Simply Stogies

Join Tim (aka, the Secret Sauce) and James as they reflect on the most recent episode of Simply Stogies Podcast with William from Cigar Coop. The episode is hard to follow, because it is just that good. Tim gives Coop some grief (and props) and forces James to conduct some self reflection. Live Long, "The Cigar Media". Just say it in your inner James' voice.

We are excited to welcome back our friend, William "Cigar Coop" Cooper to the podcast. Cigar Coop, Nick, and James discuss the upcoming PCA '24 Trade Show in Las Vegas. Coop lets us know what he's looking forward to the most this year, changes to the PCA over the years, and who will be there and who won't. We then discuss the TPE vs PCA shows and if TPE will continue to have premium hand-rolled cigars there, and what the future holds for the PCA Trade Show.

Tim and Nick host this week's after show. They talk about the latest episode of Simply Stogies Podcast with Dr. Stefan Lampert of Lampert Cigars, cool tech, the upcoming PCA trade show and so much more.

James and Nick welcome Dr. Stefan Lampert of Lampert Cigars. As Nick was traveling to Tabacos de Costa Rica, he ran into Dr. Lampert who visiting the factory, as well. We discuss Dr. Lampert's vision for the company, how he juggles travel between Europe, the US, and South America. We talk about how Dr. Lampert go into the industry, the importance of travel and how the love of the leaf brings people together.

Tim brings James and Nick back to the After Show to talk about the latest episode of Simply Stogies Cigar Podcast with their guest Scott Pearce with the PCA. The three talk a little bit about burgers, smoking cigars with a steak, the PCA, and the trade show that they will attend in March.

We welcome Scott Pearce, the Executive Director of the Premium Cigar Association, to the show. Scott tells us about how he got into cigars, his background before joining the PCA, and his love of cigars. Scott fills us in on some of what the upcoming annual PCA Trade Show has in store for us and how he's excited to have it at the Las Vegas Convention Center. We find out about the 2025 Trade Show location, how the PCA works to keep the FDA from overreaching, and much much more!

Tim is completley oblivious to who and what Friends of El Habano, Bond Roberts Auctions, and and Rob Ayala are due to his lack of experience with Cuban cigars. This leads to an interesting after show where Nick and James teach him a thing or two about Cuban Cigars.

Rob from Friends of El Habano (FOH) and Bond Roberts tells us how and why he got into the cigar industry. Rob tells of how FOH and Bond Roberts were brought into existence. He discusses the importance of customer service and understanding your client. We talk about the Cuban price increases and how it has affected the market, and how it might continue to affect the market. Rob shares his feelings and experience dealing with the price increases, moderating forums, and much more. "Get balls deep in your business."

Your favorite cigar podcast after show is back to dig a little deeper behind the scenes of Episode 118 of the Simply Stogies Podcast. Tim and James have questions for Nick as they try to dive into a little more about life on the farm. Are there still kids running around the factory? How exactly does the factory purchase its tobacco? These are only a few of the things this episode tries to uncover.

Do you have questions about how your cigars are rolled? We've all heard "200 hands" touch your cigar, but what does that look like? Nick Syris of LH Cigars and Filipe Leon of Tabacos de Costa Rica walk us through their factory and show us how the tobacco is sorted, what a pilón is, and much more.