Podium Sessions Podcast

A couple of the most common questions we get on our instagram are related to international shipping and product development. When it comes to the former, the answer is straightforward, but for the latter, answers can be just as diverse as the results that can be achieved. In this episode we discuss a little bit of everything; from MAC's recent backpacking trip that claimed the life of two would-have been amazing cigars to the process of how a blend is actually selected for going into market.

We can't deny (or at least MAC can't deny) that the best thing to do as you await the reveal of the current year's top 10 cigars of the year is to reminisce about winners past. We scoured the internet from list to list, from cigar journal to blind man's puff, we chose to judge the judgement of the cigars we love for your enjoyment.

In a friendly discussion, Alex and MAC go back to the cigars of yesteryear that have been forgotten despite being great, on-demand, and highly coveted. This came about as MAC himself went back to Blood Diamond, a movie he believes to have been a forgotten great, and of course, brought the question into the cigar world. If you're interested in trying the first Tiger, predecessor to the cigar both hosts are enjoying in this episode, check out https://cigaryard.com/product/el-mysterious-tiger-2/

Ahhh, Christmas, a time for joy, peace, friendship, and for us, great cigars. Alex and Mac sit down to share a Christmas smoke and go over the special occasion in good fun.

What started as a conversation about palate saturation eventually evolved into a full-blown scientific discussion about how tasting notes come to be, and how to fully experience cigar smoking as it should be. Alex and Mac take the topic for a spin and reach common ground from different places.

Both MAC and Alex have been on the inside of the premium cigar industry and have seen both sides of the coin. In this episode some of the myths and legends that move the industry are traced down to their roots as well as contrasted with what actually matters for premium cigars.

One of the questions we see most often in the snobosphere is "how do I best cut my cigar" or something along those lines. We truly believe that the best way to cut your cigar is the one that is most convenient or enjoyable to you without destroying the cigar itself. Just cut the head off and leave the body intact, like a king.

Alex and Mac chose three cigars each to hand out to 3 friends. First, an open-minded/palate enthusiastic beginner who's ready to try the really "good stuff" but probably doesn't know much about what it is or how to find it. There's also the filthy casual, he's that friend who thinks he know a lot about the cigars he lights up and is the perfect example of someone on the early end of the Dunning-Kruger effect. Finally, our hardcore aficionado is probably most of you guys, this friend lives and breathes cigar culture and loves every little detail behind the creation and enjoyment of hand-made premium cigars. Enjoy!

That's right, folks! This is the one where we light up some cubans rolled 30 and 20 years ago and bring you along for the ride. This pair of smokes goes all the way back to the 90s and were originally stored in Daniel Nuñez' personal humidor... interesting story, but how was the smoke? Sit back, relax, grab your cigar of choice and enjoy!

After visiting Tabacalera La Isla and grabbing some secret smokes on a hot day, we cooled down with a couple of cold brewskies. As usual, we encourage you to grab your favorite stick and puff away with us for Episode 3.