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Okay, let’s not kid ourselves. Nat Sherman cigars and cigarettes are a about as American as you can get, steeped in tradition, premium ingredients, and lore that makes them sought after by tobacco enthusiasts “in the know” from one corner of the world to the next. A uniquely American smoke, the Nat Sherman line of premium cigars and cigarettes has its roots in Depression era New York, where colorful and charismatic founder Nat Sherman ran a speakeasy – a club that illegally sold liquor at the height of the Prohibition. Around 1930, he became half-owner of Traub Brothers and Bear,...

Alec Bradley got started in 1996 at the tail end of the cigar boom, but it’s only been since 2000 that cigar connoisseurs worldwide have recognized the great talent of this manufacturer at crafting excellent mild, medium, and strong cigars.  A couple of years ago Alec Bradley released the “New York” cigar—a homage to one of the biggest, boldest, most exciting and unique cities in the world.  The cigar was released in five formats, Six Two (Robusto), Empire (Toro), Liberty (Churchill), Gotham (Torpedo) and Declaration (Gran Toro). I had a chance to try the Empire format of the New York...

Alec Bradley is not a newcomer in the premium cigar scene; this brand got its start toward the end of the cigar boom in 1996.  Alan Rubin, the company’s founder, named the company for his children, and stunned the world a few years ago with the release of the lauded Tempus series of cigars.  Since then Alec Bradley cigars have become more and more popular, one of them even being recognized as Top Cigar of the Year (the Prensado) by Cigar Aficionado.  The Prensado is a strong smoke, but that’s hardly the only thing which Alec Bradley excels at. The...

Liga Privada Undercrown Robusto has more the taste of an “everyday” cigar than anything else – not something you would break out for a truly special occasion, but a decent smoke nonetheless. That seems a bit strange, though, when you consider it is fairly expensive at nearly $7 a pop. Heavy and firmly packed, it has a ring gauge of 54 and a length of about five inches. A creation of the near mythical Drew Estate, the story goes this cigar was first made by employees for their own enjoyment when they were not allowed to smoke the hugely popular...

  When you think of the Hoyo de Monterrey brand, what comes to mind? Amazing flavor and aroma? A semi-slow burn that leaves you satisfied but wanting more? Or maybe old-world craftsmanship and the finest blend of tobacco and wrapper that Central America has to offer? Perhaps it is the history and tradition that makes Hoyo de Monterrey a preferred cigar around the globe since the 1800s. The Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur 1066 Dark Knight is a mid-priced cigar as well known for its rich and creamy taste as it is for one of its best known celebrity fans –...