— The Journal —

Notes on the leaf.

Essays from Eric Schleien on cigars worth knowing.

Education·April 23, 2026

The Quiet Discipline of the Perfect Light

A great cigar is made or ruined in the first sixty seconds. Here is how I light mine.

By Eric Schleien

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— April 2026 —

Reviews·April 23, 2026

Why I Stopped Rushing the Padron 1964

A short note on patience, tobacco, and the kind of cigar that punishes hurry.

By Eric Schleien

History·April 23, 2026

A Brief History of the Cuban-Trained Roller

How an island's craft survived embargoes, exile, and four generations of practitioners.

By Eric Schleien

Pairings·April 23, 2026

An Honest Pairing Guide: Bourbon and Leaf

Forget the marketing. Here is what actually works with what.

By Eric Schleien

Education·April 23, 2026

What a Humidor Is Actually For

Most humidors are decorative. Yours does not have to be.

By Eric Schleien

Lifestyle·April 23, 2026

The Cigar I Smoke When No One Is Watching

It is not the most expensive one in the humidor.

By Eric Schleien

Education·April 23, 2026

On the First Draw

Why the opening pull tells you more about a cigar than the next twenty.

By Eric Schleien

Education·April 23, 2026

A Letter to Someone Buying Their First Box

Five things I wish someone had told me before I spent $300 at a tobacconist.

By Eric Schleien

News·April 23, 2026

The Quiet Return of the Cameroon Wrapper

A nearly-extinct leaf is making a comeback. Here is why it matters.

By Eric Schleien

Lifestyle·April 23, 2026

What Makes a Cigar Worth $7,500?

A frank explanation, written by the person who priced it.

By Eric Schleien

Education·April 23, 2026

The Case for the Corona

Bigger is not better. The corona is the format every great blend was designed for.

By Eric Schleien

Lifestyle·April 23, 2026

On Running a Cigar Company That Sells Nothing

A reflection on scarcity, waitlists, and the strange economics of "sold out."

By Eric Schleien