Master Sensei

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?

On this episode of Smoke Night LIVE, Master Sensei, Kid Producer Jordan, and Scotty Braband each reveal five cigars that every cigar hobbyist should always have in their humidor. That’s 15 total smokes the Cigar Dojo crew considers true Humidor Essentials. Tune in, join the conversation, and share your own must-have cigars as we kick off the first show of the new year.

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.

What makes a cigar lounge truly great? Is it the plush seating, a well-stocked humidor, a full bar with a skilled mixologist, or maybe the perfect location with a breathtaking view? On this episode, Sensei and Juan are joined by Fred Rewey of Cigar Press Magazine and William “Cigar Coop” Cooper to break it all down. The panel will share their likes and dislikes, and reveal their five favorite cigar lounges from around the world.

Panic has struck Dojo Studios—Jordan “The Kid Producer” has taken off to gallivant across the UK and Italy. So what happens to Smoke Night LIVE while he’s busy sipping cappuccinos on the Amalfi Coast? Master Sensei and Juan will do their best to stumble through the show with a little help from our amazing audience. Bring your best topics and questions, and join the fun.

It’s been a while since we’ve had an update from the Premium Cigar Association on the health and outlook of the cigar industry. On this episode, PCA CEO Josh Habursky joins the broadcast to share insights on the state of the industry and its ongoing efforts to remain free from government overreach.

Not every cigar brand operates its own factory—many rely on contracting with other producers. This week on Smoke Night LIVE, our special guest is Daniel Lance of Domain Cigars, a company that does things differently by running its own factory-Tabacalera Familia Disla S.A.. We’ll explore the pros and cons of owning a cigar factory, learn how Domain got its start, and hear what the future holds for the brand.

Smoke Night LIVE is back and we are on the road! The Dojo crew will be broadcasting live from a secret location in South Florida. Since we’re on the road, we’ll be diving into all the ins and outs of traveling with cigars. How do you get your cutters, lighters, and even butane through TSA? What cigars—and how many—should you pack for a trip? What are the best cigar destinations? We’ll tackle these questions and more on this episode!