"Who's Your Daddy"?

     Yeah, that's right I asked "who's your daddy", but I'm asking in the sense of a whole cadre of young guns, now involved in the cigar game.   The industry is filled with a lot of young and ambitious entrepreneurs who are turning the cigar world on its collective head.   One of the things I've noticed is a lot of those young guns have serious cigar linage.   Members of the Padron, Fuente, Eiroa, Perez-Carillo, Torano, Garcia, Oliva, Rico etc., families have been in the business for a multitude of years and now their children and grandchildren have venture in and taken the cigar world by storm.  For example Jaime Garcia, son of Jose Pepin Garcia is one of those young guns who not only understands tobacco, but understands the cigar game and has made a significant impact within it.  He's taken lessons learned from his father and elevated them to another level.   His cigars are some of the most sought after in the game and for good reason.   Or A.J. Fernandez, a third generation cigar maker who is a superstar, without a doubt.   And many, many more have decided to not only keep the family legacy going, but put their own stamp on it.  

      They've ventured outside of the box their elder family members created and reside in, to try new things, blending different tobaccos from different regions into one cigar, inventing new shapes and sizes, taken advantage of new advertising methods (ie., youtube and social media), they've partnered with their fellow young guns to produce collaborations, and even re-blended and re-packaged family legacy blends with much success.   Personally, I love it, because they don't play by the old line rules, they like to push the limits and they refuse to be be labeled as just a "cigar maker".   A.J. Fernandez is probably the ring leader, you can find his name associated with quite a few of his own blends as well as with a lot of old time "standards" that have taken on a new life.   I recently picked up a box of the his Romeo y Julieta Crafted by AJ Fernandez and it's simply amazing.   Most definitely not your grandfather's RyJ, but still a RyJ.    A standard in the cigar game, known for it's mild flavor and consistency, AJ decided it was time to bring the RyJ to the 21st Century and he did so in a major way.  A medium to full-bodied cigar, it's pack with flavor, tons of complexity, but somehow is still within the confines of what you would expect from a RyJ.  

      This group of folks have decided, in my opinion, "we're going to make cigars we like, because we feel the consumers of today's cigars want a change".  I recently had a discussion with a friend who's been in the cigar game since the 1960's and as much as he's clinging to his era, he confessed, "I kinda like a lot of these cigars from the young' uns".   He's a gentleman that likes what he likes and he likes the old standards, because they're consistent and what cigars should be.  But wait, is that a Gran Habano #5 he's smoking?  That's not an old standard, and when I asked him, he retorted "what can I say, it's an outstanding cigar".   That my friends is what this lifestyle is about about, the ability to bridge the gap and bring generations together.   The desire to offer a new look at an old thing, the want to introduce those that feel their cigars were the best ever crafted, to okay, this new generation is on to something.

     And by the way, there are a lot of young guns who are women, and they to are destined to make their mark in the cigar world.   Tres Reynas is a collaborative project featuring Janny Garcia (Pepin's daughter) and Raquel and Patricia Quesada (of Quesada Cigars), made in the My Father Cigars factory is a hidden gem.  Unfortunately, I think it didn't get the publicity or recognition if should have gotten because 3 young women created the line.  They even changed the band (former band had a woman's head profile on it) to a more smoker friendly band, just so folks are able to see how good of a cigar it is.   The cigar was introduced back in 2013, and it ages well, and it truly is a fine smoke, especially if you like spicy, peppery cigars.   I shared one with a friend who "nubbed" it and when gave it a sterling rating, that is until he discovered three women were the creators of the cigar and then it became a "average" cigar, wtf!  

     So, if you're one of the stodgy old curmudgeons who think cigars shouldn't change, take a deep breath, pick up a few of these sticks from the young guns and be honest with yourself, you might just discover you've been missing out.  If you're like me and always want something different, what the hell are you waiting for?  Give the new generation a shot, you too might be surprised and discover it's not just about young folks riding the coattails of their family members, but serious cigar folks who are a force to be reckoned with.  I'm going to light up this Gran Habano and enjoy it.  Until next time....... CLP (clip, light and puff)!

Long ashes and deep bowls

Greg C

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