as some of you know, I run a Dutch cigar website (with SmokeyNL, Misha and JHinc, all inmates too) and I'm going to Miami soon. I made some contact here and there and found a few cigar makers willing to do an interview with me for the Dutch site. Rocky Patel cigars (unfortunately Rocky himself won't be in town), Ernesto Padilla and the Garcia family already told me they would love to do an interview, and I will also do an interview with José Oliva when he's in The Netherlands in 3 weeks.

Now I have lots of questions, but you might have good questions too that I can ask, so if you have suggestions, please post them here and if I like the questions I will answer them.

thanks in advance.
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Well, I work within 5 minutes driving distance of the last two factories you mentioned. I might have to drop by and say hi when you visit the Padilla factory. The cigar girl there is cute.
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The one that I am sure everyone wants answered:

Bacon is all the rage. When will you join in?
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Why not make more thin ring gauge cigars or private comissioned cigars? How about customer specific bundles?
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I've been getting into thinner rings, too.
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- What impact do you expect (on your business) when the embargo on Cuban cigars has been lifted?

- What kinds of things are you planning to do when the embargo is lifted?
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The reason why they don't make thinner ringed cigars; the majority of Americans don't like thin ring cigars. It's supply and demand, but mostly demand.

EDIT: I second Mike's questions regarding the embargo.
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my questions:
what is your favorite cigar of your own lines?
what would be your dream cigar?
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I 'know' that girl, been to the factory last year too.

I'll be in Miami for 9 days, plenty of time to herf :-)
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Ferdie: I Would Like To Know Their Plans For New Releases, A "Sneak Preview", So To Speak!:-)
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1. Do you like me? (Me being me, not you) This is better: Do you like MCS?
2. How about a cigar called "Sklee"?
3. Where do all those cigars come from?
4. Got a light?
5. Cigar cake?
6. Cake cigar?

MCS
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Please ask Ernesto why he can't slap whoever rolls his Obsidians for him? Most draw like a broomstick! LOL
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Did you try and contact anyone at Padron? They have a factory store in Miami.
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What sets your company apart from the rest of the cigar brands?
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In the grand sense it is, but that is not what I am going at...

That gets back to my question on why they do not make customer specific bundles or smaller production runs for companies that think they market a bunch of specific cigars.

They do not run their business to capture the consumer and win their hearts. You want to be the Cubans, make a product and experience that most will never get from a Cuban cigar.
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+1
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What size pink wooden shoes do you wear?
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Have you talked to Willie Herrera over at El Titan de Bronze? Met with him a few years again, but he was very entertaining and made some good smokes.
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Can you make a chicken wing flavored cigar?
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Some questions to consider:

What are your long term plans for your organization?

Do you have a certain production number in mind before you become concerned about quality?

What are the 3 things that you want consumers to know that isn't known by the public right now?

Tell me about what are your succession plans for your cigar company?

What changes do you forsee occuring in the cigar industry over the next 3 years?

Tell us your perspective on limited production cigars. Are they worth the premium that are charged?

What cigars do you smoke on a daily basis and why?

How do you stay in touch with consumers?

Hope that these questions help
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