In 2003, I took my first trip to Nicaragua and had the opportunity to meet the men of Casa Fernandez (Tropical Tobacco) that changed my appreciation of cigars forever. This was the first step in making a name for myself in this small, but very close knit industry. During my trip, I visited all aspects of the operation from seed to cigar. At this time I did not have the slightest idea when or how to brand my own cigar. The big names were the only ones doing any kind of manufacturing and branding.

Casa Fernandez was beginning a program for retailers and over the years, cigar companies have pushed retailers to have cigars made and labeled with a store brand. It sounded great, but I was not sure where to begin and frankly, I was skeptical. I had witnessed a handful of upstarts trying to get a brand going, but not with much success. Despite all of this, I still had that desire to create my own cigar. My time over the past ten years have been spent watching and listening to all those that came before me, understand the blending process, what to look for in peoples taste, and more importantly what tobacco company to stake my blending future with.

Cigar shop Omaha