Box Press

Featured guest Nick Melillo, President & Chief blender of Foundation Cigars, sits down with us to talk about his travel filled journey that lead him to where he is today. He even shares a little scorpion story! Listen on Apple Podcast Here: https://apple.co/2E5iNlZ Listen on Spotify Here: https://spoti.fi/2Y4x7WF Website: https://www.bovedainc.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bovedausa/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bovedainc I Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bovedainc/ #NickMelillo #FoundationCigars #BoxPress

Featured guest Ben Stimpson, TMG’s new Managing Director, reveals his former pro soccer days and how went from that to working in the cigar industry. Rob also asks Ben some "Hard-hitting" questions, while also discussing the importance of Tobacco Business Magazine This was recorded a couple weeks before TPE which is happening from Jan. 29-31st, 2020. Listen on Apple Podcast Here: https://apple.co/2E5iNlZ Listen on Spotify Here: https://spoti.fi/2Y4x7WF Website: https://www.bovedainc.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bovedausa/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bovedainc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bovedainc/ #TobaccoBusiness #TPE2020 #BoxPress

Featured guest Willy Herrera, talks about everything from his blending process to stories behind the creation of some of the cigars we all know and love. This whole conversation takes place while strolling through the tobacco fields on the FSG Farm. Listen on Apple Podcast Here: https://apple.co/2E5iNlZ Listen on Spotify Here: https://spoti.fi/2Y4x7WF Website: https://www.bovedainc.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bovedausa/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bovedainc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bovedainc/ #BoxPress #Cigars #WillyHerrera #DrewEstate

Featured guests Jeremy Casdagli (Founder & Co-owner) and Vlada Stojanov (Product Ambassador) sit down with Rob at IPCPR 2019 to talk about the amazing history of their brand and how the Daughters of the wind cigars came to be! Sit back, light one up and enjoy! Website: https://www.bovedainc.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bovedausa/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bovedainc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bovedainc/ #BoxPress #Cigars #DaughtersOfTheWind #CasdagliCigars

Featured guest Lissette Perez-Carrillo, gives insight into her father's process when it comes to creating cigars and how the Cigar Of The Year came to be! Listen on Apple Podcast Here: https://apple.co/2E5iNlZ Listen on Spotify Here: https://spoti.fi/2Y4x7WF Listen on Google Play Here: https://play.google.com/music/m/Ihir6... Website: https://www.bovedainc.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bovedausa/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bovedainc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bovedainc/ #BoxPress #Cigars

Featured guest Jeff Borysiewicz, President & Founder of Corona Cigar Co. Co-Founder of Cigar Rights of America and Exclusive grower of Florida Sun Grown Cigar Tobacco, shares his start in the cigar world and how that guided him to where he is today. Listen on Apple Podcast Here: https://apple.co/2E5iNlZ Listen on Spotify Here: https://spoti.fi/2Y4x7WF Listen on Google Play Here: https://play.google.com/music/m/Ihir6eau4eh53d73rpt3n6a63aa?t=Box_Press Website: https://www.bovedainc.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bovedausa/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bovedainc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bovedainc/ #BoxPress #FSG #Cigars #DrewEstate

Featured guest Klaas Kelner, Sr. Brand Ambassador at Davidoff of Geneva USA, shares his upbringing as the son of Davidoff's master blender Henke Kelner and what his role as Brand Ambassador really means. What are they smoking? (0:38) How many different tobaccos are normally in a cigar (01:17) $500 Dollar Cigar that has 9 different types of tobacco within it (05:40) Family Farm Beginnings (08:05) Growing up on the farm as a child (0:12:20) What is it like growing up in a family business (0:14:50) Klass is living the cigar dream (0:20:45) Having a master blender as a father (0:24:35) What is it like representing the Kelner name (0:30:15) How has Klass's father affected him (0:34:45) Living the stories that you tell (0:37:30) Stories make facts more powerful (0:41:20) How is caring for a living thing, different than just a normal job (0:42:40) What impact does Davidoff have on cigar culture (0:50:13) The cigar industry is attacked, why are cigars different (0:54:45) Social Media and Cigars (0:59:45) Cigars Are

Featured guest Brian Andrews, Founder of Privada Cigar Club, shares his thoughts on the impact of monthly cigar subscriptions services. Are they the future? Are they a fad? Is there room for more than one? Brian and Rob sit down with a very unique cigar and discuss it all on this episode of Box Press. Indoor Vs. Outside Smoking (2:40) What are we smoking? (6:15) Winston Churchill way to "cut" a 60 ring gauge cigar (9:20) What is it that is making monthly cigar subscriptions more popular? (13:10) Brian's new drink paring (14:20) Why Rum & Brandy are go to's for paring with cigars (16:00) Monthly Cigar Clubs are Evolving (18:50) Will everything be subscription based on day? (20:10) Who are cigar clubs for? Beginners only? (22:05) Privada Support (26:30) How does Brian find limited/hard to find cigars for his club (27:35) Privada Cigar Club started from one man's collection (30:20) Privada struggled in the beginning (33:00) Is there Tension between Retail & Monthly Cigar Subscriptions? (40:55) Are Monthly Cigar

Featured guest Enrique Seijas, co-owner/co-founder of Matilde Cigars, shares the origin story of the Matilde brand along with how his family's values are deeply rooted within the brand and the cigars themselves. Interview Overview by Rob Gagner, Box Press host. (0:27) How did Matilde start and Enrique's father, Jose Seijas get into the cigar business (3:08) What inspired the Matilde cigar brand? (5:15) What's the story behind the Matilde logo? (6:05) What are the written and unwritten rules of making cigars according the Enrique Seijas? (6:55) What makes Matilde cigars stand out? (8:45) How is the difficult task of hand-rolling cigars done? (10:05) Enrique Seijas talks about: Marriage (12:50) Dominican Republic's family-oriented culture (16:10) His mother (16:50) Enrique weighs in on how people perceive the Matilde cigar brand. (18:00) What is it about cigars that people love? (20:00) What should people know about Matilde? (22:15) What's Matilde's core value? (25:10) Matilde Cigars: http://matildecigars.com

Donate Here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/boxpressdogs Featured guest Pete Johnson, President of Tatuaje Cigars, talks about the origin story of Tatuaje Cigars. We discuss everything from Pete's first job in the cigar industry to his new wine and his Monster Series Nightmare. So light up a cigar and enjoy the episode! What are we smoking? (2:53) Pepin's method of acquiring tobacco. (4:35) The Origin Story of Tatuaje. (6:50) Havana Famous. (18:20) Pete is a connoisseur of Cuban Cigars. (19:40) Pete was slanging Cuban Cigars. (21:00) The meaning behind the name Tatuaje. (22:30) What drew Pete to smoking cigars. (25:30) The First Box of cigars Pete bought (29:30) Pete's First job in the cigar industry (31:10) Henry Clay Cigar Moment. (34:00) Pete Johnson's Bus Tour. (37:30) Pete's Wine. (44:15) Wine & tobacco similarities. (45:30) There is too much BS in the Cigar Industry. (52:00) Pete creates cigars for himself. (55:10) Pete's Love for Dogs & there connections to his Cigars (57:35) Angle Numbers (1:28:40) Fini

Featured guests Pete Johnson, President of Tatuaje Cigars, and Jon Huber, President of Crowned Heads, discuss how they created their own lane in the industry. They are themselves, and they truly live by the motto "if you try to do things that everybody likes, you won't do things that people actually LOVE". Both Pete and Jon show how when you stay true to who you are, success will be more abundant, authentic, meaningful, and fulfilling.  

What sets the Privada Cigar Club apart from other monthly cigar memberships? Is a cigar club a good value for you?   Subscribe to watch Boveda’s Rob Gagner unbox his Privada Cigar Club shipment every month. Watch his interview with Brian Andrew Desind, founder of Privada Cigar Club. Rob finds out what cigar lovers want to know before joining this premium cigar club. What cigar did Privada Cigar Club founder bring to smoke during this Boveda Box Press episode? Crowned Heads Las Calaveras Edición Limitada 2014.

“Bring who you are and add it to what we are,” Jonathan Drew, president of Drew Estate said. Fringe stays fringe when it keeps its cigar foot securely planted in counter culture. Stay in the know on street artists, muralists, scratchers, up-and-coming neighborhoods as well as what’s new with this maker of some of the best boutique Nicaraguan cigars. Love you some Drew Estate Java, Drew State Liga Privada or Drew Estate Acid? Find out more about what makes this top cigar brand stay real.  

Listen to an exclusive cigar profile with NBA® Hall of Famer Karl Malone. Malone unveiled La Aurora Barrel Aged by Karl Malone during the 2018 IPCPR Trade Show. His daughter Kadee Malone joined her dad for some two-on-one with Boveda host Rob Gagner.

EXCLUSIVE! Get a behind-the-scenes look at how halfwheel, the source for cigar news and reviews, taste tests cigars. Learn how to pick out the flavors you only read about in cigar reviews. And how you cut, light and puff can affect a cigar’s taste. Hear how cigar humidity can change the way a cigar smokes. And how halfwheel co-founder trusts Boveda 2-way humidity control for proper cigar humidification. 

Cigar lovers, watch and get inspired. Southern Draw, a Texas-based, Nicaraguan-made cigar company has gotten creative—and not just with its cigar names and blends. Through its IGNITE program, Southern Draw is sharing its success while adhering to charitable giving guidelines set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (Since August 2016, FDA regulations prohibit those in the cigar industry from the decades-long tradition of donating cigars to charities.) Founder Robert Holt explains how doing good is just as important as making good cigars. What to catch in Box Press Ep. 09: - ANNOUNCING: Southern Draw’s new cigar: IGNITE (0:40) - What is Operation: Cigars for Warriors? (1:45) - Why are cigars so important to active military? (2:25) - What are Robert and Rob smoking on-air? Southern Draw Jacob’s Ladder (https://www.jrcigars.com/brand/southern-draw-cigars/southern-draw-jacob-s-ladder) (4:06) - How did “Southern Draw” get its name? (9:48) - Cigars are a vehicle that brings people together (10:25) - How So

RoMa Craft doesn’t build a product to fit whatever tobaccos it has leftover. Nope. Co-founders Skip Martin and Mike Rosales share how RoMa Craft crafts a new cigar blend. And why the people growing the tobacco, rolling the cigars and selling RoMa Craft are just as important as what finds its way into your humidor. Learn what’s hot in humidors from this Austin, Texas, based cigar company. RoMa Craft makes small-batch super-premium cigars, including CroMagnon, Neanderthal, Intemperance, CRAFT, Wunder|Lust and Aquitaine. The on-air Box Press smoke is the Neanderthal. (https://halfwheel.com/roma-craft-tobac-teases-three-new-neanderthal-vitolas/157757) What’s your go-to RoMa Craft cigar? Share your thoughts below with fellow cigar aficionados. RoMa Craft founders talk Neanderthal. (1:03)

 Why “craft” means being emotionally connected to what you are making. (3:32) 

Why connecting with people who make cigars is just as important as picking out tobacco. (9:16) How intentionally building a company’s culture

“Not every cigar is good, and as such, not every review will be pretty.” 
- halfwheel on its cigar reviews Where can you find unbiased cigar reviews? Where can you get a daily cigar news fix? Where does a cigar feature read like an episode of Law & Order? halfwheel. (https://halfwheel.com/) Along with Boveda’s Rob Gagner, get the inside story of how the industry’s most popular online source for cigar news, reviews and glamour shots got started. (Featuring halfwheel founders Charlie Minato and Brooks Whittington) Before you put down another dollar on a premium cigar, find out about halfwheel’s cigar reviews on Box Press Episode 07. Easy to search and easy to understand, halfwheel’s in-depth posts can turn a cigar newbie into a cigar aficionado. Looking for a Father’s Day gift for a cigar smoker? Boveda Smart Sensor was previewed by halfwheel. (https://halfwheel.com/boveda-launches-smart-sensor) No lighting up at halfwheel HQ, which is outside of Dallas, Texas. Instead, Charlie and Brooks reviewed Answer’s

Box Press, is a cigar podcast from Boveda, the global leader in 2-way humidity control for premium cigars. Every month, Boveda’s Rob Gagner covers cigars, cigar life and cigar enjoyment. What are Rob and Brian smoking in Box Press Ep. 06? Aging Room Solera Fantastico Sungrown (https://www.jrcigars.com/item/aging-room-cigars/aging-room-solera/fantastico-sungrown) We’re lifting the curtain to show you how Boveda keeps premium cigars smoke ready. And revealing what makes Boveda work better than gels, beads and sponges. Brian Rice, the Principle R&D Engineer at Boveda tells all. - What’s Boveda and how does Boveda work? (1:54) - Are there secret ingredients in Boveda? (3:40) - Do lab-grade hygrometers need calibration? (4:40) - What’s the difference between a 1-way humidifier and a 2-way humidifier for cigars? (11:30) - What’s the differences between Boveda and gel and beads for cigars? (12:55) - Brian’s sponge confessional. (13:03) - Can Boveda over-humidify a humidor? (22:25) - How to add more horsepower to

Box Press, is a cigar podcast from Boveda, the global leader in 2-way humidity control for premium cigars. Every month, Boveda’s Rob Gagner covers cigars, cigar life and cigar enjoyment. What are Rob and Benny smoking in Box Press Ep. 05? A Cuban, of course! A 'Swiss Exclusive' Vegas Robaina. Cigar enthusiast looking for a vacation spot? Head to Europe with Boveda International Relations Executive Benjamin (Benny) Patock. Learn why most Europeans prefer Cuban cigars over non-Cuban sticks. And what are the misconceptions about Cuban cigars. What can BOTL/SOTL expect from cigar shopping and smoking in Europe? Tune in!