Another week, another wild ride with the Smoke and Steel crew. Episode 9 delivered everything we’ve come to expect from Walt, Jim, Preston, Rob, Eric, and Eric The Elder – premium cigars, questionable humor, and conversations that somehow connect Cuban tariffs to interpretive dance degrees.
What We’re Smoking Tonight
The night kicked off with everyone trying something different. Walt decided to finally test the “raw dog” that had been generating buzz from previous episodes, admitting he was “surprised at how good it is given how ugly it is.” Sometimes the ugliest sticks surprise you the most.
Jim joined the raw dog party with an Avowed New Dawn, while Eric the Elder went classic with a Placencia Alma Fuerte. Mark started smooth with an Oliva Gilberto. Eric showed up fashionably late with a beaten-up cigar that looked like “it got caught in a lawn mower,” but hey – we make it work in this crew.
The variety in tonight’s selection shows how we approach cigars: sometimes you go with the tried-and-true favorites, sometimes you test the weird-looking stick everyone’s talking about, and sometimes you smoke whatever survived your humidor door.
Big News: Sponsorship on the Horizon
We’ve got some behind-the-scenes developments that have us excited. While we can’t reveal everything yet, we’ve got our first sponsorship deal in the works. It’s going to present some “technical challenges,” but we’re figuring it out as we go – much like everything else we do.
The sponsor has actually listened to all our episodes (brave soul) and mentioned loving the story about Eric accidentally smoking Jim’s cigar. It’s cool knowing that our random tangents and cigar mishaps resonate with people beyond our little circle.
Speaking of growth, we’ve been getting solid feedback on Facebook and YouTube with new viewers discovering the show. That’s exactly what we want – more people joining our slightly chaotic cigar conversations.
The Cuban Cigar Crisis
Here’s where things got serious for a minute. We received some concerning news about Cuban cigar availability. Multiple major suppliers that ship Cubans to the US have suspended all shipments “due to uncertainty surrounding the implementation of new tariff rules and processes.”
This isn’t just affecting a few small operations – we’re talking about companies that process thousands of orders weekly. The financial impact of these tariffs must be substantial for suppliers to completely halt US shipments rather than absorb the costs.
The immediate effect? Auction prices are going absolutely insane. We saw a box of Partagas with a high bid of $1,405 – that’s pushing nearly $60 per stick for cigars that should retail around $20-25. The scarcity is driving collectors and enthusiasts into bidding wars that frankly don’t make financial sense for most of us.
For the average cigar smoker, this means we’ll probably be enjoying more regional cigars for the foreseeable future. Which isn’t necessarily bad – there are plenty of outstanding non-Cuban options that won’t require taking out a second mortgage.
Industry Changes and Event Culture
We dove into how the cigar industry’s approach to events and giveaways has shifted over the years. Remember when cigar events meant tables full of swag, buy-three-get-one deals, and manufacturers throwing branded merchandise at anyone who’d take it?
Those days are largely gone. Legal restrictions on cigar sampling changed part of the landscape, but beyond that, companies just aren’t as generous with promotional items. Where you used to see events with backpacks full of cigars, branded ashtrays, and tin signs, now you might get two hats and a t-shirt for a raffle.
The shift reflects broader changes in how companies approach marketing budgets and promotional spending. It’s not just cigars – beer companies don’t hand out neon signs and snowboards like they used to either.
Frank Smith’s Pricing Philosophy
We spent some time discussing the pricing dynamics at local shops, particularly Frank Smith’s approach of adjusting prices based on demand. It’s simple supply and demand economics: if something flies off the shelf at $9.75, next week it’s $14.
While this might seem frustrating as consumers, it actually makes business sense. The shop owners need to find the right price point where products move steadily without creating artificial scarcity or leaving money on the table.
The raw dogs we’ve been buying might hit this pricing adjustment soon if we keep cleaning them out. From $4.99 to whatever the market will bear – that’s retail reality.
The Affiliate Link Program
For those asking about our affiliate partnerships, here’s how it works: we’ve set up links through StogieReview.com that connect to Cigar Page. When you purchase through our affiliate links, we earn a small commission that helps support the podcast.
You can find the links either on StogieReview.com or in our Discord server under the “deals” thread. The key is making sure you start your shopping journey through our links – if you go directly to the retailer or use their email promotions, we don’t get credit for the sale.
So far we’ve earned $11.45 in commissions (okay, $9.30 of that was Walt’s own purchase, but it’s a start). Every bit helps cover the costs of keeping this operation running.
Technology Struggles and Alexa Fame
Eric’s Wi-Fi struggles in the metal building led to one of our favorite moments – him discovering that Alexa can actually play the Smoke and Steel podcast. There’s something surreal about telling your smart speaker to play your own voice back to you.
The fact that we’re searchable on voice platforms feels like we’ve reached some kind of milestone, even if only three people have actually listened that way. Progress is progress, right?
Book Socks and Other Disasters
Sometimes our conversations take unexpected turns, like Preston and Eric’s shared trauma over “book socks” – those nylon sleeves that seemed like a great textbook protection innovation until they started destroying book spines after two years of use.
These tangents might seem random, but they’re part of what makes our podcast feel like hanging out with friends rather than a formal cigar review show. We’re just guys talking about life while enjoying good tobacco.
The Raja Jackson Incident
We touched on the recent Raja Jackson incident that made news – a situation involving an indie wrestling event that escalated into a serious assault. Without getting too deep into the legal weeds, it served as a reminder that actions have consequences, especially when everything’s being live-streamed.
Eric provided some professional insight into the legal implications, explaining how situations can escalate from mutual combat to assault charges depending on circumstances and intent.
Looking Ahead
With potential sponsorships developing, our affiliate program growing, and a backlog of episodes ready for release, we’re positioning ourselves well for the future. The winter months might make garage recording challenging, but having content banked means we won’t miss a beat.
We’re also working on new merchandise designs and exploring additional affiliate partnerships to give you more ways to support the show while getting products you actually want.
Episode Highlights and Takeaways
This episode perfectly captured what makes Smoke and Steel special – we’re not just reviewing cigars in isolation. We’re discussing how industry changes affect real smokers, sharing personal experiences, and somehow connecting Cuban import policies to college textbook scams.
The raw dog reviews were honest: sometimes ugly cigars surprise you. The Cuban tariff situation affects everyone who enjoys premium tobacco. Industry event culture has changed, but relationships with good shop owners still matter.
Most importantly, we’re building something here. From Alexa recognition to affiliate partnerships to potential sponsorships, the podcast is growing organically while maintaining the casual, authentic vibe that drew people in originally.
Support Smoke and Steel
If you enjoy our unfiltered takes on cigars, industry news, and whatever else comes up during our sessions, there are two main ways to support the show:
Use Our Affiliate Links: When you’re ready to purchase cigars, start your shopping journey through our Cigar Page affiliate link. You’ll find the same great prices and selection, but your purchase helps keep our mics running and our humidors stocked. Every commission, no matter how small, goes directly back into improving the podcast experience.
Direct Support: For those who want to contribute directly to the show’s growth and production costs, we’ve set up a Ko-Fi page where you can make one-time or recurring donations.
Whether you’re a longtime listener or just discovered us, we appreciate you being part of the Smoke and Steel community. Keep smoking, keep listening, and keep the conversation going on our social media channels.
We’ll see you next episode – assuming Rob shows up on time and Eric doesn’t set himself on fire again. No promises on either front.
Watch the full Episode 9 video to catch all the moments we couldn’t fit into this summary, including Rob’s dramatic entrance, the lighter showcase, and our completely professional discussion about college textbook economics.
