Simply Stogies

Congratulations to Chris Hansen, Gary Mehrl, and Caleb McReynolds on winning the Pupperdor.com contest. A big "thank you" to Pupperdor.com for supporting Simply Stogies Podcast and sponsoring such a great giveaway! 

I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with @thecigarmadame (Coco Maria) an avid aficionada, cigar enthusiast, great Sister of the Leaf, and Instagram influencer. We discussed her cigar journey, how a woman's experience in the cigar community differs from most men's, and how in some ways it's exactly the same. We talk about social media, if glamor models smoke cigars, and The Cigar Madame brand! I had a blast getting to spend a bit of time with The Cigar Madame and hope that you do, too.

To book The Cigar Madame for events or to contact her for product and business promotion, please visit https://chocolateandcigars.com/

To follow The Cigar Madame on Instagram please search @thecigarmadame or click here

Visit The Cigar Madame's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/thecigarmadame

During an AMA/Virtual Cut&Light for SimplyStogies.club with Pete Johnson of Tatuaje Cigars, I get an opportunity to have a three hour conversation with Pete. We talk about everything from his cigar journey starting in a strip club, to how he looks at the FDA's overregulation, and everything in between. Pete was generous with his time and was more than happy to answer my questions, as well as the questions from the members of SimplyStogies.club. Thank you, Pete! It was a blast! I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Jon Huber from Crowned Heads cigars joins James and some of the members from simplystogies.club for an AMA. Jon discusses his cigar journey, how he got started in the business, and where he sees the future of the business. Jon also talks about what inspires him and finding the reason for cigars to exist. We briefly discuss the FDA, it's impact on the industry, and what that looks like from an artists' point of view. He also tells us how his latest collaboration with Drew Estate, La Coalicion, came to be. 

Immediately following the podcast interview, the members of simplystogies.club had the opportunity to interact with Jon in the AMA portion of the virtual cut&light. To become a member of simplystogies.club email me at info@simplystogies.com or DM me on Instagram @simplystogiespodcast or DM @simplystogies   

Thank you again to Jon Huber for joining us. It was a fascinating and fun chat!

I sit down with Jeremy Casdagli of Casdagli Cigars, formerly Bespoke Cigars, live from the Clayton in Chicago, Illinois. Jeremy and I discuss his cigar journey, how and why he started Casdagli Cigars, the name change from Bespoke to Casdagli, his family history and how that has influenced him, how he reacts to bad reviews and so much more! 

Plus, I mention how to save 10% by using coupon code simplystogies at Small Batch Cigars. For a limited time, when you use that code to purchase Casdagli Cigars, you will be entered into a raffle for a Casdagli cutter by Xikar!! Details in the episode!

LINKS:

https://casdaglicigars.com/

https://bespokecigar.com/

 

James begins this episode with several big announcements! James announces interviews with Jeremy Casdagli of Casdagli Cigars and Pete Johnson of Tatuaje Cigars. He also announces a contest with pupperdor.com. Details and rules of the contest are found in this episode! Thank you to Pupperdor.com for sponsoring this contest.

Have you ever wondered why there are so many different cigar accessories out there? How do you find what you need? What do you need? Do they make a difference in how your cigars smoke or taste? James gives you his take as his journey brings him to "the hobby within the hobby," cigar accessories.

I get the opportunity to sit down and chat with Nick Melillo, master blender, and founder of Foundation Cigars for a SimplyStogies.club AMA/Virtual Cut & Light via Zoom Meeting. We had a fantastic conversation about Nick's cigar journey, how he got started, what he's learned, and where he's going. We discussed a slew of topics that ranged from the various cigar lines at Foundation, to Nick's approach to blending cigar, Nick's love of history, and the dreaded FDA. It was a fantastic chat that I hope you enjoy as much as I did. I am thankful for Nick being so generous with his time and sharing his passion with us. 

There was a SimplyStogies.club members only live Q&A immediately following the podcast that is only available to SimplyStogies.club members. To become a member of SimplyStogies.club please email me at info@simplystogies.com 

I am pleased to announce the launch of simplystogies.com! I'd like to thank all the hard work put it in by the team (Timothy Allen, Mike Brieg, Wonho Frank Lee, Troy Kelso, and Stephanie Hattan) in order to get the website off the ground!!! Please, check out simplystogies.com and let us know what you think via social media.

I discuss the recent Simply Stogies Mega Herf at Casa de Montecristo in Countryside, IL. It was a fantastic time and I'd like to thank everyone who was able to make it. I use this as a springboard to discuss what a healthy cigar community, online or otherwise, should look like. Remember to be good to each other out there and stay smokey!

This episode, I welcome Joe from SimplyStogies.club. Joe has been smoking Cuban cigars for 20yrs and is an expert on the subject. I get his expert opinion on the moral and ethical issues of purchasing Cuban cigars, how to spot fakes, the implications of a free market Cuba, and much much more. This discussion, much like my cigar journey, is filled with twists and turns. If you have questions about Cuban cigars, Joe has answers!

I return to my journey and how I came to know the famous Cuban cigar. The Cuban cigar has mystery, romanticism, and maybe a bit of a taboo air that surrounds it. Is the Cuban cigar hype? What issues surround the Cuban cigar for someone living in America? Can you easily get your hands on an authentic Cuban cigar? I recall how my journey first crossed paths with this famous stogie.  

I recall how I was gifted with something completely unexpected by a great BOTL before jumping into Facebook cracking down on the buying/selling/trading/private transactions of cigars. As I discuss Facebook's shift in policy, I land on Netflix cutting down on scenes that portray tobacco use. This underscores the need to support groups like the Cigar Rights of America. If you haven't joined them yet, please consider doing so. I then give you my experience and full review of Boveda's foray into hygrometers, the Boveda Butler. 

 

OUTSIDE LINKS:

https://www.patreon.com/simplystogies

https://www.cigarrights.org/