And now, from a random barn somewhere in Rhode Island comes Stogie Geeks!

Stogie of the Week

E.P. Carillo Edicion Limited (2011) “Dark Rituals”

Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Oscuro Maduro
Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Filler: Nicaraguan
Strength: Unknown
Vitola: Toro Grande
Size: 6.50 x 56
Age: N/A
MSRP: About $15.00

Paul’s This Week In Smoke

Viaje Skull and Bones ? – Released last year, this stick is a powerhouse. Cigar coma for sure, and a year later it still packs a punch and lacks in flavor.

Tatuaje Cojonu 2003 – I LOVE this stick. Especially with coffee, this is a true winner. At $10 a stick, its a bit pricy. I think I would buy a lot more of them for $8 a piece. Full of chocolaty, sweetness, and deep rich flavors.

Fuente Anejo – Sorely disappointed, no flavor, flat, and uninteresting. I don’t agree with all those people that like Anejo better than Opus. Opus is 12x better.

EP Carrillo Inaugural 2009 – I love this stick too, one of my favorites. Its aging very nicely. Still got spice, smoothie creaminess (I guess if you could get a nutty smoothie, it would taste like this). Just awesome. However, they fall apart on me at the end, but I think that’s because I smoked the last one and this one while fishing.

Tatuaje Noellas – These have some age on them and I am in love.

Tim’s This Week In Smoke

Illusione ~88~ Maduro – Same great filler and binder but with a San Andreas Wrapper. How can you go wrong? These should only get better with age. Check out the ash on this stick! Hunt these down!

Undercrown Gran Toro by Drew Estate – Unique, bold flavor profile and finish. Review posted here. Suggest grabbing a fiver, trying some for yourself, and letting the remainder rest for a few months.

Partagas 8-9-8 Varnished (2001) – Smoked my last two Lonsdale’s from 2001 with a friend on his birthday this week. What a great example of what age can do to a smoke. Great flavors (wood, spice, and sweetness) with perfect balance.

Rodrigo Habano Robusto – Great boutique brand. Rich flavors (coffee, chocolate, wood, & some spice) with medium amount of strength. Recommend the Toro ( 6 x 50).

Stogie Tech Segment

Paul’s Top Ten Things Not To Do With Your Humidor

1) Do not use tap water
2) Do not store you humidor inside a cabinet
3) Do not put your humidor in direct sunlight
4) Never use anything that looks like a green sponge
5) Stay away from analog hygrometers
6) Do not take off the cellophane or tubes
7) Don’t forget to change the sponge or humidification elements
8) Try not to use a cheap desktop humidor
9) Don’t put water in your gel humidification elements
10) Don’t put cigars in your humidor that are moldy or full of beetles

Download Episode 2 Here