Cigar Hacks

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"

The Rabbi Cutabove swings into town and we roll out the Oscuro III. The day starts at The Cigar Authority live podcast where the guest for the week is Jose Dominguez Jr. of Jose Dominguez Cigars. We load the crew into the Oscuro III stretch limo and head over to El Toro in Hudson to … Continue reading "Episode 286: Rabbi Palooza – Local Spotlight: El Toro Cigar & Lounge; Hudson, NH"

We get the Ash Lounge Grand Opening report. Instead of the usual local spotlight we have a trivia game for prizes. The Hidden Herf becomes somewhat obvious after a few clues. Dog talk. The Brooklyn Chick drops in for a quick appearance. Local Spotlight – Lounge Trivia at Plaistow Cigar Co; Plaistow, NH Controversy Corner … Continue reading "Episode 285: Plaistow Trivia Game – Local Spotlight: Plaistow Cigar Co; Plaistow, NH"

It’s the first outdoor episode of 2023. We gather around the fire pit in Nurse Ricks back yard where the Hidden Herf is pegged right out of the gate. We review the olive oil drops and have lot of fun with some one-liners. Local Spotlight – La Farona Cigars, Ebor City, FL Controversy Corner – … Continue reading "Episode 284: April Fire Pit – Local Spotlight: La Farona Cigars; Ebor City, FL"

It’s the soft opening of the new Ash Cigar Lounge in Kingston, NH. We sit down with the owner and get the skinny on the whole story. Nurse Rick is in Orlando on vacation and calls in from Corona Cigar’s downtown location for the Florida Report. The Hidden Herf is recognized by one of the … Continue reading "Episode 283: The Long Ash Interview – Local Spotlight: Ash Cigar Lounge; Kingston, NH"

It’s that time again for The Tobacco Shack’s “Party For The Hell Of It”. The band is on, we’re having a blast, and it’s standing room only. This episode was recorded directly after the party. We do a recap on the Route One Business Network Group event. The Hidden Herf stumps the panel but it … Continue reading "Episode 282: Any Excuse for a Party – Local Spotlight: The Tobacco Shack; Rowley, MA"

We’re back at the Twins 7-20-4 lounge and Michael Granito of Micallef Cigars is downstairs for a Micallef Cigar event so we rope him into joining us again. Keeping with that theme we also grab “Schweddy Balls” from the lounge. The Hidden Herf is a fantastic five dollar stick. Mustang Mike is back and launches … Continue reading "Episode 281: Mo Money w/Micallef Cigars – Local Spotlight: Twins Smoke Shop; Londonderry, NH"

Another first, we haven’t done an episode from the Nashua location of Castro’s before this week. Direct from the second floor lounge we have a full compliment of Hacks for the St. Patrick’s Day episode. The Hidden Herf was picked right out by one of our astute panelists. The Podcast Juice is flowing and the … Continue reading "Episode 280: St Paddy’s Day! – Local Spotlight: Castro’s Back Room; Nashua, NH"

Our first episode from the Boston Cigar Club is good time for the panel. We land an interview with the owner. There’s an interesting story behind this lounge. The Hidden Herf is guessed by way of a coincidence. A possible future Hack joins the festivities. Oh yeah – it’s Pat McGroin’s birthday Local Spotlight – … Continue reading "Episode 279: Be Patient, the Belly Dancer is Coming! – Local Spotlight: Boston cigar Club, Charlestown, MA"

It was five years ago this month when we did a Local Spotlight on Cigar and Lounge in Watertown, MA. It about time we got back there to record an episode. We interview the owners and they tell us about the decade’s long, and no so easy, journey to running a successful cigar lounge in … Continue reading "Episode 278: It’s Not Easy – Local Spotlight: Cigar and Lounge; Watertown, MA"

“Tony Montana” becomes a Hack. The Hidden Herf proves that size matters! How many times can we get pulled over? And other stories from the road. Local Spotlight – Touring in the Oscuro III Controversy Corner – Dinosaur Reality

It’s a Friday night in the 7-20-4 Lounge at Twins. We have a birthday with a special cigar and a hidden herf that stumps the panel. Pat The Law Student files a brief on a California proposal. Local Spotlight – Twins Smoke Shop; Londonderry, NH Controversy Corner – Trains w/Pat McGroin

Hackapalooza 5.0 is in the books, we do a brief recap of the 36 hours that followed last week’s recording. Nurse Rick is on the remote because he’s under the weather again. The Hidden Herf gives a couple of the panelists some issues. We dissect one of the Hidden Herfs to see what it’s issue … Continue reading "Episode 275: Rooster Booster – Local Spotlight: Plaistow Cigar Co; Plaistow, NH"