JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2025
25
BEST CIGARS of
2024
features JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2025
14 LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
16 FEEDBACK
18 WHAT’S BURNIN’
50 SMOKING HOT CIGAR SNOB DOUBLE PERFECTO FEATURING LA AURORA PREFERIDOS 1903
65 RATINGS
82 X SCOREBOARD
84 INSTAGRAM SCOREBOARD
86 EVENTS 86 SMOKE THIS 2024 88 ERIK’S 50TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION 90 AGING ROOM GREATEST HITS AT GALIANO CIGAR ROOM 92 YBOR CITY CIGAR FESTIVAL 94 LA ZONA PALOOZA 96 TOYS FOR SMILES DOMINO TOURNAMENT 98 HAVANA NIGHTS WITH JOHNNY SMOKES UNCUT
10 | CIGAR SNOB | JAN / FEB 2025
JAN / FEB 2025 | CIGAR SNOB | 11
30 | CIGAR SNOB | JAN / FEB 2025
2024 JAN / FEB 2025 | CIGAR SNOB | 31
Photo credit: Mayflower Cigars
Hardwired
Firebrand commentator Michael Knowles delivers politics, a dose of scholarly wisdom – and a cigar brand heralding America’s early settlers
BY STEVE MILLER
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48 CIGARS
EVENTS SMOKE THIS 2024 Doral, FL
Sabor Havana’s annual cigar celebration was the biggest one yet. Since 2002, owners Jorge and Aquiles have been hosting Smoke This! for the South Florida cigar community. This year's event drew guests from New York, Chicago, Dominican Republic, and Belize. The 365 ticket holders received cigars from 22 cigar companies and met Manuel Inoa of La Aurora, Jorge Padrón and Rocky Patel. Food from local vendors, drinks, and live music rounded out the all-day event.
Alex Rizo, Jorge Valdes, Aquiles Legra and Juan Carlos Bermúdez
Jorge Padrón and Rocky Patel
Luis Paz, Ryan Steele, Hector Díaz, Joey Prieto, Michael Torrent and Marcos Soto Padrón
Kimberly and Kristy Rhodes
Pedro San Jorge, Carlos Vazquez and Noel Rodríguez
Dr. Carrillo and Bobby López
Hector Pires and Maria Cristina Arrazola
Izzy Woods, Erik Calviño, Tom Zbyrad and Grace Cabezas
Ralph Quintero and Gianni D'Alerta
86 | CIGAR SNOB | JAN / FEB 2025
JAN / FEB 2025 | CIGAR SNOB | 87