James Giehm

Cigar Review: S84 Shade to Black Corona Doble by Drew Estate

In March of this year, Drew Estate released the another cigar in the Blackened line: the S84 Shade to Black. This is the sophomore release for the line that is a collaboration between Metallica’s frontman, James Hetfield, Master Distiller of BLACKENED Whiskey, Rob Dietrich, and Drew Estate. Their first release, M81, was named after the…

Read More

Cigar Review: Smoking Jacket’s Mini Henkie

During the PCA 2024 Trade Show earlier this year, I was able to stop by the Smoking Jacket booth and spend some time talking with the those behind the Mini Henkie: Hendrik Kelner Jr. (blender and owner of Kelner Boutique Factory in the Dominican Republic), Henrik Kelner (son of Hendrik Kelner Jr.), and Hendrik Alexander…

Read More

Episode 130: Ben Rotem of Luxury Cigar Club

James and Nick sit down with Ben Rotem, one of the founders and owners of Luxury Cigar Club. If you’re not familiar with luxurycigarclub.com now, you will be after this episode. Luxury Cigar Club is more than just a “cigar of the month” club. They have a large online inventory of cigars, accessories, and humidors…

Read More

Episode 129: Lou Cross III of Lure Cigars

James and Nick welcome Lou Cross III, founder of Lure Cigars, to the show. Lou talks about honoring his late father, Lou Cross Jr., to naming his cigars after his family, he walks us through his journey. We discuss the “grind” that boutique cigar manufacturers go through to promote their brands and connecting directly with…

Read More

Episode 128: Dwight Adkins & Stephen Wray of FatAsh Cigar Lounge & My Old Kentucky Herf

James visits FatAsh Cigar Lounge to talk with Dwight Adkins and Stephen Wray about FatAsh Cigar and My Old Kentucky Herf. We discuss how FatAsh started, why Dwight started it, how Dwight and Stephen met, and their new Live from the Lounge series on YouTube by MyTownTVHD, where they highlight local singers and musical artists…

Read More

Cigar Review: Patina Cigars’ Oro de Nicaragua Toro Extra

Mo Maali, owner of Patina Cigars, announced in February of 2024 that he was adding a new core line to Patina’s portfolio: The Oro de Nicaragua. Now, for those of you who have lived in Chicago, Oro de Nicaragua might sound familiar. In fact, that was the name of a line from My Father for…

Read More

Episode 127: Jonas Santana & Miyagi Montes of Blackbird Cigar Co.

James and Nick welcome Blackbird Cigar Co. owner Jonas Santana and his National Sales Rep. Miyagi Montes to the show. We discuss how Jonas got into the business, his focus, and his passion for the industry, as well as their newest core line: Superb. We discuss how Miyagi and Jonas met and why Miyagi joined…

Read More

Episode 126: PCA 2024 Part 3

We end our PCA 2024 Convention & Trade Show coverage from the floor of the show with some great interviews with: Skip Martin of RoMa Craft, John Laurendi of Peter James, Hendrik Kelner Jr. of Smoking Jacket Cigars and KBF, Toscano Cigars, and what a first time retailer thought of the show with Brian and…

Read More

Episode 125: PCA 2024 Part 2

We have quite the lineup for part 2 of our coverage of the PCA 2024 Convention and Trade Show, sponsored by My Old Kentucky Herf. We begin with Nick at the General Cigars booth. He talks with Macanudo, CAO, Cohiba, Sancho Panza, and Matt Booth. Nick then heads over to Freud Cigar Co. and speaks…

Read More

Episode 124: PCA 24 Part 1

James, Tim, and Nick bring you interviews from the 2024 PCA Convention and Trade Show from the Las Vegas Convention Center. All of our PCA 24 coverage is brought to you by My Old Kentucky Herf! This first episode has interviews with Sebastien Decoppet of Cavalier Cigars, Jonathan Drew of Drew Estate, Cigars for Warriors,…

Read More