But that brings us to our spotlight topic for today and the focus of the Friday Brand Feature: Kafie 1901, its excellent lineup of cigars, and, as always, where you can pick them up to try. If you haven’t yet, light up a stogie with me, pour an ice-cold beverage and let’s dance.

What about the Kafie 1901 cigars lineup?

Starting with its Luxury Core Line and sweeping out to Stiltsville, Liga de La Casa, and Naked Cigars, there are quite a few choices under the Kafie 1901 belt. The Luxury Core Line, for example, has an eponymous variety with Maduro, Connecticut, San Andres, Sumatra, and Natural wrappers. The Kafie 1901 San Andres from the Core Luxury Line is actually made by my guys La Aurora in the Dominican Republic. Dr. Kafie and Manuel Ynoa — La Aurora’s master blender — worked together to create the Serie L Natural, as well.

The Stiltsville line features 5-to-6-year-aged tobacco that was resting in 32-year-old white oak Anejo rum barrels. It comes in a single blend, with a triple-fermented Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper, but two primary sizes, robusto and toro. Crafted and inspired by the iconic spirit of Miami, it’s smooth, complex, and bold in character. The sweet tip gives way to more toasty flavors. The unique aging process elevates those flavors more.

For sweet cigar lovers, the Liga de La Casa line features Maduro, Connecticut, and Natural finished cigars. Meanwhile, the Naked series comes in the same three wrapper blends: Connecticut, Natural, and Maduro. But there are no sweet tips on these bad boys.

It’s family-owned. Iconic. And while most cigars are handcrafted, there’s a small, yet impressive boutique feel. Even more so when you consider Dr. Gaby Kafie is a retired physician. One who is now dedicated to providing formative and encapsulating tobacco and coffee experiences. Speaking of coffee.

Kafie 1901 also makes delicious coffee beans

If you’re looking for premium, artisan coffees from various wordly regions, Kafie 1901 has that covered too. With blends taking inspiration from Honduras, Columbia, Brazil, Sumatra and Ethiopia, you can find your perfect blend of roast, dark or otherwise, brimming with natural flavors.

Imagine pairing Kafie 1901 coffee and cigars for the ultimate experience? That’s pretty much the idea behind the brand’s venture. As Dr. Kafie says, “When purpose meets passion, the result is excellence.”

What else can you tell us about Kafie 1901 cigars?

Founded in 2013 as a family-owned business and by a retired physician after the brand was so named, Kafie 1901 began crafting iconic tobacco-laden premium cigars to commemorate the life of Dr. Gaby Kafie’s father, Don Fernando Kafie. You can read more about the Kafie family on the brand’s site. They’ve undergone incredible socio-cultural transformation and growth, from the early 1900s on. Realistically, that’s true since the family has been around, which is even before that. Each member is described as being “eccentric, talented, motivated, hard working, visionary, and humble.”

“We are comprised of Empresarios (business men/women), Doctors, Lawyers, Architects, Engineers, Artists, Song Writers, Poets, and much more. Some of our cousins here in the United States proudly serve in different branches of the military.“

That very much describes Dr. Gaby Kafie’s own trajectory, from physician, helping others thrive and survive, to today’s cigar founder and connoisseur.

The original blend was the Kafie 1901 Don Fernando (DF) Maduro. From there, it launched the Kafie 1901 Connecticut in 2014, Sumatra in 2015, San Andres in 2016, and the rest is history.

When discussing innovative and inspiring stories, Dr. Gaby Kafie’s surfaces top of mind. After moving all cigar production to the La Aurora Factory in 2021, while still managing to delight customers for many years prior, it’s clear the dedication to the craft and love of the leaf is a priority.

Where can you buy Kafie 1901 cigars to try some?

While based out of Miami, Florida, and available across the state at many small shops and retailers, luckily, Kafie 1901 cigars are easy to find at many other places as well. For example, Best Cigar Prices, Smoke Inn, and Neptune Cigars all carry Kafie 1901 varieties.

Per usual, depending on where you live, they may be a little more difficult to find, especially out west. But I’m sure if you live in those areas you already know some ways to get your hands on boutique or less-accessible brand cigars by now. You can always reach out to me, too. I live in Florida, so. Bangarang.

The post Friday Brand Feature: Kafie 1901 Cigars appeared first on The BS Lounge.

Today’s Friday Brand Feature focuses on RoMa Craft, a boutique cigar brand that offers incredible blends with remarkable nuance, exceptional experiences, and mind-blowing variety. From the CroMagnon to the Neanderthal, and the Baka to the Whiskey Rebellion 1794, it’s clear these guys have at least some idea of what they’re doing.

If you have a minute or two, pour yourself a drink, light up your choice of stogie and let’s explore the foothills of RoMa Craft country, shall we?

What can you tell us about RoMa Craft Tobac?

According to the team, RoMa Craft, as a brand, honors the philosophy of “combining quality tobacco” with “experienced craftsman” and “the right amount of time.” Combine these things and you’ll end up with “great cigars.” No compromises. Hard work. Perseverance. Eyes on the prize. At least some of that must be true, because if you’ve ever had a RoMa Craft cigar, they are incredible.

They offer a variety of blends with origins all over the place, including Nicaraguan, Brazilian, Ecuadorian and other tobaccos. But perhaps most surprising, if you’ve never heard of the brand, is that they blend offerings for everyone. Every style of smoker. If you like your cigars lighter but flavorful, you’ll find a home at RoMa Craft. Prefer your cigars bold and strong? Yep, there’s room for you here, too.

If you’re a whiskey, bourbon, or hard liquor drinker, you’ll also be pleased to know that RoMa Craft’s lineup always tends to pair well with adult beverages. Where other cigars might have trouble standing out with the bold, sweet, and spicy notes of rye or corn malt, RoMa Craft does not falter.

What about the RoMa Craft cigars?

The first thing you’ll notice about RoMA Craft cigars is that the bands are simple, almost understated. There’s never anything flashy here. You’re not buying these sticks for the style or presentation, and that’s not a bad thing. It almost doesn’t match the out-there names like La Maestranza, CroMagnon PA Broadleaf, Intemperance EC XVIII, and others. Why? The names are bold the names exude brilliance, and certainly stand out in a sea of cigar clones. But again, those labels.

And then you light one up. You clip off the top of that CroMagnon PA Broadleaf with its oily and delicious Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper glistening in the sun. You put torch to foot and pull some smoke into your mouth, letting it roll over your tongue before pushing it out of your nostrils. Chocolate, bold, creamy cedar and wood, pepper, and lots of more specific flavors will assault your senses. It’s at that moment you realize why RoMa Craft is, well, RoMa godamn Craft.

It’s an example of a boutique brand doing something unique while all the big names are stagnant. I’ve heard some espouse that New World cigars always have to be bigger and better and they’re always chasing some new “thing” to wow audiences. Maybe. But there’s nothing wrong with a unique experience, especially when it stands out as well as it does with RoMa Craft cigars.

RoMa Craft Baka has a Cameroon wrapper, mysterious fillers and binder, with Nicaraguan origins, but you’ll also get some scrumptious flavors from the blend. Roasted nuts, toast or bread, sweet cream, vanilla, subtle floral notes and more. Then, there’s the RoMa Craft Volstead 1920 with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers and Mexican binder. You’ll get rich flavors of black pepper, cinnamon, cedar, leather, and beyond.

Trust me when I say words do these blends no justice.

Where can you get RoMa Craft?

RoMA Craft definitely has a boutique or craft-brand presence. The website is somewhat lacking in information. The social media accounts are not as active as you might expect. But the good news, the best news, is that you can find its cigars almost anywhere online. You may or may not be able to find them at your local cigar place.

Starting with the obvious, JR Cigars has a great selection, as does Cigars.com. You can also find them at Neptune, Atlantic, Small Batch Cigar, Famous Smoke Shop, and Cigars International. Personally, I recommend any other place besides CI for a few reasons, but whatever works.

If you can get your hands on anything in the RoMa Craft lineup, I’m fairly certain you’ll come away impressed. I’ve had a few myself, and the brand has yet to let me down.

The post Friday Brand Feature: RoMa Craft Tobac appeared first on The BS Lounge.