The GREAT Cigar Show in Orlando by Tommy Zman
This week is the IPCPR show in Orlando, Florida. For those of you not familiar with the initials, it is the International Premium Cigars & Pipe Retailers king daddy of ‘em all cigar industry trade show. Formerly know as the RTDA (Retail Tobacco Dealers Association) the name was changed to take the emphasis off the term “tobacco” all while failing to realize that the letters CPR is in the name. Oops, I guess.
The biggest bummer for yours truly is that because of prior business commitments, I cannot attend this year’s show. And for a cigar hound like myself, YES it totally sucks dirty smoke rings (whatever the hell that’s supposed to mean). But at least I have some great memories from a couple of the shows I attended, as I sit here and reminisce about the good times had – Nashville Tennessee in 1998 and Las Vegas in 2008 (Damn, I hope that doesn’t mean that the next one is 2018).
The main goal of the show is that the retailers, large and small, get to meet and greet with the manufacturers, talk business and order product all while mingling with their fellow tobacconites (okay, that’s a made-up word, but I kinda like it and will surely use it in the future.) But the absolute biggest thrill for everyone is seeing the debut of all the new brands, lines, and products that will invade the cigar world for 2012. So much new stuff is introduced and it really is an exciting time for the industry.
The first one I attended was the Nashville show in ’98 in the Opryland hotel, what I believe is known as the largest indoor structure in the world, complete with an indoor river and boat rides. I remember it taking a good half hour to walk from one side of the place to the other and it was exhausting just being there. That was actually at the tail end of the cigar boom of the 90’s and the show was literally three times the size it is now, with so many neophytes, jack wagons, and wannabees hawking some brutally shit-full turds being passed off as premium hand rolled cigars. I actually debuted the cigar magazine I published for the New York & New Jersey area called the Back Room. And, I even remember hanging out ‘til the wee hours of the morning sitting next to the great Lew Rothman at the Jack Daniels bar. While I didn’t know him too well then, it didn’t halt me from being the recipient of his legendary ball busting, which I was told meant that he liked me. Damn, I think he must have loved me the way I got skewered!
Then there was the last show I attended which was at the Venetian in Vegas back in 2008. Another monolithic structure, I remember it taking a good 15 minutes to walk from my room to the show as my ankles and calves were swollen and throbbing from 8 hours of four days straight pounding those cement floors. But Vegas is Vegas and a great time was definitely had by all. I remember Tim Ozgener of CAO had Lynard Skinnard play at their private party, as I spent several days hanging with Christian Eiroa at the Camacho private shindig. Food, booze, cigars, and gorgeous women everywhere you turned – from what I remember I seemed to have had a pretty good time.
The IPCPR is just an amazingly fun time for all who attend because everyone is in just the best mood smoking cigars and enjoying the camaraderie of their fellow stogiphiles (Yet even another made up word that I have embraced). I’m always writing so much about how cigars put people in a great mood, well this show is the relaxation effect of a lifetime! Damn sorry I missed this one and all my good pals in the business, but mark my words that I will be there next year with a smoky vengeance, oh yes I will, people… yes, I will.
DON’T MISS – The NEW JR•Cigar Catalog is out and you can read my regular column on page 98: What Really Roasts My Robusto! This issue’s story is entitled: The Ultimate Answer to saving the World (and if you love cigars, you’re gonna love where I’m headed with this one!)
I urge you to PLEASE SUPPORT Cigar Rights of America as they continue to deal with congress, the senate, and all US legislators who need to be made aware that our cigars are the best friends we know of and we will fight like hell to keep them in our lives! >>http://cigarrrights.org
