There’s a certain kind of garage session that just locks in. The weather finally cooperates, the smoke hangs just right, and the conversation doesn’t stop. Episode 41 of the Smoke and Steel Podcast was exactly that. We had the boys from LA Cigar Collective dialing in from Louisiana, a new shop exclusive cigar that none of us knew was a shop exclusive when we smoked it, a cardboard cutout standing in for our absent Godfather, and two weeks on the clock before PCA hits New Orleans like a freight train.

If you’ve been following along with what Kyle and Big Rob have been building down at LACC, this one is worth your time. A lot has changed since we first had them on, and it keeps changing.

Note from Walt

We recorded this episode with Kyle and Big Rob just a few days ago. With PCA being right around the corner, we felt it necessary to pull the time sensitive discussion forward in the schedule. This made the episode numbers get a little goofy. You didn’t miss Episodes 36 through 40 – they’ll come out after this. Blame Eric for the confusion… I know I do ?

The Man, the Myth, the Cardboard Cutout

Let’s address the elephant in the room. Or more accurately, the flat piece of cardboard in Jim’s chair.

Our guy Jim, the Godfather of Smoke and Steel, was out sick this episode. We weren’t about to let his seat go empty, so his wife’s handiwork from his 70th birthday party came in clutch. She had his face printed out on paper for the tables at the party, and we may or may not have walked out of that event with a few copies. They’ve been sitting around waiting for exactly this kind of situation.

Jim’s cutout had more to say than some guests we’ve had on. And honestly, his silence was riveting.

Get well soon, Jimbo. We genuinely missed the man.

What We Were Smoking

Sans Pareil Red

Eric led off with something a little different tonight. Kyle from LACC had sent along a Sans Pareil Red, made at Tabacalera La Palma by Jochy Blanco in the Dominican Republic. Eric hadn’t touched the line before, and neither had most of us. Turns out the retail on these sits around $45 to $47 a stick, which Eric found out mid-episode and immediately revised his glowing review into something a little more calculated. We love him for it.

Kyle confirmed LACC doesn’t carry Sans Pareil, mostly because they already stock more than enough in that price range. But Eric was into it from the jump, and that’s saying something.

The Big Iron by Definition Cigars – LA Cigar Collective Exclusive

This is the one we need to talk about.

Walt was smoking the Definition Cigars and LA Cigar Collective collaboration without realizing it was a shop exclusive. When it landed in our collective pack, we all just smoked it. Loved it. Then found out it was a LACC-exclusive release dropping at PCA. That’s the best kind of blind test.

Kyle walked us through the backstory. He and Jamon from Definition wanted to make something that pushed both of them outside their comfort zones. Kyle doesn’t smoke big rings. Jamon’s a city guy who felt weird leaning into western-inspired branding. They made a 60 ring gauge cigar anyway, put it in bundles with western-style branding, and called it Big Iron. The result is an approachable, sweet, high-smoke-output cigar that Eric said he could literally smoke next to a bonfire and still notice the clouds it was putting off. That’s not nothing.

It won’t be available until PCA. If you’re not in the collective pack, you wait.

Gris Gris Lonsdale by LA Cigar Collective

Eric’s second of the night was the Gris Gris Lonsdale, which just dropped on March 16th and has been moving fast. Kyle mentioned he’d smoked one a day for the past six weeks and burned through the Toro the day before, noticing how much lighter it felt by comparison. The Lonsdale is richer up front, intense in the last third, and still young enough that Kyle thinks it hasn’t hit its stride yet. Give it a few more months of rest and it’s going to be something.

For those who love the Gris Gris Toro and didn’t want another vitola to buy, welcome to the club. Walt didn’t want to like it either. He does.

Others Around the Garage

Rob had a Colonel E.H. Taylor Corojo followed up by an Ashton VSG. Mark pulled out a Caldwell King is Dead. Big Rob from LACC was smoking a Padron 64, and Kyle had a “project undisclosed” prototype..

PCA 2025 Is Two Weeks Away and LA Cigar Collective Is Ready

Kyle and Big Rob laid out the full event schedule for their PCA week in New Orleans, and it’s a lot.

Friday, April 17th kicks off with a Dave West / Avowed Cigars event. Big Rob is meeting Dave in person for the first time, which is a little wild considering how intertwined their worlds have become. Expect surprises. We were sworn to secrecy on a few things.

Saturday, April 18th is the Definition Cigars PCA release party at the shop. This is when the Big Iron officially drops, along with the Kinsman, which is the red-banded stick that came in our first collective pack and instantly became a house favorite.

Sunday, April 19th is ChiMolly After Dark. Pangú, Pioneer, Dynasty, and whatever they decide to bring out for the event. Plus Charlie from Abbina Craft Sipping Soda will be there running samples through his whole lineup. Three nights in a row, then the show floor all day Monday. Kyle called it the Super Bowl of the Cigar Industry. He’s not wrong.

All three events are open to the public, by the way. The ChiMolly Lanceros that went out in the collective pack were essentially the invitations.

The LA Cigar Collective Expansion: A Second Humidor Is Coming

While Kyle was in Japan, Big Rob was in the shop handling business. They’ve completed a new quiet seating area that their regulars have already started calling “the library.” No books, but the vibe is right. They’re still debating whether to put a TV in there. Our vote is a hard no on having it on all the time, but keep it available for big games. Maybe stream a fireplace in the winter.

The bigger news is the second humidor. Their old shipping office is being converted into a walk-in, about a third the size of the main one but fully humidified and shelved. They’re looking to add more than ten new brands, split between boutique newcomers and some legacy stuff people have been asking for. Kyle also mentioned he made an appointment with Mo Maali from Patina Cigars at PCA after a cigar Eric sent him pushed him over the edge. That cigar was an Oro de Nicaragua, and apparently it did its job.

LACC is coming up on two years in May. They’ve already expanded twice.

The Collective Pack Is Sold Out for April

They hit 117 total subscriptions with about 17 cancellations, many of which were software glitches or people who didn’t realize it was a recurring subscription. A few of those came back. They’re planning to push the cap to 120 for May.

The reason they keep the number controlled isn’t about exclusivity. It’s logistics. When you’re reaching out to brands like ChiMolly asking for event-only Lanceros, there’s a ceiling on how many they can provide. Going from 50 to 200 overnight changes what’s possible. Kyle is clear that the collective pack was never designed as a revenue play. It’s about exposure for boutique brands and giving their most loyal customers something to look forward to every month. Based on what’s landed in our box, they’re delivering on that.

Show Business: Cigar Fest, Box Pass, and an Ear Worm in Utah

A few housekeeping notes from our end.

The Box Pass is rolling. Jim got a Davidoff late in the rotation, something he’d never buy for himself. Dave West turned it around in 24 hours, true to form, and insisted on leaving high-end sticks rather than taking them. It’s headed to Helldorado next, then back to Walt.

Eddie on the Streets finally got recognized in the wild, at a lounge in Utah of all places. The guy looked at him, thought about it, and said “you’re the guy who goes on the road.” Eddie called us immediately. It happened.

We also locked in tickets to Smoke-onos Cigar Festival in the Poconos. Eric, Eddie, and Walt are heading up to film content, walk the floor, and see how many people from the industry we can corner for a conversation. General Admission runs 1 to 6pm. The Altadis afterparty goes until 11. We will not be staying until 11. We’ll be smoked out before dinner.

And our Discord keeps growing. We have members from Puerto Rico, Cyprus, and apparently we’re big in the Mediterranean now. If you haven’t joined, check it out.

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If you’ve been listening along, thank you. If this is your first time here, welcome to the garage.

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