Smoke Night LIVE - Cigar Dojo: Recent Episodes
Cigar Dojo
Cigar Dojo is the world's most fun cigar community, app, and blog. We also feature the most watched cigar show on the internet: Smoke Night LIVE.
What makes a cigar lounge truly great? Is it the plush seating, a well-stocked humidor, a full bar with a skilled mixologist, or maybe the perfect location with a breathtaking view? On this episode, Sensei and Juan are joined by Fred Rewey of Cigar Press Magazine and William “Cigar Coop” Cooper to break it all down. The panel will share their likes and dislikes, and reveal their five favorite cigar lounges from around the world.
Panic has struck Dojo Studios—Jordan “The Kid Producer” has taken off to gallivant across the UK and Italy. So what happens to Smoke Night LIVE while he’s busy sipping cappuccinos on the Amalfi Coast? Master Sensei and Juan will do their best to stumble through the show with a little help from our amazing audience. Bring your best topics and questions, and join the fun.
It’s been a while since we’ve had an update from the Premium Cigar Association on the health and outlook of the cigar industry. On this episode, PCA CEO Josh Habursky joins the broadcast to share insights on the state of the industry and its ongoing efforts to remain free from government overreach.
Not every cigar brand operates its own factory—many rely on contracting with other producers. This week on Smoke Night LIVE, our special guest is Daniel Lance of Domain Cigars, a company that does things differently by running its own factory-Tabacalera Familia Disla S.A.. We’ll explore the pros and cons of owning a cigar factory, learn how Domain got its start, and hear what the future holds for the brand.
Smoke Night LIVE is back and we are on the road! The Dojo crew will be broadcasting live from a secret location in South Florida. Since we’re on the road, we’ll be diving into all the ins and outs of traveling with cigars. How do you get your cutters, lighters, and even butane through TSA? What cigars—and how many—should you pack for a trip? What are the best cigar destinations? We’ll tackle these questions and more on this episode!
On this episode of Smoke Night LIVE, we tackle the question: how would you build the perfect cigar company? Our panel will step into the role of CEO, making key decisions such as choosing tobacco farms, selecting a factory and blender, appointing a brand manager, and filling other essential roles to create their ultimate cigar brand. Joining Sensei, Juan, and the Dojo crew are William “Cigar Coop” Cooper and Johnny Remer for this unique and engaging discussion.
It’s time for the annual Dochella festival at Dojo Studios, where we celebrate the kickoff of the Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival. As always, we’ll have a cavalcade of stars on Smoke Night LIVE, appearing in rapid-fire succession. Tune in to catch your favorite cigar personalities on this special, once-a-year episode.
It’s the first episode of Smoke Night LIVE from the newly renovated Dojo studio! William “Cigar Coop” Cooper joins Sensei, Juan Cancel, Jordan, and the rest of the crew to discuss new and upcoming cigar releases and tackle the pivotal question: does it move the needle? In other words, how excited should we really be about each new cigar drop?
Few pairings rival a fine glass of whiskey and a premium cigar. On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Jon Carney and Mike Wilson of Hooten & Young—the company that brings both to the table. From its unique origin story to its growing presence in the cigar and spirits world, Hooten & Young’s journey is one you won’t want to miss. Tune in for the conversation and your chance to win one of TWO impressive prize packages.
La Flor Dominicana (LFD) has long been recognized as one of the premier cigar factories in the Dominican Republic, earning numerous accolades over the years, including Cigar Aficionado’s Cigar of the Year for the Andalusian Bull in 2016. Now, as a new chapter begins, the next generation is stepping into leadership. Litto Gomez Jr., Tony Gomez, and Eddy Guerra join the show to discuss guiding their father’s company into the future and the ongoing challenge of remaining relevant in the humidors of today’s cigar hobbyists.
Getting your cigar brand noticed in the industry is no easy feat, and over the years, we’ve seen some colorful characters rise to the challenge. Jeremy McDonald launched Wildfire Cigars in 2021 and has quickly established himself as one of the more unique personalities in the business. But how weird is too weird? Jeremy joins Smoke Night Live for a lively discussion about the cult of personality behind Wildfire Cigars.
Every cigar smoker has a mental list of cigars that reshaped their understanding of what makes a cigar truly exceptional. Was it a maduro that revealed the perfect chocolate note? Or perhaps a flawlessly aged Connecticut shade-wrapped cigar that demonstrated the delicate balance of sweetness and bitterness? On this episode, the Dojo crew discusses the five cigars that transformed their appreciation for premium cigars.
Tell us what you REALLY think! Fred Rewey from Cigar Press Magazine joins Master Sensei, Juan Cancel, and Kid-Producer Jordan to discuss, debate, and settle some of the most intriguing topics in the cigar industry and beyond.
What is the most exciting cigar brand represented by a celebrity? In this episode, the Dojo crew, joined by co-host Juan Cancel and special guest William ‘Cigar Coop’ Cooper, will crown the King of the Ring—the ultimate celebrity cigar brand. In this bracket challenge, it’s not just about the quality of the cigars but also the celebrity’s influence and the overall positive vibe of the brand.
In this episode, we sit down with Justin Andrews, Director of New Business Development at Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG). Justin will be joining us live in-studio from Dojo headquarters and will update us on all STG brands, including Diesel, Partagas, Room101, Alec Bradley, and more.
The term ’boutique cigar company’ is often used in the cigar industry, but what does it truly mean? Does it describe the company’s size, its focus on artistry, or a blend of multiple factors? Terence Reilly from Aganorsa Leaf and Nick Fusco from El Mago Cigars join the show to explore what defines a boutique cigar company.
Bill Ives and Juan Cancel reunite on this episode of Smoke Night LIVE. Ten years ago, Bill and Juan were Cigar Dojo members and cigar enthusiasts who decided to start a cigar brand named Cubariqueño, also known as Protocol. They quickly became one of the most popular brands on the market, paying homage to police officers worldwide. Since then, the company has undergone many changes, including Bill leaving to focus on his career in law enforcement. On this show, Juan and Bill reunite for the first time to reminisce and discuss Protocol’s wild history over the past decade.
Get ready for our 3rd epic AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Smoke Night LIVE! The audience takes the wheel, firing tough, fascinating questions at the Dojo crew: Master Sensei, Juan Cancel, Kid-Producer Jordan, Scotty Braband, and Matty Hall. Best of all, submit your question(s) for a chance to win a 10-count bundle of Protocol Jane Doe cigars! Drop your most compelling questions and join the fun!
Buy, Hold, or Sell? With the annual cigar trade show behind us, it’s time to evaluate how the top brands performed and whether their yearly pitches hit or missed the mark. To guide us through these assessments, we’ve assembled an expert panel for one of our most popular episodes: the Cigar Brand Stock Market. Join Juan Cancel, William ‘Cigar Coop’ Cooper, and John ‘Cigar Surgeon’ McTavish as they advise ‘investors’ on which cigar brands are worthy of your investment.
Survey Says! Terence Reilly from Aganorsa Leaf joins the show to predict the results of our cigar consumer survey before we dive into the answers. How well does Terence understand the habits of premium cigar smokers? Tune in to find out! Plus, complete the survey for a chance to win a FLEX Sampler featuring 10 incredible Aganorsa Leaf cigars.
Nashville’s Crowned Heads have been making waves with a flurry of announcements ahead of this year’s PCA trade show, unveiling new cigars and even a refreshed logo. Miguel Schoedel, the VP of Sales, joins the show to break down all the latest updates and provide an inside look at what’s happening within the Crowned Heads and OZ Family Cigars brands.
What makes Juan, “Juan?” Have you ever wondered about that? Juan Cancel is one of the most intriguing figures in the cigar industry. Before founding Protocol Cigars (also known as Cubariqueño), his life was shaped by a series of events that molded him into the man he is today. In this episode, we’ll uncover the journey that crafted the one and only Juan Cancel.
Fred Rewey, formerly of Nomad Cigars and Illusione Cigars, now a partial owner of Cigar Press Magazine, joins the show to talk about… cigars. You like cigars, right? Well, we’re diving into cigars and much, much more on this fun, freewheeling episode of Smoke Night LIVE.
In this episode, Cigar Dojo welcomes Oliver Nivaud, Director of Sales and Marketing at United Cigars. Join us for an in-depth conversation with Nivaud, who will be in-studio for this special interview. Oliver leads the team behind some of the most interesting cigar brands in the industry, including the Firecracker series, Atabey, Byron, Red Anchor, and the recently launched Gold Star line.
In this episode, our guest is Sandy Cobas, the owner and operator of El Titan de Bronze, the famed cigar factory in Miami. El Titan de Bronze stands out as a rare gem, being one of the last cigar factories still operating in the United States. Sandy and her team craft some of the finest cigars in the world, producing for renowned brands like Cohiba, Drew Estate, Warped, La Palina, and many others. In 2024, their Redemption cigar earned the #16 spot on The Dojo’s Cigar of the Year list, and Sandy herself was honored as our Person of the Year.
The Great Smoke (Renaissance Fair Edition) is just a few of weeks away, and it’s no secret that it has become one of the premier cigar events in the world. Abe Dababneh, the mastermind behind this unique event, joins the show to discuss what’s in store for this year and more.
A new Perdomo cigar is set to hit stores in May. That’s right, folks—it’s the Perdomo Legacy, a tribute to Nick Perdomo Jr., created by his son Nicholas. Nicholas will join the show to share all the details about this exciting new release on this episode of Smoke Night LIVE.
It all comes down to this! Sunday’s big game between Kansas City and Philadelphia is just hours away, but the party starts now. Camacho’s Jack Heyer and William “Cigar Coop” Cooper join the show to break down the matchup and discuss the ultimate game-day lineup (e.g. best snacks, smokes, and drinks for the occasion). Kick off Super Weekend with Smoke Night LIVE and enter to win HUGE prizes from Camacho!
Let’s get ready to rumble! It’s time for one of the most highly anticipated episodes of the year, where we pit four of the top Cigar-of-the-Year lists against each other in a no-holds-barred battle royale. The best part? The viewing audience decides the outcome! Last year’s champion, Cigar Snob Magazine, returns to defend its crown against Cigar Press, How Bout That Cigar, and Smokin’ Tobacco. Which year-end list will reign supreme? Tune in to find out!
What’s the right cigar for a wedding? A funeral? Or even a Star Wars cosplay convention? We’ll answer these questions and many more on this week’s episode of Smoke Night LIVE! Juan Cancel and Nick Libretti join the show to help us break down why certain cigars are better suited for specific occasions. Don’t miss this engaging discussion about pairing the perfect cigar with life’s most memorable moments.
And the winners are in! It’s time to reveal the recipients of our Cigar of the Year awards. Who will take home the honors for Best Under-the-Radar, Value-Priced Cigar, Best Packaging, Person of the Year, and Brand of the Year? We will also discuss our selections for the Top 20 Cigars of 2024. Stay tuned to find out!
Believe it or not, 2024 is winding down. As we prepare to welcome the new year, it’s time to rewind and review the biggest and most significant stories of the past year. Joining the show for a round-table discussion are Juan Cancel, Fred Rewey, and John “Cigar Surgeon” McTavish. Together, they’ll dive into topics from the cigar industry, as well as highlights from movies, television, music, sports, and more!
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin! Have you been a good girl or boy this year? Santa—or in this case, Michael Herklots—is making his list and checking it twice. Join us for the annual Christmas episode of Smoke Night LIVE, featuring Ferio Tego’s Michael Herklots. It’s a festive night of fun, laughter, and cigars you won’t want to miss!
It feels like just yesterday that Rick Rodriguez launched West Tampa Tobacco Co., debuting releases like the White, Black, Red, and Attic Series. Yet, nearly three years have passed, and Rick has exciting new plans for fans of the brand. Tune in to this week’s episode to catch up with Rick and discover what’s new at West Tampa Tobacco Co.
This week on Smoke Night LIVE, Juan Cancel takes the reins as host while Master Sensei is away. Joining him is none other than the esoteric Matt Booth of Room101 Cigars. Together, they’ll kick off the holiday season with a fun-filled show that’s sure to be “Juan” to remember!
Smoke, Stash, or Trash returns for its exciting eighth edition, featuring special guest Fred Rewey from Cigar Press Magazine. The concept is simple but the choices are tough: Fred is presented with three premium cigars, and he must decide which one to smoke, which to stash for later, and which to trash. Watch as Fred is placed in the hot seat and faces the challenge of making near-impossible decisions with some of the finest cigars in the world. You won’t want to miss the drama and excitement as he navigates these tough calls!
Héctor and Jack are back! That’s right—Héctor J. Alfonso Sr. and Jack Toraño from Espinosa Premium Cigars join the show as La Zona Palooza quickly approaches. We’ll dive into what’s in store for this year’s event and also discuss the latest release—the Knuckle Sandwich Strike Force—exploring what it takes to bring a new cigar like this to life.
You’re at a friend’s house, the toilet is clogged, and there’s no plunger. What do you do? Or, you’re at a group dinner, and everyone is splitting the bill evenly, but you ordered much less. What do you do? Aganorsa Leaf’s Terence Reilly joins the show to help us navigate this and other awkward life dilemmas. Plus, we’ll be giving away some amazing prizes from Aganorsa Leaf (entry details at CigarDojo.com). Don’t miss out—tune in and join the fun!
It’s a special year for Warped Cigars, as they celebrate their 10th anniversary—an occasion marked by some exciting new releases. But that’s not the only news. Kyle Gellis joins the show to discuss the anniversary blends, as well as the launch of the new Gellis Family Cigars brand and the recently announced ‘Piece Unique’ release.
Aric Bey, owner and operator of Black Star Line Cigars, joins us in the studio to discuss the brand-new limited edition Yasuke, the latest collaboration between BSL and Cigar Dojo. We’ll dive into the creative process behind this legendary project and explore everything else happening with Aric and Black Star Line.
Smoke, Stash, or Trash returns for its exciting sixth edition, featuring special guest Randy Griggs from Flavor Odyssey. The concept is simple but the choices are tough: Randy is presented with three premium cigars, and he must decide which one to smoke, which to stash for later, and which to trash. Watch as Randy takes the hot seat and faces the challenge of making near-impossible decisions with some of the finest cigars in the world. You won’t want to miss the drama and excitement as he navigates these tough calls!
The Cigar Brand Fantasy Draft is back, and we’ve assembled a star-studded panel of guests who will go head-to-head to draft the ultimate lineup of cigar brands. Winning the fourth edition of this competition will require expert strategy, and this year’s contestants are: Robby Ras, William “Cigar Coop” Cooper, Aaron Loomis, and John McTavish (aka the Cigar Surgeon). The best part? The viewing audience will decide the winner, so be sure to tune in and cast your vote!
Another year has gone by, and Smoke Night LIVE host, Master Sensei, is celebrating another birthday! How do we mark this special occasion, you ask? By giving away some tasty cigars! That’s right, folks – we’re giving away one premium cigar for every year Sensei has been on this wild ride of life. So, one lucky winner will walk away with 59 premium cigars just for tuning in live to this episode.Prize pack includes cigars from: Aganorsa Leaf, Espinosa, Alec Bradley, J.C. Newman, Hoya de Monterrey, Partagas, Drew Estate, Micallef, Oliva, Asylum, Macanudo, and more.
Jonathan Carney, the former Vice President of Sales for La Flor Dominicana, joins Smoke Night LIVE to make a major announcement. Earlier this summer, Carney surprised many by leaving his position at LFD, sparking widespread speculation about his next move. In this episode, he reveals all the details about his new role.
On this special Thursday night edition of Smoke Night LIVE, we’re broadcasting live from Dojo Studios as we welcome a cavalcade of stars to the show. That’s right—it’s the annual Dochella Festival, and we’ll be joined by a plethora of cigar industry personalities, including Steve Saka, Pedro Gomez, Jack Torano, Eddy Guerra, Terence Reilly, Tom Lazuka, Aric Bey, Fred Rewey, Bradley Rubin, Justin Andrews, and more!
Casey Haugen from CRUX Cigars is back in the studio, and this time, he means business! We’ll catch up on the latest happenings with the CRUX brand, plus we’ve got some “Who? What? Where?” trivia lined up. Two lucky viewers will walk away with amazing prizes, courtesy of CRUX Cigars. But remember, you can’t win if you don’t tune in!
Smoke, Stash, or Trash is back for a fifth edition, this time with special guest Juan Cancel from Protocol Cigars. The concept is simple: we present Juan with three cigar options and he must decide which one he wants to smoke, which one he will stash for later, and which one he will trash. Tune in to see Juan in the hot seat as he is forced to make difficult choices with some of the greatest premium cigars on earth.
This week on Smoke Night LIVE, Enrique Seijas will join us at Dojo studios for an in-depth interview. Enrique, the co-owner of Matilde Cigars, is also the son of the renowned blender José Seijas. He will be in-studio to discuss the challenges of running a burgeoning boutique cigar brand that has received high praise from Cigar Dojo.
The Alpha Dog is back! This week, the Dojo announced the upcoming Knuckle Sandwich STRIKE FORCE, a collaboration between Cigar Dojo, Smoke Inn, Guy Fieri, and Espinosa Premium Cigars. Erik Espinosa joins the show to discuss the project as well as everything else that’s going on at Espinosa Premium Cigars.
It’s debate season, and on this episode of Smoke Night LIVE, we have a heavyweight title fight! In one corner, weighing in at 215 lbs and standing 6’6″ tall, is Terence Reilly of Aganorsa Leaf. In the other corner, weighing in at 224 lbs and standing 6’2″ tall, is Fred Rewey, who is fighting independently. It’s a “point-counterpoint” style debate on some of the most important topics facing our society, such as pineapple on pizza, the societal value of the Star Wars franchise, and much, much more. May the best fighter win.
So, you think you’re smart, eh? Tune into this episode of Smoke Night LIVE for a chance to win some amazing prizes from J.C. Newman. We are giving away one 25-count box of El Baton Belicoso, one 25-count box of Brickhouse Mighty Maduro (6¼” × 60), and one 20-count box of Diamond Crown Maximus Robustos. Do your best to be the first to correctly answer the trivia for your chance to win!
It’s the return of the one of the most popular episodes of Smoke Night LIVE: Cigar Brand Stock Market. We have assembled an expert panel of some of your favorite cigar media personalities and ask them if they would Buy, Hold, or Sell stock in 20 premium cigar brands based on their current buzz in the market. Make sure to tune in to see how your favorite brands are performing.
This week on Smoke Night LIVE, Reinier Lorenzo of HVC joins the show to discuss his new cigar releases and how things are going with his new factory in Estelí. We will also ask Reinier to help us (remotely) make the world’s best mojito. What’s the over/under timeframe until Reinier loses his voice? You’ll have to tune in to find out.
There is a lot going on over at Alec Bradley headquarters these days, most notably the release of Safe Keepings, an exciting new blend that originates from the Alec Bradley founder’s secret blend book. This week on Smoke Night LIVE, Bradley Rubin joins the show to share the story behind this new release.
What is the best soda? Regardless of whether you call it “pop” or “soda,” the age-old debate is which one is the best and which ones fall flat. Abe Dababneh, Juan Cancel, Alex Tavella, and William “Cigar Coop” Cooper join the show for a no-holds-barred debate to crown the king of pop!
The 13th Annual Cigarebecue is this Sunday, May 26th, featuring amazing prizes from the fine folks at Camacho. On this episode of Smoke Night LIVE, we get the ball rolling with pitmaster Randy Griggs as we discuss how we will be celebrating this year’s event. We will also be giving away a great prize on this episode to one lucky winner, so make sure to tune in and participate!
This week on Flavor Odyssey, your hosts, Robby Ras and Randy Griggs, focus on finding great drink pairings for one of the most decorated brands in the cigar industry: Oliva. As we continue our foray into the Dojoverse all-time leaderboard, grab an Oliva and a drink and join the fun.PairingsRandy: Oliva Master Blends 3 & Whiskey Mule w/ Root Beer Bitters 👎🏻Robby: Oliva Master Blends 3 & Tombstone Cocktail 👍🏻Sensei: Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro & Margarita 👍🏻Jordan: Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro & Margarita 👍🏻VotesRandy: 23%Robby: 77%Audience PairingBill CD: Oliva Serie V & Gold Rush
Outside of your cutter and lighter, what other cigar accessories should be in your possession? On this episode, we round up some of the most interesting and unique cigar accessories and ask our expert panel: should you buy or not buy??? William “Cigar Coop” Cooper and Aaron Loomis join the show and help us determine the value of these cigar-related items.
Smoke, Stash, or Trash is back for a fourth edition, this time with special guest Tim Swanson from Cigars Daily. The concept is simple: we present our guest with three cigar options and he must decide which one he wants to smoke, which one he will stash for later, and which one he will trash. Tune in to see Tim squirm like a fish as he is forced to make difficult choices with some of the greatest premium cigars on earth.
As the ominous glow of the approaching meteor grows brighter with each passing night, humanity braces for its inevitable demise. With just ten fleeting days left on Earth’s countdown, panic grips the hearts of all who gaze skyward, knowing that their existence hangs precariously in the balance. But not us! With the help of Nick Libretti from JR Cigar and Smoke Inn’s Alex Tavella, we will enjoy our impending doom by smoking one last cigar… Find out which cigars we would smoke and vote on who made the best picks on this doomsday episode of Smoke Night LIVE.
This week on Smoke Night LIVE, we welcome in Sammy Phillips, president and co-owner of La Palina Cigars. Sammy is one of the funniest characters in the entire premium cigar industry, and has a million stories to tell—not to mention his incredible Erik Espinosa impression—which we will, of course, force him to perform.
Get ready for the great Bourbon Bracket Challenge! What is the best bourbon you can buy at your local liquor store for $70 or under? Our expert panel makes the call: Alec Rubin from Alec Bradley, Sean Paisley of the Bourbon Junkies, and Connor Slump from The Thirsty Oak.
On this episode of Smoke Night LIVE, Gurkha’s Juan Lopez joins Master Sensei to discuss the Mike Tyson Undisputed cigar that Gurkha released at this year’s Premium Cigar Association Trade Show in Las Vegas. We will get all the details on how this collaboration came to be, and what it was like working with “Iron Mike.”
Tonight on Smoke Night LIVE! It’s a special PCA edition of our First Impressions show. Robby Ras and Randy Griggs join the Dojo crew to smoke and rank the new cigars released at the PCA 2024 Trade Show. https://www.youtube.com/live/XAgmX04047s?si=how7xL-ZSzNAkf6t
The Premium Cigar Association Trade Show (PCA) is a mere week away, and that means a plethora of announcements for new cigar products. But the real question is: which of these new product announcements move the needle? Which new products get you excited and which leave you scratching your head? On this episode, our expert panel, including John “Cigar Surgeon” McTavish and Flavor Odyssey’s Randy Griggs, give their thoughts as we head into the 2024 trade show.
What is ProCigar? Furthermore, is this an event that you should attend? On this episode, William Cooper and Jay Davis join the show as we discuss this year’s 2024 ProCigar event that just wrapped up last week in the Dominican Republic. We will walk you through this prestigious event and give you all the info you might want if you are considering attending next year.
Leap Day — or as the Samurai say: Uru Doshi — only comes once every four years. This is also true for Cigar Dojo and Alec Bradley’s Uru Doshi collaboration, which goes on sale at noon (EST) 02-29-2024 exclusively at Smoke Inn. On this special Thursday edition of Smoke Night LIVE, we are joined by Bradley Rubin, Abe Dababneh, and Alex Tavella to discuss this rare event and much much more. Also, we will pick the winner of the customized RabbitAir A3 air purifier at the end of the show, so make sure to tune in!
Look into my crystal ball, what do you see? This week on Smoke Night LIVE we are broadcasting live from Miami and your host Master Sensei is joined by William “Cigar Coop” Cooper and they will be making predictions about what we might see in 2024 in regard to the cigar industry and just about everything else.
Popular podcast host, best-selling author, actor, and now cigar brand owner, Michael Knowles, joins Smoke Night LIVE to discuss the creation of Mayflower Cigars and its successful launch this past November. Be sure to tune in for this special episode, featuring one of the most interesting personalities to enter the cigar business in many years.
Are you ready to rumble??? Get ready for a wild episode of Smoke Night LIVE, where we take four popular cigar-of-the-year lists and have them battle to the death in a cage match to end all cage matches. Cigar Aficionado, Cigar Snob, Halfwheel, and Cigar-Coop go head-to-head, as the viewing audience votes in a 10-round battle for supremacy.
Which of these three cigars do you smoke, stash, or trash? That is the burning question on this episode of Smoke Night LIVE. William "Cigar Coop" Cooper joins the show, and is put on the hot seat as we force him to decide between some of your favorite cigars.
Buy, hold, or sell! It’s time to evaluate your favorite cigar brands now that the year-end lists are complete. Our expert panel: John “Cigar Surgeon” McTavish, Alex “The Goat” Tavella, and Johnny Remer, along with Master Sensei and Producer-kid Jordan give their buying advice on the Cigar Brand Stock Market in this episode of Smoke Night LIVE.
Steve Saka joins Smoke Night LIVE as we look at—and analyze—various Cigar of the Year lists, including the Dojo’s own Top 20. We will also announce the winners of our Exceptional Awards for 2023.
What is the best TV sitcom of all time? On this episode of Smoke Night Live, we determine a champion with the help of our expert panel: Juan Cancel, Fred Rewey, and William “Cigar Coop” Cooper. Twenty-eight sitcoms face off in this epic battle, and the viewing audience will play a large part in determining which shows move into the final rounds.
Can you believe it? It’s the last show of 2023, and we are ringing in the New Year with special guests Honest Abe Dababneh and Michael Herklots. But wait, there’s more! Tune in and participate and you might win a ticket to The Great Smoke 2024 or 24 premium cigars. Get your New Year’s resolutions ready and join the fun!
It’s the annual Dojo Christmas Special, and this year, RoMa Craft Tobac’s own Skip Martin will be in-studio for this very festive episode. Grab your favorite Christmas sweater and light up a RoMa Craft as we catch up with Skip, learning what’s in store for his company in 2024.
’Tis the season of giving, and the spirit of Christmas and the holidays have us in the giving mood. Tune in to this episode of Smoke Night LIVE for your chance to win one of three great prizes from Cigar Dojo. Each prize features 10 cigars and some awesome SWAG to fill your stocking!
Terence Reilly, William “Cigar Coop” Cooper, and Alex Tavella will join Jordan and Sensei as we answer the age-old question: What is the Best Christmas Movie/Show of all time? A bracket of 16 choices will be finalized with help from the viewing audience, and then the debate will begin, as your hosts battle it out live. There can only be one winner, so make sure to tune in and make your voice heard.
This week on Smoke Night LIVE we catch up with Matt Booth from Room101 Brand. Unless you live under a rock, you know that Matt’s appearances on Smoke Night LIVE have been a bit… wild and unpredictable — you might not want to miss this episode 👀
Only a handful of Dojo members get their bust enshrined forever in the Dojo Member’s Hall of Fame, and on this episode, we announce who will compromise the class of 2023. Jack Heyer is back in-studio for this very special episode of Smoke Night LIVE.
Four hundred is a big number. Less than 10 NFL quarterbacks have thrown for 400 or more touchdowns in their career. Less than 60 MLB players have hit more than 400 home runs. This week on Smoke Night LIVE, we celebrate our 400th episode! We will have special messages from some of the biggest names in the industry, and our good buddy Jack Heyer will be in studio for this momentous occasion.
What is the best Thanksgiving Day side dish? What is the best celebratory cigar? What is the best non-alcoholic drink to pair with a cigar? The answer to these questions are a few of our favorite things. We will answer these questions and many, many more on this episode of Smoke Night LIVE, along with our our good friend Bob Finley aka “Bob the Cigar Guy.”
Which of these three cigars do you smoke, stash, or trash? That is the burning question on this episode of Smoke Night LIVE. Smoke Inn's Alex Tavella (AKA "The Goat”) joins the show and is put on the hot seat as we force him to decide between some of your favorite cigars.
One of the hottest craft distilleries in Colorado is Distillery 291, and this week on Smoke Night LIVE, their head distiller, Eric Jett, visits the Dojo studios to talk whiskey and cigars.
Summer is over, the leaves are turning, and pumpkin spice has returned; which of course means Halloween is just around the corner! This week on Smoke Night LIVE, Pete Johnson from Tatuaje returns to talk about his newest fright-themed release: The Face Redux 3. We will also discuss the huge success of the Anarchy NFT project and much more.
What are the most important issues facing the cigar industry and mankind in general? On this episode of Smoke Night LIVE, we go straight to the source of all knowledge: William “Cigar Coop” Cooper, and answer 10 burning questions, having some fun along the way.
Do you ever wonder what a machine-made cigar tastes like? How do they differ from a premium, hand-made cigar? The Dojo crew takes a dive into some popular machine-made cigars to see what they have to offer, and we will review and rate them live on the show.
Get ready for another edition of the Cigar Brand Fantasy Draft. Our expert panel will draft a team of 7 cigar brands that they think is the best, and the audience will determine the winner. Master Sensei, JR Cigar’s Nick Libretti, Smoke Inn’s Alex Tavella, and Johnny Smokes Uncut’s Johnny Remer battle for ultimate supremacy in the third edition of the Cigar Brand Fantasy Draft.
Steve Saka, Abe Dababneh, Terence Reilly, and William Cooper join Smoke Night LIVE to debate, argue, persuade, and ultimately crown the world's best candy bar. Over 16 popular candy bars will enter the ring, but only one will emerge as champion of the world. Grab your favorite sweet treat and join the show, because the viewing audience will play a large role in determining the winner.
Rafael Nodal, head of product capability for Tabacalera USA (and the man behind some of the most awarded cigars in the industry), returns to Smoke Night LIVE to discuss the new Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Sonata as well as everything else going on at Altadis USA.
It’s a cavalcade of stars! Live, in-studio special guests will include: Steve Saka, Erik Espinosa, Pedro Gomez, Terence Reilly, Fabien Zeigler, Fred Rewey, Eddy Guerra, George Rami, Bradley Rubin, Justin Andrews, Tommy Lazuka, Mickey Pegg, and more! It’s the annual Dochella Festival leading up to Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival, and it’s the biggest, most star-packed show of the year!
The Alpha Dawg is back! It’s been an amazing couple of years for Espinosa Premium Cigars and this week on Smoke Night LIVE Erik Espinosa joins the show to recap everything that’s gone down. Erik will fill us in on the upcoming La Zona Palooza as well as what’s going on with Guy Fieri and everything in between.
Should you BUY, HOLD, or SELL figurative stock in 20 popular cigar companies? Our expert panel is here to help you make those tough decisions. The 2023 Premium Cigar Association Trade Show is behind us, and all the cigar companies have shown what's coming to consumers in the next few months. On this episode, William "Cigar Coop" Cooper, Aaron Loomis, and Nick Libretti join Master Sensei and Producer-Kid Jordan to hash out the results.
The cat is out of the bag, and the Perdomo 30th Anniversary release will be hitting shelves this fall. Nick Perdomo Jr. joins Smoke Night Live to discuss this monumental release, which features 15-year-old bourbon barrel-aged tobacco. We will get Nick’s insight into what it took to create such a special cigar and what it means to the Perdomo legacy.
What is the most iconic video game of all time? On this episode of Smoke Night LIVE, we are fixin’ to find out. Titles from Nintendo, Playstation, Xbox, Sega, and even old-school stand-up arcade games will battle it out for supremacy. Protocol’s Juan Cancel and Alex Tavella from Smoke Inn join the Dojo crew to argue and debate a 16-team bracket until a winner is determined. Make sure to tune in, because the live audience will have a big role in shaping the final bracket.
Tatuaje’s Pete Johnson, Smoke Inn’s Abe Dababneh, and Quality Importers’ Joe Gro join Smoke Night LIVE to discuss all the details surrounding the exciting new Tatuaje Anarchy NFT Edition. Pete will fill us in on all the details of the cigars included with this product, while Abe and Joe discuss the packaging and limited accessories.
Day TWO of the 2023 PCA trade show is in the books. Get the scoop and what were the hits and misses while we give first impressions on some of the cigars from the show.
The Dojo crew is LIVE from Las Vegas and it’s the eve of the 2023 Premium Cigar Trade Show. What happens when Sensei, Jordan, Robby, and Randy all show up in Vegas together? God save us all. The Dojo crew discusses the upcoming PCA show and what they are most excited about along with about everything else.
One of the coolest cats in the entire industry returns to Smoke Night LIVE this Friday night. That’s right, folks, Aric Bey, owner and operator of Black Star Line Cigars, will be in-studio, laying down some truth and discussing all the new BSL releases coming out this summer, such as Rosewood 1923, Mr. Fahrenheit, and much more!
It’s a very special day on the Dojo! On this day, we launch the After BurnR with Fratello Cigars, and to mark the occasion, Omar de Frias joins the show to talk about this very special cigar release. We will also get all the details on some of the other interesting things happening with the Fratello team.
Bourbon: the nectar of the gods! This week, we celebrated National Bourbon Day, and we want to keep the party going. On this episode of Smoke Night LIVE, Conner Slump from the Thirsty Oak joins the show to discuss the Top 5 Gateway Bourbons along with some higher-end selections that you might want to try. Grab a cigar and pour a glass of the good stuff and join Smoke Night LIVE for a very informative show.
On this week’s episode of Smoke Night LIVE, we interview Marvin Samel. Not only did Marvin co-found Drew Estate and later participate in the sale of the company, he has now entered the ring as filmmaker. Marvin’s first movie effort, iMordecai, is an autobiographical feature film starring Judd Hirsch, Sean Astin, and Carol Kane. We will speak with Marvin about his journey and what it was like to transition from the cigar industry to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.
Imagine being in charge of three of the most iconic cigar brands on the planet. This week on Smoke Night LIVE, we welcome Eddy Guerra back to the show; but these days, he is the senior brand manager for AVO, Camacho, and Davidoff. Tune into this episode to get the scoop on what’s going down with these brands.
Have ya ever dreamed of starting your own cigar factory? Well, you are in luck, because on this episode we discuss what it takes to create a premium cigar factory from scratch. Klaas Kelner joins the show, who recently opened up his own factory: Kelner Cigars, S.A.S. in the Dominican Republic. Klaas will be in session as we get all the details on his newest endeavor.
It’s 3AM and you’ve been driving for 13 hours. You pull into the gas station with an incredible case of the munchies but you only have enough spare change for one snack. What’s it gonna be??? Illusione’s Fred Rewey joins Flavor Odyssey’s Randy Griggs and the Dojo team as they determine which snack rules them all. In the final four, the YouTube and Facebook audience get to help determine the winner, so you’d better tune in and make your voice heard.
Terence Reilly from Aganorsa Leaf joins Smoke Night LIVE on Cinco de Mayo this Friday to celebrate the occasion and discuss the newly announced Rare Fusion release, as well as everything else that’s going on with Aganorsa Leaf this spring. So grab your sombrero and join the discussion.
Steve Saka from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust joins Smoke Night LIVE to discuss the Sobremesa Brûlée Wagashi Dojo collab release. We will also get details on everything else that’s happening with Steve and DT&T. Make sure to tune in and hear Steve’s latest rants, which are always worth the price of admission.
Can Tony the Tiger fend off the sword-wielding Cap'n Crunch? Can Toucan Sam tackle Lucky the Leprechaun? Sixteen of your favorite breakfast cereals go head to head, and only one comes out victorious. Juan Cancel, William "Coop" Cooper, and Smoke Inn's Alex Tavella join the show to determine which breakfast cereal reigns supreme.
Scott Pearce, the executive director of the Premium Cigar Association, joins Smoke Night LIVE to give us an update on the cigar industry’s biggest trade show. There’s tons of positive news coming out of the PCA, including the return of one of its biggest exhibitors and the announcement that in 2024 the show will move to a March timeframe. We will get all the details and much more on this episode.
This week on Smoke Night LIVE, we test our cigar expertise by smoking cigars blind on the show, reviewing and rating them on the spot. Emmett Malone from Blind Man’s Puff joins the broadcast to test his skills as well. It’s also the first episode since our trip to Camp Camacho, and we will recount some of the more interesting things we learned in Honduras.
As we head into spring and things begin to heat up in the cigar industry, it’s time for our Cigar Brand Fantasy Draft. Our panel will draft a team of seven cigar brands that they think is the best, and the audience will determine the winner. Master Sensei, Jordan “the producer kid,” John “Cigar Surgeon” McTavish, and Matt “HBTC” Tye battle for ultimate supremacy in the second edition of the Cigar Brand Fantasy Draft.
What would Steve Saka look like if he really was Sakasquatch? What if Juan Cancel realized his dream and became a Sith Lord? What if Erik Espinosa were a real-life Alpha Dog??? On this episode of Smoke Night LIVE, we employ the most advanced artificial intelligence technology to help us visualize what your favorite cigar industry personalities look like through the eyes of Ai. Also on this show, Jack Heyer is in-studio for his first interview since leaving Drew Estate for Camacho.
Here’s the dilemma… your friend hands you three premium cigars, but the catch is: you have to throw one of them away, you can stash one for later, and you get to smoke one of them right away. How do you choose? The Dojo crew along with William “Cigar Coop” Cooper will be faced with several of these scenarios, and will be forced to decide on the spot. Do they…. Smoke, Stash, or Trash?
We are finally back from our week-long trip to Nicaragua to visit the Perdomo factory and immerse ourselves in Nicaraguan culture. Sensei and Jordan are joined by Flavor Odyssey host Randy Griggs to discuss the highs and lows and juicy details of our journey. Fire up a cigar and join us for a fun evening of smokes, drinks, and talking tobacco.
The Big Game is this Sunday, and we are breaking down all the details on this week’s episode of Smoke Night LIVE. Héctor J. Alfonso Sr. and Jack Toraño from Espinosa Premium Cigars join the show to tell us who they think will win, but also much more important things… such as: what’s the best snack to eat during the game, and who to NOT invite to your Big Game party.
Every cigar gets just one chance to make a good first impression. This week on Smoke Night LIVE, we will “speed date” a few cigars we haven’t tried yet. Our expert panel will review and rate each cigar live on the spot. William “Cigar Coop” Cooper and Alex Tavella from Smoke Inn join the Dojo crew for this “must-see TV” episode.
This week on Smoke Night LIVE, Abe Dababneh from Smoke Inn, Nick Libretti from JR Cigar, and Scott Braband from Trinity Cigar Mobile Lounge join the show to discuss the state of cigar retailing in the current market. We also attempt to foresee what the future holds for selling and marketing premium cigars.
Alec and Bradley Rubin join the show to discuss a variety of topics, including their banner year recognized in several year-end lists (including the Dojo for their Double Broadleaf). We will also be opening and tasting the Alec Bradley Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey live on the show…
It all comes down to this. It’s the biggest show of the year, as we announce the winners of the 2022 Cigar of the Year Awards. Which cigars took home the honors for 2022? You will have to tune in to find out.See the results: https://cigardojo.com/?p=65000
It’s the final Smoke Night LIVE of 2022, and what better way to ring in the New Year than with Michael Herklots of Ferio Tego. Michael had a monsterous year after winning the Cigar of the Year (as well as third place AND Brand of the Year) in 2021. We reminisce about the year that was and also ponder what’s to come in 2023.
‘Twas the night before (the night before) Christmas, when all through the Dojo studio the Dojonites were stirring... even Jack Heyer!Yes, it’s the annual Christmas Special, and once again, Drew Estate’s Jack Heyer joins the celebration. It’s also the Ugly Sweater contest, so post a picture on Dojoverse.com of yourself in your favorite ugly Sweater with hashtag #uglystweater to be entered to win a box of Drew Estate Undercrown Sun Grown DOGMA. Last but not least, we will pick the two winners from our Fumar and Fundraiser donation event.
The end of the year is literally just around the corner, and it’s time to reflect back on how the cigar market has fared in 2022. Our expert panel will help you decide if you should BUY, HOLD, or SELL stock in 20 popular cigar companies.This episode’s expert panel is: William Cooper, Alex Tavella, Matt Tye, Emmett Malone, Jordan, and Sensei.NOTE:Brand averages at the end of the show were off (MATH!). To see more accurate numbers and a full rundown of all other stats, see our Recap article here: https://cigardojo.com/?p=64878
It’s the grand finale of a HUGE 10th anniversary year for Cigar Dojo. The Drew Estate Undercrown Dojo DOGMA 10th Anniversary will be unleashed on the world, and we will be broadcasting live from Smoke Inn Boynton Beach, Florida for all the festivities. Join Master Sensei, Abe Dababneh, Jack Heyer, and many more for a special edition of Smoke Night LIVE.
The Dojo’s own Beer expert, Randy Griggs, discusses the early history of Beer in America and how it helped shape the current state of the beer scene in the USA. Beer: how did we get here? Fire up a cigar and learn all the things you wanted to know about the history of Beer in the USA but were afraid to ask.
Put on your tuxedo and stroll down the red carpet with us as we announce the Dojo members that will be eternally enshrined into the Dojo Hall of Fame. Ten Dojo members, three industry giants, and two Dojo groups will join the rarest club of all: the Cigar Dojo Hall of Fame.
Drew Estate's Jack Heyer returns to Smoke Night to share some HUGE news. Social media specialist for Drew Estate, Jack Heyer will update us on all things Drew Estate, including some future plans that will be especially interesting to Dojonation.
On this special Thursday night episode of Smoke Night LIVE, the Dojo crew is on location at Protocol Studios. Juan Cancel and Kevin Keithan join Jordan and Master Sensei for a show highlighting the release of the new Protocol Tenure cigar, which celebrates the 10-year anniversary of Cigar Dojo. The Tenure goes on sale Friday, November 11th at Famous Smoke Shop.
On this episode, we kickoff our own Operation Cigars for Warriors “Fumar and Fundraiser” event that will run all through November 2022. Trey Boring, the Senior Vice Chairman of CFW, joins the show to discuss this amazing organization that has been supplying our troops abroad with premium cigars for 10 years.
It’s the first ever Smoke Night LIVE and Flavor Odyssey simulcast. That’s right, it’s two shows for the price of one. Sensei is joined by Robby and Randy as they smoke and pair Tatuaje Monster Series cigars with Pumpkin beer.
The Quality Importers team joins Smoke Night LIVE for a night of fun and prizes. Michael Giannini (chief of customer engagement) and Joe Gro (director of marketing and communications) field your cigar accessory questions and we also select four winners simply for participating during the show!
Connecticut, Habano, Maduro. Espinosa Premium Cigars' master blender Héctor J. Alfonso Sr. joins the show to discuss the three most popular cigar types. What are the characteristics of what each wrapper should bring to the table, and what are the challenges blending with these tobaccos? Most importantly, what are Héctor’s favorite Connecticut’s, Habanos, and Maduros?
It’s time to speed date some premium cigars. That’s right folks, it’s the 8th edition of our famous First Impressions show. Our panel consists of Randy Griggs (Flavor Odyssey host), Emmett Malone (Blind Man’s Puff), Alex Tavella (Smoke Inn), and the Dojo crew. Each guest will smoke and rate a cigar that they haven’t tried before. Will each cigar leave a good first impression? Tune in and find out.
This week on Smoke Night LIVE, we are joined by Luciano Meirelles of the newly rebranded Luciano Cigars. After news broke last week that Crowned Heads and ACE Prime were parting ways, further news revealed that ACE Prime would be rebranded as Luciano Cigars. We will attempt to make sense of what it all means and why it all happened.
Everything you wanted to know about whiskey but were afraid to ask. Master Distiller Lenny Ekstein is in-studio, as we discuss all things whiskey. Lenny answers the age-old question: what are the characteristics of a great whiskey? We will also have Lenny blind taste four different whiskeys as we reveal them live.
An expert panel drafts a fantasy team of seven cigar brands, and the audience votes for the winner. Jonathan Carney from La Flor Dominicana, Alex Tavella from Smoke Inn, William “Cigar Coop” Cooper, and Master Sensei battle each other in a cigar brand fantasy show-down.
NOTE: The beginning of this episode was unfortunately cut off. This primarily introduced our panel and went over the draft order and draft rules.
Votes
The Chosen Ones (Jon Carney) 9% GOATS ‘N Hoes (Alex Tavella) 40% The Prime Timers (William Cooper) 18% Sensei’s Sizzlers (Master Sensei) 33%
Picks
The Chosen Ones (Jon Carney) -- BIG -- My Father | Arturo Fuente -- MEDIUM -- LFD | Plasencia -- SMALL -- Ferio Tego | RoMa Craft -- FLEX -- Asylum Cigars
GOATS ‘N Hoes (Alex Tavella) -- BIG -- Drew Estate | AJF Cigars -- MEDIUM -- Illusione | Espinosa -- SMALL -- Caldwell | ADVentura -- FLEX -- EPC Cigars
The Prime Timers (William Cooper) -- BIG -- Camacho | Padron -- MEDIUM -- ACE Prime | Aganorsa Leaf -- SMALL -- Protocol | HVC Cigars -- FLEX -- Alec Bradley
Sensei’s Sizzlers (Master Sensei) -- BIG -- Perdomo | Davidoff -- MEDIUM -- Tatuaje | Crowned Heads -- SMALL -- Foundation | Dunbarton -- FLEX -- Oliva Cigars
Ask Sensei and win! This week, Master Sensei and the Dojo team answer questions from the community, and the best, most funny, or otherwise interesting question will win 20 premium cigars! Sensei will field questions about anything: cigars, sports, music, entertainment, life, and even dating advice...
It’s a special Thursday night edition of Smoke Night LIVE. Coming to you live from the Dochela Festival at Dojo Studios, it’s our annual extravaganza, featuring several surprise guests from the cigar industry. That’s right, folks, it’s a cavalcade of stars! Just which industry giants will make a cameo appearance on the show? The only way to find out is to tune in and join the fun.
Which cigar brands do you buy, hold, or sell? Friday, August 19th, our panel of experts analyze the state of the cigar business in one of the most popular episodes of Smoke Night LIVE. The PCA trade show is over, and as we head into the final part of 2022, we discuss how twenty cigar brands have fared and which direction they are heading.
Industry icon Rick Rodriguez joins the show to discuss his new brand: West Tampa Tobacco Co. Formerly the national brand representative of CAO, Rick left his post to start his own company in May of 2022. We will find out why Rick decided to make the change and what is in store for his new brand in the coming months.
Kristopher Hart of the acclaimed podcast Whiskey Neat joins the show. Kristopher has interviewed some of the giants in the whiskey industry, as well as celebrities such as Matthew McConaughey, Colin Hanks, and many others. We will also sample Kristopher’s own offering—The Prideful Goat 6-Year Rye—and see what this unfiltered cask-strength has to offer.
On this episode, Nick Perdomo joins the show to discuss the release of the Perdomo Reserve Champagne Cigar Dojo Limited Edition 10th Anniversary, which will be available at JR Cigar while supplies last. Nick Libretti from JR Cigars will also join the show as we celebrate this special occasion.
Get to know Ian Reith from Dapper Cigar Company. Flying somewhat under the radar, Dapper Cigar Company are the makers of some excellent cigars which have a loyal following, such as: La Madrina, El Borracho, and Desvalido. As Dapper nears their 10th year in the business, we will get their entire story as well as their future plans.
An expert panel joins the show to discuss what we learned from the 2022 Premium Cigar Association trade show in Las Vegas and what all of it might mean for the average cigar enthusiast.
It’s blind cigar review night. The Dojo team is joined by Emmett Malone from Blind Man’s Puff, and your hosts put it all on the line by rating and reviewing cigars blind. After the ratings have been stated, the identity of the cigars will be revealed.
Terence Reilly from Aganorsa Leaf is on location in Dojo Studios to talk about the upcoming Premium Cigar Association trade show and what is in store for Aganorsa Leaf fans in 2022.
A cigar only gets one chance to make a good first impression. That’s right folks, on this episode of Smoke Night LIVE, your hosts will “speed date” new cigars and rate them on the spot. William “Cigar Coop” Cooper and Aaron Loomis from Developing Palates join Sensei and Dojo crew for the 7th edition of one of our most popular shows.
Micky Pegg from All Saints Cigars is in studio for a special episode of Smoke Night LIVE. All Saints Cigars was the Dojo’s Under-the-Radar Cigar of 2021, and that’s due in large part to Micky’s tireless promotion of the brand. Micky has a rich history in the business, and we will extract some of his favorite stories on this episode.
What is the best bourbon on the shelf right now? Find out on this week’s Smoke Night LIVE. Friday, May 20th, it’s the return of the Bourbon Junkies. Dan and Sean from the Bourbon Junkies join the show to discuss the state of the bourbon scene and what the two of them have been up to since their last appearance on Smoke Night LIVE.
Matt Booth from Room101 joins the show to discuss a wide variety of topics regarding the cigar industry, jewelry, and gin! Plus, we will get some Deep Thoughts from Matt, which should be an experience you will NOT want to miss.
The incomparable Steve Saka of Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust joins the show. Steve is one of the most entertaining characters in the cigar industry, so make sure to catch this interview.
Juan Martínez, the Executive President of Joya de Nicaragua, joins the show to discuss JDN’s significance in the history of Nicaraguan cigars. We will also get the details on the recent JOYA Ninjaragua Dojo collaboration.
Smoke Inn’s Abe Dababneh joins the show to discuss the release of the JOYA Ninjaragua, as well as all the other stuff going on in the busy, busy world of Honest Abe.
A panel of experts determine if you should BUY, SELL, or HOLD stock in some of your favorite cigar brands. William [Cigar Coop] Cooper, Bear [El Oso Fumar] Duplisea, and Scott [Trinity Cigar Lounge] Braband join the show and discuss the trajectory of several cigar brands.
Smoke Night LIVE catches up with Halfwheel’s co-founder Charlie Minato and get his take on many of the issues facing the cigar industry in 2022. More specifically, we pick up on the cigar marketing hot-button issue, including Charlie's recent article, 10 Thoughts: Please Stop Marketing Cigars to Children.
Smoke Night LIVE is on location in Hialeah, Florida for La Zona Palooza 2022. It’s the annual meetup for Espinosa Premium Cigars fanatics, and we will interview Erik Espinosa and the crew during what is one of the most unique brand-centric events on earth.
What is the meaning of life? Juan Cancel and Kevin Keithan from Protocol Cigars join the show to answer that question and many more. Yes, folks, it’s Deep Thoughts with Protocol Cigars, and if you are looking for the answers to life’s toughest questions, you will want to tune into this episode.
Riste Ristevski of Jas Sum Kral joins the show to discuss the hotly debated topic of cigar branding and marketing. Riste has been targeted as one of several brands that might go over-the-line in regards to marketing, which could catch the eye of the Food and Drug Administration’s regulatory aspirations. On this episode, we will get Riste’s take on the subject, especially in regard to his recently announced Rocky Road cigar release.
We catch up with Fred Rewey, who was recently named brand strategist for Illusione Cigars. Get all the details on Fred’s new job and see what he plans to bring to the table for one of the most popular boutique brands on the market.
We are LIVE from Miami at Aganorsa Leaf headquarters. Terence Reilly (Dojo’s Person of the Year in 2021) joins the show to demonstrate the fine art of validating a cigar.
It’s time to “speed date” some cigars. Yes, that’s right, it’s the 6th edition of our First Impressions Show, where we try new cigars for the first time and review and rate them live on the show. Emmett Malone from Blind Man’s Puff joins Eric and Jordan on this show, which will also feature a blind bourbon tasting.
Nick Perdomo from Perdomo Cigars joins the show to discuss the huge year that his team has in front of them in 2022. We will get the scoop on the much-anticipated Perdomo 30th Anniversary cigar as well as how they have been handling the tricky landscape with inflation and the supply chain crisis. There isn’t a more passionate person in the cigar industry, so you will NOT want to miss this show.
Juan Lopez, the Vice President of Gurkha Cigars, joins the show. Master Sensei and Emmett Malone will catch up with Juan and get the details on Gurkha as well as Sindicato Cigars and what they have planned for 2022.
Look deeply into our crystal ball and we will tell you what the future holds. William “Cigar Coop” Cooper and Nick Libretti join us as we shed the past and look forward to what is in store for us in the cigar industry and so much more in 2022.
It’s the biggest show of the year, as we reveal the winners of the 2021 Cigar of the Year Awards. Not only will we announce the top 3 from 2021, but we will also announce the top 5 limited-edition cigars, as well as awards for best under-the-radar, luxury, and value cigars. Finally, we will recognize the cigar industry person of the year and the brand of the year. Buckle up!
On the first Smoke Night LIVE of 2022, we interview Alec and Bradley Rubin of Alec & Bradley Cigars to discuss what they are up to, and what they might have up their sleeve for the new year. We will also get Alec and Bradley’s reaction on the several accolades that their Kintsugi cigar has received in the year-end awards.
On a special Wednesday-night episode of Smoke Night Live, we welcome Jeff Borysiewicz to the show to discuss the new 20 Acre Farm release from Drew Estate, which features his Florida Sun Grown tobacco. We will also discuss the state of the cigar industry as we enter 2022.
Drew Estate’s Jack Heyer is in-studio for a very special Thursday night edition of Smoke Night LIVE. It’s the annual Christmas Special edition of the show, and if you tune in you might win an amazing Drew Estate Undercrown Humidor.
Robert Caldwell joins the show to discuss what the future holds for both Caldwell Cigar Company as well as Lost and Found Cigars. Unbutton your shirt to your belly-button and join the fun.
Abe Dababneh from Smoke Inn joins us to discuss the Great Smoke 2022 that is already underway with several exclusive releases. But the best part is if you participate on the show via Facebook you have a chance win. We are giving away a ticket to The Great Smoke 2022.
We are LIVE from the Davidoff Lounge in Tampa, Florida with special Guest George Rami from Camacho Cigars as we kickoff the biggest giveaway ever on Cigar Dojo: the 12 Days of Christmas 2021 – brought to you by Camacho Cigars. We are giving away 12 boxes of the 2020 Camacho Liberty Series and you can enter to be the first winner just by tuning into this show and participating.
It’s Trivia Night on Smoke Night LIVE. Shake off that Thanksgiving food coma by fine tuning your cigar knowledge on Smoke Night LIVE. On this show, we ask trivia questions, and if you answer correctly (and quickly), you'll earn points to win prizes. First place gets a full box of Joya de Nicaragua Cinco Decades “El Genera” 7×50, and 2nd and 3rd place each get a 6-pack of the sold-out JOYA Ninjaragua and a Chinese Star challenge coin.
November 5th 2021, Aric Bey the owner and operator of Black Star Line Cigars one of the hottest new brands on the market joins Smoke Night LIVE.
The best-dressed man in the industry is back on Smoke Night LIVE to discuss the much-anticipated release of his premiere cigar under the Ferio Tego brand name. Don’t miss this episode, featuring one of the most entertaining personalities in the cigar business, Michael Herklots.
We gather a panel of experts and tackle several cigar-related topics that affect the industry. William "Cigar Coop" Cooper, Nick Libretti from JR Cigar, and Flavor Odyssey’s Robby Rasmussen and Randy Griggs join Jordan and Master Sensei in the War Room for a top secret meeting that could shape the cigar industry's future for years to come.
Casey Haugen from Crux Cigars is in Colorado, joining Master Sensei and Jordan for a an interview, where we will get an update on the Crux brand and find out what Casey has been up to the past year.
Aganorsa Leaf’s Terence Reilly joins Smoke Night LIVE to discuss the ReviveR – the much anticipated re-release of the Dojo’s collaboration with Aganorsa Leaf. We will get the full story from Terence and catch up with all things Aganorsa.
Emmett Malone from Blind Man’s Puff joins the show, challenging Jordan the “Wonder Boy” producer and your host, Master Sensei, to smoke premium cigars “blind,” seeing just how accurate their judgement is. In return, Jordan and Sensei challenge Emmett as well in the battle of the palates.
Matt Booth from Room101 Brand joins the show for what is sure to be a wild episode. When Matt is on the show you never know what to expect, but it’s always a fun ride! We will catch up with all things Room101 and see what Matt has up his sleeve in the coming months.
It’s a special audience participation edition of Smoke Night LIVE. Master Sensei is joined by William "Cigar Coop" Cooper and Scott Braband from Trinity Cigar Lounge to discuss several hot-button issues that affect all cigar smokers. The audience can let their voices be heard during the show in a fun, interactive participation event.
It’s a special Wednesday night edition of Smoke Night LIVE, as Nick Melillo stops by Dojo Studios to catch up on what’s going on with Foundation Cigar Co. and discuss what comes next from the former Cigar of the Year winner.
It’s a very special Smoke Night LIVE, as we celebrate our 300th episode! Live from Dojo studios, it’s a virtual cavalcade of cigar personalities, on location to commemorate this momentous occasion, and also kick off the 2021 Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival.
Tonight, we gather a panel of experts for two of our most popular segments. Join your hosts, Master Sensei and Jordan, plus Robby Rasmussen, Emmett Malone, and Bear Duplisea, for the Cigar Brand Stock Market, in which we decide if we should buy, hold, or sell stock in a list of cigar brands based on their recent performance in the industry. We will also give our first impressions on cigars that we will smoke for the first time live on the show.
We catch up with Robert Holt from Southern Draw Cigars. It’s been a semi-quiet past year for Southern Draw, which could mean the company has big plans for the upcoming year. Tune in to find out what Robert and the team have up their sleeve.
We interview Erik Espinosa from Espinosa Premium Cigars and Nick Libretti from JR Cigar. We will be discussing the upcoming release of the Psychedelic Turtle II, which will be available August 6th on the JR Cigar website. We will also get Erik and Nick’s take on the summer Olympics and much more.
With our guests Terence Reilly from Aganorsa Leaf and Kyle Gellis from Warped Cigars, we explore the future of the cigars, i.e., the trends, techniques, marketing, and the exploding demand for premium cigars in today’s market. Both Terence and Kyle are young, innovative brand runners that have a unique perspective on the trajectory of the premium cigar market.
We analyze and recap the 2021 Premium Cigar Association Trade Show. Find out who were the winners, who were the losers, and what all the drama was about. William “Cigar Coop” Cooper will join the Dojo crew to hash out all the details.
It’s the Battle of the Bundles! We smoke and rate 5 of the most popular bundle cigars to see what value smoke is king of the hill. We will also be testing 5 bottom-shelf bourbons, hoping to find a diamond in the rough.
It’s the first-ever Gas Station Cigar Showdown. Premium cigar experts rate and review some of the most popular non-premium cigars, such as: Phillies Blunt, Dutch Masters, Backwoods, Black & Mild, and Al Capone. Just how big a gap is there between a gas station cigar and a premium cigar?? Tune in and find out.
We will eat a SCORPION with Camacho’s George Rami. What would drive us to do such an insane thing? A shameless ratings grab, of course! Plus, we will get all the details on the exciting new Camp Camacho digital experience inside the Dojoverse, along with info on the new Factory Unleashed cigar from Camacho.
Our special guest is Omar de Frias from Fratello Cigars. We will get the scoop on Omar’s latest venture into the world of craft beer!
Riste Ristevski, the owner and operator of Jas Sum Kral Cigars, joins us in studio as we discuss the future of JSK, as well as what is on the horizon for alternative cigar products such as the Nuggs and other similar innovations.
We welcome back to the show Jonathan Carney, vice president of sales of La Flor Dominicana. Jonathan has had an eventful past year and we will catch up with all the things LFD, including what to expect in the next calendar year from the company and Jon.
It’s a special Wednesday night edition of Smoke Night LIVE. On this episode we get a “state of the union” update from the Premium Cigar Association. Josh Habursky, director of government affairs, and Glynn Loope, director of state advocacy from the PCA, will bring us up to speed on the FDA’s war against premium cigars.
It's DOGMA Day and our special guest on Smoke Night LIVE is Drew Estate’s Pedro Gomez. Fire up your favorite maduro or sun-grown DOGMA and tune in for some special news regarding the Undercrown DOGMA. Let Pedro’s infectious energy fill your soul while we discuss the DOGMA and all things Drew Estate.
It's blind cigar review night on Smoke Night LIVE. Emmett Malone from Blind Man’s Puff joins the show and challenges the Dojo crew to test their cigar tasting skills live on the show.
Smoke Night LIVE welcomes Erik Calvino, the owner of Cigar Snob magazine. Erik will be discussing the genesis of Cigar Snob magazine and what goes into creating and maintaining one of the most popular cigar magazines on the planet.
Smoke Night LIVE welcomes Luciano Meirelles from A.C.E. Prime Cigars. Luciano is a tobacco grower and cigar manufacturer in Nicaragua. Luciano is the co-founder of Tabacalera Pichardo and A.C.E. Prime Cigars. A.C.E. Prime produces a number of brands, including Luciano, Pichardo, MXS, as well as Mil Días and Juarez for Crowned Heads.
Smoke Night LIVE is on location at Smoke Inn in Boynton Beach, Florida, as we release the Protocol Taser, the newest Cigar Dojo and Protocol Cigars collaboration. Join Master Sensei, Jordan "the wonder-kid-producer," Juan Cancel, Abe Dababneh, and a host of other characters on what could be the wildest show of the year.
Smoke Night LIVE features special guests Juan Cancel and Kevin Keithan from Cubariqueño Cigar Company. We will be discussing the upcoming release of the Taser, the newest Cigar Dojo Collaboration. We will also be giving away a bundle of Taser to one lucky viewer, so tune in!
Smoke Night LIVE features special guest Delicia Cruz AKA Cigar Vixen. Delicia is one of the original YouTube cigar reviewers, dating back to 2012. Delcia has been featured in magazines such as: Cigar & Spirits, Cigar Snob, Cigar Advisor, and many others. We will get the Vixen’s take on some of her favorite cigars as well as her foray into the coffee industry.
Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, one of the most successful, well-known master blenders, joins the show to discuss his incredibly successful year with the release of Pledge—the No. 1 Cigar of the Year on the Dojo (and also on Cigar Aficionado). We will get Ernesto’s reaction on these accolades as well as his thoughts on the state of the cigar industry in 2021.
We embark into the the fruity flavor component and we kick this segment off with Sauvignon Blanc paired with Aladino Connecticut. How will the intense fruity flavors of Sauvignon Blanc wine pair with the mild notes of the Aladino Connie? Find out as your hosts Robby and Randy continue the odyssey.
It’s the return of our popular First Impressions edition of Smoke Night LIVE. On this episode, Sensei and Jordan will be joined by William “Cigar Coop” Cooper, Emmett “Blind Man’s Puff” Malone, and Bob the Cigar Guy. Each panelist will give two cigars that they have never smoked 25 minutes to make a good first impression.
We interview Justo Eiroa of JRE Tobacco. Justo, along with his father, Julio, has created one of the most popular cigar lines in recent years with the Aladino. On the show we will get the inside story on this amazing cigar, as well as the background on a cigar family with a rich history in the tobacco business.
We interview Reinier Lorenzo, founder and CEO of Havana City Cigars (HVC). For the last couple of years, HVC has been getting some serious attention from cigar enthusiasts, as well as critics, winning several year-end awards. We will find out the secret to HVC’s success and much more.
Tonight on Smoke Night LIVE we interview Danny Vazquez, who is back on his own with Baracoa Cigar Company after a stint with RoMa Craft Tobac. We will get the low-down on his "voyage" back to his own brand, talk this Sunday’s big game, and get his perspective from a huge Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan.
We interview Michael Herklots and get the details on his new company, Ferio Tego, and their acquisition of many Nat Sherman brands, but most importantly, uncover the story behind his company's badass logo. We will also get Michael’s thoughts on the closing of the Nat Sherman Townhouse and what the location meant to the industry.
Tonight on Smoke Night LIVE we interview Miguel Schoedel, the National Sales Manager of Crowned Heads. With 18 years' experience in the business and being one of the smoothest cats in the industry, we will get Miguel’s thoughts on all the accolades that Crowned Heads received this year and much more.
Yes, folks, it’s that time of year again. Tonight we reveal the 2020 cigar of the year! On this show we will discuss and reveal the top 10 regular-production cigars, top 5 limited cigars, and a host of other exceptional awards that we announce on a yearly basis. Tune in to see who wins from the year that was 2020.
It’s your chance to get involved! Juan Cancel and Kevin Keithan from Protocol join us for an Ask Me Anything (AMA). We are taking audience questions, and the best question wins! Think of your best questions for Juan, Kevin, Jordan, or Master Sensei, and you might be a BIG winner. Questions can be serious, silly, or otherwise interesting—tune in to see if your question was selected.
It’s our annual New Year’s Special. Let’s face it, due to obvious reasons, there has never been a year more anticipated than 2021. On this episode, not only will we take a look back at the year that was 2020, but we will also look forward to the year to come. Terence Reilly from Aganorsa Leaf, William “Cigar Coop” Cooper, and Drew Estate’s Jack Heyer join Jordan and Eric for the biggest show of 2021.
It’s our annual Christmas Special. The ornaments are on the tree and the stockings are hung like Epstein, so grab your ugly sweater and join your hosts Eric, Jordan, Jack Heyer, Nick Libretti, Rob Rasmussen, and Randy Griggs, as they discuss the best: Christmas cigars, songs, movies, and of course, cookies.
It’s a rare appearance from Liana Fuente, the Vice President of Brand Development and the Heiress of the Fuente Empire. We will ask Liana about the Rare Pinks project and Fuente’s continually charitable efforts, including Liana donating her hair to create wigs for breast cancer survivors, along with much more.
It’s release night for the newest limited-edition Dojo cigar, the JOYA Ninjaragua. To usher in this momentous occasion, Abe Dababneh from Smoke Inn will join us to discuss this exciting project and much more.
Tonight we interview Omar de Frias from Fratello Cigars. The always-comical and entertaining Omar joins Smoke Night LIVE to discuss the new Arlequín release and much more.
Tonight we interview Kyle Gellis from Warped Cigars. We will get the low-down on Kyle’s new Jason~Dumont release under the banner of the Proprietary Cigar Co., which is a subsidiary of the Warped brand. The stated goal of Proprietary Cigar Co. is "to create cigars that are outside 'the normality of Warped,'" and we will find out exactly what that means on this episode.
Tonight we welcome back to the show Pete Johnson to discuss this month’s popular Karloff cigar release, as well as how Pete has navigated the monstrous year that has been 2020.
Buy, hold, or sell??? It’s time for a Cigar Business Stock Market report. William Cooper from Cigar-Coop, Emmett Malone from Blind Man’s Puff, and Kevin Shahan from Cigar Prop join us and let us us know if you should buy, hold, or sell stock from the biggest brands in the cigar industry.
It’s the battle of the generations, as Generation X (represented by Erik Espinosa) faces off against the Millennials (represented by Erik Jr.). This father-son duo go head-to-head, highlighting the differences and/or similarities between the generations.
It’s Arturo Fuente’s Cynthia Fuente! That’s right folks, it’s the first lady of cigars on Smoke Night LIVE. Cynthia’s lifelong involvement, love of cigars, and infectious enthusiasm of tobacco is unmatched. We will get the inside story on what it was like growing up in such a legendary cigar family as well as Cynthia’s thoughts on the state of the industry in 2020.
Tonight we celebrate the release of the newest Dojo collaboration cigar, Gimmick, from Lost & Found Cigars. To help us usher in this historic occasion we interview Robert Caldwell and Tony Bellatto of Lost & Found.
It’s the return of our popular First Impressions edition of Smoke Night LIVE. Every cigar only gets one shot to make a positive first impression. JR Cigar’s Nick Libretti, Blind Man Puff’s Emmett Malone, and Randy Griggs from our own Flavor Odyssey join producer-boy Jordan and Master Sensei as they each give two yet-to-be-tried cigars a chance to make a good first impression.
Dan and Sean from the Bourbon Junkies join the show to talk all things bourbon. Bourbon Junkies is a wildly popular YouTube channel that’s been around for only a couple years, but has gained a hardcore following. We will get Dan and Sean’s Top 3: best cheap bourbons, best hidden gems, best overall, and most overrated bourbon picks, plus much more, so grab a pour and a cigar and join the fun.
Luis Cuevas and his son Alec from Casa Cuevas Cigars join us as our special guests on Smoke Night LIVE. We will ask this father and son duo about the rich history their family has in the tobacco industry and how they have successfully navigated the difficult and unique challenges in today’s industry.
Rafael Nodal from Altadis USA and Aging Room Cigars joins the show to discuss the cigar industry as well as the fantastic year the company has had, including their Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua, which received Cigar Aficionado’s Cigar of the Year award.
Our good friend José Blanco returns to Smoke Night LIVE, but this time around he represents Arturo Fuente. José is now Fuente’s director of sales for the entire eastern hemisphere. That’s right folks, he gets his own hemisphere! We will catch up with José and see how he is handling life in the eastern hemisphere and we will also get an update on all things Fuente.
Nick Perdomo is back to discuss one of the hottest cigars of the summer, the Perdomo Reserve 10th Anniversary Sun Grown and Maduro. We will get the scoop from Nick to find out what makes these new releases so special.
Camacho’s George Rami joins the show to talk about the new Camacho Nicaragua, as well as all the other happenings with Camacho and AVO this summer. Also on the show, Alec Bradley’s Alan Rubin joins us to pick the winners of our MASSIVE #summercigars2020 contest/giveaway.
It’s a monumental edition of Smoke Night LIVE, as we prep the world for the imminent release of the Drew Estate/Dojo Undercrown DOGMA Sun Grown. Smoke Inn’s Abe Dababneh joins Master Sensei and Drew Estate’s Jack Heyer to outline and detail the July 30th pre-sale launch.
It's the third edition of the Name That Tune audience participation game show. One of our most popular game show episodes is back for another encore! On this episode, we read song lyrics and the first person to respond on Facebook with the name of the song (and which artist recorded it) will be awarded a point. The person with the most points at the end of the show will win a killer prize from the Dojo (you must participate LIVE to have a chance to win).
Smoke Night LIVE welcomes in the entire Espinosa Premium Cigars team to the show! The Alpha Dawg himself, Erik Espinosa, as well as Erik Jr, Héctor J. Alfonso Sr., Jack Toraño, and Richie Otero will all join Jordan and Master Sensei for fun and informative round-table discussion.
Get ready for FIREWORKS as we assemble a roundtable of guests and a possible train wreck of podcasting. The Protocol boys (Juan Cancel and Kevin Keithan) join Matt Booth (Room101) and Terence Reilly (Aganorsa Leaf) for a full hour of shenanigans.
It’s the hidden gems edition of Smoke Night LIVE. We round-up the Cigar Dojo review staff and explore some of their favorite cigars that might be a bit off the radar. Robby Rasmussen, Randy Griggs, Bear Duplisa, and Kevin Acuff join Master Sensei and Jordan for a fun round table discussion.
Are you ready to rant? Steve Saka joins Smoke Night LIVE and he’s bursting at the seams, ready to unload on any given topic! The founder and CEO of Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust will be back for what should be an entertaining night of polite and pleasant conversation...
Put on your seat belts, because Drew Estate Factory Spokesman Pedro Gomez joins what could be the most important Smoke Night LIVE in years. Pedro’s infectious positivity and passion will be on full display as he joins Master Sensei in revealing a massive announcement.
Special guest Nick Melillo, AKA the Chief of the Broadleaf, AKA Nick R Agua joins the Dojo crew for a fun-filled show. Nick, the Founder and CEO of Foundation Cigar Company, has a huge resume in the cigar business, and all in a short amount of time! We will get his take on the state of affairs today and catch up with what’s new for Foundation Cigar Company.
It’s one of the biggest shows of the year, as we induct five more members into the Dojo Hall of Fame. Each and every year we recognize a group of Dojo members who have gone above and beyond to support the Cigar Dojo community, either through tireless participation or by other means. Tune in this week to see who joins this very prestigious class.
Juan Martínez, Executive President of Joya de Nicaragua, is our guest. We will be discussing the 2nd consecutive year that Joya blew away the cigar industry with incredible releases, including the Número Uno, which was the Dojo’s number 1 cigar of 2019. We will also catch up with how things are going in Nicaragua during these difficult times.
It's time for another “Klaas is in Session” on Smoke Night LIVE. Klaas Kelner, Senior Brand Ambassador from Davidoff, joins us for a special edition of Smoke Night LIVE. We will get the 10 best questions from the Cigar Dojo community and pose them to Klaas live on the show.
It’s VERY special Smoke Night LIVE, featuring: Jonathan Drew, Erik Espinosa, Matt Booth, Terence Reilly, George Rami, Eddy Guerra, Skip Martin, Alec Rubin, Juan Cancel, and Kevin Keithan. We have assembled almost every cigar brand that has ever collaborated with the Dojo and are throwing them into the Dojo/Protocol Virtual Lounge for a chat about cigars, life, and the existential nature of man’s existence.
Smoke Night LIVE features cigar media giants William “Cigar Coop” Cooper and Nick Libretti of JR Cigars. We get the state of the nation, errr… the state of the cigar industry, in these trying times. Online retailers, brick and mortar operations, manufactures, cigar reps—how are they are they faring during the coronavirus outbreak? Will the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) trade show happen this summer? And if so, what will it be like? We answer all these questions and much much more.
Join us for a very special Monday edition of Smoke Night LIVE with Nick Perdomo Jr., the President and CEO of Perdomo Cigars. Nick is a true rags to riches story, starting a cigar company in his garage in 1992 and turning it into one of the most well-known and respected brands in the industry. Perdomo Cigars is one of the few truly vertically integrated companies in the business, and Nick knows every detail of every step in the process, so you will not want to miss this show.
Join us as we welcome in Alan Rubin, founder and CEO of Alec Bradley Cigar Co. Not only does Alan have some great opinions on the cigar industry and its direction, he also isn’t afraid to share his thoughts on just about any topic you can throw at him. On this show, we will get Alan’s thoughts and feelings on a wide range of topics.
Join us as we welcome Bobby Newman, the Executive Vice President of J.C. Newman Cigar Co. Bobby will discuss the rich history his family has had in the cigar business, enduring such challenges as: the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, two world wars, the Cuban embargo, excessive taxes, smoking bans, and the rapid consolidation of the cigar industry. We will also get an update from Bobby regarding the renovation at the famous El Reloj factory in Ybor City, Florida.
The cabin fever is real! Join us for Smoke Night LIVE, as we welcome in two of the most entertaining guys in the industry: Miguel Schoedel from Crowned Heads & Jon Carney of La Flor Dominicana. It’s time to let down our hair a little and have some fun during these trying times, so tune for what should be an awesome show.
Quarantine’ng the night away! Join us for Smoke Night LIVE as we welcome in the boys from Protocol Cigars, Juan Cancel and Kevin Keithan (Kai-than). There is simply no telling what will happen when the Protocol boys come on the show, so make sure to tune in for the greatest train-wreck errrr… SHOW you will ever witness.
Erik Espinosa joins us for Smoke Night LIVE episode 237 on Friday, March 27th at 9PM eastern time. We will get Erik’s unique perspective on Coronavirus and how it is effecting the cigar industry from the factories all the way to the end consumer. We will also get the news on all things relating to Espinosa Premium Cigars and the status of La Zona Palooza that is scheduled for the fall.
These are strange times indeed. Friday, March 20th, we overcome social distancing by inviting Emmett Malone from Blind Man’s Puff in to the studio. We will also be joined remotely by Robby Rasmussen and Randy Griggs, who are dealing with “shelter in place” conditions in the bay area.
Friday the 13th has never been more ominous. That’s right folks Friday, March 13th hold on to your butt because this might be the wildest and most bizarre episode of Smoke Night LIVE ever recorded. Matt Booth from Room101 Brand Cigars will be invading Dojo studios which means we have no idea what might transpire.
Friday, March 6th is an extra special episode of Smoke Night LIVE as we are on-location at the Drew Estate compound in Esteli Nicaragua. Master Sensei and Jack Heyer go on Safari and take you along with them for one of the most amazing factory tours on earth.
Friday, February 28th the Smoke Night LIVE road-show continues as we are LIVE from South Florida with Alec and Bradley Rubin. Hot off their smash hit “Gatekeeper” Alec and Bradley Rubin are set to release the Uru Doshi on Saturday February 29th (Leap Day). We will get all the details on the Uru Doshi the collaboration with Master Sensei and the Cigar Dojo.
Friday, February 21st is a special episode of Smoke Night LIVE, going on-location to Prime Cigar and Whiskey Bar in Miami and welcoming special guests Terence Reilly from Aganorsa Leaf as well as our good buddy Jack Heyer from Drew Estate. We check out one of the coolest cigar bars on earth and catch up with Terence and Jack to find out what’s happening with their companies.
Friday, February 14th is not only Valentine’s Day but your chance to win some great cigars by playing the Movie Quote Game on Smoke Night LIVE!
Smoke Night LIVE is back and this week we welcome Thor Neilsen from Cigar Press Magazine as our guest. Cigar Press has been covering the cigar business since 2007, therefore we will get Thor’s unique perspective on the state of the industry. We will also get Thor’s thoughts on last week’s Tobacco Plus Expo in Las Vegas, along with a variety of other topics.
It's is a very special episode of SNL, as the most lovable guy in the cigar industry is in-studio for Smoke Night LIVE. William “Cigar Coop” Cooper visits Dojo studios and we delve deep into what makes Coop, Coop! We will also get Coop’s thoughts and opinions on the wild news that has dominated the tobacco industry in the early stages of 2020.
It's the biggest show of the year. Yes, that’s right folks, on this episode we announce the big winner’s for this year’s Cigar of the Year awards. Find out who takes the top three spots on the list as well as the best limited-edition cigars, the best luxury, value, and under-the-radar cigar. Finally, we will announce the person of the year and brand of the year.
Friday January 10th marks a day almost like no other in the cigar industry. News hit that 4 of the largest cigar manufacturers (Drew Estate, Davidoff, General Cigar and Altadis) are not attending the Premium Cigar Association trade show in Vegas this coming summer. This development could have massive effects on the cigar industries largest and longest running trade show. Sensei and Jordan are joined by Robby Rasmussen and Randy Griggs to discuss and digest this shocking development.
We discuss and digest the results of this year’s Cigar Wars Cigars of the Year. Emmett Malone of Blind Man’s Puff joins the show to analyze the results plus we make some bold predictions about where the cigar industry is headed in the next year as well as next decade.
Master Sensei is joined by William Cooper from Cigar Coop, Aaron Loomis from Developing Palates, and Jack Heyer to rewind the year and discuss the highlights (and lowlights) from both inside and outside of the premium cigar industry.
Master Sensei is joined by Robby Rasmussen, Randy Griggs, Jack Heyer and the rest of Dojonation for a virtual Christmas party. Bust out your ugly sweaters, goofy Christmas ornaments, egg nog recipes and tune in. Presents?? Yes there will be presents and prizes so make sure to join the fun.
Announcing the winner of the HAPPY HOUR contest and explain the Dojo Secret Santa program.
Friday December 6th is a very special episode of Smoke Night LIVE as we broadcast LIVE from St. Petersburg Florida at the AVO Cigars headquarters. We will be joined by Lana Fraser, George Rami, Eddy Guerra, and Scott Kolesaire as we unveil the latest twist on the AVO Unexpected series. This should be an interesting and fun show so make sure to tune in and join the conversation LIVE on Facebook.
The entire Dojo crew joins the broadcast and discusses what we should all be thankful for (cigars and otherwise) on this holiday weekend. That’s right, Master Sensei, Jordan (wiz-kid producer), Robby Rasmussen, Randy Griggs (hosts of Flavor Odyssey), and the one and only Jack Heyer invite you to participate during the live telecast on this very special Friendsgiving.
Friday November 22nd is the second edition of the Name That Tune audience participation game show. Back in June we aired the first episode of Name That Tune and we have been flooded with requests to do it again. Ask and you shall receive! On this episode we read song lyrics and the first person to respond on Facebook with the name of the song and which artist recorded it first will be awarded a point. The person with the most points at the end of the show will win a killer prize from the Cigar Dojo (you must participate LIVE to have a chance to win). Also on the show we announce our first winner of the ongoing #noodlepower contest courtesy of Matt Booth.
Let’s try this again. This past August Casey Hagen of CRUX Cigars was scheduled to be on the show but Hurricane Dorian caused him to back out at the last moment. This time around the plan is that Casey will in fact show up and not find a weak excuse to leave us standing at the alter. If Casey does in fact make the show we will get all the details on the CRUX rebranding and also play an edition of “binge or cringe” and find out what Casey is or isn’t watching on TV.
On this special episode of Smoke Night LIVE the Dojo crew broadcasts live from Hialeah Gardens Florida at Espinosa Cigars headquarters at the 4th annual La Zona Palooza. Erik Espinosa takes over the mic and gives you a look at what it’s really like to be a part of this very special event.
Friday November 1st it’s the 3 Blind Mice Edition of Smoke Night LIVE. Emmett Malone from Blind Man’s Puff will be our special guest and he, producer Jordan, and Master Sensei will blind taste test 3 cigars and 3 different bourbons ranking and rating them live on the show. At the end of the show we reveal the identity of the cigars and bourbon and see how they stack up against each other in a true blind taste test.
This week on Smoke Night LIVE we define some of the greatest top 5 lists of all-time with our special guest Nick Libretti from JR Cigars. We will also get the complete scoop on the new Cabañas that was blended for JR Cigars by Jamie and Don Pepín García. Tune in and participate on Facebook during the show and you might win one of two FAB 5 samplers directly from Master Sensei’s cigar collection.
To say that Riste Ristevski has taken the cigar world by storm might be a bit of an understatement. This Friday, October 18th on Smoke Night LIVE we interview the founder of Jas Sum Kral Cigars and get all the details on what’s new with the company and also how the CBD infused Nuggs is being received in the industry.
Back in July of this year the Dojo aired the it’s First Impressions Show. The show was so popular we decided to do another take! The Dojo crew will light-up and review cigars that they have never tried before and rate them live on the spot. Each cigar will get just 10 minutes to make a good first impression. Will it be LOVE at first sight or will the Dojo crew swipe left?
Friday, September 27th on Smoke Night LIVE we interview Fabien Ziegler AKA “Dirty” Fabien. One of the most energetic guys in the cigar business Fabien is the non-traditional cigars brand manager for Drew Estate Cigars.
Friday, September 20th on Smoke Night LIVE we interview Matt “Boofy” Booth from Room101 Brand Cigars. When Matt show’s up on SNL you never know how things are gonna go so this should be an interesting show. We will get Matt’s take on the 2nd Helping of Noodles that will be on sale on the 20th of September. And of course we will chase all the rabbit trails that arise as is typical when Matt is on the show.
Friday, September 13th on Smoke Night LIVE we interview Scott Pearce the Executive Director of the Premium Cigar Association formerly the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR).
Friday, September 6th on Smoke Night LIVE we welcome back out good friend Héctor J. Alfonso Sr. from Espinosa Premium Cigars. On this episode we trace Héctor’s roots to get the entire story of how and why he became “Mr. Warmth”. We will also discuss our five favorite childhood toys in our Weekly Top 5 segment. Last but not least we will pick a winner in the #WhenIwasaKid contest.
Friday, August 30th on Smoke Night LIVE, our guest was scheduled to be Casey Haugen from CRUX Cigars, but he ungraciously cancelled on us at the last moment—clearly an un unprofessional move. In his place, William Cooper (AKA Cigar Coop) will be our guest, as we talk cigar industry secrets and the most underrated rock bands of all time!
Thursday August 22nd is a very special edition of Smoke Night LIVE and it’s a little something we like to call…. CAVALCADE of STARS! Yes folks it’s that time of year for the annual Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival and all sorts of cigar stars will be in town and they are all headed to Dojo studios for a special edition of SNL. The guest of honor is Terence Reilly as he introduces the Bonsai a special cigar collaboration made just for Dojonation. Also on the show will be: Jack Torano, Robert Caldwell, Juan Cancel, Bill Ives, Klaas Kelner, Nick Melillo, Omar de Frias, Skip Martin, Justin Andrews, Glynn Loope and more! Make sure to tune in for this very special LIVE event.
Friday August 16th on Smoke Night LIVE and welcome in our good friend Nick Libretti from JR Cigar as our special guest. As summer winds down we will discuss some of our favorite things from summer 2019 as well as some of the things that disappointed us this summer. We will also be discussing our favorite movies from the 1980’s as well as providing more information about the new Bonsai that will be released next week!
Friday August 9th is a special episode of Smoke Night LIVE because you will get two shows for the price of one! Yes that’s right folks the first half of the show will feature a HUGE announcement with special guests Rob Rasmussen and Randy Griggs. Then in the 2nd half of the show Emmett Malone of Blind Man’s Puff will be in studio with some new cigars that Sensei and Jordan will daringly smoke blind on the show and rate and review.
Friday August 2nd we welcome Mike Szczepankiewicz to Smoke Night LIVE and get all the details on the three-headed monster that is: Cigar Hustler (the shop), Cigar Hustler (the podcast) and of course Powstanie (the brand). One of the great things about Mike is he isn’t afraid to speak his mind and therefore you need to tune in and watch this show. Plus Master Sensei will smoke his first ever Powstanie LIVE on the show.
Friday July 26th we will interview Robert Holt from Southern Draw Cigars on Smoke Night LIVE. It’s an exciting year for Southern Draw as they celebrate five years in the cigar industry.
Prepare yourself for a cigar show like no other. Yes folks this has never been done before and we admit it’s a bit risky. The Dojo crew will light-up and review 10 cigars from this summer’s IPCPR show and rate them on the spot (LIVE)
This week on Smoke Night LIVE we interview Skip Martin of RoMa Craft Tobac. Find out how Skip and the gang did in Vegas at this year’s IPCPR (PCA) Trade Show. And of course we will explore all the details of the Whiskey Rebellion “Pennsatucky” that will go on sale earlier that day. And Skip will fill us in on the BAKA which was one of the more talked about cigars at this year’s trade show.
It’s been a grueling week on the trade show floor and we have seen a lot of new products that cigar smokers everywhere need to know about. We will deconstruct what’s hot and what’s not with Emmett Malone of Blind Man’s Puff and Tripp Waldrop from Cigar Federation. Not only that but we will pick a winner from this week’s #MERICA contest on the Dojo app. Last but certainly not least we will discuss a big announcement that you will NOT want to miss.
Friday June 21st is the 200th episode of Smoke Night LIVE. To celebrate this special occasion our good friend, former sow co-host, and now Alec Bradley brand rep Jack Heyer will be in studio adding his typical well-researched tidbits of information. We will also hear from a variety of other friends of the show via our 1970s era answering machine. Make sure to tune in to this special episode for fun and the possibility of winning a special prize.
Episode ??? of Smoke Night LIVE will give the viewer the chance to win a great prize package including a full box of Protocol Habano in Toro format, a Crux Cigar T-Shirt, and a sweet Drew Estate Dirty Rat ball cap. During the show if you can be the best at guessing the name of the song based on the lyrics we read on the show you can be the winner. Viewers will type their answer in the facebook comments of the LIVE broadcast. Have fun and good luck!
Episode 199 of Smoke Night LIVE will feature special guest William Cooper of Cigar-Coop. Coop is one of our favorite guys in the industry and has a wealth of knowledge about whats happening in the cigar business. But the best part about Coop is he has a great take on just about every topic you can throw at him. Join us Friday night when we catch up with Coop and get his thoughts on a wide variety of topics.
Episode 198 of Smoke Night LIVE will feature special guest Sam Morales the former Director of Marketing for Drew Estate. Sam left Drew Estate back in late August of 2018 and has since gone on to…. well… no one is exactly sure but that’s what we aim to find out. Sam’s new company Cheddar Alchemy is a bit mysterious so we plan to cut the cheese with Sam and find out what’s up.
Episode 197 of Smoke Night LIVE will feature special guest Glynn Loope from Cigar Rights of America. The freedom’s of cigar smokers continue to erode and we will get Glynn’s thoughts on the big push to make 21 the new federal legal age for tobacco. We will also find out if Canada’s plain packaging laws are something that’s destined to end up here in the states. Now more than ever it’s important that cigar smokers understand the challenges we face to our freedom so please tune in to get the latest and find out how you can help.
Episode 196 of Smoke Night LIVE will feature special guest Dan Welsh from L’atelier Imports and Tatuaje. Dan and his team have created some of the most unique cigar releases in the industry including the Surrogates line that pays homage to some of your favorite releases from other companies. Dan has seen it all in the craft cigar world so it will be interesting to get his take on the state of the industry in it’s current form.
Episode 195 of Smoke Night LIVE will feature Mike Bellody owner of MLB Cigar Ventures. Not only is Mike the man behind some exciting blends such as the Imperia and David P. Ehrlich but he is also one of the snappiest dressed dues in the entire cigar industry and that’s no easy task. We will get Mike’s thoughts on being a boutique cigar manufacturer in the unsteady world of premium cigars and also find out what’s next for MLB Cigar Ventures.
Episode 194 of Smoke Night LIVE will feature our good buddy Emmett Malone of Blind Man’s Puff. We have a load of things to discuss including our Weekly Top 5 where we discuss the 5 most desirable characteristics in a cigar lounge i.e., when you walk into a lounge what aspects make you feel comfortable or uncomfortable? We will also discuss Game of Thrones, Avengers End Game, NHL Playoff Hockey and the NFL Draft so make sure to tune and add your opinion to the conversation.
Episode 193 of Smoke Night LIVE will feature special guest Miguel Schoedel the National Sales Manager of Crowned Heads Cigars. Miguel is a 15 year veteran in the cigar industry working for the likes of CAO, Torano, Duran, and Crowned Heads. We will get the inside scoop on all things Crowned Heads including the yet-to-be-announced 2019 Las Calaveras.
Episode 192 of Smoke Night LIVE will feature special guest Kristoper Hart. Kris is the host of the popular podcast Whiskey Neat. He is also the man behind Houston Bourbon Society, the largest single market whiskey group in the US and The States largest Whiskey Festival: The Houston Whiskey Social. The Whiskey Neat podcast can be seen on Facebook and heard on ESPN 97.5 FM. Find out everything you ever wanted to know about whiskey but were afraid to ask on this episode of Smoke Night LIVE.
Episode 191 is a special Thursday night edition of Smoke Night LIVE featuring craft beer guru Randy Griggs. Besides being a hardcore Dojo member Randy has been the Craft Division – Team Lead for Northern California’s largest beer distributor for the past seven years. Randy oversees Brand Management and Sales strategy for an extensive portfolio of craft beers. With 16 years of experience working in the craft category, Randy has worked for the Brewers Association organizing and hosting beer education and support events during the Great American Beer Festival, Craft Brewers Conference and National Homebrewers Festival. Make sure to tune in and find out what’s up in the craft beer industry
Episode 190 of SNL comes to you LIVE from Protocol Studios in eastern Pennsylvania. This special Thursday night edition of the show will feature Juan Cancel and Bill Ives of Cubariqueño Cigar Company. We will be talking about our newest collaboration cigar the Protocol Night Stick which will be released Friday April 5th. Every time Juan and Bill are on the show things get wild so you will not want to miss this epic episode.
Episode 189 of Smoke Night LIVE features special guest Klaas Pieter Kelner the brand ambassador for Davidoff Cigars. Klaas and the Dojo crew will be smoking and commenting on the highly acclaimed and anticipated Especiales 7 which is returning after a 15-year hiatus. We will also ask Klaas some in-depth cigar questions during our “Klaas is in Session” segment.
Episode 188 of Smoke Night LIVE features special guest Rob Rasmussen formerly of Mombacho Cigars, Cigar Federation and Cigar Chat. We will catch up with Robby and find out what he is up to with Laughing Monk Brewing as well as the recent announcement that Robby has joined the Cigar Dojo staff! We will also put him to the test in the Cigar Company Stock Market. Make sure to tune in and join the fun on what has become the place to be on Friday night for cigar lovers.
Episode 187 of Smoke Night LIVE featuring special guest Jonathan Carney Vice President of Sales of La Flor Dominicana. Jonathan is an outspoken guy who does not hesitate to share his opinion which always makes for a great show. Tune in to see what’s up with Jonathan, LFD, and find out what’s on our Weekly Top 5 list.
Episode 186 of Smoke Night LIVE comes to you live from RoMa Craft Tobac headquarters in Austin Texas. SNL’s Jack Heyer will be will be on location from Austin with Mike Rosales and Danny Vazquez of RoMa Craft while Skip Martin will join the show on remote thereby bringing the entire RoMa Craft team together in one place (so to speak). A surprise announcement will highlight the show as well as the Weekly Top 5 and much, much more.
On this episode we highlight the Top 5 "Florida Man" headlines along with Eric and Jack's Double Take. We also select and announce the winner of the 50 Premium Cigars giveaway.
Episode 184 of Smoke Night LIVE comes to you live from the Alec Bradley Cigars headquarters in Fort Lauderdale Florida. The Dojo crew will interview Alan, Alec and Bradley Rubin of Alec Bradley.
Episode 183 of Smoke Night LIVE features guests Litto Gomez of La Flor Dominicana and Even Darnell from the Red Meat Lover's Club.
And they are back!! Episode 182 of Smoke Night LIVE features our good friends Danny Moya from Moya Ruiz Cigars and Abe Dababneh from Smoke Inn. While the company briefly fell from the limelight they are back and have announced the Hand Gripper a Microblend release with Smoke Inn in Boynton Beach Florida. We will catch up with Danny and Nelson and get the inside scoop regarding what’s been happening the last couple years with their company.
Episode 181 of Smoke Night LIVE is our Super Bo…. errrr…. Big Game edition featuring Terence Reilly of Aganorsa Leaf representing all New England Fans facing off with Erik Espinosa of Espinosa Premium Cigars who will be representing Los Angeles fans… errr… the rest of the world. The biggest game in football only happens once a year and we have the masters-of-smack-talk going head-to-head to get you ready for the big game.
Episode 180 of Smoke Night LIVE will feature special guest Michael Knowles the host of “The Michael Knowles Show” at the Daily Wire. Besides Michael’s work at the Daily Wire he is an avid cigar smoker. Michael has also performed in theater, television, and cinema, recently starring in the feature-length comedy film Hollyweird. In 2017, he teamed up with acclaimed novelist and screenwriter Andrew Klavan to perform the thirteen-episode narrative podcast Another Kingdom. We will find out from Michael what it’s like to be in the windstorm that is modern day politics but most importantly we will get Michael’s opinion on what makes cigar smoking the best way to relax in this crazy world.
Episode 179 of Smoke Night LIVE will feature special guest Fred Rewey. It wasn’t that long ago Fred shocked the cigar industry when he sold Nomad Cigars. On this episode we catch up with Fred and find out why he stepped away and what he is up to now. We will also get Fred’s take on this year’s cigar awards as well as his candid thoughts on the industry in general.
Episode 178 of Smoke Night LIVE will be the biggest show of the year! Yes folks, it’s time for the Dojo to announce our picks for the best cigars of 2018. We will discuss our Top 10 list, as well as the top 5 limited edition cigars from 2018. Not only that, but we will reveal the best under-the-radar cigar, value cigar, and luxury cigar. Last but not least, we will announce our pick for the factory and brand of the year.
Episode 177 of Smoke Night LIVE will feature Jack Toraño who has just been announced as the new Director of Sales for Espinosa Premium Cigars. Jack’s recent exit from General Cigar was the big news before Christmas so we will get all the details from Jack on his career shift.
Episode 174 of Smoke Night LIVE features special guest Omar de Frias of Fratello Cigars. Creating a great cigar isn’t rocket science but if it were Omar would be perfectly suited for the job after all he walked away from a big paying career with NASA to devote his full attention to the cigar biz. Fratello Cigars has been creating some if the industries most tasty cigars of the past few years and we will get their entire story on this week’s episode.