Meet the Cigar Manufacturers
Discover what is new this year, what their favorite cigar and drink pairing is and more about their history. Meet the faces behind your favorite cigars and cigar accessories.
General Cigar: Wayne Newton Accepts a Donation for the USO
Rocky Patel Cigars: Rocky Patel
Rocky Patel Cigars: Nimish Desai
Rocky Patel Cigars: Nish Patel
EO Brands Cigars (601 & Murcielago)
Drew Estate Cigars: Steve Saka
Drew Estate Cigars: Jonathan Drew
Prometheus Accessories & God Of Fire Cigars
This year the annual cigar trade show- IPCPR, was held in the Venetian in Las Vegas. It was an amazing show and was the first year the IPCPR granted membership opportunities to the media. I was honored to officially become a member in the company of the manufacturers and retailers of whom I have a great respect for.
There were so many great moments to share from the show, both on the floor of the show and at events afterward. And since it was Vegas- sleep was not something on the agenda for most! But a great time was certainly had by all. You’ll be seeing the great moments from the show soon as I begin posting the videos. There are many to go through and I look forward to you experiencing the show with me. Right now I wanted to share with you some of the great moments that occurred after the show as well as my photos of the booths.
There were incredible dinners and cocktail events happening each night after the show. The first night in Vegas was spent at a party hosted by Alec Bradley the day before the show. Alan Rubin was there and introduced me to a sneak peak video of a roller working in the factory on their latest project. As I was watching the video… wow, I saw him use nine leaves on a single cigar, grabbing tobacco from a different table because they wouldn’t all fit on his. It was a treat to see, hopefully he will be sharing it online, too. If not maybe when enough people ask he will (hint, hint).
cigars and drinks with friends (love how many drinks are in front of us, ha-no, not all ours)
The next morning was the first day of the show followed by a cocktail reception hosted by Zino Platinum, then dinner with William Paley of La Palina Cigars at Cut. What a treat! The meal was amazing and the people made the night that much more spectacular. I had the pleasure of getting my hands on the much anticipated El Diario, too! I’ve been excited about this new addition for quite some time and was delighted with the cigar. This is a medium plus bodied cigar with more spice, however the La Palina elegance is still present in the finish. During dinner I had the fortune of meeting Brian and Terry Chinnock of Chinnock Wine Cellars. As we were talking and wine was being poured, someone noticed the bottle and made the announcement: we were having two bottles from Chinnock Wine Cellars tonight- a 2007 and a 2006 Merlot. It’s a great moment when you not only meet some amazing people, but get to enjoy their own creation the the company of great friends. I had the pleasure of smoking Brian’s “Little Havana” cigar the next day at the show with a glass of 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon and it was an incredible pairing. I’m still thinking about it. I’m hooked on that “Little Havana” and am anxious to see it in stores. I was really impressed with the flavor and balance of the cigar as it complimented the wine. William Herrera (formerly of El Titan and now with Drew Estate- so excited about that by the way, we have some incredible things to look forward to there) blended the cigars for Chinnock Cellars.
Following dinner on the same night (like I said- it’s Vegas and the entertainment never ends) we were on our way to a blogger party hosted by Drew Estate! It was nice to relax and catch up with the bloggers while having a cigar and overlooking the Las Vegas strip.
The next evening began with the Toraño Hospitality Suite! Drinks, cigars, and great conversations were had as we relaxed and celebrated the end of the first day of the show. It was great to see Charlie and catch up with Oliver, Liza, and Gabriel from Toraño, too. I also had the pleasure of catching up with the beautiful Christine Morgan (@LadyoftheStick)!
From there it was on to a wonderful dinner hosted by Ashton Cigars at Postrio. Everything Ashton does is first class, and their dinner was no exception. I had the honor of sitting with Sathya Levin and enjoyed many great cigars, cocktails, conversation, and a beautiful dinner I will not soon forget!
Another special treat that occurred in the evenings that followed the IPCPR was enjoying a cigar and mojito at Casa Fuente. This particular experience was made even more personal as I smoked an aged Opus X Maduro Lancero that was given to me by Carlito Fuente from his own collection. This is a cigar that was rolled 8 years ago and will not be brought into production. Wow, it was amazing! I still remember the bittersweet chocolate powder notes of flavor… not to mention smoking this cigar with Carlito at Casa Fuente. Incredible.
Many great moments were had this year, and there is much more to look forward to! Videos are being uploaded now and will continue to be posted here on the blog. Speak with you soon!
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