November Cigar of the Month: Thank you!!! And we have a winner (or two)! (But you're going to have to work for it.)

And the winner of the Norteno cigars is...

First let me say, I was thinking the other, um, minute? That maybe I should shut the eff up because I was bitching in the last post about not being able to attend a few cigar events because I had to work. In honor of the season, I fully acknowledge that of course I am thankful I have an awesomely cool job and my students, for the most part, are fantasticly, or at least fantasticishly, awesomesauce.

Get it? Oh, I am dying of laughter! [source]

And then I decided I should not listen to myself complaining about bitching because:

1. I like the sound of my own voice (even the ones in my head)
2. Any sane person is going to have the sad if their partner-in-crime, er, cigars gets to cigar without their partner.*

The position has been filled!
Thanks, Valentino! Best. Partner. Ever. (Too mushy for the blog?)

I know you slogged through all that in order to get what you came for:**

The winner of the Nortenos is...

By the way, sorry I made you wait a few extra days. Since I missed five days of school recently because of the saddest of sadnesses, I've been trying the play catch-up and failing miserably. And then there was some badass food to be eaten. And then there's this deadline to revise a manuscript to perfection*** before sending it out, time crunched because of that lost week. And then the Christmas shopping that must be done and wrapped two weeks before Christmas... Zoiks.

So I'm a few days late. Since it's my thing and this is my blog, I can't even get in trouble.****

Evil laugh, of course! [source]

Also, by the way, thank you all so much for participating in the giveaway.  This was our most successful to date by a kazillion percent, so we are very very grateful that you shared your awesomeness with us.

Thanks for reading our blog! It really is a labor of love.*****

So without further...

Oh. Hold on. While we're talking about random things, I have to beg you to follow our friend Will the Travelling Owl on Facebook.****** If you like what we're giving away here, you'll totally dig what we have coming up at the beginning of the year over there!! Plus, he's pretty fun and has a ton of adventures, some of which we talked about here!

Okay, for realz this time. Except I'm stalling. I want to send you all something, but I suspect Valentino will be super pissed if he comes home to find the cupboard (humidor) bare.

So I'm choosing two of you. And he can't stop me because he isn't here. Insert that evil laugh here, too.

The winners are:

Denee Salazar and  JCarrier02 <<~~I'm assuming that's not his/her real name!!

Hahahaah. [source]

What's the December Cigar of the Month?

We're glad you asked!! A collection of cigars plus some swag from the amazing folks at Alec Bradley. Go here for contest details!!

Upon his return, Valentino will take a much better photo.
But yeah, you get this!!

*For heaven's sake, like I tell my students, although they don't believe me, I'm not a monster!!

**I was going to make a funny--very funny (in my head)--joke about it being similar to suffering through a fabulous dinner while on a date in order to have delicious sex with that devastatingly attractive and funny companion. But I didn't want to offend anyone. So there you go!

***Some might call this writing, but I call it revising with style.

****Because Valentino is away and doesn't know I haven't done it yet.  What? Oh.

*****Why am I so sappy today? Grrr. Buck up, soldier!

******No, it is not weird that we just called a stuffed owl our friend.  Check out the Facebook page and you'll see why it's not crazy at all!!

As we say here in Massachusetts: Winnah! or: This post brought to you by Benadryl

I have been very itchy lately, as I am allergic to...something. Could it be work? Ummm...maybe? Anyway, I get through the day thanks to Benadryl. You need to know all that in order for the rest of this silliness to make sense.

Hello, friend

I printed out all the names of folks who entered the October cigar giveaway and was going over to the drawer to get the scissors* to make little strips and put them in a vessel of some sort and get Valentino to pick one. I put the paper down in order to freshen up the Benadryl level in my system. While attempting to pop that little pink bitch out of the hermetically-sealed packaging, it fell out and bounced a few times on the paper, ultimately landing smack dab on one person's name.

Look, I know a sign when I see one. And this was a sign, the little bouncing neon pink pill.

And so, by the Order of Benadryl, the winner of the J Grotto Anniversary cigars is...

Nina Mako!!

Usually, the winners receive cigars stolen directly from the 2,000-count humidor here at Casa Awesome.** BUT! The super kind folks at Mr. J's Havana Shop gave us the cigars to give our winner! Thank you thank you thank you!! So Nina will receive two of these, although I can't remember which two... It'll be a surprise!! For both of us!!

Huzzah! Yay! Wahoo!!!!

What's the Cigar of the Month for November?  Howzabout a couple of these?

Yeah, baby!

*We are very organized here at Casa Awesome and the scissors are always ALWAYS in exactly the same place.

**You might be thinking, Well Valentino would never even know they're missing if you have that many!  You'd be very wrong. He knows what's in there and, if you must know, each cigar is lovingly placed "just so"... so he'd know. 

November's Cigar of the Month: Norteno (because I like the band. Shush, you!)

Sometimes* I like shiny things. Okay, most of the time. But there are those moments when I prefer something a little more L.L. Bean and less Bob Mackie.

This is a perfect combination of both, don't you think? [source]

So in a sea of shiny bands at Mr. J's Havana not too long ago, this box of Herrera Esteli Norteno stood out:

 

I love the way they stand at attention.

I was all, "La la la, we need these, Valentino!" (Full disclosure: I had also been seeing these pop up on different Facebook groups, so my interest was mildly piqued. But really, the box and band did it for me at that very moment. It kind of reminds me of wood paneling and that 1970s green that I so adore.)

Valentino actually smoked one of these, like, the next day. That means his excitement level hovered on the high side as well; usually he'll tuck away new sticks until he deems the moment best--and no formula exists when trying to determine when said moment becomes best. Next-day stuff like this always throws me off--I thought I'd figured out his pattern!!**

What was he going to do? Put up a fight? As if...

So...here are some things you might want to know:

Willy Herrera is Drew Estate's master blender

"Norteño" comes from a term used to refer to people in the northern part of Nicaragua,
where Estelí is located. [source]

The band features Nicaragua's national bird, the Guardabarranco.
(Words like that make me thankful I'm a writer and not an orator.
Nooooo idea how to say that. And I'm way too shy to try!) [source]

According to CI, "This full-bodied firecracker is no joke, boasting long-fillers from the fertile Nicaraguan growing regions of Jalapa and Esteli, both known for producing bold n’ hearty tobaccos. A Honduran binder cloaks these leaves with an oily San Andres Maduro wrapper draped over top. This long-anticipated release delivers bold notes of pepper and chocolate that endure to the finish and are backed by hints of cashew, cocoa, and espresso. Powerful, ultra-flavorful, and satisfying to the last puff."

I will admit that maybe, just maybe, I knew this cigar was full-bodied before I saw it at our tobacconist's place.  And maybe, just maybe, I knew Valentino's tastes run more medium than full. And maybe, just maybe, I forced the purchase anyway, because 1. I am evil; 2. I had a sneaking suspicion he would like it based on the flavor profile; 3. Box and band--box and BAND! (Only one of these is true. Okay, maybe two. Sometimes all three.)

So the other day, when we were picking up the J Grotto Anniversary prize cigars, I figured you all might like a couple for yourself! And that's a brief glimpse into how we choose the Cigar of the Month to give away--in summary, no rhyme or reason whatsoever. But then again, that's about how we roll across the board!***** Yay us!



How to win the Cigar of the Month:

Comment on this post to be entered to win.  (Be sure to leave your email address so we can get in touch with you!) Want a second chance? Subscribe to our blog posts by email--over there on the right side of the blog.***

The winner will be chosen on the 25th of each month--because my birthday is on the 25th (of December; be sure to mark your calendars), and what better way to count down to the blessed event than to give something away?

So! Comment below. Wheeeee!




*Most times. All times.

**Grrrrr.

***And doing that also puts you in the running for the cool ashtray.****

****Which will surely include other stuff as well.  Because that's how do it.

*****Poor Valentino. When I met him, everything was planned and organized and everything had a place. Now, we run willy-nilly, much to his chagrin. And stuff still has a place, but stuff is rarely in that place.