Ernesto Padilla is among the top ten blenders in the cigar business. He is known for producing such incredible cigars as Padilla Series 68, Padilla 1932, and Padilla Habano, in addition to a host of others. Due to his impeccable blending abilities and his love for the art, Ernesto Padilla has produced multiple 90+ rated blends, all of which have been well met by fellow enthusiasts. Each cigar is hand crafted under Ernesto's supervision and created to his exacting standards, guaranteeing perfect construction and flavor with every cigar produced, which is why Padilla is now a household name as these cigars are enjoyed by even the most elite aficionados.

Padilla Miami is among Enersto's finest blends ever created. Using all Cuban-seed tobaccos from Nicaragua, the blend is very similar to the most popular Cuban cigars.Upon its debut in 2005, it received a 92 rating from Cigar Aficionado magazine, one of the highest ratings awarded that year. Each cigar is constructed immaculately with a triple cap, and then aged to ensure a well-rounded aroma and enticing flavor. Finished with a spicy, Corojo wrapper, Padilla Miami maintains a full-bodied and robust taste, while creating a smooth character with nuances of cedar that blend well with its spicy characteristics to create a long and enjoyable finish.

12/29/08: Join Alex as he is subjected to a blind taste test. Hey, its a tough job but someone's got to do it! [Listen Now]

Don Pepin Garcia is arguably making some of the best cigars on the market. His secret family recipe for blending and fermentation has been handed down from generation to generation since his family’s beginnings in Cuba. Today, Pepin is using this time-honored process to make cigars, which many aficionados consider to be incredibly reminiscent of the best Cuban cigars currently available. Don Pepin Garcia Serie JJ is a perfect example of Don Pepin’s phenomenal blending abilities. As one of the most premier cigar makers, Don Pepin credits his Serie JJ line as the finest of all of his blends.

Don Pepin Garcia Serie JJ is a top shelf blend made at Pepin’s El Rey de los Habanos factory in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami. Each Series JJ is rolled using only the top tobacco leaves available, under Pepin’s strict supervision. The blend is full-bodied and full-flavored with a spicy aroma that is well balanced, offering notes of leather mixed with hints of earth. Don Pepin Garcia Serie JJ is perfect after a full lunch or a hearty dinner.

Belicoso (5.7" x 52) Great burn and offered a perfect draw. Many competing nuances of earth and pepper were noticeable throughout. Slight hint of sugar existed in the finish. 90/100 [Buy Now]

Selectos (5" x 50) Robust flavors were present from the start but the cigar seemed a bit mellow for the blend. Burned slightly uneven but it corrected itself quickly. Noticed more earthy sensations over pepper. 89/100 [Buy Now]

Salomon (7.2" x 57) A complex blend that became incredibly robust after 2 inches. Strong and hearty with many spicy undertones and emitted a ton of smoke. 88/100 [Buy Now]

Sublime (6" x 54) Offered a variety of complexities from start to finish and changed in flavor throughout. The draw was easy and the cigar burned cool. Smoke emitted a cedar-like aroma with a peaty characteristic. The finish was strong and really robust. 88/100 [Buy Now]

CuAvana Intenso - A departure from the mild blends that currently make up the CuAvana line; Intenso is an excellently blended, full-bodied powerhouse comparable to Oliva Serie V and Joya de Nicaragua.

Drew Estate Tabak Especial - Yet another great cigar produced by the makers of the Acid brand. Well balanced, perfectly blended and infused to perfection, this blend is a must try for all fans of Drew Estate.

Perdomo Patriarch - Created to honor Nicholas Perdomo Sr., Perdomo Patriarch combines the best long leaf tobaccos from the top three growing regions in Nicaragua with superb craftsmanship; allowing for a special, unique medium to full-bodied experience only Perdomo can offer.

La Vieja Habana - The Early Years - Drew Estate fanatics searching for a full-bodied, non-infused maduro will find solace in La Vieja Habana – The Early Years.

Q: How do I calibrate my hygrometer?

A: Calibrating a hygrometer is not a complicated task; however, it does take some patience but knowing your hygrometer is accurately displaying proper humidity levels is well worth the time and effort. There are a few different methods for properly calibrating a hygrometer but the easiest and most sufficient is performing what is known as the 'salt test.' This test is simple, highly efficient, will work on digital or analog hygrometers, and only requires the following items: a bottle cap, salt, a plastic bag, and distilled water. First, take the bottle cap and fill it up halfway with table salt. Next, place a couple drops of distilled water onto the salt until it becomes slightly damp, but not soppy. Place the cap with the salt and water mixture into a plastic bag, add the hygrometer, and then seal the bag. A natural chemical reaction will occur between the salt and water, which will automatically create 75% humidity after 8 hours inside the plastic bag. Finally, check your hygrometer and adjust it accordingly.

After five minutes of failed attempts in the wind with a Bic flame, I finally managed to properly light my Cusano 59 Rare Cameroon. I was just in time too. As I turned to the left, a huge giraffe appeared in the distance; what an amazing sight. With a cigar in one hand and my .375 H & H Magnum rifle in the other, I looked over at Joe Cusano thinking back to when we first discussed taking this trip several years earlier. It was hard to believe I was here, riding in the back of a Land Cruiser as we made our way into South Africa's Limpopo region. During the following two weeks, we stalked many different animals from numerous zebra and impala to one of the country's most dangerous and fearsome predators, a full size Kalahari lion.

Africa is a fascinating place. The culture and variety of terrain made for a new adventure every day. Each morning, Joe and I met in the lodge for a cup of coffee and our first cigar, usually a silky Cusano 18. It was the perfect way to start our day. Over a gourmet meal prepared by a native Mawari, Joe and I would discuss the day's plan with our trackers and guides. These early morning meetings included all details from temperature, windspeed and direction as well as the overall hunting strategy; whether we would stalk our prey or sit in a hunting blind. We split up for the hunts to cover more ground, but we would always rendezvous in the middle of the day to kick back with a cold beer and a Cusano 59 Rare Cameroon, before heading out for the afternoon.

After a perfect sunset, we quickly made our way out of the bush before the hunters became the hunted as night fell. A successful day of hunting always concluded with a stop at the skinning shed on our way back to the ranch. It was there where our groups would reconvene, telling stories of the hunt while smoking Cusano LXI Habano Sun Grown cigars and passing around a bottle of whiskey. Make no mistake, Joe is a tremendous shot, hitting everything he aimed at. I guess for a Marine and former law enforcement officer, I was not surprised to see he knew his way around a rifle. As the drinks flowed and the cigars burned, the recaps of the day's events slowly turned from reality to tall tales as the animals taken grew exponentially in size after each progressive shot of bourbon. It made me immediately think of a fisherman telling his friends how he "once caught a fish, THIS BIG."

While I could go on and on about each day's hunt, one of the most enjoyable moments about the trip was reconnecting with the basic joys that a cigar brings. This safari was bonding at its best; one that brought aficionados from different walks of life together, in a manner only cigars can. Even our native tracker joined our discussions as he smoked the first cigar of his life. Watching someone enjoy the nuances of a fine hand-rolled puro, for the first time, was only trumped by seeing how a cigar bridged the gap between our cultures as we discussed topics from global politics to stories of our youth. Cigar enthusiasts refer to this phenomenon as a "brotherhood" and for 14 days in Africa, I was able to live the experience first-hand; where cigars were no longer part of my living but merely a hobby. I imagine this is the experience our customers relate to on a regular basis with neighbors, golf foursomes, and with poker and fishing buddies. It was Freud who said "a cigar is just a cigar," but after my incredible experience I cannot say I ever will agree.

Prior to my visit, all I knew of Africa was its toothy Cameroon wrappers that adorn so many of my favorite smokes, but this trip gave me a whole new appreciation for the continent. I was not only enjoying Cusano cigars and hunting with the proprietor of the brand, Joe Cusano, but was also participating in an experience where friends, nature, and acquaintances all came together as one, bound only by one common appreciation: a great cigar. Special thanks to Joe and our outfitter, African Sky Hunting.