Blind Tasting at Sir Stogies

In the past, I have hosted blind tastings at local cigar shops. I would gather a group of people and create a sort of focus group to discuss a particular cigar. As the name implies, the cigar would be unbanded and no information would be provided before lighting up.

It has been some time since I’ve done a blind tasting. Logistically they were a little difficult to pull off but everyone always had a good time. I got to talking…

IPCPR 2010 – Random Show Floor Footage

Like past years, Jerry and I made a point to get over to the convention center when registration opened to pick up our press passes. As the day wears on, the line at the registration area gets horribly long. With our badges secured, and a little more than an hour of time to kill, Jerry and I decided to try something new. Unlike past years where we waited for the floor to open, we walked towards the entrance…

Women of IPCPR (2010)

Whenever Stogie Review covers an event, we try to bring back a little something for everyone. Some go crazy for detailed cigar information while others like to drool over the models making the rounds. Armed with the still camera this year, Brian set out to track down IPCPR models and bring them to you in all of their digital glory.

Ron Melendi Speaks During CRA Seminar

During the IPCPR Trade Show, several seminars are held before the show floor opens. We generally like to sit in on those seminars, but only two were of any interest to us this year. The first being put on by Cigar Rights of America. Rather than present you with one two-hour presentation, we broke the seminar into digestible pieces.

Much like the speech given by Rocky Patel, we have Ron Melendi, of De La Concha in NYC, talking about…

Rocky Patel Speaks at the CRA Seminar at IPCPR 2010

To close out the CRA Seminar at the 2010 IPCPR Trade Show, Rocky Patel shared a few words with the crowd. He encouraged everyone to start a state organization to fight for ciar smokers rights. The speech was well delivered and well worth watching.

Abel Lara of Graycliff Rolls a Cigar

Shortly before the IPCPR 2010 Show Floor opened, Brian and I were walking through and came across Abel Lara getting cigar ready for show attendees. We stolled, snapped a few photos, and I recorded a quick video. I’m not sure what cigar s being rolled (I neglected to ask) but it is a Torpedo and was done start to finish without a mold.

Cigar Shop Review: Destin, FL – Harbor Cigars

Over the Memorial Day weekend, I did something I haven’t done much of lately: I unplugged and got the heck out of dodge. I even let my Crackberry rest for a few hours while I was away. (Only a few though. It doesn’t have cords, so that still counts as unplugging!) The time I spent drinking in the gulf coast’s sugar sand and bi-polar weather was time I would have normally spent working on a cigar review. So surprise, surprise,…

13 Minutes with Nestor Miranda

Every Wednesday night at Cabernet Steakhouse in the northern suburbs of Atlanta is scotch and cigar night. Cigar lovers from all around the city gather to socialize, listen to live music, and take advantage of the special ten dollar deal on the cigar and scotch pairing of the week. But May 12th was a special Wednesday: Nestor Miranda of Miami Cigar Company was on hand to introduce Cabernet’s new house cigar, made, of course, by Miami Cigar Company.…

Cigarfest 2010 – Show Floor Footage

During Cigarfest 2010, one of my duties was to wander the show floor shooting random footage. I wanted to give people a feel for what it was like to attend the event, even if you could only do so via your home computer. I didn’t record anything particular, with the exception of the cigar rolling towards the end, just wanted to show you the crowd and everything going on throughout the building.

All in all, I had a good time…

Cain Event at Kensington Tobacconist

A couple of weeks ago I was over at Kensington Tobacconist talking to the owner, Kurt. He was telling me that he lined up an event with Sam Leccia, of Cain and Nub Cigars, for the day before the Cigarfest activities kicked off. With Sam being in town, he made plans to hang out at the shop and roll a few cigars.

I spent far more time hanging out, smoking cigars, and sipping on scotch than I…