Where’d you go?

You may be wondering why I took a break. Or, maybe you don’t care. Doesn’t matter, you’re getting the low-down anyway. I’ll do my best not to get political but at least some of that can’t be helped. The biggest reason I took a break was simply that I needed one.

I was firing on all cylinders writing for my personal sites, diving back into work, and doing some creative stuff on the side and it all became too much. A lot of my hobbies dwindled down, naturally, because I was investing more time elsewhere and cigars, or really the celebration of smoking cigars, grew less frequent. That’s not to say I haven’t been smoking cigars all this time — of course I have — but it became less of a primary focus.

The world is really fucking weird right now

The break was also spurred on because I decided to step away from social media as much as humanly possible. With the Epstein bullshit, the disenfranchised job market, tech bros ruining life through AI and big data, and the current administration wreaking total havoc on the world, it was long overdue. I also run a tech site called Techigar and spend time writing for various publications in that world. There’s so much noise about it these days.

I mean, I still ask myself constantly “what the actual fuck are we doing?” Pedophiles run the country. Greedy fucks scoop up all the extra. Jobs are disappearing at alarming rates, mostly because companies are increasing profits — and they still have record profits, by the way, so there’s no reason for it whatsover.

Plus, most people are just really fucking stupid about it all. Not in the sense that they don’t have the smarts to think or reason for themselves — although some don’t — but more in the sense that no one is willing to pause, look at where we are, and really dig into why this two-party, them-versus-me bullshit is just not working. The rich get richer and rob from the rest of us. The administration grows bolder every day, whittling away rights and stomping all over civil liberties and the world itself is honestly descending into absolute chaos and everything is super fucking weird.

So, I stepped away. I got tired of people talking about that nonsense on social media, and everyone is so damn blind to what is really happening, and it made it tough to focus on some of the things I love. Maybe you understand where I’m coming from, maybe you don’t, but that’s the best justification I got.

Back with a cleansed palate

At any rate, I’ve restocked my humidor. I’m doing it regularly, too. I’ve tried a bunch of new releases — most of them I didn’t like — and I’m ready to start talking about cigars and tobacco again. Without further ado, welcome back, probably mostly to me if there are any of you that have been out there all along. Let’s get cigar-thirty started, shall we?

The post Break time over, cigar-thirty is on appeared first on The BS Lounge.

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.

More importantly, just because a renowned cigar aficionado scores a particular blend high, it doesn’t mean you’re going to love it or agree that it’s one of the top cigars on the market. Every palate is different. Everyone likes or prefers something different. And that is the prevailing idea behind Cigar Sense, a unique company and service, designed to help you discover and match your unique tastes.

That’s also our Friday Brand Feature for this week. I was able to get in touch with the Cigar Sense team — very humble, by the way — and so this one might be a little longer than usual. If you haven’t already, pour yourself a cold beverage, light up a cigar with me, and let’s feel this thing out. Get it? Because of senses? Okay, my bad, moving on.

What can you tell us about Cigar Sense?

Source: Mohd Jon Ramlan / Unsplash

Co-founded by power couple Franca Comparetto and David Wells in 2014, Cigar Sense was created to deliver a “reliable and independent system that could predict which cigars [people] will like and even love.” It’s an online advisory for cigar lovers who want to find new smokes. Personally, I also think it’s just a really awesome idea.

That mission was inspired by Comparetto’s experience after moving to the United States from Italy. She was used to authentic Cuban cigars at that point and had challenges finding new world cigars she enjoyed. Disappointing smokes are a thing, and she wanted to mitigate that and help others.

Mainstream views are generic and not relevant to everyone. The team estimates that the average cigar is not recommendable to more than 60% of cigar lovers based on their preferences. Despite that, taste is one of the most important factors to U.S. smokers and beyond, yet we’re pushed to buy cigars to find out whether we like them, as a sort of paid trial-and-error. There aren’t many resources for comparing or finding cigars that match a particular sensory profile.

Cigar Sense exists to solve this problem. Comparetto explains it best:

“David and I founded Cigar Sense in 2014 with a simple but stubborn conviction: cigar enjoyment should be … an enjoyment, every time. I had been frustrated as a smoker by the way others pretended to know what was “good” for me based on their agenda. So we built a service that works in reverse: instead of telling people what to like, we 1. analyze their preferences, 2. suggest cigars they might like, 3. ask their feedback to make sure we got it right, 4. offer suggestions and resources to learn more about and refine their sensory profile (there’s often a gap between what people believe they like vs. what they actually like and would buy). Our members keep telling us that we are spot on in 98% of the cases. So, this remains the compass.”

A “spot on” recommendation record is nothing to scoff at. In fact, I don’t know about you, but I would love to have a cigar resource that was spot on with recommendations that often. The next question is, how the hell do they do it?

Understanding the personalized, independent, expert cigar recommendations

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

The way it works is fairly simple. You sign up for free and share your individual tastes. That connects you to a database of thousands of detailed cigar profiles. A state-of-the-art solution will analyze your preferences based on what you share, and curate a new selection. But it’s not AI. “Cigar Sense is proudly not AI-driven, and our members’ privacy is extremely important to us.“

That Comparetto makes it clear this isn’t just some part of the AI boom, well, that’s good news to me. But as you navigate your cigar journey, real-time recommendations are provided.

Cigar Sense doesn’t sell cigars, nor does it serve ads or marketing materials. So, you don’t have to worry about being recommended brands with the biggest marketing budgets. You’ll get accurate, expertly curated recommendations, even with some small boutique brands thrown in there.

On the site, I spotted analysis for Diesel, Lampert, Viaje, Caldwell, Avowed, RoMA Craft, and more. They’re not tiny brands, by any means, but they are certainly not big-budget varieties like Montecristo, Davidoff or Romeo y Julieta.

When asked how they ensure all brands are included, big or small, Comparetto said:

“Our primary goal is to help our members discover cigars they’ll love, regardless of how widely known the brand is. Therefore, in our system, every cigar, whether it’s from a large established company or from the most recent tiny venture, is subject to the exact same process. This means a Viaje or an Avowed go through the same evaluation method as a Padron or a Cohiba. There’s no favoritism and no pay-to-play. The beauty of this is that many lesser-known brands rise to the top of someone’s recommendations simply because the cigar’s characteristics match an individual’s profile better.”

Building a reliable sensory profile

Source: Houcine Ncib / Unsplash

Already, even without much context around how they choose recommendations, you can get a feel for how important it is for the Cigar Sense team to get things right.

It’s not just those at the helm deciding which cigars to include, but the community. The review process has an involved yet reliable series of inclusions. Each cigar is blind tested and sourced directly from the manufacturer. That experiential information, along with specs, helps create a data profile or “sensory profile.”

The system uses the data to build sensory profiles for each cigar blend, and these profiles help match and recommend cigars to interested parties.

“The sensory profile of a cigar consists of a large amount of detailed data, including aromas, tastes and tactile sensations. These are represented in polar charts, which display how every cigar is unique. In fact, we match each cigar not just by what descriptors we encounter, but also by how much intensity they present and by how the different notes coexist.  This is the result of our panel’s descriptive tests. The panel work, together with the technology, is a very important pillar in our methodology, as it determines the accuracy of our recommendations. We train based on ISO norms for sensory analysis and regularly measure the performance of the team. Each panelist has tools to self-improve their alignment with the rest of the team.“

After collecting relevant data, cigars that do not meet the internal quality threshold are not recommended. There is a bar for filtering out low-quality cigars, as expected. So, not everything is just thrown around or recommended willy-nilly — there are standards.

In addition, Comparetto elaborates:

“Our samples procurement is driven by our members’ requests and by our proactive search of what’s new. Whether these cigars will be recommended is determined by the outcome of our panel tests.“

Cool, but who is Cigar Sense for?

Source: Ionela Mat / Unsplash

Cigar Sense serves everyone. It’s “for every smoker, everywhere.” It doesn’t matter where you live, what you like most, or whether you’ve been smoking for years or just starting.

“While a significant portion of our member base is in the US due to market size, we have members and cigars from all over the world. We also have a Chinese version of our website.”

When asked specifically what everyone needs to know about the company, Comparetto says:

“Cigar Sense is here to empower your personal cigar journey. We believe that enjoying cigars is a deeply personal experience, and our mission is to remove the guesswork and help you discover cigars that perfectly match your unique taste preferences, without being swayed by hype, marketing, or general popularity. It’s about finding your perfect cigar for every situation.”

“In the process, we can help companies better meet the collective demand. High tides raise all ships.”

So, there’s a business side to it?

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Cigar Sense and the team also work with businesses, as well as ambassadors and other industry professionals. But Comparetto assures they “are not involved in the “pushing” of products.” In other words, they’re not interested in marketing or sales, just advisory roles.

“We had considered to partner with retailers in the “traditional” way in the past, but we decided not to sell cigars nor take commissions. Today we partner to license our recommender via API’s, which is also integrated with a POS system. We help not only retailers but also manufacturers. We recently integrated our engine with the Casa Carrillo website, which engages their visitors while personalizing their cigar selection process. We are always open to new ideas, as long as they don’t compromise our independence.”

It’s always commendable when teams have a vision, stick to it, and avoid compromising on their ideals. That’s especially true in a world so rife with corruption and compromise, like the cigar industry, where paid reviews, powerful influence, and sponsorships might affect scores.

“We also work with the industry, mainly helping manufacturers understand how their products align with consumer preferences. Our insights help product development and portfolio management in creating and prioritizing blends that resonate beyond marketing stories. We also provide sensory education to ambassadors and other professionals.”

Even so, the Cigar Sense team is dedicated to improving and providing reliable resources for everyone, you and me included, dear reader. The future of the company and its services very much aligns with the future of the cigar industry. Innovation and forward momentum are important, but not quite as important as the experiences we have with these beautiful, handcrafted products we all love.

“We keep researching to deepen the connection between sensory science, data and ethics. The future, for us, is still about putting the mindful cigar lover at the center of what we do. And we work with the ecosystem to create change. Over the years, we’ve realized that Cigar Sense isn’t just a service, it’s something closer to a movement. Every time someone trusts their own senses over the noise, they’re taking part in a quiet rebellion against hype, claiming the right to have their integrity respected, and with it, the right to a deeper pleasure the cigar is patiently waiting to offer.”

Where and how do you sign up?

Easy! All you have to do is head over to Cigar Sense and sign-up to get started. After that, you’ll be well on your way to a curated selection of delicious, one-of-a-kind tobacco experiences.

Of course, you can also find a host of additional resources at Cigar Sense. Virtual seminars with expert commentary, podcasts, articles and guides, analysis on various cigar blends, cigar tasting courses, virtual tasting groups, quizzes, you name it.

When I think about experiences and tools that align with the love of the leaf, a true resource for cigar enthusiasts everywhere, Cigar Sense sits at the top of my list. Expertly curated recommendations, personalized taste profiles, and the promise to discover new, untold riches, at least when it comes to tobacco, all sound phenomenal to me.

I know I already signed up. Have you?

The post Friday Brand Feature: Cigar Sense 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.

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.

We were showing up for Terence, really, and to support Aganorsa. We usually go to local events when they’re happening.

Unfortunately, they had none of what I mentioned in stock. In fact, they barely had half of Aganorsa’s SKUs, if that. No Rare Leaf Reserve Corojo, no Supreme Leaf, no Validacion series — just the Habano — no Cerberus or standard Guardian of the Farm. I can understand some of the new options, especially if they’re brand new and tough to find. But to have so much missing for a named event, that’s just unacceptable.

When big cigar retailers drop the ball

What they did have was very limited, and for an event running from 4 PM to 8 PM, frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they ran out completely towards the end.

Sure, that’s usually par for the course with those corporate and sterile-style lounges. The cashier wasn’t particularly friendly, either. But it’s not wrong to expect just a little more. At the very least, they should have a much wider variety of the brand’s offerings when they’re having an event for that brand.

I don’t intend for this to be a Karen-style post where I drone on about negativities and, likely unsuccessfully, shame the store to do better. It wasn’t Aganorsa’s fault. In this case, it was the retailer’s.

If you’re going to support a brand, like Aganorsa, then support the damn brand. Don’t have the man show up and try to sell a bunch of singles from a handful of boxes. They didn’t have much on their actual shelves, either. If you’ve ever been to CI for an event, they usually have a front table in the walk-in humidor plus what’s on the shelves normally.

The Aganorsa Fumas experience is a real treat

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Switching gears, Terence was back to put some cigar newbies and locals through the beloved Fumas experience. If you’ve never done one before, it’s a lot of fun. They take individually wrapped cigar leaves like Criollo or Corojo, and have you smoke them separately. Then, you smoke them together to see how they complement the finished blends. It gives you a much better idea of how each of the tobacco types influence the flavors and experience.

Of course, Terence talks the entire time, walking you through it with his splendid animations and descriptors. Bonus points if you recognize the term “gusher,” from his vocabulary.

To end it on a high note, that’s always fun, and it’s always worth showing up. And the best part is he provides the Fumas supplies. You can usually spot him at events walking around with stacks of skinny cigars — skinnier than usual, anyway. I love that because it means everyone who wants to can participate.

I sat it out this time (by choice) and enjoyed watching everyone discuss it. My hope is that many of you reading this get to try it at some point, too, if you haven’t already.

As we were leaving, Terence handed us the new Supreme Leaf. You could say he saved the day.

The post When big cigar retailers drop the ball appeared first on The BS Lounge.

Then again, maybe people don’t know how to find the smaller “boutique” brands out there in a sea of big names and hot, smoky promises. Allow me to introduce you to the previously mentioned Aria Exclusives. A Dominican-born cigar maker with handcrafted varieties from “la ciudad corazon.” The heart of the local trade.

This is one of those brands I simply cannot understand why it doesn’t have more fans, and more buzz. Okay, that’s a lie. Aria Exclusives can be tough to get your hands on depending on where you are. But still, they’re incredible cigars.

If you haven’t already, pour yourself a cool glass, light up a delicious stogie and let’s get this smokeshow on the road.

What can you tell us about Aria Exclusives?

Source: Aria Exclusives

A lot of cigar makers sprout like a bud from humble beginnings. But it’s difficult to see the big, successful companies of today as smaller, more craft-like operations. AJ Fernandez or E.P. Carrillo (Casa Carillo) for example, have really made a name for themselves, growing their operations to levels beyond what one might consider modest. That’s not the case with Aria Exclusives. It has humble beginnings, and while the brand has definitely made a name for itself among the community, it’s still very much in its inception stages.

Co-owners, Yoey and Gerard started the brand with the help of some friends after truly delving into the foundational elements of the trade. The journey actually began “with a project focused on creating hookah tobacco,” which is certainly intriguing. But the team says after “spending considerable time with cigar factories,” they changed gears and “discovered a passion for the cigar industry and the intricate art of cigar making.”

“Without hesitation, we embraced this newfound love and dedicated ourselves to our craft.”

I don’t know how you feel, dear reader, but I love the backstory. I too, fell in love with the craft and have found a new outlook after visiting cigar factories and seeing all the work that people put in behind the scenes. It’s a miracle these cigars make it to store shelves and into our hands.

Before writing, I caught up with the Aria team and asked some brief introductory questions. They responded in kind. That’s where all these quotes are coming from.

“At Aria Exclusives, we are a boutique cigar brand dedicated to crafting exceptional premium cigars at accessible prices. Our cigars are meticulously produced in our factory located in Tamboril, Santiago, Dominican Republic, using only the finest quality tobacco selected specifically for our unique blends.”

The finest quality ingredients, indeed. I know a lot of cigars are relaxing and offer what one might consider thought-provoking experiences, but Aria Exclusive cigars are standouts. I haven’t had every single blend, mind you, but the ones I have had are phenomenal.

They’re flavor bombs and if you take even just a precursory peek on social media, you’ll find many that agree.

What about the Aria Exclusive labels?

Source: Aria Exclusives

Many Aria Exclusive labels derive their names from their wrapper and tobacco blends. Like the Connecticut, Habano, or San Andres. Of course, they have more unique offerings, too, such as the Eternal Knot Rose — a balanced blend of Dominican, Pennsylvanian, Columbian and Ecuadorian tobaccos. The Rose will gingerly load your senses with flavors like earthy, cocoa, wood, citrus, and sweetness with a subtle spice undertone. The Eternal Knot Gold, on the other hand, will deliver leather, spices, earth, nuttiness, and a silky smoothness that pads the tongue like a soft pillow.

My favorites — out of what I’ve had — are the Aria Exclusives Corojo and the Habano.

“As a young company, we are backed by extensive experience and guided by a master blender who has collaborated with some of the most renowned cigar brands in the Dominican Republic. At Aria Exclusives, we consider ourselves a family, extending that same warmth and care to our customers.”

Master Blenders, as you hopefully know by now, help create the unique blends that make up the diverse, complex world of modern tobaccos and cigars. Almost every brand has one behind the scenes, and it’s exciting to see that Aria Exclusives has a renowned artist steering the sensory ship, mystery or not.

As for what’s in store, Aria is expanding with new lines, which will be available in due time:

“Currently, we offer our foundational line of cigars alongside a selection of limited releases, with plans underway for the second edition of our basic line, which will be launched once it’s ready.”

Where can you get Aria Exclusives cigars?

Boutique brands or small brands can be tough to get your hands on, especially outside local shops and areas. Luckily, Aria Exclusives has some options available. You can shop directly through the brand’s storefront — they offer merchandise, too.

There’s a Cigar Smoker Club page, as well. But they don’t have all the current blends available, so keep that in mind. I’ve never used them personally. The Aria Exclusives cigars I was able to try, I was sent by a friend.

I will say, if you have the opportunity to try some, take it. You will not be disappointed.

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

The latest release, the La Aurora Family Creed Series: Fuerte Sol, proves they understand the highs and lows of the cigar industry — from one extreme to another. I mean, you’d expect that to be the case with over a century in the industry, but stranger things have happened.

Just what the hell am I talking about? Pull up a chair, grab a drink or a snack, light one up and let’s get talking.

An established relationship

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

As you likely know, if you’re here, I have a history with La Aurora. I had the unique opportunity to visit the Dominican Republic and tour the facilities and tobacco fields. But even before that, I was familiar with the brand and have long supported Dominican tobacco, something that’s not common in the industry.

There are a lot of people that don’t like Dominican cigars or tobacco, for whatever reason. Either they think it’s too mild, especially when compared to Nicaraguan-sourced cigars, or they don’t like the flavor profile and quality of the cigars. For me, La Aurora has always been a standout and its most recent offerings are no exception. From the 107 to the delicious 120th anniversary, La Aurora’s cigars are a staple in my humidor.

I tend to smoke stronger cigars

But let’s not forget, I’m also a big fan of Aganorsa. I love Nicaraguan-grown tobaccos and I usually smoke stronger, full-bodied cigars. That’s a significant contrast to most Dominican cigars, even those from EP Carrillo (now Casa Carrillo). I might work some Dominican-sourced offerings in there, but they’re hardly the only types of cigars I smoke. And if I’m being real, I have to be in the mood for something mellower, I’d usually grab AJ, Aganorsa, or bolder, spicier blends out of my humidor.

The point I’m trying to make here is that I smoke a wide variety of cigars from various brands and regions, and I’m not just a one-trick pony. And although I have a storied history with the brand, I’m not above calling out some bullshit — from any brand. I’m talking about those marketing gimmicks where they promise something special or unique and it’s a Fugazi.

Let me be clear, La Aurora’s Fuerte Sol has none of that behind it. Intrinsically, it’s unique compared to the brand’s current portfolio, and takes things in an entirely new direction, legitimately.

Fuerte Sol tasting with Manuel Ynoa and the La Aurora team

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Alongside a few big names in the media camp, I sat down on a virtual call with some other enthusiasts, the La Aurora team and the brand’s master blender, Manual Ynoa — the man responsible for most of its cigar creations.

I had done this before with the launch of the 120th Anniversary, which is delicious, by the way. This time, we were tasting both the Fuerte Sol and the new E. Leon Jimenes 110 Anniversario dominican rum (about $100 for 750ml). The idea was to test out the pairings between the two and see how the flavor profiles and experience complement one another.

These virtual tastings with La Aurora are always a treat. It’s not just about pushing their new cigars or products, but they walk you through the development process, the brains behind the operation, and much more.

What happens during a virtual tasting?

You get a backstage view of everything going on at the company, and there’s a lot going on for sure. But also, it’s a chance for Ynoa and the rest of the team to interact with people who have an affinity for the brand and its cigars. We all get the unique opportunity to share our experiences, thoughts, and sort-of a mini review. The goal for La Aurora there is to collect valuable feedback for future iterations.

Guided, we lit up the Fuerte Sol and tried a pouring of the rum. We discussed the flavors, what’s in each product, what the initial goals were for the La Aurora team, and what they were trying to achieve with them, and then we had a candid round of questions and feedback.

What struck me the most was the experience of the Fuerte Sol. Don’t get me wrong, the rum is excellent. It’s a dark, sweet pairing that would go smoothly with almost anything cigar wise, but it particularly brings out the darker notes of the Fuerte Sol.

Why the La Aurora Family Creed Fuerte Sol is “different”

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

Even before you light it up, if you just peek at the description, you’ll know right away the brand has gone in a slightly different direction here. The Fuerte Sol wrapper is a delightfully brown Mexican San Andrés leaf, but the fillers are mixed with Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Pennsylvania tobaccos. This is not a Dominican puro, and it’s quite a bit stronger for it.

It’s bolder than La Aurora’s usual portfolio. Don’t get me wrong, the 120th is delicious, the 107 and Maduro variety tend to be medium to full-bodied, and the ADN and Hors D’age are also stand-outs. But the Fuerte Sol is a spicy, peppery delight.

It’s medium to full-bodied with flavors like dried fruit and raisins, lots of leather, baking spices, pepper, and even notes of rum or liqueur. Where before I might smoke a La Aurora cigar at the beginning of my session, the Fuerte Sol, I’d be happy to smoke in the middle or even at the end, depending on what I chose as my lineup.

It’s an excellent merger of Dominican DNA and Nicaraguan and mixed tobaccos that put the brand on par with some of its competitors, at least in the bolder space. It also fills a gap in the La Aurora portfolio for someone that likes their cigars stronger and more fulfilling.

On the call, it was also made clear that some of the La Aurora crew felt this might be too much of a bold move in a different direction — a big departure — and there was a question whether cigar audiences would like the change or not. Personally, I think they hit it out of the ballpark and I’m excited to see where this goes from here.

It took over 70 tries to find the right blend

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

This wasn’t an overnight success. Ynoa and the team shared that they tested and blew through over 70 different blends before settling on the one used in the Fuerte Sol. It’s a quick glimpse behind the curtain, so to speak, at what it takes to find an exceptional crafting. We often don’t see that from the consumer side. We just see a single cigar blend launched and we might take it for granted, heaping it with praise or otherwise. But usually, there’s a lot of work done to get to that point, including hundreds if not thousands of burned, tasted, and smoked cigar potentials.

While they have nothing concrete to announce yet, La Aurora did toy with the idea of releasing some of those other blends the team was fond of during testing. They also made it clear the Family Creed series will continue, so there will be more releases in that product line.

For now, I just think it’s inspiring this tiger is changing its stripes. I, for one, am excited to see the entire industry moving in new, semi-experimental directions. It’s great to see my guys — La Aurora — one of the brands leading that pack.

The La Aurora Family Creed Fuerte Sol is already out in Robusto (5 by 50) and Toro (5.8 by 54) sizes, although sold out currently at most retailers. They also have a Gran Toro (6 by 58) size releasing soon.

In Robusto size, the Fuerte Sol is about $310 for a box of 20, or $16, give or take for a single. Neptune Cigars has them for reasonable prices if you want to give them a try.

The post Over 120 years in, La Aurora is still innovating with Fuerte Sol: I’m here for it appeared first on The BS Lounge.

It damn sure is. And we all need an escape. A way to kick back and relax at the end of the day and let off some steam. While some people would rather go to sleep, rinse, repeat, and do it all over again. There are those of us who sacrifice some of our time for finer habits. Gaming. Movies. Food. Adult beverages. Cigars. Whatever it is that helps you unwind, here’s to that special vice.

This is my time: Solace in the smoke

Source: Anthony Torres / Unsplash

As for me, when I’m outside, enjoying my cigar of the evening, I’m not worried about anything else. It’s the best possible time for me to slow down and smell the roses figuratively. I love picking apart the notes and the flavors, trying to find what I’m tasting, but also find new experiences in the pairings I have chosen. Whether I’m alone, or with friends or family, it’s time to steal away from the rotten underpinnings of daily life. No one could bother me in those moments, no matter how rude, ornery, or outspoken they are. Because it’s just me and the cigar.

Many would have something to say about the stigmas of it all. Tobacco is bad for you. It causes cancer. It does this. Smells like that. I don’t ever force anyone to visit my space. If they’re there, they want to be there. It’s open air and I’m not stewing in smoke, tar, or ash. These days, cigarette smokers are allowed to smoke wherever, but cigar smokers are banned, which is asinine. Cigars smell better and cigarettes are worse for you.

That’s no matter, I stay in my solitary place and that’s where I relax.

Carcinogens are everywhere and in everything

Source: Briley Kenney / The BS Lounge

I would also argue that everything gives you cancer in this day and age. Hot dogs. Baked, roasted, and fried foods with a bit of a golden hue or deep brown. Ultraviolet rays and the sun. Cell phones possibly. Alcohol. Processed meats like bacon, salami, pepperoni, sausage. Preservatives and food additives (there are a lot). Engine exhaust and exhaust fumes. Pollution in the air we breathe. Being sedentary or overweight. Hot drinks (high temps may cause esophageal cancer). Shift work, especially during odd hours. Frequently flying. Nail salons and fake nail products. EVEN TAP WATER.

Everything is carcinogenic. If you spend your day avoiding everything that is, you’d never leave a small, sheeted room. Does that mean we should all actively do activities that cause health issues? No, that’s not what I’m saying, and that’s a straw man argument.

What I am saying is that it’s my choice. You need a vice or two to survive in this shitty, overstimulating world and this is mine. I find solace in the smoke, like a lot of my brothers and sisters of the leaf. This is where we relax. Where we unwind. Where we find the best of times, even in the worst of times.

Stay smoky y’all.

The post Finding solace in the smoke appeared first on The BS Lounge.