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Cigar Strength Explained: Mild, Medium and Full
What cigar strength actually measures, why it is not the same as flavour intensity, which leaves in the blend produce it, and how to find the level that suits you without overshooting.
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Cigar stories & guides
Brand histories, tasting notes, buying guides and news from the world of premium cigars.
How to Cut and Light a Cigar Properly
How to cut a cigar without unravelling it, which cutter suits which vitola, why butane matters, and the toasting method that gives…
Read article →How to Store Cigars: Humidor Setup, Humidity and Long-Term Care
A practical guide to storing cigars properly: the right humidity and temperature, choosing and seasoning a humidor, using two-way …
Read article →What to Drink With a Cigar: A Practical Pairing Guide
How to pair cigars with rum, whisky, coffee and other drinks: the two principles that actually work, what to match by strength, an…
Read article →Toro vs Robusto Cigars: Size, Flavor, and Burn Time Explained
Toro vs Robusto: which cigar vitola should you choose? Compare ring gauge dimensions, burn times, wrapper-to-filler ratios, and fl…
Read article →Best Cigars for Beginners: What Is a Good First Cigar to Try?
New to cigars? Discover the best mild to medium Cuban and New World cigars for beginners, ring gauge sizing tips, cutting and ligh…
Read article →Are Cuban Cigars Legal in the United States? Current 2026 Laws Explained
Everything you need to know about US trade embargo laws, bringing Cuban cigars into the USA from abroad, OFAC regulations, and int…
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How to Spot Fake Cohiba Cigars: Complete Authentication Guide
Cohiba is the most counterfeited Cuban cigar in the world. Learn how to verify security holograms, triple caps, serial barcodes, a…
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The Best New World Cigars in 2026: Top Picks from Nicaragua, Dominican Republic & Honduras
Discover the finest New World cigars beyond Cuba: from Davidoff and Fuente Fuente OpusX to Padrón 1926, Oliva Serie V Melanio, and…
Read article →The Best Cuban Cigars Worth Seeking Out in 2026: The Aficionado's List
From Cohiba Siglo VI to Partagás Lusitanias and Trinidad Fundadores: explore the top Cuban cigars every connoisseur must smoke at …
Read article →XXV Festival del Habano: Silver Jubilee of the World's Cigar Summit
Previewing the 25th Silver Jubilee of the Festival del Habano in Havana: historic anniversary releases, global collectors, and gal…
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How Cuban Cigars Are Rolled: The Traditional Handcrafting Process
Step inside a Havana cigar factory. Learn the master techniques of the Torcedor, the chaveta, tabla, and how authentic Habanos are…
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The Anatomy of a Premium Cigar: The 5 Leaves Explained
Discover the 5 tobacco leaves that compose a handmade cigar: Capa wrapper, Capote binder, and the three Tripa filler leaves (Volad…
Read article →Davidoff Maduro: A Masterclass in Ecuadorian Sun-Grown Fermentation
Explore the rebirth of Davidoff Maduro: crafted with dark Ecuadorian corte #7 sun-grown wrappers, aged Mexican and Dominican fille…
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XXIV Festival del Habano: 50th Anniversary of Quai d'Orsay and Trinidad Legacy
Highlights from the 24th Festival del Habano: celebrating 50 years of Quai d'Orsay, 55 years of Trinidad, and historic new vitola …
Read article →Davidoff Year of the Dragon 2024: Limited Edition Zodiac Masterpiece
Celebrating the Lunar New Year with the Davidoff Year of the Dragon: an uncut foot double corona with eight unique tobaccos and un…
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The Cuban Tobacco Harvest: Vuelta Abajo Soil, Sun, and Curing
Step into the red soils of Pinar del Río to understand the lifecycle of Cuban tobacco: planting, harvesting, curing barns, and sea…
Read article →Vegueros CentroGordos: Modern Cuban Petit Robusto Guide
Meet the Vegueros CentroGordos: Cuba's modern 54-ring gauge petit robusto delivering rich, medium-to-full Vuelta Abajo flavors in …
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XXIII Festival del Habano: Highlights and Landmark New Releases
Complete recap of the 23rd Festival del Habano in Havana: unveiling the Montecristo Open redesign, Partagás Línea Maestra, and rec…
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Davidoff Year of the Rabbit 2023: Limited Edition Zodiac Perfecto Guide
Discover the Davidoff Year of the Rabbit 2023 Limited Edition: an exquisite double-tapered Perfecto vitola with 8 vintage tobaccos…
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Festival del Habano: The World's Premier Cuban Cigar Celebration
Inside the world-famous Festival del Habano in Havana: factory tours, gala dinners, exclusive vitola reveals, and the legendary Hu…
Read article →First Time in a Cigar Shop: 7 Essential Walk-in Humidor Rules
Planning your first visit to a premium cigar shop or lounge? Learn essential walk-in humidor etiquette, how to choose singles, and…
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Encuentro Amigos de Partagás in Italy: Europe's Greatest Cuban Cigar Festival
Inside the legendary Encuentro Amigos de Partagás in Matelica, Italy: celebrating Cuban cigar culture, Italian gastronomy, and exc…
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H. Upmann Magnum 52: Year of the Tiger Cuban Collector's Vitola
Complete guide to the H. Upmann Magnum 52: Habanos S.A.'s luxury release commemorating the Chinese Lunar Year of the Tiger.
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Davidoff Year of the Tiger 2022: The Striped Pirámides Masterpiece
Inside the landmark Davidoff Year of the Tiger Limited Edition: featuring a natural tiger-stripe Connecticut wrapper, Ecuadorian b…
Read article →5 Best Cigars for Autumn: Rich, Earthy, and Spiced Blends
As the weather cools, discover the 5 best medium-to-full-bodied cigars for autumn pairing with single malt whisky, spiced rum, and…
Read article →Cohiba 55th Anniversary: The Legacy of Habanos' Crown Jewel
Celebrating 55 years of Cohiba (1966–2021): explore the history of El Laguito, Fidel Castro's personal blend, and the exclusive Co…
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5 Best Cigars for Summer: Light, Creamy, and Refreshing Smokes
Discover the 5 best mild-to-medium cigars for warm summer days on the patio, terrace, or golf course. Perfect pairings with Champa…
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El Floridita: The Legendary Havana Cradle of the Daiquiri and Cuban Cigars
Explore the rich history of El Floridita in Old Havana, Ernest Hemingway's iconic bar, the birth of the Papa Doble Daiquiri, and c…
Read article →AJ Fernandez Cigars: The Master of Estelí and New World Blending
Discover the story of Abdel J. Fernandez, the Cuban-born master blender who transformed Nicaraguan tobacco with San Lotano, Enclav…
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Davidoff Viaje al Origen: Exploring the Soils of the Dominican Republic
Journey into the heart of the Cibao Valley with Davidoff's Viaje al Origen, celebrating the agronomists, master blenders, and volc…
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Drew Estate Cigars: The Story of Liga Privada, Undercrown, and Estelí Artistry
From a 16-square-foot kiosk in the World Trade Center to an Estelí empire: discover how Jonathan Drew and Marvin Samel revolutioni…
Read article →Davidoff Winston Churchill Limited Edition: The Traveller Perfecto
Discover the first Perfecto vitola in Davidoff's Winston Churchill line, inspired by Sir Winston's globetrotting travels, diplomac…
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José L. Piedra: Modernizing Cuba's Remedios Heritage Cigars
Discover the redesign and heritage of José L. Piedra cigars: short-filler Cuban puros crafted from the historic Remedios tobacco r…
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Trinidad Cigars: The Diplomatic Legacy and Vintage Habanos Guide
Explore the extraordinary history of Trinidad cigars: created in 1969 as Cuba's most exclusive diplomatic gift, rolled with signat…
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The History of Davidoff Cigars: From Kyiv and Geneva to the Dominican Republic
Discover the legendary history of Zino Davidoff, from his family shop in Geneva to the founding of the world's most luxurious Domi…
Read article →Juan López Selección Especial: Exclusive La Casa del Habano Vitola
Review of the Juan López Selección Especial LCDH: celebrating 150 years of Juan López and 30 years of the La Casa del Habano retai…
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Partagás Legado Edición Limitada 2020: Tasting Notes and Review
Complete guide to the Partagás Legado Edición Limitada: rolled in the iconic Hermosos No. 2 vitola with two-year aged Vuelta Abajo…
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Discover the Oliva Cigar Lines: A Buyer's Guide to Serie V, O, G, and Connecticut
Compare every major blend in the Oliva portfolio: from mild Connecticut Reserve and sweet African Cameroon Serie G to full-bodied …
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Oliva Cigars: The Nicaraguan Powerhouse and the Story of Serie V Melanio
Explore the legacy of the Oliva family, from their origins in Pinar del Río to becoming Nicaragua's premier grower of Habano Sun G…
Read article →Plasencia Alma del Campo: The Organic Nicaraguan Champion Cigar
Discover Plasencia Alma del Campo: a 100% certified organic Nicaraguan puro celebrating five generations of family tobacco farming…
Read article →Plasencia Alma del Campo Travesía: The 6x54 Toro Extra Review
Review of the Plasencia Alma del Campo Travesía: a massive 54 ring gauge by 6-inch Nicaraguan puro delivering 90 minutes of organi…
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Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchills: Travel Retail Humidor Edition
Review of the Romeo y Julieta Wide Churchills Travel Retail Edition: 20 pristine 55-ring gauge Habanos presented in a luxury trave…
Read article →S.T. Dupont Heritage: The Gold Standard of Luxury Cigar Lighters and Cutters
Discover the 150-year heritage of S.T. Dupont in Faverges, France: from royal leather goods to the iconic Ligne 2 'Cling' sound an…
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The History of Montecristo Cigars: From Alexandre Dumas to Havana Icon
Discover the legendary story of Montecristo cigars, founded in Havana in 1935 by Alonso Menéndez and inspired by The Count of Mont…
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The World of Habanos: Understanding Cuban Denominations of Origin (D.O.P.)
Everything you need to know about the 27 Cuban cigar brands, the 4 tobacco-growing regions of Cuba, and the strict Protected Denom…
Read article →Zino Nicaragua: Contemporary Profiles for the Adventurous Aficionado
Discover Zino Nicaragua: medium-bodied Dominican and Nicaraguan blends with Ecuadorian Connecticut wrappers, delivering coffee, ce…
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