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LGP 40 - A Bronx Tale w/ Abbina Soda and Cigar Coop
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This week, Cigar Coop himself joins as Co-Host for a pairing of Chazz Palminteri's A Bronx Tale cigar with Abbina Craft Sipping Soda!
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Transcript
Introduction & Pairing
00:00:00
Speaker
ah everybody. Welcome back to let's get pairing this episode 40. We've been going 40 whole episodes. Now we're almost to our, our one year anniversary of the reboot, which I think was like episode six or so.
00:00:12
Speaker
Um, when we joined cigar coupe today, we're going be smoking the, not the a Bronx tale. the Chaz Palminteri cigar, which we'll get into in just a moment. Pairing it with some Abena cigar pairing soda.
00:00:27
Speaker
Abena craft sipping soda, they call it. ah But it's specifically made to go with cigars, so we're looking forward to trying that out. So everybody grab yourself a drink, grab yourself cigar. Let's get pairing.
00:00:54
Speaker
And we're back.
Special Guest Co-Host: Will Cooper
00:00:55
Speaker
Welcome back, everybody. This is episode 40 of Let's Get Pairing. I'm your host, Tripp, here in the Casa de Monte Cristo studio with a special guest co-host this week, ah Will Cooper from Cigar Coop from the, what is it, the Perdomo Red Stage?
00:01:12
Speaker
Yes, the Perdomo, the Palatial Perdomo Cigar Studios is the official name, and it's the Red Stage. Yeah. Welcome, Coop. It's been a while since you joined us. um yeah Not since the rebrand.
00:01:24
Speaker
Yeah, I'm excited to be here tonight. Honored to be here because working alongside you guys over the last year, I've learned a lot so much. And this is I think this show is just.
00:01:39
Speaker
You know, it gets better and better every week. So I have a lot to live up to for sure because there's been some great episodes. um I don't know if I can do it, but I'll give it a shot. Well, thanks. I appreciate that. That means a lot to us. Yeah.
00:01:53
Speaker
i wrote You guys have a great, great. This is just a great. and There's a lot of pairing shows, but, you know, you and I were talking and the the live pairing concept, I think, is really what kind of sets this apart. Yeah, and then to me, that's what makes it interesting, right? Yes, yeah. I don't always know what's going happen, which is tonight. I've never tasted any of these things that I'm putting together. No, and I was like, yeah, do I do them beforehand? You know, was, like, debating, because I don't know if the pairings are going to work or not. And this is Scott from having smoked in a while, yeah, so...
Ybor City Heritage Festival: A Turn Back to Tradition
00:02:25
Speaker
half the fun coup uh exactly that's exactly what it is there well thanks for joining we'll get we'll kick off with some info about the cigar you might be able to to shed more light on both of these things than me yeah um but we'll get into that and for in a minute uh i made it up to the what do they call it now the ybor city heritage festival yes but today That was pretty cool. It's like if you ever have the chance to go, everybody, it's kind of like a it's almost like a farmer's market of cigars.
00:02:58
Speaker
It's got that kind of vibe, some live music, bunch of cigar vendors, food, drinks. It's a good time. It was good to see some people. Got to spend some time with ah Arnold Serafin and the guys from Black Star Line.
00:03:13
Speaker
picked some cigars. It was good. Yeah. So I heard the festivals changed this year that it got back to that. Like it had started to get away from that vibe that you talked about that.
00:03:25
Speaker
Um, and it kind it kind of got a little more commercialized, I guess is the way to put it. Yeah. So it was kind of weird. So it was only for one year. Um, I talked to quite a few people who had some words about that year.
00:03:40
Speaker
Yes. But yeah, I think we know those same people. though not Yeah, exactly. yeah From from what I saw as somebody who went, I went year before last and it was in Centennial Park.
00:03:51
Speaker
the The whole farmer's market vibe kind of ah half farmer's market, half street festival kind of thing, um which is super cool. Then last year it was in the back parking lot of the Cuban club.
00:04:07
Speaker
uh, in Ybor city. We know that place. Yes, we do. Yep. Yes, we do. But it was in that, in that back parking lot, but it was a ticketed event instead of being just an open air event to the public.
00:04:19
Speaker
Um, so it was just a little, little stuff here. It felt more like you were going into uh, an event where you're supposed to buy stuff, then going to a event where you're just supposed to have fun and maybe you buy a bunch of stuff, but maybe you don't.
00:04:35
Speaker
Um, It just kind of had that that different feel. It felt more like ah when when a store does like their their's sidewalk sale kind of thing, you know? Yeah, yeah, yeah. um I kind of regretted not going. i I was debating going this weekend, and I decided not to go. And I was kind of kicking myself, especially since we're doing the show tonight.
00:04:55
Speaker
um but ah A couple people asked where you were, but that's right. that bad I don't know if that's good or bad anymore. But I really want to get there. That's that's an absolute goal of mine to get there. So we I have to make that happen. you know i haven I haven't been to Tampa since we were at a Carlitos' party. So it's been a little – it's time to get there.
00:05:17
Speaker
Yeah. i I was going to say neither have I, but, no, I have. I definitely have a couple times. Yep, yep. I mean, there was a lot of stuff going on. It looked like over the weekend for sure in in the Tampa area.
00:05:29
Speaker
you know, I guess Jeff did the FSG ah Dumbarton launch on Friday, Angus Beef, and then a lot of people were just – there was a lot of, whether it was events or impromptu things going on in the Tampa area Saturday, and obviously it tops off with the Heritage Festival today. So it's it it seems like it's turning into something – really you know more of a weekend type thing now.
00:05:51
Speaker
Yeah, I think it's great for the event, and hopefully, I hope they so keep this format. From what I've heard, they are ah keeping this format. that's That's what I heard, too, from from some of the people who are on Intel with that, who are very happy it's back in that format. so Yeah, the I talked to a lot of people are very happy it's back to the original format.
00:06:13
Speaker
Yep. All right, with that out of the way, now we can talk about the cigars.
Chaz Palminteri Cigar: Origins & Celebrity Influence
00:06:17
Speaker
So this is the... I keep wanting to say the, this is the a Bronx, a a Bronx, the a Bronx tale.
00:06:24
Speaker
um So of course a Bronx tale, as most people probably know the, I mean, certainly you coup. Yeah. And, and myself as well know this immediately.
00:06:36
Speaker
As soon as you hear a Bronx tale, you think, ah, that's the movie with a, what's this character's name? Sonny, uh, teaching a little kid, the ways of the street. And it's a great movie.
00:06:47
Speaker
I didn't realize how autobiographical it was until I started reading about it this week. ah but Yeah. We'll talk about that in a minute. Let's just nail down the details of the cigar first. So this cigar is made by Epic Cigar Company at the Tabaclara Von Eichen factory in the Dominican Republic. It was kind of the brainchild of Paul DeSilvia and Dean Parsons.
00:07:08
Speaker
um Chaz, as you know, Coop is not a huge cigar guy. he's not. smoked a cigar once in a while. But when they brought the idea to him, it made sense to compliment you know his restaurants, his wines.
00:07:22
Speaker
yeah And so he went with it. And now now the cigars are are out there. So the wrapper on this is Ecuadorian Habano. Binder is Dominican. Fillers are Dominican and Nicaraguan.
00:07:34
Speaker
It is a six by 54 box press, which is a nice size. It does come in at about. I saw conflicting numbers of between $20 and $24 a cigar.
00:07:45
Speaker
So it's not a cheap cigar. no But, ah you know, when you're when you're putting a celebrity name on it, it can't be unless they're getting a very small cut. right yeah so from what i understand and i know we talked to these guys at the trade show a couple times this year we did uh... and from what i understand it and paul dosilvio of historical dot casa grande they they knew each other they had a relationship but when chad wanted to launch this brand paulie kind of knew hey he can't he could not handle the anticipated demand to this out of his because he had a very small shop up in the bronc so that's where dean parsons got involved um with the project from what i understand and uh
00:08:25
Speaker
But, you know, I think I don't know who came up with the final blend, if it was Dean or Paulie or a combination of them. But that's kind of a story that happened. The other thing that is um this factory really it's the same factory is doing all the Christoph stuff as well. They they do most of Dean's stuff, but they they're known for the factory doing Glenn Casey's Christoph stuff as well.
00:08:46
Speaker
um And I did read in a couple places. This was another thing that I'm not sure whether it's true or not, that these are aged three years before packaging. I think I saw it so much. Yeah.
00:08:58
Speaker
But I saw a couple places didn't mention it. And I saw a couple places that did mention it. So I wasn't really sure. Yeah. um But yeah. Thoughts on the cigar so far, Coop. I know you've smoked this once or twice before. i think this is only the first one I've ever had.
00:09:12
Speaker
Yeah, this is not, um this is a cigar I think is one of these cigars that it's not an overpowering cigar. it's It's kind of a safe blend that I think will appeal to a lot of people.
00:09:27
Speaker
And, but it's it's it's a very basic, and I don't mean this in a bad way, right? But it's a basic cigar. It's got very much, the profile not going to be very exotic.
00:09:38
Speaker
But I think they were trying to reach a wide audience with this is what they they were doing. yeah Yeah. you're not going to Yeah. You're not going to get like fancy ah fancy notes, but a lot of earthy notes, some nice sweetness with this.
00:09:54
Speaker
It's got a nice finish, this cigar, is what I'll tell you. And the box press, I think, worked well with this. Yeah, I think so, too. And that's why I was so intrigued to see what the flavors repairing this will do to it.
00:10:08
Speaker
ah We'll do tonight. So I'm kind of ki And my gut is telling me the soda is going to enhance the cigar more than the other way around. That's just kind of my gut. Mine, too. Especially after reading the descriptions of some of these sodas. um Yeah. Some of them, actually, I think most of them,
00:10:25
Speaker
said, yeah most of them say they they complement cigars with leather and woody flavors. Yes. um Which this cigar has a lot of. But I think you're right. it's very This is a very down-the-middle cigar, right? Down-the-middle cigar, yeah. um I think you're right, and the intention is kind of to have a cigar that is ah that can be appreciated by people who are like Chaz, don't really smoke cigars, but every once in a while they want to they're in a cigar-smoking mood to celebrate something or whatever.
00:10:55
Speaker
Sure. Sure. And I think this a ah good cigar for him. I agree. I agree with it. um And um you mentioned, like i said, you mentioned that Chaz isn't a cigar smoker. That's pretty much the case. I think he's an occasional one at most, right? But he's still someone who got into the industry. um And just because he doesn't smoke cigars doesn't mean he can't support the industry. There are other people in our industry.
00:11:21
Speaker
I don't want to name the names, and but I think folks there are some folks you know that don't smoke cigars either. so that you say Yeah. and um I think he's done more events than most celebrity branded cigars have.
00:11:34
Speaker
Yes. Uh, where, where the, you know, the person whose name is on the box is a cigar smoker. Yeah. Um, but they're not making time for events. Yeah. Um, Chaz is, Chaz is the other way around. He's not much of a cigar guy, but he'll show up and and yeah promote it.
00:11:49
Speaker
He'll show up and promote it. and And we've interviewed him at the trade show two years in a row. And we've, uh, we've gotten great access to him both years. Um, ah So that's been pretty good. I don't know. Did Jose Blanco cut the line the year you did last when you did the interview? Was that the year before? Yeah. yes So Jose Blanco the line. Yeah. it doesn well So because he wanted to here to go to Chad before we had, course, before we interviewed him. So. Yeah, of course.
00:12:15
Speaker
Yeah. He didn't know how long we were going to take. I was I watched the interview again a couple of minutes ago and I was I didn't realize how. ah conscious of Chaz's time I was. i like asked them two questions. I was like, all right, thanks guys.
00:12:28
Speaker
And before the video even cuts, I'm like walking out of frame. Yeah. You know, it's, um, yeah, it's bear was actually the year before did the interview with him and, um, was, you know, and bear, you know, is known for longer interviews, but when it comes to the celebrities, bear knows how to kind of keep it framed, uh, pretty good.
00:12:45
Speaker
And then I interviewed him on KMA and we got, we got some generous time with him on KMA. So him and Paul, you on, so he can do the longer format as well.
Cigar Tasting Notes
00:12:55
Speaker
um All right. Well, that that wraps it up for, I think, our our thoughts on the cigar so far. let's So let's get into the soda here. So you don't have to go in the same order that I'm going in. I went based on the descriptions that I read. Right.
00:13:10
Speaker
What I think will make the most sense. But you also have one more soda than I have. You have the Tower 44, which i I already had. That one, if I remember correctly, it was...
00:13:23
Speaker
I'll talk about it more when you taste it, but it's it's very orange soda-y. Interesting. That's the one I haven't. I did have this one I'm sorry. Yes, you're right. I did have this one. Yes. I have it. All right. So, Abina Craft Soda. I'll show off the bottle here again.
00:13:37
Speaker
ah there They're nice looking bottles. Yeah. um So this was created by Charlie Albanetta. Albanetti. Albanetti, yep. um And he kind of, the story on the website is that he kind of grew tired of the same soda all the time. Every store you go in, they have all the same sodas.
00:13:57
Speaker
They all, you know, it tastes the same no matter where you go in the world. It's like the same six flavors ah in a bunch of different brands. Yep. And so he started creating essential oils at home and adding them to his soda as kind of an experiment. And he ended up with this table filled with all these oils that he would add a couple drops of to a soda or to some soda water and and create flavors that he really liked.
00:14:26
Speaker
um And being a ah regular cigar smoker, he was like, kind of inspired, why don't I try this with one of my cigars? And he ended up starting to craft his soda more towards what flavors would work with that cigar.
00:14:44
Speaker
um And an idea was born. um So he created the first line of sodas intended specifically for pairing with cigars, which is admittedly a very niche market.
00:14:55
Speaker
um Yeah. But I can see... I think it'll take some time. I can see these doing really well in cigar shops because there are hundreds of cigar lounges.
00:15:06
Speaker
um And probably the number one beverage they sell there is Diet Coke or Coke. um But replacing it with something like this, I think, could be really interesting. Yeah, I've been i actually it was kind of.
00:15:20
Speaker
when let's get very came in i think the announcement for this chemical week later right i think i got me do we get this arm so i did for all the reasons that charlie said in and what you're saying it does make a lot of sense it is an easy to pair a cigar with diet coke as much like drink diet coke i there was one of the sodas that I did pair with a cigar, and it was when you guys were doing the Soleil, the La Forte Manana, and I did the Vinnie soda that night with it, and it was like, it I just, because I,
00:15:52
Speaker
I just kind of felt that that one would work the best. And and and it did and I've smoked a lot of that before, so I'm um'm familiar with it. and And it really did work well. So I'm like, no doubt about it, this thing this can be paired.
00:16:07
Speaker
These sodas are also not, you're probably not going to get flavors. These are he kind of unique. They're all unique. So they can be drink drunk on their own, and they're fine doing that, by the way. Some are better than others with this.
00:16:20
Speaker
sure That's what I would expect. um I'm going to start with... I was thinking of starting with the Vinny, but I think I'm want to start with the Candlewood. Okay. I opened the Candlewood as well.
00:16:31
Speaker
Yep. So this is the Candlewood. Yep. Candlewood is ah coffee, chocolate, nuts, and vanilla.
00:16:41
Speaker
No, I read the wrong one. I read read the wrong one. Yeah, yeah. I put them in the wrong order. Cherry, earth, beets, and oak moss. Yes. I'm not familiar with oak moss. I'm not familiar with oak moss either. ah They say it complements flavors like cream, vanilla, leather, and wood, and it's intended as a pairing for more full-bodied cigars.
00:17:00
Speaker
No, I read the wrong one again. Oh, my God. Hold on. Let me swap these because i'm not yeah I'm used to having my notes in tabs so i don't get confused, and I put them all in the same tab this time.
00:17:12
Speaker
ah No, this one he doesn't say what ah what flavors it's supposed to go with but it is he said there are the box oakmoss complements cigars with citrus cream and wood flavors So he says topped off with bright red fruity notes candlewoods earthy undertones help reveal your cigars citrusy creamy and woody nuances
00:17:37
Speaker
Man I forgot how weird it is drinking one of these sodas because they just, but they very yeah it feels like a normal soda when it hits your palate and then suddenly it's foreign.
00:17:48
Speaker
this This has very much a a cream soda foundation, this soda. Would you agree with that? Yeah, I think they're all kind of based on, think he kind of uses a base of a soda and then adds in all his 11 herbs and spices.
00:18:07
Speaker
So he's, I'm going to tell you, he's spot on. That wood note comes out with the soda and it puts a, it puts a slight amount of sweetness, but it's not that heavy syrupy sweetness that going to, you're going to get off of it.
00:18:22
Speaker
Yeah. I think the flavor of this reminds me of
00:18:27
Speaker
cream soda with a little bit of cherry
00:18:32
Speaker
And an almost mushroom-like earthiness and funk to it. Yeah, and I do, because I am a big fan of beets.
00:18:43
Speaker
I get a little of that beat, particularly on the finish with the soda. I a little of that beat. I think that's part of that earthiness. Yeah. it's kind of that I was just reviewing Eladio Diaz's cigar this weekend, and it's kind of you mentioned that mushroomy note, and he's known for that mushroomy note. And yes, that's what you're going to get off of this.
00:19:02
Speaker
It's really interesting.
00:19:05
Speaker
And it really does. um It has almost like a leathery flavor in the soda. And like you were starting to say, the sweetness is definitely dialed back on this.
00:19:16
Speaker
Yeah. Like if a normal soda is a 10, this is like a seven, maybe a six. It's got a little bit of that syrupy texture, but it's not cloyingly slow sweet like today is.
00:19:28
Speaker
yeah Now, I'm not a pairing expert, right? But I tend to always do my pairings bi-directionally. Like, I'll sip and puff, and then I'll puff and sip. Is that kind of...
00:19:40
Speaker
Is that kind of kosher to do that? I guess. Absolutely. that That's exactly what I usually do. yeah I start with puff sip and then i i'll I'll do that a couple times to kind of acclimate to it. And then I'll switch so that I can see how they're playing off of each other.
00:19:57
Speaker
And man, it is really interesting. I'm finding it really does bring out. ah I think part of it is that finish. The finish on the soda is really long.
00:20:08
Speaker
Yes. And when you take a sip and then a puffier cigar, it those flavors mix together. Yeah. And you end on like, I'm still tasting that kind of beady, mushroomy, earthy flavor.
00:20:24
Speaker
From the soda. Yeah. From the soda. And ah it's been a minute since I took a sip. But I feel like I'm getting a little more of that creamy wood from this cigar as well, but as opposed to having it solo.
00:20:38
Speaker
I feel it's like he said, it does pull out some of those creamy and woody notes, and I definitely feel it's doing that. But you're definitely the point on the finish is spot on here. Yeah. Yeah. And then I think that's what makes it is the finish on the soda really complements the cigar really well.
00:20:55
Speaker
yeah And you're right, the woodiness is the one I was looking for. that it like It tightens up those woody flavors. yeah It makes it way more specific on my palate. Super interesting.
00:21:07
Speaker
It definitely is. it definitely This Candlewood is a very nice pairing one. The only one I've paired is the Vinny. drank the Candlewood, definitely like it with this cigar.
00:21:21
Speaker
i like i like it with this cigar And we were talking about it the other day. This looks like cheer wine. Yeah, Ben's favorite soda. I think that's the beet juice.
00:21:32
Speaker
Yeah, you know, I had a glass and I left it in the ah the room, so I was only going to get up in the middle. I'm a professional. I brought three glasses. Of course you are. It's because what that's what I do every week.
00:21:44
Speaker
um I'm going to be in a sugar coma after this today. Yeah, maybe. This is lot of sugar for me.
00:21:52
Speaker
especially on a sunday night all right you ready to move on we'll come back to this one yep in a little while yep um for now sam finnell is pairing prodomo 10th anniversary champagne again you've been pairing that like three weeks in a row right yeah i that yeah uh with a cranberry old fashion which uh sounds very nice and wintry yeah um um I'm going with Vinny next.
Soda Pairings with Cigars
00:22:20
Speaker
Okay, we'll do the Vinny. That's the one I have done with the LFT Solis. So Vinny, let me make sure I'm not reading the wrong one here again. Vinny is allspice, ginger, molasses, and herbs. Herbs, yes.
00:22:34
Speaker
And it says it pairs well with very mild or full-bodied cigars. So I don't know if that means like anywhere in the range or if it's specifically super light or super heavy cigars.
00:22:45
Speaker
Yeah, i kind of put this I kind of took it as the extremes, but well I guess we're going to find out. Yeah, i guess so. And I'm guessing this one based on the color, looks kind of ginger-ailey.
00:22:59
Speaker
It's almost beer-colored. It's an a definite nice amber to it, yeah. And this one has all-spiced ginger. It's probably that molasses ah and herbs.
00:23:12
Speaker
Whether I'm...
00:23:15
Speaker
trying see they're actually- I'm trying to figure out what I smell in I don't think- You know what's interesting? He says he's got fruit and vegetable juice for color in here. So he's getting that from some juice. He's already squirting some juice.
00:23:27
Speaker
and That's a bad word, but yeah.
00:23:31
Speaker
Yeah, i think it's the- there's like the allspice is really on the nose. That allspice comes right through- um wow it does. kind of Yeah, it comes right through with that.
00:23:42
Speaker
Whoa. This is like Thanksgiving soda. Yes. ah um And it's interesting that it says just add just a hint of heat with Vinny.
00:23:55
Speaker
um I clocked that right off the bat. I didn't realize it was going to be like allspice, tingly spice. Yeah. it's ah And the ginger. There's definitely, yeah, now the ginger comes on the finish is what I'm getting at. Yep.
00:24:10
Speaker
But it pairs. This is another. This is pairing. this I think this being such a safe cigar, it makes it it pairs well. where Where, you know, if you had something that's a very citrusy or chocolate laden or, you know, peppery, I'm not sure it would do the same. But this is safe. So it seems like it's it's acclimating well with this as well.
00:24:36
Speaker
That one also brings out like a really, really, really cedary flavor in the cigar. When I took a sip and then a puff. i think of that I think that's the ginger. Yeah.
00:24:46
Speaker
yeah yeah yeah nice There's that long finish. You really feel that ginger on your palate a couple minutes later.
00:24:57
Speaker
What do you think? Yeah, I definitely i i definitely pick pick up the... It's kind of like ah I get a little bit of the All-Strice, and then I pick up that ginger that comes out um as well. but And when I puff it I also get that ginger on the back. um like i'm tasting Like, I did the puff, and I'm tasting the ginger towards the back of my tongue on this.
00:25:21
Speaker
Yeah, you almost... I mean, the ginger really sticks around, but then you take a puff of the cigar, and the ginger, like... has a resurgence. It really comes back. Yeah, it comes See, I was concerned when when I was looking at this one, um and this is the one I did do with the Solace.
00:25:36
Speaker
Like I said, yeah I don't really remember the notes with the Vinny until now, but I've had ginger beer with a cigar, and it's one of the worst pairings you can have. Definitely.
00:25:47
Speaker
Yeah, it will it does not pair well with cigars is what I found. But this is, like I said, it doesn't hit you right away. Well, ginger beer, part of the like the part of the signature flavor of ginger ale and ginger beer is that you are fermenting the ginger. yeah This tastes a lot more like fresh ginger.
00:26:11
Speaker
Then it's a different type of ginger flavor. This you're getting kind of the the the spice of the ginger more, I think. When you sip and puff, I'm also getting an herbal note.
00:26:25
Speaker
And it seems like the herbal note's coming more and more as I do more sip and puff. And particularly, actually, the retrohale is actually getting in And I don't know if it's the cigar progressing or not. I don't think it is. i think it's i think it's the pairing doing it.
00:26:38
Speaker
I was thinking the same thing. I feel like I can feel the ginger on the retrohale. Yeah, yep. Like it adds some spice to it. But there's like this herbal note I'm getting, too. And normally, i don't like an herbal note, but it's actually very good.
00:26:51
Speaker
But yeah, the ginger definitely on the retrohale. I think what we're learning is that ah we may have to do a round two and pair with a cigar that's like terrible.
00:27:03
Speaker
don't know what cigar, but really bad cigar that has off putting flavors and see what happens with this soda. I think bear can know a few. we may No, but we like those cigars more than him. That's what.
00:27:17
Speaker
Yeah, there was one in particular that i actually smoked a couple days ago that I remembered him saying he hated and I thought it was pretty good. Is it the hate, the cigar, or the blender, or both? The cigar. Okay, so it's not the same one I'm thinking of. Okay.
00:27:30
Speaker
um
00:27:33
Speaker
Yeah, this one's so interesting.
00:27:37
Speaker
it It really... This pairs exceptionally well with this cigar. Yeah. In both directions. Yeah, agreed. Now, this time, I'm not... Like, when I...
00:27:50
Speaker
when i pop and then said i don't kind of get that like that creamy would be talked about with that but I'm trying to go back to what he's saying about pairing well with very mild or very full.
00:28:02
Speaker
this is a middle ah This is a middle of the road cigar. Yeah. Like I put this in the middle. So I think it's pairing well with it is what I'm saying. and But ah I just wonder if he meant to cross the spectrum now after that.
00:28:15
Speaker
I think so. Yeah. because Because I think part of the reason is that there's – um except for the ginger and a little bit of the allspice, all of the flavors in this soda very subtle.
00:28:27
Speaker
Yes. So I think that with a more intense cigar, it may you may be tasting more of the ginger and with a less intense cigar, you may be tasting more of the subtlety.
00:28:39
Speaker
Yes. um But what I am finding is in both of these so far, the better pairing is drinking the soda and then taking a draw of the cigar.
00:28:52
Speaker
um Agree. Totally agree. I think that's how it's designed because the flavor of these sodas really changes the flavor of the cigar in an interesting way. Yeah, and like said, this going back to it it's not a very sexy cigar. And it's not a bad cigar.
00:29:08
Speaker
It's not very it's sexy in terms of flavors. Trying to get people to have a cigar experience that maybe isn't polarizing. because Again, a cigar like this, you want it to reach out to as many people as possible. Yeah, I totally get get the reasoning behind why they want that. Yeah, yeah.
00:29:23
Speaker
um They have a new one, right? The Cal... I can't pronounce his name because I haven't watched the movie. Calagaro? Calagaro? Calagaro, I think is how Chaz said it. I'm boistering.
00:29:36
Speaker
From what I understand, it's it's a similar blend. Okay. I wasn't sure about that. It's not the same blend. Okay. But it's like like I think the best way to say it is it's a tweaked cigar. because that Would that make sense to say that?
00:29:53
Speaker
Um, and, um, but they, they tweaked from what I understand. I'm trying to remember if they, I think they made them round. It was the other thing. Oh yeah. i think you're right. I don't think it's box pressed. I don't think it's box pressed. Yeah. So they still make this one, which is a, but the other ones are all, all round from what I remember.
00:30:15
Speaker
Okay. I was just curious if you had the info, cause I didn't put it in my notes. Yeah, I believe that is what it's. But yeah, they have four sizes with the regular production line, which I have not had yet. There's a Robusto, a Toro, a Torpedo, and a Gordo. But that Toro is not this. It's round.
00:30:35
Speaker
But the blend if you look at the blend, it's this it's a very similar profile with that Habano wrapper, the Dominican binder, and the Dominican Nicoraguan filler. But i think, like I said, it's been tweaked.
00:30:48
Speaker
Okay, good to know. All right, I'm going to move on to my last pairing. We're going through the pairings really quick, but I do want to talk about the movie here in a couple minutes and talk about Chaz a little bit. Okay, yep.
00:30:59
Speaker
But for now, we'll... Can you see that on camera? i I... You broke the bottle. So I had like at 730, so like 30 minutes before we went live, I popped the top of this one and I thought, now all the carbonation is going to escape.
00:31:16
Speaker
So I popped the top back on. Right. And then right before showtime, I went to open it with a with a bottle opener and I just hulked the rim of the yeah bottle right off.
00:31:28
Speaker
I don't it was even securely on there. I think it was just the way that I did the bottle opener. So hopefully I'm not drinking any glass shards, but this is Royale. This one, already just took a sip of it, but I remembered this one's probably going to very interesting is what I'm going to say. Okay. This is the one that I'm most curious about because this one, this is the one that I kept reading the wrong description. This is the one. Yeah. This is coffee, chocolate, nuts, and vanilla, and it complements flavors like cream, vanilla, leather, and wood.
00:31:59
Speaker
Right. And it's intended as the most full-bodied pairing. Pairing, yeah. So this is one that's supposed to go with more full-bodied cigars. Yeah, this is definitely like we just smoked that Vinny, which had that this allspice and ginger.
00:32:15
Speaker
This one. Well, I'll just kind of let you put your th thought in before I put a th thought into your head it, because i've already kind of done couple. Wow, that's a dessert soda. Yeah.
00:32:27
Speaker
Whoa. That reminds me You're going to love this. That reminds me of the what's it called? The Manhattan special. a Yes, the Manhattan Special Soda coffee soda. Yeah.
00:32:44
Speaker
It's, yeah, it it but it has, this has a little more of a nutty component. I definitely get off of that. It actually, you know what it really actually reminds me of is um ah non-alcoholic stout.
00:32:59
Speaker
A lot of times with ah with a non-alcoholic stout, they'll use flavors like chocolate, coffee, and roasted nuts to to give that impression of the flavors you get from a stout.
00:33:10
Speaker
um But this is soda. Like, it doesn't yeah taste like a stout, um but that's kind of what it reminds me of. Yes. I got to go in for another.
00:33:22
Speaker
It's the most, like with this cigar, the soda is going to overpower it a bit. I think so. yeah yeah It's definitely going to overpower it more than the other two sodas we had.
00:33:33
Speaker
and And I don't mean that in a negative way. you're gonna That soda is going to be, it's going to win the battle over the tobacco in this one. Yeah, this is definitely a soda you want with a big, intense Maduro.
00:33:47
Speaker
Like, I don't know, h ninety nine something from Black Label. Like that super in-your-face, sweet, intense, spicy Maduro flavors. Yeah. even Yeah, even even a Neanderthal would go good with this. um now It would. Good point. That's true. Yeah, it would. Yeah.
00:34:07
Speaker
And I like... i It's interesting because I... I've had Manhattan Soda, Manhattan Special Soda. I actually did a pairing show with, like, Logan almost 10 years ago with it. And it tends to go great with those Maduro cigars.
00:34:22
Speaker
And i was a little wondering, it is overpowering this cigar, but it goes it's still going pretty well. Yeah, it still works pretty well. But in this case, it's not... um It's not as additive as the other pairings. of No.
00:34:38
Speaker
Like all of the other or both of the others that I have. And I'm guessing that Tower 44 as well. They really add something to the experience of smoking the cigar. They like you get more flavor out of the cigar after taking a sip.
00:34:52
Speaker
This one. um It stamps out the cigar just a little bit, but they still work together. Yeah. they They work together. They taste well together.
00:35:03
Speaker
um But you like with the Vinny and the Candlewood, they definitely was an there was an enhancement you got from the pairing. This one, not so much, but it does go really well.
00:35:14
Speaker
Yeah. I wonder what Candlewood is named after because I grew up in Connecticut off of um in in a town that's right off of Candlewood Lake, which is, like I think, the biggest lake in Connecticut or something like that.
00:35:27
Speaker
It's a big old lake. Right, right. um But I wonder if that's if that has anything to do with it or if it's something other significant something else significant to him.
00:35:39
Speaker
I'm not sure, yeah. You know, I was looking at cause oak moss, I started thinking Connecticut and I started thinking the Charter Oak Tree, you know, from Foundation. Yeah. um Yeah, that this one in particular is not working as well with the cigar, which is a disappointment.
00:35:56
Speaker
But... I may have to light up a cigar after the show and see if it works with something else. If you did this with, like, a strong... like and That's why I mentioned Neanderthal came to mind. Yeah, one of those cigars that's really punch you in the face, San Andreas comes to mind, like the Neanderthal.
00:36:11
Speaker
Yeah. That kind of cigar, I think, could work really well with this. Yes. I agree with you on that, for sure. um You know, Espinosa warhead would go well with this, too. Mm-hmm.
00:36:25
Speaker
That's another one that would I think would work well with it. Yeah. Yep. um But on like I said, it's not gonna clash. This is not gonna clash you know it's ah with the flavors. It's fine, you could it, but it's again, it's if you're looking for that pairing kind of magic, I don't necessarily think I'm getting it with this one.
00:36:44
Speaker
Yeah, I do think if they sold these in a bunch of cigar lounges, I think the Royale would probably be the most popular one. Oh, absolutely. Because it's the it's the most, it reminds me the most of of a normal soda.
00:36:58
Speaker
Yeah, there's there's something with this soda that's different than the Manhattan Special on the finish. And it kind of has that, there's a little bit of an herbal thing I'm getting on the finish with this.
00:37:10
Speaker
And it's actually really good. Yeah, it does almost taste like there's a little bit of ginger or something like that. Yeah, there's something I'm getting at the end of this. With a Manhattan Special, you won't get that on.
00:37:22
Speaker
Yeah, this reminds me of a Manhattan special. It's certainly not exactly like it. Yeah. This will pair well with other the cigars in this one. That would be my feeling on it. Yeah, I think there are other cigars that work much better with this pairing.
00:37:35
Speaker
Now, we've gone through three sodas so far. i don't feel I don't feel it's corrupted my palate at all with these sodas. i think they my palate's been okay so far. Yeah, me too.
00:37:47
Speaker
It's I think part of that is because even this one, I think tastes like it has less sugar than a Coke. Yeah. Like normal sodas are just so intensely sweetened. And these are ah this one's like an eight or a nine out of 10 if regular sodas at 10. Yep.
00:38:04
Speaker
Yep. But the other two are like a six or a seven. They're really done. Yes. Agree. All right. I want to hear your thoughts on the Tower 44. OK, I'm going to pop it open and then I'll kind of give you what the description is of that.
00:38:19
Speaker
All right. So this has explored a decadence of saffron and. patch patch patch it's one of the most offensive smells in the world i think yeah if you've ever smelled like a stinky hippie a lot of times the smells other than weed and ah incense that they smell like is patch yeah all right it's like that that hippie uh cologne This is definitely a hippie soda from what I remember. It's exploded decadence of saffron and patchouli beneath the brightness of fresh grapefruit with Tower 44, which enhances the fruity, bright, and vanilla flavors hidden within bold and leathery cigars.
00:39:03
Speaker
So this one definitely had a more citrus thing from what I remember. This one I really loved the last time I had it.
00:39:11
Speaker
You know, I'm not a fan of grapefruit, but I'm a fan of grapefruit soda. And I drink a lot of Fresco. Yeah. This has got such a smoothness to it. um And I definitely pick up that saffron in it.
00:39:24
Speaker
Yeah. i I thought I would hate this soda when I had it, and I was wrong. I really like it. ah To me, the patchouli, like I said, I hate patchouli. When I smell it, I'm like, it grosses me out.
00:39:39
Speaker
It's too intense. On that, it's such a light touch that I think it really works. It instead just adds more depth to it. yeah um What that reminded me of is orange soda with a little bit of bitter grapefruit juice.
00:39:59
Speaker
Yeah, it's not that heavy grapefruit sourness. Yeah, it it reminds me more of like grapefruit peel.
00:40:11
Speaker
but it draws some creaminess with this cigar really well. Really? Wow. So yeah, because this is not, it's not a, it's not a, if we're looking at body of sodas, right?
00:40:24
Speaker
Maybe that, that Royale was fuller body. This is like medium minus in terms of body. It's not, and it it draws, you get, ah it really smooths out the experience of this.
00:40:37
Speaker
Adding a little more sweetness where this cigar may lack the sweetness. Yeah, this isn't a particularly sweet cigar, so I think these sodas are kind of a perfect pairing for it.
00:40:47
Speaker
But this one is is the subtle sweetness, and it mixes well with the the smoke on the palate.
00:40:56
Speaker
the other way. Sam Fiddle said, how about a Southern draw Jacob's Ladder? I think that is one of the other ones that would work. Yeah, spot on. That's what you you want, like a big bowl like ah like that or a James Brown... ah um Orthodox would be interesting.
00:41:14
Speaker
Uh-huh. That's one what the one that I was thinking would work with it.
00:41:22
Speaker
I really like this pairing. This one, I'm surprised. This is the one where the smoke kind of it kind of enhances the soda the most. Oh, wow.
00:41:33
Speaker
Interesting. It brings a little more, because what it does is you have that saffron, that sa on the citrus, um... But this kind of levels some of that out with some earthy with some earthy notes and a touch of ah kind of that tobacco flavor is the best way to put it.
00:41:50
Speaker
So it actually, this one I think is the best one that goes puff to sip here. All right. I'm sad I don't have that one to pair tonight. Because i already I had it on a previous show.
00:42:03
Speaker
Yeah. um For anyone who's interested in a bean of soda, you can check them out at... I should have put their website in my notes, but just Google a bean of soda.
00:42:14
Speaker
Yeah, if you go to... AbinaSoda.com. A-B-B-I-N-A. If you go to... and so Yeah, you go to AbinaSoda.com. If you can't find it, go to Cigar Coop and type Abina.
00:42:24
Speaker
A-B-B-I-N-A. um We are having a couple performance issues on Coop, though. And it is being investigated by our IT people. We've been running traces all day. So it is a little slow, but it will come up, is saying. It is maybe a little slow today.
00:42:37
Speaker
um Be warned. the The one downside that I see of the soda is it is expensive. Yes. You're looking at about $3.50 or $3.75, I think, per bottle.
00:42:52
Speaker
You know, if you get the variety pack, it's $45 for 12 sodas. So it comes out to about a little under $4. Yeah, $3.79 for a soda. yeah um So I think if you if you were to get one of these at a cigar lounge, I think it would be probably $5 or $6.
00:43:07
Speaker
Yeah. which Which seems like a lot for a soda, but I think you're getting a lot more than you do with a dollar soda. you're You're getting, yeah, and lately, you know, I know the price of Diet Coke's gone up to $2.00 to $2.50. So you're definitely getting um yeah definitely getting a ah ah good experience.
00:43:27
Speaker
What was your favorite of the pairings of the three? I'm still going back through to decide. We'll chat for a couple minutes while I ponder. I would say I have two answers. I think the Tower 45 definitely goes from cigar to soda, where that worked better.
00:43:42
Speaker
Okay. um My hope is that ah eventually this gets popular enough that Charlie can start canning it because I know that'll bring the cost down. That'll bring the shipping cost down.
00:43:55
Speaker
And that'll, I think, make distribution a little bit easier. Yeah, distribution is always tough with that. I think Charlie, was he at the trade show last year? i think he might have been in the boutique pavilion.
00:44:06
Speaker
If he was, i didn't get a chance. Yeah, we didn't get chance. um He seems like a really nice guy, too. um When I was interacting with him. I would love to meet him because you know how passionate I am about pairings. And obviously he's somebody who shares a mind with me.
00:44:22
Speaker
and Yeah. and And the same thing, you know, what got ah i I don't drink a lot of alcoholic beverages. Yes, I do drink alcohol from time to time, but I do. I really love my so my soft drinks. And um You know, I will say is these are these are good sodas on their own, but they really do the job ah in terms of pairing here.
00:44:41
Speaker
Yeah. And I think it's interesting. One of the other interesting things about these is that, you know, there's a huge market right now. I've had a few on the show recently of canned non-alcoholic cocktails.
00:44:56
Speaker
But this is, like, decidedly not that at all. These are not in the cocktail zone even a little bit. It still tastes like soda. i yeah
00:45:07
Speaker
um I went back to the candle wood. I think that might be my favorite, but I haven't gone back to the the Vinnie yet. um
00:45:18
Speaker
So um I'm working on that. Let's talk about Chaz Palminteri a little bit. So that's what's that. So a Bronx Tale. If you've never seen the movie, it's a great movie. um I'd check to see if it's streaming anywhere. And it is unfortunately not.
00:45:34
Speaker
Streaming anywhere for free right now. There's a couple of like AMC plus or something, but yeah, I was looking at that before. Um, yeah, they don't, I, you have to even, even you on YouTube, you have to have a, um, a subscription.
00:45:48
Speaker
Yeah. Um, so there's nowhere you can watch it for free at the moment. Um, But, you know, you can pay four bucks and rent it from somebody. yeah And it's a great movie. do you want to tell us a little bit about the movie, Will? It's been a very long time since I've seen it. i well yeah It's probably in the ninety s the last time I watched yeah it. Yeah, it's probably with me. So what I remember, it's about Chaz actually, he plays, ah he doesn't really play someone. his From remember, he plays the Sonny.
00:46:18
Speaker
Yes. And Sonny, you have to remember, in New York is New York's very much a naep every neighborhood was like a mini town. Right. So, yeah, that's kind of how it works and in bright New York.
00:46:31
Speaker
Yeah. And, you know, a neighborhood, like I said, it it it has almost like a little city structure of a city within a city there. So. um Sonny was a basically a mob who controlled an area of the Bronx.
00:46:44
Speaker
And Calorjuro, I always mention you the name, um ti gets taken under the tutelage of Sonny. He's kind of a kid who's who's just fascinated by it, right?
00:46:57
Speaker
Like, who sees this big, powerful mob guy walking around. and I vaguely remember him, like, watching him out the window and watching him while he's playing on the street and just being like, man, what is that cool guy up to?
00:47:09
Speaker
Yeah. um They used... Yeah, and basically, obviously, he kind of gets in... ah He gets... What's the word I'm looking for? um Ingrained into the world of organized crime.
00:47:24
Speaker
It causes... Frick him with his father, um who his father... is Was his father a bus driver? Something like that. A bus driver, a mechanic.
00:47:36
Speaker
Yeah. Very blue-colored. And... um Yeah. What was really... see they call this a coming-of-age movie, and I i agree.
00:47:47
Speaker
I love these movies that take place in New York, like in the 60s and 70s. There was a subculture in there. and And perhaps the this this the story is not necessarily a very unique story. We see a lot of... like Because when they did Goodfellas, it was kind of the same thing. It was it was a similar type of thing, you know years later, right, with Raleigh Liotta.
00:48:07
Speaker
getting uh kind of indoctrinated into organized crime but they do a really good job of capturing the vibe of new york city during this time period which i think this is where it um it really does well now i've never seen the the play which is a solo a one-man play that i've never seen i'm very curious about that because i didn't realize great i read about it today yeah yeah does chaz still perform it Yeah, he abe Abe went to it back earlier this year. That's how we got him on the show. He was in town.
00:48:38
Speaker
wow. He did at West Palm Beach. Yeah. Yeah. i I assumed that he turned it into a one-man play in the 80s, and that was the that was the end of it.
00:48:49
Speaker
um Yeah, I think the play started and De Niro saw it. and Yeah. I think the play started and De Niro saw it and they made it into a movie, but Chaz still performs the play.
00:49:01
Speaker
And the thing is, I think the play, like the movie rather, it wasn't a huge box office hit, but it became a cult movie. year Yeah, it was definitely a cult movie. yeah Yeah. There's some great, great acting in this movie too, is what I'll just say. um The neighborhood, it's a neighborhood in the Bronx, which is very close to where paul the silvio's stories the belmont the bell on their in the bronx so it's this area of the bronx where there is a very uh... strong italian subculture in there on the other thing that this movie really explores
00:49:35
Speaker
um is it gets into some of the racial
A Bronx Tale: Themes & Impact
00:49:37
Speaker
tensions that were going on in this period too, which is really, ah really well done right now. And, know, kind of gets, it escalates into some violence and stuff.
00:49:47
Speaker
Very much a part of New York and the Bronx back in this period too.
00:49:54
Speaker
um From what I was reading about, well, the one scene that always, that I always remember is where Caligero is going to go on the date and Sonny shows him that he should always open the door for her.
00:50:08
Speaker
Yes. i've I've never forgotten that my whole life. oh No, it's it's it's a very much a Tony Soprano type moment. Yeah. in this Yeah. yeah when If there's one thing you do right, it's this one thing. Yeah. yeah um But from what I was reading about, I read kind of about the the the pre-production of the movie a little bit. So yeah um this is the first and one of only two movies Robert De Niro has ever directed.
00:50:34
Speaker
Yes. Which is crazy. Yeah, i know. It is. So Chaz wrote the one-man show and was performing it, and apparently he got offers from studios to just buy the script outright from him.
00:50:46
Speaker
but he refused because he wanted to stay on. He wanted to play Sonny and he also wanted a writing credit so that he could still control the story um and keep it, keep it what he wanted it to be. Right?
00:50:59
Speaker
yeah So that they wouldn't take his baby away and turn it into something that he didn't like as much. um Cause Hollywood has a tendency to do that. it ah at some point when robert de niro got involved uh basically they came to an agreement that they were going to be 50 50 partners on this movie right chas was going to do the acting you know as as the role of sunny he was going to be the writer and he would be an executive producer so he got like i didn't realize this was like chas's
00:51:30
Speaker
ah change in Hollywood from just being an actor to understanding the rest of the behind the scenes process a little more. ah Yeah, that was interesting. It, you know Chaz went through, um,
00:51:44
Speaker
it was kind of a quick rise in a lot of ways to fame. I was a huge fan of the TV show Dallas. I really always loved that show. It was a big show we watched in college.
00:51:55
Speaker
i've seen re when When I sort of seen the reruns of it, I'm watching a scene, and there's actually a scene where the character, you J.R. Ewing was the... the big character he has a pretty bad encounter with the mob right either mob going after him for because i think he killed uh... mobster's son and as a couple of these dogs who kind of take care of jay arguing a couple girl girl bugs one of this daddy harley says a word in their right but i remember i'd be like with what can we run a couple years ago and i said that's chas right
00:52:27
Speaker
I went to chat. I asked chat. said, were you in Dallas? And he's like, yeah. He goes, how did you recognize? Because I hardly had a role in it. but because Because if you look at the Bronx tale, the face he makes on that poster, it's the same face. So you can't you can't miss it.
00:52:41
Speaker
And it was really only a couple. Because I think that was 88 when that was filmed. So it was like by 91, this all happened fast for him. he was like up like i say He was very much a struggling actor before that.
00:52:52
Speaker
Yeah. um And then after that, for the whole 90s, he was like one of the guys as as anytime you saw a bunch of mobsters, he was always going to be one of them. One of the higher ups.
00:53:05
Speaker
Yeah. There was some other thing that i was going to say. so I've been watching. I talked about this with Bear last week. I've been watching reruns of movies from like the late 90s, early 2000s when I was growing up.
00:53:19
Speaker
Right. Just because I am holding a baby sometimes for a couple hours a day. Right, right. yeah Yeah. And so it's just like I just want background noise. So I put on these old shows. It's crazy how many recognizable actors you see in tiny, tiny roles.
00:53:34
Speaker
Right on on television shows. And the crazy part is that, you know, ah shows that are on right now in 15 years, there's going to be people who were the the guy who spilled his coffee in the coffee shop is now starring in movies or something.
00:53:49
Speaker
um i It's just weird how that happens. Yeah, I was watching something. I don't remember the show, and I saw Buffy the Vampire Slayer like as like a 16-year-old. Yeah. And it was it was when the credits came up. It was Christy Swanson. I'm like, yeah, it's Buffy the Vampire Slayer. you know like This is way before she was known as Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
00:54:10
Speaker
all right, so I've gone through these a little bit. I think my favorite as a soda is Candlewood. Like, if I was just going to drink one of these, I really like Candlewood.
00:54:23
Speaker
And it does work really well with the cigar. Right. But I think Vinny, like, it just has such a significant impact on the flavor of the cigar. Yeah. um That that's got to be my choice for my pairing of the night.
00:54:38
Speaker
Right, so it's the soda. My favorite of the sodas is definitely Royale. I really love coffee soda. ah I'm a big fan of Manhattan Special. This is even better than Manhattan Special. I think it is, too.
00:54:50
Speaker
It's great. The coffee, the nuts, the chocolate yeah really adds something. It's great, right? um I agree with you on the Vinny when I am sipping and puffing.
00:55:01
Speaker
I agree with you on that. But in terms of puffing and sipping, Tower 44 is the one I'm going with. That's great. You got three pairings in the night. One no pair. That's a bad answer. I know I kind of took a... And that's not a knock on the candle. away I know it's a bad answer, but it's an honest answer. it did it it There's different scenarios that this works with.
00:55:21
Speaker
Yeah, of course. um Yeah, so...
00:55:28
Speaker
I've got to say it, people. is ah Check out a bean of soda. ah they did Check them out, yeah. Ask your cigar shop if they can put it in their cooler. um I'm just, I'm really captivated by it because I didn't think it would work as well as it does.
00:55:44
Speaker
Look, and I would pay $5 for these, right? If if they're a shop and um I would pay the $5 and, you know, it might help my retailer get a couple of bucks, you know, here and there, get a couple of them. um I would definitely, I haven't seen these like, cold ah and ah you know, or on Amazon or anything, but I
Abena Soda's Market Potential
00:56:02
Speaker
haven't looked. These are, like he said, you can buy them directly. I bought these directly from the site.
00:56:06
Speaker
I think right now they're, I'm guessing they're pretty small production. They don't make a whole lot of them and and they're just selling to a couple shops. Maybe, uh, where are they? Albany up that way.
00:56:19
Speaker
Yeah. If I had to guess, they're, they're selling a couple to a couple shops near them and they sell a handful online. Um, but you know, they're still trying to get out there. It's,
00:56:32
Speaker
It's a tough market for soda. like yeah It's not like cigars and beer where the the market is crazy. But I can see these being really successful. yeah It just may be a ah long road to get to that point.
00:56:47
Speaker
You know, I was just poking around their Instagram page. And they happen to show the Royale being paired with Aromacraft, which is interesting. We talked about that. But they're pairing it with the Aquitaine.
00:56:59
Speaker
And I can see it as well. I can see that. I think the Neanderthal and the Cro-Mag would work better. Would be better. Yeah. yeah Well, it's interesting that they pair—I still consider Aquitaine a pretty strong cigar. It definitely is. So I would say yeah it kind of makes some sense. that But they actually show—the other one they show, and this was interesting, and I'm looking at some of this. I didn't look at this is just now.
00:57:22
Speaker
They're showing the Candlewood being paired with the La Roma to Cuban Noblesse. which I wouldn't expect that pairing. I'm kind of curious with that. I haven't, I'm trying to remember if I've ever even had a Noblesse.
00:57:37
Speaker
Well, I think it's the new one, which is the, they changed the blend. Now it's a San Andreas. um It was a natural wrapper beforehand. um I'm not sure how that would go with the San Andreas.
00:57:50
Speaker
How about the cigar? What do you think of the cigar?
00:57:54
Speaker
I think our initial assessment is spot on. It's, um, this isn't the kind of cigar that I'm going to run to buy a box of. Right. But if, if somebody asked me, I'm a big fan of Chaz Palminteri.
00:58:10
Speaker
Should I try that cigar? I'll say absolutely. Yeah. It's a good cigar. Yeah. And it's not for my palate. And I would say this, if you are a not a smoker, ah frequent smoker, this cigar will not be too aggressive on you is what I'm going to say. It doesn't have a lot of nicotine.
00:58:30
Speaker
It's not going be aggressive on you. um And it it does lend itself well to pairings. And I actually wonder how this would pair with some spirits now, I'm wondering. Me too. um yeah Because, yeah, that's exactly what I was just thinking is if you're a once a year cigar smoker who likes to have a cigar, you know, I know i know people who never smoke cigars, but but on Christmas Day or whatever, they'll smoke a cigar every year.
00:58:58
Speaker
They just have a tradition. um For that kind of guy, I think this is the perfect cigar. And I think it would go really well with a glass of scotch probably. Maybe bourbon might work better, but I think Highland Scotch would be the play.
00:59:13
Speaker
I don't know how it would go with cranberry old-fashioned, but it would go well with an old-fashioned. Oh, that's definitely true. Yeah, I don't know. Like I said, I haven't had a lot of cranberry old-fashioned. Yeah. Oh, that smokiness. i i really kind of I'm kind of like intrigued how the smokiness would would kind of pair with that. then I mean, the cigar for me is about an 88. But it's that's not a bad score.
00:59:36
Speaker
Yeah, and exactly. It's not a bad cigar, um but it's it's nothing groundbreaking. Yeah, I mean, um it's not going get an Aaron Loomis blessing, but, you know, it that yeah that's that's rare as it is. You do.
00:59:50
Speaker
Yeah, if you do it. Exactly. So. All right. Well, that brings us to the end of the show. ah Check out A Bronx Tale, the both the movie and the cigar.
01:00:02
Speaker
don't have one for the road? We don't want for the road? A Beena Soda. Okay, yes, but now we have one for the road. Yeah, before we before we take off. Okay. Yeah, I was wondering. Yeah, Cooper, you're chomping at the bit. So i'm gonna let you do your one for the road first.
01:00:16
Speaker
All right, give me give me how you want me to frame a One for the World because says I know it goes different ways. However you want. it's ah For me, One for the World is something you've been consuming. It could be a song you love, an album, movie, a TV show, a video game, a book, a podcast.
Band-Aid's 40th Anniversary Celebration
01:00:33
Speaker
Yeah, so I just want to make sure if i could do music. That's what I want to make sure. course. so You know, ah I think it was today is the 40th anniversary of Band-Aid. um To me, when Band-Aid got together released Do They Know It's Christmas 40 years ago, it changed the music business.
01:00:50
Speaker
It was a super collaboration there. It's it's it read the real world, the live aid and. um but it started uh... forty years ago um... this year what they did was and they've done a couple of other band-aids uh... they did any twenty band eight thirty this year they actually did a uh... like a mix of all the band-aids So they kind of took some of these different band-aid performances and they um kind of mixed it. They call it the ultimate mix, right?
01:01:25
Speaker
So the idea is you're hearing verses from artists in the 80s to artists like over the past few years and in between. Oh, so it's like doing a mashup. yet but if the actual recording they actually took the uh... they actually got the act is separated out the vocal tracks and everything well it and i thought i might talk like by the day that i were talking about this day burke and i on the arm on the jukebox right arm And I said, I don't know about this, Dave. You know, it it doesn't sound like it's going to work, right?
01:01:55
Speaker
I couldn't believe how well this was. And I'm a freak when it comes to mixing, right? And I'm picky when things are mixed and when you layer tracks and stuff like that. I'm a geek about that, right?
01:02:07
Speaker
I couldn't believe how well this was done. You would think that they actually were able to go put some of these guys back in time and and all perform together. Wow. It was, I mean, to hear Sting and Ed Sheeran and people kind of people may not like it here but it was it really really worked well together um... and i just i love that they kind of went back to the original a lot of people in the original uh... if you're wondering it's it's nineteen eighty four two thousand four two thousand fourteen three of three to call three to name in a match that together here it's fantastic it really is uh...
01:02:42
Speaker
There's rumors there's going to be another Live Aid next year, by the way, which will be interesting for the 40th anniversary of that, so I'll keep my eye on that. Won't it be the 41st anniversary? ah Well, Live Aid happened in 85. Oh, okay. so Band-Aid led to Live Aid is what happened. Oh, right, all right, okay.
01:02:58
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, so, and then in between that was We Are The World came out. Yeah. the ah well Yeah, you will be, like I said, i was amazed by it, and I i think, I love that. i That's one of my favorite Christmas songs ever, on too, because it was, ah just I just love it. it did It captured me 40 years ago at 17, and now as a 57-year-old, I still have never gotten tired of that song, and this was a whole new spin on it.
01:03:25
Speaker
Nice. I'm going to have to check that out. That sounds super interesting. Yeah, let me know what you think. yeah Yeah. My one for the road is a lot less interesting, sort of. I don't know. but i was i was gonna do I've been watching
Mayor of Kingstown: A Tense Drama
01:03:37
Speaker
some TV. I was going to do Tulsa King season two, but Tulsa King is just so cheesy. It's hard to watch at times, but it's great at the same time. It's so melodramatic.
01:03:48
Speaker
It gets cheesy at times. i i will And I love the show, don't get me wrong, but yeah. It was great, though. But Mayor of Kingstown is the show. I got to get into that show. I've been having trouble getting into it. Have you watched it?
01:04:00
Speaker
I watched a few episodes of the first season, and I keep just stalling every time. Like three or four episodes in, I think, is where it really kicks off. That's what I haven't gotten. enough I got like two or three, and I keep going back to the beginning is the problem. So Alan is the one who told me about it, and this was like three or four years ago.
01:04:16
Speaker
Okay. al Like a commercial came on TV and he goes, Tripp, you watched that? I'm like, no, never even heard of it. And he's like, you have to watch it. And so I just filed that away in my memory to eventually watch it.
01:04:31
Speaker
And I started this week and I've just finished the first season on Friday. and it's real good. um It's kind of about a guy who he is ah He calls himself an inmate advocate.
01:04:47
Speaker
But basically, he's a fixer for a prison. And so he he facilitates communication between all these gangs that are rivals. and ah very tense allies.
01:05:02
Speaker
And he he is in with the guards at the prison. He's in with the gang leaders on the outside and on the inside. So he's like, it's this very careful balancing act that he constantly has to do to keep the peace.
01:05:17
Speaker
um And in season one, he does not keep the peace. Things get real bad near the end of that season. Okay. um But it's it's really good acting by... What's his name?
01:05:31
Speaker
Crap, I can't remember his name all of a sudden. Jeremy Renner? Jeremy Renner, thank you. yeah yeah Jeremy Renner's incredible in this show. ah And, you know, there's... Like we talked about earlier, there's a bunch of familiar faces that you're going to see along the way.
01:05:46
Speaker
yeah But it's it's just a wild ride, and I'm curious to see where it goes in season two and three. Yeah, i I, you know, you're telling me this. I know I have to get back into this.
01:05:59
Speaker
You know, Jeremy Renner, he was like, he had, um he's had a few Academy, Bear would know, you know more about movies than I am. You probably do. I believe he has a couple of Academy Award nominations, not wins, but believe he has. Yeah, he got nominated for The Hurt Locker.
01:06:13
Speaker
Yeah, that's what, yes. um the I mean, I guess he technically has a win because I believe it won Best Motion Picture, but he didn't win as Best a Actor, I don't believe.
01:06:23
Speaker
Yeah. I don't i have a encyclopedic knowledge of who of the wins and losses to me of the Academy Awards. No, I don't either. And that's Bear probably. Yeah, I know Bear knows it off top of his head. Yeah, I think he was great in American Hustle.
01:06:39
Speaker
bomb To me, more ah we American Hustle, you have Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper. Jeremy, remember, was was excellent in that movie. What a great cast that movie had. General Lawrence was in that. um Yeah, was good movie. It was really good movie.
01:06:56
Speaker
Bunch of hilarious wigs, too. yet kind of what i was a black comedy cut our comedy uh... thing here i'm really like in this venue with the cigar but then he is a one yes so interesting i'm gonna be definitely a sugar coma that got about three quarters down with all three of these sodas afforded so it is how do you guys do it with the alcohol and i'd kick i know sometimes uh...
01:07:27
Speaker
I mean, well, you guys are heavyweights. I mean, I think a lot of it is experience. Like, you know, i I think half of it is experience in in just drinking.
01:07:43
Speaker
Yeah. On a weekly basis, a couple drinks in a row. um And part of it is knowing my limits. So when i I know when I should maybe ah not finish that beer before bed or when, um you know.
01:07:59
Speaker
when maybe I should ah ease back on the pour of the next one because I accidentally poured this one a little heavy. i'm just I'm pretty good at self-regulating that, I think, and that helps.
01:08:11
Speaker
Yeah. I'm not every once in a while. I'll have one where I have a giant beer that's super intense and came in an extra big can or an extra rigged bottle.
01:08:22
Speaker
And like after the show, i mean, it it hasn't happened since I moved because now the kids are going to bed during the show. But there were times when I lived in Oregon where I would finish that beer after the show and I would fall asleep in my daughter's bed, putting her to bed.
01:08:40
Speaker
um But yeah, it ah it takes mostly practice. as As John likes to say, we're professionals. but perfect perfect Yeah, but you know you got me with the Vinny. It definitely is the one here.
01:08:53
Speaker
Um, for sure. But yeah I'm really intrigued now with doing these cigars with some other spirits now, because I think it's, it's a, it's a very parable cigar. Yeah. It's just, uh, the cigar is kind of like a sponge, right? Like yeah it's, yeah it's just, it has a nice middle of the road flavor. That's clean and not in no way off putting, there's no off notes on the cigar.
01:09:14
Speaker
No, no, absolutely not. Which I think would work really well with pairing. Sam Finnell, his one for the road, because he always loves to. Oh, we got to get one for the road. Yeah. His is. I can't wait to watch this. It's a metal detecting show called the Scottish detector,
01:09:31
Speaker
ah which which I need to check out. That sounds incredible. it does sound good. Yeah. Just a show about a guy finding stuff with a metal detector.
01:09:41
Speaker
Um, I have a metal detector. i might keep looking at it in my... eye Really? but Yeah, it's actually go right over there. i hat and louis we never i don't know. Someone gave me it um years ago. um And it's it's fun to take those to the beach is what I'll say. yeah In Mare of Kingstown, there's a metal detector scene, but he does not find something similar to what I'm sure the Scottish detector finds.
01:10:03
Speaker
Yeah. He finds all badness. Oh. All right. Well, guess we did it. Thanks. We did it. Thank you, Trip. Definitely honored to be on here. This was a a lot of fun.
01:10:15
Speaker
Great to have you. Yeah. We'll be back next week. I'm not sure who my guest is going to be or if Dennis will be back. I'll let you guys know. Yep. But for now, we want everybody to have a great and safe week, and we will see you next time. And remember, as always, we want you to drink better, but we want you to drink less.