Since 1998 I’ve had various platforms to write and speak about cigars with The Barrel Burner being my last outlet—a place to share the passion, the nuance, and the sheer joy of a well-aged cigar paired with a perfect glass of bourbon. It was never just a blog; it was my unfiltered conversation with the community I loved. Today, that conversation comes to an end.
Effective immediately, The Barrel Burner will begin to produce less content with a final top 5 list at the end of the year being our final post about cigars.
This wasn’t an easy decision, and it certainly wasn’t about running out of things to say. It’s about a growing, grinding frustration with the cigar industry itself—an industry that seems to be losing its soul in a frantic, shortsighted sprint.
When I started out, the cigar world felt smaller, more personal. Manufacturers were often the blenders; retailers were knowledgeable curators; and the reviews—from me and my colleagues—were genuine, uncompromised appraisals of the product. The focus was on the leaf, the craft, and the experience.
Now? It feels like a content farm designed to churn out hype.
Additionally, the constant upward trajectory of prices has become a genuinely tiresome and frustrating burden for the dedicated consumer. I often find myself caught in a cycle of sticker shock, where the cigars seem to lack an increase in quality or production cost to justify the leap. This unrelenting inflation doesn’t just pinch the wallet; it chips away at the enjoyment of the purchase, replacing anticipated pleasure with the weary realization that more often then not the purchase does not live up to the price point.
I’m weary of reviewing products where the construction is suspect, the aging is rushed, or the blend is just a pale imitation of last year’s successful limited edition.
I got into this for the love of the leaf. I stayed in it to share that love. But when the passion is replaced by pressure, politics, and retailers dictating who is included it is time to walk away.
To the readers who have followed me for years, thank you. You were the reason for every late night of writing and every careful smoke. I hope you continue to seek out the great cigars and support great retailers, the genuine ones. I also hope that you never stop enjoying the perfect pairing. I just need to step back and find the pure joy of a good smoke again, without a notebook, rating, and buying cigars for the sake of something new to review.
I’ll stick to my favorite brands and give them my hard earned money. Those brands for those that want to know are Nestor Miranda, Tatuaje, Espinosa, My Father Cigars, La Aroma de Cuba, Ashton VSG, HVC, Aganorsa Leaf, Illusione, RoMa Craft, and Powstanie.
To the great retailers out there I’ll still be a customer and to those who agree or disagree with what I wrote I look forward to smoking with you in the future to debate this.
Stay well, and smoke on.
Barry,
WOW! A bit of a shock but I feel and understand your frustration.
Best of luck to you.
Carl
It’s a very sad day reading this 🙁 I know that I haven’t properly conveyed it throughout the years, but your words have been a staple of mine for years. For the longest time, if I haven’t tried a cigar yet I would check yours and David from Leaf Enthusiast’s reviews because your palates AND your formats most closely resembled my own.
I don’t normally notice it whenever a content creator stops producing in whatever medium they swim in, and I definitely don’t comment when it happens, but this is the end of an era for me. When Leaf Enthusiast closed up, I still had your thoughts in the ether to check on. Now, both of my lighthouses will be permanently extinguished.
I’m sorry that cigars became no longer fun. You will be missed Barry! Wishing you an amazing retirement surrounded by only the best cigars and bottles 🥃🥃
Dave, I share your dismay at Barry leaving the scene…but I am publishing on Leaf Enthusiast again, although at a bit of a lower level…do I like it or not? No scoring. Hope you’ll check it out.
thank you Barry
Well said, Barry. I think that the cigar industry has reached a tipping point. I am genuinely shocked at the pricing we are seeing on many cigars. My cigar world is getting smaller. Sticking with the brands and cigars where integrity and mutual respect lead to a high value experience at a fair price.
Barry, our tastes in cigars overlap quite often. This is why I looked forward to reading your reviews. To be honest, I’ve seen your growing frustration with the cigar industry so I’m not shocked at this announcement. There has never been a time in premium cigars like there is today with dozens upon dozens of interesting, new blends and blenders. At the same time, cigar tobacco in general has not come back up the level of refinement and aging that existed before the cigar boom of the early ‘90’s to mid-2,000’s. There are a few exceptions, but they prove the rule. Add to the above your observations on cigar construction and prices ticking up in stunning fashion and cigar lovers are getting less, paying more, and left unsettled. Cigars should be aids to relaxation, contemplation, and camaraderie. I hope you find all three of the latter as smoking for pleasure finds you again.
Sorry to see it go. Best of luck with everything. Hopefully one day in the future you’ll circle back and start it back up. I enjoyed your writing and will miss it
Best of luck to you