Cigar Reviews

Cigar Review: Foundation Cigar’s Olmec Claro Toro

Every year, and the day before the Rocky Mountain Cigar Fest, Nick Melillo holds a Foundation event at a cigar lounge in the Denver, CO area. This year, it was at The Smoking Cave in Highlands Ranch, CO. The event also served as the launch party for Foundation’s newest release, the Olmec. I was lucky…

Read More

Cigar Review Rethink: Micallef A

Micallef, there is a lot to unpack with this brand. Full disclosure, I like the Micallef / Gomez Sanchez Family cigars, every one I have smoked I have enjoyed. I have had the chance to chat up their team at the PCA this year. If we are looking at the beginning of an end to…

Read More

Cigar Review: West Tampa Tobacco Co. Black Toro

My most recent podcast episode features Rick and Sara Rodriguez of West Tampa Tobacco Co. During our conversation, Rick discussed what it was like going from a “corporate kitchen” (CAO) full of “ingredients” (almost any tobacco he wanted to work with), to a “home kitchen” (WTTC) with few ingredients (limited access to tobacco) to work…

Read More

Cigar Review: West Tampa Tobacco Co. White Toro

Rick Rodriguez is a name that most enthusiasts and aficionados have heard of. Rick has had a lot of accomplishments over his 22yrs with General Cigar Co. Learning from such Titans in the industry as E.P. Carillo, Daniel Núñez, and Benji Menendez, Rick took over as “Brand Ambassador” for CAO. There he had a string…

Read More

Omaha Cigar Co. Blends a Cozy Lounge Experience With Great House Sticks (UPDATED)

Tucked away in a nondescript strip mall on the southeast side of Omaha, the Omaha Cigar Company sits in-between a dry cleaning business and a Korean food restaurant. The small storefront and lack of an eye-catching sign, it’s the kind of cigar lounge that you might pass by and not think twice about. But should…

Read More

Cigars & Coffee Episode 71: Bandolero Clandestinos & Simply Stogies Coffee

James returns to Habano Cigar Lounge in Davenport, Iowa to review the Bandolero Clandestinos Serie C and drink the new Simply Stogies Podcast blend from Janus Coffee Roasters. James reviews the cigar and gives an “unbiased” review of the Simply Stogies Coffee. Try our new Simply Stogies Coffee blend from Janus Coffee Roasters!

Read More

Cigar Review: Los Estoico 54 Maduro from Peter James

John Laurendi, owner and co-founder of Peter James, announced his foray into cigars with his Los Estoico line. Listening to John talk about his cigars, you can hear the passion in his voice. Known for their leather cigar cases, cigars seem like the next logical step for Peter James. The Los Estoico line have a…

Read More

Cigars & Coffee Episode 69: Wisdom by King Solomon & Sumatra Mandheling Aged 4 Years

James returns to Habano Cigar Lounge in Davenport, Iowa to smoke and review the Wisdom by King Solomon (Lucky House Cigars) and pair it with Sumatra Mandheling Aged 4 Years from Janus Coffee Roasters. Don’t forget to try our very own coffee from Janus Coffee Roasters!  

Read More

Product Review: Rabbit Air A3 Air Purifier

Cigar smoking is about slowing down, relaxing, socializing with other people of the leaf, and shutting out all of our daily distractions. We don’t want to think of the smoke and smell that can linger afterwards; which is why most of us smoke at a lounge or outdoors. But what about when you can’t? There…

Read More

Cigar Review: J London Gold Series Toro

J. London is a brand that I was first introduced to during the PCA 2021 Trade Show. I was able to chat with the man behind the J. London brand, Jonathan Fiant. I can remember being impressed with the Gold Series ; so much so, that it ended up being one of our brands to…

Read More