PHX Rises Cigars

🚨 BLOG ALERT 🚨

Every great cigar has a story. This month, you're getting five. 🔥

From limited releases and boutique favorites to blends you won't find in every humidor, July's Fab Five is built for cigar smokers who crave discovery—not just another sampler.

Inside this month's lineup:
🔥 Crowned Heads Tennessee Waltz Toro
💀 Black Label Trading Co. Macabre
🌴 El Mago Miami Art Deco Maduro
👑 Stolen Throne Crook of the Crown 5th Anniversary
🏙️ ATL Cigar Co. Good Trouble

Each cigar was chosen not only for how it smokes, but for the story behind it.

Read the full breakdown and discover why these five made the cut. 👇

📖 Read the blog: https://www.phxrisesci**rs.com/blogs/ci**rs/phx-rises-presents-julys-fab-five

**rs **rs **rsThatTellAStory

Me, wondering how to explain to my wife why I need ""just one more"" cigar subscription. 😅🚬

Some things you just can't put a price on. 😌

Tag someone who gets it!
Or--- join our club 🫣
https://www.phxrisesci**rs.com/products/a-story-to-tell-membership

**rs

This isn't a follower count. ❌
It's a family. 🐦‍🔥

Our private community is where the real conversations happen — new drops, live Q&As with the makers, and people who actually know what they're smoking.

Join the rise! https://www.facebook.com/groups/phxrisescommunity

**rsmoker

When I went to PCA this year, I had never even heard of ATL Ci**rs.

That changed pretty quickly.

A trusted friend in the industry pulled me aside and said, "You need to go meet these guys." So I walked over to the booth, sat down with Leroy Lamar III and his wife, and we started talking.

Not just about ci**rs.

About family. About community. About Atlanta.
About why they started ATL in the first place.

The longer we talked, the more I realized this wasn't just another cigar company trying to stand out with flashy marketing. They had a genuine purpose behind what they were building, and honestly, I connected with their story more than any other brand I visited during the show.

That conversation is why you're smoking the ATL Good Trouble Corona Gorda this month.

The name Good Trouble honors the legacy of Congressman John Lewis, whose famous call to get into "good trouble" inspired the blend. It's a cigar built around bringing people together, creating conversations, and celebrating community—something that felt right at home with what we're building at PHX Rises.

The cigar itself doesn't disappoint either.

Expect notes of caramel sweetness, roasted coffee, cedar, earth, pepper, and subtle citrus, all wrapped together in an incredibly balanced medium-bodied smoke. It's flavorful without ever becoming overwhelming, and it's one of those ci**rs that keeps you reaching for another puff because the profile stays interesting from beginning to end.

One thing I also appreciate about ATL is how intentional they've been with their partnerships.

They've worked alongside some of the best names in premium ci**rs—including Luciano Ci**rs and Aganorsa—to create blends that reflect Atlanta's culture while delivering exceptional quality. Every release feels like it has a purpose, not just another SKU added to a catalog.

That's exactly why this cigar found its way into A Story to Tell.

Some ci**rs make the cut because they're incredibly rare. Others because they've earned a permanent spot in my humidor. And sometimes, it's because I meet people whose passion reminds me why I fell in love with this hobby in the first place.

My hope is that every month this club expands your horizons a little bit. Maybe it's introducing you to a company you've never smoked before. Maybe it's giving you access to something difficult to find. Or maybe it's simply putting an outstanding cigar in your hands that deserves far more attention than it's getting.

For me, ATL checked every one of those boxes.

And I have a feeling this won't be the last ATL cigar you smoke.

Over the last year, I've smoked quite a few ci**rs from El Mago, but this is the one that started it all for me.

The Miami Art Deco Maduro was the very first El Mago cigar I ever smoked, and I still remember thinking, "Yep... these guys are onto something."

From the first few puffs, I kept coming back to one thought...

It reminded me of a really good chocolate bar.

Rich dark chocolate, espresso, sweet caramel, roasted nuts, and just enough spice to keep everything balanced. It's smooth, flavorful, and one of those ci**rs that never feels like it's trying too hard.

I'll admit something else...

I'm usually not a fan of ci**rs that come in tubes.

A lot of manufacturers use them as an excuse to tack on a few extra dollars, and to me, they often feel more gimmicky than practical.
But El Mago is different.

The tubes actually add to the experience. They feel premium, protect the cigar well, and somehow make lighting one feel like opening something special... all without charging an unreasonable premium for the presentation. That's the way it should be.

What also drew me to this brand was getting to know Nicolas Fusco.

If you've ever heard him talk about El Mago, you can tell this isn't just another cigar company to him. He built the brand as a tribute to his grandparents and their incredible journey from escaping oppressive regimes to eventually building a new life in Miami. That family story is woven into everything the company does, right down to the artwork on the bands and the iconic Miami inspiration behind the line.

And what continues to impress me is how broad their lineup is.

Whether you like something creamy and approachable or rich and full-bodied, Nicolas has created a portfolio that offers something for just about every palate. Even better, they're priced in a way that makes them easy to come back to without feeling like you're saving them only for special occasions. That's becoming harder and harder to find in today's cigar market.

That's exactly why this cigar earned a spot in A Story to Tell.

Some months I want to surprise you with a brand you've never smoked. Other months I want to share a cigar that completely won me over the first time I lit it up. Along the way, you'll find limited releases, aged smokes, hidden gems, and ci**rs that I genuinely believe deserve more attention than they get.

Because the goal isn't just to fill a box with five good ci**rs.

It's to fill it with five ci**rs that have a story worth telling.

And for me, the Miami Art Deco Maduro will always be the cigar that introduced me to everything El Mago has become. 🔥

🚨BLOG ALERT🚨

A cigar subscription can be one of the fastest ways to discover new ci**rs—or a complete waste of money. Here's how to know the difference!

Read it here -> https://www.phxrisesci**rs.com/blogs/ci**rs/is-a-cigar-subscription-worth-it-the-answer-depends-on-what-kind-of-smoker-you-are

**rsubscription **rs

One of my favorite parts of putting together A Story to Tell is getting to share ci**rs that most people haven’t tried yet…or may not have a chance to even buy.

This month’s Black Label Trading Co. Macabre Corona Gorda is one of those ci**rs.

Most boutique smokers already know how good Black Label Trading Co. is. James Brown has built a reputation for making bold, unique blends that don’t taste like everyone else’s. So when I heard the Macabre was going to be a PCA Trade Show exclusive, I knew I had to get my hands on some for the club.

The catch? It was only offered to retailers who attended the show, and just 650 boxes were made for the entire world. On top of that, the Corona Gorda you received is the rarest of the three vitolas that were released.

That’s exactly the kind of cigar I love putting in this club.

As soon as I lit this one up, I remembered why I’m such a fan of Black Label. It’s rich, earthy, and full of character. I picked up notes of espresso, dark cocoa, leather, floral sweetness, black pepper, and just enough creaminess to tie everything together. It’s complex without feeling busy, and every third of the cigar gives you something a little different.

This is really what A Story to Tell is all about.

Some months it’ll be a brand you’ve never smoked before. Other months it’ll be a special release from a brand you already love. And sprinkled throughout the year, you’ll find limited editions, trade show exclusives, ci**rs with a little age on them, and the ones that have earned a permanent spot in my own humidor.

I don’t want this club to feel like you’re just getting five random ci**rs every month.

I want every cigar to have a reason for being there.

The Macabre Corona Gorda definitely earned its spot.

"I've thoroughly enojoyed being part of PHX Rises Ci**rs for quite some time now. As a seasoned cigar enthusiast, I've consistently been impressed by the quality of their selections and the thoughtful introduction to new boutique brands I might not have discovered otherwise. The subscription experience is seamless, with reliable shipping and excellent communication every step of the way. It's clear they take pride in both their product and their customer relationships, which makes the entire experience that much more enjoyable."

Xavier S., PHX Rises Member
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Join the club! https://www.phxrisesci**rs.com/products/a-story-to-tell-membership

One of the reasons I started A Story to Tell wasn’t just to introduce people to new brands, it was to put ci**rs in your hands that you wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to buy.

This month’s Stolen Throne Crook of the Crown 5th Anniversary is a perfect example.

Only 2,500 bundles of this anniversary release were produced, and they’re now essentially sold out everywhere I could find online. Once they’re smoked, that’s it.

If you’ve never smoked a Stolen Throne cigar before, you’re in for a treat. This blend delivers everything I love about a great San Andrés cigar: rich espresso, dark chocolate, leather, oak, cinnamon, roasted nuts, and just enough black pepper to keep things interesting without overpowering the smoke. It somehow manages to be bold and refined at the same time, which is why it’s become one of my personal favorites.

Crook of the Crown was the very first cigar Lee Marsh released when he launched Stolen Throne. I interviewed Lee when he was first getting Stolen Throne off the ground that you can hear part of his story here: https://mfrrpodcast.com/making-your-place-at-the-table-even-when-its-crowded-with-lee-marsh/

In the coming months, we’ll have Lee on as part of our Meet the Makers segment, and hear more of this story.

This is exactly what A Story to Tell is about.

Sure, you’ll discover brands you’ve probably never heard of and many you are familiar with, but you’ll also find:
- Limited editions that disappear almost as soon as they’re released.
- Ci**rs with a little age already on them.
- Hidden gems from smaller manufacturers.
- Custom blends made exclusively for PHX Rises that club members get to try first.
- And plenty of the ci**rs I genuinely reach for in my own humidor.

I’ve always had a rule that I wouldn’t sell a cigar that I could not be content with if I had to smoke it for the rest of my life. If Facebook shut down tomorrow and I could no longer run PHX Rises, would I be ok having 1,000 of these ci**rs to smoke through?

With the Crook of the Crown, it’s an immediate yes.

Anyone can sell you ci**rs.

I want to help you discover ci**rs you’ll remember.

Crook of the Crown 5th Anniversary is going to be one of those.

Every month, I try to include at least one cigar that makes me smile before I even cut the cap because I know I’m about to light up something good.
This month’s pick, the Crowned Heads Tennessee Waltz Toro, is one of those ci**rs.

If you’ve been around PHX Rises for a while, you probably already know this about me: Connecticut Broadleaf is my favorite wrapper. There is just something about the combination of richness, natural sweetness, espresso, chocolate, and earth that always pulls me back in. If I had to choose one wrapper to smoke for the rest of my life, CB would be awfully hard to beat.

The Tennessee Waltz has a pretty cool story too.

It debuted back in 2014 as a Tennessee-only exclusive, a tribute to Crowned Heads’ home state and inspired by company president and co-owner Jon Huber’s family history. Demand became so strong over the years that retailers across the country kept asking for it, and Crowned Heads finally expanded it beyond Tennessee.

Then in 2025, the brand received its biggest update ever with new packaging, a refreshed band (previously was only a colored ribbon on the foot), and three vitolas for the first time in its history. The Toro (6x54) you’re smoking this month is one of those brand-new additions to the lineup.

As for the cigar itself…

Expect notes of dark chocolate, rich coffee, leather, oak, caramel sweetness, black pepper, subtle citrus, and dried fruit. It’s medium-to-full-bodied, incredibly balanced, and exactly what I want from a Connecticut Broadleaf blend.

This is what I hope A Story to Tell becomes known for.

Not just introducing you to brands you may have overlooked, but giving you access to ci**rs with real stories behind them…regional legends, newly expanded releases, aged gems, hard-to-find blends, and the ci**rs that have earned a permanent place in my own humidor.

Because discovering your next favorite cigar is a whole lot more fun than buying the same one over and over.

I can’t wait to hear what you think of this one.

**rs **rs **rsociety