The Cigar Soldier

For this episode, it was only fitting we light up something special. This week happens to fall on Veterans Day, my anniversary, and my birthday. Throughout the episode, I dive into a bit of Padron history, Cigar Aficionado history, share some Army stories from days gone by, discuss the passing of Marvin Shanken, and close it out with the World Series Champs! Contact Information: Instagram: @ theci...

For this episode, we bring in our first brand owner, Vance Taylor from Stoic Cigars! For over an hour we and a half hours we talk through Stoic's origin story, Vance's blending process, the evolution of New World cigars, and what's on the horizon for Stoic. Contact Information: Instagram: @ thecigarsoldier Email: thecigarsoldierpod@gmail.com Stoic Cigars Contact Information: Instagram:...

For this episode, we reintroduce the show to new listeners, discuss the EGM Cigars Escudos, the Cohiba Talisman release party, some of my philosphy around the finer things in life, reveal who the second guest of the show will be for the next episode, and dive into many more rabbit holes along the way! Contact Information: Instagram: @ thecigarsoldier Email: thecigarsoldierpod@gmail.com

For this episode, we bring in our first guest, the one and only Lizard Gizmo! for over two and a half hours we talk through the lizard origin story, their relationship with Fabrica 5 and SmallBatch Cigars, cigar media, trends throughout the industry, and dive into many more rabbit holes along the way! Contact Information: Instagram: @ thecigarsoldier Email: thecigarsoldierpod@gmail.com Lounge Liza...

On the 15th episode, we debut Arturo Fuente Cigars to the show, pair the cigar with Oban 14 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, discuss brand history, allocation strategies, and reveal who the first guest of the show will be for the next episode! Instagram: @thecigarsoldier Email: thecigarsoldierpod@gmail.com

On the 14th episode, we debut Kelner Cigars to the show, pair the cigar with Glenfiddich 15 in pursuit of a new reliable Scotch, discuss Fuente's 9/11 release, industry news, listener comments, and more! Instagram: @thecigarsoldier Email: thecigarsoldierpod@gmail.com

On the 13th episode of The Cigar Soldier, we debut AG Cigars to the show, cover brand history, viewer comments, and more! Instagram: @thecigarsoldier Email: thecigarsoldierpod@gmail.com

On the 12th episode of The Cigar Soldier, we debut Plasencia to the show, cover brand history, new world cigars filling a void from the cuban market, and more! Instagram: @thecigarsoldier Email: thecigarsoldierpod@gmail.com

on the 11th episode of the Cigar Soldier Podcast, we cover the Avowed New Dawn in Toro. Throughout the episode, we dive into Avowed's brand history, the origins of the New Dawn blend, introduce a new segment, and more!

on the 10th episode of the Cigar Soldier Podcast, we cover the LFD Solis. Throughout the episode, we dive into LFD's brand history, the origins of the Solis blend, a potential career change, and more!

On the 9th Episode of The Cigar Soldier Podcast, we cover the Aladino Classic in Robusto paired with Don Fulano Anejo Tequila. Throughout this episode we cover the brand history on Aladino Cigars, an uninspiring experience at a cigar lounge on vacation, and more!

On this episode, we unpack the history of Davidoff, where the brand is heading today, discuss concerning legislation in New York, and plenty more along the way! Email: thecigarsoldierpod@gmail.com instagram: thecigarsoldier

On this episode, we take a more laid-back approach as we dive into the Padron 90th, discuss a couple brand highlights from PCA, the UK generational Tobacco ban, summer rotation for cigars, and plenty more along the way! Email: thecigarsoldierpod@gmail.com instagram: thecigarsoldier

On this episode, we take a more laid-back approach as we dive into house blend cigars, discuss the importance of recognizing biases throughout our cigar journey, talk about the best weather for enjoying a cigar, the connection between golf and cigars, and plenty more along the way! Email: thecigarsoldier@gmail.com instagram: thecigarsoldier La Cigar Collective: https://lacigarcollective.com/

In Part 3 of Cigars Across Borders , we break down how changes in the UK market will affect the American market. This episode closes out everything we discussed on Parts 1 and 2, where we showed how the gap between Cuban and Non-Cuban medium body blends closed and how missteps in strategy have put New World brands in a position to thrive.

Cigar culture didn’t disappear, it relocated… and now it’s coming back. In this episode, we break down how cigars moved from lounges to the algorithm, shifting access, influence, and power along the way. And why the best lounges are winning again by focusing on something the internet can’t replace: experience. Instagram: @thecigarsoldier Email: thecigarsoldierpod@gmail.com

Cuban Cigars dominated Europe for decades. That’s no longer a given. In Part 2 of Cigars Across Borders , we break down how missteps in consistency, pricing, and supply have created an opening in the UK market, and how New World brands are ready to take it. This episode builds on Part 1, where we showed how the gap between Cuban and Non-Cuban medium body blends closed. The door is open, and for th...

Cigars Across Borders: Part 1 - Closing the Gap For decades, Cuban cigars set the standard for balance and refinement, while New World cigars were known for strength over subtlety. That gap doesn’t exist anymore. In Part I of Cigars Across Borders , I review the Stoic Courage and explore how New World blenders have mastered the medium-bodied profile, challenging the long-held belief that Cuba stil...

In the first episode of The Cigar Soldier, I introduce the podcast and the vision behind it, review the HVC Fine Tobacco Club Ledger Series Vol. 1, share my thoughts on Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 of 2025, and outline the roadmap for where the show is heading. Contact: thecigarsoldierpod@gmail.com Instagram: @thecigarsoldier