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Dr. Gaby Kafie seated behind a desk and holding a cigar

Small Business Champion Dr. Gaby Kafie

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Dr. Gaby Kafie has been living the cigar life since he smoked his first cigar as a teen. He is also the founder of the Boutique Cigar Association and Kafie Cigars and Coffee. Since then, he has been advocating for family-run cigar businesses. Kafie spoke with Cigar Life Guy about the reflective aspects of a good cigar. He spoke of cigar-smoking traditions and rituals. And he spoke of his ongoing efforts to promote and protect the rights of small cigar lines.

Gaby Kafie: First Premium Cigar Experience

Cigar Life Guy: Tell me about your first premium cigar experience.

Dr. Gaby Kafie: My first premium cigar experience is a cherished memory that dates back to the summer of my 18th year, spent in Honduras with family. On a particularly memorable weekend, we gathered at a beach house owned by relatives on the Pacific coast. It was a perfect setting for a family rendezvous filled with food, drinks, and games to make the most of our time together.

During this gathering, I was with my father, my brother, and a cousin who was an avid cigar aficionado. Early in the evening, as everyone was preparing for a poker game, he gifted me one of his favorite cigars. I felt a unique sense of inclusion, as if I were now part of the adult circle. Although, my shyness around my father led me to seek a more private spot to enjoy the cigar. I wandered down the boardwalk to a secluded patch of sand atop a hill, where I could relax undisturbed.

This being my first cigar, I carefully bit off the cap and lit it with matches I had taken from the poker table, taking my time to fully ignite it. The cigar was a Hoya de Monterrey Honduras edition, highly popular then and a favorite of my cousin’s. Smoking it was an incredible experience. The flavors were rich and relaxing. The serene backdrop of the Pacific Ocean under a moonlit sky enhanced the moment immeasurably. The setting was so captivating it felt almost surreal.

About 20 to 30 minutes into the experience, I began to feel dizzy, prompting me to slow down and savor the moment more gently, or “put it in cruise control,” as the saying goes. There was no rush — just the enjoyment of a truly splendid weekend. It’s an evening I’ll never forget, marked by a significant rite of passage surrounded by family and the tranquil beauty of nature.

Cigar Culture

Cigar Life Guy: You are a retired physician. The medical and cigar worlds don’t always go together. What drew you to the cigar culture?

Dr. Gaby Kafie: This question is thought-provoking, as medicine and cigars don’t typically overlap. Interestingly, during my time in medical school, I first noticed how many of my colleagues sought relaxation through various means, including indulging in cigars and spirits, to decompress from the high stresses of our profession.

On a more serious note, it’s essential to acknowledge that premium cigars have historically not been a significant concern within the medical community, mainly when used in moderation. Many intellectuals and professionals appreciate the refined pleasure of a premium cigar or the enjoyment of finely aged pipe tobacco, neither of which are intended to be inhaled.

For me, cigars offered a unique form of solace during my medical training. On those quiet nights, when everyone else was asleep, and I faced hours of complex medical texts, enjoying a premium cigar provided not just a company but also improved my focus and concentration. The ritual of smoking, the flavors, and the very act of taking a break helped me digest the dense information more effectively.

Throughout my career as a physician and later as a premium cigar manufacturer, I’ve spent considerable time researching the effects of moderate cigar smoking on the human body. My findings align with the broader consensus that, when not abused and enjoyed in moderation, the risks associated with occasional cigar smoking are minimal to none.

Thus, my draw to cigar culture was not just about the cigars themselves but about the ritual, history, and camaraderie accompanying this ancient tradition. It’s about moderation and appreciation of the craft, which can enhance moments of reflection and relaxation when respected.

The Benefits of a Good Cigar

Cigar Life Guy: What is your take on cigars and their potential benefits?

Dr. Gaby Kafie: This question invites a nuanced comparison that spans various indulgences, like premium cigars, chocolates, or wines, each bringing its form of pleasure and potential benefits, albeit not always in the health sense.

Much like a fine glass of wine or a particular type of Swiss chocolate, premium cigars are part of a lifestyle. Those who appreciate the finer aspects of life and the freedom to engage in a storied tradition embrace them.

The history of cigar smoking, which traces back over generations, reflects a personal choice and a cultural heritage. For instance, in the early 1900s, there were over 6,000 cigar shops in the United States, a testament to its popularity and integration into social norms.

While the industry is heavily regulated (or under threat), including stringent age verification, the essence of cigar culture endures. For many, including myself, cigars represent more than just smoking; they are a conduit for social interaction, fostering conversations and camaraderie across generations. Sitting down to enjoy a cigar can open the door to dialogue. It can also offer a moment of relaxation, and build connections beyond the immediate experience.

As for potential benefits, it’s important to clarify that while cigars are not a health product, they offer psychological and social benefits. Engaging in a thoughtful, leisurely smoke can provide a break from the stresses of daily life, allowing for moments of reflection and a sense of communal bonding. These aspects are often overlooked when discussing cigars, but they play a significant role in why many people cherish this tradition.

Like any adult indulgence, the key to cigars is moderation and understanding. Cigars, when enjoyed responsibly, can enhance social gatherings, facilitate deep conversations, and serve as a cherished ritual that enriches one’s lifestyle.

Gaby Kafie: Tradition and the Cigar Industry

Cigar Life Guy: Your family has a long history in Central America. So why is tradition so important in the cigar industry?

Dr. Gaby Kafie: Tradition is deeply ingrained in the cigar industry, and its importance can’t be overstated. In many ways, it is the very foundation on which the industry has been built and continues to thrive.

For my family, the Kafie family, tradition is not just a concept but a guiding principle that dictates how we conduct ourselves in business and life.

We are deeply rooted in Central America, a region rich in history and culture, which has significantly shaped the values we cherish and pass down through generations.

Tradition in our family goes beyond preserving customs. Tradition is about upholding a legacy of integrity, hard work, and commitment to excellence. These values have been imbued in us from generation to generation, ensuring that every family member strives to contribute positively to our legacy and the world.

Our commitment to tradition reflects how we approach our businesses, including the cigar industry. Much like our family, the premium cigar industry thrives on the strength of its traditions. It is an industry largely driven by families who have persevered through centuries, maintaining high standards and a dedication to craftsmanship passed down through generations.

Each product we create, whether cigars or coffee, carries our family name— a symbol of quality and trust. This is not just a mark of ownership but a promise of the integrity and the hard-earned reputation that comes with it. In this industry, a name is not just a brand- it’s a representation of history, culture, and continuity.

Thus, tradition in the cigar industry is crucial. It connects the past with the present and paves the way for future generations. It embodies the values, ethics, and principles that have sustained these great families, including ours, enabling us to produce products that people enjoy and trust. This deep respect for tradition is one of the primary reasons I was drawn to the premium cigar industry. It remains a passion deeply integrated into my life and legacy.

The Boutique Cigar Association.

Cigar Life Guy: You are the founder of the Boutique Cigar Association. Tell us about this organization and what it does. Particularly, we’d love to know how it supports and defends the rights of small cigar lines against FDA regulations.

Dr. Gaby Kafie: As the founder of the Boutique Cigar Association (BCA) in 2016, I saw a need to fill a significant gap in the premium cigar industry. This gap concerned disseminating knowledge essential for starting and sustaining a successful cigar company. It was a knowledge base traditionally held closely by a few established families. Recognizing the importance of sharing this wealth of information, I felt a profound responsibility to help others who aspire to make their mark in this industry.

The BCA was established to support, educate, and uplift small cigar companies. We have successfully created a platform where emerging businesses can access crucial industry knowledge through a structured curriculum. That includes regular seminars featuring experts. These experts discuss important topics like trademark law, cigar importation, licensing, and distribution agreements. All these topics are vital for navigating the complexities of the cigar business.

One of our most significant achievements is the establishment of the Boutique Cigar Pavilion at the PCA Trade Show. This initiative provides our member companies with a fantastic opportunity for exposure at one of the world’s largest gatherings for premium cigars. This pavilion has become a permanent fixture at the show, greatly benefiting our members with increased visibility.

The BCA has grown to include over 35 member companies on the advocacy front. That allowing us to form a unified voice that actively participates in legislative discussions. This collective effort is crucial for protecting the interests of boutique cigar businesses against often stringent FDA regulations. By collaborating with the Premium Cigar Association and Cigar Rights of America, we can better defend and promote the rights of small cigar lines at both state and federal levels.

Starting and leading the Boutique Cigar Association has not been an easy journey. The fulfillment I derive from seeing small, family-owned businesses flourish in this competitive environment makes all the challenges worthwhile. My joy and contentment come from serving these passionate entrepreneurs. I also enjoy helping them achieve their dreams within the premium cigar industry.

Cigar Industry Challenges Dr. Gaby Kafie Faces

Cigar Life Guy: What is the cigar industry’s biggest challenge today?

Dr. Gaby Kafie: The biggest challenge facing the premium cigar industry today, as I see it, is the presence of significant barriers to entry for new brands, often perpetuated by an industry that, at times, is resistant to welcoming new players. And this is a critical issue. The vitality and innovation of our industry depend on the continuous influx of new ideas and participants.

In my experience within this industry, I’ve observed a certain isolationism from established players who seldom reach out to help or support newcomers. So, this is paradoxical considering the communal and familial ethos that cigars traditionally symbolize.

At the Boutique Cigar Association, we deliberate on how we can better support family-owned businesses. We help them gain market share and succeed. Our goal is not just to thrive individually but to foster an environment where every industry member, new or old, feels welcomed and supported.

Another significant challenge is navigating the regulatory landscape set by the FDA. It’s not a question of if but when and how we will be regulated. The key is ensuring these regulations are fair and navigable, not punitive measures. It’s important they not drive small players out of business. It’s crucial for companies, whether big or small, family-owned or multinational, to unite and advocate for reasonable and manageable regulatory frameworks.

For the premium cigar industry to flourish, it must cultivate an inclusive and mutually supportive environment. It must also ensuring all stakeholders, especially the newcomers, have the resources and guidance needed to thrive.

Next Up for Dr. Gaby Kafie and the Kafie 1901

Cigar Life Guy: What’s next for you and Kafie 1901?

Dr. Gaby Kafie: Thank you for this engaging question! At Kafie 1901, we are continuously inspired by our rich family heritage. That includes over 100 entrepreneurial and professional members across Honduras, Central America, and the United States. This legacy drives our commitment to excellence and innovation in everything we do.

We’re currently at an exciting juncture, having recently acquired the domain www.kafie.com. Over the next few months, we plan to develop this website into a comprehensive portal representing The Kafie Companies.

This platform will showcase our diverse ventures and testify to our family’s enduring entrepreneurial spirit. Our approach is to create something enduring. We design every project to last a decade and easily transition to the next generation.

Specifically for Kafie 1901, we are embarking on a few key initiatives. First, rebranding of our coffee products.  We are rebranding our coffee line, with the refreshed products expected to be available by mid-summer. This rebranding will align our coffee offerings more closely with our core brand values and aesthetics. Next comes the development of a new premium cigar blend.

We have meticulously worked on a new cigar blend for the past two years. So, we craft this blend with the utmost care to meet the high standards our customers expect from Kafie 1901. We anticipate launching this new premium cigar product early in 2025.

We are thrilled about the future and are deeply grateful for the opportunity to discuss our journey. Thank you for your interest and support.

 

Follow Dr. Kafie on Instagram and check out the latest from Kafie Cigars here.

Photo credit: Kafie 1901

Wildfire Cigars Founder Jeremy McDonald

The Wild Backstory of Wildfire Cigars Founder Jeremy McDonald

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From breaking the no-smoking rules in the seminary to playing guitar in a band, Jeremy McDonald has lived the cigar life for nearly thirty years. After working for decades in cigar retail and as a sales rep, McDonald started Wildfire Cigars in the spirit of sitting around a campfire shooting the shit with a premium cigar. McDonald talked to Cigar Life Guy about not burning bridges, his aim to make Wildfire part of the next generation of great cigar brands, and how Wildfire saved him from burning out and met his need to be more expressive in the cigar industry.

Jeremy McDonald: First Premium Cigar Experience

Cigar Life Guy: Tell me about your first premium cigar experience.

Jeremy McDonald: The first premium cigar was not obviously the first cigar experience- the first cigar experience was a White Owl from 7-Eleven (laughs). The first premium was gifted to me. I was working at the Courtyard by Marriott, and one of the guys came in, and he smelled like cigars, and we started talking.

He tipped me, and he gave me a Henry Clay. So that was my first premium cigar, and it was in ’97. After that, I started finding cigar shops, but I didn’t know there was such a thing. I thought you just found cigars at liquor stores. I didn’t know there were shops for premium cigars.

Music and Religion Before Cigars

Cigar Life Guy: You tried being a musician and joined the seminary for a time before working in a retail shop. How did all those experiences and your time in a retail shop help inform starting your own cigar line?

Jeremy McDonald: When I was in the seminary, I was smoking cigars but had to hide them because it was against the rules. Working in retail opened my eyes to the passion of tobacco. Meeting guys like José Blanco and Benji Menendez – all these old school guys- the old guard of the industry.

Fortunately, I worked in a premium store, so it had events with all the bug guys. I loved cigars – this cigar and that cigar- and the smoking experience, but seeing these guys and their love for tobacco opened me up to the idea that this is a form of artistry.

Over the years, I made relationships with different manufacturers, reps, and consumers and learned from them. I loved it when a customer would come in and not know what they wanted, so I could curate the experience for them and tailor it to exactly what they wanted.  Regardless of what the cigar was. It was finding the right cigar for that person at that time. I loved that aspect of it.

When I got into working for different companies, I started thinking it would be cool to do this for myself. I could write a song on my guitar, write lyrics, and turn it into a complete thing, but I couldn’t do that with tobacco, and I wanted to. So it was a slow burn. I didn’t wake up one day and say, “I’m starting a brand.” It gradually got to the point where I was finished.

I accomplished what I wanted with Caldwell, and then I had to do something for myself. Starting my own brand was the next logical step. In 2001, when I started in the industry, I never thought it was a career (laughs). I’m a poster boy for the kid who doesn’t finish college and works in an industry long enough where you become good at it.

Cigar Life Guy: You also worked as a sales rep for C.L.E. Cigar Company. What’s the most important lesson you learned?

Jeremy McDonald: Another rep I was close with -even before I started- gave me some advice. He told me, “Don’t overpromise. Do what you say you’re going to do. Don’t give one guy something and give another guy a different deal. Be consistent, and you can have a career in this industry.”  I remember thinking, “That’s all it takes?”. He said, “You wouldn’t believe how many problems come just from those things.”  I carried that with me. So, not having any bridges burned with any of the companies I’ve worked with has been good.

Just be fair. Show up and do your job (laughs). It’s certainly not rocket science, but there’s still quite a bit of shit in this industry.

Jeremy McDonald: Starting Wildfire Cigars

Cigar Life Guy: You have a lot of experience within the cigar industry. What finally led to your decision to start your own line?

Jeremy McDonald: Around two years before I left Caldwell,  I had gotten to a point where I was burned out. I was getting offers to do the same thing- like lateral moves for more money- but I didn’t want to be that guy who bounced around from company to company. It’s like, “Oh, this is the greatest cigar ever!” and then you’re with the next company saying, “Oh, this is the greatest cigar ever!” that whole spiel.

So, I would try to create my brand or be totally out of the industry. I had conversations with Robert Caldwell about it, and he was supportive. If I could get funding, I would do it, and then I got funding, and I did. I didn’t want to do what I was doing anymore. I had lost the love. It was clocking in every day. Yeah, it was the cigar industry, but it was like any other industry. I needed to do something where I could be more expressive of myself. So I was going to do the cigars, or who the hell knows what else I would have done.

Inspiration for Wildfire Cigars and More

Cigar Life Guy: You clearly have a good sense of humor. What was the inspiration for the name Wildfire and your camp counselor video?

Jeremy McDonald: I knew that I wanted something based around a campfire, so the logo was designed before the name was there. I like to be outdoors and camp. It’s more so just the thought behind cigars. You’re sitting with someone. Whether you know them or not, sit long enough, and you’ll have a conversation.

My worldview completely changed from being in this industry. I grew up pretty sheltered with one train of thought. Most days, while working in retail, I just listened to the people. Where they came from or where they were going. Political views. Religion. All of it. It opened my eyes to a whole new world. Sure, there could be tension and arguments, but smoking a cigar was a great neutralizer. It didn’t matter where you came from, what you were into, or how much money you made. I loved that element, so I wanted to incorporate the concept of just sitting around the campfire shooting the shit.

I had another name I was pursuing that was more fitting to the campfire. Then, a shop opened, and I didn’t want to come out of the gates in litigation. I just changed it. I had it trademarked, but it wasn’t worth it. And I had a gentleman’s conversation, but it didn’t go well. So, I just told my lawyer, “Let them have it.” I’m in California, and I think the wildfires were going on then, so I said, “I like that“ (laughs). So I took the name. I trademarked it and went with it.

The Wildfire Portfolio & Building a Brand

Cigar Life Guy: Tell us a little about the Wildfire portfolio.

Jeremy McDonald: I launched with a Limited called The Single out of Joya de Nicaragua. My first core line was the Revivalist. Those were the first two to market, and then I went to another factory to diversify. I went to FTC  (Fabrica Centroamericana de Tabaco S.A.)- Cavalier’s factory. I’ve known these guys for years, so it was a natural fit. We had good chemistry there, so I’ve also done a few more things with them. I introduced Wanderer as the first core line out of there.

I started a three-part limited series. Now we’re on the second one. The first one was The Intro, and then at P.C.A. this year, I released The Hook, which is the second part. I released Artaois out of Joya de Nicaragua in July of last year. That was my second core line coming out of there.  Next year at P.C.A., I’ll introduce another core line from F.T.C.

I’m just going to work with as many factories as I can. It gives you the ability not to get boxed into certain tobaccos. It allows you to create new flavors and profiles. I like not being tied to one thing.

I also introduced the B-Side. It is The Intro, but I inverted the binder and wrapper. It’s a play having a single and then having the other side. I wanted to show how different a cigar can be when you just change nothing other than rearranging the components. It would be a lot cooler if The Single was still out. Then, people could make a comparison between A and B. I did that for the cigar nerd in me. The blend stands on its own, so even if people haven’t smoked The Single, they’d enjoy it.

Jeremy McDonald’s Long-Term Goals for Wildfire Cigars

Cigar Life Guy: What are your long-term goals for Wildfire?

Jeremy McDonald: Build a name and build a sustainable business. I want to be around. There are so many guys, mentors, and people I respect who are all getting older, and I want to be a part of carrying on the next generation of manufacturers and brands. I want to one day be a mainstay brand, a household name, and just be a part of what people smoke and enjoy.

Cigar Life Guy: Have we missed anything? Please tell us anything else you’d like the cigar world to know.

Jeremy McDonald: Enjoy what you smoke. I always encourage people to try stuff. Try my stuff. Try Foundations, Cavelier, and Black Label. There are so many different profiles and styles of cigars out there. There’s something for everybody. That’s the fun of it. You don’t want to eat the same meal daily, so it’s the same idea.

The longer I’m in this industry, the longer Wildfire is around, and the more cigars we have, the more options we’ll have for different styles and palates. Just enjoy it. It’s leaves rolled together(laughs). It’s more about the experience of cigars that I love- meeting new people, hearing their stories, and enjoying it over a cigar.

 

Follow Jeremy on Instagram and check out the latest from Wildfire Cigars here.

Photo credit: Wildfire Cigars

Octavia Toliver smoking a cigar

HERficionado® Octavia Toliver Talks Finding Community in Cigars

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Octavia Toliver, founder of Atlanta Cigar Week, CEO of HERficionado, and a true Sister of the Leaf (SOTL), has lived the cigar lifestyle for nearly two decades. She is as passionate about cigars as she is about curating cigar events and building a welcoming and comfortable community for women in the industry. She talked with Cigar Life Guy about the warmth of the cigar environment, being herself, and making the Atlanta Cigar Week better and better with each passing year.

Octavia Toliver: First Premium Cigar

Cigar Life Guy: Tell me about your first premium cigar experience.

Octavia Toliver: It was around 16 or 17 years ago. I visited a cigar lounge on a first (and last!) [laughs] date. Initially, the smoke was overwhelming, and I wasn’t even sure why we were there. But, as we spent more time there, I began to feel the warmth of the environment. He helped me choose a cigar, probably something flavored, and the ambiance slowly won me over! It was a surprisingly pleasant experience, and I wanted to explore more without him! (laughs) So I did!

Cigar Life Guy: What drew you to the cigar culture, and what are your favorite aspects of the cigar community?

Octavia Toliver: What really pulled me in was the elegance and the deep sense of tradition that comes with cigar smoking. I became fascinated with the rituals and the rich history. But the beginning of my journey was a bit lonely because I didn’t feel the sense of community that we have now. That is why I started curating events. I wanted that sense of community, which is now one of my favorite aspects of the culture. Most SOTLs and BOTLs are incredibly welcoming. My network is filled with heartfelt connections with people as passionate as I am about cigars, spirits, and everything the lifestyle encompasses!

Women in the Cigar Industry

Cigar Life Guy: Women in the cigar industry are often overlooked. What advice would you give to women entering the industry and women who smoke cigars?

Octavia Toliver: Be yourself. Don’t try to fit into the mold of the boys’ club. We women have our own strengths and superpowers. Embrace them, as this is what will set you apart! I always encourage the women in the industry to have no fear of trying new things and to keep their dignity and integrity intact. One last thing: it is easy for women to feel the need to compete with the next woman. I encourage them to fight that urge and to collaborate instead! We go much further together than apart!

Octavia Toliver: Cigar Industry Challenges

Cigar Life Guy: What is your biggest challenge in the cigar industry?

Octavia Toliver: Early on, the biggest challenge was proving that I belonged here. It hurt when some people questioned my knowledge or right to be part of this community. But over time, I realized their doubts had nothing to do with me. It was the limiting beliefs of others about what a SOTL was supposed to look like or how we should do things. This shift in mindset was truly transformative for me. After years of dedication and achieving significant milestones in the cigar community, I’ve come to a deep, unshakable recognition of my own worth and contributions. I know without a doubt that I’ve earned my place here. Now, the opinions of those who might doubt my credibility don’t carry weight anymore. I stand confident in my experience and my achievements.

HERficionado: A Female Friendly Network

Cigar Life Guy: You are the founder and CEO of HERficionado.  Tell us about the female-friendly cigar network and why it’s essential to have a platform exclusively for female smokers.

Octavia Toliver: Women face different trials and joys within the cigar culture. When I first started HERficionado®, and She Smokes Too®, it was to give us a safe space to share those things lovingly and comfortably! I didn’t have that available to me when I began my journey. Despite much progress in the industry, SOTLs still encounter specific challenges and microaggressions that are unique to our experiences.

Women must have a place where they feel truly seen and heard, where our unique experiences in the cigar world can be celebrated and cherished. I have always been a part of that side of the culture. I love my guys, but I’m a true girl’s girl!

Octavia Toliver: Atlanta Cigar Week

Cigar Life Guy: You are the founder of Atlanta Cigar Week and an event curator. What goes into making a cigar event great?

Octavia Toliver: A great cigar event starts with a creative idea! What sets your event apart from the hundreds of other events nationwide? Atlanta Cigar Week® was created out of thin air. There was no blueprint of what to do nor what NOT to do. We put our ideas on paper and iterate each year to make it better and better. With each passing year, we are figuring out ways to create a new experience for our guests. It’s one of the things that makes the Atlanta market so unique; there are always new venues opening in addition to the 100+ preexisting cigar lounges and shops. However, event organizers need to take advantage of the resources at their fingertips and highlight what’s unique about their market.

Cigar Life Guy: What are you looking forward to most at this year’s Atlanta Cigar Week?

Octavia Toliver: It’s the people, always. Atlanta Cigar Week® feels like a big family reunion. We catch up, we share stories, we laugh—a lot. And I love seeing friends from across the country who mark this week on their calendars yearly. It’s extraordinary.

 

Follow Octavia on Instagram and check out the latest for Atlanta Cigar Week and HERficionado.

Photo credit: HERficionado

DAV’s Armen Caprielian Talks Cigars

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Armen Caprielian, managing partner of DAV Cigars, may have gotten into the cigar industry by chance, but he’s been living the cigar life since he was seventeen. Caprielian, a real estate broker, is also the president of the Boutique Cigar Association. He advocates for and promotes family-owned companies. Caprielian talked with Cigar Life Guy about giving a voice to boutique lines, expanding the cigar market to the Middle East, and what sets DAV apart from mass-market manufacturers. With his passion for the craft and commitment to growing boutique brands, Caprielian shared insights on the challenges and opportunities in the industry.

First Premium Cigar Experience

Cigar Life Guy: Tell me about your first premium cigar experience.

Armen Caprielian: I remember my very first premium cigar very well. It was many moons ago when I was a 17-year-old camp counselor. Some of the more experienced cigar smokers asked if I would also like to smoke one. It was exciting because up until then, I would be around certain family and friends who smoked cigars. It always intrigued me. Additionally, I enjoyed the smell of cigars. The cigar I smoked was an Avo No.2. I have been hooked ever since!

Armen Caprielian: Starting in the Cigar Industry

Cigar Life Guy: How did you get into the cigar industry? What did you do before, and how does it help inform what you do now?

Armen Caprielian: I got into the cigar industry by chance. My current partner and I attended a conference and took a short break. We went outside to enjoy a cigar, and a conversation ensued. We both expressed a fascination with the industry and thought about what it would be like to be in the business.

Things moved along quite rapidly after that initial conversation. Until then, my occupation was and still is as a real estate associate broker at Laffey Real Estate in New York. Being in the real estate business gave me a huge advantage while I was getting into the cigar business because I understood full well what it takes to be an entrepreneur, to count on yourself, and to bring in business. More importantly, I understood how to be a salesperson and to interact with people from all walks of life.

Getting a Start and the BCA

Cigar Life Guy: You are the Boutique Cigar Association (BCA) president. Describe some of the work you do.

Armen Caprielian: The BCA is extremely close to my heart, and there are many reasons for this. The BCA’s primary aim is to create a platform for family-owned, boutique companies where they can tell their unique stories and showcase their incredible products.

We also look to educate our members. We do this through monthly educational sessions at our meetings, usually presented by an expert on that particular topic. Another important mission is to guide our members concerning tobacco regulations.

Something else we are so very proud of is our relationship with the PCA and InTerTabac. There was a boutique cigar pavilion at the PCA trade show under the BCA banner for the first time in history. There were 15 companies within the pavilion in the past two years. We are looking to have an even bigger presence next year.

The PCA also invited us to participate in last summer’s panel discussion in the Capitol Building hosted by the Cigar Caucus. It was an extremely successful meeting, and we certainly did our part. We are very excited to have a pavilion at InterTabac in Germany in September.  Lastly, we have hosted our successful festivals. We aim to host even more events and plan on making them regional.

DAV Cigars and Premium Cigar Processes

Cigar Life Guy: DAV prides itself on the process of making a premium cigar. Why is it important for consumers to understand the craftsmanship it takes to blend a cigar?

Armen Caprielian: Educating the public on the craftsmanship of our cigars is imperative. It is one of the main reasons that set us apart from many mass-market manufacturers. I would compare it to the boom of the craft beer market.

Aside from the fact we only produce premium, hand-rolled, long-filler cigars (not man-made), we aren’t looking to just pump out cigars from our factory. That is why we produce less than 500,000 cigars annually. Our blends undergo a lengthy and meticulous fermentation process and are aged for quite some time. The duration will vary based on the wrapper we use — usually longer for the darker wrappers. My partner and I always make a trip to the factory when we decide to come out with a new blend.  We immerse ourselves in the entire process.

Armen Caprielian on the DAV Portfolio

Cigar Life Guy: Tell us a bit about the DAV Portfolio.

Armen Caprielian: Currently, our DAV portfolio consists of eight blends in our core line and two blends of cigarillos. There is a choice of light, medium, or full-bodied cigars in multiple Vitolas. We encourage people to visit us on our social media pages or email us at info@davcigars.com. You can also visit the DAV Cigars website.

Broadening the Market and Protecting the Legacy

Cigar Life Guy: You have moved into more international markets like the Middle East. What is the cigar scene like there, and how does it differ from the United States and other places worldwide?

Armen Caprielian: The Middle East has a very interesting cigar culture. Up until recently, these areas focused heavily on Cuban Cigars. If they hadn’t gotten their hands on a Cuban Cigar, it would have to be some of the bigger known brands. There was a mentality that price dictates the quality of the cigar — if it costs more, it must be a better cigar. We know that this is not true. Slowly, people started opening up to try boutique cigars or New World cigars. They realized that many exceptional cigars from different regions are sold at a lower price.

Collaborations and Protecting the Legacy Podcast

Cigar Life Guy: Describe your collaboration with Dr. Gaby Kafie and what your aim is for your Protecting the Legacy podcast.

Armen Caprielian: I consider Gaby a brother first and a colleague second. Let’s also remember that he is the founder of the BCA and selflessly created the organization for the betterment of the industry as a whole and, of course, to help boutique companies. When he and I started working together, we had the idea of creating a podcast so that all of these wonderful boutique companies could have a voice.

We wanted to cover sensitive topics openly and honestly — topics that others would otherwise avoid. It’s about having your finger on the pulse and sometimes just ripping off the Band-Aid. Our aim is also to educate our listeners and cover stories or topics that may be controversial. In the end, the betterment of our industry is always the aim.

 

Follow Armen on Instagram and check out the latest from DAV Cigars here.

Photo credit DAV Cigars

Holly Primc holding a cigar and smiling with her dog.

Holly Primc’s Wild Ride in the Cigar Game

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Holly Primc, owner of Crown Majesty Cigars, “knows her shit.” The former teacher and Certified Cigar Sommelier has been living the cigar life long enough to know she still loves learning. She talked to Cigar Life Guy about how cigars are the perfect blend of her two favorite things, how cigar memes get it wrong, and how she plans to grow her brand one cigar lounge at a time.

Holly Primc’s First Premium Cigar Experience

Cigar Life Guy: Tell me about your first premium cigar experience.

Holly Primc: I can honestly tell you I can’t answer that question simply because I don’t remember (laughs). So, I apologize. I wouldn’t be able to even try. I can tell you this: I’ve been smoking cigars — premium cigars, let me be careful there — regularly for eleven or twelve years. Beyond that, at least another decade where I was smoking once in a while.

I became serious about five years ago. When I say serious, it was really about not just smoking once a week but learning, reading, teaching myself, and getting my hands on everything I could to learn about cigars. So, I don’t have a specific cigar that stuck in my brain or made me say, “Ok, this is it for life.” It was just the smell of cigar smoke. I knew I’d be doing it forever.

Chemistry and Cigars

Cigar Life Guy: You are a Certified Cigar Commelier. Explain the process, what attracted you to the cigar world, and how you started.

Holly Primc: As a sommelier, that was one more step to take because I had my own brand. If that makes sense, I wanted to have the education to back up my brand.

To be honest, being a woman in the cigar industry is a little more challenging. I don’t mind because I love a challenge. But for me, having that certification made me more comfortable. “Yes, I’m a female. Yes, I’m a cigar brand owner. And yes, I know my shit!” (laughs)

Also, I am absolutely in love with education. I love educating myself. I love learning. Every day, I want to learn something new. Recently, I applied — I have yet to start the course — but I will become an official cigar sommelier. So, it’s not just the certified tobacconist sommelier but an actual cigar sommelier. I’m excited about that.

From Chemistry and Biology to Cigar Life

Cigar Life Guy: Your background is in chemistry and biology. How does that help inform your work in the tobacco industry?

Holly Primc: I used to be a teacher, but I did have a career before teaching, and that’s always been in the chemistry science field. As a teacher, I loved implementing the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) mentality — so having art and science meld perfectly. It wasn’t just that, but it was also engaging my students.

Teachers would walk by my class, and my students were dying laughing all the time. Every week, this would happen because we were having fun. That’s what life is all about. It’s about learning and having fun. I apologize for the rambling; there is a reason.

When I look at the cigar industry, it dawned on me one day when I did the Perdomo tour that cigars perfectly blend science and art. It’s all about the flavor profiles and understanding what mixes with what flavor-wise, but you have to know the leaves and the soil. You have to know where it’s being grown and the amount of light and the amount of water. That’s all science. So it’s a perfect mix of my two favorite things. I love that I get to be a part of that.

Holly Primc: Launching Crown Majesty Portfolio

Cigar Life Guy: You launched your company in 2021. Walk us through some of the cigars in your portfolio.

Holly Primc: Absolutely. So, initially, when I started, I had just the four blends. I did everything theme-wise. Of course, I’m Crown Majesty Cigars, so I have the King, the Queen, the Prince, and the Knight.

My goal for my cigars was to have great flavor and phenomenal transitions between each third. One of the keys for me was to keep the Ligero low for obvious reasons, the high nicotine. I just can’t do nicotine. So I found a blender willing to work with me and say, “Yeah, we can stay away from the Ligero; It’s not a problem,” and to work with me through the entire flavor profile. It has been a phenomenal experience.

Now I have five blends. My goal is to have a cigar for every palate. You can tell me, “I love the light-to-medium cigars, and I really like this sort of flavor profile,” I would immediately go to my Prince and Duke. My Prince is a Connecticut shade. My Duke is a Sumatran. They have amazing flavors. That was something I had to have for my brand. Then I have a full body that I do. It’s a San Andres. Then I have a medium-bodied Habano and a Cameroon.

The Cigar Family

Cigar Life Guy: What is your favorite aspect of the cigar community?

Holly Primc: The family. One hundred percent. I don’t even have to think about that. Being able to walk into any lounge feels like I’m home. It doesn’t matter what lounge I’m in. I always feel like I’m home. Some of the more modern “nightclub-ish” lounges may not be home for me, but pretty much all of the rest(laughs).

I love that I can start a conversation with anyone in that room, and they will engage. We’ll talk cigars, and we’ll talk about life. Again, it’s a learning thing for me. I always learn something when I’m talking to people because of cigars.

Cigars are the easiest way to mix an incredibly different mix of humans. They all have one major commonality — cigars. So that’s another thing I love. I love my cigar family. They’re life. They’re everything to me.

Holly Primc on Cigar Industry Challenges

Cigar Life Guy: What is the cigar industry’s biggest challenge today?

Holly Primc: Politics. Excuse me, let’s try that again — politicians (laughs). It’s a mix of a few things, in my opinion.

We have little to no scientific studies done. We have no long-term scientific studies done. But we have politicians saying, “Oh, these are terrible for you because everything else you smoke is terrible for you.“ I just look at them and think, do you know what a scientific study is? Do you know that we don’t have any? I mean no long-term studies, at least to my knowledge. I’ve checked. I check every couple of months to see if anything else has been done.

The problem with ignorance and science is that they believe that simply by smoking, you’re going to hurt yourself in some way via health. I get so frustrated by that because I don’t think that ignorance and science should be making decisions for my life or anyone else’s life in our country. Their ignorance certainly shouldn’t be making the laws that affect me.

I am not throwing all politicians in the ignorant bucket. I apologize if it sounds that way. That’s not my goal, but the lack of science and the ignorant ideologies are a lethal combination to the cigar industry.

Women in the Cigar Industry

Cigar Life Guy: Women in the cigar industry are sometimes overlooked. What advice would you give to women entering the industry and women who smoke cigars?

Holly Primc: Just be yourself. I had a conversation with a friend last night about this exact same thing. It’s about being authentic. Don’t allow anyone to intimidate you. No matter where you go. No matter what you do. Be your true self. Be true to the industry. Always show support, even when it might not be perfect, and support what you can.

I have smoked so many cigars that sometimes I ask, “Wow, how did this get out to the market?“ And then, I quickly remind myself, “Holly, this is your palate. Just because you love a medium to full and you don’t like nicotine doesn’t mean everyone feels the same.“

Every cigar you smoke is going to need to meet your palate. Honestly, not all cigars are going to be good. So, of course, I hold relatively tight to the adage, “Life is too short to smoke shitty cigars.“

We’ll do just fine for women since we are the third fastest-growing group getting into the cigar industry. The more women I talk to and try to quit smoking, the more positivity that I  hear. I love that. In fact, I just got a job at my local lounge here in Punta Gorda, and I’m loving it. I feel like when I go to work, I go home.

I’m also part of a women’s group on Facebook. They mentioned doing a book club and needing a venue. I said, “If you’re interested, we have a cigar lounge.“ Now, we’re going to be hosting a women’s book club. So those are just little ways to get women more involved.

My goal as a tobacconist sommelier is to teach them so that they can feel confident. I have talked to women who say, “The only real reason I haven’t tried cigars is because I was so intimidated when I walked into a lounge.“ And I am like, “Girl, let me help you out. Let me teach you everything I know.”

It’s beautiful because we are getting bigger and bigger in the industry. Our money matters. I see anti-female memes all the time. The “My wife takes all the money and only gives me this much for cigars har har har.” I see them almost daily in the cigar industry. So, I tend to politely call that out because it’s my job to fight for the women in our industry.

I will say this: men need to be more supportive of more women joining the industry. They need to pay attention to what they’re putting out there, and they need to pay attention to the fact that we make and spend money.

Women have knowledge and the ability to read and to learn. We are a huge part of this industry. so, the more men that respect and accept us and acknowledge that we matter, the better. That’s a big part of it.

The irony is that in my house, it’s the opposite! My husband always tells me, “Holly, you don’t need any more cigars!“ (laughs). So I look at those memes and think that’s ironic.

Looking Ahead with Holly Primc

Cigar Life Guy: What else can we expect from  Crown Majesty Cigars?

Holly Primc: It’s about growing the brand. I’m taking things slowly, mainly because of the move. We took about two months to move, which is pretty insane.

I want to start getting into lounges. Right now, it’s so easy for me to sell directly to consumers, especially where I was living in Central Florida. I was doing events at least twice a month. Now that I’m in Southwest Florida, it’s a completely different ball of wax. I’m trying to find my way here. They don’t have the same event schedules, and they don’t do the same things they do in Central Florida, where I’m from.

I am figuring out a better way to sell directly to consumers. Of course, I have my website, crownmajesty.com. I also want to beef up social media and get into more lounges. So, once I get everything settled here, the plan is lounge, lounge, and more lounge.

 

Follow Holly on Instagram and check out the latest from Crown Majesty Cigars here.

Photo credit: Holly Primc

James Vita

James “Boston Jimmie” Vita Loves Cigars and Talking about Cigars

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James “Boston Jimmie” Vita has lived the cigar life for five decades. A true brother of the leaf, he tried his hand at print magazines before eventually creating the online giant Stogie Press. Vita has been reviewing cigars and sharing his knowledge ever since. Newly retired, Vita discussed his early start in the cigar world, the beauty of the cigar community, and his latest endeavor- PERILOUS, a cigar trivia game show.

James Vita: First Premium Cigar Experience

Cigar Life Guy: Tell me about your first premium cigar experience.

Jimmie Vita: I started enjoying cigars in the late 1970s. I did not know much about cigars or premium vs whatever. Eventually, I tried different cigars — there were not as many on the market then — and found some that pleased my palate. I remember seriously enjoying the Hoya de Monterrey Excalibur and Arturo Fuente Double Chateau. But for some reason, I recall my game-changing cigar was a Punch Double Corona that I received from an engineering subcontractor I was working with after a big dinner. I smoked that cigar for over two hours with my fellow engineering friend. We looked at each other and said, “Wow, we must keep trying more cigars.” I have smoked and reviewed thousands of different cigars over my life. Some were not to my liking. Many were just fine, and some were simply outstanding.

Starting Stogie Press

Cigar Life Guy: How did you get into the cigar industry? What did you do before, and what inspired you to start Stogie Press?

Jimmie Vita: I was an Aerospace Engineer and have enjoyed cigars since I was a freshman in college. In the early 1990s, a fellow engineer and I created a local cigar magazine called Central Florida Cigar Smoke Magazine (CFCS). We had everything ready to go except advertising. We’re not salesmen, and we were an unknown entity, so it was difficult. And we also needed financial support to start it, as it was print-based, not web-based. The project failed, so we shelved it.

We kept smoking cigars and helping others understand cigars whenever we went to shops. Speeding the film up to 2013, I was on a short-term assignment in the dead of winter in Dearborn, Michigan, where I stumbled into a local cigar shop (Don Yeyo’s). I met a young man, Ryan Gallimore, who managed the shop. By this time, my wife (website designer) and I had just launched a web version of the cigar magazine Space Coast Cigars. Ryan and I hit it off, and he asked, “Why do you have a regional name for a website when cigars are global?” He was right. So we searched various names and came upon StogiePress.com. I immediately secured the website, and my wife moved the small content from Space Coast Cigars to the new Stogie Press, and we were off to the races.

James Vita: Educating the Cigar World

Cigar Life Guy: You started Stogie Press, providing news, lifestyle articles, and product reviews. Why is it important to educate the cigar world and describe the joy you get sharing your knowledge of something you love?

Jimmie Vita: The cigar lifestyle is special. It is not just about smoking cigars. It is the camaraderie of fellow men and women cigar enthusiasts sharing their love of the leaf. The industry offers numerous events throughout the year where consumers can gather in larger groups beyond shops and celebrate the lifestyle. I have always enjoyed sharing my experiences of these festivals with my readership. The more educated the consumer, the better the consumer.

I recall one time I was at Don Kiki’s in Daytona Beach, FL, where I sat with a group of enthusiasts I just met. An older gentleman told me he read my reviews constantly but needed to get the notes I discussed. All he got was smoke. I chuckled and said hold on. I bought a handful of cigars and passed them out to the group, and we embarked on an educational tasting session. In the end, the older gentleman was getting notes from pre-light to end. He also learned to smoke slower. That made me feel good as I helped someone better enjoy cigars.

Retirement and the Generous Cigar Community

Cigar Life Guy: What is your favorite aspect of the cigar community?

Jimmie Vita: The people. They are some of the most generous people I know. When there is a charity or someone in need, they rally behind the cause and help. For example, Stogie Press raised over $10,000 last year for Autism Speaks when my son and I climbed Mt Fuji. It was a fantastic experience with a satisfying outcome. Most of that money was raised directly from the cigar community.

Cigar Life Guy: You recently retired from your 9-to-5 job. How is retirement, and are you smoking more cigars?

Jimmie Vita: Retirement is awesome. I just returned from a long weekend in the Smoky Mountains with a few lifetime friends who also just retired. Operating on my own schedule and focusing on cigars and fun is nice. I smoke about the same, maybe even less, as I have more time to devote to Stogie Press articles during the day and spend more time with my wife in the evening.

PERILOUS: The Cigar Game Show

Cigar Life Guy: Tell us about your latest project, PERILOUS, a game show designed to be “informative and perilous.”

Jimmie Vita: Ah, PERILOUS!! Yes, this is something I have wanted to do for many years. However, with my day job, I needed more time to make it happen. PERILOUS is a new and engaging game show that will help educate cigar enthusiasts. We designed the game to be informative and perilous to play. It is informative for the players as well as anyone watching. We will have questions ranging in levels of difficulty and category. It is perilous because you have to wage points and if you get something wrong you create a more perilous climb to catch a fellow contestant. Contestants compete to win prizes and gift certificates for shops and lounges to purchase products of their choice. Each PERILOUS season will consist of at least 16 regular episodes followed by a bracketed tournament of champions made up of the top 16 players in the season.

There are two rounds in the PERILOUS Cigar Trivia game. Round one is the competitive round, where three competitors compete against each other. Each player starts with 100 points and can wager up to the total points, and there are five levels of questions in round one. Players will get their individual questions to answer for each level. If they get the question right, their point wager will be multiplied by the level number (1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X) and added to their total points.

The point wager will then be deducted from their score if they get the question wrong. Players wager before the questions are presented. They have one chance to increase or decrease their wager before the questions start for the level. At the end of round one, the player with the most points moves to round two. Additionally, the winner of round one will receive a monetary gift certificate. All players will also receive a PERILOUS branded Xikar cutter for participating.

Round two is the champion round. Here, the winner from round 1 will compete against themself. Again, there will be five levels of questions with increasing difficulty. This time, the player will be presented with a prize package of SWAG and a Monetary gift certificate. The player can either go for the prize for that level or stop the game and keep what they have won. So, if they choose to go for the next higher prize, they forfeit the previous award. They can stop the game at any level. If the player goes for a higher-level question and gets it wrong, they bust out of the game and only receive the prize they won from round one.

A Look Ahead: James Vita and Stogie Press

Cigar Life Guy: What else can we expect from you and Stogie Press in the future?

Jimmie Vita: Stogie Press is entering its second decade this year, along with a weekly talk show — Taking It To The Nub. We have added PERILOUS to the content to kick off our second decade and will be growing that through the year. I am also considering running a Space Coast Cigar Festival in 2025. That will take more planning and coordination to make it happen. You will also see me at more lounges now that I have more free time, so expect more lounge reviews. I may even run PERILOUS shows at specific lounges.

 

Follow James Vita on Instagram and check out the latest reviews, articles, and episodes of Taking it to the Nub at Stogie Press.

Photo credit: James Vita

Joshua Habursky smoking a cigar.

Meet New PCA Head and Top Cigar Advocate Joshua Habursky

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Working in Washington, Joshua Habursky takes pride in earning a reputation as the “cigar guy.” Recently named the Executive Director of PCA, Habursky has been living the cigar life and advocating for the cigar industry for over a decade. He spoke to Cigar Life Guy about his start in Washington as a lobbyist, building bridges between the cigar world and government, and why you shouldn’t believe what you see on TV regarding politics and Washington D.C.

Joshua Habursky’s First Premium Cigar Experience

Cigar Life Guy: Tell me about your first premium cigar experience.

Joshua Habursky: I had my first premium cigar as an undergraduate student at Washington & Jefferson College. Dr. Joseph DiSarro, the head of the Political Science Department, always had an assortment of cigars in his suit coat. Dr. DiSarro was a strong influence on my career in both politics and cigars. We would smoke cigars every Friday and become known as the “Churchill Club.” I started to gain an appreciation for cigars and became a frequent patron of places like Leaf & Bean and Jernigan’s in the Pittsburgh area.

Life in Government Affairs

Cigar Life Guy: You have worked in government affairs for a long time. Tell us about your experiences with associations outside the cigar world, such as the American Motorcyclist Association and the American Diabetes Association.

Joshua Habursky: I have spent over a decade working for trade and membership organizations, ranging in issues from transportation to healthcare to financial services policy. All these experiences were with fantastic organizations where I worked with phenomenal people. Each organization was a stepping stone in my career to get to the cigar industry, where I have found a home.

When I moved to IPCPR-PCA, I hit my stride in an industry I enjoy. I have developed a reputation in Washington, DC, as “the cigar guy,” and I take great pride in that connection.

Last year, I celebrated ten years as a lobbyist. I celebrated appropriately by releasing a cigar from Liberty Cigar Co. and an Apple Brandy from Luminary Distilling Co. out of Erie, Pennsylvania, my hometown. When Ulysses S. Grant was President, he would sit in the “lobby” of the Willard Hotel, and people would come in to meet with him to ask for political favors while he smoked cigars and drank brandy. That is where the term “lobbyist” was popularized. It was a fun project where I used my background to tell a historical story through premium cigars and celebrate a special occasion over brandy and cigars.

Joshua Habursky: The Truth About Politics

Cigar Life Guy: What would you like the average citizen to know about working in Washington and politicians in general?

Joshua Habursky: Don’t believe what you see on TV and in the movies. Washington has some bad apples here and there, but most people are trying to fight for causes they believe in and enact change. People approach this from different viewpoints, and sometimes issues are contentious, but unfortunately, compromise doesn’t get the limelight. Most politicians and elected officials like the same things you and I do, like sports, travel, and even premium cigars. If you watch political shows on TV, the reality is that real Washington is somewhere between The West Wing and House of Cards.

Lobbying: More Than Meets the Eye

Cigar Life Guy: Outside of D.C., when most Americans hear the term “lobbyist,” they roll their eyes. Talk about your career choice, getting into lobbying & what most people don’t understand about lobbyists in general?”

Joshua Habursky: Lobbying is the dirty word for advocating. The media hasn’t been kind to lobbyists, especially after significant scandals involving high-profile lobbyists like Jack Abramoff. Most people see only one side of lobbying and equate it all with steak dinners and cigars. There is certainly part of the equation most lobbying is educating Members of Congress and staff about an industry, issue, or cause. Suppose you believe in your organization and advocate to the best of your abilities. In that case, lobbying is an essential part of our system of government and a noble profession.

I got into lobbying as a career because I wanted to gain real-world experience to be a political science professor. Currently, I have the best of both worlds. In addition to being the Executive Director and chief lobbyist for PCA, I am an adjunct professor at George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management, where I get to teach federal, state, and grassroots lobbying courses.

Joining the PCA with Joshua Habursky

Cigar Life Guy: What drew you to the cigar industry and the Premium Cigar Association (PCA)? And what makes it different from other associations you have worked with?

Joshua Habursky: I joined IPCPR (editors note: former name of the Premium Cigar Association) over five years ago and worked as a grassroots consultant for a year before joining full-time. I have been a cigar enthusiast for 15 years and a proponent of small businesses in the hospitality space. I have owned cigar lounges and several restaurants, so I understand the challenges and opportunities our members face and, more importantly, the barriers that the government can place upon them.

PCA differs because of my experience, interest, and unique perspective. Over the last five years, I have developed relationships with the leading cigar makers, visited hundreds of shops on my own time, and toured fields and factories in cigar-producing countries. Even though I work in the cigar industry, I spend much of my free time learning about cigars and enjoying them. I have my dream job because of the type of industry and my interest level in that industry at PCA.

Challenges Facing the Cigar Industry

Cigar Life Guy: What is the biggest challenge facing the cigar industry?

Joshua Habursky: Factionalism. Patrick Henry said it best: “United we stand, divided we fall.” There are many differing opinions, and we need to listen to them, work through them, and build bridges. This is a challenge that any association faces with a diverse membership and something that you see as a challenge facing the country. We are taking the steps to communicate more effectively so that we can work through everything in times of disagreement. The cigar industry is small relative to other sectors, and we must work together for the longevity of our organization, industry, and cigar community.

How Joshua Habursky Stays Busy

Cigar Life Guy: You also work as an adjunct professor. What is the most important lesson you try to impart to your students?

Joshua Habursky: It’s unbelievable to think that I have almost been teaching for ten years. I started at West Virginia University in their media college, taught an elections course at Heidelberg College, and have been with George Washington University for five years. The most important lesson in every class is: Never stop learning. I have been fortunate to go to a lot of different places, meet a lot of different people, and study a lot of subjects at a variety of universities and colleges. Nothing beats real-world experience and mentorship.

Cigar Life Guy: What’s one non-cigar hobby or leisure activity you enjoy that most people wouldn’t know about?

Joshua Habursky: I am a big electronic music and combat sports fan. I go to one or two UFC fights live as a spectator and have taken up boxing for exercise. And I enjoy going to live sporting events or shows in general. I have been at the F1 Miami Grand Prix for three years. That is one of my favorite experiences. Padron has a cigar lounge right on the track, where I enjoy a fine cigar while watching the race.

 

Follow Joshua on Instagram.

Photo credit: Joshua Habursky

Kevin Shahan, of Cigar Prop, smoking a cigar.

More Than a Cigar Prop: Meet Kevin Shahan

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Cigar life began simply enough for Kevin Shahan — with dinner and a beer. Like many who take up cigar smoking, it evolved into a passion and the desire to know about cigars. As his website states, Shahan’s company, Cigar Prop, was “born out of necessity.”

While working as a mechanic, he needed a place to set his cigar. He built a cigar rest from leftover materials, and the rest, as they say, is history. He has been creating accessories and apparel ever since. Shahan talked to Cigar Life Guy about spreading the good word about cigars, remaining true to his blue-collar roots, and how every guest on his I’d Tap That Cigar Show is interesting.

First Premium Cigar Experience

Cigar Life Guy: Tell me about your first premium cigar experience.

Kevin Shahan: My first premium cigar experience was on April 22nd, 2015, at the Tobacco Locker in Port Charlotte, Florida. I was with Pete Johnson of Tatuaje Cigars, and it was a dinner and cigar event.

I remember the exact date because it recently appeared on my Facebook Timehop. For $20, you get three cigars, dinner, and a craft beer tasting. Try and get all that now for $20.

At that point, I had been smoking cigars for a few years, but they were cheap cigars sold from one of those online magazines. You got a humidor and 50 cigars for $19.99. I had no idea what I was doing or smoking.

When I attended that Tatuaje event with Pete and heard him talk passionately about cigars, I wanted to learn everything about the business and every cigar I smoked.

The Accidental Inception of Cigar Prop

Cigar Life Guy: How did you get into the cigar industry? What did you do before, and how does it help inform what you do with Cigar Prop?

Kevin Shahan: I got into the cigar business through the cigar accessory business. I was working on my mini lathe one day, making some parts while smoking a cigar, and every time I set my cigar down, it kept rolling around. So, after making my part, I took the extra material in my lathe and made a little cigar rest. I would take that rest to my local cigar lounge with me, and after my buddies saw it, they wanted one, so I made a few extras. My wife Jessica (then girlfriend) encouraged me to make more and sell them, so I did.

After selling a few, I started a cigar review channel on YouTube to help promote myself in the cigar community.

What I did before the cigar industry is still what I do now — I’m a mechanic. But at one time, I did have a beard care company and also did beard product reviews on YouTube. Those reviews helped me hone my videography skills. So, when I started a cigar review channel, I knew what I was doing.

Why Cigar Prop Apparel Stands Out

Cigar Life Guy: What makes Cigar Prop apparel and accessories unique?

Kevin Shahan: Everything Cigar Prop makes is made in the USA. If we can’t make it here in the States, we don’t. That goes for our apparel as well. We source blank apparel made in the USA and purchase heat press graphics made in the USA.

Kevin Shahan’s Cigar Journey

Cigar Life Guy: Your slogan is “Cigar Prop is a brand, journey, a way of life.” What does that mean, and how do you want consumers to perceive your brand?

Kevin Shahan: Cigar Prop is a brand of quality products made by a cigar smoker for cigar smokers. The journey represents not only our journey through the cigar world but also your journey through the cigar world. You don’t have to take this journey alone. We are with you to help with cigars through reviews, knowledge, and resources to help you navigate the world of cigars.

The way of life is that of a regular cigar smoker. We aren’t fancy. We don’t talk down to new cigar smokers because you don’t know how to pronounce Arapiraca or Liger. And we don’t make expensive accessories that the average cigar smoker can’t afford. The way of life is that of a blue-collar cigar smoker.

Going Beyond Accessories

Cigar Life Guy: Have you considered expanding beyond apparel and accessories to a full line of cigars? If so, what would be true for you to think it seriously?

Kevin Shahan: Last year, we launched Trash Panda Cigars. We started selling vintage cigars and cigars made just for us by Sinistro and Espinosa.

Starting in 2024, we stopped selling vintage cigars and now focus on selling cigars made just for us. Trash Panda Cigars is still very small, but we plan to grow it into something more significant in the next few years.

Becoming a Cigar Influencer

Cigar Life Guy: You are also a cigar personality and influencer. What do you think is the most important thing to communicate about cigar culture?

Kevin Shahan: First, Juan Cancel of Protocol Cigars says I’m not an influencer; he prefers the term promoter. I don’t mind the term influencer because people listen to what I say, and my words can influence the buying decisions of those listening to or watching me.

Cigar culture takes no less than 300 pairs of hands to craft a cigar. The process begins with the person in the field harvesting tobacco. Then, it extends to the person behind the counter at your local brick-and-mortar selling you a cigar.

Your words can change the life of someone you have never met before. If a cigar isn’t in your wheelhouse, don’t bash the cigar online because your words can influence someone who may have never tried that cigar, and that’s not fair to every one of those 300 hands.

With that being said, if you enjoy a cigar, show some love to that company on social media because your words can influence someone else to try that cigar and get introduced to a brand they may have never heard of.

Behind the Scenes of Hosting a Cigar Show

Cigar Life Guy: Tell us about I’d Tap That Cigar Show. Who have been the most exciting guests so far, and why?

Kevin Shahan: My co-host, Kerr Viajante, and I love doing the I’d Tap That Cigar Show! Every week, we showcase a maker, a fellow influencer, or a brand owner and hear the story of their journey through the cigar world. We try not to ask the same questions that every other interviewer asks. We try to dive deep into how they became who they are in the cigar world.

Every guest is the most interesting! Who would have thought a show dedicated to Life Insurance would be fun? But when we had Dave Arlinghaus on, I had a blast!

The Future of Cigar Prop and Kevin Shahan

Cigar Life Guy: What else can we expect from you and Cigar Prop in the future?

Kevin Shahan: Cigar Prop will keep doing what we do best: bringing cigar smokers great products, reviews, and interviews.

 

Follow Kevin on Instagram, check out  I’d Tap That Cigar Show, and the latest from Cigar Prop.

Photo credit: Cigar Prop

Rick Rodriguez pictured next to several boxes of premium cigars.

Rick Rodriguez from West Tampa Tobacco Company Talks His Wild Ride with Cigars

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Rick Rodriguez worked at General Cigar for 25 years. He trained under Benji Menendez before starting West Tampa Tobacco Company in 2022 with Gus Martinez.

While Rodriguez has built an extensive and impressive (cigar life) resume, he didn’t smoke his first cigar until he was forty. He talked with Cigar Life Guy about that first-smoke experience, the importance of keeping stories and tradition alive, and why he isn’t worried about cigar life ending any time soon.

 

Rick Rodriguez First Premium Cigar Experience

Cigar Life Guy: Tell me about your first premium cigar experience.

Rick Rodriguez: That’s a great question. I have been interviewed a thousand times, and one of the questions I’ve always thought about is, “When did you smoke your first cigar?” Amazingly, no one asked that question. Therefore, I had my first cigar the day I interviewed to work for General Cigar.

Dave Bullock, now the president of sales for Rocky Patel, interviewed me. He heard my story about my grandmother and grandfather coming from Cuba to Tampa to roll cigars. He worked for Nestle and said, “Hey, you need to sell candy bars for us.” And I said, “I’m not selling candy bars. I’m happy with the carpet business.“

He called me back two years later and said, “I’m working for General Cigar now.” But I had yet to learn what or who General Cigar was. I had been in a tobacco shop maybe twice when I was thirteen. So I said, “Perfect, we’ll have dinner.”

We had dinner, and he explained he worked for General Cigar and that my territory would be in Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville. And I said, “You know what? You got your guy. I’ll take the job.”

After dinner, we took a walk. We were in Ybor City, and we saw a cigar shop. I walked in and bought two cigars: a Macanudo Hyde Park and an 858 from Fuente. 

I gave him the Macanudo because he was a cigarette smoker, and he asked what I was smoking, and I told him, Fuente. He said, “In the future, only smoke their product when you get the job.” And I said, “I didn’t see any General Cigar.” Then he told me they own Macanudo, Cohiba, Hoya, Punch, and all these brands.

I knew all the brands he spoke of, but I thought they were all individual. So, my first cigar was an 858 in Ybor City, and I choked through that cigar. (Laughs).

Thank God I had felt a cold coming on at dinner, so I blamed my choking on the cold. He said, “It’s okay; you’re hired!” I received my first box of sample cigars the following Monday, and that’s the long story. I smoked my first cigar when I was forty years old.

 

Traditions in the Cigar Business

Cigar Life Guy: You worked for General Cigar Co. for 25 years. What’s it like starting your line?

Rick Rodriguez: Fascinating and very scary. I was very nervous about it. We knew what we were doing.

General Cigar teaches you everything about cigars. Without working for them for 25 years, there’s no way in hell I would have started West Tampa.

Because of their training, we knew we’d have a starting chance. Doors opened for us the day I announced, on May 2, 2022. We celebrated our second year this May.

I remember calling my first account and telling them I left General Cigar, and no questions were asked. It was, “Ricky, we’re in.” So, having that history and that trust was an asset. So it was terrifying, but we knew we had an upper hand.

 

A Look Back at Cigar Variety Evolution

Cigar Life Guy: You have been in the tobacco industry for a long time. What is your favorite aspect of the cigar business, and how has it changed over the years?

Rick Rodriguez: People. Travel is tiring, but when you can connect with people that is my favorite aspect. That has not changed.

If you look at cigars, there are many types, each varying in body, size, and brand, and I’ve seen that grow. But what I enjoy the most about cigar life is the people I meet, the people I have been friends with for twenty-five years, and the opportunities to share our stories.

 

Rick Rodriguez’s Biggest Cigar Industry Challenges

Cigar Life Guy: What is the cigar industry’s biggest challenge today?

Rick Rodriguez: Individual state taxes and the struggles with what we have to do with warning labels. Those are the scary things. As far as people enjoying cigars? The market is likely going to continue to grow. So, I see many younger people coming.

Tax and smoking bans in restaurants, bars, and sometimes shops… Those are the struggles I worry about. Other than that, I have no worries about tobacco, manufacturing, or consumers. I would not get Sara (Rogriguez’s daughter) into this business if I didn’t think it would be around for the next twenty years.

 

Building a Friendship

Cigar Life Guy: You partnered with Gus Martinez, another General Cigar Co. employee. What was that like, and how is it different being on the ownership end of the business?

Rick Rodriguez: I think we’re lucky. We grew not only a business relationship but a friendship along the way. We both worked at General Cigars but only had a little one-on-one communication. He was in the marketing, and I had my marketing guy.

When I saw Gus, we talked more about our families than we did cigars or business, so the friendship grew. When he said, “I would love to partner with you,” we knew the partnership would be magical because his kind of training was behind the scenes.

He can do the business and marketing sides; my side is the entertaining, the storytelling, the blending, and working with the factory. The perfect combination — a kind of yin and yang of a business partner worked for us.

 

Cigar Tradition and the Circle of Life

Cigar Life Guy: Your grandparents came to Tampa from Cuba in the 1950s as cigar rollers. What do you want the cigar world to know about this legacy, tradition, and its connection to your new line of cigars?

Rick Rodriguez: Don’t forget the stories. Once I finished training, I remember Benji Menendez said, “You think your job is to sell cigars for General? It isn’t. That’s the job of the salesman who will work with you. Your job is to keep these stories alive. Tell them about the history of General Cigars. Tell them the history of your family, your connection to Cuba, and why they moved to Tampa. Those stories connect to that cigar and connect to that fanbase.” You have no prayer if you have a cigar without a believable story.

Benji Menendez, who owned the H. Upmann Factory in Cuba, trained me. He sold cigars to Kennedy, so I understood the value of that.

Furthermore, these cigars are hand-rolled. So, there are no machines. As a result, the process is not something like seeing a car being put together in a factory by machines. So, connecting the stories, sharing those stories, and keeping the memory alive is so important.

 

Looking Forward with Rick Rodriguez

Cigar Life Guy: You introduced the Black, White, and Red cigars in your first year. What’s next for West Tampa Tobacco Company?

Rick Rodriguez: Circle of Life. We just introduced the new full-time line. We’ve been working on this project with Ernesto Perez-Carillo (EPC) for about six months. We need to ship it at the beginning of June. And we are very proud of this because it connects my kind of history, my story, and my journey in my tobacco life.

We chose Ernesto because he was the first person in the Hall of Fame to train me. I was trained by four Hall of Famers, but he was the first who took the time to train, and that’s why we connected.

He loved the story. There are three typical sizes that people will love: the Robusto, the Toro, and a 6×50. They range in price—without taxes—between 13 and 15 dollars.

 

The Final Wrap with Rick Rodriguez

Cigar Life Guy: Have we missed anything? Please tell us anything else you’d like the cigar world to know.

Rick Rodriguez: If you enjoy cigars, try our cigars! Enjoy our cigars. Even if you don’t smoke our cigars, please keep smoking cigars and loving this community of cigar smokers. It’s one of the only things you can do today in your life that will connect you to people.

You can go to restaurants or bars and meet one person, but go to any cigar shop and try not to meet five, six, or seven people. Our connection is impressive.

 

Follow Rick Rodriguez and West Tampa Tobacco Company on Instagram. Then, check out the latest from West Tampa Tobacco Company.

Photo Credit: WTTC

Sebastien Decoppet of Cavalier Geneve Cigars

Sebastien Decoppet: A Switzerland to Honduras Cigar Journey

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It takes guts and a genuine love of cigars to drop everything and move to Honduras, but that’s exactly what Sebastien Decoppet, owner of Cavalier Geneve Cigars, did. Growing up in Switzerland near one of the cigar industry’s premier lines (Davidfoff) might have had some influence. Still, Decoppet is making his mark with his Diamond Gold Series and continues to add new blends to the Cavalier Geneve line. He talked with Cigar Life Guy about how he was never meant to sit behind a desk, paying homage to his late father, and how the cigar industry is sometimes misunderstood by those who have yet to live the cigar life.

Sebastien Decoppet: First Premium Cigar Experience

Cigar Life Guy: Tell me about your first premium cigar experience. (When was it? Who were you with? Where was it? What was the occasion?)

Sebastien Decoppet: I had my first cigar somewhere around twenty years old. I’m from Switzerland, and you were allowed to smoke at 16 and drink alcohol at 18, so it’s a bit different than what we have here now in the U.S. I didn’t have anybody in the family that smoked cigars. I stepped into the Davidoff store in Geneva, where I grew up, because I was interested in cigars. Why not? I wanted to see what it was, what it looked like. So, I don’t know if it was a No. 1 or No. 2, but one of the Classics from Davidoff at the time, and that’s how it started. I stepped out on the terrace, and I had that first cigar. It’s been a daily habit ever since.

From Switzerland to Honduras

Cigar Life Guy: You grew up in Switzerland. What was it like being around one of the industry’s benchmarks, Davidoff? How did it shape what you envision for Cavalier Geneve Cigars?

Sebastien Decoppet: It had a significant influence at the time. The market is very different in Europe from the U.S., and the influences are very different. I didn’t realize it, but Davidoff has had a significant influence. First of all, it was why Geneva became so crucial in the cigar world, and that was also why I knew very early on that Geneva had to be part of the name when I started. I think the visuals — the classicism — had a certain level of influence. It evolved from there.

The graphics, the visuals, and the brand’s identity grew and made its way for us, but it started with that white theory. I don’t want to say we took white because it was Davidoff’s “white.”  That’s not what it was, but I guess it had an influence. Cavalier and the visuals are classic. I think that’s all probably due to the cigar culture there and how the Davidoff company shapes the industry in that part of the world.

Cigar Life Guy: You dropped everything to move to Honduras to learn the cigar industry before learning the language. What makes cigar life and the cigar community so unique?

Sebastien Decoppet: I didn’t know when I first moved, but I discovered the cigar industry checked all the boxes for me. I realized early on that I’m not one to sit behind a desk. What would have been my life if I hadn’t made that decision?

The cigar industry is versatile. It brings so many different people,  so many different backgrounds, so many different cultures together. It is so welcoming. There is no conflict or few conflicts within the industry. It is a lot of cultures together that built what it is today.

The quality of the people — I’m talking about consumers and professionals — makes it enjoyable to work in. At the same time, the other side of it is the craftsmanship — the retro approach. Everything today is digital. You create value when you create things that you can’t touch, and that is something that disturbs me. I like that everything in the cigar industry is palpable. Everything is a hand that did something — a person who did something. We can see and feel it. It’s authentic craftsmanship. It’s an art in the creation process, and before it becomes a product, it is an art. So it’s a mix of the beauty of the people, the mix of all the cultures that come together, and the beauty of something still so real.

Sebastien Decoppet on Mistakes

Cigar Life Guy: What was your best mistake in those early years, and what did you learn from it?

Sebastien Decoppet: The best mistake I made was entering the U.S. market with a distributor, not understanding the U.S. market, and trying to treat it the same way I treated other countries internationally without understanding — something I fixed later. I thought it could be handled by a third party involved in the industry and would not require much of my time here (in the U.S.). There was a need for more understanding of how the U.S. worked and the actual cultural difference in the cigar industry compared to many other countries we work with internationally.

The beauty of it is that failing — we did fail — forced us to rethink the whole process and decide to move here (the U.S.) and brought us to open our operations in Central America instead of working with third parties. We had to make that mistake to understand the reality of this part of the world and the cigar industry and then discover for ourselves. Moving to the other side of the planet is very enriching, and getting to know so many different cultures within the same country. It’s an all-around win now, but it was a massive mistake at first.

Cigar Industry vs. Regulation Challenges

Cigar Life Guy: What is the cigar industry’s biggest challenge today?

Sebastien Decoppet: Regulations. Unfair regulations. The real reason why it’s unjust is that you’re just a cat underwater with it. Europe had something similar to the FDA a few years ago. There’s plain packaging, all sorts of different things, and the pushback here. We’re such a small industry. We should be thrown in with the luxury industry, in with craft watches. Because we’re tobacco, which comes from a plant, we’re thrown in with Big Tobacco. We barely have anything in common with Big Tobacco. We start with just the word “tobacco” and the plant. Even with that, we have such different variables and processes. We’re thrown into the same bucket, and we don’t have anywhere near the means that Big Tobacco has.

The best way to say it is an incapacity to communicate to the world what we are — we’re misunderstood.

The Cavalier Geneve Portfolio

Cigar Life Guy: Tell us a little about the Cavalier Geneve portfolio.

Sebastien Decoppet: I think the Cavelier portfolio has to be considered three pieces — one big umbrella with three brands under it. The original is the Cavelier Gold Diamond, which may be what we’re known for — the 24-karat gold band on the cigar. No gimmick. It is what it is. It’s eye candy if you want, but it’s what allowed us to go somewhere in this industry.

We didn’t come from this industry, and we don’t have a long line of roots here. Instead, we decided to take this route for ourselves. We had to make our way and be as visible as possible to lead to more acceptance globally.

The Gold Diamond, especially the White Series, is the heart. The Origin release is still the main line in our portfolio. It’s still the most efficient part of our engine. Then we have the Black II, the Viso, the Prospektor. All of these carry the Gold Diamond. Then we have a second Regional Exclusive, a pretty wide part of our portfolio. It goes from mild to medium to full. There are no powerhouses in what we do, but we always focus on flavors and complexity.

The second part, recently added, is now part of the Inner Circle brand. It’s the first time we released a new product without the Gold Diamond, and it was the first new brand we released. So, Inner Circle is a reflection of a much more classic line. It’s a reflection of where we come from. We wanted to ensure we acknowledged where we came from and the support we received.

When we started, we were close to going broke a lot of times, and then suddenly you blink and you have 100 employees. We realized that people decided on their own to support us. It was that first step when we went from a project to an actual group of companies. Inner Circle was an extension.

The “Inner Circle” sounds like a closed circle, but our Inner Circle was more of an extension of a “thank you” to those who supported us early on. From there, we released a second one called the Domaine Rouge. Domaine Rouge is a brand that looks back to the last years of my father and the factory. That was something my father was very proud of before he passed away. That’s why you’ll find 1956 on the boxes — the year he was born. It’s more of a homage to him. And then there is the Tres Delincuentes, which is more of that graphic, street art, grimy, down-to-earth line. It was linked more to the creative process in terms of art. Three wrappers. Three sizes.

Future Vision: Cavalier Geneve Cigars

Cigar Life Guy: What’s next from Cavalier Geneve Cigars?

Sebastien Decoppet: I hope a lot of things. We have some new releases. Earlier this week, I sent a press release regarding a new size, Petit No. 2, in our core line, so that’s Petit Torpedos. A new cigar will be revealed as a pre-release at PCA — a few more notable projects. We’re constantly challenging ourselves regarding cigars and expanding our warehouse. Our office is in Honduras right now, so that’s something we’re very proud of- seeing the team grow. One big target we have is to start growing our own tobacco. That’s going to be a big step.

 

Follow Sebastien on Instagram and check out the latest from Cavalier Geneve Cigars here.

Photo credit: Cavalier Geneve

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