Box Press

Tunneling. Band burning. Puffing too soon. Puffing too late. One by one, a cigar smoking err takes them down. See who’ll represent the U.S. at the world event of the Cigar Smoking World Championship (CSWC). Will it be a BOTL or SOTL? Coined the Slowest Race on Earth, this international competition is all about “slow smoking” cigars. Pick up smoking strategies as Box Press Podcast Host Rob Gagner t...

Ferio Tego is like a greatest hits album for cigar lovers. All your favorites, less of the “something new we’re working on and we hope you like it” smokes. Learn why there’s room in your humidor for oldies-but-goodies and hot-new-hits. Ferio Tego’s Herklots joined Boveda’s Rob Gagner at 2021 PCA in Las Vegas for this episode of Box Press, the cigar lifestyle podcast. Metropolitan and Timeless ciga...

How long can you make a cigar last? Watch cigar smokers go head to head in the U.S. Semifinals of the Cigar Smoking World Championship (CSWC). Coined the Slowest Race on Earth, this international competition is all about “slow smoking” cigars. Contenders talk smoking strategies with Box Press Podcast Host Rob Gagner at Club Leaf & Bean, a private cigar club just south of Pittsburgh, PA. In 202...

Did you know that cigars, a lot of cigars, were once made in the U.S.? Learn your U.S. history of cigars in America’s West in this Box Press episode with Big Sky Cigar Company and Boveda’s Rob Gagner at 2021 Tobacco Plus Expo in Las Vegas. Jess Coleman and Brandon Marsh rejuvenated the Montana boutique cigar scene building on the state’s rich cigar heritage. Did you know that in the early 1900s, M...

Prep yourself: Your mouth will water during this Box Press episode with Jake Wyatt Cigars and Boveda’s Rob Gagner at 2021 Tobacco Plus Expo in Las Vegas. The company’s gourmet cigar lines are artisanal tobacco blends, say Jake Wyatt founders, Neil Garcia and Gerard Abajian.  Friends Neil and Gerard launched Jake Wyatt in 2020. Named after their two sons, the boutique cigar brand offers five g...

Shop for that first cigar with confidence. Cigar smoking friend or tobacconist suggesting a Connecticut wrapper? Learn what to ask for instead from Blackbird Cigar Company’s Jonas Santana. This rapper turned cigar maker joined Boveda’s Rob Gagner cigar podcast at 2021 Tobacco Plus Expo in Las Vegas. Find out why a Blackbird is the hot new cigar you gotta try. This new boutique cigar brand is the n...

Sticks and sticks! Listen how to improve your golf game from the founder of Carolina Blue Cigars. It’s all course management and ball placement, explains Chris Moore to Box Press Host Rob Gagner of Boveda at the 2021 Tobacco Plus Expo in Las Vegas.  Along with golf tips, learn: How not to kill your palate smoking cigars How to kill tobacco beetles without ruining your cigars How to spot a fak...

Is there a cigar companies for dummies book? 🤔  Ian Reith the founder of Dapper Cigar Co. is ready to write it. Hear how a cigar smoker gets into the cigar business. In 2013, he launched the boutique cigar brand with the Cubo Claro. It’s legendary Cuban cigar-making combined with Nicaraguan filler tobacco from Oliva Tobacco Co.  From scratch, Ian learned everything you need to know abou...

Hear how the U.S. Marine Corp. changed his life and primed him for the entrepreneurial journey that was ahead. Hit up a Room101 Hit and Run and lose yourself in this steam-of-consciousness interview with cigar man, Matt Booth presented by Boveda. Pay attention, follow your “belly radar” and pivot. “My business should have failed a hundred times over,” the founder of Room101 brands told Rob Gagner...

When you’re in active combat, a cigar can be your lifeline, why you hang on to fight another day. Hear how donated cigars from cigar smokers like you provide relief, respite and a taste of home to U.S. military men and women. An inspirational cigar hour with Box Press Host, Rob Gagner and Storm Boen, Operation: Cigars for Warrriors Chairman of the Board and CEO. The nonprofit organization collects...

Rob traveled down to Honduras to sit down with Oscar Valladares, who has one of the more unique cigar journeys out there! Sit back and light one up as we talk Oscar Valladares cigars, Honduras and more!

Featured Guest Dave Imber from cigarclub.com talks about how he has managed to turn his vices into his career. Dave shares some amazing stories during this episode like how he, in just 3 months at cigarclub.com, found himself in Nicaragua learning the wonderful process cigar making.

On this special episode of Box Press, Rob fishes and talks with the man who gave him his first job in the cigar world. Jeff Haugen, President and owner of Crux Cigars, talks about everything from his pot of coffee a day routine to the history of Crux and the future of cigar retails (all while trying to catch fish). Light one up and enjoy!

Featured Guest Leanor Abzaradel, CEO of Platinum Nova Cigars, sat down with Rob while in Colorado to talk about her start in the industry, and how she was able to create her own cigar brand! What would you name your cigar brand? *Previously Recorded in 2019*

Featured guest Alexander Berezowski travled all the way from Dominican Republic to Minnesota to tell us his story. Sit back and enjoy!

Featured guest Erik Espinosa, stopped by during 2019 IPCPR to explain how his favorite color inspired his Laranja Reserva. The cigar we smoked: https://bit.ly/2GLUqjJ

Do you know who is responsible for some of your favorite cigar wrappers? Featured guest John Oliva, Oliva Tobacco Co., sits down with us to share the cigar wrappers he's grown for some of the biggest cigar brands in the industry. You'll definitely recognize their names. Where do you think the flavor comes from in a cigar? Filler? Wrapper?

Featured Guest, Dean Parsons of Epic Cigars, shares stories of real-estate, kiteboarding, and of course cigars! What's your favorite Epic Cigar?

Featured Guest, Eric Newman of J.C. Newman Cigar Co. sat down with us at their 110-year-old cigar factory in the Ybor City National Historic Landmark District in Tampa, Florida. We talked about his new cigar "The American" along with his family’s history in the cigar world. Hope you enjoy learning about America’s Oldest Family Owned Cigar Manufacturer. What's your favorite J.C. Newman Cigar?

Featured Guests, Alexander and Dean sit down with us out in Colorado to walk us through a blind taste test of Value Cigars, while also discussing common questions about value sticks. Do you smoke value cigars? What are some of your favorites?

Featured Guests, Fred Vandermarliere sat down with us at IPCPR 2019 to talk about his and his family's cigar journey and how one dance lead him to winning 50 cigars! Fred talks about the history of how he and his family got connected with Oliva Cigar Co in the first place and why their family dynamics played a huge part in the two companies coming together. ----- Listen on Apple Podcast Here: http...

Featured Guests, Christian Eiroa & Tom Lazuka, sit down to talk about all things cigars (and even a little pizza talk).

Featured guest Klaas Kelner, Sr. Brand Ambassador at Davidoff of Geneva USA, takes us on a 3 cigar tasting seminar that will teach you so much about how we all taste cigars! ----- 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...

Featured guest Travis Pappenheim, National Education Manager-Premium Cigars at Altadis USA, sits down with us at the Cigar Shop that sparked Rob's love for cigars. During this episode Travis teaches us how to enhance our cigar smoking experience, helping us taste cigars at a higher level. Visit Altadis USA: https://www.altadisusa.com/ Join their Social Club: https://www.montecristosocialclub.com.....

Featured guest Litto and Tony Gomez of La Flor Dominicana, sit down with Rob to test their father and son relationship, share some inspiring stories and smoke some great cigars! Visit LFD: http://laflordominicana.com/ ----- 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...