This is a great story I picked up from a local television station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This piece talks about a group of women cigar enthusiasts called “The Cigar Babes”. I admit, the title of the group intrigued me and when I watched this video it definitely was not what I expected. Women are right […]
Guest Review on GC Puffs: Eight Simple Rules for Getting the Most out of your Cigar Retailer’s Lounge
William Cooper Uncategorized No Comments Cigar Coop, People
One thing as I have launched the Cigar Coop project is that I have gotten to meet a bunch of other Cigar Authors on the internet (and I use the word Authors, not bloggers). For the most part, there has been a great fellowship that has developed among us. We all try to do something […]
New Venture for Jon Huber
William Cooper Uncategorized No Comments Crowned Heads, People
When Jon Huber, former Director of Lifestyle Marketing announced he was leaving the CAO Brand (now a part of General Cigars) this past December, there was little doubt for us who follow this great industry that he would resurface again. Today, Huber announced the formation of his own company, Crowned Heads LLC. The city of […]
Cigar-ebrity Alert: Manuel Quesada in Charlotte on 2/23
William Cooper Uncategorized No Comments Events, People, Quesada
Cigar Coop (L), Manuel Quesada (R) One of the true gentlemen of the cigar industry, Manuel Quesada will be returning to Charlotte on Weds 2/23 at Outland Cigars “Gars and Growlers” event at the Olde Mecklenburg Brewery. I’ve had the occasion to meet Quesada several times. In can honestly say that each time I meet […]
Event Recap: Rocky Patel in Greenville, SC
William Cooper Uncategorized No Comments Cigar-ebrity, Events, People, Rocky Patel
Cigar Coop and Rocky Patel Making his rounds through the southeast, world-famous cigar-maker Rocky Patel made a stop in Greenville South Carolina at Outman Cigars for an event. As usually the case, Rocky drew a big crowd – I’m estimating about 150 people jam-packed Outman Cigars for a great evening. One thing that always strikes […]
The Great Cigar Hoax
William Cooper Uncategorized No Comments Events, Gran Habano, Illusione, Kristoff, People, Room 101
Today was one of the premier cigar herfs in the world – the Great Smoke sponsored by Smoke Inn. The Who’s Who of the cigar industry was down in West Palm Beach. While I wasn’t there, I was keeping a keen eye. Suddenly, in the late afternoon, my text messages started going off with something […]
NYC Outdoor Smoking Ban: Whoopi Goldberg Stands Up to the Pleasure Police
William Cooper Uncategorized 1 Comment People, Pleasure Police
This is going to be two firsts on Cigar Coop. A shout out to Whoopi Goldberg and a link to the show “The View”. I have never been a Whoopi fan. I think it was deplorable when she made fun of President George W Bush at a John Kerry fundraiser. For the most part, I […]
Sal Fontana
William Cooper Uncategorized No Comments Camacho, Cigar-ebrity, People
This has been one of the roughest weeks the Cigar Industry has endured in some time. Word is now coming out that the legendary Sal Fontana has passed away. Sal had been ill for sometime. He was 86 years old. A World War II veteran, Sal was also one of the brain-trusts with Camacho Cigars. […]
Nathan Saab
William Cooper Uncategorized No Comments People
Last week, the cigar industry in the southeast lost one of its more popular people. Nathan Saab was a cigar rep based in North Carolina. Nathan died on January 24th as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident this past December 13th. When I moved to North Carolina back in 2008, I’ve met […]
Breaking News: Gary Hyams departs the CAO Brand and General Cigar
William Cooper Cigar News, Uncategorized 1 Comment CAO, People
In a move that was not unexpected, Gary Hyams formerly Chairman of CAO Cigars is leaving General Cigars. This move comes just a little over four years he was named to this position. With the departures of President Tim Ozgener and Lifestyle Marketing Director, Jon Huber over the past three months, this has was not […]