Italy’s restrictive smoking laws make finding a public cigar lounge nearly impossible. But for the cigar smoker visiting Florence, there is good news: the Cigar Room at Villa Cora.
Interview with the Plasencia Brothers
The Plasencia brothers Gustavo, Nestor Junior and José Luis in an interview with Cigar Journal.
Oscar Valladares: The Cigar Industry’s New Rising Star
It takes an extraordinary character to achieve extraordinary things. We sat down with Oscar Valladares, who with an eye for detail, creativity and persistence has made it to the very top in no time at all.
Viking Cigars: Spreading the Viking Spirit
Viking Cigars represents the nordic spirit. Embodied in three cigars. It’s about swords and schoolyard fights, an just a hint of Cuba. Arnt Ånensen and Hawk Aanonsen want to offer cigars for “real” men.
Cava de Magallanes: Madrid’s Famed Tobacco Shop Remodeled
There’s a fresh wind blowing in the legendary Cava de Magallanes. The tobacco shop was Madrid’s first store that had an extra room for cigars. José Martínez Franco, owner since 1968, is passing on the torch.
The Cigar World’s Road Warriors: Crisscrossing the Globe
Cigar events are great fun. But when you go home, content with your night out, spare a thought for that roving cigar man or woman. While you’re catching up on your beauty sleep, he or she is probably heading to their next gig.
Meeting Industry Icon Jochy Blanco
It’s not a stretch to say that what Sir George Martin was to the Beatles, Jochy Blanco has been to a whole host of boutique cigar makers.
Cigar Hotspots in St. Petersburg
The city of czars was Russia’s capital for many years. St.Petersburg is world famous for its museums, including the Hermitage. It’s also a place where those in the know enjoy their cigars in beautiful settings.
Collectibles: Cuban Replica Antique Humidors
The market for collecting Cuban cigars is downright extensive. These, however, aren’t the kind of humidors that can be found in the house of every cigar lover. Replica Antique Humidors are based on historical models and very rare.
Wrappers: More Than Just a Shell
Few topics in cigar lore attract a greater disparity of views than the effect that wrappers have on the taste of a cigar.
Binder Tobacco’s Role in Premium Hand-Rolled Cigars
Ernst Gocaj speaks in an interview with Cigar Journal about the important role of the binder in the cigar production.
Joya de Nicaragua: 50 Years of Nicaraguan Excellence
Alejandro Martínez Cuenca has been the owner of the cigar factory Joya de Nicaragua since 1994. It is one of the oldest and most important cigar manufacturers in the world. JdN celebrates a significant milestone with an anniversary cigar.


