Simply Stogies

This week, Tim, James, and Jimmy are back at the microphones to dissect their recent interview with Vince McGlone of Vicente Blends. The audience feedback has been a total mixed bag, and the crew isn't holding back on why Vince's engineering background, low-volume production mindset, and luxury $60 price tags are polarizing the cigar community.

From debating the definition of a true "industry disruptor" to exposing the smoke and mirrors of factory blends, the guys clear the air on how the demographics of premium tobacco are shifting in 2026.

James and Jimmy welcome Vincent McGlone, owner and blender of Vicente Blends, to the show. Vince talks about his engineering background and how he started Vicente Blends. What was a passion project has turned into a business. Vince discusses how his engineering background impacts is approach to blending and marketing. We talk about the difference in cultures between the Dominican Republic and the US and what Vince does to work through those. Vince gives us his take on the industry, cigar bands, and much more!

James interviews Fat Ash Cigar Lounge owner Dwight Adkins and GM Paul Wood to launch the sixth annual My Old Kentucky HERF, introducing exclusive cigars like the "Open Carry" and "Sturdy Girl" that reflect the lounge's culture of freedom and hospitality. Jimmy later joins James and Tim for a recap, detailing the event's charitable support for the Gary Sinise Foundation and genuine industry networking with blenders like Rick Rodriguez and Hector Alfonso. The episode also highlights guest Detective Samantha Baliles' work with first responders, reinforcing that the HERF prioritizes relationships and community over profit.

James and Tim (Jimmy is on vacation) welcome Samantha Baliles from Code4Cigars. Sam explains that Code4Cigars supports first responders mental health by coming together over their love of the leaf. Sam gives first responders an informal way to support each other while dealing with traumatic events. Sam tells us how she started the group, how it has grown, future plans, how she got into cigars, and...somehow...becomes best friends with Tim.

We sat down with some of the most interesting people at this year's Premium Cigar Association Convention & Trade Show in New Orleans, Louisiana. Despite a few hiccups with both audio and video, we sit down with Steve Saka of Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, Rick and Sara Rodriguez of West Tampa Tobacco, Lou Cross of Lure Cigars, Nimmer Ahmad of Valacari Cigars, Zack Van Ginkel and Andray McCuien of HDA Cigars, and Michael Knowles of Mayflower Cigars. A big shoutout to the entire team...Jimmy Dailing, Timothy Allen, Mimi VonSwagg and Mike Morrow. Their tireless work and dedication made our coverage of this year's PCA trade show a success. We also want to thank Small Batch Cigar and My Old Kentucky Herf for sponsoring our coverage of the show this year. Stay tuned to our YouTube and Rumble channels for more interviews and coverage of the 2026 Premium Cigar Association Convention & Trade Show.

The team at Simply Stogies has officially wrapped up another incredible year at the annual Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show! In this special edition episode of Clear the Air, James takes the host’s chair to lead a lively discussion with Jimmy and Tim. Together, they break down their experiences from the massive convention floor, sharing their personal highlights and honest thoughts on each day of the big event.

In this episode of Clear the Air, hosts Tim, James, and Jimmy spend time reviewing a recent interview with Lou Cross of Lure Cigars and sharing their thoughts on different cigar products. They also discuss their upcoming trip to a major cigar trade show in New Orleans and officially announce that Jimmy D will be stepping up as the new co-host following the departure of a long-time team member.

James and Nick welcome Lou Cross of Lure Cigars back to the program. Lou promotes his new PCA exclusive, the "Wahoo." We discuss the changes for Lure Cigars and Valacari Cigars, Lou's role with both brands, and their relationship with La Tabacaria. We ask Lou what he's learned in his 2 years in the cigar industry, the challenges he's faced, and how he's overcome them. Lou discusses branding and bringing in new cigar smokers the lifestyle, before talking about a brands relationship with B&Ms. What does support for a brand look like, who's responsibility is to move product at the store, and where does support begin.

Tim and Jimmy D lead this episode of Clear The Air by examining the balance between modern technology and classic cigar traditions. They explain how artificial intelligence can manage data and inventory so that professionals have more time for genuine human interaction. Jimmy D supports this focus on relationships by often giving away free cigars to help customers discover new blends. The hosts also advocate for more cooperation within the industry to ensure that the community remains strong for the next generation. Finally, they highlight the intense dedication of traveling brand representatives who spend hundreds of days on the road to support local lounges.

James is out sick so Jimmy is stepping into the host's chair for the first time to interview Antonio Lam of Reinado Cigars alongside co-host Nick. Antonio discusses his return to the business and shares the fascinating story behind a limited-edition cigar where he actually fermented broadleaf tobacco in Pinot Noir wine. He also explains his strict quality control process of refusing to release a blend until it is perfect, while the group dives into how popular cigar sizes have shifted away from massive 6x60s. They round out the conversation with their personal thoughts on the benefits of aging cigars and why the cigar community needs to constantly support each other. Finally, Antonio drops an exciting teaser about his upcoming Master Collaboration projects.