Telling Fish Tales and Smoking Cigars: Lou Cross of Lure Cigars
Lou Cross, founder and owner of Lure Cigars, has been living the cigar life for over thirty years, but it took him some time to make the leap into the industry and start his line. Cross built a career in mapmaking, graphic design, and senior housing development before landing in cigars. Along the way, he […]
Juan Lugo of Don Doroteo Cigars is Reviving a Legacy
Many people grow up around cigars, but it takes a special person to revive a legacy. That’s what Juan Lugo of Don Doroteo Cigars did. He smoked his first “intentional” cigar while deployed in Iraq. But Lugo took the seed of his idea back to his roots in the Dominican Republic. Lugo spoke with Cigar […]
Nestor Miranda Keeps on Smoking
Life and an amazing cigar journey began for Nestor Miranda in Cuba. What he lacked in formal education, he more than made up for with hard work, perseverance, and business savvy. His work in sales eventually led him to join his wife at Miami Cigar & Company, fulfilling the American Dream and becoming a titan […]
Reinier Lorenzo of HVC Cigars is Always Learning
Growing up in Cuba, there is probably no avoiding the cigar culture, but Reinier Lorenzo, founder of HVC Cigars, studied medicine before he studied cigars. After nearly twenty years in the cigar business, Lorenzo continues to create new blends and pay homage to Havana City. He spoke to Cigar Life Guy about getting his start, […]
Small Business Champion Dr. Gaby Kafie
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 […]
James “Boston Jimmie” Vita Loves Cigars and Talking about Cigars
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, […]
Rick Rodriguez from West Tampa Tobacco Company Talks His Wild Ride with Cigars
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 […]
How Fouad Kashouty Crafts Freemason Identity Through Cigars
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 […]
Luis Cuevas of Casa Cuevas Talks Family and More
From Spain to Cuba to the Dominican, the Cuevas family has been making cigars for over a century. Luis Cuevas of Casa Cuevas has proudly carried on the family tradition. He spoke to Cigar Life Guy about the pleasure of working with his father and son, the work that goes into the blending process, and […]
Black Star Line Cigars and Aric Bey: Interview
Aric Bey, the former Chicago firefighter and owner of Black Star Line, began his cigar journey as many do through camaraderie and conversation. Approaching its fifth year, Black Star Line is gaining steam as a brand. Bey talks about the importance of history, connecting with customers, and appreciating the conversations that come with living the […]