Lounge Lizards: Trinidad Esmereldas, Ruinart, Kirby, Cigar Aficionado, HSA Aging Program, Everything!

[El Presidente]

Great Listen 

 

 

The guys discuss Trinidad's history, the recent 55th Anniversary Media Blitz and they share their frustration with Cigar Aficionado and Kirby Allison. Finally, they revisit their discussion on the new Habanos S.A. Aging Program with new information.

 

 

[ha_banos]

I'm so far behind my listening. Still not caught the Gizmo member deep dive. Now this. Got dragged into a rabbit hole of drumeo videos yesterday.... Good fun.

[LizardGizmo]

Esmereldas really surprised me. I think they’re some of the best young Cuban cigars available right now. Not sure they’re worth $50+ but I’d pay $30 all day.

[GaryK 54]

Great Podcast. Good insight on CA and Kirby. Well done guys. 

[JohnnyO]

Giz...besides being a phony that doesn't know how to tie a tie, I don't think your boy Allison was in much of those places he did the videos without the use of a green screen. How do I know? Not a drop of sweat on that dude. When the Lizards go next to Cuba I want you all dressed up as dandies and you can tell us how long it took you to ditch the sweat soaked clothing. Great show though. John

[LizardGizmo]

9 hours ago, JohnnyO said:

When the Lizards go next to Cuba I want you all dressed up as dandies and you can tell us how long it took you to ditch the sweat soaked clothing.

Consider it done! 😆

[MrBirdman]

Haven’t gotten to the CA/Kirby section yet, but fwiw this is my take: Kirby isn’t making cigar content like @LizardGizmo and crew anymore - he’s acting as a shill for Habanos. To be honest, I hope they’re at least paying him. Otherwise his Habanos content over the past year or so has been pathetically “thirsty”, as the kids would say. He’s clearly gunning for HSA man of the year - which admittedly might not be a terrible investment if it still comes with two boxes a year of your choice! But I find it appalling that you’ll never hear a mention of Cuba’s devastating situation in his videos. 

Also a common comment I see made about him is that he’s made his money on YouTube. While I’m sure his YouTube channel has gotten him a lot of free stuff and allowed him to deduct his suits as a business expense 😒, I believe most of his money comes from elsewhere (he previously worked on Wall Street and may come from money). He doesn’t get nearly enough views to afford that lifestyle, and I do believe this is his full time job now (that and running his little website). 

[JohnS]

Great podcast guys. Well done! 👍

[MrBirdman]

Stellar podcast guys. That picture of Kirby smoking a cigar while two Cubans changed his tire is disgusting. No wonder he’s so obsessed with the English aristocracy; his emotional intelligence is on par with the royal family.

[LizardGizmo]

1 hour ago, MrBirdman said:

Stellar podcast guys. That picture of Kirby smoking a cigar while two Cubans changed his tire is disgusting. No wonder he’s so obsessed with the English aristocracy; his emotional intelligence is on par with the royal family.

Lest anyone think we were kidding…

[ha_banos]

I remember we had a go at this here when he posted it. Another recent post since removed. Vid of James Suckling brushing plume off a cigar over the rest of the cigars in his desktop in HK...

 

[ha_banos]

22 hours ago, LizardGizmo said:

Lest anyone think we were kidding…

Heh https://youtu.be/EgPkDt-AAFs?si=fmnnMtg8HUkJSUP1

I'm just listening to your episode. Agree.

 

[MrBirdman]

Relistening to this smoking a Esmerelda. Quick note for @LizardGizmo to pass on to “Senator” - the sleeve on Ruinart bottles (and the wrapper on something like Cristal) is actually there for keeping the light out of the bottle - the glass on bottles is thick enough to hold its temp well if prechilled (people tend to drink champagne too cold anyway). Clear glass does not block any UV rays, and while all wine is susceptible to lightstrike champagne is particularly vulnerable (a lightstruck wine will have a cabbagey smell). They keep the clear glass for marketing. Unfortunately it’s still seen on a lot of champagne roses from growers who don’t ship with sleeves. Ruinart used to ship in boxes but ditched them for sleeves to cut back on their carbon footprint (and save shipping costs, no doubt!)

Ruinart is the NV I recommend when asked for a good champagne under $100. It’s not super complex but it’s incredibly delicious and drinkable anytime of day. Real crowd pleaser.