Cigars/Expert Profile

Expertise

My main area of expertise is Cuban cigars but I can also assist you with cigar etiquette, humidor maintenance and troubleshooting. Unsure of a certain cigar brand? Wondering what a certain cigar tastes like? Have any questions about Cuban cigars? Just let me know! I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. (NOTE: My main focus is on premium, hand-rolled cigars and not cheap, machine made, convenience store cigars.) IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT PROVIDE CIGAR OR CIGAR-RELATED APPRAISALS. If you have a vintage cigar item and you want to know if it's worth something, please contact an antique dealer that specializes in "TOBACCIANA".

Experience in the area

I currently have 19 dedicated years of cigar smoking and counting. I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. For 5 years, I studied with Cuban torcedores (rollers), catadores (taste testers) and revisadores (inspectors) on every aspect involving the production of the Cuban cigar and I am currently writing a book that will help beginners understand everything they need to know about cigars and cigar smoking.

Publications

Maple Leaf Gardens: Memories & Dreams 1931-1999 (1999; ISBN: 0920445616)
50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do (2006; ISBN: 0452286654)
The [London] Times (October 8, 2009)

Education/Credentials

B.A. University of Toronto

What do you like about this subject?

Cigars is a great way to relax and meet new people. The great thing about cigars is that it brings alot of people from different walks of life together and gives us a common bond that we all enjoy.

What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?

A lot of beginning cigar smokers are taken advantage of at cigar stores because they are inexperienced with cigars and/or cigar smoking. I hope to help amateur cigar smokers and answer any questions that they may have so that they can become more knowledgeable with cigars.

Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:

In 2008, Habanos SA announced that the Cuban cigar industry was worth 402 million dollars (USD) between 2006-2007!

Something controversial or provocative about this subject

Cuban cigars are illegal for sale (and possession) in the United States so if you are buying cigars from a company located in the USA and the deal is too good to be true, it probably is! Millions of Cuban cigars are counterfeited every year so I would like to educate novice cigar enthusiasts on the clear signs of counterfeit cigars.