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The podcast features an interview with Skip Martin, who discusses his background, the development of his cigar company, and his philosophy on the cigar industry. Personal Background and Entry into Cigars: Skip Martin grew up in Dallas, Texas, played baseball, and later served on a submarine in the Navy during the Cold War. After his service, he worked in finance in Chicago and later moved to Round Rock, Texas, where he worked at Dell for 15 years. He discovered a passion for cigars while in the Navy and later developed relationships with cigar retailers like Chad Chadburn and Diana Silvius Gits, who helped shape his understanding of the industry. Building a Cigar Business: Martin and his partner, Mike Rosales, started a cigar brand, Roma, in 2010 and established a factory in Nicaragua in 2012. He emphasizes that his entry into the industry was strategic rather than accidental, noting that he wanted to stay connected to the craft of cigar-making rather than focusing solely on sales. His "blue ocean" business strategy focuses on value innovation, putting money into high-quality tobacco rather than advertising or expensive packaging. Industry Philosophy: Friction as a Strategy: Martin describes a strategy of creating "friction" to filter for truly interested customers, encouraging them to learn more about the products and the industry. Building Cigar Smokers: A central theme of his approach is the responsibility of retailers to cultivate "cigar smokers" by educating them and helping them progress in their appreciation for cigars. Factory Operations: Martin discusses the nuances of factory operations in Nicaragua versus the Dominican Republic, emphasizing the importance of doing things the "right way"—such as ensuring quality through rigorous steps—even when it is difficult. Targeting Retailers: He prefers to partner with smaller, owner-operated retail accounts where he can be a core brand, rather than relying on top-tier distributors that might demand high costs and aggressive marketing.

Neanderthal, CroMagnon, Intemperance, Maestranza, and others. RoMa Craft is known for high-quality tobacco, premium cigars, and not charging an arm and a leg for them. Ever wonder what goes into determining a cigar’s cost? Learn Cigar Econ 101 and more with Skip Martin, co-founder of the RoMa Craft Tobac. Skip and his business partner, Mike Rosales, started RoMa Craft in 2010 and established a factory in Nicaragua in 2012. Episode features: Co-Founder, Skip Martin. Interview by Boveda’s Box Press Hosts Nate Beck and JP Awad. What is Boveda? Boveda patented 2-way humidity control for storing premium cigars. Aging cigars with Boveda is the easiest and most effective way to preserve their quality, flavors, aroma, and integrity. By maintaining the ideal humidity, Boveda prevents mildew in a cigar humidor while also protecting cigars from drying out. With Boveda in your cigar humidor, you'll enjoy full flavor and a perfect smoke from every cigar. Looking for the best cigar humidor? The Boveda Humidor reimagines traditional cigar care by removing the guesswork and maintenance. Simple. Elegant. Precise. Your only task is to enjoy. #LoveYourCigars #boveda Learn more about storing cigars with Boveda, click here for emails : https://hubs.la/Q01BLsBF0

Jon Huber (Crowned Heads) & Pete Johnson (Tatuaje Cigars) | Live From PCA 2026

10-Year Anniversary: Melillo discusses the 10-year milestone of Foundation Cigars, noting the challenges and intense workload involved in building the brand. He highlights his limited-edition 10-year anniversary cigar, a 7x58 Salomon, and expresses gratitude for the industry's support throughout his decade-long journey. Historical and Spiritual Research: Melillo shares his long-standing fascination with Ethiopian history, the royal family, and ancient texts like the Book of Enoch and the Garima Bible. He links this interest to his broader philosophical questions about life and humanity, noting that these pursuits share a sense of depth similar to his approach to cigar making. Industry Dynamics and Personal Work Ethic: The conversation touches on the camaraderie within the cigar industry and the demanding nature of running a company. Melillo admits to being a perfectionist and his own harshest critic, explaining that he aims to provide an exceptional experience for consumers rather than seeking personal accolades.

Limited Exposure Series: Enrique introduces The Matilde Limited Exposure series, a concept designed to offer exclusive, limited-production blends without being limited in time. Each release, numbered sequentially, utilizes different color themes inspired by nature and tropical fauna, such as the Number 1 (Red Orchid), Number 2 (Lilac), and the latest, Number 3 (Green Cotorra). The Number 3 blend is a 50/50 combination of Dominican and Nicaraguan tobacco, a departure from their traditional 80/20 Dominican-focused blends. Legacy and Homage: Enrique discusses the "Par Jose Seijas" cigar, created to honor and thank his father, Jose Seijas, a renowned figure in the tobacco industry. The brand supports the Parkinson's Foundation in the Dominican Republic, as Jose suffered from Parkinson's disease. Rebranding and New Directions: Enrique is rebranding and relaunching the "Seijas" family brand, which he successfully reacquired after his father's passing. This new stage involves the establishment of the "Pineapple Cigar Factory," a small-scale facility named for a term his mother used to describe their tight-knit family unit. Industry Collaboration: The conversation emphasizes the importance of community and loyalty within the cigar industry, celebrating the contributions of everyone from growers to designers. Enrique shares his personal journey and the balance he maintains between his family in Santo Domingo and his work in Santiago. Future Outlook: Enrique looks forward to involving his own children in the family business, hoping to pass down the same passion he developed while growing up in the factory.

Meeting and Relationship: Robert Caldwell and Matt Booth have known each other for approximately 14–15 years, having first met in Honduras. They describe their friendship as intimate and non-traditional, noting that they have traveled together and met in various cities like Paris and Los Angeles outside of the cigar industry. The "Room 101" Name and Brand Philosophy: Matt Booth explains that the name "Room 101" is a nod to George Orwell’s 1984. He views the brand as a champion for the creative spirit and individual expression against the pressures of conformity. Booth launched Room 101 in 2003 with hand built jewelry and fashion before expanding into cigars. Industry Perspectives: Both speakers acknowledge their roles in the cigar industry while noting that they are both independent spirits. They discuss the industry's shift in perception regarding 60-ring gauge cigars, noting that while once considered "big" and less expensive, they are now normalized and demand premium pricing. Both highlight the importance of their respective factory partners—such as William Ventura in the Dominican Republic—in maintaining quality and consistency in their blends. Creative Processes and Lifestyle: The speakers discuss their personal interests, including Booth's jewelry making and his background in the Marine Corps. Caldwell and Booth reflect on their personal lives, including traveling with their families and their preference for living active, non-traditional lifestyles. Future Outlook and Collaboration: Both have sold their companies—Caldwell to an undisclosed buyer and Room 101 to Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG)—but continue to consult and blend for their brands. They express a continued passion for blending, with Booth mentioning he has a "hopper" full of potential future blends.

Ferio Tego and Storytelling: Michael Herklots discusses his philosophy of viewing cigar brands as "albums" and blends as "stories." He emphasizes that a meaningful story must be repeatable and compelling. Herklots highlights the Metropolitan 30th Anniversary limited edition cigar as a way to honor the legacy of the Metropolitan Selection. Industry Advocacy: Herklots reflects on his transition from a long-time retail career to his current role as a brand owner. He notes that despite being "deliberate competition" now, he remains committed to advocating for the cigar industry as a whole, maintaining strong relationships with peers and other manufacturers. The Nature of the Cigar Industry: The conversation touches on the "family" aspect of the industry. While acknowledging that business is competitive, the speaker stresses the genuine mutual respect and shared passion that exists among those in the room. Consistency and Challenges: Herklots discusses the vulnerability inherent in their craft, noting that every cigar is handmade and essentially a "live performance" each time it is lit. He emphasizes the importance of consistency and delivering quality products over the "non-stop drum beat of new stuff". Future of the Industry: Addressing the challenges of regulation and taxation, Herklots expresses optimism, stating that the industry is stronger and more durable because of the battles they have fought together.

Behind every exceptional cigar brand is a story—at La Flor Dominicana (LFD), that story was written by the Gomez family. ABOUT THIS EPISODE: Episode features: Founder, Litto Gomez Sr. and his sons, Litto Jr., and Tony. Interview by Boveda’s Box Press Hosts Nate Beck and JP Awad. Founded by Litto Gomez and nurtured alongside his wife Ines, LFD is a family legacy built on passion, resilience, and an uncompromising commitment to excellence. Today, Tony and Litto Jr. also play an integral role furthering the vision—blending tradition with a fresh perspective to ensure that the brand remains bold and innovative. What is Boveda? Boveda patented 2-way humidity control for storing premium cigars. Aging cigars with Boveda is the easiest and most effective way to preserve their quality, flavors, aroma, and integrity. By maintaining the ideal humidity, Boveda prevents mildew in a cigar humidor while also protecting cigars from drying out. With Boveda in your cigar humidor, you'll enjoy full flavor and a perfect smoke from every cigar. Looking for the best cigar humidor? The Boveda Humidor reimagines traditional cigar care by removing the guesswork and maintenance. Simple. Elegant. Precise. Your only task is to enjoy. #LoveYourCigars #Boveda Learn more about storing cigars with Boveda, click here for emails: https://hubs.la/Q01BLsBF0

Two pillars of the premium cigar industry. One conversation you don’t want to miss. #LoveYourCigars In this episode, we sit down with Joya de Nicaragua and Quesada Cigars to talk about legacy, collaboration, and what happens when Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic come together in the world of premium cigars. Episode features: Joya de Nicaragua's Juan Martinez and Quesada Cigars' Raquel Quesada. Interview by Boveda’s Box Press Hosts Nate Beck and JP Awad. What is Boveda? Boveda patented 2-way humidity control for storing premium cigars. Aging cigars with Boveda is the easiest and most effective way to preserve their quality, flavors, aroma, and integrity. By maintaining the ideal humidity, Boveda prevents mildew in a cigar humidor while also protecting cigars from drying out. With Boveda in your cigar humidor, you'll enjoy full flavor and a perfect smoke from every cigar. Looking for the best cigar humidor? The Boveda Humidor reimagines traditional cigar care by removing the guesswork and maintenance. Simple. Elegant. Precise. Your only task is to enjoy. Learn more about storing cigars with Boveda, click here for emails : https://hubs.la/Q01BLsBF0

You’ll laugh your ash off as 2 superstars from Nashville cigar companies join the Boveda cigar podcast. #LoveYourCigars Episode features: Jon Huber, Crowned Heads and Tim Ozgener, Oz Family Cigars Both boutique cigar brands share a heritage over CAO, the cigar company founded by the late Cano Aret Ozgener in Nashville in the 1990s. (Cano was Tim’s father.) Oz Family Cigars of today upholds the family's craft with Turkish-named blends, such as Firsat and Karatoba. Crowned Heads specializes in small-batch blends, such as Four Kicks and Jericho Hill. Interview by Boveda’s Box Press Hosts Nate Beck and JP Awad. What is Boveda? Boveda patented 2-way humidity control for storing premium cigars. Aging cigars with Boveda is the easiest and most effective way to preserve their quality, flavors, aroma, and integrity. By maintaining the ideal humidity, Boveda prevents mildew in a cigar humidor while also protecting cigars from drying out. With Boveda in your cigar humidor, you'll enjoy full flavor and a perfect smoke from every cigar. Looking for the best cigar humidor? Check out the only humidor built to work with Boveda packs, the Boveda Humidor. The Boveda Humidor reimagines traditional cigar care. It’s simple. No guesswork. No maintenance. No humidity problems. Your only task is to enjoy. Highlights: 00:00 Welcome to Box Press by Boveda 00:50 Cigar legends & stories 04:08 How Boveda got started 05:17 Boveda makes Viva for cannabis curing and storage 09:36 History of Crowned Heads cigars 15:00 History of OZ Family Cigars 32:01 What cigars are smokers liking right now 38:35 Why foodies should try cigars 42:57 Steps of making a good cigar 44:37 What not to do in retirement 47:12 Funny story: bring out the "ADULT" pipes 49:34 Funny story: Timmy stuck in kindergarten 01:03:33 Humidity for cigars in dry climates 01:05:25 Find a mentor 01:07:35 What will be your legacy?

This cigar podcast could save your or a loved one's life. Following his own mental health crisis, Adam Levine founded the League of Fat Bastards Cigars. The boutique Nicaraguan cigar brand gives away 40% of its profits to men's mental health initiatives; hosts events where men can get real about their lives; and encourages intentional discussions about mental health over cigars. Interview by Drew Emmer at PCA 2024, the preeminent event for premium cigar and pipe industry. What is Boveda? League Of Fat Bastards Cigars recommends Boveda 2-way humidity control for wherever you store cigars. Boveda preserves the flavor and character of premium cigars by keeping them at ideal humidity. Boveda prevents cigars from drying out and mold growth. With Boveda in your humidor, you'll enjoy full flavor and a perfect smoke from every cigar. Feel better about storing cigars, use Boveda. Click here to get emails: https://hubs.la/Q01BLsBF0 00:00 This is Box Press 00:24 How did the League of Fat Bastards Cigars get its name? 00:45 Creating space for men to chew the fat 01:23 Organize cigar events with celebs and athletes to normalize mental health struggles 01:47 LOFB Cigars gives back 40% of profits to men's mental health groups 02:15 Using cigar smoking as therapy 03:10 Living in London in the heyday of Cuban Cigars 03:34 Adam Levine had a severe mental breakdown 04:46 Create a movement to help men live their best lives 05:16 Only cigar brand produced over Zoom? 05:51 The Goldilocks cigar blend, Serie L made in Nicaragua 06:40 League of Fat Bastards is an everyman cigar on purpose 07:06 What cigar should your first cigar be? 07:26 Discover the joy of cigars and provide an opportunity for men to open up emotionally 09:20 Why did this happen FOR me? 10:56 LOFB Cigars packaged with Boveda 11:50 Reusing Boveda packets from cigar boxes 12:22 Keeping cigars at the perfect humidity maintains their condition 13:13 If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988

Use Boveda to protect all the Lovely Cigars in your humidor, click here to get emails: https://hubs.la/Q01BLsBF0 This vintage 1800s Wisconsin cigar brand has a new life thanks to owners Mike Gehm, Keith Archiquette, and Dylan Masse. The trio blends cigar that they love, and it turns out a lot cigar smokers love Lovely Cigars, too. Hear more about this boutique cigar brand that produces Elegante X2 Ain't They Lovely Cigar, The Bay City Cigar, and the No. 162. Interview by Drew Emmer at PCA 2024, the preeminent event for premium cigar and pipe industry. 00:00 This is Box Press 01:36 First 2 years of a new business are rocky 03:16 Gotta have a quality cigar, good marketing, and good relationship with tobacco shops 04:27 Founders are regular cigar palate people 05:00 Lovely Cigar brand is from the 1800s out of Green Bay, Wisconsin 05:29 No.162 Lovely Cigar 05:35 The new Lovely's Bay City Cigar 06:19 Converting a great idea into tobacco stores adopting cigar lines 12:41 What's ham-and-egging it? 13:51 A delicious cigar to try 18:57 Storing cigars in a Boveda Humidor Bag keeps cigars from disintegrating 19:22 Cigar guys share cigars and share cigar recommendations 20:17 Lovely Cigars protected by Boveda on the way to and while in Las Vegas What is Boveda? Cigar makers like Lovely Cigars recommend Boveda 2-way humidity control for wherever you store cigars. Boveda preserves the flavor and character of premium cigars by keeping them at ideal humidity. Keep cigars well-humidified with Boveda B69 packets in your humidor. Boveda prevents cigars from drying out and mold growth. With Boveda in your humidor, you'll enjoy full flavor and a perfect smoke from every Lovely Cigar. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bovedausa/ X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BovedaInc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bovedainc/?..

NEW CIGAR BRAND: Domain Cigars, whose flavor and construction are protected by Boveda. Use Boveda to protect the cigars in your humidor, click here to get emails: https://hubs.la/Q01BLsBF0 Domain Cigars is the crest of the third wave of cigar making. Fully vertically integrated. Craft. Innovative. If they can't produce a cigar, they won't make it anymore. This new guy in town was developed by Daniel Lance and his business partner, Esteban Disla, a master blender who has created cigars for 30 cigar companies. Domain will change the way you see cigars, including a new way to package cigars with Boveda 2-way humidity control. Lance only uses Boveda to keep his cigars, like Domain's new Neutron and Negentropy tasting and smoking great. Interview by Drew Emmer at PCA 2024, the preeminent event for premium cigar and pipe industry. 00:00 This is Box Press 00:43 Esteban Disla experienced cigar man 02:19 Third wave cigar maker is where the cigar industry is headed 02:27 First cigar wave = Cuba embargo 04:01 Second wave of cigars is like Starbucks is to coffee 05:33 Built Boveda into its cigar packaging 06:02 Boveda first integrated branding 06:59 Positioning Boveda at the foot of cigars 07:21 A cigar naturally dries out from the foot to the cap 08:38 Domain Neutron cigar's flavor notes 12:13 Lessons learned from Sylvia the cigar roller 14:18 People have begun valuing relationships post pandemic 14:52 If we can't produce that cigar, we won't make it anymore 16:49 Boveda branded cigar boxes 18:04 Boveda saves Fuente Añejo cigars What is Boveda? Cigar makers like Domain recommend Boveda 2-way humidity control for wherever you store cigars. Boveda preserves the flavor and character of premium cigars by keeping them at ideal humidity. Use Boveda B84 packets to season your wood humidor before adding cigars. And then keep cigars well-humidified with Boveda B69 packets in your humidor. Boveda prevents cigars from drying out and mold growth. With Boveda in your humidor, you'll enjoy full flavor and a perfect smoke from every cigar. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bovedausa/ X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BovedaInc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bovedainc/?..

Protect your cigars from bad guys like mold and low humidity by using Boveda in your humidor, click here to get emails: https://hubs.la/Q01BLsBF0 Unlike a bad guy, his Maduro cigar won't kick you in the head. Discover Porto Real, actor Alex Estrella's boutique cigar brand. Porto Real cigars are tasty Dominican and Nicaragua blends that are affordable. Cigars are from $8 to $12. When playing a ne'er-do-well in a film or series, Alex would often smoke a cigar. (Hey, cigar smokers are not so bad!) So it's natural that the actor parlayed his love of smokes into a cigar biz. Alex and Boveda's Drew Emmer talk cigar storage and more at PCA 2024, the preeminent event for premium cigar and pipe industry. 00:00 This is Box Press 00:01 This IS the actor/producer Alex Estrella 01:29 The actor who has a cigar brand and the cigar brand run by an actor 02:31 Started in cigars when he started acting for TV 03:05 Sampling the Porto Real Maduro cigar 03:44 Maduro cigar that's not going to kick you in the head 05:07 Living la vida loca 06:02 A cigar is a moment of time spent with a friend 06:18 Estrella watch Porto Real cigar edition based on his late dad's watch 08:51 Why Boveda for cigars? 11:15 Cigars don't have to be too expensive to be good What is Boveda? Cigar makers recommend Boveda 2-way humidity control wherever you store cigars. Boveda preserves the flavor and character of premium cigars by keeping them at ideal humidity. Use Boveda B84 packets to season your wood humidor before adding cigars. And then keep cigars well-humidified with Boveda B69 packets in your humidor. Boveda prevents cigars from drying out and mold growth. With Boveda in your humidor, you'll enjoy full flavor and a perfect smoke from every cigar. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bovedausa/ X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BovedaInc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bovedainc/?..

Protect the flavor and character of boutique cigars like PDR with Boveda. Click here to get emails: https://hubs.la/Q01BLsBF0 Does the size of a cigar matter? Sure does for PDR founder Abe Flores. Find out if he prefers fatter stogies versus shorter, slimmer cigars. Then get cigar recommendations from this award-winning master blender. Looking for an accessible Cubanesque cigar? PDR (Puro Dominican Republic) blends Cuban traditions with boutique modern manufacturing . The cigar makers employ a complex tobacco rolling technique that originated in Cuba called “entubado.” The cigar roller rolls each filler leaf into a straw shape to fit a greater number of filler leaves into a PDR cigar, which results in amazing air flow. PDR's Flores talks with Boveda's Drew Emmer about protecting the condition of cigars at PCA 2024, the preeminent event for premium cigar and pipe industry. 00:00 This is Box Press 01:58 To buy instruments, I was selling cigars on the side 03:36 Abe Flores already knew tech and marketing, needed to learn cigars 04:23 Pinar del Rio, Cuba is where tobacco seeds are from 06:41 #1 PDR cigar: El Criollito 07:37 For My Humidor I Use Boveda 08:43 Boveda maintains the perfect humidity for cigars 10:00 Bad humidor, no Boveda is very bad for cigars 10:14 What's your favorite cigar? 10:31 PDR 10th Anniversary Millefleurs Corona cigar 11:06 Pepin Black Lancero cigar and 601 Green cigar 11:25 Fuente Añejo Shark cigar What is Boveda? Master blenders recommend Boveda 2-way humidity control to protect cigars you store. Boveda preserves the flavor and character of premium cigars by keeping them at ideal humidity. Boveda humidor packets prevent cigars from drying out and mold growth. With Boveda in your humidor, you'll enjoy full flavor and a perfect smoke from every cigar. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bovedausa/ X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BovedaInc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bovedainc/?..