Sticks and Stories

Sticks:  Kelly, Dan and I :  Tatuaje Mexican Experiment . Last release ca. 2019.  San Andres wrapper, Nicaraguan binder & filler.  Gary:  Davidoff , Nicaragua Robusto. Full Nicaraguan.  Chosen Few (Top Cigars for Kelly & Dan) - Stay tuned for Part 2 Stories: Kelly and Dan met 30 years ago and fell in love with cigars as their bourbon and pipe tobacco smoking gatherings matured into cigars...

Featured Cigars: JB enjoyed a Zeal Cigar blend Gary enjoyed a Faithful Servant from Zeal Cigars. Tina enjoyed a  Esteban Carreras, 10-year anniversary Mexican San Andrés and also picked up a Liga Midnight , a blend that resembles Liga 9.  Stories:  JB discusses the cigar business, cigar concepts for Zeal Cigars and more. He explains how the business came to be and how its been a staple for the com...

Sticks:  Ron: MonteCristo Espada, with new release of Conquistador Troy: Cigars and Coffee Blend, Sweet Gum Stories: In this episode, we speak with the final guests of our podcast series, Ron and Troy of Cigars and Coffee Meet . They discuss their current plans to produce and globally distribute their coffee brand.  They also will continue to do this alongside their pre-established Cigar brand. To...

Podcast Voting Open for our friend Trimarco Coleman.  Sticks:  Livia:  Tatuaje Mexican Experiment . Last release ca. 2019.  Tatuaje, Escasos . Wrapper Ecuadorian and binder & filler Nicarguan  Liga 9, Drew Estate . CT broadleaf wrapper, binder Brazilian Mata Fina and Filler Nicaraguan and Honduran.  Liga 52, Drew Estate : Wrapper is Connecticut Stalk-Cut and Stalk-Cured Habano, binder is Plant...

Sticks:  H.Upmann-AJ Fernandez (Curtlin): Wrapper is Ecuadorian Sumatra, binder is Corojo 99, and filler is Dominican and Nicaraguan. Blending collaboration A.J. Fernandez, with Rafael Nodal.  Stories: Curtlin cracks the code of fast drivers and life in Arizona after growing up in the Midwest. We discuss being protected by a higher power while immediate profanity follows. We are all adults here......

Featured Cigars: JB enjoyed a Barber Pole from Cigars and Coffee Meet   by event hosts Ron and Troy.  Tina enjoyed a Espinosa 601, 20th Anniversary. Available at Dragon Lounge and limited release in the Valley. CT broadleaf wrapper and binder & filler Nicaraguan.  Liga 9, Drew Estate . Also available at Dragon Lounge and throughout the Valley. CT broadleaf wrapper, binder Brazilian Mata Fina a...

Featured Cigars: Havana Soul .   (Tina and KC): Blended for Cigar King (AJ Fernandez); Wrapper CT Broadleaf w/Esteli and Nicaraguan composition.  Blended by Pepin Garcia of My Father Cigars. Gurkha 18 Year Reserved (KC): Wrapper Corojo, with Dominican binder and fillers. Blended by Kaizad Hansotia and available at many retailers in the valley.  Tatuaje Corojo 7 (Lonnie):  Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper...

Featured Cigars: Havana Soul .   ( Tina and KC): Blended for Cigar King (AJ Fernandez); Wrapper CT Broadleaf w/Esteli and Nicaraguan composition.  Blended by Pepin Garcia of My Father Cigars. Gurkha 18 Year Reserved (KC): Wrapper Corojo, with Dominican binder and fillers. Blended by Kaizad Hansotia and available at many retailers in the valley.  Tatuaje Corojo 7 (Lonnie):  Nicaraguan Corojo wrappe...

For the Culture: Jason talks business, cigars and navigating diversity in 2026 Featured Cigars: Conquistador, Montecristo Espada (Tina). Available in the valley at both Churchills and Cigars Daily. Soon at Ambassadors. (released June 2026).  Tina: (Quillion 7x 56) This cigar started off mild-medium and finished unexpectedly. Caught my butt off guard, left me with a both a buzz and closer. 10/10, r...

Cigars: Sombremesa Tapa Negra (new, June 2026) by Dunbarton & Trust, Melvin Joya Cabinetta by Joya de Nicaragua, Melvin  La Estancia by Meerapfel, Tina  DBL Amarillo , Tina++  Gorbusto Orang by Aladino, Tina ++Also available in the ATL market at Harlem Cigar Room Stories:  In this episode, Lonnie and I talk about it all. A normal cigar lounge conversation. From dating in the US west vs east vs...

For the Culture: Jason talks business, cigars and navigating diversity in 2026 cigar chat around @18:04 Featured Cigars: Conquistador, Montecristo Espada (Tina). Available in the valley at both Churchills and Cigars Daily. Soon at Ambassadors. (released June 2026).  Tina: (Quillion 7x 56) This cigar started off mild-medium and finished unexpectedly. Caught my butt off guard, left me with a both a...

Cigars: Sombremesa Tapa Negra (new, June 2026) by Dunbarton & Trust, Melvin Joya Cabinetta by Joya de Nicaragua, Melvin  La Estancia by Meerapfel, Tina  DBL Amarillo , Tina++  Gorbusto Orang by Aladino, Tina ++Also available in the ATL market at Harlem Cigar Room Stories:  In this episode, Melvin challenges two of his current top sticks, the new Sombremesa Tapa Negra and Joya Cabinetta.   Funf...

(Part II). The entire episode was recorded in one shot but we split the one into two parts.  Story: In this episode, the group (Keake, Brian and myself -Tina) combine to learn more about each other's flavor palette and their top picks (see list below).  In Phoenix, there is a place for every situation: loner, social and the in between, it's here.  In addition we discuss how the industry...

Cigars: Mexican Experiment , Tatauje (Panel) Leaf by Oscar Valladares (Sumatra), Keake Stories:  In this episode, the group (Keake, Brian and myself -Tina) combine to learn more about each other's flavor palette, discuss how Smoke in the Desert was coined and its inaugural year. The panel further discusses how smoking can be a social, loner activity and provide some integrity in a diverse and...

Cigars Red Meat Lovers by Dunbarton & Trust (Tina) JFR , Titan (Gary)  Aganorsa Leaf , Aganorsa Leaf Lonnie Stories:  Gary recounts one of his Vietnam stories. He believes the attack on the abandoned French resort was 1971 but some sources say 1968-1969 Gary talks corrects and speaks about 3 crashes instead of 4. Either way, no crashes is our hope for civilians.  HKTeams Chicago Bears moving ?...

Sticks:  Wise Blood by ATL Cigar Co (formerly distributed by Luciano, but ended in 2024 ).  For the podcast table.  Facings usually follow local figures in great Atlanta.  Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Rosado HVA Binder: Ecuadorian Connecticut Filler: Three Nicaraguan regions Vartan Reserva Special , Davidoff . Special blended by Vartan Seferian owner of Ambassador Fine Cigars in PV and Peoria, AZ. T...

Sticks:  Purple Pledge , by Casa Carillo (aged almost a decade). Tina highly recommends and argues its largely underrated, Carlos gives it an “good, not exciting” and Gary a "just ok".  Blood Medicine by Crowned Heads. Rated good-great by Gary and Carlos. Tina rated it a full-bodied bold cigar w/slight after taste and an acquired stick.  Stories:  Carlos discusses his history with cigars...

Special Feature celebrating Women's Day (3/8) and Women's History Month (March).  In this Feature we host Christine of Ambassador Fine Cigars in Phoenix, Arizona (PV).  The Sticks: Classic , Aladino (Lancero) - Tina Undisclosed, Aladino (Lancero) - Christine The Story: Within this episode, Christine of Ambassador Fine Cigars talks about the origin of the store in the late 90's (tune...

The Sticks: Anejo, Fuente - Tina CT Reserva , My Father - Kay  CT, Trevors - Lonnie (from Cigar rolling event) The Story: Within this episode, Kay discusses more about her cigar experience in the Valley discussing the beginning of "Ladies Nite" at Fox in Old Town; while Tina and Lonnie also comment on their experiences with cigar culture. Kay introduces us to Smoke in the Desert . The pa...

The Sticks:   Anejo, Fuente - Tina CT Reserva , My Father - Kay  CT, Trevors - Lonnie (from Cigar rolling event) The Story: Within this episode, Kay discusses her origin story of smoking cigars (15+ years) after a solo trip to NY. Tina and Lonnie also share their origin stories. Kay recommends next steps to Lonnie as he navigates mild to medium to full bodied cigars. Kay introduces us to Smoke in...

The Sticks:   Padron 1926 Serie - Kyree  Norteno, Esteli Herrara (discontinued) -Tina (not mentioned but it's what I smoked during this episode). Available at select shop across the valley including Churchills, Cigar King and Trevor's (while supplies last)   Esteban Carreras 211 - Gary The Story: Within this episode, Part II we continue our discussion on valley cigar lounges / shops. Kyr...

The Sticks:   Padron 1926 Serie - Kyree  Norteno, Esteli Herrara (discontinued) -Tina (not mentioned but it's what I smoked during this episode). Available at select shop across the valley including Churchills, Cigar King and Trevor's (while supplies last)   Esteban Carreras 211 - Gary The Story: Within this episode, we learn more about the beginnings of when Kyree started his cigar jour...

The Sticks:   Esteban Carreras 211  - Sam Meat Lover's (Dunbarton & Trust) -Tina  JFR , Aganorsa Leaf - Gary Decade , Rocky Patel - Lonnie The Story: Within this episode, we learn more about Sam's knowledge on cigars as he recommends the next smoke to the panel. He says his goodbye's and announces his event set for Feb 24th! Tina compares cigars to a steak meal, Lonnie discusses...

The Sticks: JFR and Plasencia  The Story: Within this episode, we learn more about the airplane sales business from co-host Gary and the importance of situational awareness.  Location of Event: https://www.hotelangleterre.ch/en/home (Gary's most memorable cigar lounge, the Leopard Lounge , and hotel experience while employed as an airplane salesman).  Fact Check: Men in Morocco do in fact hav...

Sticks:  BattleBorn, by EP Carrillo   now Casa Carrillo, limited production (@trevorsliquor). Also they are at @churchillsaz Padron Black label series, limited production (@fumarcigars) Gatekeeper, by Alec Bradley (@fumarcigars) Stories:  Carlos discusses his history and introduction to cigars We discuss cigar facings and the dynamics which collide to bring them to consumers. Gary and Carlos discu...