52 TOBACCO BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER | 22 A brand’s artwork is of interest to Cynn because it’s what originally attracted her to the world of cigars. Her first real premium cigar was Lawless, a cigar made by the Browns’ Black Label Trading Company that features edgy, non-traditional branding. Cynn felt inspired by the Browns’ alternative when coming up with the concept for Molotov. Previously, Dissident had defined its color palette as being black, red and white. For Molotov, Cynn opted to play with the colors to create visual impact: a white box with an illustration of her face on the lid. With this new release, Cynn wanted to go into a completely unexpected direction and create something that showed the industry what Dissident’s new owners were capable of. In addition to the edgy branding, Cynn also wanted the blend for Molotov to push the envelope for what Dissident had previously released. The cigar has a different flavor profile due to Cynn opting to use Ometepe-grown tobacco in the filler. Instead of the usual spice and pepper that comes with using Nicaraguan tobacco,Molotov is very smooth, another departure fromDissident’s other cigars. “I’m excited to see what people have to say about it [Molotov] because it’s just so far left from what Dissident has been. I hope that people see that this is something new and exciting and [that] it’s opening the door for a lotmore things to come,”Cynn explains. “You don’t necessarily have to just stick in this one lane with flavor profiles, so I’m excited. We’ve had a number of people smoke it, and everyone’s loved it. James andAngela smoked it fromthe very beginning, and they’ve smoked it all through the entire process and they’ve loved it, which is so reassuring tome. You have this wonderful master blender in James, and he’s like, ‘This cigar is really good,’ and I’m like, ‘Yes!’” Molotov was blended to be a very limited release, with only 500 boxes produced this year. Although the cigar was introduced at the PCA trade show, other retailers could place an order for this special release soon after the showwhile supplies lasted. Can-DoAttitude Now that Molotov is out and her first trade show as a brand owner is behind her, Cynn is already thinking ahead to what’s next for Dissident Cigars. “My brain is definitely faster thanmy abilities are tomake these cigars, so I already have about five ideas in my head. I’m like, ‘Man, that’s putting me in [2024] by the time these come out and beyond,” she explains. As much as Dissident is a business, it’s also a form of therapy for Cynn. When askedwhat hermotivations are, therewas no hesitation, norwas there talk of needing to hit a certain profit goal or amass this or that amount of new accounts to be successful. Cynn’s motivation and purpose for taking on Dissident and all that it requires of her is to prove to herself—and to others— that she can do it. “Those that have followed me for a long time know that I have been in multiple abusive relationships. My childhood was not the greatest. I was homeless with my kids at one point trying to escape abuse. I have been witness to suicides. I’ve been through the gamut of things. I’ve lived in shelters, all trying to escape terrible things and learn and be a single mom— and I succeeded. I wasn’t a failure because of any of the things that I went through; I was a student learning all these things, and I succeeded. Somehow, even as a single mom making my way and learning how to save money, I figured out how to not rely on child support. I figured out how to be there for my kids. I’ve figured out how to learn and quickly go from the bottom of the barrel at my job all the way up to running an entire facility. I have absolutely pushed myself in every way possible, and I am just one of those people that if you tell me not to do something, I’m going to do it.” Cynn wants to serve as an example to others that being true to yourself is the only way you will achieve anything worthwhile in life. She also hopes others understand the importance of acknowledging and working with failure and negativity in your life, both personally and professionally. “It’s not about the money,” she explains. “It’s about reaching people and getting them to understand their full potential and that if I can do it, well, you sure as hell can do it too.” TB Soon after purchasing the Dissident Cigars brand, it was decided that Cynn Coburn would serve as the face of the brand while her husband, Joshua, would work behind the scenes.
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