If there’s a theme for this Week In Smoke, it’s a mix of new cigars and relaxation. Heavy on the relaxation. Maybe a little procrastination too. It’s been a busy summer, and I for one am ready to welcome a less hectic season of bourbon and heavier beers. Sure, I drink both year round, but […]
IPCPR 2016: Smoking Jacket
In this video Ben Lee talks to Hendrik Kelner, Jr, the man behind Smoking Jacket cigars. This year Kelner is introducing the brand’s second limited edition, the Gran Toro. And limited edition is right, there are 300 boxes of 10 cigars produced for the world, 250 of them destined for the U.S. market. Each one […]
IPCPR 2016: Viaje
It’s always a good time talking to Andre Farkas at IPCPR. This year in the Viaje booth we discussed a variety of topics, and some of them even had something to cigars. Seriously though, the Viaje booth was the same as last year, because as Farkas tells us, changing it every year gets expensive. And […]
Gurkha Vintage Selection Shaggy Toro
When I was writing up last week’s Week In Smoke, I was a little surprised to discover we have never reviewed the Gurkha Vintage Selection Shaggy. I know it’s a cigar that I’ve talked about with people a number of times over the years, and people have had generally positive things to say about it. […]
Brian’s The Week In Smoke, Issue 101
It’s once time again for another issue of Brian’s The Week In Smoke. In case this is your first Week in Smoke, be advised that it covers many (though not necessarily all) of the cigars I’ve smoked in the past week (or the past month, or however long it has been since the last issue), […]
Brian’s The Week In Smoke, Issue 100
Over the past few weeks I’ve been thinking about what I should smoke for the hundredth edition of Brian’s The Week In Smoke. The problem is the more you think about it, the harder it gets. It’s like that with anything though, you overthink it, and a simple task becomes an ominous burden. Knowing the […]
Hererra Esteli TAA Exclusive
Last week I was hanging out at Sir Stogies when one of the regulars walked in. We exchange pleasantries and he made his way from the private lounge into the retail space to talk to the shop owner. I’m not one to eavesdrop but when I heard “Have you tried the new Hererra Esteli TAA […]
AVO 90th Classic Covers
I’m a couple weeks late, but I’d like to start off this review by saying Happy Birthday, Avo! 90 is an incredible accomplishment- someone needs to ask Avo what the secret is to immortality, because I think he has it, both literally and figuratively. This week I take a look at volume three in the […]
Brian’s The Week In Smoke, Issue 97
It’s once time again for another issue of Brian’s The Week In Smoke. In case this is your first Week in Smoke, be advised that it covers many (though not necessarily all) of the cigars I’ve smoked in the past week (or the past month, or however long it has been since the last issue), […]
The Box-Worthies: Brian’s Top 10 Cigars of 2015
This is the part where I whine about how hard it is to pick ten cigars I smoked in 2015, rank them and declare them the box-worthiest of all cigars to be box-worthy in that year. The truth is, this year’s list seemed easier to compile. I quickly put together a pool or 25 or […]