We’re building something special at Stogies and Steals — and we want our core readers to help shape what comes next.

We’re forming a limited User Group of 25–50 cigar lovers who want to have a voice in how we grow. If you’re passionate about cigars, enjoy our content, and want to make sure your opinion counts, this is your chance.

As a member of this group, you’ll get:

We’re only inviting a small group — and we’d love for you to be part of it.

Not all cigars are created equal and we’re not just talking flavor. The shape of a cigar plays a big role in how it smokes, and each shape has its own unique name and history.

Most cigars fall into two main categories: Parejos (straight-sided cigars like Robusto, Toro, and Churchill) and Figurados (shaped cigars like Torpedo, Perfecto, and Belicoso).

Figurados were once considered more luxurious and complex to roll, often reserved for special releases or high-end lines. The Torpedo, for example, with its pointed head, was designed to concentrate smoke and flavor on the palate, giving a more intense experience. The Perfecto, with its tapered foot and head, was popular in the early 1900s and is now making a comeback among boutique brands.

Beyond aesthetics, these shapes influence draw, burn rate, and how the cigar develops in flavor as you smoke.

So next time you pick out a cigar, take a second to appreciate the craftsmanship behind its shape it’s more than a style, it’s part of the story.

🔥 Got a favorite cigar shape? Let us know what and why! It might help a fellow reader discover a new favorite!

La Diferencia Cubana is a smooth, creamy mild to medium-bodied cigar crafted in the Dominican Republic. Handrolled using a silky Nicaraguan sun-grown wrapper over Cuban-seed Dominican filler and binder tobaccos, it delivers soft, toasty flavors with a hint of spice—making it a solid everyday smoke at a friendly price.

A full-bodied, box-pressed gem from Oliva’s highly acclaimed Serie V lineup, the Melanio Toro was named Cigar Aficionado’s #3 Cigar of the Year in 2023 with a stellar 96-point rating. Crafted with aged Nicaraguan ligero binder and fillers and wrapped in rich Ecuadorian Sumatra leaf, the Melanio Toro delivers layers of flavor: black pepper, toasted bread, caramel, cedar, espresso, and leather, all tied together with a velvety finish.

The Dancing Bear Toro 6 x 50 is an exclusive size offered only at Mardo Cigars, expanding on the bold legacy of the Cigar Clowns. This limited-edition boutique cigar showcases the same exotic blend that made the original Robusto a sensation—featuring a luscious Arapiraca Claro wrapper, a mysterious binder mix of Russian, Transylvanian, and undisclosed tobaccos, and a robust Nicaraguan filler. Now in a longer, smoother Toro format, the Dancing Bear continues its theatrical performance with rich flavor, bold character, and striking complexity.

Victor Sinclair Serie 55 Imperial Maduro is a medium-to-full-bodied Dominican cigar wrapped in rich Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro, with a Mexican binder and Honduran long-fillers aged for five years—a nod to its “’55” heritage. Blended from leaves sourced from five countries, it delivers complex layers of espresso, dark chocolate, pepper, earth, and sweet wood for a smooth yet dynamic smoke experience

Alec Bradley Tempus Maduro is a bold, medium-to-full-bodied Honduran cigar wrapped in a dark San Andrés Maduro leaf, over rich Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers and a Honduran-Sumatra binder. This box-pressed gem offers deep, complex flavors—espresso, dark chocolate, woody spice, leather, and pepper—delivered with smooth draw and excellent construction. Established as a tasteful upgrade to the original Tempus, it remains a standout Maduro offering from Alec Bradley.