Master Sensei

This week on Flavor Odyssey, we’re heading to Churchill Downs for our own cigar-smoking celebration of the Kentucky Derby. Fresh off the 152nd running of the “Run for the Roses,” your hosts dive into Kentucky Derby-inspired cigar and drink pairings that go far beyond the classic Mint Julep.From Churchill-sized cigars to rose-themed cocktails, bourbon-forward classics, and even the essential oversized Derby hat, this episode is all about capturing the spirit of Derby Day with style and flavor. Whether you’re pairing for tradition or getting creative with your own race-day ritual, Flavor Odyssey is off to the races with plenty of fun and unexpected combinations.PairingsRandy: Winner’s Circle Julep & Fuente Hemingway 👍🏻Robby: Official Mint Julep & Illusione Group of Five 👍🏻VotesRandy: 39% Robby: 61%🙋‍♂️ Audience PairingsNathan Stewart: Davidoff Aniversario No. 3 & Aromatic Mint Julep 👍🏻👍🏻𝙎𝙉𝙇 -- Head over to our Smoke Night LIVE podcast for cigar interviews and entertainment: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ3OJ366KRotIlJb6-akfx_SKEmI45Y-k&si=Agu9o_OXidZLvcSW👀 Follow Cigar Dojo on social media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/cigardojo𝕏: https://twitter.com/cigardojoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CigarDojo/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cigardojo

The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show introduces hundreds of new cigars each year—but what should you pair them with? That’s where Flavor Odyssey comes in. On this episode, your hosts sample a selection of new releases and put them to the test, pairing each cigar with the perfect drink to see what truly elevates the experience. Tune in to discover which combinations hit the mark and which ones miss the boat.PairingsSensei: Black and Tan & Sobremesa Tapa Negra 👎🏻Robby: Jungle Bird & AVO Expresivo 👍🏻VotesSensei: 25% Robby: 75%🙋‍♂️ Audience PairingsNathan Stewart: Davidoff Yamasá & Ember Old Fashioned 👍🏻👍🏻𝙎𝙉𝙇 -- Head over to our Smoke Night LIVE podcast for cigar interviews and entertainment: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ3OJ366KRotIlJb6-akfx_SKEmI45Y-k&si=Agu9o_OXidZLvcSW👀 Follow Cigar Dojo on social media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/cigardojo𝕏: https://twitter.com/cigardojoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CigarDojo/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cigardojo

Everybody has one—you know exactly what I’m talking about. That dusty bottle of liqueur/liquor hiding in the back of your cabinet since 1989, when your Aunt Leslie brought it over for Easter dinner. Well, the moment has come to dust it off and put it to use.What kind of cocktail can you create from that forgotten relic—and more importantly, what cigar would you pair with it?Join hosts Robby and Randy for a challenging and creative episode of Smoke Night LIVE.PairingsRandy: Banana Espresso Old Fashioned & Oliva Serie V Melanio Maduro 👍🏻Robby: Velvet Orchard & Davidoff Maduro 👍🏻VotesRandy: 42% Robby: 58%🙋‍♂️ Audience PairingsJimmy Birster: Undercrown 10 with a Peanut Butter & Jelly Punch 👍🏻👍🏻𝙎𝙉𝙇 -- Head over to our Smoke Night LIVE podcast for cigar interviews and entertainment: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ3OJ366KRotIlJb6-akfx_SKEmI45Y-k&si=Agu9o_OXidZLvcSW👀 Follow Cigar Dojo on social media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/cigardojo𝕏: https://twitter.com/cigardojoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CigarDojo/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cigardojo

It’s April 1st, and you know what that means—corny tricks and gimmicky tomfoolery. On this episode of Flavor Odyssey, your hosts Robby Ras and Randy Griggs dive into some of the most over-the-top gimmick cocktails and pair them with premium cigars. It’s also the night we announce the winners of the COTY Samplers, so grab a drink, light up a cigar, and join the fun.PairingsRandy: Hot Agave Mezcal Paloma & Sensei's Sensational Sarsaparilla 👎🏻Robby: Pickle Martini & Perdomo Legacy Connecticut  👎🏻VotesRandy: 91% Robby: 9%🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairingsccoulter25: BWS Swarm & Wendy's Frosty𝙎𝙉𝙇 -- Head over to our Smoke Night LIVE podcast for cigar interviews and entertainment: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ3OJ366KRotIlJb6-akfx_SKEmI45Y-k&si=Agu9o_OXidZLvcSW👀 Follow Cigar Dojo on social media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/cigardojo𝕏: https://twitter.com/cigardojoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CigarDojo/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cigardojo

Flavor Odyssey returns, and this week we’re putting Protocol Cigars to the test with a full-on beer pairing challenge. Each host brings their pick for the perfect frosty companion, aiming to find the ultimate match for the brand.Protocol’s own Juan Cancel joins the show to weigh in, talk cigars, and see how these pairings stack up. We’ll also announce the winners of the Cigar of the Year Sampler from our last segment.Grab a Protocol, crack a cold one, and join us for the ride.PairingsJuan: Protocol Crime Scene Unit & Estrella Galicia 👍🏻Robby: Protocol Night Stick & Robust Porter 👍🏻VotesJuan: 56% Robby: 44%🙋‍♂️ Audience PairingsJimmy Birster: Protocol Crime Scene Unit & Guinness Draught w WG Maple OF chaser 👍🏻👍🏻Randi Harrison: Protocol Fat Ash & Left Hand Galactic Cowboy Nitro Imperial Stout𝙎𝙉𝙇 -- Head over to our Smoke Night LIVE podcast for cigar interviews and entertainment: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ3OJ366KRotIlJb6-akfx_SKEmI45Y-k&si=Agu9o_OXidZLvcSW👀 Follow Cigar Dojo on social media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/cigardojo𝕏: https://twitter.com/cigardojoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CigarDojo/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cigardojo

This week on Flavor Odyssey, Master Sensei and Robby return as we wrap up the Cigars of the Year sampler segment with Cigar Dojo’s No. 1 Cigar of the Year: the Perdomo Legacy Nicaraguan Shade Grown.Now it’s your turn to join the experience. Grab a Perdomo Legacy Nicaraguan Shade Grown, pour a drink you think makes the ideal pairing, and smoke along with us as we see what pairing brings out the best in this year-end standout.PairingsRandy: Gold Rush Highball & Perdomo Legacy Nicaraguan Shade Grown 👍🏻Robby: Guinness Cocoa Old Fashioned & Perdomo Legacy Nicaraguan Shade Grown 👍🏻VotesRandy: 31% Robby: 69%🙋‍♂️ Audience PairingsJeff Endrizzi: Mezcal Spicy Mama & Perdomo Legacy Nicaraguan Shade Grown 👍🏻👍🏻𝙎𝙉𝙇 -- Head over to our Smoke Night LIVE podcast for cigar interviews and entertainment: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ3OJ366KRotIlJb6-akfx_SKEmI45Y-k&si=Agu9o_OXidZLvcSW👀 Follow Cigar Dojo on social media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/cigardojo𝕏: https://twitter.com/cigardojoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CigarDojo/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cigardojo

Clocking in at number nine on this year’s Cigar Dojo year-end list is the Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Sobremesa Solita Red from Steve Saka. On this episode, Robby and Randy will set out to find the best drink pairing for this Ecuadorian Habano-wrapped cigar. Grab a Solita Red from the Dojo COTY sampler, pour yourself a drink, and join the fun as we explore which pairing works best.PairingsRandy: Solita Red Trade Wind & Sobremesa Solita Red 👎🏻Robby: La Tavola Rossa & Sobremesa Solita Red 👎🏻VotesRandy 67% Robby: 33%🙋‍♂️ Audience PairingsNathan Stewart: Sobremesa Solita Red & Sherry-Cask Scotch Old Fashioned 👍🏻👍🏻𝙎𝙉𝙇 -- Head over to our Smoke Night LIVE podcast for cigar interviews and entertainment: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ3OJ366KRotIlJb6-akfx_SKEmI45Y-k&si=Agu9o_OXidZLvcSW👀 Follow Cigar Dojo on social media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/cigardojo𝕏: https://twitter.com/cigardojoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CigarDojo/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cigardojo

As Flavor Odyssey continues its journey through the Dojo’s Cigar of the Year Sampler, this week hosts Robby Ras and Randy Griggs spotlight Rafael Nodal’s Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Concerto, which landed at No. 13 on our year-end list. But what drink pairing will bring this premium cigar into perfect harmony? Tune in, join the conversation, and help us discover the ideal match.PairingsSensei: Concerto Notturno & Aging Room Concerto 👍🏻Robby: Division Bell & Aging Room Concerto 👍🏻VotesSensei 17% Robby: 83%🙋‍♂️ Audience PairingsBill Powers: Aging Room Concerto & The Shinebox 👍🏻👍🏻𝙎𝙉𝙇 -- Head over to our Smoke Night LIVE podcast for cigar interviews and entertainment: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ3OJ366KRotIlJb6-akfx_SKEmI45Y-k&si=Agu9o_OXidZLvcSW👀 Follow Cigar Dojo on social media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/cigardojo𝕏: https://twitter.com/cigardojoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CigarDojo/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cigardojo

This week on Flavor Odyssey, Robby Ras and Randy Griggs find the perfect drink pairing for the Gold Star from United Cigars.Our #18 cigar of the year (and in the Dojo’s ‘Cigar of the Year Sampler’ from Smoke Inn), it features an Ecuadorian Habano 2000 wrapper, Indonesian Sumatra binder, and fillers of Dominican Ligero, Criollo ’98, Corojo ’98, and Connecticut Broadleaf.PairingsRandy: Gold Standard cocktail & United Gold Star 👍🏻Robby: French 125 cocktail & United Gold Star 👍🏻VotesRandy 67% Robby: 33%🙋‍♂️ Audience PairingsJeff Endrizzi: Gold Star Robusto & Maple Whiskey Sour 👍🏻👍🏻𝙎𝙉𝙇 -- Head over to our Smoke Night LIVE podcast for cigar interviews and entertainment: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ3OJ366KRotIlJb6-akfx_SKEmI45Y-k&si=Agu9o_OXidZLvcSW👀 Follow Cigar Dojo on social media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/cigardojo𝕏: https://twitter.com/cigardojoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CigarDojo/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cigardojo

This week on Flavor Odyssey, Robby Ras and Randy Griggs launch their annual journey through the Dojo’s Cigar of the Year Sampler from Smoke Inn. The featured cigar is the 601 La Bomba Warhead 11, a bold release from AJ Fernández’s San Lotano factory. The guys break down what makes this cigar stand out and invite listeners to join in with their own pairing picks. Every audience pairing entry has a chance to win prizes, including a free Flavor Odyssey sampler.PairingsRandy: The Detonator Highball & 601 La Bomba Warhead 11 👍🏻Robby: The Nor'easter & 601 La Bomba Warhead 11 👍🏻VotesRandy 29% Robby: 71%🙋‍♂️ Audience PairingsBill Powers: Warhead 11 & Black Manhattan 👍🏻👍🏻𝙎𝙉𝙇 -- Head over to our Smoke Night LIVE podcast for cigar interviews and entertainment: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ3OJ366KRotIlJb6-akfx_SKEmI45Y-k&si=Agu9o_OXidZLvcSW👀 Follow Cigar Dojo on social media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/cigardojo𝕏: https://twitter.com/cigardojoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CigarDojo/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cigardojo

This week on Flavor Odyssey, Randy Griggs and Master Sensei take a mini-odyssey unlike any other—one built around pure pairing versatility.The challenge? Find one cigar that can hold its own against three wildly different drinks: kombucha, dessert wine, and even pickle beer. It’s a true test of balance, adaptability, and flavor synergy as the hosts search for the ultimate “all-purpose” cigar pairing.And for the audience, it’s a total wildcard week—bring any cigar and any drink, join the conversation, and compete for bragging rights. Grab something bold, pour something weird, and let’s see what survives the Triple Drink Gauntlet.PairingsRandy: Herrera Estelí Norteño & Dessert Wine / Pickle Beer / Kombucha 👍🏻 / 👎🏻 / 👍🏻Sensei: Aganorsa Supreme Leaf & Dessert Wine / Pickle Beer / Kombucha 👍🏻 / 👎🏻 / 👍🏻VotesRandy 27% Robby: 73%🙋‍♂️ Audience PairingsNathan Stewart: Camacho Limited Edition 2025 & Oakforge No. 52 👍🏻👍🏻𝙎𝙉𝙇 -- Head over to our Smoke Night LIVE podcast for cigar interviews and entertainment: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ3OJ366KRotIlJb6-akfx_SKEmI45Y-k&si=Agu9o_OXidZLvcSW👀 Follow Cigar Dojo on social media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/cigardojo𝕏: https://twitter.com/cigardojoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CigarDojo/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cigardojo

Get ready for another full-throttle pairing showdown on Flavor Odyssey. This week, two powerhouse boutique brands go head-to-head as Tatuaje faces off against Illusione in a battle that helped shape modern premium cigars.Robby steps into the arena repping Tatuaje, while Randy takes the side of Illusione, with both hosts pairing their picks with whiskey sour. From balance and body to how each cigar interacts with the cocktail’s citrus and sweetness, every detail is up for debate as we hunt for the better pairing.Light up a Tatuaje or Illusione, mix yourself a whiskey sour, and join us as we break it all down—Flavor Odyssey style.PairingsRandy: Illusione Epernay 10th Anniversary D'Aosta & Whiskey Sour 👍🏻Robby: Tatuaje 7th Corojo & Whiskey Sour 👍🏻VotesRandy 62% Robby: 38%🙋‍♂️ Audience PairingsBill Powers: La Mission L'Atelier & Whiskey Sour (Knob Creek 100p Rye) 👍🏻👍🏻𝙎𝙉𝙇 -- Head over to our Smoke Night LIVE podcast for cigar interviews and entertainment: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ3OJ366KRotIlJb6-akfx_SKEmI45Y-k&si=Agu9o_OXidZLvcSW👀 Follow Cigar Dojo on social media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/cigardojo𝕏: https://twitter.com/cigardojoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CigarDojo/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cigardojo

Two titans of the cigar world go head-to-head on Flavor Odyssey. And no—we’re not talking about your hosts, Robby and Randy. This week’s battle features two of the most legendary brands in cigars: Arturo Fuente and Padrón.Which one pairs best with a World’s Best Old Fashioned?Robby steps into the ring for Padrón, while Randy defends Fuente in a no-holds-barred showdown for flavor supremacy. Grab a Fuente or a Padrón, mix up your favorite Old Fashioned, and join the debate as we put these icons to the test.PairingsRandy: OpusX 20th Anniversary & World's Greatest Old Fashioned 👍🏻Robby: Padrón Family Reserve 46 Years Maduro & World's Greatest Old Fashioned 👍🏻VotesRandy 71% Robby: 29%🙋‍♂️ Audience PairingsSam Finnell: Padron 1926 & Henry McKenna 10 yo Bottled in Bond Old Fashioned𝙎𝙉𝙇 -- Head over to our Smoke Night LIVE podcast for cigar interviews and entertainment: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ3OJ366KRotIlJb6-akfx_SKEmI45Y-k&si=Agu9o_OXidZLvcSW👀 Follow Cigar Dojo on social media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/cigardojo𝕏: https://twitter.com/cigardojoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CigarDojo/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cigardojo

Flavor Odyssey is back for its 9th season, and with Dry January in full effect, Robby and Randy are on a mission to find big, bold flavor—without the alcohol. Can a non-alcoholic drink deliver the depth and complexity needed to pair with a premium cigar? And if so, what techniques and strategies make it possible?PairingsRandy: Blood Orange Vanilla Tonic & Perdomo Double Aged 12 year Connecticut 👍🏻Robby: Ginger Chai Highball & JC Newman Diamond Crown Black Diamond 👍🏻VotesRandy 29% Robby: 71%🙋‍♂️ Audience PairingsSam Finnell: Perdomo Legacy Maduro & Bitter Mocha Coffee 👍🏻👍🏻𝙎𝙉𝙇 -- Head over to our Smoke Night LIVE podcast for cigar interviews and entertainment: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ3OJ366KRotIlJb6-akfx_SKEmI45Y-k&si=Agu9o_OXidZLvcSW👀 Follow Cigar Dojo on social media:Instagram: https://instagram.com/cigardojo𝕏: https://twitter.com/cigardojoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CigarDojo/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cigardojo

It’s the final episode of Flavor Odyssey for the year, and you know what that means—it’s time to crown the best cigar-and-drink pairings of 2025. Your Flavor Odyssey hosts will each reveal their top three pairings from the past year and reminisce about the journey along the way. We’ll also highlight the standout audience pairings that made 2025 one to remember. Pairings Randy: Black Walnut Manhattan & Liga Privada No. 9 Robby: Almond Reposado OF & Aganorsa Arsenio 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairings OTTERS! 

KISS (Keep it Simple, Stupid) works for a lot of things in life, but does it hold up in the world of cocktails and cigar pairings? This week on Flavor Odyssey, hosts Robby Ras and Randy Griggs explore whether a standout pairing really needs to be complex. The challenge: craft your own three-ingredient cocktail, choose a cigar that complements it, and join the fun. Pairings Studio: Black Manhattan 👍🏻 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairings Nathan Stewart: 10-Year Aged Alec Bradley Black Market Double Perfecto & Smoked Maple Old Fashioned

This week on Flavor Odyssey, we’re diving into cigar pairing tips and tricks—everything from advanced techniques to simple strategies that work with just about any cigar and drink combo. Professor Robby Ras and Randy Griggs will be leading the class in this fun and informative episode. Don’t forget your school supplies (a cigar and a drink), and whatever you do, don’t be late for class! Pairings Randy: Brown Butter Tequila Sour & Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Connecticut 👍🏻 Robby: Spiced Maple Rum Old Fashioned & Tatuaje Cojonu 2012 Capa Especial 👍🏻 Votes Randy 15% Robby: 85% 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairings Mike Heykens: Room101 Red Rocket & Chocolate Boulivardier.

You’ve heard of Friendsgiving—now get ready for Friendspairing! This week on Flavor Odyssey, hosts Robby and Randy are switching things up: they’ll craft a cocktail using each other’s recipes, then hunt down the perfect cigar to pair with it. Tune in for this special holiday edition of Flavor Odyssey and bring your own Thanksgiving-themed pairing to the table! Pairings Randy: The Decennium & Aganorsa Leaf Guardian of the Farm Nightwatch 👍🏻 Robby: Scotch Negroni & Aquitaine Gran Perfecto 👍🏻 Votes Randy 71% Robby: 29% 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairings THE OTTERS.

Pull up a chair, spark up a cigar, and settle in—it’s time for a fireside edition of Flavor Odyssey. This week, Robby and Randy explore the cozy side of cigar pairings, featuring classic warm cocktails that were made for sipping by the fire. From spiked cider to hot buttered rum, it’s all about comfort, rich flavor, and wintery vibes that complement your favorite smoke. Pairings Randy: Caffe Amaro & Southern Draw Rose of Sharon Desert Rose 👍🏻 Robby: Amaro Hot Spiced Toddy & Stolen Throne Call to Arms 👍🏻 Votes Randy 64% Robby: 36% 🙋‍♂️ Audience Pairings Nathan Stewart: Hot Mead w Lemon Cocktail & Herrera Estelí Brazilian Maduro.