Cigar Snob Podcast

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 elec...

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 ou...

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 und...

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) Li...

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...

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 Illusion...

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 Creat...

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/li...

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...

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 Gr...

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 C...

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...

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.y...

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...

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 natu...

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 busines...

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 feedback@cigarsnobmag.com and w...

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/lice...

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...

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) L...

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 f...

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...