Cigar Insider: Paul and Kevork Garmirian of PG Cigars

Talk to Dr. Paul Garmirian and his son, Kevork, for any length of time and one thing becomes abundantly clear: They have as much passion for PG Cigars as they do contempt for the industry’s pervasive gimmickry.

The PG philosophy, after all, isn’t about publicity stunts, bikini-clad models,  creative marketing schemes, or the next big thing. It’s about blending finely tuned cigars to meet the most discriminating of palates. In fact, the Garmirians shared with us how, during the height of the cigar boom, they refused to sell a stash of prized Dominican leaves at a significant profit because they were patiently aging them to perfection. This is one example of the sacrifice that must be made to create cigars that look, taste, and feel like pre-Castro Cubans.

As we learned how Paul—a cigar traditionalist and pioneer ever since he wrote The Gourmet Guide to Cigars in 1990—emphasizes excellence over higher income and accelerated growth, we were reminded of a July commentary written by George E. The article calls for the industry to address the vital underlying issues of quality and consistency instead of rushing flashy duds to market. It struck a note with those of us who would like to see manufacturers focus on doing one thing right instead of a lot of new things halfass. Reading it today, we realize it was a sin for us not to mention PG Cigars—but now we know better.

From their humble yet exquisite headquarters in McLean, Virigina, Kevork and Paul were nice enough to impart their wisdom and share their passion. The following was taped after they closed their shop on one chilly November evening:

Many thanks to Kevork and Paul for their time, generosity, and willingness to participate in StogieGuys.com’s first Cigar Insider video. We encourage you to check out the list of authorized PG retailers on their website and explore their many wonderful cigars.

–Patrick A & Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys