Juan Cancel

This week on Smoke Night LIVE, we welcome Vance Taylor of Stoic Cigars, one of the rising names in the boutique cigar industry. We’ll dive into the story behind Stoic Cigars, explore the company’s philosophy and mission, and discuss what it’s like working alongside Klaas Kelner at his factory in the Dominican Republic. Join us as we get an inside look at this emerging brand and what the future holds for Stoic Cigars.

After a two-year hiatus, the Cigar Brand Fantasy Draft is back! Master Sensei goes head-to-head with Juan Cancel, Scott Braband, and Fred Rewey as they battle to build the ultimate dream team of cigar brands. With bragging rights on the line, every pick matters, and a few strategic trades could shake things up before the dust settles. Who will walk away with the strongest lineup? That’s where YOU come in! The audience gets the final say, voting to determine who drafted the best team of cigar brands. Let the draft begin!

There’s a right way and a wrong way to light a cigar. There’s a right way and a wrong way to cook a steak. But what about everything else? This week on Smoke Night LIVE, Tim Swanson from Cigars Daily joins the show as we settle what’s right and what’s wrong across a wide range of topics. But that’s not all. We also have details on a major announcement that’s set to blow the roof off this episode. You won’t want to miss this one.

If you could open your own cigar shop and stock the humidor any way you wanted, what would make the cut? The Humidor Challenge returns for round three on Smoke Night LIVE! This time, Randy Griggs, Robby Rasmussen, and John “Cigar Surgeon” McTavish go head-to-head to build their ultimate cigar shop humidor from the ground up. With limited space and plenty of tough decisions, each contestant must decide which brands deserve a spot, which cigars are essential, and where they’re willing to take a chance. Do they load up on proven crowd-pleasers? Make room for boutique favorites? Chase value? Or build a humidor around their own personal tastes? When the dust settles, you—the audience—will decide who created the best cigar shop humidor and crown the Humidor Challenge 3 champion.

This week on Smoke Night LIVE, we welcome Tim Ozgener of Ozgener Family Cigars for a conversation about one of the more interesting family histories in the premium cigar industry. From his father Cano Ozgener founding CAO in the late 1960s, to Tim helping transform CAO into one of the industry’s most recognizable brands, and ultimately returning to tobacco with Ozgener Family Cigars, there’s a lot of ground to cover. We’ll look back at the early days of CAO, the cigar boom, the sale of the company, Tim’s years away from the industry, and what brought him back. Join us Friday night as we light up with Tim Ozgener and explore the people, stories, and cigars behind the Ozgener family legacy.

What if I told you cigars might actually be good for your health? That’s the question we’re tackling on this week’s Smoke Night LIVE with special guest Matt Blackburn. Matt has spent the past 16 years researching and experimenting with approaches to human health and nutrition, exploring everything from diets and detoxification protocols to supplements and natural health practices. Along the way, he developed an approach centered on mitigation rather than avoidance, and that includes his belief that regular cigar smoking can have a place within a healthy lifestyle.

On this episode of Smoke Night LIVE, we announce the newest inductees into the Cigar Dojo Hall of Fame! Over the years, we have recognized Dojo members who have gone above and beyond to help make our cigar community what it is today. From their contributions and dedication to the friendships they’ve built along the way, these members have played an important role in shaping the Dojo. It’s been a few years since our last induction ceremony, so it’s high time we added some new names to the Hall of Fame. Join us as we celebrate the members who have made a lasting impact on the community, share a few stories, and reveal this year’s inductees. We’ll also announce our industry inductees, recognizing individuals within the cigar industry who have supported Cigar Dojo and helped us along the way. It’s a night of recognition, memories, and a little awards-show flair as we honor the people who have helped make the Dojo what it is.

This week on Smoke Night LIVE, we’re joined by Kendrick Woolstenhulme and Brandon Oveson, founders of Apostate Cigars. Since launching the brand, Apostate has made a name for itself with distinctive releases such as Death Mask, The Deseret, Feathered Serpent, The Sword of Laban, and more. We’ll talk with Kendrick and Brandon about the origins of Apostate Cigars, what it takes to build a new cigar brand from the ground up, and the ideas and influences behind their growing portfolio. We’ll also dive into the company’s recent association with James Brown and Oveja Negra Brands and what that relationship means for Apostate moving forward.

For the past several months, the Dojo crew has been working behind the scenes on a fun new platform built for cigar fanatics around the world. On this episode of Smoke Night LIVE, we officially soft-launch Cigar Ranker! We’ll walk you through the site, explain how it works, highlight its features, and share the vision behind the project. We’ll also be joined by a few special guests to discuss Cigar Ranker and what it could bring to cigar nerds everywhere. If you love ranking, rating, debating, and discovering cigars, you’ll want to check this one out.

What if you owned your own cigar shop… and every inch of humidor space was yours to control? The Humidor Challenge returns on this episode of Smoke Night LIVE! William “Cigar Coop” Cooper, Johnny “Smokes Uncut” Remer, and Rob Blumenthal of Tradecraft Cigars each take on the challenge of building their ultimate cigar shop humidor from scratch. Every selection matters as they fight for the perfect mix of brands, crowd favorites, hidden gems, and must-have staples. Expect strong opinions, strategic decisions, and plenty of spirited debate as each contestant makes the case for their dream humidor. When it’s all over, the power shifts to you—the viewing audience will vote to decide who built the best humidor and crown the Humidor Challenge 2 champion.

Davidoff Brand Ambassador Alex Weghorn joins Smoke Night LIVE to talk about the journey that led him to representing one of the most recognizable brands in premium cigars. Then we’ll put his expertise to the test with a series of real-world scenarios, challenging him to choose the perfect Davidoff cigar for each occasion. Grab a cigar, pour yourself a drink, and join us for another fun episode of Smoke Night LIVE.

What is your favorite cigar size and shape? On this episode of Smoke Night LIVE, Steve Saka joins the Dojo crew as they rank the most popular cigar vitolas using the S-Tier system. From Robustos and Toros to Corona Gordas—and don’t even get Steve started on Lanceros—the panel debates the strengths and weaknesses of each format to determine which vitolas deserve the top spot. Grab your favorite cigar and join the conversation as the crew crowns the kings of cigar sizes.

This week on Smoke Night LIVE, we welcome Christian Eiroa of CLE Cigar Co., one of the most influential voices in Honduran tobacco and a cigar maker whose family legacy stretches back more than a century. From his years helping shape Camacho to building CLE, Eiroa, and Asylum into distinct brands of their own, Christian has remained one of the industry’s most outspoken champions of authentic Corojo and old-school craftsmanship.

This week on Smoke Night LIVE, we welcome Fouad Kashouty, the founder of Hiram & Solomon Cigars. What began as a fundraising idea within the Freemason community has grown into an internationally distributed cigar brand with a focus on fellowship, tradition, and charitable giving. We’ll talk with Fouad about the origins of Hiram & Solomon, the company’s journey over the past decade, and what the future holds for the brand. Join us live and bring your questions for one of the more unique voices in the premium cigar industry.

Aaron Paoletta of LaVega Cigar Company joins Smoke Night LIVE to discuss the growth of his cigar brand and the unconventional journey that led him into the premium cigar industry. Before launching LaVega, Aaron spent years working as a chef, cooking for restaurants and high-profile clients, while also pursuing a passion for music that included starting a record label and performing in several bands. On this episode, we’ll dive into the story behind LaVega Cigars, explore Aaron’s diverse career path, and uncover some of the truths—and myths—of the restaurant business. For example, if an expensive steak hits the floor, does it really get tossed out, or is there a secret chefs don’t want customers to know? Tune in as Aaron shares stories from the kitchen, the music scene, and the cigar world.

For more than 20 years, Kristoff Cigars has been a respected name in the premium cigar industry. This week on Smoke Night LIVE, Glen Case makes his first-ever appearance on the show to discuss the journey that has shaped the company since its founding in 2004—the successes, the challenges, and the lessons learned along the way. We’ll dive into what the future holds for Kristoff Cigars, explore the realities of running a cigar company in today’s market, and get an inside look at the life of a premium cigar brand CEO. Don’t miss this candid conversation with one of the industry’s most enduring and recognizable figures.

Fresh off the release of the highly anticipated Psychedelic Rabbit, Erik Espinosa joins the show to discuss the latest collaboration between Espinosa Premium Cigars and Cigar Dojo. Earlier in the day, cigar fans will have their first chance to get their hands on the new release at JR Cigar, and Erik will share the story behind the project, the inspiration for the blend, and what makes this installment in the Psychedelic Series unique.

It’s a special father-and-son edition of Smoke Night LIVE as both Nick Perdomo and Nicholas Perdomo III join the show. Following a huge 2025 for Perdomo Cigars—including earning Cigar Dojo’s Cigar of the Year honors and topping several major industry lists with the Perdomo Legacy—the company is back with a new release: the Perdomo Legacy Father & Son. The cigar is a collaboration between company president Nick Perdomo and fourth-generation cigar maker Nicholas Perdomo III, blending tradition with the next generation of the family business. On this episode, we’ll discuss the new project, the evolution of the Perdomo brand, and the launch of their recently debuted podcast.

It’s Juan’s birthday, and we’re throwing a celebration! This episode marks Juan’s 53rd trip around the sun, and he’ll be in-studio for a fun conversation about life, birthdays, and of course—cigars. We’ll also be giving away 53 cigars to one lucky winner, along with our weekly Boutique of the Week giveaway. Join us for the laughs, the stories, and a birthday party Dojo-style!

Now that the dust has settled from the PCA trade show and the year’s biggest cigar releases are on the table, it’s time for the most anticipated episode of the year—Cigar Brand Stock Market. This annual fan-favorite brings together an all-star panel featuring William “Cigar Coop” Cooper, John “Cigar Surgeon” McTavish, and Bear Duplisea, joining Master Sensei, Juan, and the Dojo crew. Together, they break down 20 of the most talked-about cigar companies coming out of PCA and give their expert verdict: Buy, Hold, or Sell. Who’s trending up? Who’s losing momentum? And which brands are primed for a breakout year? If you follow the premium cigar industry—or just want to sound like you do—this is the episode you don’t want to miss.