One of the newest cigar companies to join the field is a small company right here in my own backyard – Crooked Diamond Cigars. The name was aptly picked by brand owner Larry Lawton, a reformed jewelry thief that spent over a decade in federal prisons for his crimes. Ever since his release and doing Read more about Cigar Review: Crooked Diamond Cigars Diamond Edition Churchill – Rated 84[…]
I recall way back when, in 2014 – the Crux Cigar company entered the premium cigar market and I first met Jeff and Casey Haugen, two cigar loving cousins with a mission to bring some of the best cigars to the market. Jeff owned a lounge in Maple Grove, MN and he knew he wanted Read more about Cigar Review: Crux 2022 LE Limitada Short Salomone – Rated 94[…]
Back in June of this year, Espinosa Premium Cigars announced the Espinosa Ten Years. It is a cigar to celebrate the company’s Ten Years in the premium cigar industry. Blended by Hector Alfonso and hand crafted at the San Lotano factory in Estelí Nicaragua, it is expressed in a single (6 x 52) Toro and Read more about Cigar Review: Espinosa Cigars – Ten Years – Rated 92[…]
At this years PCA Trade show, Oliva Cigars showcased their latest addition to their popular Serie V line. This though, was not just any ordinary extension, it is a celebration of the 135 years Melanio Oliva first grew tobacco in Cuba’s Pinar del Río region launching the Oliva tobacco family. It is appropriately named the Read more about Cigar Review: Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary Edicion Limitada Perfecto – Rated 95[…]
Ever since I fired up my first LadyKiller by Southern Draw Cigars at Executive Cigar Shop and Lounge here in Melbourne, FL, I knew then that I had to review this magnificent blend. I needed another, but they were limited in supply and at the time limited to just one per person. Fortunately I stopped Read more about Cigar Review: Southern Draw Cigars LadyKiller – Rated 95[…]
When it comes to crafting fine cigars, there are some masters in the industry that stand out, Ernesto Perez Carrillo is most certainly one of them. Way back in 2014, at the beginning of Stogie Press, I reviewed the E.P. Carrillo – La Historia, and though we did not add a numerical rating then, it Read more about Cigar Review: Perez Carrillo Pledge Sojourn – Rated 95[…]
Now that we have departed the tumultuous year of 2020, I finally got around to picking up a new CAO 2020 Vision. Who would have known how ironic it would be to name it the 2020 Vision, a year many of us would rather forget. But we are not here to get reminiscent about 2020, Read more about Cigar Review: CAO 2020 Vision – Rated 93[…]
The year 2020 was one we may want to forget, but one of the bright spots in the cigar industry was the announcement of Davidoff’s latest Chinese New Year series of cigars – The Year of the Ox. This is the tenth introduction in the series since they started in 2011. With just 13,500 ten-count Read more about Cigar Review: Davidoff Year of the Ox – Rated 97[…]
Life is meant to be lived and lived well. To reach the age of 60 is a privilege denied to many, so to be able to celebrate such a milestone with my great friend Boston Jimmie was a distinct honor. November 9th, 2019 was truly a night to remember. Boston Jimmie threw the biggest cigar Read more about Cigar Lifestyle: Boston Jimmie’s 60th Birthday Herf Recap – By Mike Holmes[…]
By Mike Holmes I have been a cigar smoker for around 12 years now. Over the years I have read many articles about cigar Etiquette, I have scoured books on the topic and no matter how long I ponder on this topic, I always draw the same conclusions…. A lot of our so called Etiquette Read more about Cigar 101: Etiquette or Preferences – A Guest Article by Mike Holmes[…]
It has been a fun year traveling through the country visiting lounges everywhere I went. When I think back on all the fine establishments that I visited I have to think about which was the best. We give awards to the top cigars of the year, so why not lounges too. This year my travels Read more about Cigar Lounge: Best Cigar Lounge of 2018[…]
A Little Executive History It was more than a decade and a half when I first stepped into the Executive Cigar Shop in downtown Melbourne FL. It was a small shop in the center of the strip along New Haven Avenue in the heart of a slow growing downtown district of this small Florida town. Read more about Cigar Lounge: Executive Cigar Shop and Lounge – Melbourne FL – The 3rd Rendition[…]
A.J. Fernandez was the cigar man of the year in 2017, with numerous collaborations across the cigar industry including both big box and boutique lines. One of those collaborations was with General Cigars to re-introduce the Ramon Allones brand, the US trademark of which is owned by General Cigars. The company moved the line under the Foundry Read more about Cigar Review: AJ Fernandez Ramon Allones – Rated 94[…]