Articles - Cigar Inspector

James J. Fox Launches Selección Line for UK and Ireland

James J. Fox introduces the Selección, a new Honduran made line in three classic vitolas, launching in London on 25th June and Dublin on 1st July,…

June 23, 2026

Carlito Fuente Comment on Anti-Cuba Video Draws Criticism

A public Instagram comment by Carlito Fuente Jr. on a video making strong claims about Cuban cigars drew direct criticism from commenters who questioned the endorsement.…

June 23, 2026

Europe’s Cigar Bundling Problem

Most European cigar retailers won't sell sought-after Cubans on their own. They bundle them with stock you don't want. Here's why that happens, why the UK…

June 21, 2026

Habanos Refutes Claim that Cuban Cigars Are Made with Non-Cuban Tobacco

A claim that Cuban cigars are not made entirely from Cuban tobacco, long whispered in the trade, was recently stated in public by a distributor's representative.…

June 14, 2026

Kirby Allison Visits Dominique London’s New Pall Mall Boutique

Kirby Allison steps inside Dominique London's new Pall Mall flagship, a La Casa del Habano in the heart of St James's, for the first official cigar…

June 1, 2026

Bond Roberts Línea D No. 01 109 Cigar Review

The Bond Roberts Línea D No. 01 109 is one of the more talked-about new world releases in recent memory. We put it to the test…

June 1, 2026

Best Cigar Lounge in Hong Kong: The Red Chamber

The Red Chamber Cigar Divan has been part of the Pacific Cigar Company estate since 2002. Designed by Sir David Tang and named after one of…

May 30, 2026

The UK Is Killing Cigar Culture

The Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 does not just target cigarettes. It sweeps handmade cigars, specialist tobacconists and cigar lounges into the same political machine, and…

May 27, 2026

Before You Start a Cigar Brand, Read This

Starting a cigar brand is one of the most common dreams in the industry. The reality is far more complicated than most people expect, and most…

May 23, 2026

Meet the Man Running 45 Cigar Shops Across Asia

Pacific Cigar Company runs 45 stores across nine countries and is Asia's largest premium cigar retailer. CEO Dag Holmboe explains why PCC refuses to sell online,…

May 20, 2026

American Takeover of Cuba Will Be the End of Luxury Cigars

A US takeover of Cuba is looking more likely than it has for a long time. The tobacco would still grow and the boxes would still…

May 19, 2026

Crowned Heads Cigars to Launch in the UK With Barkers of Harrogate

Crowned Heads has signed an exclusive UK distribution deal with Barkers of Harrogate, bringing the Nashville company's brands including Broadway, La Imperiosa, Tennessee Waltz, Jericho Hill,…

May 13, 2026

AI Content Is Unacceptable in the Cigar Industry

The cigar industry has built its reputation on craft and authenticity. Some brands are now using AI to produce their marketing content, and it is embarrassing.

May 1, 2026

A Piece of Hong Kong Cigar History

The Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong has held a cigar lounge since 1992, opened by the late Sir David Tang. After more than three decades, the space…

April 29, 2026

The UK Generational Smoking Ban Is Here and Is Unlikely to Be Overturned

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill has cleared Parliament. Inside the cigar industry, many expect a future government to reverse it. That is unlikely to happen, and…

April 22, 2026

AVO Cigars Launches Expresivo and Refreshes Brand Identity at PCA 2026

AVO Cigars has introduced Expresivo, a new Honduran-made line with tobaccos from Nicaragua and Honduras under an Ecuadorian wrapper, alongside a visual rebrand and Burn Brighter…

April 20, 2026

Plasencia Cigars Unveils Brand Refresh Ahead of PCA 2026

Plasencia Cigars has updated its brand identity, introducing a new logo and visual language across the company for the first time in nearly a decade, with…

April 16, 2026

Davidoff UK Profits Fall Despite Growth

Davidoff Distribution (UK) has posted back-to-back profitable years, but profit fell in 2025 despite stronger sales. We sent questions to Marketing Manager Roy Sommer to find…

April 9, 2026

New World Cigar Distributor’s Profit Fell 90% in a Year

Tor Imports' latest annual accounts show a 90% drop in profit, from £333,000 to just £34,000. We put questions to CEO Scott Vines on what drove…

April 6, 2026

Plasencia to Unveil Triunfal Cigar at PCA 2026

Plasencia Cigars will unveil Triunfal at PCA 2026 in New Orleans, a limited release of 5,000 individually numbered boxes in a single Gran Toro vitola.

April 5, 2026

Cigar Lounge Design is Lazy and Outdated

The cigar industry has copied the same lounge for twenty years and called it tradition. Research in consumer psychology shows that interior design directly shapes how…

April 5, 2026

New World Cigars Won’t Replace Cuban Cigars in the UK Market

Cuban cigar supplies in the UK have dropped significantly, with no shipments since December. The assumption that new world cigars will fill the gap does not…

March 24, 2026

Best Luxury Cigar Cutters for 2026

We review the finest luxury cigar cutters of 2026, covering precision, design, and performance for serious cigar enthusiasts.

March 21, 2026

Best Soft Flame Lighters for Cigars 2026

When choosing the right soft flame lighter for your cigars, it's all about finding something reliable that won't overpower the delicate wrapper of a fine cigar.…

March 21, 2026

The Cigar Company That Tracks Every Box From Warehouse to Consumer

Pacific Cigar Company has built a system that tracks every box from the bonded warehouse to the point of sale, using NFC technology to fight counterfeits…

March 17, 2026

Dominique London Pall Mall Flagship: First Exterior Images Released Ahead of Opening

Dominique London's new Pall Mall flagship store is almost ready, with La Casa del Habano status and two floors featuring bespoke DeArt walk in humidors. The…

March 16, 2026

Havana is Not Falling: Nine Days on the Ground in Cuba’s Crisis

Headlines predicted collapse. We went to Havana to see for ourselves. Over nine days we found a city adapting, not breaking. The reality is more nuanced,…

March 6, 2026

VegaFina and Great Wall Cigar Release Second Fusion Edition Blend

The Fusion Edition cigar returns in a new Coronas Gordas format, blending tobaccos from four countries at Great Wall Cigar's Shifang factory. Spain gets first access…