One of our listeners asked: "Am I being priced out of the market with these expensive cigars?" The guys deliberate on the recent trend of ultra-expensive cigars and their place in the premium cigar market. They reviewed the Leaf by Oscar and drank top-shelf Kentucky straight bourbons before sitting for a 1 on 1 with Oscar Valladares in studio.…

Are you torching your cigar to death? Should you be using a soft flame instead of a quadruple jet cigar scorcher? The guys offer strategies on how to light cigars without destroying them. On the show they reviewed the highly rated My Father Fonseca MX, did they like it?Av Cigar Snob

Experts always recommend that you ‘ask your local tobacconist’ but how do you know if this person knows what he/she is talking about? The guys offer some tips and tricks to help you figure out if the person recommending your premium cigars is knowledgeable and trustworthy. In this episode, the guys also reviewed the Rocky Patel Dark Star, which fea…

Jim pitches his zany business idea for safe cigar disposal while Erik and Ivan point out some of the best and worst places to enjoy a cigar on vacation. Throughout the show the guys review the Villiger Miami and pair it with a vertical lineup of Benriach single malt Scotch. Finally Dr. Corina and Lucien Villiger share their insights on what it was …

The title and direction of this show was taken from listener feedback asking, "Can you define the difference between a premium cigar vs a non-premium cigar?" We took a stab at that one while smoking the Aganorsa Rare Leaf Reserve Maduro, very much a premium cigar. We then paired that cigar with 4 dark beers and interviewed the up and coming, cigar-…

From construction, to flavors, to fermentation, the guys break down all of the factors that unequivocally mean that your cigar is a bad one. Did they miss anything? Let us know in the comments. Also, they smoke the Stillwell Star from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust and were joined by Cigar Dojo's Eric Guttormson to discuss the upcoming Top 25 lists.…

A perfectly synergistic episode where the cigar, question, spirit selection, and interview guest all revolve around a question sent in by a listener. The guys smoked the Joya de Nicaragua Antaño CT, drank high-end blended Scotch, and sat down with Joya de Nicaragua's Juan Martinez.Av Cigar Snob

We sat down with Rocky Patel to talk about his latest influences in cigar blending as well as his upcoming release of the highly anticipated Conviction. Back in the studio, the guys paired the Rocky Patel DBS with 3 top-shelf bourbons and answered a great listener question.Av Cigar Snob

The guys answer an excellent listener question about why different vitolas of the same blend have different flavor profiles and even strength differences. During the show, the guys enjoyed the Illusione OneOff along with 3 fine tequilas. Later in the Share a Smoke segment, Ivan and Erik sat down with Manolo Santiago, the master blender for Casa 191…

The guys get goofy on aged rums while discussing the topic of what you look for in a cigar lounge. They go overboard in their praise for the Tatuaje Tuxtla Lomo de Cerdo and eventually sit down with Ozzie Gomez, co-owner of 3 South Florida cigar bars including the new and impressive Tabacon Cigars & Spirits in Doral.…

The guys answer an X's & O's question from a serial emailer about whether it is a good idea or not to store or age cigars in their cellophane. Along the way the guys taste the new and limited Jack Daniel's Twice Barreled with the Villiger de Nicaragua. Finally a sit-down with Rene Castañeda reveals the story behind the new Villiger cigar factory in…

It's time to celebrate with a proper celebratory smoke, the Davidoff Year of the Rabbit. The guys enjoyed it with a vertical tasting of the Great Jones Distilling Company, Manhattan's first whiskey distillery since prohibition. Then Erik sat down with Davidoff USA's Eddie Guerra to discuss this and many other offerings from the premium cigar powerh…

The guys play a game to see who gets to smoke the Cigar of the Year from Cigar Snob Magazine's Top 25. They toast to all 25 of the selections with Zafra 30, a fantastic, limited edition rum. Later in the show, Erik sat down with Nick Melillo, the owner and blender for Olmec Maduro, the #1 cigar of 2022.…

The guys tackle a popular question about how Cigar Snob Magazine rates cigars while smoking the Ferio Tego Timeless 10 Years. The Perfect Pairings segment included top-shelf bourbons from EH Taylor, Willett, and Garrison Brothers. Finally, Erik sat down with Ferio Tego's Michael Herklots to talk about how a 1 year old company can have a 10th annive…

The team tackles a listener question about cigar clubs and other cigar buying platforms while smoking the My Father La Gran Oferta. They did a vertical tasting of Broken Barrel Whiskey, which significantly increased the "slur-factor" on the show. Finally, Erik sat down with Jose Ortega, VP of Sales for My Father Cigars, and discussed La Gran Oferta…

In this episode the guys pick their favorite inflation buster cigars while smoking Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Nicaragua. They blind taste 3 highly rated South American wines and chat with Altadis USA’s Rafael Nodal.Av Cigar Snob

The boys were blown away by 3 excellent single malt Scotches paired with a Rocky Patel Number 6 corona. They answered a great X's & O's question from a listener about Ybor City cigar factories. And Jim and Jamy took turns butchering Scotch brand names.Av Cigar Snob

The guys answer a listener question about how best to clean the air in his man cave while Jim struggles mightily with the pronunciation of our guest's name. Jamy brings in 4 Oktoberfest beers that the guys try to pair with the Aladino Classic.Av Cigar Snob

We help a listener navigate the confusing terms on a cigar box and label then turn our attention to 3 reposado tequilas all the while smoking Espinosa's Las 6 Provincias CMW edition. There's a little bit of everything in this episode including Cuban trivia, and interview with Erik Espinosa Jr., and we even learn about Jim's George Clooney man-crush…

The guys answer listener feedback about a poorly lit cigar and offer tips on how best to do it. All three taste the Stillwell Star - English No. 27 for the first time and pair it with American whiskies.Av Cigar Snob

In this episode the boys smoke the limited edition My Father Le Bijou 1922 - 100 Years, straight from the PCA trade show floor while drinking 4 excellent blended Scotches. They go deep into cigar humidification methods and bring on Integra Boost's Omar Fernandez for his expertise on the subject.Av Cigar Snob

The guys respond to listener feedback about their movie, drink, and cigar preferences while smoking the La Flor Dominicana Colorado Oscuro. Then they blind-tasted 3 excellent Irish whiskeys with a surprising result before sitting down with La Flor Dominicana’s Tony Gomez to discuss the upcoming Golden Bull NFT release.…

The guys put together the ultimate starter guide for cigar smokers and they hit it out of the park with this list. They smoked the new FSG 20-Acre Farm while blind-tasting 4 killer bourbons including one super-value bourbon. Finally, they sat down for a chat with the cigar industry's favorite attorney, Frank Herrera.…

In this episode the crew smokes the Oscar Valladares McFly, discusses the effect that shape and size has on the experience of a cigar, and sample 4 after-dinner drinks with the McFly, all before speaking with Terence “TJ” Riley about the cigar industry and Aganorsa Leaf.Av Cigar Snob

The guys smoke the Herrera Esteli Lonsdale Deluxe and speak with its creator and master blender, Willy Herrera. There is a discussion about whether its OK to bring your own cigars to a cigar shop or lounge, and a blind single malt scotch showdown that ends in a split decision.Av Cigar Snob

Erik, Ivan, and Jim smoke the newly released AVO Syncro Caribe and answer a listener question about the right way to relight a cigar. They also blind taste 3 añejo tequilas and have a great conversation with Total Wine's certified wine and spirits professional who also happens to love cigars and tequila jokes.…

The guys smoke the new Liga Privada H99 and introduce Jim to the wonderful world of retrohaling cigars. Jamy supplies the team with 3 aged rums they taste blind with surprising results. Finally, Ivan sits down with Santa Teresa Rum's brand ambassador to learn more about the Venezuelan rum, its roots, and learn how to make a Rumoni cocktail.…

What's the difference between Maduro and Oscuro? Or Connecticut Shade and Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade? The guys break it down for you before getting into 3 outstanding Imperial Stouts. They tasted the beers blind and tried to match them up with the newly released Camacho Factory Unleashed. Speaking of Camacho, we sat down with Brand Ambassador Geo…

The guys weigh in on how far down you should smoke your cigar while enjoying the Crux Epicure Maduro down to the nub! They blind-taste 3 accessible rums, one which apparently "needs a push-up bra" and determine which pairs best with smoke of the day and Erik tells a story of playing golf and drinking heavily at a golf course surrounded by active vo…

It's a loaded show! Ivan shares a backstory about a topless model photo shoot that got us kicked out of a California park. We answered a listener-driven question: what vitola or shape do professional cigar smokers enjoy the most? Plus we caught up with Michael Herklots of Ferio Tego to discuss the latest news surrounding his cigar company. Lastly, …

Having a hard time picking out the flavors and aromas of your cigar? The Cigar Snob guys can help! On the show they smoked the new and limited Rare Leaf Reserve from Aganorsa Leaf and interviewed Terence Reilly of Aganorsa to get the scoop on this limited blend. In the Perfect Pairings segment they matched up 3 cask strength ryes with the Rare Leaf…

The guys smoke Wild Hunter Oscuro by Oscar Valladares while they discuss whether it's bad form to keep the label on or off of the cigar. They also blind-taste 3 top-rated bourbons in search of the Wild Hunter's perfect match, interview Erik Espinosa about the impact of winning Cigar of the Year, and Ivan shares the backstory of the very first Cigar…

The guys are back to announce the Top 25! Along with their standard goofiness, they also previewed the new issue of Cigar Snob Magazine including a trip to Atlanta to interview the founders of Warrior Poet Society, a fun travel story about Omaha, a super sexy cover shoot and finally they reflected on the Super Bowl. All the while they smoked 2020's…

We're getting ready for Thanksgiving COVID-edition but before we start frying socially distanced turkeys, we sat down to smoke an Aladino Cigar. We talked about all manner of goofiness including Pope Francis' Instagram gaff, a cigar-chomping puppy savior, and a massive collection effort in support of the hurricane-impacted families of Honduras and …

The guys are back to discuss the madness that is this election and how it could impact the cigar business with special guest Glynn Loope, former executive director of Cigar Rights of America. Things got much lighter from there when they got into serious Masters talk with predictions from Erik and Ivan. They also responded to some interesting listen…

HVC's Reinier Lorenzo joined our host Erik Calviño to talk about the latest HVC Black Friday release. Reinier also shares his ideas on blending, Cuban cigars, and which cigars make him want to have a glass of milk!Av Cigar Snob

Master blender and co-owner of Mombacho Cigars, Claudio Sgroi paid us a visit at Cigar Snob HQ. Erik surprised Claudio with a special cigar that he'd been aging for 5 years. Claudio shared his inspiring and serendipitous story of how he went from never smoking cigars, to falling head over heels, to eventually being offered his dream job of master b…

We traveled out to Southern Utah for an epic photo shoot with two gorgeous models, a photo shoot crew, tons of Casa Cuba cigars, and way too much equipment to haul up and down slippery slopes. Also nearly lost a drone in the high winds of %&@#* Point! We'd tell you the name but swore that we wouldn't share that amazing spot. Did the drone survive?…

Not only is Aganorsa Leaf the largest tobacco grower in Nicaragua, but their cigars consistently garner some of the highest ratings in Cigar Snob Magazine. In today's episode we bring back Terence Reilly to discuss Aganorsa's latest release and what the future holds for the New England Patriots...Av Cigar Snob

Oscar Valladares is the man behind the insanely popular brands LEAF by Oscar, SuperFly, and The Oscar among others. He spent some time with us at Cigar Snob HQ before continuing down to Honduras. His story of grit, resourcefulness, and love for tobacco is one you won't want to miss.Av Cigar Snob

We're back with tons of Cigar Snob photo shoot talk while smoking the new Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua made at the AJ Fernandez factory. We discovered a bird that can predict hurricanes and recapped the recent PGA Championship along with Erik's trip to Sanibel Island. And once again we read some great listener feedback.…

Harry made a series of cocktails for the team at Cigar Snob and sat down with Erik to share stories about his interesting background and what made him decide to dive into the competitive gin market in the middle of a global pandemic.Av Cigar Snob

We smoked the new Liga Privada Unico Serie Year of the Rat 2020 Limited Edition while talking about our trip to Naples to attend the Traveling Road Show with Rocky Patel, Oliva, Alec Bradley, and Crowned Heads. We played golf and even told the story of the time Ivan hit a car with a golf ball from Erik's parents house. We also read some great liste…

We’re smoking one of our favorite cigars in lancero format and we got into some stories of when we visited Tabacalera Fuente and spent days smoking nothing but Opus X and Don Carlos. We then got into movies, Charlie Daniels, and Japanese roller coasters! Yes you read that right...Av Cigar Snob

We smoked the Brick House Culebra Maestra and went deep into what is a culebra, what's so good about it, and why it looks so funky! We also took a page from KROQ's on-air personality and our former classmate Nicole Alvarez and each came up with our perfect song. And finally we got into why cancelling Mt. Rushmore would suck.Brick House Culebra Maes…

We found our new favorite Davidoff in the pre-release Special 53 Capa Dominicana and we talk about how cigar companies are reacting to not having a trade show. We discuss Father's Day plans and a day at the shooting range. It was all going so well until we got into the idea of a time capsule and what cigars, booze, and copies of Cigar Snob Magazine…

We smoke the My Father The Judge in Grand Robusto and we get into the tricky nature of blending cigars. It goes downhill after that when we get into Major League domestic disputes and some disastrous Cigar Snob photo shoot stories.My Father The JudgeRobusto (5 x 60) box-pressedManufactured by My Father CigarsOrigin: NicaraguaWrapper: EcuadorBinder:…

Erik, Ivan (and Jasper) smoke the Viva La Vida robusto while talking about the protests, riots, and looting. They also get into the impact that COVID has had on the cigar business as well as the wacky drive-thru celebrations being held all over the country. Viva La VidaRobusto (5 x 54)Manufactured by AJ FernandezOrigin: NicaraguaWrapper: NicaraguaB…

The guys introduced a new team member while smoking one of their all-time favorite smokes, the Oliva Serie V Melanio. There's also coronavirus talk including the end of social distancing at Cigar Snob HQ! Also the end of an era at the magazine and podcast, Nick is gone! Finally we announced the winner of the #QuarantineGiveaway and respond to reade…

The Cigar Snob team gathers around the mics (keeping a safe distance) to smoke Diplomatico by Mombacho, paired with Diplomático rum, and talk about how we've experienced the coronavirus outbreak.Music in this episode:"BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0…