Fuego & Barrica Insistence, Persistence, and Resilience
▶Bocock Brothers Cigars The Collegiate Spirit
▶ Carlos Castilllo Cigars & Co. A Renewed Tradition
▶ Cigars Doña Jisset Crossing Borders
▶ Loasiga Cigars
The International Market
▶ Vianto Cigars An Exclusive Smoke
Releases, Favorites, and Classics
SOTL Sommelier School…
The Voices of the Graduates, 66 Vol 6
▶Astute Gentleman Cigar and Barber Lounge A Worldclass Smoke Experience
▶ Bryson Fowler Weaving a Smoky Network
▶ The Black Cigar Festival Culture, Community, and Craft
The Distributor's Role in the Evolution of the Cigar Lounge Education, Hospitality, and Culture
Fuencarral # 78 A Madrid Story SOFÍA RUIZ
Master Habanosommelier
Belonging to the Tobacco Industry A Matter of Respect
Walking Stick Single Barrel A Mystery to Pair While Smoking MICHEL I. TEXIER
Guillen & Co. Premium Cigars
Meet the Family
With a DNA heavily laden with tobacco and tradition, a product of his creator’s Honduran and Nicaraguan heritage, Guillen & Co. Premium Cigars arrives on the market with a dedication to pleasure and enjoyment from a perspective as intimate as family.
RAÚL MELO
César Salinas Chávez
Director
Alberto Arizmendi
Editorial Director
GH L
Dominican Republic
Julio César Fuentes
Commercial Director
Honduras
Patricia Pineda
Rolando Soto
Roberto Pérez Santiago
Art Director
Raúl Melo
Publisher
Enrique Quijano
Style Correction
Moisés Licea
Web Master
Yoshua Segovia
Community Manager
COLLABORATORS
Argentina
Gastón Banegas
Canada
Nicolás Valenzuela Voss
Chile
Francisco Reusser
Christopher Sáez
Michel Iván Texier Verdugo
Colombia
Federico Londoño Mesa
Eduardo Márquez
Cuba
José Camilo López Valls
YEAR 1, ISSUE 17, SEPTEMBER 2025
Humo Latino Magazine reserves the right to reject unsolicited articles that contravene its thematic profile, as well as those that do not conform to its style standards.
The articles received will be approved in the first instance by members of the Editorial Board. We reserve the right to make changes or introduce modifications to the manuscripts, for the sake
of better reading comprehension, without this implying changing their content.
The authors are responsible for the content published under their signature. Humo Latino Magazine does not assume any responsibility for possible conflicts arising from the authorship of the works and publication of the graphic material that accompanies them.
@humolatinoglobal info@humolatino.com
Editorial Crossing Borders
The third issue of our print magazine, Humo Latino Dominicana, is now in circulation. It’s one of the latest ventures of our company, which is dedicated to producing specialized media for the tobacco industry’s supply chain. This publication, along with our electronic publications –Humo Latino Magazine, which will celebrate its fourth anniversary next month, and its English counterpart, Humo Latino Global– reinforces our goal of giving visibility to those who are entering, establishing themselves, or already hold a place of prominence in the Tobacco World.
As we’ve said before, we produce this print magazine with great enthusiasm from and for the Dominican Republic, thanks to the support of producers of emerging and boutique brands, as well as some larger companies and other entities. This allows us to reach more than 200 local locations every three months. But the results never cease to surprise us, as many producers from other countries have shown interest in being featured in its pages, eager to establish or strengthen their presence in the local market.
In parallel, they are also seeking to have the publication circulated in their own territories. As a result, we are now beginning a more formal distribution in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras, Canada, and the southern United States, specifically in Miami and Texas. Proof of this border-crossing was Humo Latino’s recent participation in the seventh edition of Fuego & Barrica, a steadily growing event held in the Honduran capital, as part of a working tour by our team.
In this issue, we present a travelogue, complemented by coverage of Fuego & Barrica and a cover story on Honduran Manny Guillén, who, despite living in Canada, launched his brand in this Central American country, where it is produced. We’re talking about people with deep roots in the land who –to paraphrase Mayra Urquía, the event’s organizer– know how to value the tobacco they obtain with hard work, transform with art, and enjoy with pride.
Cavalier Genève Lands in Puerto Rico with Entre Humos
Brian Motola, Vice President of Cavalier Genève Cigars; Candido Alfonso, President of Entre Humos; Athena Howle and Alianis, from Entre Humos San Juan; Liz Janice López, from Entre Humos and Cigars Island; André Gerena, from Entre Humos Palmas del Mar; George Hadweh, from Cavalier Genève Cigars, and Amadis Rosa, Vice President of Entre Humos.
After establishing an alliance with the renowned brand Cavalier Genève, Entre Humos has officially brought it to the Puerto Rican market since last December. The brand is now available in lounges, hotels, restaurants, and specialized stores, where it has quickly captured the attention of enthusiasts across the island.
Cándido Alfonso, founder of Entre Humos, states that this collaboration goes beyond simple distribution, explaining that “Cavalier isn’t just a cigar; it’s an experience. Through this agreement, we are presenting the brand in a way that reflects its artistry and passion, with the goal of it being recognized and appreciated by all cigar lovers.”
For his part, Brian Motola, a partner at Cavalier Genève Cigar Company, expressed that Puerto Rico is a market with a deep tradition of appreciating premium cigars, and the way they have embraced the brand is incredible. “Working with Entre Humos allows us to connect with the local community and continue growing in the right way.”
Over the next few months, Entre Humos and Cavalier will host a series of tastings, educational experiences, and events across virtually the entire island, so that enthusiasts can discover why this brand is one of the most distinctive in the premium cigar world.
For the cigar community in Puerto Rico, this alliance marks the beginning of a new stage, one that unites culture, craftsmanship, and innovation.
Arturo Fuente Arrives in San Miguel de Allende
In the heart of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato –whose Historic Center is a World Heritage Site– the Arturo Fuente Humidor & Terrace was inaugurated as part of the Cigar Society Private Smoking Club. This new space grants the Dominican company Arturo Fuente Cigars a place of honor, both in its facilities and in its offerings of a humidor characterized by its breadth and variety.
Alejandro Suárez Labastida, John Paul Garrido, Juan Bolívar Díaz and Mariano Azuela.
During the event on Saturday, September 13, Mariano Azuela, General Director of the Cigar Society MX group, said that the project took a year and a half to come to fruition. He thanked Alejandro Suárez Labastida, director of Cuesta Rey de México –a premium tobacco importer and distributor– “for bringing Arturo Fuente Cigars to our country,” where he has served as a brand ambassador for a couple of decades.
John Paul Garrido, Commercial Director for Arturo Fuente for Latin America and the Caribbean, explained that its inclusion in this space, while not an official cigar lounge, is the first collaboration of its kind, where events and activations will be held. He said that Carlito Fuente, Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors, feels a great affection for Mexico, which is one of 26 markets in the region where the brand is present.
“The company has solidified its position thanks to the prestige and legacy created by Carlito and his father, where quality is not a coincidence but the result of arduous work developed over the years. We are always grateful for the warmth and appreciation for the brand, and we eagerly await our future growth in the country,” he added.
Moments before the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mariano Azuela stated that Arturo Fuente Humidor & Terrace bears witness to the importance of the Dominican puro, the pinnacle of craftsmanship in the cigar world. “But it is also a bridge that strengthens the commercial and cultural relationship between Mexico and the Dominican Republic, two giants with vibrant souls and a shared passion for the good life, gastronomy, and spirits.”
For tobacco lovers, this place is also a tribute to conviviality and unhurried conversation; to the ritual of cutting and lighting a cigar, and to the sensory explosion that occurs when pairing a good spirit with a premium cigar.
“A place where business is done with candor, friendships are strengthened, and moments turn into important memories.”
In what he called the beginning of a great story, Mariano Azuela expressed gratitude for the presence of Juan Bolívar Díaz, the Ambassador of the Dominican Republic in Mexico, as well as the support of investors, the work team, and associates who understand the art of good living. He mentioned the sponsors SLabastida Cigars, Casa Dragones tequila, Grupo Moët Hennessy, mezcal La Santa, and Cava Sautto from La Castellana.
Insistence, Persistence, and Resilience
Fuego & Barrica
With seven years of history and born during the Covid-19 pandemic, Fuego & Barrica stands as an example of the life philosophy of Mayra Urquía, director of Royal Eventos and an event organizer. She maintains that insistence, persistence, and resilience are fundamental to achieving success and one’s dreams.
She is a dreamer with faith and hope who has always sought and seized the opportunities life has presented her. The second of seven siblings, she left home at an early age to start a proud life as a mother and wife.
She holds degrees in Marketing and International Trade, an MBA in Commercial Management, and various diplomas, including one in Defense and Security, as she stepped out of her comfort zone to explore other interesting areas of learning and study.
Mayra Urquía, Director of Royal Eventos and organizer of Fuego & Barrica.
During an interview with César Salinas, director of Humo Latino, she said that for the past 21 years, she has made event organization her life’s work, having produced nearly 500 events of all sizes and for all markets in different parts of the country and abroad.
Mayra began in the business after finishing her International Trade degree when she and a friend and partner at the time were invited by a school to organize an event. “Since I was a child, I was methodical; I was the family’s promoter and organizer. These people loved our way of working and our results. That’s how we started.”
FUEGO & BARRICA
“Insistent, persistent, and resilient” is how Mayra Urquía describes herself, and Fuego & Barrica is an example of this life philosophy. “In the midst of crises, you can strengthen yourself in many ways when you see adversity as an opportunity.”
Although it emerged during difficult times when many businesses remained out of service, especially within the event organization industry, she did not stop her creative nature in the search for new work opportunities for her company.
Interview with César Salinas, director of Humo Latino.
In the middle of the isolation, she contacted a friend from Danlí with the idea of being ready to do something related to the tobacco industry when restrictions eased. She did so with the idea of satisfying the natural need for social gathering among Latinos, making use of one of her most valuable assets: her contacts, which included wine and spirits brands, as well as audio, staging, and structural services, among others.
For that first edition, she arranged for the Intercontinental Hotel to provide a terrace, an ideal open-air space for organizing an event under the new guidelines imposed by health organizations, respecting capacity limits and the conditions to be considered due to the pandemic.
The result was the birth of a very special event, which only allowed 30 people to attend. They enjoyed live music, a cigar rolling demonstration, and pairings. “The capacity was limited, but there were more people outside the hotel who were interested in getting in. From there, the rest is history.”
According to Mayra, a larger space was later secured, accommodating a hundred guests and providing better experiences. Since 2022, however, the Hotel Honduras Maya has served as the venue, as it has a large pool area and open spaces ideal for the event’s continuity, consolidating Fuego & Barrica as a wonderful opportunity that was born in the midst of a crisis.
One of the event’s stages.
DEEP ROOTS
This last edition, which took place on Thursday, August 28, recalled the origins of the tobacco and mining industries, which forged the country’s identity, under the motto “Between smoke and mining, deep roots of our land.” Mayra recalled that Tegucigalpa was home to a mining hub that once strengthened the country’s economic development. For this reason, along with tobacco, “we pay tribute to what is extracted with labor, transformed with art, and enjoyed with pride.”
Hundreds of attendees had a sensory experience that took them –through an interactive panel– from the origins of each type of cigar to the different blends that compose them; their proper storage, cutting, and lighting; and the pairings needed for full enjoyment. Because a cigar reveals its richness third by third, accompanied by the warmth of an aged rum or the firmness of a good whiskey, the exquisite taste of a wine, and, of course, a high-altitude coffee.
The entrance simulated a mine.
Rivas, Corporate Manager of Marketing and Commercial Strategy for Banco de Occidente.
Along with Banco de Occidente, as the presenter; Royal Eventos, the organizer; and the Hotel Honduras Maya, the venue; the following participated: Carlos Castillo Cigars & Co. and its brands Bandido, Blue Blood, Smoking Rabit, and Abuelo Tomás; Joaquín Blanco, with a wide variety of lines under his eponymous brand; and Vianto Cigars, with “V,” Mehira, and its regular line, which includes three blends; Loaisiga Cigars, a Nicaraguan company that produces Infiel; and the Dominican company Doña Jisset, with Infinity Rose, La Doña, and La Diva.
Also present were The Cigar Lounge; Hondutabaco; Zacapa, Botran, and Flor de Caña rums; El Santo distillates; Crucillón, San Telmo, and A Felling For wines; La Casa del Ron; Distribuidora Istamania; Vivento, Premium Liquor Store; and Quartz Sparkling, a tonic and mineral water.
It was a 360-degree event with a central stage, surrounded by booths from various national and international brands that offered their products with special discounts, and through raffles, they gave personalized cigars to the guests. It was a festive day, enlivened with various shows, but it also made space for networking.
Among other sponsors and strategic allies were the exclusive brand Excel Automotriz BMW Honduras; the National Chamber of Tourism of Honduras (Canaturh); Cluster MICE Tegucigalpa; Canal 11 of Honduran television, the media partner; the national magazine GenteSur; Eventum; Expoferias; Vector, Digital Signage; Opinalia, event technology; Tapme, networking; and Publicorp, specialized print advertising.
Leonel
Finally, the event featured Pasta Bar; La Estancia Café y Cultura; Nudos, by Isabel; Índigo Pósters; and the startups Candelia, Home Decor; De Abolengo accessories, by Grace; and the chocolate company Atucún, all promoted by Banco de Occidente, in line with its corporate motto: “Supporting today’s small businesses to make tomorrow’s big ones,” as mentioned by Leonel Rivas, corporate manager of marketing and commercial strategy for this institution, which has positively impacted the country for seven decades.
A STANDOUT EVENT
Mayra has a special interest in boosting the convention tourism industry, and as a pioneer in tobacco events in Honduras, she has motivated and introduced more people to this passion, hoping that this will lead to the continued growth of Fuego & Barrica: a major event for the tobacco industry in her country, just as Procigar is for the Dominican Republic, Puro Sabor for Nicaragua, or the Festival del Habano in Cuba.
After the seventh edition, Mayra and her team have already begun working to give the brand a different feel. “This is an event that is going to transform into something different, but that is a surprise to be revealed later.”
If you have a dream, you have to try to make it happen in different ways until it works. “If I told you the ratio of effort to results from the first few editions, you’d laugh, but heading toward 2026 and the eighth edition, things are changing and dreams are coming true.”
In this way, Fuego & Barrica is set to make history hand in hand with Banco de Occidente, a financial institution that will celebrate a major anniversary in 2026 and will have the event as a centerpiece for its celebration. “Gratitude above all. They believed in me from the very beginning.”
If in 2025 Fuego & Barrica hosted brands from Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua, “what’s coming for the eighth edition is something incredible, a three-dimensional event.”
Bocock Brothers Cigars
The Collegiate Spirit
Bocock Brothers Cigars, a brand that began blending in 2012 and started expanding into the United States in 2019, enthusiastically participated in the 7th edition of Fuego & Barrica in Honduras, led by Bryant Bocock.
The brand’s distinctive hallmark is its partnership with American universities to create special edition cigars that celebrate each institution and its sports teams. Today, they work with ten universities and plan to expand to five more.
Among other tobaccos, their blends use leaves from Nicaragua, Mexico, and the Danlí region. Examples of this diversity include the Mexican San Andrés Figurado in their Championship Box, released for the University of Florida, as well as a Habano for Texas A&M.
Bryant shares that his lineage is connected to Louisiana State University (LSU), where his father studied in 1958 and which his family has made a tradition. The edition celebrating their most recent baseball championship even allows a baseball to be placed in the center of the box. They also have versions for the Gators, Wake Forest, Tulane, Syracuse, and more, and as proof of the brand’s growth, many of these have already been exported.
The idea of collaborating with universities was born from his passion for American football, which he
combines with Sundays full of grilling, hamburgers, and tobacco.
Their strategy is centered on connecting with alumni who are passionate about cigars. As a result, even though they have a presence in over 300 cigar lounges through their distributors in Texas, Florida, and Missouri, online sales are key, as graduates live in different states and can access their favorites regardless of distance.
Bocock Brothers Cigars’s participation in the event led to the Fuego & Barrica edition in Tela, created as a memento of a spectacular event. This seventh edition was another opportunity to celebrate the tradition, community, and passion that envelops every cigar, every university, and every story that Bryant and his team instill in their projects.
Bryant Bocock.
Carlos Castillo Cigars & Co.
A Renewed Tradition
In the framework of the seventh edition of Fuego & Barrica, held in Honduras, Carlos Castillo Cigars & Co. reaffirmed the momentum of a family tradition linked to tobacco since the late 19th century.
The company’s history dates back to Matilde Castillo, the founder’s greatgreat-grandfather, who was planting tobacco in Jamastrán around 1870. After decades of ups and downs in the industry, the family revived its legacy in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, giving life to the Carlos Castillo Cigars brand in honor of Carlos Castillo Valle, their grandfather, a pioneer in the livestock and agricultural sectors.
Today, the company is making its way beyond Honduras with a portfolio of six lines that include San Andrés, Connecticut, Habano, and Maduro
wrappers. Its cigars are already present in the United States, especially in Texas, Florida, and other parts of the southern region.
The brand offers everything from classic robustos to samplers and cigarillos, always with the intention of highlighting the existing quality of its country of origin. “In Honduras, tobacco is part of our DNA, of our culture,” says Carlos Castillo, reminding everyone that the product has even been the nation’s cultural heritage since 2016.
Regarding his participation in the event, where he led the brands Bandido, Blue Blood, Smoking Rabit, and Abuelo Tomás, he celebrated the organization and the atmosphere. “We are happy; everyone enjoyed it, and we hope to do it again next year.”
Carlos Castillo.
Cigars Doña Jisset
Crossing Borders
Jisset Amarante.
Making its debut at the seventh edition of the Fuego & Barrica event, Cigars Doña Jisset, a Dominican brand owned by Jisset Amarante, continues its steady advance toward conquering the international market.
“No one is a prophet in their own land,” she notes, and beyond her deep love for the Dominican Republic, she stands out as a woman who is always active and aware of who can support her growth. An example of this is her collaboration with her country’s embassies abroad to take her brand and her message to other places.
According to Jisset, within and outside the premium tobacco industry, many projects by women have existed and continue to exist that never make it to fruition, which is why she strives to be an example that it can be done. “There’s
a place for everyone in the industry. I started this business with the bare minimum, and even though at times I’ve wanted to throw in the towel, I’ve succeeded. Don’t be discouraged, because we women have the power to always move forward.”
Currently, Cigars Doña Jisset has La Diva, an exclusive line crafted in Panama, with which she debuted in the international market to expand her horizons and cross borders. She also maintains her La Doña and Infinity Rose lines.
She revealed that after experiencing the aromas and flavors of Honduran tobacco, she is already working on creating a special blend that will capture her experience in this Central American country following her participation in Fuego & Barrica, which included several memorable experiences in the fields and factories of Danlí.
Loaisiga Cigars
The International Market
José Ortega.
Infiel by Loaisiga Cigars made its second appearance at Fuego & Barrica with the conviction and vision that define a brand now reaffirming its success in Honduras. In the words of José Ortega, the company’s co-founder, an experience in Tegucigalpa confirms this: finding loyal smokers at the club, surprised to see the brand, and happily enjoying and repurchasing it.
What started as an ambitious proposal has become a consolidated project in several countries. The past year has been one of growth: they launched in Spain in January, a market that now includes more than 230 tobacconists; Germany became their second major European challenge; and Italy is on the verge of being finalized. Additionally, together with their Spanish distributor, they reach eleven more countries. InterTabac in Dortmund will be their next major stage.
September also marks their entry into the Dominican Republic, while Puerto Rico and Colombia remain in their sights. However, the most important step is the United States. In fact, on July 16, the brand began a new phase in the U.S. with the creation of the company Premium Cigars of Nicaragua, an LLC that will not only distribute Infiel but will also serve as a commercial platform for other brands that have placed their trust in the team.
Loaisiga Cigars is preparing two new lines for 2026, seeking to diversify its offering: one aimed at smokers of very highstrength cigars, and the second designed for the mass-volume segment, especially in the United States.
Gratitude is constant: on this occasion, for Mayra Urquía for organizing the event, and for the distributor who has “married” the brand. But most of all, for the consumers who return, repeat their purchases, and make the name Infiel their own.
Vianto Cigars
An Exclusive Smoke
Handmade in Danlí, Vianto Cigars represents the dedication that Vidal Antonio Montoya has poured into the premium tobacco industry in recent years, starting from scratch and always moving forward with a firm step.
Despite its short time on the market, Vianto Cigars and its blends with Connecticut, Habano, and Maduro wrappers have established themselves as a product associated with exclusivity, gradually penetrating the markets of New York and New Jersey in the United States, as well as some locations in Spain and, of course, Honduras.
According to Vidal Antonio, the reception of his cigars has been exceptional, which motivates him to continue participating
in an industry where Honduras is becoming an international leader. “I want to be number one in my country, and if possible, in the world. I am confident I can achieve it, as part of an industry that has high-quality materials and craftsmanship.”
He highlights the participation of women in this sector, from field work to the cigar making process inside the factories. But Vidal’s recognition goes beyond words; it’s reflected in the Emperatriz line, inspired by his wife, which offers a 7 x 50 cigar infused with cinnamon.
His impression of Fuego & Barrica is positive and fits his objectives perfectly. “I am thoroughly impressed, and we will definitely be back next year.”
Vidal Antonio Montoya.
THE HUMIDOR*
New arrivals, favorites, and classics.
(*) In alphabetical order.
Astute Gentleman, Medium
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano.
Binder: Nicaragua.
Filler: Nicaragua.
Size: Presidente, 7 x 50.
BAMF Cigars, 12 Gauge
Wrapper: HVA Habano Maduro and Connecticut at the foot.
Binder: Dominican.
Filler: Ligero Mejorado, Dominican Olor Ligero, and Seco Criollo '98.
Size: Robusto, 3.5 x 54.
Dissident, Rave
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut.
Binder: Ecuador.
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Pennsylvania Broadleaf.
Size: Box Press, 5.5 x 52.
Friend’s Cigars, Altitude
Wrapper: Maduro.
Binder: HVA.
Filler: Habano, Corojo, and Criollo.
Size: Toro, 5.75 x 54.
Gurkha, Nicaragua Colección Especial
Wrapper: Nicaragua.
Binder: Nicaragua.
Filler: Nicaragua.
Size: Toro, 6 x 54.
Konscious, Robusto Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano.
Binder: Nicaragua.
Filler: Nicaragua.
Size: Robusto, 5 x 52.
Lampert Cigars, Ocean Breeze Wrapper: Ecuadorian H. Criollo.
Binder: Undisclosed.
Filler: Undisclosed.
Size: Robusto, 5 x 54.
PDR, A. Flores Gran Reserva Premier Cru Corojo
Wrapper: Corojo 2006.
Binder: Dominican Olor.
Filler: Dominican Corojo and Nicaraguan Habano.
Size: Double Magnum, 6 x 60.
René Cigars, Julio IV Toro
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés.
Binder: Cuban.
Filler: Dominican Olor and Criollo '98.
Size: Toro, 6 x 50.
Tabacalera Esencia, Hierba Santa
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés.
Binder: Dominican.
Filler: Dominican.
Size: Toro, 6 x 54.
With a DNA heavily laden with tobacco and tradition, a product of his creator’s Honduran and Nicaraguan heritage, Guillen & Co. Premium Cigars arrives on the market with a dedication to pleasure and enjoyment from a perspective as intimate as family.
Manny Guillén.
Raúl Melo
With a DNA heavily laden with tobacco and tradition, a product of his creator’s Honduran and Nicaraguan heritage, Guillen & Co. Premium Cigars arrives on the market with a dedication to pleasure and enjoyment from a perspective as intimate as family.
Manuel Manny Guillén was born and raised in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. With a Nicaraguan father, specifically from Estelí, he has now resided in Canada for 20 years, a country where he developed his artistic side through architecture, before now making a leap into the premium tobacco industry.
DISCOVERING THE PATH
As the second of three sons and one daughter, Manny saw in his older brother that it was possible to walk the path of tobacco, as in 2009 he was the owner of Ópalo, a brand that, although it was more of a hobby, showed him that the adventure was possible.
From his childhood, he remembers his father filling every corner of the house with bandless cigars, while his maternal grandmother rolled her own. These circumstances soon led him to turn tobacco into a passion.
As part of the anecdotes that shaped him, he shares with Humo Latino the notes from his first smoke, a cigar from Yamales, El Paraíso, in Honduras. “I tried it, inhaled, and got sick. My grandmother corrected me and told me that you shouldn’t take a hit, as you do with cigarettes. She was a great aficionado and rolled her own cigars –a sort of Martha Stewart, with her cakes, gardening, and tobacco… always tobacco.”
At every opportunity, family vacations took place in Nicaragua or Florida, where migration had brought many of his cousins. With tobacco in his blood, visits to the tobacco lands of the neighboring country, and contact with Miami’s Latin culture –which is closely linked to cigars–Manny became an enthusiast and made the ritual of smoking a regular habit.
ART AND ARCHITECTURE
Drawn by the beauty of art, he always wanted to dedicate himself to creation. But aware that “art doesn’t always pay,” he found the perfect balance between sustainability and artistic expression in architecture.
As a hobby, he had dabbled in music and even painting, but on a professional level, architecture also provided technical aspects that added value in a different way than he would have obtained as a lawyer or a doctor, like his father.
Among other options, he also explored the idea of gastronomy, “but there was no passion there,” or civil engineering, a career his grandfather pursued: “but I’m terrible at math, so architecture fit everything and much better.”
Once he graduated, he experienced the difficulties of the job market, getting a job as an employee at a prestigious firm in Honduras, where the environment was not entirely pleasant. Drawn by the freedom that entrepreneurship provides, he sought to build a financial foundation that would allow him to become the owner of his own business.
For a time, he continued designing for others and even traveled to Panama, where for six months he dedicated himself to the construction of telecommunication towers. “It was a stage of learning about different styles, codes, and forms within the field; like a new university of life.”
In Toronto, Canada.
Later came the call to the northern part of the continent, where studying for a postgraduate degree broadened his horizons. “Canada is a land of many opportunities, and I felt it was the right place and time to try to start my own business.”
At 28, and with a partner by his side, Manny managed to found his company, a venture that continues to this day and from which he obtained the capital to enter the world of premium tobacco.
A CANADIAN BRAND, BUT VERY HONDURAN
After collecting cigar bands, tasting notes, and visiting various countries and factories, Manny decided to turn his hobby into a profession. Settled in Canada and fully immersed in the Tobacco World, he realized that unlike the United States, Canada did not have local brands. This situation, he believes, likely contributed to the proliferation of tobacco restrictions and a lack of lobbying against them with authorities.
This is how Guillen & Co. Premium Cigars was born: a brand with premium quality products, consistency, and smokes that tell a story with every puff –a name with which he not only plans to forge a presence in his country of residence but also in the United States, obviously Honduras, and on the global stage, emphasizing his roots in both Central America and Canada.
Settled in the North, Manny continued to enrich his palate with Cuban and New World tobaccos, but his curiosity went further, and he learned to roll his own cigars. “I’m not a master torcedor or anything like that, but with the tobacco you can get here –even though the pound is expensive– I can get by to make cigars for recreational purposes.”
The brand was born five years ago, and he dedicated the first three to selecting a manufacturing partner, as “that is the main concern for a brand owner,” he notes. His idea was to produce in Nicaragua with Honduran tobaccos, but after exploring close to a dozen options, he did not find a space that would allow him the creative freedom and total control over the blend he was looking for.
Finally, Manny discovered Fábrica Centroamericana de Tabaco (FCT) in Honduras –the home of Cavalier Genève Cigars– where he found a welcoming atmosphere and a high level of professionalism, in addition to the openness he was seeking to develop his project. “The tobacco business is very personal, and in the other factories, there wasn’t that vibe you need for creation.”
In late 2023, after a long process of trial and error, the blend was finalized, and the official production began the following year, followed by a rigorous aging process and the processing of corresponding licenses for Miami, Honduras, and Canada, with the support and guidance of a broker to reduce operational costs.
HOW TO ACHIEVE THE BLENDS?
Finding a space for creative freedom like FCT was one step in Manny’s process to venture into the premium tobacco industry, but behind it were many more that would, together, contribute to achieving the best possible results.
Every blend needs tobacco, ideas, and passion
Rodolfo Cáceres began in the industry as a tobacco apprentice at 19, and along the way, he had the opportunity to work and train at many of the most important tobacco companies in Honduras. Now, he is the master blender at Fábrica Centroamericana de Tabaco (FCT), located in Danlí and the producer of the Cavalier Genève brand.
He says that a master blender fundamentally needs raw materials –by this, he means quality and variety– but it is equally important “to have ideas and passion,” since translating a client’s desires into a blend is quite difficult. However, the right tobaccos will guide you until you arrive at what you have in mind.
In the case of Guillén & Co. Cigars, he remembers working with Manny. “We tried and tried… we took our time. He wanted tobaccos with aroma, flavor, notes, and everything a good cigar should offer. So, we started looking at the different cuts, and from there, we continued with the notes and strengths.”
Rodolfo is one of those who thinks working with tobaccos is like cooking and the leaves are the ingredients. “That’s why when you make something that people like,
Rodolfo Cáceres.
it’s a great motivation. It’s like in Manny’s case: we started with Honduran materials and began blending with Nicaraguan ones until we arrived at each of his blends.”
Honduran tobaccos, he continues, are exquisite, “great,” and are characterized by their earthy, peanut, and chocolate notes. But each one has its little something, and for example, the one from Jamastrán “is very noble and spectacular” because it blends with everything.
He speaks of Guillén with the same satisfaction with which he refers to Cavalier, which always presents a challenge because it is a large global brand and its legacy must be maintained. “Here, quality is above everything else… it’s an extraordinary world because every day you learn something, and that is precisely the task of the master blender.”
With the idea of founding his brand and some experience as a torcedor, he sought to understand how tobaccos worked. At this point, he knew what any aficionado knows, but he made the decision to smoke zero-grade leaves to learn the organoleptic characteristics of each variety, identifying nuances and verifying them in Honduras with the factory staff.
“Zero-grade is when you roll a small cigar using a single variety of leaf, to perceive its aromas and flavors without them interacting with anything else.”
With an idea of the blends and the “characters” they would represent within each cigar, Manny fully immersed himself in the creation of these blends, adding and removing leaves and varieties until he achieved the desired result.
“The Jamastrán Maduro wrapper is quite delicate; it doesn’t darken quickly and it needed a longer aging time in the pilon to achieve what we were looking for. The flavor was already there, but not the color. It was a process with the subtlety that characterizes the factory, which I appreciate.”
That long journey lasted between two and three years, which ultimately resulted in the Meet the Family series, a line created with the idea that a cigar is a character you socialize with and spend time with during important moments.
STORIES AND MOMENTS
Julio H., a Belicoso (6 x 50), honors his grandfather: an elegant, serious man who was proud of Honduras. It is a cigar crafted with a Jamastrán Maduro wrapper, with tobaccos from Olancho and Talanga for the binder and filler.
Argelia, a Toro (6 x 52), pays tribute to his grandmother. It is also made with tobaccos from Argelia, El Paraíso, Honduras, which provide a subtle, cinnamon-like spiciness that is very suitable for novice aficionados. In addition to a Honduran Connecticut wrapper, this cigar contains Dominican filler arranged in an open draw, for a creamy smoke.
El Legado (The Legacy), a Toro (6 x 52), expresses the essence of its creator. Made with a Corojo wrapper and tobaccos from Honduras and Nicaragua, it is a modern cigar of medium to medium-full strength, for experienced smokers.
This trio is joined by The Commuter Series, a Double Figurado with a Sumatra wrapper (4 x 60), designed for people without much time to smoke, and crafted to deliver the same experience and satisfaction as a Toro, but in half the time.
WAITING AND FEELING
In the premium tobacco industry, patience is fundamental. The processes are many, and time seems endless, but in the end, the rewards are often abundant. For Manny, the journey has been no different from the norm, but even though he is at the beginning of the trip, he already has a family proud of a project that frames his last name and his young children, ages four and seven, who are eager to continue a legacy that is just beginning.
Wrapped up in a long to-do list, he hasn’t had time to feel excited, as he has maintained a high level of dedication in designing the blends, cigar bands, and boxes, and everything needed to offer a new product from an industry outsider. He knows that success will come handin-hand with quality.
After a very satisfactory presentation in Honduras, supported by Jerko Cigar Lounge, he is confident that his products will be able to establish themselves relatively quickly, both in the local and Canadian markets, appealing to the national pride of having a brand that can compete internationally. “I’m not a maple leaf, but I’m well-acclimated to Canadian life, and I want to collaborate.”
In the future, Manny envisions having a presence in countries like Colombia, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Mexico, but the biggest target market, due to its volume, will be the United States, starting in the state of Florida.
Érick Fernández, David Maldonado, Manny Guillén, Jahir Jalil and Roberto Álvarez.
Elisa Oyuela, Manny’s wife, assisted in hosting the event.
The launch in Toronto, Canada, was organized in early September, positioning the Total Product Expo (TPE) Las Vegas 2026 as the next goal and moving forward with a firm step toward the possibility of also debuting during the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show in 2026 in New Orleans. “The idea is to do events and tastings, visit shops, offer promotions, and reach as many hands as possible to show that we are a product conceived in Canada and crafted in Honduras, with total quality.”
Knowledge
SOTL School of
The Voices of the
Is Power
of Sommeliers...
the Alumni, Vol. 6
The mission of the alumni from the Global SOTL Movement's Certified Cigar Master Sommeliers School is to foster a community by providing a platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and professional development.
This network allows them to connect with other cigar enthusiasts, as well as to meet and engage globally through the platform: https://www. sotlglobalmovement.com/sgmsommeliers
In addition to networking opportunities, SGM –in collaboration with Humo Latino– presents brief profiles of certified sommeliers, available in both Spanish and English, to spread the experience and passion of the graduates, who serve as inspiration for aspiring sommeliers.
Every two months, SGM organizes virtual tastings and exclusive networking events for alumni, featuring a special guest, and will provide the cigar to be tasted, if available in their country.
These meetings include guest speakers such as cigar brand owners, Master Blenders, and experts in various aspects of the tobacco culture. This gives alumni the chance to sample different cigars and learn about their origins, flavors, and pairing options, all from the comfort of their homes.
At the same time, it provides a space for graduates to connect, share experiences, and build relationships in a relaxed and enjoyable environment. Join the Global SOTL Movement to promote the value of the Sommelier Course and let’s continue to elevate, together, the knowledge for the appreciation of cigars!
CCST Robin Blue James
As the owner of BlueSmokeATL, an online business selling cigars and accessories, Robin Blue James presents herself within the premium tobacco industry as the proprietor of a very feminine company, which has been honored with a couple of awards for its unique and timeless designs of luxury jewelry, bracelets, and cigar picks for an elegant smoke.
For her, becoming a cigar sommelier was a natural path, given her passion for the industry and the culture surrounding it, and her attraction to the complex flavors and craftsmanship involved in cigar making. Now, after her graduation, she has deepened her knowledge, which she shares with those who are new to this sector.
Robin describes the Certified Cigar Sommelier program as a very comprehensive course, one that covers the history of cigars, their cultivation, fermentation, and processing, as well as the different types of formats and blends and the art of pairing them with drinks.
According to her, this knowledge is a series of things one might not think about when enjoying tobacco. In this sense, the certification becomes a tool that helps when you genuinely want to understand what you’re smoking: the filler, binder, and wrapper working as a whole.
As the owner of her own accessory brand, Robin found an excellent way to integrate into the community, connect with aficionados, and share her newfound knowledge at networking events, trade shows, and tastings, which can generate valuable relationships and opportunities in the industry.
CCST Paula KnightOsborne
Paula Knight-Osborne is a 53-yearold woman specializing in curating custom events within the premium tobacco industry. Through these events, she dedicates herself to creating unique experiences that combine enjoyment, education, and fun.
The owner of Fumee Chic Cigar Concierge and the organizer of the annual event The Midwest Cigar Lounge Crawl, she creates moments specifically designed for attendees to learn which cigars pair best with their favorite alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as with their meals, while taking a journey through the history of the smoke and learning how cigars are made, what makes them unique, and the proper etiquette for smoking them.
Paula was born in Missouri and is based in Grandview, a suburb of Kansas City –a city with a lively and expanding cigar scene where aficionados are increasingly drawn to a diverse range of offerings, from luxury lounges to family-owned shops. All of this fosters a sense of community, just as it does with the Kansas City Chiefs, the NFL team of which she is a fervent follower.
For her, her sommelier certification is a combination of education and fun, as well as a perfect opportunity to grow her passion for cigar culture by understanding the whys and hows behind them.
“A deep understanding of the cigar smoking experience inspired my goal of becoming a certified cigar sommelier. You should always strive to be the best at what you’re passionate about. Don’t you agree?”
She adds that while the program was not a “walk in the park,” once she was in it, she realized there was so much she didn’t know, such as the history of cigars, mastering the art of their presentation, and many other important topics for a deep understanding of all that and more.
Finally, she states that with her newfound knowledge, she now understands the background of cigars and can better share that information while conveying her enthusiasm. This also gives her the opportunity to better guide attendees at her events, helping them choose what best suits their palate.
In addition to guiding beginners on their pairings, she educates seasoned smokers on different ways to get the most out of their cigars and even advises them on how to savor each moment with elegance and pleasure.
Astute Gentleman Cigar and Barber Lounge
A Worldclass Smoke Experience
Behind one of three bookcases in a Dallas, Texas barbershop lies one of the most special spaces for premium tobacco lovers: the Astute Gentleman Cigar and Barber Lounge. This unique concept is owned by Jeffrey Worldclass Barber Davis, the innovative mind behind a business unlike any other in the Lone Star State.
As a barber, Jeff has over 40 years of barbering experience. A Milwaukee, Wisconsin native, he spent time in Sarasota, Florida before settling in Dallas 16 years ago. For the last 12 years, he has transformed the barbershop business into a truly different experience.
His story in the tobacco industry goes back to 2005, when, after his semi professional football career came to an end, he felt the need to find another hobby. He found it the moment he lit a cigar. “Cutting hair and playing football are the only two things I’ve ever really taken seriously in my life... and then came tobacco.”
His first cigar was a La Flor Dominicana 1992, a stick he selected because he was attracted to its distinctive silver band. “It wasn’t the best experience, but it didn’t stop me.”
From that time in Milwaukee, in a makeshift cigar lounge run by someone he knew, Jeff recalls training his palate after having a cigar with a high strength level for a beginner.
“Now I can smoke anything and even distinguish the different origins of the leaves in each cigar I try. Smoking is something I’ll continue to enjoy for the rest of my life.”
Jeffrey Worldclass Barber Davis.
CIGAR AND BARBER LOUNGE
In 2008, when he moved to Dallas, he wanted to do something different from what the barber industry was doing at the time, and cigars had to be part of it. First, he noticed that many nail salons included alcoholic beverages in their services by simply bundling the cost into the final price and offering the drinks as a “complimentary” perk.
Following that model, Sundays at the barbershop where he worked became an opportunity to enjoy a beer while getting a haircut and watching football on TV.
“In 2012, he graduated from cosmetology school, and the idea of staying an employee wasn’t an option. Given his training and experience, few were willing to pay him what he was truly worth—so he decided to start his own business.”
This is where Astute Gentlemen was born. The complimentary service continued, but this time with cigars he got from retailers like Thompson Cigars. “It continued to be a way to socialize on the weekends while getting your hair cut.”
Some time later, he met a cigar roller who promised to be a partner in the business he had in mind. But three months later, with the license and all the permits in his name, the person disappeared, leaving him with everything halfway completed. “That was 10 years ago, and here I am... God knows why he does things.”
Behind a bookcase in the barbershop, a speakeasy-style space is hidden, equipped with a full bar, six televisions, and a walk-in humidor. But what makes this place truly special is that you can smoke in both the lounge and the barbershop, and Jeff is the only person in the state of Texas who can do that.
“About four years ago, a state law was created that prohibits a barbers from operating within a cigar lounge. But since I was established before the law, I can continue to do it.”
THE CIGARS
Today, Jeff owns his own cigar brand under the same name as his barbershop, with lines crafted in the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. He created the first line in 2018, but it wasn’t until 2021 that he was able to bring his cigars to the United States due to the complications of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Dominican line was launched last year and has become one of the bestsellers in the lounge. It’s a cigar known as The Echelon, created by Joel Javier Paniagua in Santiago de los Caballeros,
and also a tobacco infuse bourbon of the same name that is served exclusively within the lounge. “To get the full pairing experience, you have to come here.”
The Astute Gentlemen Cigars line is crafted in Robusto, Toro, Torpedo, Salomón, and Presidente sizes, in addition to a 6x60, with wrappers of Connecticut Ecuadorian Shade, Habano Ecuador, and Nicaraguan Maduro.
The Echelon Cigar, meanwhile, features a Habano 2000 wrapper, a Criollo binder, and a Cuban and Dominican filler. It will soon be joined by a 4x70 named The Gentleman Finger.
Together with Joel, Jeff are working on purchasing a factory in the Dominican Republic as the next step to further his journey in the premium tobacco industry.
Bryson Fowler
Weaving a Smoky Network
Under the tutelage of his family in the roofing industry with combined experience of 30 years, Bryson Fowler found a passion in the premium tobacco industry that he enjoys to the fullest. In this world, he continues his work of building, but with a focus on weaving a network of support for the industry and all the businesses that accompany it, as well as for others, because for him, community and mutual support are vital for growth.
Bryson’s first cigar came around 2010, probably a Gurkha Legend or maybe a Ghost, but definitely a Gurkha. This stick was what started his passion, building a mature palate that evolved to enjoy other brands like The Ron Harper’s underrated by Luciano and even the Oliva Melanio Serie V, a cigar he has chosen as his go-to for celebrations due to its notes, aromas, and its ease of availability.
“I’ve had great experiences ever since, and I don’t think there’s such a thing as a bad cigar; it just might not be for your palate, or it had a poor storage process, but that’s it.”
Once immersed in the pleasure of tobacco, Bryson decided to create the podcast Bosstalks on the Rooftop, a space dedicated to conversation, community, and camaraderie while enjoying a cigar. He saw this activity as a way to give back a little to the community that has surrounded him. “Every business needs help getting its name out there. You can be the best at what you do, but if you don’t share it, it won’t work.”
In addition, through this show on YouTube, Bryson seeks to inspire the next generation to succeed in what they want to do, learning from his experience or from those who appear on his channel, a channel with open doors for everyone.
Here, he confesses that one day, guests related to the cigar industry started to become scarce, while the show was dedicated to an educational series about cigars, their pairings, cutting and lighting techniques, and other topics. “That’s when we opened up the scope to talk about other subjects and extend the network of support to finance, construction, etc.”
Bosstalks on the Rooftop has also been important for talking with champion athletes, who share their success stories as inspiration. “You don’t smoke cigars, you just puff, and the cigar industry is about celebration, relaxation, and meditation. It’s really common to find athletes enjoying this hobby with every championship.”
Bryson clarifies that the podcast is not for self-promotion, but rather to give a platform to colleagues and collaborators, and to show things that might seem inaccessible, like private aviation—which, he says, isn’t really that much. It’s simply a different way to travel. “It’s also about opening ourselves up to new audiences and sharing them with the businesses that host us or the guests who join us.”
During a conversation on the podcast three years ago, while looking to make a little extra money, the idea was born to have an accessory line. This idea would crystallize into Kingpin Luxury, a line of high-end accessories that meet the needs of the everyday smoker. “Everyone needs a lighter, so we started with a torch paired with a watch, because smokers need to know when it’s time for a smoke break.”
Bosstalks on the Rooftop, behind the scenes. HLG
In addition to this luxurious torch, the brand sells cutters, wine glasses, and tumblers, as well as t-shirts, sweatshirts, rubber shoes, and other accessories under the name Kingpin for men and Queenpin for women.
As a fun fact, the name comes from Bryson’s love for comics, especially villains like Kingpin from the Daredevil series.
We are here as part of a collaborative effort, trying to do business with other people so they also have the opportunity to build their own businesses and grow together on this journey.”
The Black Cigar Festival
Culture, Community, and Craft
Natasha Cruz-Sánchez
On September 13, 2025, cigar enthusiasts and culture lovers gathered at Cigar International in Conroe, Texas for the Black Cigar Festival (BCF) –an event designed to celebrate not only the art of the cigar, but also the richness of culture, community, and connection.
The atmosphere was electric: food trucks serving local favorites, a soundtrack curated by DJ SirJay Boogie, and the unmistakable aroma of fine cigars swirling in the air. Whether you came with friends or walked in alone, one thing was certain –you left with new connections.
THE ORGANIZERS’ VISION
At the heart of this gathering is Quentin Adams of Beaumont, TX, one of the festival’s key organizers. A cigar smoker for eight years and now deeply involved in the community, Quentin joined the BCF team in 2023 after being inspired by its founder, Eros, who launched the festival in 2019.
For Quentin, this isn’t just about cigars –it’s about commerce, opportunity, and inclusion.
“Most minorities don’t have access to this industry. We welcome everybody, but we also don’t want to exclude anybody. It’s about opening doors for everyone.”
Looking ahead, Quentin hopes to expand BCF beyond local borders –first statewide, then nationwide– and eventually build connections with tobacco growers around the world. His vision is to integrate the entire supply chain, from leaf to lounge.
EXPERIENCES THAT ELEVATE
The Black Cigar Festival isn’t just about lighting up. It’s about elevating the cigar experience through creativity, education, and lifestyle pairing.
Danita of The Fenix Experience
Based in Houston by way of North Carolina and Virginia, Dani bridges the world of painting and cigars. For six years, she has hosted paint parties as a form of therapy. Now, she merges that energy with cigar culture.
“Painting is therapeutic and the cigar world is all about relaxation, so it seemed like a natural fit. It’s therapy through art –people feel good and don’t even realize it.”
Hattie’s Hand-Rolling Classes
From Houston, Hattie brings the ancient art of cigar rolling to life. Her journey began with a celebratory smoke she didn’t initially enjoy, until she discovered the right cigar. Now, she not only smokes but teaches the craft of rolling.
Corey Sneed, co-founder of Friend’s Cigars.
“The cigar has always symbolized relaxation and celebration. Learning to roll gave me a deeper connection to what I was smoking –to the history, culture, and artistry behind every cigar.”
MORE THAN A FESTIVAL
BCF is more than a festival –it’s a cultural movement. It brings together a diverse community where cigars become symbols
of affluence, power, art, and unity. For the Black community in particular, it creates a space to embrace tradition while building new opportunities.
As the festival grows, its purpose remains clear: celebrate cigars, foster connections, and elevate experiences. Whether through pairing tastings, hand-rolling workshops, or painting sessions, BCF proves that the cigar lifestyle is about far more than smoke –it’s about culture, connection, and legacy.
The Distributor’s Role in the Evolution of the Cigar Lounge
In the world of premium tobacco, a cigar lounge is not the same as a cigar shop. The shop completes a transaction; the lounge, on the other hand, creates a space where the cigar is the focal point of a social experience that blends culture, conversation, and pairings.
A lounge that transcends the sale builds community and legacy.
A STRATEGIC PARTNER
For a lounge to thrive, it needs more than just inventory; it needs a strategic ally: a visionary distributor who doesn’t just deliver boxes but provides business support, staff education, shared marketing, and exclusive events that transform its space into a cultural destination.
MUTUAL TRUST: THE FOUNDATION
An essential aspect is compliance with tobacco laws. The distributor-importer ensures that every product complies with tax payments and all current labeling and import regulations. This protects the consumer, provides transparency to manufacturers, and builds trust for the lounges, hotels, and restaurants that incorporate premium tobacco into their offerings.
The responsible distributor protects the consumer, the manufacturer, and the lounge equally.
THE VIRTUOUS CYCLE
This model generates benefits for everyone:
▶The lounge achieves healthier margins and customer loyalty.
▶Brands gain an active and premium showcase.
▶The consumer enjoys an authentic and safe experience.
PUERTO RICO, AN EXAMPLE
In Puerto Rico, Cigars Island reflects this vision. More than a distributor, it has become a partner for cigar lounges, smoke shops, hotels, and restaurants, offering curated portfolios, special activations, and education, all while ensuring full compliance with the law.
The future of the industry will depend on these intelligent alliances, because a lounge that relies on a committed distributor doesn’t just sell cigars: it builds culture, community, compliance, and legacy.
Fuencarral #78
A Madrid Story
Sofía Ruiz Master Habanosommelier
Our daily lives are something we often take for granted. The alarm rings every morning, and we’re ready to get breakfast, shower, and head off to work, repeating this at least five days a week. In this “normality,” we could walk down Fuencarral street and, if we added the #78 (Centro, Madrid), we’d simply pass by, unaware that this very spot commemorates –and in a way, preserves–over 500 years of Madrid’s history.
So, I decided to set my responsibilities aside and unravel this city, which I now also hold in my heart. Along with a great friend, I explored the Museum of the History of Madrid during an afternoon that transformed into a time of learning, conversation, and good smokes –moments that require time and aging, like a Habano.
Behind the baroque facade of what was once the Hospice of Madrid, this art gallery was established in 1929 as the Municipal Museum to document the life of the Spanish capital between the 16th and 20th centuries, although I would dare to say it extends to the present day.
The first approach seemed a bit reflective to me, because instead of the city’s beginnings, as we passed the reception desk, we found a pictorial exhibition that reflects the thoughts, customs, and includes characters who shape today’s society. The fun, anecdotal part was immediately finding Brays Efe, who brings Paquita Salas to life, my favorite Spanish comedic character who can be your best friend when you just want to laugh and blame life for your troubles.
Paquita Salas.
On the first level, a series of historical maps from the 18th to the 20th centuries are displayed, by renowned cartographers such as Nicolás de Fer, Tomás López, and Núñez Granés, showing the evolution and urban growth of the city.
A fun fact is that in the early 15th century, the seat of government was not in Madrid, which was a small town with little development. The decision to make it the capital of the Monarchy was made by King Felipe II, who considered,
among other reasons, the abundance and purity of its water, the large number of existing flour mills, and its proximity to El Escorial, whose construction was of great importance to him.
As our conversation, historical facts, and my friend’s lessons on the Bourbon dynasty progressed –enriching moments that forge bonds between people– we came across a model created in 2000 by Juan de Dios Hernández and Jesús Rey, at a scale of 1:1250 (which is 1,250 times
Maps showing Madrid’s urban growth.
smaller than the original), representing Madrid in 1656.
Following the ten blocks that make up this floor, through the oil paintings, we got to know the streets, squares, palaces, orchards, and the life of the aristocracy of other times, when the sun determined the length of the day. Not like now, when we can extend our activities for 24 hours, order food at home in the early morning, or go out to enjoy our favorite cigar on a terrace. Is that why we live so fast?
If you visit this museum, I recommend you don’t miss the oil painting next to the main model of Madrid, which shows a frontal view and every detail of a majestic garden. I associated this image and the feeling it gave me with a Montecristo Open Regata, so every time I light one, I will connect with this moment, without needing to see the painting. Because in the end, life is all about feeling.
On the ground floor, the area called “Village, Court, and Capital of Two Worlds” spans the 16th to 18th centuries, and different paintings show the transformation of the capital city. There are portraits of the monarchs of the House of Austria, their residence the powerful Alcázar, and a very special work about my favorite place in Madrid: the Plaza Mayor, where Juan de la Corte captured the “game of jousting” (an equestrian spectacle). Also, The Return of the God Manzanares to the Casa de Campo, by the painter Félix Castello.
But among the stories in this museum, my favorite is the one I saw on TV when I was 13: the wedding of King Felipe VI and Leticia –which might be the seed of my curiosity for this country– as part of the reigning house to this day. In fact, the 18th century coincided with the arrival of the Bourbon dynasty, which initiated an urban transformation to turn the city into a setting worthy of a modern European monarchy.
Festival in Plaza Mayor for the wedding of the Prince of Wales, by Juan de la Corte, 1662.
A section of the Casa de Campo garden, by Jerónimo de Algora.
A series of portraits guides you past those who have worn the Spanish crown, accompanied by collectible objects from the monarchy, such as porcelain, La Granja crystals, tapestries, and for all bullfighting fans, some models of the first bullrings.
At the end of this room, a portrait of José Bonaparte, Napoleon’s brother and better known as Pepe Botella because of his fondness for drinking, awaits us; an anecdote shared by my charming Spanish friend Cecilia, who always has some curious fact about her country at hand.
Pepe Botella was the last emperor and
Rooms from the 19th century.
practically fled to France in 1813, when Napoleon recognized Fernando VII as the legitimate king.
This era of the Spanish War of Independence, when the people of Madrid rose up against the French troops on May 2, 1808, is remembered in the painting Allegory of the City of Madrid, by the great painter Francisco de Goya, and in the satirical prints of the aforementioned Pepe Botella.
The last floor greeted us with a curious sight: among the paintings mounted there, we found one of the newly completed Cibeles fountain, still with
The Allegory of the City of Madrid, by Francisco de Goya.
dirt streets and horse-drawn carriages –another moment to remember with good smokes. Without art, we couldn’t compare that image with the current state of one of the most visited monuments and a city landmark. Who would think of horses, when today electric cars are circling the fountain?
This space, named “The Dream of a New City,” allows you to journey through Madrid from 1814 to 1900. From the popular struggle to the arrival of a late industrial revolution, the images include postcards and photographs that coexist with models, such as the Teatro Real, and some traditional costumes with
mantillas. We contemplated paintings by Joaquín Sorolla, Aureliano de Beruete, and Ricardo Baroja, influenced by the use of light and color from Impressionism.
Infused with the spirit of Madrid and feeling a bit hungry, we sought refuge in an area as Spanish as jamón serrano. In a nearby street off Plaza del Sol, we ordered a cider and a vermouth, lighting up the afternoon with the Montecristo Regata, with its spicy notes and smoky flavors. In each third, this medium-strength Habano served as a “smoky tapa,” framing this connection that made us feel alive on the streets of Madrid.
Belonging to the Tobacco Industry
A Matter of Respect
CÁNDIDO ALFONSO*
There are industries built on strategies, business plans, and sales projections. This is not one of them. You don’t just enter the tobacco industry; you honor it. From the farmer who plants the seed to the customer who lights their cigar in a lounge, we are all part of something larger than ourselves: a wheel that has been turning for centuries, one that represents history, culture, and legacy.
One can enter through many doors. Some come with their boots full of dirt, tending to each leaf under the sun and rain. Others enter from a torcedor’s table, with calloused hands, feeling every vein of the leaf. There are also those who open a lounge to offer a space for enjoyment, those who distribute with care, and those who put their name on a cigar band. But arriving is not the same as belonging. Belonging implies something more: respect.
Respecting tobacco means understanding that nothing we do is new, that this leaf, so delicate when it dries, has been a symbol of resilience for centuries. It has passed through the hands of kings and peasants, been present at peace treaties and in times of war; it has been both a luxury and a necessity. Tobacco is not just a product: it is a witness to history.
And in this industry, anyone who enters looking only for financial success is doomed to frustration. Tobacco does not respond to haste, greed, or improvisation. It responds to patience, commitment, and, above all, a love for the craft. Here, instant results are not manufactured; processes are cultivated that require years, sometimes decades. It is not only the leaf that lives through the aging process: so does the soul of the person who works with it.
I have known farmers capable of reading the land and anticipating the harvest, torcedores who can recognize a perfect blend by touch alone, lounge owners who know how to build atmospheres where time stands still, and distributors who would not dare to sell something they don’t believe in. All of them, regardless of their role, are tiny pieces of an immense machine, and that is precisely the beauty of this world, in which there are no protagonists, but rather custodians.
At Entre Humos, we understand that being part of the tobacco industry is not a business; it is a commitment. Every box we deliver, every recommendation we give, every event we organize is done with the awareness that we are upholding a legacy that began long before us and that, if we do it well, will continue long after.
For this reason, one must approach tobacco as one approaches an altar and treat it with the respect with which one speaks to a grandfather. Because it is not a trend, it is culture; it is not a commodity, but living history.
To belong to this industry is to accept that you will be but a single note in a symphony that has been playing for
centuries. And if you are lucky, that note will resonate with dignity, with passion, and with the humble pride of having served something eternal.
* Founding Partner of Entre Humos: Lounges, Online, Retail, Puerto Rico.
COMPANY: The Founders Company (likely Sazerac Corporation).
DISTILLERY: Barton 1792 (presumably).
ABV: 45% (90 proof).
AGE: NAS.
MASHBILL: Undisclosed.
COLOR: Faint caramel, dry straw.
Michel I. Texier
Walking Stick is something of a mystery, as the brand has no website and the information on its labeling is quite opaque. Online research by bourbon connoisseurs indicates that Walking Stick Single Barrel is likely distilled by Barton 1792 but bottled and sold by Buffalo Trace, both of which are owned by Sazerac Corporation. The back label indicates that it is “Bottled by the Founders Company, Louisville, KY,” which is a name registered to Sazerac/ Buffalo Trace as a “ghost company.”
NOSE: The aroma is subtle, with prominent notes of pear and peach, and hints of other fruits and a touch of corn syrup. Notes of caramel and oak are clearly distinguishable, and what’s striking is that despite the presence of caramel, the sweetness seems to come primarily from the peach notes.
PALATE: The very fruity nose prepares us for a complex and varied palate. However, only the characteristics provided by the barrel are clearly noticeable, with the presence of caramel, oak, and a slight hint of vanilla. There is little complexity and a general sense of sweetness, with a light and non-intrusive texture.
FINISH: The finish is surprisingly smooth, and its main characteristic is a lack of complexity. However, a brief and potent burst of black pepper appears, making it ideal for pairing with intense tobaccos of a mineral terroir. The subtlety of its notes does not overpower the characteristics of the tobacco, making it highly recommended for smokers who enjoy bourbon as an accompaniment.
COMMENTS: While it is marketed as a Single Barrel, it lacks the individual character that is typical of releases of this type.
It is likely that its production uses barrels from Barton that do not meet the higher standard of the Single Barrel editions that Buffalo Trace typically releases, and for this reason, this “ghost company” is used for its labeling, omitting more information.
In fact, the product’s color suggests less interaction between the liquid and the barrel and makes it difficult to estimate a minimum age for the final bottling.
It is also possible that for its production, they use barrels with lower toasting levels and release it to the market as a way to gauge public reaction to this presentation, without risking the company’s name openly. In my opinion, it is a distinctive product, suitable for savoring with tobacco and, as a good friend says, “right up my alley.”
The Secret of Widow Jane…
Gonzalo Romero @gorosacigar
This story began in the early 1970s, among the old buildings and cobblestone streets of the industrial suburb of Red Hook, Brooklyn, home to the Widow Jane distillery. Here, master distiller and blender Sienna Jevremov, along with Michele Clark, have dedicated themselves to developing small-batch productions of high-quality whiskeys that have become highly distinguished within the world of American whiskeys.
Widow Jane emerged from the depths of the Rosandale mine, where they source mineral-rich, alkaline water –the result of a limestone filtration process deep within the mine. When used in distillation, this water results in a whiskey with a more intense, sweet, and smooth flavor.
The blend I’m sharing with you this time is hand-assembled in Red Hook, Brooklyn, using five different bourbons made in Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee. It is aged for ten years, is non-chill filtered, and has an alcohol by volume of 45.5 percent.
Appearance: A bright reddishamber liquid with well-defined legs. On the nose: Notes of caramel and light herbal notes. On the palate: Vanilla and caramel notes, with a caramel and smoky finish.
Although the distillery has been the subject of criticism for its processes, Widow Jane’s labels have allowed it to move forward with small-batch expressions of great flavor, re-embracing old techniques to combine the best American whiskeys.
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