The Leaf Cutters

A ruined wrapper. A soggy cap. Bits of leaf in your mouth. Rick Nardo and Greg Snyder decided there had to be a better way—and after roughly twenty different versions, Tip Dip was born.

Carlos Wild didn’t just wake up one day and decide to start a cigar company. His mother rolled cigars in Cuba, Tampa, and Miami. She started teaching him about individual tobacco leaves when he was a teenager. Years later, after helping other people develop blends, Carlos finally decided to put his own name—and his family’s story—behind a brand. And one of his signature blends? He literally dreame...

What happens when everyone knows the final score about ten minutes into the show? Pipe World joins us as the sponsor of this week’s Back Porch Lounge, and they brought along the RoMa Craft Maestranza . That might have been a mistake. Not because the crew disliked it—quite the opposite. Zack basically started reviewing it before we were supposed to. Gibs called it an evolution of the RoMa Craft pro...

Aaron Paoletta returns to the Back Porch Lounge, and we're finally revisiting the controversy that followed his last appearance. Aaron explains what happened after the clip spread, why he still stands behind the original point and what changed once everyone involved had enough time to actually discuss the issue rather than react to a few seconds of video. Then we go much deeper. Aaron talks about...

The Leaf Cutters review two Eclat Noir Boss Lady blends during the same episode. The Maduro delivers a rich, steady profile with coffee, black pepper and mild chocolate. The Habano provides a sweeter experience built around zucchini bread, citrus, sweet bread and crème brûlée. The crew also clears up the meaning of fuma tasting events before discussing Steven Seagal, Aikido, Krav Maga, Doug Marcai...

Honest Abe Dababneh joins The Leaf Cutters to review Mago Vice and discuss the realities of storage, transportation, pest prevention, product development, independent retail, the Las Vegas Sphere, time management, and financial literacy. Abe also tells the incredible story of traveling to Florida for a short visit and deciding not to return to his family’s grocery business in Illinois.

The Leaf Cutters are back in The Back Porch Lounge for a grab bag episode featuring four different smokes and four very different reviews. Gibs reviews the Mother Clucker Maduro from Drunk Chicken Cigars, Andy takes on the Gurkha Collection Especial, Grimm tries the DBL Nicaragua, and Zack checks out the Lure Cigars Wahoo PCA Exclusive. The crew also talks about bad drink pairings, sweet tea mista...

Jason Wood from Miami Cigar & Company joins The Back Porch Lounge to talk about the Outcast cigar, a unique smoke built around Black Cavendish pipe tobacco, a subtle sweet tip, and a mild-plus aromatic profile. The crew talks blend details, the Outcast logo, Tatiana history, Don Lino Africa, Nestor Miranda, flavored cigar stigma, pairings, and final ratings. This one surprised everyone and ear...

The Leaf Cutters review the Diesel 10th Anniversary, supplied by Grimm. This one brought full body, aged flavor, natural sweetness, pepper, coffee, cedar, earth, espresso, and strong construction. The crew had minor burn issues due to fans and outdoor conditions, but the overall experience was overwhelmingly positive. Final scores:Gibs — 5Andy — 4.75Grimm — 5Robert — 5Zack — 5 Final verdict: Leaf...

Greg Free of Fortaleza y Libre joins The Leaf Cutters in The Back Porch Lounge for a full crew session featuring Sun Country, Segundo Viento, Intimidador, Bushwhacker, and Midnight Bender. The conversation covers the Fuerte y Libre name change, the bull logo issue, PCA booth life, shop partnerships, pairing tests with Eagle Rare and coffee, the blending process, and the upcoming Law Dog release. T...

Adrian Magnus, Premium Pricing & Boutique vs Legacy Brands Luxury presentation, smooth flavor, and a debate that goes far beyond the blend itself. The crew explores Adrian Magnus aged selections while discussing craftsmanship, aging, construction, flavor development, and overall value. The conversation evolves into a broader discussion about boutique brands, legacy manufacturers, and how enthu...

🎙️ The Back Porch Lounge welcomes Hyman Lazega of Grouchy Monkey Cigars for a laid-back conversation about boutique cigar craftsmanship, blending philosophy, and the Jungle Land Maduro. The crew discusses smooth retrohales, medium-bodied flavor profiles, coffee pairings, cigar construction, Candela experiences, and the realities of building a boutique cigar brand in today’s market. Hyman also shar...

This week in The Back Porch Lounge, The Leaf Cutters fire up a grab bag lineup and talk about one thing every cigar fan is feeling right now: prices. The crew reviews Perdomo Lot 23 Sun Grown, AVO 85th Anniversary, CAO MX2, Dunbarton Mi Querida, Patina Leprechaun Dust, Silent Hero La Bamba, and more while breaking down burn, draw, aging, flavor, and final ratings. Then the conversation turns to wh...

What keeps you coming back—the flavor, the moment, or the people? This episode blends cigar talk with real-life reflection. The Leaf Cutters explore Candela cigars, compare flavor profiles, and take a surprising turn into music pairings and personal rituals. From quiet moments alone to shared experiences with friends, this conversation highlights how cigars become more than just a hobby—they becom...

🔥 This episode is all about finding the RIGHT cigar for YOU. We’re joined by Aaron Paoletta of La Vega Cigars, who brings a unique approach to the lounge—hand-selecting cigars based on personal taste preferences like coffee, bourbon, and favorite foods. We break down each cigar live, discussing flavor notes, construction, and how different blends evolve throughout the smoke. From creamy and smoot...

The Leaf Cutters welcome Goss from Goss Tobacco back to the Back Porch Lounge. In this special episode, the crew lights up the limited-edition Frightened cigar while diving into a conversation that blends cigar knowledge, industry insights, and plenty of humor. The cigar delivers a medium profile with notes of cocoa, coffee sweetness, and a subtle spice that builds into a stronger final third. Thr...

Knuckle Sandwich Chef’s Special 2025 + Leaf Politics: California Fees, Tariffs, and Why Lounges Matter No guest this week—just the Leaf Cutters crew doing what we do: laughing too hard, accidentally getting educational, and enjoying a seriously memorable stick. Knuckle Sandwich Chef’s Special 2025 (box-pressed Toro) Blend: Brazilian wrapper + Nicaraguan binder & filler Experience: sweet black-...

Back Porch Lounge: Mark from CATI (Katie’s) — PR 49 “Cannon,” Pairings, Process, and the “Demon Donkey” Story This week in the Back Porch Lounge, we’re hanging with Mark from CATI (Katie’s) Cigars while we smoke the PR 49 “Cannon” and talk through everything that makes it a standout: smooth start, creamy profile, a stronger finish, and the kind of consistency you want for an easy, any-time lounge...

This episode of The Back Porch Lounge features a thoughtful and engaging conversation with Lou Cross of Lure Cigars , centered around The Last Cast , an annual release inspired by memory, tradition, and shared time. Lou reflects on how fishing, storytelling, and premium handcrafted experiences naturally create space for slowing down and connecting. The hosts explore the philosophy behind limited r...

In this Back Porch Lounge episode, the crew sits down with Michael Prey of Bruters Cigar Accessories , a veteran-owned, USA-made maker focused on premium cutters built with serious materials and intentional design. Michael explains what goes into a high-performance cut: grade-5 titanium construction , MagnaCut steel blades , magnetic closure to keep the tool secure, and a smooth action supported b...

Sweet Elder & For Freedom: From Legalism to Liberty (Back Porch Lounge Show) In this episode of The Back Porch Lounge Show, The Leaf Cutters crew welcomes Brett Martin & James Safetit from For Freedom for a wide-ranging conversation that blends leaf talk, faith, and real-life stories. We fire up Sweet Elder , their naturally sweet Nicaraguan long-leaf blend infused with honey and vanilla n...

This week on The Back Porch Lounge Show, we’re reviewing the Cavalier Three Delinquents, an artisan-crafted slow burner with a dessert-like sweetness that kept the entire Porch talking. Thanks to Penny’s Public House, we had the perfect excuse to dissect every layer of this premium leaf—from the airy draw to the creamy, tiramisu-style notes some of the crew experienced. We compared ratings, debate...

In this episode of The Back Porch Lounge Show , we dive deep into one of the most fascinating partnerships shaping today’s premium leaf landscape: the collaboration between Mo of Patina and Tyler of Viso Horny on their innovative Verdigris blend. This conversation reveals how two creators with completely different backgrounds merged their strengths—marketing vision, hands-on factory experience, bl...

Welcome back to The Back Porch Lounge Show — where community, craftsmanship, and conversation converge. In this week’s episode we sit down with founders Pedro and Val of Haze Grey Cigars to dive into the story behind their boutique brand, explore the unique characteristics of their blends, and celebrate the camaraderie that fuels the modern cigar culture. We discuss the Patriot (a double Maduro wi...

Hey lounge fam! I’m so excited to bring you this week’s episode of The Back Porch Lounge Show where I sat down with Jean Romanowicz, brand manager of Cigar World — yep, we go deep into hobby culture, community vibes, artisan craftsmanship and beginner-friendly tips for anyone looking to elevate their leisure experience. Whether you’re brand new or a longtime enthusiast, this is for YOU. We explore...