Smokin Tabacco

Brought to you by Drew Estate: The Rebirth of Cigars - This week, we kick off the Premium Cigar Association Trade Show Pre-Show season festivities. We glance at the Cigar-Coop big board and talks about the most exciting standouts on their thus far. We talk about expected size and what we can expect to see as well as what he hopes to maybe see.

The topic of what a true collaboration is comes up and we discuss what qualifies. Some manufactures physically work together versus some who just license their names to others. Coop also brings up the conversation of Cigar Media vs Blogger and what that really means. Tune in for more and also don't forget to tune in to Part Two on June 25th at 9PM EST.

Please Like & Subscribe and visit SmokinTabacco.com for more news and updates from the industry!

This week we are back in the JC Newman Cigar Studios and Jon Carney and Matt reconnect after Jon's absence. They talk about the new cigar that Litto announced on the show a few weeks ago as well as some other projects that LFD has been working on. The boys talk about preparing for PCA and tease some shenanigans.

This week since there is no guest, the guys talk about some interesting topics or facts about cigars that maybe you haven't heard of. Some more unheard of than others. They also talk about Ligero and how it is harvested and used properly to roll a cigar.

In the news brought to you by Micallef Cigars, we talk about the upcoming open comment period to be held by the FDA on flavored cigars and the ban that the FDA is proposing on them. You can visit www.fightflavorbans.com to let your voice be heard and help stop this atrocity. Be sure to tune in next week, LIKE & SUBSCRIBE and as always visit www.smokintabacco.com

Brought to you from the Drew Estate Cigar Studios - Spare Notes is back once again and we are beginning to creep into the PCA Trade Show season. This time Coop and Matt talk about the PCA Trade Show exclusive releases and discuss "Are They Worth It?" as well as what other pros and cons they actually bring to the trade show experience. 

We talk about the PCA setting up a page or portal on their website dedicated to media and helping retailers get connected to with people like us to get all the coverage and info from the trade show floor they may have missed. We touch upon the court hearings from earlier in the week and share our thoughts on what we see and think happening from that. Tune in to hear more and as always head over to www.smokintabacco.com for more news and content!

This week with Chris Monaco in the tattoo chair, Jeffery Amendola flys solo and returns to talk about Amendola Family Cigar Co. and updates us on how far they have come for a young brand and the new cigars they have released since the last time we have seen them. Jeff also tells us that a PCA return is a maybe right now with logistics holding them up form possibly coming back after a successful TPE in January.

Micallef News: United Cigars announces a 25th Anniversary humidor for Ambassador Fine Cigars that includes 10 Atabey, 10 Byron, 10 Bandolero and 10 of the new Alfonso cigars that are currently unreleased.

Room101 Top Three: Given the news of Ray Liotta's passing, Jeff shares with us his top three favorite mafia movies and even ranks The Godfather movie trilogy.

Don't forget to LIKE & SUBSCRIBE and visit www.smokintabacco.com for more news and info!

The 2022 Smokin Tabacco x Cigar Family Charitable Foundation Raffle has now ended. This year we wanted to beat last years amount of $7,000. We set a goal of $10,000. We hit $10,000 and then instantly hit $20,000 when we received an anonymous $10,000 donation. Then, the Fuente family asked us to extend it two weeks longer. They also vowed to match the final amount through the Fuente Family Foundation. We ended with $25,500 raised from the raffle and with the match from the Fuente family, that brings us to a grand total of $51,000.

On this special episode, Carlito, Cynthia, Coop, Jay Davis and Kim all join us to celebrate this amazing event and we list off all of the winners from the raffle. Stories are told and laughs are shared but we soak in the moment, look on that past and look towards the future. We will be back next year, but for now here is to all of you for donating. 

Visit www.smokintabacco.com for more news and updates and don't forget to LIKE & SUBSCRIBE!

This week at the J.C. Newman Cigar studio, Andy Green of Ashton Cigars joins us to talk about one of the most iconic brands in the business. Andy talks to us about what keeps Ashton a classic and timeless brand and what their plan is for the future. As always, Ashton will be attending PCA later this year. Last year, we saw the release of La Aroma de Cuba Pasion and Andy tells us a little bit more about that and other cigars in the La Aroma de Cuba line.

We give an update on our fundraiser which can be found here: https://go.rallyup.com/smokintabacco/Campaign/Details?fbclid=IwAR1UYPjjAlrSdd5BLPlKTV-Dm4mb-ZC2NGYuRwRm08UqyoKwCZ_ZgWWD4fA

Micallef News: Drew Estate announces new Phineas Gage H99 Lancero - Event only cigar. read more here: https://www.smokintabacco.com/blog-posts/mvhub2z3eo3evxbbiyu6mnu81a0cg1

During the Room101 Top 3, Andy shares with us his Cigar Industry Dream Team and also shares some of his most embarrassing moments from his past working in the business.

Tune in for more, and don't forget to LIKE & SUBSCRIBE and head over to smokintabacco.com for more news and info!

This week with Jon absent we are joined by his boss and LFD owner, Litto Gomez of La Flor Dominicana. Litto spoke to us about the early days of LFD and how it came to be after being robbed at gun point in the jewelry/pawn business. We discuss how LFD performed during the boom of the mid 1990’s, and how they are one of the few companies who survived and took off after. In addition, a Smokin Tabacco exclusive, Litto has announced at PCA 2022 we will see a new cigar called Soleil, which means “The Sun”. According to Litto, this cigar was created by his son Litto Gomez jr. It is considered the opposite of the La Nox - created by his other son Tony Gomez, which means “The Night”. More information to follow.

In our Cigar Industry News segment, brought to you by Micallef Cigars, we talk about the return of the Herrera Esteli Lanceros. More information can be found here: Return of Herrera Esteli Lanceros

In the Room101 Top 3 Segment, Litto talks about his favorite alcohol and why he almost exclusively uses foam cups for all of his drinks.

Be sure to visit our fundraiser page to donate for the CFCF raffle fundraiser here: Raffle Tickets

Don’t forget to LIKE & SUBSCRIBE on all of our platforms and don’t miss out on more news from www.SmokinTabacco.com

This week we welcome our friend Jay R. Davis of Blue Smoke of Dallas and a member of the board at the Premium Cigar Association. Jay tells us about his beginnings in the industry and what he did before. He talks to us about what makes Blue Smoke different from other cigar shops out there and even talks to us about a new venture he just started.

Jay also gets into his time with us working with the PCA and what his challenges have been as well as the things he has been proud to accomplish. He speaks to us about the importance of retailers attending the show and everyone supporting the organization that does so much to protect cigar rights.

We then talk to Jay about his experience visiting and working with the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation. We provide an update on where we are at in terms of total raised but we also reveal some changes that have been made and announce an extension to the raffle by request of the Fuente family. Carlito Fuente even makes an appearance. More information on that can be found at www.smokintabacco.com

On Micallef News: J.C. Newman announces the factory store exclusive of the Cuesta Rey 95 Cameroon.

For donations please visit: https://go.rallyup.com/smokintabacco/Campaign/Details

Don't forget to LIKE & SUBSCRIBE! 

Brought to you from the Drew Estate Cigar Studios

This week, we get caught up since we have been away. We talk about what really went down a few weeks ago with the Cigar Rights of America and how they can make some small professional changes to their presentation.

We also get very deep into the announcement that the FDA is bringing down the hammer and moving forward with their ban on flavored cigarettes AND cigars. This is a real topic and issue you should not dismiss! We also talk about responses from the PCA and Drew Estate. Listen in to find out more.

There is almost one week left for the CFCF charity raffle which can be found here: https://go.rallyup.com/smokintabacco/Campaign/Details?fbclid=IwAR25mtLpWlnGSJjpr0B7fAXZ631UvgFiB-7sWs60xIPS033ZGvqzzxuDuhg

Don't forget to LIKE & SUBSCRIBE and visit www.smokintabacco.com for more info on these topics.

Recored Live at the J.C. Newman Cigar Studio

This week, we welcome Ben Rotem of Luxury Cigar Club to the show where he tells us how the subscription based company got started and where it is today. Luxury Cigar Club has had some amazing collaboration projects and releases from some big names including Room101. Ben tells us what he did before getting into the business and what he feels makes his company stand out from the other subscription based cigar services. For more info, visit https://luxurycigarclub.com

During the Micallef news segment, we talk about the announcement of the FDA moving forward with the flavored cigarette and cigar ban, which will take some time. More can be read about that on www.smokintabacco.com

Also, there is two weeks left for the raffle so get your tickets now! https://go.rallyup.com/smokintabacco/Campaign/Details?fbclid=IwAR25mtLpWlnGSJjpr0B7fAXZ631UvgFiB-7sWs60xIPS033ZGvqzzxuDuhg

Don't forget to LIKE & SUBSCRIBE!