Cigar Hacks

Hackapalooza 5.0 is in full swing, we report on the first 30 hours. With twelve panelists the Hidden Herf is “smokers choice” to save on time. The Current Events segment should be called “Fun with the Reverend”. The episode goes in multiple directions and we get into a bit of a laughing fit towards the … Continue reading "Episode 274: Hackapalooza 5.0 – Local Spotlight: New Tobacco Village; Whitehall, PA"

We take the Oscuro III limo south to Chuck’s for another episode with a full compliment of Hacks. There’s an initiation of our third new member in as many weeks. The Hidden Herf is hit or miss with the panel but still does not get any outstanding ratings. The banter is all over the map … Continue reading "Episode 273: South on the North Shore – Local Spotlight: Chuck’s Commune"

Hanging out at Plaistow Cigar on a Saturday Afternoon with a full compliment of Hacks we initiate a new Hack. The Mailbag is full and the Hidden Herf is hit or miss with the panel. The Reverend gets himself into hot water a couple times. Controversy Corner goes in a different direction, four or five … Continue reading "Episode 272: Saturday Afternoon at Plaistow Cigar – Local Spotlight: The Cigar Den; New Brunswick, NJ"

We sit down with Eric “Killer” Kilbane of Castro’s Back Room Cigar Shops. Eric pulls out a few cigar selections from the vault for us to sample, most have been aging for approximately 20 years. It’s a cast of eleven with non-stop laughs. We have been anticipating this episode for over a month and the … Continue reading "Episode 271: Vintage Cigar Night – Local Spotlight: Castro’s Back Room; Manchester, NH"

Another year passes and we find ourselves handing out another set of awards for some of the best things of the past year. We pull in a couple of lounge regulars (Mike & Steve) to add color commentary. If this wasn’t the awards show we could have call it the medical episode or the boobies … Continue reading "Episode 270: The 2022 Hackie Awards Special – Local Spotlight: El Toro; Hudson, NH"

It’s New Year’s Eve at the (undisclosed location) Lancero Lounge, with the Hacks extended cigar family. Four (or five) of the wives join the panel for a special episode where we get the ladies’ perspective on the Cigar Family concept. Plenty of laughs, cigars, and even some reflection points as we start 2023. The Hidden … Continue reading "Episode 269: The Wives’ Special – A Cigar Family New Year – Local Spotlight: The Lancero Lounge"

It’s the Tobacco Shack Holiday Party 2022. The lounge is jammed and the band is playing when we arrive, but we are recording after hours so it’s quieted down. We have a laid-back episode with a few gifts and a decent Hidden Herf. It’s just what the doctor ordered with the kind of day we … Continue reading "Episode 268: A Shack Holiday Party – Local Spotlight: The Tobacco Shack; Rowley, MA"

We’re at Two Guys Smoke Shop in Seabrook NH for the annual Christmas Party where we run into former NFL Player and radio / TV commentator Steve DeOssie. If you like football and cigars this is the episode for you! Mr. Bojimbles is back and he pegs the Hidden Herf right out of the gate. … Continue reading "Episode 267: Football Christmas w/Steve DeOssie – Local Spotlight: Two Guys Smoke Shop; Seabrook, NH"

It’s like three episodes in one. We attend the Molon Labe Cigars, Spirits and Coffee event at Plaistow Cigar. André from Live Free Distillery joins us for the first segment. Steve from Molon Labe Cigars takes the second segment and tells us about the Cigars and the Coffee from New Hampshire Coffee Roasters. The ladies, … Continue reading "Episode 266: Triple Threat, Are You Man Enough – Local Spotlight: Molon Labe at Plaistow Cigar Co; Plaistow, NH"

After recording #246 a few Hacks head up to the Federal Cigar 100th Anniversary event with Rocky Patel, where he is releasing the DBS and Edge 20th Anniversary. A few cocktails and a couple cigars latter it last call and Rocky says “Let’s do a podcast right now!” So we find ourselves literally in “The … Continue reading "Episode 265: Rocky Patel Interview Special – Local Spotlight: Federal Cigar’s Slow Burn Lounge; Portsmouth, NH"

Returning to the scene of the Flat Earth episode, we’re back in Plaistow for the Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Event. Joined by the local Dunbarton rep Brian, we have a lot of laughs and smoke a fine Hidden Herf. The Duster makes an appearance and the Reverend explains Double-D Marie. Local Spotlight – Dunbarton Tobacco … Continue reading "Episode 264: Mainstream Matty & Pat McGroin – Local Spotlight: DT&T at Plaistow Cigar Co; Plaistow, NH"

The Hacks make the long drive out to Keene, NH on Black Friday to check out a new cigar bar called The Diplomat. We are joined by special guests “AKA Fred”, The Cigar Queen, and Josh for a run-down of the cigar scene in the southwestern corner of New Hampshire. The Hidden Herf turns out … Continue reading "Episode 263: Olivia! – Local Spotlight: The Diplomat Cigar Lounge; Keene, NH"

It’s been five years of the Cigar Hacks and we celebrate by inviting representatives from the six other local cigar podcasts to join us for this special occasion. We discuss cigar podcasting, some of our collective history, how the shows are all different but oddly connected, and as usual we go in a few unexpected … Continue reading "Episode 262: 5th Anniversary Special – Local Cigar Podcasts – Local Spotlight: Studio 21 at Two Guys Smoke Shop; Salem, NH"

Direct from the Veterans Day event at The Tobacco Shack sponsored by Rocky Patel Cigars, we improvise and set up on the side patio because it’s standing room only inside! Mike The Cop, our local Rocky Patel rep, talks with us about the brand. This week’s Panel of Hacks are lucky to have the first … Continue reading "Episode 261: Veterans Day w/Rocky Patel Cigars – Local Spotlight: The Tobacco Shack; Rowley, MA"

Direct from another live lounge recording we are joined by Bugsy of Pura Soul Cigars and Elie of Elie’s Smoking Lounge. The news section covers some interesting topics including the current international listener statistics and NH cigar bar licensing. The Hidden Herf is another surprise for the panel. Local Spotlight – Elie’s Smoking lounge; Nashua, … Continue reading "Episode 260: International Hits w/Bugsy and Elie – Local Spotlight: Elie’s Smoking lounge; Nashua, NH"

We dive into one of the latest releases from Forged Cigars with our local rep and special guest Jim Price. The Hidden Herf receives a good rating from the panel. Then in the second half we have a spirited debate on the merits of the shape of the earth. There’s no shortage of bad jokes … Continue reading "Episode 259: Is the Earth Flat? With Jim Price of Forged Cigars – Local Spotlight: Plaistow Cigar; Plaistow, NH"

Back from the Poconos and Wedding Palooza we find ourselves at El Toro in Hudson, NH with the newlyweds, who just happened to be in the area. Early in the week Nurse Rick ran into Michael Granito, the Micallef Cigar North East Rep, and Michael joins us before heading back to Long Island. We learn … Continue reading "Episode 258: Pocono Wedding Palooza Recap w/Micallef Cigars – Local Spotlight: Regency Cigar Emporium; East Greenwich, RI"

As we prepare to head to The Poconos for the wedding weekend, we record this episode earlier in the week than usual. The man of the hour calls in, but we also have a surprise caller with great timing. Two hack couples prepare to tie their knots. It’s the kind of event you smoke a … Continue reading "Episode 257: Pocono Wedding Palooza Pre-Game – Local Spotlight: Castro’s Back Room; Manchester, NH"

Direct from the Lions Club cigar event at the Saddle Up Saloon in Kingston, NH we help raise funds for a resident in need. We have some extra guests and new panelists that join in the fun. The Hidden Herf gets widely mixed reviews and stumps the panel. Event sponsors included Molon Labe Cigars and … Continue reading "Episode 256: Fundraising with the Lions Club – Local Spotlight: The Saddle Up Saloon; Kingston, NH"

Just like a good cigar, the profile of this episode ramps up as the time goes on. The Dominator comes down from the north country and we have a special guest, Long Haul Mark, who schools us on the car carrier business. The laugh-O-Meter climbs in the second half with Matty the Magnificent leading the … Continue reading "Episode 255: Return of the Dominator – Local Spotlight: Plaistow Cigar; Plaistow, NH"