But this next brand doesn’t really fit that description. It’s a distinctly European brand, named Lampert Cigars, and while they do have some availability here in the U.S., mostly up north, you can’t really find them, except for online. They’re definitely not in Florida.

Nevertheless, that’s our Friday Brand Feature for this week, so grab a cold beverage, light up a stogie and let’s smoke this thing out. Shall we?

What can you tell us about Lampert Cigars?

Kenney is a pretty big name in the annals of history. Okay, maybe we haven’t done anything remarkable, but we do have a family crest and coat of arms with European roots. That’s what I’m getting at. Really, I’m trying to relate my name to the Lampart name, because the first mentions of it stretch all the way back to the year 1418. You could say the Lamperts have some history and some spark.

According to them, the Lampert family had three distinct lines. “The first line of the LAMPERT family stayed in Liechtenstein, the second line of the family moved to Austria and the third line of the family emigrated to the United States of America.”

But the cigar brand Lampert Cigars was established by Dr. Stefan Lampert in 2017, an attorney by trade. Apparently, the idea to create a self-named cigar brand came to Stefan while he was visiting Thailand. That idea merged with another to deliver custom-made bespoke products — like custom and tailored suits — only in the world of cigars. Thus, Lampert Cigars was officially born, with its first run named My Cigar Lab, which was later renamed to the Oro Line.

Lampert cigars were well-received by connoisseurs and aficionados “everywhere,” which pushed Stefan to take the concept even further. Stefan eventually expanded his influence to other regions, teaming up with cigar makers in Central America, including Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

What about the Lampert cigar labels?

On Lampert’s site, you can clearly see that the cigars are separated into three lines: Lampert 1675, with lines made in Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and Lampert 1593 with a single line made in the Dominican Republic. The latter features a single Oscura, Costa Rica has the Ocean Breeze, Oro Line, and Oro Line Small Batch, while Nicaragua produces the Azul, Rojo and Morado. Even without looking at the wrappers the names are fairly close to general descriptions of the blend used.

Morado, for instance, is a medium to full-bodied maduro with a Mexican Negro San Andres wrapper. Lampert describes it as brimming with roasted espresso, dark cocoa, wood, spices and sweetness throughout. Honestly, my mouth is watering just imagining that one.

Ocean Breeze adheres to the Costa Rican philosophy of Pura Vida, sharing joy and happiness with the community. It has an Ecuadorian H. Criollo wrapper with an undisclosed binder and fillers. But the brand says you’ll get flavors of cocoa, nuts like almonds, earth, and leather. Sounds like another banger.

In addition to cigars, the company also sells merchandise and accessories.

Where can you get Lampert cigars?

While most of the top locations to find Lampert brand labels are in Europe, there are some here in the States and in Canada. New York and Massachusetts are top spots here in the US, while Nova Scotia and Ontario have some spots in Canada.

You can always check out the where to buy page on the brand’s official site. I have not had the pleasure or opportunity to try Lampert cigars yet. But from what I’ve heard from others, and read in online discourse, I will jump at the chance when it comes.

You can also find Lampert cigars available through select online retailers.

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

We already explored Moniup and Upallant in a head-to-head previously. This go-round we’re focusing solely on Upallant. An accessible, varied seller of cigar gear including lighters, cutters, and beyond. You’ll find most of the brand’s stuff on Amazon.

If you haven’t already, grab yourself a cold, delicious beverage, light up a stogie with me and let’s explore.

What can you tell us about Upallant?

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

You might have heard of this brand before, or come across reviews from the cigar community. Upallant seems to have made a big push to get these lighters into the hands of people that would love using them, and that has been largely successful.

As far as the brand, it’s a non-descript seller on Amazon and other marketplaces, offering premium-quality lighters at more accessible prices. Companies like ST. Dupont slap unique finishes, designs and sometimes rare gems on lighters and charge upwards of $10,000. Upallant went a different direction. They offer unique finishes and designs, but also multi-functional features. For example, a lot of Upallant lighters include a built-in cigar holder. Usually, they also incorporate a tool or two.

If you’re not opposed to a wood grain finish, gold accents, mesh, honeycomb designs or carbon fiber styles, you’ll feel right at home with Upallant’s gear. I own the five-in-one torch lighter, have been using it for quite a while, and love to carry it with me out of the house.

I have also interacted with the Upallant team on social media several times. Not that it makes a difference, but they seem like great people.

What about the Upallant cigar accessories?

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

A majority of Upallant’s offerings are firey. In other words, they’re torch lighters with single, dual or multi flame options. You’ll also find additional accessories like a travel humidor, bundles with stands and draw enhancers, and a few outliers. This particular torch lighter from the brand is electric and can be charged via USB-C — it uses butane, too.

You get the point, unique and varied. But also, incredibly useful. Take this gold and black stylish four-in-one torch lighter. It produces a single, reliable jet flame. But it also has a built-in cigar punch, a cigar holder, and an integrated draw enhancer — cigar needle.

The lighter I own has five functions and I love bringing it with me to events, lounges, and when I visit friends or family. Not only does it incorporate tools, so I don’t have to bring other cutters and such, but it’s a fantastic stand-in for when I do forget essentials. The stylish finish always seems to be a good conversation starter, and that’s before anyone spots me using the built-in tools. More importantly, I’ve had to use that built in draw enhancer more than I care to admit down here in Florida, so it’s become a staple of my collection. I still haven’t gotten around to grabbing a Cigar Dagger. I know, I know, shame on me.

But still, the Upallant lighter has been super useful and they’re always priced phenomenally. I got mine for under $30, and yes, I paid for mine, I wasn’t sent mine for free. That didn’t stop the friendly team from trying.

Where can I find Upallant gear online?

At the risk of rewarding our corporate overlords, Amazon is the best place to go to find Upallant gear. I only own the five-in-one currently, and I don’t like to go around recommending gear I haven’t tried. However, judging by my experience, and many of the reviews I’ve come across online, you’re in good hands with Upallant.

The support team is responsive, and as I’ve said, in my dealings, they’ve always been friendly. There’s not much more you could ask for on that front.

The post Friday Brand Feature: Upallant appeared first on The BS Lounge.