We’ve tried a lot of beverages with our cigars over the years. Coffee, whiskey, beer, root beer, even the occasional energy drink. But we’d never experienced anything quite like Abbina Craft Sipping Soda until Charlie Albanetti joined us on the podcast alongside our good friend Big Rob from LA Cigar Collective. Charlie didn’t set out […]
Budget Cigars: Affordable Smokes Take Center Stage in Cigar Aficionado’s Rankings – Smoke and Steel Ep 026
We just wrapped Episode 026 of Smoke and Steel, and honestly, this might be one of our most exciting episodes yet. Why? Because for the first time in years, budget cigars are actually getting the recognition they deserve from Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 List. No joke, the list this year looks completely different from what […]
Celebrating 70 Years: A Birthday Cigar Celebration – Smoke and Steel Episode 025
We just wrapped Episode 25 of the Smoke and Steel podcast, and honestly, this one hit different. It wasn’t just another Tuesday night in the garage talking cigars. This was a full-blown cigar birthday celebration for our Godfather of Cigars, Jim, who turned 70 years young. The energy was electric from the moment we fired […]
Mo Maali from Patina Cigars: The Real Story Behind a Boutique Brand That Actually Gives a Damn
Getting Mo Maali from Patina Cigars on the show was huge for us. Twenty-something episodes in, and we’re sitting down with one of the guys we actually wanted to talk to from day one. No bullshit, no corporate speak, just real conversation about what it takes to survive in the cigar industry when you’re not […]
What Makes Great Cigar Lounge Hospitality? Smoke and Steel Episode 024
Welcome Back to the Garage We’re back for another episode of Smoke and Steel, and this time we’re diving deep into something every cigar enthusiast cares about: what makes a cigar lounge truly great. Spoiler alert, it’s not just about having a killer humidor. Tonight’s lineup? Eric’s smoking a Plasencia Alma Fuerte Salomon. Jim’s got […]
Smokies Cigar Lounge Lancaster Ave: A Hidden Gem in Reading, PA | Eddie on the Streets
When Eddie travels for work, he’s always on the lookout for solid cigar shops worth sharing with the Smoke and Steel community. On January 9th, Eddie, Eric, and Walt decided to do a local edition of Eddie on the Streets and stopped at Smokies Cigar Lounge on Lancaster Avenue in Reading, PA. What they found […]
What to Look for in a Cigar Lounge: A Real Discussion About Lounges, Pairings, and Everything In Between
We’re back with another episode of Smoke and Steel, and this time we let our listeners drive the conversation. Instead of our usual format, we opened things up for questions from our Facebook community and the responses didn’t disappoint. From drink pairings to getting cigar smell out of your clothes, we covered it all in […]
Cigar Page Bethlehem: Breaking Down the World’s Largest Cigar Store Announcement – Smoke and Steel Episode 022
The cigar world is buzzing, and for good reason. In episode 22 of the Smoke and Steel podcast, the crew dives deep into one of the biggest announcements to hit the industry this year. Cigar Page is building what will be the world’s largest cigar store right here in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Walt, Eric, Jim, and […]
The Best Travel Humidor Options for Cigar Enthusiasts: Episode 021 Breakdown
Welcome back to another episode of Smoke and Steel! This week’s episode was a bit different. We decided on a Thursday night to hit record and just hang out. No planned topics, no structured segments. Just four guys smoking cigars and talking about what matters most to us: the gear, the shops, the deals, and […]
Cigar Industry Tariffs: What 100% Nicaragua Taxes Mean for Your Humidor
Episode 20 of Smoke and Steel hit different this week. We gathered in the garage like always, but the conversation bounced from potential industry chaos with Nicaragua tariffs to weird wrapper curling issues to why kids won’t walk up to your door anymore on Halloween. Just another Tuesday night in Gilbertsville. The Nicaragua Tariff Situation […]