Stogie Geeks Shorts – La Aurora Preferidos Cameroon Corona – 5:30PM-6:00PM

Paul & Todd

Paul’s Intro – 8:20PM-8:30PM

Cut to Paul (No Music) ALL OTHER MICS
This week we interview Russ Sutton from cutters cigar emporium, and none other than Rocky Patel! We talk about cigar travel cases, and discuss lots of awesome cigars in our stogies of the week. Stay tuned!
– Cut to Stogie Geeks Logo MUTE ALL OTHER MICS
Broadcasting live from G Unit Studios in Rhode Island, its the Stogie Geeks show!
– Cut to sponsor logos MUTE ALL OTHER MICS
Interwiki: AJ-Odd++
Interwiki: SouthernCigar++
– Cut to Paul Fade Music
Welcome everyone to the Stogie Geeks show, this is episode 140 for May 14, 2015 and I’m your host Paul Asadoorian.
Cut to Will
On the lines via Skype from NC it Wiiiiiiiiiill Cooper!

Interview: Russ Sutton, Southern Cigar Festival & Cutters Cigar Emporium – 8:30PM-9:00PM

My skype address is russsutton53
I’m actually attending the Cigar Spirits event in Newport Beach
Talking points for your review:

  • Southern Cigar Festival; first big smoke event in over 20 years; long time coming
  • Ticket sales are great; our Platinum VIP reception ticket is almost sold out
  • Our Gold VIP tickets are still available; includes private VIP comfort boxes under the amphitheater canopy
  • We have 37 vendor/exhibitors; 12 countries represented.
  • Grand prize is a $1200 Big Green Egg fully loaded accessories
  • Also, a Gurkha Louis infused cigar (retail $1000)
  • We are giving something away every 15 minutes (raffles)
  • We are over 600 tickets sold and expect to hit about 800+ .
  • This is not a one and done event. We have a 5 year contract with Verizon Amphitheatre.
  • Southern Hospitality at its best; about 6 beautiful models; spectacular venue; none of its kind
  1. Two live bands. One is a Cuban band; the other is Southern Rock.
  • We will showcase a brand new My Father Cigar that was made and blended exclusively for Cutters by Jamie Garcia. New release at this event.
  • We will also showcase another new cigar that I have blended from the DR. It’s our Monolito Dominicana
  • We have a huge collection of Fuente fine and rare cigars that are collectables including some aged OpusX and Don Carlos.
  • We will have two of the new Padron 5oth anniversary with the pearl white humidors. Very rare as you know.
  • Each attendee will receive a very nice sling tote bag with cutter and lighter.
  • I am very passionate about cigars but even more so with the relationships that we have built with the cigar families; I wanted to do this event to share with our folks in Atlanta. I want to deliver the ultimate big smoke event and experience.
  • Event starts at 2pm until 8pm. Gates will open for general tickets at 1:30

    • Platinum VIP Reception is from 12 till 1:30pm. Food, cocktails, beer, wine, and meet and greet. (I have credentials for you for VIP)
    • Gold ticket include 30 cigars ($150)
    • Silver ticket includes 15 cigars ($90)
    • Our bronze buddy or companion ticket is $35 (and it includes 2 cigars)

    About Cutters Cigar Emporium:

  • I opened Cutters June 2012. The Southern Cigar Festival celebrates our 3rd year anniversary.
  • I have spent 20 years in the hospitality (hotels) industry renovating hotels to enhance the guest experience.
  • Cutters was my dream and opportunity to build a cigar store and lunge that would enhance the cigar smoking experience. We believe we represent the new generation of cigar enthusiasts. *Respecting the cigar, enhancing the comfort and enjoyment of smoking a cigar. My staff has embraced the hospitality model that I have created. Premium cigars along with warm friendly service, have contributed to our success. We are currently negotiating a second location which I cannot share just yet.
  • Looking forward to tomorrow.
    Thanks Will for your support.
    Russ
    Reach me by cell at 404-277-4197
    I will be in a conference from 3:30 until 6pm your time tomorrow. Otherwise call me if you need to chat.

    Interview: 9:00PM-9:30PM: Rocky Patel, Rocky Patel Premium Cigars

    Interwiki: SagaCigars-Odd++
    Interwiki: RobertoDuran++

    Questions

    1. How did you get started in the cigar industry?
    2. Amongst Stogie Geeks your original Olde World Reserve cigar is held in high praises. Everyone tells me how awesome this cigar was, but then something changed in the blend and it didn’t hit people’s pallets the same way. Could you explain this mystery so we can put this issue to bed?
    3. Vintage 1990 and Vintage 1992 were some of your first blends to really take the market by storm, what, in your opinion, was special about these blends? What continues to appeal to folks 12 years later?
    4. The Decade and Edge are two iconic cigars in the industry, what led to their popularity?
    5. When I talk to even the most casual cigar smoker, they seem to have brand recognition and typically say to me “Oh, have you tried Rocky Patel cigars? They are awesome!”. What are the secrets to your success for such amazing brand awareness?
    6. How many cigars do your factories produce in a given year?
    7. How do you maintain the integrity of that many cigars leaving the factory, in terms of construction, flavor consistency, burn, and draw?
    8. What is your process for coming up with a new cigar, does it start with an idea of flavor, experience, intended customer or something else?
    9. Of all the cigars you’ve blended and produced, which one is your favorite?
    10. You started in Honduras, what led to the choice in the beginning to use farms and factories in Honduras? Do you own your own farms and factories or is much still sourced from partners?
    11. What’s it been like to grow into Nicaragua for cigar production?
    12. What is some of your favorite tobacco to work with and why? What is some of the more difficult tobacco to work with, and does it have a high reward for your efforts?
    13. We’ve been particularly impressed with the Super Ligero, Decade Cameroon, and Prohibition releases. All very different releases, what are the highlights of these blends?
    14. Tell us about the Royale, recently receiving a #5 rating from Cigar Aficionado for 2014.
    15. What’s is like working with your brother Nish and cousin, Nimish?
    16. Tell us about the project your are currently working on in India
    17. Cigar Rights: You sacrifice a lot of time to help protect our rights as cigar smokers, and we appreciate that greatly. Where are we heading in the next 6 months in terms of cigar legislation? What’s the call to action?
    18. What cigars and/or projects are you working on currently that may come out next?

    Contest Question

    • To be announced…

    Brandon Wilson, Wilson & Adams Cigars – 9:30PM-9:45PM

    Questions

    Cut to Will

    • How did you get started in the cigar industry?

    Five Questions

    1. Three words to describe yourself
    2. If you were a serial killer, what would be your weapon of choice?
    3. If you wrote a book about yourself, what would the title be?
    4. In the popular game of ass grabby-grabby

    Debonaire Ideal – 9:45PM-10:15PM

    Run Debonaire Commercial
    Cut to Debonaire Logo
    Paul reads:
    Interwiki: Debonaire++
    Cut to Paul

    Choosing The Right Travel Case

    Stogies Of The Week 10:15PM-11:00PM

    Interwiki: HavanaCigarClub++
    ‘Interwiki: AgedSelects-Odd++
    Interwiki: MBombay++

    Announcements

    Contest

  • Contest question: