#ELOsoFumarTakes

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes welcomes in Tom Lazuka of Asylum Cigars. Are you tired of hearing me say, I'm not a 'big gauge' guy? Have you ever smoked 7x70? I have smoked one. Don't believe, well now I will have smoked two, both Asylums and one for the world to see. How did Tom decide this polarizing vitola was going to be his ticket? All that and more Asylum. Enjoy!

This week on #ELOsoFumarTakes we have double trouble but double the fun, Mike Bellody and his right-hand guy, Barry MacDonald, at MLB Cigar Ventures join us to talk all your favorites from MLB. And true to form, we dig deeper to uncover some of the amazing histories that is part of the foundation of this relatively newer cigar company. Enjoy!

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakessits down with Jarrid Trudeau of Kristoff Cigars. As the Vice President of Sales at Kristoff, Jarrid shares some of his sales philosophies as well as his journey through Corporate America. We also dive into the news Kristoff. Enjoy!

This week on #ELOsoFumarTakes Richie Otero of PDR Cigars joins us for our #45thTake. Abe Flores has created a humidor staple at PDR. He's now brought in Otero to help lead the sales force through a second re-branding of PDR. Like Flores, Otero has done quite a bit in the industry including retail. We explore some of the changes coming, re-branding, and, according to Richie, most of the world's problems. Enjoy!

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes takes a slight break from cigars as we kick back for our first annual NFL kickoff #take. Our #44thTake brings in Kyle Schmeltzle, formerly of the Ticket here in the Dallas/Ft. Worth, as well as the return of Phil Schmitz. Kyle brings in a lifelong love of the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles and a love of all things pigskin. Phil may be the foremost expert on anything with an engine, but he also is a sports savant. His team is the Rams of LA, er St. Louis, I mean, LA. As you know, I am Packers a fan, so no love for Jerry's Boys here, but it should be entertaining enough as we predict some winners, losers and explore the love we all have for FOOTBALL. Enjoy!

This week, on #ELOsoFumarTakes we are joined by HVC Cigars' own Reinier Lorenzo. Our #43rdTake features a look into the man who started HVC back in 2011. From the streets of El Cerro, Havana, Cuba to the field of Nicaragua's iconic Aganorsa Leaf, Reinier has a story that is worth sharing. Enjoy!

This week, Mo Maali of Patina Cigars joins us for our 42nd Take. It's Southside of Chicago vs. Beantown. And we talk, of course, cigars. Patina Cigars are manufactured at the home of Mombacho Cigars - Casa Favilli in Granada, Nicaragua. Master Blender, Claudio Sgroi was "honored" to team up with Maali on this project and has created some traditional cigars in outward appearance only. Patina in quite unordinary and we dive into that with Maali and learn about his journey as well. Enjoy!

This week, "Cigar Surgeon" John McTavish joins our 41st Take. John has been a mainstay in Cigar Media for years now and currently writes for Developing Palates. One of his current editorial works, caught the eyes and ears of many of you in the last couple of weeks. We discuss the controversy stirred by Altria's public comments concerning the deeming regulations of the FDA. We take a peek into how the Surgeon ended up "practicing" (you like what I did there?) with Developing Palates headed by Aaron Loomis and Jiunn Liu. And finally, we ask the Surgeon about his dreams. Enjoy!

This week, Chris Topper of Topper Cigar Company joins #ELOsoFumarTakes for our #40thTake. Chris is the fourth generation of his family in the tobacco business and will share with us his insights on family, the tobacco business and how they co-exist. We also explore and set out to dismiss the stigma behind machine-made cigars. And as a cherry, we talk about how the Topper Family is truly the First Family of Broadleaf. Enjoy!

This week, Klaas Pieter Kelner joins #ELOsoFumarTakes. The newly crowned Brand Ambassador of Davidoff Cigars joins us for our 39th Take. We kick things off by lighting up a new Davidoff 50th Anniversary Diademas Finas and explore the 50 years of Davidoff and the part the Kelner family has played in its history. All that and more. Enjoy!