Five Cigar Picks for the Creekside June Club Box

From Creekside Podcast Ep. 020: These Are The Cigars You NEED To Smoke This Month, aired Jun 06, 2025. Recorded at Creekside Cigar Co. in Maineville, Ohio.

On this episode of the Creekside Podcast, Dave sits down with Conner, Noah, and Josh Reiner to talk through the five cigars selected for the June club box. The picks range from a new Avowed release to a classic Tatuaje and an Oliva favorite, with each crew member explaining what stood out. Josh also shares how working at Creekside has shaped his cigar journey and his approach to welcoming people into the lounge.

What cigars are in the Creekside June box?

The crew describes this as the club’s fourth month, with 192 members at the time of recording. The June selection brings together different styles and experience levels rather than focusing only on boutique releases. That balance is part of the point: the crew wants the box to introduce members to cigars they may not already reach for, while still including dependable favorites.

Dave’s first pick is the Avowed Higher Calling, a new release connected to Father’s Day. It is made at the Kelner Cigars factory in the Dominican Republic and is described as a slightly tweaked version of the Avowed blend featured in an earlier box. Dave finds it mild to medium, delicate, and nuanced, with baking spice and cashew coming through especially on the retrohale. He sees it as a good morning cigar rather than a powerhouse.

Josh’s selection is the Rodriguez Series 84 Maduro. He likes the vitola and says the cigar feels comfortable in the hand. The crew calls it a shop favorite, and Josh chose it because he thought the Maduro would complement the rest of the box.

Why does Conner keep coming back to Tatuaje Black?

Conner’s pick is the Tatuaje Black in Corona Gorda, a cigar he says first surprised him more than a year before this conversation. He describes it as a classic Nicaraguan-tasting cigar, with nutty, earthy, spicy, and woody character. It is not especially sweet, but he appreciates that it has plenty of flavor without feeling too strong.

Conner also says the blend works well across the sizes he has tried, though the Corona Gorda is his favorite. He recalls first trying Tatuaje Black years earlier and being struck by how much flavor it offered without overwhelming him. For him, it is the kind of cigar that remains an easy choice whenever he sees it.

What did Noah and Dave say about their picks?

Noah brings a familiar favorite: the Oliva Serie V Maduro in the No. 4 size. He describes it as oily, chocolatey, creamy, and well-aged, with sweet, roasty coffee, bread, and nut notes. He also enjoys the transitions across the cigar, especially through the retrohale. The crew’s reaction reflects the appeal of putting a recognizable, established cigar alongside newer or less familiar choices.

Dave’s other pick is the Warped Corto Maduro. He calls it smooth and nuanced, with dusted cocoa, sweetness, and an unusual jasmine and green tea quality. He says the cigar is not overly strong and pairs well with coffee or espresso. The crew connects its character to the tobacco used in the blend, while noting that the finished cigar feels smoother than they might expect.

How does Josh approach cigar hospitality?

Josh says he has always enjoyed meeting people, and working at Creekside has brought him into contact with cigar smokers visiting from places including Florida, Texas, and central Indiana. He sees the shared hobby as a reason people keep learning and connecting. His own cigar experience began when he was young; at first, he says, it was more about the look of smoking a cigar on the golf course. Over time, it became a hobby he wanted to understand more deeply.

He describes trying new cigars as part of learning how to guide guests who want to explore beyond their usual choices. The crew talks about hospitality as a shared effort, with everyone working toward the same goal. In their view, the lounge feels welcoming when staff and guests can enjoy the same conversation and community together.

Key takeaways

• The June box brings together five picks spanning new releases and familiar favorites.
• Avowed Higher Calling is described as delicate and nuanced, with baking spice and cashew on the retrohale.
• Conner favors Tatuaje Black for its balanced, classic Nicaraguan character.
• Noah’s Oliva Serie V Maduro pick offers creamy texture and coffee, chocolate, and nut notes.
• For Josh, trying a wide range of cigars helps him learn and better serve lounge guests.

Cigars from this episode

• Avowed Higher Calling: Dave describes it as mild to medium, delicate, and nuanced, with baking spice and cashew on the retrohale.
• Tatuaje Black Corona Gorda: Conner praises its nutty, earthy, spicy, woody character and says it has flavor without being too strong.
• Oliva Serie V Maduro No. 4: Noah notes chocolate, coffee, bread, and nuts, with a creamy texture and transitions.
• Warped Corto Maduro: Dave describes dusted cocoa, sweetness, and jasmine and green tea notes; he enjoys it with coffee or espresso.
• Rodriguez Series 84 Maduro: Josh selected it for the box, praising the vitola; the crew calls it a shop favorite.
• Crowned Heads Coronetta Habano, Tobacco Tactical exclusive: Dave recalls a box-pressed Toro with a distinctive fruit character and says he enjoyed it.
• Oliva Serie V Maduro: Also discussed as a broader favorite; Noah highlights its oily wrapper and sweet, roasty coffee notes.
• Aganorsa Connecticut cigar: Josh mentions an Ecuadorian Connecticut-wrapped cigar with white pepper and cocoa; the exact line name is unclear.
• Alec Bradley Prensado: Josh names it as a cigar he has always liked.

Shop, smoke and listen with Creekside

• Shop the cigars from this episode
• Join the Creekside Cigar Club for boutique cigars picked by our crew every month
• Visit our cigar lounge at 1381 US-22, Maineville, OH, open seven days a week
• Subscribe to the Creekside Podcast on YouTube and catch every episode