Half Ashed Episode 102: Robaina Farm Roll

What this episode covers

Robaina Farm Rolled Cañonazo Welcome to another fun- and (mostly) fact-filled episode of Half Ashed.  This week, we’re smoking the 2005 Robaina Farm Rolled Cañonazo.  Craig describes it thusly: A beautifully delicate cigar of 6-⅛” x 54. An incredibly delicate wrapper closes the foot of this nutty and fruity tasting cigar rolled, and grown completely, at the Robaina farm in Pinar del Rio. The plantation, known as Cuchillas de barbacoa, was run at the time by famed Cuban tobacco man, Alejandro Robaina. These cigars are from early in 2005 and have been in my possession since. These are polarizing, to say the least, but have a long history of being a destination cigar of those visiting Havana and the tobacco growing region of Vuelto Abajo. News In the news, we covered several noteworthy items including: Eddie Ortega (Ortega Cigars), Sean Williams (El Primer Mundo), and Erik Espinosa (La Zona/Espinosa) are gearing up for a very interesting venture wherein they trade around blending styles and manufacturing capacity. Florida Senator Bill Nelson has introduced a bill aimed at protecting premium cigars. Gurkha throws their hat in the ring with the Maharaja, another “Ultra Premium” cigar….set to retail around the $500 mark.  Per stick.  You read that right. Black Label Trading Company is expanding their footprint with a new factory in Esteli. Finally, we had an update on 2015 February pricing changes around the industry.  They are beginning to trickle out. What We’ve Been Smoking Craig – RoMaCraft CroMagnon Mode 5 and Intemperance EC XXI, Jose Blanco’s Señorial, and the Casa Trompeta “Bahia” South America Kip – Fuente’s Casa Cuba revisited, Sam Leccia’s Luchador, and the Fuente Don Carlos “Sr. Blend” Listener Email We reviewed one listener email, from Frank Halayko: I have noticed a problem with my cigars since I have arrived in Florida, I keep getting tar at the head of the cigar after less than half the cigar is gone. I have been using the Xikar V-Cutter and really like it for about 8 months. After a week in Florida I have noticed a sharp increase in tar coming out of my cigars about 70%, I was wondering if the travel, Humidity I am smoking in, or just the shallowness of the cut is doing this, I am getting paranoid so I check them frequently so I don’t get it in my mouth but still a Pain in the butt???  I also posted it in the Forum under show questions Wrap Up We wrapped up with the announcement of our recent giveaway winners – congrats to Officer Paul and Ian Winchester!  Your prizes are on the way. Next episode we will be featuring the AJ Fernandez New World.  Be sure to tune in Friday night at 9:30pm EST and hang out with us in the chatroom during the show.  If you would like to contact us in the meantime, you can reach us via the “Contact Us!” tab at the side of this page, or at the following emails: [email protected] [email protected]. Please feel free to drop us a line if you have any questions you’d like answered, comments to make…or even compliments and complaints.  We love to get your emails!  Also, remember you can always go back and listen to previous episodes, which can be found in the Half Ashed Archive.  You can download this week’s audio directly below (right-click “Download” and save), find us on iTunes, or subscribe with any podcast app at our RSS Feed.  Video, as always, will be available at the Half Ashed YouTube Channel. P.S. – If you have unbanded suggestions or contributions,

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