Habanasmoke.com Podcast

The Rolando Reyes Episode. In the news was covered a story about the now demonized tobacco plant helping in discovering a vaccine against the virus that causes cervical cancer. Dr. Miller of the Brown Cancer Center at the University of Louisville uses extracts from tobacco leaves to make the vaccine. Even though there is already a vaccine that exists the price per dose runs around $360 which makes it unobtainable to those in third world counties. Dr. Browns vaccine will be 10 times cheaper. Puros Indios is celebrating Rolando Reyes' 83rd birthday with an issue of a limited edition Honduran offering. And as a followup to a past story CAO International's Tim Ozgener describes how the CAO Vision came about with their partnership with La Aurora,SA and what the visiosion is for CAO's future. In the Cigar Ministry Lounge is a review of one of Rolando Reyes classics- Pirates Gold. No longer made in Honduras the Pirates Gold that Cigars International are the last of the Hondurans. A very inexpensive cigar with a powerful kick to it. Dont be fooled by a great bargain at a $1.25 a stick. This smokes as good as any $5-6 stick. The winner of the "Tribal Torch Lighter" is Greg Evans of Salt Lake City, UT

In the news...Altadis USAcomes out with yet another cigar line in the Jose Seijas Signature series. Although it will still be in limited quantities the 2000 cigar line will be extended to more than the just one size that it has been. There will now be seven different sizes and distribution to 85 cigar shops in 29 states.
CAO goes GOLD. Maduro that is.... Out of the 4000,000 prototype blends the CAO Gold Maduro got overwhelming positive feedback to the point that they thought it should be added to the already ample line in the CAO stable.
I reviewed the Partagas Black Label in the Clasico size of 5.25 X 54 ring developed by Daniel Nunez in the General Cigar camp. It is a very well constructed black, oily maduro wrapped cigar that commands your attention from the humidor. And yet very evenly distributed peppery full flavor.
In the emails I cover Cigar etiquette from the Zino Davidoff 1967 essay for cigar connoisseurs.

Episode #2 featured news on the latest line from Cusano with it world wide distribution of it's Cuvee Grand "Centro" made in a very limited amount of 500 boxes, and only available to whom Dom Rey (distributers) consider to be the Top 100 tobacconists in the world.
 Altadis USA is introducing a new Mosticristo Serie C, the 13th different Monticristo blend since it's introduction in 1995.
Ghukha releases it's newest in the line. The of two new blends all in several sizes at very modest prices.
  Also the latest from Camacho the crown being a line called The 1962 which features Pre embargo tocacco (with actual provenace), wrapped in a 1999 corojo. Also Christian Eiroa expertly blends an all Maduro cigar. Thats right! Maduro wrapper, binder and filler. Unheard of!
  I review the Camacho Select. A medium body cigar but very complex.

This first episode of The Cigar Ministry's maiden voyage. Features cigar industry news, Cigar review of the Nat Sherman 1400 series, comentary on the double standards of the anti-smoking crowd. e-mail rob@habanasmoke.com