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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

Ron Smith of Dallas Leaf LLC pictured smoking a cigar with wife, Chere.

How Ron Smith Made Dallas Leaf a Community Powerhouse

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A true sense of “community” is about supporting each other and giving back. No one knows that better than Ron Smith, founder and CEO of Dallas Leaf LLC. What started as a small cigar club has evolved into several subsidiaries that sponsor events, support Black-owned businesses, and provide for charities. Smith talked to Cigar Life Guy about his start in the industry, the Dallas Leaf Cigar portfolio, the legendary cigar crawl, and having fun living the cigar life.

First Premium Cigar & Starting in the Cigar Industry

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

Ron Smith: Partagas Black Label, which was back in 2000. I was on assignment in San Diego, Gaslamp Quarter, and my co-workers took me to lunch. It was a spot that allowed cigar smoking. Back then, places like that were few and far between. I had a glass of port wine with lunch and a cigar. It made me sick. But after that, I was hooked. I still smoke that cigar. It reminded me of one of my favorites. 

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

Ron Smith: I’ve always loved cigars, but it wasn’t until I branched off from being a co-founder of RawBones Dominoes that I really started thinking,” Hey, I can really get into the cigar culture.” That was back in 2018. In 2019, I began Dallas Leaf Cigar Club with about eight people because we wanted to attend Black Smoke Miami as a cigar club. My vision was always to do more than be in a club. Once I set up the LLC, I created several subsidiaries and attached them to Dallas Leaf LLC. At that time, Dallas Leaf Cigars was our primary focus, but Dallas Leaf Foundation is my true baby. We also have Dallas Leaf Entertainment and Dallas Leaf Mega Cigar Event.

Committed to Giving Back

Cigar Life Guy: Dallas Leaf LLC is committed to giving back to the community by supporting local charities and minority-owned businesses. Can you tell us a little more about this mission?

Ron Smith: Dallas Leaf Foundation is the cornerstone for what we do in the community. Our motto is “Support Is Free”. We give back monetarily and support several community-based activities such as food drives, clothes drives, school backpack drives, and giveaways.

Jaxon “Mr. President” Turner, the proud owner of Never 2 Young 2 Care Charity here in Dallas, changed how I looked at charity and motivated me to help others. Early on, we supported him, and he touched me so much. How could I not feel motivated to give back when I saw this young man, who was only 12 or 13, doing all these charity events at the time? That, along with how Breast Cancer has impacted my family. It was a no-brainer for me to have some charity or foundation to support.

One of the events we do in Dallas is the Susan G Koman Breast Cancer Walk. Here’s another charitable event that is near and dear to my heart. I recently lost a Masonic brother of mine to cancer.

The Dallas Leaf Portfolio

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

Ron Smith: Dallas Leaf Cigar Company has three blends, and those three blends can be in several different sizes. We have the 1841DL Bishop Double Maduro, our most popular seller. It’s a full-body San Andres and Mexican wrapper, a double-capped Nicaragua filler with an Indonesian binder. You talk about flavor! OMG, it takes you on a ride with oak and a hint of chocolate notes. You can get this in a Lancero, box-pressed, or nub.

We also have the 1841DL Pegasus Habano, which has a mild to medium Habano wrapper, Nicaragua filler with an Indonesia Binder, and double-capped. It has cedar and earthy notes, some coffee, and creamy. It is very smooth throughout.

Also in our lineup is the 1841DL Hamilton Habano. This medium- to full-bodied cigar is a strong mid-range smoke between the Pegasus and Bishop. It has a Habano wrapper, Nicaragua filler with an Ecuadorian binder, and is double-capped. It has some pepper and spice in the first third, but it’s a smooth and very balanced smoke.

We have a few specialty cigars that we bring out at different times of the year, but overall, that’s our portfolio. We have a local roller in the Royse City area, about 30 miles East of Dallas. So everything is hand-rolled by him.

Lately, though, we have focused our energy on other aspects of the company, such as sponsorship, support, events, and entertainment. We only bring the cigar on a case-by-case basis to a special event or cigar week we support or sponsor.

Dalla Leaf Cigar Club

Cigar Life Guy: You also run the Dallas Leaf Cigar Club. Tell us a little about this aspect of your business and what makes the cigar community unique.

Ron Smith: The Dallas Leaf Cigar Club is very special. It started one Tuesday after work at this spot called Vinetti’s, which is owned and operated by the Price Group. Mr. and Mrs. Price had a restaurant, and in the back, there was a cigar lounge. It felt like some mob stuff going on back in the old days. So we would meet back there, play dominoes or spades, and smoke cigars.

One day, we heard about Black Smoke Miami and thought, “Hey, let’s go”. The next day, I was at the county clerk’s office filing for a “DBA” for Dallas Leaf Cigar Club. That was our first formation-not the LLC. The club quickly grew, and people started getting more involved as we added more subsidiaries. We had elections to vote for a president, vice president, sergeant of arms, secretary, and treasurer. I believed in structure, rules, governing, and, of course, having fun. These are all things I learned while serving on the Board of Governors during my tenure at RawBone. What made it fun was that we traveled everywhere.

Our club members love going to other cities and states and meeting everyone in the cigar community. It was educational and a lot of fun. Plus, having a cigar club helped once we established the cigar company. We had loyal customers from day one. The “crawl” actually came out of the cigar club traveling.

Sponsored Dallas Leaf Cigar Crawls

Cigar Life Guy: You also sponsor the Cigar Crawl. Tell us a little about this event.

Ron Smith: Yes, the Cigar Crawl was very exciting. We did several cigar crawls, and regardless of what you may hear out there, Dallas Leaf Cigar Club was the first to ever do one. We were the first to go to another city and do one.

The Cigar Crawl was born from the club’s desire to travel and visit other cigar houses or lounges. So, we did Dallas first. We visited houses such as Blowin’ Smoke and Industrial Cigar Lounge, which won Cigar Lounge of the Year at PCA this year — and Cu’Noma, which won Cigar Lounge of the Year by Black Smoke Miami a few years ago. We also used the Smoking Jacket Mobile Cigar Lounge — Dallas’s oldest female-owned cigar lounge. And it was an epic trip. We visited Little Rock twice. Houston. Austin. Miami. L.A. So, when I tell you we traveled and supported Black Owned Cigar Lounges, we did just that. My good friend Tobacco Kennedy even brought his “Road Show” to Dallas, and guess what? We took them on a cigar crawl, too!

The Future of Dallas Leaf

Cigar Life Guy: So what’s next for Dallas Leaf LLC?

Ron Smith: My wife Chere and I currently own and operate Dallas Leaf LLC. And we have some very big plans. We have been Title Sponsors for Black Smoke Miami for the past five years, and this will be our fourth year sponsoring Houston Cigar Week. We try to support our cigar weeks with sponsorships, and I’m sure that will continue.

I’m proud of all the friendships we made and all the business opportunities created while operating as the CEO. And my wife was blessed to have won Sister of the Leaf of the Year. She has also worked on several major projects, including the upcoming Dallas Smoke Fest. All of this was made possible by Dallas Leaf LLC. We will never forget the people who helped us grow this company. New York, Taz, Tasha, Tersa, Tonya, Cali, Dave, Jerry, and countless others all put their hard work into Dallas Leaf LLC. So, I honor them by keeping Dallas Leaf LLC going.

So what’s next? I aim to purchase land in Dallas and build the Dallas Leaf Club House. I won’t go into details, but it will be more than just a cigar lounge. My wife coined the phrase “Support is Free,” and Dallas Leaf LLC will continue supporting Black-owned businesses and the cigar culture as a whole, forging friendships one cigar at a time.

 

Check out the latest from Dallas Leaf LLC and its subsidiaries here.

Photo credit: Dallas Leaf LLC

Freemason and Hiram & Solomon Cigars founder, Fouad Kashouty with his wife, Romy.

How Fouad Kashouty Crafts Freemason Identity Through Cigars

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Crafting Freemason identity through cigars began as a way to raise money for a scholarship. Ten years later, Fouad Kashouty and his wife Romy aim to make Hiram & Solomon Cigars a household name. Although he’d been smoking cigars for a long time, Kashouty had no connection to the cigar industry other than knowing what he liked to smoke. He talked to Cigar Life Guy about his start in the cigar business, Freemasonry’s best-kept secret, and how cigar life and Freemasonry go perfectly together.

First Premium Cigar Experience

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

Fouad Kashouty: My first cigar was over forty-two years ago when I graduated high school. My uncle handed me a Romeo and Juliet Churchill, I believe- a Cuban cigar. That was my first encounter with a cigar and first love. 

Cigar Life Guy: Tell us how you got started in the cigar industry. What did you do before, and how does it help inform what you do with your current business?

Fouad Kashouty: I used to be in the retail business- convenience stores and gas stations—which I still own. I had no connection to the cigar industry besides smoking cigars and knowing what I liked and didn’t like. The idea came out in the Masonic lodge I belong to, and that’s why the emblem has a Masonic theme. We needed money for a scholarship, and I came up with the idea to roll a thousand cigars, put our logo on it, and sell it to the brethren. So we grew from there to be where we are right now. This year, we celebrated our tenth anniversary, and we’re in over 800 lounges in the United States and 30 countries worldwide.

Freemason Secrets

Cigar Life Guy: Your company’s origin comes from the Brotherhood of Freemasons. Why a Freemason cigar?

Fouad Kashouty: The idea came to fund a scholarship at our Masonic lodge—to give back to the community. As Masons, we always love stuff that carries our symbols, whether pin, sword, or hat. The market had no cigars that carried our symbols, so we thought it was a good idea. A premium cigar that matches the caliber of the brethren within the fraternity and carries our symbol- something that we could smoke with pride when we exchanged ideas.

If we go into Freemason history in the Middle Ages, the 1700s, and the 1800s, only the rich and powerful joined the Freemasons. That’s not the case at the moment. Back then, the powerful and the rich smoked cigars and drank cognac, so that tradition entwined with the masonic tradition and carried on. We always say we didn’t invent Masonry; we didn’t invent the cigar, but as a company, Hiram & Solomon Cigars has mastered combining them.

Cigar Life Guy: The Freemasons are known for being secretive. What are some common misconceptions about the Freemasons, and what do you want the world to know about the Freemasons?

Fouad Kashouty: Our biggest secret is we have no secrets (laughs). Our secret only comes with how we recognize each other by what degree (of Mason) we are. From the beginning, Freemasons elected not to respond to conspiracy theories, which in one way made it more secretive, but I assure you there are no secrets. It’s a fraternal organization that always has community service in mind. Let’s remember the Shriners Hospitals. There are over 22 hospitals that are free for anybody who cannot pay. Shriners are Masons. You have to belong to what we call a Blue Lodge, where you earn your first degrees and then become a Shriner if you elect to do so. So it’s a lot of charitable work. It’s about personal growth. We build our temples day by day. There are no secrets.

Freemason Camaraderie in Cigars

Cigar Life Guy: The Freemasons are exclusive to men, but you work closely with your wife. What has that collaboration been like, and how does that help your company include female smokers?

Fouad Kashouty: When we started this company, many people were afraid of smoking our cigars because they assumed a secretiveness about the Freemasons, including women and even men who were not Freemasons. I used to get calls where people asked, “Am I allowed to smoke this cigar if I am not a Freemason”? Some people were either anti-masons or didn’t want to touch the cigar out of respect or lack of understanding of what the Masons were. They felt like they needed permission to smoke it. So we came up with the slogan, “Everyone’s Cigar.” We use two slogans in our company: “Everyone’s Cigar” and “Discover Our Secret.”

My wife and I met through the cigar world. She helped to grow the cigars’ popularity among female smokers. In addition, it would bring the non-masons to the cigar. It’s a cigar with a Masonic theme, but it’s “every level for everyone.“  Whether it’s Shriner Hospital, community events, or the Coast Guard, part of the proceeds from our cigars go to charity. The last charitable project that we did was Cigars for Warriors. We were the first company to have the logo on our cigar, and we donated 100% of the proceeds from that cigar to Cigars for Warriors.

Cigar Life Guy: The Masons are about community and brotherhood, much like the cigar world. What is your favorite aspect of the cigar community, and how does it connect to the Freemasons?

Fouad Kashouty: Both of them have brotherhood and sisterhood in mind. People who belong to the Freemasons and the cigar community are highly educated, and I don’t mean formal education like college. I mean more enlightened. They are more receptive to learning new things. Most of them are self-made. I  enjoy the self-discipline of both worlds. They go perfectly together.

Hiram & Solomon Cigars

Cigar Life Guy: You moved your production from Nicaragua to the Dominican. What was the reason for the change, and how are Hiram & Solomon Cigars different?

Fouad Kashouty: It was mostly logistical. We used to roll our cigars at the Plasencia factory, but due to logistical issues, they couldn’t keep up with the production of our cigars.

We moved our production to the Dominican Republic to make it easier for us, especially with the production of the boxes and bands. The cigars we copied 100% from the cigars we made in Nicaragua. Plasencia released all the blends and tried to improve them. We believe we did. We changed the look of the boxes and the bands to show the new way we were going.

Cigar Life Guy: What’s next for Hiram & Solomon Cigars?

Fouad Kashouty: We plan to offer cigar blends that satisfy most smokers. You can’t satisfy everybody. Instead, be creative. Be accessories. We want to become a household brand for cigars.

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

Fouad Kashouty: Enjoy cigars! Not only from our brand. There are so many beautiful cigars in the world. Enjoy all of them. But avoid getting stuck with one brand or one size. Instead, try all of them.

 

Follow Fouad on Facebook and Twitter and check out the latest from Hiram & Solomon Cigars here.

Photo credit: Hiram & Solomon Cigars

Kevin Watkins, cigar lounge owner and co-founder of Houston Cigar Week.

Is Kevin Watkins Redefining Cigar Culture?

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Kevin Watkins, cigar lounge owner, co-founder of Houston Cigar Week, and lover of the leaf, has lived the cigar life for over three decades and counting. Watkins likens the sacrifice of running a cigar lounge to having a newborn baby—the love he gets in return is worth it. He talked to Cigar Life Guy about this year’s Houston event, paying homage to the pioneers of the black cigar community and the good vibes and good people that go hand in hand with a fine cigar.

Kevin Watkins’ First Premium Cigar

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

Kevin Watkins: On New Year’s Eve 1993, some friends and I celebrated having a terrific year and rented a limo to go club hopping all over Philadelphia. We dressed to the T. We loved watching mobster movies and wanted to be like them.

Cigar Lounge High and Lows

Cigar Life Guy: You own several cigar lounges. What are the best and worst aspects of running a cigar lounge?

Kevin Watkins: The worst thing is sacrificing most of your time for your businesses. It’s like marrying your business. It’s like having a newborn, mainly when you are used to traveling and spending time with your family and friends. The best thing is all the love you receive. The smiles, conversations, networking, meeting people from all walks of life, and knowing that you probably would have never met if it weren’t for the love of the leaf.

Cigar Life Guy: What do you wish every cigar patron knew before entering your doors?

Kevin Watkins: I wish all patrons knew that cigar etiquette is necessary for cigar lounges to survive. I have seen many cigar lounges close their doors because people like to hang out and not patronize. They have no consideration for the other guests in the lounge.

Cigar Life Guy: You appreciate the experience of a fine cigar. What makes for a great experience, and what makes the cigar community unique?

Kevin Watkins: Who surrounds you? There is nothing like great people, drinks, food, and conversations to enjoy with a great cigar. Most cigar lovers have good vibes, which attracts people to us.

Growing Houston Cigar Week

Cigar Life Guy: Tell us about Houston Cigar Week. How did you get involved?

Kevin Watkins: I got involved in Houston Cigar Week because the city of Houston is a great place for cigar smokers to enjoy what we bring to the table, such as 24-hour access, BYOB lounges, and low tobacco taxes. The city itself has great restaurants and entertainment, which we try to showcase.

Cigar Life Guy: What are you most excited about for this year’s event?

Kevin Watkins: I am excited about the growth. It shows that people appreciate what you’re bringing to the table. These days, it feels good to separate and stand out from cultural vultures.

Kevin’s Most Memorable Event

Cigar Life Guy: Tell us about your most memorable event and what goes into making a great cigar event.

Kevin Watkins: What I most remember is the first year. There was so much going on. The challenges were endless. And we were able to get through it and pull it off. Neither Covid nor anything else was able to get in the way. What makes it so unique is our group’s harmony to put what is essential first and not sweat the small stuff.

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

Kevin Watkins:  I would like people to know that many people have inspired me to do what I do. So, I always pay homage to the pioneers in the movement for black cigar smokers. I also feel the newer cigar smokers don’t understand what we must do to have a voice. Keep shining on everyone and do things right and for the right reasons.

 

Follow Kevin on Instagram and check out the latest from Houston Cigar Week

Photo credit: Cigar Life Guy

John Bateman of Mega Legend Cigars

John Bateman: Turning Crisis into Celebration with Mega Legend Cigars

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John Bateman — JB to friends — is relatively new to the cigar industry, but the owner of Mega Legend Cigars is poised to make a splash by sticking to his plan. Driven by a family tragedy, Bateman is determined to become legendary in the cigar world. He talked with Cigar Life Guy about sacrifice, fake Cubans, his unique “aromatized” blends, and bringing the cigar life to The Gambia, a small country in West Africa.

John Bateman’s First Premium Cigar Experience

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

John Bateman: Thanks for having me; I go by JB, or, as my friends call me, Legend and Owner of Mega Legend Cigars.

My first premium cigar experience came 17 years ago on board my first cruise. Several college football teammates and I were invited to attend one of our boys’ weddings on Carnival Crusie Line. We stumbled upon a very classy cigar lounge on board. The bartender seemed to know exactly how to point us in the right direction for a smoke. He initially offered a Macanudo cigar, stating it was a mild choice and suitable for beginners. Since I never told him I was a beginner, I puffed out my chest and asked, “What do you have that’s not for a beginner?” (Laughs). He handed me a Gurkha Bourbon. I liked the tube it came in, so I indulged. I choked halfway through the stick but lived to talk about it.

Getting Started in The Cigar Industry

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

John Bateman: I got involved in the cigar industry through traveling. About three years after my first cigar experience, I was visiting Tamarindo, Costa Rica. A guy on the street approached me and sold me a box of fake Cohiba No. 5. I had no idea they were fake. So, I bought the entire box of 25 for $200. I brought it home and shared it with all my boys, bragging I had authentic Cubans (Laughs). One of my friend’s father got a hold of one of my so-called “authentic Cohiba” and asked me where I got it. He proceeded to scold me on how it was not at all authentic. I decided to investigate, research, and begin my own line.

Before owning my own line of cigars, I owned a restaurant and a home Healthcare business. Both required a serious level of tough skin and resilience, which helped shape my dedication to Mega Legend Cigars.

Cigar Life Guy: What is the biggest challenge of being a start-up in an industry with so many large brands?

John Bateman: This is a great question. There are so many challenges. If I had to narrow it down to the biggest ones, I would have to say believing in your plan, creating a niche, and sticking to it no matter what.

With so many brands that have been doing this for generations, it’s been helpful for me to remain a student, always willing to learn and take notes while always paying my respect to the guys who have done what I’m trying to do.

The Mega Legend Portfolio

Cigar Life Guy: You describe your cigars as “aromatized” rather than infused. Can you explain the process and the differences a bit more?

John Bateman: Absolutely. Aromatizing is simply a process through which I put my cigars, giving off a desired and pleasant aroma to the leaf as I smoke it while avoiding the sweet taste you smell. The aromas range from hazelnut to creme brulee and mocha, but they are always distinct from infused. These are medium—to full-body premium cigars, leaving your palate craving the next!

Cigar Life Guy: Can you tell us about your cigar portfolio?

John Bateman: So, the Mega Legend cigar has displayed as many as six faces in lounges and stores across the U.S. and internationally. Currently, I’m only carrying three cigars.

I have a Robusto with a Connecticut wrapper, Ecuadorian binder, and Brazilian-Dominican filler, a Lancero with an Ecuadorian wrapper, Ecuadorian binder, and Dominican-Nicaraguan-Peruvian filler, and my latest is a Toro Double Ligero with a Havana Wrapper, Mexican binder, and Cuban-Dominican-Pennsylvanian filler. My factory is working on my very first 70-gauge, which will be available by June 2024. Mega Legend Cigars are hand-rolled in the mountains of Puriscal, Costa Rica. Our fields are in Ecuador.

John Bateman on Family Tragedy

Cigar Life Guy: Your mantra is “Don’t be ordinary…be legendary.” What does that mean to you?

John Bateman: Well, this is a bit of a sensitive subject. Three years ago, my nephew, who was more like a son to me, treated my sons — his cousins — as brothers. A group of guys wanted to jump on one of my sons. So, my nephew put himself in the middle as a mediator. As he talked to the group of guys, he also inserted himself into the middle of the situation “literally.” The perpetrator pulled out a gun and aimed it at my son. My nephew then moved into the path of the gun to block my son from being shot, and he took a bullet to the neck, which ended his life.

I will forever feel responsible for this. So when I started my brand, I came up with the phrase, “Why be Ordinary When You Can Be Legendary?” In my book, my nephew displayed the ultimate meaning of sacrifice and will forever be a Legend. So, in my everyday life, I’m reminded that you can be ordinary and there is nothing special about that, or you can be selfless, do for others, and be Legendary in your own right.

John Bateman Brings Cigar Life to The Gambia

Cigar Life Guy: What does the future look like for Mega Legend?

John Bateman: The future is looking very bright. I opened a restaurant and cigar lounge and purchased property in The Gambia, a country in West Africa. I also host and sponsor a cigar concert a few times yearly in Kennesaw, Georgia. You can catch live bands, amazing vocalists, food trucks, and cigars!

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

John Bateman: We covered all there is to know about Mega Legend. However, I have been working on a massive historical event for the last nine months. I have arranged the very first-ever cigar week in The Gambia. This is a nine-day event that I have been working extremely hard to bring together on the west coast of Africa.

For the past two years, I have been traveling there and bringing my cigars to those who enjoy them. They have been supporting my product, and in return, I wanted to deliver a week of excitement they will never forget. So, on May 11-19, 2024, I will host, facilitate, and welcome over 100 people to participate in this fantastic cigar week in West Africa.

 

Follow JB and Mega Legend on Instagram.

Photo credit: Mega Legend Cigars

Calvin Jenkins smiling while wearing a cowboy hat and shades.

Calvin Jenkins Unleashed: Smoke, Flavor, and Ambition

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Yes, smoking a cigar can be a religious experience. Just ask Calvin “Hollywood” Jenkins. The owner of Luxe Cigar Lounge, singer, event promoter, and cigar lover likens the cigar experience to “church.” Jenkins talked with Cigar Life Guy about his gospel roots, the Charleston Smoke Out, and the organic conversations from sharing a good smoke.

Calvin Jenkins’ Memorable First Cigar

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

Calvin “Hollywood” Jenkins: My first cigar experience was at 18. I remember smoking a Baccarat Cigar. There was a cigar lounge called Smoking Lamp in Downtown Charleston, and I went alone. But there was no special occasion; I was just interested in smoking cigars.

Hollywood’s Impact: Cigars in the South

Cigar Life Guy: You’re a proud native of South Carolina. So, how did you get the nickname “Hollywood”?

Calvin “Hollywood” Jenkins: My mother gave me that name. She was a fine soul. I always wore suits and shades to school. So people would say I think I’m Hollywood, and the name stuck.

Cigar Life Guy: You opened Luxe Cigar Lounge, the first cigar lounge in Low Country. Tell us about your lounge and what makes it second to none.

Calvin “Hollywood” Jenkins: Luxe wasn’t the first cigar lounge in the Low Country, but we were the first luxury cigar lounge. Our customer service and cigar selection are unlike any other lounge in the surrounding areas. And our live music events alone set us apart. So, the vibe at Luxe is definitely unmatched.

Cigar Life Guy: So, you appreciate the experience of a fine cigar. But what makes for a great experience, and what makes the cigar community unique?

Calvin “Hollywood” Jenkins: A great cigar experience can be smoking a cigar myself or sitting with genuine people. Sometimes, that experience can be organic — where I’m joined by people I’ve never met — and we spark conversation. Organic experiences are the best.

Having fellowship is what makes the cigar community unique. You have people from all different walks of life. It reminds me of going to church.

Calvin Jenkins: Notes and Smokes

Cigar Life Guy: You’re also a recording artist who cites various influences. So, how did you get your start in the music industry?

Calvin “Hollywood” Jenkins: Well, I’ve been singing since I was little. In fact, I traveled the world as a kid and started singing with the gospel. Then, I got out of the singing and started managing. From there, I went into promoting. I’ve always loved music, specifically old-school music. And James Brown is a big influencer of mine. I’ve always said to myself I can do that. So, I went to Florida and had an experience where I was the entertainment. Then, I contacted my little brother when I returned home, and things took off.

Cigar Life Guy: Then you founded SOUL Music & Events and the Charleston Smoke Out. Tell us, what are the makings of a successful event, whether cigars or music?

Calvin “Hollywood” Jenkins: Work, grinding, the right concept, and the right time are all factors. So, we have to think about what the people want. We must consider what vibe to give them or what experience we want them to have. The right entertainment is paramount, as are the small things (that are huge things, too) like the food vendors. All of this plays a role in a successful event.

Calvin Ignites: Charleston Smoke Out

Cigar Life Guy: This May will be the 4th Charleston Smoke Out. What are you most excited about this year?

Calvin “Hollywood” Jenkins:  One of the things we are most excited about is our partnership with the Crate Group LLC. It’s a non-profit that will support three low-income families throughout the Low Country. I’m also looking forward to this year’s growth and this event becoming more multicultural. I’m excited to see all the new and returning faces.

Cigar Life Guy: So, why did you want to bring a large cigar event to Charleston?

Calvin “Hollywood” Jenkins:  We didn’t start with the idea of making it a big event in Charleston; It just happened over time. And each year, the event grew, and more ideas rolled in. As it grew, we wanted to improve the event experience. After all, people from all over the United States come for this event, and a few come from out of the country, too.

 

Follow Hollywood on Instagram and get the latest information on the Charleston Smoke Out here.

Photo credit: Calvin “Hollywood” Jenkins

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