Celebrating 15 years of anything is remarkable, and this year Rocky Patel celebrates 15 years in the cigar industry. To commemorate this historic occasion, they naturally released a special cigar. I was fortunate enough, thanks to Patrick of Rocky Patel Cigars, to get a pre-release sample. I was sent the Corona Gorda, a 6 x 46 box pressed cigar. My sample did not have the final labels, in fact it did not have any labels at all.

The ash on the cigar is a nice white color, however it is not a very strong one. I found myself ashing the cigar frequently.

The first third of the cigar was very earthy with some very powerful pepper notes on the retrohale.
The second third continued to bring on the pepper notes and produced a nice creamy flavor.
The finish of the cigar was about the same as the second third.

Overall I would say this is a good smoke, but not a great smoke.

Check out the video for more:

Cigar provided by Rocky Patel Cigars

Available sizes
Corona Gorda (6×46)
Robusto (5×50)
Toro (6.5×52)
Torpedo (6.125×52)

Smoking Time:90 minutes
Wrapper: Habano Ecuador
Binder: Jalapa
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium to Full

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/RockyPatelCigar

Other reviews:
Jerry of Stogie Review
Barry of A Cigar Smoker

Tags: Rocky Patel

La Flor Dominincan, not know for being a mild cigar manufacturer, is always coming out with something new and exciting. This time around they brought out the Air Bender. The Air Bender blend is not a new one for La Flor Dominicana. This blend was exclusive to special events. Mr. Gomez wanted to make sure he had enough of the Ecuadorian Habano wrapper before making this a public. After a few years of stockpiling the wrapper, he feels he now has enough tobacco to keep a consistent blend.

The Air Bender is currently available in four vitolas, Matatan (5 x 50), Guerrero (6.25 x 54), Maestro (5.25 x 52), and Valiente (6.25 x 60). Each of these names honors a kung fu warrior, something that Mr. Gomez is enamored with.

I am smoking the Maestro.

Cigar: La Flor Dominican Air Bender
Size: Maestro (5.25 x 52)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Beverage: Water
Smoking Time: 8:00
Humidor Time: A few weeks
Web site: http://www.laflordominicana.com/
Follow them on twitter: @LFDCigars

The Stogie Guys has a great article on the Air Bender here. Thanks to their great article for providing some details about this cigar.

Check out A Cigar Smokers review here.

Tags: la flor dominicana

Cain cigars, another brain child of Sam Leccia of Oliva, billed as a straight ligero cigar.

Smoking Time: over 60 minues
Size: 550 (50 X 5 3/4)
Tobacco: 25% Esteli Ligero / 27% Condega Ligero / 30 % Jalapa Ligero
Website: http://www.nubcigar.com/cain.html

Its happening yet again, another hospital is refusing to hire smokers. They claim they want to practice what they preach in terms of health. In reality some jackass, or a collection of jackasses, want to stop people from smoking, so they file it under this crap. I am tired of hearing about companies wanting to control what you do in life in order for you to get or stay employed.

If a hospital says they want to only promote healthy habits, and they deem smoking to be a non healthy habit, whats next. Lets walk down this crazy road and see how this could be very bad for everyone.

This hospital wants to promote health, then that means all overweight people will be fired, no one will be allowed to eat fast or junk food, everyone must have a healthy lifestyle as deemed by the hospital. Work at a health/fitness club, well then the same rules apply for you. No more drive-thrus, no smoking, better have a good BMI and be in shape.

It really begins to set a precedence that is VERY slippery.As I have said in the past, an employer has NO right to control what you do on your own time that is legal and does not affect your ability to do a job. You are hired to perform a certain job, as long as you are doing that, your off time is your time.

I write code for a living, whether that is a web site/application, or working on iApps, that is what I do at my day job and at home. I like to enjoy a cold beer and cigars. I often have a cigar at lunch time too. Guess what, neither affects my ability to perform my job, I could argue they improve my work.

I have had enough of this crap and it has to end. This is not a smokers right issue, this is a can my employer control my life issue. I support an employer not allowing smoking on their property, but not to try and ban it at my house, my car, or my body.

Here is the article on this crap.

Thanks to @TimD_C4 and @WaltW for the link.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Corojo
Binder: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 5/5 X 52 (Robusto Grande)
Smoking Time: 8:30
Refreshment: Water
Website: GHCigars.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/GHcigars

Tags: cigars direct

Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com wrote a book called Delivering Happiness. I was sent an advanced copy to read and review. Here are my thoughts.

For more information Book site

This book is now available in paper format via Amazon $13.19, Borders and Barnes and Nobles $14.03.
You can also buy the digital version on iBooks $10.99, Kindle $10.99 and Nook $10.99.

Follow Tony on Twitter

Ok gang I’m finally in New Orleans and at the end of my multiple city run from hell. So just for ease sake and because I am lazy I’m going to lump the shops I have been hanging out at in one post.

Esteli Cigar 515 Saint Louis New Orleans. It’s a nice shop with a fairly decent selection. Prices are a little high but not crazy. They have some nice leather chairs and a couch to sit and smoke and chess board if you want to play. I picked out a Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Perfecto (which was $10.99)and sat down for a pre-dinner smoke. As it almost always does the conversation turned to Vegas once they find out that’s where I’m from. We had a great conversation about several different topics including hurricane Katrina and what it did to the area. it’s a very laid back place even though it’s in the French Quarter and it seems locals like to hang out there which is way better than hanging out with tourists.

Cigar Factory New Orleans 415 Decatur New Orleans www.cigarfactoryneworleans.com. All of the cigars they sell are their own brands which are rolled in the shop all day. I never get tired of watching the rollers work. It is such a cool process to watch. I picked myself out a Tres Hermanos which is their Maduro cigar. It was good smoke, not much in the way of complexity but it was consistent all the way through. Then I smoked the Vieux Carre which is their Cameroon wrapper. Kind of the same thing going on with this one, not very complex just the same all the way through. So the shop is really big, they have plenty of tables to sit at and you can bring your own drinks in. Since it is New Orleans you can pretty much drink anywhere. It’s kind of loud in the shop and not much conversation goes on. So I just sat at my table and smoked my cigars and drank my beer.

Don Leoncio Cigar Lounge 430 Canal Street New Orleans www.donleonciocigars.com. I found this place completely by accident I was walking up Canal St. heading to my hotel and decided to cross the street earlier than I usually do and there it was. This place is huge, it has several couches and leather chairs to sit in. There is also a fully stocked bar in the back with plenty of drink options. Their selection is pretty good and the prices are a little high but not overboard. Since it is right in the heart of the tourist area it’s not a surprise about the prices. They have their own brands but I wasn’t feeling very adventurous so I picked up a Casa Magna Torito. You just can’t go wrong with this cigar. Anyway, so I sat down by the front door and people watched while I was smoking and I was not disappointed!!! There were plenty freak shows walking around.

So if you find yourself in New Orleans check out these shops (there are several others, i just didn’t have time to get to them). My next scheduled trip is Los Angeles in June so as usual if you have any suggestions for a shop I should visit or want to meet for a smoke drop me a line at sean@lasvegashtv.com.

See Ya,

Sean

First things first, this is NOT a cuban cigar despite the name.

“The Cuban Stock Royal Selection is a master blend of the best Dominican grown tobacco aged in a wine barrel for 6 years, with a dark Ecuador wrapper which is shiny and silky. This cigar is full of rich coffee and nut flavors, and is medium to full bodied and super smooth. After all, we treat the tobacco for years, and the results are an absolutely royal class cigar.”

I do agree with the flavors that say will be present in the cigar. I also pick up a chocolate covered expresso bean flavor to it.

Smoking Time: 60 minutes
Size: Toro: 6 x 50
Website: CubanStockCigars.com
Beverage: Water, 12 year Jameson Irish Wiskey
Number smoked: 3
Method of procurement: Sent to me

Tags: cuban stock

So here I am in San Diego again (yeah I know poor Me) and I found another shop to write about. The company I am working for put me in a hotel off the beaten path so I am glad I found it.
I’m sitting at Excalibur Cigar and Hookah bar 3858 5th Ave. San Diego. It’s a really nice shop with plenty of seating and a seperate lounge area for hookahs. It’s a little hard to find you have to go through an iron gate and down an alley past a hair salon. Their selection is a bit limited but the prices aren’t bad. I picked out a Perdomo Grand Cru and I am pleasantly surprised. It is a great smoke medium to full body with a nice earthy and spice flavor to it. Sorry this is a shop review not a cigar review. Anyway Matt who runs the shop is really cool and a fellow Jersey boy so we got to talking about living in New Jersey and our old Manhattan stomping grounds. It kinda made me miss it but then I thought about wearing shorts in December and got over that quick. He is very knowledgeable about cigars and reccomended some cigars to try. Of course I can’t remember any of them so I have to ask him again and actually write it down this time.
Well I’ve been kind of a slacker. I’m almost done with my trip here and now I am finishing the review.
They have a large table in the shop that you can book for poker games and meetings. They also let you order or bring in food. The hookah lounge is big with plenty of seating and some very ineresting tobacco blends and combination that all smell really good. On a busy night Matt doesn’t stop running. He is either making hookahs, cleaning or making sure they stay lit.
Saturday is my last night here and I have been eyeballing the Padilla Miami so I think I’m going to treat myself to it to celebrate another show done. Did I mention that he has beer, wine, and port all for pretty decent price.
Well that’s it for this one. If you find yourself in the Hillcrest area of San Diego stop on in and check it out and say Hi to Matt and sit down for a smoke.
My next stop in Phoenix next week and then New Orleans the week after that. So as usual if you have any comments,reccomendations on shops,cigars or just want to meet for a smoke drop me a line at Sean@lasvegashtv.

See Ya

Sean

So Walt from StogieReview.com sent a tweet about a hospital in his area that has decided that it will not hire smokers. Article is here.

I have added a few comments here and there and it is amazing how people are missing the point. Its not about a company not allowing smokers to work there or wanting to dictate what their employees do in their off hours. Its about what right does a company have to say what personal activities you can or cannot do in your own time.

Many commenters said this was great, smoking is bad and unhealthy. But would they be ok if they said we don’t hire people who drink, or eat fast food, or are overweight, mountain bike, ride motorcycles. When I posted that, one lady who said she was a nurse said that riding mountain bikes was a healthy activity and that I was missing the point. Again its about them dictating your personal life.

One of the more entertaining comments asked if I would be ok if a teacher was in a bar having a drink and a smoke and my kid say them and wanted to do the same. My question is why is your kid in a bar? Yes I am ok if a teacher does that, but I will be a parent to my child and tell them the dangers of drinking and smoking. I will let them know when they are an adult they can make their own decision and encourage them to understand the pros and cons.

Other comments said the hospital was doing this to lower their health care costs… hmm well I really doubt that not smoking is going to make that big of an impact. I would think there are other things that would lower your costs. But again, no one will target the real problems, just the things that some people don’t like.

Maybe one day people will realize all the other bad stuff that we do to ourselves and make a change. I think people eat more bad food, and more food, than those that smoke. Our kids are overweight, yet we have this thing to stop smoking, not make our kids healthier.

Can people get their heads out of their asses and start fighting the bigger problems.

UPDATE: I do support a company banning smoking on their property, I do NOT support them banning from my life.

Jon in the comments made a good point about NYC wanting to ban salt in food. Yet again we don’t go after the problem.

Another article on the issue here