Half Ashed Episode 107: Unbanded 021

What this episode covers

Unbanded #021, from DC Welcome to Half Ashed Episode 107, featuring our 21st Unbanded, which happens to have been supplied by friend of the show Dan Crouch.  We can’t say much about it here in the notes without spoiling the show, except that it was a 6″ x 50(ish) torpedo.  You’ll have to tune in to get the full scoop and see us once again humble our palates… News Recent guest of the show Bodega Premium Blends will be taking over their own distribution effective April 1st.  They had announced some limited changes a while back, but will now be parting ways with House of Emilio with regard to their distribution.  From all outward appearances, it’s an amicable split; BPB just wants to have more fine-tuned control over the process and the ability to focus on select markets where their products presumably do well. A few weeks ago, we reported the Crowned Heads would be shipping a JDH Reserve “Single Action” – a 6×38 petit lancero based off the JDH line.  It has begun arriving on retailers’ shelves.  As mentioned, it has the JDH blend – Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper over Ec. Sumatran binder and Nicaraguan fillers.  Only 2,000 boxes of 10 have been produced. Long time listeners will remember last year when we talked about Operation: Chokepoint – a governmental program that classified some industries as “high risk” and led banking institutions to unfairly target them with the loss and/or heavy restrictions on their bank accounts.  Several tobacco retailers were impacted, as were many other organizations (namely, firearms, gambling and some lenders).  This past week, spurred on by the firearm industry, Arizona representative David Schweikert introduced a bill that would defund the program and prevent any future attempts at the same type of program.  Several co-sponsors have already signed on to the bill, but it would have a pretty long way to go to make it to law. Rocky Patel is releasing a special 10th anniversary Edge.  It will be a singular vitola, a 6×52 barber pole.  It’s to be called the “A-10” and will retail for $7.50 per stick.  No specifics on the wrappers in use. While there will NOT be an Avo “birthday cigar” this year, there WILL be a Limited Edition.  Fresh on the heels of the company’s rebranding (and reduction in offered lines), parent company Davidoff has teased some details of a new limited series called the Avo Improvisation Series.  It will draw its inspiration from previous Avo lines, and the 2015 LE will be Classic Covers.  The installment will be based off the original Avo blend and will use Nicaraguan, Mexican and Ecuadoran tobaccos.  It will only be available in a 6×50 toro and will retail for $16 What We’ve Been Smoking Craig Bolivar PC – For the first time I tasted Ginger in this cigar. It was terrific. It worked right into the suggestive flavors Kip has planted in me, with all of his “sweet and sour” talk. It really worked beautifully with the rich, deep earthy sweet core to this cigar. Por Larranaga Panetelas – A sweet cigar but not cloyingly so. Brown sugar & cherry pie tastes are here. The tartness of cherry with the sweetness from the sugar made for a terrific “dessert” Kip Destino al Siglo – a CFC holdover.  Lots of sweet, charred oaken flavor.  Baking spice; typical but bold Fuente sungrown-flavor.  Very good. Crowned Heads Angel’s Anvil – last year’s TAA exclusive from CH.  Ecuador over Nica/Nica.  7.125 x 49; rolled by EPC; limited to 1,000 boxes of 20.  I. Love. This. Cigar.  A bunch.  Bright, sweetened spice with some strength – although that could be due to the cumulative effect of its size and my desire to smoke eve...

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