Cigar Hustlers Podcast Episode 350 Mr Jay Davis PCA Board Member
Transcript
Everybody stand by.
Industry is.
In the House, here he is, the
controversial, the legendary
Make Way for the King.
Another Mike and Mike production
in 333-222-1110.
It's gone.
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Tell your friends we need more
power and more Wi-Fi.
Yes, last Patreon I got in a lot
of trouble.
It only cost $10.
Oh, that one, yes.
So I actually called him are.
We going to talk about it here
on the Patreon because these
people really don't know what
we're talking about.
We can talk about it briefly
here.
I'll just, we can just leave
that at that.
I mean I called them.
OK, you're not going to say who
it was, though.
I think they know.
Didn't we talk about?
It no way because we.
Didn't say who was going to be
on Strictly.
Patreon No, we did not.
That's OK, we don't have to.
So you called him and he still
and he didn't answer.
He didn't answer.
He has not replied to my ticket
tock messages.
So apparently he's just threw
us, which is OK.
That's the way it is when I have
them in advance.
Michael, I tried to streamline
the show for you.
That's just the way it is.
So today on the Patreon we are
reviewing the The Banker H Upman
Banker Day Trader, the newest in
the H Upman Banker series.
I'm a day trader, I trade the
day.
Apparently a lot of little
squigglies.
So how's your day, buddy?
How's your week?
How's the grass?
Fine I I did the grass over a 2
day period because I had Friday
morning off.
Look at you, yeah.
Actually over three days, 03
days, 'cause it started raining
on Saturday, I didn't get
finished.
So I finished on on Sunday and
then Monday we went to the
beach.
Aha, yes, the wife has been
painting the countertop.
She has none done.
Fantastic.
Well, how does it look?
She has people that watch this,
Michael.
I didn't mind.
She hated the color before.
I guess they were kind of this
peachy, this peachy black color
or something.
I don't know how to describe it,
but I never had a problem with
it.
Apparently it just it just made
her crazy.
OK, so she's she's happy with
the.
I hate that click.
It makes me feel like something
went off.
She's happy with it, which is
what's important.
That's plugged.
Is it really already?
Yeah.
Would you like his?
Get his.
No, it's alright, He can give
five stars.
It's great.
No, it's Dominican.
He won't like it.
He likes Dominicans, remember?
No, no, it all depends on when
you ask him.
What are you smoking?
Really.
Blood can't cut it.
Stick the end of your scissors
in it.
It's all not fun if you're not
I'm.
Going to smoke this Postana
Segundo for the rest of this.
Yeah, but if.
Oh, but you will smoke it for
the Patreon though.
See, it's no fun if I have to
suffer alone.
So what did you do, Mike?
I did all.
Kinds of things, Michael I.
Saw a lot of posts from your
wife.
She some kind of Disney thing or
something?
Disney thing.
I'm assuming it was Disney I.
Don't know.
Oh, she went to Disney on Ice.
Oh, I was.
Gonna say it's some on ice
thing.
Yeah, she went to Disney on Ice
with Justice and Teddy and I
took Jax to the Gator Kane's
game in the swamp.
Oh, so you went up?
Yeah, I went up.
I went up.
We had a great time.
A buddy of ours got us tickets.
We all went together, the four
of us.
Nice.
Had a good time, good
experience.
He's a Gator.
He's you.
Know alumni?
Yeah.
Yes, yeah.
So it was his son's birthday.
Oh, so we had a good time.
No photos.
No nothing.
No.
I took a couple pictures.
Yeah, nothing.
Yeah, I took a couple pictures,
OK, I don't know.
I didn't post them, you know.
Right, that's what I mean.
It was I was running around a
lot that day, right?
I haven't stopped, man.
So I was running around that
very busy, man.
I drove there, I drove back
right, you know, and then was it
Sunday after that, what we do
Sunday, I feel like it was busy.
I did something.
It was crazy.
I.
Didn't stop Busy, busy holiday
weekend.
Yeah, Sunday was something.
Something something important.
Something important.
Something you really enjoyed?
And I did enjoy it.
It was an excellent time.
I don't remember what it was.
Thank you to whoever took him,
wherever it was.
He really meant a lot to him.
I don't.
Remember what he did Sunday?
But it was probably awesome.
It probably was.
Oh, you know we did.
What'd you do?
We cleaned the house.
Oh, that was not awesome.
Yeah, we did like a whole
dusting thing, spring cleaning.
Oh it was epic.
Only dust seasonally.
Like a.
It was like a.
A thorough.
Yeah, like I vacuumed on top of
the count of the cabinet
countertop, like up top.
I did all that stuff that.
Crazy stuff.
It was nice.
So we did that, and then Monday
we took a second stab at Volcano
Bay.
Oh yes, we got. 45 minutes in
before the lightning.
So we all got like a little we
got.
Several hours at the beach for
the storm.
Cannon Yeah, I know.
We got, you know, and then we
had to leave because then we had
football.
We had.
Football practice.
Yes and yeah.
So 45 minutes before Mommy
started the Thunder and
lightning that time, huh?
Yeah, that's a terrible.
Thing pretty epic, but hey, at
least we got there.
Yeah, at least you got 45.
Minutes.
Yeah, kids got to go down a
couple slides.
Oh, that's good.
Yeah, that worked out.
Good for you.
Yeah, non-stop, buddy.
Good.
And you're going to go to West
Palm.
Yeah, sorry, just checking the
time.
We have a call in 20 minutes.
You're on your way.
You're going to visit some.
Locations, yes, yes, I don't
know how to how else to
establish.
Have you have you indicated
where you're going to?
Stop.
I've got a Wednesday all locked
down, but not knowing where
you're going to be.
Thursday sort of has been
started because I obviously
don't want to go north and have
to come back and get you.
And I don't want to go too far
South and then have that longer
drive back up.
So, you know, it all depends on
where where you are and what
time you think you would be done
Thursday late How?
What?
What do at late 8:00?
Oh, OK.
So I really can do anything I
want on Thursday.
Yeah.
Oh OK, it'll be fun.
Sure, it'll be, I'm looking
forward to getting an out
visiting shop.
So that's that's fine.
Me too.
Sure.
And then I'm not really by
myself.
So yeah, you know.
For the most part.
Right.
I mean the visits will be which
is fine.
I'm like a, I'm like your.
I'm like a hub.
Right, right.
Just give me a central location.
You can find me here.
So I haven't booked the hotel
room that's not recording.
Everything else is.
Yeah, the camera's out.
How do you know the camera's not
recording?
There's no red light on my side.
Oh, you know, it's weird.
It did that last time.
I cleaned it all off and then it
shows there's stuff on it again
or something.
I don't, I don't know.
So you're not cleaning it all
off, right?
Well, I deleted everything.
There's two different places you
have to.
Go.
When you deleted do you empty
the trash?
Yes, before I take the cart out.
Something's wrong.
I don't know, but when you go to
use it next week, it'll say it's
empty and I won't will not have
touched it.
So I don't know what.
Interesting.
Yeah, I thought maybe you have
to reset the camera.
So I turned everything off and
then turn it all back on.
Apparently it doesn't do it yet.
I don't know.
I I can tell you a couple things
that have gone down that I have
found fascinating.
Cigar things, Yeah.
You know, for one, I'm.
Yeah, I see the Pravada has gone
private now and.
What is it you mentioned that
earlier, What does what does
that mean?
They've I don't.
Private, I don't know, so I'd
like to try and get him in here
to.
Talk, is he going to be in here
or?
Is he going to call?
No, he's going to.
Be in here.
Yeah.
Oh, I've got to get the chair
back out of you.
Yeah, yeah, the chair.
Oh nice, And we did a great
interview with Jack Higher.
Yeah, I, I cleaned it up the
this afternoon just to make sure
we had it.
And yeah, it's, it's a it's
pretty.
It's an hour.
It's like a whole show.
Yeah, it's pretty.
We can almost use it as a show.
We probably will, right?
Maybe bumper it or whatever.
Here's what I saw.
Oh, I think I heard Phil come
in.
There oh.
Look at that.
The bored monkey cometh.
Yes, the bored monkey.
There he is.
Well, it must have been more
than 8 minutes because we've
been doing the show for 8
minutes and he texted 10 or 15.
No, like that's, that's like the
shtick, you know, it's like,
hey, it's I'm 8 minutes away,
but.
That doesn't say what time he's
headed.
Yeah, he didn't say when he was
leaving, right?
Yeah, I had to get something
done.
Sorry.
He had to.
He had to get something done.
I don't get paid with this so I
have to do something to make no
money.
You mean you mean both, pal?
Yeah, nobody makes money doing
this.
All right.
Well, hey, I just have a heart
attack.
Phil.
We've already done the intro of
the show, so yeah.
We're oh, welcome to Cigar House
podcast episode 351.
There you go, We already did it
so.
I saw this post on Facebook and
it was pretty funny to me,
right?
Was it from him or from the
club?
No, this is no, I'm moving on
already.
I'm curious as to what's going
to happen with Brian and I want.
The end of the story, yeah.
I have questions and hopefully
we can get him in here.
OK.
So it's not confirmed.
Yeah, it's pretty much it's.
You said hope.
Yeah.
I'm hoping that, you know, he
said that he can be here next
week, so hopefully he'll be able
to be here.
Got you.
You know, this industry is
extremely difficult.
I know that.
I've said this a bajillion
times.
Sure.
I saw a post where a guy who's
in the industry has a relatively
new brand and I'll name names
and all this other stuff on
Patreon.
We'll get into it a little bit
more in depth.
And he kind of went off on the
fact that he's not really being
acknowledged by media and the
fact that and the fact and the
fact that media is acknowledging
other things that are going on
in the industry and.
Well, yeah, Coop now is trying
to find the best cheese pizza.
And and.
After after his massive Turkey
sub.
Listen.
Showcase that he did.
Barstools is well in advance
ahead of him when it comes to
finding the best pizza.
Oh.
Barstools, yeah.
Sports.
Just cheese pizza.
He's just.
Yeah.
Barstools.
Yeah, yeah.
They've done that, OK.
Do they do they like decipher
who he thinks media is on this
comment?
No, he just says media in
general.
He praises Coop.
But here's the thing.
Oh, sorry, I said that out loud
tonight.
Here's the thing.
He listens.
I love you, Mr. He's the media
king.
Yeah, yeah, right.
I've been in, I've been in
retail for 15 years, right?
Done wholesale for almost 11 now
10 years, OK and.
You would think you'd have more
money.
You think with well.
Is that where we're going?
No.
But what's funny to me is that
in six months of doing it or a
year of doing it, however long
this guy's been doing it, he's
already getting upset that he's
not getting acknowledged.
You've been, you know, I've been
metaphorically punched in the
face so many fucking times.
Should we call him?
That it's just no.
We're good.
It's kind of, it's kind of, it's
kind of remarkable.
Like you just have to kind of if
you're going to get upset that
people aren't acknowledging you
right, and this is like the
beginning for you, I highly, I
highly recommend, I highly
recommend you fucking liquidate
and you just get out of this
game.
And we make sandwiches and
pizza.
Then Koopa's still talking about
you.
Yeah, it's probably in your best
interest.
I know you're trying to make a
light hearted joke here, but I'm
being dead serious.
No, no.
I.
You know, this game isn't for
fucking everybody and you're and
you're, and you're going up
against some fucking giants,
man.
Some, some guys that are, have
been in this industry, you know,
for 100 years, man, you know,
like.
Family, family like the time
right generations.
And to some degree, you're
competing against those guys.
Sure.
So you know if you don't.
Have dying to find out who this
is.
If you're not going to get
acknowledged and you feel like,
and you're going to get upset
about it and you know, I don't
know, man, I think it might, you
know, you're probably in your
best interest just to stop.
Just stop.
Yeah.
Doesn't he smoke cigars before
he had a brand like?
Yeah, but it's just it's.
Brands come through.
It's just going to end in
heartache.
I don't think that people
realize that you don't have that
perspective when until you're on
the other side of that battle,
you know?
Sure, half wheel just gave us a
90 on I.
Saw that on the.
Broadleaf.
Corona, Gorda.
It's a delicious cigar.
So we've got, you know, we've
got a bunch of high ratings on a
lot of our pranks.
We've been we've been
acknowledged top 25 twice last
year with half wheel.
I mean, how about that cigar?
Nothing but.
People not taking my phone
calls.
Right, that's exactly my point.
That's exactly my point.
I should just lead with that and
we, hey, we have 3 highly ranked
cigars if you'd like to call me
back.
Yeah, right.
They don't care.
They don't care.
Couple of them didn't that
actually spoke didn't don't even
know what half wheel is right.
It's not, you know, it's the
industry where everybody should
go for the industry information.
But there's still like Greg.
I mean, Greg hardly ever looks
at halfway.
It's like, what's half wheel?
I didn't know what half wheel
was until, you know, I really
got deep into with you guys.
Right.
Sure, but you don't own a cigar
shop though.
You have an excuse.
Yeah.
I don't understand how if you're
a retailer, you don't stay on
top of some of these things is.
Half wheel the top or is Cigar
Aficionado?
If you went news I'd say half
wheel.
It depends upon who you ask
because the reality is that
aficionado's a little more
mainstream half wheel is more
involved when it comes to
everything like.
They're more in depth.
Yeah, Charlie knows so much shit
that's going on.
I mean, that that whole team,
it's incredible.
So whether you like them or not,
whether you get mad about their
reviews or not, right, they're
fucking doing it, you know?
So and then of course, yeah,
Coop, Coop, you know.
Right.
Good.
Have they ever given 100?
No.
No.
Well, any idea what the highest
ranking they've ever given?
I don't know, maybe an that's an
interesting question. 97 We
should have Charlie on the show
and interview him.
What's the highest he's?
Going to talk.
Sure, he'll talk.
He does other people's shows.
Yeah.
Oh, does.
He sure, and he likes to promote
that he's doing them so we
should have them on.
OK, no problem.
So when I saw that, I was just
like man.
Wow, I'm really dying to find
out who this is.
Yeah, do I know them?
No, but it's, it's funny because
there's there's things involved
here and I'm not getting into
that until we get on.
Sure, sure, sure, sure.
But when you say the name, I'm
not going to, it's not going to
recognizable name.
No.
The brand or the person?
Yeah, yeah.
So I think we just kind of roll
into the Phil's fun facts and
get some news in and then we'll
or do you want to get Phil's
fun?
Facts we have, we have time for
him, but then we'll have to call
Jay Davis.
Jay Davis.
OK, 3:00.
Perfect.
Welcome.
The Cigar Hustlers podcast
feature Phil's fun facts.
Changes to the monkey's hello.
Peoples.
Should I change this episode to
start calling the monkey's the
Bored monkey the Bored Monkey's
bananas?
Well, you have to play the the
Camacho interview first.
Oh.
No one's going to know what
we're talking about.
Even better.
I'm sorry.
Go ahead there, Phil.
I just got to read the fact you
wrote.
Did you know that in 2009 Sweden
became the?
First country.
In the world to allow same sex
couples to marry in a religious
ceremony.
This was a significant milestone
in the fight for LGBTQ plus
rights, showing how progressive
and inclusive societal attitudes
can be.
This movie.
This move allowed same sex
couples to have their marriages
blessed by religious
institutions, further cementing
the recognition and accepting of
diverse relationships and
various aspects of life.
So please forward all my mail to
my new address in Sweden.
How does that make you feel you?
Have a little piece tobacco on
your front tooth mate.
I don't know.
I mean, is this from the ranch
guy or you?
You wrote that?
Yeah, it's your fault.
It's your fault.
Your fault.
I don't think so.
Thank you this guy this, Phil's
fun pack this.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Yeah, sorry.
This Phil's fun fact bought you
by Braze.
Sorry, I was.
I was distracted by his Phil's
phone.
You're you're caught in his
enamored yada yada.
Yes, Phil's fun fact brought to
you by Braze Ranch in Waldo,
Florida.
Beef shares are available.
Savor the taste of premium beef,
Raisin, lush pastures and
supplemented with
grainreserveyours@brazeranch.com.
Sorry, why is he beeping nice
to?
Why is he?
Beeping the the.
Sponsor Nice to the Breeze.
Ranch Hey Cigar House is Patreon
where the news and info come out
every week and easily
digestible. 30 minute episodes.
For just $15.00 a month you get
full video access to everything
the cigar industry doesn't want
us to talk about.
Yeah, go to www.patreon.com and
search a cigar Hustlers.
Pub I mean, and that's confirmed
to be the last messages that we
got from our.
Last Yeah, from the last moment.
Dude, I love that we do the
Patreon and we're like, do you
think we sent anything that that
could have crossed the line?
And you're like, no, no, I'm
fine.
What did you say?
So I called Jack Toronto just to
confirm, like did I?
Did we say anything that was
like really bad?
And he's like, yeah, yeah.
I mean dude, now even Skip was
like wow you guys are mean.
He said stuff too, to be fair.
Not, not not to the same level
we did, obviously, But no,
right.
Well, people can afford to be
mad at us.
Can't really afford to be mad at
Skip with everybody's pots and
pans sitting over there in his
kitchen.
Yeah, all the pots and pans.
All the pots and pans, All
right, You want to connect your
phone and call Mr. Davis?
Sure, from the four quarters of
the world, all the cigar
industry news you could possibly
need.
The Cigar Hustler podcast report
with Mike too.
I slide in my chair and you
don't.
It's very uncomfortable, the big
story.
Of the week.
Is that it?
I was just looking at the pants.
I think it's the pants.
The big story of the week is
that John Carney bought a
Bentley.
He purchased a 1997 coupe with
220,000 miles.
I saw that post you made.
Yeah, it's funny.
John Carney, we don't Fact
Check.
We don't Fact Check.
From what I heard he needed it
to pull his food wagon, the
shake and bake shack where he is
now selling chicken and Leo is
helping.
Him shake and bake I'm.
Not sure of the accuracy but we
don't Fact Check our stuff.
Wow.
So Carney joined Bentley.
Now you know who owns Bentley.
Who?
Shuster's.
That's right.
Yeah, the Shuster.
'S just stayed up on your
reading.
Yeah, I actually have the real
story too.
Yeah, yeah.
You want to read that?
John Kearney, the long time VP
of sales for La Florida
Dominicana, will now lead
Bentley Tobacco USA, the new
American division of the Bentley
Tobacco, a German company.
Bentley Tobacco, which is no
relationship to the car brand,
is let.
Which I didn't, I didn't know
because it looks similar.
I love it.
They got away with it like they.
Well, it's a different industry.
They asked for a blessing or
something.
It's a different industry, so
you're allowed.
Maybe, but I think that the base
different.
I think that there would.
Be slightly different is it is
led by Martin Schuster.
He is the son of Philip
Schuster, who runs August
Schuster.
It's MC Bentley's.
MC Bentley's Yes.
Based in Bundell, the Schuster
family has been involved in
tobacco for more than 100 years.
Over the years have served at
German distributors for number
of American companies, including
Cle, Drew State, LA, Florida
Mintecona and Roma Craft Tobac.
Connie spent more than a decade
as the VP of sales for Florida
Mintecona, a tenure that ended
last month.
And it's over and.
It's.
You know, it was interesting.
He must had a what?
A 30 day no compete.
No, I don't think he had an I.
Don't think he had a compete at
all either, right?
It you know, I have questions.
I know that, he went on Bear.
I guess I could listen.
Well, he went on.
He made the announcement.
Well, it was funny.
He said he had a big
announcement.
He was going on Dojo, right?
And in the morning Dojo was
supposed to do their show.
He did the announcement on
Facebook.
Oh, really?
Yeah.
He scooped his own scoop.
He scooped the scoop.
He scooped the Dojo guys.
I wonder if somebody got pissed
off and I said you gotta
announce it must.
Have been, yeah.
I don't know, you know.
Yeah, But then he went on Bear.
I didn't.
I didn't watch that one.
Private Eye Palmer on the case.
That's pretty interesting.
Well, because I saw the thing.
I went oh good now I don't have
to watch Dojo.
His lighting look good, his
lighting look.
Decent was it?
Did it look good?
Coop sent me a Facebook message
of another guy in a car doing an
interview.
He goes.
I guess it's.
A thing.
It's a thing now.
I said at least he's at least I
can see him.
Oh yeah, the Dome light on.
He heard us and he turned the
Dome light on.
But yeah, that's pretty good.
Let's see, we're delighted to
have found the perfect
distribution partner for our
Bentley products in Jonathan
Carney.
Oh, so he's the distributor in
America?
Like the opposite everybody else
is doing?
Yeah, it's going to be
interesting.
Well, they live over in Germany.
You know why?
You will, yes.
You know, you know, formed a
new.
I got to tell you, back in USA
is a new business, new company.
I got to tell you, did I tell
you this industry is fucking
tough?
Yeah, he did.
All right.
And so just so that we know
that, you know, he's got an
uphill battle.
He's got a lot of challenges
that he's going to have to do.
I don't know if he's going to
build a sales force that I
probably should.
Listen to the Bear interview.
But you know, he told me about
this.
Yeah, we don't Fact Check.
He told me he was doing this
when I saw him at the snack
shack.
Oh.
I didn't know you saw him at the
snack shack.
Yeah, it's yeah, I did.
He went out of.
Here.
Oh no, that's right.
You said there was not a truck.
There's a table.
Yeah, right, right.
And he was.
Being pulled by Bentley.
He told me that Bentley was
happening and I said, oh cool,
you know, did he give you 1?
He didn't give me one, no.
Wow, that's a mistake.
I.
Probably would have traded for
Ferrari.
No, no them so.
For robbery, though, yeah, No,
he didn't give me one.
Oh.
The picture looks like it's the
same cigar.
Maybelline has the one right?
Use it for like my little stash
upstairs.
I thought I saw a box of them
somewhere.
I'm sure somebody found a
picture of them and used it in a
press release of some sort.
I think you know.
You would think they would send
them a box.
I don't know, man.
They, they look, there's going
to be challenges.
There can be a lot of challenges
there.
Do we know where these are made?
And can you, I think Hoya and
can you leverage your, you
leverage your the relationships
that you have grown over the
past decade in order to help
provide and facilitate that
company is the real.
Question.
Sure.
I mean, I I would support
Carney.
Well, it's funny.
This morning Greg and I were
talking about this and I asked
Greg how long till we carry it.
And he goes, you're probably
right.
Yeah, right.
Swipe the card, Greg.
I mean, swipe the card, Greg.
I mean we.
Gave bought them all, Greg.
We gave me, we gave make a pack
a shot.
I mean, we wouldn't give anybody
a shot.
We're.
Slamming that door again, There
we go.
Oh, probably should have called
me back.
Oh, oh, see, I told you we
didn't mention the name now.
You did.
At least it was you this time.
Should have called me back.
That should be the shirt for
this year's PCA.
Should have called me back.
Look, that would be a great
shirt for us to listen.
I have no problem going out and
saying hey, I'm sorry if I
crossed the line, if I offended
you or anything like that, I
apologize.
But the reality is that if if
you are upset and you want to
have resolve, sure, pick up the
fucking.
Phone.
Sure, let's have a dialogue.
Let's talk about this.
Pick up this all out.
Yeah, pick up the phone.
Right.
We're not holding anymore.
Homer's the one that that holds
the grudge.
They shoot me a text or
something, right?
OK.
But I called him on Friday, you
know.
I haven't seen him on social
media period since.
And it's Tuesday.
I mean, I know that he was going
through some other shit again,
sure, throughout the weekend,
but like, pick up the fucking
phone.
Pick up the phone.
Right, there's driving between
these things.
You're yeah, you could give me a
buzz or even when you're sitting
down and chilling, you know,
right?
Shit's on you homie.
So this is a a branch of LFD.
No, no, this is a whole new
branch.
Holy moly.
No, Yeah, but you said that they
own LFD as.
Well, no, I did not.
Didn't say that.
Didn't say that at all.
OK, Shuster, he's.
Got to be doing drugs.
He's got to be, he's got to be
doing.
That read the first part.
The first part.
Yeah, there's who's.
That oh oh, you're the.
Big story of the week in the
hand Jon Carney bought at.
Bentley, he's talking about the
Shuster.
So they handle distribution for
brands.
Oh.
OK.
They're not in Europe.
Yeah.
In Europe, this is their brand
that's only sold in Europe.
I was unclear on who the
shusters are.
Isn't that the German guy that
we met at PCA at one time?
The bald head glasses.
No, no, that's sole.
Oh, OK.
Dalai Sala, Dalai Dalai.
All right.
OK, Carney doesn't have a formal
title, though he will be tasked
with managing the US operations.
In addition to his role with
Bentley, Carney's also
transforming the purveyors, a
project he started during this
time at La Florida Manicana,
into a cigar industry focused
marketing agency.
Is he still doing that?
Oh, I guess the on the shoulders
of giants.
Yeah.
OK, just curious, Romocraft to
backs and temperance lines,
swapping out Bellicoso for new
toros?
Yes, Roman Craft Tobacco has
announced it will be adding a
new 6 by 54 Toro extra size to
its four in Temperance blends.
However, those new vitals will
replace a 5 1/2 by 54 Bellicoso
that is currently sells in each
of those lines.
Is Bellicoso becoming a
unpopular?
Vitola, No, I don't think that's
the case.
But I think after 13 years of
making a particular cigar, you
would think that we would make
the vitola.
That's the most fucking common.
Well, Nika Rustica has also
discontinued their Bellicoso.
No, I I don't think that it
makes, I think that the Toro is
the most sought after sign.
Hey, you know, you should really
try the CC you got on Toro.
And you know, retail is like
retailer.
A lot of retailers will say no,
right?
No one says no, but I have I
have this, I have this Bellicoso
and you can do different cuts on
it and you know, different
cases.
Like they don't think all that.
They said, Oh no, I don't have
that.
Well, yeah, they don't go past
step one.
Yeah.
So they're doing a let's see.
They're doing the Treachery, the
Fidelity, and the Tully.
Oh, and the Fiorella La Gordia.
La Gorda.
La Guardia.
LaGuardia.
Not Guardia.
Not like the airport.
Airport Guardia.
LaGuardia.
Guardia.
Guardia.
What's that mean in Spanish?
Guard.
And a post on Instagram Skip
Skip Martin, Co founder from
Crafted Back, said the pricing
for the new Toro exercise is
expected to be the same as the
current pricing for Bella Cosa.
We originally weren't going to
say anything and just made the
switch, but then I realized I
could make some new names that
no one will understand.
So now they have to guess or
what the new names mean.
And that's a great step.
That's a great approach, Kip.
Good job.
That's not what he said.
You have to understand Palmer at
this point.
Right.
I was like, wow, he.
Said 3/4 of that though.
You know, I really want to make
it a little more confusing.
Make it confusing.
Just change your names again.
Let people do you have.
What I mean, you have the
industries.
No, but I do I the industries
are no longer being.
Produced.
No, no, we we got rid of the
ambition and now we make a
treachery.
But the treachery's available.
Right.
You don't have the industry.
No, no, I have Fidelity.
You can now get the Fidelity.
How about the Washington?
Nope, it's Tully now.
I know him personally.
Now I'm going by his first.
Name it's Tully.
FDA finally issues the Tobacco
21 rule.
Yeah.
Yes, FDA is now saying it's a
rule.
OK.
When Donald J Trump signed the
HR 1865 into law in the late
2019, the massive 1.4 trillion
spending bill contained a
provision that increased the
minimum to purchase tobacco
products from 18 to 21 years old
federally.
However, Trump's signature
wasn't all that was needed.
Oh yeah.
Oh, the bill clearly stated that
the secretary of Health and
Human Services needed to publish
a finalized rule that would
state as much as the Federal
Register, the US government's
official books.
There's an official book.
He didn't put it in the book.
Oh.
Per the bill, that was supposed
to happen within 180 days of HR
1865 being published before the
end that which would have been
before the end of May 2020.
Well, let's see, last Friday
some 1700 days later and then
will finally happen. the US Food
and Drug Administration
announced that the rule will
officially published in the
federal registry on August 30th.
It will officially go into
effect 30 days after that.
Maybe I mean but kind of wishy
washy on the days.
This whole thing is just
horseshit.
Yeah, well, it makes no sense.
In practical terms, the change
it'll actually have no no effect
on anything.
Nothing.
OK, but let's review.
So was it a rule?
So here's the thing that's
really kind of.
Fucked.
Trump made it a rule, but for it
to be official they had to put
it in the book and they had 180
days.
But now, 1700 days later, now
it's in the.
OK.
So not only did you slide a
regulation into a fiscal budget,
which I think is completely
fucked.
Yes.
You know, and, and the reason
why nobody thought about it is
because, oh, it only affected
kids 18 to 21.
Like, it's not us.
Who gives a shit, right?
So whatever, right?
Then it was a requirement of the
FDA to put it in the books, and
they're supposed to put it in
within a. 180 days.
OK, six months time?
Sure.
It took them 4 fucking years
over four years. 1700 days.
To get it into the books, if I
did something that required was
supposed to require six months
of effort and took me 4 years,
I'd be fucking fired.
Well, they only audit every four
years, so.
Yeah, they only take the, They
only check the books once every
four years.
It's coming up to the end.
They're like, shit, We didn't
put that in.
Nobody put that.
In Don't worry, nobody cares.
Nobody cares, just hurry up for
the new boss when he gets there.
You know he'll notice it all
the.
Sad part is that's how you guys
lose.
We lose laws and regulate like
we lose.
Things just sort of fall to the
wayside.
Well, no.
This thing gets submitted.
Nobody fights it, Nobody's
upset.
They're like, oh, it doesn't, no
big deal.
Yeah, 15 to 20.
One, but you know, meanwhile the
fucking kids that are 18 to 21
that we can ship off to overseas
fucking take a bullet for their
country.
Like no, no, just cigars, no.
Sugar, cigarette, tobacco,
tobacco.
It just, it just doesn't make
sense to me.
Just make it make sense.
You can't have a drink either.
Yeah, no drinkies.
No.
Yes.
All right.
The UKIS expand smoking ban.
Oh wow.
United Kingdom's new government
is considering a expanded
smoking ban as it works to
decrease tobacco use.
I'm moving to Green Bay, WI, I
can smoke on the stadium.
Lambeau.
That the only reason you they
have a lot of cheese there too.
I don't know.
That's the only reason.
Just so you can smoke in the
state.
Become a Packer fan.
Fuck it.
Just to smoke in the state,
yeah.
Yeah, smoker friendly.
Yep.
No smoker friendly is out of
Tampa.
We talked about that couple.
They're the only ones that are
progressive.
Oh, Lambeau Stadium.
According to reports, the
government is working on a
proposal that will expand
non-smoking areas.
It's unclear how the how firm
the proposals are at the moment,
but places such as pub gardens,
hookah lounges as well as areas
outside the bars, stadiums,
universities and hospitals were
mentioned in a report by The Sun
which claimed to have seen the
document related to the
proposal.
When asked about the report, the
son of Prime Minister asked
report by the Sun.
The Prime Minister, Mr. Starmer,
head of the new Labor
government, did not confirm nor
deny that plans were being
worked on.
Furthermore, is unclear that
this will mean for the Tobacco
and Vapes Bill a generational
tobacco ban that was introduced
by Mr. Sunak, the former Prime
Minister.
Last year, Sunak began working
on getting that proposal, which
would ban anyone born after 2008
from buying tobacco and vaping
products in the UK, passed into
law.
So to summarize, the new law may
or may not currently be in the
works, but the local newspaper
has seen a draft of the law.
But the Labor leader will not
confirm nor deny the possibility
of such a law.
And if it passes, we have no
idea what effect to India will
have on the current spoken.
And if we did figure it out,
it's probably going to take four
years for us to implement it
anyway.
No, that's here.
That's just, oh, that's sorry.
It takes them longer.
Yeah, and not for nothing, but
they knew when to get rid of
Aaron Rodgers.
Who do you?
Oh, we're back to Green Bay.
Yeah.
I'm just, I don't really care
about the UK.
This is so stupid.
Cigar.
Their rules and their
regulations are absurd.
Yes, that's stupid.
Yeah, right.
That's why we left you.
Right.
That's why we left.
Yeah, right.
Cigar imports keep pace in 2023
through first five months.
Cigar imports keep pace.
With 2023, Yeah, through the
first five months of the year of
2024.
Not for the last five.
From January to May, the number
of premium cigars imported in
the US is roughly the same as
last year's record setting year.
Slightly down.
It's got to be slightly down.
Let's say roughly the same as
the budgets.
Last, well, they only they only
have it to May.
Yeah, but but I'm just saying,
even those five.
Oh, you think by the end of the
year it's going to be?
Well, they say roughly the same,
right?
I bet you that's like they're
fluffing that.
Oh, you think so?
I bet you.
It's still a little less.
CAA calculates these numbers
based on both the import numbers
are provided by the US Census
Bureau, US Customs Services, and
information from cigar companies
themselves.
So yeah, the people are getting
them from.
It's just.
Oh yeah.
The Census Bureau is counting
cigars as they come in.
I thought they counted one
people in the house. 2.
The trade group numbers are not
exactly because of reporting
differences.
It estimates how many large
cigars were actually premium
cigars.
The difference between the two
is not the two is that there are
some machine made cigars that
made the US definition of a
large cigar that those cigars
would not be considered premium.
Cigars it's.
A lot of confusion with what's a
cigar, apparently.
Wow, so.
What is so they can fluff it all
they want?
That's all bullshit.
Brown, you light it.
Was it in a machine or was it
because that's not premium?
If it's in a machine but it's
really big, no, big does not
mean premium.
But I keep telling my wife big
is not premium.
Yeah.
Because all those JFRS aren't
premium.
Huh.
No, apparently not.
Actually, those are premium.
Those are premium, even if
they're big.
Oh, you know who reads?
Terence reached out to me
recently.
Terence Riley.
Yeah.
Well, is he come on the show,
too?
No, we got to wear tan pants.
No, he actually said.
Hey man, you guys are really
stepping up your Instagram
videos and stuff.
Oh, all the all the clips and
stuff, Yeah.
Do we even put that on
Instagram?
Oh, we do the show.
Yeah, put on the show page.
That's right.
Should.
Give him a flex.
Should give him a flex.
Just real quick, I'm.
Going to do a video clip for
him.
Alright, with him in it.
Oh, Terrence.
Yeah.
Oh, are you going to put him in?
He's on the show, I'll figure.
Oh, this little piece right
here, we just said yeah.
There you go.
Look at that.
We should just mention people's
names so we can put him in.
The clips I mean.
I love the last one where I
whipped in Justin looking like a
fucking idiot.
Yeah, that was nice.
Yeah.
Still want one of those cutouts?
We would put it right here.
Oh wait, how did you ask for the
light on the cutter You used?
Dry bag?
Is that what it was?
Dry bag?
Yeah, No, I took a picture of my
lighter and posted it on
Facebook.
And you said broken.
My letter's not broken, I'm
right here.
No, no, no.
The why did he send you that?
The old one.
I have it right here.
I just showed him how worn out
it was.
Oh yeah.
So if I set up the Postnania 1 I
can go oh it doesn't have Justin
in it?
Doesn't have Justin in it.
Yeah, you mean for the cut out?
You want him to send you a
liner?
No, I want his cut out.
I.
Want.
That's what he's Tom on.
Jess and Andrews, yeah, the one
the gay one of his foot up, but
it's letting go, however his.
Face.
That is a cute one.
It is.
It's very nice.
Yeah.
I think that picture was taken
down.
I can't find that one picture
with him standing right next to
it.
Yeah, he probably got razzed
enough.
Probably yeah.
Oh fuck, are you guys?
Oh, this is now I have Florida
stories I.
Yeah, 'cause Jay's available in
10 minutes, so.
It's 3:15.
Wow.
An hour went by.
Quick.
Oh, did he?
Yeah.
Oh, OK.
That was that was a fast hour.
Sloth fever spreads in Central
Florida.
What is it and where is the
outbreak?
It's coleslaw.
What?
He said.
Sloth.
Sloth.
Oh sloth.
Fever.
Sloth.
But the animal?
The animal.
Oh, nearly dozen cases of new
sloth fever virus have been
reported in Florida over the
last week, according to a state
health officials.
Sanford Zoo.
Among the cases, some of people
have it not animals.
Oh, among the cases, some have
emerged in Central Florida, the
I can't pronounce it.
Some type of virus also known as
sloth fever was first identified
in 1955 in Trinidad and Tobago.
And the virus is currently an
epidemic to the Amazon region
epidemic.
So Ed come out and get him
paintball.
It's in Panama.
Yes, the CDC reports the
outbreaks of the virus began to
pop up late last year in South
America and the Caribbean.
Health officials explained that
the virus has spread to humans
via infected biting midges and
some mosquito species.
Wow.
Midges are the little no seams,
yeah.
OK, that's funny.
I just I'm pretty sure I just
got bit by some no seams
recently.
Oh.
As a result, some travelers to
affect theirs, like Cuba and
Brazil and Panama, have been
identified as carrying the virus
upon their return home.
Your arms are getting.
Longer some of the symptoms do I
I start moving slower.
OK, here's the symptoms.
Fever.
Nope.
Muscle pain?
Oh yes.
Always.
Headache.
Yes.
No fatigue.
I'm always tired.
Joint pain.
Of course diarrhea, I mean some
joint pain.
Only on Monday mornings.
No diarrhea.
No diarrhea, abdominal pain.
Nope.
Nausea and vomiting?
No, I've had all that but the
fever today.
Wow.
I woke up with most of these.
Oh good, I can't wait.
I can't wait to get in the car.
You should tell Greg about this.
Yeah, he'll, he'll have it.
With the virus now having popped
up in Central Florida, Orange
County Mosquito Control is
conducting daytime and nighttime
sprays in local neighborhoods.
Oh, that's where they're
spraying.
Yeah, that's it for the Yeah,
for the Slav fever.
Spray away, kill them all.
When I was a kid, we used to
chase that one on our bikes.
Those spray spray trucks.
Oh.
My God man, explain to all the
problems.
Yeah, that explains why you
can't remember fucking anything.
Hey, another Florida story.
Florida man was arrested if
authorities reportedly found him
drunk and naked inside a
garbage.
Can another naked guy?
Inside a garbage.
And a garbage can.
And a garbage can.
Weiland James Weeks, 35, was
taken into custody after he
tried arguing with cops about
whether he was allowed to engage
in such a bizarre behavior.
According to the rest records
obtained by The Smoking Gun,
Saint Petersburg police officers
alleged Weeks was intoxicated,
unsteady on his feet and reeked
of alcohol when they discovered
him in the Downtown St.
Saturday evening.
During the encounter, Weeks
claimed he couldn't be arrested
because he was in quotes, was
allowed to be drunk and
disorderly and sit naked in a
trash can on a public sidewalk.
You can't tell me you.
Literally acted like the ground
from Sesame Street.
Right.
That was the law.
It was into the official.
Law I can hide in.
This I can hide in this.
I mean temporarily.
He's not drunk in public, I
guess.
I guess so.
The 35 year old also said he
didn't have didn't have to tell
police his name or his
demographics.
What's your name tell?
You anything?
Grouch, I'm completely in the
law here.
It's a naked in the trash can.
I'm not hurting.
Anything, I'm fine.
After.
So I could never be a cop.
I instantly would have tased
that guy.
You know, like stop.
No, no, no, no there.
You go.
Sorry.
OK.
After and then put the lid back
on, he'll be asleep for you.
After officers pulled the nude
man from the corner trash can,
they arrested Weeks for
disorderly intoxication and
resisting an officer without
violence, according to the
reports.
He pleaded guilty to both
misdemeanor charges the next day
and was fined $520.
This wasn't the only time he's
been drunk in public.
And naked.
He was caught on a drunken
escapade, The Smoking Gun
reports Weeks, and a male friend
was spotted drunken naked on a
Tampa St. after they left the
bar.
Oh, this is a dare thing.
They allegedly told cops they
thought it would be funny to
take off all their clothes.
Yeah.
We just thought it'd be funny.
It'd.
Be funny.
Look, we're naked, OK?
It's the next.
All right, you want to give Jay
Davis a call has.
It been 10 minutes.
It's only been he's 5.
He's ready.
Hello, gentlemen.
Mr. Davis?
Mr. Davis, Sir, sorry about the
time problem.
It was my mistake.
Hello.
Still got a problem?
Yeah, sorry about that.
Apparently in his youthful
years, he used to chase around
the mosquito van that would
spray out.
Yeah.
They're about the same age.
I'm sure he's familiar with that
summertime.
I have a lot of a.
Lot of memory loss.
See.
So do you.
Did you also chase around the
mosquito sprayer when you were
younger?
Yeah, No, he did not.
He saw the big skull and
crossbones in the back of the
truck.
We.
Didn't know what it was.
That's just what we did.
Oh yeah.
Londarts, Jarts.
Jarts.
Yep.
So go ahead.
So you just got back from your
trip from Louisiana for the PCA
and.
That was a lot of fun.
They took thanks.
Thanks for calling.
They took really good care of
you, that I'm guessing so.
Yeah, I mean, what's not to like
about New Orleans?
The food is phenomenal, people
are friendly.
And even though it was a little
warm for, you know, being
August, I mean, it's still a lot
nicer than being in Las Vegas.
Worth 105,000.
Oh, yeah, that's for sure.
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
So tell me some of the big
takeaways there, Mike, What'd
you got?
You gonna ask something?
No, I didn't go well that, but
well, I just looked at the
question.
That was actually the first
question.
OK, so yeah, So what were some
of the big takeaways from the
meeting?
Well, I, I thought the, we got
to look at the Convention
Center, which, you know, they've
been updating a lot of it.
So part of it they're still
working on, but the parts that
we saw look really nice, brand
new carpets, super nice.
It's not a very far walk at all
from the hotels.
And I I think that the overall
experience been in New Orleans
is going to be so much nicer and
the food is a whole lot cheaper
than it is in Las Vegas.
I mean, yeah, obviously, you
know, you're in a touristy area.
It's going to be expensive.
But compared to Las Vegas, you
can get a lot more calories per
dollar.
Have have you done a show at in
New Orleans yet?
I actually have not.
It's kind of weird that the last
two shows we had in New Orleans
1.
I had to go see my aunt in
Colorado and I think the one
before that was we were we as on
like our second or third trade
show and I was 6 so I couldn't
make it.
So this will be a first for me.
Interesting.
I know that they were, they were
having a conversation before
about possibly doing a set up
place on the outside with tents
where everybody can kind of.
That was my question next.
Congregate.
Yeah, Joshua Bersky had
mentioned something to us about
possibly tenting the entire area
between the hotels and the
convention.
Yeah.
So that there was a spot for
everybody to kind of congregate.
Is that still in the works or
no?
Well, I, I don't know if they're
going to tent like a three block
area, but we definitely found,
first of all, I guess I should
let you know the hotels.
Do you want to know that?
Yes, certainly.
So the the hotels, if you're
familiar with that area, will be
the Hampton Inn, the Hilton
Garden Inn, the Embassy Suites
and the Hilton Riverside.
The the Hilton is the the main
one.
I was, I was.
But there's also like, if if you
really want to spend money,
there's also a limited Meridian.
There's Four Seasons, There's
the Ritz Carlton, there's all
kinds of great places to stay,
but you know, a lot of great
places that are all pretty
centrally located.
And one of the things that we
looked at was places to smoke.
And there's lots of places to
smoke that are very close to the
the hotel, since hotels are not
far from the French border.
So I think that people are going
to find that this is a a lot
more doable than, you know, I
think they're anticipating.
OK.
Is it mostly going to be outdoor
smoking?
Yeah, I think for the most part,
there will be obviously some
places you can smoke inside.
Certainly on the trade show
floor there's there's a number
of cigar shops and some other
options.
But I don't think that it's
really going to be that big of
an issue.
If we think about how Las Vegas
was last year in March, it's
going to be a little bit warmer
than that, but it's not going to
be uncomfortably warm.
In fact, I think some people
were like a little chilly last
year in March in Vegas.
So it's going to be very
comfortable.
Another cool thing is the French
Quarter fest is going to be
happening over the dates.
So there's a lot of cool things
that people can do to kind of
get that local experience.
I think that it's going to be
awesome.
We're also going to publish a
list of lounges where you can
smoke and coordinated spaces
that are near where the hotels
are and where the French Quarter
are.
So we, we've got some options.
So if you only want to walk the
block, there's going to be
options.
If you, if you feel like, you
know, maybe going a few blocks
to the French Quarter, you can
do that.
So there's a lot of great
options.
I really didn't expect there to
be so many options for smoking.
And particularly when you
compare it with a couple of
years ago where you had that one
little bar Luca where you know,
you had group of 30 people and
that was it.
You've got a lot of.
Options.
OK.
Did you do you have any concerns
or anything that came up during
the the trip that they have to
address before the board will be
happy?
Well, oh, I'm sure that there's
always concerns.
I mean, for me, this was the
first time that I ever went and
visited a trencher location 8
months ahead of time.
And what really impressed me was
all the people you have to work
with.
You know, there's a there's the
obviously there's the the
Convention Center people.
Then there are the people within
there like Shepherd.
Then there are the people that
handle food and beverage.
Then there's the tourist.
There's like a name from the
tourist people that that welcome
tourists to New Orleans.
There's also the City Council.
So there's, there's a lot of
moving pieces.
And what really impressed me is
Lisa Cox and Shannon and their
team.
They, they ask questions and I'm
just sitting there feeling
stupid because obviously they're
very good at what they do.
And it's, it's a lot of moving
parts.
But I was pretty impressed with
eight months before the show,
how organized they were.
And I think the people are going
to be very pleased with the
final result.
Absolutely.
You know, I'm looking forward to
it.
Thanks bro.
Yeah, I love, I love the option
being in Texas because I can
drive, which is 8 hours now.
The only reason I flew was
because we had our first
meeting.
Nothing.
I mean, even in the airport they
had an Emerald's table.
So you got, you can get like a
really good bowl of gumbo or
great food even in the airport.
That's what you know, it's just
so different from Las Vegas that
that horrible slow wretching
weight and all that.
And they had things organized
with like when I flew back, if
you have see, here goes the
memory again, the TSA pre-check
or whatever.
I mean, it was, it's so much
easier getting in out of that
airport than this out of Las
Vegas.
OK, cool.
Well, hey, what else you got
Paul?
Anything else to add?
No, he's covered a lot of the
questions.
He didn't answer that I was
smoking, but.
What are you smoking?
I'm actually smoking for drugs.
I was going to smoke one of your
cigars, by the way.
I don't know if anyone's rated.
I'm sure.
How about that cigar hasn't?
But your Connecticut is just
amazing.
Thank you.
I mean, obviously the Surrounded
by Champions is probably my
favorite and I love the Havana,
I love the broad leaf, but the
Connecticut is something that I
just go back to that and I love
the different sizes because you
get different flavor profiles.
You guys have done an amazing
job with that cigar.
Thank you so much.
I really appreciate that.
Halfwell just gave us an idea on
the broad leaf, the Corona
Gorda.
What?
What?
What?
Was that?
Yeah.
What was that?
Corona, Gorda The.
New size.
We're implementing, Yeah, so and
then I know that the Justice got
a 91, which is the Connecticut
Corona Gorda as well.
We're moving along, you know,
we're doing our best.
We're trying to make great
products and continuing to
deliver.
So I appreciate you smoking it
even though you're smoking up a
drone now, you bastard.
You know, the reason I I wanted
to smoke up a drone is, you
know, I did.
I wanted when I smoked your
Connecticut, it's one of those
cigars you kind of just fall
into and it's just a whole
experience, you know, per drone,
just I don't have to think about
it.
Yeah, fair enough.
Fair enough.
All right.
Perfect.
Anything else Ed?
No, we appreciate you taking the
time, Sir.
Yes, yeah, we're interacting.
With four hours.
No, that's it.
This.
Isn't this isn't.
We don't.
We don't.
Just check in, give some
information, give yourself a
plug.
Blue Smoke Dallas.
Do you have a website or do you
want anybody to call in for any
product or anything like that?
Go ahead and give it.
Yeah, it's Blue Smoke of Dallas,
but generally just call the
store.
We do ship all over the country
and in fact several
international countries as well,
but we don't do it through a
website.
Part of dealing with T21 and
part of it just because I'm a
cigar lounge owner.
I don't want to ship cigars to
anyone that I haven't talked and
got to know.
In fact, I've had people call me
up and say, oh, I want to spend
4 or $5000.
Great, let's let's get on the
phone.
Let's get to know each other
first because to me, that's
important.
You know, I don't want to just
just sell this to people I don't
know.
And I know that makes me a
dinosaur, but I know every one
of my customers and if I haven't
met them personally, they were a
direct referral from another
customer.
That's just how I operate.
I think that's important, man.
That's a.
Great way to do it.
Customer services is the only
thing that makes anybody
different in in this industry
so.
I got a buddy of mine, he gave
me a hard time a few years ago.
He's like, I want to build
orders to guard some underwear
too in the morning.
I said, well, then we're not the
store for you, right?
And then since then he's called
a couple times and like last
time he called, it's like, look,
I want to get a box of sex and
sex.
I'm like, OK, because I want to
send two boxes to these guys and
I want I want to let him know
that, you know, I appreciate
good business with them.
So I went out to the store, got
a couple, you know, cards.
I had bought Hallmark cards in a
while, you know, and then I just
personally wrote, you know, sort
of what he wanted to address.
And that way just add that
personal touch.
And as you know, personal touch
is important.
And as opposed to, you know, you
know, here's your print out for
the computer and what have you,
you know, that's one of the
things Abe does really well too.
And you guys do, you know, it's
always that personalized
service.
And I think that that's
important in, you know, today's,
you know, e-commerce society,
you know, a. 100% a. 100% I did
want to let you know that hotel
room blocks are open actually,
and you can go ahead and and log
on to that.
You can go to the website or
it's HTTPS back slash back slash
pcshow.org back slash travel.
And so people, you know, are
anally retentive and they want
to get their hotels early.
We can go ahead and do that.
I thought that the host hotel
was really cool.
They've got a great restaurant,
I think it's called Drag Post
and they've got, you know, red
beans and rice.
They have jambalaya, they rock
cornbread, they've got the the
fried oysters.
They've got everything that
you'd want to eat that's a
traditional fare.
And there's a couple of being a
places that are literally like a
two or three minute walk away.
That's nice.
Yeah, and you know, I decided
not to do a Cafe de Mon,
although I've been there before.
It's just kind of old and sweaty
went out and I went to this
place called Benny's.
I'm going to say it's the best
beignets in the world, but they
are hot and the place was clean
and spotless except for I didn't
they didn't have any forks.
So I look like, you know, Al
Pacino and Scarface.
That's.
How I finished my?
3 beignets and powder all over
me, you know?
But yeah, there's just a lot of
stuff that you can do.
It's a very friendly city you
get around and some of the cigar
shops are just awesome and I
think there's different flavors
of cigar shops there that you
know they're all different.
You know, some of them have one
of the cigar shops we went to
had an impressive liquor
collection.
I mean they had Mitchener's 25.
They had 6 or 7 bottles of
Mitchener's.
They had a lot of Pappy's
because the guy used to work in
Las Vegas and he's tied him with
all those alcohol people.
And then there's other shops.
It's kind of like a corner shop
and then there's like, you know,
you know, Mayan import that one
might require a cab, but they've
got so many great different
options there.
It I think people are going to
be very impressed with the
options all.
Right.
Fantastic.
Sounds like it sounds like it's
going to be really nice.
Yeah.
Absolutely.
Yeah, I enjoyed myself.
And you know, I think we're a
little sore, but that's because
we walked a lot.
But there's Ubers all over the
place.
You can get Ubers and lifts and
all that.
It's very easy to get around.
But we decided to walk it and it
was just awesome.
Just the sounds, the smells, the
music.
I mean, anyone who joins jazz or
Blues music or good food, I
mean, there are so many great
options.
Perfect.
All right, Jay.
Well, thank you very much for
calling in.
I we appreciate the Intel and we
look forward to seeing you out
there.
That was great and I'm going to
go listen to this and I'm going
to subscribe.
I had not been following your
podcast, but you know, I'm
excited to be invited.
Thank you very much.
Oh, you're welcome.
Thank you for being on.
OK, take care.
Guys, bye, bye.
There you go, Jay Davis.
He's very enthralled with the
the local flavors there.
Yeah, he's eating it up.
He's.
Yeah, he's really enjoyed it.
Very exciting.
It sounds nice the way he's
describing it.
I mean, yeah, I've been there
before, but when you go on July,
it's well.
I was gonna say when you guys
went, I there's only been a few
pictures that I saw and
everybody was sweaty and, and
they talk about the humidity
and.
That was when I meant the
legend.
Alan Schumer of Caribbean
cigars.
Yeah.
Always been nice to me.
You know what not.
What everybody's complaining
about.
Mr. Camacho that we did the show
with, he had a terrible he's
scared to death.
Everybody's petrified.
I love I love it when people are
scared of other people.
Yeah, I know.
I dig that.
Especially when they're my
friend.
That's fantastic.
Right?
All right, well, let's end this
and let's get into the Patreon.
All right, there's been episode
351, a cigar hustler podcast.
Thank you.
Who's #1A cigar hustler?
The podcast.
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Show Notes
**Episode 350: Cigar Hustlers Podcast** – Tune in for our Weekend Update as we dive into the latest happenings with your hosts. We’ve got an exclusive interview with Jay Davis, PCA Board member, who gives us the inside scoop on his recent planning trip to New Orleans for the 2025 Convention and Trade Show. Plus, we cover the latest industry news and hear from Phil as he announces his big move to a more gay-friendly country. Don’t miss this action-packed episode!