If you’ve landed on this page, odds are you are thinking about being a Guest on the Smoke and Steel Podcast or you’re interested in having your Cigar or Cigar Product Reviewed on Stogie Review (or perhaps both). Excellent – you are in the right place!
Stogie Review was created way back in 2006 as a way for two friends to share thoughts and cigars amongst one another. We’ve undergone many changes over the past twenty years but one thing remains consistent – we pride ourselves on honest feedback and good conversation.
Our goal isn’t to just feature a brand or guest and move on. Instead, we’re looking for mutual benefit, longterm relationships, and conversations worth sharing. This is not a a hit and run promo spot.
If that sounds god to you, here is hos this process works.
Table of Contents
Who we Feature on Smoke and Steel
Guests on the Smoke and Steel Podcast generally fall into one of three categories.
Cigar Enthusiasts
The Cigar Enthusiast category is pretty self explanatory. These are cigar smokers and community members with an interesting story.
We’ll cover topics such as
- How you got into cigars
- The story behind your fist cigar (bonus points if it is awful)
- Which cigars you enjoy these days
- Cool cigar-related stories or memorable lounge experiences
Retailers & Lounge Owners
Whether you own a small shop or a big multi-state operation, we’d love to hear your story.
We’ll cover topics such as
- Your Shop or Lounge Story
- What the local scene is like at your place
- How the industry has changed from your side of the counter
- Your House Blend (if you have one)
- Trends you see from your customers
If you do have a house blend and would like us to smoke it on the show, we are happy to do so. We’ll provide more information on samples down below.
Cigar Manufacturers / Brand Owners
Big, Small, Boutique, Legacy – If you make a cigar and want to talk shop, we’re in.
If the purpose of the episode is to promote a specific cigar, a new release, or a brand story, we highly recommend sending samples so that the whole Smoke and Steel crew can smoke along and actually discuss the product.
We’ll cover topics such as
- Brand Story
- The Cigar Blend / Makeup
- Industry trends from your perspective as a manufacturer
Product Submissions (Podcast or Review)
Shipping information for product samples will be provided upon request. Please reach out via email to Walt@StogieReview.com to coordinate.
Cigar Reviews
Cigar Reviews are conducted on Stogie Review as a Written Article or Video (often both). These reviews require five cigars of the same size and blend. This allows us to smoke multiple cigars over a period of time to create a comprehensive evaluation.
Smoke and Steel Podcast
The Smoke and Steel Podcast has an open door policy with out hosts. Any given episode may have as few as three or as many as ten participants. We’re all friends and we’re all local – we don’t often know who will be stopping by until the day of recording (and sometimes we don’t know until they walk through the door, mid-episode).
Due to the fluid nature of the podcast, we require ten cigars of the same size and blend. This ensures that we have enough cigars to go around while also providing an extra cigar or two just in case of shipping or construction issues.
As mentioned previously – product samples are not required but are highly encouraged if a particular cigar is the focus of the episode.
A Very Important Note on Honesty
Stogie Review has been around for nearly twenty years. We’ve built a reputation providing honest feedback. Sending samples our way does not guarantee a positive review. We’ll do our best to highlight the positive qualities but we’re going to be honest about our experience.
To put is as plainly as possible – We’re not going be jerks over a bad cigar but we’re also not going to blow smoke up your ass in exchange for free product.
YouTube Collaboration Option
If you run your own YouTube Channel, we can add you as a collaborator to the final published episode. This means that the video will appear on both your channel and ours without any extra effort. You’ll be able to see video analytics and interact with comments as if you published the video yourself.
This option allows both our audiences to enjoy the content in a mutually beneficial way.
How to Get in Touch
If you’d like to schedule a guest appearance on the Smoke and Steel Podcast or provide samples for a Cigar Review, please reach out via email to Walt@StogieReview.com
FAQ
Do I have to send cigars to be a guest?
No – unless you’re coming on specifically to promote a cigar. If the episode is built around your product, we need to be smoking it.
Do you feature cigar accessories?
Yes – we love trying out new cigar gadgets and accessories
Do you guarantee a positive review if I send product?
Absolutely not – we take pride in sharing honest opinions
Can I just send cigars for review without being on the podcast?
Sure – it isn’t as fun but we’re happy to accommodate you.
How long does it take for a video to be published?
It varies – we try to have several videos scheduled in advance. Depending on the Smoke and Steel Episode, we may pull it forward in the schedule and label it as a Bonus Episode so cut down on the wait.
Will you tag or promote us on social?
Of course and we hope you’ll do the same when the episode / video is published.
Can we use your review or podcast episode on our site?
Absolutely – the only thing that we ask if that you link back to the original post here on Stogie Review
What sort of equipment do I need to call into the podcast?
Minimal – as long as you have a Phone, Tablet, or Laptop with a Microphone and Headphones we should be good to go.
