Ten years ago I walked into this industry looking for part-time work while I was serving as a pastor. I had no idea that decision would change my entire life. What started as a side gig turned into a calling. Cigar maker, content creator, lounge manager, retail owner. Eventually all of that led to co-founding Cigars Daily with my father-in-law Jim Campbell. A decade later we've built one of the most recognized independent voices in premium cigars, and all of it started because I just wanted to be around the leaf.

Tonight I'm telling you that whole story and introducing something I've been working on for a long time. It's called Milestone, and it's the most personal project I've ever been a part of. I partnered with Rick Rodriguez of West Tampa Tobacco Company to create this blend, and we built it in my favorite vitola because something this personal had to feel exactly right. I'll break down the entire journey. How this collaboration came together, why Rick was the right partner, and what the last 10 years in this industry have taught me about craftsmanship, community, and the relationships that make all of this possible

He started as the gopher guy at a factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. Nearly 20 years later, he's one of the most recognized faces in the entire industry. Tonight Drew Estate's Global Brand Ambassador Pedro Gomez joins us LIVE to tell his story — how a kid from humble beginnings in Nicaragua ended up becoming the voice of one of the biggest brands in the business.

My name is Tim and I'm the host of this show — but YOU are the co-host. Your comments and questions drive the episode. Settle in, grab a drink, and let's get into it.

We're going to talk about Pedro's journey from the factory floor in Estelí to traveling the world as a brand ambassador, what it's really like behind the scenes at one of the largest production facilities on the planet, and what's next for Drew Estate in 2026. We'll also get into Jonathan Drew's brand new venture — J. Sann & Son — a cigar factory, lounge, and culture center opening this spring in Miami's Wynwood district. It's a huge story and Pedro's got the inside scoop.

Cuba just cancelled its biggest annual festival for the first time since 1999. The island is in crisis — blackouts, fuel rationing, and airlines pulling out entirely. What does this mean for the future of Cuban craftsmanship, and what does it signal for the global industry?

Tonight on Cigars Daily LIVE 416, we've got Oliva Nick in the studio, which means it's one of those nights where everyone in the chat gets to interrogate a real cigar industry insider while we sit here and pretend we're mature adults.
We'll be talking Oliva updates, what's actually happening with new releases this year, and the kind of behind-the-scenes stuff cigar people know that normal humans never see. How long things really take. Why some cigars blow up. Why others vanish. What's real versus what's just internet smoke.
We're also hitting DailyCon 2026—real details on what we're building, what we're changing, and we're letting the comments help steer what this year's event turns into.

Tonight on Cigars Daily LIVE 415, we’re talking about what I’m calling The 2026 Cigar Squeeze—because it feels like cigar smokers are getting pinched from every direction right now. Prices are moving, checkout totals are getting weird, and depending on where you live, shipping and taxes are starting to feel like a mini boss fight you didn’t sign up for.

And no—this isn’t some “go buy everything right now” episode. This is cigar news + real talk. I want to break down what’s actually changing, why it’s happening, and what it means for regular guys who just want to enjoy a good cigar without needing an economics degree to do it.

We’ll hit the big stuff—price increases, tax surprises, shipping restrictions—and we’ll keep it grounded in what you’re actually seeing in the wild. Then we’ll open it up and let chat do what chat does best: argue respectfully, tell horror stories, and share what they’re seeing in their state.

Cigar lounges used to be the heartbeat of cigar culture—where you learned, met people, and actually hung out. But lately it feels like the lounge is getting squeezed from every direction. Some places are dealing with regulatory pressure, others are fighting the simple reality that people spend more time online than ever… and even when you walk into a lounge, half the room is already on their phones.

Tonight on Cigars Daily LIVE, we’re talking about what’s changing—and why. Are lounges dying, evolving, or just being forced to adapt? What do cigar bars do better? Why are e-purveyors winning the convenience war? And what does a “good lounge” even look like in 2026?

It’s that time of year again — the lists are out, the debates are raging, and everyone wants to know the same thing: what’s really the No. 1 cigar of the year?

In this episode of Cigars Daily LIVE, we’re digging into the Cigar of the Year results from the major publications. We’ll walk through the rankings, talk about what the critics got right, where they missed the mark, and why some cigars always seem to dominate these lists. From Cigar Aficionado to Cigar Dojo to the ever-coveted Halfwheel Consensus, nothing is off the table.

But this isn’t just about reading lists — it’s about context. We’ll break down how these rankings are formed, why certain cigars rise to the top, and what actually matters when you’re deciding what deserves the crown.

Then, we’ll give our own take and talk through what we believe truly belongs at the top when all the noise fades away.

Some cigars are good. Some are memorable. And then there are cigars that refuse to quit.

Tonight on Cigars Daily LIVE, we’re telling the full story behind Unkillable — a cigar born out of resilience, grit, and the kind of determination that defines this industry. This isn’t just about a blend; it’s about what it represents and why that idea matters in a world that’s constantly trying to wear people down.

We’ll talk about where the concept came from, what went into creating it, and why Unkillable became the right name at the right time. We’ll also open it up to the Nation and talk about what “unkillable” means to you — in cigars, in business, and in life.