This week, I sat down with the owners of ATL Cigar Co. Peter and Leroy dropped some major knowledge about business, friendships, giving back to the community, and of course, quality cigars!

ATL Cigar Co is a new Cigar Brand out of Atlanta that has built a loyal following due to its quality and the respect paid to the city it's named after. Peter and Leroy share the background of the business and a bit about their own friendship. 

We discuss what it's like going into business with a close friend and what they do to maintain that tight-knit relationship. Their dedication to friendship perfectly displays what the cigar lifestyle is really about. We also talk about the thought and intention behind the cigars they produce and how they aim to create a brand that embodies Atlanta's spirit.

They also reveal some of the challenges they've had to overcome building this company and what they have planned for the future. Finally, in the vein of community and brotherhood, Leroy and Peter discuss how the roots of ATL Cigar Co. is really in serving others and how they work alongside Comprehensive Community Services to support that mission. 

I had the pleasure of sharing a puff, sip, and chat with these gentlemen and was so nicely reminded of the uplifting nature of the cigar lifestyle. I think you all will enjoy what they had to share.

Tune in!

Key Takeaways:

• The background of ATL Cigar Co. (03:45)
• Learning to roll their own cigars (11:30)
• Going into business with a friend (17:00)
• The goal of their cigars is to feel like home (21:50)
• About the cigars, they’ve produced (26:00)
• Upcoming events they’ll be hosting (37:25)
• Challenges they’ve had to overcome (43:20)
• Navigating the various climates of the cigar industry (49:10)
• Changing the local community (53:12)
• About Comprehensive Community Services (57:30)
• What’s next for ATL Cigar Co.(1:04:10)

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Additional Resources:

• Get your ‘Good Trouble’ Stick and learn more about ATL Cigar Co. here and on IG
• Learn more about their outreach with Comprehensive Community Services 

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Welcome back to another episode of the Stickmen Podcast!

Today, I had the opportunity to sit down with Brian T., the owner of Acere Lounge, and we got to talking about all things cigars, whiskey, and business. 

Brian shares what it was like to open a business right before COVID hit and how he’s managed to stay afloat and keep business running throughout the pandemic. We go through the process of opening his lounge and what challenges he’s faced along the way.

We discuss his background as an entrepreneur and how he’s incorporated the lessons he’s learned in his career to succeed in a competitive market. And finally, we cover the culture and community he’s been able to cultivate on this journey because, as we know, the stick has a beautiful way of bringing people together regardless of their backgrounds. 

Find a moment to take it easy and join us for this sip and puff conversation!

Key Takeaways:

• Opening up during COVID times (03:00)
• Why Brian loves cigars so much (06:45)
• The process of opening his lounge (15:00)
• Blending dining and cigar smoking (22:50)
• The most popular stick they have(27:12)
• His background as an entrepreneur (35:25)
• The power of building a community (43:10)
• What’s coming up for the future of Acere Cigar lounge (47:00)

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Additional Resources:

• Check out Acere Cigar Lounge here and on IG

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This week, I sat down with the CEO Kweillin Gordon (KG) and Head of Business Development Sheldon Johns-Harris from Greenwood Whiskey. We talked about their humble beginnings, what inspires them and why.

The guys of Greenwood Whiskey shared the process of starting their business and discussed the time it took from conception to launch. They drew a lot of their inspiration from Tulsa's bustling black economy, Oklahoma in the early twentieth century. 

You can see that inspiration from all aspects of their craft. Whether it’s the love of entrepreneurship that radiates throughout the company mission or the detailed flavor profile, Greenwood Whiskey is committed to excellence from all angles. 

We chatted about adjusting to the new normal of pandemic times, how they get through the tough times in business, and the best stick to pair with a glass of Greenwood.

Sit back, relax, and take a listen to this week’s episode.

Key Takeaways:

• Introduction to the co-owners (02:30)
• Discussing the launch process (05:20)
• The inspiration behind Greenwood Whiskey (14:04)
• Adjusting to a new normal (28:00)
• Gettting through rough moments in business (31:30)
• What cigar to pair with Greenwood (35:00)
• How we support each other (40:20)

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Additional Resources:

• Check out Greenwood Whiskey here 

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If you enjoy listening to the StickMen Podcast, leave us a rating and a review on Apple Podcast!

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A year like 2020 probably had the majority of us fantasizing about what life could be like outside the U.S. I don’t know about you, but the idea of packing up my bags and building something new on a beautiful island is certainly appealing. 

This week, I brought on Beau Rakes, entrepreneur and ex-pat, to discuss how he transitioned to the Dominican Republic. He’s managed to live full-time in the D.R. while still operating his business stateside. 

We talk about how he built his business and started investing in real estate from a young age. Much of our conversation revolved around the importance of making connections and networking, which we value highly in the cigar lifestyle.

Key Takeaways:

• Building networks (05:30)
• Buying property in the D.R.(07:00)
• Taking the opportunity to change his life (12:50)
• Why he chose D.R. (19:20)
• How Beau has managed with the pandemic (21:50)
• Advice for those looking to establish residence in another country (28:00)
• How he runs his business from out of the country (33:30)
• What he enjoys talking about most (37:05)

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Additional Resources:

• Check out Beau Rakes here 

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For this week's Puff-Sip-Chat, I sat down with the owner of Majesty Bourbon's Founder and CEO, Jonathan Gillard. 

An Atlanta native, Jonathan has been an entrepreneur for the past fifteen years. It's such a stimulating opportunity to sit down with various business owners and learn about their passions and interests, and Jonathan was no different.

His love for bourbon is unparalleled. You can taste the effort he's put in his product from the very first sip. We talked about how he turned his focus on creating a quality product and what got him started in the first place.

We discuss the importance of staying focused, and he shares his secrets behind his great success. Jonathan tells me about the team behind the scenes and what he considers to be the most challenging part of the entire process. 

Thankful for our conversation and excited about the delicious drink in my hand! Cheers!

Key Takeaways:

• Focusing on a quality product  (02:30)
• How he got started (03:20)
• The importance of staying focused (08:00)
• The team setup (12:45)
• What his grind looks like (19:00)
• The hardest part of this process (21:30)

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Additional Resources:

• Check out Majesty Bourbon here

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Welcome back to another episode of the StickMen Podcast! We’ve got a Puff, Sip, and Chat Session with Sedrick Dunson, Founder of the Phat Ash Collection.

Sedrick invited me down to his personal Phat Ash Collection lounge, and can I say it is probably one of the best basements I’ve been in. We first met at his Can We Talk event at the start of the year and have been eagerly anticipating sitting down together again. 

Today, he shares some of his backgrounds before starting Phat Ash Collection and his journey with smoking cigars. We talk about his plans for the business and how it’s impacting the local community. 

Like I always say, the beauty behind enjoying a nice cigar is the good conversations that come with it. Sedrick offers his advice for how he manages to smoke and do it regularly safely, and I, of course, had to get his opinion on the Atlanta Falcons and see what we could agree on there. 

Make sure you grab something to puff or sip on and join us in this week’s conversation!

Key Takeaways:

• Describing the Can We Talk Forum  (01:50)
• Sedrick discusses his background before Phat Ash (10:25)
• The first time he smoked a cigar (15:00)
• How to smoke regularly and do it safely (24:40)
• It’s all about the conversation (32:50)
• Where to find Sedrick (44:50)

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Additional Resources:

• Check out Phat Ash Collection here.

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If you enjoy listening to the StickMen Podcast, leave us a rating and a review on Apple Podcast!

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Feeling a little "Blue"..... well fear not StickMen and Women! We just had a great Puff and Sip session with the one and only Robin Blue...an Ambassador to the lifestyle and creative mind behind BlueSmokeATL's handmade cigar pokers.

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Great Puff-Sip-Chat with Dave, The Cigar Life Guy. Dave specializes life Insurance needs for Cigar Smokers. Check out this Informative podcast!

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PuffChat Episode recorded at Havana Cigars ATL with Konscious Cigars Founder and CEO, Kevin Brownt! On Apple Podcasts, Google

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Puff, Sip Chat with Black Starline Cigars! Check out founder Aric Bey as he talks Black Starline Cigars and his journey into the culture of the Cigar Lifestyle!

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