The very last interview we did before walking off the IPCPR trade show floor for the last time was with Nick Melillo of Foundation Cigars. And it’s a doozy- so buckle in, grab a drink and light up a cigar. A lot of people talk about having a busy show, but the Foundation booth was […]
IPCPR 2017: Bombay Tobak
We caught up with Mel Shah, owner of Bombay Tobak on the last day of IPCPR to see what’s new and how the show went. He tells us it was a busy trade show. The highlight of the show for them was the Gaaja Robusto (5 x 54) line extension. It retails for $12.50, plus […]
IPCPR 2017: J.C. Newman
While I was off doing who-knows-what for a moment, Justin took the tour of the J.C. Newman booth at IPCPR this year. Monica Foster shows us the new Julius Caeser Corona (5 1/2” x 43) line extension (MSRP $9.75), the box-pressed Perla Del Mar Maduro line (MSRP ~$6), the new Brick House Connecticut (MSRP $5.80 […]
IPCPR 2017: Herrera Esteli
On last day of IPCPR we alway make the rounds one last time in hopes of grabbing some time with people we’d missed. One of those people was Willy Herrera, the man behind Herrera Esteli. After some quick banter, Willy gets us back on track by telling us about the new Pappy Van Winkle Tradition, […]
IPCPR 2017: Hand Rolled: A Film About Cigars
One of the most interesting interviews we did at IPCPR was with Jesse Marriut and Steve Gherebean, two of the people behind a documentary about the cigar industry called Hand Rolled: A Film About Cigars. Pete Johnson told us about the project, and was kind enough to give us a spot in the Tatuaje booth […]
IPCPR 2017: La Palina
On the last day of IPCPR 2017 we stopped by to talk to Bill Paley about the latest in the world of La Palina. Based on our conversation with him at last year’s trade show, we weren’t surprised to hear La Palina was bringing a several new lines to the market. The first of the […]
IPCPR 2017: EP Carrillo
We always enjoy talking to Jose Blanco, this year at IPCPR 2017 we caught up with him in the EP Carrillo booth. He tells us Dusk and La Historia are flying off the shelves and the new Short Runs (Nicaragua and 2016) are selling well too. And despite lower attendance, EP Carrillo’s sales numbers are […]
IPCPR 2017: Southern Draw
It was a challenge carving out a little time to speak to Robert Holt of Southern Draw at IPCPR 2017. His uniquely cozy patio-like booth was always full of people either doing business or relaxing. Probably a little of both. We start our chat with the Jacob’s Ladder, Southern Draw’s new double maduro, double ligero […]
IPCPR 2017: Island Lifestyle Importers (And Giveaway)
We dropped by the Island Lifestyle Importers booth again this year at IPCPR to talk to Ryan Frailing about cigars and the latest Tommy Bahama-themed accessories. He tells us that last year was really a soft launch of their product lines to brick and mortar retail shops around the country. This year it’s game on. […]
IPCPR 2017: Cornelius & Anthony
Picking back up with our IPCPR 2017 coverage after a short intermission last week, we talk to Steven Bailey of Cornelius & Anthony. Since this is our first time talking to him, he gets us started with a little company background. His family has been growing tobacco in southern Virginia since Cornelius Bailey planted his […]