Cigar Hacks

Joey, AKA The Godfather, AKA, Joey The Gent, has been on the show before but we have not told the story of his cigar journey until now. The Hidden Herf was an easy target for identification and receives a worthy rating. It’s a cast of Castro’s regulars with a few Hacks, so expect some fun. … Continue reading "Episode 306: The Godfather – Local Spotlight: Castro’s Back Room; Manchester, NH"

For at least five years we have been after Roy Kirby to do an episode with us. We finally converge at the Perdomo event at Plaistow Cigar for an episode with a few surprises, including the Hidden Herf. Local Spotlight – Perdomo Cigars at Plaistow Cigar Co; Plaistow, NH Controversy Corner – Just sit back … Continue reading "Episode 305: An evening with Roy Kirby of Perdomo cigars – Local Spotlight: Perdomo Cigars at Plaistow Cigar Co; Plaistow, NH"

Direct from the Route One Business Networking Group (BNG) event for our third year, we talk with various BNG members while enjoying cigars on the back patio at the Rosaria Restaurant. It’s the usual laughs with some new and old friends. Local Spotlight – Route One BNG at Rosaria; Saugus, MA

There’s a Blue Moon on Enema Lake for our first episode on the boat this summer where the S.S. Low Voltage lives up to it’s name. The Hidden Herf is one of Nurse Rick’s finds from his Florida trip. No fish were harmed (or caught) during the making of this episode. Local Spotlight – Five … Continue reading "Episode 303: Blue Moon – Local Spotlight: Five Lounge Rhode Island Recap"

We return to Mr. J’s in RI with Miserable Nick to sit down with Paul Joyal of J. Grotto Cigars and Mr. J’s Havana Cigar Lounge. When we arrive we find that Mike Rosales, the “Ro” in RoMa Craft Tobac, is there on an unscheduled visit. As true Hacks we have Mike join us and … Continue reading "Episode 302: J. Grotto, RoMa Craft, and Miserable Nick – Local Spotlight: Mr. J’s Havana Cigar Lounge; Coventry, RI"

We sit down with Netal of El Toro in Hudson NH for a small group session. Nurse Rick is in Haines City Florida and calls in with Anthony of The Cigar Quarters and John Deans of Madre Tierra Cigars. We will see you at The New England Cigar Expo on September 29th & 30th. Local … Continue reading "Episode 301: Live From Florida – Local Spotlight: El Toro Cigar & Lounge; Hudson, NH"

For our 300th episode milestone we descend on the Tobacco Shack unannounced and set up outside in the patio area on a fine summer evening. It’s a small group recording as many Hacks are on vacation or in disrepair. Nurse Rick calls in from Florida to give us the hotel check-in report. The Hidden Herf … Continue reading "Episode 300: The 300 – Local Spotlight: The Tobacco Shack Side Patio; Rowley, MA"

Back with our regular rotation of panelists it’s a full house for the Big Sky Cigars event at Plaistow Cigar. We are joined by their new rep, and long time Hack regular, Brian Sonia. Some of us have had a few of the new line from Big Sky, but the Hidden Herf turns out to … Continue reading "Episode 299: Big Sky Cigars w/Brian Sonia – Local Spotlight: Plaistow Cigar Co; Plaistow, NH"

For the second week in a row we are on the road for a family event. There’s a party for the ladies going on in the house and the men are exiled to the garage for cigars, podcast juice, and to record this week’s episode. The Hidden Herf turns out to be decent after we … Continue reading "Episode 298: Ladyfest – Local Spotlight: The Domicile 2.0"

It’s our second summer vacation special from the north country of New Hampshire. See episode 91 for the first in this series. More family members join in this year as we smoke an unusual Hidden Herf. Local Spotlight – On the lake; New Hampshire Controversy Corner – Skinwalker Ranch

We head over to El Toro in Hudson, NH this week for a chat with Netal to discuss the various unique cigars he carries. Podcast Juice is what’s on tap and the Hidden Herf is another good one. Local Spotlight – El Toro Cigar & Lounge; Hudson, NH Controversy Corner – Missing Aviators

The crew heads over to McGroin Manor this week where Mama and Papa McGroin join us for this episode. Mama is an aspiring stand-up comedian and keeps us in stitches for most of the episode. The Hidden Herf is a cousin to a recent one, and it gets a wide range of ratings. Local Spotlight … Continue reading "Episode 295: Stand-Up with Mama McGroin – Local Spotlight: McGroin Manor and Fox Cigar; Scottsdale, AZ"

Mike the Cop from Rocky Patel Cigars is back and redeems himself after Episode 292 from two weeks ago. We present a special award. The Hidden Herf is a complete surprise and gets a top rating. This one is a lot of fun as the podcast juice is flowing. Local Spotlight – Plaistow Cigar Co; … Continue reading "Episode 294: Redemption with Mike The Cop – Local Spotlight: Plaistow Cigar Co; Plaistow, NH and The Adventures of Pat & Chuck"

We slow things down a bit after a double header the previous Friday that produced the last two episodes. It’s over to The Tobacco Shack for one of the first nights of the summer with the extended hours. With a relatively small group of eight we have a few laughs and try a real nice … Continue reading "Episode 293: Shack Late Night – Local Spotlight: The Tobacco Shack; Rowley, MA"

Nimish Desai, of Rocky Patel Cigars, Kurt Kendall of 7-20-4 Cigars and Twins Smoke Shops, plus our host for the evening, Eric “Killer” Kilbane of Castro’s Back Room join the Hacks for a wild ride out on the Elm Street sidewalk in front of Castro’s in Manchester, NH. The rest of the Rocky crew has … Continue reading "Episode 292: Please Turn Mike’s Mic Off with Nimish Desai – Local Spotlight: Twins and Castro’s; New Hampshire"

Direct from Plaistow Cigar, where it all began, we sit down with the Micallef team for a special interview episode. We are joined by Amanda Micallef, Michael Granito, Andy Yaffee, and Jeff, The Micallef Ambassador of the Year. This was a unique opportunity to get four perspectives on the Micallef brand in a single interview. … Continue reading "Episode 291: Micallef Cigars Interview Special – Local Spotlight: Plaistow Cigar Co; Plaistow, NH"

With a cast of thousands at the fire pit we review the meet up with Miserable Nick out of Providence. He jumps into the Oscuro III and we head around the mid-state RI area on a cigar bar adventure. Nashville Dave finds a new lounge in downtown Nashville. The Hidden Herf is something we should … Continue reading "Episode 290: Cigar Boxes in the Fire Pit – Local Spotlight: Rhode Island Cigar Lounge Tour"

We have a small panel for a low keyed Memorial Day episode. Cellophane; on or off? The Hidden Herf was sent in from a regular listener and is a very surprising cigar. We hear about Cigar World East in Warren, RI while we prepare to tour RI shops on the other side of the state. … Continue reading "Episode 289: Memorial Day 2023 – Local Spotlight: Plaistow Cigar Co; Plaistow, NH"

The Gringo is in town and joins the panel this week. The Hidden Herf brand is guessed but the particular cigar is elusive. Kostas the Olive Man’s brother, Rembrandt the Painter, joins us for the first time while The Gringo breaks up the place. This is a fun one! Local Spotlight – Twins Smoke Shop; … Continue reading "Episode 288: Gringo Twins – Local Spotlight: Twins Smoke Shop; Londonderry, NH"

It’s taco & margarita day and the panel doesn’t miss the opportunity the sample the various margaritas at Elie’s. Elie give us an update on what’s in the works for the lounge. We drag Phil from the peanut gallery and put him in the hot seat. The Hidden Herf is discovered early on, but there’s … Continue reading "Episode 287: Cinco de Mayo – Local Spotlight: Elie’s Smoking lounge; Nashua, NH"