Cigar Hacks

Let’s get grumpy! This week we visit the new Grumpy’s Cigars & Lounge, formerly El Toro, and sit down with two of the new owners to discuss what’s involved in running a cigar bar. A pair of new Hacks are minted and the Hidden Herf stumps the panel again. Local Spotlight – Grumpy’s Cigars & … Continue reading "Episode 314: Have a Grumpy Day – Grumpy’s Cigars & Lounge; Hudson NH"

We drop in to the Diplomat Cigar Lounge in Keene, NH to surprise Josh, the owner, and Mike, the Rocky Patel Rep, for the first Rocky Patel event at this shop. A small contingent of Hacks make the trek on a Thursday, so we pull in a couple of regulars the round out the panel. … Continue reading "Episode 313: The Diplomat Drop-In W/Rocky Patel Cigars – The Diplomat Cigar Lounge; Keene, NH"

A couple of new Hack recruits join the crew at Ricky’s firepit. It’s a chilly night, so we load up the wood, have a good cigar, and sample some fine spirits to keep us warm. We recap the Pocono Palooza trip. The Hidden Herf is a new release from a well known brand, but it … Continue reading "Episode 312: The Last Firepit of ’23 – Local Spotlight: Pocono Palooza Lounge Tour"

We head down to the Poconos for the 5th year, including Pocono Wedding Palooza. The Rabbi Cut Above joins us at Best Cigar Pub for this episode along with The JoJo Mo clan and a new recruit, Mike the Runaway. We interview the front of the house manager at Best Cigar Pub to get some … Continue reading "Episode 311: Pocono Palooza 4.0 – Local Spotlight: Best Cigar Pub; Drums, PA"

Kurt Kendall of Twins Smoke Shop and 7-20-4 Cigars has his 60th birthday bash with Rocky Patel. A few lucky raffle winners are invited the the lake house for the weekend with Kurt and Rocky for cigars, food and spirits. Our own Hunter Rick and Nurse Rick are among the weekend winners. We get a … Continue reading "Episode 310: Weekend at the Lake House – Local Spotlight: Kurt’s 60th Birthday Bash w/Rock Patel"

We recount four interviews from the New England Cigar Expo; Serino, Forged, JC Newman, and West Tampa Cigars. We have a special guest and the Hidden Herf ties in nicely.

Joe Gonzalez, our new Aston, La Aroma de Cuba, and San Cristobal rep, joins us at Plaistow Cigar this week. The Mail Bag is full of great messages. The hidden herf does not disappoint. We recap the New England Cigar Expo and have a few laughs along the way. Local Spotlight – New England Cigar … Continue reading "Episode 308: Ashton Cigars w/Joe Gonzalez – Local Spotlight: New England Cigar Expo 2023"

Dommie the Dominator and the Blue Ash tied the knot this past weekend. The rest of the family go on a mountain top vacation for the balance of the week. We initiate a new cigar smoker and make some new friends. Between the wedding, vacation, and the New England Cigar Expo far too many cigars … Continue reading "Episode 307: Cigar Hacks’ Wedding Vacation 2023 – Local Spotlight: Wedding Cigar Bar"

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"