I never really expected cigars to become a hobby of mine. It started by chance through friends. Living in Florida, my friends Paul, Jim, and I would get together in the driveway on Friday nights, light up a cigar, and spend hours talking, laughing, and sharing stories. Somewhere along the way those simple nights turned into a genuine appreciation for cigars and the culture that surrounds them.
Around that time I bought my first humidor. Nothing fancy—just a starter box while I was figuring things out. And if you’re new to cigars, there’s a lot to figure out. From the many shapes and sizes—robustos, toros, Churchills, torpedos, figurados—to the different wrapper styles and flavor profiles. Lighter wrappers like Connecticut tend to be milder, while darker wrappers such as Maduro develop deeper, richer flavors due to a longer fermentation process that brings out natural sugars in the leaf.
Personally, I gravitate toward Maduro cigars. They’re dark, often oily in appearance, and tend to deliver bold flavors like espresso, cocoa, earth, and spice.
Of course, cigars aren’t just about the tobacco itself. There are also the tools and rituals. The way you cut the cigar—whether a straight cut, punch, or V-cut—can slightly change the draw and smoking experience. Some shapes, like figurados, work best with specific cuts, while traditional straight cigars give you more options.
A proper humidor is one of the most important investments a cigar smoker can make. Most quality humidors are lined with Spanish cedar, which helps regulate humidity and protect the cigars while adding subtle aroma. My main humidor is a handmade Cuban Crafters piece that holds around 75 cigars, finished with multiple coats of lacquer that give it a deep shine. It seals perfectly and has served me well—though if I’m being honest, I’m probably due for another one soon as the collection keeps growing. As far as my Cuban stock that I'm aging, my gasket sealed container is working exceptionally well with about 11 boxes and 80 gram packs of Boveda 65's. It steadily holds at 65% humidity and 70-71F.
In this section of the site, you’ll find my personal cigar journal—some of my favorite sticks, notes from smokes I’ve enjoyed, and a few discoveries along the way. I'm currently continuing to build quite an inventory of young Habanos to age over the next few years, based on the current market and referencing LCDH retail pricing, my Cuban inventory is sitting around 22k-25k and I'm looking to continue to grow it.
This journal is simply my personal exploration of cigars. Hopefully you’ll discover a few new sticks worth adding to your own humidor along the way.