Simply Stogies Podcast

James and Nick welcome Lou Cross III, founder of Lure Cigars to the show. Lou talks about honoring his late father, Lou Cross Jr., to naming his cigars after his family, and walks us through his journey. We discuss the "grind" that boutique cigar manufacturers go through to promote their brands and his focus on connecting directly with consumers. We also learn about his latest offering, "The Last Cast," an LE made to remember his dad. To find where you can try Lure Cigars, visit their website at: https://lurecigars.com/contact/

Recorded live on stage at the Boyd County Convention Center, James sits down with the principles and blenders who attended the 2024 My Old Kentucky Herf. Guests include Rick Rodriguez of West Tampa Tobacco, Micky Pegg of All Saints Cigars, Hector Alfanso Sr. of Espinosa, Juan Cancel of Protocol Cigars, Riste Ristevski of Jas Sum Kral, Nick Syris from LH Cigars, Lou Cross of Lure Cigars, Greg Free of Fortaleza Y Libre, Brian Motola from Cavalier Cigars, Tom Lazuka from Asylum, Just Eiroa of Aladino Cigars, and Luciano Meirelles from Luciano Cigars. The interviews provide some insight into these brands: Why was Lure Cigars started? Is Cavalier Cigars starting their own farm? Is FatAsh Cigar the latest Luciano Cigars branded lounge? Is Nick Syris a master blender? This is one of the best cigar events of the year. Dwight Adkins and Stephen Wray and the rest of their team put on a great event. My Old Kentucky Herf is always held on the 2nd Saturday in May.

James visits FatAsh Cigar Lounge to talk with Dwight Adkins and Stephen Wray of FatAsh Cigar Lounge (8110 US-60, Ashland, KY 41102) and My Old Kentucky Herf. We discuss how FatAsh started, why Dwight started it, how Dwight and Stephen met, and their new Live from the Lounge series on YouTube by MyTown TV , where they highlight local singers and musical artists at the lounge. We also talk about how My Old Kentucky Herf got started, where it's at, and where it's going.

James and Nick welcome Blackbird Cigar Co. owner Jonas Santana and his National Sales Rep. Miyagi Montes to the show. We discuss how Jonas got into the business, his focus, and his passion for the industry, as well as their newest core line: Superb. We discuss how Miyagi and Jonas met and why Miyagi joined Blackbird. We talk about Jonas' music, which you can find at @jotanard on Instagram, and how he finds time to make music, produce great cigars, run a company, start a factory, and be a father and husband.

We end our PCA 2024 Convention & Trade Show coverage from the floor of the show with some great interviews with: Skip Martin of RoMa Craft, John Laurendi of Peter James, Hendrik Kelner Jr. of Smoking Jacket Cigars and KBF, Toscano Cigars, and what a first time retailer thought of the show with Brian and Seana Bolen of Smoldering Cigars. You can find all of our coverage of the PCA 2024 Trade Show on YouTube, Rumble, or simplystogies.com

We have quite the lineup for part 2 of our coverage of the PCA 2024 Convention and Trade Show, sponsored by My Old Kentucky Herf. We begin with Nick at the General Cigars booth. He talks with Macanudo, CAO, Cohiba, Sancho Panza, and Matt Booth. Nick then heads over to Freud Cigar Co. and speaks with John Salley. James then talks to Ian Reith of Dapper Cigars, before heading over to the Foundation booth and speaking with Nick Melillo. He then visits the Micallef booth and talks with Dan Thompson about the new Micallef Blue. Nick finishes this episode with Lotus accessories and an icon in the cigar industry, Ernesto Perez-Carillo.

James, Tim, and Nick bring you interviews from the 2024 PCA Convention and Trade Show from the Las Vegas Convention Center. All of our PCA 24 coverage is brought to you by My Old Kentucky Herf! This first episode has interviews with Sebastien Decoppet of Cavalier Cigars, Jonathan Drew of Drew Estate, Cigars for Warriors, Luciano Meirelles of Luciano Cigars, Jeremy Casdagli of Casdagli Cigars, Micky Pegg of All Saints Cigars, and newcomers IGM Cigars. We also interview Michaela Connors from Pop Smoke Cigars to get a first time retailer's perspective on the PCA Trade Show.

We are excited to welcome back our friend, William "Cigar Coop" Cooper to the podcast. Cigar Coop, Nick, and James discuss the upcoming PCA '24 Trade Show in Las Vegas. Coop lets us know what he's looking forward to the most this year, changes to the PCA over the years, and who will be there and who won't. We then discuss the TPE vs PCA shows and if TPE will continue to have premium hand-rolled cigars there, and what the future holds for the PCA Trade Show.

James and Nick welcome Dr. Stefan Lampert of Lampert Cigars. As Nick was traveling to Tabacos de Costa Rica, he ran into Dr. Lampert who visiting the factory, as well. We discuss Dr. Lampert's vision for the company, how he juggles travel between Europe, the US, and South America. We talk about how Dr. Lampert go into the industry, the importance of travel and how the love of the leaf brings people together.

We welcome Scott Pearce, the Executive Director of the Premium Cigar Association, to the show. Scott tells us about how he got into cigars, his background before joining the PCA, and his love of cigars. Scott fills us in on some of what the upcoming annual PCA Trade Show has in store for us and how he's excited to have it at the Las Vegas Convention Center. We find out about the 2025 Trade Show location, how the PCA works to keep the FDA from overreaching, and much much more!

Rob from Friends of El Habano (FOH) and Bond Roberts tells us how and why he got into the cigar industry. Rob tells of how FOH and Bond Roberts were brought into existence. He discusses the importance of customer service and understanding your client. We talk about the Cuban price increases and how it has affected the market, and how it might continue to affect the market. Rob shares his feelings and experience dealing with the price increases, moderating forums, and much more. "Get balls deep in your business."

Do you have questions about how your cigars are rolled? We've all heard "200 hands" touch your cigar, but what does that look like? Nick Syris of LH Cigars and Filipe Leon of Tobacos de Costa Rica walk us through their factory and show us how the tobacco is sorted, what a pilón is, and much more.

James and Nick welcome Charlie Minato, co-founder of Halfwheel.com. The trio discuss how Halfwheel came to be, when Charlie started smoking cigars, as well as find out how they review cigars. Charlie details their review process and if there is such a thing as a 100pt cigar. Charlie gives us his expert opinions on the FDA, PCA, cigar pricing, and the cigar industry at large. We also discuss cigar media's role and how social media has changed the game.

James and Nick Syris welcome back Nick Melillo to the show. Nick talks about what's new at Foundation Cigars (Metapa, Tabernacle Knight Commander, and the Charter Oak Pasquale and Pegnataro). The trio briefly talk about Nick Melillo running the DE Factory, before they deep dive on the Highclere Castle Senetjer. We discuss how things have changed since the Olmec Maduro was named the 2022 Cigar of the Year by Cigar Snob, and also talk about cigar pricing. We had a great time chatting with Nick Melillo and hope you enjoy our conversation.

James sits down with John Peter Laurendi and Adrian Maharaj of Peter James Co. The trio discuss John's journey with Peter James and how he overcame adversity by putting everything on the line to follow his dream and passion. John explains how Adrian came on board Peter James and the value he adds. Adrian explains his role and his vision for the future of Peter James and what it is like working with John and his creative processes.

James and Nick welcome cigar industry legend, Jose Blanco to the show. The trio discuss what cigar smokers should know and why they should know it, we take a look at how Jose got started in the industry, and how he started with Arturo Fuente. Jose Blanco is a wealth of knowledge and we are humbled that he shared some of that knowledge with us. We hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did.

With James out and about, Nick shows off his interviewing chops by having a great conversation with his longtime friend Pete Johnson of Tatuaje Cigars. The trio discuss Pete's start in the industry, the CRA, Pete's involvement with the movie Hand Rolled: A Film About Cigars, and what Tatuaje has coming up. We find out that Nick and Tim have no pop culture in their lives. Oh yeah, Tim co-hosts too!

James sits down via Zoom with Brian Desind of Privada Cigar Club. James and Brian discuss the cigar industry and Brian's place in it. Topics include marketing, the FDA, Privada Cigar Club, the PCA, the CRA, and much more. This was a frank and honest conversation with who many consider to be a "polarizing" figure in the industry. Love him or hate him, you have to respect his passion and his willingness to sit down and have a conversation.

Nick and James sit down with Master Blender and owner of Luciano Cigars, Luciano Meirelles. Luciano tells us why the Maria Lucia is so special to him and how it fulfills his promise from the 2022 PCA Trade Show. We talk about what's real in the cigar industry and how Luciano Cigars is helping mentor new brands and blenders. Luciano discusses hi "a ha!" moment when it comes to cigars, some of what he has in store for everyone at this year's trade show, and much more. This is an interview you can't miss!

James and Nick sit down and chat with the owner of Fuerte Y Libre Cigars, Greg Free. We find out how Greg got started in the cigar industry and he has more than a few surprises in store for us. We talk about his karaoke prowess (copyrights prevent me from sharing the footage with all of you) and how he got his work ethic from his father and growing up on a farm. We also discuss trademarks within the cigar industry and how that has impacted Greg and Fuerte Y Libre.

James and Nick welcome William "Cigar Coop" Cooper back to the show. This time we pick Coop's brain about what exactly constitutes "cigar media" and their role in the industry. We also discuss the upcoming PCA 2023 Trade Show in Las Vegas, Coop tells us what his theme is this year, and he gives Simply Stogies some tips to make the most of the trade show. Coop also gives Tim and our after show, Clear the Air, some love and James breaks his mic arm.

Our first time on location (using video), and James is at the Humidor of Lisle, in Lisle, Illinois, to sit down with Jeremy Casdagli of Casdagli Cigars. The pair discuss everything from upcoming releases and cigar reviews, to the Casdagli themed room at the Humidor of Lisle and the FDA. There might be a few surprises talked about as well.

James visits the crew of FatAsh Cigar Lounge in Ashland, Kentucky for the third annual My Old Kentucky Herf! James talks with Dwight Adkins, owner of FatAsh Cigar Lounge and founder of MOKH, to discuss what's new this year. During the event, James speaks with Riste of JSK, Greg Free of Fuerte Y Libre, Oscar Valladares of OV Cigars, Rick Rodriguez from West Tampa Tobacco Co., Luciano Meirelles of Luciano Cigars, David Blanco, from Blanco Cigars, Andy Yaffee of Micallef Cigars, and we find out about the Ohio Cigar Mafia and their charitable work.

Nick and James are joined by Zev Kaminetsky of Toscano Cigars. We get Zev's take on a litany of cigar issues: brokers, manufacturers, the PCA, the CRA, and cigar media. Zev doesn't hold back and has hilarious takes on the cigar industry as a whole. We enjoyed his perspective and the conversation; we hope you do too!

James and Nick welcome our friend Andy Yaffee, the National Sales Director for Micallef Cigars, to the show. For our 100th episode, we ask Andy about the new sizes of the Micallef Leyenda that are releasing soon and what Andy has learned in his role as National Sales Director for Micallef. We talk about how Micallef pulled their product from large online retailers to not only support their brick and mortar retailers, but also how that helps combat devaluation. We ask Andy about why Micallef runs the business differently than other premium cigar companies and how that helps them build their brand. We discuss the change in dates for the PCA Trade Show next year, Micallef Ambassadors, and much more. To join the Micallef Ambassador program, click here!