Mastering the Process: Drew Estate’s Willy Herrera, Part 1
There are a lot of moving parts involved in cigar making. When it comes to cigars, people often conjure up images of a cigar...
It Takes Two: A Look at Alpha Cigar Company
When Tim Cavenagh graduated from college and moved to China for work, he discovered that finding a good cigar was a challenge. At the...
Showdown in San Francisco Over Proposed Flavor Ban
Though many in the industry have been focused on the continuing deadlines and regulations brought about by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s deeming...
Sustainable Appeal: A Greener Look at Plasencia Cigars
Jose Luis Plasencia’s career in the tobacco industry officially began in 2015. He recalls graduating on a Saturday and by that next Monday he...
Choosing the Future: Michael Zercher and 22nd Century, Part 1
How do you deal with a problem? Are you the type who tries to find a work-around? Or do you turn your blinders on...
NNN: The FDA’s Proposed Rule for Smokeless Tobacco
Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a proposed rule to establish the agency’s first product standard that would limit...
2017 State of the Industry
Bonnie Herzog, a leading tobacco analyst at Wells Fargo, kicked off Tobacco Plus Expo by predicting a decline in cigarette sales volume of 3.5...
Opening New Doors
When one door closes, another always seems to open up. That certainly has been the case for Abe Flores. The 43-year-old owner of PDR...
The Engagement Game
Ian Blanken was hired as Oliva Cigar Co.’s marketing director during the company’s acquisition by J. Cortes. Before his hiring, he lived in Australia...
Doing Things Her Way: Dissident Cigars’ Cynn Coburn
It was in the final days of 2021 when it was announced that Joshua and Cynn Coburn would be taking over as the owners...
