tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10484257244815400492024-03-28T08:37:58.824-07:00Kaplowitz Media.Kaplowitz Media. Part tobacco blog, part literary blog. One-horse town. Two-trick pony. Some original fiction. Cigars cigar reviews pipe pipes views news tutorial. Stories short stories. All content by Noah Kaplowitz unless otherwise noted.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2996125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-30797295869314689362024-03-27T06:13:00.000-07:002024-03-27T06:13:00.244-07:00Peter Stokkebye Pipe Tobacco English Luxury in ReviewPeter Stokkebye <br />English Luxury 17 <br /><br />CATEGORY: English<br />BLEND: Black Cavendish, Burley, Latakia, Virginia<br />FLAVORING: Yes<br /><br />BLENDER: Peter Stokkebye<br />MANUFACTURER: Peter Stokkebye<br />PACKAGING: Bulk<br /><br />CUT: Ribbon<br />PIPE: Clay <br />INTENSITY: Mild-Medium/Medium<br /><br />NOTES:<br /><br />Perhaps it's the black cavendish but it seems more coming from the nutty Burley--a certain sweet enhancement. A honeydew (sugary) topping. An American-English (Burley-reliant) blend replete with slight sweet-tooth accommodation. Quite USA-ian and a nice entry to English from OTC indulgences. Except it burns rather hot (tho no bite) and that topping seems predominantly on the heat of the fast-burning burley. <br /><br />It's a muttered distraction.<br /><br />[In a room full of shouted voices a whisper can garner a lot of attention.]<br /><br />Latakia smokiness eventually takes a backseat to that, particularly when Cavendish flexes near-cloyingly and thus balance is lost. The Virginia is quite hard to find, and therefore, ain't much of a player. Although there is some grassiness pulled into the honeydew. Not much depth, all told. Nor much true body. A selling point would be its nicer-than-usual aroma for an English blend. Leaves very little dottle in the bowl. <br /><br />Could very well become your favorite everyday English if you generally prefer lightly aromatic Burley blends and shy away from an abundance of Latakia.<br /><br />TASTE: B-<br />AROMA: B+<br />BURN: B<br /><br />FINAL GRADE: B-<br />A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">::: very ::: </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-85038973445935304452024-03-25T06:13:00.000-07:002024-03-25T06:13:00.250-07:00Kaplowitz Media. Cigars of the Month for February & March 2024<i>Kaplowitz Media.<br />Cigars of the Month<br />for February & March 2024</i><div>[due to the KM. scheduled hiatus]<br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">(listed in alphabetical order)</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">(names are links to full reviews)</span></div></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><b>[Long build-up.</b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><b>Short list.]</b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">FEB</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><a href="https://kaplowitz.blogspot.com/2024/02/leaf-by-oscar-cigars-10th-anniversary.html" target="_blank">Leaf by Oscar 10th Anni. Criollo</a></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">MAR</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><a href="https://kaplowitz.blogspot.com/2024/03/powstanie-cigars-justice-connecticut-in.html" target="_blank">Powstanie Justice Connecticut</a></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">PIPE TOB</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;"><a href="https://kaplowitz.blogspot.com/2024/02/seattle-pipe-club-plum-pudding-special.html" target="_blank">Seattle Pipe Club Plum Pudding Special Reserve</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 15.4px;">:: very ::: </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-27977073912613436252024-03-22T06:13:00.000-07:002024-03-22T06:13:00.248-07:00A Pair of Upcoming Projects from Kaplowitz Media. Books <i>A Pair of Upcoming Projects from Kaplowitz Media. Books <br /></i><br />The following information supersedes, supplants, and does away with entirely--anything else previously mentioned as being potentially upcoming and/or forthcoming. That said, Kaplowitz Media. is excited to share these two (2) pieces of exciting news with you, in the form of 2 (two) new chapbook [books, actual books] projects! They are as follows and in no particular order...<br /><br /><b>HOW TO REVIEW A CIGAR<br /></b><br />This will be a follow-up of sorts to the mildly popular and still currently available HOW TO ENJOY A CIGAR (which you can find out more about <a href="https://kaplowitz.blogspot.com/p/kaplowitz-media-books.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>) from Kaplowitz Media. Books. This upcoming chapbook (HTRAC) will go on to fully-detail my personal process of deeply-evaluating premium cigars. Whether you want to be a reviewer or not--you want to be capable of reviewing. Trust me. <br /><br />... Even if it's a private session of knowledgeable critiquing muttered alone under your breath. Not everyone, after all, can start their own review blog. First, for instance, you need to somehow procure an email address. [pause for laughter] But seriously, there are gates! Real gates, back to the book at hand, to complete understanding of a smoking experience and its evaluation... Open those gates with HOW TO REVIEW A CIGAR. Coming soon-ish from KM. (chap)Books.<br /><br /><b>CIGAR & PIPE SMOKING RESPONSA<br /></b><br />If you look to the right side of the screen here and maybe likely scroll up &/or down a bit, I believe you will eventually see: "WANTED: Your cigar and/or pipe smoking questions would be greatly appreciated" and considered for inclusion therein. In where? I go on, "I am currently gathering fodder for a chapbook of responsa." Although you also just read it right here without going to your right and looking around. Neat.<br /><br />Send your smoking queries to kaplowitzmedia(at)yahoo(dot)com or via any of the socials also listed and linked somewheres to your aforementioned perhaps immediate right. Whenever enough queries are collected and answered, CIGAR & PIPE SMOKING RESPONSA will go to print and be offered in Kaplowitz Media. Books (chapbook) form. This will be bound (with staples) to be an indispensable part of every aficionado's bookshelf (toilet tank). <div><br /></div><div>Heck, Kaplowitz Media. Books proudly, all of them, belong there proudly atop your toilet tank.<br /><div><br /></div><div>coming soon: </div><div><b>HOW TO REVIEW A CIGAR</b></div><div><b>CIGAR & PIPE SMOKING RESPONSA</b></div><div><br /></div><div>available now:</div><div><b><a href="https://kaplowitz.blogspot.com/p/kaplowitz-media-books.html" target="_blank">HOW TO ENJOY A CIGAR</a></b></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">::: very ::: </div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-19040754296142728622024-03-20T07:44:00.000-07:002024-03-20T07:44:47.059-07:00Statesman Cigar Co. The Bella Donna in ReviewBRAND: Statesman<br />BLEND: Bella Donna<br /><br />WRAPPER: Habano<br />BINDER: Undisclosed<br />FILLER: Undisclosed<br /><br />FORMAT: 5.25x52 Salomon<br />ORIGIN: Nicaragua<br />INTENSITY: Medium<br />SPICE: 1/5<br /><br />NOTES:<div><i>Buttery cedar | Cocoa butter | White toast<br /></i><br />Rather smoky, slightly ashy. Not overly delineated but balanced well-enough. Smooth, but a half-tick dryly-so. Maybe overly approachable, particularly for a habano. A well-fleshed-out profile, however. Buttery cedar lends no structure but is definite and consistent. Cocoa butter is nice. White toast is a bit limp. Milk toast?</div><div><br /></div><div>An array of dusty pale spice is there on the retro-hale, adding some depth. The finish is quite short, table sugary. Quite the open draw, on an occasion or two flirts with empty. Burn-line wobbles and needs a half-time redirect. Ash builds well. Smoke out-put is impressive although the room-note is mute. </div><div><br /></div><div>Seams loosen a small, small bit ahead of burn--ultimately passably hold. Toward the band, a noticeable but fleeting note of cardboard infiltrates. A hint of dandelion tea stays. Slightly prior, the packing softens a good deal. There is a certain relaxation brought on by the experience in an elder 'statesman' manner.<br /><br />TASTE: B<br />DRAW: B+<br />BURN: B<br />BUILD: B<br /><br />FINAL GRADE: B<br />A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">::: very ::: </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-36388473908386617372024-03-18T06:13:00.000-07:002024-03-18T06:13:00.138-07:00Powstanie Cigars Justice Connecticut in ReviewBRAND: Powstanie<br />BLEND: Connecticut "Justice"<br /><br />WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Connecticut<br />BINDER: Pennsylvania Broadleaf<br />FILLER: Nicaraguan<br /><br />FORMAT: Corona Gorda<br />ORIGIN: Nicaragua<br />INTENSITY: Medium<br />SPICE: 3/5<br /><br />NOTES:<div><i>Cedar | Cream | White peppercorn</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Bold but still bound to classical CT roots. Rich and creamy with a bigger kick than expected via a white peppercorn enveloping its profile. Cedar structure has a tangy lemony component that draws in the white pepper on the wrap-around call-back. Bits of graham, pine nuts, and a neat cardamom addition swirl in the betweens. Big-time bod but not cloyingly-sweet, just pleasantly sweet.</div><div><br /></div><div>Excellent balance and nice nuance. The body does thin out some in the second-half, allowing some PA edges to poke through. A ground black pepper. Underbelly is loam earthiness with a goodly pinch of salt. Still, quite the hefty Connie offering. Surely Nicaraguan though not surly Nicaraguan. The wrapper puts in a full day's work. There aren't many Connecticuts I'd bother putting age on, this is one.</div><div><br /></div><div>Draws superbly-so. Builds dense white sheaths of ash. The burn-line is clean, although a retouch near the half is mandated. Excellent smoke out-put hits the nose with a pleasantly spiced sweetness. Through the nose is where you'll find cedar complexities. Seams, cap are tight, enduring. Visually, there are veins but not egregiously. Near the band, the wrapper splits a slight-tick, as a melon note and pale honey see me out. <br /><br />TASTE: A-<br />DRAW: A<br />BURN: B+<br />BUILD: B<br /><br />FINAL GRADE: A-<br />A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">::: very ::: </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-86426145743036331082024-03-15T06:13:00.000-07:002024-03-15T06:13:00.131-07:001st & 15th Podcast | "Glandula!" NEW EPISODE<i>1st & 15th Podcast | "Glandula!" NEW EPISODE<br /></i><br />"In this episode of the 1st & 15th, Phil and Kap engage in a most likely misremembered and most definitely ill-researched retrospective of 80s and 90s pop culture that stretches into surrounding decades. Maybe." - THAT WAS ME. I wrote that. Kap. Not Phil Kurut, co-host, show producer, and usual episode blurbist.<br /><br />To listen to this NEW episode and to find out more about other exciting Kaplowitz Media. listening and/or watching opportunities, please visit this link: <a href="https://kaplowitz.blogspot.com/p/kaplowitz-media-audiovideo.html" target="_blank">Audio/Video</a>. <div><br /></div><div>About the 1st & 15th Podcast: Twice a month (see show name for dates), Phil Kurut and I chat too long about nothing of consequence. A pure waste of time. Cool. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">::: very ::: </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-23466133779391398872024-03-13T06:13:00.000-07:002024-03-13T06:13:00.147-07:00CAO Cigars Flathead Resonator in ReviewBRAND: CAO<br />BLEND: Resonator<br /><br />WRAPPER: Connecticut Broadleaf <br />BINDER: Connecticut Habano<br />FILLER: Dominican, Nicaraguan<br /><br />FORMAT: 860 box-pressed<br />ORIGIN: Nicaragua<br />INTENSITY: Medium/Medium-full<br />SPICE: 2.5/5<br /><br />NOTES:<br /><i>Chocolate | Black walnut | Mesquite-smoked salt<br /></i><br />Its subtleness belies its size. Excellently-nuanced. Consistent. Chocolatey with tinges of warm-yeastiness. Black walnut, just the flesh, cleanly. Well-balanced fig-spiciness. Somewhat though pleasantly-purposefully structureless. Anise.<br /><br />TASTE: A-<br />DRAW: A-<br />BURN: B<br />BUILD: B+<br /><br />FINAL GRADE: B+<br />A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">::: very ::: </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-680280115141223672024-03-11T06:13:00.000-07:002024-03-11T06:13:00.131-07:00Founders Cigars Franklin Connecticut in Redux ReviewBRAND: Founders<br />BLEND: Franklin Connecticut<br /><br />WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Connecticut<br />BINDER: Dominican Olor<br />FILLER: Dominican, Nicaraguan<br /><br />FORMAT: Toro<br />ORIGIN: Dominican Republic<br />INTENSITY: Mild-med./Medium<br />SPICE: 1.25/5<br /><br />NOTES:<br /><i>Buttered white toast | Creamy white pepper | Floral suede<br /></i><br />Consistent. Balanced. Sweet tangy finish. Simple fare though not indistinct. Fair fare. Pays the fare, rides the bus. A definite step up from the pedestrian. <br /><br />TASTE: B+<br />DRAW: A-<br />BURN: B<br />BUILD: B+<br /><br />FINAL GRADE: B+<br />A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79<br /><br />This reblend (and repackaging) is a marked improvement over its previous iteration, which I reviewed at: <a href="https://kaplowitz.blogspot.com/2023/07/founders-cigars-franklin-connecticut-in.html" target="_blank">Founders Cigars Franklin Connecticut in Review</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">::: very ::: </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-53861169608214699052024-03-08T06:13:00.001-08:002024-03-08T06:13:00.139-08:00On SPICE and INTENSITY in My Cigar Reviews<i>On SPICE and INTENSITY in My Cigar Reviews<br /></i><br />Upon the inauguration of the new SPICE category in my review methodology, I wrote within said inauguration, "Although I typically include spice in INTENSITY; perhaps then INTENSITY becomes a holistic take on simply flavor, body, and strength. I like that." I do like that, still. However, I feel the need to further express this new addition.<br /><br />SPICE is measured here at Kaplowitz Media. on a scale of _/5. For our purposes, we'll fill in the blank as 2/5. But what is implied? A simple expression of pepper-spiciness set within a 5 construct, with 1 being the least and 5 the most. OK. What is 5? 5 indicates the entire flavor profile of the cigar (or perhaps pipe tobacco) at hand. So that 5 means different things each time (INTENISTY can help decipher that.) Furthermore, the preceding number states the amount of space within that construct occupied by spice.<br /><br />For more information as to my process writ larger, please see: <a href="https://kaplowitz.blogspot.com/p/kaplowitz-media-grading-scale.html" target="_blank">Kaplowitz Media. Grading Scale</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">::: very ::: </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-60100760578520774122024-03-06T06:13:00.001-08:002024-03-06T06:13:00.134-08:00Punch Cigars Year of the Dragon 2024 Dragon Fire in ReviewBRAND: Punch<br />BLEND: Dragon Fire<br /><br />WRAPPER: Mexican<br />BINDER: Nicaraguan<br />FILLER: Nicaraguan, Dominican, Honduran<br /><br />FORMAT: Robusto Gordo (560) Semi-closed foot<br />ORIGIN: Nicaragua<br />INTENSITY: Medium-full<br />SPICE: 4/5<br /><br />NOTES:<br /><i>Black pepper | Dark chocolate | Black coffee<br /></i><br />The not-just-flat-but-pressed-flat cap is a neat schtick bit but makes it a tick tough to cut. I refuse to use a punch. Nevertheless, my necktie only got caught in the ceiling fan once during the snipping, and here we go. The profile is really just a plucked line of black pepper which has more feels than taste. Vibrations of dark chocolate and black coffee. A bit of cola. Half-bit of black licorice. Not much nuance and a somewhat jittery-excitable structure.<br /><br />Draws well (objective) but feels a little awkward in the mouth, and is hard to seal the lips around (subjective). Punch loves to marry to a bit, and I applaud that. It's a real firework vibe. Burn happens on a constant wave that needs manual redirection once in each third. The mascara line is thin, indicative of nice age, but the experience as a whole feels somewhat young. The seams and cap hold fast and the well-packed barrel is done-so evenly. <br /><br />Out the nose (retro-hale) exists a peppered molasses of sharp thinness. In the nose (aroma) is a leathery pepper. That leather takes till the halfway mark to be only a little evident on the draw, and brings in some savory earthiness--it isn't enough to stave off a somewhat linear session. I'd like to come back to this one in 2025, as it should age quite well.<br /><br />TASTE: B<br />DRAW: B+<br />BURN: B<br />BUILD: A-<br /><br />FINAL GRADE: B<br />A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">::: very ::: </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-80757538060496400062024-03-04T06:13:00.000-08:002024-03-04T06:13:00.130-08:001st & 15th Podcast | Live from the Orphanage<i>1st & 15th Podcast | Live from the Orphanage<br /></i><br />"In this episode of the 1st & 15th, Kap has a birthday and takes up drumming, and Phil and Kap attempt to figure out astrological signs." Phil Kurut, co-host, show producer, and Birkenstock fan.<br /><br />To listen to this episode and also find out more about other exciting Kaplowitz Media. listening and/or watching opportunities, please visit this link: <a href="https://kaplowitz.blogspot.com/p/kaplowitz-media-audiovideo.html" target="_blank">Audio/Video</a>. <br /><br />About the 1st & 15th Podcast: Twice a month (see show name for dates), Phil Kurut and I chat too long about nothing of consequence. A pure waste of time. Cool.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">::: very ::: </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-35006786836978550522024-03-01T06:13:00.000-08:002024-03-01T06:13:00.143-08:00Rocky Patel Cigars Dark Star in ReviewBRAND: Rocky Patel<br />BLEND: Dark Star<br /><br />WRAPPER: Honduran Corojo<br />BINDER: Honduran<br />FILLER: Nicaraguan, Honduran, Paraguayan (seed)<br /><br />FORMAT: Robusto (5.550)<br />ORIGIN: Honduras<br />INTENSITY: Medium<br />SPICE: 2.5/5<br /><br />NOTE: I am writing this during my 2024 hiatus. 48 degrees and rainy. <br /><br />NOTES:<br /><i>Chocolate | Walnut shells | Spice array<br /></i><br />Weighty enough but a bit untethered, three-quarters of a bit not clingy. Balanced but set in a slim horizon. Quite chocolatey in an unsweetened cocoa powder manner. Consistent. Nutshells form a nice sturdy structure. Spices don't have much of that structure and aren't, therefore, delineated... a good savory mix though. Not very nuanced and of moderate complexity. Black pepper.<br /><br />[I've begun to wonder about including a level of spiciness in my reviews. Say on a scale of five (5) because 5 is the total of TASTE, DRAW, BURN, BUILD, and FINAL GRADE. I think a good place to tuck that would be up-under INTENSITY. That way I'd have there (2) BRAND, BLEND then (3) WRAPPER, BINDER, FILLER and then (4) FORMAT, ORIGIN, INTENSITY, SPICE. <br /><br />Although I typically include spice in INTENSITY; perhaps then INTENSITY becomes a holistic take on simply flavor, body, and strength. I like that. Although that 2.5 I just plugged in up there is somewhat redundant on account of the already stated 'Medium.' We shall see if that feature lasts.]<br /><br />Anyhow, brown cow. Flavor landscape is a photograph, not a movie, and that ain't bad. Draw is a mix of open and empty but the latter on rare occasions only. Cap softens a tick. Burn builds very well and forms a dense sheet of white ash. The line itself is of a wiggle 'round medium thickness. A spot lags and catches up all on its quick lonesome. No hard/soft spots and tight 'nuff seams.<br /><br />The aroma is of fresh blackbread. There are coffee beans and cocoa powder in that sort of loaf. The former enters into the draw in the second-half. Take another picture, why don'tcha.<br /><br />TASTE: B+<br />DRAW: B<br />BURN: B+<br />BUILD: B+<br /><br />FINAL GRADE: B+<br />A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">::: very ::: </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-63273800920652022612024-02-28T06:13:00.001-08:002024-02-28T06:13:00.154-08:00Kaplowitz Media. Hiatus Ends Soon<i>Kaplowitz Media. Hiatus Ends Soon<br /></i><br />A gentle reminder that Kaplowitz Media. will be back to its regularly scheduled programming on March 1st in just a short couple of sleeps from this posting. That regular schedule, of course, is new perusal fodder every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. <br /><br />Thank you for your patience; I know it must continue to be a difficult wait. <br /><br />I am fully rejuvenated. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">::: very ::: </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-23119314787411559802024-02-16T06:13:00.000-08:002024-02-16T06:13:00.132-08:001st & 15th Podcast | Constant Craving<i>1st & 15th Podcast | Constant Craving<br /></i><br />"In this episode of the 1st & 15th, Kap and Phil pretty much figure out which Super Bowl is taking place, and Kap names boxing leagues and goes on about craving Chinese food. They also discuss chiropractic. Not sure why." Phil Kurut, co-host, show producer, and leading grammarian.<br /><br />To listen to this episode and also find out more about other exciting Kaplowitz Media. listening and/or watching opportunities, please visit this link: <a href="https://kaplowitz.blogspot.com/p/kaplowitz-media-audiovideo.html" target="_blank">Audio/Video</a>.<br /><br />About the 1st & 15th Podcast: Twice a month (see show name for dates), Phil Kurut and I chat too long about nothing of consequence. A pure waste of time. Cool.<div><br /></div><div>Anyways, back to <a href="https://kaplowitz.blogspot.com/2024/01/kaplowitz-media-hiatus-2024.html" target="_blank">hiatus</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">::: very ::: </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-62417645136133986432024-02-09T06:13:00.000-08:002024-02-09T06:13:00.140-08:00Kaplowitz Media. Will Be Right Back<i>Kaplowitz Media. Will Be Right Back<br /></i><br /><b>Hiatus 2024 is now.</b> I'll pop back in here periodically a time or three during. Will be back to regularly on Friday, March 1. If for some reason you need more information as to my yearly vacay, please read my recently posted: <a href="https://kaplowitz.blogspot.com/2024/01/kaplowitz-media-hiatus-2024.html" target="_blank">Kaplowitz Media. Hiatus 2024</a>. <br /><br />Please, if you see me on some white sand beach somewhere, respect my privacy. Please, if you see me at some Michelin-star establishment somewhere, respect my privacy. I must warn you that I can indeed be quite catty in those and similar situations. Just last Thursday, while picking up challah at a local market, a gentleman approached me with a question pertaining to humidor care. I nearly scratched his eyes out.<br /><br />In my mind, my toes were already dug into warm sand; a bib was already tucked into my expandable top-button collar.<br /><br />I will say that an excellent pairing for most cigars is a 50/50 mix of coffee/tea. Black tea. Instant coffee. I put a tea bag in a mason jar, sprinkle in the proper amount of said instant coffee, and add boiling water. Maybe a little sweetener, although I often find myself to be sweet enough. Also, an excellent palate cleanser is vodka. I prefer potato vodka. Swish well and swallow if you like. However, time is the best cleanser.<br /><br />Have a day, everyone.<div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">::: very ::: </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-63339236182484605042024-02-07T06:13:00.000-08:002024-02-07T06:13:00.158-08:00Leaf by Oscar Cigars 10th Anniversary Criollo in ReviewBRAND: Leaf by Oscar<br />BLEND: 10th Anniversary Criollo<br /><br />WRAPPER: Honduran<br />BINDER: Honduran<br />FILLER: Honduran<br /><br />FORMAT: Toro (652)<br />ORIGIN: Honduras<br />INTENSITY: Medium<br /><br />NOTES:<br /><i>Leathery white peppercorn | Cinnamon sugar toast | Cashew/Macadamia<br /></i><br />Dry-not-parched consistency. Nuanced minglings. Leathery-savoriness boosted by oats. Cinnamon sugar toast, no butter. Nuts: shelled, raw, lightly salted. Harmonious. Earthen-forward underpinnings of lumber, discarded nutshell. <div><br /></div><div>[pressed flowers, book]<br /><br />TASTE: A-<br />DRAW: A<br />BURN: B+<br />BUILD: A-<br /><br />FINAL GRADE: A-<br />A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">::: very ::: </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-79524722872848092502024-02-05T06:13:00.000-08:002024-02-05T06:13:00.146-08:00Seattle Pipe Club Plum Pudding Special Reserve Pipe Tobacco in Review | Two Grandfathers (A Kaplowitz Media. Original Work of Fiction)<i>Seattle Pipe Club Plum Pudding Special Reserve Pipe Tobacco in Review | Two Grandfathers (A Kaplowitz Media. Original Work of Fiction)<br /></i><br /> CATEGORY: Balkan Blend<br />BLEND: Black Cavendish, Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Perique, Virginia<br />FLAVORING: none<br /><br />BLENDER: Joe Lankford<br />MANUFACTURER: Sutliff Tobacco Company<br /><br />CUT: Plug<br />PIPE: Broken stem clay pipe [unknown]<br />INTENSITY: Medium<br /><br />NOTES:<br /><i>Figs/raisins | Honey-spiced oranges | Fatburger hauntings<br /></i><br />Of course, anything's 'Special Reserve' will be held up against its original. This is handy because I wrote a review of that original a bit back, which you can read at: <a href="https://kaplowitz.blogspot.com/2021/09/seattle-pipe-club-plum-pudding-pipe.html" target="_blank">Seattle Pipe Club Plum Pudding Pipe Tobacco in Review</a>. Here the blend displays more easily and is sorta linear in a not-bad manner. On a line, but a thick and heavy line. Wide 'nuff for many a corralled slowly-meandering nuance. <br /><br />A little story comes to mind.<br /><br /><b>TWO GRANDFATHERS<br /></b>(A Kaplowitz Media. Original Work of Fiction)<br /><br />Two grandfathers. One thick, one thin. The thick one older and the thin one younger, but by no means young. It's early Fall and they find themselves on a short hike back to camp. They had walked off far enough to enjoy a smoke away from the grandkids and the mothers both regular and grand. <br /><br />The thick one became very tired and the thin one chided him by loping ahead and loping is most likely a gross overstatement but here we weave in comparrisons. The smell of campfires and grills swirls in the crisp air. "Hold your horses," huffs older Clyde to which younger Earl comments back behind him, "Keep up, Clyde."<br /><br />And they reach the little clearing with the fifth-wheel parked and the grandkids and the mothers both grand and otherwise. A 17-year-old member of the clan in Airpods looks at a smart device on a tree stump under a beanie. A tuft of reddish-auburn hair shows from out-under. Clyde tiredly rocks back his own cap and caresses his own bald head. "He could barely keep up," Earl tells Clyde's wife and there is nowhere to sit but that stump, and Clyde needs a sit.<br /><br />An old green cooler, a metal-looking thing with a sturdy top is alongside the cooling-down grill. Clyde has a sit. "Hey!" yells Earl, "Not on my damned cooler, Clyde." A crack sounds like the breaking of a tree limb but is not. "Dammit," sounds Earl. "I needed a sit," puffs Clyde. He's pale and sweaty. His wife comes over, kisses his forehead. "Clammy," she mutters and hands him a can of cold cola. "He okay?" asks Earl. "Oh, he's fine," says Clyde's wife. "He's fine," says Earl's wife (in a less enthused echo). "I'm fine," says Clyde.<br /><br />"You scared me." Says Earl to Clyde.<br />"I'm not getting younger." Says Clyde to Earl.<br />"Neither of us is." Says Earl to Clyde.<br />"Ain't that the truth."<br /><br />Clyde smacks Earl's thigh and slowly stands.<br />"My damned cooler is busted. My favorite old Coleman."<br />"I needed a sit real quick."<br />"You old fool!"<br />"At least I ain't an old prancing fool!"<br /><br />And they bicker back and forth until Clyde needs a sit again and by then the stump is vacant. <br /><br />TASTE: A-<br />AROMA: A-<br />BURN: A-<br /><br />FINAL GRADE: A-<br />A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">::: very ::: </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-89657369683979824092024-02-02T06:13:00.000-08:002024-02-02T06:13:00.138-08:001st & 15th Podcast | A Bundle of Elephants<i>1st & 15th Podcast | A Bundle of Elephants<br /></i><br />"In this episode of the 1st & 15th, Phil wonders what 1st & 15th would be like with a guest host, Kap has a new shirt, they contemplate the differences between moles and elephants, discuss the price of B-Grade peanuts, and debate houseplant pets. Don’t worry, there’s more." Phil Kurut, co-host, show producer, and lover of a very particular shade of red. <br /><br />To listen to this episode and also find out more about other exciting Kaplowitz Media. listening and/or watching opportunities, please visit this link: <a href="https://kaplowitz.blogspot.com/p/kaplowitz-media-audiovideo.html" target="_blank">Audio/Video</a>. <br /><br />About the 1st & 15th Podcast: Twice a month (see show name for dates), Phil Kurut and I chat too long about nothing of consequence. A pure waste of time. Cool. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">::: very ::: </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-14159474996838667192024-01-31T06:13:00.000-08:002024-01-31T06:13:00.145-08:00Lampert Cigars 1675 Edicion ROJO in (Redux) ReviewBRAND: Lampert <br />BLEND: 1675 Edicion ROJO<br /><br />WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Connecticut<br />BINDER: Nicaraguan<br />FILLER: Nicaraguan<br /><br />FORMAT: Robusto<br />ORIGIN: Nicaragua<br />INTENSITY: Medium<br /><br />I previously reviewed this blend (which is now smoking superbly) and you can find that at: <a href="https://kaplowitz.blogspot.com/2023/11/lampert-cigars-1675-edicion-rojo-in.html" target="_blank">Lampert Cigars 1675 Edicion ROJO in Review</a>. I have smoked one or two since and enjoyed the experience markedly more than prior, so I figured that was grounds for a redux.<br /><br />NOTES:<br /><i>Buttery suede | Honey malt | Sandalwood<br /></i><br />Knocks on the door in an overall-familiar way to my first written look-see but once inside shows a larger maltiness at play with each note.<br /><br />Again, warm and fuzzy but now with notes of sandalwood and honey. Less chocolate and graphite. Peach fuzz gives way to stone fruit. Still Jovial. <br /><br />Previous-primaries of buttery suede and (less)chocolate-hazelnut(more) spread remain but fall back some to allow an appreciation of the newly-nuanced middlings. A hint of nagging cardboard.<br /><br />TASTE: A-<br />DRAW: A-<br />BURN: B+<br />BUILD: A-<br /><br />FINAL GRADE: A-<br />A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">::: very ::: </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-53073555831856172862024-01-29T06:13:00.000-08:002024-01-29T06:13:00.283-08:00Kaplowitz Media. Hiatus 2024<i>Kaplowitz Media. Hiatus 2024<br /></i><br />With January winding-down and therefore February comin' round the mountain quick-like, looming nigh is the yearly KM. hiatus/sabbatical from new postings. Unlike many a previous break, I've honestly no plans for alternative and occasional programming this time around. I'd say it's fair to expect a couple of things a couple of times. The idea is, as always, to post far less than the usual amount and in a willy-nilly manner to boot. <br /><br />This period will begin on Monday, February 12, and end on Friday, March 1. Thereafter, we will return to our prior and regular Monday, Wednesday, and Friday schedule.<br /><br />During that time, I will continue my Audio/Video schedule (find out more about that <a href="https://kaplowitz.blogspot.com/p/kaplowitz-media-audiovideo.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>). My thought is that between the 1st & 15th podcast (which will be posted here) and the Instagram-hosted Live from the Throne Room, I'll barely be missed, and still busy 'nuff. Perhaps a bit of fiction will be thrown in? Who's to say? Maybe I'll finally get around to answering some questions that have definitely no doubt totally been asked of me from real people who actually exist and that I in no way created on my own. <br /><br />Whatever the Kaplowitz Media. hiatus holds, I know that in all honesty, I need a break. Business has really picked up as of late and my milk run has had me swamped. I am not in reality a dairyman like Tevye, but I like to dream and when awake I'm a sucker for analogies. Not to mention aesthetics. So in my break, I'll get all caught up on whatever my route is and return fresh as a daisy and not nearly as precarious as the perch of a fiddler on a roof. I look forward already to being greeted lukewarmly back.<br /><br />But hey, we still got some time before then. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">::: very ::: </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-8980394729046333912024-01-26T06:13:00.000-08:002024-01-26T06:13:00.138-08:00Kaplowitz Media. Cigars of the Month for January 2024<i>Kaplowitz Media.</i><div><i>Cigars of the Month<br />for January 2024</i><br /><br />(listed in alphabetical order)<br />(names are links to full reviews)</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://kaplowitz.blogspot.com/2024/01/alec-bradley-cigars-magic-toast-in.html" target="_blank">Alec Bradley Magic Toast<br /></a><a href="https://kaplowitz.blogspot.com/2024/01/brick-house-cigars-double-connecticut.html" target="_blank">Brick House Double Connecticut<br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">::: very ::: </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-10353322628487886762024-01-24T06:13:00.000-08:002024-01-24T06:41:43.267-08:00Brick House Cigars Double Connecticut in ReviewBRAND: JC Newman Brick House<br />BLEND: Double Connecticut<br /><br />WRAPPER: US Connecticut Shade<br />BINDER: US Connecticut Broadleaf<br />FILLER: Nicaraguan<br /><br />FORMAT: Churchill (7.25x50)<br />ORIGIN: Nicaragua<br />INTENSITY: Mild/Mild-med.<br /><br />NOTES:<br />Hints, allusions(illusions?), rumors, suggestions--hay-dirt, floral, sandy-suede, pale-spice harmony. Cuppa joe inkling; butter pat innuendo. Sugar packet. 1940s automat nostalgia. Fantastic look-see at a certain(bygone) genre(era).<br /><br />TASTE: A-<br />DRAW: A-<br />BURN: B+<br />BUILD: A-<br /><br />FINAL GRADE: A-<br />A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">::: very ::: </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-39285133683787697602024-01-22T06:13:00.000-08:002024-01-22T06:13:00.145-08:00Alec Bradley Cigars Magic Toast in ReviewBRAND: Alec Bradley<br />BLEND: Magic Toast<br /><br />WRAPPER: Honduran<br />BINDER: Nicaraguan, Honduran<br />FILLER: Nicaraguan, Honduran<div><br />FORMAT: Robusto (552)<br />ORIGIN: Honduras<br />INTENSITY: Medium/Med.-full<br /><br />NOTES:</div><div><i>Black & cayenne peppers | Savory earth | Cherry cola</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Begins with a flavorful look-see at some peppery dance moves. Twirling, even whirling. Simple black cracked peppercorns and red pepper flakes. Nice complexity unfolds with some interesting woodsy occurrences; smoked, seasoned hardwoods. Then the flavor-forward experience sees body arise in a manure compost earthen manner, savorily. All the while, a neat-o droning chant of cherry cola. A humming profile.</div><div><br /></div><div>Combustion and construction. Even burn-line and smooth draw. Short story made long, Decent ash-growth although a tick dark, half-tick airy. Does draw a bit stiff but acceptably-so. Not sure why, but the whole thing is bent a slightly-noticeable amount up toward the cap, but doesn't cause issue. Magic might be an overstatement but not egregiously-so. Hums louder in the second-third, recalls the words in the final-third.<br /><br />TASTE: A-<br />DRAW: A-<br />BURN: B+<br />BUILD: B+<br /><br />FINAL GRADE: A-<br />A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">::: very ::: </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-91247728005308261682024-01-19T09:33:00.000-08:002024-01-19T09:33:40.369-08:00What to Expect at Kaplowitz Media. in 2024<i>What to Expect at Kaplowitz Media. in 2024<br /></i><br />Part tobacco blog. <br />Part literary blog. <br />One-horse town. <br />Two-trick pony.<br /><br /><b>Cigars | Pipes | Stories <br /></b><br />New posts every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.<br /><br /><b>Cigar Reviews</b> will continue at about the same clip.<div><a href="https://kaplowitz.blogspot.com/2024/01/five-of-more-popular-kaplowitz-media_01636041938.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> are some good ones from 2023.<br /><br /><b>Cigar Articles</b> will continue at about the same clip.</div><div><a href="https://kaplowitz.blogspot.com/2024/01/five-of-more-popular-kaplowitz-media.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> are some good ones from 2023.<br /><br /><b>Pipe Tobacco Reviews</b> and <b>Piper Articles</b> will continue to be a thing I long to do more of, but if cigar reviews and articles won't be experiencing a change in their loose and vague frequency, well, we shall see. <br /><br /><b>Product Reviews</b> are a thing I'd rather not get too caught up in. (There's a decent but minuscule piper content spot.)<br /><br /><b>Stories</b> or <b>Kaplowitz Media. Original Works of Fiction</b> will continue and are another thing I'd like to do more of, again we shall see. They do tend toward being a tick more time-consuming to craft. I do have plans to use certain smoking experiences as story prompts. You can read popular bits of 2023 fiction <a href="https://kaplowitz.blogspot.com/2024/01/three-of-more-popular-kaplowitz-media.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br /><br />All of these wants and all of these quasi-commitments threaten to make from the KM. a three-posts-a-week 5lb bag trying to hold 10lbs of content. That's fine. By the way, all of what you've read thus far is subject to change. Weeeeee!<br /><br />What is more cast in stone is the recent move of posting my Cigar of the Year not in September but on the last post day of December. I do really like how that came off. Another unchangeable thing is that KM. will again (as per tradition) be 'taking off' the second-half of February. More on that hiatus when it gets nearer. Did you see my Cigar of the Year 2023 (<a href="https://kaplowitz.blogspot.com/2023/12/kaplowitz-media-cigar-of-year-2023.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>)?<br /><br />Now that I believe we're done with all the written components of Kaplowitz Media., let's touch on Audio/Video. The 1st & 15th Podcast I do with Phil Kurut of Comedy Cigars Music will continue as scheduled. As will the Instagram Live show I do with Lee Marsh of Stolen Throne Cigars over on their page there. Finally, I do plan to try not to cancel my own Office Hours on IG (so often). You can find out more <a href="https://kaplowitz.blogspot.com/p/kaplowitz-media-audiovideo.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br /><br />And with that, I'll bid you a fond adieu and also thank you once again for making Kaplowitz Media. a small part of your '23. See ya in '24! Oh, almost forgot... A new Kaplowitz Media. Book offering will be offered shortly enough. More info soon. Until that becomes a thing, I already have two available. Find out about them <a href="https://kaplowitz.blogspot.com/p/kaplowitz-media-books.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">::: very ::: </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1048425724481540049.post-46874181208088984432024-01-17T06:13:00.000-08:002024-01-17T06:13:00.257-08:00Casa Cuevas Cigars Reserva Natural (Torpedo) in ReviewBRAND: Casa Cuevas<br />BLEND: Reserva Natural<br /><br />WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade<br />BINDER: Habano<br />FILLER: Dominican, Nicaraguan, USA<br /><br />FORMAT: 6.25x52 Torpedo<br />ORIGIN: Dominican (Las Lavas)<br />INTENSITY: Medium<br /><br />NOTES:<br /><i>Creamy earth | Suede (lightly-spiced) | Citrus<br /></i><br />Buttery-smooth buttery-suede with a white pepper-spice Orange Cassidy-type kick. Consistent and sweet-citrusy creamsicle lingerings. Earthen salted-clay. Pleasant and elaborative retro-hale. A tick lulling. Brightly meditative. <br /><br />TASTE: B+<br />DRAW: B+<br />BURN: B+<br />BUILD: A-<br /><br />FINAL GRADE: B+<br />A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">::: very ::: </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com