Travel Archives - Cigar Life Guy

Jesus Martinez Honoring a Legacy One Cigar at a Time

Posted on June 26, 2025 by Staff

Jesus Martinez grew up in a cigar shop. Like many before him, his first cigar-smoking experience might not have been his best, but it certainly wasn’t his last. Martinez Cigars has been blending for over 50 years in the heart of Manhattan. Jesus spoke with Cigar Life Guy about honoring his father’s legacy, designing custom bands, and the bonding that naturally occurs when living the cigar life.

First Premium Cigar Experience

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

Jesus Martinez: I grew up in the shop; I used to come right after school to help my father. I remember my first cigar when I was 14 years old, and honestly, it was not a great experience as I had no idea what I was doing and turned green. I remembered my father and the roller laughing at me. A couple of months later, I started again, and they taught me how to do it. Then I really started to enjoy it.

Cigar Legacy & Custom Cigar Bands

Cigar Life Guy: Tell us about your founder, Don Antonio. How does Martinez Cigars honor his legacy?

Jesus Martinez: My Father was a second-generation cigar roller from Tamboril. He started working at a cigar factory at the age of 9, helping out the cigar roller until he became a roller himself. He came to the States in the early 70s and worked in a small, hand-rolled shop. In ’74, he opened up in the same location we currently have. To honor his legacy, I focus on what he taught me: the importance of hard work and maintaining quality.

Cigar Life Guy: You make Martinez cigars in New York City, a rarity in the industry. What is it like being located in Midtown?

Jesus Martinez: To me, it feels normal because I have been here all my life, pretty much. When I sit back and think about it, it’s amazing. We’ve been around for over 50 years in a city that’s especially tough on the tobacco industry. However, being at the center of one of the most visited cities in the world has its benefits as well.

Cigar Life Guy: You create custom cigar bands. Where did that idea come from?

Jesus Martinez: It was a NYC thing. We rolled a lot of cigars for private events and clients. People started asking if we could use their logo on their cigars. A close friend of mine, who designed our logo, began working with our clients in the late 1990s. Another thing that sets us apart, aside from rolling our own blends, is that people can walk into our shop and see the entire rolling process in action. It is hard to believe, but many smokers have not had the experience.

Cigar Regulations & the Cigar Community

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

Jesus Martinez: The biggest challenge is all the regulations. I remember when Premium cigars were separate from all the other tobacco products. We used to get fair treatment. Then they grouped us with all tobacco products, even though cigars are nothing like the rest.

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

Jesus Martinez: The bonding among cigar smokers: it’s a culture, and you get to meet great people from all paths and all over the world. The conversations are amazing in a smoke shop, where you can learn about everything. In particular, my experience was being a teenager growing up around people at least twice my age. There were many things that, at the time, did not make much sense until I grew up. It has been tremendously helpful to have acquired so much knowledge at such a young age.

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

Jesus Martinez: I’m a big sports and music fan. Growing up in NYC in a Dominican shop made me appreciate all kinds of music.

Follow Jesus on Instagram and check out the latest from Martinez Cigars here

Photo Credit: Jesus Martinez

A Passion for Cigars: The Croatian Gangster Todd Pribanic

Posted on May 20, 2025 by Staff

Todd Pribanic has lived the cigar life across Thailand, Europe, and Central America. Pribanic, the owner and founder of Croatian Mafia Cigars, never intended to start a cigar company. However, one fateful trip to Esteli, Nicaragua, changed all that. Pribanic is a passionate man. Passionate about family. Passionate about the Cleveland Sports teams. And Passionate about cigars. He spoke with Cigar Life Guy about his Croatian and Hungarian roots. He also discussed the origin of the intriguing name he gave his company and how everybody has a little gangster in them.

First Premium Cigar Experience

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

Todd Pribanic: That’s a good question. I don’t have a specific moment in my life where I said, “Hey, this is my first premium cigar, and this is the moment I smoked it,” but I can tell you it was probably a Macanudo Portofino. That was my go-to for years. It’s a mild cigar and also comes in an aluminum tube. You could carry it around for weeks without damaging it. I’m sure it was either with my dad or my brother. I’ve smoked many cigars with my dad and brother. I smoked those while I was in the army as well. I’ve smoked those for 45 years.

Getting Started in the Cigar Business

Cigar Life Guy: You are a proud veteran. How did you get started in the cigar business?

Todd Pribanic: Yeah, I am a proud U.S. Army veteran. I served in the early to mid-1980s, and I was stationed in Germany. I do mention that I’m a veteran, but I’m cognizant not to overuse that and not base everything on “because you’re an entitled veteran,” right? Like I said, I’ve smoked for 45 years, and I do have an interesting story of how I got into this.

I didn’t have an epiphany to start a cigar company. I am passionate about cigars. So, I look at cigars like some people look at religion (laughs). I take an hour and a half or two hours to smoke. I don’t smoke every day, but I smoke a lot of days, and that’s my time to reflect. It’s time to look back and meditate and either have a good conversation or pair it with a beer, coffee, wine, bourbon, or scotch.

I play a weekly card game on Tuesdays at a cigar shop in Dallas called Cigar Warehouse. We were talking about our exploits during one of our card games, and one of the gentlemen who played said to me, “Hey, you ought to go to Esteli, Nicaragua.” Now I’ve been all over the world.

I’ve been to Thailand and Colombia three times. And I’ve been all over Central America and Europe — I lived in Europe for several years. I’ve lived in two countries, nine states, and 16 cities, but I never thought about that. Sixty percent of cigars come from there now, and all your big Nicaraguan factories are down there. That’s what I heard, so two weeks later, I found myself in Esteli, Nicaragua.

I went down there as a cigar consumer. I thought it would be like wine tasting in Sonoma and Napa. You taste some wine and then decide what you want to buy. Well, Esteli, Nicaragua, is a trade-free zone. You can’t buy cigars off the street anywhere.

I went to Drew Estate and took pictures outside, and I couldn’t get past security. Things don’t operate like that. Fortunately for me, the guy who recommended that I go down there was friends with a gentleman named Akhil, who worked with the Regius Brand. He brought me to Tabacalera Pichardo, where I met Eradio Pachardo Perez.

As a consumer, I walked out of there with 300 cigars. I brought them back to the United States and started smoking them and giving them away to family members and friends. They all loved them and wanted to know where they came from. What were the blends? What’s the wrapper? What’s the binder? I liked them too.

I’m an entrepreneurial guy and run several other businesses, so I started formulating ideas, and I said, “I might have something here.” So, I approached Eradio via WhatsApp. He doesn’t speak English very well, and I don’t speak Spanish very well, but we managed to communicate. I coordinated another trip down there. I wanted to bring another 700 cigars back this time. So, I told him I wanted to get back some blends and that I wanted to talk to him about his process to understand it better.

I went down, and we agreed on some blends. And I came back with five different blends and sizes that would be appealing to a beginner or a non-aficionado. I brought those back — no bands, no boxes. And I started selling them and giving them away.

I tested the market, and all the feedback was great. From there, I said, “Let’s go.” I came up with a name — Croatian Mafia Cigars — a nickname given to my family based on my Croatian heritage. Then I took it a step further and involved the Italian Mafia. I made every blend a different level of the Mafia.

I thought of a tagline, “Croatian Mafia Cigars: For the gangster in you.” My thought process was: “Everybody has a little gangster in them when needed.” This aligns with the branding. I formed an LLC, trademarked everything, and here I am today.

Challenges in the Cigar Industry

Cigar Life Guy: What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced starting out in the cigar industry?

Todd Pribanic: There are a lot of challenges. They’re all big, right (laughs), but nothing we’re not able to overcome or that we haven’t overcome. There isn’t just one that stands out. Some are unique to the cigar world, and some are business-related regardless of the industry or product. Some have to do with dealing with a product made in a foreign country and getting it here.

It’s always challenging starting a new business, especially if you’re only familiar with that industry as a consumer. But I’ve started other businesses only knowing the consumer side. You make a lot of mistakes, but you have to learn from them and be able to pivot and adapt regardless of your business plan and market strategy.

Mike Tyson has a quote: “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.” Starting a new business as an outsider looking in was challenging from an operational standpoint. Dealing with another work culture in another country, specifically Nicaragua.

As you know, there’s not a lot of automation in this industry. Everything is done by hand- the boxes, the bands. The boxes are made outside, and the weather can hold you up. My last order was held up because of cellophane (laughs). It’s the crazy things you can’t plan for.

Additionally, everything is done by cash transactions down there, so that can be challenging. The harvesting process, fermentation, and aging process can be difficult. Then, staying on top of the production process when you’re not actually living down there is a challenge. You need to ensure quality and consistency in the construction and the blends. I have people on my payroll who do that.

Getting the goods into the country can be challenging. From a sales perspective, the challenge is brand recognition and getting your cigars out there. Besides having an interesting and unique branding concept, like we have, you have to have quality cigars. Otherwise, it’s one and done. With Croatian Mafia Cigars, we get a lot of initial interest due to our name, branding, logo, and the overall mystique of the brand. That gets customers in the door, but the quality keeps them in the house.

Croatian Roots, the Mafia, and Cigars

Cigar Life Guy: Tell us a little about your Croatian and Hungarian roots.

Todd Pribanic: My family, which is Croatian on my father’s side, initially came to the U.S. in the early 1900s from what was then Yugoslavia. They came through Ellis Island and eventually into McKeesport, PA, and from there on to the Cleveland, Ohio area, actually Elyria-Lorain, Ohio area, which is 30 miles East of Cleveland. Some of them went up to Minnesota, and I had a great uncle who worked for Al Capone and owned a mob hangout bar in Chicago.

Other family members had bars and restaurants, including my dad. Some of them worked in the steel industry. My father had popular bars and restaurants along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

My father was a very proud Croatian and instilled a passion for our Croatian heritage early on. On my mom’s side, her family was Hungarian and had a similar background. They came into the country at the same time and settled in the same part of Ohio. They actually met in high school.

We ate many Croatian and Hungarian food dishes, like Chicken Paprikash, which is Hungarian and involves paprika and sour cream. On the Croatian side, there’s a pig’s feet dish, which is popular. My dad made it all the time.

Both of my grandfathers smoked. My mom’s dad smoked White Owls and Tampa Nuggets. I can remember getting into his car, and it always had a strong aroma of cigars. My dad’s dad was a pipe smoker, so there was always the aroma of flavorful pipe tobacco either in his car or wherever he happened to be.

What the Croatian Mafia Brand Stands For

Cigar Life Guy: On your website, you remark, “Everyone has a little gangster in them.” What does this mean to you, and how do you want smokers to perceive the Croatian Mafia brand?

Todd Pribanic: Great question. I was on a podcast with Boston Jimmie from Stogie Press. In the first five minutes, he was asked about the name and asked, “What’s the deal with the mafia?“ I said, “Jimmie, you just answered your own question, my man“ (laughs). It’s intriguing and gets people thinking.

At the PCA show, everybody wanted to know where the name came from. The Croatian heritage piece is in there, which I talked about earlier, but we all can be a little gangsta in us, right? We can all be tough, resilient, aggressive, and not take any BS, so to speak, when it is appropriate. When we need to, we can turn into a gangster.

Cigars have been associated with gangsters for the past 100 years or so, and there’s a certain mystique associated with gangsters, whether good or bad, in both the past and modern eras. I mean, some of the greatest movies of all time, both from a box office perspective and a critically acclaimed standpoint, were gangster movies – The Godfather, Scarface, Casino, Goodfellas, A Bronx Tale, The Sopranos. What are they doing? They’re smoking cigars — symbols of success and celebration.

So, I wanted to capture the mystique of the Mafia in my brand, as well as incorporate some of my family heritage. I got the nickname, along with other family members, while we were living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We were affectionately called “The Croatian Mafia“ due to our involvement in bars, restaurants, and gambling, which was passed down to us as part of our mostly Croatian family members.

We used to play poker. Sundays were big. Some people go to church. Some people do other things. We would have card games- moms, dads, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. We lost our allowances many nights, and didn’t get them back. So Sunday dinners were a big thing for us, and after, there was usually a card game going on. Whether the adults were playing Pinochle or the kids were playing poker.

I want smokers to know that Croatian Mafia Cigars are high-quality, highly rated, premium hand-rolled cigars from Estelí, Nicaragua. We craft them exclusively with fourth-generation Cuban tobacco grower Eradio Perez Pichardo of Tabacalera Pichardo.

Although we may have a catchy name and unique branding, that branding is backed up by great premium cigars at an affordable price point.

Whether you are a newcomer to the cigar world or an aficionado, we have unique blend options for both. These include wrappers, binders, and fillers like Cameroon, Mexican San Andrés, Ecuadorian Sumatra, Habano Maduro, Connecticut, and Habano Rosado. They fall into the mild, medium, and full-bodied categories. They’ve earned ratings between 89 and 95, ranging from very good to exceptional.

Todd Pribanic and 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?

Todd Pribanic: This is probably the easiest question to answer. I tell people this all the time- inside and outside the cigar community- it really is the people and the interesting life stories. When you’re in a shop or lounge, wherever you may be, they’re taking one or two hours out of your day to sit back, relax, and reflect on something while enjoying a good smoke.

Cigars transcend all cultures, social statuses, political or religious affiliations, and demographics. You can be sitting next to a doctor, lawyer, construction worker, policeman, military veteran, school teacher, fireman, engineer, or dentist at any given time in any shop or lounge across the country.

Everyone has a story, and everyone can enjoy cigars in a multitude of ways. Whether it’s in a shop or lounge outside or on your patio, fishing, walking your dogs, on the golf course, at any outdoor event, celebrating, or playing poker. Whatever it is, you can enjoy a cigar. You can pair it with a coffee, or you can pair it with a beer. You can also pair it with a scotch, a glass of wine, or whatever. I live that lifestyle. What I portray through my brand is actually what I live every day.

A Passion for Everything. A Passion for Cigars

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

Todd Pribanic: I touched on this earlier. I’m passionate about everything(laughs). I’m passionate about cigars. I have two boys, a seven-year-old and an eleven-year-old. And I’m passionate about a lot of things in my life: my two boys, my pets, my family, music, movies, and comedy. I have a sense of humor, so I’m passionate about that. Basically, I’m passionate about being a good person, my sports teams, and everything Ohio. The Browns. The Guardians — good or bad. The Cavaliers. Ohio State. Then, life in general. When I go in on something, I go all in! Just like with Croatian Mafia Cigars.

Follow Todd on Instagram and check out the latest from Croatian Mafia Cigars here.

Photo credit: Croatian Mafia Cigars

Sebastien Decoppet: A Switzerland to Honduras Cigar Journey

Posted on June 4, 2024 by Staff

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

John Bateman: Turning Crisis into Celebration with Mega Legend Cigars

Posted on April 15, 2024 by Staff

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

Tobacco Kennedy on Cigar Life, Stogie TV and Magazines

Posted on January 29, 2024 by Staff

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 Smoke Miami, T.K. has become a media force in the cigar industry and “filled a void” in the black cigar market. Today, T.K. talked to Cigar Life Guy about his journey from being a cigar novice to shooting documentaries for A.J. Fernandez and creating the first cigar magazine devoted to people of color.

Tobacco Kennedy: First Premium Experience

Cigar Life Guy: Before we delve into your journey, can you tell me about your first premium cigar experience?

Kennedy Achille: My first premium cigar experience was at a cigar lounge called Stix in Dania, Florida. I used to fight about cigars with my best friend Alonzo all the time. I didn’t smoke then, and he used to smoke cigars in the backyard all the time. We were roommates, and I’d tell him to keep it away from the house. He would say, “One of these days, you’re going to end up smoking a cigar.” Then I would say, “Yeah, I don’t see that happening. Good luck.” I went into the cigar shop (Stix), and it was a horrible experience because I covered my nose, thinking, “What is this place?”

I was anti-cigar smoking and anti-smoking anything. Next thing you know, Alonzo tells me, “Stop being a little bitch”. So he gave me a Connecticut cigar, the lightest of the light, a house blend. After the first hit, I looked at him and said, “Man, is this what I have been missing out on?” The next day, I came home with a thousand dollars worth of cigars. I was hooked. But here’s the crazy part. They weren’t premium cigars (laughs). It was a thousand dollars worth of house blends and infused cigars. So I’m walking around like I’m the damn man with a chocolate-infused cigar (laughs).

I elevated myself to this cigar shop (my favorite in the United States), Cuenca’s, in downtown Hollywood. I walked in, chest out like I knew everything about cigars, and purchased a Java (laughs). The owner, Miguel, a legend in the cigar game, was an old-school Cuban. It’s a tiny shop, and I light my cigar. In broken English, I hear Miguel say, “Who in the hell is smoking a chocolate cigar?” Everybody was looking around, and I immediately dropped my cigar, and one of the guys slipped me a New World. I had no clue. It was a New World by A.J. Fernandez. It blew me away. First of all, it was intense. I had just graduated from infused not even a year into cigars, and I was smoking my first premium, an A.J. Fernandez.

Tobacco Kennedy and Cigar Life

Cigar Life Guy: How did you get into the cigar industry? Additionally, what did you do before, and how does it help inform your current endeavors?

Kennedy Achille: I got picked up by A.J. (laughs). I also got hooked on the cigar experience. I initially thought there were only a few lounges in Florida, and friends had to tell me, “No, there’s a lounge over here; there’s a lounge over there.” The next thing I knew, I was jumping from lounge to lounge to lounge. And I thought people didn’t know enough about all these places, so I grabbed a camera and created this platform called Stogie T.V. — a YouTube channel that showcases the world of cigars.

I started going from cigar shop to cigar shop, but I wasn’t charging anyone. I just asked if I could promote their lounge and film it. In exchange, I’d get a cigar. And that’s precisely how it went. I started getting views, but they differed from what it was about then. I just wanted to do it. It grew and grew.

I went to the Great Smoke in Boynton Beach, Florida, and heard my name called out. It was a rep from A.J. Fernandez, and I didn’t know who that was then. They said, “We know who you are. We love what you do with social media. Come by the office. We want you to film in Nicaragua.” I thought they were pulling my leg. Nope. The following week, I went to the office. All types of gifts — shirts, hats, cigars, cutters, lighters, and boom, I’m on a plane to Nicaragua.

They were for real. So I did the documentary on the A.J. Fernandez facilities in Nicaragua, and when I came back to the States, the doors of the cigar industry blew open. That’s when it took off. I started getting brand calls asking, “Whose cigar are you smoking during your podcast? Whose shirt are you wearing? What cutter and lighter are you using?”

What made it so unique was that I was the only black doing it then. At my first trade show, you could count the amount of blacks on one hand. Now, we flipped the ground, but I was the only one media-wise back then. You had the legendary Sean Williams. Scott Chester. I remember a few faces: Cigar Mike. He’s my mentor. But at that time, it was rare for a media outlet to pump this kind of content. For a black guy to be in Esteli, Nicaragua, at A.J. Fernandez facilities and his house filming? It was unheard of. It opened everyone’s eyes, and I became the poster child, media-wise, for the black cigar industry. That’s how that took off.

Behind the Name: From Tobacco Kennedy to T.K.

Cigar Life Guy: As we explore your background, could you share how and when you acquired the nickname ‘T.K.’ (Tobacco Kennedy)?

Kennedy Achille: That happened in 2017. It was just “Hey, T,” and I was like, “What is T?” and they’d say, “Tobacco.” Then it was “Hey, K” and “Hey, T.K.”. And I was like, what is this? And they would say, Tobacco Kennedy. I had people calling me “Stogie,” “T,” “AT,” and “ATK.” I just accepted it and ran with it; I responded no matter what they called me, but “T.K.” is what stuck, so T.K. it is.

Educating the Cigar World and

Cigar Life Guy: You started Stogie T.V. and have written books for the cigar smoker. So, why is it important to educate the cigar world? Can you also describe the joy you get sharing your knowledge of something you love?

Kennedy Achille: I firmly believe that the more you know, the more you buy. At that time, there was such a vast amount of tobacco, and I didn’t know all the tobacco that was out there. I was only familiar with two or three brands, and when I got to the trade show, I was like, “Who are all of these people?” Who is this Rocky guy, Drew Estate, Avo, and who are these Padron people? I was blown away. When I realized people should have been more educated, I took it to heart. I thought, let me be a springboard, and I ran with it. Educating people on “this is this” and “this is that”. The result is that the more you know, the more you buy.

Tobacco Kennedy on Black Smoke Miami

Cigar Life Guy: The Black Smoke Miami is becoming a legendary event. How did you develop the idea, and what makes it such a unique event?

Kennedy Achille: The Black Smoke Miami filled a void. More blacks were watching my platform. More blacks were getting involved in various positions, working in lounges and becoming podcasters. I am following my blueprint and creating their blueprint. But there was still no cigar event that showcased people of color. I took a leap of faith.

At that time, I met people who owned lounges, cigar brands, or just regular people who enjoyed cigars. I wondered why there was not an event that catered to the black market. So, I created it by taking a leap of faith in 2017 and launching the event. My idea took off like wildfire and became the first cigar event that showcased people of color. It was a beautiful thing. In the first year, 800 people showed up. The following year, it jumped to 1,500. In the third year, there were 6,000 attendees. It blew out of control.

Founding the Black Smoke Magazine

Cigar Life Guy: As the founder and publisher of Black Smoke Magazine, you play a pivotal role. So, why is it essential to provide a platform for the Black cigar community?

Kennedy Achille: We do everything like everyone else does. But there needed to be a platform. There was no showcase. There was no black cigar magazine. The blacks you saw on Cigar Aficionado cover, such as Michael Jordan. Great, but we can’t relate to Michael Jordan. We’re not all multimillionaires. I wanted to put someone on the magazine that we can relate with. Someone that we can touch and feel, and that you see and can say, “Hey, I know that person.” I want someone we can relate with, even from a distance, like, “Wow, they’re from Tampa, or they’re from Georgia.” Someone you can say, “When I get there, I can meet them.” You won’t go to Chicago and say, “Hey, Mr. Jordan.” But it’s not going to happen. (Laughs). So, I created the platform because I needed to fill a void.

Cigar Life Guy: What have been your favorite feature stories and collaborations for the magazine so far?

Kennedy Achille: I’d have to go with the first feature story for the magazine. It featured Christine Morgan out of Atlanta, Georgia. With her mobile cigar lounge, a black woman makes big waves in the cigar industry. She has a huge mobile cigar lounge. In fact, it’s so big she hauls it with an F350. And for a woman, a black woman, in the cigar industry to do that was beautiful. But once again, what magazine was knocking on her door or our door to say, “Hey, we want to feature you”?

Cigar Wealth Spoiler Alert

Cigar Life Guy: As we wrap up our discussion, could you share what’s next for you?

Kennedy Achille: Spoiler alert. (Laughs) You got the exclusive. My new book is “Cigar Wealth”; it’s a book on how the cigar industry got to where it is. I teach those same methodologies to people who want to start their businesses. So, there are a lot of strategies and techniques that the cigar industry uses, and as an entrepreneur, one of the hardest things to do is to grow. I learned so much from the cigar industry. I put all those experiences and techniques into the book and applied them to entrepreneurship. Cigar Wealth will be available on March 1.

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

Kennedy Achille: You grow. I’m growing. In fact, I was the last human being to interview Orlando Padron. He taught me so much about growing. And you always learn something new. Even when I was interviewing him before his passing, he was still learning about tobacco. So I said, “But you’re Orlando Padron, The God of cigars!” (Laughs). You know, we grow every day. Although I have a new book coming out soon, who knows what will occur from that over the next ten years? All I know is I’m here to stay, and I’m here to grow.

Check out the latest from TK (Tobacco Kennedy), Black Smoke Miami, and Black Smoke Magazine here.

Photo credit: Kennedy Achille

The Blackbird Cigars Story with Jonas Santana: From Rolling to Mastery

Posted on October 23, 2023 by Staff

Jonas Santana of Blackbird Cigars is taking care of things in a different way — his own way. He started out rolling cigars and eventually learned every aspect of the cigar industry. Experience and knowledge have served him well in building an extensive cigar portfolio that is carving a niche in the industry. Jonas talks to Cigar Life Guy about paying attention to the finer details, not wanting to be another Fuente, making music, and having fun while living the cigar life.

The First Premium Smoke

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

Jonas Santana: Honestly, I want to keep that to myself because it was in another factory and I want to respect that. It was not a good feeling. The first cigar my friend gave me was full-bodied, and I knew nothing about cigars. I was sweating (laughs). It was so freaking uncomfortable, but here we are. Here we are.

A College that Pays You

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

Jonas Santana: Before I got into the cigar industry, I worked with my father. He used to have a drugstore. My marketing degree was nearly complete. A friend — the same friend who gave me my first cigar — told me he was making a brand, and he needed some help. He knew I was in marketing, so he gave me a job. So I started there, but I can tell you something when you work for someone. If you really pay attention, it is a college that pays you. But if you’re only there to make money, you probably won’t have a future.

I started there in that factory and I said to myself, I really need to become friends with the master blender because I didn’t know where it was going to take me. There’s an entire world in this industry — the growing part, the production part, the distribution, the branding. There are many things going on. So I said I needed to learn graphic design, how every tobacco tastes, how to roll cigars, and I needed to perfect my English. So I went to the master blender and said, “I really want to learn how to make cigars and understand everything.” Then he said, “If you’re really honest about this and you’re really going to commit to what you say, I want you here every day one hour before your work shift.” If you show you’re going to do that, I’ll teach you.

The next day I started like that. An hour before the shift, I made ten cigars each day, and I was enjoying the performance of each tobacco. I did it like that for one year and after that, the Master Blender left and I quit working at that location. I worked with the same company but moved to Miami. Over there it was crazy. It was tough. But now I can understand it because I was one man inside a warehouse doing marketing and sales. I was taking care of every shipment, shipping every order, invoicing, charging, doing events, and traveling. A lot of things at the same time. Back then I felt like trash, but as I have previously mentioned, if you work for someone and you really pay attention, it’s a college that pays you.

How has it helped in the current business? I know every single department of my business because of that. Now I understand why God did that to me.

The Art of Crafting Blackbird Cigars

Cigar Life Guy: You started from the ground up by rolling cigars. Why is it important for smokers to understand the detail that goes into the construction of a cigar?

Jonas Santana: It’s so important. Cigars are an art. Respect the art of it. It’s a tradition to make cigars. There are a lot of families that survive because of cigars. It is not a family tradition for my brother and me because we are the first generation in the cigar industry. But knowing every single detail that goes into cigar manufacturing is very important because I can tell you how long it takes to make a cigar from scratch. You’re going to grow the tobacco, ferment the tobacco, and make the cigar. If you do everything by yourself, it will take an estimated time of three and a half years. So, yeah, they need to understand how many hands touch the tobacco before you can smoke a cigar and the time it takes. It’s not like a cigarette. We take care of it in a different way.

The Smartest Bird in the Business

Cigar Life Guy: What is the inspiration behind the name Blackbird?

Jonas Santana: Which is the most powerful bird on the planet? The most powerful bird is the eagle. But which is the smartest bird? The smartest bird is actually the crow. So my thing is, how do I play smart against a bunch of eagles? Blackbirds, for me, are a respectful way to tell the mainstream brand I’m gonna play smarter than you. I know other companies have a lot of years in this, but I’m a new guy. How am I gonna scream? A crow is smaller than an eagle, but I’m gonna play smarter. So there are a lot of details that make some noise? That makes people know I’m there in the humidor.

I use colors. I use music because I’m a rapper. You can go to my Instagram — @jontanard. I incorporate the talent I have in music to promote my cigars because it’s fun. My marketing approach is more fresh. I would like to bring a younger generation to the industry because if I keep promoting my cigars like another Fuente, I’m gonna be another Fuente. I don’t want to be Fuente. Becoming like Jonas would be nice because I want to be Jontana; I want to be Blackbird.

So my line is all bird names. 80% are crow names — dark feathered birds. The Rook, Jackdaw, the Crow. The Unkind is not a bird. It actually used to be called the Raven. I named it The Unkind because someone who claimed The Raven brand name almost sued me. The lawyer who called me was really unkind about the whole thing. So I renamed it The Unkind. This worked out because a flock of ravens is called an unkindness. So I stayed in the same spot.

Everything from the Finch to The Cuco is mildest to fullest. Things I like to pay attention to are taking the smoker from mild to the fullest. The Cuco, for example, is a medium-full cigar — no pepper at all.

But let’s say you want a little pepper, and you want a fuller-bodied cigar. I have The Crow. If you want to be in the middle, there is The Unkind. But this is also marked by the time of the day. For example, the Jackdaw is the sunrise. It is orange. Sunrise cigar? Bright orange like the sun. The Finch?

Midmorning that’s how the clouds look, light blue — a mid-morning cigar. Then you have the Rook — high noon. For me, it’s an after-lunch cigar. Then you have The Unkind (which used to be The Raven). That’s purple. When the sunlight hits the feather of a raven, it turns purple. Dusk is also a purplish color.

During the night, after people finish work, they like to smoke a couple of cigars so we have the heat of the night with The Crow and the mid-night which is The Cuco.

What Makes Blackbird Cigars Unique?

Cigar Life Guy: You have described your brand as modern. What makes Blackbird unique?

Jonas Santana: I think I’ve explained a little about that. Music definitely. Colors. For instance, using pink. Most of the guys that smoke cigars don’t use pink stuff. I would like to be the opposite of what typical cigar brands promote. I like to be myself. The beauty of this is when you have your own stuff, you create your own niche, your own demographic, and your own followers, which is happening with the brand.

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

Jonas Santana: Honestly? Traveling. Every time I travel, I get to meet new people. I get to try new food that I don’t find in Miami. Traveling is amazing. I live the life I’ve always wanted. Let’s say I’m traveling to Italy. I take my wife and come back and continue working. It’s nice. I enjoy traveling and meeting new people. It’s beautiful. The world is beautiful.

The Future of Blackbird Cigars

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

Jonas Santana: Currently we have a new factory. 30,000 square feet. My brother, who is a visionary, said we have to do it. If we really want to be consistent and develop new products, we want people to feel great about us, not only about how nice we promote cigars, but how we respect the art of cigars. We needed to have a bigger facility so we could ferment our own tobacco, get more tobacco, and make great cigars for years to come.

I want people to feel like, “Damn, I need a Blackbird.” I want people to feel when I smoke a Blackbird, I feel young. That’s what I want them to feel. I would like to comfort their minds and emotions. That’s more beautiful than money.

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

Jonas Santana: No, we have missed nothing. Just remember Blackbird on Instagram. Check out some of the music. It’s fun. Don’t let anyone clip your wings. Follow your dreams.

Follow Jonas on Instagram and check out the latest from Blackbird Cigars here.

Photo credit: Blackbird Cigars

Apostate Cigars and Brandon Oveston: Exclusive Interview

Posted on August 2, 2023 by Staff

Utah isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think of cigars, but Brandon Oveson of Apostate is helping to change that perception. After languishing in the corporate world and leaving the Mormon faith, Oveson converted to the tobacco industry. He talks about becoming an outcast, the Salt Lake scene, and fostering community in the cigar world.

The First Premium Smoke

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

Brandon Oveson: My first real experience was with a buddy of mine in the remote mountains of Utah around 2010. I don’t remember the exact cigar, but I believe it was a Camacho, Connecticut. We sat around a campfire, telling stories and reliving our glory days. We had a bottle of Pendleton we were passing back and forth. The stars were insane. It was a perfect recipe to make me a cigar smoker for life.

Finding Community with Cigars

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?

Brandon Oveson: Most of my professional career was in middle management for several Fortune 500 companies. I was a corporate shill, and cigars were my hobby. When the grind became too much, I took a little break from work for a while in early 2016. After reflecting on what I wanted to do next (all while smoking cigars every day), I decided to try my hand at tobacco retail and learn about the industry. Luckily, Kendrick (my partner who owns Beehive Cigars) needed a part-time tobacconist. He hired me in July 2016, and by October, I was his General Manager, running the shop and doing the cigar buying. That was how it all started.

The Origin of Apostate Cigars

Cigar Life Guy: Apostate comes from the Greek “apostasia,” meaning defection, revolt, and rebellion. What’s the story behind this name? Or better question, what are you rebelling against?

Brandon Oveson: I grew up in Utah. Growing up in Utah typically means growing up in the Mormon faith. In my mid-twenties, I had a bit of a crisis of faith and decided to leave the church. When you go, Apostate is what they call you. It’s not a term of endearment and generally means they will view you as an outcast. To Mormons, the word means someone who has lost their way. When I left, I lost access to the community I had grown up in. I found community and a sense of belonging again when I discovered cigar lounges. So, for Kendrick and I, it made sense to call our brand Apostate when we decided to start making our cigars and attempting to help foster community through tobacco.

Cigars, Religion, and History

Cigar Life Guy: Speaking of names. Your line derives its name from various sources, including scriptural passages and Mesoamerican gods. Tell us about a few of your favorites.

Brandon Oveson: All of the cigar names have their roots in our religious upbringing. Lucky for us, there’s a lot of source material regarding Mormon mythology (laughs). My favorite so far is the Sword of Laban. The name comes from a story from the early chapters of the Book of Mormon. One of God’s faithful chosen must recover the written record of his people so they can carry it with them as they journey to a Promised Land. The record is in the hands of a local magistrate in Jerusalem named Laban. Nephi, God’s faithful acolyte, finds Laban drunk and passes out in an alleyway one night. So God commands Nephi to take Laban’s sword, cut off his head, adorn his clothes, walk into Laban’s house, and take the written records. It’s an intense story that helped illustrate the rich backstory of our faith through a cool cigar.

Apostate Cigars, Cigar Industry and Utah

Cigar Life Guy: Cigars aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think “Utah.” What’s the cigar scene like there?

Brandon Oveson: The cigar scene in Utah is pretty robust. You’ll usually find a rich and loud counter-culture anywhere you have a heavily religious community. That’s certainly the case in Salt Lake City, and we feel lucky to have the support of the local cigar community. These folks show up. They pay the 86% state tobacco tax without (much) complaint, and they understand that cigars will only thrive in Utah as long as they participate. It’s been fun.

Cigar Life Guy: What has been the most pleasant surprise of working in the cigar industry?

Brandon Oveson: People often assume there’s heated competition among manufacturers. There’s competition in the sense that the collective creativity of these fantastic blenders and manufacturers prompts everyone to bring their best to the table. But overall, I’ve experienced more inclusion and collaboration than in any other industry. We all want to see each other win, and everyone quickly says, “If you need anything, let me know.” Being part of a creative community that wants to provide folks with an experience rather than just a product you light on fire is enjoyable.

The Future of Apostate Cigars

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

Brandon Oveson: Right now, we’re focusing on organic growth. We are having fun bringing our product to lounges and shops nationwide. We just debuted two new blends at the PCA tradeshow in Vegas, and they will be well received and we have two more blends to finish to round out our core lineup. Hopefully, you’ll see those on the table at the next tradeshow in March. Wish us luck!

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

Brandon Oveson: Everyone can check out our current list of retailers, find our social media links, and look at our upcoming events by visiting www.apostatecigars.com.

Overall, we want folks to know we’re here to help foster this community, enjoy each others’ company, and live life to the fullest. We’re all going to die, so let’s enjoy the ride together.

Follow Brandon on Instagram and check out the latest from Apostate Cigars here.

Photo credit: Apostate Cigars

Konscious Cigars and Kevin Brown: Exclusive Interview

Posted on July 19, 2023 by Staff

Kevin Brown entered the cigar industry by opening Tampa’s first Black-owned cigar lounge. He launched Konscious Cigars in 2019 and never looked back. Kevin talks about bringing his vision to life, diverse ownership, the Tampa scene, and igniting “Konsciousness” in the cigar world.

The First Premium Smoke

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

Kevin Brown: I can’t quite remember my first premium cigar. I remember when I smoked them and the people I learned with and from. So around 2008, when I started smoking cigars seriously, I would hang out at a lounge in Tampa called The Cigar Castle; this is where I learned the basics of cigar anatomy from my brothers like Ira, Tracy, and Squire. These guys provided a wealth of knowledge. As I kicked it there, I would learn so much from them and others like Dave and Dennis. At some point, we would order boxes of Cubans and various cigars. We discussed each blend as well as what to pair it with. I am greatly appreciative of this era of my life.

Konscious Cigars Beginnings

Cigar Life Guy: What did you do before you entered the cigar industry? How long have you been in the cigar industry, and tell us what drew you to the tobacco industry?

Kevin Brown: I have been a UPS employee since 1997. I went to technical school in 2000 and started my first business in the haircare industry in 2010. These were my accomplishments before I entered the cigar industry. I’ve been in the cigar industry since 2016. Several partners and I opened Tampa, Florida’s first Black-owned cigar lounge called Maduro Marauders Cigar Lounge; this was my entry into the cigar industry. People from all walks of life would stop by, and as I traveled to different cigar functions, I would meet industry folks, consumers, other lounge owners, and various industry entrepreneurs. In 2018, I traveled to Nicaragua and visited the Karen Berger factory to blend my first cigar, the Habano Robusto and Lancero. I officially launched Konscious Cigars in December 2019.

Cigar Life Guy: What are the biggest challenges you have faced as an upstart brand and in the tobacco industry?

Kevin Brown: My initial challenge was finding the proper business people to bring my visions to life. As an example, my logo is riddled with messages. The first few companies I contacted needed help putting my ideas together. I eventually found someone who could pull it off. So, I tell new band owners (if they ask for my advice) to search for what fits and feels right for their vision. Don’t let anyone talk you into something that doesn’t fit your spirit.

Once everything started to flow smoothly with Konscious Cigars, I was denied by a couple of lounges because my cigars were in bundles, not boxes. They made me feel as if I wasn’t professional enough without boxes. I couldn’t be a part of their lounge until I had them. So I leveled up and started creating boxes, and then I could jump that hurdle and not have that issue anymore.

Konscious Cigars and Embracing Diversity

Cigar Life Guy: As a Black-owned business, you said that representation is essential. How has the cigar industry embraced diverse lines from owners with diverse backgrounds?

Kevin Brown: From my perspective, I must say that many have embraced Konscious Cigars overall. And I’m sure that’s due to others from diverse or black backgrounds who have kicked the door in before I got here. I will always shout out folks like Karen Berger Cigars, Tres Linda’s, Epic, Gto, Carolina Blue, Black Star Line, Howard G, Drunk Chicken, Vorieo, and LA Viuda Negra Cigars.

Konscious Cigars: The Tampa Scene

Cigar Life Guy: What is the inspiration behind the name Konscious Cigars? What makes them unique, and how do you want the cigar world to view your line in terms of branding?

Kevin Brown: Coming from the Konscious “Kommunity,” I found it easy and inspirational to transfer that mindset to the name of my brand. Konscious Cigars are unique in their blend, and that’s flavorful, meaning you can notice and taste the notes correctly. They are not harsh or rough on the palate. You can make them “The Everyday Smoke.”

The Konscious Cigar brand is considered “Konsistent,” Premium, Quality tobacco. We pride ourselves on this.

Cigar Life Guy: You are from the Tampa area. What is the cigar scene like there, and how does it compare to other cities nationwide?

Kevin Brown: The Tampa scene is wonderful. We all will support each other until the wheels fall off! If you’re reading this and you’re not from here, come down to the Cigar Capital and witness our “Kulture.” We love to celebrate each other. It’s common to see lounge owners from Chaney Cigar and Loc’d on Cigar visiting each other’s lounges. Or the guys from Just Cooling Mobile Lounge are wearing a hat from Easy All Day Mobile Cigar Lounge. Or Off the Hook mobile lounger or Kress Apparel wearing a Brown Eyed tee shirt. They all hang out and support each other. I’ve seen this level of support in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, and Charleston. I would love to see it everywhere.

The Future and the Black Smoke Awards

Cigar Life Guy: Konscious Cigars was ranked number one as Cigar of the Year at the Black Smoke Awards 2022. What was that recognition like, and what is next for Konscious Cigars?

Kevin Brown: It feels awesome to be awarded the Cigar of the Year from Black Smoke two years in a row (2021 and 2022). I’m very humbled by it because people voted on it. It means a lot to be respected by your peers and those who purchase your products. So, thank you to Tobacco Kennedy, his vision, and everyone who voted and “kontinues“ to support Konscious Cigars. We truly thank you!

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

Kevin Brown: Always check our website, Konsciouscigars.com (events) tab for event updates. We were delighted to be at PCA earlier this month.

On September 1, Konscious Cigars will be at Fire and Smoke in Baltimore, Maryland, doing a Kut & Light. Our Brand Ambassador, Keya Watts (@smokeybossqueen), will headline this event. Hope to see you there so you can ignite Your “Konscioussness” with us.

Follow Konscious Cigars on Instagram and check out the latest at Konsciouscigars.com.

Image credit: Konscious Cigars

Mark Twain: A True Brother of the Leaf

Posted on August 26, 2022 by Staff

Although he is best known as the father of American literature, Mark Twain was a lifelong cigar smoker. Born Samuel Clemens in 1835 in Hannibal, Missouri, the legendary writer and humorist started smoking cigars at age eight and never looked back.

An Abundance of Tobacco

During the 1800s, tobacco was plentiful in Missouri and throughout much of the United States. Plantations and cigar factories provided all the sticks the future novelist would need. Cigars also were cheap — often costing a few pennies each — so it’s not surprising that Twain developed a taste for stogies. It was a preference he maintained throughout his life. Perhaps that is because Twain was said to have smoked 22 to 40 cigars a day!

Mark Twain: A Smoker of Many Trades

Although Mark Twain became one of America’s most renowned writers, his formal education was scant. He left school after the fifth grade, worked as a printer’s apprentice, and then wrote articles for his brother’s newspaper, Hannibal Journal. At eighteen, he traveled the country. He applied his printing experience in New York and Cincinnati, among other cities. When he wasn’t working, he educated himself in public libraries.

Twain eventually returned to Missouri and the Mississippi River where he trained as a riverboat pilot and drew inspiration for his two most famous novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. His pen name also came from his time on the river. It is a term that refers to water depths.

Mark Twain then headed West and worked unsuccessfully as a miner, an experience he transformed into one of his first and most well-known stories, “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.” Despite his travels and experience in several trades, journalism and writing were Twain’s destiny. The only other constant in his life was smoking. He wrote that “Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know that because I’ve done it thousands of times.”

Mark Twain on Giving Up Smoking

Twain tried to quit several times. After joining the Cadets of Temperance when he was 15 — a total abstinence society for the youth. He abstained for nearly three months. However, he later wrote of that time as being “consumed with cigar cravings.”

His wife, Olivia Langdon, also disapproved of his smoking habits. When he couldn’t quit entirely, he vowed to limit his smoking to one cigar per day. However, this merely led to increasingly larger cigars. Ever the humorist, Twain said of that attempt, “Within the month, my cigar had grown to such proportions that I could have used it as a crutch.”

Writing and Smoking

Throughout his life, his smoking habits drew criticism and concern for his health to which he responded, “I smoke in moderation. Only one cigar at a time.” And that he did: one right after the other. How else could he consume a legendary 300 cigars a month?

Like many writers, there was a connection between his smoking and his work. He considered cigars “the best of all inspirations.” While writing Roughing It, an autobiographical work about his time out West, he tried quitting again. When he struggled to get words to the page, he resumed his favorite pastime and wrote the book in three months with no difficulty, crediting cigars for his proficiency with the pen.

Besides his many books, Mark Twain was a successful lecturer and earned as much money as he lost through failed business ventures. Throughout his colorful life, he remained a committed cigar smoker. While it’s not known the exact cigar brand Twain smoked, he frequently mentioned his dislike for “Havanas.” He also mentioned favoring Connecticuts over the Cuban variety perhaps because he’d honed his palate on homegrown cigars. However, his tastes often offended his friends and family. Several people who later interviewed Twain described his cigars as long, dark and having an awful odor. Twain’s cigars were more likely a thinner ring gauge. How else could he smoke over two dozen a day?

Although Twain tried the best cigars of the era, he always returned his regular stogies. No one can fault him for that. The premium cigar industry back then was not what it is today. Twain wasn’t finicky and had few preferences, but he was a smoker through and through.

Mark Twain’s Legacy

Mark Twain was born shortly after the appearance of Halley’s Comet and he once predicted he would “go out with it.” He was right. He died on April 21, 1910. The day after Halley’s comet appeared.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has been presenting an award in Twain’s honor since 1998. The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor has gone to Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Whoopi Goldberg, Dave Chappelle, Tina Fey, George Carlin, David Letterman, and many others. All are undoubtedly honored to be spoken of in the same breath as the man who once said, “If I cannot smoke cigars in heaven, I shall not go.”

Considering how cigar life has evolved and endured, Twain will be in good company regardless of whether he’s in heaven or hell, or somewhere between.

Photo credit: Creative Commons

Is Your Cigar Event Host Hotel a Good Deal?

Posted on June 19, 2022 by Staff

One common feature of larger, multi-day cigar events is promotion of hotel properties, often called “host hotels,” where attendees are encouraged to stay. Host hotels run the gamut as far as pricing is concerned. There’s also a broad range of how well integrated and coordinated host hotels are into the other aspects of the cigar event programming, too. However, you must decide whether you should stay at a particular host hotel. That decision often depends the value the host hotel offers, your budget, and your objectives during the trip.

Why you Should Stay at the Cigar Event Host Hotel

When done well, staying in a host hotel can be a wonderful compliment to your cigar experience. Depending on the deal, the price for your room may be comparable to or more reasonable than similar rooms in the area. Besides that, the hotel may serve as a kind of “home base” for event things:

Event check-in
On-site registration
A departure for shuttles to remote event locations
An event representative to answer questions and welcome attendees

The host hotel may also play host to similar, smaller organized mini events, like “Coffee & Cigars” in the morning. It also might offer an unorganized, impromptu destination for the “after party” in the wee hours of the morning! You also can informally run into, visit with, and meet other cigar smoking attendees while on the property. If your host hotel is going to be highly integrated with the activities of the larger event, you might justify staying there even if the rate is significantly higher than other alternatives.

Why you Shouldn’t Stay at the Cigar Event Host Hotel

Simply put, why you shouldn’t stay at a host hotel follows the opposite of why you should. If the price is substantially higher than other acceptable alternatives and there is little to no coordination with the overall event, you’re less likely to buckle down and open your wallet for a room. A property that doesn’t know what group you were with does little to impress. You could have stayed at another property a mile down the road without it making any difference in your experience. If that’s the case, then it probably makes no sense to stay at the host hotel either, even if you have a group booking code.

Is the Cigar Event Group Rate a Good Deal?

Group hotel rates for cigar events work no different from any other group rate for lodging. Whether it represents a good deal depends on several factors.

Supply and demand for rooms in the area during that time period
How good of a deal your event promoter negotiates
How much of the group savings is passed to you
How much of the savings is retained by the event promoter

It is a perfectly legal and normal practice in group travel to offer free rooms or a commission to the event organizer. The more freebies the organizer requires gives the hotel property less room to work with in offering paying cigar event customers competitive rates. While you won’t easily be able to see what your promoter negotiated, you can check an online travel site or your favorite hotel chain’s website and compare properties, amenities and perks. You will probably find a cheaper alternative at a budget establishment. That said, if you don’t need all the fancy amenities of a high-end property, that’s okay, too. That leaves you with more money for cigars at the event!

Find Your Cigar Venues on a Map

It’s a good practice to use a map and identify the general area where the events you are planning to attend will be located. You might even preview drive times. Cigar event venues at multi-day events are increasingly becoming more spread out. Don’t automatically assume the host hotel was specially selected for its overall proximity to the events. Often, it is simply where the promoter got the best deal.

Look around and do your own homework first. You might find something more proximate to your events on your own. This is where perks like shuttles from a host hotel to remote events may tip the scale in favor of the host hotel. Checking a map should also help inform your decision on whether you’ll need a car during your stay, too. Multiple, long taxi or ride share bills can add up fast. Remember, many hotels charge for parking in large city centers with fees that can easily set you back by $50 or more per night. It’s also worth clarifying whether the group rate at the host hotel offers complimentary or reduced fee parking.

Why Stay Somewhere Else, Regardless of Price

Many veteran event attendees prefer to stay away from the hustle and bustle of host hotels — even great host hotels. They know they are looking at six to 12 hours of organized cigar smoking events a day and they just want a little “me time” during the rest of the day. Veteran attendees prefer moving quickly around the hotel lobby without stopping to chat with fellow attendees. You also might combine your passion for cigars with something else on your trip. Depending on the location, you might visit the beach or another tourist attraction. If that’s the case, staying away from the host hotel makes the most logistical sense.

Host Hotels, a Final Word

Ultimately, do what makes the most sense for you, period. Unless you know the host hotel is extremely well coordinated with the overall cigar event, it’s worth doing your homework to compare other options. If things are close, particularly if you’re a first time attendee, lean in to the host hotel. At a minimum, it might be a good way to make new friends.

*Editors note: This is geared towards able-bodied, experienced travelers within the domestic United States. It is advised to rely more heavily on event-organized lodging and ground transportation when traveling abroad or in remote areas.

Photo Credit: Cigar Life Guy