Cigar Buying Guides

CA Report: Top New Cigars (January 17, 2022)

The best new cigars available at Famous Smoke Shop!

When it comes to most things in life, I try to adopt the attitude of Jeff ‘The Dude’ Lebowski. You know, ‘the dude abides’ and all that. But I have to question the psychological—not to mention hygienic—benefits of Cow Hugging. And this isn’t a tale of some lost soul wandering into a pasture for a beefy embrace—it’s worse. Cow Hugging is a business. With paying customers. Like, over 600,000 Americans willingly pay money to hug cows. This, for stress relief and relaxation. Let that sink in for a minute while I engage in my own form of stress relief and relaxation—enjoying a premium cigar. No cows needed.

So, grab your favorite blend, perhaps a cup of coffee as well, and enjoy some good old fashioned rest and relaxation while checking out this edition of Top New Cigars with the latest blends from Oliva, Rocky Patel, and Powstanie.

Have you enjoyed a new cigar that you think should be on our must-smoke list? We’d love to hear from you! Please give us the details in the comments below!

Oliva V 135th Anniversary Limited Edition

Wrapper: Ecuadorian
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

The Oliva V. You know this cigar. You may even love it—but you haven’t seen it like this before. Paying tribute to when Melanio Oliva began cultivating tobacco in the Pinar del Rio region of Cuba—1886 or 135 years ago—this limited edition features the same vigorous blend as the Oliva V. What makes 135th Anniversary Limitada so different is its size—only available in a 5 ½ x 54 Perfecto—which delivers the renowned smoothness alongside the familiar robust flavor profile in an entirely unexpected and enticing way. This full-bodied, limited edition of the Oliva V won’t be available long—I’m not kidding—there are only 15,000 boxes available worldwide.

Rocky Patel 60

Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

A monumental cigar for a monumental occasion. Celebrating Rocky Patel’s 60th birthday, the Sixty was aged at the factory for 2 years after rolling—and that’s after the tobaccos were aged 6 years before taking cigar form—and comes draped in a deliciously dark and oily San Andres wrapper. From first puff, you’ll be dazzled with flavors of dark coffee, caramel, leather, a whisper of vanilla, baking spices, and pepper. The Sixty is full-bodied while remaining smooth and creamy. And like the man himself, this premium is complex, nuanced, and brimming with elegance and sophistication.

Powstanie Wojtek 2021

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano and Mexican San Andres
Binder: Indonesian
Filler: Dominican Republic and Nicaragua

2021’s limited edition Wojtek from Powstanie features a spicy Ecuadorian Habano wrapper with a broad strip of dark Mexican San Andres leaf. This barber pole cigar pays homage to an interesting piece of little-known history—specifically being named after a captive Syrian Brown Bear who helped Polish soldiers move ammunition during a WWII battle. The bear—Wojtek—attained the rank of Corporal before retiring from military life and enjoying his remaining days in Edinburgh, Scotland. But back to the cigar—this blend is visually striking and greets you right off the bat with notes of cream, cedar, and earthiness with black pepper, baking spices, dark chocolate, and espresso rounding out the abundant flavor profile. Wojtek the cigar does its namesake—Wojtek the heroic bear—proud.