The Stogie Guys

In a previous Stogie Tip, I passed along some things to remember when it comes to aging cigars. Here, we go in-depth with Doc Stogie, whose Stogie Fresh website is unique in rating cigars and evaluating their aging potential over time.

Stogie Guys: What part does aging play in your enjoyment of cigars?

Doc Stogie: I mostly smoke younger cigars that I feature on the Stogie Fresh 5 podcast or that I am just getting started with in a reviewing cycle. It is not until I get later on in the reviewing cycle of any given cigar that I may smoke a cigar that is a year and a half to two years of age. On the other hand, when I do get to smoke a cigar “just for myself,” I will often times dig into the archives. For example, I recently smoked a Dunhill from 1987 that was absolutely fabulous.

SG: Do you buy cigars specifically to age?

DS: You never can tell how good a cigar will get with age, nor can you be sure whether or not you will even like the cigar after is has some significant time in your humidor. I can taste an LFD DL Chisel, or La Aurora 100 Años, or Ashton ESG and say, man these are good, but they will have much more complexity and smoothness with a bit more age. But, you never really know until you actually try them when they are older.

SG: What sort of questions do you get from Stogie Fresh readers about aging?

DS: I do get a few questions from readers about aging, but not a huge amount. Many people who have recently gotten into cigars either don’t have the wherewithal to purchase enough cigars to lay down, or they haven’t yet had the time to enjoy the effects of long-term aging on the cigars they do have. Laying cigars down to age takes a major commitment: of time, of money, and of effort.

Time is a concept that is lost on many cigar smokers. Many people buy cigars in small batches, say five to ten cigars. They buy them that way so they can smoke one or two and then “lay down” the rest to “age.” However, long-term aging may take years and will require much patience. This is difficult for many people who don’t have the patience to let their cigars age for more than a few months.

SG: What are some of the major considerations to getting into aging cigars?

DS: Ideally you should buy cigars by the box for aging. That way you can keep them in their original box and away from the influences of other aromas and flavors of cigars in the same humidor. Plus, by buying boxes, you will have enough cigars to enjoy periodically for the long term. In any case, this could cost a lot of money. Another monetary consideration is the space to keep all these boxes of cigars. People that want to seriously age their cigars must be thinking in terms of large volume humidors. Either large coolers, or cabinet style humidors, or walk-ins. Providing space for hundreds, if not thousands, of cigars can be costly.

Finally, it takes some effort and even more patience to stick to a process that will reward you with the benefits of aging cigars. By keeping cigars in boxes you can pluck one out at various intervals and try it to note the changes that 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and more have made on the smoke. If you smoke from a box of 25 cigars, at an interval of, say, one every 3 months, that box will last you 6 years. Thus, depending on how well you think a cigar will age, you must either slow your smoking or purchase more boxes. Either way, you can see the cost and time constraints.

Many thanks to Doc Stogie for taking the time to speak with StogieGuys.com. Please check out his website, StogieFresh.com, for more great cigar information.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Darryl Lieser found the inspiration for his own cigars years ago at a well-known watering hole in the desert. Celebrating an investment deal at the Phoenician’s Thirsty Camel Lounge in Scottsdale, Arizona, a client bought them a couple of 1956 Montecristo No. 3s.

“I’m a post-embargo baby, and I always thought that Cubans were taboo, were going to be harsh and unbalanced and tough to smoke,” Lieser, 43, recalled. “It was quite the contrary. Total opposite. Smooth, balanced, wonderful cigar.”

He decided then that if he ever pursued his dream of creating a cigar, that legendary Cuban vitola would be his model.

About three years ago, Lieser began working on a blend and last year he got booth space at RTDA with Altadis, which produces Isla de Cuba in Honduras for Lieser. He shipped his first cigars in February. Isla de Cuba Cigar, Inc. is headquartered in Tampa and Lieser, the president, splits his time between the Cigar City and Chicago.

Right now, the cigars are available in two versions. The natural, the one Lieser feels is most reminiscent of that ’56 Monte, has an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper with Nicaraguan binder and a mix of Dominican, Nicaraguan, and proprietary farm fillers. The maduro has the same filler and binder with a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper.

They come in five sizes ranging from a 7×52 Churchill to a 5.5×44 Corona. Prices are $6-8. Lieser calls them mild to medium, an everyday cigar. You can find a little information at the company’s website, though it remains under construction.

To get the word out, Lieser is hitting the road. When I talked to him, he had just pulled over while driving in Michigan and was heading to another cigar event in Ohio. His calendar is dotted with future stops at cigar shops around the country.

“I think that the only way to build credibility and to build brand awareness is to do events in conjunction with the retailer so we can educate the public on our product — a great cigar,” he said. It is also necessary, he added, to have the patience to develop personal — and in-person — relationships with retailers so they’ll know it’s a brand they can count on.

With the economy weak, tobacco under constant attack, and many new lines hitting the market, is Lieser concerned that it might not be the ideal time to launch a new cigar? “Honestly, I like competition,” Lieser said. And he believes his approach is the right one: Keep the quality up, the prices reasonable, and work with retailers. “I think it’s a great opportunity for the right boutique type brand.”

Odds are you’ll be able to decide for yourself. Check with shops in your area. You’ll likely find Lieser and Isla de Cuba cigars headed your way.

–George E

photo credit: IslaCigar.com

I am proud to report that today’s article is a very special one here at StogieGuys.com. Tim Ozgener, president of CAO Cigars, has graciously donated his time to answer my questions for the latest edition of our Cigar Insider series.

As the purveyor of such notable lines as America, Black, Brazilia, and Criollo, Tim likely needs no introduction. But I will say this: I met him at last year’s Big Smoke Las Vegas (pictured below), and I was pleased to see him right in the thick of things, mingling with fans and lighting their CAO samples. In the following exchange, which occurred via email, I ask Tim about his favorite cigar, CAO’s biggest challenge, and much more.

Stogie Guys: Can you pick a favorite CAO cigar, or is that like asking a father to pick a favorite son? What’s your favorite non-CAO stick?

Tim Ozgener: Choosing one CAO over all of the others is, in fact, quite like asking a father to pick a favorite child. That said, a lot just depends upon my given mood at the time I select a cigar or the time of day I’m smoking. For example, this morning I reached for a CAO Gold Lonsdale because I wanted a nice, smooth, buttery cigar to accompany my morning coffee. Later in the afternoon I might go for something with more body and spice like a CAO Sopranos or CAO Vision. As far as the non-CAO choice goes, I don’t really have a “favorite,” per se. I do believe in smoking other brands and often times do; to not be aware of what the market is doing is a mistake. But the honest truth is that, to me, one brand doesn’t really stand out to me as a “favorite non-CAO.”

SG: With two contrasting wrappers, was it difficult to blend America, the newest CAO line?

TO: America was very difficult to blend, actually. I spent a good deal of time at the factory working to get that blend to where I wanted it to be. Sometimes, you’re fortunate and nail the desired flavor profile within the first three or four samples, but America took a good deal of “tweaking” and adjustments to get it just right.

SG: Do you think today’s barber pole phenomenon is just an industry fad, or is it a sincere attempt to uncover new flavor combinations?

TO: A “barber pole” style of cigars is nothing really new and, in fact, has been around for years and years. In the case of CAO, we don’t perceive the barber pole as a fad in the least. America is a great example of how two wrappers can yield an incredibly unique but flavorful blend that you just wouldn’t be able to duplicate without that second contrasting wrapper leaf.

SG: What new lines can we expect from CAO down the road?

TO: We’re working on several new items and developing various new blends that we plan on bringing to market this summer at the IPCPR trade show in July; however, I can’t really divulge anything at this moment.

SG: In the near future, what is the greatest challenge facing CAO? The cigar industry in general?

TO: I think the greatest challenge for us is and always has been to create new brands and blends that will not only bring something unique to the market but that don’t compete with any of our existing lines, as well. As far as the greatest challenge to the industry as a whole goes, I would definitely put legislation towards the top of that list. With so much anti-smoking legislation going on, and with movements such as SCHIP, it’s an ongoing struggle for today’s cigar smoker to make their voices heard and stand up for one’s individual rights to continue to enjoy a premium cigar.

SG: How has Henri Wintermans’ acquisition of CAO changed your business?

TO: ST Cigar Group’s acquisition of CAO hasn’t really changed our business a great deal. There has been an element of greater corporate structure, reporting, and accountability, but that was a direction we were headed in prior to the acquisition anyway.

SG: What one fact about CAO do you wish more aficionados were aware of?

TO: I would want aficionados to have a better understanding of exactly how much time, effort, and labor really does go into producing a cigar. I think that often times there’s a real lack of respect for the product, but once you’ve actually been down at the factory level and you witness firsthand how much time and labor goes into each step of the process – from planting to harvesting to fermentation to curing to sorting to bunching, rolling, ageing, etc. – you acquire a whole new level of respect for the product that I think too many “aficionados” often take for granted.

Many thanks to Tim Ozgener for taking the time to speak with us. For more information and to find a CAO retailer near you, please visit www.CAOCigars.com.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Lately there has been quite a lot of buzz surrounding Illusione Cigars. The company, which is only a few years old, was founded by Dion Giolito. According its website, the idea behind Illusione is to recreate the flavor of Nicaraguan cigars from the period before the Sandinistas took over in 1979. Illusiones are a Nicuraguan puro made in Honduras. To find out more about this brand, I spoke with Dion Giolito.

SG: Tell us a little bit about the founding of Illusione. What made you decide to start producing your own cigars?

DG: I’ve been in the retail business for over 15 years. It wasn’t until I decided to open my own shop when I really considered doing my own line. Nicaraguan tobacco has always had my attention from the beginning. Joya de Nicaragua was, and still is, one of my favorite cigars, particularly the original blends. I had pre-Sandanista Joyas and smoked them from time to time. I was very surprised at the life and power of them after all these years. Those cigars kinda pushed me into the arena of manufacturing.

SG: What was the greatest challenge in starting up your cigar manufacturing operation?

DG: Dealing with all of the liars. If there’s one thing that I’ve learned in this side of the business is that everybody lies – farmers, factory owners, managers, etc. My biggest challenge has been to get my ideals and approach across to these guys without them cutting corners every time the cat’s away. Sometimes the leaf you choose is mysteriously not the leaf that goes into the cigar. I’ve refused entire orders because of one component. I need to be able to look someone in the eye when they ask me what my favorite cigar is and tell them it’s the one I make. I don’t want to be the guy that makes a cigar and smokes someone else’s. There are a lot of those guys out there.

SG: Excluding Illusione cigars, if you could only smoke one specific cigar for the rest of your life what would it be and why?

DG: Now, you know that’s practically an impossible question to answer! Pre-illusione it would have been around three cigars depending on my mood: the Hoyo de Monterey Rothschilde Double Maduro, the Vegas Robaina Don Alejandro, or the Davidoff Gran Cru No. 1. My number one “desert island” cigar is the Illusione MK (5 1/8″ x 42).

SG: In your opinion, what is the best beverage to enjoy while smoking a fine cigar?

DG: The best alcoholic beverage would be the Zacapa 23 Anejos. For something non-alcoholic, it would be coffee.

SG: How do you keep cigars in your personal humidor: Cellophane on or off?

DG: I’m a Ziploc bag guy, mostly. Long-term storage for one vitola would be cello off. Short term – doesn’t really matter.

SG: If someone has never tried a Illusione cigar before, which vitola would you recommend as the best cigar to introduce them to the brand?

DG: The F9, it’s a Lonsdale. Lonsdales and Coronas are the best vehicle for flavor in my opinion.

Many thanks to Dion Giolito for taking the time to speak with us. For more information and to find a Illusione retailer, please visit www.IllusioneCigars.com.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Heather Waibel burst on the cigar scene back in 2006 when, as a grad student, she helped spearhead the campaign in California to turn back a tobacco tax increase referendum.

Since then she has moved to Austin, Texas, gotten married (becoming Heather Waibel Haddad), begun her own podcast, started an Internet cigar store, and plans to open a B&M later this year.

As president of Fumée, Inc., Haddad, 25, created a cigar operation that isn’t following the usual path. Here, in an email exchange, she offers some insights into what she has accomplished and what’s ahead.

SG: You’ve touched on some of the difficulties you encountered in setting up your operation. Did you have any problems getting the requisite licenses and dealing with agencies like the ATF?

HWH: The biggest problem was timing. When we went to the RTDA [convention] in August, we were surprised that every time we tried to place an order, they asked for our tobacco license. We obviously knew we needed a license once we started to sell tobacco, but we didn’t realize we needed one just to place orders. So we lied through our teeth: “Yes, we have a license, we just forgot to bring it.”

And as soon as we were back in Austin we were scrambling trying to get one. The state was actually very easy to work with. We’ve had the pleasure of dealing with a knowledgeable agent who walked us through the process, but the problem is that in Texas you need two licenses: one to be a retailer, and one to purchase tobacco from anyone out-of-state. The latter was the one we needed the most at the moment, and that is also one that requires an extensive background check. It took three months to process.

Since then it’s been pretty smooth sailing. They ask for a lot of menial paperwork — you have to keep track of everything, down to which shipping company brought the cigars (UPS? FedEx?), and there’s a strange law that Fumée, distributor, has to sell everything to Fumée, retailer, so there’s some superfluous paperwork, but the state was much easier to work with than say, finding a merchant processor who would run credit cards for an online tobacco shop — that was a doozy.

SG: There has been a lot of discussion among cigar smokers about the potential impact of the Supreme Court ruling allowing companies the power to enforce minimum retail prices. Have you experienced that?

HWH: We’ve been told by some manufacturers that we can’t sell things under a certain price range, but there’s obviously no real enforcement on this issue. From what I can tell, Internet price slashing is pretty rampant. I’ve actually seen some of the bigger companies sell cigars at what I know to be wholesale prices — their profit margins must be razor-thin. It’s the McDonald’s strategy: sell quantity and make money that way. This is good for consumers, but only in the short term; in the long run I suspect that they will end up spammed to death, and will want good customer service.

Of course it’s bad for retailers — both Internet and B&Ms. It’s bad for B&Ms because they can’t compete, and it’s bad for Internet sellers because it’s this practice which has caused some manufactures to cease sales to Internet merchants.

I could name you at least a dozen companies that won’t sell to me directly because I don’t have a B&M. They don’t want me to undercut their other retailers! And, for the record, I don’t. I maintain a pretty strict pricing strategy — we’re not the cheapest store on the net, but we make up for it in what I think is the best customer service in the industry, bar none.

SG: You are very open on your site about your operation and your plans, especially with your FAQs, videos, and other materials. What prompted you to be so transparent?

HWH: I suppose we are. I learned when I saw my podcast numbers going through the roof that entertaining people means that you have a captive audience who also happens to be listening to your message. We are taking a social networking point of view, a viral marketing strategy, which is really necessary for any company today.

If we get a new customer who began as a podcast listener, or someone who never smoked a cigar in their life decides to buy one from us as a result of being forwarded one of our YouTube videos, then the effort put into these things has been worth it. It’s also a good point of differentiation for us. I don’t know of any other cigar website that has these little extras, and it’s a way for us to target a new market: younger, newer cigar smokers who learn about companies through things like Facebook or MySpace. I think that being the brand can help in a lot of ways — people root for you, people feel like they know you and not like they’re ordering from an impersonal Internet robot.

However, there are downsides. You have to watch what you say because alienating people will translate directly into lost sales. So it’s a double-edged sword.

SG: What’s the biggest disappointment you’ve encountered since you began in the cigar business?

HWH: Myself! I have a four-page-long to-do list that gets longer everyday instead of shorter. Starting a business is a great way to learn who you really are. Am I motivated enough to get out of bed on time every day, even though I have no boss? (The answer is no, by the way.) Can I accomplish all of the things I would like to get done this week? (Also no.) Am I patient enough with my co-workers? (No again.)

I try to improve myself every day, set goals, do my best to follow them, but of course I see a lot of room for improvement. That’s what life is, though, a quest to become the best you that you can be. So I’m glad I’ve had this opportunity to reveal certain parts of my personality.

I don’t want you to think I’m copping out on this answer, so I’ll give you a cigar industry-related disappointment as well. I have been disappointed with the way that manufacturers try to tightly control their brands by setting price controls, selling to some stores but not others, or forcing you to order certain brands or quantities that you don’t necessarily want.

I strongly believe that if someone wants to buy some cigars, sell it to them; if they want to price it a certain way, let them. Let the market correct itself. Controlling things just makes a mess out of it. I think many manufacturers forget that the retailer is their first customer.

SG: You’ve obviously decided to make media like the Internet and podcasts an integral part of Fuméeworld. Do you think you have an advantage in that arena, having grown up with those things as opposed to the “typical” cigar shop owner?

HWH: I think my advantage is that I can relate to Generation Y because I know how they think, being a member myself. I have the same advantage with female smokers. I am approachable to them, and I know how to market to these groups more effectively. You can’t market to a 20 to 30-year-old the same way you do to retirees.

Do I have an advantage specifically with technology, though? No. I know only basic video and audio editing, and I bumble along. So anyone could do what I can. I will say, though, I don’t see why every cigar retailer in the country doesn’t sell online. You grow sales on the same inventory, with very little extra operating costs. Maybe the technology involved seems daunting, but it’s really not as complicated as it sounds.

SG: I know you post on at least one cigar forum. How much time do you spend with cigar sites on the Internet, and what do you get out of it?

HWH: This is a loaded question. I feel like a cigar board adulterer! Don’t stone me, but I post on 13 cigar boards, two of them German ones, one Australian. It’s been a great marketing tool for us. I notice a distinct difference in sales when I post versus when I don’t. But it’s seriously hard to post on that many boards. It’s time consuming, and after about the fifth one, you have nothing new to say. It’s very draining. Some days I can’t bear to do it. I started off doing it once a day, but it took hours, so now I try to post at least once a week on each board. Cigar Live is the board I started on, though, and I feel sentimental towards it, so I post there several times a week. That’s definitely the one I’m most active on.

We also have an area on FuméeWorld.com that we’re slowly building up with a few message boards, and of course we are members of several cigar groups on MySpace/Facebook and Yahoo groups.

SG: Finally, you say on your site you smoke anywhere from one to six cigars a week. Do you have a regular rotation or are you always trying new cigars?

HWH: I am always trying new cigars. I don’t have a go-to cigar, really. I like variety, there’s so much out there. For me, my smoking habits depend on my mood, the weather, and my social environment.

If I’m in Vegas, for example, I’ll smoke like three cigars a day. If I’m around my dad, my consumption also goes up. If it’s nice outside, several a week. But there are some weeks when it’s cold outside and I don’t want to smell bad, and I only get to one cigar that week.

I hope to talk my husband into letting me have a smoking room inside the house one day, and then I can smoke no matter what it’s like outside. A girl can dream, can’t she?

Many thanks to Heather for taking the time to answer my questions. She invites StogieGuys.com readers to visit www.FuméeWorld.com.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

For this edition of our Cigar Insider series, I spoke with Robert Spoden of Bucanero Cigars. Bucanero was a boutique founded during the mid-90’s cigar boom and, unlike others from that period, Bucanero is still around, currently producing 18 blends.

I asked Robert about the founding of the company, why it made it to a second decade when so many others didn’t, and much more. Particularly of note is his take on the effect of smoking bans and cigar taxes on the cigar industry.

SG: Tell us a little bit about the founding of Bucanero. What made you decide to start producing your own cigars?

RS: Bucanero was founded in 1995 over a couple of bourbons matched with some outstanding cigars and a Costa Rica. The foundation was, and continues today to be, built around honesty and friendship. We set out slowly to introduce unique blends. We avoided the pitfalls of mass production and maintained our focus on quality smokes. Our goal was to enter the cigar marketplace with the strength of blending and aging and let our cigars stand the test of time.

SG: Bucanero Cigars was founded in the middle of the mid-90’s cigar boom. Why do you think Bucanero is still around and thriving when so many other companies closed up shop long ago?

RS: At the time of the “boom” so many cigars were being mass-produced. So many lacked the essentials of what we believed a fine cigar should be. As a small player in this $5 billion industry we had to decide where to spend our limited resources. Either we would spend the money in advertising or spend our resources in the way we make our cigars. We choose the later, while many others brands started back then were just mass produced cigars to meet the demands of the boom.

SG: What was the greatest challenge in starting up your cigar manufacturing operation?

RS: Trust me it has not been easy. Manufacturing our cigars is truly a science. Everyday the focus on quality must be maintained. What we find tough as a small manufacture is getting the word out about our cigars. It is by far the most challenging mountain we must climb. Our success lies with the cigar smoker who seeks something special.

SG: How do you think smoking bans and seemingly ever-increasing tobacco taxes will affect the cigar industry? How do you think the cigar industry has done responding to efforts to tax and ban cigar smoking?

RS: We as cigar lovers are all in this together. The laws that keep popping up restricting smoking in public places are not the death blow it appears to be, but the tax bill that is pending is. Cigars can be enjoyed in so many places such as on your deck, fishing, golfing, etc. Even with these smoking bans, we still have our freedom to enjoy our cigars in many other places.

The true impact is in the pending tax increase on importing cigars. If this law is ever enacted the effect will be felt by a large group of small- to medium-sized cigar manufactures. For a small importer that imports 50,000 cigars a month, the Custom Duty Tax would increase from $2,350 to anywhere from $50,000 to $150,000 per month.

This would effectively change the frequency of smoking cigars for most due to the very high retail costs, in turn effectively driving out of business many cigar retailers. The vast selection of cigars that exists today would disappear leaving only the largest cigar manufacturers’ brands available to be purchased.

I will leave it to your readers to determine if the industry has done a good job responding to these threats.

SG: In your opinion, what is the best beverage to enjoy while smoking a fine cigar?

RS: I enjoy a red wine occasionally with my cigars. But I always smoke my cigar about half way down then I take a sip of my wine. Once the flavor of the wine mixes with the flavor of the cigar you have a synergy of flavor. If the wine mates well with the cigar you should experience a “turbo effect” in flavor. Occasionally I will do this with my favorite scotch or bourbon also.

SG: How do you keep cigars in your personal humidor: cellophane on or off?

RS: I am somewhat of a purist. I only put one blend in my humidor without the cello wrapper on the cigars. I have always believed the cello dramatically slows down the aging process that Spanish cedar brings to the cigars. By mixing different blends in my humidor over time the cigars take on the flavor profile of the mix.

SG: If someone has never tried a Bucanero cigar before, which blend would you recommend as the best cigar to introduce them to the brand and why?

RS: Tough question. We produce 18 blends, each with a distinctive flavor. You must consider the strength profile of the blend and match it with the cigar lover’s pallet. If you were at one of our smoker events I could offer to match you pallet with one of our many blends.

Many thanks to Robert for taking the time to answer our questions. For more information and to find a Bucanero retailer, please visit Bucanero’s website.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Kinky Freidman is a uniquely American character.

As a singer, songwriter, novelist, humorist, and politician, Kinky follows in the same line as American satirists Will Rogers and Mark Twain. His band, Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys, has had hits with such distinctly un-politically correct songs as “Get your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in Bed” and “They Ain’t Makin’ Jews Like Jesus Anymore.”

In 2006 Kinky ran for Governor of Texas as an independent candidate, stating that his administration would make its goal the “dewussification” of Texas. Some of his campaign slogans were: “How hard could it be?”, “Why the hell not?”, “My governor is a Jewish cowboy”, and “He ain’t Kinky, he’s my governor.”

On the campaign trail, Kinky was often seen with a cigar – he is known for his love of Cubans – and he promised to roll back “any and all smoking bans” if elected, often repeating Mark Twain’s saying: “If smoking is not allowed in heaven, I shall not go.” Ultimately, he won 12.6 percent of the vote.

This year Kinky is rolling out his own cigar line: Kinky Friedman Cigars. (Look for a review of the torpedo-shaped “Kinkycristo” in an upcoming StogieGuys.com article.)

In this special edition of our Cigar Insider series, I talked cigars and politics with the one and only Kinky Friedman.

SG: How long have you been enjoying cigars? Do you remember your first smoke?

KF: I’ve been smoking cigars since Christ was a cowboy. Started so young I used a cigar as a pacifier. Come to think of it, I still do.

SG: You are known for your enjoyment of cigars from that certain island south of Miami. What do you think makes Cuban cigars so special?

KF: Cuban cigars are special because Cubans have been cultivating their soil and their art way before Castro started arresting librarians. The only cigars that can match them are Honduran cigars made by Cubans.

SG: With so many quality smokes out there, why did you decide to make your own cigars? Can you tell us a bit about how you chose the tobacco?

KF: It’s simply not a financial pleasure to smoke eight or more Cuban cigars a day at current market prices – the only thing to avoid pecuniary calamity seemed to be start my own cigar line. But they had to be good enough to satisfy my pallet or I knew I’d be right back on the Cubans. That’s precisely what Kinky Friedman Cigars are all about: a cigar that I’d be happy to smoke that’s not Cuban. (These rated an optimum score on Kinky’s personal cig-momanometer scale.)

I always refer the question of how we chose the precise tobacco blend to others in the company like the President or CEO. I’m merely the Ronald Reagan-style pitchman for Kinky Friedman Cigars. For me, cigars are to be smoked and enjoyed – not analyzed.

SG: What was the greatest challenge in starting up your cigar manufacturing operation?

KF: My greatest personal challenge was finding a cigar that I could enjoy that wasn’t Cuban; the greatest manufacturing challenge faced was finding a cigar that I would be happy to smoke. After all, I have been smoking since a very early age and the one taste bud I have left is a discriminating little sucker.

In your opinion, what is the best beverage to enjoy while smoking a fine cigar?

KF: Nothing better than a great Kona coffee or a glass of Guiness.

SG: Had you been elected Governor of Texas, who would have been America’s “Cigar Governor”: You or Arnold?

KF: Any Texan can drink or smoke any Californian under the table. That’s why they all come to Texas – to see how we do it.

SG: Your new book, You Can Lead a Politician to Water, But You Can’t Make Him Think, features a picture of you on the cover holding a cigar. Are there any lessons about Lone Star State politics that relate to cigars?

KF: No. Politics are invariably stressful; cigars are always relaxing.

Many thanks to Kinky Friedman for taking the time to answer our questions. For more on Kinky Friedman’s cigars, or to find a retailer near you, visit KinkyCigars.com. For all things Kinky, visit KinkyFriedman.com. To purchase Kinky’s new book, visit the Stogie Guys’ Amazon store.

–Patrick S

Tags: cigars