The Cigar Pulpit

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, Nick brings you a mid-year state of the cigar industry update. He's been hearing from his network of rep and retailer friends over the past few weeks as the close of the second quarter of the year approached and passed by, and he's compiled anecdotal stories along with import data to paint a picture of the current state of the cigar industry as h...

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, Nick takes to the phone lines to listen to your calls in a GIANT SIZE Ask the Pulpit episode! He's been asking for your calls to help keep the two shows a week schedule through the summer and you all keep coming through!  We address more nicknames and sampler packs, Seinfeld, World Cup, the Parishioner Zoom Herfs, PulpitFest, and so much more! We...

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, Nick is joined by Mike Brinker to discuss some cigar brands that maybe don't get love often enough but are quietly out there putting out good cigars. The guys discuss some of them and also go down a rabbit hole wondering what may be happening with a few other brands we don't hear from much.  During the Villiger Cigars Entertainment Report, hear w...

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, Nick is joined by Noah Zeleznik to do a mid-year celebrity death check in. We recap those we lost in the first six months of 2026 and review our predictions made at the end of 2025. Did we predict any correctly? Do we stand by our predictions for the back half of the year? All this while smoking some Aging Room cigars! Find out what we've been wa...

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, Nick details some issues he had this week trying to get some budget friendly cigars in a bundle and how some retailers need to learn to stock more than just singles. Going through the story, Nick details the importance of having a variety of purchase options available for consumers, because you never know who might be walking in looking to drop m...

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, Nick goes back to the phone lines for another Ask the Pulpit. While smoking a Diamond Crown Tampa, Nick thanks everyone for calling as it has been a huge help during the busy summertime. Truthfully, your calls are what is allowing him to keep going twice a week, so keep the calls coming! We discuss such topics as the mystery of the origin of the...

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, Nick is joined by his dad Jim and Kenn Klarich of the Ash & Ale Lounge to announce that PulpitFest 2026 tickets are on sale. The guys discuss the event and some of the planning going into it, designed to make this year's event fun and a little different than last year's.  And we announce a special guest that will be at the VIP dinner and Frid...

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, Nick takes more of your calls in another Ask the Pulpit episode. He lights up a Herrera Esteli Habano and covers such topics as dad jokes, nicknames, some constructive criticism of the show, and more. We also hear some of your pack ideas for beginners looking to get into cigars and there were some fantastic suggestions! During the Villiger Cigars...

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, are you thinking about getting into cigars but not sure where to start? Or maybe you have a friend who's curious about the hobby and you're wondering what cigars to hand them first? Nick builds the ultimate beginner cigar sampler and breaks down the four cigars he'd recommend to help a new smoker learn about the world of premium cigars. Along the...

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, after an extended weekend with his son, Nick is thankful you guys called in and gave him something to talk about on another Ask the Pulpit episode! Nick takes your calls and hears from you about a variety of subjects including how long would it take for a cigar butt to decompose and more. Nick also gets a call from listener James that sets him of...

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, Nick discusses a topic that has been popping up more and more this year, Track and Trace. It's a system of tracking tobacco products from the manufacturer to the retailer being used in the European Union. Nick discusses what it is, why it's in place, some of the pros and cons for it, and whether or not we're likely to see it in the United States...

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, we're doing a Cigar 101 course on wrapper tobacco. Nick goes over a variety of commonly used wrapper tobacco, detailing some of their differences. He also goes over some of the various fermentation techniques like Maduro and Candela. The goal is for listeners to understand what some of the various words mean, and how type of tobacco and how it is...

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, Nick takes your calls on another Ask the Pulpit show. Nick lights up the Aladino Fuma Noche and listens to your voicemails. We cover topics like how to get the best value from the Cigar Authority Draft Packs, whether Nick would agree to a daily beat down everyday for a year for $50 million, and if Nick is calling someone requesting nude pics. Als...

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, Nick is joined by Ram Rodriguez, owner of Artista Cigars, to discuss the company, their products, and much more. Nick lights up the Artista Falu while Ram smokes the new Broadleaf version of the Buffalo Ten.  Learn about Ram's family history in cigars and cigar making, lessons he learned while working for his father. the importance of teamwork, w...

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, Nick is joined by Eaton, owner of Black Stogies Cigars, to learn about his brand and discuss the trials, tribulations, and successes of starting a cigar company. Black Stogies has been in business for six years and has been working hard to cement their place in the industry.  And find out what Nick has coming up that he's looking forward to in th...

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, Nick is joined by Mike Brinker to discuss how  preparing your humidor for Spring and Summer when the temperatures and humidity rise. The guys fire up the Crux Marblehead and go over the importance of tracking humidity and making adjustments for the weather.  Find out what they've been watching lately in the Villiger Cigars Entertainment Report. A...

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, Nick settles in with an Angel Cuesta from JC Newman and discusses the cigar accessories you should own.  Nick gives his personal recommendations on lighters, cutters, ashtrays, and a lot more. He also covers a product he recently found that he believes is a must-have for cigar smokers. Find out what it is and how you can get it yourself.  *No pay...

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, Nick is joined by Litto Gomez Jr, vice president of retail partnerships and sales at La Flor Dominicana, to discuss the future of the cigar industry. Litto is part of the new generation of cigar manufacturers coming up in their family companies and taking more and more control, and he brings a unique perspective to the way these traditionally run...

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, Nick is joined by Litto Gomez Jr, vice president of retail partnerships and sales at La Flor Dominicana, to discuss the future of the cigar industry. Litto is part of the new generation of cigar manufacturers coming up in their family companies and taking more and more control, and he brings a unique perspective to the way these traditionally run...

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, Nick takes your calls in another Ask the Pulpit episode! He lights up the My Father Blue, which tries to kill him at one point, and answers your comments, questions, concerns, and complaints on the Hotline. We cover such topics as favorite albums, a nickname for a Parishioner, a fantastic budget cigar, and more. Find out what Nick has been watchi...

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, Nick recaps his recent road trip to Bellevue, Kentucky, just outside of Cincinnati for a Gorbusto launch party at Party Source. Nick met up with Trey Mac Shipley and spent the trip visiting the Cincinnati Zoo to honor Harambe, the gorilla shot and killed ten years ago. From there, Trey Mac hosted an event at Party Source that was well attended an...

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, Nick is joined by the rest of Team Pulpit PCA 2026, Shawn and Danny, to discuss the recent industry trade show and get their thoughts on it. The guys fire up a selection of different new cigars and give their thoughts on the show itself, the educational seminars, the various booths, what they found interesting and what they didn't, things that su...

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, Nick is talking all things PCA today. He lights up the new Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua Profundo and gives his thoughts on the industry trade show that took place last weekend in New Orleans. Nick details his day to day and gives thoughts on the show dates, what he saw that interested him, his perception of how the industry is doing bas...

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studio, Nick is joined by Mike Brinker to discuss the news that the PCA Trade Show is considering coming to St. Louis in 2030. However, there has been some resistance to the idea from a few manufacturers and possible attendees. Both being from the STL area, the guys figure they need to stick up a bit for their region and discuss some of the reasons why br...

Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, Nick takes your calls on another installment of Ask the Pulpit. Nick lights up the West Tampa Tobacco Red lancero and listens to your comments, questions, and more.  We hear calls about the most popular vehicle used by terrorists, a crazed Easter Bunny, a threat against the alphabet, why box pressed cigars may be more flavorful, some North Caroli...