The guys from Smoke and Steel are back with Episode 14, and this time they’re diving deep into a topic that’s affecting every cigar smoker’s wallet – the brutal reality of cigar tariffs and how they’re reshaping the premium cigar landscape. If you’ve noticed your favorite sticks costing more lately, you’re not imagining things.

Cigar Tariffs: The 18% Price Shock

The episode kicks off with Walt, Mark, Jim, and Eric lighting up their Cigars – a Fuente Hemingway, Foundation Tabernacle, Espinosa Laranja, and a Patina. But the real fire starts when Eric drops a bombshell about his beloved Tabernacle cigars.

“The MSRP has gone up again,” Eric explains, noting his go-to cigars jumped from $330 to over $360 per box. “I started doing a little digging… tariffs on Nicaraguan tobacco and cigars went up to 18% in August of this year.”

This isn’t just a small bump – we’re talking about a substantial hit to cigar enthusiasts’ budgets. The crew digs into how these cigar tariffs are affecting pricing across the board, with Nicaragua bearing the brunt at 18% while other countries like Dominican Republic and Honduras are sitting at around 10%.

The conversation gets particularly interesting when they discuss the “keystoning” effect – how retailers might be doubling the tariff impact. If a wholesaler pays an extra $18 in tariffs on a $100 box, that could translate to a $36 retail price increase when standard markup practices are applied.

When Great Cigars Go Bad: The Heartbreak Stories

One of the most engaging segments focuses on cigars that have changed dramatically over the years, leaving longtime smokers disappointed. Jim shares his pain about Nestor Miranda Special Selection Coffee Break, cigars he “smoked probably thousands of” that came back” nowhere close to what they were.”

Eric chimes in with his Gurkha Ghost horror story – originally great cigars that became unsmokable after production changes. Jim went on to say “I actually cut one open because it tasted like burnt plastic as you were smoking it,” he recalls.

The most heartbreaking tale comes from Walt discussing Camacho’s decline. “I used to love that line… the Camacho Corojo, the Camacho Coyolar, the Camacho Triple Maduro, all of them were amazing. And then changes happened and they started to decline.”

This leads to a fascinating discussion about tobacco as an agricultural product and how weather, growing conditions, and sourcing changes can dramatically affect the final product – even when manufacturers try to maintain consistency.

Winter Smoking Logistics: The Eternal Struggle

As the crew looks ahead to colder months, they tackle every outdoor cigar smoker’s nightmare – staying warm while enjoying premium tobacco. The conversation covers everything from propane heaters to the economics of keeping a garage smoking space comfortable.

Eric shares his experience with propane consumption, calculating burn rates and BTU output with the precision of an engineer. “Propane is roughly 90,000 BTUs of energy… I’ll get multiple hours per gallon on low setting once I warm the space up.”

The discussion brings back nostalgic memories of the old smoking lounge, where they’d huddle around heaters and deal with stone-cold buildings. It’s the kind of practical problem-solving that resonates with any cigar smoker who’s ever tried to enjoy a stick in less-than-ideal conditions.

Humidor Wisdom: Storage Solutions That Actually Work

The middle portion of the episode turns into a masterclass on cigar storage, with the crew sharing hard-earned wisdom about humidor maintenance and Boveda pack regeneration.

Eric reveals his tower humidor success story – a damaged unit he scored for a fraction of retail price and successfully repaired. Then Eric goes on to explain his ongoing battle with an Oasis humidification system that keeps freezing up, requiring periodic resets to maintain proper humidity levels.

The conversation about Boveda pack regeneration is particularly valuable for budget-conscious smokers. The crew explains their methods for bringing dried-out packs back to life using Tupperware containers and distilled water – a money-saving tip that many cigar smokers never learn.

Eric’s revelation about water quality affecting humidification beads provides another practical takeaway. His switch from purified to distilled water solved a persistent black mold problem that was plaguing his storage system.

The Podcast Evolution: Going Pro

Episode 14 showcases significant upgrades to the Smoke and Steel setup. The addition of microphone stands, a TV for future guest call-ins, and improved audio equipment demonstrates the show’s growing ambitions.

The crew discusses their plans for interactive episodes, with the ability to bring in guests via FaceTime, Discord, or Zoom. This technical evolution promises more dynamic future episodes while maintaining the intimate garage-session feel that makes the show authentic.

Eric’s late arrival provides the usual comedic relief, with the guys ribbing him about missing the main discussions while he was at his son’s T-ball game. His stories about coaching kids who “play in the dirt” while others try to “turn two” paint a relatable picture for any parent dealing with youth sports.

Social Media Success and Community Building

The episode touches on the podcast’s growing social media presence, with Eric’s sobriety-focused content performing particularly well on YouTube. The crew discusses their appreciation for engaged community members across Facebook, Instagram, Discord, and YouTube platforms.

They announce plans for featuring community members on future episodes and giving regular shout-outs to active participants. This community-building approach reflects the inclusive spirit that originally brought this group together at Sir Stogies.

Budget Smoking: The Under-$10 Challenge

Looking ahead to future episodes, the crew teases an upcoming discussion about quality cigars under $10 – a topic that feels especially relevant given the cigar tariffs price pressures. With traditional favorites becoming more expensive, finding budget-friendly alternatives becomes increasingly important for regular smokers.

Supporting the Show: How You Can Help

The Smoke and Steel crew puts tremendous effort into creating quality content for the cigar community, and there are two ways you can show your support. First, when you’re stocking your humidor, consider using our Cigar Page affiliate link. It costs you nothing extra but helps support both StogieReview.com and the podcast. Second, for those feeling generous, direct donations can be made through our Ko-Fi page.

The Bottom Line on Cigar Tariffs

Episode 14 delivers exactly what Smoke and Steel fans expect – honest conversation, practical advice, and the kind of cigar wisdom that only comes from years of experience. The discussion of cigar tariffs provides valuable context for price increases that are hitting every smoker’s budget, while the humidor tips and storage advice offer actionable solutions for common problems.

The show continues to evolve technically while maintaining its authentic, garage-session atmosphere. Whether you’re dealing with tariff-driven price increases, looking for storage solutions, or just want to hear some good cigar conversation, Episode 14 delivers on all fronts.

The reality of cigar tariffs means we’re all going to be more selective about our purchases and more creative about finding value. But as the Smoke and Steel crew demonstrates, good conversation, practical knowledge, and a supportive community make even the challenging times in the cigar world more enjoyable.

Don’t forget to check out the full episode video embedded above, and remember to support the show through our affiliate links when you’re ready to restock your humidor despite those tough new tariff prices.