James Giehm

Lounge Review: Monte’s Cigar Shop in Albuquerque, New Mexico Sets the Standard in the Southwest

One of the great things about driving to the PCA Trade Show, was being able to stop at cigar lounges throughout my trip. When I got to Albuquerque, New Mexico, I wasn’t sure what I would find. Honestly, Albuquerque isn’t known for its cigar culture…but maybe it should be? Monte’s has been in Albuquerque since…

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Episode 65: Return of the Reinado Empire

I chat, via Zoom, with Antonio Lam of Reinado Premium Cigars. There are things in the world that are more important than cigars and more important than business. Antonio and I discuss one of those things: family. Antonio explains where he has been for the past seven years and the reason for Reinado’s long hiatus…

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Cigars and Coffee Episode 30: The Sobremesa Brûlée Blue at Capital Cigar

James visits Capital Cigar Lounge in Lincoln, Nebraska to sample their restaurant quality coffee from a French Press and review the Sobremesa Brûlée Blue. A delightful pairing that brought out beautiful notes of wood, pepper, and spices.

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Cigar Review: Reinado Cigars Returns with the Grand Apex

For those of you who have been smoking cigars for a few years, the name Reinado Cigars may sound familiar. That’s because between 2010 and 2014 Reinado Cigars was making a name for themselves in boutique cigar circles. Their Core line and Grand Empire Reserve lines were highly rated and well-received throughout the cigar community….

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Episode 64: A Conversation with Andy Sweis of Cedar Room Fine Cigars & Lounge

I am joined via Zoom by Andy Sweis, owner of Cedar Room Fine Cigars & Lounge in Scottsdale, AZ. We talk about how he got into the cigar industry and how it is a family affair for him and his brother. Andy talks about staying on the bleeding edge of boutique cigars and new releases….

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Lounge Review: Cedar Room Fine Cigars & Lounge in Scottsdale, AZ is the Gold Standard of Lounges

Located in a neighborhood center in the DC Ranch area of North Scottsdale, Arizona, sits Cedar Room Fine Cigars & Lounge. Cedar Room is one of the nicest cigar lounges that I have visited. This should come as no surprise and Andy Sweis and his brother, owners of Cedar Room, watched their father own and…

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Cigars and Coffee Episode 28: Joya de Nicaragua Antaño CT and Jintotega Isabelia

James fights the elements and the crickets to review the Joya De Nicaragua Antaño CT and Nicaragua Jintotega Isabelia blend from Janus Coffee Roasters. The JDN Antaño CT is rich medium to medium-full cigar with notes of earth, wood, baking spices, citrus, and leather while the Nicaragua Jintotega Isabelia is a well-blended coffee that helps…

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Cigar Review: Lithium from Jake Wyatt Cigar Co. Will Take You on a Journey

Jake Wyatt Cigar Co. is a brand that I’m only familiar with from watching Mardo Cigars’ Instagram videos. And that makes more sense when you realize that one of the guys behind Jake Wyatt is none other than Gerard Abajian. I had the pleasure of briefly chatting with Gerard at the PCA Trade Show 2021,…

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Cigars and Coffee Episode 27: Casdagli Daughters of the Wind Robusto and Scooter’s Americano

Tim reviews the Americano from Casdagli Daughters of the Wind Robusto (Pony) and Scooter’s Americano coffee. The Casdagli “Pony” is a smooth cigar that Tim sings the praises of, while the Americano from Scooter’s may not be to his taste.Tim reviews the Americano from Scooter’s Coffee and Casdagli Cigars’ Daughters of the Wind Robusto (Pony)….

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Lounge Review: Fox Cigar Bar (Scottsdale, AZ) has Something for Everyone

If you have even a passing familiarity with online cigar spaces, you’ve probably heard of r/cigars: the cigar-centric subreddit of the “front page of the internet.” It was there, early in my cigar journey, that I was introduced to Fox Cigars. There were so many posts by reddit users that featured purchases from Fox Cigars,…

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