Over the weekend we received the incredibly sad news that Rodolfo “Rudy” Padrón passed away. Rudy was not one for publicity or fanfare but back in 2011, as part of a story I wrote about the Padrón family, I was able to wrangle him for a sit-down interview and 1 photograph. Before finally agreeing to the photo he said, “I don’t want you do a whole photo shoot, I’m not a celebrity.” He sat on his motorcycle in front of the Padrón sign, put on his leather jacket, and Manny Iriarte got the shot in one take. This story originally appeared in the December/January 2011 issue of Cigar Snob Magazine be ..read more

AVO Cigars is now shipping  AVO Expressions 2024 ($18), a collaboration with DJ D-Nice. The toro pigtail features an Ecuadorian wrapper with Mexican binder and Dominican and U.S. Bourbon cask-aged filler.  The AVO Expressions cigars are housed in 15-count wooden boxes, engraved with motifs inspired by the artistry of DJing.  The Avo Expressions line of cigars was created with the purpose of collaborating with individuals who are leaders in their field, following in the footsteps of the late Avo Uvezian, the founder of AVO Cigars. Avo Uvezian was a musician and composer, who late ..read more

J.C. Newman Cigar Co. and Corona Cigar Co. have teamed up to open a new Diamond Crown Cigar Lounge at Corona’s Tampa cigar store. The new lounge, the 36th Diamond Crown lounge in the U.S.,  features a private room that overlooks the retail store. The lounge is also the second one at a Corona store; the Diamond Crown Cigar Lounge at Corona’s downtown Orlando store opened in 2008. “We are so proud to have a Diamond Crown Cigar Lounge in our hometown,” Eric Newman said in a press release. “Because Tampa is ‘Cigar City,’ it is important to us that cigar enthusiasts have a first-class location ..read more

Gurkha Cigar Group is shipping two of its Gurkha Year of the Dragon series, a special edition set of cigars that includes four distinct smokes by four of the sector’s top producers.  AJ Fernandez created a 6 ⅝ x 52 box-pressed cigar in a 10-count commemorative green box set to ship following last month’s PCA trade show in Las Vegas. The cigar features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper with Nicaraguan binder and filler. The second collaboration now shipping is a 10-count black commemorative box with a 6 ⅝ x 54 toro by Ernesto Pérez-Carrillo. The cigar features a Mexican San Andres wrapper, Ecua ..read more

Altadis U.S.A., announce Romeo y Julieta 1875 Run for the Roses, a tribute to the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby. The ‘Run for the Roses comes in a 6 x 50  Exhibicion No. 3 Toro ($20) and a 7 x 50  Churchill ($25). The Churchill will be available only at Churchill Downs for guests attending the Kentucky Oaks on  May 3 and the Kentucky Derby on May 4.  After the Derby, the Toro will be exclusively sold at participating Liquor Barn stores in Kentucky and Liquor Barn retail kiosks around Churchill Downs. The cigar was blended by the company’s Grupo de Maestros i ..read more

What do you get when you combine an Espinosa Azulejo corona with a smoking hot Aussie drinking Zafra Rum on Española Way in South Beach? An outrageously sexy and stylish shoot featured in the March/April 2024 issue of Cigar Snob Magazine Relax and Indulge… Pick up your own copy on the newsstand or here at our website! Click HERE to check out our other Videos ..read more

The good times continue with the latest installment of the MAILTIME! We received a bunch of packages while Erik was out traveling the world so the first thing we did when he returned was open them for you to see with our usual mix of goofiness and sibling nonsense In the video, Jamy is smoking El Baton from JC Newman while Erik is smoking something new and un-banded that he has been gushing over. Thanks to all of the companies who sent in packages and if you stay till the end, you’ll see the awesome prize we will be giving away tomorrow on Win Stuff Live at 3 PM EST on Instagram Live (www.in ..read more

The Cigar Snob Podcast team reviews the Aganorsa Leaf Rare Leaf Reserve Maduro in the box-pressed torpedo (6 x 52) format. Ivan wades carefully into these waters as Aganorsas have gotten the best of him in the past while Erik complains about Terence Reilly’s poor bicep flex form and Jim gawks at the label art. Aganorsa Leaf – Rare Leaf Reserve Maduro A box-pressed 6 ¼ x 52 torpedo Country of Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Mexico Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua Price: $14.50 Available in 3 sizes: 5 ¼ x 52 robusto, 6 x 54 toro, 6 ¼ x 52 torpedo Click HERE to check out our other Videos ..read more

Tatuaje has released the Tatuaje Cojonu 2015 Broadleaf ($13), a 5 x 55 featuring a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper with Nicaraguan binder and filler. It is also releasing the Tatuaje Cojonu 2018 Broadleaf a 5 5/8 X 54 ($13.50) soft box press with the same blend. Both come in 21-count boxes.  They are now shipping. Click HERE for our latest news ..read more

43% ABV  Aged Rum Puerto Rico While studying engineering in France around 1860, young Pedro Fernández decided that he could produce a unique rum for his family in Puerto Rico using a process similar to what the French did with Cognac. In those days, well-to-do families would distill their own spirits and serve them to guests out of a small barrel or a “barrilito.”  The Fernández family’s homemade rum from their “barrilito” became so popular among guests of the Hacienda Santa Ana that by 1880 they started selling it in the local Puerto Rican market. Coming up with a name for this prod ..read more