The Certified Tobacconist Advantage

PM Magazine: What’s the advantage of buying cigars from a certified tobacconist?

 


Jorge Armenteros: As the president of Tobacconist University, I have dedicated almost 15 years to this question.  In fact, I wrote The Tobacconist Handbook (available on amazon.com) to try and improve the culture of professional tobacconists.  Above all, a certified tobacconist is schooled in fundamentals and understands the differences between tobaccos and what makes them special.  Ultimately, very few tobaccos and/or cigars are premium or luxury products.  The best cigars in the world take years or decades to create and a certified tobacconist can help a consumer enhance their own appreciation by sharing that knowledge.

 

…. the joy of our business is to introduce smokers to something outside of their comfort zone and watch them fall in love with it…

The Padrón 46th Anniversary

On September 7, 2010 almost two hundred cigar lovers gathered at the Grand Havana Room in New York City to celebrate the Padrón family’s 46 years of cigar making, along with Tobacconist University.  These are the speeches delivered that evening: first an introduction by the President of Tobacconist University (TU), Jorge Armenteros, CMT and then a speech written by José Orlando Padrón and delivered in conjunction with his son Jorge Padrón.

On this evening we introduced the Padrón Family Reserve No. 46 cigar to the world.  And while most companies would encourage as much media coverage as possible, the Padróns wanted to host an intimate evening with family, friends, and their most passionate customers.  Thankfully, these videos were captured by TU staff for posterity and historical reference; which explains the low light.  Fortunately, we have been granted permission to post these here and share them with you.  If you ever wanted to get into the hearts and minds of the Padrón family, this is your opportunity.  Here are the extraordinary moments and speeches that marked this very special anniversary.