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?

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 features Paraguayan tobacco in the blend, paired the Dark Star with four rye whiskies, and finally Ivan Ocampo interviewed the gentleman behind The Cigar Academy.

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 like growing up as a member of the Villiger family.

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-loving country singer, Orlando Mendez aka The Cuban Cowboy.

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.

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.

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 1910 Cigars.

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 Nicaragua and we find out that whiskey hits Rene in the spot where the body and the soul meet... that's deep!

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 powerhouse.

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 anniversary cigar...

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 and what My Father Cigars has in store for 2023. Ortega may or may not have dropped a hint about a special release in the works.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 George Rami aka Latin Thunder for our share a smoke segment.

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 volcanoes. Perhaps the best golf story of the day belongs to our guest, Casey Haugen who let a guy he'd only just met tee off from his "nether regions"!

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, we blind-tasted 3 Mezcals and paired them with a Timeless Prestige No. 2.

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 Reserve and were blown away by one of the three.

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 Snob fashion shoot.

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 Cigar of the Year. Don't miss this episode!

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 Nicaragua.

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 listener feedback! All of this while smoking the new Sobremesa Brûlée Blue!!

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!

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 blender.

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...

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.

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.

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 listener feedback!

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...

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 Maestra Shape: Culebra Manufactured by JC Newman in Estelí, Nicaragua Only available at JC Newman events

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 would want remembered...

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 Judge Robusto (5 x 60) box-pressed Manufactured by My Father Cigars Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Ecuador Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua MSRP: $12.70

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 Vida Robusto (5 x 54) Manufactured by AJ Fernandez Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Nicaragua Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua MSRP: $11.00

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 reader feedback. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

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

The gang smokes Protocol Themis cigars while talking corona virus, the Democratic primaries, Miami Heat basketball, cigar festivals, and more. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

We got a visit at Cigar Snob HQ from Eddy Guerra and George Rami, who told us all about what's new in the Avo and Camacho portfolios, along with information about events and factory tours. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

On this episode, we smoked a Joya de Nicaragua cigar that's available exclusively at Drew Diplomat retailer events. We also recapped some of our recent travel (Dominican Republic, Austin, Palm Beach) and went over the latest developments in the Democratic Party's primary race, Tyson Fury's heavyweight rematch win, and the retirement of Dwyane Wade's jersey. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

The Cigar Snob team has a good old fashioned smoke off, recaps the Puro Sabor festival in Nicaragua, talks about the Top 25 Cigars of 2019, and wonders about whether the Super Bowl Halftime Show would have been better without Shakira or Jennifer Lopez. Also, Donald Trump and Nancy Pelosi are ridiculous, Ivan saw a weird movie, and we got a song about cigars from a reader. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

We were joined by phone by Scott Pearce, executive director of the Premium Cigar Association. He and senior editor Nick Jiménez discussed the PCA's history, the future of the trade show it hosts every year, and how rifts in the premium cigar industry are affecting that trade show and the cigar community at large. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Erik and Nick caught up with Fred Vandermarliere of J. Cortès at Casa Oliva in Estelí, Nicaragua after a tour of the expanded and improved TABOLISA factory. The three had a discussion about Oliva Cigars, technology in cigar making, and the care that's been taken to preserve the original spirit of Oliva. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Fidel Valdés Rodríguez is the engineer behind thee recent expansion and overhaul of Oliva Cigar's Tabolisa factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. We sat with the Cuban-born COO to talk about his journey from Cuba to the Nicaraguan cigar industry, the technology behind the new production methods at Oliva, and the way that all the change at the company connects to the happiness of the workers who make it all go. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

During a visit to Estelí, Nicaragua, Erik and Nick met with Nestor Andrés Plasencia to talk about cigars, Nicaragua, and some of the more recent developments in the Plasencia portfolio. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Just before Christmas Eve, the team gathers 'round to try a variety of Drew Estate Flying Pigs, talk about a recent trip to Estelí, recap a photo shoot that'll be published in an upcoming issue of the magazine, and speculate as to whether it's safe to have mealworms eat our plastic. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

We smoke AJ Fernandez's Bellas Artes Maduro Lancero cigars in this latest Editors' Roundtable episode. Erik, Ivan and Nick get caught up on the Democratic primaries, Kamala Harris' drropping out of the race for the presidency, the new Black Widow trailer, the return of Conor McGregor to the UFC, and more.

We smoke Casa Fernandez Miami Reserva and get caught up on Erik's trip to China, the unveiling of Tesla's new electric truck, Colin Kaepernick's exploits, and a bunch more. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

In this episode, you'll hear an interview we recorded back in July. The story you'll hear is every bit as important now as then. Not only because it's narrowly about a cause you might want to support, but because it's broadly about the role cigars can and often do play in making positive change. Our guest here is Storm Boen, the decorated veteran who leads Operation Cigars for Warrriors, which delivers premium cigars (along with some other goodies) to American soldiers deployed overseas. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

The guys smoke Vegas del Purial Gran Reserva and chat about the NFL's helmet swinging scandal, Evo Morales' ouster in Bolivia, and the cost effectiveness of switching to streaming services. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

We smoke a new release from Illusione Cigars, recap UFC 244 (headlined by the BMF fight between Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz), wonder whether Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide, and discuss the phenomenon of "sleep divorce." Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Boris Wintermans of Royal Agio Cigars sat with Nicolás Antonio Jiménez to talk about Balmoral Serie Signaturas Paso Doble and what it was like to work with La Flor Dominicana's Litto Gómez on that blend, which is the second installment in the Serie Signaturas lineup. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Incredibly, we made it to episode 100 of the Cigar Snob Podcast! Erik, Ivan and Nick light up some limited-edition Viva La Vida Jester Cigars to talk sports – NBA, UFC, MLB, PGA, NFL — along with some of the latest news about American forces killing ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Nick's dislocating his shoulder in a Boosted Board accident, and the Joker movie. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

We smoked Joya de Nicaragua Antaño CT, recapped our experriences at a couple of Miami cigar events, and wonder what's behind the controversies surrounding Kanye West and Kim Kardashian. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Friend and American tea master Michael Ortiz paid a visit to Cigar Snob HQ and brought a couple of guests along: Frank Baroudi, who came with a treasure trove of pre-embargo Cuban cigars in tow, and Kunikazu Mochitani, a matcha producer who brought along some of his own teas. Together, the three of them led us on one of the most unique tasting sessions we've ever experienced. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

We got a personalized box of Espinosa Cigars' Las 6 Provinicias MTZ. Join as we smoke a few, talk NASCAR, Sarasota golfing, the NBA's China controverrsy and the new Joker movie. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Senior editor Nicolás Jiménez went to Miami Cigar headquarters to chat with Nestor Miranda and Jason Wood about the new Don Lino Africa, their relationship with A.J. Fernández, Nestor's time in Africa, Jason's experiences working with his father in law, and more. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

The team talks wine after a Casillero del Diablo tasting, smokes Cain Daytona Coronas, and trashes a ridiculously gross Miami snack before contemplating whether they should order a few for the office. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Erik Calviño caught up with Nirka Reyes of De Los Reyes Cigars to talk about their products, her family's penchant for hospitality, her father's restaurant in the Dominican Republic, and more. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

In this episode, Nick interviews Nat Sherman VP Michael Herklots. They talk music, cigars, and how Mike's passion for one led to a career in the other. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

The Cigar Snob team talks football, Camacho Distillery Edition, and hits you with a bonus interview with furniture designer Lee Weitzman. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Erik, Ivan and Nick gather around the mics to smoke joya de Nicaragua Antaño CT cigars, Erik's trip to the Maker's Mark distillery in Kentucky, the meal Nick and Andy had at Quintonil in Mexico City, and the Miami Hurricanes' upcoming game against the Florida Gators. Also, we end this episode with a brief interview with Alejandro Suárez, a Mexican cigar distributor. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Skip Martin of Roma Craft dropped by Cigar Snob HQ for a podcast interview about his company, how he developed his identity as a blender, life in Estelí, the repercussions of the Supreme Court's decision in South Dakota v Wayfair, and a whole bunch of other stuff. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We met with Eduardo Fernandez at the IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas for a talk about the brand overhaul his company, Aganorsa Leaf, underwent recently, the tobacco that's at the hear of the operation, and his ventures in other agricultural fields. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Ivan's daughter's in golf camp, Erik's kids are sailing, Nick is still alive after his first Boosted Board rides, and we smoke a Rocky Patel Super Ligero Lancero from the Cigar Snob vault. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Erik, Ivan and Nick are back at it after a bit of a hiatus form their Cigar Snob Podcast team chats. The gang gathers around the mics to smoke Laranja Escuro cigars, talk about the upcoming Mexico issue, and speculate on how much longer Nick has to live now that he's bought an electric skateboard. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Benji Menéndez stopped by our office for a long chat about his family history, his career in cigars, and the state of the premium cigar world. This is the second part of our chat, which is focused on his view of the landscape from retirement. For the portion of our conversation that's all about his history and the history of cigars broadly, go back one episode. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Cigar legend Benji Menéndez stopped by the Cigar Snob offices to talk cigars, tobacco, and the history of the cigar industry as he's lived it over the decades. In the next episode, we'll hear from Benji on the current state of the premium cigar world. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The Cigar Snob crew is joined by Cigar Cellar owner Ale Broche to talk cigars, embarrassing Internet handles, and a big new idea for an inter-shop Domino tournament.

Erik and Nick smoke Joya Silver, the No. 25 cigar on Cigar Snob's list of the Top 25 Cigars of 2018. They also talk hot dogs, the soccer pay gap, and Trump's running crazy-off with AOC's "squad." All that on South Florida's 1210 AM The Man for another installment of Cigar Snob's thrice-weekly radio show, "The Draw," which airs live every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from Cigar Cellar of Miami.

Terence Reilly of Aganorsa Leaf pays Erik and Nick a visit on The Draw to smoke and discuss the history of Aganorsa cigars, along with some of its more popular and exciting products. All that on South Florida's 1210 AM The Man for another installment of Cigar Snob's thrice-weekly radio show, "The Draw," which airs live every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from Cigar Cellar of Miami.

Cigar Snob's Nicolás Jiménez and Ivan Ocampo headed to Miami Beach's Casablanca Cigar Lounge to hang with Ed Reed, who spent his college and NFL careers building a strong case that he’s the best safety who ever played football. Through all the ups and downs along the way, Ed has maintained one critical ritual: cigars. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Nick and Carluba are joined by guest Joe Cardona — and, in the third segment, David Verjano — for a conversation about cigars, rum and Miami's disco music history. All that on South Florida's 1210 AM The Man for another installment of Cigar Snob's thrice-weekly radio show, "The Draw," which airs live every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from Cigar Cellar of Miami.

In a rare Wednesday appearance, Carluba joins Nick for The Draw, live from Cigar Cellar of Miami. They smoke 601 Maduro by Espinosa Cigars, drinks beers, eat wings, and talk about babies. All that on South Florida's 1210 AM The Man for another installment of Cigar Snob's thrice-weekly radio show, "The Draw."

Nick Jiménez and guest David Verjano (Beyond the Agency) discuss advertising and how creative campaigns for local businesses can help lift up entire neighborhoods and suck people into their city's history. Also, we smoke Plasencia Alma Fuerte cigars. All that on South Florida's 1210 AM The Man for another installment of Cigar Snob's thrice-weekly radio show, "The Draw."

Nick Jiménez welcomes guests Jonathan Alfonso and Ricardo Pau-Llosa to talk online marketing, real estate law, poetry and art criticism. Also, we smoke Padrón 1964 Anniversary Series cigars. All that on South Florida's 1210 AM The Man for another installment of Cigar Snob's thrice-weekly radio show, "The Draw."

Erik Calviño, Nick Jiménez and Carlos Rodríguez from Cigar Snob go on South Florida's 1210 AM The Man for another installment of their thrice-weekly radio show called "The Draw." Join us as we smoke Aladino cigars, talk about Erik's dashed breakdancing dreams, debate PEDs in the military, and get a surprise visit from Jorge Padrón of Padrón Cigars.

The boys — and this time, one girl — from Cigar Snob go on South Florida's 1210 AM The Man for another installment of their thrice-weekly radio show called "The Draw." We smoke La Galera Maduro (the No. 23 cigar on our list of the Top 25 Cigars of 2018) and talk about the return of Toys R Us, the Democratic Party debates in Miami, and more.

The boys — and this time, one girl — from Cigar Snob go on South Florida's 1210 AM The Man for another installment of their thrice-weekly radio show called "The Draw." We smoke Romeo y Julieta 1875 Nicaragua (the No. 22 cigar on our list of the Top 25 Cigars of 2018) as we introduce you to Cigar Snob's own Jailet Calviño, talk about some upcoming cigar events, and

The guys from Cigar Snob go on South Florida's 1210 AM The Man for another installment of their thrice-weekly radio show called "The Draw." We smoke 2012 by Oscar Valladares Maduro (the No. 21 cigar on our list of the Top 25 Cigars of 2018) and talk about O.J. Simpson's new Twitter account, Marcus Lemonis' American flag legal battle, Hialeah's cancelation of a bunch of Cuban artists, and more.

The guys from Cigar Snob go on South Florida's 1210 AM The Man for another installment of their thrice-weekly radio show called "The Draw." We smoke Espinosa Habano, which was the no. 20 cigar on out list of the Top 25 Cigars of 2018. Also, we talk about the Lakers-Pelicans trade that's sending Anthony Davis to Los Angeles, Kyle Kashuv's Harvard acceptance being rescinded, and Republican Mitch McConnell cosponsoring a bill to raise the tobacco buying age to 21.

The guys from Cigar Snob go on South Florida's 1210 AM The Man for another installment of their thrice-weekly radio show called "The Draw." We smoke Caldwell The T, which was the no. 19 cigar on out list of the Top 25 Cigars of 2018. Also, we talk NBA Finals, soccer celebrations, Old Town Road moments, and catching sexual predators on social media.

The guys from Cigar Snob go on South Florida's 1210 AM The Man for another installment of their thrice-weekly radio show called "The Draw." Our boy Carluba joins us for one of his go-to smokes, Perdomo 20th Anniversary Maduro. We also talk bans on cetacean captivity, weird hurricane shelters in Puerto Rico, a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Florida, and Big Papi's recovery from a gunshot wound. Also, we gave away t-shirts.

Danny Ditkowich dropped by Cigar Snob HQ to share some cigars and step up to the mic for an interview about the history of La Sirena Cigars, his own path into the cigar industry, and a new product that celebrates La Sirena founder (and Danny's daughter) Arielle Ditkowich's 10th year in the business. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The team reaches into the vault for some old Avos and talks about rum, pairing cigars with rum, Game of Thrones, and all that's new in the latest issue of Cigar Snob Magazine. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Nick recaps his trip to New Orleans, Erik talks about the Rocky-Patel-sponsored Mountain on Fire cigar event he attended in Austria, Ivan breaks down the old-Havana-inspired shoot that's coming in the next issue of the magazine. PLUS, a bonus mini-interview with actress Marcela Paguaga, who is a cast member in The Amparo Experience (and is also the granddaughter of the late Gilberto Oliva, Sr.). Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The team reaches into the Cigar Snob vault for some old Ezra Zion Jamais Vus, then talks Fornite, Bacardi, "The Real Havana Club," immersive rum history theater, and more. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The Cigar Snob team gathers round to talk about the latest issue of the magazine, Donald Trump's "No Collusion Day," Chris Bosh's Miami Heat jersey retirement, March Madness, sous vide cooking, intelligent design, and all sorts of other stuff. All the while, we're smoking Balmoral Serie Signaturas Dueto cigars. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Cigar Right of America executive director Glynn Loope dropped by for a chat about federal regulation of premium cigars, state and municipal smoking bans, and the work that CRA does to engage smokers, tobacconists, cigar makers and government officials in preserving your legal right to enjoy cigars. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Mombacho Cigars is one of the few Nicaraguan cigar manufacturers with a destination factory that's not located in Estelí. The historic building the company calls him is in Granada, Nicaragua, where tons of tourists happen upon Mombacho's story and subsequently (at least we all hope) fall in love with the craft of cigar making. The company's not just a tourist destination, though. They're making serious cigars, including the Mombacho Liga Maestro, which Cigar Snob called the No. 12 cigar of 2018. Mombacho master blender Claudio Sgroi dropped by our office with cigars and doughnuts for a chat. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Our publisher Erik caught some spring training baseball, Jamilet is back from the Dominican Republic's ProCigar festival, and Nick just returned from a trip to Seattle with our art director Andy. We recap all that travel while smoking Cornelius by Cornelius and Anthony. In addition, we imagine a cigar-industry spin on the Jussie Smollett assault scheme, review the Oscars, update you on the latest FDA cigar regulation news, and remind you of the differences between apes and monkeys. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Rafael Nodal came to prominence among smokers with the Aging Room brand he helped create and popularize. Now, he's Tabacalera USA's head of product capacity. It's a role that puts him in the thick of product development as well as some of the retail and hospitality aspects of the company's expanding cigar empire. Rafael dropped by the office for a chat about his career, the cigar making process, and the myriad responsibilities he has in his current role. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We left Miami and headed to Florida's opposite coast for this interview with Rocky Patel, the founder of one of the most recognizable brands in premium cigars. Rocky recalls how he got his start in the business, the challenges of breaking into an insular industry, and the journey from newcomer to cigar superstar. We also get into the charitable work that he does through the Rocky Patel Foundation and his efforts to combat government encroachment on your right to enjoy cigars. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The team gathers around the mics to smoke Mombacho Liga Maestro cigars, which were on our list of the Top 25 Cigars of 2018. We also talk about Matt Kuchar and his caddy, Dwyane Wade's Last Dance, the Dominican Republic's ProCigar Festival, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Ivan's favorite new medicated wipes. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

No matter what you smoke, there’s a damn good chance you’ve been up close to Manny Iriarte’s work. The Cuban-born designer and photographer has created ads, cigar packaging art, and other designs for many of the biggest names in the premium cigar industry — most notably and frequently Arturo Fuente. Manny’s is a compelling story about grit, hard work, and all that’s possible when you’re willing to adapt to changing circumstances and take risks with new skills. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Roberto Guerra and his family are pork roasting royalty in Miami and their Caja China pig roasting box is ubiquitous in any Cuban-American celebration. With some major mainstream exposure from Food Network personalities and the consistently delicious results of using the Caja China, the product is growing in popularity around the country. We sat and smoked with Roberto to talk about pork, parties, and how the Caja China brand has grown beyond its Cuban Miami beginnings. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

On this special two-in-one episode, we're joined by the guys from Tea Time! with Mike & Mike, a podcast hosted by two friends of the magazine, Mike Beltran (chef-owner of Ariete, a restaurant in Coconut Grove) and Mike Ortiz (founder of JoJo Tea). This episode of the podcast is ALSO an episode of Tea Time! and you can find it on their feed. Look 'em up on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Soundcloud and Spotify. We talk cigars, tea, food, football, and a whole lot more. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In “Old Newgate Road,” novelist Keith Scribner tells the story of Cole Callahan, a Connecticut native who moved to the west coast after violence tore his family apart. Now Cole is back in Connecticut’s tobacco country, where he’s coming face to face with the characters, landscapes and relics of his past — including his father and childhood home, which he’d left behind decades before. It’s all set against a backdrop of tobacco fields, sheds loaded with curing Broadleaf, and the culture that has developed around the crop. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Steve Saka, founder of Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, stopped by Cigar Snob HQ for an episode of the podcast. We talked about his young company, his approach to cigar making, and Sin Compromiso, the cigar that we named Cigar of the Year when we announced our picks for the Top 25 Cigars of 2018. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

J. Cortès CEO Fred Vandermarliere represents the third generation to helm his family's Belgian cigar company. In this interview, we talk about his family's approach to machine-made cigars, their motivation for acquiring Oliva Cigars, and where there's overlap between the cultures of the two brands. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The Cigar Snob list of the Top 25 Cigars of 2018 is live. We gathered around the mics to run through the rankings and jibber jabber about some of the smokes that made the cut. See the rankings here: http://www.cigarsnobmag.com/top25 Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

On this episode, we’re bringing you a conversation that Cigar Snob publisher Erik Calviño and senior editor Nicolás Jiménez had with Jochi Blanco of Tabacalera Palma when he stopped by our office on a recent visit to Miami. Tabacalera Palma has been around a long time, but it was only more recently that the company made a hard push marketing its own brands, like La Galera. We talked about the company’s history, Jochy’s approach to blending, and what it’s been like for him to get to know a side of the cigar business he hadn’t dealt with very much early on. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The team smokes El Güegüense, Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Whether at your local cigar shop, in social media, or in the hands of your gadget-obsessed friends, it’s likely that you comes across a lot of cigar accessories. There’s always some new shape of ashtray, finish of humidor or guillotine mechanism out there to try out — but rarely are those new features much more than cosmetic or novelties that stop just short of being truly innovative. Every once in a while, though, a game changing tool comes along. One such tool is the S.T. Dupont Le Grand lighter. In a nutshell, the lighter seamlessly marries soft and jet flame in a way that’s as beautiful as it is practical. To get the details, we spoke recently with Jennifer Loria, the S.T. Dupont brand manager at Davidoff, which has sole distribution in the U.S. market. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The gang is back at the mics to smoke Particulares, a cigar made for Sindicato by Aganorsa, and talk about Kevin Hart, traveling to Pheonix, and the Miami Dolphins' win over the New England Patriots. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The team smokes Herrera Estelí Maduro cigars by Drew Estate, recaps our recent Cigar Snob Lechón Challenge, plots escape from North Sentinel Island, and remembers Thanksgiving diners past. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Brian Chinnock of Chinnock Cellars (and Chinnock Cellars Cigars) stopped by the office to talk about wine, cigars, Napa Valley, how he got his start in a Texas laboratory, and how his friendship with Carlito Fuente and a layover in Miami played a role his his catching the cigar bug. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Rob and Jay from Boveda dropped by Cigar Snob HQ for a conversation about cigars, humidification and their sunburnt calves. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

If you're a subscriber to Cigar Snob Magazine, you've probably come across some of the work of journalist Abraham Mahshie. We had him write a story for us about the consumption of fighting bull meat in Spain, and then later an interview with bullfigher Morante de la Puebla. While in Miami to see some family, Abraham stopped by our office to chat about his experiences in Spain and how he came to embed himself in the peculiar world of Spanish bullfighting. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The Cigar Snob team smokes My Father Limited Edition 10th Anniversary 2018, recaps some recent sports news — like Drew Brees' passing record and the melee at UFC 229 — and wonders which bygone species should be brought back with CRISPR technology. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Steve Zengel dropped by the office to talk about his cigar brand, Los Caídos (Spanish for "The Fallen"), and its mission to support the families of police officers and firefighters who have died in the line of duty. We also talk about his working with Aganorsa, working as a white guy in the athletic program at an HBCU, and more. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The Cigar Snob team enjoys Liga Privada No. 9 in Corona Viva, laments the bygone days of Dairy Queen before it became “DQ,” and wonder aloud about the fate of the newly abbreviated “Dunkin’.” Also, Tiger Woods is winning golf tournaments and people are passing out on carnival rides. All that and more on this episode of the podcast. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We remember Arsenio Ramos, the late master blender at Aganorsa, while smoking one of the many cigars he helped craft: the Casa Fernández Miami Arsenio Maduro. Also, we recap the 2018 Emmy Awards, wonder what Dwyane Wade's last NBA season will look like, and run through some of the highlights of the September/October 2018 issue of Cigar Snob Magazine. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

You know Karl Malone for his hall-of-fame career in the NBA, where he won 2 league MVP awards and cemented his place in basketball history as half of one of the greatest duos of all time — the other, of course, being John Stockton. In retirement, though, he’s taken on other pursuits. He’s an outdoorsman, an entrepreneur, and a tobacconist. At this summer’s IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas, Karl also launched Barrel-Aged by Karl Malone, a cigar thats being made at La Aurora in the Dominican Republic. I had a chance to speak with him about life after basketball, his love of hunting, being an outspoken athlete, and the process he went through to have La Aurora make a cigar bearing his name. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

At July’s IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas, senior editor Nicolás Jiménez had a chance to sit down with Drew Estate master blender Willy Herrera and Jeff Borysiewicz, owner of Orlando’s Corona Cigar as well as Florida Sun Grown, the Central Florida tobacco growing operation whose tobaccos have made their way into various premium cigars, including the eponymous FSG brand made by Drew Estate. They talked about Willy’s blending process, what’s new in the Drew Estate portfolio, how the relationship between Drew Estate and FSG came together, and what it means to Jeff to produce premium cigar tobacco in his own backyard. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Jason Lois will be competing for the title of Cigar Smoking World Champion in Croatia. Cigar Snob's Erik Calviño and Nicolás A. Jiménez spoke with Jason about what that even means, what the competition looks like, and how he's been training to reach the tippy top of the cigar smoking mountain. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The team smokes Arturo Fuente Don Carlos cigars, recaps a recent trip to the Dominican Republic, explains a tostón wager, and wonders whether it's a good idea to require major league baseball players to learn English. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Alec Bradley is one a name loads of cigar smokers know well. But fewer know that there isn’t actually a guy named Alec Bradley behind the brand. The name refers to two brothers — Alec and Bradley — who are the sons of the company’s founder Alan Rubin. While the name might not have referred to anyone in the cigar business at first, that’s starting to change. Our publisher Erik Calviño sat down with Alan Rubin to talk about his company, what’s new in the Alec Bradley portfolio, and the cigar project that the now-adult Alec and Bradley have taken on. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The Cigar Snob team is back. We're smoking Camacho Coyolar, the company's new Dominican puro. Also, we talk about Coney Island Hot Dogs, meeting country band Old Dominion, shooting in the Dominican Republic, and Erik's adventures in brisket. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Sometimes it can seem like any mention of “Central American” cigars is necessarily a reference to Nicaragua. Most of the region’s noteworthy factories are in Estelí. There are great cigars coming out of other countries in the region, though, and one of the hottest protagonists of Honduran cigars is Oscar Valladares. His name recognition in the U.S. got a major bump from Leaf by Oscar, and he's now putting out consistently excellent cigars and some of the most inventive packaging of any boutique brand. I sat with Oscar at last month’s IPCPR trade show to talk about his latest releases, the artist behind the design of some of his new packaging, and what it's like to helm a company that is decidedly Honduran. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

If you’re an American smoker of premium cigars, there’s a chance you still aren’t familiar with Royal Agio. But make no mistake; the company is a powerhouse in Europe, with a multi-generational history that has led to its position as one of the largest manufacturers of cigars in the world — when you count machine-made products that is. While machine made cigars have some negative stigma attached to them in the U.S., Agio products don’t compromise on quality and craft. Just a few years ago, the company expanded its Balmoral brand to include handmade products made at its Dominican factory. Our publisher Erik Calviño sat with Agio’s Boris Wintermans to talk about the company’s history, his family’s fascination with Brazilian tobacco, and their latest project, Dueto, which they launched with a cigar that came out of a collaboration with Ernesto Pérez-Carrillo. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Andre Farkas’ Viaje brand isn’t always easy to come by, but their reputation has spread far and wide. When you come across Viaje cigars, you scoop them up. While at the 2018 IPCPR trade show, Cigar Snob publisher Erik Calviño and senior editor Nicolás A. Jiménez sat with the L.A.-based owner of Viaje for a chat that touched on cigars, booze, basketball and pool parties — along with the first release in Viaje's new Private Keep series of cigars. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Business ideas can come from all sorts of places. In the case of surfer-dude-turned-sailor-turned-humidor maker Daniel Marshall, it all started with a thoughtful thank you gift. Daniel sat down with me while we were at the IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas to talk about his company’s beginnings, how he came to be regarded as among the premier humidor makers in the world, and the benefits of making a living and building a brand inside the cigar culture. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

On this episode, the Cigar Snob team recaps the 2018 IPCPR trade show, where a number of cigars brands and manufacturers debuted new product. We also got our hands on some innovative new accessories, met Karl "The Mailman" Malone, and watched the World Cup Final when a small fire delayed the show. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Robert Holt came into the cigar business after careers in the military and telecommunications. Now, he’s at the helm of Southern Draw, whose cigars are made exclusively by AJ Fernandez in Nicaragua. In a recent interview he did with Cigar Snob's Nick Jiménez not long before the annual IPCPR trade show in Las Vegas, he talked about his life before cigars, what it’s been like to work with his wife Sharon (the namesake of Southern Draw Rose of Sharon, which he and Nick were smoking during this conversation) and how he and Sharon have made their faith and values the cornerstone of their business approach. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Rick Rodriguez dropped by Cigar Snob HQ for an interview. Rick is the blender and ambassador at CAO Cigars, the General Cigar brand known for products like Flathead and Pilón, among others. Unlike so many other blenders, Rick came into his role from the sales side of the business. We talked about how he got his start, what it was like learning to blend with a cigar legend, and what’s on the horizon for the CAO brand. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We got cigars in the mail from Davidoff ... ad we blended them ourselves! Join us as we smoke through some of the cigars we blended while in the Dominican Republic for Davidoff's Viaje al Origen. We also recap the World Cup, talk about leaf blowers, celebrate the survival of the Thai cave kids, and review the latest issue of Cigar Snob Magazine. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The Cigar Snob Team races to eat not one, not two, but THREE hot dogs while smoking Debonaire Daybreak in the ultimate contest of refinement and patriotic gluttony. We also discuss World Cup soccer, SweatCoin, Lebron James, and a whole lot more. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

These days, it seems like there’s no aspect of our lives that is outside the reach of divisive politics. Cigars are no exception, with government seemingly on a perpetual assault of the rights of cigar smokers, tobacconists and manufacturers at the federal, state and municipal levels. Few states are more notorious for their restrictive anti-tobacco policies than New York. With a gubernatorial election coming later this year, incumbent Andrew Cuomo (who is a safe bet in the Democrat primary) faces not only a Republican challenger, but also an unusually competent third-party challenge from Libertarian Larry Sharpe. Cigar Snob senior editor Nicolás A. Jiménez had a chance to speak with Larry about FDA regulation, state and local prohibitions, and what his own libertarian approach to these issues might be if he ended up taking the helm in Albany. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this episode, the team smokes Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua cigars and discusses the World Cup, Koko the Gorilla, Trump's immigration policy, continued unrest in Nicaragua, and some of the latest news coming out of the cigar industry. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

If you’re a fan of Aganorsa Leaf tobacco, there’s a good chance you’ve come across the HVC brand name. We put the HVC San Isidro, which is made at the Aganorsa factory in Estelí, at number 15 on our list of the top 25 cigars of 2017. HVC founder Reinier Lorenzo stopped by our office to watch some World Cup soccer. After the match between Portugal and Spain was over, we moved over to the mics so our publisher Erik Calviño could get an interview in. If you don’t already know his story, you might be surprised to learn what Reinier was doing for a living before he got into the cigar business. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this packed episode of the podcast, the Cigar Snob Team smokes Vegas Cubanas by Don Pepín García (except Nick, who still has a cold) and talks about Nicaragua, North Korea, Donald Trump, Alex Ovechkin, the World Cup, snorkel masks, and a whole lot more. One thing's for sure: this episode's not gonna be effin' suck! Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Our office got a visit from Erik Espinosa, the founder of Espinosa Cigars, which is known for brands like Laranja, 601, and Murcielago. As long as he was here, we figured we’d sit him down in front of a mic for a conversation with our publisher Erik Calviño that ended up touching on his cigars, his singing, and his bucket list. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We reached into the Vault for Humo Jaguar cigars by Plasencia, which were distributed only briefly back in 2011. We also remember Anthony Bourdain the day the world learned of the chef's suicide. All that — plus UFC 225, Yoel Romero, the Camel Clutch, and why you shouldn't watch The Handmaid's Tale — on this episode of the podcast. Listen to the episode for information on how you can win a box of Humo Jaguar cigars from 2011 like the ones we smoked on this podcast! Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In a recent issue of the magazine, we ran a story about Aganorsa, its tobacco, its cigars, and its founder Eduardo Fernández. Aside from its own brands, like Casa Fernández, Aganorsa manufactures cigars for various brands. One of those is Illusione, one of the most highly regarded of the “boutique” brands of premium cigars. While I was in Estelí for that story, I had a chance to interview Illusione founder Dion Giolito. We talked about Aganorsa and, more broadly, about his own company and approach to cigar making. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Need a friend who can join you for motorcycle rides and improve your golf game? Stick around to the end of the podcast for more information on Trumpy Bear! In the meantime, you'll hear us smoking 601 La Bomba Warhead II, recapping game 1 of the NBA Finals, and going over some of our favorite YouTube tutorials. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The team smokes Bellas Artes by AJ Fernandez while talking about Guatemalan shamans, the NFL's kneeling ban, and a soothing composition Ivan uses to fall asleep called "The Salty Chino." All this and more on the latest episode of the podcast. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We reach into the Cigar Snob Vault for a Room 101 Master Collection One (in Mutante), talk sports, and ponder a crappy day at Tim Horton's. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this episode, the team talks about recent trips to Puerto Rico and Key West. We also enjoy Don Rey cigars, recap recent NBA Playoffs progress, and breakdown the caca risk of various fast foods. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The cigar industry is dominated by families whose tobacco stories begin in Cuba. But one company in particular stands out as not only having a deeply Nicaraguan identity, but also having a history that is tightly woven into that of its home country. In this episode, you’ll hear Erik Calviño’s interview with Alejandro Martínez Cuenca, the man behind Joya de Nicaragua. Alejandro dives deep into the history of Joya, the tumultuous political climate that surrounded it, how it came to be the official cigar of the White House, and what lies ahead for the brand. You won’t want to miss this one. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Cuba has a new president. What does that mean? Also, we smoke FSG by Drew Estate and talk about brand owner Jeff's revealing tobacco farm video. Fake Obama: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ54GDm1eL0 John Suárez on Communism in Cuba: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jf7M5SP3Q Al Jazeera English panel on Cuba's new president: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IX6ObcacAU Video from the Florida Sun Grown farm: https://www.facebook.com/FloridaSunGrown/videos/2030465380608376/ Dave Rubin interviews Thomas Sowell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ivf9jrXGAY Boxers of briefs? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6tbrbALSUU&t= Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The team celebrates our 25th episode with Hamlet 25th Year cigars. We also dive into the world of sports, touching on the NBA Playoffs, the Masters, and Tristan Thompson's motorboating. In addition, we recap Erik's trip to Pittsburgh, Nick's time in New Orleans, and Ivan's adventures in male garter belts. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Spend enough time around professional chefs, and you’ll find that they are — disproportionately — lovers of premium cigars. Maybe it’s the need to relax after all the long hours in the kitchen or the fact that they have the refied palates to appreciate complex flavors. Whatever it is, it’s been my experience that you’re more likely to find fellow cigar smokers among the chef ranks than most other professions. Recently, our own Erik Calviño got a chance to chat with Michael Beltran, the chef and partner at Ariete, a great new Miami restaurant. They talked about his perspective on food, how it was informed by his leaving Miami for a time, and how dominoes played a role in his developing a passion for cigars. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The team reaches into the Cigar Snob Vault to smoke Camacho Blackout Limited Edition 2013. We also talk about lighters, Reddit cigar trades, and beer that makes your butt bleed. Mentioned in this episode: GT's Kombucha: http://gtslivingfoods.com/ Clapton: The Autobiography: https://www.amazon.com/Clapton-Autobiography-Eric/dp/076792536X Marc Maron "Too Real" (Netflix standup special) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M_y99jqTgk GTS Kombucha Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The most recent issue of Cigar Snob includes a story about Aganorsa, the Nicaragua-based agriculture company that has become one of that country’s most prolific growers or premium cigar tobacco and well respected manufacturers of premium cigars. While in Nicaragua for that story, Nick Jiménez interviewed Nicholas Melillo, the founder of Foundation Cigar Co.; you can find some of his quotes in that story in the magazine. In this episode of the podcast, you’ll hear the full interview with Nick. We get into the company’s beginnings, what’s on the horizon on the product front, and what it been like for him to transition to life on the road in the U.S. after many years living in Estelí, Nicaragua. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The team (Erik Calviño, Ivan Ocampo, Nicolás Jiménez) smokes La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Obelisco cigars while talking March Madness basketball, FDA regulation, Rocky Patel's new lounge in Pittsburgh, and fake meat! Mentioned in this episode: Captain Andrew Luck: https://twitter.com/captandrewluck?lang=en Jimmy P's Butcher Shop: https://www.jimmypsbutchershop.com/ Meet the guy cleaning up a nature preserve on his own: http://www.dademag.com/features/cleaning-bear-cut-preserve-mangrove-swamp-miami Take Your Pills trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6Xebo1pngM Rand Paul reads the omnibus bill (Twitter thread): https://twitter.com/RandPaul/status/976909053870911488 Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

If you shop at brick-and-mortar tobacconists, you’re almost certain in contact with loads of Eduardo Fernández’s tobacco whether you like it or not. One of the most prolific growers of premium cigar tobacco in Nicaragua, Eduardo came into the cigar business by an unconventional path. His agricultural conglomerate, AGANORSA, includes his tobacco growing operation and his cigar manufacturing business. The AGANORSA factory, which has been known until now as Tabacos Valle de Jalapa, or TABSA, makes cigars for Eduardo’s own Casa Fernandez brand, as well as JFR, Foundation, Illusione, Warped, Viaje, and HVC. Eduardo sat down with me for an interview not too long ago at his factory. We talked about his past ventures, how he built his tobacco empire, and what he sees in the factory’s future. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Apologies for the late upload, people! We had been busy wrapping up an issue of the magazine. This episode was recorded just a few days before St. Patrick's Day 2018. We get into that, March Madness basketball, and a whole bunch more while enjoying Drew Estate's candela-wrapped MUWAT KFC Swamp Rat. Have you tried those? Let us know what you thought by emailing us at [email protected] and we might read your note on an upcoming episode. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The Cigar Snob team enjoys some Debonaire Maduros (in Sagita) while talking about the Academy Awards, South Africa's troubling move to confiscate white-owned farmland, and a letter from a guy who doesn't seem to like our magazine very much. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We mark Rocky Patel's birthday with some Vintage 2006 San Andreas, look back on ProCigar 2018, and administer our very own citizenship test to our art director Andy "El Yuma" Astencio. What is a mullet? Who is "The Duke"? What is a Grand Slam? Join us as we smoke great cigars, talk the hottest new social media company, and stumble through our ridiculous high-stakes game show. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Cigar Snob Magazine's Nick Jiménez hopped on a call to interview Steve Gherebean, one of the guys behind Hand Rolled, a documentary film about premium cigars. In the interview, Steve explains how the project was born, who's behind it, and how it has changed the way the filmmakers see handmade cigars and the people who make them. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The Cigar Snob team gathers in the studio to smoke Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust's Todos Las Dias while we chat about the winter games, boat shows, hanging with Nestor Miranda of Miami Cigar, Smoke Inn's Great Smoke event, Valentine's Day and Fergie's national anthem attempt. We also recommend movies and hotels you should check out, as well as some home improvement products you should avoid. Join us for all the cigar smoke and lady lumps. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We recently joined a group of cigar retailers and cigar media for Viaje al Origen, a Davidoff-sponsored tour of the iconic company’s Dominican farming, fermentation and manufacturing operation in the Dominican Republic. The tours and the tastings that were sandwiched in between were, for the most, led by Klaas Pieter Kelner. He’s the son of Davidoff’s Henke Kelner. And at 27 years old, he’s coming into his own as an ambassador for the brand. We got hooked up to some microphones for a quick chat about growing up around the cigar business and what it’s been like for Klaas to learn the ropes and become one of the Davidoff brand’s lead cigar evangelists. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The Cigar Snob team shoots the breeze, talking about the Super Bowl (spoiler alert: the Philapdelphia Geegles won the day), movies (spoiler alert: there's freaky fish sex in The Shape of Water) and travel to Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic (spoiler alert: there are cigars). We also get into some Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Gran Reservas and talk about how hard various cigars kick you in the nuts. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Luís Cuevas of Casa Cuevas Cigars came by Cigar Snob HQ to talk with Cigar Snob publisher Erik Calviño about cigars, how he got into the business, and what's coming down the pike for his brand. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

At 2018’s Puro Sabor festival in Estelí, Nicaragua, Carlito Fuente of Arturo Fuente cigars dropped a bomb of an announcement. The Fuente cigar family — known for its Dominican-made cigars — let the cat out of the bag about its plans to open a cigar factory in Estelí. The Fuentes don’t do anything halfway, which means that this one company is looking to change the landscape of Nicaraguan cigars. What’s more, Carlito announced that the person running the Fuentes’ Nicaraguan operations from seed to cigar would be Félix Mesa. There’s a chance you’ve heard the name. Felix is the owner of El Galán Cigars, which has a small factory in Estelí, as well as a retail store near the CIgar Snob offices. Félix isn’t a household name in the cigar world, so when people learned that the guy at the helm of what’s sure to be a massive operation would be a relative unknown, it generated even more questions. On a recent trip to the Dominican Republic, I had a chance to sit with Carlito Fuente and get deeper into the story. Why Nicaragua? Why now? Why Félix Mesa? And what should smokers expect to see coming out of this expansion and into their humidors? This interview is the first time Carlito’s gone into this level of detail with any cigar media. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Godiva Chocolate Liqueur and an old Montecristo Premium Selection '07 from the deep corners of our humidor fuel the Cigar Snob team's discussion of bitcoin, the Super Bowl, and the newest issue of Cigar Snob Magazine. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

You might never have heard much about Gilberto Oliva, Sr., but the Oliva Cigars patriarch, who died in December 2017, was as consequential in the story of cigars — especially Nicaraguan cigars — as any of his peers. In this special episode of the podcast, you'll hear from some of the people who knew Gilberto best, like his son José Oliva, Jorge Padrón (Padrón Cigars), Ernesto Pérez Carrillo (EPC Cigars), Carlito Fuente (Arturo Fuente Cigars), Nestor Plasencia (Plasencia Cigars)and Erik Calviño (Cigar Snob Magazine).

To bring you closer to the life of the late José Orlando Padrón — the Padrón Cigar family patriarch who died in December 2017 — we went to some of the family, friends, and cigar makers who knew him best. In this special episode of the podcast, you'll hear from José Orlando's son Jorge, as well as Rocky Patel, Ernesto Pérez Carrillo, Jonathan Drew, Carlito Fuente, and José Oliva. In addition, you'll hear from tobacconists Craig Cass, Abe Dababneh, and Jorge Valdés. Albert Hernández of The Bastards — the "secret society" of Padrón superfans — remembers laughing with his favorite cigar maker, and Fr. Willie García-Tuñón, S.J. tells the story of José Orlando's request for prayers that he leave this earth on a particular day.

After releasing our list of the Top 25 Cigars of 2017, the Cigar Snob team gathered around the microphones to discuss the list — and, of course, our pick for Cigar of the Year. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The Cigar Snob Team talks New Years Eve, the FDA, and what's coming in 2018 while smoking AJ Fernandez Enclave Broadleaf. We also do our best Bill Burr impersonations and complain about sweater weather in Miami. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Episode art: f99aq8ove https://www.flickr.com/photos/11212545@N05/

The Cigar Snob team remembers Gilberto Oliva, Sr. while enjoying Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduros. We also talked about our Christmas traditions, our favorite stories of 2017, movie recommendations, and photo producer Ivan's new miracle pillow. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The team smokes Padróns in honor of the late José Orlando Padrón. We also talk about the Miami Marlins, Boston's vanishing cigar scene, fantasy football and the process of ranking the top 25 cigars of the year. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Cigar Snob publisher Erik Calviño sits down for a talk with Terence Reilly, the new VP of sales and marketing at Casa Fernandez Cigars. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The team smokes Undercrown Sungrown while talkin' turkey, football, superheroes and more. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We sat down with Hamlet Paredes to find out why he left a successful career in Cuba to start over with Rocky Patel Premium cigars. The conversation includes everything from pairing recommendations to an explanation of why Hamlet's owes much of his success to his mother's insistence that he learn English even before he seriously considered leaving Havana behind. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/