Matthew Elrod's Page

So our two South Carolina baseball teams were playing in the College World Series for the first time Friday night, so I decided to watch it at the Tobacco Merchant on Bower Pkwy. It was PACKED! So for a while, it was standing room only, which is great to see there. Our move is scheduled for July 14th, so needless to say, I am going to miss this my Tobacco Merchant greatly! Anyway, on to the smokes. I had two that night. The first:

Hoyo De Monterey Excaliber Dark…

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I got to sit down at my favorite B&M place tonight, and I was torn on my selection. I normally reach for a nice maduro of sorts, but tonight my old friend the CAO Criollo caught my eye. I had not noticed it in my shop before, so I had to have it. I had forgotten what an AMAZING smoke it is. I smoked it almost to the point that it was sizzling on my lips. If you have not had one, I would highly recommend trying it. True, they are different from their original blend, but they are still quite… Continue

I just wanted to give a word of praise to one of my local B & M places. The Tobacco Merchant on Bower Parkway here in Columbia, SC is top-shelf, Great! My wife and I will be moving in a few months from here, and I must say that it will be one of the places that I miss the most. They have pioneered the way for Cigar bars here in Columbia over the past year or so, and have really set a great standard. They have great selections, and are constantly updating their well-stocked humidor. And…

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I ordered a five-pack of La Herencia Cubana Oscuro Fuerte a few months back. I have been patiently letting them sit in my humidor until the time was right. Today, the time was right. It was well worth the wait. It was a fine fine cigar. Perfect draw, great construction, and I really enjoyed the thick dark Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro wrapper. That is the first cigar I have had with that particular wrapper. It has me itchin to try some of the other new stogies using the same wrapper. Give it a… Continue

I have been away from my cigars for a few months now. I met a guy at one of my favorite local cigar bars today, and decided to try something new for me. I am such a creature of habit. I did not stray from my Maduro tastes, but I did try a Sancho Panza Double Maduro. I have never heard fanfare about them, seen alot of them, but never ventured into the unknown to give it a shot. I have to say, not trying one before now was a HUGE mistake. For 6 bucks, it was a near-perfect Maduro (at least for… Continue