Welcome back to another packed episode of the Smoke and Steel podcast, brought to you by StogieReview.com! We’re coming at you live from tropical Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania, and this week we’ve got a full garage including our special guest Chase from Amateur Cigar Reviews on Instagram.
What We’re Smoking Tonight
Before we dive into the good stuff, let’s talk about what was burning in the garage.
- Eric: Fonseca by My Father Cigars
- Mark CAO Concert (Vintage from 2012)
- Ed: Opus X Destino
- Chase: Room 101 Namakubi
- Rob: Plasencia Alma Del Cielo
- Jim: Las Calaveras 2024
- Walt: Crook of the Crown by Stolen Throne
- Eric (The Elder): Padron 1964 (Square Tube)
Mark’s Epic Ashtray Creation
We’ve got to give a massive shoutout to Mark for his incredible Room 101 Inspired Ashtray. This thing took two and a half weeks to make, and the detail work is absolutely stunning. From the box presentation to the intricate design, it’s clear that talent runs deep in our crew.
The Great Cigar Lounge Etiquette Debate
One of our community members, Tommy, sparked an interesting discussion that we knew we had to tackle on air: What do you expect when you walk into a cigar lounge and everyone’s glued to their phones?
This topic really hit home because cigar lounge etiquette is something every smoker encounters but rarely discusses openly. Here’s what we think.
The Headphones Are Your Friend
If you’re heading to a lounge to work or just want some peace, throw on some headphones. Even if you’re not listening to anything. It’s a universal signal that says “I’m here for the cigars and the atmosphere, but I’m in my own zone right now.” There’s nothing wrong with that.
Read the Room
The beautiful thing about cigar culture is that it brings together people from all walks of life. You’ve got blue-collar workers sitting next to attorneys, guys smoking $3 sticks next to someone puffing on a $50 premium. When you walk in, say hello, be courteous, and gauge the vibe.
Sometimes you’ll walk into a tight-knit group that’s been hanging out for years. Other times, you’ll be welcomed with open arms and offered a $40 cigar by a stranger who just wants good company.
It’s About the People, Not Just the Selection
We came to a unanimous conclusion: a great cigar lounge atmosphere can absolutely overcome a mediocre selection. We’ve been to fancy lounges with incredible inventory that felt cold and uninviting. We’ve also been to hole-in-the-wall spots with basic stock where we had the time of our lives.
What makes a lounge great isn’t the marble floors or the $1,000 leather chairs (though those don’t hurt). It’s the environment. Whether you want to be left alone or have an engaging conversation, a good lounge accommodates both.
Industry News and Brand Updates
Crown Heads TAA Exclusive
Crown Heads just announced their new TAA exclusive release. It’s a 5-5/8 x 54 Nicaraguan filler with an Ecuadorian Connecticut binder and Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. At $15 a stick, it’s positioned as approachable for newer smokers while still complex enough for seasoned enthusiasts. It’ll be available at 80 TAA retailers, so keep an eye out at your local participating shops.
Placencia Goes Luxury with Alma Fuerte Short Formats
Placencia is positioning themselves in the luxury market with some interesting releases, including shorter vitolas at 48 x 3? and a 52 x 4. We’ve been fans of Placencia for a while now. The octagonal Alma Fuertes are consistently solid, and if you can find deals on them, they’re absolutely worth grabbing.
That said, $15 for a 4 x 52 is a tough sell when you’re competing with established premium brands at similar price points. But if the quality is there (and with Placencia, it usually is), size doesn’t always dictate smoking time and experience.
Cohiba’s 2025 Weller Release
The annual Cohiba Weller collaboration is back, this time featuring Weller Antique 107. At around $30, these aren’t cheap, but the presentation is always top-notch. The Cohibas from General Cigar have been hit or miss for us, but the higher-end releases in the $25-30 range have been consistently good. If you’re a fan of bourbon-themed cigars or unique collaborations, this one’s worth checking out.
Cigar International Goes Free Shipping
Big news for online buyers: Cigar International announced free shipping site-wide with no minimum purchase. This seems like a direct response to competitors like Cigar Page and Fox Cigar, who have been offering free shipping for a while.
It’s a smart move. Let’s be honest, we’re all suckers for “free shipping.” Even if an item costs $10 with free shipping versus $5 with $5 shipping, our brains automatically go for the free shipping option. It’s just psychology.
The Cigar Page Black Swan Series
Speaking of Cigar Page, we dove into their interesting Black Swan releases. Here’s the deal: Cigar Page is traveling to various factories around the world and buying up small lots of tobacco that are too small for regular production runs. They’re then collaborating with brands like Oliva, Rocky Patel, Joya de Nicaragua, and EPC to create limited releases.
The concept is similar to what Caldwell did with the Lost and Found series. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. We’ve tried the Oliva Black Swan and it’s a solid smoke, especially for the price.
The downside? If you love it this year and buy it again next year, it could be a completely different blend since they’re using whatever small lots are available.
The Great Tatuaje Mummy Controversy
We had to address the elephant in the room: this year’s Tatuaje Mummy release.
Look, we’re huge Tatuaje fans, especially the Halloween releases. We look forward to them every year. But this year’s Mummy had issues. Big issues.
Multiple people in our group experienced severe construction problems. We’re talking canoeing, tunneling, and even unraveling. And it wasn’t just one or two cigars. We’re up to six or seven from the same box that all had problems. The taste wasn’t up to par either, which is shocking for a Tatuaje product.
Here’s the thing though: we’re firm believers in the “never judge a cigar by one smoke” rule. Could it be a bad box? Could it be the source? Absolutely.
We’re planning to dry box some and potentially grab them from a different retailer to give them another fair shake. Even your favorite cigars can have off days or bad batches.
Building Your Instagram Presence in the Cigar World
Our guest Chase has built an impressive following on Instagram with his Amateur Cigar Reviews page. He started it as a personal journal to keep track of what he was smoking, and it organically grew from there.
His approach is smart. If he smokes something he doesn’t like, he doesn’t immediately post about it. He’ll give it another try, especially if it’s a highly-praised cigar, because conditions matter. Were you distracted? Was it too humid? Did you smoke it while driving? All of these factors can drastically change your experience with a cigar.
For anyone looking to build their presence in the cigar community on social media, Chase’s method is spot-on: be authentic, give cigars multiple chances before forming strong opinions, and engage genuinely with the community.
The Importance of Second Chances
This theme kept coming up throughout the episode. Giving cigars a second (or third) chance before writing them off.
One of our crew had a terrible first experience with a My Father Judge, which is consistently rated as one of the best cigars out there. The first one was awful. But subsequent smokes proved why it gets all the accolades.
Same goes for the Julius Caesar. One of us had two from the same source, and somehow the second one completely redeemed the brand. Whether it’s mood, environment, humidity, or just a one-off construction issue, a single bad experience doesn’t define a cigar.
Looking Ahead: Upcoming Guests
We’ve got some exciting stuff on the horizon. Since our episode with Kyle from Louisiana Cigar Company dropped, we’ve had several brands and industry folks reach out to be on the podcast.
Confirmed upcoming guests include:
- The owners of Founders Cigar (veteran-owned, great price points, awesome people)
- Dave West from Avowed
- Big Rob from LA Cigar Collective
We’re working on scheduling and we couldn’t be more excited about the conversations ahead.
Local Lounge Spotlight: Smokies Opens New Location
Quick shout-out to our local scene. Smokies just had their ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new lounge on 6th Avenue in the old American Bank building. It looks absolutely incredible with marble floors and a pool table that gives off serious upscale vibes.
They’re positioning it as more of a private lounge (though it’s still open to the public with memberships available) compared to their main Lancaster Avenue location. The smoke evacuation system looks impressive, though we’re curious how loud it is. Their main location has a fantastic system, and while you can hear it, it’s worth the trade-off when you can have 70 people in a room with zero visible smoke.
Final Thoughts on What Makes This Community Special
One thing that kept coming up throughout this episode is what makes the cigar community special. It’s the great equalizer.
Doesn’t matter if you’re driving a Prius or a spaceship, smoking a $3 Factory Smoke or a $50 Opus X. When you’re in the lounge, you’re all family.
We’ve found that some of our best cigar experiences have been in the most unexpected places with the most unexpected people. From meeting high-end restaurant chefs to sharing a smoke with someone who’s having their worst day, cigars have this unique ability to bring people together across all social and economic boundaries.
The younger generation is getting more involved too. They’re not just smoking for image. They’re genuinely invested in learning about the craft, the heritage, and the culture. That’s exciting for the future of this industry.
Watch the Full Episode
Want to see the full discussion, including Mark’s incredible ashtray creation and all the side conversations that make our podcast what it is? Check out the full episode on YouTube below and don’t forget to subscribe to the channel!
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Until next time, keep those ash tips long and the conversations longer!
