Market Trends Archives - Cigar Life Guy

Jonathan Carney Wants You to Meet Bentley the Cigar

Posted on April 29, 2025 by Staff

Jonathan Carney has been living the cigar life for over twenty years. He started in a cigar shop, moved into sales, and now leads Bentley Cigars’ US distribution. Carney learned early to never compromise values or vision when trying to create something special. He spoke with Cigar Life Guy about his partnership with Martin Schuster. They discussed the goals of the Bentley brand and how cigar-making connects to the culinary arts.

First Premium Cigar Experience

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

Jonathan Carney: I had my first premium cigar experience during my freshman year of college with a very close friend. We used to have weekly cigar sessions in an outdoor common area near our dorms. It became a little tradition for us — a way to unwind and escape the pressures of school. At the time, it felt incredibly sophisticated. We thought we had life all figured out back then. Those moments are still some of the most vivid memories I have.

The Cigar Industry

Cigar Life Guy: You’ve been in the cigar industry for over twenty years. How did you get your start?

Jonathan Carney: Back in college, we’d “study“ at Corona Cigar Company between classes. We’d grab Cuban sandwiches, light up a couple of cigars, and maybe enjoy a drink or two, depending on how important the next class was. After graduating, I spent a few years in the hospitality industry. While attending graduate school, I started working part-time at a cigar shop in Orlando, Florida, just a couple of days a week for some beer and cigar money. That eventually evolved into opportunities in marketing and sales and led to a formal role as a sales representative covering New York and New England.

Jonathan Carney on the Bentley Brand

Cigar Life Guy: You were recently appointed to head Bentley Cigars’ US distribution. What made Bentley a good fit for you?

Jonathan Carney: I grew up in an entrepreneurial family, so I’ve always had that drive. I saw firsthand how challenging it is to build something from the ground up. Watching my dad build his businesses successfully over the years really shaped me. I knew that if I could align with a brand and team that shared my values and vision, I could help create something truly special.

Fortunately, Martin Schuster — a fourth-generation cigar maker and someone I’ve known for nearly 15 years — was looking to expand his Bentley brand into the US market. We spent a lot of time in the late summer and fall of 2024 discussing the brand and the business. In December, we made the decision to officially partner and launch Bentley Tobacco | USA. It’s been a true blessing, and I’m incredibly proud to be building this premium cigar business alongside Martin and his family. He’s one of the most genuine people I’ve ever worked with, and our shared trust and alignment make this venture really meaningful.

Bentley Cigars in the US Market

Cigar Life Guy: What are your goals for the US market and the Bentley brand?

Jonathan Carney: Our focus is quality over quantity. We absolutely want to grow and establish Bentley as a premium, successful brand — but never at the cost of our retail partners or at the expense of our core values. We’re in it for the long game. Our goal is to position Bentley as a marquee brand in premier retailers across the US and globally.

Cigar Life Guy: What makes a luxury line like Bentley stand out, and how do you want the world to perceive the brand?

Jonathan Carney: Our motto is “Drive By Taste,“ which isn’t just about the cigars — it reflects the way we present the entire brand. “Taste“ is subjective, and we want each consumer to experience our cigars in their own unique way. We hope that people see the Bentley brand as something that’s tastefully crafted and intentionally designed.

If I could sum it up with a playful twist, I’d say: “Tastefully Driven By Taste.“ It captures both the product experience and the thoughtful aesthetic behind the brand.

The Cigar Community

Cigar Life Guy: What is your favorite aspect of the cigar community and the cigar life? What makes cigar smokers so unique?

Jonathan Carney: There’s truly nothing like the cigar community. No matter what’s going on in your life or how hectic your day is, you can light up a cigar, sit down with someone — maybe even a stranger — and in that moment, you’ve got a friend. Sometimes, those moments turn into lifelong connections. That kind of camaraderie is rare, and it’s what makes the cigar lifestyle so special.

Jonathan Carney & Life’s Passions

Cigar Life Guy: What is one of your passions outside of cigars? What would people not know about you?

Jonathan Carney: I’ve always been fascinated by new technologies. I started building websites as a hobby back in the late ’90s when HTML was becoming more mainstream. Even today, I still enjoy designing and creating, especially with how much more accessible tech tools have evolved.

Another big passion of mine, which is more well-known, is food. I’m deeply connected to culinary experiences — whether it’s a simple dish or a gourmet creation, I love the storytelling and expression that comes through food. It’s an art form for me, just like cigars.

Follow Jonathan on Instagram and check out the latest from Bentley Cigars here.

Photo Credit: Jonathan Carney

Juan Lugo of Don Doroteo Cigars is Reviving a Legacy

Posted on March 20, 2025 by Staff

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 Life Guy about meeting his partner through cryptocurrency investing. He shared his appreciation for the beauty of harvesting tobacco. Giving back remains his primary goal in the cigar industry.

Juan Lugo: First Premium Cigar Experience

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

Juan Lugo: The first official cigar that I intended to smoke — I say “intended” because I have had cigars in my family since birth, and I have always been around them. So, the first time I actually smoked as an adult was when I was deployed in the United States Air Force.

I was in the military police, and I was in Iraq in 2009. It was a dry base. So you couldn’t drink alcohol, which was my vice of choice at the time, but they did have tobacco. You could chew tobacco, smoke cigars, and you could smoke cigarettes. I went straight for cigars.

When I saw it in this little shop, I immediately felt nostalgic. So, I gravitated toward the cigars. At the time, I wasn’t really an aficionado or connoisseur. So, I just grabbed some Montecristos from Cuba. I wound up smoking some gems because there was no embargo like here in the States.

Then, I was nineteen years old. I had one day off a week, usually on Sundays. And I would go into this abandoned hut. It was a bunker, but we turned it into a hangout spot.

The base was called Al-Assad, and it was one of Saddam Hussein’s primary bases in Iraq. We found this abandoned bunker, took some lawn chairs, and set them up in a circle. That was our go-to spot.

We played dominoes. We couldn’t drink any alcohol. However, we had non-alcoholic beer — just for the ritual of it — and we would smoke cigars.

Cigar Business with Juan Lugo

Cigar Life Guy: You were the lone family member interested in returning to the cigar business. Tell us a little about your decision and partnership with Brandon Dallman and Jeff Moss.

Juan Lugo: After the military, I went into tech. I was stationed in California. So, I used my GI Bill and got a degree in business from San Jose State. Then, I gravitated toward the entrepreneurial spirit and mindset.

I picked up a gig in cybersecurity and then worked with AI (Artificial Intelligence) before it was a buzzword. But I had no idea what it really was, to be honest (laughs), even when I was working with it. Conceptualizing it was nuts back then. I kept hearing other buzzwords, like cryptocurrency and Bitcoin. So, I wound up dipping my toe into that in late 2017. I worked numerous side jobs so I could invest in the stock market and crypto in particular.

It took a few years, but in 2020, I finally started making some money. In the midst of the pandemic, I really had a great year investing. Investing led me to random chat rooms and forums like Telegram, WhatsApp, and Discord. I met a lot of interesting individuals — random investors, one of whom was my future cigar partner, Brandon Dallman.

It wasn’t until 2021 that we had made some great gains. A few of us were like, “Can we finally meet up in person and not be weird internet chat room people?” (laughs). So we decided to meet in San Juan, Puerto Rico, at a little beachfront hotel.

The group had business there, but we figured we might as well have a little fun. I had no idea that anyone in the group even liked cigars. I was expecting a bunch of typical nerdy-type basement dwellers. Instead, it was a great group of guys from all different walks of life. Brandon, a good old boy from Nebraska, walks out with a box of cigars. He sits next to me and hands them out.

No one in the group knew cigar etiquette, so I was quick to help with cutting and lighting. Brandon and I got to talking. Then he asked if I had any ties to the cigar industry. And I said, “Do I?” I told him my grandfather’s story about how he’d been growing tobacco since 1936 and his connection to La Aurora.

We talked about what was next for us. Did we want to continue the investing game? It’s a soulless industry. I made some great relationships in investing, but it wasn’t fulfilling other than the monetary side. It’s the polar opposite of what the cigar industry is.

I decided I wanted to make a change. I told Brandon I had been working on a business plan to revive my grandfather’s legacy. We spent the entirety of that trip smoking cigars and talking about what things would look like.

When I got home, I told my wife, who was pregnant with twins. I said I thought it was time to take the plunge, and I wanted to quit my secure career in tech. I was going to walk away from the “golden handcuffs,” as they call them, and pursue the journey of an entrepreneur.

That was the beginning of Don Doroteo. The first thing I told Brandon was that we needed to make sure we were honoring my grandfather and his legacy. It wasn’t cigar-making. It was tobacco harvesting. My grandfather harvested and sold to La Aurora exclusively. It’s also what I wanted to do. So, the cigars were just a byproduct of being in that industry. Nine months after that trip to Puerto Rico, we had our first harvest.

Merging New Blends With Cigar Tradition

Cigar Life Guy: Tell us how you merge tradition with creating new blends.

Juan Lugo: In other words, what’s your differentiator from a business standpoint? Obviously, there’s passion behind creating a business in this industry, especially when you have family ties. But you have to ask yourself the real tough questions. Is it a viable venture? That is the world Brandon and I came from.

We had to assess and vet a lot of companies we were potentially going to invest in. What is the viability of this company? What’s their product? What’s their differentiator? Entering the cigar industry, we looked at it from that lens. As much as it was a passion product, we also had to make sure we weren’t just throwing our money into a dumpster fire.

We had talked to many boutique owners and others in the industry. And we didn’t want to follow a set blueprint. Instead, we wanted to create our own path. Many people stop where they feel like “this is the road to success. I need to have five different blends.” That’s the mindset of the average aficionado who wants to take this on.

I didn’t care about the cigar part initially. I wanted to grow tobacco. I’m a city boy from New York (laughs). That was the next challenge I wanted to take on.

I fell in love with working in the soil and working with the people there. Building something tangible. When you talk about the fruits of your labor, in the investor world, it’s all 1’s and 0’s. There’s no human connection. Whereas in the cigar world, it’s 100% the opposite.

There’s so much fulfillment from the harvest. Then, the big day is when the buyer from La Aurora shows up. They have to qualify all of your tobacco. You’re just crossing your fingers that you have tobacco in there that cuts the binder. And if you’re lucky enough, you get some for the wrapper, which is easier said than done.

We haven’t been able to do that yet. But I’m proud to say that since our first harvest, most of it has been binder quality. That was a feather in our cap immediately. We wanted to make sure we were bringing forth everything we could.

Any schmuck with a wallet can go into a factory and say, “Hey, I want to make a cigar for my ego and put my name on it.“ Any factory will give you numerous blends. It’s business. But I was really serious about this. Putting my grandfather’s name on it held weight.

From Seed to Smoke

Cigar Life Guy: You take pride in doing things the right way. What is the most important aspect of creating a cigar from seed that every cigar smoker should know?

Juan Lugo: The Salt of the Earth took a long time during the brainstorming phase with the team. That is where Jeff Moss comes in. We started looking online and thinking about what the award-winning cigar looked like.

Who is the right person to hire for our team? We had no idea, so we started searching online. That led us to a page with a hodgepodge of boxes and ring designs. It turned out to be the award-winning Jeff Moss from Alec Bradley. We cold-called this guy and talked for about an hour. He told me flat out, “I don’t make rings. I build brands.“ After that, I wanted him to visit the farm.

I brought him there for the harvest in February of 2022. He took one look and said, “You built this in nine months?“ At that moment, he said, “I’m in. Let’s go.“ He was at a crossroads himself. His contract with Alec Bradley was ending, and he was thinking of moving on.

The brainstorming phase focused on what this should look like. It felt like building a brand. We were creating a story completely from scratch. Brandon and Jeff would be there alongside me, working on the variations of tobacco we wanted to use.

Aside from that, it was more about what story you want to tell. That’s where Salt of the Earth comes from.

Salt of the Earth is what I think of when I think of the type of man my grandfather was. That’s the type of man I am. That’s the type of man I want to be known as. I don’t want to veer away from his teachings and my upbringing. So that was the name. That’s the brand. But then I thought, now, what’s the blend?

I wanted to dig deep into the Dominican roots. One thing that was near and dear to me was the Andullo. My grandfather used to harvest tobacco and process it into Andullo. The beautiful part is that to get a final product, you have to let it sit for a couple of years.

The typical farmer in the Dominican Republic will do it for a year and a half. Then, they’ll sell them at any local grocery store. That’s what the common man smokes in the Dominican Republic. They chew it as well. So it’s pipe tobacco and chewing tobacco. That’s what my grandfather produced his entire life.

In the 50s, he opened up a farmer’s market in Santiago. It’s still there today. Alongside tobacco, he had dairy products, eggs, and produce. The first cigar I ever smoked had Andullo tobacco. My grandfather used to walk around with a little pipe filled with Andullo tobacco. And he would roll his own box-pressed cigars with Andullo. It’s not a delicacy there.

I learned to look at Andullo tobacco in a new way. I never saw it at a PCA. It never appealed to the American consumer. I wanted to reinvent that.

We landed on two blends that eventually became the Salt of the Earth: the Cameroon Piedra Viva and the Corojo Piedra Angular.

When it comes to blending cigars, we’re not trying to do anything trendy. As creative director, Jeff Moss has focused on making sure we don’t lose that legacy within the brand. All the visuals, the ring, and the PCA booth must reflect the legacy. The magazine advertisements also need to honor that tradition. Everything must include a modern twist.

I don’t want to be a boutique company that feels that it needs to come out with the latest and greatest every year. There are only so many ways to roll a cigar. If we’re here to make money, we’re here for the wrong reasons. If I wanted to make money, I’d go back to crypto. Making cigars is a passion project for me. I want to make sure that we’re putting everything into every blend. We’re making what we love.

Cigar Farm and the Fair Distribution of Profits

Cigar Life Guy: You take pride in the fair distribution of profits. Can you explain what that looks like?

Juan Lugo: I can say with confidence that most cigar manufacturers don’t own their farms or harvest their own tobacco. That may sound controversial, but when you go into these countries, people can get away with more than they can in the United States. I’m merged between both worlds: a U.S. veteran and citizen. I also have strong ties to my Dominican Republic heritage. Because of that, we do a few things differently.

Aside from having a fully working farm year-round, we don’t just hire people seasonally. That’s controversial with many tobacco manufacturers that have plants in Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico. We hire people year-round. We don’t fire people because the season’s over, and let people fend for themselves and their families for six months. I don’t think that’s right. What I decided to do was farm-to-fork.

We had this extremely fertile land in the Dominican Republic. As it is, we can’t grow tobacco year-round. Mother Nature doesn’t permit it, but crop rotation is good for the nutrients in the soil. So, we rotate crops and keep the soil rich. It also allows me to keep my folks employed.

We have been growing squash. I hired my cousin as the director of operations at the farm. He spoke to local supermarkets to find out what produce was needed most, something that would not disturb the nutrients in the soil for tobacco. We’re on our third harvest of squash. We usually do our tobacco harvest in February.

I have a big ceremonial event. I invite all the local workers. We sit together, throw a feast, and party. There’s music, food, and obviously cigars. Then we do it again when we have our squash harvest in August. We invite all the families.

Our company is a family in and of itself. We have a big cookout with a traditional Dominican stew called Sancocho that incorporates a lot of squash. That’s the first step. That is something that hasn’t come up in some of these cigar-related interviews. One of my personal goals is to give back to the community. That’s important to me. Keeping people employed full-time year-round is step two.

Step three is setting up ways to help kids in impoverished countries. We want them to access things considered foundational in the United States. These essentials aren’t easily available in other places. We’re talking about everything from auxiliary English to STEM. We’re also talking about anything related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. I’m passionate about it because I’ve seen the difference it makes. I want to do that through our company.

Passions Beyond Cigars

Cigar Life Guy: What is one of your passions outside of cigars? What would people not know about you?

Juan Lugo: I just answered a lot of that in the last question (laughs)! I’m open on social media, so you’ll see all of my announcements there. Shooting a bow or shooting guns are some of the fun things I learned in the military. As it pertains to business, it’s difficult to go into PCA as a boutique guy and make major dents in the universe. For me, it’s about giving back to my community in the Dominican Republic and my family.

I was finally able to take my kids to the farm. My twins were born at the same time as the company. It’s been symbolic of how the company went from its infancy to its crawling phase. I had a dream for my wife and kids; I wanted them to visit the farm. I imagined them walking three minutes to their grandparents’ house. Over the summer, we were able to do that. Seeing it in action was so great. That’s what it’s about for me. I truly love the country and giving back. That’s what our company is about.

Follow Juan on Instagram and check out the latest from Don Doroteo Cigars.

Photo credit: Juan Lugo

Lily Wang Brings Her Passion to the Cigar Game

Posted on February 11, 2025 by Staff

Lily Wang has come a long way since launching Cigar Ambassador in 2005. Her passion for cigars and respect for the art of creating blends led to the release of Tobacco Queen in 2023. She talked with Cigar Life Guy about her best industry advice, China’s evolving cigar culture, and how cigar life fosters the “simple pleasures.”

First Premium Cigar Experience

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

Lily Wang: In 1994, I had the opportunity to visit Cuba and the Dominican Republic, where I first encountered cigars and the intricate art of hand-rolling. At the time, my interest was purely out of curiosity.

My real first experience smoking a premium cigar came later during my career at a securities company. I shared a premium Partagás Cuban cigar with company executives. The creamy notes, intertwined with wood and earthy aromas, left an unforgettable impression on me. I can still vividly remember the striking red band on that cigar, which symbolized its craftsmanship and elegance.

Cigar Life and Culture

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

Lily Wang: What truly captivated me about cigar culture is its profound depth and richness. From cultivating tobacco, blending, and aging to hand-rolling, packaging design, and global distribution, every step reflects unparalleled artistry and craftsmanship. Cigars are not just about indulgence—they are a medium for connection and communication.

What I love most about the cigar community is its inclusivity. Regardless of age, language, background, or profession, people can find common ground in their shared passion for cigars. This culture fosters bonds, inspires camaraderie, and instills an appreciation for life’s simple pleasures.

Cigar Ambassador and Launching Tobacco Queen

Cigar Life Guy: You have been in the cigar industry for a while. You have started magazines and lounges and have now introduced a new line of cigars. Which aspect of the business do you like most and why?

Lily Wang: Our journey began in 2005 with the founding of Cigar Ambassador magazine. Over the last two decades, we expanded based on reader demand, launching Cigar Ambassador clubs and shops. By 2012, we organized the China Cigar Culture Festival to support Chinese cigar factories with blending, promotion, and sales. In 2014, we ventured into growing, processing, and trading tobacco internationally. By 2016, we began crafting our blends, eventually creating Tobacco Queen, which officially launched in 2023.

What I enjoy most now is building and promoting brands, especially alongside my son, Ausman. Seeing a product grow from a concept to a recognized name in the market brings immense satisfaction. Launching Tobacco Queen has been particularly fulfilling—it is a culmination of premium tobacco, unique blends, meticulous aging, and the artistry of hand-rolling. We measure success in sales and how well we honor and pass on the cultural heritage of cigars.

Lily Wang: Working with Family

Cigar Life Guy: What is it like working with your son Ausman? What is the most important advice you have imparted to him?

Lily Wang: Working with Ausman has been incredibly rewarding. Born in the Dominican Republic, raised in Shanghai, and educated in the United States, Ausman brings fresh perspectives, innovation, and a modern approach to our family business. In 2023, I was thrilled when he officially joined the company, following our shared passion for cigars.

The most important advice I gave him is: “Quality must always come first. Only with an unwavering commitment to quality can we build long-term trust and respect.”

I also reminded him that a deep love for cigars, combined with professional expertise and passion, is what drives success in this industry. Seeing him take Tobacco Queen to the international stage fills me with pride and excitement for the future.

Cigar Branding

Cigar Life Guy: How do you want the cigar world to perceive your brand?

Lily Wang: Since founding Cigar Ambassador in 2005, I have learned several critical lessons about the cigar industry. One, a cigar factory’s strength lies in access to premium tobacco. Our CAC INT’L TOBACCO company has made this a priority. Two, time is the best investment for quality tobacco.

Tobacco Queen cigars rolled in 2016, and they were patiently aged until the perfect moment to release them in 2023. Third, creating a great cigar is not difficult—maintaining consistent quality and blend stability is the real challenge. Fourth, no marketing effort compares to the power of word-of-mouth praise from cigar enthusiasts. Lastly, understanding the diverse preferences of consumers in different markets is essential.

If you look at the Tobacco Queen band, you will notice it reads Cigar Ambassador Presents, a mark of excellence under our global brand. We are also the exclusive distributor of Arturo Fuente Cigars in China, and our portfolio includes Tobacco Queen (Dominican Republic), Luz de Masalla (Nicaragua), and Leyenda de Copán (Honduras). Launching Tobacco Queen has been a deliberate process—timing and preparation are everything.

To me, the Cigar Ambassador name is sacred. I have our company logo tattooed on my arm—a daily reminder to cherish and protect what we have built.

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?

Lily Wang: People often ask me what it’s like to be a woman leading a tobacco group. To me, it’s not unusual. Consider this: in many households, women do most of the cooking, yet professional chefs are often men. Similarly, many men dominate leadership roles in fashion and cosmetics.

My advice is: if cigars truly captivate you, follow your passion fearlessly.

Master every detail of the industry, from tobacco cultivation to consumer preferences. Don’t imitate others—find your voice. Women bring sensitivity and precision that can add enormous value to the cigar world.

Cigar Culture in China

Cigar Life Guy: What is cigar culture like in China? How does it differ from other places in the world?

Lily Wang: China’s cigar culture is still developing but is growing rapidly. Unlike in Western markets, Chinese consumers often see cigars as symbols of success, luxury, and social status. However, many enthusiasts are beginning to explore cigars on a deeper level, appreciating their craftsmanship, aging potential, and complex flavors.

Another unique aspect is purchasing habits. Chinese consumers often buy cigars by the box, not by the stick. Many purchase multiple boxes—one to enjoy and another to age for 5-10 years, savoring the maturation process. This cultural emphasis on aging cigars is particularly distinctive.

Cigars and the Wonders of the Universe

Cigar Life Guy: What is one of your passions outside of cigars? What would people not know about you?

Lily Wang: Beyond cigars, I am passionate about gourmet food, travel, art (music, reading, and films), and gardening. I also enjoy exploring topics like the mysteries of our universe, human history, and extraterrestrial possibilities—I believe the universe is vast and full of untold wonders.

I share my life with two beloved cats: Akira, a Bengal, and Zhizhi, a British Shorthair. Although they live in China, I think of them often, no matter where I travel. At our factory, I also care for eight stray cats. Watching them sleep peacefully brings me a sense of comfort and healing.

At nearly 60 years old, I still feel youthful and full of life. I love to work, but I also love to enjoy life—good food, travel, and shopping are simple joys that bring me immense happiness.

I smoke about six cigars every day. While I started by simply enjoying the brands and sizes, I now find myself pondering the blends—which regions and tobacco varieties make up each cigar. This deeper understanding has brought a new level of appreciation to my cigar experience.

Follow Lily on Instagram and check out the Tobacco Queen here.

Photo credit: Lily Wang

Douglas Bocock Wants Everyone to be Cocky

Posted on January 28, 2025 by Staff

Doug Bocock and his brother, Bryant, have lived the cigar life for nearly three decades. Natives of Honduras, it all began at a nightclub with the idea of drawing a crowd in Tegucigalpa. The brothers built a humidor and created a house blend, and the rest is history. Recently, they became the first cigar company to be licensed by a university. Doug talked to Cigar Life Guy about his start in the business, the creative process of blending a cigar, and why he invites everyone to kick back, light up, and be cocky.

First Premium Cigar Experience

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

Doug Bocock: I’m originally from Honduras, so we grew up around premium cigars. For us, every cigar was just a cigar — we didn’t even know it was considered premium. A cigar with a label that I remember clearly as an older teenager was a 1999 Vintage Rocky Patel. I loved that cigar at the time. It was nice and mild. A beautiful, decadent cigar. It was at a club in Tegucigalpa called 360, which we owned and managed at the time. We had a humidor and carried that particular cigar, among others. I picked that one up, and I smoked it. At that point, I knew what a premium cigar was. We had obviously smoked cigars from local producers and blenders, but that was my first experience with a premium branded cigar. It drew me into the whole premium cigar experience, including its marketing and lavishness.

Discovering Cigars as a Business

Cigar Life Guy: Your brother discovered cigars while managing a nightclub. How did he get you involved in the industry?

Doug Bocock: As I mentioned, we are originally from Honduras and had a humidor in Tegucigalpa in the 2000s. It was an event center that included a nightclub. To be honest, we needed something different to bring folks in to keep the lights on. Honduras is a huge tobacco producer and the hub for people traveling to Danli, so we decided that a humidor would be a good solution to add additional revenue to our event center. So, we built a walk-in humidor on the 18th floor of the tallest building in the city. At the time, there was a lot of turmoil in Honduras. The humidor and event center was the only place where U.S. embassy folks and military personnel could go and enjoy a cigar.

We learned a lot about the U.S. palate — what the U.S. customers liked. Do they want a flavor-forward or mild cigar? Do they like heavy-smoke cigars? We started to understand and cater to that market, which was more of an international U.S. market. We understood at that point that we had something special only an hour and a half away from Danli. That lit a spark. We realized we could create a blend of our own.

In 2001, we created a blend for our humidor. That was the first time we put something together on our own, but we didn’t really think we were going to create a full-throttle brand of our own. We did something locally and then fell in love with that process.

Bobcock Cigars Blending Process

Cigar Life Guy: Tell us about your blending process. Why should the average cigar smoker at least have some knowledge of how a cigar is made?

Doug Bocock: I can’t tell you what the average smoker should and shouldn’t do. Honestly, what’s important about what we do is being big advocates of what our country produces. The biggest difference is we don’t look at what everybody else is doing. We created our “lane”. When we created our cigars, we visited Danli and found a really good producer and manufacturing facility — San Judas Tadeo (SJT). They opened the doors for us when we were only producing batches of fifty cigars.

At the time, the blender wanted to have fun and create. He understood that we were from Honduras and could potentially take this product into the international market. He believed in our passion and knew we would return. That’s been the most critical part of what we do. We’ve stayed loyal to the factory, to the master blender, to the process. We’ve grown together. It’s not only the tobacco leaves but also our box and label makers. Those are all folks we have worked with from the start.

We are the largest tenant of SJT. He is the cousin of Nestor Placencia, so we get most of our products from Nestor. Our security supply is backed by the Placencia family. For us, that is very special.

Lighting up and Being Cocky

Cigar Life Guy: You have a distinct logo and a catchy slogan. “Be Cocky!” How do you want cigar smokers and consumers to see your brand?

Doug Bocock: Of course, our last name is Bocock. We honor our last name with our logo and slogan. It’s more of a call to action to be yourself. To not be afraid. To grab a stick, smoke it, and enjoy where life takes you! In this world, we’re constantly told what to do — where to smoke and not to smoke. But being cocky, grabbing a cigar, and lighting one up is what embodies our nature. And it has nothing to do with arrogance. It’s mostly about just being yourself. If you’re a badass and you’re working for the man, and you want to kick your feet up in the office and light up a cigar, that’s your “be cocky” moment. We encourage people to light up. Be cocky. Post it on our site. That’s the essence of it: a call to action.

LSU and Cigars

Cigar Life Guy: Your family has a long connection to Louisiana State University, and your latest endeavor is the LSU line. How did that deal come about, and were there any concerns about affiliating the university with a premium cigar line?

Doug Bocock: Talk about creating your own path. We’re not looking to make any noise. We’ve been working with LSU on many different events and fundraisers. Cigars have been part of the day-to-day and many college events in the past, including Joe Burrow’s signature smoke and the College World Series. So, cigars are a way for LSU and other schools to celebrate championships.

Before us, it was already a trend in collegiate and professional sports.

The university embraced what we were doing as a company and decided we were the right partner to represent them. LSU is not the first school to celebrate with cigars, but they are the first school to license with a cigar company.

The Cigar Community

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

Doug Bocock: The biggest challenge is opposition. By that, I mean folks always looking to feel offended by cigar smoke. In general, the opposition from folks who are against smoking cigars without understanding what it’s about. There is a very special bond between smokers. People that don’t smoke and don’t understand it don’t understand that love. That’s the biggest thing. “Live and let live” is what should be enforced when it comes to smoking cigars (laughs). I understand if you’re in a cafe and blowing smoke at someone who doesn’t smoke; I get that. But those folks that try to shut down humidors and lounges because they’re in the vicinity of a place or smokers not being able to have a cocktail in a lounge. You see those things more and more. That’s an issue. That’s the tough part.

Douglas Bobcock: Favorite Part of Cigar Community

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

Doug Bocock: When you start a business like this, you never know where it’s going to go. We started with our Legacy Bocock Brothers and moved on to our Collegiate Division. We’re excited about the next chapter. It’s been a great year for us, launching the football centennial box to commemorate 100 years of Tiger Stadium, along with our two LSU Purple and Gold Cigars.

We realized Louisiana is so supportive of their school that it is an emotional purchase for them. They want to try out a product that has their logo. When they try it for the first time, they realize how good a premium cigar is. When they pair it with their favorite drink, or when the weather turns nice, or when they’re with good company sharing stories and tailgating, the cigar enhances their experience.

For some, it may be something they never thought of doing. You have your day-to-day smokers, but we may be turning someone who was vaping or smoking cigarettes into a cigar smoker. Someone who says, “I’m going to give this LSU cigar a try because it represents my school.” It builds community. It’s a big win not only for us but for the whole cigar community. So I feel we’re providing good service to our industry. But it has to be with a cigar that offers an experience. If the cigar is not up to par, it won’t give the desired experience, which is why we’re so meticulous about the quality of our products.

Douglas Bobcock’s Passion Outside of Cigar Life

Cigar Life Guy: Cigars aside, what is the one passion you have that most people don’t know about?

Doug Bocock: I really enjoy sports in general. That’s a huge passion. I love playing golf and racquetball. When I say sports — I’m a big college football and baseball fan. And we just signed and secured a deal with LSU’s baseball coach, Jay Johnson, making it the first-ever deal of its kind! We’re currently making a limited release, and it will be called the Jay Johnson Signature Series. It’s pin-striped, and the coach’s signature is on the box itself. So, for me, it merges two passions.

Follow Doug on Instagram and check out the latest from Bocock Cigars here.

Photo credit: Bocock Brothers Cigars

Sans Pareil’s David Swinburne is Doing His Best to Create a Cigar Experience Without Equal

Posted on January 14, 2025 by Staff

As an investor and cigar lounge owner, David Swinburne has seen almost everything in the cigar world. However, his experience in the supply chain served him best in his role as CEO of Sans Pareil Cigars. David talked with Cigar Life Guy about the “intriguing” problems in creating a cigar from beginning to end, the beauty of simplicity, and his plans for Sans Pareil to go global.

First Premium Cigar Experience

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

David Swinburne: My first premium cigar experience was right after college when I started my supply chain career. It was a cigar shop in Midland, Michigan, and the owner handed me a Padron Natural 1964 Anniversary Series Torpedo. So, start me off with something fantastic (laughs). One thing that was extra special about this one was the age of the cigar. It was a box that had been aging for about five years. There was no turning back after my experience with that cigar. The nutty flavor and wood notes were remarkable. Age on a cigar allows flavors to come out while continuing to remove imperfections. The tasting notes of the cigar are no longer individual attributes but nuances of blended flavors. That cigar gave me an unforgettable smoking experience. I continue searching for cigars with unique and rare characteristics.

The Wide World of the Cigar Business

Cigar Life Guy: You’ve worked in various roles in the cigar industry. How did you get your start?

David Swinburne: I’ve been an investor in multiple ventures. I’ve done one in pipe tobacco, a supply chain consulting firm. Still, I immersed myself in the cigar industry while investing in a cigar retail lounge in Kansas City, La Cultura Cigar & Social. My business partner, Ben Gardner, and I wanted to provide Kansas City with a cigar lounge experience not found anywhere. We wanted to bring various tobaccos and not just legacy brands. There is a whole world of cigars that many cigar enthusiasts don’t know about. We also wanted to get a certain level of entertainment, rarely found in lounges. That includes billiard tables and an indoor putting green. You wouldn’t believe how many lounge members take conference calls while smoking a cigar and sinking a 10-foot putt (laughs).

The lounge opened in late 2018, and we just acquired a second shop, so there are two shops in Kansas City. The benefit of owning a lounge is understanding the customer journey firsthand. The lounges and retail shops are the foundation of our industry, and Sans Pareil truly values these relationships.

The venture that brings me the most joy is Sans Pareil. We have complex challenges like any cigar brand faces, but we have solved the most difficult one: making a fantastic cigar. The other challenges we face are supply chain, marketing, etc. The main reason I took a larger role in the company was my background in the supply chain. I have traveled globally, creating solutions for manufacturing plants to efficiently and cost-effectively bring products to market. It was the right time to become CEO when I heard feedback from customers explaining how much they enjoyed our cigars. I knew it was time to bring this cigar experience to more people.

David Swinburne: Sans Pareil Vision

Cigar Life Guy: You were recently named President and CEO at Sans Pareil. What is your vision for the company?

David Swinburne: COVID was difficult for all cigar makers, and Sans Pareil was no different. We had significant momentum, and then COVID hit stalling growth. Now that we’re out of COVID and in a better position with the supply chain, we are fortunate to expand the number of retailer partners.

The vision for the company is to continue growing in the United States, as it is the largest cigar market in the world. Sans Pareil’s goal is not to be in every retailer but to be in the right retailer who aligns with the goals and passion of the company and the cigars we create. We are growing our sales team to allow us to grow appropriately without compromising the quality of the cigars. Sans Pareil will grow selectively in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). When right, we will also expand in Asia Pacific (AP).

We are also looking to make a few changes on the marketing side. That will only enhance the smoking experience and allow Sans Pareil to be known more around the world. We will be looking for these changes as we implement them soon.

The Sans Pareil Brand

Cigar Life Guy: The name means “peerless, without equal.” Why is branding important to a cigar line, and how do you want the average smoker to perceive your brand?

David Swinburne: With the name of Sans Pareil, “without equal” means everything to us. Everything we do is to live up to that name. We don’t bring it to market if we cannot blend to the highest standard. It must be unique. It must be of the highest quality in every aspect. For instance, the tobacco Jochy Blanco, who manufactures our cigars out of Tabacalera Palma, reserves the top ten percent of tobacco yields for Sans Pareil. Someone must go through and sort these tobaccos just for us.

The tobacco age is also critical to the Sans Pareil experience. With the supply chain we have been building since 2017, all our tobaccos are aged well beyond 10 years, including the wrapper, binder, and filler, with multiple fermentations required in the processes. We call this putting the tobacco to sleep and only using it when the time is right. That allows us to remove many imperfections in “younger” cigars.

Tabalera Palma has some of the best rollers in the world, and Sans Pareil has access to them. We are blessed with highly talented individuals, which shows in our cigars’ construction. The best part is that the factory is entirely behind the brand. Everyone at the factory working on Sans Pareil projects highly supports what we are building. We cannot do it without them.

The Sans Pareil Portfolio

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

David Swinburne: We currently have five lines: the Green, Blue, Purple, Red, and the recently re-released Gold. All these lines have unique characteristics which are pleasing to the discerning aficionado.

One thing Sans Pareil customers will experience with all our cigars is balance. There’s never “too much of this” or “a lot of that.” I compared it to the analogy of a Michelin star chef. If you taste something from a Michelin-star chef and say, “Oh, that’s a lot of garlic,” they probably didn’t do their best work. For Sans Pareil, it’s all about balance and looking for nuances across the entire cigar experience.

Challenges in the Cigar Industry

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

David Swinburne: That’s an excellent question. You can take that question in many ways. When I think about the industry’s challenges, specifically Sans Pareil, it focuses on educating the retailer and their customers. What I mean by that is that there are so many different cigar brands on the market. Why should they select your brand? The number one advocate we have is the retailer and the tobacconist. We want to be able to partner with them so they can share the same experience they have with their customers. I can’t supply every single cigar shop with San Pareil. We don’t have the inventory due to the time required to age and the quality control we need. We select specific retailers who believe in what we’re doing and want to partner with us.

Embracing Cigar Culture

Cigar Life Guy: What makes cigar culture so unique?

David Swinburne: The cigar culture is the most unique industry I have worked in, and I can’t compare it to anything else. Cliché as it sounds, cigars are the ultimate equalizer. You share the same passion, no matter your background. You can if you want to sit down and talk with someone smoking a cigar. These conversations are priceless, and I have made dear lifelong friends because of cigars. I think that’s so important for the industry. We are all together in this group of lovers of the leaf.

Cigar Life Guy: Anything else you’d like the cigar world to know?

David Swinburne: Sans Pareil is exceptional due to the people behind the scenes of the project, the tobacco selected, the fermentation process, and the unique taste profile not found anywhere. If you find Sans Pareil at your tobacco retailer, I encourage you to take time to sit and enjoy the smoking experience. I promise it will be a smoking experience unlike any other you have had.

Follow David on Instagram and check out the latest from Sans Pareil here.

Photo credit: Sans Pareil

Going Mobile With Christine Morgan

Posted on December 31, 2024 by Staff

Christine Morgan is the owner and founder of Lips Sticks and Fingertips. She has been living the cigar life and breaking barriers in the cigar industry for nearly a decade. Ever the businesswoman, she has learned she can’t be in two places at once. However, that hasn’t stopped her from sharing insights and welcoming newcomers to the cigar world. She talked to Cigar Life Guy about the draw of the camaraderie of cigar smokers, her thriving mobile lounge business, and how there’s room for everyone in the world of cigars.

First Premium Cigar Experience

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

Christine Morgan: My first premium cigar experience was in 2013 in New Orleans. I was with a client, celebrating a successful business connection. The atmosphere was vibrant, with the sounds of jazz music. We chose a cigar lounge that had an impressive selection of cigars. I remember the anticipation; my first cigar was Rocky Patel Sungrown, and the unique ambiance of New Orleans enhanced my experience even more.

The Cigar Community

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

Christine Morgan: The cigar culture drew me to it with the opportunity to make business connections while enjoying a premium cigar. Over time, I’ve come to appreciate the camaraderie within the community and the wealth of cigar education available, which has deepened my appreciation for cigar culture overall.

Mobile Cigar Lounges

Cigar Life Guy: You are one of if not the first owners of a mobile lounge. What gave you the idea, and have you found that competitors are catching on?

Christine Morgan: While I’d love to claim the title of the first mobile cigar lounge owner, I drew inspiration from a few existing lounges that motivated me to create my unique concept. Since launching, I’ve seen numerous other mobile lounges emerge and had the pleasure of helping many of them along the way. It’s great to see others catching on to this trend—there’s plenty of room in the industry for everyone, and I’m always happy to share insights!

Christine Morgan: Cigar Events

Cigar Life Guy: You advertise wedding packages. Tell us a bit about what it’s like blending two niche markets.

Christine Morgan: Blending cigars with weddings has become increasingly popular, as it offers a unique experience tailored for the groom and his friends. While weddings often focus on the bride, incorporating a cigar element makes the groom feel included and appreciated. It adds a special touch to the celebration, ensuring that everyone feels considered and can enjoy a memorable moment together.

Cigar Life Guy: What other kinds of events do people book the mobile lounge for?

Christine Morgan: Our mobile lounge is versatile. You can be it for a variety of events! People often choose it for birthday parties, retirement celebrations, family reunions, graduations, and just-because parties. It’s also perfect for girls’ nights out and bachelorette and bachelor parties, providing a unique experience for any occasion.

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?

Christine Morgan: Women in the cigar industry bring a valuable perspective others often overlook. I advise those entering the field to embrace their passion and confidence. For women who smoke cigars, I encourage them to connect with others who share their interests, whether through lounges, events, or social media—our voice and presence in the industry matter. Together, we can help foster a more inclusive environment for everyone.

Challenges in the Cigar Industry and Passions Outside of It

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

Christine Morgan: The biggest challenge I’ve faced in the cigar industry is limitations — not being in two places at once. With so many events and opportunities to connect with customers, it can be tough to juggle everything effectively. However, I’ve learned to prioritize and delegate when possible, ensuring that I can still provide the best experience for everyone involved.

Cigar Life Guy: What is one of your passions outside of cigars that people would not know about you?

Christine Morgan: One of my passions outside of cigars that people might not know about is arts and crafts. Whether it’s painting, DIY crafts, or other artistic endeavors, I love expressing my creativity through various projects. It’s a great way to relax and unwind while exploring new ideas and techniques.

Follow Christine on Instagram and check out the latest from Lips Sticks and Fingertips here

Photo credit: Life Print Photography | Miranda Malone

Molon Labe’s Steve Bartell is “All-In”

Posted on December 17, 2024 by Staff

People called Steve Bartell crazy for getting into the cigar business. Still, when you have lived the cigar life since childhood, it’s anything but crazy. Bartell — owner and president of Molon Labe Cigars — is all in and has an “intent” to make his brand global. He talked with Cigar Life Guy about his start in the business and how he went from selling cigars on the Internet to building a line that has perfected the “trifecta” — pairing in-house coffee and whiskey exclusively to Molon Labe’s cigar portfolio.

First Premium Cigar Experience

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

Steve Bartell: It’s funny because I was telling this story to one of my customers. My grandfather was a cigar smoker and used to sit under grapes — he had a grape arbor in the back of his house — with a cigar and homemade wine. And I remember loving the smell as a little kid. He’d let me puff off his cigar as a kid, so I learned to love it.

Fast forward to when I was about 18 years old and in college, and I was fortunate enough that my first real cigar experience was smoking an authentic Cuban cigar, a Romeo and Julieta Vintage III. One cigar and I was hooked. From that moment on, I loved smoking excellent cigars. So, I started smoking cigars at a reasonably young age.

As I got older, I joined a cigar club. I lived in Phoenix, Arizona, in my twenties. I don’t know if you know Varton of Ambassador Cigar in Scottsdale, but I joined the VIP program and was the youngest guy by twenty-five years. He took me under his wing with all the old-timers in the backroom in the VIP lounge. So I got to smoke a lot of great cigars as a young man. I was introduced to some rare limited-edition cigars and started working through the premium brands in the humidor. That was the beginning for me.

Getting into the Cigar Business

Cigar Life Guy: You have been smoking cigars for a long time. How did you get into the cigar industry? What did you do before, and how does it help inform what you do now?

Steve Bartell: I was in the tech business for 35 years, so I never intended to get into the cigar business. I love cigars, and I got to smoke many great cigars with my customers while in tech and traveling worldwide. When I was fifty, I ran into a family that owned some land and was growing and making these fantastic cigars. I had been smoking the cigars for five years and loved them so much I went to the family and told them I’d like to make a brand out of it — a limited edition, reserve brand. So, it started as a pet project — a passion project for cigars.

That’s what got me into the business. That was Molon Labe. The Molon Labe brand started eight years ago but entered the market five years ago, and it was a limited reserve. We had five vitolos, all the same blend — a true puro.

Nowadays, that word is a bit bastardized. “Puro” to Cuban means it all comes from the same field, not the same country. So I found a true puro that all came from the same field. It was a fantastic cigar, and I built a brand around it. So now it’s Molon Labe. We only sold it over the Internet, and we only made 500 boxes of each Vitolo. Every year, we sold out. People loved the cigar. And that’s what got me into the next generation of where I am today.

What Sets Molon Labe Apart

Cigar Life Guy: You never intended to have your own brand. What makes Molon Labe different?

Steve Bartell: There’s a lot of things that make it different, so I’ll give the top five. One, it’s a puro. So, all of the binders and fillers of that cigar come from the same field. Second, the wrapper is anywhere between a twelve and fifteen-year Habano out of Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

What makes it unique is that it’s Habano and Connecticut because it’s grown in the U.S. The third thing is it’s one hundred percent organic. So there’s no pesticide in the leaves and no fertilizer in the ground. The fourth thing is the experience you get from smoking a cigar. It’s unlike any cigar in any humidor you walk into.

The last thing is that it’s a limited reserve. We only make 3,000 boxes yearly, and that’s it. It’s very old-school. It’s very artisanal. When you look at them, they’re not beautiful. They’re not perfect. They don’t replicate each other. They’re all unique.

Challenges and Regulation in the Cigar Industry

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

Steve Bartell: The first thing is regulation. The industry is constantly under attack. It makes it harder and harder for retailers to survive. The other thing is that I don’t think people realize what goes into bringing a cigar to market. It isn’t easy. It’s not a matter of slapping your band on a cigar and having a box. That’s the easy part. The hard part is getting the cigar to the market and getting the market to respect it. That’s why we kept Molon Labe as our legacy. It really ties back to the Cuban legacy from which it was born.

It’s a complex industry. I always thought it was a huge industry, but it’s not. It’s small. Compared to most industries, it’s small. It’s global in nature, but it’s a small industry. It takes a lot to grow your business. It takes a lot of evangelizing, trial and error, and intestinal fortitude to overcome all the obstacles thrown at you when bringing a cigar to market. There’s production, boxes, pricing, marketing, and then just getting the cigar out there.

The Molon Labe Portfolio

Cigar Life Guy: Tell us a little about the Molon Labe Portfolio.

Steve Bartell: We sold out our Molon Labe Reserve over the Internet. We were an internet-only business for the first three years. Last year, in 2023, I acquired a company from a friend who owned a cigar business. He was a Cuban gentleman who lived in Miami.

My friend did something similar: He had a pet project that turned into a passion project that allowed him to sell cigars in about 80 to 85 stores in Miami, and he made a great cigar — two lines of cigars. Additionally, he had a factory in Nicaragua and a factory in the Dominican Republic. The brand was called Fuera de Serie — FDS is what we call it for short. It means “out of this world” in Cuban.

My friend grew the business about as far as he could. He did it all by hand-to-hand combat in probably the most challenging market in the United States. He became a very good friend of mine. I loved his cigars. I opened a lounge up here in New Hampshire and started carrying those cigars because you couldn’t find them North of Miami. They just took off. I couldn’t keep them in stock. Everybody loved them. Even today, two years later, it’s the number two-selling cigar in my lounge.

We have a Dominican line, and an Ecuadorian Connecticut with Dominican binder and filler that we grow in Tamboril on our farm. We have an Ecuadorian Habano with a Dominican binder and filler that we grow in the Dominican Republic. Then we have a San Andres Maduro that we also grow in the Dominican Republic. We released those in a toro and robusto. Then we created a mini figurado in a Habana and Maduro, unlike anything on the market. It’s very similar to the Short Story in looks, but we have it in a Maduro, which is unusual.

Then, for our Nicaraguan line, we buy tobacco. We have great relationships with our tobacco growers due to personal relationships between our master blender and his father — Ostvani and Luis Hernadez. Ostvani was one of the original farmers and overseers of Aganorsa Farms. So we procure our tobacco from Aganorsa Farms — EJ Fernadez and Placencia. We only use Grade A, pick the very best tobacco from those farms, and we hand-select everything that we buy.

Our Nicaraguan cigars only come in Toro. It is a USA Connecticut. It’s an Ecuadorian Habano and it’s a San Andres Maduro. We call the Nicaraguan Maduro “Chocolate Cake,” and we call the Dominican Maduro “Chocolate Brownies” because the Nicaraguan is light and airy.

The Dominican Maduro is very heavy — thick and chocolatey with a back note of pepper spice. We released our Nicaraguan Habano in January as a 60-guage Gordo. I would put that Gordo against any Habano on the market. It is absolutely fantastic.

We acquired the company in November of 2023. My partner was retiring from the business but didn’t want to just turn the company over to anybody. I offered him to buy the company, and he told me I was the only person he would sell to. So, I bought the company in November of 2023 to take the entire line global.

In January of 2024, we launched Molon Labe Cigars, including Molon Labe Reserve, our Dominican line, and our Nicaraguan line. We currently have 106 stores in six countries, and we are growing. I would say that we are the fastest-growing brand in America right now.

The cigars do very well, and I think that‘s because of several things. The quality of the tobacco is amazing, the construction is second to none, and the price point is fantastic. The retail price of the Dominican cigars is $10.50. The retail price of Nicaraguan is $11, the Gordo is $12, and the mini smokes is $7.50. I would put that up against any $15 or $20 cigar for the quality of the cigar you get.

Coffee, Cigars, and Spirits

Cigar Life Guy: Molon Labe also makes organic coffee. Why does coffee pair so well with cigars?

Steve Bartell: Part of my journey with Molon Labe was creating a cigar experience. I had the Reserve Cigar, and it was phenomenal, but I didn’t want to go out and sell a cigar on its merits. I think a cigar should stand on its own, but I didn’t want to generalize and say, “This cigar goes great with coffee.”

Coffee is like cigars — they’re not all good. So, I went on a journey to source coffee. I worked with 120 different coffees to get to five that explicitly paired with our cigars. Our website talks about perfect pairings, and those perfect pairings are our cigars with our coffee and our whiskey. We did the same thing with whiskey.

Our cigar company is New Hampshire-based and Miami-based. All of our coffees are roasted locally, and we select the top one percent of coffee beans and grow organically. We have the Soprano, which is a dark Italian roast. We have Death by Chocolate, a dark Italian roast with a back flavor of dark chocolate. The Sumatra is an Indonesian coffee-French roast with very low acid and goes excellent that cigar. We have a Nicaraguan blend, grown an hour from our factory. Then we have a Creme Brulee, which is a flavored coffee.

Toward the end of 2023, we went through a similar exercise to find a reasonably sourced distillery that could make five blended spirits that go specifically with our cigars. Not just a general — “This is Whistlepig or Woodford Reserve.”

All of the products that go in the bottle are organic and grown in New Hampshire. So all the corn, all the wheat, all the rye, everything that goes into that bottle is locally grown. We’re launching that spirit line officially at the end of this month. They’re amazing. They’re taking the market by storm. So when we do a cigar event, we bring the trifecta. We bring the cigars, coffee, whiskey, and rum. We start with the whiskey and rum, go to the cigars, and finish with the coffee. The response is overwhelming.

The ASH Cigar Lounge Difference

Cigar Life Guy: You also run the ASH cigar lounge. What sets it apart from other lounges?

Steve Bartell: A couple of things set us apart. One is service. We provide incredible service — whether at the bar or in the humidor — for pairing cigars with people’s palates and with the right drink. Additionally, we also serve my coffee. In fact, we have a full-service coffee bar in the lounge, and we pair a lot of coffees.

Looking Ahead with Steve Bartell and Molon Labe

Cigar Life Guy: Anything else you’d like the cigar world to know?

Steve Bartell: If you haven’t tried Molon Labe, you definitely need to try it. As I said, we are the fastest-growing brand in the U.S. We have reps up and down the East Coast. We’re in Florida, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, and New England. Soon, we’ll also be in other major markets down the East Coast.

We come to market with something that nobody else in this business comes with. There are a lot of cigar companies that have a coffee or coffee “partner” or a whiskey “partner” or do a pairing with a particular whisky company. Nobody has done it with intention. In other words, nobody has it all together as a package and says, “Hey, try these things together to elevate your experience.”

For us, it’s about the experience. We put a lot of thought into manufacturing our products. Many cigar companies come out with whiskey, but it’s a whiskey that they’re putting their label on and calling it their own. These things are all ours. We control all of it. It’s done with intention, and that’s what sets us apart. I don’t think anybody in the cigar industry is doing that.

We help lounges sell cigars, whiskey, and coffee, promote it on our own site, promote it nationally, and promote with as many events as needed to help that lounge be successful. If you’re successful, we’re successful. And we support the communities that we serve.

We try to tie to local events and charitable organizations in our marketplaces. We raise money for drug addiction, hospitals, veterans, and underprivileged kids getting into business. That’s the thing I’m most proud of. People tell me I’m crazy for getting into this business at my age, but my goal is to build a company that gives back. My goal is to be successful enough to devote resources to the people most need it.

Follow Steve and Molon Labe Cigars on Instagram and check out the latest from Molon Labe Cigars here.

Leonor Abzaradel Shares the Nova Cigars Story

Posted on November 5, 2024 by Staff

Leonor Abzaradel worked in the wine business for a time. So transitioning to another luxury industry like the cigar world wasn’t difficult. Known as “Leo” in the cigar business, the CEO of Nova Cigars shared her first cigar with her father. She has been living the cigar life ever since. She talked to Cigar Life Guy about the inner peace of smoking a cigar, using only the finest tobacco, and the joy of people coming together to smoke a cigar.

Leonor Abzaradel: First Premium Cigar Experience

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

Leonor Abzaradel: My first cigar was with my father when he visited me in New York. My father was an avid cigar smoker, so I took him to Club Macanudo to enjoy his first cigar in NYC. Looking around, I couldn’t help but notice that everyone seemed to enjoy their cigars very much, so I decided to light up as well, and I had a great time, full of joy and inner peace.

What Drew Leonor Abzaradel to the Cigar World

Cigar Life Guy: What drew you to the cigar world?

Leonor Abzaradel: The enjoyment I had with my father and the inner peace. Being surrounded by people from all around the world and being able to disconnect from reality by simply enjoying a cigar in a relaxed atmosphere made me want to learn more about cigars and the cigar industry. That moment opened my mind to new ideas and opportunities I wanted to explore.

Cigar Life Guy: What do you want the cigar world to know about your legacy, tradition, and connection to Nova Cigars?

Leonor Abzaradel: I create my own legacy by following my heart and tradition. After many years in the cigar industry, I decided to take a step further in my career. So, I joined the Platinum Nova cigar as CEO to continue growing in this beautiful industry. Platinum Nova Cigar was a brand-new company. I wanted to grow bigger with this new brand name and put all my experience and love into it.

The Nova Portfolio

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

Leonor Abzaradel: In 2019, we launched Platinum Nova Cigar at IPCPR (PCA) with six lines of limited edition and eight regular productions. Nova uses only long-leaf premium tobacco, but what distinguished the limited-edition lines from the rest was the tobacco age, which was older than 10 years. We had enough to produce only 500 boxes of each limited-edition line, and once they are off the shelves, we won’t be able to replicate these amazing vitolas. In the few years since the public debut, Nova’s portfolio has continued to grow. And its catalog encompasses 26 lines that cover a full range of sizes and flavor profiles.

Cigar Life Guy: Your line is ultra-premium and vintage. How do you want consumers to perceive your brand?

Leonor Abzaradel: How do we want our consumers to perceive the brand? We want our consumers to know we only use the finest premium tobacco. We formulate our products without synthetic ingredients, and we do not cut corners on anything because we do not want to jeopardize the quality of our products. So, we are beyond happy and proud of what we have accomplished and all our products on the market.

Challenges in the Cigar Industry

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

Leonor Abzaradel: The challenges will always be the same. Make sure there is enough tobacco on the market to support the manufacturing. The cigar industry has been overregulated worldwide, and that is something that we have to learn and adapt to regularly so we can comply with the law.

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

Leonor Abzaradel: I don’t think we missed anything. I am enjoying watching the cigar world come together closer and closer to serve the consumer and the new cigar smoker generation by producing different vitolas, blends, and sizes.

Follow Leo and Nova Cigars on Instagram and check out the latest from the Nova portfolio here.

Photo credit: Nova Cigars

Going to the Moon with Omar de Frias of Fratello Cigars

Posted on October 8, 2024 by Staff

Omar de Frias, founder of Fratello Cigars, left a high-paying job at NASA to pursue his passion for cigars. Omar has been living the cigar life since his teens and found some surprising similarities between his work with NASA and the cigar industry. He talked with Cigar Life Guy about the science and artisanship of cigar making, the diversity of the cigar community, and “going to the moon” with Fratello Cigars.

First Premium Cigar Experience

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

Omar de Frias: My introduction to premium cigars occurred in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where cigar craftsmanship is celebrated and deeply ingrained in my cultural upbringing. At age 17, I was captivated by an artisan I encountered that was hand-rolling cigars. His care for the craft was palpable as I observed their craft. This experience made me fall in love with premium cigars. While my buddies were smoking cigarettes, here I was smoking cigars.

Getting Involved in the Cigar Industry

Cigar Life Guy: Tell us a bit about your work with NASA. How does it compare with the cigar industry?

Omar de Frias: Transitioning from my role at NASA to the cigar industry was a significant shift, but surprisingly, there are more similarities than one might expect. Both fields demand attention to detail, dedication, and a deep understanding of science and artistry. While at NASA, I worked on projects that pushed the boundaries of technology and exploration. Similarly, in the cigar industry, I strive to innovate and push boundaries by crafting blends and pairings that have never been worked on before.

Cigar Life Guy: You walked away from a high-paying job because of your passion for cigars, and you named your company the Italian word for “brothers” as a testament to the camaraderie of cigar smoking. What makes the cigar community so unique?

Omar de Frias: Its unwavering sense of camaraderie and fellowship sets the cigar community apart. This is the only industry where two people who just got off work can enjoy the same cigar after a long day. These two people may be of the most diverse backgrounds and different socio-economic statuses, and they will share a conversation over a shared passion. You will be hard-pressed to find any other industry where these two human beings will share a passion like this in common.

The Fratello Portfolio

Cigar Life Guy: Tell us a little about Fratello’s portfolio.

Omar de Frias: Fratello Cigars has a diverse portfolio. Each cigar is a testament to our commitment to quality and innovation, from the bold and robust Fratello Bianco to the smooth Fratello Oro. Our portfolio continues to evolve, with new releases and limited editions that push the boundaries of flavor.

Hosting Cigar Events

Cigar Life Guy: Events are a huge part of cigar life, and Fratello hosts a series of them. What are the makings of a great cigar event?

Omar de Frias: A great cigar event is more than just cigars; it’s about creating memorable experiences and forging meaningful connections. We host tastings, pairing dinners, seminars, weddings, and live entertainment. It’s all about creating a welcoming atmosphere for cigar lovers and fostering community.

Challenges in the Cigar Industry

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

Omar de Frias: One of the biggest challenges in the cigar industry today is government regulation and legislation. The ever-changing regulatory landscape poses significant obstacles for manufacturers, retailers, and enthusiasts alike. Navigating complex regulations while preserving the tradition and culture of cigar smoking requires constant vigilance and advocacy.

Cigar Life Guy: What’s next for Fratello Cigars?

Omar de Frias: The future holds exciting possibilities for Fratello Cigars. We remain committed to innovation, as expressed in some of our latest releases. This year, Fratello went to the moon. We are ready for the next challenge. We’re exploring new collaborations and partnerships to make Fratello smokers a memorable experience.

Follow Omar on Instagram and check out the latest from Fratello Cigars here.

Photo credit: Fratello Cigars

HERficionado® Octavia Toliver Talks Finding Community in Cigars

Posted on September 1, 2024 by Staff

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