On Episode 105 Rafael Nodal makes his Prime Time debut! As many know Rafael wears two hats in the cigar industry – co-founder of Boutique Blends Cigars and now as Tabacalera USA’s (including Altadis U.S.A.’s) Director of Product Capability. We’ll take a look at this unique dual-role and how this came about. Plus we’ll talk […]
Prime Time Special Edition 58: Drew Estate Mount Rushmore + Aging Experiment #3
William Cooper Podcast No Comments Drew Estate, Foundation Cigar Company, Podcast, Prime Time Special Edition
For Special Edition #58, the Mt. Rushmore segment comes to Prime Time Special Edition! Bear and Coop will select Drew Esttate cigars that should have their rightful place on Mt. Rushmore. It’s also time for another Aging Experiment, an exercise where Bear and Coop pick up three cigars and smoke one now, smoke one in […]
Prime Time Episode 104: Alan Rubin, Alec Bradley Cigars
William Cooper Podcast No Comments Alec Bradley, Developing Palates, Podcast, Prime Time Show
For Episode 104, we are honored to have the one and only Alan Rubin of Alec Bradley Cigars as our special guest. We’ll chronicle Alan’s journey in the cigar business, bringing his sons in to work with him, and his recent acquisition of the Lars Tetens Brands. Plus in our Alec Bradley Live True segment, […]
Prime Time Episode 103: Juan Martinez, Joya de Nicaragua
William Cooper Podcast No Comments Developing Palates, Joya de Nicaragua, Podcast, Prime Time Show
The past 18 months have seen Joya de Nicaragua Cigars on a roll. Tonight, we have the Executive President of Joya de Nicaragua Juan Martinez to talk about the happenings at Joya – including the big 50th anniversary year and the company’s plans for 2019. In our Alec Bradley Live True segment, we discuss traveling […]
Prime Time Special Edition #57: The Desert Rose Show with Robert Holt
William Cooper Podcast No Comments ElOsoFumarTakes, Podcast, Prime Time Special Edition, Southern Draw
At the 2019 IPCPR Trade Show, we got an opportunity to cover the unveiling of Southern Draw Cigars’ new Rose of Sharon Desert Rose. Now we have one of the main principals behind Southern Draw, Robert Holt, to talk about the project. Desert Rose was one of many new releases by Southern Draw unveiled at […]
Prime Time Episode 102: Industry Panel #6 – Miguel Schoedel and Jack Toraño
William Cooper Podcast No Comments Crowned Heads, Developing Palates, Duran Cigars, Espinosa, Podcast, Prime Time Show, Toraño
For Episode 102, we bring to you another Prime Time Industry Panel discussion! This time we welcome Miguel Schoedel of Crowned Heads Cigars and Jack Toraño of Espinosa Cigars. Jack and Miguel have a long history together, and we’ll explore the ties that bind, plus tap into them on a wealth of industry hot topics. […]
Prime Time Special Edition #56: Special Edition IPCPR Post Game Show
William Cooper IPCPR 2019, Podcast No Comments IPCPR 2019, IPCPR 2019 Post Game, Podcast, Prime Time Special Edition
Bear and Coop are back from covering IPCPR 2019 and tonight on Special Edition #56, we give you our annual Post Game Show. Bead and Coop will cover all the booths they visited at IPCPR and provide commentary on what they saw. It’s the most in-depth recap you will get on all of the action […]
Prime Time from the IPCPR 2019 with Francisco Batista, Master Blender for Royal Agio Cigars
William Cooper IPCPR 2019, Podcast No Comments ElOsoFumarTakes, IPCPR 2019, Podcast, Royal Agio Cigars
At the 2019 IPCPR Trade Show, Bear Duplisea catches up with Francisco Batista, the Master Blender from Royal Agio Cigars. Royal Agio is a company that has been making some noise in the U.S., and we’ll learn from Francisco what he is doing to develop the products out of Royal Agio.
Prime Time Episode 101: Mike Szczepankiewicz
William Cooper IPCPR 2019, Podcast No Comments Developing Palates, IPCPR 2019, Nica Sueno, Podcast, Powstanie, Prime Time Show
It’s episode 101 and Prime Time is back from the IPCPR. This week we welcome the Cigar Hustler himself, Mike Szczepankiewicz. Mike wears many hats – retailer, brand owner, distributor, and podcaster. Tonight we’ll learn more about Mike – and of course, we will tackle the 800 pound gorilla in the room, the change from […]
Prime Time from the IPCPR 2019 with Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr. of E.P. Carrillo
William Cooper IPCPR 2019, Podcast No Comments E.P. Carrillo, EPC, IPCPR 2019, Podcast
At the 2019 IPCPR Trade Show, Bear Duplisea catches up with the one and only Ernesto Perez-Carrillo of E.P. Carrillo. In this interview, Ernesto discusses his accolades from 2018, and what the company launched at the 2019 IPCPR Trade Show. Photo/Video Credits: Cigar Coop/#ElOsoFumarTakes