Episodes

One of our special guests is Brian Sonia with West Tampa Cigars. He also operates The Tiki Taxi in Hampton Beach, NH. The stories from last season are great. He also brings us a blast from the past for the second half. The Hidden Herf is hard to find but has aged quite well. John from Grumpy’s joins the panel toward the end of the episode. Local Spotlight – Grumpy’s Cigar & Lounge; Hudson, NH Controversy Corner – Will we ever see that again?

A regular listener is in the lounge, so we drag him in to the fourth chair this week. He happens to own Barkingham Mobile Pet Spaw. The Hidden Herf should have been obvious, but it stumps the panel. Local Spotlight – Federal Cigar; Dover, NH Controversy Corner – It’s Just Crazy Talk

The Gringo is in from Florida and holds down the fort this week. Nurse Rick is under the weather and misses the big news item. Pat-GPT figures out the Hidden Herf almost immediately, and it scores well. Local Spotlight – Plaistow Cigar Company; Plaistow, NH Controversy Corner – Alien Inbreeding

The crew is back at the Shack for another party and podcast. Rick is back from Florida with more stories. Jim Price, from Rocky Patel Cigars, and Eastie Paul, the owner of The Tobacco Shack, join us this week. The Hidden Herf is an Ybor City staple. Local Spotlight – The Tobacco Shack; Rowley, MA Controversy Corner – Santa, The Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, and Stork visit the moon

The heater is installed at the Mustang Shed and it seems to be a success. The Hidden Herf is so obvious we don’t bother trying to hide it, but it does rate high. Local Spotlight – Rhino’s Cigar Lounge by Owl Shop Tobacconists Controversy Corner – From Prophets to Profits

The weather is good enough for an episode from the Mustang Shed. Ricky calls in from Florida and puts Steve on the phone so we can learn about his businesses and the Tampa cigar scene. The Hidden Herf is a blast from the past. Local Spotlight – The Mustang Ranch Controversy Corner – 2nd Mortgages Resurrected

We are back at Twins with a cast of long-lost, newly minted, and regular Hacks totaling a dozen including the peanut gallery. The Hidden Herf is a re-try of a wet 3Leaf Azalea and we find it makes a big difference with proper aging. Local Spotlight – Twins Smoke Shop; Londonderry, NH Controversy Corner – The 70’s Gas Crisis

We return to the Founding Fathers Executives private lounge for this week’s episode. We are joined by Joe, one of the principals of the club for an update on what’s new since our last visit. The Hidden Herf is a unique selection from Florida,

Its another double cigar Hidden Herf, but this time we do mild and bold variations suited to the panelist. Nick Laramie from Drew Estate joins half way in. Local Spotlight – Grumpy’s Cigar & Lounge; Hudson, NH Controversy Corner – Havana Syndrome

We have two short figurados this week and somehow it turns into a long ash challenge. Ricky and Pat send in a couple interviews from Florida. Local Spotlight – The Tobacco Shack; Rowley, MA Controversy Corner – Tariffs

Many of the regular Hacks are out of town this week, so it’s another small group episode. Ricky and Pat send in a series of interviews from the Ybor City area. The full versions are tacked on at the end of the episode.

It’s a small group, simple setup, this week as we recover from last weekend’s escapades. Ben Dover returns with jokes. The Hidden Herf stumps the panel and receives good reviews. Local Spotlight – Federal Cigar; Dover, NH Controversy Corner – The Trifecta

It’s halfway through Hackapalooza 8.0 where we meet up with the Rocky Patel crew in North Conway at The Original Cigar & Bar. We also sit down with the three brother-owners, Tim, Tom, and Craig. This is our eight stop of the weekend.

Hackapalooza 8.0 is this week. We run down the itinerary and plans for the weekend. We try to stay on topic, Nick. Ricky’s back so we get an in-person Florida report. The Hidden Herf is a throw-back. Local Spotlight – JR Cigar Outlet; Tampa, FL Controversy Corner – Football Theories

Jim and Hailey from Great Cigars Podcast are in town and join us at Federal Cigar for this week’s episode after No-Name John’s birthday party. We introduce Ben Dover. The Hidden Herf is a special “sleeper”. Local Spotlight – Federal Cigar; Portsmouth,

A cast of six land at Grumpy’s to play out the spoof we set in motion last week. The Hidden Herf is a spoof of it’s own. Local Spotlight – Grumpy’s Cigar & Lounge; Hudson, NH Controversy Corner – Vegas Shoot Out

Opening the 2026 season we have another Hack father join the panel. The Hidden Herf is decent and we almost forget to do the reveal. Local Spotlight – The Tobacco Shack; Rowley, MA Controversy Corner – Daycare Financing

The panel meets up at Twins in Londonderry for the last episode of 2025. Papa McGroin joins us as do other friends that we pull in from the lounge along the way. The Hidden Herf is a unique selection. Local Spotlight – Twins Smoke Shop; Londonderry, NH Controversy Corner – Classic Christmas Movies

Direct from The Tobacco Shack in Rowley, MA it’s the 2025 Hackie Awards Show. We get the RI run-down from Ricky and Pat. The Hidden Herf is unexpected. Local Spotlight – The Tobacco Shack; Rowley, MA Controversy Corner – The Proper Cut for Your Cigar

Jim from 3-Leaf Cigars joins the Hacks in more ways than one. The hacks turn out in force this week. We retry a cigar that was fresh off the boat 16 weeks back on episode 406. Local Spotlight – Plaistow Cigar Company; Plaistow, NH Controversy Corner – Tina Peters from Colorado and What’s Up in Minnesota

Nimish from Rocky Patel Cigars is in town for an event at Federal Cigar. We sit down to talk cigars with Nimish and Federal Cigar with the new management. Local Spotlight – Federal Cigar; Portsmouth, NH Controversy Corner – Pat McPsycic

Shacky Greene, Pat McGroin, and Cigar Hack Dave do a special Thanksgiving week episode to launch year nine. The Hidden Herf is a Shack staple and receives good grades. Local Spotlight – The Tobacco Shack; Rowley, MA Controversy Corner – Shout Out to Cam Higby

It all started here eight years ago east of just west of this very location. We discuss the last eight years and what the next eight years will bring. The Hidden Herf stumps the panel and is an interesting selection. Local Spotlight – Plaistow Cigar Company; Plaistow, NH Controversy Corner – Seth Who?

It’s not every week that we have a new cigar brand owner join us for an episode. Jimmy Miller and long-time friend of the Hacks, Max, have a New England launch event of Miller Cigar at Castro’s in Manchester.