Cigar Certified

Celebrated as one of the finest blenders in the world, Jose Pepin Garcia rolled his first cigar when we was just 11 years old. Working in a factory alongside other torcedores, he learned the basics of cigar making the Cuban way, following age-old techniques and discovering through practice what makes a cigar truly great. ... Read More

Nat Sherman has remained an American staple in the luxury cigar market since the 1930s, when eponymous founder Nat Sherman acquired the rights to an old Havana brand, Epoca. Over the following 85+ years, the family-run business continued to expand their portfolio with excellent additions ... Read More

Produced at the boutique Oveja Negra factory in Nicaragua, Black Label Trading Company and Black Works Studios are the brainchildren of American visual artist and adventure traveler James Brown. From cultivation and blending to artwork and marketing, James controls the entire cigarmaking process for each of his brands, ensuring 100% quality from seed to ash. ... Read More

Not many people can claim to have had a cigar vitola named after them. In fact, only one man is so iconic as to have warranted such an homage: Sir Winston Churchill. Britain's former Prime Minister was rarely seen without a stick between his teeth, and his love for cigars is well known and celebrated across the industry. ... Read More

Crowned Heads is a small, boutique cigar manufacturer based in Nashville, TN that has attracted enormous attention since 2010, when Jon Huber and several colleagues left CAO to launch their own adventure. Fueled by a rebellious spirit and a desire to make their own rules, they soon introduced a line of hand-crafted cigars ... Read More

Artists tend to be a commonly misunderstood bunch. By and large, they keep odd hours, enjoy solitude, and rigorously follow their hearts — all attributes which can set them apart from the vast majority of society. For visual artist James Brown — also a Sommelier, adventure traveler, and Range Rover enthusiast — his heart took him to the mountains of Nicaragua. ... Read More

In this episode of Briar to Binder, Shane and Kaz tackle RoMa Craft's Intemperance BAXXI A.W.S. IV Lonsdale. Watch the video above for a complete review of the stick, as well as a really interesting comparison between it and some favorite pipe tobaccos out there. ... Read More

Are you a pipe smoker looking to get into the diverse and wild world of cigars? Don't miss this first episode in our brand new video series Briar to Binder, where Shane & Kaz discuss Crowned Heads cigars. ... Read More

In this episode of Cigar Talk, I'm joined by Ashton's Tim Vanderpool to discuss the Elegancia from San Cristobal. ... Read More

On this edition of The Toast, Val and myself share some suggestions to help you enjoy your evening and end your night right. ... Read More