Lounge Lizards - a Cigar and Lifestyle Podcast
A group of friends with established nicknames review a cigar and a spirit each week from their home lounge in New Jersey.
This is a roundtable review show where a fixed cast of characters (Gizmo, Bam Bam, Senator, Chef Ricky, etc.) smoke a cigar and drink a spirit over two-plus hours. The formal review provides a spine for wide-ranging conversations about industry news, listener-submitted questions, travel stories, and inside jokes. The show occasionally features long-form interviews with major figures in the cigar industry, often recorded on-location at trade shows.
“The show's use of host nicknames and established personas (e.g., Bam Bam as the enforcer of lounge etiquette) creates a unique 'cinematic universe' that stands out from more generic review shows. The combination of a structured rating segment with free-flowing, often-hilarious banter about their personal lives and travels makes the long format feel intimate and engaging.”
Who hosts this show
Recorded at Ten86 Cigars in Hawthorne, New Jersey, Lounge Lizards is a weekly panel podcast where a group of friends discuss all things cigars, whiskey, food, and travel. Each episode centers on a specific cigar and spirit pairing, which the hosts rate using their formal scoring system. The show covers both Cuban and non-Cuban cigars, blending structured reviews with casual, friendly banter, industry news, and listener mail.
Other ventures
- LizardGizmo.com (Host Gizmo's personal site)
What kind of podcast
When new episodes drop
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05
- 06
- 07
- 08
Notable episodes
- 01Ep. #237: Interview w/ Ernesto Perez-Carrillo
Features an in-depth, hour-long interview with an industry legend, covering his 56-year career, blending philosophy, and the surprising quality of American-grown tobacco.
- 02Ep. #239: Lizard Law & Order: Bam Bam Returns to North Korea
A prime example of the show's inside jokes and character-based humor, featuring a comedic 'investigation' into a host's visit to a disliked rival lounge.
- 03Ep. #185: Rob Ayala and Hamlet Paredes In Studio
A two-and-a-half-hour in-studio conversation with two major industry figures, Rob Ayala of Bond Roberts and master blender Hamlet Paredes, showcasing the show's access and depth.
- 04Ep. #238: Meerapfel La Estancia 52
Highlights the hosts' humor as they mock the opulent marketing language of a luxury brand and read an AI-generated parody bio for one of their own.
What you'll be asked on this show
While primarily a co-hosted discussion show, it features long-form interviews with industry titans, often recorded live at the PCA trade show. Host Gizmo leads the questioning, but other co-hosts join in, creating a conversational, multi-faceted interview. Questions are deeply informed, covering the guest's personal history, blending philosophy, technical craft, and business insights. The tone is one of deep respect, allowing guests ample time to tell their stories, as seen in the hour-long discussion with Ernesto Perez-Carrillo.
The main host, Gizmo, acts as a moderator, introducing the cigar and spirit, guiding segments, and reading listener mail. The format is a multi-person chat with significant, rapid-fire back-and-forth and frequent inside jokes referencing past episodes. Regular segments include the "Formal Lizard Rating," "Formal Liquor Rating," and "Lizard of the Week."
Questions the host keeps coming back to
13 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
origin
1- Q.01
“Tell us about the genesis of [this new product].”
Often asked to brand owners or blenders to get the origin story behind a new or limited-edition cigar.
craft
3- Q.01
“How does your background in [another field, like music] influence your blending?”
Used to explore the cross-disciplinary influences that shape a guest's creative process.
- Q.02
“What are you getting on the cold draw?”
The standard opening move during the pre-light review portion of the show.
- Q.03
“What other [spirit] would you compare this to?”
Used during the liquor review to benchmark the tasting experience against more familiar products.
mindset
1- Q.01
“What is your 'why' today?”
A mindset question posed to established figures to understand their current motivation after a long career.
process
3- Q.01
“What's the typical timeline from a cigar idea to the final recipe?”
This process question seeks to demystify the cigar development cycle for listeners.
- Q.02
“How do you adjust existing blends for fluctuations in new tobacco crops?”
A technical question that reveals the challenges of maintaining consistency in cigar production.
- Q.03
“How have your tasting methods evolved since you started your cigar journey?”
A reflective question prompted by listener mail, exploring the hosts' personal development.
industry
1- Q.01
“What are your views on the growing market for women in cigars?”
Asks industry leaders for their perspective on evolving market demographics.
advice
1- Q.01
“How do you store your cigars at home?”
A practical advice question that surfaces the personal habits of an industry expert.
personal
1- Q.01
“What's your favorite cigar among the many you've rolled?”
A personal question aimed at revealing a creator's own top preference from their work.
money
1- Q.01
“At what point would you cash in on the valuable Cuban cigars you own?”
This question explores the hosts' philosophy on collecting versus profiting from rare cigars.
controversy
1- Q.01
“Do you think there's Cuban tobacco in this cigar?”
Asked when reviewing a cigar with an undisclosed blend, fueling speculation and debate.
Signature segments
- · Formal Lizard Rating
- · Formal Liquor Rating
- · Lizard of the Week
- · Referring to co-hosts by nicknames (Gizmo, Bam Bam, Senator, etc.)
- · Bam Bam Faux Pas / Lizard Law & Order
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are typically high-profile figures from the cigar world, such as master blenders or brand owners like Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, Rafael Nodal, Rob Ayala, and Hamlet Paredes. These are treated as serious, in-depth interviews focusing on their craft and history. Occasionally, a founding member of the podcast may call in for a more comedic, character-driven segment.
- Ernesto Perez Carrilloon Ep. #237: Interview w/ Ernesto Perez-Carrillo...
- Poobaon Ep. #239: Bond Roberts Dalia Linea B No. 3...
- Rafael Nodalon Ep. #193: Interview with Aging Room Cigars Owner and Blender Rafael Nodal...
- Rob Ayalaon Ep. #185: Rob Ayala and Hamlet Paredes In Studio...
- Hamlet Paredeson Ep. #185: Rob Ayala and Hamlet Paredes In Studio...
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast is presented by Fabrica 5 cigars and has an exclusive retail partnership with Small Batch Cigar, with discount codes offered to listeners. Bond Roberts is also a frequently mentioned sponsor.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- What are the hosts' real names?
- The hosts are known exclusively by their nicknames (Gizmo, Rooster, Senator, Bam Bam, etc.) and their real names are not publicly shared.
- Is the podcast still active?
- Yes, it releases new episodes weekly on Tuesdays.
- What is the format of the show?
- It's a weekly roundtable discussion where a group of friends review one cigar and one spirit, while also discussing industry news, listener mail, and lifestyle topics.
- Where is the podcast recorded?
- The show is recorded at Ten86 Cigars, a cigar shop and lounge in Hawthorne, New Jersey.
- How can I contact the show?
- You can email the hosts at [email — gated] or [email — gated] to join the conversation.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major podcast platforms.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Lounge Lizards - a Cigar and Lifestyle Podcast (Official Website)loungelizardspod.com
- [02]Lounge Lizards - YouTube Channelyoutube.com
- [03]Ten 86 Cigars Lounge | Hawthorne, New Jerseyten86cigars.com
- [04]Lizard Gizmo - Host's Personal Sitelizardgizmo.com
- [05]Lounge Lizards - a Cigar and Lifestyle Podcast | iHeartiheart.com
- [06]Reddit thread discussing the podcastreddit.com
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