We just wrapped Episode 25 of the Smoke and Steel podcast, and honestly, this one hit different. It wasn’t just another Tuesday night in the garage talking cigars. This was a full-blown cigar birthday celebration for our Godfather of Cigars, Jim, who turned 70 years young.

The energy was electric from the moment we fired up our sticks. We had birthday cupcakes, surprise video messages from friends, and enough laughs to last us until Episode 50. If you’ve been following along since day one, you know Jim is the heart of our crew. The man has forgotten more about cigars than most of us will ever know.

A Birthday Tribute That Brought the House Down

Here’s the thing about our cigar community. It’s not just about the smokes. It’s about the people.

When we reached out to Jim’s friends asking for birthday messages, we figured we’d get a few responses. Maybe three or four if we were lucky. We gave everyone about 8 hours notice because that’s just how we roll.

Every single person came through.

Mo from Patina Cigars rearranged his schedule. Big Rob was at Disney World with his wife and waited in line for the riverboat ride just to film his message. Eddie was on a rooftop in San Francisco. Dave West sent his well wishes (and sang). Several old cigar buddies took time to record something special.

The video montage we put together had Jim genuinely choked up. You could see it in his face. After decades in this hobby, surrounded by premium cigars and fancy lounges, what really matters are the relationships. That’s what this cigar birthday celebration reminded all of us.

What We Were Smoking

Let’s talk about the sticks we had burning for this special night.

A few of us were trying out JR House Blends that our top fan Joe Macko sent over. Joe works in the industry and hooked us up with a whole bag of different sizes. The guy is always showing love on Facebook and Discord, so we wanted to give him a proper shout out. These budget-friendly smokes punched way above their price point.

Rob had something special. Dave West from Avowed Cigars stopped by last week just to hang out with us. No sales pitch, no agenda. Just good people spending time with good people. He brought Rob a pre-release version of The Vow that hasn’t hit the market yet. Rob said it was different from anything else in the Avowed lineup, a bit drier but incredibly well made.

Preston was working through a Plasencia Alma Del Cielo, though he admitted the cold weather wasn’t doing it any favors. Jim stayed on brand and lit up a Patina Red Pill Box Press. Of course he did. The man shows up in his Patina hat smoking a Patina stick for his own birthday. Mo would be proud.

Walt grabbed a Higher Calling from Avowed, and Jim received an insane gift: an 80th Anniversary Kelner that Dave West kindly gifted.

Eddie on the Streets Goes to Oklahoma

Our roving correspondent Eddie has become a fan favorite segment. This week he touched down in Oklahoma City and visited ZT Cigars by Mike.

The shop has a neat little lounge setup with solid air filtration. Nothing massive, but it’s got that community vibe we love. Eddie got a brief video with Mike Lewis, the owner, who walked us through what they carry. All the heavy hitters are represented: Padron, Davidoff, the works.

Eddie was smoking a Tatuaje Verocu during his visit. Short smoke, perfect for a quick stop before heading back to the airport.

If you’re ever in the Oklahoma City area, swing by ZT Cigars by Mike and tell them that Smoke and Steel sent you. Supporting local lounges is what keeps this industry thriving.

The Cigar Aficionado Conversation

We got into the Cigar Aficionado Top 25 list, specifically numbers 10 through 5. Now, we usually we’re pretty indifferent when it comes to lists like these. But this year? We were actually impressed with how the list started.

At number 10 was the Fuente Opus X Angel’s Share. This is one of Eric’s favorite Opus releases. It’s also one of the more affordable Opus X cigars you can find, usually around $18 MSRP.

Number 7 really validated our taste. Nasser The Goat by AJ Fernandez made the list, and three of us called this our biggest surprise cigar of the year during a golf trip months ago. A buddy in the industry busted out a box and we were absolutely blown away. It’s not your typical AJ profile. The construction is flawless, but the flavor just hits different.

Mark has been crushing the Trinidad Espiritu Series lately, and the Number 3 Bellicoso came in at number 5 on the list. You can routinely find bundles of 20 for under $100 on Cigar Page. That’s remarkable value for a cigar that made the top five. Mark prefers the Number 2 because, but he admitted both are exceptional smokes.

What impressed us most was that thi part of the list was both affordable and available. In an era where every new release seems to cost twenty-something dollars, seeing budget-friendly options getting recognition felt refreshing.

Dave West’s Visit and Industry Friendships

Dave and Kate West coming up from New Jersey just to spend time with us really hammered home how much our relationships have evolved. What started as “Hey, we have a podcast, want to be on it?” has turned into genuine friendships.

Dave brought that pre-release Vow for Rob and the 80th Anniversary Kelner for Jim. He asked where to get a good cheesesteak, so we sent him to our buddy’s local spot – Gazzos. They came back raving about it and said they’ll hit it up every time they’re in the area.

Looking Ahead: Big Plans on the Horizon

We’ve got some exciting stuff brewing for 2026.

Mo from Patina Cigars confirmed he’s coming on the podcast. The man is slammed with the Red Pill release, but he told us to send him dates and he’ll make it work. Having the founder of one of our favorite brands sit down with us is going to be incredible.

We’re also planning a Listener Appreciation Night. We’ve already reached out to a bunch of our top fans across different platforms, and only two haven’t responded. Everyone else is pumped. The plan is to set up a virtual lounge where listeners can pop in for 10-15 minutes, introduce themselves, tell us how they found the show, and just hang out. We want to celebrate the people who’ve been with us since day one.

And here’s the big one: we’re planning on heading to Louisiana to film episodes with the guys from LA Cigar Collective. Kyle and Big Rob have been amazing supporters, and filming on location in their shop is going to be a blast. We’re intentionally avoiding PCA and Mardi Gras so everyone can actually be available. No massive crowds, just quality time making quality content.

Why This Episode Mattered

Episode 25 was special because it reminded us why we started this whole thing.

We’re not trying to be the most polished podcast out there. We’re not chasing sponsors or selling out for free cigars. We’re just a group of guys who love this hobby and want to share that passion with anyone who’ll listen.

Jim turning 70 and seeing the outpouring of love from the cigar community reinforced everything we believe in. The relationships matter more than the cigars. The conversations matter more than the reviews. The laughs matter more than the production value.

If you’ve been riding with us since the beginning, thank you. If you just found us, welcome to the family. Either way, grab a stick, pour something good, and join us for the next episode.

Support the Podcast

If you enjoyed this cigar birthday celebration and want to support what we’re doing, the best way is to check out our affiliate partners at Cigar Page and JR Cigars. When you make a purchase through our links, it helps keep the lights on in the garage and the camera rolling. Plus, you’ll find killer deals on the cigars we talk about every week.

Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel, smash that notification bell, and join our Discord server. The Discord community has been absolutely blowing up lately, and the daily discussion topics keep getting better. If you’ve got ideas for future topics, hit up Walt. He’s bribing people with stickers now, so you might as well get in on that.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and everywhere else cigars are discussed. Leave us a comment, give us a thumbs up, and most importantly, light up something good tonight.