Smokin Tabacco

The Smokin Tabacco Show: Talking Wine & Cigars With Tony Bellatto!

This week our friend Tony Bellatto joins us to talk about what he has been up to and what is to come. He covers everything he has planned for La Barba and for his new venture, Bellatto Premium Cigars. He clarifies some misconceptions about what the new brand will mean for La Barba and talks to us about some things in the works for "Lost & Found". We talk about Tony's history and experience with wine and talks to us about being an official wine sommelier. Did you know Tony moonlights as a DJ? Tune in to hear all about it and don't forget to Like & Subscribe and visit www.smokintabacco.com for more news and info!

The Smokin Tabacco Show: Meet Henderson Ventura of ADVentura!

This week, we are joined by Henderson Ventura of ADVentura. Henderson talks to us about growing up in the industry and working with his father, William Ventura. Henderson talks to us about blending cigars and using different tobaccos and some of his practices in the factory and how he had to pivot to a more sales centered role when the ADVentura brand came to market after years of being behind the scenes. Don't forget to Like & Subscribe and visit www.smokintabacco.com for more info and news!

The Smokin Tabacco Show: Catching Up With Glen Case of Kristoff Cigars

This week, Matt hosts solo from the J.C. New Cigar Studios with Nicole away on another show for International Women’s Day. Matt is joined by Glen Case, owner of Kristoff Cigars and catches up and discusses what Kristoff has in store for 2022 and how they have been able to keep up with recent demand. They talk about the upcoming PCA trade show and Glen confirms Kristoff will be in attendance, albeit a smaller booth than years past. Don’t forget to Like and Subscribe and visit www.smokintabacco.com for more news and information on the cigar industry.

Spare Notes Series #15: Pro Cigar, TGS, and Cigar Marketing

Brought to you by Drew Estate: The Rebirth of Cigars - After some time off and away, the Spare Notes show is back. Coop and Matt finally get back together from the Drew Estate Cigar Studios to talk about the current buzz in the industry. First Coop gives us a recap of his visit to the Dominican Republic for the Pro Cigar Festival. Then Matt and Coop give a recap of The Great Smoke 2022 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The boys finish of the show by discussing the current drama of the "Cigar Marketing" controversy that is currently circulating around the industry. Be sure to Like & Subscribe and visit www.smokintabacco.com for more news and information.

The Smokin Tabacco Show: Nestor Plasencia and Wayne D Clark!

Oh this episode of the Smokin Tabacco Show, we are back home in the cold at the JC Newman cigar studios from The Great Smoke. We welcome on Nestor Plasencia and Wayne D Clark of Plasencia. In the first half hour, we talk to Nestor about launching the Plasencia brand after being such a big name in farming and production for other brands for so many years and generations. Nestor gives us a glimpse into what it is like on the farm and tells us about how important the soil is that the tobacco is grown in and the methods they use to keep it the best it can be.
In the second half hour, we talk about the return of Fred Rewey to the industry by way of Illusione and the launch of Bellatto Premium Cigars by Tony Bellatto as part of our Micallef news segment. Wayne talks us about the things the brand is working on this year and teases that there is much to look forward to. Wayne plays along in our Top Three segment brought to you by Room101 by telling us the three most interesting things you wouldn't know about him. Listen in to hear more and don't forget to Like & Subscribe and visit www.smokintabacco.com for more information and news!

The Smokin Tabacco Show: Andy Yaffee Tells Us How He Met Joe Exotic

This week we are LIVE from West Palm Beach, Florida where we are on location for The Great Smoke 2022: The Last Luau. Our good friend Andy Yaffee of Micallef Cigars joins us as our first in person guest on the show. We talk about the TGS weekend and all of the festivities. Andy fills us in on the newest things that Micallef is rollin gout this year and provides an update on Micallef Madness. Andy also tells us of the story of when he traveled to the G.W. Zoo in Oklahoma - home of Joe Exotic. HE tells us what it was like to meet Joe in person well before the documentary had even aired. Listen in to find out more. The Smokin Tabacco x CFCF fundraiser will begin March 28th so stay tune for more info. Don't forget to Like & Subscribe and visit www.smokintabacco.com for more news!

The Smokin Tabacco Show: Juan Lopez Joins Us Right After a Car Accident!

Juan Lopez, Vice President at Gurkha cigars joins us from Arizona after getting crashed into on the highway on his way to the show! But he is safe and sound and here to talk all things Gurkha including how their reputation is being rebuilt and their business model has shifted away from online mega sites and back towards a focus on brick-and-mortar retailers. We discuss the news brought to you by Micallef Cigars remembering Carlos Torano Sr. who passed away this week. Juan tells us what Gurkha has in store for PCA 2022 and what we can expect from the brand moving forward. Don't forget to Like & Subscribe and visit www.smokintabacco.com for more news and information!

The Smokin Tabacco Show: What Does Charlie Minato Enjoy Outside of Cigars?

This week, Matt and Nicole welcome Charlie Minato fro halfwheel.com onto the show. They get Charlie's back story on how halfwheel came to be and the early days with Brooks Whittington. Charlie then get into the halfwheel Consensus which he explains is losing it's edge and may not continue. We also get into the the highly controversial issue of the "strategic marketing" debate on certain packaging that could be argued by the FDA as direct towards children. Charlie gives his take on the issue and provides more info from what he knows on the FDA side of the argument and how that effects talks between the PCA and FDA. 
In the news, Micallef Cigars announced two new sizes to their Reata line, a toro and a corona extra. Expect these to be in stores this month. Charlie partakes in the Top 3 and tells us some of the things outside of cigars he really enjoys and even gets into a fourth. Listen in to find out more and as always, don't forget to hit the Like and Subscribe buttons and visit www.smokintabacco.com for more news and content.

Spare Notes Series #14: The Trade Show Wrap Up Show

Brought to you by Drew Estate: The Rebirth of Cigars - On this episode of Spare Notes, Coop and Matt talk about the Tobacco Plus Expo and what they thought was good, bad and what the future holds for both TPE and the PCA show and how that could affect PCA down the road. They also talk about some of the marketing that is out there and how the PCA has make a public announcement of the subject matter and is this good for the PCA to announce? Does it just bring even more light to the situation that they otherwise want to hide? Listen in as Matt and Coop dissect the topic. Don't forget to Like and Subscribe and visit www.smokintabacco.com for more news and information.

Does Some Cigar Marketing Go Too Far? Let’s Ask Pete Johnson of Tatuaje

This week we welcome Pete Johnson back to the show to see what's new at Tatuaje. We talk about Tobacco Plus Expo, Pete explains why Tatuaje did not attend the show but confirms they will be at PCA 2022 in July. During our Micallef new segment, we get into some of the cigar marketing and packaging that goes on that some feel is too far or too childish and we get his opinions on it based on his experience with the Monster Series. We also talk a little bit about the cigar documentary, Hand Rolled, that Pete helped to make. In our Room101 Top Three segment, we asked Pete to tell us the three projects he ever worked on that just kind of slipped away and never became successful or never even came to market. Don't forget to Like and Subscribe and visit www.smokintabacco.com for more news and information.