2nd Annual Long Ash Cigar Bash & Hospice Charity Raffle

On Saturday, June 23rd, Long Ashes Cigar Club and friends commandeered the back patio of River Birch Lodge for our 2nd Annual Long Ash Cigar Bash and Hospice Charity Raffle.

Only the second year we've hosted it, the get-together has become our marquee event that we hold the weekend after Father's Day. This year we saw attendance increase from forty-two to sixty-one, and the sponsorships were no less extraordinary.

Our friend J.P. leering over the sponsors' donations to our charity raffle

Staying in accordance with last year, for the next 365 days, Long Ashes Cigar Club will purchase cigars exclusively from manufactures who have supported this or any other event that we've hosted. Additionally, all future herfs this year will be themed -- that is each will be dedicated to one of our sponsors where all attendees will be asked to buy, bring, and smoke only that company's brands.We do this as an extended "thank you" for such generosity these companies have shown LACC.

With such an array of donations as a backdrop, the event lured many a cigar enthusiast to make a donation to Hospice of Davidson County, our beneficiary for the second time in as many years. In the end, Long Ashes Cigar Club | Winston-Salem, NC, raised an unprecedented $1,030 for this worthy organization ($20 came in after this picture was taken).

Laura O., the CEO of HODC, was on hand for the afternoon

We thank River Birch Lodge for hosting us this year and everyone who attended & donated to the cause; furthermore, we extended enormous gratitude to all of the individual reps and their companies for such generosity. Without such beneficent acts, our event would not take place.

Sponsors for the 2nd Annual Long Ash Cigar Bash and Hospice Charity Raffle were as follows (click on the company's name for more info or visit them on Facebook):

Chris T. .... Alec Bradley

Dan O. ... American Premium Beverage

Josh P.  & Jason H. ... Bad Dog Cigars & Paul Stulac Cigars

Robin & Eric L. ... Bash T-shirts

Isabel R. ... Blanco Cigars

Charlie R. ... Boveda Tobacco

Ed. M. & Sharon L. ... CAO Cigars

Skip L. ... District Roof Top Bar & Grille

Zev. K. & Fabien Z. ... Drew Estate

Renee C. ... Famous Smoke Shop

Oliver H. ... Gurkha Cigars

Dave M. ... Imbibe Cigar Lounge (Kernersville, NC)

Shanda L. & Eric N. ... J.C. Newman Cigar Co.

Justin A. & Lou R. ... Lou Rodriguez Cigars

Barry S. ... Miami Cigar & Co.

Brad A. ... Oliva Cigars

Nate H. & Tracey T. ... Outback Steakhouse

Paul S. ... Paul Stulac Cigars

Tom B. ... Raffle prizes

Eddie S. and Reid N. ... River Birch Lodge

Kimber B. ... Rocky Patel Cigars

Larry C. & Pete P. ... The Pipe and Pint (Greensboro, NC)

Bobby P. ... Tinder Box #424 Hanes Mall

Jack T. and Andrea H. ... Torano Family Cigar Co.

Mike A. ... Total Wine and More

Jennifer S. ... Village Tavern

We thank everyone for attending this year's event and encourage you to support the above sponsors when making your cigar purchases. We are hopeful that we will see everyone next year!

Again, thank you to all participants -- sponsors and guests alike.

Michael Kittner
Long Ashes Cigar Club | Winston-Salem, NC

Parting shots:

Friends gathering as the Bash & Charity Raffle commences.

A Long Ashes faithful since 2011, Tucker W., enjoys a Natural by Drew Estate.

Korie W. was incredible as a fill-in Torano rep; here she discusses the difference between Torano's Loyal & Vault.

The Bad Dog Cigars crew doing their thing in Winston-Salem, NC, as future customers listen intently.

The aficionado table

Can't thank Jason H. & Josh P. enough for all of their hard work and dedication to Long Ashes Cigar Club.

Original LACC member Anita H. pondering about how lovely her Blanco NINE lancero is.

Member Eric L. with two favorites: a cold beverage and a Paul Stulac cigar.

The NINE lancero seemed to be the ladies' favorite at the 2nd Annual Long Ash Cigar Bash & Charity Raffle.

2012 member, Lloyd G., testing the draw of a Bad Dog smoke.

"Look at this burn!" comments Michael C. regarding his first Bad Dog cigar.

Torano's Loyal is always a Long Ashes favorite; Ron C. agrees!

Dan O. keeping his fingers crossed for the raffle.

Commence the charity raffle!

Anxious, part of the crowd listens for their names as the first winner is drawn . . .

. . . and here he is -- Lloyd G.!

New members discussing the finer points of the sponsors' cigars.

Any cigar pairs well with that hat -- especially a Joya De Nicaragua Cabinetta Serie lancero!

Original LACC member Mike H. showing off his Paul Stulac stick.

"It's time for a Bad Dog," a friend comments.

LACC co-founder Ron L. extols his CAO OSA: "It's mighty fine!"

2011 LACC member Frank L. is well on his way to a long ash co-victory!

Dave M., owner of Imbibe Cigar Lounge in Kernersville, NC, taunts us with his Joya De Nicaragua Cabinetta Serie lancero.

2011 LACC member Lou R. shares a story with 2012 member Dan O.

Bad Dog Cigars rep Jason H. did a heck of a job assisting me with the raffle.

Much applause for Korie W. who was in charge of running raffle prizes to winners.

Buddy H. cleaned up this year!

Bobby Patel at Tinder Box #424 Hanes Mall crafted another one of his glorious samplers. Thanks, Bobby!

Jacob L. contemplating on what cigar to smoke next.

LACC newcomer Matt lighting up a CAO OSA.

2011 LACC member Bill O. was a co-winner of Zev's Drew Estate Long Ash Contest.

In the end, Long Ashes Cigar Club | Winston-Salem, NC, -- with the help off all sponsors -- raised $1,030 for Hospice.

Each attendee who donated at least $20 received a humidified Boveda Tobacco bag with the following: premium sponsor cigars, six raffle tickets, a Cigar Rights of America brochure, punch card (for cigars from Bad Dog, Paul Stulac, Drew Estate, & Torano), a LACC name tag, a membership form for J.C. Newman's Connoisseur's Club, a list of all sponsors, and a petition to support H.R. 1639 & S. 1461.

Bad Dog 6x56 Connecticut

Wrapper: Ecuadorian
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

Bad Dog 6x56 Connecticut

Tasting Panel: Yours truly
From Bad Dog Cigars: "Like refined Scotch and fine wine, Bad Dog Cigars are aged to perfection.
The co-founders, Nicholas Scarcella and Andreas Demetriou, are long time friends, business partners, and avid cigar smokers -- living up to their heritage and enjoying one of their leisure activities. Andreas’ family originated from the fertile farm land of Rhodesia, and Nicholas’ heritage is from the rich volcanic olive producing soil of Sicily, which had a tremendous influence and became the inspiration for the company as it exists today. Each cigar -- with tobacco aged at least three years -- is made with carefully selected long leaf binder and fillers, and wrapped in an exclusive wrapper, creating a medium flavored cigar."

In my opinion, the most admirable aspect about Bad Dog Cigars is that they give back: a percentage of Bad Dog Cigars' sales is donated to free cleft surgery for children in developing countries.

Now if this alone doesn't make you want to buy their cigars, what else will?

First Impressions:
One of the most gorgeous cigars I've seen in all my years of enjoying them. The oily light-chocolate colored wrapper, the pigtail, the shaggy foot -- all of these add to a luxurious first impression of this cigar. I would be unapologetically drawn to this cigar in a B&M humidor, and if I saw one in my friend's, I'd snatch it.

Elegant Pigtail

The shaggy foot denotes meticulous construction

Upon inspection, the feel of the cigar was no less attractive. There were no spongy or soft spots; the cigar was firm and consistent, and oils in the wrapper were happily noticeable. This is, in fact, a cigar that will captivate you.

Burning:
I gave this large girth of a cigar a v-cut; the draw imparted a vanilla creaminess that is reminiscent of a milder cigar. Just as the construction was pristine, so too was the draw -- nice and free flowing.

 I think a v-cut or punch would be perfect for a cigar of this ring gauge.

Initial flavors were very mellow: creamy, vanilla, roasted nuts, slightly woody. I think this is what one would expect from a stick with this composition. I was very excited at the possibilities of this cigar when I took my first few puffs.

The Bad Dog 56 Connecticut gave off a pleasant aroma and held an ash you have to see to believe. (Not a deal breaker in my book, but it was mighty impressive and exemplifies the premium construction.)

The ash, although precarious, held on for another five minutes.

Throughout the session, this cigar remained mild(er). The flavors were consistent, yet about half way though the cigar, the flavors became a deeper, almost chocolate-like. As I've stated, I was pleasantly taken aback with the cigar.

Here's where the cigar took a surprising turn: more of a deeper, chocolate finish.

When the initial ash was lost, the Bad Dog 56 Connecticut picked right back up where it left off.

Once I removed the band, the cigar had a touch of mint on the finish, which was very refined. Never once did the cigar burn hot or become unpleasant.

Final Thoughts:
The only unpleasant aspect of Bad Dog Cigars . . . they are absurdly hard to find. In fact, I haven't found a cigar shop in North Carolina that sells them. As a result of smoking one, Long Ashes Cigar Club | Winston-Salem, is going to do everything we can to change that.

This would be an exceptional smoke to share with newbies or aficionados alike, as it's sensibly mild enough for the former, yet complex (and good looking) enough for the latter. Bad Dog Cigars has a menagerie of sizes and wrappers to suit any cigar enthusiast out there.

The Bad Dog Line up @ http://www.baddogcigars.com/baddoglineup.php

If you see this cigar -- or any Bad Dog brands -- in shops, mark your territory and grab them! It's obvious that this boutique company will not fly under the radar much longer. Construction, burn, flavor -- this cigar is a bona fide winner, my friends, and I'm eager to try more of their line up, especially the Brazilian, which I think could score a 9+.

Rating: 8.5 (Excellent) A cigar that we would seek out and buy as many as we could afford. Its ridiculous suggested retail price is around 8 bucks!

Bad Dog Cigars, get some.

-M. Kittner

For purchasing information or to learn more about Bad Dog Cigars, click here or Like them on Facebook. You may also place orders with the East Coast Territory Manager for Bad Dog Cigars, Josh Protheroe @ (843) 475-6670.