{"title":"As Heard On Ep. 075: What It's Like Blending Cigars At A Factory","description":"\u003cp\u003eEvery cigar from \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=4A2aT-HDN-Y\"\u003eCreekside Podcast Ep. 075: What It's Like Blending Cigars At A Factory\u003c\/a\u003e. Dave and CP are back in Cincinnati after three days at La iSLA in the Dominican Republic with Hostos, checking on new Queen of the West production and sitting CP down at the blending table for the first time. Start with the Queen of the West Bel D'Oro restock, then smoke the blind EGM Blecos Tubo CP called off the cold draw.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"egm-media-coronas","title":"EGM Media Coronas","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWrapper:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dominican\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBinder:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dominican\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFiller:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dominican\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dominican Republic\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e Half Corona (3.5 x 44) \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEGM Media Coronas is a compact, medium-to-full Dominican puro made for a short but concentrated smoking experience. Handmade with long-filler tobacco from the Cibao Valley, this 3.5 x 44 Half Corona takes its inspiration from the classic H. Upmann Half Corona format. It is presented as a refined, traditional short smoke with the balance and character of EGM’s Dominican portfolio.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe smaller ring gauge concentrates the blend’s woody, toasty character while keeping the smoke smooth and composed. Expect notes of cedar, toasted bread, light coffee, leather, gentle earth, and a restrained sweetness, with a clean, medium-to-full finish. The all-Dominican construction emphasizes harmony and aroma rather than aggressive strength.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEGM Media Coronas is ideal when time is limited but a proper premium cigar is still the goal. It makes a natural choice for a 20–30 minute smoke with espresso, tea, or a small pour of aged rum.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"EGM Cigars","offers":[{"title":"Single","offer_id":47056221569178,"sku":null,"price":16.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0628\/7622\/1594\/files\/EGM_Media_Coronas_Box.jpg?v=1790687370"},{"product_id":"egm-blecos-tubos-3-pack","title":"EGM Blecos Tubos [3-Pack]","description":"\u003c!-- x-tinymce\/html --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWrapper:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dominican (Cibao Valley)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBinder:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dominican (Cibao Valley)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFiller:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dominican long filler (Cibao Valley)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dominican Republic\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e Torpedo (4.75 x 52) \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe EGM Blecos Tubos is a true Dominican puro, built entirely from Cibao Valley tobacco — wrapper, binder and long filler all drawn from the same fertile growing region and rolled totalmente a mano. The vitola is the real conversation piece: a 120mm x 52 figurado finished in the emblematic Cuban 109 style with a cabeza tumbada, or dropped head, that most retailers simply file under torpedo. The result is a medium-bodied smoke with genuine craft behind it, packed here in a grab-and-go three-cigar tubo set.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe profile leans gentle and woody, with roasted undertones, a subtle sweetness and creamy accents running through the middle. Toast and a harmonious earthiness give the blend its backbone, while a whisper of subtle spice keeps things lively. Balance is the headline — this is a medium-bodied cigar with no harshness anywhere in the draw.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNamed after the Bleco, the local nickname for Havana's Malecón, this is a cigar made for an unhurried hour by the water or on the porch. The tubos make it the easy choice for travel, a round of golf, or slipping a few into a jacket pocket before a trip. If you enjoy classic Dominican tobacco with a distinctive hand-shaped head, pick up a three-pack and see what the Cibao Valley can do.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"EGM Cigars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47296462717082,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0628\/7622\/1594\/files\/EGM_Blecos_Tubos_3-Pack.jpg?v=1790612539"},{"product_id":"creekside-queen-of-the-west-bel-doro","title":"Creekside Queen of the West Bel D'Oro","description":"\u003c!-- x-tinymce\/html --\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWrapper:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ecuadorian Connecticut Desflorada\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBinder: \u003c\/strong\u003eConnecticut Broadleaf\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFiller:\u003c\/strong\u003e Nicaraguan, Dominican \u0026amp; USA\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eDominican Republic\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSize: \u003c\/strong\u003eToro (6.0 x 48)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eOur first full release, and the opening chapter of a three-part story. Bel D'oro, \"beautiful gold,\" is a medium-plus cigar crafted at Tabacalera La Isla and built to reward slow smoking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eAn ASP Ecuadorian Connecticut Desflorada wrapper sets the tone up front, wrapped over a Connecticut Broadleaf binder and a filler blend drawn from Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and the USA. The result is balanced and refined without tipping into heavy, with the kind of layered character that earned this blend a place as our debut release.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Creekside Cigar Co","offers":[{"title":"Single","offer_id":48132052713626,"sku":null,"price":16.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"5-Pack","offer_id":48132052746394,"sku":null,"price":80.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Box of 10","offer_id":48132052779162,"sku":null,"price":160.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Bundle of 20","offer_id":48759123411098,"sku":null,"price":306.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0628\/7622\/1594\/files\/Creekside_Queen_of_the_West_Bel_D_Oro.jpg?v=1790338236"},{"product_id":"pre-order-queen-of-the-west-bel-doro-shipping-december","title":"Pre-Order Queen of the West Bel D'Oro [Shipping December]","description":"We sold out faster than anticipated so here's your chance to get ahead of the line for our restock coming the end of November\/Early December. ","brand":"Creekside Cigar Co","offers":[{"title":"Box of 10","offer_id":49050217414810,"sku":null,"price":160.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0628\/7622\/1594\/files\/383ffaa9-5034-43e3-bad6-1ab187a98ad9.jpg?v=1787320224"},{"product_id":"creekside-customs-spg-1947","title":"Creekside Customs \"SPG 1947\"","description":"\u003c!-- x-tinymce\/html --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSold out — this quarter's Creekside Customs release is gone. Join the restock list and be first in line for the next Customs drop, or browse current Creekside Customs and exclusives here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWrapper:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ecuadorian Habano\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBinder:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ecuadorian Habano\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFiller:\u003c\/strong\u003e Criollo '98 with ligero\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dominican Republic\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSize: \u003c\/strong\u003eRobusto (5.25 x 52)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Creekside Customs Quarter 3 \"SPG\" is the shop's third-quarter private-label release, sold as a multi-pack of one blend. It is wrapped in a rich, chocolate-colored and oily Ecuadorian Habano leaf over an Ecuadorian Habano binder, with a filler that includes Criollo '98 and a measured amount of ligero. Blended and rolled with Hostos Fernandez Quesada at Tabacalera La Isla in Santiago, Dominican Republic, it is a hearty robusto that lands medium-plus and takes about an hour and a half to enjoy properly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe profile is deliberately Cubanesque. Toasty sweetness and milk chocolate lead, lifted by bright citrus zest and a floral high note that keeps things lively. Underneath there is creaminess, a toasty cedar and woody core, and toasted almond edging into marzipan, with the ligero adding just enough spice to give the cigar spine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSPG 1947 is named for the late father of Mike G, a Creekside lounge regular, honoring his initials and his birth year. Blending began in June 2025, samples returned from the Dominican Republic that August, and the production cigars were rolled in February 2026, giving them roughly six and a half months of age at release. Creekside Customs runs in ultra-small batches, so if a medium-plus, classically balanced robusto is your speed, do not wait on this one.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Creekside Cigar Co","offers":[{"title":"Single","offer_id":49165148160154,"sku":null,"price":14.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"5 Pack","offer_id":49165148192922,"sku":null,"price":70.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Bundle of 10","offer_id":49165148225690,"sku":null,"price":140.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0628\/7622\/1594\/files\/Creekside_Customs_SPG_1947_5_Pack.jpg?v=1790258171"}],"url":"https:\/\/creeksidecigarco.com\/collections\/podcast-ep-075.oembed","provider":"Creekside Cigar Co","version":"1.0","type":"link"}