The Resilience of the Cigar Lover’s Soul, by Tommy Zman
I am truly amazed at the resilience, tenacity, and devotion that we cigar lovers possess. Here we are in a time when tobacco taxes are the highest in history and public disdain for tobacco is like nothing we’ve ever seen in our lives, yet the cigar industry keeps on smoking. It is truly amazing but this industry is growing – there are more premium brands on the market than ever before – the quality of products is better than ever – and more people are smoking premium hand rolled sticks than anyone could have EVER imagined.
I’ve had the pleasure and honor of talking and smoking with many of the dedicated people of this awesome industry and every single one of them is the same when it comes to their love and belief in their products, and their “KNOWING” that no matter what kind of roadblocks continue to be thrown in the face of the cigar world, we will overcome and triumph. They know how much their products are loved and cherished by the cigar smoking public and it’s for US that these people keep on pushing forward and making cigars – the most enjoyable pastime I have personally ever known.
Last week I was fortunate enough to attend the Dinner with the Masters at the Avenue A Club in Newark, New Jersey, as the Fuente Cigar Family was honored. Representing the company was Cynthia Fuente, the first lady of cigars, and she spoke to the attendees about the joys of being in this business for so long. I personally spoke with her for a bit and asked where Fuente is headed with the tumultuous atmosphere that continues to surround the cigar community.
“Tommy, we have never been more positive, determined, and exited to be in the cigar business,” she affirmed with total conviction. “Everyone in this business – we are like one big family, and a family sticks together no matter what obstacles they face in order to live long and enjoy the prosperity that we all deserve.”
Like I said guys, no matter who I speak to, from George Sosa of Alec Bradley, Jose Blanco of Joya de Nicaragua, Rocky Patel, Christian Eiroa, Rene Castenada of Miami Cigars, or Jonathan Drew and Steve Saka of Drew Estates, they mimic the sentiment of Cynthia Fuente, word for word and you can just about see the passion oozing from their very souls when they talk about it. I’ve also had the honor of talking cigars with Frank Llaneza and Sal Fontana, two greats of this business who have since departed but their imprint on this world will not only last, but help to continue to be a driving force that keeps it all alive.
And then there’s people like Glynn Loope, the executive director of Cigar Rights of America who meets with all of the people mentioned above, as well as senators, congressmen, and business people about the rights of the citizens of America and our RIGHT to continue to choose a legal product that actually helped build this country, while it employs some 80,000 people here in the U.S. CRA has gathered over 202,000 petition signatures to date in order to stop the FDA from imposing jurisdiction and taxes that WILL eventually destroy the products we all love, as well as the livelihoods of all the people I have mentioned in this piece.
I’ll say it again, guys, we cigar smokers are a resilient, tenacious, and devoted group of individuals and it is our collective attitudes that will keep the industry alive and keep us enjoying our Prensados, Pepins, Partagas, Punch, and Perdomos. Continue to be steadfast in defending our rights and the FREEDOM that this country has ALWAYS stood for.
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://cigarrights.org
As always, stay smoky my friends,
