The Stogie Guys

Here’s a deal: Help us get more readers, and we’ll give you a chance to win a terrific prize.

First, the prize. It’s a pack of three robustos specially made to be handed out at Don Pepin Garcia events. The blend, I’m told, is that of the old El Centurion that is no longer produced. I can’t tell you what they taste like because, when I got this pack a few months ago, I thought immediately that it would be a great Stogie Guys prize, so it remains unopened.

And if that wasn’t enough, the box is signed by none other than cigar legend Don Pepin Garcia himself.

Now, what does it take to win this little package?

All you have to do is urge your fellow cigar smokers to take a look at StogieGuys.com. You can do it in person, send an email, post on your favorite forums, etc… Whatever method you choose is OK with us. And feel free to do it more than once.

Then, after you’re done, post a comment on this post telling us what you did. That’s it. We trust you. You should enter only once. Check all the rules and fine print here.

We’ll leave it open for two weeks and then choose a winner at random from among all the entrants. Just be sure to leave your real email address (unpublished) when you submit your comment so we can contact you for your mailing address if you win.

Good luck, and remember: You’re on the honor system!

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

All of us at StogieGuys.com would like to wish you a very happy Fourth of July. America’s 236th birthday is a wonderful occasion to spend time with friends and family. So we’ve decided to take our own advice and barbecue, see some fireworks, and smoke more than our share of celebratory cigars. We’ll return to our coverage of the world of cigars tomorrow. Until then, have a safe, relaxing holiday.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr

Ever since we got back ,we’ve been sharing videos and photos from our recent trip to Estelí, Nicaragua, with Drew Estate’s Cigar Safari. Today we wrap up our coverage of that awesome adventure with what we think is the most interesting video yet.

In the following footage, Jonathan Drew of Drew Estate talks about the challenges of building his brand and maintaining consistency. A big part of those challenges was a sabotage of his factory in 2002 at the hands of one of his former employees—an employee who was paid off by another cigar maker who didn’t want Drew Estate to succeed.

We’ll resume our normal coverage of the world of cigars tomorrow. Meanwhile, if you haven’t already seen them, you can check out photos from our trip here. And for videos, please see Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.

Finally, we’d like to once again thank everyone at Drew Estate for an unforgettable time.

–The Stogie Guys

video credit: Stogie Guys

Today we are sharing the sixth and seventh installments in our series of videos from our recent trip to Estelí, Nicaragua, with Drew Estate’s Cigar Safari.

In today’s first video, Steve Saka, president of Drew Estate, discusses how tobacco is prepped before it is actually made into a cigar. First, from one of Drew Estate’s tobacco storage and processing facilities, he discusses Drew Estate’s philosophy on fermenting wrapper, with the goals being taste and flavor. Then, at the Drew Estate factory, he shows how tobacco is prepared immediately before it is rolled into cigars.

In today’s second video, Steve Saka takes us onto the factory floor. There, he talks about how Drew Estate chooses to have buncheros make cigars before finally bringing us into the special humidified room where Liga Privada cigars are rolled.

We’ll resume the video coverage of our Nicaraguan adventure tomorrow. Meanwhile, you can check out our previously published coverage of the trip at your convenience. Photos are here. And for videos, please see Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

–The Stogie Guys

video credit: Stogie Guys

Today we are sharing the fourth and fifth installments in our series of videos from our recent trip to Estelí, Nicaragua, with Drew Estate’s Cigar Safari.

In today’s first video, Steve Saka, president of Drew Estate, talks about some of the things that make his company and factory different from other cigar operations in Nicaragua and around the world. “Do you know how to become a millionaire in the cigar business?” he asks. “Start with $10 million.” The moral of the story: Producing cigars successfully is incredibly difficult.

In today’s second video, Steve Saka discusses Drew Estate’s business practices and how the company is socially conscious about its workforce. What other cigar factory provides life insurance to all of its employees?

We’ll resume the video coverage of our Nicaraguan adventure tomorrow. Meanwhile, you can check out our previously published coverage of the trip at your convenience. Photos are here. And for videos, please see Part 1 and Part 2.

–The Stogie Guys

video credit: Stogie Guys

Today we are sharing the second and third installments in our series of videos from our recent trip to Estelí, Nicaragua, with Drew Estate’s Cigar Safari.

In the first video, Mario Perez of Joya de Nicaragua shows us how seco, ligero, and viso filler tobaccos are bunched together in a binder leaf. This is, according to Perez, one of those “very special moments” in the creation of a cigar. We also see how a criollo Nicaraguan wrapper is applied to a cigar and why it is important to stretch the leaf during this process. Finally, Perez gives us a tour of the Joya’s aging room and shipping preparation room.

Wrapping up our Joya de Nicaragua coverage, this video shows the blending seminar we attended, which was hosted by Mario Perez and José Blanco. Of note are the haphazardly rolled “cigars” Patrick A and Patrick S bunched together to taste their respective blends. Let’s just say we’re thankful we didn’t actually have to roll the blends ourselves.

We’ll resume the video coverage of our Nicaraguan adventure on Monday. Meanwhile, you can check out our previously published coverage of the trip here and here.

–The Stogie Guys

video credit: Stogie Guys

In yesterday’s post, we explained that we had plenty of highly informative video content to share with you from our recent trip to Estelí with Drew Estate’s Cigar Safari.

Today we are proud to share the first in a series of videos that highlight the best and most interesting parts of our Nicaraguan adventure. In today’s segment, Mario Perez of Joya de Nicaragua gives us a tour of the Joya factory in Estelí. Included is a discussion of why Joya only ferments a select few wrapper leaves after receiving them, an illustration of wrapper preparation, info on why certain leaves need to be sprayed with water, and a demonstration of tobacco de-veining and classification.

Tomorrow we’ll provide the second half of Mario’s Joya de Nicaragua tour, including bunching, rolling, and video of the cigars being readied for shipping.

–The Stogie Guys

video credit: Stogie Guys