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Dave covering a song he helped write .

Paddy took a ass whoopin

Yesterday

Based on my excellent tipping from this season I’d have to say the Bears have this Super Bowl in the bag…

Since both front runners picked the same teams this week, this could end in a possible tie if they don’t pick the same SB winner ie. GOODFORTUNE picks the eventual SB winner and Chicago Bearister doesn’t, they would have identical records…

Last couple of days 👍

Such a man . Act sing and above all things dance

LES FINES LAMES Launches Le TAG – Clip January 23, 2026 - Press Release LES FINES LAMES, the French brand that created Le PETIT, Le TAG and the PUNCH BRACELET, releases the first money clip double blade cigar cutter. Whether it serves as a money clip or a pocket clip, Le TAG – Clip ensures that your cutter is always where you need it. Le TAG – Clip is 8mm thin and features sharp stainless steel double blades and cuts cigars up to 100 ring gauge “Always be ready, so you never have to get ready. Le TAG – Clip carries forward the philosophy behind LES FINES LAMES’ revolution in cigar accessories. Our every day carry cigar accessories are versatile and effortless to keep with you.”, said Fabien Kerneis – Head of Digital. For the first 6 months, there’s only one way to purchase Le TAG – Clip : through participating retailers, as it will not be available on lesfineslames.com. For this operation, LES FINES LAMES shine a spotlight on the participating cigar shops, creating a “web-to-store” operation between February 9 and August 9, 2026. Le TAG – Clip is proposed in 5 differents finishes: Champ – Black – ODG – Red – Blue MSRP: $120 / 120€ Available to retailers worldwide. Retailer exclusivity period : February 9 – August 9 Source: https://www.cigarjournal.com/les-fines-lames-launches-le-tag-clip/

Les Fines Lames Releasing Le Tag Clip Next Month January 22, 2026 - Brooks Whittington Next month, France-based accessory company Les Fines Lames will release a new version of its Le Tag T135 cutter, this time one that also doubles as a money clip. The Le Tag Clip is made with the same double-guillotine cigar cutter as the Le Tag T135, but the new product features the addition of a money clip built onto the back of the cutter. The cutter can cut cigars up to 90-ring gauge, and both the clip and the cutter are made of surgical-grade stainless steel. The blade handle on the cutter is available in five different color options, all with the same $120 MSRP: Black, Blue, Champagne, OD Green and Red. While the cutter portion of the Le Tag Clip is made in Thiers, France, the clip portion is made in China and the two pieces are assembled at the company’s offices in France. “Always be ready, so you never have to get ready. Le TAG – Clip carries forward the philosophy behind LES FINES LAMES’ revolution in cigar accessories,” said Fabien Kerneis, head of digital marketing, in a press release. “Our every day carry cigar accessories are versatile and effortless to keep with you.” The Le Tag Clips will be available at retailers starting on Monday, Feb. 9. According to the company, it will give third-party retailers a six-month window to sell the Le Tag Clip before it adds to its own website. Source: https://halfwheel.com/les-fines-lames-releasing-le-tag-clip-next-month/460968/

A timely article from Cigar Aficionado, considering the snow storm happening across the Unites states this weekend. What do you think of the choices? Nine Short Cigars For Cold Weather Small but impressive cigars that are ideal to smoke quickly when the temperature dips Jan 23, 2026 - By Thomas Pappalardo Photo/iStock/Getty Images Plus A major winter storm is hitting the United States this weekend and is expected to bring heavy ice and snow from Texas all the way to the East Coast—certainly not the kind of weather to sit on the porch and savor a Churchill or double corona. For those brave enough to face such frigid conditions to enjoy a smoke, we at Cigar Aficionado have combed through the past six months of ratings and compiled a list of high-scoring cigars that are big on flavor, yet short enough to enjoy a during quick sojourn outside. In addition to be idyllic for the winter smoker, many of the cigars on this list are budget-friendly to boot. Each of these cigars is less than five inches long, with a ring gauge no fatter than 47, and each has scored at least 90 points in one of our blind taste tests. Every cigar rated by Cigar Aficionado is smoked blind by our panel of editors. The tasting coordinator removes the cigars’ identifying bands and replaces them with plain white, numbered labels before handing them out. Members of the tasting panel have no idea what they are smoking, and cigars are evaluated without potentially prejudicial information such as price, country of origin and brand. Don Lino Africa Kudu (92 points, $5.99) Following a safari trip to Africa, Nestor Miranda was inspired to create a cigar line that paid tribute to the continent. The Kudu (“antelope” in Masai) is a box-pressed petit corona made with a Cameroon binder leaf grown in West Africa. It’s a rich, full-bodied smoke that is profoundly nutty, accented by notes of leather, baking spices and buttercream before a finish that carries hints of black pepper. Arturo Fuente Rosado Sungrown Magnum R Vitola “Forty Four” (91 points, $9.25) At 4 7/8 inches in length, this robusto is quite short, even if the name is rather long. The flavor is even longer. Every puff is bold and savory, with core notes of leather, red meat and oak. Sweeter touches of black cherry and brown sugar also come through. According to the man who created it, Carlos Fuente Jr., the Ecuadoran cover leaf that cloaks this cigar is almost ten years old. Eladio Diaz La Diana Brevas (91 points, $7.50) After 33 years as Davidoff’s head of quality control, industry veteran Eladio Diaz struck out on his own in 2021 to begin making cigars under his own name. Released last year, the La Diana brand is named after the small factory where Diaz got his start and is his second regular production offering. This 4 1/2-by-46 robusto has a woody core that is bolstered by leather, black cherry and touches of espresso that segue to an amaretto-like finish. Warped Corto Maduro X46 (91 points, $13.65) In 2015, Kylle Gellis introduced Warped Corto, a Nicaraguan puro intended be the strongest cigar in his portfolio. Ten years later, Gellis decided it was time to take the brand in a darker, bolder direction. Intended to be full-bodied, the blend comprises of a Mexican San Andrés wrapper atop Nicaraguan binder and filler, including some medio tiempo from Estelí. Notes of coffee, dark chocolate and mesquite BBQ rest atop a foundation of cocoa powder. Don Pepin Garcia Original Demi Tasse (90 points, $3.30) While most of the Don Pepin Garcia Original line (popularly known as “Blue Label”) is made in Miami, this 4 1/2-by-32 petit corona from My Father Cigars is hand rolled in Nicaragua. Drawing and burning evenly, the smoke gives off an array of fruit, nuts and leather, along with some spiciness. Plus, at $3.30 each, it’s an absolute steal. H. Upmann Half Corona (90 points, £17.40) At 3 1/2 by 44, this stubby Cuban is one of the shortest cigars on our list. The medium-bodied smoke carries a pleasantly sweet, floral aspect with some caramel bridging a note of tangy wood before the nutty finish. The draw is slightly firm and the combustion is slow and cool, forming a solid ash. HVC Hot Cake Golden Line Connecticut Half Corona (90 points, $5.18) In 2023, boutique cigarmaker HVC Cigars introduced Hot Cake Golden Line Connecticut, a milder extension of its Hot Cake brand and was made in the same four sizes. The following year, HVC added the Half Corona. Clad in a golden leaf of Ecuador Connecticut, the smoke from this short robusto is bolder than its wrapper suggests with leather, pepper and hints of gingerbread and cedar. The finish is reminiscent of an Orange Creamsicle. Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro No. 4 (90 points, $11.34) Both the natural and maduro versions of Oliva’s Serie V Melanio brand are no stranger to Cigar Aficionado’s lists of standout cigars, including our Top 25. This dark, box-pressed robusto is neatly pressed, giving it the appearance of a chocolate bar. Coffee bean and leather are at its heart, with hints of hazelnut, earth and incense adding further complexity. The coffee note recurs on the finish. Ramon Allones Small Club Corona (90 points, £20.00) Ramon Allones is not the biggest name when it comes to Cuban cigar brands, but it has a reputation for being one of the fuller-bodied smokes within the Habanos portfolio. Over the years, the brand has shrunk to just a few core sizes, including the Small Club Corona. This diminutive cigar is medium-to full-bodied, starting out earthy and floral but evolves into a toasty, spicy smoke as it goes. Source: https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/nine-short-cigars-for-cold-weather

Well.....we celebrated Australia Day a tad early with PJ and Co last night. What an afternoon, evening, 2:30 am finish. Great booze, cigars, raucous laughter, dinosaurs on the BBQ, skinny dipping in the early hours. I am primed for today's video review!!! Post review we will fire up the BBQ...and do it all again. That's what it means to be Australian. Fearless of the consequences. Doing what needs to be done regardless of your better instincts screaming "STOP YOU IDIOT" Enjoy cobbers. To all my mates have a cracking Oz day Happy Australia Day!!!

Nice day where I live in Western Canada…sweater day for the pup but a nice day for a walk.

I’ve got a box of them either 2019 or 2020 that seem to be going through a flat period, so leaving them a good while now.

Not snow but freezing rain and sleet. Looks like it ends around 10pm here.

Dark dark yellow cello. It's always nice to find, except when it isn't real. I picked these up in a terrible B&M about an hour outside of Dallas. At one point, they bought a lot of cigars, they didn't sell many and they didn't take care of what they had. Based on the lights, humidity, temperature and insulation, I'd say dark cello here can be as much a sign of negligence as age. I don't smoke a lot of Cojonú as it's such a big bold peppery blend. I've enjoyed the Gran Cojonú and the Capa wrappers fresh, but this isn't a band I'm buying boxes of. This was 7x58 of nearly overwhelming oak, earth, black pepper, and the Tatuaje meat/soy/maillard profile. Not much nuance and more than I could retro. Balanced with a thumb on the scale is about as good as I can say. The only letups were a little backhanded, I had a couple of nearly inch long running burns that on correction the wrapper came through with an incredible toasted coconut flavor that kept me working. Overall, not particularly enjoyable but quite educational. Any thoughts @Capn_Jackson?

If I have to choose it's Montecristo.

Smoking Frenchies Open New Headquarters and Lounge in Sweetwater. January 21, 2026 - Press Release The Smoking Frenchies LLC has officially relocated to a new headquarters featuring a private lounge integrated within its daily operational space. The domestic and international distributor, known as the exclusive distributor of Fuente The OpusX Society cigars and accessories, has unveiled its new 2,480 square foot office and private lounge located at 2129 NW 135th Avenue in Sweetwater, Florida. The new space serves as the company’s central hub for daily operations while offering a curated environment designed for connection, creativity, and industry collaboration. Both the office and lounge coexist within the same footprint. This marks the first professional interior design project by Manny Iriarte, Executive Creative Officer of The Smoking Frenchies. Iriarte led the creative direction, including specialty finishes, furniture selection, humidor design, and overall interior execution. “This space embodies contemporary Miami chic, drawing inspiration from the Design District’s forward-thinking lounges,” said Iriarte. The private lounge is not open to the public and is intended exclusively for family, friends, brand partners, retailers, and industry colleagues. All construction was completed courtesy of Cisca Construction and Champ Plumbing. The companies are led by Frank Balleste of Cisca Construction and Julio Rodriguez of Champ Plumbing, both co-owners of Smoke and Barrel, a South Miami cigar lounge located across from Dadeland Mall. Both are authorized Fuente The OpusX Society cigar and accessories retailers, reinforcing the project’s strong industry ties. Looking ahead, the opening of the new headquarters coincides with an upcoming milestone. In 2027, Manny Iriarte will celebrate twenty years of Iriarte Photography and Design, marking two decades since the launch of his creative career on March 3, 2007. Source: https://www.cigarjournal.com/smoking-frenchies-open-new-headquarters-and-lounge-in-sweetwater/

Encuentro Amigos de Partagás – July 1 to 5, 2026 (Italy) January 22, 2026 - Katja Gnann The Encuentro Amigos de Partagás is celebrating its anniversary! It will take place for the 20th time around Matelica in the Marche region of Italy. Below you will find the complete program of the event with details of the activities, times, and participation fees. As usual, lunches and tastings will take place in Borgo Lanciano. Visitors will be informed of the locations for the dinners at a later date. To book, please email [email protected] and provide the following information: • the number of participants • the names • the activities you would like to participate in If you would also like to book a hotel, please include the following in your reply: • the number of rooms • the desired room category • the arrival and departure dates More information at: amigosdepartagas.it Source: https://www.cigarjournal.com/encuentro-amigos-de-partagas-july-1-to-5-2026-italy/

In the interests of safety I was unable to get pictures, but there was a line at Whataburger and a gas station parking lot was filled with ATVs. Fort Worth representing.

A Full Day At Nicaragua’s Cigar Festival Thoughts and impressions from the Puro Sabor cigar festival in Estelí, Nicaragua Jan 23, 2026 - By Gregory Mottola The greeting before lunch near a tobacco field in Nicaragua during the Puro Sabor cigar festival. It was hosted by Plasencia Cigars, and everyone was given a Plasencia Reserva Organica from one of these cowgirls before they walked in. Photos/Cigar Aficionado Would you accept a Plasencia cigar from a trio of cowgirls on the edge of a tobacco field? I would. And I did. That was exactly how I and a few hundred other cigar lovers were greeted at Puro Sabor’s open-air pig roast on the second day of the Nicaraguan cigar festival. There are few meals as befitting of the cultural theme as a pig roast. There’s something to be said about everyone partaking of the same animal. Yes, there was some insipid chicken breast overcooking in a chafing dish for those who refused to partake in the pork, but to do that is to largely defy the spirit of the festival. And typically, the pig roast is the best meal of the entire tour. The lunch was hosted by Plasencia Cigars and took place under a tent at the edge of a tobacco field. This colorful exterior wall of the Drew Estate factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, is one of many painted murals found both inside and out. Before lunch I visited Drew Estate, the Bohemian powerhouse that produces such premium smokes as Liga Privada, Herrera Esteli, Blackened, and other cigars, along with tens of millions of its signature infused brand, Acid. The company’s face and unofficial guru, Jonathan Drew, was not there in person, but even in his absence, he managed to be present in every colorful mural and whiff of infused tobacco. There’s hardly a wall in the factory that isn’t tagged with someone’s street art. I started the day with a Herrera Esteli Lonsdale Deluxe, a brilliant longish corona that reminds us how Drew Estate can be understated when it wants to. Drew Estate’s primary rolling room. It’s a vast space that produces everything from Deadwood and Acid to Herrera Esteli and the Blackened brand. The factory is a popular among festival-goers, so I was able to stop by and snoop around before the tour group arrived. Pedro Gomez, the international brand manager, was there to make sure I didn’t wander into any restricted areas—and there are indeed restricted areas. The company’s infusion process is a closely guarded trade secret. No matter. A little mystery is part of the appeal. They used to hold Cigar Safari tours and host visitors from all over the United States in order to connect with consumers and better communicate its alternative ethos. They haven’t had one since before the Covid pandemic, so Puro Sabor is probably the easiest way for Drew Estate fans to get through the door. A cocktail cart at lunch serving Toña Michelada, a sweet and spicy mixed drink made with one of Nicaragua’s most famous beers. After lunch, I hopped on one of the tour busses headed to the Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG), Estelí factory. We sat in a good amount of traffic, but it gave us the opportunity to get a look at downtown Estelí. It’s a small city, and doesn’t really have colonial architecture like you’d find in places like Havana or Quito. Rather, it’s a series of either low-rise concrete buildings or small shacks with rusty, corrugated rooves where people sell everything from foam mattresses to car tires. Unneutered dogs roam the sidewalks sniffing for food scraps or else nap in the gutter. When our bus arrived at STG—a group of about a dozen—we were all shepherded into an odd structure. It was a mostly empty room where we were asked to stand in a circle and introduce ourselves. This is unusual. After that, we received our swag bag, which is also unusual. Gift bags are typically handed to you at the end of a tour, not the beginning. Then we headed over to the main factory building. The STG Estelí factory produces 46,000 cigars a day, most of them CAOs. The primary brand coming out of STG Estelí is CAO. Yes, they also produce Macanudo Red and Cohiba here, but CAO is the main focus. Like Drew Estate, CAO was an edgy brand with nontraditional marketing behind it. And also like Drew Estate, the brand was privately owned and then acquired by a large corporation. CAO is still a nontraditional brand that experiments with different concepts. It’s popular too. I was hoping to see some CAO Flatheads being rolled and then pressed into their blocky form. Or maybe some of the Amazon Basin. Instead, as I entered the rolling room, I was startled to see a small troupe of barefooted girls twirling in colorful dresses to very loud music before a masked couple performed the Nicaraguan folk dance “El Viejo y La Vieja.” Believe it or not, unexpected pop-up shows like this actually are typical of cigar festivals. I was more interested in the cigars. These pinstriped CAO America cigars stand out with their striking two-toned wrappers. They weren’t rolling any Flatheads that day, and sadly, I was too late to see any of the CAO Pilón cigars they were banding in the packaging room. But I did see some rollers making the light CAO Gold, the dark CAO Brazilia and the pinstriped CAO America. The factory isn’t huge (100 pairs of rollers), but it isn’t tiny either and produces 46,000 cigar a day. Here’s an interesting fact: there is no tobacco fermentation at this facility. They have storage for aged bales, but all the leaf is fermented in either Honduras or the Dominican Republic. Even the Nicaraguan tobacco. I suppose that simplifies things here and lets the workers concentrate on production. I asked if there were any CAO Flathead Sparkplugs laying around. It’s a short robusto shape and my favorite in the line. No. Not today. Instead, I reached for a CAO Consigliere. Remember that cigar? If you recall, that used to go by the name CAO Sopranos, which was themed to the HBO show of the same name. The licensing ended and it was rebranded but kept the same mafioso theme. I hadn’t seen one of those in a while. I did it more for nostalgia’s sake. A lively performance at the White Party kept things upbeat and energetic all evening. The evening ended with The White Party. This is my least favorite dinner of the festival because I hate wearing white, but they do a good job. It was hosted at Oliva’s beautifully landscaped tobacco processing center El Fumador, a compound made to look like a hacienda. Most of Nicaragua’s cigarmaking families and companies were in attendance. When I walked in, I was given a bag of three cigars: a CAO Pilón, a Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series and an Oliva Serie V Maduro. They were handed to me by the same three cowgirls from lunch, only now they were robed in white evening gowns, but they were still smiling the same convincing smiles, making full eye contact, and setting the right tone for another night of cigars. Source: https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/a-full-day-at-nicaragua-s-cigar-festival

The Vault brings premium cigar lounge to McMinnville By Samuel P Demonbreun Southern Standard Reporter - Jan 23, 2026 Signage outside The Vault - Samuel P Demonbreun photo The outside of The Vault located at 805 N Chancery St.- Samuel P Demonbreun photo Warren County now has what cigar enthusiasts have been missing for years; a quality cigar lounge that doesn’t require an hour-long drive. The Vault officially opened its doors this week at 805 N Chancery Street, offering Warren County’s first upscale cigar lounge in a renovated 1950s house. Owners Tim Tointon, Don Stiebohr and Shane Brock spent the past three months transforming the former law office into a welcoming space for cigar smokers and anyone looking for a place to relax and socialize. “McMinnville has a great demographic of cigar smokers,” Tointon said. “All three of us have been around cigar lounges our whole lives. We all had the same vision.” That vision became reality quickly. The three partners found the Chancery Street location in early October and immediately saw its potential. “When we found this house, we’re said this house isn’t gonna come around very often,” Tointon said. “In a great area and we jumped on it, got it for a great deal and we just started constructing.” The renovation revealed unexpected treasures. Underneath layers of carpet and engineered hardwood, the team discovered original hardwood flooring throughout most of the house. “When we started tearing it out, I’m like, holy crap, there’s good flooring,” Tointon said. “The only thing we couldn’t do was the kitchen because there were so many layers, so we didn’t want to take a chance.” The team installed luxury vinyl tile in the kitchen area and preserved the hardwood throughout the rest of the space. They knocked down walls to create an open floor plan, converting what was once a bedroom into the front counter area. Before The Vault opened, the closest cigar lounges were in Cookeville, Tullahoma or Lebanon, all about an hour away. That distance meant cigar enthusiasts either drove or went without. Tointon met partner Shane Brock in a Smithville cigar lounge and the two hit it off over their shared passion for cigars. Tointon and Stiebohr had discussed opening a lounge years earlier but the timing never worked out. When all three partners aligned on the vision for The Vault, they moved quickly. “We wanted a higher-end cigar lounge,” Tointon said. “A nice relaxing place and a place for people to come socialize.” All three owners have visited cigar lounges across the country. Tointon works in sales and travels frequently, making it a point to check out local lounges wherever he goes. “Everywhere I go, I try to find a cigar lounge,” Tointon said. “Just kind of take pieces. What do I like from this? What do I like from that?” The number one priority that emerged from those visits was ventilation. Converting a 1950s house with low ceilings into a cigar lounge required solving the smoke problem. “That’s key, especially with lower ceilings in a house,” Tointon said. “So we have a phenomenal ventilation system in here.” The Vault installed two large commercial units in the attic along with a push-pull system. Vents in the ceiling pull smoke out of the house while smaller vents push fresh air in. The system impressed both the owners and smokers during opening weekend when over 50 people attended and 24 were smoking simultaneously. “There wasn’t even a haze,” Tointon said. “It exceeded our expectations.” The space features comfortable seating options the partners selected individually, with each choosing a set of four chairs they liked. Tables include built-in charging ports, a necessity in a house with limited electrical outlets. “It’s a 50s house, there’s no outlets in this house,” Tointon said. “So we discovered these tables that had outlets in them so people could charge their phones.” The Vault offers 32 membership lockers, an unusually high number for a cigar lounge. The timing worked perfectly when the owner of the Smithville cigar lounge decided to retire just as The Vault was getting started. “He was like, hey, this is perfect timing. How about you buy all my inventory, buy my cabinets, buy my humidors, buy my lockers,” Tointon said. “I had just bought those other lockers and I’m like, well, shoot, you can’t have enough membership.” All lockers are humidified so members can store cigars, pipes and pipe tobacco. Members can also bring bourbon bottles to share, though The Vault doesn’t have a liquor license. The lounge does have a beer license for non-members. “There was so much interest in McMinnville,” Tointon said. “32 lockers are going to sell quickly.” The partners want to dispel the image of cigar lounges as smoky rooms filled with old men. They’re building a culture focused on camaraderie and community. “Cigars are a culture thing and I think that it’s very classy.” Stiebohr said. The Warren County Young Professionals Club held a meeting at The Vault, showing the lounge’s appeal across age groups. “There’s a lot more younger people that are getting involved,” Tointon said. The Vault is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Source: https://www.herald-citizen.com/mcminnville/the-vault-brings-premium-cigar-lounge-to-mcminnville/article_9a7d2c4c-75d0-53d4-a7e0-25ab7a49c89b.html