I was thrilled to join Mitch for my - and his - first podcast interview on The Cigar Soldier Podcast. Mitch has been a listener and supporter of the Lounge Lizards since the very early days and I was honored that he asked me to do it. Please let us know what you think!

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Thanks again, Mitch.

The chosen vitola is the Torres, the format with the largest ring gauge in the brand's regular portfolio (54 x 4⅜″). The capa, tripa, and capote leaves, all from the 2022 harvest in Vuelta Abajo, underwent a supplementary aging process of at least three years.

Let’s do some math. The three years’ aged petit robusto is $220 MSRP or $50/ inch. For comparison’s sake, a 2023 box of twelve “regular” Vígia sold for $650 three weeks ago on Bond Roberts. With the auction fee, that’s $62/cigar.

The two extra bands on the Reserva add $158 per cigar.

Hooten Young is teaming up with Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc., a major firearms company, to release two new Ruger-branded cigars and a new bourbon.

Cigars, bourbon and firearms: The Holy Regulatory Triumvirate

New LL out today featuring the Padrón 1964 Anniversary Exclusivo Natural paired with Privateer Navy Yard True American Rum. We discuss which Cuban cigars we’d save, revive or kill, the new Trinidad Vigía Reserva Cosecha 2022, European cigar distributors going insolvent, Pagoda’s humidor neglect, the final call on U.K. plain packaging comments and much more.

This episode solidifies that we’ve slept on the Exclusivo in Natural for too long.

If you've heard the podcast at any point over the last year, you know my fascination with Chen Zhi's downfall is endless. Chen is/was the largest individual shareholder in Habanos S.A. and other adjact tobacco businesses. Long story short: he was running a massive pig-butchering scheme that was earning him billions - which he then used to purchase HSA and the other assets in 2020. It's caused a lot of damage industry wide - Cuban and non-Cuban tobacco alike. Google/ChatGPT his name and you'll have three-days' worth of reading to do.

The article that's linked in the title here, from FiNews.com, is the most shocking development this year. Most notably, the revelation of Chen's ownership in storied HSA distributors Hunters & Frankau and Pacific Cigar Company.

Eighteen months ago when it was known that HSA was forcing their way into ownership positions at their distributors worldwide - with the threat of less cigar allocation - it was widely believed that H&F and PCC escaped unharmed. How could a 100 year old business acquiesce like this?

Now we know they did and to the tune of 50%. The article is long (and worth reading) but even better is the flowchart teased in the middle of the page. Click into that and do some exploring and perhaps you'll find the numbers as interesting as I did. It very quickly reduces the confusion around Chen and his entangled enterprises.

Important to note (as this all happened while I was absent from the site here) - several European distributors are facing heavy banking scrutiny for their involvement with Chen. It's 2026 and banks very much do not like risk - and they really don't care who you are or how much money you have. It also doesn't help that this is all happening in the tobacco business...

Let's not forget the issues in Cuba resulting in significantly less stock being available. Will these distributors survive?

Big news from Bond Roberts today. They're a big supporter of the Lizards and we are a big supporter of them. Like it or not, these transactions are already taking place on social media and internet forums - most often unregulated and certainly not authenticated.

In 2020, BR changed the game for Cuban cigar transactions and now will provide the first professional and secure platform for the sale of non-Cuban cigars under the eye of Developing Palates' John McTavish (Cigar Surgeon).

OpusX is sure to be a headlining act.

New LL out today featuring the Cuba Aliados by EPC Toro paired with Glenmorangie The Nectar 16 Years. We welcome Drew Estate as a new sponsor, discuss resting, aging and acclimating cigars, Cuba’s declining tourism, developing your palate and DJ Khaled visiting Davidoff of London in jean shorts.

New LL out today featuring the Tatuaje Miami Havana Cazadores paired with ArteNOM Selection de 1414 Tequila Reposado. We discuss ProCigar 2027 and Davidoff’s exit, tequila with food, OpusX ReXilent Redux, vacation and cruising Lizards, listeners pulling back from Cubans and Chef trying to change a rating.

New LL out today featuring the Cuesta-Rey Centro Fino Sungrown Pyramid No. 9 paired with Blanton’s The Original Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey. We discuss the controversial Opus X ReXilient 9/11 charity release and recap Senator’s big birthday soirée.

New LL out today for Episode 250 featuring the Partagás 8-9-8 paired with The Macallan Sherry Cask 18 Years, plus a Fabrica5 Lonsdale. We debate whether we’d smoke more Cubans if price and scarcity disappeared, announce the big Episode 250 giveaway and accidentally reveal Bam’s beauty secrets.