We are back at Shack for the Hackapalooza pregame and rum tasting. Ricky calls in with the Florida report and another Hack is sworn in. The Hidden Herf is picked off early and receives both high and low marks with about an even split. Local Spotlight – The Tobacco Shack; Rowley, MA Controversy Corner – We Didn’t Start the Fire and Other Political Commentary
We arranged to meet our special guest, Varnell, at Grumpy’s for an introduction to Orisha Cigars , a Haitian brand. Nurse Rick calls in for the Florida Report. We have a few new voices, some fun and games, and a swearing-in to round out the episode. The Hidden Herf is very well received by the panel. Local Spotlight – Grumpy’s Cigars & Lounge; Hudson, NH Controversy Corner – They are letting it burn to the ground...
We’re back at Castro’s in Manchester for another fun-filled episode and a sequel to Episode 354, “Drink the Rainbow”. The crew is in rare form this week with lots of jokes and poking fun at each other. Ricky’s call-in is a fail. The Hidden Herf is another classic “unicorn status cigar” from Killer’s vault. Local Spotlight – Castro’s Back Room; Manchester, NH Controversy Corner – Is the Cyber Truck Bullet Proof?...
As 2024 comes to a close we have a special guest, Jennifer Thorson, the SVP of Marketing for the Molon Labe brands. It’s a large crew and a very busy lounge this week but we have a lot of laughs and learn about brand marketing. The Hidden Herf is identified early. Local Spotlight – Ash Cigar Lounge; Kingston, NH Controversy Corner – Massachusetts is at it Again
Direct from The Tobacco Shack in Rowley, MA it’s the 2024 Hackie Awards Show. Everyone braved the first snow storm of the season for The Tobacco Shack Christmas Party and to do this episode. We get the RI run-down from Pat McGroin. The Hidden Herf is something very different. Local Spotlight – The Tobacco Shack; Rowley, MA Controversy Corner – Santa, The Tooth Fairy, and The Easter Bunny
We return to the Two Guys Christmas Party at the Seabrook location for the fourth time. Returning to the Christmas Party series are Steve DeOssie of the NFL ( Episode 267 ) and Jarrid Trudeau EVP of Kristoff Cigars ( Episode 319 ). Our first time guest is John Cena Sr. AKA Johnny Fabulous of Pro Wrestling. Also see Episode 162 from 2020 for our first Two Guys Christmas Party podcast. We talk about Pro Wrestling, Football and how cigars cross over to both. Who knew that Johnny Fabulous has his ow...
The panel is made up of regulars at the United Cigar Event at Plaistow Cigar. Our newly minted tobacconist picks out the Hidden Herf, it’s a bit obvious what it is. We have a couple of items in the mailbag and plenty of Cigar content. Local Spotlight – Plaistow Cigar Co; Plaistow, NH Controversy Corner – De-Banking and Other Current Topics
It’s Black Friday again and we are all worn our from too much turkey and frantic shoppers. The panel gathers in Bedford at Castro’s for a relaxing evening after the holiday to discuss the Hidden Herf and other topics. Local Spotlight – Castro’s Backroom; Bedford, NH Controversy Corner – Laughing at the Criers
The crew retires to The Tobacco Shack after hours for a quiet respite. We have a new cigar smoker join us for the festivities. The Hidden Herf is a surprise that we all missed in epic fashion. Local Spotlight – The Tobacco Shack; Rowley, MA Controversy Corner – You Look Marvelous
It’s our Seventh Anniversary this week and we are joined by Lee Graves our local Kristoff Cigars Rep. We are at Twins Smoke Shop and the 7-20-4 Lounge celebrating with Pat the “former” law student on his swearing in as a lawyer. The Hidden Herf is well received by the panel. Local Spotlight – Twins Smoke Shop; Londonderry, NH Controversy Corner – Infowars Auction...
The crew joins up at The Ash Cigar Lounge for the Pocono Palooza recap and the election results. The Hidden Herf does not live up to what everyone expected, size does matter! Next week begins our eighth year. Local Spotlight – Ash Cigar Lounge; Kingston, NH Controversy Corner – It’s a red wave and a landslide
It’s time again for our annual trip to the Poconos. We record on the first night after driving, smoking and partying all day. It a virtual laugh track on this after midnight episode. Local Spotlight – Big House Tobacco Outlet; Scranton, PA Controversy Corner – It just doesn’t add up
This week we land back at Grumpy’s with Nick Goss for the All Saints Cigars Event. We find a bonus guest at the bar that we have been wanting to talk with for a while, Tom Boot of The Original Cigar & Bar joins us. Mustang Mike reports on his trip to the Rocky Patel Factory in Honduras. Local Spotlight – Grumpy’s Cigars & Lounge; Hudson, NH Controversy Corner – It’s Election Season – The jokes keep coming until someone says “Stop”....
Due to scheduling issues we only have time for a quick one this week. It’s like the old days; under an hour in the back lounge at Plaistow Cigar. Mike the Cop from Rocky Patel is on hand where he previews the upcoming trip to Rocky’s house in Honduras with a dozen or so cigar enthusiasts from his territory, including our own Mustang Mike. It’s the 7th Anniversary of setting up the podcast and making the first post on the website. The podcast’s birthday, if you will. The first episode aired one m...
Erik and Jim from 3Leaf Cigars are the guests this week as we gather at Plaistow Cigar to check in with 3Leaf and learn what it takes to start a new cigar line. This is another one of those episodes with constant jokes, laughs and all around fun. Comedy Corner may have had it’s run. Local Spotlight – New England Cigar Expo 2024 Controversy Corner – Weather Phenomenons...
The Hacks are Validating with Terrence Riley of Aganorsa Leaf Cigars in the 7-20-4 lounge . We are afforded the privilege of the “fuma experience” , where we smoke two different single leafs that are part of every Aganorsa cigar. We learn all about Aganorsa and the other brands that come from the same fields. Local Spotlight – Twins Smoke Shop; Londonderry, NH Controversy Corner – It’s now Comedy Corner....
It’s a trip to the land of Miserable Nick to visit with Paul Joyal of Mr. J’s Havana Cigar Lounge . Should kids go to college or not. If you already didn’t know, Pat just came back from Ireland. The Hidden Herf is identified early on and turns out to be a well aged and highly rated selection – credit to Miserable Nick. Local Spotlight – Mr. J’s Havana Cigar Lounge; Coventry, RI Controversy Corner – The Fed and Other Interesting Connections...
The Tobacco Shack celebrates its first five years under the current management. Our first Tobacco Shack episode was number 104 , it seems like yesterday. The Anniversary party included a Rocky Patel Cigar Event so, for the Hidden Herf we get to try another yet to be released cigar from Rocky Patel. Local Spotlight – The Tobacco Shack; Rowley, MA Controversy Corner – UOCAVA – Vote Early and Often...
The Madre Tierra team is in town for Grumpy’s First Anniversary weekend. We stretch this one out long enough to smoke and rate two Hidden Herf cigars from Madre Tierra . The results are a bit surprising. Local Spotlight – Grumpy’s Cigars & Lounge; Hudson, NH Controversy Corner – It’s Debatable...
The Founding Fathers Executives Networking Group is based out of a speakeasy style lounge and meeting facility in Danvers, MA. We are joined by the principals of the Founding Fathers for an explanation of “Come as a guest, leave as a friend, and return as a brother”. We have a cast of many so get your score cards out to keep track of the laughs. The Hidden Herf is eventually guessed by a couple of conspiring Hacks. McGroin gives us the Ireland Cigar report and a new Hack is initiated. Local Spot...
It’s Labor Day weekend and the summer is winding down so we head back to home-base for a relatively quiet evening with many of the OGs. The Hidden Herf did not stay hidden for very long, it’s one of those kind of obvious and unique cigars. Local Spotlight – Plaistow Cigar Co; Plaistow, NH & Fuego By Sosa; Kissimmee, FL Controversy Corner – Are we being set up?...
We head for the sidewalk on Elm St. but the weather is so good that it’s already jammed, so we go inside the front window. The Hidden Herf is identified immediately, the panel is getting too good at this. The podcast Juice is very colorful. We are joined by special guests “Killer” of Castro’s and Theo who we just pulled in from the lounge. Local Spotlight – Castro’s Back Room; Manchester, NH , The Owl Shop Cigar Lounge & Tobacconist; New Haven, CT , Mickey Blake’s Cigars; Southington, CT , a...
It’s another small-group recording from McGroin Manor where we prepare for this year’s New England Cigar Expo and recount four interviews from the 2023 Expo; Perdomo, Kristoff, Micallef, and Montecristo. Local Spotlight – New England Cigar Expo Controversy Corner – Grounding
Back to our regular Friday recording schedule the crew heads over to the Shack where we have a surprise visit from the Choir Boy who has been out of the podcast loop for a while. The Hidden Herf is kind of picked out despite the deceptive practice of the supplier. Local Spotlight – The Tobacco Shack; Rowley, MA Controversy Corner – Naturalized; what does it mean?
This week we have a last minute scheduling issue that cause us to do an impromptu small crew episode on a Wednesday. We could do a spin-off podcast called “Bad Joke Wednesday”. The Hidden Herf is picked off almost immediately. Local Spotlight – The Original Bar and Cigar; North Conway, NH Controversy Corner – The Woke Olympics
It’s our third summer vacation special from the north country of New Hampshire. See episodes 91 and 297 for the others in this series. The same family members from the 2023 episode join in again this year as we smoke a special set of Hidden Herfs. Local Spotlight – On the lake; New Hampshire Controversy Corner – Skinwalker Ranch and other topics
It’s the 7th annual summer trip on the barge and we are at the lake house for the fifth year. The weather is perfect, and many cigars are smoked. The catch phrase this year is Boot & Rally! The Hidden Herf stumps the panel and mistakes were made. Summa-Episode numbers by year and location 2018 – 34 Saco River 2019 – 89 Saco River 2020 – 139 Lake House 2021 – 191/192 Lake House / North Conway 2022 – 245 Lake House 2023 – 297 Lake House with the family 2024 – 349 Lake House Local Spotlight – O...
Direct from the Route One Business Networking Group (BNG) event for our fourth year, we talk with the BNG members while enjoying cigars under the tent on the back patio at the Rosaria Restaurant . We have the band turn it down before we start but by the time we wrap up the volume is way up again. Local Spotlight – Route One BNG at Rosaria; Saugus, MA Controversy Corner – The Money Shuffle...
Continuing the Garage Series we find ourselves at Chucks’s Palace this week with a cast that was mostly absent from the Domicile. The Hidden Herf stumps the panel and has mixed favorability due to its spice and strength. Somehow, the discussion turns to golf a few times, the podcast juice is a factor. Local Spotlight – Chuck’s Palace Controversy Corner – Harvey’s favorite topic
The original Domicile was our staple location for many episodes during the era of shutdowns. This is the second episode from the new Domicile 2.0, but the first with the regular Hacks crew. It’s an overnight event so the podcast juice is flowing and the panel is well lubricated, which makes for a raucous episode. The Hidden Herf is recognized by about half the panel with it’s distinctive traits. Local Spotlight – The Diplomat Cigar Lounge; Keene, NH Controversy Corner – A basketball debate...
