Cigar Aficionado employs a meticulous blind taste-test mechanism. The tasting coordinator de-identifies the cigars and replaces their bands with white, numbered labels. Consequently, the tasting panel remains unbiased, judging the cigars solely on their merit, regardless of price, origin, or brand.
Top-Rated Cigars:
- Arturo Fuente Hemingway Work of Art (95 points, $10.60): A familiar name on our elite list, the Hemingway line showcases perfectly crafted shapes constructed with a fine Cameroon wrapper over Dominican leaves. Its unique shape offers a flawless burn and draw, revealing flavors of chocolate, almond, and vanilla.
- Blackened Cigars “M81” by Drew Estate Corona (95 points, $9.15): A triumphant collaboration between Metallica’s James Hetfield, distiller Rob Dietrich, and Nicaraguan producer Drew Estate. This compact cigar packs a punch with tastes of saffron, baking spices, and a semi-sweet chocolate finish.
- Ashton Virgin Sun Grown Illusion (94 points, $14.15): Debuting in 1999, the VSG line was a robust entrant. Today, this Lonsdale still stands tall, offering a palate of rich earthiness combined with savory roasted peanut notes.
- E.P. Carrillo Pledge Sojourn (93 points, $13.25): An evolution of the 2020 Cigar of the Year, it boasts a Connecticut Habano cover leaf, an Ecuadoran binder, and Nicaraguan filler. Its robust flavors of earth and pepper harmoniously blend with nuances of leather and coffee, a testament to Ernesto Perez-Carrillo’s expertise.
- Padrón Family Reserve No. 44 Maduro (93 points, $34.85): Initially an exclusive, the Family Reserve line has expanded. Comprising of tobaccos aged for a decade, the No. 44 presents luxurious tastes of chocolate and espresso complemented by hints of oak and cedar.
- Tatuaje Miami Havana Cazadores (93 points, $12): Cigars produced in the U.S. are rare, but Pete Johnson of Tatuaje aims to preserve this tradition. Crafted in Miami’s El Rey de Los Habanos factory, it offers a stimulating blend of earth, black pepper, and coffee with undertones of chocolate and nutmeg.
171. Catelli Cigars Owners: Building a Brand & Lounge from Scratch | The Cigar Guys Podcast – The Cigar Guys Podcast
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheCigarGuysOur Podcast Microphones: https://www.maono.com/tcg (Maono PD200W)In this episode of The Cigar Guys Podcast, Alex and Jared sit down with Michael and Kathy, the owners of Catelli Cigars and Catelli Cigar Lounge, for a cigar show focused on building a brand, creating a community, and growing within the premium cigar industry.We’re also joined by Shiah Goldberg, who has previously worked with the Catelli Cigar group, adding even more insight into the brand’s development and behind-the-scenes journey.This episode dives into how Catelli Cigars came to life — from launching a cigar lounge to developing their own cigar brand — and what it takes to balance both sides of the business in today’s market.In This Episode:• The origin story of Catelli Cigars• Building and operating Catelli Cigar Lounge• The challenges and rewards of running a cigar business• Insights from Shiah Goldberg on working with the Catelli team• Community, culture, and the future of the brandThis is a real, ground-level cigar show conversation about entrepreneurship, relationships, and growing something from the ground up in the cigar world.👉 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more cigar conversations with brand owners, lounge operators, and industry insiders.🎙 The Cigar Guys PodcastHosts: Alex Gonzalez, Mark Nikollaj, Zachary Nikollaj, and Jared Burrows📲 Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: @thecigarguys🔥 Special thanks to Michael, Kathy, and Shiah.—————————————-Sponsored by Sans Pareil Cigars: https://sanspareilcigar.com/Tip Jar: https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=G8A8MU7Y3V9W8Text or Call us: https://app.minnect.com/expert/TheCigarGuysCigar providers, accessories, and more content:https://thecigarguys.com/socialsOur Cigar Brand: https://1102cigars.comCigar Guys Merch: https://cigarguys.shopOur Cigar Book: https://amazon.com/Cigar-Guys-Ultimate-Guide-Smoking/dp/B0C7DXRCCRCollaboration/Sponsorship Inquiries: info@thecigarguys.comMain Website: https://thecigarguys.com
- 171. Catelli Cigars Owners: Building a Brand & Lounge from Scratch | The Cigar Guys Podcast
- 170. PCA 2026 Preview: Sans Pareil CEO & VP on What’s Coming | The Cigar Guys Podcast
- 169. Can We Guess These Whiskeys? Blind Barrels Challenge | The Cigar Guys Podcast
- 168. What to Expect at PCA 2026 – William Marante Joins Us | The Cigar Guys Podcast
- 167. Joe Perkins on Sans Pareil Cigars & His Career Journey | The Cigar Guys Podcast
