped the game.

John Lennon just got shot in

Dakota building.

But they kept playing right?

Well, the players didn't know,

right?

You know.

You stuck the.

Country new one, Yeah.

They stopped the broadcast.

And he announced it like a

couple minutes later that he

was.

Dead.

Wow.

OK.

You're too young to know these.

Things.

That's why I have you, yeah.

Yeah, speculation has been.

Right, I thought, Michael, what

was the singer?

Michaels, the other guy?

Where?

Was George Michaels?

That's what I thought.

Totally different, Michaels.

That's why I said he was soft.

But now.

I got, oh, you know, it was

George Michaels and Alan

Michaels.

Yeah, I got you.

You can be my father figure I

got.

It or if you only only if you

have faith.

Yeah, you got to have faith.

Will you put your tiny hand in

mine?

You have to.

Speculation has been rife about

Michael's future at the end of

his current contract, but the

veteran is keen to stay on the

mic and appears ready to pen an

extension.

I really feel good right now,

Michael's told SI Media with

Jimmy Triana.

It's been a good year, a lot of

fun and as I said, I love the

people I'm working with, so if I

had to make a decision today, I

would want to come back.

It's a two way St. here.

They could tell me, hey, we got

to move on, it's time to make a

transition.

By the way, I don't agree with

that.

I'll tell you why.

You're not supposed to show

emotions because you're not

supposed to go one way or the

other.

OK, so, so when you start

announcing it, I, I, I know

there's, there's homers that,

you know, every team, you know,

have their own announcers, you

know, and, and I don't have a

problem with them.

I don't have a problem with, you

know, he's from Philadelphia.

He was from Philly.

I can give 3 shits, but they're

not, they're told they can't

show.

They can show emotion, but not

favoritism to one side or the

other, you know, and.

You mean like Chris Collinsworth

practically blowing Patrick

Mahomes every time Kansas City's

on?

Exactly and and and shit like

that that I hate because if if

you're a Chiefs fan then you're

OK with it, but if you're not a

Chiefs fan then then you're not

a it's.

Just ridiculous it.

Is ridiculous, but you know.

He's not Tom.

He's not Tom Brady.

Brett Musburger hated, the Kings

hated, the University of Miami

hated and I hated having so I

would lower the TV and I didn't

want to hear that fuck.

Right.

You watch a lot of games at

sports bars or you watch them at

home.

At home, but when I travel I'll

go to a sports bar to have it

cause a lot of the hotel rooms

don't have, you know, now with

the net with Netflix and Amazon

and this and that.

Yeah, they don't have good TV

and hotels anymore.

You.

Don't have it?

You can't watch again, so do you

mute the TV at home?

I don't.

OK, but I really don't care what

they're saying.

Right.

He doesn't pay attention.

I don't might say cut the

corner.

Watching the Alpha dog.

Very rarely do I watch the

halftime show, right?

Or I mean for the Super Bowl,

whatever.

What Of course you would what?

I I I saw the best 1 live.

Was there a prop bet?

You took a prop bet on it,

that's why.

I watched, I didn't, but I saw

Prince in.

Miami.

It was the worst Super Bowl

because it was raining the

whole.

Time.

Is that Pittsburgh?

No, it was Indianapolis and and

and the, and the Bears.

That's the Bears, Hester.

Governor Hester, Yeah.

Yeah, so I was a big Prince fan

and I still am.

When I go to Minnesota, I try to

go Paisley Park yet to be able.

I don't have the time, but one

day I'm going to make it out

there.

But I think that was the best

halftime show.

It was raining when he was

singing singing The Purple Rain

and I could care less.

Oh, why there was rain.

People say they Bat Bunny's

going to be.

I could care.

I could give 3 flying fuck if

it's Marc Anthony, Bat Bunny,

whoever the fuck I ain't

watching.

I could give 3 shits right here.

I like the commercials.

Bro you like Prince?

I like the commercials best.

Was it Prince your favorite

artist?

I think Prince is the best

artist of all times.

OK.

I mean, he played 99

instruments.

Yeah, that's pretty good.

I mean, I don't know why he.

Didn't one shy of I think.

He could have picked up

something.

I write I did not know there was

99 instruments.

Yeah, me neither until this

conversation.

I was talented, man, real

talented.

Wonder what was the one he just

couldn't couldn't get?

Yeah, just couldn't figure it

out.

Harmonica.

I was just going to say

harmonica.

It's very hard to say.

That's probably in the 99.

No, no, that would have been the

one.

Bagpipes.

Bro, that's what he says, yeah.

No, I've seen him.

He plays.

It's very nice.

Yeah, it's a little purple set,

is it?

Nice.

It's nice.

It's got a little symbol on it.

No, because he's formerly known

as the as.

The symbol OK, you the lighter.

Hey.

I have one for.

You you have a video for us,

Michael.

I have no video today.

Did you have any video that's

ridiculous anymore?

What are you talking about?

I'm not going to have a video

every day.

Well, I need to take that out.

Of Well, let's talk about

videos.

Do you know what was the first

song on MTVI?

Want my MTV?

Oh, was it?

Video Kill the Radio star.

Yes, yeah, sorry, took a second.

Took you two tries.

I didn't think you were old

enough to know that.

He read about it somewhere.

Why do you keep taking Eric

Slider?

Because it because it went out

of the shot.

It's yours now.

You can have it.

We would like to gift it to you.

With a bottle of eucalyptus I

appreciate.

It OK I.

Have plenty of lighters I.

Have plenty of.

Lighters Oh, Danielle has.

Got the lips, he's got the

little bombs.

Danielle has all the lights.

She ordered them from Amazon?

Yeah.

So they're from Amazon, OK.

All right on the cigar news,

then.

JC Newman ships the Zardas

Zardes, whatever those are.

Zard is a new line from JC

Newman that was inspired by a

cigar from the early 1900s is on

its way to store is described as

the aromatic cigar.

The Zardas blend uses an almost

like I said, eucalyptus, says

Ecuadorian Ecuadorian shade

wrapper.

While the internal tobaccos are

from the Dominican Republic and

Nicaragua.

It was developed in

collaboration with Rich Dolak,

the company's VP of operations.

Do you know Rich by?

The way that's wrong.

That's wrong.

You cannot grow.

You don't grow Ecuadorian shade

in in Ecuador.

No, no, there's no.

Such thing.

There's no such thing as

Ecuadorian.

There's no such thing as

Ecuadorian shade wrapper.

Not in Ecuador.

Well, where is it the?

Clouds is a shade in

Connecticut.

It's called a Connecticut shade.

Ecuadorian.

It's not shade.

It's a standard Ecuadorian.

Visit the cloud cover

Ecuadorian.

Yeah, so it's already shade.

It's already shade.

You don't need to shade it.

You don't.

Need to shade it that that is a

true.

Story.

There you go, the more you know.

See that we're exposing the half

wheel for their faults right now

all.

Right, the blend uses an

Ecuadorian wrapper.

That's fine.

Yeah.

No, just no.

Say what it says.

Ecuadorian.

No, he gets mad.

Yeah, I like that.

Don't get mad.

Ecuadorian wrapper.

Well, the internal tobaccos are

from the Dominican Republic and

Nicaragua.

It was developed in

collaboration with Rich Dolak,

the company's VP of operations.

Do you know Rich Dolak?

Are you friends with Rich?

Yeah, well, it does.

But maybe if I see him, I know

who he.

Is Fran is just locked in over

there?

Man, he's just crushing.

I can see the button.

A hell of a job.

Yeah, we go back to that.

There's no such thing as

Connecticut shade.

Yes, in Ecuador.

OK, right.

I don't know, is it a

Connecticut?

It says every shaper.

I don't know this is a halfway

logical we could find.

Is it call Charlie?

Yeah, we don't.

We don't Fact Check anything.

I don't know.

We just use other media so.

Never seen shade in Ecuador?

That's not true.

Well, I, well, we did a 'cause

I, I did an article on Cigar

Aficionado and they and they

corrected me on that.

Well, last week we had an

article where it did mention

that the Ecuadorian shade is

from the cloud cover.

It's considered.

It's considered shade because of

the.

Cause of the it's not

artificial.

Not artificial shade.

OK, maybe.

I think that maybe we get half

wheel and aficionado together

and they knife.

They work in Oh yeah, my money's

on Charlie.

We figure out who wins.

Yeah, my money's on Charlie,

too.

Yeah.

I don't know who's at

Aficionado.

Yeah, George, your Boy George is

like me.

Your boy.

Yeah.

We don't think he likes us.

He.

He has me blocked on Facebook.

Hasn't been there for a little

many years.

We know, we know.

I tell you what.

They got they got a great kid

now is the grandson of Mara

Shankin.

Phenomenal kid came by my office

and him and I hit it off.

He's a.

Really good kid You think you're

going to.

You think you?

Got an article out of me?

Think you're top ten this year?

I would like to be, but yeah, if

it's not, it's not.

I mean, what am I going to do?

Do you have one in mind that you

think is top 10 worthy?

Well, you think would be.

I mean without.

The ratings and stuff like that,

we had like 5 of them should

have been there last year.

We got, I think #23 the Michael

Jordan. 23.

Oh, the Michael Jordan, I get it

because he's #23. 23 gotcha.

What do you think we should be

top ten this year?

Your cigar.

Of my cigar.

Yeah, of yours.

Yeah, that poro, that knuckle

sandwich poro.

Yeah.

Oh, that's good.

Selling like crazy and they gave

it a high rating, but I don't

know, I don't know how they do

their ratings and you know.

Nobody really does.

Is that the one that we like the

most?

I think it was.

Was it?

Yeah, the puro.

OK.

It's the one that's got the

weird Taco meat in it.

Oh, it's got the Taco.

Meat.

Is that the Taco meat?

That wasn't the one that Charlie

that Charlie put, but I I taste

it.

I think it's got weird Taco.

Meat, I think Charlie eats when

he's when he's.

He tasted the Taco.

You actually tasted the Taco

meat?

He mentions a lot of food.

I've had plenty of Taco meat,

but I've never had weird Taco

meat right.

Oh, weird Taco meat.

Yeah, it's weird Taco meat.

That's the only stuff.

Like slightly old Taco meat or

something.

I don't know who's old or not.

I've never had weird Taco meat.

I don't think you've lived.

I think he's like I.

Think I mean let's be honest, if

you taste weird Taco meat, do

you continue eating the Taco?

Depends upon how hungry I am, I

guess.

He's got a point there, you

know.

Because then you're going to get

sick.

Have I not eaten in days?

I mean, you know.

You know, some kind of sketchy

food truck or.

Something, you know, I guess

that I mean, I don't get the 23

flavors in Doctor Pepper.

Yeah, it's good.

I love.

Doctor Pepper, but I I don't get

the 23 flavors.

I've seen a lot of Doctor Pepper

stuff lately too, which is odd.

It's very popular.

I I don't drink.

Shoulders, but if I would drink

a soda it would be a diet

doctor.

Pepper listen while you're

listening to your favorite

Prince album on.

A plane playing poker on a

plane?

Yeah.

Poker on a zipen, yeah OK.

The Lion has produced at the JC

Newman Penza factory in Esta

Lee, Nicaragua and offered him 4

sizes, a Corona, a Robusto, a

Toro and A and a Churchill.

A Churchill.

That's true.

Sarsedas, Sarsedas.

Now he saves me.

He lets you.

Drown.

I like to see you struggle.

Me too.

Oh, I know he does.

I have loved the Sarsedas name

and the brand's history as the

aromatic cigar for years, said

4th generation owner Drew Newman

in a press.

Release.

Yeah, I've met him.

He is nice.

He's.

Really, you know, I, I had a

booth one year made out of

cardboard, you know, some guy

came over and tried to sell me

on this shit and and he, he put

together like a, a couch and he

told me to stand on it made out

of corporal and I stand on he

said, jump up and down and I did

and that shit wouldn't flinch.

So we did it one year and he

came over and he liked it.

And he, he, he asked me, Hey, do

you mind if I do this?

And I said absolutely not bro.

I gave him the guy's number and

shit like.

That so that's where they got

their and that's cardboard Jay-Z

Newman wow but he.

Came here like a gentleman, you

know, and he came and he asked

me and.

Wasn't for Eric, they wouldn't

have it.

Oh, I mean, you know you.

Just take the credit take.

The Yeah, take the W doesn't

matter.

Yeah, you're a winner.

Remember?

Show me a loser.

A real a real nice guy, man.

He really is.

Yeah, did Jack try to stand on

the cardboard?

Counter Yeah, that's why that's

where the true test happened.

That's the time.

I mean, give me a guy, you know

what I mean?

I was.

I would.

Have put him up there, yeah.

I don't know how we're going to

bring him down, but.

Yeah, well, if he jumped it off,

he wouldn't have to bring.

Him we'd have to run the crane

or something, right?

But.

All right, well, Drew has been

waiting to bring this historic

brand back, but had to wait

until he could create a blend

that lives up to the brand's

legacy.

Zarzadas is the most flavorful

cigar we've ever made.

The original Zarzadas line was

said to have first been rolled

in the 1900, while the trademark

was filed in 1916.

Good for them.

Wow, they got a trademark that

old?

They got trademark that name.

Who else is one of using that

name?

What's that mean in Spanish?

Oh, aromatic I guess.

Aromatic cigar.

It could be, I don't know what

the word means.

Oh, and I speak Spanish.

That's why I just.

Like Saka's cigar, he came out

and they've talked the new cigar

and I go, bro, I speak Spanish

and I, I read Spanish and I

understand Spanish, but I don't

know what the hell this means.

What?

Was it?

What was it called?

I have no idea.

Oh.

You know the the cigar he made

for Duque with the Chinese on

it?

Who's?

Duque.

Duque's his friend in Hawaii.

Oh yeah, Chris Duque.

Yeah, yeah, I know who he.

Is yeah, I helped him do that

and he doesn't tell anybody.

We're telling stories.

No, I'm just contributing to the

story.

He's really jaded about that.

He's been, he's held on to that

for years.

It's a city in Portugal.

It smells there, really nice.

Thank you for fact checking,

Richie.

What was that?

Wouldn't that be Portuguese

then, not Spanish?

Yeah, it would be.

It would be.

That's why you didn't know it's.

Portuguese.

Makes sense.

There you go.

Thank you, Fran.

Yeah.

And Richie.

Yeah.

All right, Tablicalera

Caballeros launches J16

Tablicalera Caballeros, a small

factory in the Dominican

Republic, has announced its

latest release, the J16 in a box

press 6 1/2 by 56 Double Toro

Why do people do the double

Toro?

Do you think it's called the

Double Toro?

Should it be called the Double

Toro?

Is that a double Toro?

Size.

How do you feel about that they.

Call it whatever the fuck they

want.

Yeah, what are we doing?

I'm.

Trying to get this.

Everybody has different names,

man.

I don't know, You know, There

you go.

Is that good?

I'm not going to eat it, bro.

I mean.

There you go.

All right.

And that's good.

That's good for you.

I don't I have no issue with it.

OK, OK.

You have no issue with the the

double Toro.

The reason why I don't because I

lived all that.

I used to laugh at Rocky when

Rocky used to come up with these

weird names back in the day when

I was a Rep, TP, chimp, gorilla,

baboon, all this shit baboon.

Yeah, he had all these shitty

ass names.

But until I got into the

business and I realized how hard

it is to trademark a name,

right?

Come up with a name that hasn't

been taken.

So you know, and I told them

that.

I told them to do that.

I would never laugh at you

again.

Any of the names because it's

hard.

It's hard to come with names.

And then I came up with a name.

I had an issue with somebody.

So I started using numbers like

the six O 1 and stuff like that.

Oh, it's a great idea.

Then I had to go to to in

Portuguese.

I came up with names of

Portuguese lalaja.

Yeah, because a lot of names are

taken.

You don't believe me?

Next time you drive either the

95 or the Turnpike, look at some

of the billboards.

Yeah, and guarantee you that

every 10 billboards, 3 or 4 has

a cigar name in it.

Really.

Like tropical or, or this or,

you know.

Yes.

Trust me what I tell you.

Sandwich.

Read something?

Yeah, like, yeah.

Sandwich, sandwich, sandwich.

You'll, you'll see, you know,

food or whatever you know,

Kentucky Fried Chicken, Kentucky

cured.

Yeah, right.

There you go.

It's hard.

It's stock cut.

It's it's hard to come up with

names.

Don't see it on all the

billboards.

You know what I never see

Postagna.

Yeah, yeah.

Nobody.

No one.

Get to see we went Polish.

What is?

That yeah, we went Polish.

Yeah, we.

Went Polish so.

What does that mean?

It's.

Uprising, I know you'll become

sorry.

There he was asking me, Do you

see him looking at me?

I'll be quiet.

That's why he's got the arrow,

right?

Yeah.

Right, but why is it going down?

Well, that is a modernization of

the symbol during World War 2

that the Polish people painted

as part of the revolution.

It was more rounded and looked

like an anchor, and they

modernized it because the

They couldn't use the curve.

But that's not Uprise.

That's Downrise.

Yeah, but the P goes up

technically.

Yeah.

Oh, so I got to wear it like

this.

Yes, yeah, exactly.

That's the right way.

That's the right way to wear it.

Cool, somebody fucked up there.

Somebody did fuck up.

Greg.

You know, we'll, we'll, we'll,

we'll talk to management about

that for.

Sure, It uses a Mexican sanitary

wrapper over an Ecuadorian

Sumatra seed binder.

Is there such a thing as an

Ecuadorian Sumatra seed binder?

Is that possible?

It could be OK, just guarantee

you there's no shade, no.

Shade Sumatra.

Shade.

And Dominican Creolo and Cuban

Lejero fillers.

Cubano.

Sorry, not Cuban.

Giri.

Oyo oh, say it again.

Giri Oyo, that's.

So romantic Portuguese.

The company says the cigars were

rolled 2 years ago and have been

aging ever since.

A press release says the blend

is medium full with flavors of

pepper, plum, chocolate and

nutmeg.

Who's?

This JC Newman.

No, no, we're in the Caballeros

now.

Oh damn, that's right, the 51

something.

J16 that one, so follow up to

the J15.

Right caballeros.

Each cigar has an MSRP of $13

into cigars or packaged in boxes

of 20.

It is limited edition, though

the company has not stated how

many boxes were made.

Depends how many they sell.

Right, that's usually how that

works.

Right.

It began shipping on Monday,

December 1st.

As we grow, our focus remains

the same to support our retail

partners and deliver cigars that

customers return for again and

again, said Marco Acadia.

Co founder of Tabacolera

Caballeros and a press release.

This is the exciting moment for

our brand and we're just getting

started.

Tabacolera Caballeros is named

after Santiago de Los

Caballeros, the Dominican city

that is home to many of the

country's most prominent

factories.

The company was founded in 2022

by Arcadia and Christian

Quintetana there.

You go excited about that, you

tried one.

What do you think?

I've I've never heard of.

Them we're not getting in.

We're not getting in, no, but

there's a limited number.

Yeah, we didn't make the cuts

have.

You heard of them before?

No, Nope, No I haven't.

I wish them luck.

Yeah.

Listen, listen, I tell

everybody.

Everybody gets mad at me when I

say don't do it.

I tell them they don't, don't,

don't get involved.

I mean, I'm not.

I hate to take it away.

Anybody's passion, anybody's

dream.

But it's a tough business.

We still realize it, you know,

it's, it's a lot of work, a lot

of work.

So how long you been in the

industry 20?

Years.

OK.

Out of the 25 year span, was

there a brand that went away?

And you're like, damn, I wish

that they would have stuck it

out.

Yeah.

Who?

Bahia.

It's the one.

Bahia cigars were some of the

most amazing cigars ever made.

Really.

It's industry, yeah.

What do you think they did

wrong?

Cocaine, yeah.

OK, yeah, I could see did.

They disappear.

In the 80s I could.

See how that that could you

know, allegedly, allegedly.

Allegedly allegedly cocaine.

I could see how that would, you

know, I mean it could shift

things.

Look, it's not a, it's not a

secret.

I mean, you know, I I will tell

you and I'll and I'll say and

I'll say it, you know, because I

don't give a fuck.

But he he had a lot of great

cigars.

Really.

He was his own night worst

nightmare.

He really was no kidding.

I got along with a guy great,

you know, But you know, they

were made in Costa Rica by Don

Douglas back in the day.

And I will tell you right now,

I'll put those cigars up against

anybody's cigars, really.

Oh yeah, those but he goes were

were amazing, you know?

Cocaine, not so much.

And well, listen, I, I'm going

to say it because, you know, he

might hear this one time.

I don't know.

It's cocaine.

I don't have the proof or

anything.

That's why I said allegedly.

But he was he was his own worst

nightmare.

I remember him in the booth.

He had a cardboard of himself.

And then you have to go to to a

suite to go see him, you know,

and no different than Lars

Teaton.

They did that, you know, and

then different times, you know,

but they kept doing it.

And then you're in the in the

trade show, you're on the floor.

Are you going to leave to get

you know?

Right.

Then that, that, that all went

away and you know, and then you,

you can get them in your

competitors, you know, side and

for, you know, $2.00 a stake.

Right.

Wow.

Crazy, crazy.

There's a lot of brands that

were good and, and, and their

poodles Indio were great.

You know, they had their

moments.

You know, those cigars were

great at one time, you know, and

they went away.

Crazy.

OK.

You knew who hasn't gone away,

Who?

Crown Heads.

They released their 2025 TAA

starting to ship for the second

time this week, Crown Heads is

shipping a new cigar.

Today's new release is the Crown

Heads TAA exclusive 2025A5 and

5/8 by 54 Robusto extra that has

made it Radio Pichardo's.

Is that dahatui?

The hot way.

Yeah, the hot way.

Tabaco SA factory and S the way.

You say it.

Blend wise uses an Ecuadorian

Habano wrapper.

Is that OK?

I get nervous how anything is

Ecuadorian over an Ecuadorian

Connecticut seed binder.

That's OK too.

Perfect.

Great and filler's from

Nicaragua.

Each cigar is an MSRP of 1495

and production is limited to 750

boxes of 10 cigars.

The cigars are only offered to

stores that are members of the

TAA Secret organization, an

industry trade group where we're

very excited for this year's TA

exclusive as a really hits the

sweet spot at being easily

approachable for novice smokers,

yet complex and nuanced enough

to be appreciated by seasoned

cigar those it's like that John

Huber, Co founder of Crown heads

in a press release you know

John.

Your friends with John.

I I know who he is.

You know, I've never had a real

relationship with him.

Yeah, he was great when he was a

CEO.

He was a great marketer.

He's been around for a long time

for a.

While he was mad at us at one

time.

Briefly, just briefly.

He got out very quickly.

Well, because we have a Patreon

show and you know, we talk

about.

We reviewed his cigar.

All kinds of things and.

It wasn't favorable.

But he's made a lot of good

stuff lately.

Yes, all his cigars are good.

It was our mistake.

Isn't.

That a an opinion.

Yeah, and then somebody leaked.

It well somebody.

Which really upset me.

He wasn't.

Which not nice 'cause I mean, at

least you should pay, you know?

To leak it.

You should if you, you know,

like just it's 10 bucks.

By the way, we appreciate most

of your organization is.

I was going to get to that.

Oh.

I was going to get to.

That, except Richie, who's not.

Well, I wanted him to explain.

I want.

Him, Oh, Richie's on there now.

No, he's not.

He's not.

He kicked him off.

No, we, we don't kick.

We don't Tyler's Oh, Tyler.

Tyler was the first to have in

there.

He he paid, he paid monthly.

He did.

I think he's a $10 member.

Is he?

Oh, we were told to give you

shit.

Now I think we have.

Aha, well we don't Fact Check

and we appreciate your support.

I'm going to walk that back

instantly.

Richie, you tell Jack that he's

Subsidizing them and they could

all be $50 members.

Subsidized them.

Like a little paycheck bump or

something, you know?

You know, Espinoza definitely

supports us on Patreon.

Oh, yes, for sure, yes.

We do.

I love being on there.

All right, Danielle.

Yeah, I'm going to text Danielle

and thank you, Daniel, get you

to sign up.

It's an honor to continue this

11 year partnership supporting

the TA's mission while

delivering a cigar that's an

exclusive as it is exceptional.

Did you try that at TA?

No, I don't think they had it.

They probably did.

I didn't know.

I, I it's so busy do.

You try everybody else that

likes cigars, other people's TA

stuff.

I tried the La Florida

Dominicana.

Yeah, I tried the EPC and I

don't remember which one else.

I mean, when I got up there, you

know, a lot of people and, and I

hate to be the way I am

sometimes because everybody got

up there and they, you know,

they spoke about their cigars

right when I got up there, when

it was my turn, I said it's got

tobacco in it.

It's better buy the shit.

I mean you.

Know right?

It no matter what you say, does

it really matter?

Unless the rapper.

Because if you don't like

Connecticut, you ain't going to

smoke Connecticut.

It doesn't really matter.

I think it does matter.

But I but I do agree with you

that the sell it.

Yeah, I think that it it will

help.

What tobacco?

No, but well, no, but that's not

what I'm saying.

I'm not saying that because a

lot of people say the same

thing.

That's my point, right?

And that that's where I agree,

agree with you that no, that

that's, that's not really

effective.

But what you say still matters.

And if it's something that's

different, it will make a

difference, right?

If if I tell you.

I mean by you going up and

saying hey, it's fucking

tobacco, just smoke it.

If I tell you it's age, 14

years, would you buy it?

No, that's not my point.

I've been in business 13.

How the fuck can I have tobacco

age for 14?

Years.

You know somebody.

Bought it from somebody.

Oh yeah.

But he went under.

You were bought his tobacco.

Maybe Dorian shade?

It's hard to.

Struggle with a lot of that shit

I I really.

Do of course you know.

But, you know, and and listen,

I'm nobody to tell anybody what

they can or can't say about

their cigars, right?

You know, but if the Colonel

never revealed this 11 nerves

and spices.

So if you if you got something

that's good, why the fuck should

you tell anybody else?

Oh, yeah, yeah.

I mean, you know, you can't lie

about the rapper, so I don't.

But every time I was, if you

look at everything else of mine,

just say Connecticut shade,

Nicaragua, Nicaragua, you know,

whatever.

Mexican Nicaragua.

Nicaragua, you understand,

because I'm not going to tell

anybody.

I think that that's that's fine,

people say.

I halfway or Charlie told me

what they were.

So why are you lying to

consumers?

I'm not lying.

It's the truth.

Is this from Nicaragua?

Right.

But why should I?

Why should I tell everybody what

it is?

Yeah, I know.

I hear you.

I totally agree with that.

But what I'm saying too, is

saying the same thing that they

all say.

It also doesn't make sense, but

it is.

It's important to say something,

even if it's funny.

Yes, you know.

No doubt, right.

But does I guarantee you anybody

comes in here with a new brand,

99% you're not going to buy it

well.

Not only are we not going to buy

it, we're probably going to eat

them for lunch.

I mean like.

You're not.

You need a new sugar like you

need a hole in your head.

Yeah, let's be honest now, by me

telling you that it's got Lee

Harrow from from from Nicaragua

and it's got below the guano and

this and that, it ain't going to

change your fucking mind, right?

And that's why I don't, I don't

dangle that bullshit.

You know, everybody gets up

there and says that I mean, it's

got tobacco in it is good.

Buy the shit.

We disclosed one day that our

rapper was Lavarian.

Do you know what Lavarian is?

Where Lavarian is?

I don't.

It's the Kingdom that Doctor

Doom rained on.

Like that was his his country.

So you see how that's like,

that's like a little Easter egg.

That was funny, right?

So you can make jokes about

these things as well.

And and who makes that echo

Mano?

Doctor.

Doom.

Yeah, it's made in the Echo Mano

factory.

Yeah, that's it.

Yeah, Yeah.

You know what that.

Is no idea what we're saying.

Echo Mano is made by hand.

Handmade.

Well, handmade, yeah, but it's

in Spanish.

Is Hetchel.

Yeah.

Hetchel.

So.

So a lot of people say I love

those cigars.

It's your mano.

Yeah.

Congratulations.

Yeah, congratulations.

It's.

A great factory.

At the TA, was your room as big

as Jacks Jackson's a video of

his room.

Yeah, it's ridiculous.

It's still playing on my phone.

He hasn't shown me everything.

We have the exact same room he

his cousin is or his niece runs.

She's she, she has a real estate

company and so she always bumps

him, but he'll never get bumped

unless I get bumped along with

him.

Excellent.

That's how that works.

That's good, I have.

A problem that he's got a nice

room.

Right, as long as I got one.

Yeah, as long as you got one

too.

Seems to be fair.

Yeah, so not everybody gets that

room.

No, Richie, what was your room

like at the TA?

Beautiful room, just not as

beautiful.

Richie had a good room, he says.

But it just wasn't as good.

Yeah, OK.

Richie does not have a cousin or

niece.

That runs the right right?

I understand.

That's fine.

I always have the room with

Michael.

Yes, yes.

Yes, you do.

All right, everybody ready?

It's time to play.

What's the score?

You can't.

Look at that screen.

Now you can't look at the

screen.

OK.

All right.

All right, first cigar from

September 5th, 2021.

It was reviewed by Brooks

Whittington.

It's an Espinoza Nicaraguan 601

Black Toro from 2021.

Brooks, do you want to go first?

You want me to?

Go first.

I don't care.

Go.

Ahead, I'll go first.

This one, you go first.

The next one I'm going to say

88.

No, way too high, absolutely.

OK, I will try.

I will say 81.

OK.

All right, here's more

information.

All right, the six O 1 black

toros from Nicaragua is from the

Lasona Rappers, Ecuador,

Connecticut Binders Nicaraguan

Fillers Nicaraguan because

that's all it does.

Right, that's it.

He doesn't say anything.

It's a 6 by 50 Toro.

It sold for $10 back in 2021 and

they smoked 3 cigars.

OK, so you're so low.

I'm going to come down here to

84.

This is the new series. 2021.

You're going to get 3 clues now.

Same cigar, you get 3 clues and

you can change your number as

you hear.

Every time I read the clue.

I'll go, I'll go a little down,

give me some wig.

I'll go 80. 80 OK.

All right, here's the first

comment.

The Six O 1 Black Toro delivers

a creamy cedar and leather core

that stays consistent from start

to finish, supported by evolving

secondary notes like cocoa nibs,

cinnamon, almonds and toasted

bread.

The profile becomes richer and

more cohesive as the cigar

progresses.

We got to go.

Up now, Yeah, that sounds good.

We got to go up.

OK, so I'll, you know, I think

I'm, I'm look at 88, I'm going

back up to 88.

I'll say 86.

OK.

All right.

All right, next clue.

This is where things get fucked.

Construction is a standout.

After an early touch up, the

burn evens out beautifully.

The draw remains excellent

throughout and smoke production

stays consistently.

No way, that's fucking half

wheel.

Yes, yeah, 21 the overall

experience.

This is Brooks, not Charlie.

Yeah, OK, OK, man, that's still

good.

I'm going to go 89. 85 I'm going

to go down.

OK, OK, 85.

Third clue 1 sample showed very

obvious veins and even a small

green spot on the wrapper, and

the burn required correcting

almost immediately after

lighting, detracting slightly

from the cigars otherwise strong

presentation.

Are you given that like that's

the actual number?

OK, All right.

Richie keeps saying 76.

I'm going to say I'm going to

bring it down a smidge.

I'm going to go 87.

We'll say 8383, OK.

All right, this is the final

thought.

This is the last clue.

OK, through the years, there

have been numerous attempts to

create a Connecticut blend that

is full flavored but with more

body and strength than the

Connecticut wrap cigars of old.

Sometimes they work, as in the

case with the exceptional Silver

Mesa Brulee Blue, but other

times the resulting blends end

up with profiles that sacrifice

balance on the altar of more

strength.

The Six in One Black is

somewhere in the middle of those

two extremes.

While there's plenty of flavor,

the profile is quite linear, and

the strength ends up

overwhelming some of the nuances

in the blend by the middle of

the final third.

There's a curveball.

Those looking for more of a

punch in the morning, it should

try it out, but I'm hoping that

a little bit of time will bring

more balance to the forefront.

OK, I'm gonna go 80. 4 I'm gonna

go, I'm gonna go 81. 85.

Oh yes.

You had a bad day. 85MM Hmm.

All right, we have one more.

OK, All right.

This is from October 17th, 2015.

Good Reviewed by Patrick Lagreed

Cigars.

I like you.

Patrick's nice.

Patrick's nice limited edition

Nicaragua reviews the Wilson

Adams Wilson Adams, Mr. Wilson

Cigar.

OK.

What year was this?

2015.

OK, Wilson Adams.

Wilson, Adams.

Mr. Wilson.

All right, go ahead.

Do you do the honors?

Have you heard of this cigar?

I have OH.

Not the Mr. Wilson, but I've

heard of Wilson Adams.

OK, 10 years ago. 10 years ago

and this Patrick.

Patrick is a nice guy.

Patrick Say 87.

OK, it's a good number.

I'm gonna go 85.

All right, this is a Nicaraguan

cigar from Placencia.

Mexican rappers in Mexico binder

is NA filler is Nicaraguan and

undisclosed tobaccos.

It's a 6th and an eighth by 52

Torpedo.

They smoked 3 cigars in the

review I'm.

Staying strong.

You're staying strong at 87.

There was 85.

Oh, 85.

Oh, he's trying to cheat.

Look at that.

Where are you at 90?

I'm a come down to 82.

OK.

All right, the first While the

cigar starts with intriguing

notes, the flavor development

quickly becomes disjointed and

unfocused, pulling the smoke in

several competing directions.

Pepper, brownie, leg sweetness,

sourness, and smoky retro hail

notes all show up, but instead

of blending together into a

unified profile, they seem to

clash for attention.

This lack of harmony prevents a

cigar from settling into a

balanced or cohesive identity,

even the first half feeling more

scattered than nuanced. 82.

You came down to 82, 81.

All right, second clue.

As the cigar transitions into

the final third, the experience

takes a dramatic downturn due to

the aggressive surge in strength

and nicotine.

Help me, Mr. Wilson.

What begins as a robust profile

escalates into an overwhelming

physical reaction.

Tightness in the chest, light

headedness, and an unmistakable

feeling of cigar sickness

creeping in.

Oh boy.

The strength becomes so dominant

that it overshadows whatever

complexity is the cigar still

has to offer, forcing the smoker

to consider putting it down to

simply to avoid pushing their

limits.

He got the 69 that asked.

Is that where you're going?

72.

Oh man, that's low.

I'm gonna go 77 all.

Right Final Clue Cigar makes a

strong and polished first

impression, presented itself

with refined aesthetics, clean

bands, a dark toothy wrapper and

a sharply finished torpedo tip

that feels premium in hand.

The pre lit experience

reinforces that quality with

rich, enjoyable aromas of

brownie batter, cookie dough,

earthiness and a subtle pepper.

Once lit, the opening flavors

deliver a compelling combination

of pepper and chocolatey

sweetness, supported by an

effortless draw and solid smoke

output, setting a lovelessing

tone and showcasing the cigars

potential early on.

Oh boy, confused as fuck man.

Welcome to Half Wheel Buddy.

We got to go up.

Do we?

Or is it so bad the good doesn't

help?

80 final answer. 80 Do I think

it's better or worse than an 80?

I think it's worse than 80.

I'm gonna go 79.

All right, final thought.

It's unfortunate that what will

likely stick with me most about

the Wilson Adams, Mr. Wilson is

the final third because the rest

of the cigar is quite enjoyable.

While it occasionally felt

disjointed and the first third,

the complexity was apparent and

it felt like the cigar should be

a sleeper hit of complexity and

flavor.

Yet once it turns a corner of

strength past the midpoint,

things begin.

A quick and rapid slide into a

profile is completely

unacceptable for me and leaves

me feeling worse.

Much worse, and when I started

the cigar.

Hopefully the rebirth of the

Wilson Adams brand fares better

than the cigar blended to

commemorate it.

Yikes, I loved it but I hated

it.

It made me sick. 77.

That's a good number.

Do I think it's lower than a 77?

Damn, 2015, is it lower than a

77?

I'm going to say no.

I'm going to say 787373.

You got it.

Yeah, you're.

Almost up at 69.

Nice.

Well, nicely done.

There you go, you got 1.

Does Charlie, if you're

listening, please give me that

69 buddy.

I'm going to promote the hell

out of any cigar I could,

careless which one it is.

OK.

All right.

Anything else to add, Mr.

Espinoza?

Thank you for having and having

me and like always, you guys are

blast.

You guys are great.

I enjoy watching your podcast

every day.

That's a lot.

Sit down when I'm in a plane.

That's a fucking line.

Danielle plays it loud.

He hears it from outside.

Podcast.

The only time he hears it is if

it's playing in the other room.

That's.

What he said.

I saw it one day.

You saw it one.

Day, Yeah.

No, in fairness, I don't watch

any podcast.

In fairness, I get the

information.

Listen, Hector being an ex cop,

Jack being who Jack is, Richie,

they give me the information.

They get mad when we get shitty

ratings.

I don't I care less.

None of these guys, even though

listen, I love everything that

you guys do though Joe cool.

But a lot of these guys, because

they help the industry, you

know, I don't think that they

can help you or hurt you.

I really, I really don't.

That's just an opinion, OK, Now

how they help you is by talking

about your cigars that that can

help.

I don't what what I don't want

anybody misunderstand what I'm

saying?

I'm talking about ratings.

I don't think any of the

ratings.

If you love the cigar, you're

going to continue smoking it and

the cigar selling.

Does it really matter the rating

they got?

That's just my opinion.

Now, Cigar Snob, when I got the

cigar the year in Cigar Snob,

they did call to order the

cigars.

You know what I mean?

I've never got cigar the year in

Cigar Aficionado, but you know,

I hear through people who have

gotten it is equivalent to

winning the lottery.

Is it still that way today?

I don't know, you know, But you

know the ratings, it can't hurt

you, right?

It can help, but it can't hurt

you.

I don't think a bad rating can

hurt the cigar, right?

That's just an opinion, OK, You

know?

OK, perfect man, anything else

to add before we let you go?

I think everybody should try

buying some eucalyptus trees.

Yeah leaves and seriously, try

it.

Put it in your shower and and

the steam would enhance you roam

around the room.

Don't cut corners.

Do you know the cucumber?

The Smile cucumber makes your

room look bigger.

Really.

Yeah.

Look bigger.

It makes it look bigger.

Oh, don't take my word.

For maybe Jack's room wasn't

that big.

Maybe.

Maybe he, maybe he don't.

Yeah, don't.

Take my word for it, ask half

wheel.

Yeah, I could tell you that.

Would you consider, would you

consider this podcast Cigar

Media, just out of curiosity?

Yes, Yeah, Well, not this one.

We didn't talk about cigars, but

you do talk.

About this, we kind of did talk

about cigars.

I have the show.

Yeah, we told it is.

Listen, it's.

No way.

There's no Ecuador.

There's.

The.

Legoran shade.

Now it all helps.

Yeah, You understand.

I just want to know if you have

you.

That will watch it.

Do you understand?

I just think talking about the

cigars and cigars, it gets

boring after a while.

Yeah, I did like, I mean no

disrespect to anybody, you know,

with anything that I that I

said, I'm just speaking facts.

I'm not speaking, you know, when

I say something.

No, no, I ask what the fact.

Well, other than when I said the

cocaine, I don't know what was

cocaine or not, but I know who's

your own worst enemy.

If he calls me, I'll tell him

the same thing, right?

You understand?

I'm not saying it's cocaine.

It was just his own worst enemy.

He might have been, he was,

could have been whatever.

Possibly.

I'm just saying what other

people say.

But but I think everything that

everybody, you know, that

everybody says.

What I don't appreciate is

anybody putting anybody else

down because there's people to

do that.

You know, I'm, I've never, my

life spoke bad about a cigar.

If I don't like a cigar, I don't

tell the person.

Now, a lot of owners give me

cigars for me to taste and if I

enjoy it, I'd never smoke it in

front of them.

I was telling a little bit, I'm

sick and I can't smoke it

because if it's bad, you got to

smoke the whole fucking cigar in

front of them.

I don't do that, but I do give

it a shot in the morning with a

fresh palate, and if I like it,

I'll call them, right?

But this is really good.

And if I don't, they don't hear

from me.

You know what I'm saying?

But I can't.

So for everybody who gave him a

cigar and he didn't.

Call you I can't lie, right?

I know you don't believe me, but

it's hard for me to lie I.

Believe you and I believe you.

And I'm too old to remember.

I'm too old to remember to lie.

If somebody tells me that people

give me a cigars at the time I

said, bro, this is not strong,

right?

I mean, I, I, I remember I went

with Nemesh and Eddie used to be

with my partner back in the day

to to Dominican and Daniel

Nunez.

They were coming out, I think

with Mcanoodle bold whether they

give me a cigar or this is a

strong sugar we make try this,

you know, be careful because

it's strong and I smoke and I I

could have eaten that cigar.

I said brother's not strong.

Right.

You want a strong sugar, I give

him a a, a, a six to one blue

back in the day.

That's a strong cigar, right?

And then, oh, you know, this is

unsmokable, I said to you.

Right to you.

This is not strong, you know.

Today's market is not, you know.

What was the name again of that

strong cigar you made that

nobody liked that you talked

about during one of your little

stories?

La La La La La La La La la.

I started smoking, not the

warhead.

No, not the word.

La Wamba, La wamba.

It was too overpowering, just

like the six O 1 Connecticut,

the one that he raided, some of

the things he said he was right

on is overpowering.

When I first came out with that

cigar for Connecticut, it was

the strongest Connecticut in the

market.

It started selling great, but

then it was too powerful.

So I took it out of the market

because it died.

People who smoke Connecticut,

that's why the Krema does so

well for me.

One of my cigars.

Well, yeah, but forget about the

ballots and this.

And for me, that's all bullshit.

OK, the flavor is the only thing

that counts, OK, Because people,

they don't know how to

distinguish flavor from

strength.

A lot of people don't.

Sure.

So when you have a cigar, it's

not overpowering.

I don't smoke a lot of

Connecticut.

I don't.

I just don't like, and I can't

smoke 2 medoras back-to-back.

I got to have a Habano in there.

My favorite rapper is a Bano.

But when, when, if you're making

a Connecticut, you have to cater

to Connecticut smokers.

OK.

But what I tried to do is change

the industry because most

Connecticut is no disrespect to

anybody.

Don't taste like nothing.

There's nothing there.

Like drinking a light beer.

There's nothing there.

So I tried to put some oomph in

it, but not overpowering like

the six O 1.

What was the six O 1?

Gold Black, black at the time,

you know, so and that's where

the Kremer sells so well because

it's, it's, it's got flavor,

right?

Well, that's what that's what I

I tried to do that people say

it's one of the strongest

Connecticut in the market.

I don't know.

It's not strong, but I think

it's one of the most flavorful

in the market.

Right.

OK.

Well, thank you so much for

coming up to you, man.

We appreciate you.

Have a show, a lot of fun.

You're a great friend, dude.

You're a hell of a guy, you.

Guys are great.

Friend, yes, thank you so much

for for standing as I think.

It's better than boots.

It was.

He probably did amazing, yeah.

He's probably gonna look great

seamless flips back into.

The I think he was great not.

Gonna be like when Boots does it

and I'm talking he shows your

face.

When you're talking, he shows my

face.

Well, the only problem is though

there was like nothing with like

really dumb send.

Yeah, that's the problem.

Like say something stupid before

we finish.

Bing bong.

There you.

Go.

He's a good dude and.

That's it, man.

So yeah, thank you very much,

brother, and appreciate it.

Yeah, we love boots, but you

know, we like to pick on them

too, so.

He's not here, he's probably

smoking something with my

smoker.

Yeah.

All right.

Next episode 423.

Thank you.

Bye bye.

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Show Notes

Please Enjoy the replay of this Espinosa Show

Thank you for your understanding.