#ELOsoFumarTakes

It's time for #ElOsoFumarTakes #Take367 , and we're celebrating our Annual Father's Day Show with one of our favorite guests!   Joining us is none other than Tom Lazuka of Asylum Cigars for an incredible milestone—his SIXTH Father's Day appearance on #ElOsoFumarTakes !   We'll have plenty to talk about, including: Chat about the custom Asylum cigar being created for my upcoming wedding Wedding pla...

On this episode of #ELOsoFumarTakes #Take366 as we welcome back the founder of Cavalier Genève Cigars, Sébastien Decoppet, for what promises to be an incredible conversation celebrating 10 years of innovation, craftsmanship, and pushing the boundaries of premium cigars.   We’ll dive into: Cavalier’s remarkable first decade The new Project 10th Anniversary release The fascinating claro vs. dark wra...

#ELOsoFumarTakes #365thTake   365 episodes.   A full year of Takes.   What started as a passion project has grown into 365 conversations, countless cigars, unforgettable guests, and an incredible community of cigar enthusiasts. We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate this milestone than with two special guests from the world of premium cigars.     We’ll be discussing: The all-new AVO Expres...

#ELOsoFumarTakes – Take #364   This week, we’re welcoming a special guest to the show — Oliver Nivaud of United Cigars! We’re diving into some of the biggest topics shaping the premium cigar industry, including: The latest developments at Selected Tobacco New factory projects in Spain The evolving role of NFTs in the cigar world The annual tradition of 20 Days of United Cigars between Flag Day and...

  We’re bringing back special guest Tripp Waldrop from Let’s Get Pairing for the SECOND YEAR IN A ROW to talk all things FOOD from PCA 2026 in New Orleans!   Because honestly…   “We came, we saw, we smoked… but somewhere between the cigars and cocktails, we accidentally ate our way through New Orleans.” From late-night bites to unforgettable meals, insane pairings, PCA food finds, and stories that...

#ELOsoFumarTakes #Take362 The NEW era of Drew Estate is officially here — and we’re breaking it all down with Javier Largaespada. From the opening of the legendary J. Sann & Son Cigar Experience in Wynwood… to a brand-new factory in the Dominican Republic… to Drew Estate growing its OWN tobacco for the very first time in company history — the game is changing. And yes… we’re diving deep into t...

We’re back from PCA and bringing the energy straight out of New Orleans with a special episode: “One Vibe of New Orleans.”This episode, we’re keeping it raw and real—fresh off the show floor. We’re lighting up cigars we haven’t smoked yet, breaking them down live, and running through the moments that defined the week. The hits, the misses, the unexpected standouts… and the one moments that stuck w...

#ELOsoFumarTakes #360thTake     We’re back with another deep-dive, no-filter conversation—this one’s for the true cigar culture heads.   Special Guest: William Cooper of Cigar Coop From 15 years of trade show experience, we’re diving into what hasn’t changed, the relationships that have evolved, the companies we miss, and the ones still just out of reach—plus pre-show predictions, hits, misses, an...

#ELOsoFumarTakes #359thTake – LIVE TOMORROW NIGHT   Brandon Oveson and Kendrick Woolstenhulme didn’t just start a cigar company… they built a brand rooted in identity, conviction, and a story that challenges the norm. From Utah to the Dominican Republic, their journey—and their cigars—are anything but ordinary.   This episode dives into: – The story behind Apostate – What it really takes to build...

#ELOsoFumarTakes #358th Take This one’s got some serious afterburners. We’re celebrating the 40th anniversary of Top Gun — the film that defined cool for a generation and still hits just as hard today. From high-octane dogfights to unforgettable one-liners, it’s time to buzz the tower all over again. Joining me for this special episode: Returning guest Fred Rewey — Co-Publisher & Co-Owner of C...

#ELOsoFumarTakes #357thTake   This week we welcomes the return of special guest — Casey Haugen of Crux Cigars — for a deep dive into one of the boutique brands that has quietly built a loyal following among cigar smokers.   Founded in 2014 by Jeff and Casey Haugen, Crux Cigars was born from a passion for premium tobacco and the pursuit of crafting cigars that balance tradition, quality, and a uniq...

#ELOsoFumarTakes #356thTake This week, we’re honored to welcome a next-generation voice in premium cigars — Litto Gomez Jr., son of founder Litto Gomez and Vice President of Sales at La Flor Dominicana. From the tobacco fields of the Dominican Republic to the boardroom — and back to the blending table — Litto Jr. is helping shape the future of one of the most respected boutique cigar houses in the...

#ELOsoFumarTakes – #355thTake   You watched the climb in #353rdTake … now it’s time for the summit reveal. Part 2 of our epic blind tasting with George Brightman is here — and this is where everything gets exposed. The bands come back on. The Limited Editions are revealed. Rankings are defended (or regretted). Did the Sherpa get it right? Were the shockers surprising to you? Did hype survive the b...

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY SMOKE SESSION It’s #ELOsoFumarTakes #354thTake and we’re doing it BIG for game day. Joining me is fellow Cigar Coop Coalition member and the all-time appearances record holder himself — Tripp Waldrop of Let’s Get Pairing The mission: pairing classic Super Bowl snacks with the right cigars. Wings. Nachos. Sliders. Maybe something unexpected. The question is… what are you lighting...

#ELOsoFumarTakes – #353rdTake We’re BACK with another Top Ten episode… except this time it’s 15 cigars The legendary George Brightman returns, but the tables have officially turned. This go-round, host Bear Duplisea is the Sherpa, trekking his way through 15 Limited Edition cigars in a blind tasting that pulls no punches. Expect surprises, hot takes, and a few “wait… WHAT?!” moments.

  #ELOsoFumarTakes   #352ndTake  We’re back with another special episode, and this one is a must-watch for cigar enthusiasts and industry insiders alike. Joining me is Joshua Habursky, Executive Director of the Premium Cigar Association   https://premiumcigars.org We dive into the current state of the premium cigar industry, advocacy efforts, legislative challenges, and why protecting premium ciga...

#ELOsoFumarTakes – #351stTake It’s that time of year again… my Top Ten Cigars of 2025 are about to be revealed.       WELCOME BACK! HAPPY NEW YEAR! The night is here! The time is right! It's time for the #ELOsoFumarTakes Top 10 Cigars of 2025! Once again, the legendary George Brightman joins us for the Top 10 Countdown for the ages! I’ve sent George my top ten cigars for him to sample and taste te...

MILESTONE ALERT — #Take350 TONIGHT! We’re celebrating Episode #Take350 of #ELOsoFumarTakes with an all-star lineup   Special Guests: • George Rico — Gran Habano Cigars #1 Cigar of the Year 2023: GRAN HABANO 20th Aniversario El Sueño • Pete Johnson — Tatuaje Cigars #1 Cigar of the Year 2024: Tatuaje Havana VI Verocú Blue No. 1   Two legendary cigar makers. Two #1 Cigars of the Year. One milestone e...

This week on #ELOsoFumarTakes for the #349thTake — we’re thrilled to welcome the return of our favorite Niitany Lion — Michael Cappellini as our special guest! ️Michael isn’t just a former political candidate — he’s also the official U.S. Brand Ambassador for Toscano Cigars . This episode dives deep into his unique journey: from running for public office in Lackawanna County to representing a lege...

#ELOsoFumarTakes #Take348     We welcome Todd Naifeh , President of the Premium Cigar Association and owner of ZT Cigars! Todd brings decades of passion, advocacy, and leadership to the premium cigar world — and this Take is one you won’t want to miss.   Expect a deep dive into the PCA’s mission, industry insights, and the story behind ZT Cigars.

For our #347thTake - We’re welcoming Gus Fakih & Billy Fakih of Artesano Del Tobacco, the family behind some of the most passionately crafted cigars in the industry. From their heritage to their bold blends, you won’t want to miss this conversation.   Catch past episodes here https://www.podbean.com/pi/pbblog-6vzdf-2834cd “At Artesano Del Tobacco, craftsmanship isn’t just tradition — it’s a pr...

This episode, #ELOsoFumarTakes welcomes Steve Saka to sit down for our #346thTake . It’s our annual visit with the man, myth, and legend. The Cigar Curmudgeon will no doubt have some self-deprecation to administer. But, fear not, for this <Snicker> Star is no match for the wits of El Oso, as I plan to get him to enjoy himself despite his fierce denials. This Liga Legend may even crack a smil...

Celebrating 8 Years of #ELOsoFumarTakes !   This episode is more than just another episode—it's a milestone. We're celebrating 8 incredible years of unforgettable guests, deep-dive conversations, and a shared passion for cigars. As part of our annual tradition, we're once again joined by Tim Wong, our very first guest, who returns every year to guest-host this special anniversary tribute.   And th...

It’s an annual tradition, this week #ELOsoFumarTakes celebrates its host’s birthday! Bear is getting older and older each year and despite Steve Saka’s opinion - we love to celebrate birthdays. Now, Steve cannot join us this year for this episode, but that doesn’t mean we’re shying away from celebrating or awesome guests. My good friends Jon Carney and Ben Lee stop by to make this a birthday one w...

This episode on #ELOsoFumarTakes Tripp Waldrop joins us for the Ultimate Pairing Showdown: The Top 3 Cigar Pairings We’re breaking it down in two ways: 1. Specific pairings — like “That mojito I had in Cancun was the perfect match for this cigar because…” 2. General pairings — like “Scotch overall is the best pairing because…” We want to hear from you: What’s your go-to pairing with a good cigar?...