Nestor Plasencia Sr. is one of the best known tobacco growers and cigar-makers in the cigar industry. When his Lifetime achievement Trophy was announced in Orlando, the entire room rose to their feet with applause.
Fake Cigars and Fake Wines
Don’t you hate it? The guys next to you are smoking fake Cohibas and it’s so obvious. Yet, some people smoke them. A large part of them knows damned well they are smoking fakes, but it’s the same thing with fake wines: they don’t want to pay the price for the real deal.
Leading Women of the Cigar World
Looking at cigars from more than one angle is important to us. We want to fully explore this industry, its changes, and how it is changing the world. Since the creation of cigars, women and men have worked in tobacco side by side. In this article we are featuring stories of some of the women leading the cigar industry today.
La Palina – Woman-Made Cigar
La Palina’s band proudly showcases the portrait of Goldie Paley. Bill Paley who resurrected the La Palina brand relies on a number of women to make the brand world-class and to protect the legacy of Goldie.
The Perdomo Experience: From Seed to Smoke
Nick Perdomo has come a long way in 20 years. His deep appreciation of his customers, whether they be retailers or consumers, led him to offer tours where visitors are immersed into his fully vertically integrated operation. Sometimes the owner of the company no less is playing tour guide – cigar retailers and enthusiasts must put this trip on their bucket list!
Heinrich Villiger: In Africa with Motorcycles and Cigars
A cigar tour put to the test. With 110 HP beneath him and an abundant supply of cigars, Heinrich Villiger (81) and friends did a tour from Windhoek to Cape Town. Here is his report.
J. C. Newman Cigar Co. – America’s Oldest Cigar Family
Now 117 years old, J. C. Newman Cigar Co. is the oldest premium cigar company in the United States that is still owned by the founding family. The brands Cuesta-Rey, Diamond Crown and Brick House are known all over the world.
Alec Bradley Cigars – Built for the Long Run
The story of Alec Bradley Cigars is the story of impassioned, dedicated people, finding a niche in the cigar world and then excelling.
Carlos Toraño Honored for Lifetime Achievement
This year, Carlos Toraño was honored for his life’s work. Over the years, he has worked for many well-known brands and today his own brand is counted among the best in the world.
José “Pepin” Garcia: Born in a Factory
Pepin Garcia has become one of the most recognizable people in the global cigar business in just seven short years. His, and indeed his family’s, story is an exemplar of the American Dream
Benjamin F. Menendez Honored for Lifetime Achievement
With more than a half century in the business, Benjamin F. Menendez has been exalted to legendary status in the cigar industry. Born into a tobacco family in Havana, Cuba in 1936, Benjamin F. Menendez smiles when he says that tobacco is in his genes.
Sharp Things: Wolfertz Cigar Cutters
Professional chefs, hobby cooks and knife freaks know that knives not only need to be sharp, but they must also be of a high quality. As cigar friends, we also assert this claim for cigar cutters.
