So why do we save it?

The answer goes beyond cigars. Many of us save things we value, such as a special bottle of bourbon or champagne, a favorite watch, a collectible, or equipment connected to a hobby we love. There is a difference between collecting and saving.

Collectors enjoy the history, craftsmanship, and memories behind their collections. That is part of the fun. But saving something for “someday” is different. We are just waiting for the right moment or occasion.

Psychologists call this anticipatory pleasure, which is the enjoyment we feel when looking forward to something. That special cigar sitting in your humidor represents a future memory waiting to happen. Unlike consummatory pleasure (the joy of experiencing something in the moment), anticipation can actually magnify the enjoyment of a future experience. Delayed gratification then becomes almost as important as the actual consumption of the cigar itself.

Sometimes we wait so long that the anticipation becomes the experience. We are not saving the cigar because we do not ever want to enjoy it, we are saving it because we want the moment to match the meaning behind it.

Do you ponder whether a particular occasion is special enough for your special cigar, or do you wonder if that special cigar is what will make the occasion special?

After finally smoking a special cigar, it will be gone when the smoke clears but the memory will remain. A great cigar is not just something we own, it is something we experience.

A SPECIAL CIGAR

Review of Cohiba Spectre MMXXIV Priced at $150 per Cigar

As I began researching, I discovered that cigar lighters range from everyday tools to beautifully crafted luxury accessories. Brands such as S.T. Dupont are known for their exceptional craftsmanship and design, while companies like Xikar, Colibri, Zippo and Lotus offer quality options at a variety of price points.

One of the biggest things I learned is that not all lighters are created the same. While a regular disposable butane lighter can work in a pinch, many cigar enthusiasts prefer a dedicated cigar lighter. Torch lighters offer better control, adjustable flames, and a more precise way to toast and light a cigar evenly. A single torch provides accuracy, while double and triple torch options can be especially useful outdoors or with larger cigars.

The good news is that a quality cigar lighter does not have to be expensive. Affordable refillable butane torch lighters can be a great choice for everyday use or for someone just beginning to build their cigar accessories. Your local tobacconist can also be a great resource, as many shops carry their own branded lighters and can help match a lighter to a smoker’s preferences.

There is also something special about vintage cigar lighters. A friend mentioned finding unique pieces while browsing antique stores, and these older lighters can become collectibles, conversation starters, and a connection to cigar history.

Whether you choose a luxury lighter, an everyday torch, or a vintage find, a cigar lighter is more than just a way to start a cigar. It becomes part of the ritual and enjoyment of the cigar experience. Many cigar enthusiasts proudly display their favorite accessories in a private cigar area, humidor room, or smoking lounge.

For anyone shopping for a cigar lighter as a gift—or adding one to their own collection—take time to explore the options. The search itself can be part of the enjoyment.

Looking for a cigar lighter of your own? Browse a wide selection of Cigar Lighters on Amazon.com* and find the style that fits your needs and budget.

* Paid Link: Amazon Associates Earn from Qualifying Purchases

Review of a Cigar Lighter with Both Soft & Jet Flames

The cigar was six inches long, had a ring gauge of 60, was parejo shaped, and had a medium brown wrapper (probably a Habano) with a darker brown cap. It also had a rich, earthy and very pleasant pre-light tobacco aroma that was similar to some other cigars in my humidor that are made with Nicaraguan fillers. Although such house blends can be priced as low as $5, they can be great values with flavors comparable to national brands priced more than twice as much. House blends are even made for local tobacconists by some national brands.

Review Notes:

After firing up the Mystery Cigar, the initial flavors of modest spice along with a hint of natural tobacco sweetness were quickly joined by leather and a touch of cream. During the first 20 minutes, a nice balance of leather and spice became predominant with a creamy taste still lingering. The body was near the lower end of the medium-to-full range. After about another five minutes or so, hints of sweetness returned as the predominant flavors gradually started to become a bit less profound but still very enjoyable.

I ashed the cigar for the first time after 35 minutes of smoking time, and applied a minor touch-up about five minutes later. The burn was mostly even, but not razor sharp. The flavors were staying pretty much consistent, and the cigar continued to have a very good draw. I ashed the cigar for only the second time after 70 minutes into the smoking session, as it was holding onto a long ash. I continued smoking until the cigar went out by itself with about two inches remaining, after a total elapsed time of 105 minutes.

The Mystery Cigar was well-made and did not require any relights, only the one touch-up previously mentioned. I enjoyed it from start to finish and rate it with a very good 4 points on a 5-point scale. For being a house blend, the cigar exceeded my expectations and if I was not given any information about what it was, I would have guessed that the band had been removed from a premium national brand priced between $10 and $15.

Conclusion:

Although it is more convenient to purchase cigars online, the moral of this story is that it could be worth the effort to occasionally visit your local brick and mortar cigar retailer. In addition to many other reasons for visiting, their exclusive house blends (not sold online) may surprise you.

The duty-free cigar shop at Amber Cove sells a variety of Dominican cigars and features the Jopito brand. A new outside smoking area was established in January 2026, with a great view of the ships docked at the pier. However, our view of the Koningsdam was blocked by a Carnival ship, but that did not hamper my enjoyment of the smoking area. The outdoor lounge has comfortable seating and is appointed with various Jopito accouterments such as ashtrays and a cigar table with cigars embedded within the wood beneath a glass top. The staff was also very friendly and helpful, and the new smoking area is definitely worth a visit if you have the time. If not, you can always purchase a few cigars in the shop to take back to the ship.

Here is the store’s promotional video of the inauguration of the new smoking lounge:

In 2026, several other names that might better describe what we do at CigarCzars.com (without being too presumptuous) were considered. Our CigarCzars.com domain name will not change, but we are now adding Cigar Pundit and Guru to our resume of cigar aliases. Therefore, on a provisional basis during our 20-year anniversary, we can now also be found online at: pundit.guru and as a backup at: czar.pundit.guru

For another look back into the past courtesy of Substack, here is what I wrote about Cigar Experts on About.com during 2014, several months after the Guide designation was retired in 2013:

The prices of cigars have been increasing over the years due to a number of factors. But back in 2014, the stage was set for much higher prices down the road when the definition of what is a “premium cigar” (according to an FDA Deeming Rule) included a provision that the cigar be priced at $10 or more. Some cigar companies then began hiking up their prices not just to make more money, but to have their products classified as premium cigars to qualify for an exemption under the pending FDA rule to regulate tobacco products. The $10 provision to be considered a premium cigar was later removed from the definition, but the horse had already left the barn. The cigar industry continued the fight to prevent the FDA from regulating premium cigars and so far, they have been very successful. However, flavored cigars and cigars with more than 50% short fillers do not qualify as premium cigars under the latest definition.

Regarding the price of cigars in general, the average price of a handmade premium cigar in January 2026 was just over $13 per stick. By some strange coincidence, the median MSRP of cigars currently in my humidor is also $13 per stick (however, I buy most of my cigars on sale for way less than MSRP). Although the current price range for high quality premium cigars is now $10-$20, this doesn’t mean that a high-quality premium cigar cannot be acquired for less than $10. Some quality premium cigars are still regularly priced at $5 or less. In addition, various brands of higher priced cigars occasionally go on sale at deep discounts of 50% or more at a number of online retailers.

Prices on our latest 2026 list of top bargain cigars are the regular prices now available at... Continue Reading on CigarCzars.com

“I retired as COO of Consolidated Cigar Corp., predecessor to Altadis USA, in 1998, having been in the cigar business since 1956 (I still dabble in it). In my early years, I worked for Faber, Coe & Gregg, Inc., the country’s premier importer and distributor of Cuban cigars, among others.

What you say about JFK’s love of H. Upmann is true, and it is also true that an aide purchased 1200 H. Upmanns for Kennedy just prior to his signing the Cuban Embargo in 1962. That aide was his press secretary, Pierre Salinger, who confirmed the story in a speech at a Cigar Association of America annual meeting, I believe it was in 1987, at which I was present.

But the cigar was not the Petit Corona, which in that era was 5” x 41r and retailed for 40¢, it was the Petit Upmann, which was a machine made cigar, 3 3/4” x 32r that retailed for 25¢.

In the above video, Pierre Salinger is telling the story from the dais of a dinner which, although I don’t know the time and place*, I suspect was some sort of cigar event in London, since to Salinger’s right sits my friend, Nicholas Freeman (RIP), the owner at the time of Hunters & Frankau, the UK importer and distributor of Cuban Cigars. The clip also shows JFK smoking the small cigar.

As an aside, although the H. Upmann Petit Upmann is the size mentioned by Salinger, I was in charge of inventory control for FC&G; at the time and we did not import that cigar under that name. It was sold in the U.S. under the frontmark, Demi Tasse. Perhaps Salinger was confused because it was called Petit Upmann in England, Cuba and the rest of the world.

* P.S. According to my friend Simon Chase, of Hunters and Frankau, London, one of the most knowledgeable cigar men in the world, specializing in Cubans, who was there, the Pierre Salinger video in which he talks about JFK’s cigar, is of a luncheon that took place in the private room of Wilton’s Restaurant, Jermyn Street, London, Friday, May 3, 1991.”

Cigar companies showcased their merchandise, live bands and other performers entertained the crowds, and cigar rollers demonstrated their craft. It was not only a great day for Tampa, but it turned out to be a fantastic and historic day for cigars.

A new world record for the longest cigar in the world was set by Wally Reyes of Gonzalez Habano Cigars of Tampa, bringing that honor back to the United States (from Cuba) with a cigar measuring 101 feet (it is noted that the record was broken several times in the years following this event).

Cigar Dave also conducted a live broadcast of his nationally syndicated cigar radio program, complete with a live orchestra and many of the personalities who frequent his show (it is noted that Cigar Dave's radio show was eventually canceled and he later became a podcaster).

The Ybor City Cigar Festival is still an annual event that is not to be missed. For more information, check out their website.

Watch Our Vintage Videos from the Festival Now on Youtube:

Making the Longest Cigar in the World

Cigar Dave's Live Broadcast

The troops in Afghanistan and Iraq were more than happy to send us pictures of themselves enjoying cigars that were donated, and we frequently published those pictures along with the names of the donors on About.com. Although we ended our program shortly before my departure from the company, we have since been recommending that donations be made to troops serving overseas through Cigars for Warriors.

I was very fortunate to be able to utilize the power of the internet and to partner with Dr. Mitch Fadem in a mission to get cigars in the hands of the men and women in Afghanistan and Iraq, who were risking their lives for our country. I again thank them for their service, and for providing me with a U.S. Flag along with a certificate in appreciation. I was both humbled and honored to be recognized in such a thoughtful and patriotic manner. Proud to be an American!

The Friday evening event started promptly at 6:30PM, but the line began to form by 5:00PM. It was surreal to see “No Smoking” signs posted by Cigar Aficionado, which applied to the areas outside of the ballroom, not inside the event itself. There were different strategies employed by attendees to efficiently gather up cigars, eat, drink, and check out all the amenities. It seems that the best strategy was to go for the cigars first, but only if you were near the beginning of the line. If you were hungry and near the back of the line, it was better to go for the eats first, before the food line formed. Some cigar makers gave away cutters and other cigar accessories, which were in limited supply. To go immediately to a certain cigar maker, diagrams were posted to show the layout of the room.

Surprisingly, the room did not feel like a gas chamber, even with more than 3,000 people smoking cigars. Cigar Aficionado has been doing this for 12 years, and they know how to handle a large number of cigar smokers without any major snags. Some opted to arrive at 7:00PM, in order to avoid standing in line before the event. However, those folks ended up standing in longer lines at the various booths for cigars and food.

I talked with many cigar smokers at this event, and there were quite a few repeat customers, who religiously return every year. Rudy Giuliani happened to be in town, and talked to the various cigar makers and Cigar Aficionado executives before the doors opened to the public.

There were 32 cigar makers giving away cigars, usually one cigar per designated coupon. However, a few cigar companies gave away 2 or 3 cigars, and others provided complimentary cutters, matches, and other token items. The Cigar Aficionado tote bag came in handy when visiting the various booths to collect cigars. It took more than an hour to visit all 32 cigar displays, so there was still plenty of time to eat, drink, and enjoy all of the other amenities.

Vintage One-Minute Big Smoke Video Recently Uploaded to Youtube

RIP: On a sad note, we just learned that that the Casa Fuente cigar bar in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace will be closing in October 2025. I visited that establishment for the first time while in Las Vegas for the Big Smoke in 2007. After 20 years, the Forum Shops just won't be the same without them.

To cover We're Smokin' in Miami, I was granted complimentary admission to the event, which began at 1PM and ran until 6PM. Tickets to attend the event were available in advance for $125, which included admission, at least 50 premium cigars, a gift bag including a cigar case, double torch lighter, cigar cutter and other cigar paraphernalia, entertainment, food, beverages (soft drinks and beer), cigar magazines, and of course, camaraderie.

More than 20 cigar companies were represented, including Miami Cigar, CAO, Perdomo, Reyes Family (formerly Puros Indios), Rocky Patel, Avo, Oliva, and Graycliff. In addition to cigars, many cigar companies also offered other free goodies, such as cutters and T-shirts. About every hour or so, a drawing was held to award valuable cigar prizes, such as a humidor or box of premium cigars.

I have to compliment Oscar and his staff for putting on a first rate cigar event on his first attempt. The event was well-organized, utilizing a method of collecting cigars similar to other cigar events such as the Big Smoke. A numbered coupon book was given to each attendee to facilitate visiting each cigar booth, to meet with the cigar personalities and collect cigars. But unlike a Big Smoke, wait time was very minimal.

Mike's Cigars has an advantage of being located in one of America's top cigar cities. Normally, an event of this size (300 to 400 people) would appeal mostly to the locals, but a trip to a Miami cigar event can be part of a larger cigar vacation. This would include a visit to Little Havana (on Calle Ocho) to experience genuine Cuban cigar culture in South Florida, as well as a visit to South Beach where cigars are available on almost every street corner. When visiting Miami, a side trip to Mikes's Cigars is a must for all serious cigar smokers. Mike's is located at 1030 Kane Concourse, Bay Harbor Islands, FL, 33154 (about eight miles north of South Beach).

The organizer of the third annual Great Smoke was the Smoke Inn's Abe Dababneh. Abe and his staff really put on a great cigar event at their flagship West Palm Beach location in the Village Commons Shopping Center (Note: this event is now held at the South Florida Fairgrounds). The base ticket price of $150 to attend the event included 40 premium cigars plus some cigar paraphernalia, all you could eat and drink, entertainment, a live broadcast of the Cigar Dave nationally syndicated radio program, and of course, access to more than 20 of the top cigar makers in the world. The food was gourmet quality, the booze was top shelf, plus there was a great variety, too.

Companion tickets were also available to base ticket holders for an extra $30, so two people could attend the event for $180 and enjoy all the basic amenities, except that companions were not entitled to receive any cigars. This was a great deal if you wanted to bring a spouse or nonsmoking friend. For those willing to pay a little extra for VIP service (such as early admittance and access to the Vodka Lounge), a limited amount of VIP passes were available for an extra $50 ($200 total ticket price). VIP companion tickets were also available for an additional $50, or a total cost of $250 for two people.

The Great Smoke 2009 raised over $18,000.00 for The Children’s Place at Home Safe Inc. HOME SAFE is a nationally accredited, non-profit organization that has been serving abused and neglected children in Florida from newborn to age 18 since 1979.

Cigar Dave Live Radio Broadcast from The Great Smoke

Back in 2009, the Cigar Dave radio show was broadcast live every Saturday from noon (actually 12:06PM) to 2:00PM, but was carried on some local stations on a tape delay. The show was also available on satellite radio and on the internet. (Note: The Cigar Dave radio show was eventually canceled and Cigar Dave has since become a podcaster).

Since the Great Smoke event started admitting customers around the same time as Cigar Dave's broadcast, some of his fans missed the first hour of the show. This did not stop the General from pontificating, nor did it prevent anyone (at least that I know about) from having a great time.

The "Cigar Army" gathered around “The General” at the conclusion of his live broadcast (also in attendance was HBO Soprano’s Character Vito Spatafore aka Joe Gannascoli).

Our original video coverage of The Great Smoke 2009 was recently uploaded to Youtube, and includes a small portion of Cigar Dave's live broadcast from the event.

Click Here to Watch Our TGS 2009 Video

The 78th Annual Convention and Trade Show was held in New Orleans during August 9 to 13, 2010. The convention began with a series of presentations, seminars, and meetings, leading up to a 3½-day trade show. We thank Chris McCalla, the IPCPR's Legislative Director, for granting us media access to cover this event. The annual IPCPR convention and trade show moved to Las Vegas in July 2011, and then to Orlando in 2012.

IPCPR Seminars & Presentations

The first in a series of four seminars on August 9 was presented by members of Cigar Rights of America. Brian Berman, the CRA's Director of Membership, started things off with facts and figures about the organization. Glynn Loope, the CRA's Executive Director, talked about all the threats to the cigar industry, such as smoking bans, taxes, and more regulation. The FDA's proposal to regulate cigars is currently the biggest threat. There were a number of other speakers, most notably Tim Ozgener of CAO and Rocky Patel. Their message to cigar retailers was very clear, get involved! The industry has already waited too long to defend itself. Cigar makers and retailers must define who they are, and differentiate their products from cigarettes and other tobacco products. Cigars are an art form, similar to wine making.

CRA is a consumer-based, non-profit public advocacy organization that works at the local, state, and federal level of government to protect the freedoms of cigar enthusiasts. Since the CRA's presentation was geared toward cigar retailers, we cornered Glynn Loope at the trade show and asked him to record a short video addressed to cigar consumers, who are really the heart and soul of the organization. The video also includes a few segments from CRA's presentation to the cigar retailers, and is available to view on Youtube.

The next two seminars were given by a "whiz bang" marketing guru named Bob Negen. Since these presentations were geared specifically towards cigar retailers, we will not say any more about them at this point. However, the fourth seminar was a cigar tasting lesson to remember! It was the most popular of all the seminars, since Henke Kelner provided seminar attendees with six special cigars. The cigars were used to demonstrate how tobacco can be blended to achieve distinct flavors. Basically, there are four major taste stimulators: Acid, Bitter, Salty, and Sweet. The first three cigars stimulated only one or two of the four distinct tastes, and as a result, were not properly balanced. The last three blends stimulated all four tastes, but each had unique flavors because each used a different wrapper.

IPCPR Annual Meeting

On the morning of August 10, IPCPR Executive Director Joseph Rowe began by welcoming everyone to the IPCPR's 78th Annual Convention and Trade Show, and promised a "surprise" at the conclusion of the annual meeting, which you can see in our Youtube Video. Shortly after Joe's opening remarks, he introduced Gary Pesh, President of the IPCPR, who addressed the audience and presided over the annual meeting. In addition, there was a question-and-answer period, and a number of 2010 Step-up awards were announced. The International Women's Cigar Society also made a presentation at the meeting, mainly to convey who they are, what they do, and why women in the cigar industry should join.

IPCPR President Gary Pesh talked about how busy the last five years have been for the IPCPR, and discussed how much effort and expense is required to represent the cigar industry in the fight against smoking bans, higher taxes, and more regulation. His message echoed the statements made by Cigar Rights of America during the previous day: Cigar retailers must get involved! The industry has been under attack, and must defend itself much more vigorously going forward. Other business of the association was then conducted, including the election of a number of new board members.

IPCPR Trade Show

The annual IPCPR Trade Show is the most important time of the year for cigar and accessory manufacturers to schmooze and hopefully sell their new products to cigar retailers, who come from all over the country hoping to procure the latest and greatest products that will bring customers into their stores. Some of the booths and displays created by the larger manufacturers can be very elaborate, and are geared towards attracting the attention of large numbers of cigar retailers.

The Trade Show (IPCPR's main attraction) opened right after the annual meeting, and lasted for 3½ days. Only a fraction of those who attended the trade show opted to attend the seminars, presentations and meeting prior to the show. Too bad, they didn't realize what they were missing. The IPCPR Trade Show can be overwhelming to say the least, especially if it's your first time. It was impossible to visit all the booths and learn about all of the new cigars, pipes, accessories, etc. that were on display, but we certainly gave it our best shot.

Most of the information about new (2010) products that we collected at this trade show is now outdated, but here are just a few Youtube videos (in addition to those linked above) that will further illustrate what is was like to be at the IPCPR Convention and Trade Show in New Orleans back in 2010.

General Cigar's Team La Gloria Cubana

Tour of Xikar's New Lighters & Cutters

General Cigar's New Macanudo Cigars

Nick Perdomo about Perdomo Cigars

Miscellaneous Scenes at Convention & Trade Show

A good time to visit a cigar factory located in the Caribbean or Central America is when you're on a cruise and your ship happens to dock at a port near the factory. Some cigar enthusiasts actually take cigar vacations and fly to a hotel near a factory at significant personal expense, but you can save some big bucks if you plan your visit when your ship comes in. In November 2011, I was on a Carnival cruise that stopped at La Romana in the Dominican Republic, home of Tabacalera de Garcia. So why not check out the place where Montecristo, H. Upmann, Romeo y Julieta, Don Diego, Onyx, Henry Clay, Jose Seijas, and a number of other Altadis USA brands are made?

There was one caveat on this particular cruise. It was my luck that the ship docked in La Romana on a Sunday, when the factory is not usually in operation. However, Tabacalera de Garcia brought in a skeleton crew just for us cruisers. The regular price for a tour was only $10 back then (can cost around $50 these days), but we paid a few dollars more and toured the factory as part of a larger Carnival shore excursion, which encompassed other must-see attractions such as Altos de Chavon. By the way, there is a Montecristo Lounge located there, but it was not open on Sunday, either.

Tabacalera de Garcia in La Romana is not the only cigar factory in the Dominican Republic, but it just happens to be the largest cigar factory for handmade cigars in the entire world. La Romana is located on the southeast part of the island. If you ever stay at Casa de Campo, one of the Caribbean's premier luxury resorts, a visit to Tabacalera de Garcia is a must, being only a short drive away. Santo Domingo, the nation's capital, is about a 90-minute drive from the factory. In fact, our Carnival tour guide came from his home in Santo Domingo to take us on the tour.

Once we arrived at the factory, our tour group was joined by a TdeG representative, who walked us through the factory. Both our Carnival guide and the TdeG Rep explained how cigars are made, and gave us a little bit of history about Tabacelera de Garcia. The factory was established in 1971, and employs just under 5,000 people. The factory operates six days a week to keep up with the demand for its cigars. The factory mostly works with Dominican tobacco, but approximately 25% of the total tobacco used in the cigars made at Tabacalera de Garcia comes from other countries such as the United States, Indonesia, Cameroon, Ecuador, and several others.

We had plenty of time at the factory to observe cigars being bunched, rolled, and draw tested. We also toured other areas of the factory that were not operating on Sunday, such as where finished cigars were boxed and packaged. There was also a cigar and gift shop where you could buy cigars that were made at the factory. This was a nice convenience for tourists looking to take home a few name-brand Dominican cigars as souvenirs, but cigar connoisseurs can find similar or better prices back in the states.

Although viewing pictures and video are no substitutes for taking the factory tour yourself, we have posted some pictures on Facebook, and make sure to watch our video of the tour on Youtube.com/aboutcigars

Although we did not make it to the seminars, presentations and meetings on August 2 and 3, we did attend the trade show all day long on August 4, but just during the morning on August 5. The trade show runs for 3½ days, and in 2010, we needed all of those days to visit just a fraction of all the exhibits (in 2010, we also covered the presentations and meetings the day before the trade show). We really had to hustle this year to cover as many exhibits as we could in a limited amount of time. And from at least one reputable source, there were close to 800 new cigars being released during 2012, most of which were announced at or just prior to the trade show. Apparently many (but not all) cigar makers feel that the best way to attract attention to their company and products is to have several new cigars to promote.

The 2012 IPCPR trade show was also the biggest IPCPR trade show ever (at that point in time). In term of booths, 1,361 were filled with 300 exhibitors represented. Total attendance was approximately 6,000 people, with about 2,100 employees of 955 retail cigar stores in attendance. There were less bloggers and social media types at this show than in prior years, due to a change in admission policy by the IPCPR.

We would like to thank all those exhibitors who were willing (or had the time) to visit with us, and apologize to those whom we missed. After all, the main purpose of the show was to provide a forum for cigar retailers to check out (and order) the best new and existing products offered by cigar and accessory manufacturers (and conversely, for the manufacturers to showcase their latest and greatest wares to cigar retailers), and all conveniently located under one roof. Yes it is true, the cigar industry is like no other. All those whom we met were extremely passionate about the industry, regardless of their particular role.

Although the exhibitors worked their butts off, they all enjoyed what was obviously a labor of love. Retailers were able to have a little more fun, bouncing around from booth to booth and becoming amazed at all the products on display, and in many cases, impressed by the opulence of the booths themselves. Of course, the retailers were also on a mission, to identify and procure those products which they believed would sell the best in their stores. Although the retailers to whom we talked enjoyed the Orlando location, most seemed to prefer having the show in Las Vegas. In fact, the next show did return to Las Vegas and was held during July 2013.

In closing, we would also thank the IPCPR for putting on a fantastic trade show, and for granting us interviews with some of their top officials at that time (August 2012). Bill Spann - Chief Executive Officer, Chris McCalla - Legislative Director, and Christy Sammon – Senior Director of Federal Legislative Affairs collectively answered all our questions about the show itself, as well as the major issues currently facing the cigar industry, especially the ongoing threat of FDA regulation.

We support the IPCPR and Cigar Rights of America in their efforts in trying to carve out an exception for premium cigars, on behalf of cigar retailers, manufacturers and consumers. They are doing a great job in educating legislators about premium handmade cigars and why they are different than other tobacco products. We congratulate the IPCPR and CRA for winning majority support in the House for H.R. 1639. At a minimum, their efforts are causing delays and making it more difficult for anti-smoking zealots to convince legislators to adopt regulations that would severely impact the premium cigar industry. This fight is still going on today.

I was able to find a good number of videos on social media that we recorded with cigar makers and others at the trade show, but most of the subject matter that was illustrated and discussed is now outdated or obsolete. However, here are links to just a few of those videos which will give you at least a small taste of what it was like to be at the IPCPR 2012 trade show:

Chris McCalla of the IPCPR (Interview & Booth Photos)

Shuriken Cigar Cutter (How to Use & How It's Made)

Jon Huber of Crowned Heads (First Trade Show After Leaving CAO)

Kiss My Ash & Cigar Dave Radio Shows (Live Broadcasts from the Showroom Floor)

The first time that I visited Nassau via cruise ship was on a Sunday and the cigar factory was not open on Sundays back then. So I was only able to walk around Graycliff's hotel and gift shop, and also look around the grounds outside. Graycliff is located on West Hill Street, just to the west of the Government House. It takes about 10 minutes to walk there from the dock. The most direct route is along Bay Street. Just turn right (west) upon exiting the port, and continue to Baillou Street, then head south on Baillou to West Hill. You can't miss Graycliff on the right (southwest corner of the intersection of Baillou and West Hill), across the street from the Government House.

On another visit to Nassau on a Saturday during November 2012, I was able to visit the Graycliff cigar factory as a typical tourist, and admission was free back in those days. Graycliff is a small boutique but prestigious brand of cigars, and the company employs about 16 professional cigar rollers who are experts in their field. On the Saturday afternoon of my visit, there were four rollers at work in the factory, and an additional roller was working in the lobby of the hotel restaurant. I was able to talk to the rollers and take as many pictures as I wanted. The staff was extremely courteous and very happy to answer questions and pose for pictures.

Part of the reason for Graycliff's prestigious reputation in the cigar industry can be attributed to its first cigar roller. In 1996, Avelino Lara, who previously made Cohiba cigars for Castro himself, began rolling cigars at the Graycliff Restaurant. The cigars were such a success that the company opened its own cigar factory the following year. Avelino passed away in 2009, but his son and other cigar rollers continued his passion for fine cigars at the Graycliff Cigar Company in Nassau, Bahamas.

In a previous review of a Graycliff Cigar, I noted that the cigar was very well made, but somewhat expensive when compared to other cigars made with similar tobaccos in the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua. Just as it costs more to make cigars in Miami or other American cities, the cost of making cigars in the Bahamas is also higher. Not only are labor costs higher, it also costs more to import cigar tobaccos from other countries, since Graycliff cigars are not made with Bahamian tobacco. Despite their higher prices, smoking an occasional Graycliff cigar on a special day (like during a Bahamian vacation) can be a real treat. A few of the smaller sizes and/or a 5-pack of coronas should not break the bank. Go ahead and light one up, then puff away with some fine Caribbean rum.

According to Aly Linares, Mike's Director of Marketing, 276 tickets were sold, 20 of them VIP. When entering Mike's cigar event, you were given a booklet containing coupons to claim your cigar(s) from each of the cigar companies in the cigar tent. This also gave you a chance to meet with the cigar makers and/or their representatives. 36 cigar companies were in attendance, and more than 60 cigars (about 50 large & 20 small) were collected by attendees who visited all the booths. I have been to several other major cigar events where the number of customers in attendance was much higher, but the total number of cigars collected by each attendee was only in the 30-40 range, with the number of cigar companies being about the same. Therefore at Mike's, the time spent standing in line to collect lots of cigars was minimal, as the ratio of customers to cigar companies was comfortably lower than at other events. There were no big lines at the entrance to the event, either.

The total value of prizes raffled at Mike's cigar event was $10,000 MSRP. A number of visitors from out of town won some valuable prizes, which more than compensated them for their travel expenses. The grand prize winner of a Montecristo humidor was Craig Evans from North Carolina. He and his two buddies each won something in the various raffles. Again, with less customers competing against each other for cigars and prizes, the odds of winning something were pretty darn good. And every guest who attended the event was a winner, receiving close to $600 MSRP in cigars and other goodies in exchange for the $150 admission price. A portion of the proceeds from the event was donated to assist kids with special education needs, Animal Aid Adopt-A-Pet, and Cigar Rights of America.

Although there were a number of notable cigar makers at the event, some of the booths were staffed by company representatives. I did have a chance to meet Jesus (Fuego) for the first time. Jesus is a highly educated master blender who worked for a few other cigar companies before starting his own J. Fuego brand a few years ago. I also met Carlos Llaca-Torano and Jack Torano of the Torano Family Cigar Company (brand is now owned by General Cigar). Carlos is Charlie Torano's cousin, whom I've met on several previous occasions. George Rico of Gran Habano and George Sosa (then with Alec Bradley) were also there, as well as several other principals from various cigar companies. Check out more photos from the event on Facebook, and make sure to watch our YouTube Video to see all of the cigar companies that were represented.

During the event, we visited Mike's retail store at 1030 Kane Concourse in Bay Harbor, Florida, and interviewed the company's president, Oded Ben-Arie. At the end of the interview, Oded told us that his favorite cigar is the Licenciados Toro, which is one of Mike's own brands. The company also has several other brands, including the popular 898 Collection. Mike's has an inventory of about 10 million cigars, and stocks around 1,000 different brands, with the bulk of their sales being made via internet, catalog and telephone. For more information, visit MikesCigars.com.

In addition to the cigar event on January 26, 2013, there was also a cigar dinner the night before, and a fishing and cigar tournament the day after. I did not attend either of the other events, but I am told by Aly Linares, Mike's Director of Marketing, that those with VIP tickets really enjoyed it. It fact, this is what Aly told me: "Well my favorite moment, which was so cool to experience for the first time after being such an avid cigar smoker, was the VIP Dinner. George Sosa (then with Alec Bradley Cigars) paired his cigars with each dinner course. We started appetizer & salad with their Connecticut, then entree with their Sun Grown Blend, and ending dessert with the Prensado. Actually, it was really cool and we all (especially our VIP's) loved it. In all my years of cigar smoking and cooking, I had never paired cigars, only wine - you figure!"

We arrived at The Great Smoke around 11:30AM, since it was announced in advance that all ticket holders could access the entertainment tent before the event to view a live broadcast of Abe's “Kiss My Ash” radio program, which ran from 10AM to 12PM. After the show was over, VIP ticket holders were allowed to access the cigar tent, but base ticket holders had to wait until 1PM. However, drinks were available at noon and food service began around 12:30PM, so as long as you brought your own cigar, the entertainment tent was still a great place to be. Watch our Great Smoke Video to see and hear a segment of Kiss My Ash Radio, followed by our adventures in the cigar tent.

At 1:00PM, we entered the cigar tent and began meeting with all of the cigar makers and/or their representatives, taking lots of pictures* along the way. It was a pleasure to meet each and every one of them, but to spotlight just a few (left to right):

• Baseball legend Gary Sheffield was promoting his new line of HR500 cigars, distributed by Rocky Patel.

• Matt Booth and Abe Dababneh touted their new Room101 Big Delicious Cigar.

• Susana Aragon charmed the predominantly male crowd as Brand Ambassador for Padilla Cigars.

I would also like to mention that I had the opportunity to interview J. Glynn Loope, Executive Director of Cigar Rights of America. Glynn told me about CRA's recent efforts to prevent the FDA from regulating premium handmade cigars.

Entertainment was provided by The On Target Band and the Scott Brothers (dancing mimes). Watch our Great Smoke Video to see all the action and listen to the band for yourself. In addition to all the sights and sounds, there were also plenty of liquors, food, and lovely ladies (some were even painted), plus a number of prizes were awarded. And of course, cigar smoking was enjoyed by virtually everybody.

* View Lots of Pictures on Facebook (Account/Sign-in NOT required)

On September 21, 2013, we visited the Smoke Inn in Boynton Beach to help Kiss My Ash Radio celebrate the live broadcast of their 100^th episode. The KMA cigar radio show was hosted by Smoke Inn's Abe Dababneh and his crew, and was broadcast for the first time from the company's new headquarters in Boynton Beach, Florida (on Gateway Boulevard just off I-95). At the time, the program was broadcast on local radio, but is now available on social media. For more information about KMA Radio, visit: kissmyashradio.com

All KMA broadcasts are archived online: Click Here to Listen to the 100^th Episode

Our coverage of this event is available on Facebook (no account nor sign-in is required). A number of cigar celebrities were in attendance, and there were even a few pleasant surprises!

View Pictures

Watch a Short Video

One of the biggest reasons to attend this event was the chance to win valuable cigar prizes in the various drawings. Since attendance was relatively low compared to other national cigar events, the odds of winning a prize were very favorable, to say the least. Meeting a cigar maker (or a rep) and being personally handed one of their cigars is always a thrill for many cigar smokers. It is also a rare privilege these days just to be able to enjoy cigars at a public venue in the company of fellow cigar smokers. I have met many of these folks before, and it's always nice catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.

Inside the cigar tent, the number one pole position was occupied by Michael Giannini (formerly of General Cigar), who personally handed out samples of his Foundry cigars. I tried a few samples of these cigars when they were first introduced in 2012, but I found them much to be more enjoyable at this event. Also in attendance was J. Glynn Loope, who back then was the Executive Director of Cigars Rights of America.

I met Glynn at several other cigar events during previous years. It was also nice to see the Montecristo Gals from Altadis USA again, and to meet the Guayabera Lady for the fist time. It was also great running into Gabriel Pineres of Creativas, who handles public relations for a number cigar companies. I also thank Oded Ben-Arie, the CEO of Mike's Cigars, and members of his staff who were in attendance, including Business Developer and Store Manager Aly Linares, and Graphic Designers Dan Marino and Adi Madar.

To see more pictures taken at Mike's Cigar Extravaganza, visit us on Facebook. We have also posted a short 3-minute video on Youtube. For a brief history of Mike's Cigars, check out MikesCigars.com. If you are ever in the Miami area, visit Mike's Cigars at: 1030 Kane Concourse, Bay Harbor Islands, FL, 33154.