Cigar Enthusiast

Cigar Aficionado Misses the Mark With Its Top 25 By Leaving Out Boutique Brands

Every year the cigar industry waits with bated breath to find out which cigars will make Cigar Aficionado’s annual Top 25 list. And every year I become a little bit more disappointed — and a lot more jaded. For years the Top 25 was the “it” list that could make or break a cigar producer;…

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Top 10 Short Cigars to Smoke During the Winter

Winter comes every year, and every year cigar aficionados and enthusiasts take shelter in their local lounges. This year, that plan is proving more difficult with the global pandemic still raging throughout the world. While escaping the cold or downright freezing temperatures, in some areas of the Northern Hemisphere via the warmth and shelter of…

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Episode 46: Cigar Aficionado and Short Cigars

I give you my shortened opinion on the Cigar Aficionado Top 25 of 2020 list, why I think it is not a true list of the top cigars of 2020, and why we do not have advertisers or sponsors for the show and website. I then give you my list of Top 10 short cigars…

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Episode 45: Cigar Community Round 1 with Simply Stogies Club

I sit down with the new Administrator of SimplyStogies.club, Ryan Janus. Ryan and I discuss his cigar journey and how he started smoking, to working in a cigar lounge, to running simplystogies.club. We talk about the cigar community, the impact that COVID-19 has had on the online cigar community, some of the fun things they…

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Cigar Review: The Promising My Father Fonseca Cosacos Is a Disappointment

I was excited when I learned that My Father Cigars had purchased the Fonseca brand from the Quesada family. I love My Father Cigars. In my opinion, they are some of the most solid and dependable cigars in the industry. It is always interesting to see what others’ takes on existing brands are. Palates and…

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Episode 44: 2020 in Review and Looking Ahead to 2021

I invite everyone to go to The Blend News and sign up for their newsletter and for their holiday giveaway! I then take a look back at the trials, tribulations, and victories of 2020. Yes, 2020 was a tough year on everyone and Simply Stogies Podcast and simplystogies.com were not immune from the 2020 curse….

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Review: Joya de Nicaragua Silver Ultra Tastes Way More Expensive Than $5

This is a new column where I’ll be reviewing less expensive smokes. I love a high-end cigar as much as the next person, and I’ll smoke an Opus, Casdagli or Atabey on special occasions, but I smoke one or sometimes even more cigars every day. I need good, lower priced daily rotation sticks so I…

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Episode 43: 2020 Holiday Gift Guide and Budget Cigar Reviews

I welcome our Content Director, Matthew Kang (Twitter and Instagram), and our Photographer, Wonho Frank Lee (Instagram) to the show. The three of us go through our 2020 Holiday Gift Guide on simplystogies.com and break down the gifts, why we chose particular products, and how they’ll help you land on the nice list of the special…

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Cigars and Coffee Episode 10: Sh*t Show

James and Tim stay socially distant and use Zoom due to the increase in COVID-19 cases in Iowa. The duo cover the third wave of COVID-19 and how it might impact cigar retailers before moving on to quickly giving their opinions on the election. They also give you tips on Christmas gifts for your significant…

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Why Cigar Lounges Are Useful During the COVID-19 Pandemic

First, I want to be very clear: I am not a doctor, epidemiologist, or expert whose advice or views should be followed. Ever. I can only speak for myself, and what is right for my family. Second, it is imperative that you follow all local and state mandates regarding social distancing and masks. Period. End…

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