10 TOBACCO BUSINESS | JULY / AUGUST | 22 F E AT UR E S J ULY / AUGUS T 2 0 2 2 ON THE COVER: WILLY HERRERA PHOTOGRAPHY BY SLAV GORDEYE 32 MASTERING THE PROCESS There are no shortcuts to becoming a master blender, and the life and career of Drew Estate’s Willy Herrera is proof that greatness takes time. 46 WHAT YOU DON’T SEE Each day, cigar enthusiasts across the globe enjoy the cigars made with the Plasencia family’s tobacco, but few understand the hard work and dedication behind one of the world’s most successful tobacco growing and cigar making businesses. 62 RESTORING HISTORY With the restoration of the El Reloj cigar factory now complete, J.C. Newman Cigar Company takes you behind the scenes of this historic destination in Tampa, Florida. 54 SET IT OFF Instead of aiming for big production numbers and profits, Luis J. Falto has found that focusing on quality and opting for short runs helped him build a cigar brand with staying power. 70 BOUTIQUE BY DESIGN Tony Gomez, vice president of La Flor Dominicana, pulls back the curtain on his family’s business, including its cigars and lessons he’s learned working alongside his father, Litto Gomez. 78 EXPRESSION OF A JOURNEY Sébastien Decoppet, who left his corporate job in Switzerland to learn about the cigar business in Honduras, discusses his experience creating his own cigar brand and running a factory. 32
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