Author: CigarHacks

Cigar Hack Dave’s extended family heads up to the White Mountains and while in North Conway, NH we stop in and record with the Cigar Shenanigans family. It’s a different kind of a “family” show as the new Shenanigans Woodford Reserve House Blend arrives mid-show. Of course, we have to sample it. Spoiler alert: it’s awesome! We learn the history leading up to, and how Cigar Shenanigans came to be. This one has been on our radar for 18 months, the stars aligned, and our two families made it a good one.

Local Spotlight – Cigar Shenanigans, Cigar & Cocktail Lounge; North Conway, NH

Conspiracy Corner – Storm Area 51, James Comey leaks, Mueller Report

Hidden Herf 91 / Cigar Shenanigans, Cigar & Cocktail Lounge

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Richard Carleton Hacker, the author of “The Ultimate Cigar Book”, joins us on the remote while the in-studio guests are Mr. Johnathan and David Garofalo of “The Cigar Authority”. We talk about history, cigars, pipes, and spirits. With a couple of professional interviewers and a great subject to interview this quickly becomes the most informative episode we have done to date. The spirits we sample, while smoking the Hidden Herf, are the Four Roses Small Batch and Ardbeg 10 Year. Nurse Rick pegs the Hidden Herf again and asks the question that sends us in an odd direction. The spirits are detailed by Richard, but it’s Mr. Johnathan’s description that is spot-on. We talk about writing, editing, and publishing including Richard’s cigar, pipe and spirits books plus David Garofalo’s “David vs. Goliath”. Notables from the trade show: Lighters.

Local Spotlight – Studio 21 Podcast Cafe (Upstairs at Two Guys Smoke Shop); Salem, NH

Conspiracy Corner – Storm Area 51, Mueller Testimony, Facebook and the FTC, Digital assistants are spying on us.

Studio 21 Podcast Cafe / Richard’s Book / Hidden Herf 90

 

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The Cigar Hacks again take the pedal-powered paddle-wheeler barge for a two night camping adventure. We are on the Saco River in Fryeburg Maine, this year it’s with a crew of 15. Using a new portable recording configuration we are able to do the episode around the campfire on a sandy beach with the entire crew. Just as last year we were at Fiddlehead Campground for one night and “in the wild” for the second night where we recorded this episode.

Local Spotlight – The Saco River; Fryeburg, ME

Conspiracy Corner – Storm Area 51

Hidden Herf 89 / The Saco

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The Engineering team solves the power problem on the S.S. Low Voltage which allows us to record out on Enema Lake. There’s a little competition from the campers on the island. The Saco River Trip is previewed, we are planning to record an episode on the river again this year. The Hidden Herf is a box press robusto that the panel should recognize but don’t. The Meat Raffle was a fun evening. Since when do parents have to go to Drivers-Ed? Ricky lands a pair of big fat catfish and we talk about a lot of cigars.

Local Spotlight – Toscano at Two Guys; Seabrook, NH

Conspiracy Corner – A build up in the Middle East.

Hidden Herf 88 / Toscano at Two Guys

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Recorded on the Sixth of July we have a Fourth of July themed show. We tried to record out on Enema Lake but ran into technical issues with the S.S. Low Voltage, it was quick retreat to dry land for this one – thanks to the back-up battery! The Leprechaun King takes another try with the current events, we help him dig out of that hole. Reflections on both Pipe Club and Castaways to get some of the panel up to speed. The Hidden Herf  turns out to be another surprise. Harvey puts it out there for the veterans.

Local Spotlight – Fireworks on the Fourth – from Enema Lake and Castaways.

Conspiracy Corner – A NH Conspiracy – (That’s New Hampshire for the kids.)
Are you a Communist at home, a Socialist in the neighborhood, a Democrat at town hall, a Republican at the statehouse, and a Libertarian in Washington DC?

Hidden Herf 87

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It’s Pipe Club 101, the hacks learn how to smoke pipes. Pastor Padron (Dan)  has us over to the haunted mansion to learn the basics of pipe smoking. Nick sets us up with the essential hardware and the tobacco packing begins. Join us for a “never smoked a pipe before” lesson on how to get started.

Local Spotlight – A Day at Fenway Park with Rocky Patel

Conspiracy Corner – IPCPR changes to PCA

Pipe Club with Pastor Padron

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We sit down with Ted, one of the owners of Castaways Seafood & Grille, to talk about the Perdomo Cigar Dinner they are hosting with Two Guys Smoke Shop on Tuesday August 27th. We learn that you can smoke cigars anytime by the fire pits, beside the deck toward the beach. This qualifies Castaways as a “bring your own” cigar lounge, weather permitting of course. The panel has a seafood dinner and cocktails on the deck before recording and it’s unanimous, the food and drinks were great, we are coming back again! The Hidden Herf was well received and the “crack panel” of Hacks figured it out after only a few guesses. It seems that almost every topic circled back to not only cigars, but also cars; The “MAGA 45” Maserati, Trans Am, Hell Cat, Shelby, limos, Fiat, U haul, Bentley, Corvette, Mustang, and Lamborghini. The Encore Casino has opened this week in Everett, just outside of Boston, and cheaters are already getting bagged! The Kristoff Pistoff firecracker is almost sold out at Two Guys and ouzo is the happy drunk.

Local Spotlight – Castaways Seafood & Grille; Seabrook, NH

Conspiracy Corner – Big Papi and Robert Kraft updates

Castaways Seafood & Grille; Seabrook, NH

Hidden Herf 85 / Perdomo Cigar Dinner

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The Current Events segment is a special treat this week – it’s not as easy as it looks. Things start off with ten minutes of Hidden Herf incorrect guessing and general cigar discussion. We go for ice cream in the Oscuro limo, it got washed, an oil change and then it talks back to us during the show. The tobacco purchase age is going up to 21 in more places. Twins Rocky Patel event report. Podcast Juice Lamp production, Brick & Mortar retail, motorcycles and Laconia Bike Week topics round it out.

Local Spotlight: Two Guys Father’s day at Tuscan Kitchen; Salem, NH

Conspiracy Corner: Sponge Bob Square Pants, DARPA, Big Papi update

Hidden Herf 84 / The Oscuro / Cigar Dinner Event Poster

  

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The crew heads out on to Enema Lake with the newly updated boat for the first fishing episode of the season. It’s a bit windy in spots until the sun goes down. The Hidden Herf is disguised, but not well enough as it’s an easy 2nd guess for the team.  The Leprechaun King (Correspondent Mike) takes on the Current Events segment. Random topics include: Rambo movies, Comedy Chris’ work stories, The Retrohale update, local celebrities that go national, Stanza Dei Sigari stories.

Local Spotlight: Smoke on the Water

Conspiracy Corner: Big Papi Shooting and vacation resort deaths

Hidden Herf 83 / Enema Lake / Big Papi

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Extending the tour of Hack Fire Pits we are watching the Bruins and Blues in game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals on the side of the house while burning pallets. The panel needs a Hidden-Herf clue to just get in the ball park. Our recording coincides with the 75th anniversary of D-Day. We invent the new Podcaisto Cocktail. Check out the 2-stroke blender. Comedy Chris calls in and we get a report on the status of the S.S. Low Voltage. Nurse Rick’s new fire pit is in the works.

Local Spotlight: The Bush Trimmer’s Emporium

Conspiracy Corner:  Mysterious deaths at tropical vacation locations

Games projected on the house at the fire pit

Hidden Herf 82 / 2-Stroke Blender

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