#ELOsoFumarTakes

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes is proud to welcome Indiana Ortez to sit in for our #Take121. If one can imagine the year 1969 - 25 years before the birth of our guest - Apollo 11 took off from the earth's surface departing the atmosphere 1 minute later and in 4 short days, we had the first man on the moon. While it may seem that the young - aged 26 - Indiana Ortez has had a career akin to that historic event, it hasn't been without hard work and sacrifice. We talked about journey, responsibility, and more.  We kick off by talking about her latest project with Ventura Cigar Company - Psyko Seven- Nicaraguan. Then we dive in about her family - the first and only 100% Nicaraguan cigar family in the industry. While there are some amazing women in this industry, there is no secret it is male-dominated, so we get Indiana's insights and thoughts about being a woman in this industry. And of course, we go into her blending process.  Finally some thoughts on PCA's Cancellation, plans for 2020, and the introduction of a brand new segment! Enjoy!

 

Follow Indiana on Instagram: @indianaortez

https://venturacigar.com/

https://venturacigar.com/psykoseven/

 

#TakeoftheTake: (On being a woman in the industry) "You won't receive respect unless you respect yourself...I have a responsibility to my family and the people of Nicaragua to work hard and stay focused."

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes welcomes the return of two distinguished gentlemen to sit down for our #120thTake. Miguel Schoedel makes his fourth appearance and we welcome Luciano Meirelles back for his second take. A little while back, Crowned Heads and Ace Prime joined forces in a business arrangement. But, the two companies have more of a backstory and more a recent chapter as well. Remember the name Bulb! We discuss the Bulb Box, the Pope, strategic alliances, and more! Enjoy!

 

 

https://thebulbbox.com/

http://www.crownedheads.com/

https://aceprime.com/

The story about Oscar and his paying it forward: https://aceprime.com/generosity-enriches-our-cigars-taste/

 

#Take of the #Take: " I want to break the logic of value exchange, meaning I'll only do something because I receive something.  We can all be better than that." 

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes is pleased to welcome Alec Rubin of Alec & Bradley Cigars for our #119thTake. It's the second half of the coin. Is it Tails? Is it Heads? It's Alec. If you remember, we had Bradley Rubin featured in our #98thTake and he returned for a very special #115thTake. Now, it's time to get the whole story and learn about Alec's journey. We chat Gatekeeper, their latest creation - Kintsugi, and what it was like (unlike his infamous father) to grow up in the cigar business. Alec and I also pick up a debate we started over eight months ago.  What exactly is a boutique cigar company.  Enjoy!

 

https://www.alecandbradley.com/

Kintsugi Release: https://cigar-coop.com/2020/03/cigar-news-alec-bradley-kintsugi-coming-later-this-spring.html

 

#Take of the #Take: "We had a decision to make.  To be Alan Rubin's sons or Alec Bradley and we chose Alec and Bradley."

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes welcomes the return of #MrWarmth - Héctor J. Alfonso Sr. - of Espinosa Cigars for our #118thTake. Alfonso was a pivotal guest helping to get this show off the ground. As our featured guest in #Take3 & #Take25, our gratitude is beyond words. So, for a third time and nearly 100 takes later, it is our honor to welcome him back. Espinosa Cigars and the premiere boutique factory, La Zona, always have something amazing going on so we'll be diving into what's been, what is, and what will be going on. We talk about everything from cardboard booths at the Trade Show to the disappearing act of Cornelius & Anthony.  And,  of course, War Zone! Enjoy!

 

 

Espinosa Elite: https://espinosaelite.com/

#Take3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyiYP_B1zDw&t=946s

#Take25: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=darEd7xcZ5s&t=1s

Hector has me in stitches in #Take3: https://youtu.be/yyiYP_B1zDw?t=934 

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes welcomes back three-time #ELOsoFumarTakes Top Ten Recipient Luis Cuevas of Casa Cuevas Cigars. And as a special added gues, new Director of Operations, Alec Cuevas sat down! The last 365+ days have certainly been a wild ride for the Casa Cuevas brand. Highs. Lows. Some directly impacting the brand, some indirectly impacting the world. In the midst of all that, Cuevas welcomed a fifth generation into the family business and has had several successful new launches. We take a look at the storied and layered 5 generations that have worked together to bring some of the most popular cigars to market.  We dive in. Enjoy!

 

 

http://www.casacuevascigars.com/

 

https://tobaccobusiness.com/against-all-odds-a-look-at-casa-cuevas/

 

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes is pleased to welcome Jesse Mariut & Steve Gherebean - the two men behind the acclaimed and renowned documentary Hand Rolled: A Film About Cigars! If we were doing a review, we'd certainly be late to the table, but it always was my intention to have this interview a little later into the journey. Luckily, my guests have obliged and we'll sit down and not only talk about the creative process, but also the journey! We discuss impact, criticisms, and more.  Enjoy!

 

http://www.handrolledmovie.com/

Available on Amazon Prime: https://www.amazon.com/Hand-Rolled-Film-About-Cigars/dp/B07VTSD1C6

Available on ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/hand-rolled-a-film-about-cigars/id1472530618

Available on Goggle Play: https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Hand_Rolled_A_Film_About_Cigars?id=rTg60uyJITk&hl=en_US

Happy Easter Everyone! This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes brings some very special guests for our #115thTake. We sit down with Benjamin Holt of Dissident Cigars, Dan Thompson of Micallef Cigars, and Bradley Rubin of Alec & Bradley Cigars.

Like the world, the Cigar Industry is a very different place than it was 3 weeks ago. Consumers are anxious over family obligations and job uncertainty. Retailers are having to close their doors or work on a very limited basis. And companies are in the middle of it all struggling on multiple fronts. We'll dive in with these three gentlemen to see how certain companies are combatting and uplifting all at once. 

With three unique curveball segments, we discuss everything from scientific labs, true love, past lives, and dead Japanese soldier remains.  It's all right here.  Enjoy!

 

Alec & Bradley: https://www.alecandbradley.com/

Dissident Cigars: https://ovejanegracigars.com/pages/dissident

Micallef Cigars: https://www.micallefcigars.com/

 

Dissident Releases HOME 2020 in an effort to help retailers: https://cigar-coop.com/2020/03/cigar-news-dissident-cigars-announces-limited-release-of-home-2020.html

Micallef Unlimited Inventory Program: https://cigar-coop.com/2020/03/cigar-news-micallef-launches-ultimate-inventory-program.html

 

British Tobacco developing COVID-19 vaccine:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britishamericantobacco-vaccine/british-american-tobacco-working-on-covid-19-vaccine-using-tobacco-leaves-idUSKBN21J4XF

NY Physicians urging Gov't interference of Tobacco Use during COVID-19 era: https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-doctors-call-on-cuomo-to-ban-cigarettes-and-vaping-20200323-fl3ntgajujeljhczvax3kdexzi-story.html?fbclid=IwAR1i2gYGnwPsyLBfPPkvFBDLXkrQXkAWMtFUUvL6Sv_xhgADwcfRI9VnerY

 

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes welcomes Glen Case of Kristoff Cigars to sit down for our #114thTake. As you all know, The Kristoff Vengeance Perfecto was named the #ELOsoFumarTakes #1 Cigar of the Year for 2019, so it'll be a huge pleasure to sit down with the man behind that cigar. Case started off in the Financial Industry, before jumping into his wife's (Teri) family cigar brokerage business. Six months in and building large successful sales for companies led to him being fired, yes, fired.  You see, when companies get larger and more successful, they move from brokerages to In-House Sales.  It's part of the gig, something that didn't sit well with Case.  So, Kristoff was born.  Named for Glen and Teri's son the company has become one of the industry's success stories and has done it in a way that just isn't typical. The rest is history!  So, we talked building from the ground up, learning along the way, and quietly becoming one of the industry's best. Enjoy!

 

https://kristoff.com/

 

#Take of the #Take: "Brother, if you're not failing, then you're not trying hard enough." - Glen Case

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes is pleased to welcome the dapper and transcendent leader in the premium cigar industry, Michael Herklots of Nat Sherman. Our #113thTake promises to be one to remember as we dive into the journey and story that has molded one of the industry's beloved people and how he found himself at the top of one of the most powerful tobacco companies in the world.  We dive into his style, his compass for leadership, as well as some of the fascinating conversations he's been having on his CO-Video chats! Enjoy!

 

https://www.natshermanintl.com/

https://www.berklee.edu/

A Great Follow & access to CO-Video Chats: https://www.instagram.com/michaelherklots/

Robert Spangle: http://www.thousandyardstyle.com/

Christian McBride: https://www.christianmcbride.com/

 

This week, #ELOsoFumarTakes welcomes Abe Dababneh to sit down for #112thTake. These are trying times for the industry. And, a Pandemic is going on. It's no laughing matter, small business owners make up a large part of our treasured industry and as communities are coming together in big ways, the cigar business is still suffering. Dababneh sits atop a retail operation whose many locations are nestled and woven parts of their communities. KMA Talk Radio's voice and reach capture the pulse of the cigar industry in a very real way. We sit down with Abe to talk serious business with a serious businessman. Don't worry, there will be some levity as well. Enjoy!

 

KMA Talk Radio:

http://www.kmatalkradio.com/

Smoke Inn: https://www.smokeinn.com/ 

 

#Take of the #Take: "If they told me that if you caught COVID-19 and 60 days later things would look like the Walking Dead, then this would all make sense."