Cigar Hacks

Direct from Castro’s in Bedford, NH it’s the 2023 Hackie Awards Show and the Hackapalooza 6.0 recap. With ten on the panel this is one for the books. The Hidden Herf is a special awards show selection. Local Spotlight – Castro’s Backroom; Bedford, NH Controversy Corner – How are the award categories and nominees selected?

We are two days in to Hackapalooza 6.0 and find ourselves at Grumpy’s to record for the second week in a row. We are joined by the team from Madre Tierra Cigars who made the trip from Florida for the full Hackapalooza 6.0 experience. We are also joined by the Pocono and Nashville Hacks live … Continue reading "Episode 325: Hackapalooza 6.0 w/Madre Tierra Cigars – Local Spotlight: Grumpy’s Cigars &...

Nick Goss is one of our local brokers that we have been trying to connect with since the beginning, it finally happens this week. The event included offerings from BuyItSigned.com in addition to the Goss Man’s selections. The Hidden Herf is an obscure selection but one of the panel happens to recognize it. The White … Continue reading "Episode 324: The Goss Man W/Nick Goss – Local Spotlight: Grump...

It’s back to Twins 7-20-4 Lounge for kind of a pre-palooza visit. We take two call-ins this week, Ricky is at Grand Cathedral Cigars in Tampa, plus the GC and Sparky are at a surprise party. We have a few drop-in guests including one of the original Hacks. The Hidden Herf requires a giant clue … Continue reading "Episode 323: Roses on a Piano – Local Spotlight: Twins Smoke Shop; Londonderry, NH"

Direct from Plaistow Cigar it’s kind of a laid back episode. Nurse Rick calls in from Mi Casa Cigar Shop & Lounge in Valrico, Florida. Local Spotlight – Plaistow Cigar Co; Plaistow, NH Controversy Corner – Fake news document drops.

It’s New Year’s Eve at the (undisclosed location) Lancero Lounge, with the Hacks extended cigar family. The wives join the panel for another special episode where we get the scoop on how we met our wives. Plenty of laughs as the truth comes out. The Hidden Herf is a special selection for 2024. For the … Continue reading "Episode 321: The Wives’ Special 2.0 – How We Met – Local Spotlight: The Lance...

For the 2024 New Year episode we head over to Eli’s Smoking Lounge with some of the new Hacks. The Hidden Herf is a different size of a cigar we have smoked recently and the consensus is that it is very different. Local Spotlight – Eli’s Smoking Lounge; Nashua, NH Controversy Corner – Predictions for … Continue reading "Episode 320: Size Matters in the New Year – Eli’s Smoking Lounge; Nashua, NH"

We return to the Two Guys Christmas Party at the Seabrook location for another year. This time we are joined by Jarrid Trudeau EVP of Kristoff Cigars. Jarrid is an old friend of the OG Hacks, so it’s catching up on some history and getting the newer Hacks up to speed on the Kristoff story. … Continue reading "Episode 319: A Kristoff Christmas W/Jarrid Trudeau – Two Guys Smoke Shop; Seabrook, NH"

There was a launch party for a new line of cigars at The Ash in Kingston, NH on the same night as the local football team playing Thursday Night Football at The Tobacco Shack in Rowley, MA. We had already arranged a giant turkey frying event at the Shack for Thursday Night Football so we … Continue reading "Episode 318: Where’s Everyone Going? – Deep Fried Turkey"

The Undisclosed location is a private smoking lounge where one of the Hacks happens to know a guy. The hidden Herf is pegged straight out of the gate by the pro. The Mail bag is full and the podcast juice is flowing, it’s one of those! Local Spotlight – Toast Across America Charity Event Controversy … Continue reading "Episode 317: The Undisclosed Location – Toast Across America Charity Event"

For the second week in a row, a large contingent of Hacks invade a cigar lounge. With almost as many Hacks joining as last week, it’s becoming a regular thing. The Hidden Herf is a controversy in itself. We try a new segment and initiate a new Hack. Local Spotlight – The Tobacco Shack; Rowley, … Continue reading "Episode 316: Full House – The Tobacco Shack; Rowley, MA"

A large contingent of Hacks invade the Ash Cigar Lounge to do an episode with Darren Hill, our local New England Sales Manager for My Father Cigars. At one point we count 20 participants, so pull out your score card for this one. The Hidden Herf receives a very good rating overall. The Reverend Harvey … Continue reading "Episode 315: My Father w/Darren Hill – Ash Cigar Lounge; Kingston, NH"

Let’s get grumpy! This week we visit the new Grumpy’s Cigars & Lounge, formerly El Toro, and sit down with two of the new owners to discuss what’s involved in running a cigar bar. A pair of new Hacks are minted and the Hidden Herf stumps the panel again. Local Spotlight – Grumpy’s Cigars & … Continue reading "Episode 314: Have a Grumpy Day – Grumpy’s Cigars & Lounge; Hudson NH"

We drop in to the Diplomat Cigar Lounge in Keene, NH to surprise Josh, the owner, and Mike, the Rocky Patel Rep, for the first Rocky Patel event at this shop. A small contingent of Hacks make the trek on a Thursday, so we pull in a couple of regulars the round out the panel. … Continue reading "Episode 313: The Diplomat Drop-In W/Rocky Patel Cigars – The Diplomat Cigar Lounge; Keene, NH"

A couple of new Hack recruits join the crew at Ricky’s firepit. It’s a chilly night, so we load up the wood, have a good cigar, and sample some fine spirits to keep us warm. We recap the Pocono Palooza trip. The Hidden Herf is a new release from a well known brand, but it … Continue reading "Episode 312: The Last Firepit of ’23 – Local Spotlight: Pocono Palooza Lounge Tour"

We head down to the Poconos for the 5th year, including Pocono Wedding Palooza. The Rabbi Cut Above joins us at Best Cigar Pub for this episode along with The JoJo Mo clan and a new recruit, Mike the Runaway. We interview the front of the house manager at Best Cigar Pub to get some … Continue reading "Episode 311: Pocono Palooza 4.0 – Local Spotlight: Best Cigar Pub; Drums, PA"

Kurt Kendall of Twins Smoke Shop and 7-20-4 Cigars has his 60th birthday bash with Rocky Patel. A few lucky raffle winners are invited the the lake house for the weekend with Kurt and Rocky for cigars, food and spirits. Our own Hunter Rick and Nurse Rick are among the weekend winners. We get a … Continue reading "Episode 310: Weekend at the Lake House – Local Spotlight: Kurt’s 60th Birthday Bash w...

We recount four interviews from the New England Cigar Expo; Serino, Forged, JC Newman, and West Tampa Cigars. We have a special guest and the Hidden Herf ties in nicely.

Joe Gonzalez, our new Aston, La Aroma de Cuba, and San Cristobal rep, joins us at Plaistow Cigar this week. The Mail Bag is full of great messages. The hidden herf does not disappoint. We recap the New England Cigar Expo and have a few laughs along the way. Local Spotlight – New England Cigar … Continue reading "Episode 308: Ashton Cigars w/Joe Gonzalez – Local Spotlight: New England Cigar Expo 20...

Dommie the Dominator and the Blue Ash tied the knot this past weekend. The rest of the family go on a mountain top vacation for the balance of the week. We initiate a new cigar smoker and make some new friends. Between the wedding, vacation, and the New England Cigar Expo far too many cigars … Continue reading "Episode 307: Cigar Hacks’ Wedding Vacation 2023 – Local Spotlight: Wedding Cigar Bar"

Joey, AKA The Godfather, AKA, Joey The Gent, has been on the show before but we have not told the story of his cigar journey until now. The Hidden Herf was an easy target for identification and receives a worthy rating. It’s a cast of Castro’s regulars with a few Hacks, so expect some fun. … Continue reading "Episode 306: The Godfather – Local Spotlight: Castro’s Back Room; Manchester, NH"

For at least five years we have been after Roy Kirby to do an episode with us. We finally converge at the Perdomo event at Plaistow Cigar for an episode with a few surprises, including the Hidden Herf. Local Spotlight – Perdomo Cigars at Plaistow Cigar Co; Plaistow, NH Controversy Corner – Just sit back … Continue reading "Episode 305: An evening with Roy Kirby of Perdomo cigars – Local Spotlight:...

Direct from the Route One Business Networking Group (BNG) event for our third year, we talk with various BNG members while enjoying cigars on the back patio at the Rosaria Restaurant. It’s the usual laughs with some new and old friends. Local Spotlight – Route One BNG at Rosaria; Saugus, MA

There’s a Blue Moon on Enema Lake for our first episode on the boat this summer where the S.S. Low Voltage lives up to it’s name. The Hidden Herf is one of Nurse Rick’s finds from his Florida trip. No fish were harmed (or caught) during the making of this episode. Local Spotlight – Five … Continue reading "Episode 303: Blue Moon – Local Spotlight: Five Lounge Rhode Island Recap"

We return to Mr. J’s in RI with Miserable Nick to sit down with Paul Joyal of J. Grotto Cigars and Mr. J’s Havana Cigar Lounge. When we arrive we find that Mike Rosales, the “Ro” in RoMa Craft Tobac, is there on an unscheduled visit. As true Hacks we have Mike join us and … Continue reading "Episode 302: J. Grotto, RoMa Craft, and Miserable Nick – Local Spotlight: Mr. J’s Havana Cigar Lounge; Cove...