Lounge Lizards This Week: Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich Puro Nicaragua Habano Robusto J with Wild Turkey 101 8 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey/The Merits of Blind Reviews/Celebrity Cigars

[El Presidente]

This week the Lizards pair Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich Puro Nicaragua Habano Robusto J with Wild Turkey 101 8 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The guys detail discuss several new releases coming around the PCA show, they answer a listener email on how cuts affecting flavor and they debate the merits of blind reviews. PLUS: Erik Espinosa's Self-Made History, Two Kinds of Celebrity Cigars, Startup Cigar Organization That's Worth $65M?, Fuente's Latest 'X' Trademark Lawsuit & More

 

[JDoughty]

Flavor can definitely be influenced by the speed and depth of your draw as well as your retrohale. I often get slightly different flavor notes on a fast, high volume exhale through the nose as contrasted to a long, slow trickle. The cut can certainly influence that. Also I'm surprised that it wasn't mentioned that a tighter, more constricted cut that is pleasant in the first third or so can yield some bitter tar buildup around it in the last third. When I taste that happening, I often re-cut and turn my initial preferred V cut into a straight cut, which again changes the flavor notes and reduces the tar bitterness. 

[TheCigarSoldier]

How have the Lizards impacted the cigar community?

Well, for starters it's brought people from all walks of life together and made every one of us feel like we're that 9th Lizard in the room with you guys (Grinder and Poobah always will have that 7th and 8th seat no matter how many episodes they can't make). For me personally, this show (and this forum) has introduced me to great friends that I now talk to on a weekly basis. It is a constant reminder to stop judging a book by its cover. Every year, there are probably 5-10 cigars I NEVER would have tried if not for the review that become staples in my rotation. And it's cool to see you guys do it too in real time. There'll be weeks where the guys will joke about calling in sick when they're lighting up, only to give the cigar a 9 or 10.

I think your guys' greatest strength is the fact that you all have no angle, you're just chasing great cigars from a variety of flavor profiles week after week. And now that the Cuban game as knew it is over, I look forward to hunting great substitutes alongside you all. Like Senator said the other week, you guys have a very good bulls**t meter and call it like you see it. I love that when you guys do a review, I know it's going to be an authentic experience because you guys bought the cigar and drink. When the pod starts rolling, the cigar has no choice but to perform or it's going to get hammered during the review time. You all have carved out a niche in this space and the fact that none of you need to do this from a financial standpoint lets you be free in this podcast. The industry has noticed this show, and you guys represent what it means to be true cigar enthusiasts, the people these manufacturers should WANT to make cigars for. If a cigar gets a 10, I can guarantee you supply for it online is going to shrink up and it's going to become hard to find. This show moves the needle and I think most manufacturers, especially boutique brands, have wised up to this fact.

But more importantly than all of that, you all have been there for myself, and I'm sure I speak for countless others, when I've been down on my luck. Whether it's the stress of being stationed away from family for months at a time, navigating uncertainty, job markets, etc. Whatever the case is with our lives, this show drops every Tuesday at dawn. Death, taxes, Bam Bam hating his first sip, and this show dropping every Tuesday. It's a testament to your commitment to this production so Giz, thank you for putting this whole thing together every week and maintaining a constant rhythm for everyone to look forward to. Keep up the great work and here's to many more years boys. Cheers.    -- Thecigarsoldier, Lizard Mitch.

[LizardGizmo]

Thanks for this Mitch @TheCigarSoldier. I can't wait to share your note with the guys. 

[ha_banos]

Re celebrity cigar smokers maybe you can get out new friends DJ Khaled on the show. He even had his own investment going on! https://halfwheel.com/d-j-khaled-backed-rich-cigars-leaves-cigar-industry/215424/

 

 

 

[Dadof3]

On 4/28/2026 at 11:00 AM, LizardGizmo said:

Thanks for this Mitch @TheCigarSoldier. I can't wait to share your note with the guys. 

I am such an idiot. I live near New Orleans and missed the chance to have lunch or dinner with you. Ugh. I'm behind on the podcast so hopefully I am caught up before your next trip to the Big Easy and can treat you to a meal at one of the huge number of amazing local restaurants.