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Part Two: Las Vegas Big Smoke Saturday Seminars

Lunch With Cigar Experts

Posted: Wednesday, November 14, 2007

By Michael S. Marsh  

Attendees joined cigarmakers for lunch following the seminars.

After a morning smoking great cigars and listening to the seminar panelists discuss all things cigar related, it was understandable that attendees were ready for some sustenance. But the Las Vegas Big Smoke luncheon is less about the braised beef with mashed potatoes and asparagus and more about hobnobbing with the industry all-stars who host the tables.

This year's luncheon included hosts from across the cigar industry, everyone from Carlos Fuente Sr. and Carlos Fuente Jr. of Tabacalera A. Fuente to Tim Ozgener of C.A.O. and Charlie Toraño of Toraño Cigars; Rocky Patel of Indian Tabac and Ernesto Perez-Carrillo of La Gloria Cubana to Jorge Padrón of Padrón Cigars and Litto Gomez of La Flor Dominicana. There was Robert Levin of Ashton Cigars, Pete Johnson of Tatuaje and just about every other industry face you'd recognize.

For many of the diners, it was a chance to meet the makers of their favorite cigars, each of whom handed out samples of their wares for their table. (Naturally, it was a smoke-friendly lunch.) For others it was a chance to rub elbows and learn from some of the most respected people in the cigar industry. "It's very informative," said Ray Crouse of Philadelphia, who sat with Mauricio Koks of La Caya Cigars. "We talked cigars and went into depth about how they're produced."

John Oliva Jr. of Oliva Tobacco Co. chats with a guest as Carlos Fuente Sr. looks on in the background.

While enjoying wines courtesy of Beringer, guests talked on a more informal level with some of the world's great tobacco men. Kevin Bristow of Brooklyn, New York, who was at a table hosted by Nestor Plasencia Jr., a prominent tobacco grower in Central America, said that the Saturday luncheon is always one of the highlights of the Big Smoke weekend for him, simply because of the chance to chat with the experts.

"The best part is how approachable they are," said Bristow. "We talked cigars, politics and lots of other stuff. I loved it. I've learned that through cigars you can start a conversation and get to know people so easy. You can form relationships."

For the industry stars that hosted tables, it's the relationship with the consumers that makes the luncheon an important and rewarding part of the Las Vegas Big Smoke. "It's great to be able to meet the people who are smoking my cigars," said Perez-Carrillo. "They are a big part of our success."

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