Down to Herf Podcast

This week the boys are joined by Cofounder and Master Blender for ADVentura Cigars, Henderson Ventura. Henderson talks us through the creation of his brand with his partner and how despite being the son of an industry legend he wasn’t fast tracked to his position. Then we discussed the new release Blue Eyed Jack's Revenge and why this cigar signals a new chapter for the brand. Patrol Gone Wil...

For this episode we a joined again in studio by returning guest Jake Sanders from Crowned Heads. In this episode we went down a rabbit hole and discussed everything from recent political events to the newly released Las Calaveras 2024 from Crowned Heads. We had the pleasure of smoking this with Jake and we talked about how this Limited edition Release has gained a cult following and how this speci...

On this episode the boys plans for an outdoor themed show were foiled by a rain storm. We debuted a new brand to the Herf and smoked the Ma Deuce from Hooten Young. We paired it with a Special collaboration expression from Whistle Pig with Solo stove. The boys discussed the recent assassination attempt on former President Trump and the major historical implications. We also talked about the Nation...

This week the boys are fresh off the the 4th of July holiday. We discussed how we spent our holiday. Then we got into our cigar, The Year of the Dragon by Rocky Patel. We talked about the controversy surrounding the trademark and how there’s like 20 different Year of the Dragon’s.  Patrol Gone Wild this week brings us a story about an Indian woman who dismembered a lover, a woman hiring a hit man...

In this episode the boys talk about their weekend with a very special b-day party. On this pre 4th of July show. On the Herf this week we do a first a redux review of the Pledge of Allegiance 24’ edition. These cigars are smoking great and we discuss our top Independence Day movies and all things 4th of July. Patrol Gone Wild is back this week with wife poisoning her husbands Mountain Dew over a p...

This week the boys are joined by former MLB player, cigar aficionado, and Syracuse Mets Coach J.P. Arencibia. We got to talk about what it was like to make it to the pros and what it was like to make MLB history in his debut. We then got into how his love of cigars developed after his playing career. J.P. Also shared the story of how he met his now wife. (Here’s a hint shoot your shot boys) This a...

This week the boys are joined by Aganorsa Leaf Vice President, Terence Riley. Terence sat down with us to talk all things Aganorsa Leaf and we got to review the newly released Arsenio that debuted at PCA 24. Terence gave us the back story behind the project then we touched on everything from sports to the inspiration behind the Lunatic 10x100 monster cigar. Patrol gone wild is back again this week...

This week the boys are joined by RoMa Craft Co-Founder Mike Rosales! We touched on Mike’s love of bourbon, and his version of RoMa Crafts founding. Then we got to talk about the new evolution of the Cromagnon Blend. What is was like making a big changing to the original line and how he thinks it helps the evolution of the brand given the current tobacco market. This all went down while we smoked t...

The boys are back this week with a candid discussion on all things Father’s Day. We discuss what it means to us and the experiences of us with all being at different stages of fatherhood. We also discuss our Father’s Day plans and what we hope them to be. In honor of Father’s Day Caleb was steered the discussion of the best (and worst) dads of television and film. This all went down while we smoke...

This episode we are joined by Juan Lugo, founder of Don Doroteo cigars. Juan and the boys sat down discussed the founding of the brand and Juan’s journey of the American dream from serving in our military all the way to founding an up and coming cigar brand that is putting out some of the finest aged cigars in the industry. This conversation was had while we got to review the all new El Alcalde th...

The boys are back this week with another dual interview. We are joined by founder of Fratello cigars Omar De Frias and VP of Marketing Jennifer True. Now back when father Caleb debuted a few weeks back and reviewed the 18th amendment they took a bit of a beating. Well Jennifer and Omar popped in to set the record straight and Jennifer kept reciepts. All in all we got a fun episode that cleared the...

On this episode the boys finally sit down with Pete Johnson founder of Tatuaje Cigars. Be ready this was a doozy. We talked about everything from Pete’s love of cars all the way to his habit of just missing out on being a famous musician. We ventured into some cigar talk and even went into the rabbit hole of comedy. Enjoy this one we sat down with Pete for almost 4 hours and got a real look at the...

The boys are joined this week by Aric Bey from Black Star Line Cigars. We discuss how Aric founded the company and how his journey from Chicago firefighter to founding an up and coming cigar brand. Aric talked us through his blending process and how his determination led to him working with some of the top industry factories Patrol gone wild is back this week with an MLB impersonator stealing hear...

This week the boys talk the upcoming holiday weekend for Cinco de Mayo and we are joined by 2 special guests one for May the fourth and another makes their return in time for patrol gone wild. During this episode the boys smoked the much delayed release from Tatuaje the TAA 2023! Patrol gone wild this week is brings us a deadly porno, a bowling alley brawl, and father Caleb is back to discuss a co...

On this episode the boys sit down for a Herf first and smoke the all new Hiram and Solomon “Heart and Soul.” We talked about some of the brand history and what they are about. Then we discussed the potential Tik-Tok ban and what we thought of it. We also discussed an issue that plagues all of us and companies are finally doing away with the self checkout! Patrol gone wild this week brought us a wa...

This week the boys are smoking the all new conceal carry 18th amendment from Fratello cigars. The boys sit back and discuss the controversy regarding the concept and how other industry folk aren’t exactly fans. During this discussion we had a guest debut to talk a little sense into the project. Then Caleb hit Jerry and Gio with a game of would you rather that had some very interesting answers and...

Jon Huber returns to the Herf to talk about the all new Coroneta from Crowned heads. We talk about the pitfalls of moving PCA to March and its effect on the shows success. Then we discussed our favorite parts of the show including a nice sit down we had with Jon where there was actually no cigar talk! Due to an electrical outage that delayed Jon’s arrival our segments are out of usual order. Patro...

This week the boys are back with with Skip Martin co-founder of RoMa Craft Tobac. We got to talk to Skip about the new blend and the process of changing the Cromagnon Blend from Connecticut to Pennsylvania Broadleaf! We also touched on how Skip has grown as a blender throughout his career. We also addressed a little drama with Privada Cigar Club that turned up over some comments that were made on...

Max Bichler from Rocky Patel returns to the Herf and Mike LaRiviere, also from Rocky joins us for the first time. They brought us a treat and we got to smoke a special unreleased vitola of the soon to be released Gold Label! The boys talked all things Rocky with the upcoming PCA releases including the year of the dragon! Max briefly delved into the controversy surrounding the recent Gurrka tradema...

This week we are joined by Erik Espinosa, founder of Espinosa cigars. We got the privilege to smoke the all new La Bomba Warhead X with Erik and after talk about a big year ahead for the company. The conversation took some interesting turns as we went from talking a little sports to how he got his start in the industry, all the way on down to his father’s cigar eating habits(yes you read that corr...

On this episode we are joined by Mike Szczepankiewicz from Powstanie Cigars and of course, Cigar Hustler. As a bit of a PCA pre-show we were treated with Mike’s new Powstanie Connecticut “Justice” a special corona gorda vitola with a very personal meaning to Mike. As we touched on what this cigar means to Mike the conversation took some turns to what drives Mike from everything in his cigar brand...

The boys are back this week and go over March plans. This led to a discussion about all the things that went on in a March in a comedic tone only Caleb can manage. We even discussed the upcoming March Madness tournament’s effect on the work force. Then we got to talking about how Miami officially “broke up” with spring break due to tons of issues with spring breakers. Lastly we briefly touched on...

This week we are joined by James Brown from Black Label Trading Co! James and the guys took a deep dive into what got James into the cigar game and how his unique approach has helped grow his company into a very acclaimed brand. James also delivered a heartbreaking reality check to Jerry’s cigar hoarding! This all went down while we smoked the Morphine LE Robusto Torpedo Boxpressed. This edition i...

Sébastien Decoppet, founder of Cavalier Cigars joins the Herf! This interview we got to sit down with Sébastien and talk all things Cavalier. He joined us remote from the factory in Honduras and we got to talk about how his passion for cigars turned into a successful business and brand. We talked about a man from Switzerland ends up in Honduras rolling cigars and learning this wonderful craft. Thi...

Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust’s Steve Saka joins the Herf for a remote interview. We sat down with Steve to smoke the Sobremesa Brûlée Wagashi. Steve explained the concept behind this cigar and its targeted smoker. After that we got into the crazy 2023 that Dunbarton had. We dived into what it was like to have so many acclaimed cigars and all the work his team put into it. Steve also explained the o...