Cigar Coop Prime Time Show

PCA 2023: West Tampa Tobacco Co.

The 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show was the second one for West Tampa Cigar Company. This venture started a little over a year ago and is a company owned by General Cigar Company alumni Rick Rodriguez and Gus Martinez. The eve of the Trade Show saw West Tampa announce another General Cigar alumni, Rami Dakko, would be its new Director of Sales. This was a move that continues to strengthen West Tampa's presence in the market. On the product front, West Tampa Tobacco would go into this year's Trade Show having just shipped its third regular production line, the West Tampa Tobacco Red.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-q4z

 

PCA 2023: Room101 (Audio)

Cigar Coop has been covering the Trade Show since 2010, and each year we always had a visit with Matt Booth and Room101 Cigars. At this year's Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, Room101 had a station in the Forged Cigar Company booth. While we did get to see the products being showcased by Room101, we could not get time with Matt for our interview because the booth was quite busy. The good news is Matt made himself available after the trade show to talk about his offerings via a zoom video calll. This was the first full Trade Show that Matt and Room101 had with Forged Cigar Company. Room101 would bring back an old brand and introduce brand extensions to two others. It was most exciting to see the brand has kept its identity and roots - and even more importantly, Matt Booth is still Matt Booth.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-q4u

PCA 2023: Room101

Cigar Coop has been covering the Trade Show since 2010, and each year we always had a visit with Matt Booth and Room101 Cigars. At this year's Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, Room101 had a station in the Forged Cigar Company booth. While we did get to see the products being showcased by Room101, we could not get time with Matt for our interview because the booth was quite busy. The good news is Matt made himself available after the trade show to talk about his offerings via a zoom video calll. This was the first full Trade Show that Matt and Room101 had with Forged Cigar Company. Room101 would bring back an old brand and introduce brand extensions to two others. It was most exciting to see the brand has kept its identity and roots - and even more importantly, Matt Booth is still Matt Booth.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-q4u

 

Prime Time Episode 276 Audio: An Phan, Drew Estate

Tonight An Phan makes his debut on the Prime Time Show. An is the Brand Director for Drew Estate and is the creative mind behind a lot of the exciting branding from the products. He is also a long-time cigar enthusiast who has had a unique journey to get to the position he is in. We’ll chronicle An’s journey and talk about the many exciting projects Drew Estate has.

Plus, we will have our Cattle Baron Steak Question of the Night, Tabacalera USA Ties That Bind, Alec Bradley Live True, Espinosa Today in Sports History, and the Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Deliberation segments.

Prime Time Episode 276: An Phan, Drew Estate

Tonight An Phan makes his debut on the Prime Time Show. An is the Brand Director for Drew Estate and is the creative mind behind a lot of the exciting branding from the products. He is also a long-time cigar enthusiast who has had a unique journey to get to the position he is in. We’ll chronicle An’s journey and talk about the many exciting projects Drew Estate has.

Plus, we will have our Cattle Baron Steak Question of the Night, Tabacalera USA Ties That Bind, Alec Bradley Live True, Espinosa Today in Sports History, and the Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Deliberation segments.

PCA 2023: ADVentura Cigars (Audio)

Regarding ADVentura Cigars at the 2023 Premium Cigar Association Trade Show, just about everyone was thrilled to see this company exhibiting there. Last year, one of the company’s main production series, Tabacalera William Ventura, had a total loss fire. Despite the enormous challenge that was thrown their way, ADVentura Cigars persevered. In fact, this year, the company moved out of the Sutliff Tobacco Group booth into its own booth. In addition, the company introduced extensions to two of its more popular lines.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-q3L

PCA 2023: ADVentura Cigars

Regarding ADVentura Cigars at the 2023 Premium Cigar Association Trade Show, just about everyone was thrilled to see this company exhibiting there. Last year, one of the company’s main production series, Tabacalera William Ventura, had a total loss fire. Despite the enormous challenge that was thrown their way, ADVentura Cigars persevered. In fact, this year, the company moved out of the Sutliff Tobacco Group booth into its own booth. In addition, the company introduced extensions to two of its more popular lines.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-q3L

 

PCA 2023: E.P. Carrillo (Audio)

Over the years, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo has become synonymous with creating legendary cigars and establishing a factory (Tabacalera La Alianza) that has produced many releases for industry leaders. However, at the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA)Trade Show, things were a little different. The two releases that E.P. Carrillo featured were not being done at their own factory. Last year Ernesto started an initiative where he would go out to other factories, work with their tobaccos, and develop a blend. The company’s two releases for the 2023 PCA Trade Show, Short Run 2013 and INCH Nicaragua 7 x 70, were developed at the Oscar Valladares and Plasencia factories. The company has also moved to focus on charitable and philanthropic efforts – most notably the Pledge 98 campaign in support of Els for Autism. This was an effort spearheaded by Ernesto’s granddaughter Skye McPhillips. This year we talked with Skye and Ernesto’s daughter Lissette. While we had a conversation about cigars, we also dived into the story of the Pledge 98 campaign.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-q30

PCA 2023: E.P. Carrillo

Over the years, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo has become synonymous with creating legendary cigars and establishing a factory (Tabacalera La Alianza) that has produced many releases for industry leaders. However, at the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA)Trade Show, things were a little different. The two releases that E.P. Carrillo featured were not being done at their own factory. Last year Ernesto started an initiative where he would go out to other factories, work with their tobaccos, and develop a blend. The company’s two releases for the 2023 PCA Trade Show, Short Run 2013 and INCH Nicaragua 7 x 70, were developed at the Oscar Valladares and Plasencia factories. The company has also moved to focus on charitable and philanthropic efforts – most notably the Pledge 98 campaign in support of Els for Autism. This was an effort spearheaded by Ernesto’s granddaughter Skye McPhillips. This year we talked with Skye and Ernesto’s daughter Lissette. While we had a conversation about cigars, we also dived into the story of the Pledge 98 campaign.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-q30

 

PCA 2023: Alec Bradley (Audio)

All eyes would be on Alec Bradley regarding the Forged Cigar Booth at the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show. This would be the most significant stage Alec Bradley would be on since Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) acquired it almost five months prior. Since then, Alec Bradley Cigar Company became the Alec Bradley brand under Forged Cigar Company and would occupy one station alongside other Forged Cigar Company brands at PCA 2023. Alec Bradley would bring three releases, including a new core line and two limited-edition cigars. Representing the brand would be Bradley Rubin, the son of Alec Bradley founder Alan Rubin. The Cigar Coop Coalition team took the opportunity to present Bradley with the 2022 Cigar of the Year award for the Alec Bradley Fine & Rare BC-(13)4EV.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-q2W