"Next Generation Cigar Makers TRIVIA!" Ep. 44 8/1/26

Who are the superstars of cigar makers in the boutique world? Each decade has a new cigar maker on the rise. Just like LFD, Tatuaje, Crowned Heads, etc. There are some really exciting, up-and-coming cigar makers! Who are the best ones? Let's jump into it!

Cavalier LIMITED EDITION 2026: https://oakglentobacconist.com/product/cavalier-geneve-limited-edition-2026-6-5x47/

Warped Isla Del Cocodrilo Black Toro Grande LINK: https://oakglentobacconist.com/product/warped-isla-del-cocodrilo-black-gran-toro-le-6-5x54/

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:07

Welcome to OGT Cigars Live Podcast, your neighborhood virtual cigar lounge. Each week we share the cigar experience with the OGT Cigars community. Join Mallory and I as we explore the world of boutique and unique premium cigars. I'm Eric, founder of Oakland Tobacconist and the OGT Cigar Society. I have a deep passion, and some might say obsession, with cigars and cigar culture. Working as an artistic theater director previously inspires me to infuse entertainment into the craft I love. Learning never stops. And I invite you to follow in our cigar journey.

SPEAKER_02 0:42

I'm Mallory. While I don't ever claim cigar expertise, I've always been a foodie who's obsessed with scent and flavor. I can be counted on to provide bizarre tasting notes, such as the Home Depot Garden Center or Grandma's Basement, which always leads to good conversation. And good conversation is truly my favorite part of enjoying cigars with friends.

SPEAKER_03 1:00

Welcome to OGT Cigars Live, where conversation lights up. Hello everybody, welcome back after a week absence to OGT Cigars Live, the virtual lounge cigar podcast that we host uh normally each and every week. Thursday nights at this time. Thank you guys so much for jumping in, joining us tonight. And as always, uh, I will introduce myself. I'm Eric from OGT Cigars, and with me tonight, my co-host, my beautiful wife, Mallory.

SPEAKER_02 1:28

Good night. Good evening.

SPEAKER_03 1:29

Good evening. Good night. Good afternoon.

SPEAKER_02 1:31

Good night. Sounds wrong. Good evening. Good afternoon.

SPEAKER_03 1:33

Good night after the show was ended.

SPEAKER_02 1:35

Good evening now. Good night later.

SPEAKER_03 1:37

Yes. Thank you guys so much for being on with us tonight. Uh, we have a really special show. I've been looking forward to this one. Bit of inspiration, and we're gonna get into that. And also, I'll have to give a shout out to where that inspiration came from. But first and foremost, as I see people are starting to enter into the virtual lounge of OGT OGT cigars, as I see some comments coming up as well. As always, I will uh please invite you to drop those comments down. How's your week been? What are you smoking? What are you enjoying tonight? Are you pairing it with anything? Uh, it's always a great time to know what everyone else is smoking out there.

SPEAKER_02 2:08

Yeah. Share with us what's going on.

SPEAKER_03 2:10

So drop those down and we will do our best to pull those up, whether you have questions, but also this is going to be a show that's going to require you to be interactive.

SPEAKER_00 2:18

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 2:18

And answer questions, uh, your own opinions. So looking forward to it. First and foremost, we have Daniel Frazier on tonight.

SPEAKER_02 2:24

He's saying it's been storming on and off all day. So I haven't really had a chance to enjoy much except some dinner. Hope everyone else is doing great.

SPEAKER_03 2:31

Well, thanks for jumping on. Hopefully, you had a good dinner. Yeah. Depending on what you had, it was something special. Uh, but thanks as always, Daniel, for jumping on with us tonight.

SPEAKER_02 2:39

Uh, the other Daniel is saying just finished the Cigar Clowns Test blend Maduro.

SPEAKER_03 2:43

Nice. Pac Viachi, very good, awesome, great cigar. We got Shirley on is joining us. Hello, Shirley. Faceless Orchestra.

SPEAKER_02 2:51

It's saying enjoying a domain attenuation six by sixty compliments of the cigar, OGT Cigar of the Month Club pairing with Maker's Mark.

SPEAKER_03 2:58

Nice. And there will be more that we will talk about that particular cigar, especially next week, but a little bit to be said this week. Uh, really interesting drop. I know it's a bit different than what we've done before. Yeah, but I also feel like that's part of the society is new experiences. Yes. And offering those new experiences. So that's definitely a big thing. Uh, let's see. Shirley is having a flying feral pig.

SPEAKER_02 3:20

Very nice.

SPEAKER_03 3:21

Very nice. Very nice. Um, well, cool. Tonight, Mallory and I are actually smoking two different cigars, one of which just reached the shop and has been shipping out this week. The other is one that I've been impressed with and you haven't tried yet. No, I haven't had a chance to try it yet.

SPEAKER_02 3:36

I'm excited.

SPEAKER_03 3:37

So, Mallory is going to be smoking a limited-ish blend from warp cigars. Now, this is a picture of our warp sampler that we have. The one in the middle that has sort of like that blue globe is the uh Isle the Coco Drill, which is um this is the Toro Grande, or otherwise known as the black. It's a limited production because it's a different wrapper, it's a different type of filler, it's a bit more amped up than the normal Coco Drill. I am really impressed with this cigar.

SPEAKER_02 4:04

This is gorgeous looking. I'm very excited.

SPEAKER_03 4:06

And if there's one set thing to be said about like the consistency of warped, it's their design, their labels. It's gorgeous, they're like super elegant.

SPEAKER_02 4:15

Um yeah, the texture too. Like you can't, I guess you can't see it here the shine, the texture. Yes, um, and very pretty.

SPEAKER_03 4:22

I will also say, like, we have we've always offered warped, like limited stuff. We've carried them on and off for the last couple of years. I would say most recently, more consistently see consistently. I feel like they've they've kind of dialed in their game at this point. So that's what uh made me put together a sampler like this because warped, I don't know, but from the Sarto, the Corto Maduro.

SPEAKER_02 4:42

I really like the Sarto.

SPEAKER_03 4:43

They're just it's an incredible line.

SPEAKER_02 4:45

I was going back to that quite a few times in a row a while back.

SPEAKER_03 4:48

Yeah, it's a fantastic cigar. Tonight I will be smoking the new limited edition from Cavalier, which is a bit different from what they've done in the past. We're gonna, when we later on talk about it, we'll say kind of where this blend comes from, what we know about it, but that's what I'm gonna be smoking. So we are gonna go ahead and light that up. Let's do a bit of a cold draw here. Interesting. I'm getting like on on this cavalier apricot skin on the cold draw. Like, yeah, apricot.

SPEAKER_02 5:19

I never know if it's apricot or apricot.

SPEAKER_03 5:21

Or zebra or zebra?

SPEAKER_02 5:23

It's definitely zebra, but zebra sounds cooler.

SPEAKER_03 5:25

In audiobooks, it's zebra.

SPEAKER_02 5:27

I'll die on the hill though. The the English spelling of the word gray looks so much better. G-R-E-W-Y?

SPEAKER_03 5:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 5:35

G R A Y Gray.

SPEAKER_03 5:36

Yeah. What about what about you? Coldra, are you getting any notes? Uh black tea? Black tea, okay. Yeah. Nice. Okay, so let's get this lit and then let's jump into our show. Today's cigar is brought to you by the OGT Cigar Society membership. Enjoy a five-pack of premium custom cigars each month at an undeniable price. Join the community and smoke with us on the Oakland Tobacconist YouTube channel as we delve into the rich experience of boutique and craft cigars. You can find out all about the subscription and a whole host of amazing blends by following us on social media. Look for us at Oakland Tobacconist or OGT Cigars. So I have a smaller ring gauge cigar, so I actually beat to the light up. This is a uh 47, I believe, whereas uh Mallory's is a 54. So as she settles into the cigar for the first time, I'll talk a little bit about what I'm getting. The thing that's interesting about Cavalier is that overall I feel like their portfolio has this kind of like earthy mustiness to it, but they have a signature sweetness that I have yet to find on a lot of other brands out there. Cavalier is a Honduran brand. And while you get some good body and strength in Honduran tobacco, I also get this like through line of sweetness. Kind of like how you always get some sort of measure of pepper through Nicaraguan tobacco. Um, the limited series is always one of my favorites. As I say, we'll get into it, but really nice start, a little bit of a tingle of black pepper going on, but also more, if I say earthy, um, a little bit of like mustiness, almost barnyard, but not quite, almost like a wet hay mustiness. Okay, and then really nice sweetness that this is the second time I've smoked it. As it continues, the complexity is great.

SPEAKER_02 7:21

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 7:22

So what about you?

SPEAKER_02 7:22

How's the it went from tea to coffee? Okay, and I feel like I'm getting just a like I'm gonna let it kind of settle in because I think that both of those notes were strong enough to me that I'm kind of distracted by anything else at this point.

SPEAKER_03 7:38

So I'm gonna just keep like it's a different cigar. I mean, that comes from uh it it comes from a Dominican factory, hostos in the Dominican, which um starting to catch my eye. He's starting to do some pretty good thing. That cigar is honestly what turned me on to a lot of his stuff. So excited. Um, but we also have a fair amount of comments. Let's get to it. Uh, let's see here. M0B718.

SPEAKER_02 8:01

This is good evening, ladies and gents. Good evening to you.

SPEAKER_03 8:04

Yes, thanks for jumping on.

SPEAKER_02 8:05

Frazier saying the black croc is really good.

SPEAKER_03 8:07

So that is what Mallory is smoking so far. I'm there with you.

SPEAKER_02 8:11

I am enjoying this.

SPEAKER_03 8:12

Yeah, and yeah, some really good stuff. Uh, let's see here. Uh, I have one I haven't tried it yet, but looking forward to it. Very nice. Uh, I think you'll enjoy it. Daniel is saying I agree.

SPEAKER_02 8:25

I always get a subtle sweetness from Honduran blends. Yeah, I would I would agree with that.

SPEAKER_03 8:31

Yeah, and it's interesting because it's like and maybe it's just how my brain works, but I feel like Nicaraguan, for me personally, is the undisputed champion of tobacco right now. We we do know, yes, and it but it tends to be a bit fuller body and stronger, yeah. Uh Dominican, you get some really subtle notes, some nuttiness. Um, and this is broad terms, it's not every experience you have, right? But it's definitely more rare to see like a really strong like Dominican that holds up to like the strength of a Nicaraguan. Honduran is kind of in the middle, you can get some fuller body, heavier stuff, but the sweetness that comes from Honduran tobacco, like CLE, Aladino, um, really good stuff.

SPEAKER_02 9:08

Isn't wouldn't also uh Gran Habano be in there?

SPEAKER_03 9:12

Yep, Gran Habano. Um, and so Cavalier, I would say, is is one of the go-to Honduran brands that I really enjoy. And it's just overall a great, great sense of a cigar. So I've been excited about tonight because uh part of the industry, I'm always fascinated by some of the history of some of the brands. And as we all know, like a lot of what we perceive of the cigar industry now, the culture is uh because of 1992 Cigar aficionado. Yes, coming on scene and all that sort of thing. But then there are big names that everyone knows in so many brick and mortars, like Rocky Patel, La Flor Dominicana, Tatawahe, um, Crown Heads. These are names that like started, I think a lot of people don't understand. They started fairly recently in the cigar game.

SPEAKER_02 9:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 9:59

Which is which is crazy. So if you think about like La Flor Dominicana, Rocky Patel, that was around like mid-90s, 95, 96, and now they're like huge, they're like household names.

SPEAKER_00 10:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 10:10

You have uh uh people like Pete Johnson's Hatawahe, which was early 2000s, you will have um Crown Heads, which was like 2010, that are kind of at a time. I remember seeing a magazine of like Pete Johnson, John Hoover, and all these people like lined up on a magazine, like the next generation, kind of like the new yeah, yeah, yeah. Drew Estate being one as well. So what when someone comes into the cigar industry now and people ask, Well, what should I smoke? What should I try? Of course, there's the Monte Cristos, there's the Fuentes, but there's also like gained now, like, oh, you should smoke Tatawahe. It is well respected, it's these big names. Oh, yeah, Daniel's got a great one too.

SPEAKER_02 10:48

He says my father in 2003, yes.

SPEAKER_03 10:50

My father, yes, exactly. So that's my that's my point. They are kind of like they were the rising stars, and now they're becoming bigger and bigger, but now we are in a new time of the cigar industry. And while for a while there, I feel it was kind of the wild west, like four years ago, five years ago, where it's just like, ooh, there's all these quality blends coming from smaller companies, boutique companies.

SPEAKER_02 11:11

Boom, kind of, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 11:12

Yes, and I mean, I know even like when we first started bringing in and we were getting introduced brands, I'd be like, I've heard of them, but I've never really tried it.

SPEAKER_02 11:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 11:20

And we had that at PCA and stuff.

SPEAKER_02 11:23

Yeah, I I'm also thinking too, like just the uh like the difference in just the first time we went to PCA, the foundation booth. Yes, versus or we were this was TPE that we saw, the foundation booth the first time versus when you walk into PCA, it's the first thing you see, and it's huge, and it's just the visual growth is there. It is just aside from what you already know about the popularity of the brand, you know. So that's interesting to me too.

SPEAKER_03 11:54

And and it's funny because I feel like at the time it was foundation moving into no longer boutique, and uh right now, I mean, they're they are becoming the new generation of those, yeah. Of of that. Uh let's pull a few comments here. Let's see here.

SPEAKER_02 12:06

Uh 718 says, I wanted to compliment you both on doing such a great job at what you both do. Kudos wishing you the best. Thank you so much. Thank you. Appreciate that.

SPEAKER_03 12:15

I appreciate it. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_02 12:16

Um, uh, he says, I'm leaning towards boutique brands. I don't, I I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 12:21

I I don't think you're wrong for doing so.

SPEAKER_02 12:24

I think it's no secret, that's where we lean.

SPEAKER_03 12:26

And it's also yo, and I will say too, it's not because, oh, all of a sudden boutique brands are cool, and boutique brands were not cool in the 90s or early 2000s, but it's the key word here is quality. The amount of quality cigars that you can find in smaller companies did not exist back then. Yeah, you get, I mean, you talk to a lot of these blenders. I I remember we sat down once with uh Luis Cuevas, Casa Cuevas, and him just saying, like, oh, you wouldn't believe it in the 90s if you were smoking cigars smaller companies, you'd have patched cigars, cigars that just like would not burn, all these issues. Those are the days of like Sumatra tobacco considered to be the lower grade, San Andreas considered to be lower grade. That's crazy. It's crazy to see where the industry is going. Yeah, it's it's nuts. So thinking about that, um, I was like, we are in the midst of sort of a a newer generation, yeah. Rising stars that I predict here on OGT, I predict we these will be the names 12 years ago that have like reached that same kind of like confidence level uh-huh that like La Florida Minicana has.

SPEAKER_02 13:32

Yeah, it's that emerging past um I don't know, the underdog status or new kid status. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 13:40

To like trust and and honestly, I will say for a lot of these companies, even though they're boutique, even though they're small, I hear it from you guys. I think it myself. You have something like Paul Stulak comes out with a new cigar. I already trust him. I'm like, it's going to be amazing. Every time something like that. So that's what's really cool to watch this happen. Um, we're gonna take a few more comments, and I want to talk about some of those new brands that I think are in the rise of that category. Let's see. Mike is on.

SPEAKER_02 14:05

Saying the cigar boom of 90s was more of a cash grab and not about quality.

SPEAKER_03 14:09

100%. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 14:11

It was oh, go ahead, Sarah. Go ahead. I would say, like, if it's are we in a cigar renaissance then? Like if the focus is on the boom that's happening is focused more on art, like craftsmanship.

SPEAKER_03 14:25

So it's gonna turn from who are the renaissance companies, who are the renaissance artists.

SPEAKER_02 14:28

I like that. Uh I like that.

SPEAKER_03 14:30

That's pretty cool. Yeah, no, and it's true because you'd hear the the stories I always hear, of course, in the 90s. I was not smoking cigars at the time. Um, but like there was a nickname given for the Don Nobodies. It was the front of your cigar was always Don Ligo, Don whatever. And some of them are still around, Don Carlos from Fuente, and a lot of them are not because it was like go down to the Dominican, because Dominican was bigger than Nicaragua back then. Go down to the Dominican with a suitcase full of money, and you can come out with a cigar and slap your name on it, and you're gonna get rich.

SPEAKER_02 15:03

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 15:03

Like that was the idea.

SPEAKER_02 15:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 15:05

And I will also say a bit of trivia, one of the biggest names in the industry right now, I feel like, is Perdomo. And Perdomo is one of the earliest companies. Nick Perdomo is one of the earliest gentlemen in this industry to ever say Nicaragua is the future of cigars. And he stood by it and look where we are now.

SPEAKER_02 15:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 15:24

Not a bad prediction. Uh, let's see here. Uh, Daniel's got another comment here.

SPEAKER_02 15:29

Uh, the wave of Cuban expatriates in the early is Curtis gonna make fun of me for saying it like that. Expats uh in the early 2000s, uh, have had such an impact most in Nicaragua.

SPEAKER_03 15:42

Yes, I agree. Yeah, AJ Fernandez, Casa Cuevas, yeah, a lot of these people. So I see also a few comments here. I'm gonna pull up because it kind of tails uh moves us into what we're talking about tonight. Daniel says Elmago was 2022, I think. And 718 says, Daniel, yes, Elmago is great. Elmago, I predict, is going to continue to be great. Continue to be big. I am. I think that's an easy prediction. Yes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 16:07

No, it's it's been a really it's been a really cool ride bringing them in to our humidor. And yeah, just yeah, can't say enough good things.

SPEAKER_03 16:18

It's really cool. And and if you guys did not know this, the average new cigar company, like lifespan is expected to be averaged around 18 months.

SPEAKER_02 16:28

Wow.

SPEAKER_03 16:28

So if you cross cross that threshold, you're doing good.

SPEAKER_02 16:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 16:31

Um, but then there's people you see just come out the gate, you're like, oh wow, I don't think you're gonna have trouble hitting that 18-month market.

SPEAKER_02 16:37

No, no, which is absolutely explosive.

SPEAKER_03 16:39

Yes, and so yeah, El Mago's a big one. Uh, some of the names I would mention, like Black Label Trading Company, the strides that they have made is incredible. Um, they're another brand, anything that they come out with, I trust.

SPEAKER_00 16:51

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 16:52

Um, I would also say uh Stolen Throne, Stallone Cigars. I don't know, is there any ones that you have in mind that I've mentioned that you're like, I see them also on the rise and will also be continue to rise to be really big.

SPEAKER_02 17:11

Um I don't know. I feel like you came out there with a lot of the ones that I would have named. Um I love HVC.

SPEAKER_03 17:21

HVC. HVC is a I see it becoming a heritage brand for sure.

SPEAKER_02 17:25

Like yeah, the classy.

SPEAKER_03 17:27

Yes, very classy, very classic looking labels for sure. So there's a whole bunch of them, and I see we've got some um comments here as well. Let's see here.

SPEAKER_02 17:35

Uh, the companies that are vertical have a huge advantage. 100%.

SPEAKER_03 17:39

You can definitely control your consistency a lot better uh and availability as well.

SPEAKER_02 17:44

Uh the Sumtown Writer says the company that keeps surprising me is Diesel.

SPEAKER_03 17:49

Nice. And Daniel says Diesel is AJ. Yes. Oh, okay. He blends for them. It is owned under a company called Forged, and Forged is owned by a company called General, and General is owned by a company called STG. So they're a part of a massive that's a multi-umbrella. It is it is. Um, but out of general's like type of stuff, I do like Diesel. Diesel's pretty good. Uh let's see here.

SPEAKER_02 18:12

Mike says uh Black Label Trading Company, Hooten and Young, and Cayman are up and commerce.

SPEAKER_03 18:18

And Cayman, I agree. Cayman, we've kind of watched for a while. Um, the reason I think I have good confidence in what Kamen is doing in terms of their quality of tobacco, it all comes from domain stuff. And Domain is definitely one that's yeah.

SPEAKER_02 18:30

Wait, yeah, you didn't say domain.

SPEAKER_03 18:32

Domain is gonna stick around. Okay, he's the guy that's like, I'm planning for 10 years ahead. And it's like, wow, he's on another level for sure.

SPEAKER_02 18:39

Brilliant.

SPEAKER_03 18:40

Um, good comment here from 718.

SPEAKER_02 18:43

Uh, is it Mob 718?

SPEAKER_03 18:44

Mob 718.

SPEAKER_02 18:45

Okay. Uh, Definition Cigars is doing great.

SPEAKER_03 18:48

That is a brand that I want to explore more. I've been seeing pop up more. Um, I've had one.

SPEAKER_02 18:53

I haven't tried it yet.

SPEAKER_03 18:54

They're they're really interesting because all of their labels are sort of this like almost uh embroidered like color.

SPEAKER_02 19:01

Ooh, okay.

SPEAKER_03 19:02

Like it's really interesting.

SPEAKER_02 19:03

Which definition would you suggest?

SPEAKER_03 19:06

Yes, out of the out of definition. What do you like? Uh see here, David.

SPEAKER_02 19:10

Black label, foundation, Roma craft, HVC.

SPEAKER_03 19:13

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 19:14

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 19:14

Uh Daniel says AG is a great, great brand, which I'm sort of looking to. Uh, so glad you mentioned that. Domain is one for sure. Castagly is a really good one. Uh, and he confirms Bob.

SPEAKER_00 19:27

Yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_03 19:27

Sorry for screwing up the name.

SPEAKER_00 19:28

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 19:29

So uh what I want, oh, Byron, yeah, by uh United Tobacco. That's Dave Goroffalo's brand.

SPEAKER_00 19:36

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 19:36

And speaking of which, I want to give a shout out to Dave Garaffalo because the idea for this evening to kind of like focus on what are some of these up-and-coming brands that are going to stick around for a while. I kind of was listening to Dave's podcast and he had mentioned, oh, yeah, back in the day you had these names and such. And I was like, okay, so how does that relate to now? Right. And that I like I said, I saw a magazine cover, a big portion of that was also Jonathan Drew, Drew Estate, early 2000s. Um, and it was like all of these cigar makers that everyone now looks like, wow, they're they're big, they were just up and coming, right? So I was like, who would be on that cover now if you were to do something like that? So that's kind of what led to this. And I also was like, let's make it a little bit of interesting not to only learn about some of these companies, but do a bit of trivia.

SPEAKER_01 20:21

All right.

SPEAKER_03 20:21

Now, a big portion here uh at OGT, whether it was at the shop, whether it's here on the podcast, the videos we do, education is a lot at the forefront. So we talk a lot about the brands that we're gonna be mentioning tonight, as well as in the questions here. And hopefully there's a bit of learning about the brand as well because I always feel like the extra context context always enriches the experience. So I have a set of plans, yeah. I have eight questions here. Okay, that Mallory's gonna kind of play along as well. And so don't put me on the spot too much. No, no, no, no. But we need your guys' help. I want to know what your answers are. We're I'm gonna read off the question and see if you can find out which company this is, because a lot of it has something to do with the origin story of the company, and then now where that company is now. So some of this is some really interesting facts. If you guys didn't know it before, majority of them are multiple choice. Um, I will give the caveat with saying that every one of these brands we're talking about is in the OGT humidor. So it's not something like that I've never talked about before.

SPEAKER_01 21:22

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 21:22

There is multiple choice. Um, and for the most part, they're nothing like crazy, crazy limited that we don't carry like all the time. Like they're something that we talk about. So if you guys are ready, we're gonna get into a bit of trivia. And if you guys think you know the answer, you're gonna drop it down at the comments. I would love to know. So, first off, our first question here that I will read off is a one-hit wonder that became a portfolio. This company started its brand with just one cigar release. The initial order was expected to last an entire year, but sold out in three months, prompting them to reorder sooner. Today They have expanded to many more cigar lines. Is the answer A Kuavari? B lure cigars, C, Stolen Throne, or D, Shaffio cigars. So there's the question. This company started with only one single brand and now has expanded beyond that. Uh because now here's the key. Here's the key thing. Because the fact that they sold out within a matter of months. So there's a lot of companies out there that I think probably started with the first brand, but not sold out of their inventory within a matter of months and got into trouble because they need to order more.

SPEAKER_02 22:36

Not not too big a trouble. No, just you know, good trouble.

SPEAKER_03 22:39

Just didn't expect it to go so quickly. Lots of demand. Good problems. All right, let's see here.

SPEAKER_02 22:43

I know this one actually.

SPEAKER_03 22:44

Uh let's see. Shirley says Daniel knows all the answers. Uh let's see here. Uh Shirley says lure. Daniel Frazier says lure. C, Shaffio. Uh C. Okay. So when it goes down to C, it's stolen thrown. Raider Dave says stolen throne. Hooray for multiple choice. Just going to gamble and answer black label on everything. Not bad.

SPEAKER_02 23:08

That's yeah, we've rigged the game.

SPEAKER_03 23:10

Okay, so hopefully I didn't throw anyone. I feel like multiple choice, there's always a slight trick in there.

SPEAKER_02 23:14

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 23:15

Um, so the slight trick was oh, starting with one brand. Well, there's a few companies I can think of started with one brand. Right. But the only one who sold out that quick, do you do you have any guesses?

SPEAKER_02 23:23

Yes, I do.

SPEAKER_03 23:24

Which is it?

SPEAKER_02 23:24

It's the Stolen Throne.

SPEAKER_03 23:26

It is Stolen Throne. In fact, the first time I ever interviewed Leah Marsh about it, he was cracking up because he's like, We made Crick of the Crown. It was our only brand. And I was like, Well, if I can't sell them, I have a year to sell. I think it was 20,000 cigars or something. I at least know it's so good I'll be able to smoke it for the rest of the year. And then he's like, three months go by and I have to make a reorder. And so cool, cool story.

SPEAKER_02 23:48

I think it's great too that he is such a I feel like he's I don't know if it's perfectionist, but he's he's his attention to detail. It's like it's gonna be one, it's gonna be good. And he does that with every single thing that he drops. Like it's amazing.

SPEAKER_03 24:03

And he's got okay, while he's got more menu items than uh in and out, he's got the in and out mentality of we're not gonna go off and sew a bajillion different sizes. I'm either gonna make it it's gonna be a five by fifty Robusto and one other size that I think it's gonna work really well in.

SPEAKER_02 24:18

Yeah, and it's streamlined and it's elegant and it's so smart, and with doctor's orders in there and yeah, all those things.

SPEAKER_03 24:26

So shout out to Lee Marshall Stolen Thrones, still one of our favorite brands, and I do foresee on his trajectory even getting bigger and bigger.

SPEAKER_02 24:34

Definitely an up-and-comer there.

SPEAKER_03 24:36

He's still one of those people, like he we released the Revelry and we ordered that. Um, and it and once it was gone, I was like, I don't suppose he's like, nah, it was gone at the show. Like every single limited is sold out, sold out, sold out because it's such good stuff.

SPEAKER_02 24:51

We've learned to make a bigger order than we think. Because he's saying I have to just account for I've learned the hard way.

SPEAKER_03 24:59

So yeah, Raider Dave Mob17 had it. Uh Daniel had C, and then he went to Shafio. So you were you were on it, Daniel. You were very, very close. Uh Mob 17 says he agrees. Okay, on to question number two.

SPEAKER_02 25:13

All right.

SPEAKER_03 25:13

This one's a bit bit more difficult. Handing out pamphlets. This company started with humble beginnings at their first PCA trade show. They had a mini booth and were handing out flyers to passers by, hoping to just get enough attention for people to stop by. Now, when you see this company at the show, you have to make an appointment just to see them. A Agonors Leaf, B, Black Label Trading Company, C, Elmago Cigars, or D Stallone Cigars. I feel like this is a bit more difficult.

SPEAKER_02 25:45

This one's a little trickier.

SPEAKER_03 25:46

It is a bit more tricky because uh for a lot of these small companies, it's like okay, it could almost apply to anyone when they're starting out.

SPEAKER_02 25:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 25:55

Um, this this bit of knowledge came about in an interview that I had with the company. Um and I will say this as a bit of a hint for everyone, as a bit of an extra hint, as you look across these names, the Aganor Salief, Black Label Trading Company, Elmago Cigars of Stallone cigars, is that uh their branding is decently uniformed. So it's a uniformed branded brand. So it's it's not uh whether or not I mean you can kind of go different ways with that, but there's companies like before Crown Heads went through like a rebranding. Some of them were a bit confusing. Like, how much is this Crown Heads? How much is it not? This brand, you kind of know it when you see it.

SPEAKER_02 26:38

I'm gonna say, hmm.

SPEAKER_03 26:39

So let's pull up a few questions here. We got A uh Agonorsa from Frasier. Daniel's saying Agonorsa, Chris is saying Agonorsa, Shirley is Mob uh 718 saying, I feel like it was a trick, and it's Agonorsa says Frazier. Rob Brown says Black Label Trading Company. David says B for James Brown interview from your G.

SPEAKER_02 27:00

That's what I was gonna say.

SPEAKER_03 27:02

Were you gonna guess that?

SPEAKER_02 27:02

Yeah, I was gonna say B.

SPEAKER_03 27:03

I I have to give a massive shout out to David. The fact that he remembered that that's nuts.

SPEAKER_02 27:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 27:08

Uh, yes, you're you're absolutely uh correct. Uh and Raider Dave's got it as well. Uh I was interviewing James Brown, and he was saying, like, when we started, we just had like small pamphlets and we had this little booth, and people were like the skull cigar when they had like glass rights at the time.

SPEAKER_02 27:24

It's so the only thing that made me waver there a little bit is that I could also hear that story in a completely different, like comedic tone in Terrence's voice. Like, I could also hear Terrence telling that story, so it's hard for me to. But I'm like, but I don't know if they would have like taken on that, like if they would have done that kind of ad campaign. Like, I feel like that's a very bold, like black label move, you know. It is, but I also for some reason I thought of it in Terrence's voice.

SPEAKER_03 27:56

Well, and what's crazy to the scale they are now, they're always the first company we book with.

SPEAKER_02 28:01

Oh, every time.

SPEAKER_03 28:02

Beeline to black label, it's make sure we were there first, and then yeah, we book everyone else after that. Um, okay, as a bit of relief, Shirley, she says, This is too hard. I quit.

SPEAKER_02 28:12

Don't quit.

SPEAKER_03 28:12

This was by far the most difficult question.

SPEAKER_02 28:15

Um, and I've already like You had me stumped there.

SPEAKER_03 28:18

This is I I already like previewed this with Andrew, my brother, and he he knows quite a bit too. But uh, where I was like trying to figure out okay, what's more difficult? And that's by far the hardest question.

SPEAKER_02 28:28

I was not there for the preview, so I'm I'm with you guys. We'll see how it goes. Yeah, I'm going in blind.

SPEAKER_03 28:33

It's more organic. Yeah, so um, okay, on to an easier question. Question number three. The man behind the brand. This company is headed up by a person who has done it all in the industry, starting out as a blog writer in early forum days, uh, head of marketing department for one of the biggest names in the industry, working for a manager for one of the biggest online retailers and now owning his own brand. Is it Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust? Is it Foundation Cigars? Is it Black Work Studio, or is it domain cigars? The hints I will give on this one is this question is sort of a Mickey Mouse Walt Disney situation. You cannot separate this person from the brand. Um, but this person has also done it all. Like this person, in terms of not blending, not in terms of like in the beginning, but he had done it all in terms of working for a bigger cigar company. He was working for the biggest online retailer, um, was head of marketing. So let's see here. Okay, I'm gonna pull this up one more time. Okay, we got a lot of questions, uh answers here. We've got Shirley saying A for Dunbarton.

SPEAKER_02 29:47

David says black label training company Wu Tang Forever.

SPEAKER_03 29:51

Chris is saying Dunbarton, uh Vicente is saying Dunbarton, Mob is saying the same, uh Salary, uh Dunbarton. Let's see here. Saka. What do you what would you say? Raider Dave says foundation, definitely the squatch.

SPEAKER_02 30:12

Just enjoy we did have a spelling error there. We have to check.

SPEAKER_03 30:17

If there was a giveaway we should have done tonight, is like the person who points out the most spelling problems.

SPEAKER_02 30:22

That person's getting a Dunbarton.

SPEAKER_03 30:25

Is that who you think it is? It is Steve Saka. If you had said Dunbarton, that is the correct answer.

SPEAKER_02 30:30

Okay, we gotta send uh we gotta send Daniel Fraser.

SPEAKER_03 30:35

A Dun Barton, an extra Dunbarton.

SPEAKER_02 30:37

You get a Dunbarton for the Billy Girl.

SPEAKER_03 30:39

There's a lot I I I thought I knew about Steve, and then as years continued, there's a lot I learned I didn't know. Like crazy. We talked about Dave Goroffalo. Dunbarton, uh Sokka lives in New Hampshire. When he uh was doing online forums, he was a regular customer of Dave Goroffalo's.

SPEAKER_01 30:56

That's crazy.

SPEAKER_03 30:57

It is crazy, it's a small world, it is a small world, and then he later got hired uh to work for Drew Estate, which he did all the branding and packaging for the League of Nine T52. Then he got hired at JR Cigars and worked as one of their managers, and then he started Dunbarton Tobacco and Trust.

SPEAKER_02 31:13

It's yeah, he's a wealth of information about the history of this current era of the cigar industry. Like it's really cool always interviewing him and learning something.

SPEAKER_03 31:23

Yeah, like it's really and I I feel like he too, he's kind of like I don't really see that much small of a company anymore. Like he's so in-house, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 31:32

Yeah, he's a big name. No, definitely. In terms of I think he's kind of over on the edge, yeah. The the very edge of this of this theory here, the cigar renaissance or whatever. I feel like he's pretty far far up there.

SPEAKER_03 31:45

I agree. Yeah, I agree. And and I think the reason his brand does so well is because he's worked those aspects of packaging, marketing, as well as retail. Like he gets it, he understands of what it comes down, and he had probably the most thorough like way of thinking when it came to tariffs. He's like, We're gonna do it. This percentage, this percentage, this percentage, so for sure. Uh mob 718.

SPEAKER_02 32:07

Soccer history is amazing.

SPEAKER_03 32:08

Yeah, it's in impressive. Uh Daniel says, I like Herklotz, uh, Fairy Otago. Her clots is also really awesome guy.

SPEAKER_02 32:17

We finally got to yeah, meet him last uh last PCA. Really very personable man.

SPEAKER_03 32:24

Yes, and mobs is absolutely Daniel. Yes, 100%. Okay, all right. So on to question number four. Now, this one I feel like might be it might be too easy, so I decided to remove multiple choice.

SPEAKER_02 32:36

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_03 32:37

This is one of the ones because I I fear it feel like it's fairly self-explanatory. Cigar blenders, assemble this company started with a trip to Cuba where the founder first assembled a world-class team of Cuban agrometists who worked at the highest levels of Cuban tobacco in many cases over half a century, and brought them to Nicaragua to oversee growing and production. And now they are the biggest supplier of Nicaraguan tobacco. I feel like this one's pretty easy. They are the company that supplies the most Nicaraguan tobacco, they're the biggest company who did that. And when they started, they brought over many people from Cuba to oversee and do it right. Do it right. So we'll have some some comments drop down. Who is it? Who do you think it is? Who is the biggest Nicaraguan tobacco supplier in the world? Because the key here is not tobacco supplier, because that would be Plasencia, but the Plasencia is beat out on Nicaragua specifically. I see the comments coming down. Was that your guess? Yeah, I mean, it's not really a guess. Yeah, it's it's basically there. Everyone is uh, shout out to everyone who said Agonor Salief uh 100%, which they even made their tribute cigar um Arsenio.

SPEAKER_02 33:50

I was just gonna mention the Arsenio. That was yeah, that was the first hint that came to mind for me because I love that story. I would tell that story in the shop all the time. Like because I, you know, someone came in and they wanted something with a little bit of like history to it. I feel like that's a really cool one that it just came out of his notebook, and that was his cigar.

SPEAKER_03 34:09

Super cool. And yeah, if you want to smoke the specific Arsenio blend that this Cuban cigar maker made, smoke it in the Corona size. That's yes, that's his blend, his size. Um, but that's something that's super cool. Is uh when I first was like getting into it and learning about Agonorsa, um it was kind of learning of like how many other companies use Agonorsa tobacco. I mean, we talked about Warped, their one. Uh, you got HVC, Drew Estate, for a while foundation. There's a lot of companies that get Agonorsa filler.

SPEAKER_02 34:39

Also, Black Starline used them for a while, too.

SPEAKER_03 34:41

Black Starline, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, and actually, what I didn't even know until last year's Stallone uses some of their filler too.

SPEAKER_02 34:47

Wow.

SPEAKER_03 34:48

So, yeah, there's a fair amount. Agonorsa is awesome. I like the way that uh Mob718 puts it. Agonorsa is a staple. Yeah, as a company, though, as a cigar brand, they're relatively new.

SPEAKER_02 34:59

That's crazy. Because they they have the feel of a heritage brand in a lot of ways.

SPEAKER_03 35:03

Yes, amazing stuff. There you go. Got the the strong arm of Agonorsa from Raider Dave. Uh, awesome. So, yeah, that's Agonorsa Leaf. Okay, let's move on to question number five. We've got family is everything. This brand started as a commemoration for the owner's family. One of the family members was known as a master roller, and another was known as a master smoker. This brand was risen to popularity and success fairly quickly. Is it A, Foundation Cigars, B, Cigar Clowns, C, HVC Cigars, or D, Elmago Cigars? The brand was built on a commemoration for the owner's family. Um and interestingly enough, like I knew sort of that. I did not know that one of the family members was a master cigar roller at the same time. Uh I see we got some comments coming in. Who is it? Uh, we'll name off those one more time before taking the answer. Is it Foundation? Is it B Cigar Clowns, C HVC cigars, or D El Mago cigars? Who is it? Who do you think it is?

SPEAKER_02 36:21

I think it's HVC. I know that El Mago does have a lot of family influence. Like everything is named for his grandmother and grandfather, but I can't remember if he said that there was a Did he say Master Roller though? Master Roller in the family. I remember he said his grandfather used to smoke. Oh, it's a toss-up for me between El Mago and HVC.

SPEAKER_03 36:54

The answer?

SPEAKER_02 36:55

Let's let every let's let's get everybody's answers out there. Everybody else is saying Elmago.

SPEAKER_03 36:59

Everyone's going down with Elmago. We got Shirley, Daniel, Chris, um, mob 718, Daniel, Rob Brown. Everyone's going with Elmago.

SPEAKER_02 37:11

All right, I might be wrong.

SPEAKER_03 37:12

It is Elmago.

SPEAKER_02 37:13

Oh, I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_03 37:15

So the trick is HVC was specifically put in there as a trick because HVC does a he wanted to commemorate the culture and family of Cuba.

unknown 37:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 37:25

So and he does have family that did do cigars, but that's okay.

SPEAKER_02 37:28

That was really close.

SPEAKER_03 37:29

It was really close. It was really close. But yeah, if you uh had mentioned El Mago, um stalling for time, Daniel Fraser.

SPEAKER_02 37:38

I was not stalling for time. I was genuinely like, I think it's I think it's El Mago, but the HVC really threw me off.

SPEAKER_03 37:46

That was intentional. I'm sorry. Rude. Uh Shirley says, Finally, I'm back in the game.

SPEAKER_02 37:51

Welcome back. I'm out.

SPEAKER_03 37:53

And Chris says she rolled cigars for Castro. Um, yeah, no, I would say fairly recently I learned that she was a master roller as well. Hit her his grandmother.

SPEAKER_02 38:02

Okay, I did not know that part because I remember the part he told us right about. Wow.

SPEAKER_03 38:06

Wow. So really interesting stuff. That's even cooler. It's super cool. Uh, and it was kind of comical because the master smoker bit came from Nick saying that like his father didn't make cigars, but he always comically said that, well, I'm a master smoker, I'm always smoking cigars. So there you go. Uh, let's take a few more questions and then uh we'll get to a bit of news. We're we're coming down to the end here. Question six passion is worth a million. This company's co-owner started a cybersecurity before venturing into the business of the leaf. Teaming up with one of the premier Nicaraguan blenders in the industry, they have now a full portfolio of cigars. Fun fact the co-owner sold off his cybersecurity business for a million dollars. Is it B A Big Sky? B Domain Cigars, C, Espinoza Cigars, or D, Shafio Cigars. Who started in cybersecurity, sold off his company for a million dollars, and is now making cigars uh up to present day. Is it Big Sky, Domain, Espinoza, or Shafio? Uh, we got some comments coming down here. Oh, that's a that's a good side note comment here from uh let's hear from Richard.

SPEAKER_02 39:20

Richard says, Enjoy the jug rebooster today.

SPEAKER_03 39:23

That is a great cigar. El Mago for the win. Okay, so we got one. David is saying, uh, oh, sorry. David's saying domain.

SPEAKER_02 39:31

Oh, and then up there, Daniel.

SPEAKER_03 39:33

Daniel's saying Espinoza. Uh C Espinoza for Mob. Uh let's see here. Another C. Rob Brown says domain. What do you think? Do you happen to know?

SPEAKER_02 39:45

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 39:46

You do know? Oh, yeah. All right, Molly, what is your what is your answer?

SPEAKER_02 39:49

It's domain.

SPEAKER_03 39:49

It is domain cigars. Yes. Which is wild because uh I think it's no secret by now. And and uh shout out to David for uh answering domain and Rob Brown Domain. Um, I actually talk to Daniel Lance fairly a fair amount, even like more so than a lot of these companies we've been carrying for a while, because we talk a lot beyond just cigars, a lot of it's business. Um, recently there's a lot of news going on in Nicaragua, so I was like, okay, I'm calling Daniel. What does he think about this? Because he loves the Nicaraguan culture, he loves the people, the country out there. And as he always says, Um, I'm a Nicaraguan uh citizen, I'm a USA citizen, and I spend a fair amount of time back and forth. Yeah, he loves both countries. Um, so he knows he's like boots on the ground.

SPEAKER_02 40:33

And his interview was in the factory, yeah. Our our interview on the live, yes, he came to us from the factory in Nicaragua. He's like, Yep, this is this is where I'm at. Like, this isn't a backdrop. It was so cool. It's funny because I'm realizing that with this quiz, if because I do not have spreadsheet brain like you, if it had been like a origins quiz or rapper finder binder filler quiz, I would have been in way bigger trouble. But because it's all like kind of like the personal stuff about the people, I'm like, oh yeah, I remember that guy. Yeah, really, it's so ridiculous. I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_03 41:07

Well, no, I think it's great because I I feel like we do talk a fair amount on what's in the cigar and how it was blended, but I feel like this is a bit more of understanding of the people behind the brand, yeah, which is cool. Yeah. So if you answer domain, we got Chris answering domain, you had the correct answer.

SPEAKER_02 41:22

I think domain's just gonna be an absolute juggernaut. Yes, like it's already so amazing.

SPEAKER_03 41:28

They are also one of those companies like streamlined down, yes. Um, very smart. And when we originally brought them in, they of course had entropy, nigentropy, um, and neutron. Those are the first three we brought in, and it would like my favorite would change like every week. Actually, no, it's the San Andreas, actually, no, it's the Ecuadorian. It's like just they're so good. I'm very elegant. Recent release, our first Connecticut. Um, yeah, I I love that cigar.

SPEAKER_02 41:55

Yeah, domain claimed that spot in our roster on the society absolute first Connecticut, which is crazy. Yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_03 42:03

Final two questions. Uh, let's see here. This one outlandish or outside of the box. This is a question more that is more wrapped up in OGT cigars and the culture and the society.

SPEAKER_02 42:16

The history of the society.

SPEAKER_03 42:17

Yes. While this company's ownerslash blender has created some of OGT's most favorite blends in the past, he has been considered to have concepts too outlandish for other makers, other peers in the this industry. He has repeatedly been recognized by the society. Is it A, Stallone, B, Shaffio, C, Agonorsa, or D Espinoza cigars? So the important thing to mark that's probably in between the lines is that the ownerslash blender uh has made several cigars, and his peers in the industry are not always understanding his method.

SPEAKER_02 42:54

At least in the beginning. I know who you're talking about now. Yeah, yep.

SPEAKER_03 42:57

Okay, so let's see here. Rob Brown said, I smoked the domain Connecticut this morning. It was very good. Awesome. Glad you enjoy it.

SPEAKER_02 43:04

It's delicious.

SPEAKER_03 43:05

Raider Dave also has a comment.

SPEAKER_02 43:07

Speaking of domain, the society's attenuation is a fantastic, complete outlier for Connecticut.

SPEAKER_03 43:13

I'm glad, I'm glad to hear it.

SPEAKER_02 43:14

I I loved how he talked about the Connecticut too, because he he said this is not a contrarian Connecticut, this is what Connecticut can be. Yes, and there's this such misconception about like how gorgeous that can you know can taste. And he's just basically saying, I'm leaning into what it is, and so many people haven't had that chance to smoke it that way.

SPEAKER_03 43:37

No, I think that's a great way to put it because I feel like for a lot of us, I don't feel fully admitted where my palate is, where a lot of uh us in the society, our palette is, is that we think like, okay, in order for Connecticut to be good, we at least have to make it strong. Yes, like at least. And this was like, no, and it's kind of like the soccer approach. You don't have to have a Connecticut super strong, you just have to have it so. Flavorful that it keeps drawing you back.

SPEAKER_02 44:02

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 44:03

And yeah, the attenuation is just one of those cigars. And I realize too, a six by sixty grand uh Grand Toro, it's a bit much.

SPEAKER_02 44:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 44:12

It's definitely a bit much. But the fact that this is entwined in domain's history, that they were the first to uh reach out to us and be like, I think your members would like this. Um, and that the blend we're talking about a lighter strength cigar was not lost on something like that. It's just this attenuation release, as it's might have been people were wary about it because it's Connecticut, um, illustrates what you do when you have intentionality and talent in your blending and how well it can be.

SPEAKER_02 44:41

Yeah, let it change your mind because it's very lovely.

SPEAKER_03 44:44

Yes. Um, okay, so everyone has the same exact landslide.

SPEAKER_02 44:49

It's Stallone, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 44:51

Stallone, yes.

SPEAKER_02 44:52

Yeah, and I don't know if that's what he gets anymore. It was just that he said initially he would come up with these ideas and people would like laugh it off, you know, and and that experience of being kind of the underdog being from Venezuela, you know, and being this incredible master blender.

SPEAKER_03 45:10

Insanely good, it's so creative. Like Rob Brown put down Stallone. Rob Brown, I I've I will credit him, paraphrase him for saying that when it comes to blending, Tony Barrios is a genius.

SPEAKER_02 45:22

He's a wizard. Yeah, it's insane, it's really cool.

SPEAKER_03 45:26

Uh David saying, Oh man, I'm excited to try the new attenuation drop. I hope I hope you like it and excited for you to try it as well. It's it's pretty special. Um, and I will say too, like, uh, I can't really give too much away. It's not a custom for us, but Tony will be coming out with a limited production cigar later this year. That was one of those situations. He had told several of other people I used my idea, and they're like, that's not gonna work, Tony. Don't do it. Um, and it's a really good cigar. So he's just, I don't know, it's something really special.

SPEAKER_02 45:56

Richard says, Smoke the attenuation Connecticut this morning. Very enjoyable smoke.

SPEAKER_03 46:00

Awesome.

SPEAKER_02 46:00

Glad to hear it.

SPEAKER_03 46:01

Glad to hear it. Okay, so here's finally a kind of a free a freebie, a giveaway. It's not multiple choice. Uh, final question: a brand built on the street. This company started with a group of four and only a few small batch releases here and there. Today they've grown considerably and now boast a full portfolio that is often still hard to get a hold of. Started with a group of four people, uh, very much like cut and dry, and they would start with micro batches and now they have a portfolio. What company is that? I feel like there's only one company that comes to mind for this. Drop down your comments which company are we talking about as our final answer. And this is an interesting one as well. How is the cocoa drill black?

SPEAKER_02 46:46

This is really good. Yeah, yeah, I've been enjoying it a lot. Um it has gotten more complex as I go. I feel like there's some kind of fresh green note in there that I can't fully put a finger on, but I feel like there's been some like cocoa and coffee all the way through. It's very yeah, it's delicious.

SPEAKER_03 47:07

I I agree 100% on that cocoa flavor, and I feel like you don't normally expect it from non-Maduro cigars sometimes. Yes. But the fact that it does that, um, and it proves that Dominican cigars can be pretty darn special. Yes. So this is delicious. Good stuff. Okay, three comments down. I'm assuming this was your yes. We got Cigar Clowns all the way. Yes, cigar clowns. Uh Daniel, actually, that's a good one. Ezra Zion. I don't know if it was four individuals, but pretty similar.

SPEAKER_02 47:36

There's a there's a similarity there a little bit.

SPEAKER_03 47:38

Yeah, I want to say it's two guys behind that, um, but very similar. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 47:43

David says, Hope you get Tony on the podcast again soon. Always terrific interviews. It is, it's always cool talking with Tony.

SPEAKER_03 47:50

Yes, 100%. Uh, and yes, Tony will be. Uh, there are things happening behind the scenes right now I cannot wait for. So, yes, uh, that will definitely be happening. But yes, cigar clowns, it they continue to be that brand that it's like they're in still in their own category, like random micro drops, and then now to having a portfolio that still I feel like what happened was they came out the gate and everyone was like heard in whispers and alleyways like the cigar clowns. Yeah, and then they released uh some of their portfolio, Goldie Grace Rodeo Clown, which is still one of my favorites. And then for like a year or two, they were getting their bearings, and then with the Pagliacci duo and the cost on those and the superb blends on those, I feel like they're just all these amazing upgrades in the packaging and the lay the wrappers and all this other labels.

SPEAKER_02 48:37

It's just like really great.

SPEAKER_03 48:38

Um, Daniel Fraser's got a good one right here.

SPEAKER_02 48:40

Wanted to joke the acid line. No, I think the the cigar clowns are like the indie cult favorite. Yeah, you know what I mean? Like it's like to have started in this way that again, it's like, oh, you trade them with your friends because you only get them once, you know what I mean? To like this, like yeah, to start bringing in Shaffio and doing all these other things. It's really cool. I'm so happy for them. They're cool store, they're amazing.

SPEAKER_03 49:06

Uh, Chris says, any hints on the variety society or society this month? So, in terms of the variety pack, which is about a week out, um can't hint too much because we we some of them are newer releases, some of them are limited releases. I will say, uh, and I actually have a question for all of you guys who are part of the OGT Variety Club. What are your thoughts been on Chaos Theory and Butterfly Effect from Shadow Factory? I'm curious to know because uh for me personally, I have been really impressed with this. In fact, um, Butterfly Effect is almost gone. They, in a way, and it may it kind of makes me sad to say this. In a way, they're kind of our like uh micro drop brand because this is not a company that we can work with and just have like a bajillion made. There's there's very small amounts, and so I'm like, I think honestly, the best way to have this experience is to offer it to the variety club.

SPEAKER_02 50:09

Yeah, the variety really gets some of the most limited of the limited that we have. Um, so it's kind of cool, and it's a slightly different thing from the straight society.

SPEAKER_00 50:21

So it's kind of yes, I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 50:23

I think that's a cool way to kind of see what people think, you know, without them committing to the full five pack, but also and well, and it adds an extra uh experience that kind of adds a level of exclusivity to it.

SPEAKER_03 50:37

Um, but and again, the variety club is never meant to just offer rare stuff no one else can get. The variety club is really meant to offer a wide spectrum of brands and flavors that you may not have been introduced to, right? Or you may not have the opportunity to try yet.

SPEAKER_02 50:51

Um I guess it's just sort of a side perk that occasionally they get the microist drops, which is kind of fun.

SPEAKER_03 50:58

Okay, yeah, for sure. Okay, so let's see here.

SPEAKER_02 51:01

Daniel says uh both very good construction was fantastic. Rob Brown says haven't like the shadow.

SPEAKER_03 51:09

Okay, so not not as much. Um, not like shadow cigars. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 51:14

Uh Daniel says the blue butterfly was very impressive.

SPEAKER_03 51:16

Okay, interesting.

SPEAKER_02 51:17

It seems like the blue had a lot of it did, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 51:20

It did. Um, so yeah, it's interesting. So we I I'm not saying that the shadow factory is in every single variety club drop, um, but it was definitely a way that we can kind of introduce some of that stuff. Um, so in the upcoming one, there may be a few new releases and limited stuff. I can't talk too much, but uh, most of that will be coming out in about a week from now, in terms of what to see. But I can say, in a hint of society, we're reaching the month of August. Several big things happened in August here at headquarters. One, it's Mallory's birthday very soon in August, in a matter of months. So happy birthday to Mallory.

SPEAKER_02 51:57

We don't talk about that.

SPEAKER_03 51:58

It's coming up, that's always uh big, but also two, uh, August is the anniversary of Oakland Tobacconists, and we have our anniversary cigar coming for the society as well as it will be released kind of like we did Triforium last year, yep, where it will be available. Um, but all society members will be guaranteed the anniversary cigar.

SPEAKER_02 52:18

Lucky, lucky number seven.

SPEAKER_03 52:20

Yes, number number seven. I will say uh out of the stuff that we the projects we've been working on, I mean, things like the Bleak, Bruno, uh, Year of the Naysayer, Doctor's Orders 2, the Black Knight, Onyx Knight, all these are just insanely good to me. I would say what we have planned for our anniversary and what we have planned for Halloween still, I think, are potentially my running in the favorites.

SPEAKER_02 52:47

Um the anniversary is very exciting.

SPEAKER_03 52:49

It is. It and I mean I would say they're up with uh Doctor's Orders too and and Onyx. I don't know. It's hard to pick, but they're I think amongst some of our most exciting. Uh let's see here.

SPEAKER_02 52:59

Richard says uh was a good experience, but not quite as enjoyable for my palette. That's the Shadow Factory stuff.

SPEAKER_03 53:06

Okay, good to know. Uh Dana says, Happy birthday.

SPEAKER_02 53:09

Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 53:10

Uh Chris says, liked chaos more than butterfly. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 53:13

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 53:14

Interesting. All right. Well, cool. Let's get into a a very uh not so much. I don't know if we've got time for news. Let's let's uh highlight a uh bit of a picture going on tag through us. Actually, this was sent by message. Shout out to Daniel Michael, who's actually watching, sent this really awesome picture. I had to share it. This was on Instagram with a headline of Hey, OGT cigars, I'm going to need some more stickers for the collection. That dang. This type of picture is just so cool to me.

SPEAKER_02 53:44

It is really cool.

SPEAKER_03 53:45

Super cool. So thanks so much, Daniel, for sharing this. Uh, and that kind of collection handed out. We got more stickers on the way, anniversary stickers coming, more nights on the way. Um, so super cool. Thank you so much for sharing that. Shout out to Daniel. And then I decided to pull an array of pictures for our recent society drop. This is through uh our Discord and through our Facebook group, uh all around the country, which is really cool. People posting, smoking the attenuation. Um, this one's actually from Hawaii. Uh, so really cool pictures. Shout out to you guys. Thank you so much for sharing uh your experiences with the society. And I'll fully say some of them people, the the common phrase was I'm not that fan of a Connecticut, but this one is pretty special. And then there were some saying, Okay, I'm not normally like a Connecticut, so this is a new experience, it's interesting. So thank you guys for dropping that down. Always makes me uh first relieved that everyone's didn't get lost anything in the mail that we didn't start with, yeah. Is that not anything like that? And then, but secondly, it's also awesome to see those pictures going around, yeah. So super cool. Um, out of the brands that we've talked about tonight and the prospect of many of these becoming bigger names in the future, what would you say? And this is also a question for all of you watching, what would you say are some of the ones on your top favorite lists? Like if you had to not to say like the only ones you name are your favorites, but ones that immediately come to mind like these are favorites, and I expect to see them continue to grow. Well, black label, black label, yeah. Domain, domain, okay, and Elmago.

SPEAKER_02 55:22

I had to restrain myself because you asked me what I wanted to smoke tonight, and I was like, I just really want to smoke a lotus. That's like I keep going back to that thing, it's amazing, it's lovely.

SPEAKER_03 55:34

It's great. Lancero, great Lancero, beautiful. I'm I'm there with you. Domain Elmago comes up there, stolen throne.

SPEAKER_02 55:41

Um, and it's hard because once you start naming your yeah, all of them, all of them that we named. I'm like, I know, I don't want to leave anybody out.

SPEAKER_03 55:48

I like all sure, surely's on the domain train as well. Um, but yeah, I think it's really cool. We're in an exceptional time for great talent within the cigar industry. And uh, I'm excited to see these companies grow as well. Me too.

SPEAKER_00 56:04

So it's awesome.

SPEAKER_03 56:05

Hopefully, that was a bit educational for everyone. Hopefully, everyone enjoyed it. Uh, thank you guys so much for jumping on tonight and hanging out with us. Uh, Richard saying El Mago and the clowns.

SPEAKER_01 56:15

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 56:16

Definitely stick around forever.

SPEAKER_01 56:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 56:18

Um, but thanks for joining us this Thursday night. We'll be back next Thursday night for OGT Cigar Society Week.

SPEAKER_00 56:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 56:24

We'll be talking about the Society drop, um, the blend, kind of the background of it. Uh, so always look forward to that. That's every first Thursday of the month. But thank you guys so much. Get ready, one and all, for our anniversary cigar coming up next month. Super excited. And uh, everyone have a great weekend. Thanks for hanging out with us. Good night. See you later.