Don Kiki Berger
Cupido
February 18, 2008 -
In late 2007, Cigar Weekly member birdhunter02 (Mark Matthewson)
received a catalog from cigar and accessory company Cuban Crafters. From
that catalog, to Mark's startled eyes, sprang amazing news. Quickly,
on December 17th, 2007, he relayed the information to his fellow Cigar
Weekly members by starting a thread on the forums. Many others were
equally astounded. The exciting tidings? "Cupidos are BACK!"
Read More. . .
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Jon Huber
CAO Cigars
January 21, 2008 -
Cigar Weekly editor Thomas Bender (TommyBB) recently had the
opportunity to interview the Director of Lifestyle Marketing for CAO
Cigars, Jon Huber. They discussed his new title and the changes occurring
within CAO, Henri Wintermans and the takeover of the marketing arms of
Carlos Toraño and Alfred Dunhill.
Read More. . .
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Carlos Diez
Reyes Family Cigars
December 17, 2007 -
There is an old, often cited aphorism, "Blood is thicker than water," which aptly expresses the human yearning for and value placed in family. By and large, people set great store in doing what's best for their families, and see them as being at the center of their own efforts. Hardly any field of business endeavor is more family-oriented, or professes to be, than the premium cigar business, especially when one refers to the non-Cuban cigar industry. Consider but a few of the names that come to mind when cigars are discussed on a daily basis – names such as Fuente, Toraño, Newman, Cullman, Oliva, Padron, Perdomo, Cifuentes and Ozgener. These families and others to be sure, count among those that have been involved in making cigars for generations – a number having at one time been based in Cuba, though now carrying on the family tradition elsewhere.
Read More. . .
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Pete Johnson
Tatuaje Cigars
March, 2007 -- Pete Johnson started enjoying cigars while he was in his
band back in the early 90's. He first got into the business back in
1992 working for Gus' Cigar Shop in Los Angeles. Pete was responsible
for the purchasing for the store just a few months after he started
working there part time. He remained at Gus' until 1995. Then he took
a little break and tried to make his own brand, this was in the mid
90s and “it was an awful time to try to come out with something
good”. He landed at The Big Easy cigar shop in Los Angeles and
managed it until late 1997. He became a member of the Grand Havana
Room in Beverly Hills in 1995 and was ultimately asked in 1997 to run
the retail end of the business. But he still really wanted to make
a cigar and in early 2003, when he finally met the right match, Jose "Pepin" Garcia
They have been making Tatuaje part time and ever since and at the end
of 2006, Pete works on Tatuaje full time from his new office on Sunset
Blvd. Cigar Weekly's Dave Preston (Mr. Goodlife) caught up with Pete on
a visit to Dion Giolito’s Fumare in Reno, NV
Find out more about Pete in this CW exclusive interview.
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Nick Perdomo
Tabacalera Perdomo
August, 2006 -- Cigar Weekly moderator Thomas Bender (TommyBB) sent a
series of questions to Mr. Nick Perdomo, owner of Tabacalera Perdomo
of Miami, Florida. This new written interview was a follow-up of an
interview conducted by phone in 2003 by Rod Gwinn (Nice Ash).
Find out more about Nick in this CW exclusive interview.
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Don Benigno
Don Benigno cigars
July, 2005-- Don Benigno learned the art of hand rolling cigars as a
child with his father and uncles. His grandfather, who was born in
1871, opened a small tobacco shop at the age of 29 and produced a cigar
caled CENIZA. Living in a time of world crisis, all of his children,
including 14 sons, spent their days going to school then working at
the shop. By the age of ten they were all proficient in the art of
hand rolling cigars.
Find out more about Don in this CW exclusive interview.
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Luis Sanchez
La Tradicion Cubana cigars
May, 2005-- Luis Sanchez began selling La Tradicion Cubana cigars in
1995. Sanchez' family has been involved in the cigar business since
1928 in the Pinar del Rio province in Cuba. Sanchez adheres to the
tradional Cuban cigar making techniques and is committed to producing
quality cigars at an affordable price. Made in the heart of Little
Havana, the cigars are made with a blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan
tobaccos with a Honduran binder and an Ecuadorian wrapper. The maduro
version features a Mexican wrapper.
Find out more about Luis in this CW exclusive interview.
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Arlin Liss
Arlin Liss humidors
March 2004, -- Arlin Liss is the proprietor of Arlin Liss humidors. Recently
Rod Gwinn (Niceash) received the exact humidor that Steve Saka reviewed
and that has caused much controversy in Cigar Afficionado. Rod contacted
Arlin to get some background on his business.
Find out more about Arlin in this CW exclusive interview.
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Ilja van Horssen
CUESTA-REY cigar shop
January 2004, -- Ilja van Horssen is the proprietor of CUESTA-REY cigar
shop. Recently Rod Gwinn (Niceash) of CW had the fortunate opportunity
to spend some time with Ilja in his very nice shop in The Hague, The
Netherlands.
Find out more about Ilja van Horssen
in this CW exclusive interview.
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Charlie Toraño
Toraño Cigars
September 2003, -- Charlie Toraño is the President of Toraño
Cigars. CigarWeekly.com sat down with him for a few minutes of candor
about his family business and the industry in general.
Find out more about Charlie Toraño
in this CW exclusive interview.
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Tony Borhani
Bahia Cigars
July 2003, -- Tony Borhani began making cigars in 1994 because he had
a passion for the art and the product. He has made an impact on the
industry and speaks his mind. CigarWeekly.com caught up with him for
an interview just before he left for the Retail Tobacco Dealers Association
(RTDA) Annual Trade Sow in Nashville, TN.
Find out more about Tony Borhani in this CW exclusive interview.
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Nick Perdomo
Tabacalera Perdomo, SA
Miami, FL, Jan 2003, -- The history of the Perdomo family's cigar making
tradition recounts three generations of Cuban artisans and their quest
for survival, freedom and their fervent dream of producing the finest
cigars in the world. The communist revolution of 1959 and the considerable
struggles that followed would not deter them from their tenacious path.
Silvio Perdomo, the family patriarch who had worked as production manager
for several of the most prestigious cigar factories in Cuba, was imprisoned
for "anti-communist" activities after Castro came to power in 1959.
Find out more about Nick Perdomo in this CW exclusive interview.
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Tim Ozgener
C.A.O. International
April, 2002 -- Interview with C.A.O. Vice President, Tim Ozgener. Aside
from being Cano's son, Tim has really risen to the forefront of C.A.O.,
and has been a big part of C.A.O.'s recent success and new product
development.
Find out more about Tim Ozgener in this CW exclusive interview.
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Martin Mayorga
Mayorga Imports
May, 2001 -- Mayorga Cigars (and coffee) are a popular topic online these
days and many cigar enthusiasts swear by the brand. And why not, the
cigars are well made and yet sell for a fraction of the price of many
other premium brands.
Starting in the cigar business when he was only 22 years old, Martin
worked with Nestor Plasenciain his native Nicaraguato create his signature
blend. We caught up with Martin during a break from his ambitious series
of rolling events to ask him about his cigars and coffee business.
Martin also answers some questions from CW Members.
Find out more about Martin Mayorga and Mayorga
Imports in this CW exclusive interview.
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Gael de Courtivron
La Luna Cigars International
Miami, FL, January 2001 -- One of the most popular
“boutique” brands of 2000 was La Luna Maduro Fuerte. With their
smooth yet powerful flavor and reasonable prices, the Maduro Fuerte line
became a big hit with experienced smokers and even developed a loyal
following of enthusiasts called “Lunatics.”
We wanted to better understand this new force in the cigar business and
La Luna Cigars owner Gael de Courtivron graciously agreed to answer
some of our questions and talk about his latest line: the African Fuertes.
Gael also answers some questions from CW Members.
Find out more about La Luna Cigars in
this CW exclusive interview.
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Nick Perdomo
Tabacalera Perdomo, SA
Miami, FL, July 2000 -- Tabacalera Perdomo, SA began in 1991 with two
Cuban rollers and a sales and marketing staff consisting of Nick Perdomo
and his wife, Janine. Today, Perdomo's cigars are produced at a 27,000-square-foot
factory in Esteli, where some 300 workers turn out the company's seven
brands plus private label brands including CAO’s L’Anniversaire
Cameroon and Maduro.
The company has recently been recognized for producing five of the Top
25 cigars in the world by Cigar Insider and was also recognized by
Smoke Magazine Online as 1999’s “Hottest Cigar Manufacturer.”
The Perdomo “Estate Selección” is Nick Perdomo’s latest
innovation, a deeply aged Nicaraguan puro cigar with distribution limited
to only 200 of the most prominent tobacconists in the United States.
Find out more about Tabacalera Perdomo,
SA in this CW exclusive interview.
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Diego Trinidad
Trinidad Tobacco Trading Corp.
November 1998 -- We talked with Diego about his new line of cigars, Trinidad
y Hermano, which are made by Pedro Martin. We also talked about the
availability of the Fuente made TTT Trinidad line, as well as the rumors
of counterfeit versions of the TTT Trinidad line.
Find out more about Diego Trinidad and
Trinidad y Hermano in this CW exclusive interview.
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Linda Squires
RTDA Board Secretary
September 1998 -- We talked with Linda Squires, owner of The Squire in
Santa Rosa, CA shortly after she returned from the RTDA show. With
almost 25 years in the retail tobacco business, Linda Squires offers
an experienced and knowledgeable perspective on the changes in the
cigar business.
Find out more about Linda Squires and the
RTDA in this CW exclusive interview.
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Carlos Toraño, Jr.
Toraño Cigars
August 1998 -- Mr. Toraño oversees a family tobacco and cigar dynasty
with five factores in three countries. At RTDA this year, Torano introduced
a line of flavored cigars.
Find out more about Carlos Toraño, Jr. in
this CW exclusive interview.
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Juan B. Sosa
Antillian Cigar Corp.
July 1998 -- Mr. Sosa, Master Cigar Blender and head of Antillian Cigar
Corp., answers a few of our questions about making cigars and creating
new blends.
Find out more about Juan B. Sosa in this CW exclusive interview.
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Diego Trinidad
Trinidad Tobacco Trading Corp.
June, 1998 -- Trinidad started making cigars in Cuba in 1905. Now the
Cuban government has registered the Trinidad trademark illegally in
the United States. We talked with Diego about their trademark battles
and their cigars.
Find out more about Diego Trinidad and
Trinidad Tobacco Trading Corp. in this CW exclusive interview.
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Additional Interviews:
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