Smokin Tabacco

Spare Notes Series #19: Are PCA Exclusives Worth It?

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!

The Smokin Tabacco Show: New Kid On The Block Jeffery Amendola Returns

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 Smokin Tabacco Show: The 2022 CFCF Fundraiser Wrap Up Show With Cynthia & Carlito!

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!

The Smokin Tabacco Show: Andy Green’s Most Embarrassing Moments Working in the Industry!

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!

The Smokin Tabacco Show: Litto Gomez Announces New LFD Cigar

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

The Smokin Tabacco Show: Jay Davis of Blue Smoke of Dallas!

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! 

Spare Notes Series #18: The Ban on Flavored Cigars

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.

The Smokin Tabacco Show: Smoking Luxuriously with Luxury Cigar Club!

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!

The Smokin Tabacco Show: Hollywood Comes To The Show With Mike G!

This week on The Smokin Tabacco Show, Nicole is away in the U.K. and Jon is on baby duty so Matt welcomes on Mike G of Mike G Stick and Hollywood fame. Mike talks about growing up in a town like the one from Napoleon Dynamite and then moving and working with children and working to become a teach before moving to Los Angeles to give a shot at becoming an actor and also at the same time getting into cigars. Tune in to find out how he made it here!
On our news segment brought to you by Micallef Cigars, we talk bout the newest and only second cigar NFT to hit the market, the La Flor Dominicana "Golden Bull".
Mike gives us his three actors he would want to star in a film with and also smoke cigars with in the Room101 Top 3.
We give our weekly update on our CFCF fundraiser with can be found here: Fundraiser/Raffle Tickets
Don't forget to Like & Subscribe and for more news and updates visit www.smokintabacco.com and while you are at it, check out Mike G on Instagram @HollywoodMikeG and by visiting www.mikegcigars.com
 

The Smokin Tabacco Show: Pairing Toscano Cigars with Michael Cappellini!

On this episode we welcome back Michael Cappellini of Toscano cigars to the show to host a virtual pairing episode with all of us. The first pairing is a Toscano Garibaldi with the "Godfather" drink - equal parts half and half of bourbon and amaretto. Michael then walks us through a few different methods of combining the two - ending with a smoke out of the drink with your cigar smoke which we HIGHLY recommend.
The second pairing was a Stillnovo with a Negroni and an Aperol Spritz. Again, the same methods used and it really brings out the flavor in both the cigar and the alcohol in their own ways. In the news we discussed some of the CRA's recent behavior and how it should be cleaned up for a brighter future. You can read that story here - https://www.smokintabacco.com/blog-posts/how-the-cigar-rights-of-america-continues-to-fail-to-impress
We will be doing another pairing episode soon with Michael again so stay tuned for that info. Also the raffle for CFCF is still live and raffle tickets can be purchased in the link below. As always, don't forget to LIKE & SUBSCRIBE!
 
https://go.rallyup.com/smokintabacco/Campaign/Details