It’s hard to believe it’s been more than a decade since Nick Melillo launched Foundation Cigars with El Güegüense (“The Wise Man”), a cigar that helped establish the brand’s identity from day one. Since then, Nick—also known as the “Chief of the Broadleaf” and “Nick R. Agua”—has continued building a portfolio that includes standout releases like Olmec and the 10 Year Anniversario, both earning strong placements on our year-end lists.

While Nick has appeared on Smoke Night LIVE in the past, it’s been a few years since his last visit. This episode gives the Dojo crew a chance to reconnect, talk about the evolution of Foundation Cigars, and find out what’s next for one of the most respected voices in the industry.

What started as a simple question from Master Sensei—“What should we call this show?”—has grown into one of the cigar world’s longest-running and most beloved live broadcasts. Now, Smoke Night LIVE reaches an incredible milestone: Episode 500.

Over the years, the show has welcomed a true who’s who of the premium cigar industry, and for this special celebration many of those familiar faces return with surprise cameo appearances, stories, and memories to honor the journey. Join the Dojo crew as they look back at the moments, laughs, and cigars that helped shape five hundred unforgettable episodes of Smoke Night LIVE.

This is more than just another episode—it’s a celebration of the community that made it all possible.

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When Steve Saka shows up, something big is usually about to be said. On this episode of Smoke Night LIVE, the Dojo crew is joined by Steve Saka of Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust for a wide-ranging and candid conversation. Steve stops by to share major updates on the upcoming 10th Jubilee, developments within the Archive Series Todos Las Días, and what listeners can expect from a full-scale revamp of the StillWell Star line. As always, the discussion goes beyond announcements, diving into the thinking, challenges, and philosophy behind the decisions—making this one of those episodes cigar fans won’t want to miss.

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Smoke Night Live is part of the Cigar Dojo network.

Get ready for a special side-project episode as Patina y Viso steps into the spotlight—the cigar world’s equivalent of Audioslave to Soundgarden & Rage Against the Machine, bringing together the forces of Patina Cigars and Viso Horny in one unexpected supergroup. This week, Mo Maali and Tyler Jeffery join the Dojo crew for a jam-packed (and slightly unhinged) show. We’ll get the full scoop on their latest project, Leprechaun Dust, take a victory lap through Patina’s huge year on the year-end lists, and dive into what’s next for the brand.

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Smoke Night Live is part of the Cigar Dojo network.

“Ladies and gentlemen… welcome to ROYAL RUMBLE III!”

The bell rings, the lists are locked in, and only ONE Cigar of the Year list can stand tall. In our annual year-end showdown, some of the biggest voices in cigar media collide in a no-holds-barred battle for supremacy. This year’s combatants enter the ring: Cigar Coop, Halfwheel, Developing Palates, and Bob the Cigar Guy. Each list throws its best punches, each pick faces the crowd’s judgment, and only one will emerge victorious. The audience decides the winner in this 10 round heavy weight match. The trash talk will be loud. The takes will be hot. And the chaos will be glorious. Don’t miss the most unhinged, high-energy show of the year—ROYAL RUMBLE III is about to go off the top rope.

On this episode of Smoke Night Live, it’s awards night. Throw on the tuxedo and join us as we roll out the red carpet for our annual Cigar of the Year Awards Show. After a full year of smoking, reviewing, blind testing, and heated debate, the Top 20 Cigars of 2025 have officially been announced—and we’re breaking it all down.

What makes a great fast-food burger? Is it the beef, the bun, the nostalgia—or just how it hits at the drive-thru?

This week, the Dojo crew is joined by Michael Herklots of Ferio Tego, Nick Libretti from JR Cigars, and William “Cigar Coop” Cooper for a no-holds-barred burger debate. Together, the panel builds an S-Tier ranking of fast-food burger chains, breaking down which joints deliver consistently—and which ones belong at the bottom of the list.

Expect strong opinions, heated arguments, and plenty of hot takes as we crown the best (and worst) burgers in the fast-food universe.

Hungry yet?

On this episode of Smoke Night LIVE, Master Sensei, Kid Producer Jordan, and Scotty Braband each reveal five cigars that every cigar hobbyist should always have in their humidor. That’s 15 total smokes the Cigar Dojo crew considers true Humidor Essentials. Tune in, join the conversation, and share your own must-have cigars as we kick off the first show of the new year.