December 24, 2024· 1h 4m

Cigar Hustlers Podcast Episode 367: Festivus Frenzy, Big Wins, and the Top Cigars of 2024!

Transcript

You don't have to love me.

You don't have to love me if you

want to taste me, If you want to

hate me, you know where to find

me.

And if you go and hate me, I'll

be cruising in my life.

Got to tickle.

Welcome to Cigar Hustlers

podcast episode 367, recording

live at Mike and Mike Production

Studio in Deltona, FL.

This is a Scar Hustlers podcast,

the show where cigars, business

and life collide.

Join your host Mike Stephon

Kevitch and Mike Palmer as they

bring you unfiltered takes on

the cigar industry, insider

stories and a whole lot of

laughs.

Me I'm Boots, you're sound and

video engineering and who can't

ad Lib and just read exactly

what's on the paper so you may

sit back, light up and enjoy the

hustle.

Squared, squared, squared.

Hello, Michael.

Good afternoon, Michael.

Merry Christmas.

Is that Christmas Eve episode?

It'll come out tomorrow on

Christmas.

Eve.

Christmas Eve especial.

So I dressed up a little bit for

Christmas Eve and because it's

time for the top 25.

Yes.

It's time.

It's OK, you combed your hair,

so that was nice.

I comb my hair.

Nice of you.

I combed my boots.

Even has a Sport coat on.

You just can't see him.

Yeah, I combed my hair too.

He combed his hair.

Yes, he did.

He did, yes.

Nails.

OK, you need a manicure.

I put the finishing touches of

them.

I'm sorry, was was my Manny

petty skills not up to par for

the weekend?

No, I put the I painted more.

Yeah, I was finishing my house

doing like details and it was

brutal.

Oh.

It took like five hours and it

wasn't, not even.

I'm not even done.

Don't tell you.

Maybe Santa's little elves will

show up and finish it.

Would be nice.

It would be nice.

So what do we got?

Let's go.

OK, we got some trending topics.

The Cowboys edge out the

Buccaneers in a thrilling match

up, securing a narrow 2624V with

clutch plays on both sides of

the ball.

Dallas managed to hold off on

Tampa Bay's late game search to

claim the win.

Yeah, I guess it came two days

after they were kicked out of

the play offs.

Yeah.

But they're mathematically

kicked off or something.

I was Yeah, they can't the the

yeah, there's nothing.

There's nothing else they can

do.

No, there's nothing Dallas can

do to make it into the

postseason.

So let's play really good this

last time.

Well, at this point, you're

playing for your job.

Oh, I got you.

Yeah.

OK.

Because it.

We'll, we'll, we'll get into

complete details when we do the

whole story.

This is just the intro portion,

alright.

Go ahead.

It's the intro portion.

President Joe Biden has commuted

a sentence of 37 out of 40

inmates previously in death row.

Uh.

Oh.

We have the three that decided

could still be killed.

OK, Honda and Nissan have

officially announced plans to

merge a ground breaking movie

that will create the world's

third largest automaker.

Oh.

Wow.

Behind Ford and General Motors I

would have had today is actually

Festivus, the iconic made-up

holiday from Seinfeld celebrated

on December 23rd.

It's a day of airing grievances,

feats of strength and, of

course, unadorned Festivus Bowl.

OK, when's the Krampus Day?

Is that today?

Krampus.

I don't know.

That's a different TV show.

We're doing Seinfeld today.

That's the evil.

That's the evil Krampus.

Yeah, he's in the red.

The red alert or red zone or

whatever the hell that was

called.

The red.

One red one that what it was, I

know it was red something.

It was red alert.

It was a terrible movie.

What?

It was terrible.

I thought it was a good movie.

Nope.

Boots has a story on Christmas.

Oh.

OK, Christmas Day feels like a

pause.

But those venture now will

actually open, so Boots has a

list of who's open on Christmas.

It's a very long list.

I like it.

It was much longer.

I cut it down.

Oh, perfect.

I don't think we care what

financial institutions are.

Basically there's none.

So I just spoiler alert there's

none at all.

OK, well, let's go.

All right, well then I also

after that we have the Cigar

Aficionado Top 25.

Who's on it, Who should be on

it?

Why is this person on it and how

much did they pay to get?

On Gotcha.

I also have a curveball for both

of you.

When it comes to curveballs,

Aficionado's top 25 we're.

Going to call somebody from a

cigar fishing house.

No, no, I'm going to play Davis.

I'm going to play some clips for

you.

Cigars.

People smoking cigars?

No.

What cigar was that?

Hot cakes.

Sorry, go ahead.

You'll have to see.

Oh, clips.

I'm very excited.

You actually did some pre

production work.

I did.

Oh.

Oh, people like the clips.

I'm getting a lot of comments on

your clips.

Yeah, but they say the quality

has sort of gone down lately.

They're they're very upset.

Oh yeah.

You don't put the funny pictures

and stuff in anymore.

Yeah.

I like the funny.

Pictures.

I'm just telling you what the

people have said, Michael.

That's fine.

A lot of people, you know, I

don't watch a show, but I love

the clips.

Yeah.

That's fine.

There's more clips on the show.

You should watch the show.

Yeah, if you like the clips,

watch the show.

It's a much longer version.

You really?

You really like the show?

It's crazy.

It's a crazy concept, right?

All right, Cowboys get greedy

with a 2624 win over Buccaneers

after playoff elimination.

The Cowboys season ended before

they had even had a chance to

play this week.

Yeah, that's what we're talking

about.

I guess they're mathematically

eliminated.

They are mathematically

eliminated brat bastards.

Well, while nobody actually

expected them to reach the

postseason, Dallas has

mathematically eliminated from

playoff contention early on

Sunday when the Commander's

quarterback Jaden Daniels threw

a go ahead touchdown.

Go ahead and make a touchdown, I

guess, right?

OK, with six seconds left to

upset the Eagles.

Yeah, that was big too.

So it's that easy, huh?

This guy made a touchdown and

then all of a sudden they're

out.

Are we?

Talking about the Cowboys, are

we talking about the?

Cowboys, Yeah.

So the Commanders had won

against the the Eagles, right?

Because of that, Dallas is

mathematically eliminated from

the division.

So it has nothing to do with

that it was a touchdown pass or

anything like that?

No, no.

It was a it was a go ahead

touchdown because they were

behind and then they took the

lead.

Oh, then they went ahead.

Oh.

Go ahead.

You need to go ahead and make a.

Touchdown.

Hey, let's go ahead and make

this one OK.

No, not like that.

All right, so now I will say

this.

There is nothing more dangerous

in the NFL than a team that has

to play with absolutely nothing

to lose, right?

You would think.

And that's what Dallas had.

They won.

You could the, the, the speech

the coach gives, you know, like

it doesn't matter if we win or

lose, but let's not lose.

Let's play 100% right And that's

what and that's what you got

the.

Last game of the season for us.

If you get hurt, you'll be

healed by next.

Year.

Well, it's not the last game of

the season for them because they

still have two more to go.

Oh, seriously?

Went yeah.

But they're out of playoff

contention.

So realistically what they're

doing each individual and as a

unit is they're playing for a

job.

And if you don't perform now.

Oh, this is when the the owner's

looking going OK, well, Mike,

Stefan Kevitch here isn't really

hustling, so.

I mean, realistically, would you

want a player that says, Oh

well, we're done, so I'm not

going to put in 100%.

No, I guess not.

I guess you got a point there.

Yeah.

I was like, all right, get the

fuck out, right?

Yeah, you're done.

So that the head coach,

especially because the head

coach, what's his name?

Matt Bootsy.

Tell me.

Mike McCarthy.

Ty.

It's a tie.

It's Mike Tie.

No, it's not.

I don't know.

Yeah.

McCarthy.

Mike McCarthy.

The guy from Green Bay, he.

Doesn't know he was from.

Green Bay, but he's just

guessing over there.

That was in Dallas, Yeah.

I mean, he's playing for his job

for sure.

Right?

Yeah.

So interesting stuff.

And you know, the way that they

Tampa started to come back and.

Yeah, it was very close game it

seems.

And it looked good.

And then there was this one

panic throw to Rashad White and

he scrambled up the field a

little bit and.

Rashad, he's a good scrambler.

And then he fumble the ball and

they took it back.

Not a good ball handler though.

Good scrambler, bad ball

handler.

He's a great ball handler.

They're actually second in the

NFL ranked for rushing yards.

Yeah, poor guy.

I mean, he really got chastised.

The team or him personally the

team?

It wasn't entirely his fault,

Baker.

Made exactly.

Baker made some bad decisions,

some deep throws that shouldn't,

that he shouldn't have made.

You know, it's just a, it's a

team game.

It's not just one sure, sure.

It's not just one guy making a

mistake.

The Buccaneers still in

contention for the playoffs.

Now, well, if they had won that

game, there was a 97% chance

they'd be in the postseason.

Now it's 5050.

So they have to really play good

the next couple of games.

Well, yeah.

Not only that, not only do they

have to play well, they have to

play, they have to beat Carolina

and New Orleans, and they need

Atlanta to lose either against

Washington or against Carolina.

That's what I was going to say.

It's kind of interesting.

With football, it really doesn't

matter how good you are because

somebody else has to be bad.

Yeah.

I mean, you still have to be

good, obviously, but somebody,

somebody else has to lose for

your record to be better than

their record.

I got news for you, Mike.

Yes, that's every sport.

Well, OK, but.

You have to be better sports,

you have to be better than your

competition.

Well, yes, I understand that.

Yeah, but I haven't heard, or

maybe it still happens.

I haven't been watching a

basketball game.

And they go, well, they won, but

it doesn't matter because the

Lakers, the Lakers beat somebody

else.

Well, that's because it's the

NBA.

You know what?

NBA stands.

For I know it stands for.

That's what I'm saying in.

Football.

It's what does NBA stand for?

National Basketball Association.

No, that's not what it stands.

For what does it stand?

For not before April.

That's not what it stands for.

If you look it up, Michael,

that's not it.

We're looking the only reason no

one's talking about the records

in in the basketball because as

of right now, none of it

matters.

Yet when you start getting into

April, that's when things are

like, OK, well, we need this guy

to lose in order to this is how

many games.

Back there that's specific for

basketball.

I assume they don't play NF LS

not not for something.

Not for something, not for

something.

Not for the league games.

No, the NFL stands for No Fun

League.

Well, that could be.

Yeah, that's 'cause they there's

so many penalties.

All right, a few hours later the

Cowboys kicked off a prime time

showdown against Buccaneers team

with plenty left to play for.

But it was the Cowboys who

looked like a team trying to

prove something.

The game came right down to the

wire, but when all was said and

done, the Cowboys emerged

victorious with one of their

toughest wins of the year.

He gets so angry Boots, like I

was like I was attacking him or

something.

That's not what it stands.

For you were attacking me.

I'm sorry I wasn't.

Attacking you at all?

I was explaining to you.

It doesn't really stand for Not

Before April.

I'm sure that's some type of

joke with the with the game, but

that's not what it stands for.

I'm trying to explain to you

that every ranking matters, with

wins and losses against your

competitors in your division

especially.

It doesn't matter what the sport

is, all right?

OK, fine, OK, Angry Mike, get to

the dead people.

OK.

Oh wow.

Because it doesn't matter if who

dies, because they all die

except 37 of the marked Biden's

corrupt pardon of death row

inmates.

The Biden Justice Department

filed a death row penalty charge

against Luigi Mangione, the

alleged cold blooded killer of

health insurance executive Brian

Thompson.

Mangione was already facing

state murder charges for the

murder committed on a Manhattan

St.

The only reason to pile on a

capital charge for the

administration that that both

says it is philosophically

opposed to the death penalty was

to impose a more moratorium on

execution.

Since President Biden entered

office in 2021 was to grab

headlines in a case that had

riveted public attention.

And now, just days before, Biden

has cynically commuted the

sentence of almost all remaining

federal death row inmates.

OK, so wait a second.

OK.

So Biden did something with the

Luigi guy?

Yes, they wanted.

They wanted the death put on the

ticket or whatever it's called

cause originally they weren't

going.

To OK, they wanted the death

penalty.

They want the death penalty,

yeah, but they want him given

the death penalty.

OK.

And Biden can do that.

Well, he can ask for it.

Yeah, I guess.

Well, his Justice Department,

you know, he doesn't know what's

going on.

Yeah, well, that's The thing is

that was what I was kind of

leading into, yeah.

No, he he doesn't.

He hasn't been calling the shots

for H.

No, no, no.

But there's still somebody

behind the scenes, you know,

calling the like, you know,

saying doing stuff in his name

as it was.

Death penalty.

Yeah, we need the death penalty

on this one because we need to

look strong as we go out.

To look strong.

And then so they did that.

Then they went OK, But the other

37 people, we're just not going

to know.

So one for 37.

Everybody who's federally on

death row except for three guys,

37 out of 40, he pardoned.

So wait, what is the pardon?

What does that mean exactly?

They're.

Not dying.

They're not.

They're still staying in jail.

Yeah, they call it a pardon, but

it's more commuting the

sentence.

They're just saying we're not

killing him.

So 37 you don't have to die.

Right.

So if you're going to get the

death penalty, if you're

strapped in the chair, whatever

it is, and you're waiting on

that call from the governor, you

know, the governor doesn't go,

he's innocent.

The governor goes, no, we're not

killing him today.

No die, no die.

More ham sandwich for him.

Yes, it's more deviled to him.

OK, perfect.

So but but there's three there.

There's three like these guys

are really bad.

Can you imagine?

No.

Being that's, that's what is

that absolutely.

That's that's like a an 8%

chance of of not being pardoned.

Right.

You hear the news that he's

pardoning Death row and you're

like, oh, thank goodness I'm

clear.

Oh no, not you.

Not for you, motherfucker.

Not for you.

No, you, you and you dead.

You're all going to die.

So I don't know exactly what

this guy did or how do you say

his name.

It's TSARNAEV Tasnerov.

Is that one of the terrorists?

Maybe?

Something.

Allegedly.

Well, no, he's guilty.

He's a terrorist.

He's guilty.

He was found guilty.

He was not alleged.

Do you know he's a terrorist or

is it by the spelling of his

name?

Well, if this is the guy, is I

think this the guy that the the

Boston.

Boston Bombing.

Yeah, the Boston bombing at the

race, I think it's that guy.

At the marathon one, Yeah, you

have.

An 80% chance of it being a

bombing.

Well, that's true, but it was in

America.

It's not like he's bombed

somewhere else and we don't have

a lot of bombs going off here.

OK.

But because they're making it

sound naturally, this guy was

left on the list.

So it's got to be a big.

Thing that guy didn't get a

pass.

Right.

The others are Dylan Roof, a

white racist who in 2015

murdered black worshippers at

the Immanuel African Methodist

Episcopal Church in Charleston,

Oh, I.

Remember that one?

That's pretty bad.

That's pretty bad, yeah.

Against whom?

The Obama Biden Justice

Department sought the death

penalty despite his its claim

Constitution.

Wait.

Despite its claim to

constitutional qualms and Robert

D Bowers, the Jew hating

murderer who killed worshippers

at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life

synagogue in 2018, he's also

still gonna.

Alright, so so hate crimes.

No pass.

Right.

Apparently hate crimes.

Yeah, I think that's, yeah,

racial hate crimes.

I think that's fair.

Do you have any?

Yeah, I don't have a problem

with leaving these guys now.

That seems reasonable.

Seems OK to me.

Do you have any information on

the 37 they got parted?

Yeah, yeah.

There was a couple of guys had

pot.

There was a there was a Jay

Walker.

Jay Walker, It was a high speed

chase I believe.

It was a jaywalking.

And then there was some Bitcoin

problems or something.

With something something

Bitcoin.

So the Hawktua girl, OJ and.

Right.

Hawktua, OJ.

OK, good.

All right, perfect.

Nissan and Honda officials

announced plans to merge and

recreate the world's number 3

automaker.

The world's #3.

Honda and Nissan has formally

agreed to hold talks over the

next six months on a possible

merger, so it's not even a deal

yet.

Yeah.

We're.

Thinking about it, we're

thinking about a deal that would

create the world's third largest

automaker and give them more

resources to compete with a

growing threat from Chinese car

makers. 1/3 smaller Japanese

automaker Mitsubishi, which is

already in an alliance with

Nissan, will also participate in

the talks.

So these three guys are going in

together OK.

The combined company should be

created with a trail only Toyota

and Volkswagen in global sales

Don't even know Mitsubishi still

made cars.

Well, apparently.

They're like us, too.

Yeah, we want us too.

We went in.

We.

Won sell us.

Mergers in the auto industry are

nothing new.

They have taken place since the

acquisition of various brands

form General Motors in the first

decade of the 20th century.

But they sometimes have trouble

succeeding bringing together

different partners then this is

from Nissan CEO Makoto Uchinda.

Today marks a pivotal moment.

Oh, today together we can create

a unique way for customer to

enjoy cars that either company

could achieve alone.

Oh, neither company could.

Sorry I couldn't understand.

That that's fine neither.

Nissan has struggled since the

collapse of its alliance with

Renault.

It's, you know, those cars are

really good.

It's a Renault.

Renault used to be a small car

back in the 80s.

I didn't even know they were

still around.

They're with Mr. Bisi.

Probably facing severe financial

problems that put it in

desperate need of a larger

merger partner so Nissan has

possibly going out.

If this doesn't go through,

Nissan might go bye bye.

I don't think so.

They owe a lot of money.

They just filed for bankruptcy.

It's the American way.

Yeah, and then Biden pardons

them.

Yeah, then yeah, Biden.

Biden won't be there by then.

They're doing this six months

away.

Well, we better do it quick.

Well, I mean, Biden can just

grant them, you know.

Oh, pardons.

Now your son.

Yeah.

Oh, there you go, 10 years of

not doing.

Ten years of, you know, anything

you did is fine for the next 10

years.

You know what Nissan, he's we're

going to do in advance of the

next three years.

If you file for bankruptcy,

you're going to be cleared of

any debt and wrongdoing.

You'll be fine.

It'll be OK.

Blanketing statement.

I would like a Renault though

to.

Leave the Renault at the White

House for me to leave quietly.

What to drive away and what you

mean by not fitting when they're

kind of small.

All right, Festivus, the

Seinfeld holiday focused on

airing grievances, is for

everyone.

For those folks who may be

finding that holiday cheer, you

know, it's kind of amazing that

this holiday has become almost

an actual holiday.

I don't.

Even know this is a thing

though.

Yeah, I've never heard of this.

You've never heard of Festivus?

No Festivus for the rest of us?

Nope.

No, George's dad started this,

or George started it as a fake

holiday to get out of work or

something and his father grabbed

ahold of it and made all these

rules.

For it.

Oh, really?

How young are you guys?

I have to watch this episode.

Seinfeld.

For those folks who may be

finding the holiday cheer is

hard to come by, there is a

different alternative to the

cheery decking of the halls.

There is available options

celebrate a holiday that

maintain a healthy dose of

grumpiness.

That's right, there is Festivus.

December 23rd is Festivus, a day

reserved in history for all who

feel that normal holiday

attritions don't quite fit the

bill.

Festivus is a special holiday

reserved for those more opt to

want to embrace their inner Bah

humbug than their Christmas

spirit is a fair guess that many

of us may be in that camp than

ever before.

And an antidote, or at least an

outlet that may prove cathartic,

is Festivus.

Nice.

So let's see, this is from 1997.

How old were you in 1987?

I was 13.

Boats.

Ten well.

You guys are young.

The camera's not recording, by

the way.

What?

That's OK.

That is over there.

It's red and green over there.

Yeah.

Oh yeah.

It's off.

Is it?

Did you hit record on the?

It says recording on the screen.

OK, I can't see that far.

No space on memory.

Guard still no space.

Not still it's again.

It was clean right before the

socket thing.

Still no space.

How long did you interview

socket?

That was three episodes ago,

Michael.

That wasn't socket what went up

last week.

That was three episodes ago.

So every three episodes has got

to be cleaned up, yeah.

George Costanza, played by Jason

Alexander, revealed that his

father, played by the late Jerry

Stiller, created the day to

contrast the religious and

commercial aspects of the

traditional December holiday.

But I'm trying to think what the

rule where the rules at.

Yeah, what are the rules for

Festivus?

Sounds like you just be grumpy.

You air grievances.

I saw that.

So you tell all your all the

people, if you have something

that you complain about, you air

your grievances.

Oh that's everyday for me.

Yeah, I know there's feats of

strength, OK?

They had an old guy on there was

just lifting things and you

could punch him in the stomach.

Also everyday for me.

And then they have a Festivus

pole which is just like plain

pole instead of a tree.

You just stick a pole.

You stick a pole up in your

living room.

That's normal for for me you.

Don't have to decorate the tree.

Not a Polish person.

Oh, a metal pole.

Oh, you don't have Greg come

over.

Just stand there.

Didn't know if you were being

short.

No.

OK.

Listen to you.

If they were getting really

technical, Festivus may have

roots dating back as early as

1966, when Seinfeld writer Dan

O'Keefe, who introduced Festivus

into the plot line, first heard

his father dream of the holiday.

In 66.

Wow, 1966.

Festivus for the rest of.

Us Festivus for the rest of us,

yes.

So happy Festivus everyone.

Today is the 23rd.

All right.

All right, boot, you want to do

your trending fact, don't hit

the button because I haven't

changed your.

Music Doo Doo Doo Doo.

Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo boot

trending.

Facts boots.

Trending Facts.

Hello peoples.

There it is.

Everyday all right, last minute

errands.

Often seen the pop up on

Christmas and Christmas Eve.

Whether it's buying a quick

present or picking up a last

ingredient, many stores and

offices are closed on the two

holidays to give employees a

chance to spend, excuse me, to

spend time with the loved ones

during the holiday season.

This year Christmas Eve falls on

Tuesday, December 24th and

Christmas falls on Wednesday,

December 25th.

Before heading out, make sure to

check the times of locally owned

businesses.

Grocery stores, here they are.

Albertsons company stores

Safeway, Albertsons, Jewel,

Osco, Acme, Randall's, Shaw's,

Vons and Tom Thumb will be open

Christmas Eve with reduced

hours.

Many of those banner stores and

pharmacies, including Jewel,

Osco, Randall, Shaw's and Tom

Thumb will be closed on

Christmas Day.

Some Albertsons, Safeway, Acme

and Von stores will be open

adjusted hours.

The company said to check with

your local store before visiting

on Christmas.

How long does this read I?

Forgot.

He reached slow.

Retail Walmart stores will close

at 6:00 PM local time on

Christmas Eve and all stores are

closed on Christmas Day.

Target will be on will be open

from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM local

time Christmas Eve, but it'll be

closing Christmas.

Home Depot says the check with

the local store, but locations

will generally close at 5:00 PM

on Christmas Eve and remain

closed on Christmas Day.

Lowe's will be open as normal on

Christmas Eve and will close on

Christmas Day.

Department store and Macy's will

be open from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM

local time on Christmas Eve and

closing Christmas Day.

Kohl's will be open from 7:00 AM

to 7:00 PM local time on

Christmas Eve.

It closed on Christmas.

All right, all right.

That's good.

We're good.

You know, and I'm very proud of

you for expediting that.

That was fantastic.

No problem.

You don't want to hear about the

Postal Service.

Postal Service is closed.

UPS runs on selected services.

There you go.

FedEx and UPS closed Christmas.

Day Listen, Christmas and

Christmas Eve have been the same

for the past however many years

you've been alive.

No, there were some stores on

there open on Christmas that

weren't usually.

That was during COVID, wasn't?

It no, I meant now.

All right, now we got the top

25.

I just sent you a leak boots

because I realized I didn't give

you the thing, so hit it on your

phone.

We start with #25 we work

backwards.

Everybody knows how this works.

We say if we think it should be

on the list, shouldn't be on the

list, and if we've had it and if

it's any good.

OK.

Do you have your clips ready?

Do you connect to the board I.

Am connected, just confirm that.

Yep, it's connected.

Well, I'll wait till we're done.

OK, I'll wait till we're done.

And you know.

But before we get into this, I

want to say one simple thing.

Certainly.

Every year this Cigar Aficionado

yadda Yadda loses more and more

credibility, and every year I

feel like less and less people

actually care about the top 25

cigars from Cigar Aficionado

there.

I really feel like this is no

longer a thing of relevance, but

let's go ahead and entertain it

anyways.

Have you already pre read this?

No, OK, I mean I saw bits and

pieces of it.

Now I asked ChatGPT if this can

be if your ranking can be

bought.

Yeah.

Here's what it said.

Said while cigar Yeah, it just

says yes.

While Cigar Aficionado maintains

that it's annual Top 25 list is

based on blind tasting and

objective criteria, there has

been ongoing speculation in the

cigar community about the

potential biases.

Advertising dollars, brand

visibility, and relationships

with manufacturers may play a

role in exposure, though the

magazine insists that rankings

are merit based.

Now, that said, many industry

insiders believe that while you

can't outright buy a spot, being

an advertiser, having strong

ties with the magazine certainly

doesn't hurt your chances of

being noticed.

All right, and.

These are obviously not top 25

new cigars.

These are top 25 of all time.

I don't know top 25 of 24, so

some of them I believe are from

this year.

Some of them are new, some of

them are old, some of them are

Cuban, some of them are.

We don't give a shit.

We're going to do whatever the

hell we want to do.

Right, right.

All right, we're going from 25.

All right, here we go.

Who's who?

Do you want to read them?

You want him to try?

You want me to do it?

What?

Do you want?

That's how Boots read them.

OK, Boots read #25. #25 is the

tetawahe preserver E Uno.

OK.

OK, I've had it.

Yeah.

It doesn't stand out in my

memory though.

OK, you know, I will say this, I

think that Pete Johnson does

make some great cigars and I

feel like he deserves to be on a

list.

On the list, yes.

Yeah.

I don't know if that's the cigar

that I'd put on the list, but

right, Yeah, go ahead.

Yeah, out of all of his cigars,

I think there should be others

in that #24 the Fiero, Tego,

Summa, Corona, Gorda.

Like the space between Corona

and Gorda?

You like that?

Corona, Corona and Gorda.

OK.

Have we?

Have we smoked this on the show?

Right.

Do we have this upstairs?

I think so.

If we have it upstairs and I've

had it, I don't particularly

enjoy a lot of his cigars.

Yeah, but again, again, he

should.

It's Dominican so he's not going

to like it all, but.

Yeah, he had Dominican.

But he he, he certainly should

be on the list.

Yeah.

You know, just because you don't

like it doesn't mean that it's

going to be acceptable for

amasses, correct?

Correct.

And I think that he's doing a

lot of good things.

Hurriclot's doing a lot of good

things.

And I believe that it's.

A good size.

It warrants being on here for

sure.

Certainly, you know, especially

with his affiliation to New York

and all this stuff and scar

aficionado like it.

It fits the mold.

I don't know if he should have

ranked the 24.

He probably should have came in

a little bit higher than that.

But it feels like it's just a, a

nod to him, you know?

This was the first of his

flagship brands regular

production line with Piero Tego

Zuma 2023.

Well, it's been too like he's

been making a lot of noise this

year.

He's working his ass off, right?

Yeah, I like how he softened his

look up a little bit with the

new company.

Yeah, he's not, as, you know,

coat and tie and all his photos

and all that kind of stuff.

Yeah, and even his interaction

of social media is a little more

light hearted than it used to

be.

OK.

Ready for the next?

Yep, and at #23 the warped

quarto X52 never smoked it.

I think I have had it.

Yeah, it's.

Been around since 2015.

OK.

If you click on the picture it

gives you a little.

Gives you a little bio.

It was a bio nut cigar.

OK, does it belong on the list

Boots?

No.

Palmer.

No, I don't think so.

I don't think so either.

OK, You know, as you're going to

kind of go through this, I think

that you're you're going to

start to see the an attempt from

Cigar Aficionado to start

incorporating brands that

actually weren't being in here.

I still don't think that they

figured that out.

But do you remember Austin

Powers with Doctor Evil and

before he's like, I'm hip, I'm

cool.

Yeah, baby.

Yeah.

That's what I feel like's going

on here when I looked at this.

For the that would make sense.

Like, oh, there's a couple in

here that yeah, you know.

So yeah, let's sprinkle some of

the cool guys in here.

Yeah, so this is who I think

I've they're like these these

guys are right, You know, Kyle

or whatever we we still have

questions as far as whatever his

Gallus family cigar is.

That was the guy we talked about

last year, right?

We talked about him last week.

Last week.

That last week, yeah.

Not last year, yes.

Soon it'll be.

Last year.

Soon it'll be.

Soon it'll be last year.

All right, And then #22 the one

off black and tan robusto.

Who makes this?

Lugione.

Yeah, that's a Lugione.

So it's Agonorsa.

That means I won't like it, but

it's agonorsa.

It's actually a pretty good

cigar.

You sucked it.

Yeah, I don't think that it's

look, the answer is the I'm

going to tell you right now I

got to if I got to say no to you

know, there's going to be 3 that

are on this list.

I'm going to say OK to other

than that you.

Know this, this brand's actually

owned by by Dion.

Yeah, but it's not actually part

of Illusion.

Oh really?

It's a like a sub brand.

It's a one off.

Yeah, exactly.

This is a one off cigar.

It's a one and only, so it's

kind of weird that it's on the

list I.

Don't think it should be on the

list I.

Don't think it should be on the

list.

Again, the same scenario.

Yeah, I'm hip.

I'm cool.

Daka daka, daka daka. #21.

Wait, I'm still and they're not

even saying what's in it.

They won't disclose what's in

it.

I don't.

Think he disclosed what was in

it.

That's what I mean.

There's leaves.

He didn't.

Tobacco leaves.

What's wrong with that?

Well, nothing, but it's just so

weird that it's on the list.

We know nothing about this cigar

other than who is very good, who

owns the company.

This is good.

And you can never find it again.

It's.

A1 off.

Right.

It's like if catastrophic

failure made the list and then

nobody can see it again.

It'd be way better though.

Well, certainly.

One off has a complicated pass.

It was started in 2001 by an

Italian retailer and gained a

loyal cult following, especially

in the United States. 2001.

One of those fans was Dion

Giolito of Illogion Cigars.

Fast forward to 2017, the brand

ends up in Giolitos.

That's probably not how you say

his last name, possession and by

2018.

Gelato.

A new line of one offs we're on

the market Black and Tan is A1

offs brand to the newest spin

off and comes in only one size.

Yeah, piece, OK.

Not much is disclosed about the

cigar.

We think we smoked it, but we're

not exactly sure.

All right, next one.

LFD, Double Liegro, Chisolito,

Maduro.

Nice.

Wow.

What did?

He say oh.

Say Lajero again.

Lajero Legorito.

Legiro, Legiro.

Legiro.

Legiro Chisolito.

Yeah, it's Lajero.

There's no hyphen.

Chisolito So that's just a

regular LFD chisel been around

forever.

Yeah, I.

Think it stays on the list.

I mean, fortunately for them,

they had the cigar for them to

try, you know?

Realistically, LFD should

belongs on a list.

Certainly, Certainly.

But did was there nothing new

this year?

They could have made the list I

mean.

You know there.

Might have been the other one

they had.

Their new cigar.

Their new cigar, I thought was

pretty amazing.

Their 30th.

Yeah.

Unfortunately, we ordered 2 two

boxes at the show and we'll

probably never get.

There, Yeah, I didn't even get

he ran out of samples.

Yeah, I didn't even care, you

know, So I may have ordered more

than two at the show.

Doesn't matter.

Leo's not getting his Commission

on that sale anyways, so sure.

I mean even the what's the

purple and blue one?

The purple and blue one.

With the circle.

Purple and blue, the McFly or

whatever it's called, no.

No, no, the L of D.

The Lenox.

Nope, there's one more purple

and blue as like the cool box

that comes in Circle.

It's like a circle.

That's a Lenox.

The Lenox.

That's a Lenox, the circle box.

There's one more, but there's a

day and a night time.

When the Lenox.

Is a night time sola Vita the

sola?

Or something the Sol.

It's the del Sol is the del Sol.

I think it's the del Sol, it's

the soltis, I don't know.

It's the soltis.

It's the Soltis.

That one's good.

That should be on the list.

Is it the summer solstice?

Yeah, they make good cigars.

I don't know if this is the one

that should be on the list.

Yeah, but at at this point we're

4 cigars in and it's like, OK,

let's just pick some people.

Well, no, at this point they're

thinking, oh shit, we didn't put

LFD in here.

Right.

That's what I mean.

They're just going through the

list of guys at this point.

Yeah, pick one.

Well, you know, I had a chisel

the other day.

It's the only one the store had

put that one on.

Nobody knows.

What I should put it on?

All right #20. #20 Cohiba

Riviera Robusto.

Somebody came in Saturday,

wanted Cohiba, but they couldn't

pronounce it and I couldn't

figure out what they wanted.

They were saying Cochiba or

something like that.

And I'm like, I, I'm sorry, I

don't.

I don't.

You couldn't figure that out.

Well, and then he showed me a

picture and like, oh Cohiba.

And he's like, yeah.

And I go.

So I go through the you know, we

don't have the Cuban 1,

whatever.

He bought 2 of the ones in the

glass tube we have up there.

Oh, you got to understand at

that point you just give them

the Cohibas.

Well, I was just informing him

of of the brand and everything.

And you know, we have, there's a

Nicaraguan and a Dominican one.

There's a red and a black one.

We have one of them, I'm sure.

Let me take a look.

He must have been very nice if

you explain those things to him.

Why?

Because normally if somebody

comes in and they say, hey, I

want a Monte Cristo, I want a

RJ, or I want a Cohiba, I'm not

going to have the conversation.

It wasn't that guy, it wasn't.

It wasn't that guy.

Other than those two, he bought

some boutique stuff.

OK, because more often than not,

that consumer is never going to

be taught or wants to hear

anything else.

Oh.

It was.

It was a gift for someone else.

The ones in the tube.

Oh.

OK.

I would like the number 20

cigars.

Please.

So that makes sense why you

explained it to him.

Yes, because if he came in and

said I've been smoking Cohibas

for 30 years.

Right, exactly.

This is the cigar I want.

Right.

He's looking it up on his phone.

But wait, hold on to get the

name.

Get the name and then he goes

Kochiba.

I'm like Cochiba, Cochiba.

And I'm like, oh, Cohiba.

OK, fine, we can work with this.

Here we go.

OK, follow me down the road,

Sir.

Here we go.

I don't know why that was on the

list again.

Are they?

I mean, who even makes this?

Is there even a person?

STG makes it.

So no, really though, no, no

person, there's not.

There's not a.

Cohiba always makes a list.

Yeah, look, there's no Cohiba

that.

Belongs first time the non Cuban

Cohiba has been has on the list.

Is that what it says?

Yeah, so it says so they've got

in trouble playing the Cuban

went on there for the last

several years, like put the non

Cuban on.

You know, Sean Williams, a

basketball player, probably

aggressively attacked them.

You know, I said, hey, why, why,

why are no Cohibas on the list?

Well, the non Cuban Cohiba they

put usually put a Cuban Cohiba

on the list, yeah.

That's what I'm saying, right?

Sean Williams is not a Cuban

Cohiba guy.

OK, I know he was just on the

podcast you were on.

I I never saw him talk.

He didn't say, you know, he was.

He was happy.

He said the weather was nice.

I'm oh, Shawn Williams.

What you have to say.

It was really good weather here.

OK, moving on.

The weather is nice.

The weather alley.

The weather is nice, all right.

I don't think that should be.

I don't.

No, no.

Doesn't belong there.

Doesn't belong. #19 Herrera,

Esteli Norteno.

Norteno.

Lonsdale.

Is that just a new size 'cause

that cigar's been around

forever?

No, I don't think it's a new

size.

I mean I've smoked it, I don't

think it should be other one.

I think this is just another hey

G state.

It's another.

Put the name on it, Yeah. #18.

Wait, is this is this, is this

one of Willy cigars?

This is a Willy.

Willy Herrera, yeah.

Yes.

Oh yeah, another now they're

just doing guys, Yeah.

We like Willie.

We like that we're just doing

names, just people's names.

All right, go on.

Six O 1 La Bamba Warhead X.

Hey should be on the list.

It's a good cigar, we.

Finally got to one where we

could say OK I get it right.

The only thing Aficionado messed

up because it's a foot band

cigar.

They should have shown the

bottom of the cigar in the

little circle.

Yeah, no.

Then why would they do that?

Right.

Why would they, right.

Somebody can't just scan down

there.

Yeah, it's a beautiful rapper,

this tickle.

Is there any other Espinoza

cigar that you think would

warrant above this cigar?

Oh, who are you asking him?

I'm asking everybody.

I'm sure they would have been

happier if it was a knuckle

sandwich.

I don't know how they haven't

acknowledged knuckle sandwich at

this point, right?

Something like at this point.

So many to pick from.

At least the birthday cigar.

You have a guy that taps into so

many, I think all four quadrants

as far as a marketing spectrum's

concerned, right?

Who's doing, who's out there

beating the drum for this brand?

He doesn't need the money.

You know, the guy is absolutely

crushing it.

If you've had a conversation

with him and it's been a 30,

even if it was a 32nd

conversation, the guy is

unbelievable.

Yeah, you walk away feeling like

1,000,000 bucks.

Sure.

Like he's extremely talented.

He knows exactly how, what to

say, who to say.

Very personable.

He he gives you a he pays

attention to you when you're

talking to him.

So because Knuckle Sandwich

doesn't give you any money, you

feel like they don't warrant

being on this list, but we're

going to give Warhead the Qi

mean we're.

Going to give him a nod.

I got some questions.

You know that Las Provencias

that newest one.

Yeah, that thing, it was a

banger.

Yeah, I still haven't had that.

It was damn good, you know.

So anyways.

I'm glad they're on the list.

Yeah, definitely need to be on

the list somewhere.

Yeah, I'm hip.

I'm cool.

Yeah, they got it right, Eric.

But Eric?

Eric belongs on there.

Certainly next year, aficionado.

Can you just list it by the

people's names?

Make things a lot easier.

For this one was cool.

Yeah, this one is.

Eric, this one we had to get on

or else he'd get mad at.

Us.

This one is Willie Herrera's

cigar.

I would like here's what I would

like.

I would.

Like their faces in the

pictures?

I would like just to know, you

don't have to tell me the dollar

amounts, but give me like tears

as far as advertising

contributors to the magazine.

Is this when I was advertising?

Tier one, I think so.

Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3,

something like that.

Like this.

Tier 3.

This is how you get up in there.

Like just some type of clause,

you know what I mean?

This will.

That way I can at least decipher

this person has a Tier 3

contributor to the magazine.

In the November edition, they

did a big thing on Eric.

Right.

They did a story on him but I

don't know if he paid for that.

Probably not, no.

Well, knuckle sandwiches.

And I've seen it advertised in

the pages.

Yeah, he's probably paid for ad

space.

Yeah, I mean, but he belongs in

there.

Certainly, Certainly he does.

All right #17 the Placencia

COSACA 151 pull out music.

Cosaca cosecha.

Yeah, that one this is, I think

it belongs on the list.

I like this cigar for Placencia.

You've had the La Musica.

The La Musica.

Well, I'm guessing that's the

size.

I mean, I don't know.

Is that if it's a Shorty one

that's upstairs, yeah.

This is a 5 by 50.

This is all Honduran.

Do you like Honduran cigars or

is that with the Dominican?

Anyways I I this is a great

cigar I have smoked this the 151

and the 149 are are great.

OK.

This vintage specific plan comes

in a 2016, 2017 harvest.

I would have gone 149, yeah,

personally.

I like the 149 better.

Yeah, I think the 149 is a

better cigar.

Yeah, it is.

You know, I don't know how you

have to have Nestor on this

list.

Every the Criojo 98 tobacco,

every puff of the tobacco was

like taking a bite of a

Christmas fruit cake.

Is that what it says?

Christmas fruit cake.

I don't even like Christmas

fruit cake, but I like.

This make like a funny noise or

something.

Hey, a fruit cake.

As a chorus of baking spices,

candied fruit, molasses and

walnut notes are harmonized,

having a rum barrel finish to

bring the whole holiday effect

home.

Oh they must have ChatGPT that

shit.

Yeah.

That was give.

Me, let make it taste like the

holidays.

I went to holiday flavour.

Profile please, The most

wonderful time of the year.

The most wonderful.

All right, what's the next?

1 #16 The Predomo 30th

anniversary sun grown epicure.

I don't know.

Should they be on the list?

No, I don't think so either.

We got to expedite this a little

bit.

I'm going to tell you right now

they definitely should not.

We're at 16 and I'm already

bored.

We do this every year.

I know it's.

Tradition OK 1514 and 13 I'm I'm

a solid now.

The as a Magna Romeo and Julieta

and 13 you don't like the Viva

La Vida jester.

No, but that's a, that's a nod

to AJ.

Like a like a liquor store.

It's an AJ thing.

I'm cool.

Well, they had the La Bamba was

made by AJ.

Yeah, but not a JS.

OK, Axum Calero robusto.

Sorry, we're just moving along

best.

Axum.

I like axum #12.

I think he says Axum.

Axum.

Well, we say Axum.

Yeah, but that doesn't make it

right.

I say a lot of things wrong on

this show and I get in trouble

all the time.

Our show, our rules.

OK.

Now that was a different Sigari

just changed the name.

Yeah, that was the poet.

Yeah, yeah, Metapa.

Metapa.

This is the Metapa.

OK, so look, does Nick Molullo

belong on the list?

I I think so I.

Think if they're going to add

some of these other people,

certainly.

He 100% belongs on the list,

right?

Yeah.

OK, You're going to put this

cigar.

You're going to put this cigar,

this number 12 cigar, Sumatra

blend, and we're not going to

nod to Volstead at all.

Yeah, I was.

I was going to mention when we

got to the end the the lack of,

you know, Romacraft anything.

Look.

Like a taste.

Yeah, I mean, this is just a

good pivot point for me to to

say, hey, you know, again, over

and over again, It's not like

Romacraft has been around for

one year.

These guys have been around for

over a fucking decade and you're

not going to acknowledge them?

I could tell you right now, we

could call random people out of

my phone, say hey, listen, would

you rather smoke the Axum or

Volstead?

Half the story about the cigar

is the history, the historical

background of the name.

Yeah, right.

That's them writing it in, you

know what I mean?

Sure.

Like, oh, it's a here is the

history of the cigar.

Yeah, here is the Axum cigar.

Well, it's Indiana Jones in the

Ark of the Covenant, so, but it

was made in by AJ Fernandez.

That's how we know.

Yeah, now look, I'm not

discrediting Nick 'cause I think

Nick is probably one of the

greatest blenders of of my

generation.

Which you have said it more than

one time.

Yeah, this cigar in particular,

I could think of three Sumatras

I'd smoke over it.

Yeah, it's not his best work.

Yeah.

No, no, no.

And it's top 12, right?

All right, well, we can.

We can nod the aroma to Cuba if

you want.

OK.

Never smoked it.

I haven't smoked this one, but

look, it's going to be good.

I'm sure It's Pepin, the Pashon

box pressed.

Again, there's someone I got to

get another name in.

It was made in Honduras.

Maybe it was not that good.

But now it's well.

I don't know.

The number 10 brick house.

He's got to be part of the

conversation.

You know what?

What's really crazy about this

cigar are.

We the brick house, is that

where we're at now?

OK.

Is it's actually a really good

cigar.

It's pretty decent, especially

for its price point.

Really.

Yeah.

You know, I can't, I can't

really shun that.

It's is it more mainstream?

Yes.

But the reality is, I think that

it's it's actually not bad.

I still don't think it belongs

in the top 25 though.

Yeah, I looking at, but

considering that it's Cigar

Aficionado, I, it, it makes

sense to me.

I think that for for the value

of the cigar, its flavor profile

is pretty up there.

So they're so they're more

mainstream cigars anyways.

Yeah, and now they're trying to

pepper in the I'm hip, I'm cool

shit because they're losing the.

I think that they lose, they

lose.

What's it called?

Relevance, I guess.

Yearly.

Oh, I'm sure.

Every year, yeah.

Matter of time before they go.

Away at this point it's just I

see it on the like the media

guys, it's just more of a oh,

cigarette fish, you know what I

mean like this there's that

whole thing, but at this point

no matter, you know look, Saka's

never going to be on here

because he doesn't get along

with a guy.

Yeah, he doesn't.

They don't like him.

He does that every year.

Never going to be on there they

don't like.

Him so that goes to show you

that how biased, it's incredibly

biased.

Sure.

I didn't hear, you know, didn't

hear as much chatter about this

even being out.

It was two or three days in

before I even noticed it.

Nobody cares anymore.

So it's like, you know, what's

even funnier is, you know what?

I can absolutely despise a

person if I don't, you know, I

could disagree with everything

that they represent.

If they make a good cigar and

I'm like, damn, that's a fucking

banger.

I have no problem saying sure.

And this goes to show you that

this is ego and, you know,

tremendous bias right here.

Certainly like.

They probably don't like Skip.

Either.

I mean, soccer should have at

least been at 25, right?

You know what I'm saying?

Just the blue, the blue or

something.

He's not cool.

Though.

You know, so ridiculous.

Like, hey, you know what?

I can't stand you as a person.

You're obnoxious for this cigar.

You know, like I.

Didn't really invent cigars, we

stop saying.

We butt heads like, you know

everything that you say is

wrong, right, and everything I

say is right.

So you know what?

That Brulee blue.

That cigar is still good.

It's a.

Damn good cigar, right?

All right. #9 eye of the bull,

It was once a cigar of the year

again.

Fuentes going to be on the

table.

Cohiba Maduro #5 that's Cuban, I

don't think.

Cuban.

I don't think Cuban should be on

the list.

Cubans don't belong on this

list.

Rocky Patel Conviction Toro.

Got to throw a rocky in.

Yeah, exactly.

And this is one of their most

expensive ones.

I think that's a bust.

You know, I wouldn't.

It wouldn't be on the list.

Oliva Siri V Milanio Yes, yes,

you.

It belongs on the list.

I think it belongs on the list,

but not that high.

Number six.

OK, I, you know, all right, it's

a decent consistent cigar.

Whatever.

Partagus Linea.

Maestro, Maestro.

Maestro, maestro.

Maestro, I never spoke.

Yeah, I think that's a Cuban.

Is that a Cuban?

I think it's a Cuban too.

Maybe.

Yeah, it says Cuba on it.

Pedro number six.

Pedro's always going to get a

nod.

Padrone's always going to get a

nod.

Sure, I.

Think it should be a different

one, but yes.

I don't, I don't.

I don't disagree with the number

six and the number six is fine

#9 is fine. 85th is fine, 50th.

Toro Maduro's the one, as far as

I'm concerned.

Just pick one.

Yeah, Ernie's encore.

Here we are again.

Still trying to give give this

guy an acknowledgement.

When it was number one, you

still couldn't sell it.

Unfortunately.

I don't know what to tell you.

I like Ernie.

I think he's a good guy.

You know, he's, he's an icon in

this industry.

Unfortunately, even being in

this number three spot is not

going to move the needle for

him.

That's unfortunate #2 Monte

Cristo, Nicaragua.

Never smoked it.

Same scenario, I was just

whatever doesn't belong in here.

No, they've got to have a Monte

Cristo on there.

OK, Cigar of the year.

Number one, my father, the Judge

Grande Robusto.

The judge.

OK, now listen, here's the

thing.

Here's what really kind of

frustrates me.

This this whole thing is

designed with them looking at

unbanded cigars and identifying.

6 unbanded cigars.

Supposedly they OK.

Show me what other one was a 5

by 60 box press that rated 94 or

above in the cigar fishing out

of this year.

There isn't one.

It's just the same thing as the

and illusion bull.

So to tell me that it's blind

and there's all this shit, it's

just ridiculous.

The bull's the only one that

comes in that size.

You can pick that thing out.

You can smell that thing and

know what it is.

Completely obnoxious, but here

and again, you know, they're the

same guys that are always going

to be in rotation.

They're going to get the number

one.

I think, I think it should be on

the list, I just don't think it

should be #1 yeah, it's a good

cigar.

Yeah.

All right.

I'm going to play two clips for

you guys, OK?

Yes, OK.

What?

What are we looking?

Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold

on, hold on.

We're blindly listening to it.

Right.

But for what though?

We got to figure out who it is.

So listen, the day before all of

this was released, before the

number one cigar was released,

I, I, I had the privilege of

being on the light em up cigar

lounge holiday special light.

Em up.

Light em up, now there are two.

Light them up world, if

somebody's.

Looking for it OK I typed and

light them up cigar lounge and

it.

Popped up.

Oh I tried that, it didn't come

up and then I found the world

part and added it and it ended.

OK, now there's going to be two

comments here, one from John

Huber and one from Will Cooper,

OK?

And this is not a dig towards

them or an attack in any

fashion.

So please listen if you're going

to send them the messages and

show them this.

Send them the link for the

entire.

Show at least send the

information that I love these

guys, they're good guys.

They're, you know, they're part

of the industry and they've

given nothing but respect to me

and I'm not trying to diss them

in any fashion.

Now with that being said, I'm

going to play these two clips

and I'm going to ask you guys

two questions and I want you to

answer them for me.

OK?

OK, ready.

Here we go.

I'm going, I'm going to go with

my father for #1.

I hope that's true.

OK, I'm a back that up.

I'm going.

I'm going to go with my father

for number.

One the day before.

I hope that's true.

Now that's George.

George.

I I keep think so.

So would you think it would be

the Garcia and Garcia or would

it be the the 40th?

You know, I I unfortunately, I

don't know what's been rated

what during the year because I

don't get the magazine or

insider.

So I'm kind of shooting in the

dark, but it's just a one.

It's true story, but I'm just

kind of shooting in the dark

that they're the one, you know,

name that hasn't been in the top

ten that has like a 94 or above

during the year.

So I'm going to say you'll go to

Papine.

I mean, truth be told, I wish

they would give Pete his flowers

because he's been overdue, you

know?

OK, so he says he should.

He thinks that Pete should get

his flowers.

That's why he should be

acknowledged.

I mean, he's not wrong in that

statement.

Right, guys?

Put in his time.

All right, now here's Coupe.

Thank you.

And I do agree with John's pick

of my father, but I think it

will be Lyle Palencia or my the

judge.

It will be one of those two.

Those were the ones that got

raided over the past year.

OK, OK.

So both of these guys said, hey,

it's Pepin.

And one of them even said, hey,

it's the judge, right?

So now my question to you guys

is #1 did someone give them the

information beforehand that it

was going to be Pepin, Garcia

and #2 did somebody tell them

what cigar it would be?

Boots.

You had to because that cigar

should not be #1.

OK, so you think that somebody

gave them the information for

the brand and the cigar or just

the brand being #1?

I, I think probably the cigar, I

mean you could get the the rest

off of that, right?

Yeah, so the so you so you think

that they somebody said, hey,

Coop, I just want you to know

just between us it's.

The judge it's.

Going to be the judge.

It's Papa Garcia.

'Cause that was specific.

I mean, yeah.

OK, So you feel like it was

both.

OK, Palmer, what do you think?

Do you think that the brand was

given specifically to John Huber

or a brand and the cigar or

nothing at all?

He's just the Nostradamus, I

think.

Huber was given the brand.

I think Coop may have gotten an

entire list released to him

beforehand.

I mean, it would not be out of

the the realm of possibilities

that someone would leak the list

to him, right?

But now Huber maybe?

Why would someone send in the

list?

He's not in the media, maybe

just likes to know but or wants

to know if he's on it or

something.

Don't know.

Yeah, well it, but it's a small

industry, right?

It's very.

Certainly, yeah, if one guy's

got it.

I mean, Coop's probably the only

one that wouldn't share it any

further.

Just, well, he did on the show,

but he didn't say he didn't give

out the entire list and he

agreed because now the blame's

on John.

John said it first, not me,

Right?

But if he leaks it and whoever

leaked it, you know, if he get,

you know, like he did a story

and put out the entire list the

day before they released it or

something, he would never see it

again.

Whoever will gave it to him.

OK.

So here's where I'm going with

this.

OK.

All right.

Hypothetically speaking, so if

two guys that are not affiliated

with PEP and Garcia, OK, crowned

heads and media, right.

No, we are guessing no exactly

what the cigar is exactly who

the brand is ahead of schedule.

I would safely assume at this

point I, you know, in my

opinion, somebody at Pep and

Garcia obviously knows that

they're getting the number one.

Right, right.

You don't think somebody from

Aficionado might have told him?

I think that they did.

I mean, this could have been

done for weeks.

Hypothetically right you.

For your contribution of.

So like, hey, $1000.

OK.

All right, So hey, all right.

Hey, I'm going to pick up the

phone.

Hey, guess what?

Yeah.

What do you got?

Hey, just want you to know this

is so and so from Aficionado.

You got the number one

throughout the year.

Oh, really?

Awesome.

Yeah.

OK.

Hey, which one is it?

That's going to be the judge.

OK, cool.

All right, So now you know.

Thanks, Boop.

Hang up the phone.

So they called Pepin Garcia and

somebody.

Yeah, they called somebody.

Yeah, I'm sure that happens.

Yeah.

OK.

OK, so now we're assuming here

that the brand now knows that

they're number one.

OK, Right.

OK.

So what does the brand do?

Blast it no.

Ramp up production.

Yes, they don't have to blast

it.

They don't want to say it early.

They will, of course they will.

But who do you think they would?

I would assume Who do you think

they're going to say it to?

Media?

No, no, they're going to feed it

to the top dogs, right?

What is it?

Nanny.

Nanny Boo Boo.

If you could, if you're going to

take care of somebody, right,

they're going to feed their top

retailers.

Sure, right.

So hey, just so you know, I

can't say anything.

To you didn't hear it from me,

but.

Hey, so and so, you know, I

really feel like it would be in

your best interest if you bought

another 20 boxes of this.

Sure, right.

So what does that do to your mid

level and your smaller

retailers?

Oh, cuts them out.

They hear about it later, right?

Right.

They pick up the phone, they

call their Pepin Garcia Rep or

whatever and they go, yeah,

that's long gone, buddy.

Right, right.

OK.

How many times have we been told

that?

Right.

So why, why as a look, we're

talking about a small retailer

and mid level retailer.

If they got three of those boxes

and they make the extra 3400

bucks, it makes their week sure,

right?

The 20 or 30 that goes that top

retailer, it's just a little

cherry on top for them, right?

Right.

So instead of helping a small or

mid level retailer, allegedly

you went ahead and you took care

of your top dogs.

Why?

As a retailer, as a small or a

mid level retailer, why would

you support a brand that doesn't

have your back?

Well, you shouldn't, but you

still want to sell the cigar

everybody's looking for.

You're not going to get it.

Well, no, I mean, you might, but

not in time, right?

Sure.

So, I mean, I wouldn't if, if I

owned upstairs, I wouldn't be

hunting down the judge because

it's going to be too late.

Right.

Sure.

You're hip.

You're cool.

What about you, Boots?

Yeah, but if I'm hip, I'm cool.

It's too late.

Man, I mean I, my father, the

judge and the other one, what's

the other one like?

The judge?

It's like another name like

that.

I have no idea, the jury.

No.

The court, the prosecutor, the

defendant, the defense attorney,

I think they made one call.

I think they made 137 out of 40

forgiven, something like that.

That was the next one.

Wow.

Anyways.

There's.

Two cigars from my father that I

would be a no brainer be put in

my humidor.

But I get what you're saying.

Yeah.

If somebody's not going to take

care of me, then yeah, why am I

going to reciprocate?

You know I'm not going to.

I'm not going to help them.

I want, I want to call Jack on

the Patreon.

I have a question.

OK.

But not on the regular show.

That's fine.

OK.

How can you support a brand?

A brand that doesn't have your

back.

I get what you're saying, but

but it's not just supporting the

brand, right?

You're you're also in the

business of sales.

You're not going to get the

cigar in time to sell it.

No, but if it's a popular brand

you might still have to carry

it.

La Lejeune is the other one I

mean.

You oh the my father box press

the Bayou.

Did somebody text you?

No, I just came in my head.

It's a great cigar.

I mean, as a retailer, I guess

you can.

I mean, you can always find

somebody else.

If you're a good retailer, if

you're the guy that sits at the

sells itself in there.

You're not working nothing.

But if you can educate your

consumer, I mean, you know.

Well, that's what I'm saying.

If if you're the, if you're the

retailer that sits, you know,

behind the register and doesn't

educate your, your customers

when they come in, right, You

just want what's going to sell.

So, but I, I understand what

you're saying.

I mean, why would you?

But I'm I'm that's.

A hard That's a hard one.

I'm betting everybody in this

list got a phone call that, hey,

you're going to be #22 on the

list or whatever it was.

Well, just like the Oscars, they

all get phone call.

They all know who's going to win

before, really.

They're sure they maybe they buy

their.

They do the videos, you know,

not with us tonight, you know,

so and so we did a video and

there.

Thank you.

I appreciate.

They didn't shoot that live.

They had to send a crew out

there and everything, right.

And they don't know if you're

coming until they tell you

you're winning, like, oh, and

the Rock goes.

Thank you very much.

I should have won by now.

I'm not gonna be able to attend.

I'm shooting another movie where

I'm playing the Easter Bunny,

right?

So they send his crew out and he

he won.

He plugs the Easter Bunny movie

'cause he's dressed as the

Easter Bunny, right?

And two, he does his little

speech so.

He'd be a hell of an Easter

Bunny.

Well, I'm surprised he hasn't

there.

He's been the Tooth Fairy and

now Santa Claus, his helper, so

it's just a matter of time.

What's it called?

Pastel 2 or something.

Something like that, Yeah.

Yeah, when he has Shippity

Hoppity.

Jelly beans, though, that's

going.

To be crazy hippity Hoppity.

Easter's on its way.

He's got a gun.

The shoes.

Jelly beans.

Someone's abducted the the

Easter Bunny, right?

Exactly.

And he's got to find him.

And he's got to fill in and find

him.

He's got.

To fill in and find him right,

it's incredible.

Well, they dress up who's who's

a little comedian who's really

good friends with Kevin Hart.

Kevin Hart is the Easter Bunny.

He has to be the Easter Bunny.

Why?

The Rock goes and saves their

women.

That would be perfect, right?

OK.

And it's Shaq Black.

Three of those worked.

OK, hold on.

I got to bring this back so bad.

I got to bring this back real

quick to close out on this.

Well, why are you asking so?

OK, tell us why.

Here's why, because look, at the

end of the day, this is what I

think is what's fragmented in

this industry is it is designed

where top retailers are fed from

these top brands.

Sure.

And it's never going to change

until mid level retailers and

smaller retailers take their

time and investment and learn

what actual good tobacco is and

the craft.

Right, Right.

Sure.

And it's unfortunate to me to

see this because, you know, I,

I, I've experienced it over a

decade at this point.

It's just like, yeah, big

shocker, you know, and I don't

know, I just, I just, it's

humoring.

It's it's kind of humorous to

me, you know, that it continues

year in, day in, day out.

It's the same shit.

I haven't look, I, I, I have no

disrespect to Pepin Garcia.

The guy has, is built a huge

brand.

He's extremely successful.

He makes great cigars, right?

They're not in this humidor.

No, we don't carry him here.

We don't have him.

You guys don't have my father.

No.

We get asked all the time.

We don't carry them.

You used to, not all the time.

I wouldn't say that we get asked

all the.

Time, not all the time, but we

do get asked, but that that's

not the only brand they ask and

I was some people, you know, all

cigars don't sell them all

places, which is something that

doesn't work.

Here you have the other one

though the.

Aroma de Cuba, Yeah, yeah,

through Ashton.

Oh, OK.

So it's a different carrier.

So it's not for me.

It's just like I could show you

a bunch of different other

things.

Sure, you can find something

else.

Things that I think are way

better.

Well, yours, your shop is OK.

You're you're a mid level guy,

right?

Sure.

So, but you're a different type

of mid level shop, right?

You're not just a cigar shop,

you're a cigar lounge and you

know, online retailer you, you

have way more knowledge.

So when you come into this

place, it's different, right?

It's take me on a journey.

Show me what's going on.

Show me the different cigars,

show me the things that should

be smoking and not what

everybody's telling me is the

best, but what really is the

best by my taste buds, Not by,

you know, by my palate, Sorry,

not by, you know, a magazine or

whatever.

You know, it's, it's a different

type of shop.

When you go into some of these

other shops, they're just like,

yeah, the cigars are over there

on the shelf.

Yeah, but that's kind of my

point, right you.

Got the knockers with them.

So it's kind of it's both sides,

right?

Like you should take care of the

retailers that are actually

invested.

There are plenty of cigars,

there are plenty of mid level

retailers that are working their

ass off that are invested.

You know, one that pops in my

head, Cigar den Nick all the

time, man, that guy is working

his ass off.

He's on social media, he's

always at his shop.

He's in tune with brands, you

know, like, and I even saw a

post where he's excited about

having the judge.

I'm like, OK, but you know, I

guarantee you he didn't get a

call.

I guarantee he didn't get a, he

didn't get a read between the

lines of, hey, just so you know,

right, you're going to need

twenty of these.

Maybe call them on the Patreon.

Find out if you got a call.

I mean, I'm happy to call them

at any time, but my point is.

I get what you're saying.

We have reason to believe that

this information is leaked out

prior to Sorry because.

Of those two interviews.

I mean, just I those two

interviews, those two

statements.

This is very specific.

Those two statements.

Just yeah, Coupe was very on

page 12 of the of the release I

got yesterday smoked.

Those two statements are just,

you know, an example of all of

the things that I've heard in

the past.

They just so happened to happen.

John covered himself a lot

better than Coop did.

Yeah, he was very fumbly.

He was very fumbly and not very

specific where Coop's just like

it's this one, It's a judge.

Pepin did a great job.

It's the judge, right?

I'm smoking it right now.

It's just comical to me, man.

You know, it's that's, and it's,

I think that it's a big portion

of what's wrong with this

industry.

And and that's the reason why

Cigar Aficionado continues to

lose its viewership every year.

Well, this list is a bunch of

bullshit anyways.

A. 100%.

Sure, there's maybe 4 cigars on

the whole fucking list that you

could say yeah.

Yeah, exactly.

That should be in the top 25.

Alright, let's wrap this up

'cause we're running late.

Alright, chap of the week is

Cigar Club Manila.

OK, and listen to week.

We've never, I don't think, made

this man a listener of the week.

Really.

Mr. Skip Martin.

Oh.

Really.

I don't think we've.

Ever made him?

I don't believe so.

Skip Martin, Listener of the

Week.

I mean die hard.

Die hard avid listener from the

beginning of both shows.

Yeah, from the jump.

Right.

He's a great listener.

And a great friend.

Yes, yes, he.

Is and his cigar should have

been on top 25.

He should.

Something should have been on

now.

Wasn't.

It never is.

Because of cigar politics and

it's all bullshit.

It's crazy.

There's not even a Room 101.

There's nothing.

On there.

All right, we got to go.

We got people upstairs.

All right, thanks.

All right, bye.

Bye.

Welcome to the Cigar Hustler

podcast.

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Show Notes

In this jam-packed episode, we kick things off with trending topics: the Dallas Cowboys squeak by Tampa with a nail-biting 26-24 victory, President Joe Biden commutes the death sentence for 37 of 40 federal criminals, and Nissan and Toyota discuss a merger that could make them the third-largest automobile retailer in the world. Plus, it’s Festivus! We share some grievances and take a look at who’s open on Christmas Day.

Then, we dive deep into Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 Cigars of 2024, breaking down the list and sharing our thoughts on the year’s hottest smokes. Don’t miss it!