• Now Live – Telford’s Pipe & Cigar Lounge & Humidor Tour

    Earlier this year, I had an opportunity to stop at Telford’s Pipe & Cigar in Mill Valley, California and meet Brian Telford, who started the business in 1970! The shop is a masterclass in the history of pipe tobacco and cigars in the United States for the last 100+ years.

    It was truly a special day to get a few minutes to chat with Brian and listen to the history of Telford’s as well as the challenges of owning a tobacco retailer in California given the states aggressive regulation, as well as local county ordinances and regulations. Nevertheless, the shop is truly one-of-a-kind and is a must-visit if you are in the San Francisco Bay Area.

    Telford’s stocks an impressive amount of inventory from in-house pipe tobacco blends to the largest names in the cigar industry. Fun fact: Telford’s was the first Davidoff appointed merchant in Northern California. Unfortunately, Telford’s does not have an e-commerce website, but if they have what you’re looking for, they can process your order over the phone and ship it directly to you.

    I can’t thank Brian Telford enough; thank you for your time and allowing me to share your business with the world.

  • ToG Announces Diamond Crown Experience: Private Cigar Dinner with Bobby Newman

    Tobacconist of Greenwich has announced another memorable cigar experience next month: Diamond Crown Experience. An exclusive event celebrating the legacy of Diamond Crown Cigars and offering guests the opportunity to enjoy the limited-edition (and discontinued) Diamond Crown 125th Anniversary cigar.

    The event is scheduled for Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at 7pm and to be hosted at Blackstones Steakhouse in Greenwich, Connecticut.

    Event highlights include:

    • A five-course dinner curated to enhance the cigar evening experience.
    • Exclusive cigar access to the discontinued and limited Diamond Crown 125th Anniversary cigar.
    • Premium open bar – enjoy top shelf spirits and fine. wine throughout the night.
    • Intimate setting – seating is limited to 40 guests
    • Hosted by Bobby Newman of J.C. Newman Cigar Company.

    Single tickets start at $425 per person.

  • Jack Schwartz Importer Now Selling Rojas Custom Blends

    Chicago’s famed tobacconist, Jack Schwartz Importer is now selling Rojas Custom Blends from cigar maker Noel Rojas. The Jack Schwartz team narrowed down five of their favorite blends and are happy to announce they are now available for sale and shipping immediately.

    Amount the blends available:

    Sumatra Toro
    Barber Pole Toro (Ecuadorian Connecticut/Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro Wrapper)
    Habano Shaggy Foot Toro
    Maduro Toro
    Maduro Gordo

    All cigars are made with Nicaraguan tobacco grown by Noel Rojas.

    Cigars come with no packaging or bands, making it a great value with most cigars in the $8 range, available as singles or in bundles of 30.

  • Tobacconist of Greenwich announces A Hammer & A Dream – An evening with Jorge Padron and Family

    Famed Tobacconist of Greenwich has announced a can’t miss event later this year, A Hammer & A Dream, a summer experience celebrating the life and legacy of Jose Orlando Padron, hosted by Jorge Padron and Family. The event is scheduled for June 11 7pm-10:30pm at Tamarack Country Club. Guests will witness the debut of and among the first to purchase a world-premiere box of exclusive Padron cigars, specifically crafted for ToG.

    Pricing starts at $750 for a single seat and full tables are also available. A Head of the Table seat grants you seating at Jorge Padron’s table along with an exclusive gift for $1500 with only 7 seats available for the VIP experience.

    The evening promises a night to remember that includes:

    Rare Padron Cigars
    Curated Cigar Event Box
    Open Top-Shelf Bar
    5-Course Dinner
    Live Music & Entertainment

    Rare Cigar Auction proceeds benefit The Padron Family Foundation.

    No tickets will be sold at the door – Mobile Ticket delivery only. QR Codes will be required for entry to the event.

    This is truly a once in a lifetime cigar event that can’t be missed. Cigar Unboxing hopes to bring you coverage of the event.

  • Now Live – Total Product Expo 2025 Las Vegas Show Coverage

    This year, I was invited to attend TPE 2025 – a B2B expo that specializes in the tobacco, smokeless tobacco, nicotine, nicotine alternative, cannabis industry. Given the focus of this trade show, I was surprised to see a robust Rolodex of cigar brands in attendance. Attendance was strong on day I attended and saw many notable cigar faces including Robert Fox (Fox Cigar), Tim Swanson (Cigars Daily), Charlie Minato (Halfwheel), Roger (Las Vegas Cigar Outlet), and many more.

    I only saw a handful of new products, including a new line from E.P. Carrillo named Endure which features Cameroon wrapper from the Meerapfel family. Ferio Tego introduced Metropolitan Petites with dimensions of 4 x 34 and arrive in a Connecticut and Maduro version.

    Lastly, La Aurora displayed a very unique (and limited) cigar, La Aurora Small Batch Lot No. 006 that features a rope of Mexican San Andres tobacco around the perfecto cigar. Production is limited to 137 boxes of 10 cigars with an estimated release date of February 2025.

    Exhibitors at TPE 2025 included: Aganorsa Leaf, Altadis USA, C.L.E. Cigar Company, Cavalier Genève, Crowned Heads, OZ Family Cigars, Davidoff of Geneva USA, Drew Estate, E.P. Carrillo, Espinosa Cigars, Ferio Tego, Fratello Cigars, General Cigar Co., J.C Newman Cigar Company, Jake Wyatt Cigar Co., Kristoff Cigars, La Aurora USA, Oliva Cigar Company, PDR Cigars, Plasencia, United Cigars

  • Now Available – Privada Cigar Club Coffee

    Privada Cigar Club is proud to announce the recent acquisition of a coffee roaster as an on-going effort to pair cigars with coffee for a full culinary experience. Currently, Ofelia and Brian are currently perfecting a roast that features SHB Guatemalan beans to pair with cigars.

    Early coffee roast batches have been medium roast, but a dark Maduro Coffee roast will be available in the future.

    In typical Privada fashion, customer engagement is at the forefront, and every Friday at 1pm EST, Brian and Ofeilia will live roast on Instagram and have the roast available for purchase in the Privada Shop.

    Fore more information, visit privadacigarclub.com

  • Now Available – Davidoff Exclusive Editions 2025

    Today, Davidoff of Geneva launches 16 Exclusive Editions across the globe created in close collaboration with top retail and distribution partners.

    For each blend, Davidoff’s Master Blenders selected the finest tobaccos from Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, and the United States. In order to honor each edition individually, the gran robusto cigars are presented in an elegant packaging enhanced with hot-foil elements and artwork reflecting the identity of each partner or location.

    Five Exclusive Editions will be available in limited quantities at select retailers in the United States starting today:

    Davidoff Exclusive ODAG 150 Years
    400 boxes exclusively available at Davidoff of Geneva since 1911 flagship stores and Zigarren Durr shops in Switzerland.

    Davidoff Exclusive Ambassador 25th Anniversary
    300 boxes exclusively available at the Ambassador Fine Cigars locations in Arizona, USA.

    Davidoff Exclusive Humidor of Westmont 20th Anniversary
    300 boxes exclusively available at Humidor of Westmont in Illinois, USA.

    Davidoff Exclusive Maxamar 25th Anniversary
    1000 boxes exclusively available at Maxamar in California, USA.

    Davidoff Exclusive Cigar Warehouse 50th Anniversary
    300 boxes exclusively available at Cigar Warehouse locations in California, USA.

    MSRP: $490/box of 10

  • Drew Estate Freestyle Live February 12

    Drew Estate has just announced their next Freestyle Live, set for February 12 at 7pm.

    Drew Estate promises a historic night that includes:

    • Premiere of their newest cigar mystery
    • Exclusive appearances of Jonathan Drew, Pedro, Willie Herrrera, and Izzy
    • Announcements from the international division and upcoming events
    • A surprise announcement that promises to shake the cigar industry

    You can typically view/livestream Freestyle Live on Drew Estate’s YouTube Channel and Facebook. Visit DrewEstate.com for more information.

  • Now Live: Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Double Robusto Cigar Unboxing

    For today’s unboxing, we have a blend I’ve been wanting to get more familiar with: Arturo Fuente Don Carlos. Named in honor of its legendary creator and Fuente family patriarch Don Carlos Fuente, Sr.

    In order to create this unique blend, Carlos Fuente, Sr. blended together rare, vintage tobaccos that were hand selected and aged as much as 10 years. Arturo Fuente Don Carlos cigars are rich and flavorful with flawless African Cameroon wrappers.

    Due to the select tobaccos required, these cigars are among the finest cigars rolled at Tabacalera A. Fuente in the Dominican Republic. Carlos ‘Carlito’ Fuente, Jr. strives for perfection in every cigar that bears his father’s name, which means always selecting flawless wrapper and color, rich in flavor and with superior construction as only his father would expect.

  • Michael Cafagno of The Tobacconist of Greenwich Sits Down with Eat Drink Smoke Podcast

    Michael Cafagno of The Tobacconist of Greenwich fame sits with Eat Drink Smoke Podcast to celebrate 50 years of his illustrious and famed cigar store. Listen how ToG formed relationships with the most legendary cigar manufacturers in the industry including Ashton, Davidoff, and Arturo Fuente and overcame all odds after his mentor and best friend passed away, leaving him the responsibility of ToG. Listen how Michael Cafagno continues to honor the timeless tradition of ToG while also adapting to a changing business landscape in an otherwise timeless industry. A must listen to all cigar connoisseurs.