Howdy reader! Right away, I’ll admit that this isn’t your typical cigar review.
At Bespoke Unit, we usually smoke several sticks, take dozens of photos, and break down the construction, flavor, and performance of cigars that are generally easy to find, whether online or at your local cigar shop.
This review, though? It’s something different.
It’s part travelogue, part cigar adventure, and part celebration of the global community that exists among cigar smokers.
A quick note before we dive in: the photos in this review are a little darker and blurrier than what you’re used to seeing on BespokeUnit.com. That’s because they were taken in the soft, ambient lighting of a small cigar lounge in Osaka — perfect for conversation and reflection, not so much for camera work. Still, I’ve included them because they capture the mood of the experience better than a flash ever could.
So grab a drink, light a cigar, and come along for the ride.
A Night in Osaka
I was in Osaka on a well-earned vacation with my brother.
After a full day at Super Mario Land in Universal Studios, some intense shopping, and about 30,000 steps, we wrapped the night with gyoza and whisky highballs.
My brother crashed early. I had a second wind and found myself wandering Dotombori, Osaka’s buzzing nightlife district filled with neon, music, and street food.
Just five minutes from our hotel, I discovered a cigar lounge on the third floor of an unassuming building.
The Lounge: Cigar Nest and Kazuki-san
Cigar Nest is a small, intimate bar that can maybe seat 15 people max. On a busy Friday night, just one other guest was inside, quietly puffing away while tapping on their phone.
The atmosphere was calm. Soft Japanese jazz played in the background. Kazuki-san, the bartender and owner, was running the show solo. I ordered a highball and looked over the humidor.
Most cigars on offer were Cubans—good, but not my usual pick, especially with the premium price tags they carry in Japan.
Luckily, I had my travel humidor on hand and pulled out a Rojas Unfinished Business. I lit up and offered one to Kazuki-san as well. He graciously accepted, then returned the favor.
A Mystery Cigar: GOTA Miyamoto
He handed me a cigar I had never seen before. It had a white band with a single “G” on the front. This was the GOTA Miyamoto, a cigar blended in Estelí, Nicaragua, and, as far as I can tell, only sold in Japan.
According to GOTA’s sparse website and a few scattered online posts, I’m about 80% sure I smoked the #3 Robusto. It seems to be marketed as a more affordable alternative to Cuban cigars and is positioned as something easy to find locally.
I still don’t know the blend, the construction details, or even what factory it came out of. Regardless, I just rolled with it.
Kazuki-san explained that the GOTA Miyamoto is blended specifically for the Japanese market and is intentionally light in flavor. From the look of the wrapper—a beautiful Habano leaf with some sheen and faint veins—I expected more strength.
The foot had aromas of café au lait and cinnamon. The dry draw was surprisingly earthy, with barnyard notes, cookie dough, and brown sugar.
Smoking the GOTA Miyamoto Cigar
Right off the light, I couldn’t believe this was a Nicaraguan cigar. It was incredibly mild, closer in strength to something Dominican.
A few puffs in, I picked up leather, cream, and snickerdoodle-style cinnamon. The retrohale was bright and clean, with an odd mix of cilantro and soap.
Meanwhile, Kazuki-san smoked the Rojas and gently commented that it was far too strong for his palate. Fair enough.
Moving into the second third, the GOTA started producing copious smoke and had a perfect draw. Flavors shifted to cocoa powder, tree bark, and a raisin-like sweetness. The retrohale brought in the familiar Nicaraguan black pepper.
About halfway through, I tried to take off the white “G” band. That’s when Kazuki-san explained it was made from traditional Japanese Washi paper, the same material used for fine calligraphy. It doesn’t come off cleanly.
Without missing a beat, he retrieved a small pair of scissors and carefully snipped it free. I’ve been in fancy cigar lounges all over the U.S. and Europe that don’t offer that kind of service.
The final third of the cigar ramped up to a solid medium. This is going to sound weird, but the flavor reminded me of hardware store sawdust—in a good way—with some floral thyme and a dry, spicy cinnamon that had lost its sweetness. The retrohale, oddly enough, reminded me of peanut butter.
Pairings: Drinks & Food
Japanese whisky highballs are my new obsession. The whisky leans clean and Scotch-like, and when topped with soda water, it creates a crisp drink that pairs effortlessly with a milder cigar like the GOTA Miyamoto.
Later in the night, I asked about a bottle of rum on the back shelf. Turns out it was Japanese Rhum Agricole made with sugarcane harvested near Tokyo Bay. Kazuki-san didn’t think it would pair well, but I had to try it.
The salted, nutty profile was unique, and a Jamaican high-ester version added a caramel note that surprised me. Not a sweet, syrupy pairing by any means, but I thought it was fantastic.
As for food, I kept thinking about the gyoza from earlier. Those pork-and-ginger dumplings would have paired beautifully with the cigar’s rising strength and herbal notes. Bar nuts would have been a good call too, offering a savory contrast to the floral profile in the final third. For a sweet option, I’d recommend a crème puff. It would tame the bitterness in the finish and work surprisingly well with that Japanese rum.
Connection, Language & the Brotherhood of the Leaf
It’s worth mentioning that I don’t speak Japanese. I’ve got about 750 days on Duolingo under my belt, but I’m nowhere near fluent. My conversation with Kazuki-san was a mix of broken Japanese, Spanish, head nods, and a translation app. Despite that, we had a great time.
I wasn’t paid or comped for this review. I just wanted to share a small example of how cigars bring people together across cultures and languages. That’s the real takeaway.
Final Thoughts
If you ever find yourself in Osaka, carve out an evening to visit Cigar Nest. Bring a few cigars of your own to trade. Be open to trying something new. The GOTA Miyamoto may be hard to find, but it’s a reminder that there are great cigars being made all over the world for different palates and preferences.
Always bring cigars when you travel. Even if you don’t smoke them all, you might make a friend and discover something unexpected.
"A rare Japanese-market cigar, a jazz-filled lounge in Osaka, and a reminder that a good cigar can open unexpected doors."
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