Cigar Coop Prime Time Show

Prime Time Episode 198: José Blanco, Arturo Fuente

The one and only Jose Blanco of Arturo Fuente Cigars joins us as our special guest!

José’s resume is one of the greatest in the history of the cigar business. His talents have now landed him at Arturo Fuente. We will catch up with what he is doing and discuss a potpourri of industry topics.

Tonight’s show will be unique in that it will be broadcast from California and Macedonia!

Prime Time Episode 198: José Blanco, Arturo Fuente

The one and only Jose Blanco of Arturo Fuente Cigars joins us as our special guest!

José’s resume is one of the greatest in the history of the cigar business. His talents have now landed him at Arturo Fuente. We will catch up with what he is doing and discuss a potpourri of industry topics.

Tonight’s show will be unique in that it will be broadcast from California and Macedonia!

PCA 2021: Global Premium Cigars (Audio)

From the 2021 PCA Trade Show, we talk to Soleana Venerio and Enrique Sanchez Icaza of Global Premium Cigars.

Global Premium Cigars is the parent company for the 1502 Cigars brand. While there were some new products being showcased by the company, there was something else happening. This year owner Enrique Sanchez Icaza's wife, Soleana Venerio has come on board as National Sales Director and is playing a more hands-on role in the company.

One thing 1502 Cigars has done well is slowly roll out its line extensions - giving each size a chance to be in the spotlight. This year, for the most part, the theme was "Robusto" - as there were three 1502 lines seeing a new Robusto offering.

References

• PCA 2021 Report: Global Premium Cigars

PCA 2021: Global Premium Cigars

From the 2021 PCA Trade Show, we talk to Soleana Venerio and Enrique Sanchez Icaza of Global Premium Cigars.

Global Premium Cigars is the parent company for the 1502 Cigars brand. While there were some new products being showcased by the company, there was something else happening. This year owner Enrique Sanchez Icaza's wife, Soleana Venerio has come on board as National Sales Director and is playing a more hands-on role in the company.

One thing 1502 Cigars has done well is slowly roll out its line extensions - giving each size a chance to be in the spotlight. This year, for the most part, the theme was "Robusto" - as there were three 1502 lines seeing a new Robusto offering.

References

• PCA 2021 Report: Global Premium Cigars

PCA 2021: Drunk Chicken Cigars (Audio)

From the 2021 PCA Trade Show, we talk to Desiree Sylver of Drunk Chicken Cigars.

Drunk Chicken Cigars is a company founded by Desiree Sylver who is based in Washington, DC, and has a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership. Sylver and her fiancé were cigar enthusiasts who took a trip to Florida, and stumbled upon a group of cigar rollers who they asked to make some cigars for them. They commissioned five different blends for their personal consumption but eventually made the decision to take the company national. As for the name of the company, it stems from the chicken farm that Sylver owns. At the 2021 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, Sylver would not only showcase these five blends on the national stage, but also introduce a sixth blend known as the Egg-Treme.

References

• PCA 2021 Report: Drunk Chicken Cigars

PCA 2021: Drunk Chicken Cigars

From the 2021 PCA Trade Show, we talk to Desiree Sylver of Drunk Chicken Cigars.

Drunk Chicken Cigars is a company founded by Desiree Sylver who is based in Washington, DC, and has a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership. Sylver and her fiancé were cigar enthusiasts who took a trip to Florida, and stumbled upon a group of cigar rollers who they asked to make some cigars for them. They commissioned five different blends for their personal consumption but eventually made the decision to take the company national. As for the name of the company, it stems from the chicken farm that Sylver owns. At the 2021 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, Sylver would not only showcase these five blends on the national stage, but also introduce a sixth blend known as the Egg-Treme.

References

• PCA 2021 Report: Drunk Chicken Cigars

 

PCA 2021: El Artista (Audio)

From the 2021 PCA Trade Show, we talk to Ram Rodriguez of El Artista Cigars.

For the past several years, El Artista is a company that has been making moves. Based in the Dominican Republic, the company has owned its own factory for many years. While El Artista is best known for making cigars for Major League great David Ortiz, there has been plenty more this company has been doing in its portfolio. I remember back in 2018, when David Ortiz was at the 2021 PCA Trade Show, quite a buzz was created. This year, there is a new size under the David Ortiz The Slugger brand, and a new blend under the Buffalo TEN line, so there was a lot of noise outside the booth. El Artista's Tabacalera El Artista has taken on projects for Miami Cigar & Company, Gurkha, and Sindicato Cigars. Whether with its own brands or third party brands, El Artista is becoming a rising force in the premium cigar world.

References

• PCA 2021 Report: El Artista

PCA 2021: El Artista

From the 2021 PCA Trade Show, we talk to Ram Rodriguez of El Artista Cigars.

For the past several years, El Artista is a company that has been making moves. Based in the Dominican Republic, the company has owned its own factory for many years. While El Artista is best known for making cigars for Major League great David Ortiz, there has been plenty more this company has been doing in its portfolio. I remember back in 2018, when David Ortiz was at the 2021 PCA Trade Show, quite a buzz was created. This year, there is a new size under the David Ortiz The Slugger brand, and a new blend under the Buffalo TEN line, so there was a lot of noise outside the booth. El Artista's Tabacalera El Artista has taken on projects for Miami Cigar & Company, Gurkha, and Sindicato Cigars. Whether with its own brands or third party brands, El Artista is becoming a rising force in the premium cigar world.

References

• PCA 2021 Report: El Artista

PCA 2021: Padrón Cigars (Audio)

From the 2021 PCA Trade Show, we talk to Jorge Padrón of Padrón Cigars.

The Padrón booth is always one of the busier ones at an IPCPR/PCA Trade Show. The 2021 PCA Trade Show was no exception, but company President Jorge Padrón was very gracious with his time. It isn't every year that Padrón has a new cigar, but 2021 happens to one of the years where they do. This year the company unveiled a new limited extension to its Family Reserve Line known as the No. 95. In our talk with Jorge Padrón, he tells us about this cigar and talks about the forthcoming collaboration with Arturo Fuente.

References

• PCA 2021 Report: Padrón Cigars

PCA 2021: Padrón Cigars

From the 2021 PCA Trade Show, we talk to Jorge Padrón of Padrón Cigars.

The Padrón booth is always one of the busier ones at an IPCPR/PCA Trade Show. The 2021 PCA Trade Show was no exception, but company President Jorge Padrón was very gracious with his time. It isn't every year that Padrón has a new cigar, but 2021 happens to one of the years where they do. This year the company unveiled a new limited extension to its Family Reserve Line known as the No. 95. In our talk with Jorge Padrón, he tells us about this cigar and talks about the forthcoming collaboration with Arturo Fuente.

References

• PCA 2021 Report: Padrón Cigars