How Ron Smith Made Dallas Leaf a Community Powerhouse
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 […]
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 […]
Is Kevin Watkins Redefining Cigar Culture?
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 […]
John Bateman: Turning Crisis into Celebration with Mega Legend Cigars
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, […]
Calvin Jenkins Unleashed: Smoke, Flavor, and Ambition
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. […]
Oscar Rodriguez: Beyond Smoke Towards Consciousness
For Dr. Oscar Rodriguez of GTO Cigars, smoking is the cure. As someone from a long tradition of tobacco growers and cigar blenders, you should take his word for it. But don’t just offer him an infused cigar! Rodiguez talked to Cigar Life Guy about respecting the art of cigar blending, planning quality cigar events, […]
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 […]
Tobacco Kennedy on Cigar Life, Stogie TV and Magazines
Surprisingly, Kennedy Achille, also known as Tobacco Kennedy or ‘T.K.,’ initially dismissed cigar smoking. However, as the story unfolds, the unexpected journey of Kennedy Achille into the world of cigars reveals a fascinating transformation. Once a friend introduced him to the cigar life, there was no turning back. From starting Stogie TV to launching Black […]
From Passion to Principle Cigars: Darren Cioffi’s Cigar Journey
The founder and owner of Principle Cigars, Darren Cioffi, may not remember his first premium cigar experience, but his extraordinary designs and extensive portfolio are challenging to forget. Cioffi, a self-proclaimed “paper” guy and cigar guy, entered the cigar life by collecting vintage cigar bands. His love of cigars grew with his passion for antique graphics and […]
Lovely Cigars: An Interview with Mike Gehm
Green Bay, Wisconsin, is not the first place that comes to mind when considering cigars. However, Green Bay has a tobacco tradition dating back to when the Packers won Super Bowls in the NFL. Mike Gehm and his partners at Lovely Cigars uncovered this cigar tradition in Titletown, Wisconsin, and are now sharing it with […]