Under the Lid

• Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: Tabacalera Villa Cuba S.A.
• Wrapper: Mexico (San Andrés)
• Binder: Double Binder (Nicaragua & Honduras)
• Filler: Nicaragua/Honduras
• Size: Box-Pressed Toro (6 1/2 x 52)
• MSRP:$16.95 (Box of 20, $339)
• Production: Regular Production

The Rocky Patel Sapphire is available three other sizes:

• Robusto 5 1/2 x 50 – $15.95
• Sixty 6 x 60 – $17.95
• Corona Gorda  6 x 46 – $13.50

Pre-Light

The second I slid the Rocky Patel sapphire out of the cellophane, I immediately got an overwhelming sense of warm, sweet fruit. The draw is nice and smooth and loose and I would give it 6.5 out of 10. Almost instantly, my mind goes to fresh fig newtons right tout of the pack. Between the fig and the baked crust..it takes me back to my packed lunches from when I was a kid and my mom would stick them in my lunch box. Come to think of it, I think Pat’s mom still makes his lunch, I wonder if she even packs him any Fig Newtons? Visually, the Sapphire sports beautiful blue and gold foil bands with the primary featuring the “RP” Rocky Patel logo and a long secondary band band with the word Sapphire running up the middle. This seems to be the theme for most of the Rocky Patel releases lately as well. The wrapper is dry in texture, very sweet and only slightly on the veinier side.

First Third

The cigar lights nice and slow which gives it a nice slow roast. When I take the first few puffs, there is a small amount of white pepper upfront, but not too strong. The Sapphire toro is definitely full body and rich in flavor with plenty of notes of dry oak, sweet cherry, more like a Luxardo cherry in syrup, and rich dark chocolate, specifically, the 70 to 80% dark with deep cocoa tones. In addition, there is plenty of smoke production coming off of the cigar, both blue and white smoke, that smolders right out of the cigar with barely any draw to it so it burns and breathes incredibly well. This cigar is burning slow, but also has a somewhat fragile ash that has already begun to break off easily without much effort. Overall, the burn line stays pretty consistent, I haven’t needed to touch up this far and I find it to be an effortless smoke. The flavor is complex, full of flavors coming from multiple directions and dare I say, smoking this cigar so far reminds me of *gasp* a good certain maduro from a Nicaraguan brand that begins with P. You can figure out which one.

Second Third

As I continue to smoke my way into the second third, the ash is holding a little better than I previously mentioned, but it is still soft and flaky. I am beginning to get a strong taste of anise, otherwise known as black licorice, that also gives me a sour tanginess but what what I can only describe as a floral-cedar mixture underneath that is very subtle but kind of takes the edge off of that licorice taste making it more bearable. If I have never mentioned it before, I do not like black licorice and despite being of Italian heritage and very connected to it – the anise cookies were never my jam. The burn line is a little bit uneven at times, but nothing drastic however this does mean points off for not being perfect but not a major penalization.

I wan to add that the further I go through the second third the more that licorice flavor actually fades away and more of the core earthy notes take place with some white pepper returning slightly at the back of the pallet that re-emerges more than it was at any other point in the cigar thus far. There is also a slow transition to a warm toasted walnut that reminds me of a warm cookie skillet with oily walnuts being soft and a little chewy that also have some of that molten semi-sweet chocolate chip mixed in with it. This makes it difficult to not want to smoke the cigar like a Gatling gun.

Final Third

The final third is good but to be quite honest, it’s a little bit more one-dimensional. I didn’t feel that the flavors were very complex and changed. The Sapphire stayed very earthy and very dry yet full bodied while retaining some of the tanginess from earlier. Other than that, it just felt like an extended version of the second third which don’t get me wrong was good and I mean it isn’t the worst final third, I had hoped for just a little more. I had tasted some leather notes along with some of the walnut but with the addition of toasted almond, which was somehow amusing to me. To finish it off at the end little bit of creama espresso.

I wish the Sapphire was a bit more complex in the end and had a little bit more character. It does not lose as many points because I enjoyed the cigar and the experience, but had it been better, it would have probably gained many more points. Overall, the burn quality was very good, briefly slightly uneven, but nothing major and nothing that ruined the overall burn experience and I never really felt the need to do any heavy touchups. The ash was not as firm as I would’ve liked it to be, especially in the beginning, but as the cigar continued after the first third, it really was not that bad and I didn’t find that it was problematic. The draw and smoke production were fantastic all the way throughout the cigar, allowing it to breathe very well even though despite this it still burned slow and never got too hot for me.

Smokin Wrap

Overall, I found the Rocky Patel Sapphire toro to be a great cigar. There was not much I could really complain about. I find that the better the cigar is, the harder you try to critique it. Cigars that don’t perform well are easy because the red flags pop up like a bad date at dinner. But with a cigar like this, you keep digging deeper just to make sure she isn’t still going to try to kill you when she gets you home after dinner. I think that this one will be a safe bet for some late night coffee. I did struggle a little with the score because I was on the edge with the final third. Ultimately, I decided where I would have scored it if it was where I wanted and the score was much higher. But despite the slight disappointment, that final third was still better than most I have smoked lately even if it was much like the second third so it will still get a very good score. Rocky Patel has been, for the most part, on his game the last few years ever since the launch of Sixty. That cigar really created momentum with the releases that followed with few exceptions. I guess that means I have to hold Rocky to a much higher standard but I think he can handle the heat.

Smokin Facts

• Cigars were purchased by Smokin Tabacco
• Rocky Patel does not advertise with Smokin Tabacco
• Average smoking time: 2 Hours & 12 minutes

Purchase Recommendation: Buy One

Score: 89

The post Cigar Review: Rocky Patel Sapphire Toro appeared first on Smokin Tabacco.

“Thirty years …! We lost track of time a long time ago, but we never lost track of the people who got us here,” said Drew Estate Founder, President and Chief Innovation Officer Jonathan Drew Sann from J.SANN & SON in Wynwood. “I started in Manhattan at the World Trade Center with nothing but a cigar kiosk and a passion for premium cigars. In 1998, it was time to build our own brand the only way we knew how … by doing it ourselves. So, I bought a ticket to Nicaragua and kissed my mom goodbye. A whopping six employees from the jump soon grew to thirty … then to one hundred … then to four thousand. Before we knew it, we founded La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, planting our flag amongst the good people of Estelí, Nicaragua. We brought Brooklyn to Estelí … and brought Esteli to the world. ​ Haters called us crazy and said we’d never last. But we did … they didn’t know we were seeds. The consumers believed. The retailers believed. The people believed. Now, thirty years later … we’re still here. Still creating … still pushing … still Drew Estate … still The Rebirth of Cigars. DE30 is about showing love back to the people who showed love to us. And trust me, we spared no detail at Subculture Studios Nicaragua to deliver on our brand promise for every one of you … for the ones who chose the path less traveled.”

At the center of DE30 Rewards are exclusive rewards consumers cannot buy. Participants can redeem points for one-of-a-kind hand-painted artwork from Subculture Studios, DE30 apparel and other limited pieces created specifically for Drew Estate’s 30th anniversary.

Drew Estate is also bringing the celebration to retailers nationwide with two limited DE30 Rewards 3-Packs expected to begin arriving in late September. Each 3-Pack includes three unique Drew Estate cigars plus a code worth 250 bonus DE30 Rewards points.

The DE30 ‘Box-Pressed Feral Flying Pig’ Sampler includes:

• 1 x Herrera Estelí Brazilian Maduro Box-Pressed Feral Flying Pig ​ (5 3/8 x 60)
• 1 x Undercrown Maduro Box-Pressed Feral Flying Pig (5 3/8 x 60)
• 1 x Liga Privada H99 Box-Pressed Feral Flying Pig ​ (5 3/8 x 60)

The DE30 ‘Supremas’ Sampler includes:

• 1 x Liga Privada H99 Suprema (6 x 50/54 Figurado)
• 1 x Herrera Estelí Habano Suprema (6 x 50/54 Figurado)
• 1 x Nica Rustica Adobe Suprema (6 x 50/54 Figurado)

Participants earn 5 points for every $1 spent on qualifying Drew Estate cigar purchases and can earn additional points by checking in at Drew Estate retailers, making purchases at in-store events, exploring brands and engaging with Drew Estate throughout the campaign.

Points can then be redeemed in the DE30 Reward Center for exclusive rewards available throughout the 6-month campaign. DE30 Rewards officially debuted during Drew Estate’s September 1 Early Access show.

The post Drew Estate Celebrates 30 Years with DE30 Rewards appeared first on Smokin Tabacco.

Two Guys got the idea for this cigar due to the fact the 2026 Expo will feature a pizza-eating competition, and the special-edition packaging was designed to bring some of that fun directly to the cigar release. “But don’t let the playful packaging fool you. Inside that pizza box is a seriously premium cigar” the company added in a press release. That is because this cigar was made by Perdomo Cigars at Tabacalera Perdomo in Estelí, Nicaragua, the 2026 New England Cigar Expo cigar features an exclusive blend created specifically for the event, delivering a bold, rich smoking experience worthy of the
occasion.

“These are fun packages,” said David Garofalo, owner of the New England Cigar Expo, “but that takes nothing away from the cigar itself. The packaging is fun, but inside you’re getting a top-notch cigar with a one-of-a-kind blend. We take the cigar just as seriously as we always do.”

Production of the 2026 New England Cigar Expo cigar will be limited to just 300 boxes of fourteen slices cigars each. Ticket holders will have an exclusive opportunity to purchase the cigars on Day 2 of the Expo at the Two Guys Cigars Pop-Up store.

The New England Cigar Expo 2026 Limited-Edition Cigar is available for $159.99 per fourteen-count box, or two boxes for $300—just $10.71 per cigar with the two-box deal. If any boxes remain, limited inventory will be made available through 2GuysCigars.com on the Monday September 28th following the event. With only 300 boxes being produced, custom collectible packaging, an exclusive Perdomo-made blend and hundreds of cigar enthusiasts expected to celebrate another year of the New England Cigar Expo, and this year’s release has all the ingredients for another sellout.

The post Two Guys Cigars Announces Limited Edition Pizza Cigar for NE Cigar Expo appeared first on Smokin Tabacco.

Enki expands the Anunnaki line with a distinctive figurado format featuring two unique construction details. The cigar’s cap is finished in a “cabeza tumbada” style, designed to enhance the smoking experience, while its closed foot allows the smoker to initially experience the aroma and flavor of the wrapper as the cigar is lit. The closed foot also provides an added layer of protection for those who prefer to light a cigar while holding it directly in the mouth.

Anunnaki Enki

• Size: 6 x 54 Figurado
• Packaging: 10-count boxes
• MSRP: $18.00 per cigar

“With Enki, we wanted to introduce a format that brings another dimension to the Anunnaki experience while remaining completely connected to the philosophy behind the line,” said Emmanuel, Co-Founder and Creator. “Every detail has a purpose, from the shape and construction to the name itself. InterTabac gives us an opportunity to share Enki with the international cigar community and continue telling the story we began with Anunnaki.”

The name Enki continues the Sumerian mythology that inspired the Anunnaki line. In the story, Enki is the son of Anu and Ki and is regarded as the Sumerian god of humanity. According to the Anunnaki mythology that inspires the brand, Enki was sent to Earth with the mission of extracting gold. The introduction of Enki therefore continues a story already expressed through the names and symbolism of the Anunnaki portfolio.

Enki utilizes the same seven-tobacco blend as the existing Anunnaki line, co-blended by Don Emmanuel and legendary Master Blender Eladio Díaz and produced at Tabacalera Díaz Cabrera in the Dominican Republic. Rather than introducing a new blend, the 6 x 54 figurado explores how a distinctive new format and construction can create another expression of the Anunnaki smoking experience.

The post Don Emmanuel to Showcase New Anunnaki Enki Figurado at InterTabac 2026 appeared first on Smokin Tabacco.

From its opening night featuring Blue Oyster Cult to its final show featuring Aerosmith and Mötley Crue, the venue hosted an
unmatched roster of rock, country, and pop acts. The amphitheater closed in 2006 and was later demolished, but its spirit lives on in the hearts of generations of music fans. Crowned Heads, a proud Nashville institution since 2011, now channels that same energy of shared experience, electricity, and unforgettable nights into a cigar created exclusively for in-store
events.

“Starwood was more than a venue, it was a rite of passage for so many people in Nashville,” commented Jon Huber, Crowned Heads President. “I vividly remember seeing Cheap Trick open for Stone Temple Pilots back in May of 1997 at the Starwood. The lawn, the lights, the roar of the audience, all created an indelible memory for anyone who saw a show there. With this cigar, we were inspired to create an exceptional smoke that is meant to be enjoyed in good company, the same way the best shows always were.”

The Starwood is a 5″ x 50 robusto, manufactured at Nicaragua American Cigars S.A. (NACSA), featuring an Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper, and binder and filler tobaccos from three different regions in Nicaragua (Esteli, Jalapa, and Ometepe), and will be available solely at select Crowned Heads events. Fans and retailers are encouraged to follow Crowned Heads on social media and through authorized retail partners for announcements where Starwood will make its appearance.

The post Crowned Heads Unveils Starwood New Event-Only Cigar appeared first on Smokin Tabacco.

This Uncut Pairing retails for $70 — or $100 for delivery. Only 150 of the Uncut Series Batch 10 have been made available to the public. It’s currently available online exclusively at Bourbon Outfitter.

Alec Bradley Thirty Years was released earlier this year, and it features a Honduran Trojes wrapper, Honduran Jamastran and Nicaraguan Jalapa binders, and fillers from Nicaragua and Honduras. The perfecto size is a 2026 retail exclusive. It was made to honor the brand’s 30-year anniversary (1996-2026). Thirty Years is a medium-to-full-bodied cigar with notes of leather, toast, pepper, and cinnamon.

Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond Single Barrel (7 years) is a 100-proof single-barrel bourbon, crafted under the standards of the 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Act. It produces aromas of vanilla, roasted peanuts, and brown sugar in addition to tasting notes of honeyed corn, charred oak, and a long, warming finish.

Alec Rubin, Brand Manager of Strategic Partnerships at Scandinavian Tobacco Group, said, “We’ve had a great relationship with the craftsmen at Heaven Hill for many years, and it only made sense to pair our Thirty Years anniversary cigar with a classic spirit like the Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond Single Barrel. I personally love the way this cigar and this bourbon complement each other, and I know our fans will appreciate this tenth edition of the Uncut Series.”

The post Alec Bradley Releases New Uncut Pairing Heaven Hill Distillery appeared first on Smokin Tabacco.

CIGAR.com, a longtime destination for premium cigar enthusiasts, will transition to CIGORA beginning September 29^th, bringing the CIGAR.com experience and community into the existing CIGORA website.

This transition unites two premier cigar destinations under CIGORA, creating an enhanced customer experience while preserving the product selection and community customers trusted over the years. Customer accounts and loyalty points will transfer seamlessly to CIGORA, and the cigars and accessories previously available through CIGAR.com will continue to be offered through CIGORA. Customers can expect the same dedicated team and commitment to service that have defined the experience to date.

“CIGAR.com has earned the trust of cigar enthusiasts for years, and we’re honored to carry that legacy forward through CIGORA,” said Matthew Pysher, Merchandising Manager for CIGORA. “While the name on the website may be changing, our commitment remains the same: helping customers discover great cigars, exceptional service, and a community built around a shared passion for the cigar lifestyle.”

At the heart of CIGORA is a commitment to connecting cigar enthusiasts with a curated selection of premium products, including exclusive offerings not found elsewhere. As CIGAR.com joins CIGORA, customers will continue to find the brands and products they have come to appreciate, while enjoying access to an even wider range of cigars, exclusives, and customer benefits.

“We’re excited to build on the customer experience with enhanced loyalty benefits, including new rewards opportunities, personalized offers, and exclusive perks that deliver even greater value through CIGORA.” said Pysher. “Our goal is simple: deliver a best-in-class cigar experience with the products, deals, rewards, and service that customers know and trust.” Beginning September 29^th, visitors to CIGAR.com will be redirected to CIGORA, where they can continue shopping using their transferred account. CIGAR.com customers will also receive information about the transition directly via email.

The post Cigar.com to Transition to Cigora.com on September 29th appeared first on Smokin Tabacco.

Created for smokers who appreciate a lighter profile without sacrificing flavor, JFR Clara delivers a character marked by subtle sweetness, balance and satisfying flavor. Its approachable profile makes it equally suited to anyone seeking a lighter smoke and those beginning their exploration of premium cigars. A delicate sweetness adds to the cigar’s inviting character, complementing its nuanced flavor without overpowering the experience.

• Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: AGANORSA
• Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua

JFR Clara will be offered in three traditional formats:

• Corona: 5 1/2 x 44
• Robusto: 5 x 50
• Toro: 6 x 50

“JFR Clara represents a different side of JFR,” said Fabien Ziegler, International Sales Manager of Aganorsa Leaf. “The goal was to create something elegant and approachable.”

The second release is the Supreme Leaf Worldwide, made entirely with Aganorsa-grown tobacco, will debut this September at InterTabac in Dortmund, Germany, before arriving in the United States next spring. The new cigar combines tobacco grown on the company’s farms in three of Nicaragua’s most important tobacco regions—Estelí, Condega and Jalapa—in the fillers and binders with a Habano cover leaf from Ecuador. Packed in boxes of ten, it will be offered in two sizes: a 5 7/8 x 52 Cañonazo and a 4 7/8 x 50 Robusto Clásico.

The release represents a different approach for the Supreme Leaf brand. The original Supreme Leaf is made exclusively for the U.S. market, while the Supreme Leaf International Edition is sold outside the United States. Supreme Leaf Worldwide is intended for both markets, giving Aganorsa Leaf a single expression of the brand that can
be enjoyed by smokers around the globe.

More importantly, the blend was created with a specific target in mind: virtually every aficionado. Rather than chasing extreme strength or trying to appeal to a narrowly defined cigar palate, Aganorsa Leaf developed Supreme Leaf Worldwide to be approachable from the first puff while offering the complexity expected from a premium, Nicaraguan cigar.\

“We wanted to find that sweet spot where a cigar can be approachable without being simple,” says Terence Reilly, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Aganorsa Leaf. “It should be satisfying for someone who is relatively new to premium cigars, but it should also have enough nuance and sophistication that an experienced smoker can really sit down with it and appreciate what the tobacco is doing.”

The post Aganorsa Leaf Adding New JFR Clara & Supreme Leaf Worldwide at InterTabac appeared first on Smokin Tabacco.

“The progression to building these systems is something we’ve been working on for two years. We built around how we wanted retailers to interact with us. They adopted it much faster than we expected, and that gave us the confidence to keep pushing the platform much further. Domain Distribution is the point where we can begin making that infrastructure available to the brands manufactured through Tabacalera Familia Disla.” Daniel Lance, Co-Founder, Domain Cigars

The second announcement is related because in addition to this, Domain announced the U.S. debut of Los Amigos Cigars, bringing a new international brand and its four-cigar Small Batch 2025 Collection Epiphany; The Sacred Blend, Legacy of the Leaf and Hedonism. Handcrafted in Nicaragua, the collection will be distributed through Domain Distribution, based in Kansas, to a deliberately limited network of US premium-cigar retailers.

Los Amigos was founded by three friends from three countries across two continents: Brazilian Habano Sommelier World Champion Walter Saes, Chilean cigar veteran Eduardo Lahsen and South African cigar entrepreneur Pedro Ramos, an importer, distributor and cigar-lounge owner. Together, they bring more than 65 years of combined cigar experience to a shared conviction: the search for the perfect cigar is not a destination, but an odyssey best experienced among friends.

“Los Amigos was never created to be just another cigar brand. It was born from friendship, from three cultures, and from thousands of hours spent asking how far flavor, craftsmanship and imagination could take us. The United States is a defining chapter in that journey, and we intend to build it carefully, one trusted retailer and one meaningful experience at a time.” – Pedro Ramos, Co-Founder of Los Amigos Cigars.

Domain does not own Los Amigos Cigars but it will be distributed by Domain Distribution.

The post Domain Cigars Launches Domain Distribution in U.S. appeared first on Smokin Tabacco.

The Creature blend from Tatuaje was added to the Monster Series when it appeared in the Monster Mash sampler back in 2021 and in another form in the Monster Smash sampler in 2024, and was seen at it’s full size of 6 7/8 x 52 this year as another Limited Release.  

• Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
• Wrapper: Nicaragua
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Size: 7 x 44
• MSRP: $54/coffin (Culebra and Lonsdale), $324/box of 6 coffins

Old Man and the C concept started in 2011 with an El Triunfador blend rolled as a Culebra and Lancero at 7 1/2 x 38 presented in a hinged coffin box.  It was later used for a Tatuaje Black Label version and again as a Fausto version, all at 7 1/2 x 38.  This version, Old Man and the C Monster, is a healthy 7 x 44 version.

This run is limited to 1,300 cabinet boxes worldwide, containing six coffins each. This is an allocated product and will be offered by the sales representatives to qualifying retailers, so not every store is guaranteed to get them.

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