Category: Cigar Reviews

Apostate Cigars’ Death Mask, the first project it has produced in Nicaragua, is slated to begin shipping to retailers in October. James Brown produces the cigar at Fábrica Oveja Negra in Estelí, Nicaragua. It’s Apostate’s first cigar outside of the Dominican Republic and the Tabacalera Palma factory. The cigar made its debut at the 2026 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show. Death Mask uses a San Andres wrapper, an Ecuadorian binder,

Cigar Dojo has announced the launch of its Cigar Ranker platform. The platform lets cigar enthusiasts crowdsource a Cigar of the Year. The platform is up and running. For years, cigar media have curated Cigar of the Year lists. In 2011, Halfwheel published its first Consensus, an initiative designed to combine many disparate cigar lists from the cigar media. Cigar Ranker differs in that it lets any registered member submit

Red Phone Booth Durham: Dr. Michael A. Thomas, Stephen de Haan, and Dr. Ralph K. Mensah (Left to Right) The Red Phone Booth, a chain of 1920s/Prohibition-themed speakeasy cigar lounges and bars, has opened its latest location in Downtown Durham, North Carolina. Red Phone Booth locations are highlighted by a hidden door accessible only with an access code. Inside, the space features a 1920s-inspired design, premium cigars, and a menu

Apostate Cigars has announced that its upcoming Death Mask release has sold through its entire 250-box production ahead of an October ship date. Death Mask was first offered to retailers during the 2026 PCA Trade Show in New Orleans, with the remaining inventory later made available to existing Apostate accounts. The company says retailers that received allocations can expect shipments to begin October 1. The release is notable for

Emilio Cigars has begun shipping Suave Sumatra, a limited-edition variation of the brand’s Suave line produced at Fabrica Oveja Negra in Estelí, Nicaragua. For the release, Fabrica Oveja Negra owner and BLTC founder James Brown developed a blend that replaces the traditional Suave wrapper with Sumatra tobacco. Underneath, the cigar uses an Ecuadorian Habano binder and Nicaraguan fillers. “Suave has been the cigar line that really put Emilio on

Cohiba Serie M Reserva Plata Today, we are reviewing the Cohiba Serie M Reserva Plata. This is the 2026 installment of Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG)’s Cohiba M series. The “M” stands for the fact that this is a cigar made in Miami at the El Titan de Bronze factory in Little Havana. Serie M debuted in 2021, and since then, a new release has been introduced each year. When it

Miami Cigar and Company has announced its new 6 x 44 Classic size and ten-count tins for its Tatiana Cappuccino and Tatiana Amaretto lines have shipped to retailers. The new offerings made a debut at the 2026 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show. Tatiana Cappuccino features a coffee-forward aromatic profile. Meanwhile, Amaretto offers a sweet profile reminiscent of the Italian liqueur. The Classic size comes in 25-count boxes and is

Miami Cigar & Co. has begun shipping two new formats for Tatiana Cappuccino and Amaretto, following their introduction at the 2026 PCA Trade Show in New Orleans. Both flavored cigar lines are now being offered in a 6″ x 44 Classic size, packaged in boxes of 25 cigars. The new size carries an MSRP of $5.25 per cigar. Tatiana has also added 10-count tins of Cappuccino and Amaretto, priced at

For Prime Time Jukebox Episode 195, it’s our 2026 NFL Show where we preview the upcoming season. Joining us we have John McTavish of Developing Palates as our special guest. We will make predictions on: Division Winners Wildcards Super Bowl The Halftime Show Plus we look back at our picks from last year.  We also have music news and  Dave’s New Music 45. Tune in to the premiere of Prime