"BIG SMOKE" SEMINARS
Saturday and Sunday daytime hours will be filled with a series of seminars geared to the varied interests of our readers. These will be taught by experts in each field and are designed to be interesting, fun and instructive.
Join us for the entire program for $495. This fee includes Saturday and Sunday seminars, Saturday lunch and one “Big Smoke” evening (either Friday or Saturday, you select).* Click here to register
Saturday, November 13
Saturday morning program is from 9 a.m.- 12:15 p.m., followed by a buffet lunch lasting until 3 p.m. Gordon Mott, executive editor, Cigar Aficionado and David Savona, senior editor, Cigar Aficionado are the co-moderators for the weekend program.
9–9:15 a.m.
Anniversary Cigars Tasting. Throughout the morning you will be given cigars to smoke that celebrate an anniversary milestone. This is the theme for all the single cigar tastings. The cigar producer will talk about the characteristics of the specific cigar and the significance of the anniversary it commemorates. The first cigar of the day is presented by Litto Gomez, La Flor Dominicana, saluting his company’s 10th Anniversary.
9:15–9:30 a.m.
Sharing a Personal Cigar History. The second theme of the program is to present three speakers who each have a long history as a cigar producer. Each person will share some personal experiences, a vignette to shed light on the way things were. The first speaker is Theo Folz, president & ceo, Altadis U.S.A.
9:30–10:30 a.m.
Cigars From Seed to Box. David Savona, senior editor, presents the complete story of how a cigar is "born" from its plant beginning to its final metamorphosis. Adding their expertise to the discussion are David Perez, president and CEO, ASP Enterprises (grower), José Seijas, vp, gm Tabacalera de Garcia — Altadis U.S.A. (blender) and David Kitchens, general manager, Davidoff of Geneva (marketer).
10:30–10:40 a.m.
Anniversary Cigar Tasting. Marking their 40th anniversary, Jorge Padrón, president, Padrón Cigars, presents his anniversary cigar to smoke and discusses the importance of the celebration to the Padrón family.
10:40–10:55 a.m.
Sharing a Personal Cigar History. The second speaker is Edgar M. Cullman, chairman, General Cigar Holdings, Inc.
10:55–11:40 a.m.
Ask The Experts. Back by popular demand, your chance to ask and hear answers to your questions about cigars: the cigar market, Cuba, tasting panels, storage, counterfeit and any other cigar issues you’ve been wondering about. Gordon Mott, David Savona and European editor, James Suckling are Cigar Aficionado’s panel of experts.
11:40–11:50 a.m.
Anniversary Cigar Tasting. The third cigar salutes the 100th anniversary of La Aurora and is presented for smoking by José Blanco, sales director, who will talk about both the cigar and the centennial celebration.
11:50–12:05 p.m.
Sharing a Personal Cigar History. The third speaker is Robert Levin, President, Holt's Cigar Holdings.
12:15–3:00 p.m.
Buffet Lunch and your time to continue to "Ask the Experts" now on a more personal level. At lunch, an executive from each cigar manufacturer exhibiting at our "Big Smoke," will host a table. Lunch becomes a face-to-face meeting where you can question, comment and share viewpoints on cigars. It’s a casual venue to "ask your own expert" while you sit and share a wonderful meal together. Each table "host" will bring cigars for you to enjoy.
Sunday, November 14
Sunday’s program from 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. consists of seminars on subjects that are part of the lifestyle of Cigar Aficionado magazine readers and are taught by an expert in each field.
9:30–10:30 a.m.
A "Real Man’s" Breakfast with Charlie Palmer. Start the day with a Cigar Aficionado’s breakfast. Charlie Palmer, owner of Aureole and Charlie Palmer Steak in Las Vegas and many other fine restaurants in New York and California, will prepare a "manly" breakfast combination especially for this cigar-loving crowd. Of course, we will find the perfect cigar to go along with this breakfast.
10:45–11:45 a.m.
Roll Your Own, The Graduate Seminar, No. 7. Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, president, El Credito, Miami, brings everything you need to create your own cigar including real tobacco filler and wrapper as used in a premium cigar factory. Follow along with one of La Gloria Cubana’s most experienced premium cigar makers. Whether you’ve done this before or you are a new roller, everyone enjoys the opportunity to roll and create his own cigar and perhaps win a prize. The grand prize winner will automatically be entered in the La Gloria Cubana Super Roll.
12:00– 1:00 p.m.
Bourbon and Cigars. Jack Bettridge, senior features editor, Cigar Aficionado, leads a tasting seminar on Bourbon, America’s only original spirit. While learning the difference between small-batch and single-barrel Bourbon, you’ll discover how well the drink goes with a fine cigar.
*If you are coming to the entire program and wish to attend the other “Big Smoke” evening, your special price is an additional $150 per ticket.
For questions email events@mshanken.com
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