Blog posts
Cigar talk, straight from the lounge
Honest reviews, real tasting notes, storage and etiquette, written by the people who stock the humidor.
New here? Start with What Is a Cigar Lounge?, Strength vs. Flavor and Torch Lighters.
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2026 8 posts
AJ Fernandez: The Man Behind the Cigars You Already Love
You may have smoked an AJ Fernandez cigar without knowing it. Meet the man from San Luis, Cuba, and the nine blends at the core of his lineup.
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The Cigar Is Not The Experience. YOU Are.
The best cigar I've seen smoked was a $9 stick given an hour and a half. Here's how to make any good cigar worth every dollar.
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Stop Fighting: The Truth About Storing Cigars Properly
Hard, soft or won't stay lit? Your cigars probably aren't the problem. Fill your humidor right, restock on time and stop overcomplicating humidity.
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The Legends Are Back — Padron Cigars
Padrón 1964 Anniversary or 1926 Serie? Medium elegance or full-throttle power, four years of aging or five. Here's how to pick your legend.
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Why Most People Never Experience What They Paid For
That $18 cigar can taste like $5 or $50. It comes down to three moments: the cut, the light and the pace. Here's how to get them right.
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Meta Just Killed Cigars — Stay Subscribed or Lose Out
Social media algorithms bury cigar content. Your inbox doesn't. Here's why our email list is your direct line to the lounge.
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Torch Lighters: The Right Way to Light a Cigar
A torch can make or break your cigar. Four simple steps to toast and light it right, so you never char the wrapper or flatten the blend.
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Comparing Cigar Prices? You're Missing the Entire Point.
Why is the same cigar $8 online, $11 here and $12 across town? Because online stores, shops and lounges are three different businesses. Here's what you're really buying.
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2025 25 posts
When "Plume" Is Really Mold: A Story That Happens Too Often
A couple was told the spots on their cigars were "just plume." They weren't. Here's how to tell real plume from mold, and how to keep your cigars safe.
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From Confused to Confident: Picking the Right Cigar for You
Staring at a humidor wall and not sure where to start? Decode flavor, learn body vs. strength, and ask the right questions. Confidence in four steps.
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Two Titans, One Choice: The Trinidad Espíritu Face-Off
Two Top 25 cigars from AJ Fernandez and Rafael Nodal: the smooth, balanced No. 1 and the bold San Andrés maduro No. 3. Which one is your power play?
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The Emperor's Choice: Discover the El Septimo Yao Maduro
Small-batch, Costa Rican-made and built around espresso and dark cocoa. The El Septimo Yao Maduro is a cigar worth smoking slowly.
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Ignite Your Passion: The Rocky Patel ALR Second Edition
Aged, Limited, Rare: a San Andrés maduro wrapper, two years of rest after rolling, and a No. 5 Top 25 finish. Cocoa, coffee cake, baking spice and espresso.
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The Great Draw Drama: Cigars Dance to Their Own Beat
Tight, open, airy or dense: no two cigar lines draw the same, and that's by design. Here's what shapes the draw and how your cut changes it.
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Vapes vs. Cigars: What's Really Inside, and Why It Matters
PG, VG, flavor chemicals and metals from the coil: here's what health agencies say is in vapes, and why a hand-rolled premium cigar is a different thing entirely.
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What Is a Cigar Lounge?
More than a room full of smoke: a cigar lounge is a place to slow down, meet good people and find your next favorite cigar. Here's what to expect.
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Vintage 2006 San Andreas: The Triumphant Finale
The finale of our Vintage Series: an 11-year-aged San Andrés wrapper, a Broadleaf binder and a chocolate-rich, full-throttle smoke.
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Vintage 2003 Cameroon: Exotic and Unrivaled
Part 4 of our Vintage Series: an 8-year-aged Cameroon wrapper, a sweet-and-sour twist and a Top 25 spot. Plus the amber ale pairing that makes it pop.
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Vintage 1999: Smooth as a Desert Sunset
Part 3 of our Vintage Series: the creamy, buttery Rocky Patel Vintage 1999, with one of the oldest Connecticut Shade wrappers on the market.
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1992's Soul: The Rocky Patel Vintage 1992 Story
Part 2 of our Vintage Series: a 10-year-aged Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper that turns the 1990's warmth into something smokier and more soulful.
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Ignite Your Senses: The Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Is Calling You
Part 1 of our Vintage Series: a 12-year-aged Honduran Broadleaf wrapper, caramel sweetness, cedar and a spicy kick. Twice a Top 25 cigar.
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These Fugayzi-Free Cigars Are Your Million-Dollar Rush
No fairy dust here. Aganorsa's Rare Leaf Reserve Corojo and Maduro are the real thing: floral spice and espresso, or pepper, leather and molasses.
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Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua: It Will Steal Your Heart
Always asking "what's new?" This classic name with a bold Nicaraguan soul scored 93 points and No. 9 of 2022. Here's why it deserves your next light.
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H. Upmann "The Banker" Daytrader Is Here to Close the Deal
A brand born in 1844 Havana, rolled today in La Romana, with cedar, cocoa, pepper and espresso. Plus two beer pairings that make it sing.
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Signature Selection Corojo & Maduro: A Cigar Lover's Dream Duo
Same medio tiempo-loaded core, two different wrappers. Aganorsa Leaf's Signature Corojo and Signature Maduro, compared, and why you should smoke both.
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West Tampa White: A Cigar Experience Like No Other
A family legacy from West Tampa, a light pink Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, and nuts, caramel, leather and brown sugar. The West Tampa White, reviewed.
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Cohiba Riviera: An After-Hours Smoke You Won't Forget
Cohiba's first box-pressed cigar, with cream, honey-wheat bread, leather, warm spice and mocha. My after-closing review of the Cohiba Riviera.
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The Zino Nicaragua: An Odyssey of Flavor and Craftsmanship
Four countries of tobacco, a Connecticut wrapper and a three-act build from cream to roasted nuts and spice. The Zino Nicaragua, reviewed.
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Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Dark Corojo: A Bold Beast for Your Mouth
75% ligero, a dark oily Corojo wrapper and a "Doble Fuerte" band that means it. Pepper, cedar, leather and cocoa. Are you ready for it?
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The Pink Sheets to Premium: The Truth in Cigar Pricing
Why is one cigar $15 for a bundle of 20 and another $25 a stick? Tobacco, rolling, wrapper, packaging, aging, taxes and shipping, all broken down.
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A Playful Puff: The New Cuba Superior Review
A sweetened cap on a real long-filler Connecticut? It works. The New Cuba Superior is relaxing, flavorful and, most of all, fun.
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A Tribute to Cuban Tradition: La Validación Corojo
Old-school Cuban technique, Aganorsa-grown Nicaraguan leaf and an oily Corojo wrapper. Why the La Validación Corojo is a must-smoke.
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Strength vs. Flavor in Cigars: Understanding the Difference
Maduro doesn't mean strong, and Connecticut doesn't always mean mild. Here's the real difference between strength and flavor, and how to pick yours.
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2024 27 posts
Guardian of the Farm: A Tribute to Tradition and Excellence
Named for the loyal dogs that guard Aganorsa's fields, this Warped and Aganorsa Leaf collaboration brings cedar, roasted nuts, citrus and sweet spice.
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What Makes a Cigar Truly "Elegant"?
Elegance in a cigar isn't a price tag. It's aging, construction and balance, and you can find it at any budget. Here's what to look for.
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Aganorsa Leaf Arsenio: A Limited Masterpiece You Need
Master blender Arsenio Ramos's personal favorite blend, made in limited numbers each year. Pecan, sourdough, mocha, rye and cedar. Here's our review.
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Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Maduro vs. Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro
Two great maduros, one honest opinion. Here's how the Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Maduro and Oliva Melanio Maduro compare, and which one we reach for.
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Cuban Quality Without the Trip: Guardian of the Farm
Sweet cream, cedar and cinnamon, then almond, graham cracker and caramel. Why Guardian of the Farm tastes like old-school Cuba, without the passport.
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Rocky Patel Gold Label: Big Flavor Without the Big Price
Gold foil, a box-pressed Ecuador Habano wrapper, and floral, cocoa, pistachio and espresso notes. Why the Gold Label is a must-smoke.
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Bold, Rich and Refined: The Rocky Patel Fifty-Five
A burst of pepper, buttery pastry sweetness, deep espresso and dark chocolate. Why the Rocky Patel Fifty-Five is a 10/10 in our book.
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HVC Edición Especial 2015: A Cigar You Can't Afford to Overlook
Earth, wood and a smooth pepper retrohale over a Mexican San Andrés wrapper. The HVC regular-production gem most people haven't found yet.
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The 70/70 Rule? Nope, Not Anymore!
70 degrees and 70% humidity used to be the golden rule. Here's why cooler and a little drier keeps your cigars tasting better.
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Mystery Solved: Why Do Cigar Prices Vary Across Lounges and Retailers?
Same cigar, different price? Rent, buying power, taxes, distribution and who owns the shop all play a part. Here's the full breakdown.
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Smoke Like a Boss With the Rocky Patel Sixty
The No. 2 cigar of 2022, a San Andrés wrapper, and leather, coffee and spice. Five reasons the Rocky Patel Sixty makes you feel like you just closed the deal.
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HVC 10th Anniversary: A Nicaraguan Puro That Keeps Getting Better
Black pepper, mesquite, pistachio and chai, then vanilla and creamy coffee. The HVC 10th Anniversary, now with a rosado wrapper, reviewed.
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Curivari Gloria de Leon Poderosos: A Hidden Gem
Cherry sweetness, cocoa and earth, a triple cap and 80 minutes of smooth smoke. The Curivari cigar that's been flying under the radar.
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Plasencia Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro: A Cigar Lover's Dream
"Strong Soul," a 10-year-aged Jalapa wrapper, and a family growing tobacco since 1865. The Alma Fuerte Colorado Claro, reviewed.
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Cohiba Royale: Bold, Refined and Worth the Treat
The first Cohiba ever rolled in Honduras. Black pepper, bittersweet chocolate and leather, aged 5 to 6 years. Here's our full review.
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Aniversario Connecticut: Love at First Puff
A trunk-pressed Connecticut with more depth than you'd expect: wood, cashew, hickory and a peppery finish. Here's why it surprises people.
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Henry Clay War Hawk: A Versatile Cigar for Every Palate
Vanilla, creamy cedar and graham cracker, with a peppery retrohale. The Henry Clay War Hawk pairs with almost anything. Here's how.
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Priced to Puff: The Truth Behind Cigar Price Tags
Why is one cigar $1.50 and another $100? Construction, aging, fermentation, quality control and branding, explained, plus how to spot real value.
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Padrón 1926 vs. 1964 Anniversary: A Head-to-Head Comparison
Two legendary Padrón lines, one big question: which one is right for you? Strength, aging, price and size, side by side.
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AVO Classic: A Smooth Cigar Born From Jazz
A jazz musician, an overpriced cigar, and a brand that followed. The AVO Classic No. 2 is smooth, creamy and pepper-free. Here's our review.
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Mastering Humidor Etiquette: How to Handle Cigars the Right Way
How to pick up, check, smell and put back a cigar in the walk-in humidor, so every cigar stays perfect for the next guy, and for you.
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Premium Cigars vs. Vaping: A Look at What's Really Inside
One is natural, aged tobacco rolled by hand. The other is a lab-made liquid. Here's what's really inside a vape, and why the cigar ritual is different.
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Don't Judge a Cigar by Its Cover!
Dark doesn't always mean strong, and a fancy band doesn't mean a better cigar. Here's how to look past appearances and find your next favorite.
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El Baton by J.C. Newman: A 1914 Classic, Revived
Born in 1914, gone by the 1920s, and brought back in 2008. El Baton is premium flavor without the premium price tag.
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Buying the Box Is a Game Changer
Let's do the math. A 20-count box of $10.50 cigars at a typical 15% box discount saves you $31.50. And that's just the start.
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It's Time to Upgrade: Why You Need a Proper Wooden Humidor
Tupperware got you started. Now it's time to do it right. Why a real wooden humidor protects your cigars and your wallet.
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Mastering the Art: AJ Fernandez Bellas Artes Habano vs. Maduro
One exclusive "Rojita" hybrid wrapper. One dark Brazilian maduro. AJ Fernandez's Bellas Artes comes two ways. Here's which one fits you.
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2023 36 posts
The Truth Behind Top 25 Cigar Lists
Every December the Top 25 lists drop. They're a great starting point, but your palate is the final judge. Here's how to use them.
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Cigar Lounge Etiquette: How to Feel Like a Regular on Day One
First time in a cigar lounge? These simple do's and don'ts, plus a few humidor rules, will make you feel like a regular from day one.
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Beyond the Quest for "New": Discovering Timeless Gems
"What's new?" is the most common question in a cigar lounge. Here's a better one, and why your next favorite might already be in the humidor.
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Joya de Nicaragua Antaño 1970: The Muscle Cigar
From Nicaragua's first premium cigar factory comes the Antaño 1970: full-bodied, 93 points and No. 13 cigar of 2022.
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Why Every Cigar Smoker Should Invest in a Humidor
Smoke every day or only on special occasions? Either way, a humidor protects your cigars, your flavor and your money. Here's why.
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7 Compelling Reasons to Buy Your Cigars by the Box
Lower cost per cigar, fewer cigar runs, better aging and easy gifts. Here are 7 reasons smart smokers buy the box.
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Ramon Allones by AJ Fernandez: A Two-Time Top 25 Cigar
A rare medio tiempo wrapper, AJ Fernandez's blending and two trips to the Top 25. The Ramon Allones by AJ is worth your time.
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La Gloria Cubana Spanish Press: What's Old Is New Again
Before fancy molds, Cuban factories box-pressed cigars by packing them tight in the box. The La Gloria Cubana Spanish Press brings it back.
Continue reading →Rocky Patel DBS: A New Era of Broadleaf Delights
Two binders, one of them Pennsylvania Broadleaf, under a dark San Andrés wrapper. Rocky Patel's DBS is built for full-bodied fans.
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Don Pepín Garcia: A Taste of Excellence
Meet the master behind My Father Cigars, and the full-bodied Don Pepín Garcia Blue that put Cuban-seed Nicaraguan tobacco on the map.
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San Cristobal Revelation: A Slow Unveiling of Excellence
Some cigars hit you all at once. The San Cristobal Revelation reveals itself slowly, and that's exactly the point.
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A Perfect Fall Pairing: Perdomo 12-Year Sun Grown and Sam Adams Octoberfest
Oak, cedar and sweet spice meet caramel and toffee. The Perdomo 12-Year Sun Grown and Sam Adams Octoberfest are made for fall.
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Kristoff Cigars: Cuban Style in a Modern Era
Small-batch, double and triple-fermented, and draw-tested. Kristoff has a blend for every palate. Here are six to try.
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20 Years and Still Going: The Don Pepín Garcia Original
The blue label that started it all for the Garcia family in Nicaragua. A full-bodied Nicaraguan puro that's still a classic.
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Ashton VSG: Take It for a RIDE!
Dark, oily and full of character. The Ashton VSG (Virgin Sun Grown) goes from pepper to cedar to dark chocolate. Here's the ride.
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AVO Maduro: A Maduro Gem From the Makers of Davidoff
Dark, oily and nearly flawless. The AVO Maduro brings cocoa, espresso and dried fruit, made by the same people who make Davidoff.
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Unleash Your Senses With the Camacho Connecticut
Think Connecticut means boring? The Camacho Connecticut brings vanilla, toasted almond and a twist of citrus, with a medium-bodied kick.
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My Father Le Bijou 1922: A Timeless Gem
"Le Bijou" means the jewel, and this one earned the name: Cigar Aficionado's No. 1 cigar of 2015, from the Garcia family.
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Savor Every Note: The AVO Syncro Caribe
Picture a hammock and an ocean breeze. The AVO Syncro Caribe brings that Caribbean escape to your chair, with leather, chocolate and spiced fruit.
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A Decade of Excellence: The Perdomo 10th Anniversary Series
Three wrappers, one standard of excellence. Champagne, Sun Grown or Maduro: here's how Perdomo's 10th Anniversary blends compare.
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Perdomo Double Aged 12-Year Vintage: The Bourbon Barrel Experience
Ten years of bale aging, then two more in charred white oak bourbon barrels. Perdomo's Double Aged 12-Year comes three ways. Which is yours?
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After All These Years, the Rocky Patel Decade Is Still DOMINATING
The Rocky Patel Decade scored 95 points and never let go. Plus the "secret" filler most websites get wrong, straight from Rocky himself.
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Rocky Patel White Label: Ultra-Premium, Ultra-Smooth, Ultra-Delicious
A silky golden Connecticut wrapper, a white and rose gold band, and 10-year-aged tobacco. Rocky Patel's White Label is the "ultra" Connecticut.
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Discover Your Vintage: The Rocky Patel Vintage Series
From a smooth everyday Connecticut to a full-bodied chocolate-and-coffee stick, there's a Rocky Patel Vintage calling your name. Here's how to pick.
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Rocky Patel Quarter Century: 25 Years of Cigar Dedication
In 1995, an L.A. attorney named Rakesh traded the courtroom for cigars. 25 years later, Rocky Patel celebrated with the Quarter Century.
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Rocky Patel Number 6: The Honduran That Could Be Your New Number 1
The Rocky Patel Number 6 was Cigar Aficionado's No. 9 cigar of 2020. Our favorite size is the corona, and it might convert big-ring smokers.
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Cigar Snob or Cigar Excellence? AJ Fernandez Bellas Artes Maduro
Cigar Snob put the Bellas Artes Maduro Toro at No. 4 of 2022. We call it cigar excellence. Here's what this AJ Fernandez maduro brings.
Continue reading →Rocky Patel LB1: The Original Factory Code Blend
New blends get factory codes while they're being developed. Rocky Patel liked "LB1" so much he kept the code as the name. Here's why.
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How to Use Boveda Packs... Correctly!
Boveda is the easiest way to keep your cigars perfect. Here's how many packs you need, which RH to pick, and the mistakes to avoid.
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You WANT This Cigar: Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial
They call it a "cigar smoker's cigar." The Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial from My Father Cigars: complex, beautifully made and fairly priced.
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Oily and Peppery vs. Dark Cocoa: The Rocky Patel Sun Grown Series
Rocky Patel's Sun Grown and Sun Grown Maduro: one oily and peppery, one dark cocoa and a No. 2 cigar of 2016. Hint: they're both delicious.
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Rocky Patel Sixty: The No. 1 Cigar of 2022 You Can Actually Buy
Cigar Aficionado's No. 1 of 2022 was a Cuban you can't buy here. The best one you CAN buy? The Rocky Patel Sixty. Here's our review.
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Rocky Patel ALR Second Edition: Aged, Limited, Rare
Everyone chases limited releases. This one earned it: aged two years after rolling, 94 points and No. 5 on the 2019 Top 25.
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La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor: My Other True Love
Nothing relaxes me like a beautiful cigar. This one is my "other" love: the La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor, rolled by the Garcia family.
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Asylum Cigars: Four Blends Worth Getting Committed To
Asylum 13, Authentic Corojo and both Medulla Oblongatas: four blends, four personalities. Here's which one fits you.
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The Top 7 AJ Fernandez Cigars You Need to Try
AJ Fernandez went from three rolling tables to one of Nicaragua's powerhouses. Here are 7 of his cigars worth your time.
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2022 4 posts
Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne: The Celebration Cigar
We sell A LOT of Perdomo, and the 10th Anniversary Champagne is a big reason why. Here's what makes this medium-bodied gem special.
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General Cigar's Cohiba Trademark Gets Cancelled: What It Means for You
A U.S. board cancelled General Cigar's Cohiba trademark after a 25+ year fight with Cuba. Here's what happened and what it means at the humidor.
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Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary: The Cigar With the "Four-Peat"
Only one cigar in the Rocky Patel lineup has a "four-peat": four trips to Cigar Aficionado's Top 25. Here's why it keeps winning.
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Perdomo Lot 23: Premium Quality Without the Premium Price
Price does NOT equal quality. Perdomo Lot 23 proves it with 5-year-aged tobacco from a single Estelí farm, in three wrappers worth trying.
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