Smoke and Steel

🎂 THE ULTIMATE CIGAR BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION! 🎂 Join us for our most emotional episode yet as we celebrate Jim's 70th birthday with surprise video messages from friends! In this special episode, we're smoking premium cigars, sharing laughs, and talking about everything from the Cigar Aficionado Top 25 (numbers 10-5) to our upcoming plans for 2026. Plus, Eddie on the Streets visits Oklahoma,...

Mo Maali from Patina Cigars joins us for an unfiltered conversation about what it really takes to build a boutique cigar brand. From starting with the Sultans of Smoke podcast to creating Patina, Mo shares the real struggles, victories, and industry truths most people won't talk about. In this episode, Mo reveals why he never sold to Cigar Page (but they're selling his cigars anyway), why...

What separates a great cigar lounge from a mediocre one? It's not just about the humidor selection or fancy leather chairs—it's about hospitality. In this episode, we break down what makes exceptional cigar shop customer service and why so many lounges get it wrong. We dive deep into a clip from the Long Ashes podcast featuring Michael Herklots (Ferio Tego) discussing how cigar lounges sho...

🎙️ Happy New Year! We're kicking things off with a special Q&A episode where YOU asked the questions and we gave the unfiltered answers. In this episode, we tackle everything from what to drink with your cigars (spoiler: stop overthinking it) to what makes us want to return to a cigar lounge. We also dive into the controversial Cigar Aficionado Top 25 list, brands that have changed over th...

The industry got huge news this week! We break down the announcement of what will be the world's largest retail location coming to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Join Walt, Eric, Jim, and Mark as they discuss what this means for local shops, online pricing, and the future of the hobby. In this episode, we cover: - Breaking news from Halfwheel about the massive new location - Will online prices trans...

This week on Smoke and Steel, we're diving deep into travel humidors! Eddie, Eric, Jim, and Walt compare their go-to cases including Fog Box, Seahorse, and Xikar. Which one is right for you? We also talk about cigar lounges across America, crazy sin taxes, Eddie's wild Ybor City shoe story (you HAVE to hear this), and life on the road with motorcycles and cigars.🔥 WHAT WE'RE SMOKING...

Episode 20 is here! We dive into the proposed 100% tariffs on Nicaraguan cigars that could affect 60% of the market, review Saint Luis Rey Tabacales with some bizarre wrapper behavior, and share our Halloween adventures. Plus JR Cigars' new price match policy, JC Newman history, and why kids won't walk up to your door anymore.🔥 TONIGHT'S SMOKE: Saint Luis Rey TabacalesUpcoming Guests:...

Winter is coming, and we're tackling the age-old question: how do you keep smoking cigars when it's freezing outside? In this episode, we dive deep into winter cigar smoking solutions, debate whether TVs belong in cigar lounges, share hilarious fake Cuban stories, and announce some exciting upcoming guests. We're smoking some fantastic sticks tonight including an AJ Fernandez Bella Art...

Welcome back to the Smoke and Steel Podcast! This week we're joined by special guest Chase from Amateur Cigar Reviews on Instagram for a packed episode discussing proper cigar lounge etiquette, the latest industry news, and what really makes a great cigar lounge. Plus, Mark debuts his incredible custom Room 101 inspired ashtray! ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🎬 CHAPTER MARKERS 0:00 - Introduction &am...

Join us for an incredible conversation with Dave West of Avowed Cigars, one of the most exciting boutique cigar brands to launch in 2024. Discover the unique invitation-only approach that's revolutionizing how premium cigars reach retailers, the partnership with legendary cigar maker Klaas Kelner, and why aging cigars for 2+ years before release makes all the difference. Dave shares the journe...

Welcome back to the Smoke and Steel Podcast! This week we're diving deep into the best cigars under $10, debating whether aging your cigars actually matters, and breaking down some major industry news including Casa Fuente closing in Vegas. We watch Kyle from LA Cigar Collective top 5 picks for budget cigars, then go around the room sharing our own favorite affordable smokes. From Charter Oak...

We're back in the Smoke and Steel Lounge for another blind taste test with Mark, Eric, Pinto, Rob, Jim, and Eddie. This time we're smoking a mystery Maduro that took us all by surprise—spoiler alert: it's a Kristoff classic that deserves way more love than it gets. We dive into cigar lounge etiquette rules everyone should know (but doesn't always follow), react to Gene Simmons part...

Welcome back to Smoke and Steel! In Episode 015, we dive into Guy Fieri's Knuckle Sandwich cigar by Espinosa, debate his controversial cap-peeling technique, discuss La Flor Dominicana's Suave relaunch, and share our thoughts on the current state of cigar pricing. Plus, we cover Nicaragua tariffs, Placencia's new release, and why we're excited about Tatuaje's The Mummy. What We...

The guys are back to discuss the brutal reality of cigar tariffs and how an 18% increase on Nicaraguan cigars is hitting every smoker's budget. From heartbreaking stories about changed cigars to practical humidor tips and winter smoking strategies, this episode covers everything cigar enthusiasts need to know. Join Walt, Mark, Jim, and Eric as they light up a Fuente Hemingway, Foundation Taber...

Big Rob joins us from LA Cigar Collective in Louisiana to talk about how he and shop owner Kyle went from opening day to becoming a YouTube destination for cigar lovers. We cover everything from his Bar Rescue days to why consistency beats perfection when it comes to content, plus the legendary sampler competition that Kyle definitely regrets starting. Rob's been smoking since he was 17, worke...

Welcome back to another episode of the Smoke and Steel Podcast! This week we're unboxing the latest Drew Estate Freestyle Live mystery pack featuring Connecticut Shade cigars from the Nica Rustica line, plus we're joined by our most loyal listener Eddie for his first in-person appearance on the show. We dive into the August 2025 Freestyle Live package, share stories from cigar lounges acro...

Welcome back to another episode of Smoke and Steel, the cigar podcast brought to you by StogieReview.com! In Episode 12, Walt, Jim, Mark, and Rob (filling in for Eric) gather to share stories, discuss recent cigar finds, and swap tales from their years in the cigar world. This episode features discussions about Padron Damasco, Oliva Serie V Lancero, Black Works Studio Hawaiian exclusives, and Don...

Join Walt, Jim, Mark, and Eric for Episode 11 of the Smoke and Steel Podcast as we dive deep into Connecticut wrapped cigars, discuss Drew Estate's latest Freestyle Live Pack release, and share our honest takes on what makes us give up on a cigar. Tonight's cigars include the discontinued Phantom Queen by Stolen Throne, the unique Raw Dog by Oscar, La Flor Dominican Double Ligero Chisel, and a vin...

In this episode of the Smoke and Steel podcast, the guys interview Kyle, the owner of  @LACigarCollective504  . They discuss the journey of opening a cigar lounge, the importance of community in the cigar world, and the unique policies that Kyle has implemented to create a welcoming environment. The conversation also touches on the challenges of navigating online cigar sales, the significance of c...

Welcome back to another episode of Smoke and Steel! In Episode 10, Walt brings us a mystery cigar that none of us have tried before - the Oz Family Cigars OG Nicaragua. We're taking a more analytical approach this time, breaking down every aspect from construction to flavor with an actual scoring system. Join Walt, Jim, Eric, and Mark as we dive deep into this San Andreas Maduro wrapped stick, com...

Welcome back to another episode of Smoke and Steel! Tonight we're diving into some seriously ugly cigars that taste way better than they look, breaking news about Cuban cigar tariffs shutting down suppliers, and we've got our first sponsorship coming down the pipeline! The crew is back with Walt, Jim, Preston, Rob (fashionably late as always), Eric, and Eric the Elder. We're testing out those raw...

Join Walt, Mark, Jim, Preston, Pinto, Eric, and Eric for another laid-back evening in the world famous Smoke and Steel Lounge in Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania. This episode covers everything from cigar of the month club reviews to budget stick recommendations under $10. The crew dives deep into their experiences with various cigar subscription services, with Small Batch Cigar getting high praise fro...

Welcome back to Smoke and Steel! Episode 7 brings you authentic cigar lounge vibes as we celebrate a birthday with premium cigars and real talk. Join Eric, Walt, Jim, Mark, and our new buddy Eric for an evening of quality smokes, industry insights, and the genuine camaraderie that makes cigar culture special. Tonight's premium lineup includes Opus X 20th Anniversary, Tabernacle Maduro Alma Fue...

🔥 EPISODE 6: Our First Blind Cigar Review! 🔥 Welcome back to the Smoke and Steel Podcast! In this special episode, we're doing something completely different - a blind tasting where none of us know what we're smoking until the very end. The mystery cigar? An Oliva Serie G Maduro that sparked debates about construction, flavor, and value. Watch as we analyze everything from the cold draw...

Welcome back to another episode of Smoke and Steel! Join us as we light up some interesting sticks, discuss cigar tools, and dive deep into which discontinued cigars we'd love to stockpile. From Mark's Bentley disaster to planning our first blind review, this episode has it all! What We're Smoking: Aging Room Concerta Bentley (spoiler alert: disaster incoming) My Father Blue Label Patina (Jim's go...