Cigar Snob Podcast

Is rum really the easiest pairing category for cigars, or does it just depend on the smoke? The guys tackle that exact question from Chris M. in Denver before lighting up the Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust 10th Jubilee — a Corona Gorda with an Ecuador wrapper, Mexican San Andres binder, and an all-star Nicaraguan filler blend delivering cream, soft pepper, and a background sweetness that builds all the...

Anto Mahroukian of Española Cigars joins the Cigar Snob Podcast to celebrate 30 years in the industry. We cover the brand's origin story, the JM Tobacco portfolio, and light up the new Española Aniversario — a cigar built on seven-year-aged tobacco that's been resting for two years. Find out why this West Coast brand deserves more East Coast love.

Pedro from Chicago ditched his traditional humidor for a portable plastic bin, and the guys have thoughts — from cedar buffering and Boveda packs to beetle outbreaks and the great debate over whether a tupperdore is a legit long-term solution or just a glorified food container. Then, the Drew Estate Underground 10 hits the desk — the legendary rollers' cigar turned cult classic — and gets paired w...

In this episode of the Cigar Snob Podcast, Erik Calviño sits down with Jeremy Yoder, the creator of Mad Scientist BBQ, to talk about barbecue, cigars, and the unlikely path that led him from teaching science to building one of YouTube’s most respected barbecue channels. Yoder shares what it was like growing up Amish in Michigan, how studying biochemistry and teaching shaped the way he understands...

The guys put three high-end brandies to the test alongside the newly released Montecristo 90th Anniversary. Planning to enjoy cigars in Paris or London? They tackle a listener's question about navigating cigar lounge etiquette across the pond. For Share a Smoke, Eric Douglas of Davidoff Hard Rock goes in-studio to talk about building a premium lounge experience at The Guitar Hotel and shares the s...

Erik shares a smoke with the next generation at La Flor Dominicana, Litto Gomez Jr. The young cigar maker shares what it was like growing up in a cigar family and how he cut his teeth developing his first blend. There are stories of sibling rivalries, tales from the road, and an honest assessment of what cigar reps mean to the business.

Comedian Mario Ramil joins the show to drop some profound nuggets of comedic wisdom while smoking a Don Pepin Garcia Serie JJ. The guys answer a question from a listener concerned about microplastics in his cigars. What?! Lastly, the Romeo y Julieta 150th Anniversary gets a full review as well as a vertical tasting with Woodinville Whiskey.

My cigar is a dud, can I ask for a replacement? by Cigar Snob

Ever wonder if frigid temps mess with your favorite cigar? In this episode, the guys tackle a listener’s question: Does cold weather affect how my cigar smokes? They talk about temperature, humidity, construction, and how it all can impact the experience —plus, they drop some pro tips for braving winter with a stogie in hand. Then, it’s time to put the Titan de Bronze Redemption to the test before...

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

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

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...

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 Cuba...

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. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (in...

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. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3...

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

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. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevi...

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. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed unde...

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...

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. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin Ma...

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. Music in this episode: "BossaBossa" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Com...

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... Music in this episode: "BossaBossa"...

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....

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