Down to Herf Podcast

This week we’re joined by Crowned Heads’ Jon Huber for a remote interview as we light up the new Moonflower, the latest addition to the Crowned Heads portfolio. We talk about the blend, discuss what’s coming down the pipeline for the brand, and get Jon’s thoughts on PCA returning to Las Vegas next year and how the show went for him this past April. Patrol Gone Wild is packed with another round of...

Episode 228 is here, and this week we’re lighting up the CAO America 250th Anniversary to find out if this all-American blend lives up to the hype ahead of Independence Day. We also discuss Discord’s recent crackdown on cigar communities, our Fourth of July plans, Europe’s record-breaking heat wave, and some of the biggest recent Supreme Court decisions making headlines. Patrol Gone Wild delivers...

This week, the guys smoke the AVO Expresivo Toro and welcome Garrison Davis from AVO Cigars for a remote interview. With Davidoff returning to PCA for a 2nd year in a row and AVO rolling out an ambitious new release campaign, there was plenty to discuss. Garrison shared his path into the cigar industry, gave some insight into what’s happening behind the scenes at AVO, and the conversation wandered...

Lure’s Lou Cross joins us remotely this week as we review the new PCA-exclusive Wahoo Kingfish and get an inside look at what’s been happening with the brand since the trade show. We discuss the proposed New York generational tobacco ban, the fallout of the UFC card at the White House, and Lou’s thoughts on both. Patrol Gone Wild features a wild identity theft case, a burglar caught thanks to a ch...

This week we’re lighting up the Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Year of the Pausers Tom’s Blend, a limited release honoring one of the cigar world’s most recognizable personalities. Does Steve Saka’s newest tribute cigar live up to the hype, or is it destined to be remembered more for the story than the smoke? We also dive into the controversy surrounding the recent Los Angeles mayoral primary, disc...

This week on Down to Herf, we're lighting up the brand-new 601 Blue 20th Anniversary from Espinosa Cigars and seeing if this celebratory release lives up to the legacy of one of the most beloved blends in the 601 portfolio. We also make our official picks for both the Stanley Cup Final and NBA Finals before diving into France's controversial nicotine pouch ban, which now includes penalti...

This week we fire up the brand new Powstanie Sumatra for a full review. The boys dive into the insanity surrounding the Enhanced Games and whether the future of sports is about to become chemically supercharged entertainment. We also break down the latest NHL playoff chaos, the ongoing Carter Hart controversy and media fallout, plus the disturbing details surrounding the recent White House shooter...

This week we’re lighting up the HVC La Decoración, a Cuban-inspired release from Reinier Lorenzo that had us talking classic flavor profiles, medium-bodied balance, and whether the industry is finally shifting away from the “stronger is always better” era.  We also break down the recent NHL playoff chaos leading into the massive Game 7 showdown between Buffalo and Montreal, the fallout after the b...

Episode 221 of the Down to Herf Podcast is here and this week we fire up the brand new Notorious Cigars Unapologetic from Conor McGregor’s cigar line. We break down the bold blend, flashy presentation, and whether this celebrity-backed smoke actually delivers in the humidor or just talks a big game. We also get into a wild weekend in combat sports after Sean Strickland shocked the MMA world with a...

Episode 220 of the Down to Herf Podcast is off to the races as we fire up the brand new Drew Estate Undercrown El Tigre Dominicano, one of the standout releases from the PCA 2026 Trade Show. We break down the blend, first impressions, and whether this Dominican spin on the Undercrown line lives up to the hype. From there the conversation shifts into the wild world of current events as we recap the...

Episode 219 of Down to Herf comes in hot with a mix of sports, controversy, and a cigar that punches above its weight. We break down the ongoing NHL playoffs and how the matchups are shaping up, get into the chaos and surprises from the NFL Draft, and take a hard look at the recent controversy surrounding the Southern Poverty Law Center. In between all that, we light up the RoMa Craft Maquette El...

Episode 218 rolls in with us lighting up the freshly released Black Works Studio Boondock and giving our honest take on whether this one lives up to the hype or gets lost in the shuffle. From there, we unpack everything coming out of our trip to PCA 2026 in New Orleans—the chaos, the conversations, and most importantly the cigars. We break down the standout releases, the brands making real noise,...

Episode 217 of Down to Herf is firing on all cylinders with baseball officially in full swing across Major League Baseball, the energy is back, and the crew breaks down early season storylines while also gearing up for the intensity of the upcoming National Hockey League playoffs. On the science side, they react to the successful Artemis II mission, marking a major milestone as humanity pushes bac...

Episode 216 of Down to Herf is packed from start to finish as we fire up the 10th Jubilee from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust and give our full breakdown on flavor, construction, and whether it lives up to the hype. From there, things take a turn into the wild as we dive into Jake Paul’s response to the Druski controversy and the backlash surrounding his decision to go blackface, plus a serious loo...

This week on the Down to Herf Podcast, we fire up the Foundation Tenth Anniversario and put it through its paces while diving headfirst into one of the wildest news cycles yet. From the internet losing its mind over Druski’s white face controversy to the eyebrow-raising alien theories being floated by Vice President JD Vance, nothing is off limits. Patrol Gone Wild is absolute chaos this week as w...

Episode 214 of the Down to Herf Podcast is packed from start to finish as we light up and review the recently reblended Passport No. 3 from Crux Cigars and give our honest take on whether the new blend lives up to the name. We kick things off with some current events, diving into the chaos and excitement of March Madness, touching on the ongoing government shutdown, and bouncing around a few other...

Episode 213 of the Down to Herf Podcast brings the heat as we sit down with Tyler Jeffery of Viso Horny to talk about one of the more unique collaborations to hit the cigar scene—Leprechaun Dust with Patina. We dive into the story behind the blend, how the partnership came together, and whether this limited release lives up to the hype once we put flame to it. Patrol Gone Wild is absolute chaos th...

This week on the Down to Herf Podcast the guys sit down with one of the most famous cigars in the world ,the Montecristo No. 4. Cuban cigars have built a near-mythical reputation among cigar smokers, but the big question is whether they actually live up to the hype. We break down the history of the brand, our smoking experience with the Montecristo No. 4, and have an honest conversation about wher...

This week on Down to Herf, we sat down with Lou Cross of Lure Cigars to talk about his latest release, the Slim Jim Catch and Release. Lou walked us through the inspiration behind the project, how the blend came together, and why this cigar stands out in a market full of traditional profiles. We broke down the construction, flavor notes, and who this cigar is really made for, along with some insig...

This week on Down to Herf, we light up and break down the recently released Aganorsa Leaf Supreme Leaf 109, a bold new addition to the Supreme Leaf lineup that’s already generating serious buzz. We’re joined by Terrence Riley of Aganorsa Leaf for a brief but insightful interview where we discuss the inspiration behind the 109 project, how it fits into the Supreme Leaf evolution, and what upcoming...

Episode 209 of the Down to Herf Podcast, “Paging Dr. Farkas,” covers the latest Olympic results, the Canadian curling cheating controversy, and some of the wildest Gen Z slang making the rounds. We also review the newly released Viaje One of One. Patrol Gone Wild features an EMT charged with a shocking crime, a bizarre train jerker, and a crazy police shootout. Caleb’s News brings updates on a new...

Episode 208 of the Down to Herf Podcast, “Fake Maye,” brings a packed lineup of cigars, sports, and the usual chaos. We break down the fallout from the Super Bowl and talk through some of the biggest storylines coming out of the recent Olympic events. On the cigar side, we review the newly released Tatuaje PCA 2025 and give our thoughts on how it stacks up. Patrol Gone Wild delivers another wild s...

Episode 207 of the Down to Herf Podcast features a sit-down interview with Mike Szczepankiewicz of Powstanie Cigars and Cigar Hustler. We break down Powstanie’s newly released San Andres Corona Gorda and talk through the brand’s momentum, highlighting the successful year they’ve had and the accolades they earned along the way. Patrol Gone Wild delivers as always, with stories of a criminal who jus...

Episode 206 of the Down to Herf Podcast features our review of the Adrian Magnus Royal LE, followed by a breakdown of the NFL Conference Championship results and our thoughts on the upcoming Super Bowl matchup between the Patriots and Seahawks. We also can’t ignore Jerry’s uncanny resemblance to Sam Darnold before recapping the UFC 324 main event between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett that was...

Episode 205 of the Down to Herf Podcast is live, and we kick things off with a full review of the Black Label Trading Co. Deliverance Nocturne. We break down the flavor profile, construction, and where this cigar stacks up among recent BLTC releases. From there, we shift gears into the gut-punch Buffalo Bills overtime loss to the Denver Broncos, unpacking the fallout, missed opportunities, and wha...