Industry News
La Aurora Perseverancia at PCA 2026: Family Creed Series Returns
This year, I saw many companies at PCA with a new size and a new band, and a quiet hope that no one would ask too many questions. La Aurora shows up and starts talking about family values, legacy, and a word most people cannot spell before their second espresso...or [...]
Espinosa’s PCA26 Lineup and Las 6 Provincias on the Show Floor
Espinosa Cigars had two cigars on our Top-20 2025 cigar list so they were no doubt one of our first stops at this years convention and tradeshow - PCA26. Showcasing an impressive lineup of new releases it was hard to pick one to try first. However, these are the hard [...]
LFD’s Carbon Flower: Smoked On The Floor, Not In A Press Release
I was fortunate enough to have this one in my hand at PCA before most people could finish spelling-checking “collaboration.” My first thought...this looks serious. From a distance, the case pulls you in first. Dark carbon fiber, clean lines, no extra bling. It feels like something you’re not supposed to [...]
Editorials
Aging Room Blue Amber: Rafael Nodal’s Latest Dominican Release
I'm just going to say it. Rafael Nodal does not sit still. The man behind Aging Room cigars has built a reputation for constant movement, and Aging Room Blue Amber is the latest release reflecting that mindset. Most brands find something that works and just sit back for awhile. That [...]
Stop Rehydrating Boveda Packs, You’re Ruining Your Cigars
There is a very specific moment in every Boveda pack's life. You open the humidor.You grab a Boveda pack.It crunches. And instead of accepting reality like an adult, you think, “I bet I can fix this.” No. You can't. Let me put it this way... Somewhere, in 1989, somebody thought [...]
Are You the “Alpha Dog” in Your Shop?
Every shop has one. If you don't know who the Alpha Dog is in your shop...it's probably not you...yet. They are not the loudest. They are not the ones who control the TV remote. They are not even the ones with a top-row locker. They are the person that every [...]
Cigars Accessories
Flat Flame Lighter by LES FINES LAMES
I just returned from a trip to Spain to find a lovely gift from the team at Les Fines Lames. Initially known for their cigar-cutting knives and later for their punch bracelets, they have expanded into lighters. Frankly, this is a great move and a nice addition to their offerings. [...]
Interview with Charlie Albanetti, Creator of Abbina Craft Sipping Sodas
What goes well with a cigar? A crisp, Abbina Craft Sipping Soda. Something Charlie Albanetti knew when he set out to create a cigar pairing soda. CP - I read that you’re a foodie at heart and even got into perfumery when an illness kept you from enjoying food for [...]
Win a Nomad Grill from Davidoff!
Sorry, this contest has ended. For the latest contest, please visit here. We have to announce a giveaway that we hope NO ONE will enter, and we can keep this for ourselves. OK...FINE...it is meant for someone out there. So, without any further delay, you can (and should) enter to [...]
Cigars 101
Cigar Flavor Descriptors
Ah.. the wonderful world of cigar reviews and descriptions. Sometimes reading cigar reviews can be as colorful as the personalities behind them. It’s not uncommon to hear people say that they didn’t get any of the same notes from a cigar as the review they read. When someone writes a [...]
Plume vs Mold. Enough Already.
I can’t take it anymore. If you spend more than five minutes in a cigar group, you will see this post. Blurry photo - checkWhite stuff on the wrapper - checkCaption asks if it is plume or mold - check Then in 3…2…1…the comments explode. Half the replies say "plume." [...]
The Unwritten Rules of Borrowing Lighters and Cutters
Every cigar lounge has rules, even that “DILLIGAF” guy that actually does. Some rules are posted with a cool cigar logo in the bottom right corner but most are enforced through eye contact, silence, and quiet judgment. I don’t think there are any signs about borrowing a lighter or a [...]
