Cigar Grail Author
Jay Afyouni
Built on family, friendship, and a genuine love of cigars.
Jay Afyouni co-owns Cigar Grail with his brother, Moe. He has smoked cigars for more than ten years and writes as a retailer, enthusiast, and someone who is still eager to learn something new every day.
About Jay
How Cigar Grail began
Cigars have been part of Jay’s family life for as long as he can remember. He began smoking them more than ten years ago, and some of his fondest early memories are of sitting on the balcony and sharing cigars with his dad.
In 2025, Jay and his brother, Moe, turned a longtime passion project into Cigar Grail. Their goal was to create the kind of cigar store they had always wanted to visit: carefully maintained, highly personal, competitively priced, and built around a genuine enthusiasm for cigars.
Jay also built the Cigar Grail website from scratch. His interest in technology and his standards for the store come from the same place: he wants every part of the experience to feel considered, useful, and exceptionally well made.
“A cigar is more than its flavors and tasting notes. The occasion matters, and so do the people you share it with.”Jay Afyouni
Areas of focus
What Jay writes about
Cigar reviews
Construction, flavor progression, strength, balance, and value based on first-hand smoking.
Beginner guidance
Straight answers about cigar sizes, strength, storage, cutting, lighting, and choosing a first cigar.
Buying advice
Practical comparisons that connect flavor, occasion, availability, and price to the right buyer.
Pairings and care
Coffee and drink pairings, humidor care, and the habits that help cigars smoke as intended.
Beyond the counter
How Jay enjoys cigars
Personal taste
Jay usually reaches for full-bodied cigars. Connecticut Broadleaf and Mexican San Andrés are his favorite wrappers, and Opus X best represents his personal taste.
Weekly smoke nights
Once a week, Jay gets together with friends, orders food, and shares a premium cigar. The company and the occasion are as important as the cigar itself.
Coffee and food
Coffee is Jay’s favorite cigar pairing. He is also a foodie who enjoys discovering new dishes for the same reason he enjoys trying new cigars.
Always learning
Even after more than ten years, Jay remains eager to try new cigars, talk with other smokers, and keep learning about the craft every day.
The Cigar Grail standard
What guides Jay’s work
Protect every cigar
Proper humidification is fundamental to how cigars age and smoke. Every online order includes a humidity pillow so the cigars arrive in the condition Jay expects.
Keep service personal
Jay wants guests to feel known, not processed. Many regulars stay to talk because the relationship extends beyond a transaction.
Share the experience
When Jay has a great cigar, he wants other people to enjoy it too. His reviews connect flavor with value, occasion, and the people a cigar may suit.
Latest work
Latest from Cigar Grail
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