The people behind the cigars are just as interesting as the cigars themselves. In our Spotlights section, we go beyond the leaf to tell the human stories — the passion, expertise, and hustle that shape the cigar world. From master blenders to local lounge owners, this is where you’ll meet the characters, creators, and communities that keep cigar culture alive and thriving.

What You’ll Find Here:

1. Industry Interviews – Conversations with cigar makers, rollers, and CEOs who are shaping the industry from the inside out.

2. Lounge Owner Profiles – Meet the people building spaces for cigar smokers to gather, relax, and build community.

3. Influencer Spotlights – Features on cigar YouTubers, Instagram creators, and podcasters making waves in the scene.

4. Factory Tours & Behind-the-Scenes Stories – We take you inside the world of cigar production from seed to smoke.

5. Collector Features – Profiles of collectors who chase rare sticks and preserve cigar history.

6. Passion Projects – Stories of people turning cigar love into lifestyle brands, clubs, or nonprofits.

Cigars can be intimidating — but they don’t have to be. Our Cigar Guides break everything down so you can enjoy the hobby with confidence. Whether you’re learning how to cut a cigar without destroying the cap, how to season your first humidor, or how to pair your stick with a bourbon, we provide hands-on advice that’s easy to follow and backed by real experience. These guides are built for everyone — from day-one smokers to decade-long devotees.

What You’ll Find Here:

1. Beginner Guides – Cigar 101 content like how to smoke a cigar, choose your first cigar, and understand basic terms.

2. Cutting & Lighting Techniques – V-cut, punch, straight cut: we explain them all with pros, cons, and when to use each.

3. Humidor Tips – How to season, store, and manage your cigars in desktop, travel, or cabinet humidors.

4. Cigar Anatomy & Tobacco Types – Breakdowns of wrappers, binders, fillers, and what each adds to your smoke.

5. Pairing Guides – Detailed advice on pairing cigars with whiskey, rum, beer, coffee, and more.

6. Buying Guides – Curated lists of the best cigars for every price point, occasion, and flavor preference.

7. Advanced Techniques – How to retrohale, purge, and detect flavor transitions during a smoke.

Our Cigar Reviews are built for real smokers who care about flavor, construction, and value — not hype. Every cigar we review is smoked multiple times in different settings to get a fair and balanced assessment. We don’t chase trends or play favorites. We rate cigars based on how they actually perform, not just how they’re marketed. Each review is packed with practical info, from tasting notes to pairing tips, so you know exactly what to expect before you buy or light up.

What You’ll Find Here:

1. Tasting Notes by Thirds – Flavor profiles broken down into first, second, and final thirds to show how the cigar evolves.

2. Burn & Draw Analysis – We evaluate the draw resistance, burn line, smoke output, and ash integrity.

3. Wrapper & Construction Quality – Close-ups and notes on how well the cigar is rolled and how it holds together during a smoke.

4. Pairing Suggestions – Ideal drink and setting recommendations to get the most out of each cigar.

5. Scoring System – Every cigar gets an overall rating out of 100, plus sub-scores for flavor, burn, value, and construction.

6. Photos & Descriptions – High-res images and clear descriptions of each cigar’s appearance, size, and vitola.

7. Pros & Cons Summary – A quick breakdown at the end of each review so you can skim or dive deep.