Not A Cigar Show*

Oliver Nivaud has spent years working behind the scenes in the cigar business, and on this episode of Not A Cigar Show, we get into a little bit of everything. Oliver, Director of Operations for United Cigars, joins me to talk about United, working with Dave Garofalo, representing Nelson Alfonso and Selected Tobacco, and what goes into building and supporting cigar brands in a crowded market. We also spend some time talking about Selected Tobacco, the Alfonso factory in Madrid, and the kind of detail Nelson Alfonso brings to everything he touches. I had the chance to visit the Madrid factory before the official opening, so there was plenty I wanted to ask before heading to the upcoming celebration. We also get into Oliver’s life on the road, retailers, cigar events, what he sees changing in the business, and a few things that probably were not on the official talking-points sheet.

Keeping cigars properly humidified sounds simple right up until you start asking cigar smokers what RH they use, how many packs they put in a humidor, whether they rotate them, and what happens when they bring home a brand-new box. On this episode of Not A Cigar Show, I’m joined by JP Awad, Boveda’s Eastern U.S. Sales Representative, and Nate Beck, Western U.S. Sales Representative, to talk about cigar storage, two-way humidity control, common mistakes, choosing the right RH level, and what actually happens inside your humidor. We also cover what JP and Nate see while traveling the country, the questions they hear most often from retailers and consumers, and why something as basic as humidity can still spark a pretty serious cigar argument.

Terence Reilly of Aganorsa Leaf joins Fred Rewey on Not A Cigar Show for a conversation about tobacco, cigars, marketing, retailers, and what actually goes into building a brand in today’s cigar business. We get into what makes Aganorsa tobacco different, the advantage of controlling so much of the process from the fields forward, how cigar smokers understand, and sometimes misunderstand, tobacco, and what Terence sees happening at the retail and consumer level. We also talk about Aganorsa’s brands, the challenge of getting people to notice what is inside the cigar instead of simply what is wrapped around it, and how you market something when your biggest differentiator literally grows out of the ground. Plus, because this is Not A Cigar Show, the conversation occasionally wanders into places a normal cigar interview probably would have avoided.

No guest this week. Just your questions. Welcome to the first episode of Office Hours, a new edition of Not a Cigar Show where the conversation is driven by cigar smokers. This episode tackles questions about cigar lounge etiquette, whether the industry really needs more new brands, cell phones in lounges, aging cigars, and several other topics submitted by viewers. Have a question for a future episode? Email [email protected], or record a short audio or video message and send it in. You might hear your question on the next Office Hours. Light up a great cigar and join the conversation.

Charles Gibb had been CEO of Tabacalera USA for roughly 48 hours when this interview was recorded live at PCA. That timing makes this conversation unique. Before the talking points were polished and before months of industry headlines could shape the narrative, Gibb sat down with Cigar Press to discuss his vision for some of the most recognizable brands in premium cigars. Coming from the luxury spirits world, Gibb shares his thoughts on premium branding, storytelling, innovation, partnerships, and the balance between honoring tradition and avoiding gimmicks. He also discusses how he views brands like Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, H. Upmann, and the broader Tabacalera USA portfolio. Most importantly, he explains what success looks like in his first year and where he hopes to take the company over the next five years. This is an early look at a new CEO, his mindset, and the direction he believes premium cigars can go next. Recorded live at the PCA Trade Show. For more cigar news, reviews, interviews, and industry coverage, visit CigarPress.com.