Powstanie is the brand owned by Mike and Greg Szczepankewicz, who also own the retail store, Cigar Hustler, in Deltona, Florida. This cigar was released at the end of 2024 as a 500 bundle limited-edition. “We’re proud to introduce the Catastrophic Failure, a cigar that exemplifies everything Powstanie Cigars stands for,” said Mike Szczepankiewicz in a press release. “This cigar blends traditional expertise with modern innovation, making it a standout addition to our lineup.”

Under the Lid

• Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: Fábrica de Tabacos Nica Sueño S.A.
• Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra
• Binder: Mexican & Pennsylvania
• Filler: Dominican & Nicaraguan
• Size: 5 1/2 x 52
• MSRP: $12
• Production: Limited (500 Bundles)

Pre-Light

The Powstanie Catastrophic Failure is a box-pressed robusto extra and features a veiny and toothy wrapper that appears to be delicate and thin. The bands look a little cheap for my taste and aren’t secured all the way down, leaving an awkward flap of the edge of the band. The draw is loose, maybe a little too loose but we will see where that goes. The cold flavor I get is a warm bitterness to it that almost feels under fermented with a lough of fresh tanned leather.

First Third

As I light the cigar, I noticed that it gives off a hefty amount of smoke production with a blast of white pepper right off the foot giving it a strong rush in flavor After the first few puffs, I noticed a small tunnel already appearing in the middle of the cigar, and I noticed that the draw is off with a loss of clean suction which will certainly affect the way the cigar continues to burn. 

The pepper quickly cools off and dissipates during the first third and the smoke stays relatively cool but the cigar continues to burn quickly, giving off plenty of smoke in the process. The tunneling in the middle that started in the beginning has, for the moment, slightly slowed down, but I’m not entirely sure yet if it has completely stopped. So far it’s a very dry and earthy flavor profile that leans more on the heavier and full bodied side. I’m getting burnt popcorn after it has cooled off and sat for a few hours, not stale popcorn, just really cool burnt popcorn, along with nutmeg and watered down Colombian coffee. Overall, it has a bitter flavor that some might enjoy, but so far it’s really not on my pallet. 

Second Third

As I get deeper into the cigar, I do notice that I have a harder time keeping it lit, even though I am being pretty attentive to it and over the course of the cigar I have needed a couple of re-lights. There are now some more smaller pinhole tunnels in the middle of the bunch that continue to form, but overall the middle of the cigar bunch seems to be burning faster than the outer rim of binder and filler. The same bitter taste dominates the flavor with some background spice that almost gets missed if you’re also steadily drinking something with it. It is a milder jalapeño like spicy note but very muted. There is some dry walnut too that makes its way in and out but mostly this tastes like stale coffee that was watered down to begin with. Then, if you were to leave said cup of coffee on the kitchen counter, go to work and come home and sip it hours later…that would be the best way to describe what I am tasting.

Final Third

The construction on this cigar continued to burn worse the further I went. It kept burning more and more uneven, lopsided, rough, and the tunneling inside while small, continued. The cigar naturally began to burn increasingly hotter and hotter after the end of the first third but really took a turn when I got to the last third where it was almost complexly burned out. The flavor didn’t change much and made this cigar feel very one-dimensional. Between the burn issues and the flavor, there almost seemed like there was no saving this cigar from what it is ironically called, Catastrophic Failure.

Smokin Wrap

I smoked this cigar for review because I kept getting asked about it and other cigars from Powstanie lately and I wanted to go through most of them and put them to the test. So far, I was unimpressed with what I found. The only thing they got right about this cigar is the name. There are a few of their newer releases in the queue lined up, hopefully they perform better.

Smokin Facts

• Cigars were sent by Powstanie
• Powstanie does not advertise with Smokin Tabacco
• Cigars were from a limited edition release last year and have been resting for a while
• Smoking time: 1 hour 40 minutes

Purchase Recommendation: Not Recommended

Score: 79

The post Cigar Review: Powstanie Catastrophic Failure appeared first on Smokin Tabacco.

Encore Noir II features a Nicaraguan wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and Nicaraguan filler. Presented in the Celestial No. 2 vitola, measuring 6 1/8 x 50, Casa Carrillo says this second edition offers remarkable complexity, layered richness, and refined strength. It also features a dark Nicaraguan wrapper that has undergone more than five years of natural bale aging. The extended maturation of these exceptional leaves makes production exceptionally limited with only 1,500 individually numbered ten-count boxes being produced worldwide. The scarcity of the wrapper tobacco ensures Encore Noir II remains one of Casa Carrillo’s most exclusive releases.

As an international exclusive release, the only U.S. debut will take place during a special weekend at Two Guys Cigars in New Hampshire, continuing the tradition established by the original Encore Noir launch. Events are scheduled for Friday, July 24, and Saturday, July 25, with Ernesto Perez-Carrillo and his son Ernesto Perez-Carrillo III joining cigar enthusiasts on Saturday for a special appearance alongside a live broadcast of The Cigar Authority.

“Encore Noir II represents our continued pursuit of refinement through patience,” said Ernesto Perez-Carrillo. “By allowing these tobaccos the time they needed to mature naturally, we’ve created a cigar with remarkable depth, richness, and elegance that remains unmistakably Encore.”

The post Casa Carrillo Announces Encore Noir II appeared first on Smokin Tabacco.

• Factory: Aganorsa Leaf (Nicaragua)
• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
• Binder: Nicaragua (Double Binder)
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Production: Limited Edition (2,400 Cigars)
• Vitola: 6¼” x 52 (Toro)
• MSRP: $70 per bundle

In beer circles, “crispy boy” is an affectionate term for a cold, clean, and refreshing lager. Crispy Boy is made at the Aganorsa Leaf factory in Nicaragua, pairing an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper with a double Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan fillers. The cigar is a 6¼” x 52 toro format, offering enough size for the blend to develop while remaining approachable for casual occasions.

“Not every cigar needs to come with a dress code or a lengthy explanation,” said Eric Guttormson, owner and founder of Cigar Dojo. “Crispy Boy is for the regular Joes, the dads, the dudes, and anyone who just wants to crack open a cold lager, light up a great cigar, and enjoy the moment. It’s flavorful without beating you over the head, and it goes down easy every time.”

The beer-inspired presentation takes the concept one step further. Rather than traditional boxes, the cigars are packaged in six-count, foil-wrapped bundles that are placed inside custom Crispy Boy coozies. The coozies will be offered in red and blue variations, giving each package the appearance of a cold can of beer waiting to be opened.

“Crispy Boy is a fun concept, but the cigar itself was taken very seriously,” said Terence Reilly, vice president of sales and marketing at Aganorsa Leaf. “We wanted to create something clean, balanced, and satisfying that people could reach for without overthinking it. The packaging may get your attention first, but the blend is what will keep people coming back.”

The release will begin on Friday, July 31st during Cigar Dojo’s annual Dochella event. For the first time, Dochella will move outside Cigar Dojo Studios and take place at the Smoker Friendly cigar shop in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The event is being presented in collaboration with Cigar Dojo, Aganorsa Leaf, and Smoker Friendly at 3761 E Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001.

A limited allotment will be available during Dochella, with the remainder of the 200 in-person bundles being offered the following day at the Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival. The 2026 festival marks the event’s first year at its new home at Little America Resort in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The remaining 200 bundles will be released nationally through SmokeInn.com on Monday, August 3rd.

The post Cigar Dojo and Aganorsa Leaf Announce “Crispy Boy” Collaboration appeared first on Smokin Tabacco.

Scheduled to begin shipping to retailers on August 27th, Independence will debut in a 4 7/8” x 50 Robusto and a 5 7/8” x 50 Toro. Both formats will feature the blend that made the Independence Firecracker the hottest and fastest-selling limited release of 2026. While these additional vitolas will not feature the Firecracker’s iconic fuse cap, they will deliver the identical smoking experience that captivated retailers and consumers alike. United Cigars did clarify that the blend will remain unchanged, featuring Dominican and Nicaraguan ligero fillers, a Dominican binder, and a Mexican Habano wrapper.

“Why mess with success?” said Oliver Nivaud of United Cigars, the exclusive U.S. distributor of Arnold André premium cigars, including Montosa and Terra Nova. “The Independence Firecracker exceeded every expectation. Rather than retire a blend people fell in love with, we’re making Independence a permanent part of the Arnold André portfolio.”

Independence Firecracker was created to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the United States, continuing the premium cigar industry’s longest-running Firecracker collaboration series between United Cigars and leading cigar manufacturers. This is not the first time a limited-edition Firecracker has made it into a core line for manufacturers, Mi Querida Triqui Traca and Fratello Fuoco Oro went to market after the success of the Firecracker collaboration.

The Independence line will be available in the signature twelve-count collectible tin, boldly marked with “Land of the Free” and “Home of the Brave.” Once empty, the tin is designed to be repurposed as a personal cigar ashtray and provides retailers additional merchandising flexibility while making it approachable for consumers. Independence Robusto will retail for $10.50 per single, $126 per tin and the Toro is set at $11.00 per single, $132 per tin.

The post United Cigars Makes Independence Firecracker a Regular Production Line appeared first on Smokin Tabacco.

“Both Cofradia and Cofradia Oscuro have long been among the best buys in humidors,” said Joe Krzyston, Brand Manager of Bolivar Cigars. “Now those same cigars are available in a bold new size. These 770s are for lovers of big ring gauges and uncompromising Bolivar blends.”

Both Bolivar Cofradia and Cofradia Oscuro 770 are crafted in Honduras at HATSA and come in a twenty-count box at a 7 x 70 size. The MSRP for each blend is $10.09 per cigar. Bolivar Cofradia and Cofradia Oscuro 770 already began shipping to retailers in July 2026.

The post Bolivar Adds 7 x 70 to Cofradia and Cofradia Oscuro appeared first on Smokin Tabacco.

Early in the year, Drew Estate previewed this cigar, along with Deadwood Tobacco Co. Dominicana Buenas Noches, in their Early Access pack where they came unbanded and identified only by their code names, “Water” with was Buenas Noches, and Fire which was the name given for El Tigre. They both formally launched in April of 2026.

Under the Lid

• Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: La Gran Fábrica Drew Estate
• Wrapper: Ecuador (Sumatra Seed)
• Binder: U.S.A (Connecticut Corojo H99 Hybrid)
• Filler: Dominican (HVA & Criollo 98)
• Size: 6 x 50
• Vitola: Toro
• MSRP: $13 (Boxes of 20, $260)
• Release Date: April 2026
• Production: Regular

Pre Light

The wrapper is very silky, soft and beautiful but at the same time very veiny. I will stress these are not rough veins or very bumpy, but prominent enough that you know they are there. The Undercrown El Tigre has a nice soft box-press to it, which I think is very nice and I usually enjoy a good soft box-press. There is a foot band on the cigar that reads “El Tigre Domincano” that matches the primary band with black and silver details which I think is a nice touch but I am more partial to black and gold myself.

First Third

Upon lighting the Undercrown El Tigre, the first few puffs blast me with black pepper, mustard powder and sea salt off of the foot. As the first few puffs begin to cool off and really settle into the first third, much of the pepper and spice goes away and it’s replaced by rich and dry earthy notes of leather, cocoa powder, and walnut. There is plenty of smoke production from this cigar and what I might add is much of it being blue smoke which I find quite beautiful to look at to be honest with you. I could watch this cigar smolder all day. In terms of construction so far, the draw has been perfect, the ash is nice and compact and the El Tigre is burning mostly even, not a perfect burn line so far, but even enough nonetheless. As the first third progresses toward the second third, it does remain earthy, but gets slightly creamier and gets a little bit more nutty.

Second Third

The walnut I spoke of earlier remains, but there’s also almost a hint of cashew as well. There is also an uptick in the spice again as the second third really settles in. The back of my tongue also picks up a ripe taste of anise and at this point a slight tangy sourness begins to creep in with it. I would consider this a medium plus to slightly full bodied cigar at this point. While I will write that as always, the standard that we smoke for an official cigar review is three cigars, I will tell you that I have already smoked more than that over the course of the last few months. This is probably my sixth or seventh EL Tigre overall by the time that I write this so I’ve had a very good sampling of these. Again, I really only track the dedicated performance of the three used of review but they’ve all been pretty consistent across six or seven cigars in terms of one flaw. Somewhere near the peak of the second third, the sourness continues to grow and then begins to get slightly bitter and this cigar begins to drop off for me. I’m still not quite halfway and I’m already almost an hour into the cigar so I have been smoking it pretty gingerly as well.

Another thing I wanted to point out here is the ash in the first third actually stacked on pretty well. I was able to get almost a good inch and three-quarters of it before it finally broke for the first time, ironically right as I was about to get a picture of it. However, getting into the second third, it still draws and burns very well, but it’s burning more uneven and I find that the ash begins to stack on a little lopsided and it’s not as neat as it was in the beginning. The third cigar I smoked while taking my photos was the best of the three and wasn’t as extreme, but the first two were a little more jagged. Not so bad that the cigars were junk after, but not ideal in a perfect world. I continue to rotate it and burn it as even as I can, but there’s only so much I can control. This seems to be the spot every time where the El Tigre takes a turn. I am also losing much of the flavors that I had begun to enjoy to this point.

Final Third

As I get to the final third, the burn continues to be uneven on the El Tigre but it does slowly start to correct itself or at the very least, get better, by the time I get down to the nub. In terms of body and strength, it continues to be medium plus as a whole, but a lot of the flavors are getting drowned out by this bitter finish on the backend that has taken over, which began to grow in the second third. It continues to be earthy and dry in flavor with more leather and some hickory notes before some pepper returns for a final bow, but I lost the nuttiness that I was starting to enjoy between the first and second thirds. The only issue I have in terms of construction is the uneven burn, but the draw smoke production and everything else seems to be going well. I do wonder how much of that uneven burn is also influencing what I am experiencing in terms of the flavor and complexity issues I have begun to see.

Smokin Wrap

While this is a good cigar and not a bad cigar, I do feel after smoking several of these that there is potential for them to be really great with some age, provided they burn better in the future. Time will have to tell us on that one. I have plenty on hand that I can let age and revisit in the future, possibly a redux review? I would be really curious to see where this particular batch is at in a year from now. But either way, the burn issues in the middle of the cigar are what sticks out to me. Outside of those, there wasn’t too much to complain about but inconsistency is where cigars lose points fast in a review.

Smokin Facts

• Cigars were sent by Drew Estate
• Drew Estate advertises with Smokin Tabacco

Purchase recommendation: Try a Sample

Smokin Wrap

Cigars Smoked for the Review: Three

Average smoking time: Two Hours and Thirty Minutes

SCORE: 87

The post Cigar Review: Undercrown El Tigre Dominicano Toro appeared first on Smokin Tabacco.

Under the Lid

At first glance, it looks like the Biggy lighter, albeit much larger, which then again was designed to look like the famous Le Grand lighter. In addition to its hefty size, it features two burners, one of which being the five jet blade flame from the Biggy, lighter, and the other being the windproof soft flame from the new Defi Windproof. It is also a heavy lighter for what it is even for its size but then again, it isn’t meant to be carried around. It weighs approximately 14.1 ounces, weighing just under a pound.

The one drawback I have with this lighter is that it shows plenty of fingerprints and smudging. Now, I know all of the lighters do this but it isn’t as noticeable on a smaller lighter and given the size of the table lighter, it acts like a billboard for messiness. Now, there isn’t much you can do about this unless S.T. Dupont introduces a case to go with it.

Each burner does have independent fuel control on the bottom of the lighter body as well as a fuel fill port. The blade flame being marked with a line and the soft with the circle. In addition, on the trigger there is a sliding mechanism that allows you to change between which burner you want to use and before you ask no – you cannot use both at the same time. The slide mechanism also has the line and circle that identify which burner is selected and to use it, you simply slide the face of the trigger up or down revealing said icon that is currently engaged.

Pricing and Availability

The table lighter is available in two finishes:

• Black Lacquer with Palladium
• Black Lacquer with Gold Plate

Both of these options have an MSRP of $795. I would expect to see newer versions styles and possibly collaborations featuring the table lighter in the future…oh how great this would have been in the Opus X and Padron 60th collections that came out the last few years – sigh.

Performance Notes

In terms of the burners themselves, I hate to put it this way but nothing new here. We already know these burners and we know they are fantastic. I don’t notice anything different about them from their standalone counterparts. But for the sake of this review, yes they both function great for their intended target lighting functionality. In regard to the flat flame, I find it great for lighting cigars just right when using a torch and almost mimics a soft light if used the correct way.

The soft flame aspect, as I wrote in the Defi Windproof review, is a combination of soft and jet burning technologies and while there is both yellow and blue flame, it still presents as a soft flame but there is a small amount of blue flame on the outer edge to help keep wind away from the yellow flame.The windproof, if anything, might just be a little more powerful than the one on the Defi model. Then again, just like Texas, everything is bigger, including the fuel tank and while I do not know exactly how much fuel it holds I have to assume it has somewhat of a large capacity considering how many cans of fuel I am not going through filling it up.

Smokin Wrap

There isn’t much more I can add here other than it makes a great table to lounge lighter, it is big, holds plenty of butane and like all S.T. Dupont products is beyond reliable. I will say that in my opinion, it should be bought and used like a table lighter and stay in the home or lounge. Please for the love of god or whatever deity you believe in, don’t be that person carrying this lighter around. This is a free country after all but please don’t be that person. I do hope to see a case for it because regardless, things can happen anywhere and at anytime. In addition, I suspect S.T. Dupont will use this lighter in future projects that could make it collectable and having a case for it would help preserve the quality for collectors.

Smokin Facts

• S.T. Dupont/Coles of London advertises with Smokin Tabacco, but that has no weight on scoring
• Lighter was loaned to Smokin Tabacco for photos by Coles of London
• It is made in China like most of the torch lighters are
• Comes with a standard two-year factory warranty
• S.T. Dupont recommends the “Black” fuel refill (Sold Separately)

Purchase recommendation: If you’re a serious smoker with a home lounge, buy it. Otherwise it might not be worth it for you.

Score: 91

The post Product Review: S.T. Dupont Table Lighter appeared first on Smokin Tabacco.

Under the Lid

• Origin: Honduras
• Factory: Diadema de Cigars Honduras S.A.
• Wrapper: Ecuador
• Binder: Honduras
• Filler: Honduras
• Size: 5 x54
• Vitola: Robusto
• MSRP: $7.50
• Release Date: June 2026
• Production: Regular

The cigar we are reviewing today is the robusto size from the pre-cut fresh pack. I should add, not all of the Zino cigars are pre-cut. The Zino Honduras is available in the following formats:

Half Corona – 4 x 44

• Tin of Five (Pre-Cut): $33.50
• Box of 25: $167.50

Robusto – 5 x 54

• Fresh Pack of Four (Pre-Cut): $30.00
• Pack of Five: $37.50
• Box of 25: $187.50

Toro – 6 x 50

• Fresh Pack of Four: $32.00
• Pack of Five: $40.00
• Box of 25: $200.00

Pre Light

Like its predecessor, the Zino Honduras also features a rareity that most cigars do not ship with – a precut cap in the style of a round punch. It has a very oily sheen on the wrapper that gives it a shine like a fresh pair of leather shoes, yet stays silky and soft to the touch like something I might find from an ultra premium offering. Feeling this cigar, it’s firm but not hard and I don’t feel that it has been over packed with tobacco so it should burn quite nice and not too fast. Giving the tobacco a small smell on the nose, it gives off a bright and sweet aroma that reminds me of fresh corn being shucked on the farm while also hiding some notes of cocoa and plum. No need to cut this cigar, so I go right in for the cold draw and it’s an average draw, not being too tight or too loose, and has a nice warm taste of cinnamon raisin.

First Third

The cigar lights very well, instantly producing a bunch of smoke and burning very even right off the bat. The first influx of flavor I get is some white pepper notes with a little bit of rich Baker’s chocolate, some dry earthiness and a little bit of black truffle right out the gate during the first few puffs. As the cigar continues, it is burning very well. As the foot cools off and gets deeper into the first third of the cigar, there’s a warm and slight yet welcome bitterness on the back end of the flavor. It’s a welcome change from much of the stuff I’ve been smoking lately to be honest. The smoke is smooth, cool and comes off the cigar in large amounts of thick white clouds. Towards the end of the first third, a sweet cereal taste that circles around every now and again every couple of puffs begins to pop its head in. If I had to be more specific, it almost reminds me of “fruity pebbles” from when I was a kid, but straight from the box before dousing them in milk.

Second Third

As I enter the second third, the pepper and spice has definitely mellowed down but the earthiness, black truffle and a link of nutmeg continue to control the flavor but change in dynamics as we go making the cigar still interesting and keeping me happy with my experience. The Zino Honduras thus far is a solid medium to medium plus cigar for my taste. If you want something more mild, this isn’t the cigar for you, but I wouldn’t call it a face melter either. It does lose a few points here due to the fact that I am having a hard time keeping the burn line from performing well, however overall it’s burning well in terms of general combustion, draw and smoke production. While I felt the first third burned slightly quicker, it does begin to burn a little slower a few puffs into the second third. While the burn line seems to be bumpy, it does seem to hold its ash pretty well. The second third also transitions to a new kind of spice that well, to be quite honest and this isn’t a bad thing, reminds me of some gold old fashioned rotisserie chicken with notes of paprika that really catch my attention and give me a good chuckle.

Final Third

Transitioning into the final third, the flavor as many would expect does begin to intensify and darken. The spices are back at full force and they brought a little bit of pepper with them. Not as much as the first third but enough to satisfy my palate and call this cigar well balanced and not one dimensional. There is also some fresh ground Brazilian coffee bean that comes and goes that gives it a really robust finish and that final punch before the cigar is done. In terms of construction, everything stayed very consistent and performed well with the exception of that uneven burn that failed to correct itself on all three cigars. But as I have said in the past, I have smoked much worse for much more.

Smokin Experience

This cigar is a great cigar for the price, even though the argument has been made over whether a cigars price should matter. I have always been under the impression that it should. Buying a cigar at $7.50 and having it smoke like a $15 cigar should is a winner for me and instills a better value. Having said that, overall, I thought this cigar was really good, but it lost some points due to minor burn issues that kept it from being a 90+. Still, for the value I can’t beat on it for that. If this were a Davidoff Gran Cru that I had to keep fixing, different story. Although in my experience, that’s not an issue with those. The variety of convenient sizes and packaging available makes it another win for the average smoker who wants something decent, at a decent price, that they can grab and go for them or for a few friends as well. There is plenty of flavor, plenty of smoke and a cigar that you mostly don’t need to think too much about while you enjoy. The touchups I did make were minimal and were not every two minutes. This cigar, along with its milder older brother, the Zino Nicaragua, are the reason that Davidoff is seeing some boosted success right now. Hopefully Avo and Camacho can bring this same energy to the portfolio with their newest releases.

Smokin Facts

• Davidoff does not advertise with Smokin Tabacco
• Cigars were sent by Davidoff
• Pre-Cut cigars are not super common, but are helpful for on the go and newer smokers

Purchase recommendation: Buy Pre-Cut Four Pack

Smokin Wrap

Cigars Smoked for the Review: Three

Average smoking time: One Hour and Fifteen Minutes

SCORE: 89

The post Cigar Review: Zino Honduras Robusto appeared first on Smokin Tabacco.

Visit smokintabacco.com for more news, reviews and updates from the industry!

Visit 2GuysCigars.com for the best selection of in the industry!

Accessories provided by S.T. Dupont – Shake Up the Legacy with S.T. Dupont!

Perdomo Cigars: Quality, Tradition, and Excellence!

Gurkha Cigars: More than a cigar. A symbol of respect, gratitude, and legacy

Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust: Cigars Without Compromise

Nova Cigar: Make Nova Big!

The post The Smokin Tabacco Show: Who Is Matt’s Million Dollar Trivia Lifeline? appeared first on Smokin Tabacco.

Visit smokintabacco.com for more news, reviews and updates from the industry!

Visit 2GuysCigars.com for the best selection of in the industry!

Accessories provided by S.T. Dupont – Shake Up the Legacy with S.T. Dupont!

Perdomo Cigars: Quality, Tradition, and Excellence!

Gurkha Cigars: More than a cigar. A symbol of respect, gratitude, and legacy

Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust: Cigars Without Compromise

Nova Cigar: Make Nova Big!

The post The Smokin Tabacco Show: Happy Independence Day and America 250! appeared first on Smokin Tabacco.