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Brooks Whittington

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About the author

I have been smoking cigars for over eight years. A documentary wedding photographer by trade, I spent seven years as a photojournalist for the Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star Telegram. I started the cigar blog SmokingStogie in 2008 after realizing that there was a need for a cigar blog with better photographs and more in-depth information about each release. SmokingStogie quickly became one of the more influential cigar blogs on the internet, known for reviewing preproduction, prerelease, rare, extremely hard-to-find and expensive cigars. I am a co-founder of halfwheel and now serve as an editor for halfwheel.

CLE Dark Master

On March 24, New Hampshire-based retailer Tobacco Haven announced an exclusive release for the store. Named Leroy VS Dark Master, it’s a collaboration between Edgar…

Viaje Zombie Super Shot (2014)

In late April of 2011, Viaje released a completely new brand at events that took place at Tobacco Grove and BURN, both in Minnesota, on…

Portraits: Terence Reilly

Terence Reilly long boasted about how he did not have a title. The story goes that Manuel “Manolo” Quesada Jr., Reilly’s uncle, did not believe…

The Griffin’s Special Edition XXIV

Founded in 1984 by  Bernard H. Grobet and named after his nightclub in Switzerland, The Griffin’s brand was first exported for sale in the United…

Press Release: Drew Estate Announces Exclusive Distributorship of Tsuge Pipe Company

May 2, 2014 (Miami, Fla.) — Drew Estate and Tsuge Pipe Company Ltd. have announced a new strategic alliance between the two companies with news that…

Warped Cigars EL OSO PaPa (Prerelease)

Founded in 2008, Warped Cigars’ first release was the Anubis, a blend that was made in a family-owned factory in Little Havana, Florida. Two other lines,…

XIKAR X8

At the 2010 IPCPR trade show and convention, XIKAR released the X8, a single action guillotine cutter. It differs from the company’s signature Xi and…

Arturo Fuente Unnamed Reserve 2012

In December of 2012, Arturo Fuente released a new blend seemingly out of the blue. Called the Arturo Fuente Unnamed Reserve 2012, the cigar was a 5…

Samsara Robusto (Prerelease)

In development for over four years, Samsara Cigars—which translates to circle of life—is the brainchild of owner Narinder Kumar, who also owns the NK Cigar Lounge in Westlake…

601 La Bomba Sake Bomb (Prerelease)

Erik Espinosa started posting photos of a new 601 La Bomba vitola on social media last month called the Sake Bomb, a 4 1/2 x 42…

Miró Momentos (Prerelease)

In April of 2013, the Kuuts Distribution Center in Florida opened, which prompted the introduction of three new brands for the American market: Placeres Reserva, Tabacalera…