Juan Cancel

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.

This week on Smoke Night LIVE, we welcome cigar industry icon Rocky Patel for a conversation about his journey from Hollywood entertainment attorney to one of the most recognized names in premium cigars. After discovering cigars in Los Angeles during the cigar boom of the early 1990s, Rocky left his law career behind and founded what would become Rocky Patel Premium Cigars in 1995. Join us as we talk with Rocky about building a global cigar brand, the evolution of his company, and what continues to drive his passion for premium cigars more than 30 years later. From the early days of Indian Tabac to the worldwide success of Rocky Patel Premium Cigars, this is a conversation cigar fans won’t want to miss.

The annual Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show has come and gone, and the industry’s newest releases have officially been unveiled. With these cigars now making their way to retailer shelves, the big question is: which ones are worth your time? On this episode, the Dojo crew lights up and rates a wide range of the latest releases—live on the show. Tune in to find out which cigars deliver and which ones fall short.

It’s the final episode before the Premium Cigar Association Trade Show in New Orleans, and cigar companies have been flooding inboxes with press releases announcing their latest releases. William “Cigar Coop” Cooper and John “The Cigar Surgeon” McTavish join Sensei, Jordan, and Juan to break down which of these new cigars or accessories actually move the needle—and which ones fall flat. Tune in to find out what’s worth getting excited about and what might be headed soon to a brick-and-mortar near you.

What if you owned your own cigar shop… and every inch of humidor space was yours to control? That’s the challenge in this wild episode of Smoke Night LIVE. Industry veteran Jeff Brown joins Master Sensei, Juan, and the Dojo crew to build the ultimate cigar shop humidor—deciding which brands earn prime real estate and which get left behind. Expect bold takes, tough calls, and plenty of debate as the crew crafts their dream lineup.

The Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival has long been one of the most anticipated events in the cigar world—but this year, things are changing in a big way. From shifts in location to adjustments in timing, there’s been a lot of speculation about what’s really going on. On this episode of Smoke Night LIVE, Tom Bliss, director of the Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival, joins us in-studio to break it all down. We get into the reasons behind the changes, what it means for attendees, and what the future of RMCF looks like. If you’ve been hearing the chatter, this is the episode that sets the record straight.

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.