Juan Cancel

What’s the protocol for acquiring Protocol? (Yeah… we went there.) In a move that surprised much of the cigar world, Smoke Inn and Abe Dababneh has acquired the Protocol brand from Juan and Kevin—and he joins us as a special guest to talk about it.On this episode of Smoke Night LIVE, we go straight to the source as Abe breaks down the deal, what it means for the future of Protocol, whether Juan remains involved, and what fans can expect next from the brand.

Juan Cancel flies solo this week on Smoke Night LIVE for a special episode inspired by his article Top 5 Boutique Cigar Brands to Watch in 2026. Live guests include Fermin Perez, Nick Fusco, Brandon Oveson, and Daniel Lance, plus a bonus appearance from Dave West of Avowed Cigar Co. We’ll talk boutique cigar branding, media, storytelling, survival, and the future of the category.

Rafael Nodal joins the show to talk about what’s happening across the Altadis USA portfolio, including Aging Room, Romeo y Julieta, H. Upmann, Montecristo, and more. Along the way, Rafael will help us build the ultimate cigar menu—pairing the perfect cigar for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and even a late-night snack. Grab a cigar and tune in for this special episode.

One of the most talked-about collaborations in Cigar Dojo history returns in a bold new form. The original ReviveR made waves in 2018, followed by a re-release in 2021—and now the story continues. Terence Reilly of Aganorsa Leaf joins Smoke Night LIVE to break down the brand-new ReviveR Maduro, which debuts earlier that same day. We’ll cover the blend, the backstory, the differences from past releases, and what makes this limited edition release unique. If you were part of the ReviveR journey before, or you’re looking to get in on this next chapter, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

It’s hard to believe it’s been more than a decade since Nick Melillo launched Foundation Cigars with El Güegüense (“The Wise Man”), a cigar that helped establish the brand’s identity from day one. Since then, Nick—also known as the “Chief of the Broadleaf” and “Nick R. Agua”—has continued building a portfolio that includes standout releases like Olmec and the 10 Year Anniversario, both earning strong placements on our year-end lists.While Nick has appeared on Smoke Night LIVE in the past, it’s been a few years since his last visit. This episode gives the Dojo crew a chance to reconnect, talk about the evolution of Foundation Cigars, and find out what’s next for one of the most respected voices in the industry.

What started as a simple question from Master Sensei—“What should we call this show?”—has grown into one of the cigar world’s longest-running and most beloved live broadcasts. Now, Smoke Night LIVE reaches an incredible milestone: Episode 500.Over the years, the show has welcomed a true who’s who of the premium cigar industry, and for this special celebration many of those familiar faces return with surprise cameo appearances, stories, and memories to honor the journey. Join the Dojo crew as they look back at the moments, laughs, and cigars that helped shape five hundred unforgettable episodes of Smoke Night LIVE.This is more than just another episode—it’s a celebration of the community that made it all possible.X:https://x.com/cigardojoInstagram:https://instagram.com/cigardojoJoin the Dojoverse:https://dojoverse.comShop the merch:https://cigardojo.com/shopSmoke Night Live is part of the Cigar Dojo network.

When Steve Saka shows up, something big is usually about to be said. On this episode of Smoke Night LIVE, the Dojo crew is joined by Steve Saka of Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust for a wide-ranging and candid conversation. Steve stops by to share major updates on the upcoming 10th Jubilee, developments within the Archive Series Todos Las Días, and what listeners can expect from a full-scale revamp of the StillWell Star line. As always, the discussion goes beyond announcements, diving into the thinking, challenges, and philosophy behind the decisions—making this one of those episodes cigar fans won’t want to miss.X:https://x.com/cigardojoInstagram:https://instagram.com/cigardojoJoin the Dojoverse:https://dojoverse.comShop the merch:https://cigardojo.com/shopSmoke Night Live is part of the Cigar Dojo network.

Get ready for a special side-project episode as Patina y Viso steps into the spotlight—the cigar world’s equivalent of Audioslave to Soundgarden & Rage Against the Machine, bringing together the forces of Patina Cigars and Viso Horny in one unexpected supergroup. This week, Mo Maali and Tyler Jeffery join the Dojo crew for a jam-packed (and slightly unhinged) show. We’ll get the full scoop on their latest project, Leprechaun Dust, take a victory lap through Patina’s huge year on the year-end lists, and dive into what’s next for the brand.X:https://x.com/cigardojoInstagram:https://instagram.com/cigardojoJoin the Dojoverse:https://dojoverse.comShop the merch:https://cigardojo.com/shopSmoke Night Live is part of the Cigar Dojo network.

“Ladies and gentlemen… welcome to ROYAL RUMBLE III!”The bell rings, the lists are locked in, and only ONE Cigar of the Year list can stand tall. In our annual year-end showdown, some of the biggest voices in cigar media collide in a no-holds-barred battle for supremacy. This year’s combatants enter the ring: Cigar Coop, Halfwheel, Developing Palates, and Bob the Cigar Guy. Each list throws its best punches, each pick faces the crowd’s judgment, and only one will emerge victorious. The audience decides the winner in this 10 round heavy weight match. The trash talk will be loud. The takes will be hot. And the chaos will be glorious. Don’t miss the most unhinged, high-energy show of the year—ROYAL RUMBLE III is about to go off the top rope.

On this episode of Smoke Night Live, it’s awards night. Throw on the tuxedo and join us as we roll out the red carpet for our annual Cigar of the Year Awards Show. After a full year of smoking, reviewing, blind testing, and heated debate, the Top 20 Cigars of 2025 have officially been announced—and we’re breaking it all down.

What makes a great fast-food burger? Is it the beef, the bun, the nostalgia—or just how it hits at the drive-thru?This week, the Dojo crew is joined by Michael Herklots of Ferio Tego, Nick Libretti from JR Cigars, and William “Cigar Coop” Cooper for a no-holds-barred burger debate. Together, the panel builds an S-Tier ranking of fast-food burger chains, breaking down which joints deliver consistently—and which ones belong at the bottom of the list.Expect strong opinions, heated arguments, and plenty of hot takes as we crown the best (and worst) burgers in the fast-food universe.Hungry yet?

It’s the day after Christmas, and Terence Reilly of Aganorsa Leaf joins Master Sensei and the Dojo crew as we recover from the holiday chaos by building the ultimate S-Tier holiday rankings, stacking every holiday from best to worst. We’ll also announce the winner of this week’s Flex for Christmas giveaway, featuring a 10-cigar Aganorsa Leaf sampler and an Aganorsa Axe.

It's a Christmas episode with Reinier Lorenzo of HVC Cigars.

Special guest Robert Caldwell from Caldwell Cigars.

This week on Smoke Night LIVE, Fred Rewey of Cigar Press Magazine and William “Cigar Coop” Cooper join the Dojo crew as we send our wish lists straight to the North Pole. We’ll share what cigars and goodies we’re hoping to unwrap on Christmas morning—and reveal who made the naughty list and who managed to stay on the nice list. So pour some eggnog, spark up a cigar, toss another log on the fire, and settle in for this festive holiday episode.

On this special Saturday night edition of Smoke Night LIVE, we attempt to recover from our massive Thanksgiving feasts. And while your turkey might have been dry, your cigars are staying perfectly humidified thanks to Cigar Oasis. Our guest this week is Dan Barranco, here to help us dial in the relative humidity of our cigars—and maybe help us digest Aunt Thelma’s infamous green bean casserole. So loosen the belt, drop an Alka-Seltzer, light up a cigar, and join the fun for this rare Saturday night episode of Smoke Night LIVE.

One of our favorite recurring segments is back on the menu. Klaas Kelner of Kelner Cigars joins Sensei, Juan, and the crew for another edition of “Klaas is in Session.” We’ll be taking notes as we get schooled by this young industry talent on technical “cigar nerd” topics. We also discuss the new Kelner LE 80, a cigar honoring his father Hendrik “Henke” Kelner’s 80th birthday that is coming straight out of Klaas’s own Kelner Cigars factory in the DR. Grab a pen and paper because class is officially in session!

On this episode, we challenge our panel to decide whether they’d buy or not buy a lineup of interesting cigar-related accessories and products. Tim Swanson from Cigars Daily joins Sensei, Juan, Jordan, and the crew for a fun journey through the wild world of cigar gear as we determine which items deserve our hard-earned dollars.

One of the most popular episodes of Smoke Night LIVE is back! Every cigar only gets one chance to make a first impression, and on this episode, we’ll be “speed-dating” a lineup of new—or new-ish—cigars that we haven’t tried yet, rating them live on the show. John “Cigar Surgeon” McTavish and William “Cigar-Coop” Cooper join Sensei, Juan, and the crew as we give our unfiltered first impressions and decide which sticks are worth your attention.

It took 485 episodes, but it finally happened—Master Sensei and Juan Cancel have landed their ultimate dream guest: Tyler Jeffery of Viso Horny Cigars. Tyler is a true giant in the tobacco world, crafting his renowned brand out of RoMa Craft’s Nica Sueño factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. Have we built him up too much? Tune in to this historic episode and decide for yourself.