Carlos Nodal of Ultimate Cigars Club: Filling Big Shoes, and Making His Name
Carlos Nodal, founder of Ultimate Cigars, grew up in the cigar industry; his father, Rafael, founded Aging Room. Carlos briefly worked in the hospitality industry. However, he ultimately returned to cigars, where he learned from some of the best. His father casts a long shadow, but Carlos is steadily making a name for himself in […]
Aficionado and Disruptor, Vincent McGlone Wants You to Enjoy an Effortless Cigar Experience
For Vincent McGlone, a longtime aficionado and world traveler, cigar life is about camaraderie and, of course, the experience of quality premium cigars. McGlone, owner and founder of Vicente Blends, never intended to start a business. He began his luxury cigar line with one goal in mind: to create a cigar with a perfect draw. […]
Vance Taylor of Stoic Cigars Smokes Mindfully
, Vance Taylor grew up Mormon, where smoking was off-limits, but cigars always pulled him in. The future founder of Stoic Cigars smoked his first cigar one frigid winter night in Utah. While working in the dental industry, he eventually became known as “the kid with the cigars”. His cigar line honors the natural connection […]
Jesus Martinez Honoring a Legacy One Cigar at a Time
Jesus Martinez grew up in a cigar shop. Like many before him, his first cigar-smoking experience might not have been his best, but it certainly wasn’t his last. Martinez Cigars has been blending for over 50 years in the heart of Manhattan. Jesus spoke with Cigar Life Guy about honoring his father’s legacy, designing custom […]
Telling Fish Tales and Smoking Cigars: Lou Cross of Lure Cigars
Lou Cross, founder and owner of Lure Cigars, has been living the cigar life for over thirty years, but it took him some time to make the leap into the industry and start his line. Cross built a career in mapmaking, graphic design, and senior housing development before landing in cigars. Along the way, he […]
A Passion for Cigars: The Croatian Gangster Todd Pribanic
Todd Pribanic has lived the cigar life across Thailand, Europe, and Central America. Pribanic, the owner and founder of Croatian Mafia Cigars, never intended to start a cigar company. However, one fateful trip to Esteli, Nicaragua, changed all that. Pribanic is a passionate man. Passionate about family. Passionate about the Cleveland Sports teams. And Passionate […]
Jonathan Carney Wants You to Meet Bentley the Cigar
Jonathan Carney has been living the cigar life for over twenty years. He started in a cigar shop, moved into sales, and now leads Bentley Cigars’ US distribution. Carney learned early to never compromise values or vision when trying to create something special. He spoke with Cigar Life Guy about his partnership with Martin Schuster. […]
Terence Reilly Breaks Down All Things Cigars
Terence Reilly has been living the cigar life since his twenties. Spending one formative summer with his Uncle Manuel (of Quesada Cigars) in the Dominican was all it took. Now, the VP of Sales & Marketing at Aganorsa Leaf, Reilly, spoke with Cigar Life Guy. They talked about the logistics of blending, what makes a […]
Juan Lugo of Don Doroteo Cigars is Reviving a Legacy
Many people grow up around cigars, but it takes a special person to revive a legacy. That’s what Juan Lugo of Don Doroteo Cigars did. He smoked his first “intentional” cigar while deployed in Iraq. But Lugo took the seed of his idea back to his roots in the Dominican Republic. Lugo spoke with Cigar […]
Nestor Miranda Keeps on Smoking
Life and an amazing cigar journey began for Nestor Miranda in Cuba. What he lacked in formal education, he more than made up for with hard work, perseverance, and business savvy. His work in sales eventually led him to join his wife at Miami Cigar & Company, fulfilling the American Dream and becoming a titan […]