Burnt Offerings

This Cigar Took 3 HOURS to Smoke… | LFD Double Ligero Double Corona

SHOW #: 22 CIGAR: La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Double Corona MAKER: La Flor Dominicana ORIGIN: Dominican Republic FILLER: Dominican Ligero BINDER: Dominican Ligero WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Sumatra VITOLA: Double Corona STRENGTH: Full SHOW THEME / ARC: A monster Dominican cigar, the rise of full-strength boutique smokes and the first Burnt Offerings episode big enough to require a cliffhanger. THE FOOT Episode 22 opens with the “double deuce” and a fitting cigar: the LFD Double Ligero Double Corona. The guys break down Ligero tobacco, why it sits at the top of the plant and why it brings more strength and nicotine. Early impressions include chocolate on the foot, earthy tobacco, dark walnut wrapper color, raw popcorn, heavy room note and serious smoke output. THE BODY The conversation moves into Dominican cigar history, the cigar boom of the 1990s and how La Flor Dominicana pushed back against the idea that Dominican cigars had to be mild. The guys talk full-bodied versus full-flavored cigars, burn pace, humidity, dry boxing, Boveda packs and why Ligero can be more difficult to keep burning cleanly. The cigar settles into earthy tobacco, leather sweetness, mellow pepper and a smoother-than-expected middle third. THE HEAD The episode turns toward brand history, including Litto Gomez, LFD’s place in stronger boutique cigars and a side conversation on Fuente’s role in American cigar culture. The guys invite listeners to share favorite Dominican cigars, strong sticks and LFD experiences on Reddit. Because the Double Ligero Double Corona is such a long smoke, the episode ends as the show’s first “to be continued” cliffhanger, with Part Two coming next. EPISODE DESCRIPTION The boys tackle one of the biggest — and strongest — cigars they’ve smoked yet: the legendary La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Double Corona. This Dominican powerhouse is packed with Ligero leaf, wrapped in Ecuadorian Sumatra and built like a baseball bat. Along the way, the guys dive into Dominican cigar history, nicotine horror stories, telemarketing trauma, cigar humidity myths, Fuente lore and whether this monster stick actually lives up to the hype. And yes, it was so long we had to split the episode into two parts. In this episode: LFD Double Ligero first impressions, what “Ligero” tobacco actually means, Dominican cigars in the 1990s boom, humidity and burn issues, Boveda talk, Fuente stories and why this cigar nearly became a medical event. Part Two drops soon. SHOW LINKS Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/5QC1mDesB3lMcqBgWcGl8a Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/burnt-offerings/id1827024836 YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/@burntofferingspodcast Reddit – https://www.reddit.com/r/burntofferings/

$1.80 Fuente?! We Tried Arturo Fuente’s Cheapest Cigar… And Regretted the Cuban Sandwich

SHOW #: 21 CIGAR: Arturo Fuente Curly Head Natural MAKER: Arturo Fuente ORIGIN: Dominican Republic FILLER: Dominican mixed filler BINDER: Dominican WRAPPER: African Cameroon VITOLA: Lonsdale-style value format STRENGTH: Mild to Medium SHOW THEME / ARC: Value sticks, yard cigars and whether a cheap cigar from a great house can still earn a regular place in the rotation. THE FOOT Introducing the occasional Burnt Offerings Value Sticks series. First impressions of the Arturo Fuente Curly Head Natural, including its rugged look, no-band presentation and budget-friendly price point. Early tasting notes, including light spice, natural sweetness, grass, cedar and a simple but pleasant smoking profile. THE BODY A discussion of Cuban sandwich construction, mixed filler and how premium cigar trimmings can become affordable smokes. The guys talk about American cigar-market expectations, wrapper appearance, construction standards and whether rough-looking cigars get judged too harshly. A detour through Ybor City, Grand Cathedral Cigars, red jungle fowl and the now-infamous Tampa Cuban sandwich incident. THE HEAD Final ratings and the realization that context matters: this may not be a sit-and-study cigar, but it might be an ideal yard cigar. A broader look at cigar brands that serve the whole market, from value bundles to ultra-premium releases. The guys ask listeners to share their own favorite budget cigars, or as the episode puts it, “What’s your yardstick?” EPISODE DESCRIPTION Cheap cigar or hidden gem? In Episode 21 of Burnt Offerings, we kick off a brand-new occasional series on Value Sticks with the Arturo Fuente Curly Head Natural, a rugged-looking, budget-friendly cigar that can cost as little as $1.80 per stick by the bundle. Is this a hidden gem from the Fuente family, or just cheap smoke for mowing the lawn? We talk about what makes a value stick worth buying, Cuban sandwich filler construction, why American cigar smokers obsess over appearance, yard cigars versus premium sticks and Fuente’s full-spectrum lineup from Curly Head to OpusX. Plus, we revisit the now-infamous Tampa and Ybor City Cuban sandwich disaster story. What’s your yardstick? Drop your favorite budget cigar in the comments. SHOW LINKS Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/5QC1mDesB3lMcqBgWcGl8a Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/burnt-offerings/id1827024836 YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/@burntofferingspodcast Reddit – https://www.reddit.com/r/burntofferings/

We Smoked the E.H. Taylor Corojo So You Don’t Have To

SHOW #: 20 CIGAR: E.H. Taylor Corojo MAKER: AJ Fernandez / General Cigar partnership under the E.H. Taylor line ORIGIN: Dominican Republic FILLER: Dominican BINDER: Nicaraguan Jalapa WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Corojo VITOLA: Toro Gordo STRENGTH: Medium SHOW THEME / ARC: Bourbon brand, real cigar — sorting out where crossover hype ends and the smoking experience begins. THE FOOT First impressions of the E.H. Taylor Corojo, its look, banding and pigtail cap. Cold draw notes, Corojo expectations and early debate over the actual size and vitola. Opening thoughts on whether this feels like a serious cigar or a bourbon-marketing play. THE BODY How the cigar performs in the first and middle sections, including pepper, floral notes, wood and citrus on the retrohale. Pairing discussion with E.H. Taylor Small Batch and whether the bourbon meaningfully changes the experience. Guest Scott joins the table to talk favorite sticks, beginner recommendations, grilling cigars, travel and how cigars and bourbon became part of his routine. THE HEAD Final ratings and whether the cigar is worth revisiting on its own. A broader conversation on bourbon-branded cigars, brand loyalty and whether a cigar should have to stand apart from the bottle it is tied to. Closing thoughts on what makes a pairing feel intentional instead of gimmicky. EPISODE DESCRIPTION What happens when a bourbon-branded cigar has to stand on its own? In Episode 20 of Burnt Offerings, we light up the E.H. Taylor Corojo and find out whether this Buffalo Trace crossover is a legit stick or just smart marketing. Along the way, we get into Corojo wrapper talk, Dominican versus Nicaraguan balance, bourbon pairing and whether this cigar actually earns a second shot. This episode also features guest Scott, who brought the cigars and added stories about world travel, favorite budget sticks, grilling smokes and an accidental rattlesnake encounter that somehow fits perfectly into the evening. SHOW LINKS Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/5QC1mDesB3lMcqBgWcGl8a Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/burnt-offerings/id1827024836 YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/@burntofferingspodcast Reddit – https://www.reddit.com/r/burntofferings/

Inside El Reloj with Drew Newman – Brick House Robusto

SHOW #: 19 CIGAR: Brick House Robusto (Deconstructed) MAKER: JC Newman ORIGIN: Nicaragua / USA (Tampa, Florida) VITOLA: Robusto STRENGTH: Medium SHOW THEME / ARC: Inside America’s last traditional cigar factory — a conversation on legacy, craftsmanship, and the future of American cigar making. THE FOOT Recorded live inside the rolling room at El Reloj in Ybor City, Tampa. First impressions of the factory, the rolling experience, and what it means to be surrounded by hand craftsmanship. THE BODY Conversation with Drew Newman, fourth-generation owner of JC Newman. The 130-year legacy of the company and its roots in American cigar history. How cigars helped build Tampa and shaped the Ybor City community. Differences between hand-rolled cigars and machine-assisted production. The role of tradition, observation, and sensory skill in cigar making. THE HEAD The future of JC Newman and American cigar manufacturing. Transforming El Reloj into a cultural destination for cigar enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Why storytelling, place, and craftsmanship matter more than ever in the cigar world. EPISODE DESCRIPTION We went inside one of the most historic places in American cigar culture—and recorded a full episode in the rolling room itself. In Episode 19 of Burnt Offerings, we sit down with Drew Newman inside the legendary El Reloj cigar factory in Ybor City, Tampa—the last traditional cigar factory still operating in the United States. While hand-rolled cigars are being made just feet away, we talk about legacy, craftsmanship, Tampa’s cigar history, and the transformation of El Reloj into a living destination for cigar culture. This episode connects directly to our visit to Florida Sun Grown Farms and serves as a centerpiece in the Burnt Offerings Florida road-trip series. FEATURED JC Newman Cigars – https://www.jcnewman.com/ Florida Sun Grown – https://floridasungrown.com/ SHOW LINKS Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/5QC1mDesB3lMcqBgWcGl8a Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/burnt-offerings/id1827024836 YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/@burntofferingspodcast

Florida Sun Grown Farms Road Trip – Ybor City Blend 2006 Maduro

In Episode 18 of *Burnt Offerings*, the show hits the road. We’re recording **inside the curing barn at Florida Sun Grown Farms in Clermont, Florida**, literally surrounded by tobacco hanging overhead as it air-cures. While visiting the Tampa area, we cold-called the farm and somehow ended up sitting in the barn talking tobacco with the people growing it. The smell alone was worth the trip. Because we didn’t plan quite as well as we should have, we’re not smoking an FSG cigar — instead we grabbed something local from a Tampa humidor: **Ybor City Blend 2006 Maduro – Tampa Bay Rollers** **Conversation highlights:** - What **air-curing tobacco** actually smells like - The story behind **Florida Sun Grown tobacco** - How FSG leaf ends up in cigars like **20 Acre Farm** - Recording an episode literally **inside a curing barn** - Tampa and **Ybor City’s cigar heritage** This episode kicks off a short **Florida road-trip mini-series** for the show. If you enjoy cigars, cigar culture, or just listening to friends chase rabbit trails over a good smoke, you’re in the right place.