Flavor Odyssey: Pairing With Gold Star from United Cigars

February 9, 2026

This week on Flavor Odyssey, Robby Ras and Randy Griggs find the perfect drink pairing for the Gold Star from United Cigars. Our #18 cigar of the year (and in the Dojo’s Cigar of the Year Sampler from Smoke ... Read More...

Room101 Brings Back Namakubi Chingon with New Blend

Eric Guttormson

October 6, 2025

Press Releases

Room101 Cigars is bringing back one of its most recognizable creations, the Namakubi Chingon, this fall. While the name may be familiar to longtime fans of the brand, this release carries a new twist: a reworke... Read More...

89%Golden Comeback

United Gold Star Toro

Jordan Guttormson

March 5, 2025

Cigar Reviews, $10 to $15 Range, 2025

The Gold Star brand has had something of a winding path to reach its current form—initially debuting in 1995, going dormant for years, then resurfacing in 2024 as a limited edition that supported the Navy SEAL ... Read More...

United Cigars Gold Star Becomes Line Extension

Eric Guttormson

February 25, 2025

Press Releases

United Cigars is adding Gold Star as a new line to its portfolio, produced at the Tabacalera William Ventura Cigar Factory in the Dominican Republic. Initially launched in 1995, Gold Star returned in 2024 with ... Read More...

89%Sweet to Heat

Long Live the Queen Maduro Queen’s Chalice

Scott Braband

February 20, 2025

Cigar Reviews, $15 & Over, 2025

"Heavy is the head that wears the crown," yet Caldwell Cigar Co. makes the burden of expectations look effortless. Their latest release, Long Live the Queen Maduro, confidently builds upon their 2023 success by... Read More...

William Ventura Factory Destroyed in Fire

Jordan Guttormson

September 26, 2022

Press Releases

In a devastating announcement, ADVentura Cigars posted on their Instagram account this morning that the Tabacalera William Ventura factory has burned down. There is no information at this time as to the caus... Read More...

83%Not so Perfecto

Room101 Namakubi Ranfla (2021)

Jordan Guttormson

August 15, 2022

Cigar Reviews, $15 & Over, 2022

Much to the delight of seasoned Room101 followers, the company turned back to one of its most famed releases in 2021, debuting a reimagined version of the Namakubi cigar at the 2021 PCA trade show in Las Vegas.... Read More...

La Barba One and Only (2018) cigar review

83%Swipe Left

La Barba One and Only Super Toro (2018)

velorok

March 26, 2019

Cigar Reviews, $10 to $15 Range, 2019

Lacking the conventional story/spin about how this cigar’s creator smokes said cigar as his personal blend; or how La Barba made this cigar to bring a specific to the market; or any of the other customary trop... Read More...

90%Twists & Turns

Long Live the King MAD MF Corona

EL Oso Fumar

March 8, 2019

Cigar Reviews, $10 to $15 Range, 2019

I find Robert Caldwell’s story so rich and froth with intrigue. One could spin this review and take it down so many roads. I could conjure T.H. White from The Once and Future King, “The bravest people are the o... Read More...

89%Isn’t a Farce

Room101 Farce Connecticut Robusto

EL Oso Fumar

December 11, 2018

Cigar Reviews, $10 to $15 Range, 2018

COACH MEISTER What if I could guarantee that this year’s show will make money?… …why don’t we get some of my football players to be dancers in the show and people will show up in droves just to see them fal... Read More...

Room101 Cigar Dojo [untitled] noodles photo cigar review

Photo Review: [untitled] Room101 Cigar Dojo Collaboration

Jordan Guttormson

October 1, 2018

Cigar Reviews, Dojo Cigars, $8 to $10 Range, 2018, Photo Reviews

In February 2016, Matt Booth appeared on Cigar Dojo's weekly Smoke Night Live show. In an especially precarious mood, Booth offered up viewers an unusual contest in where they were required to post shots of the... Read More...

La Barba Primitivo corona gorda cigar review

89%Box-O-Wine

La Barba Ricochet (Primitivo) 5.75 x 46

velorok

September 17, 2018

Cigar Reviews, $8 to $10 Range, 2018

Two initial thoughts: first, does anyone else think of Hermes Conrad’s wife LaBarbara (à la Futurama) when the try to think/write/say La Barba? Second, it’s about time that, as a straight-razor shaver, I get to... Read More...

Tagged Tabacalera William Ventura factory