Co-owner · Est. 2025
Jay Afyouni
Jay runs Cigar Grail with his brother Moe. His first cigars were shared with his dad on the balcony, and he has been smoking for more than 10 years since.
In 2025 the two of them opened the cigar store they had always wanted to visit. Jay built the website from scratch, and every week there is a smoke night with friends and ordered food. After all these years he is still eager to learn something new every day.
“A cigar is more than its flavors and tasting notes. The occasion matters, and so do the people you share it with.”Jay Afyouni
What Jay writes about
- Cigar reviews
- Construction, flavor, strength, balance and value, from first hand smoking.
- Beginner guidance
- Straight answers on sizes, strength, storage, cutting, lighting and a first cigar.
- Buying advice
- Flavor, occasion and price matched to the right buyer.
- Pairings and care
- Coffee and drink pairings, humidor care and good habits.
What guides Jay’s work
- Protect every cigar
- Every online order ships with a humidity pillow, so cigars arrive the way Jay expects.
- Keep service personal
- Guests should feel known, not processed. Many regulars stay to talk.
- Share the experience
- When Jay finds a great cigar, he wants other people to enjoy it too.
Strength
Full bodied
Signature
Opus X
Per day
2 or 3
Wrappers
Connecticut Broadleaf, Mexican San Andrés
Pairing
Coffee
Off the clock
Foodie
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Opus X Society Gold & Bullet Review: My Favorite Society Release Yet
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Cigar Size Chart: Every Shape, Length and Ring Gauge
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Premium Cigars for Beginners: A Straightforward Guide
Guide · Jul 30, 2026
How Cigars Are Made: From Tobacco Seed to Finished Cigar
Guide · Jul 30, 2026
Long Filler vs Short Filler Cigars: What’s the Difference?
Guide · Jul 30, 2026
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Cigar Strength vs. Flavor: What’s the Difference?
Guide · Jul 30, 2026
How to Cut a Cigar: A Beginner’s Step-by-Step Guide
Guide · Jul 30, 2026
Wrapper, Binder, and Filler Explained: The Parts of a Cigar
Guide · Jul 30, 2026
How to Light a Cigar: A Beginner’s Step-by-Step Guide
Guide · Jul 30, 2026
Common Beginner Cigar Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Guide · Jul 30, 2026
Handmade vs. Machine-Made Cigars: What’s the Difference?
Guide · Jul 30, 2026
How to Smoke a Cigar Slowly Without Letting It Go Out
Guide · Jul 30, 2026
Cigar Ring Gauge Explained: What the Numbers Mean
Guide · Jul 30, 2026
Cigar Shapes Explained: Parejo, Figurado, and More
Guide · Jul 30, 2026
Best Humidity for Cigars: A Practical RH Guide
Guide · Jul 30, 2026
Aging Cigars: What Changes and How Long to Wait
Guide · Jul 30, 2026
Opus X Society Gold & Bullet: What Buyers Should Know
Guide · Jul 27, 2026
How to Season a New Humidor (and Keep It That Way)
Guide · Jun 25, 2026
Cigar Regions: Where Cigar Tobacco Grows and How It Tastes
Guide · Jun 11, 2026
Traveling with Cigars from the U.S. to Canada: 7 Important Rules to Know
Guide · Jun 4, 2026