About Cigars Smoke

Cigars Smoke is a straightforward cigar resource built for people who actually smoke — not collectors chasing 97-point scores, not lifestyle influencers with a box of Cohibas on the desk. Just honest information about what to buy, how to store it, what to expect, and why any of it matters.

Who’s Behind This Site

My name is Mike. I’m based in the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania. I’ve been smoking cigars for years — not as a hobby I picked up at a wine bar, but as something that’s been part of the culture around me my whole life. Family gatherings, celebrations, sitting outside at night with something worth slowing down for. That’s the context this site comes from.

I’m not a cigar sommelier. I don’t have a walk-in humidor. What I have is years of real-world experience figuring out what actually works — which cigars are worth the money at different price points, what storage methods hold up when you’re not spending $500 on a setup, and how to talk about cigars without making it feel like a job interview.

What This Site Covers

Cigars Smoke is organized around the questions people actually search for: what to smoke if you’re new, how to store cigars without a dedicated humidor, what the difference is between mild and full-bodied, which accessories are worth buying and which ones aren’t. The content is practical first. If something doesn’t have a clear answer, I say so.

The site covers three main areas:

• Cigar guides and education — how cigars are made, how to smoke them, what the terminology actually means, how to develop your palate without overthinking it.
• Product reviews and recommendations — humidors, lighters, cutters, ashtrays, and accessories reviewed by what they actually do and whether they’re worth the price.
• Buying guides — curated picks by body, price point, occasion, and experience level, with links to reputable retailers I’ve used and trust.

How I Pick What to Recommend

Everything on this site is recommended based on one of two things: personal experience with the product or category, or verified ratings and reviews from cigar communities and retailers I trust — primarily Cigars International, Famous Smoke Shop, Gotham Cigars, and Thompson Cigar. I don’t recommend products just because someone’s paying me to. I won’t put a product on this site I wouldn’t hand to someone I respect.

I try to keep pricing current. The cigar market moves — limited editions sell out, prices change, retailers run sales. If a link goes stale or a price looks off, the retailer’s site is always the source of truth.

A Note on Affiliate Links

Some links on this site are affiliate links. That means if you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. This is how the site stays running. Affiliate relationships don’t change what I recommend. If a product isn’t worth buying, it doesn’t go on the site regardless of commission rate.

The retailers I link to — Cigars International, Famous Smoke Shop, Gotham Cigars, Thompson Cigar, and MonthlyClubs — are ones I’d use myself. That’s the filter.

Get in Touch

If you have a question about a cigar, a recommendation request, or something on the site that needs correcting, you can reach me at cigarssmoke.mm@gmail.com. I read everything. I can’t promise a response to every message but I do my best.

Thanks for being here. Light something worth your time.

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