Catch-Up / Recent Articles
Industry News
Tabacalera USA Appoints New CEO
Tabacalera USA just made a move that is worthy of attention. Leadership changes at this level usually signal a shift in direction, priorities, or both. Charles Gibb is in, Javier Estades is out. With a new CEO stepping in...just days before PCA...the company is setting the tone for what comes [...]
The Second Edition of the Family Creed Series
Some cigar companies talk about legacy. La Aurora tends to prove it. With more than a century behind the León family name, every new release carries a little extra weight, especially when it is tied directly to the principles that built the company. With Perseverancia, La Aurora is not just [...]
Montecristo 1935 Anniversary Doble Diamante Red Announced
It is that time of year. We are flooded with new releases. Some releases feel routine...others feel like a signal that a brand is doubling down on its flagship lines. Montecristo’s 1935 Anniversary series has become one of those modern benchmarks where Altadis and A.J. Fernandez clearly swing for the [...]
Editorials
PCA Week: Cigar Press is built to filter, not flood.
Can we be frank for a second? The PCA convention turns into information overload...fast. The madness and pace of this PCA weekend are somewhat challenging to convey. It hits like a game of Hungry Hungry Hippos. Loud, fast, and no one really knows what happened until the dust settles. This [...]
Are Cigars as Delicate as We’re Led to Believe?
Ok… so yeah, cigars are delicate. Don’t drop them, they will break. However, they are more resilient than we may be led to believe. They can bounce back if dry and even dry out if over humidified - if they aren’t past the point of no return. One of the [...]
Jake Wyatt Didn’t Tweak Their Cigars. They Tore Up The Blueprint.
A ton of cigar companies make small changes and call it "evolution." Slap on a new band. Slight blend tweak. Rehab the sales force. Maybe a different factory if things get crazy. Jake Wyatt went a different direction...They tore things apart. Seriously. New factory. New blends. New approach. To be [...]
Cigars Accessories
Cool Breath Review: The $79 Solution to a $3 Problem
I Bought the Cigar Breath Gadget Facebook Wouldn’t Stop Showing Me If you smoke cigars and use Facebook or Instagram, you have seen the ads. Over and over. It is like someone decided cigar smokers have two problems. Breath and impulse control*. *That last one might be on target. Although [...]
Hall of Fame Cigar Accessories Worth Buying
Since I decided to roast the worst accessories last week, I should remind everyone that good cigar gear actually exists in the wild. Now, before someone comes back and tells me they found the perfect lighter/cutter combo for $3 on Amazon, let me say this. I’m happy for you. That [...]
Battle of the Lighters: Torch vs. Soft Flame
Cigar smokers will debate about anything—wrappers, ring gauges, whether pineapple belongs on pizza, who will win the Super Bowl, best Batman, you name it. Aside from "Mold vs Plume*," nothing sparks a fight quite like the lighter debate: Torch or Soft flame? Let’s break it down before somebody flips a [...]
Cigars 101
Are Cigars as Delicate as We’re Led to Believe?
Ok… so yeah, cigars are delicate. Don’t drop them, they will break. However, they are more resilient than we may be led to believe. They can bounce back if dry and even dry out if over humidified - if they aren’t past the point of no return. One of the [...]
Cigars 101: From Factory Floor to Your Humidor
The process of creating cigars seems simple on a Post-It note. When I first started, I never understood how a brand could have so many cigars on the shelf. Clearly, you can’t have THAT many different blends. Ah, little did I know about the rabbit hole the cigar industry actually [...]
Newbie Gadgets And Things You May Want To Avoid
We were all newbies at one point and like any new hobby it’s a lot of fun getting into all the toys and gadgets that go along with it. Cigars are no different. Just trying to tackle all the different brands, blends and sizes to find what you like can [...]
