Cigar Hacks Podcast

This week’s Hidden Herf is a selection that had been put away for just ove a year. We compare it to how we remember it when it was freshly released and to a recent try at a lounge. Local Spotlight – The Tobacco Shack; Rowley, MA Controversy Corner – The Knights are Back.

Sitting around the fire pit with an assortment of spirits, from Zacapa to the Red Pecker, we have a blast with this week’s crew. The twins are initiated and get new Hack-names. The Hidden Herf is the star of the show with its unusual characteristics and misleading clues. We all have smoked this one before … Continue reading "Episode 465: It’s a Sweet Cap – Local Spotlight:...

Our special guests are a set of twins we met duting the NE Cigar Expo weekend. Oddly enough thay are Grumpy’s regulars. We reap the Expo and other Hack happenings from last weekend. The Hidden Herf stumps the panel and receives good marks. Local Spotlight – Grumpy’s Cigar & Lounge; Hudson, NH Controversy Corner – … Continue reading "Episode 464: The Cigar Twins –...

‘Twas the night before the Expo where we meet up with a group of out of state Hacks, brand owners, and reps. Nimish Desai and the crew from Rocky Patel, Terence Reilly with Aganorsa Leaf, JJ Eiroa from CLE, and Jon Carney of Bently join us for a portion of the episode. It feels like … Continue reading "Episode 463: 2026 New England Cigar Expo Pre-Game – Local Spotlight: Twins Smo...

Not exactly “on” a boat, but right next to it. We record at the marina on Lake Winnipesaukee before the boats al come out for the season. The Hidden Herf is something unusual and, of course, stumps the panel. Local Spotlight – Plaistow Cigar Company; Plaistow, NH Controversy Corner – Aviation Mishaps

Sitting around the firepit we take a call from Fabian for the Florida weather report. The Hidden Herf stumps the panel. Local Spotlight – The Boat and Firepit Controversy Corner – Promises, Promises

Signals get crossed and we have a situation where we are at two locations. The Hidden Herf is a pre-release that turns out to be released so it stumps the panel. Local Spotlight – Federal Cigar; Dover, NH Controversy Corner – Surveillance Weather

Killer joins the panel as we celebrate a Hack birthday and get a Hack name change. The Hidden Herf is a tough one to figure out but it’s a real contender for top rating. Local Spotlight – Castro’s Backroom; Manchester, NH Controversy Corner – The Mentalist Tells Most

We are joined by Mama McGroin for some laughs and story telling. The Hidden Herf stumps the panel and makes the list. Local Spotlight – Rhino’s Cigar Lounge by Owl Shop Tobacconists Controversy Corner – Wildfires and Weather

It’s a cast of old and new friends at the golf course on the 19th hole under the tent. The Hidden Herf receives mixed reviews. Local Spotlight – Thompson Country Club; North Reading, MA Controversy Corner – Ladies or Gentlemen

It’s another mid-week episode, this time we’re in the screen tent at the ranch. The panel is in rare form and it’s a bit of a surprise. The Hidden Herf stumps the panel and receives mixed reviews from both ends of the spectrum. Local Spotlight – The Original Cigar & Bar; North Conway, NH Controversy … Continue reading "Episode 456: Mid-Week at The Mustang Ranch &#...

Sometimes the stars align and you can pull together a “Bunch of Hacks” on short notice to do a mid-week episode. The Cigar Association of New Hampshire (CANH) Golf Tournament was this week, and we get all the details. The Hidden Herf is a vintage selection and receives decent marks. Local Spotlight – Twins Smoke … Continue reading "Episode 455: Stacking the Deck at the CANH...

It’s a short crew for this episode. It has been a year since doing a recording in Bedford and it feels like we were there last week. The Hidden Herf is unique, stumps the panel, and receives good marks. Local Spotlight – Castro’s Cigar Lounge; Bedford, NH Controversy Corner – A Bridge Too Far.

It’s the 9th annual summer trip on the barge and we are at the lake house for the seventh year. The weather is almost perfect, many cigars are smoked, and plenty of fish are caught. The Hidden Herf gets some great reviews. Local Spotlight – On the lake; New Hampshire Controversy Corner – Dead or … Continue reading "Episode 453: Summa-Palooza 2026 – Local Spotlight: On...

Direct from the Route One Business Networking Group (BNG) event for our sixth year, we speak with a few BNG members while enjoying cigars under the tent on the back patio at the Rosaria Restaurant. The Hidden Herf is a hit the panel. Local Spotlight – Route One BNG Summer Cigar Event Controversy Corner – … Continue reading "Episode 452: Back for More 6.0 – Local Spotlight:...

It’s cast of thousands for the roasting of McGroin. The Hidden Herf is picked out early but gets a wide range of reviews. Local Spotlight – The Tobacco Shack; Rowley, MA Controversy Corner – It’s in the Water.

Our special guest is a former MLB player, so it’s lots of baseball and cigar stories for this episode. The Hidden Herf is obvious after just a single clue. Local Spotlight – Castro’s Backroom; Manchester, NH Controversy Corner – McGroin’s Dating Habits

While we’ve been outside plenty it’s the first time we are on the front lawn, but not the first time we are with a dog. Detroit Steve is back from Reno and gives us a recap of his cigar lounge adventure at Fumare and General Frank fills us in on his trip to the Pittsburg … Continue reading "Episode 449: The Front Lawn with Blue – Local Spotlight: Fumare Fine Cigar Boutique;...

Count how many times you hear “Holy BEEEP”. It’s another small group episode and The Hidden Herf is another vintage selection from Killer’s vault. Local Spotlight – Castro’s Backroom; Manchester, NH Controversy Corner – IPO & AI

This episode is a recap of our trip to RI and MR. J’s 6th anniversary celebration. We also visited Tammany Hall, The Gentleman Cigar Lounge, and The Ale House Cigar Bar. We also get a surprise PA report. The Hidden Herf is back to the traditional format that stumps the panel. Local Spotlight – Mr. … Continue reading "Episode 447: The Rhode Island Report – Local Spotlight: M...

The Hidden Herf theme is a follow up to last week’s theme where we all sample a variation of the same line. Checkout the cigar holder, ashtray, coaster. Local Spotlight – The Tobacco Shack; Rowley, MA Controversy Corner – The truth is coming out.

Jonas Santans calls in to tell us about his cigar brand, our Hidden Herf for this week. We report on the Perdomo Father & Son cigar release by Two Guys. Local Spotlight – Two Guys Cigar Shop; Salem, NH Controversy Corner – Ticked Off!

After last week’s current events we try another effect. We have a real Hidden Herf that was selected by “The New Guy” and he hit a home run. Killer pops in for a few minutes. Local Spotlight – Castro’s Backroom; Manchester, NH Controversy Corner – AI Buzz w/PatGPT

There’s a Rocky Patel event at Plaistow Cigar, so we drop in to record after it’s over. The “new guy” is initiated into the Hack family. The Hidden Herf is a pre-release from the Rocky Patel team fresh out of the PCA. Local Spotlight – Plaistow Cigar Company; Plaistow, NH Controversy Corner – Info Wars … Continue reading "Episode 443: The New Guy – L...

The weather breaks for just a bit so we gather the firewood and a large compliment of hacks for this one. Half the panel has not been on in quite a while so it’s different than the last few months. The Hidden Herf is a lesser-known boutique type brand found in Florida. Local Spotlight – … Continue reading "Episode 442: It’s Firepit Weather – Local Spotlight: Ricky&#82...