July 17th Guest on CigaRobbie Radio Program

Rocky Patel, will be our guest tomorrow on the show! He will be in our last segment of the first hour and look forward to speak with the hardest working man in the industry. Will talk about his up and coming 15th Anniversary Edition Cigar.

We will aslo be joined by Our Lovely Lady of Stick: Christine Morgan in the second segment of the second hour. Lovely Christine brings a ladies perspective of the industry.

We will also announce the third winner of the Co-host the CigaRobbie Radio Show by purchasing on www.cheaphumidors.com and using the C-I-G-A-R-O-B-B-I-E coupon code!

Its a new two hour format and we will be looking forward to your calls (727)441-3000

Rocky Patel, listen to him live this week on the CigaRobbie Radio Program WTAN 1340 AM in Tampa

Roberto, y Abraham Ramirez... The Men Behind La Herencia De Cuba!

 I'm smoking my Jose Carlos Maduro, A gift from the creator of this fine cigar and a recent friend who I met at a mutual friends wine tasting party last Friday night. I am tooling west down 7th Avenue just as I enter into Ybor I see my good friend Oscar Sanabria, you may now him as the traveling photog from Cigar Snob always willing to catch people loving the cigar lifestyle. Anyway he's standing in the rain in front of a mechanics garage so I pull over pop out of the car, cigar in my month and great my friend with all smiles. His reply, "what are you doing here?” my reply, "likewise?" So he tells me he is having work down to his Audi, and asks if I have some time...? Now, I was in town to do a little business with my goals set on King Corona, I said, "sure let’s go." We hop in the car go about three or four blocks up 7th Avenue to the La Herencia De Cuba shop. As we entered we were greeted in Spanish by Abraham Ramirez, presidente of La Herencia De Cuba and the son of Roberto Ramirez, (Master Torcedor). I met Mr. Ramirez, very traditional Cuban gentlemen with deep history and tradition set in his eyes, both men so gracious, so welcoming and the younger acting as the interpreter between his father and myself. Abraham speaks of him with great pride and very deserving Mr. Ramirez the son of Domingo Ramirez, a tobacco farmer from Cuba with Spanish decent his son Roberto would go onto become a Master and responsible for supervising over 500 rollers in some of the most well known tabacelra's in the world.

Roberto Martinez & son Abraham Martinez in their shop on 7th Ave.

Ybor City, La Herencia De Cuba Cigars

This is why I love this job, I am talking business with some of the greatest names in the cigar industry, and I sat with Oscar talking sponsorship for the show with over 100 years of cigar making tradition in one room. I sat there wishing my Spanish was better; I wanted to sit down with Mr. Ramirez and ask him a million questions... Now I have a big task my friends, through the show will try and tell the tale of this great Spanish-Cuban family and the wonderful cigars they create

La Herencia De Cuba website

CigaRobbie Radio Program moving to WTAN 1340 AM & Affiliates

Last week Sammy and I inked a deal that will make the CigaRobbie Program heard in six states through the southeast. Moving the show to WTAN 1340 AM with affiliates WDCF 1350 AM, WZHR 1400 AM, and 50,000 watt powerhouse out of Little Rock AR KLRG 880 AM, brings the show to a new level.

Besides the move which allows us to produce the show in a new studio we  will also have a two hour format every Saturday from 3 to 5 pm EST. The show's great success in a short period of time has allowed for such growth. You the listener has propelled us to this level and we are doing everything we can to make sure we get great information to you!

With our commitment to existing sponsors: Maduro's Cigar & Bar, and CheapHumidors.com we'll be bringing on some new sponsors in the Tampa market. I don't want to take on to many and clutter the show with all ad's, but I need to cover some additional growth expenses. I try to make myself the best spokesperson I can for each and everyone of them and want to keep it more about you the listener and the cigars. This two hours helps us with that goal, knowing all to well the one hour just was not cutting it!

40 Acres of History; Ybor City!

Ybor City, (pronounced EE-borh), founded in the 1880’s, with its accessible port, and railway locations it attracted the attention of prominent Spanish born cigar manufacturer Vicente Martinez Ybor. It was first the discovery of Don Gavino Gutierrez, a New York civil engineer also of Spanish decent in search for “guavas” for a canning into a jelly which was becoming a craze in the northeast. Even though the 40 acre parcel of swamp and scrub Mr. Gutierrez, saw it industrial possibilities of something much more than canning jelly. He quickly relayed the information to his cigar manufacturing friend. Vicente would travel to the palmetto ridden area north of Tampa to purchase it.

First order of business for the industrialist to connect the harden area between Tampa City and his newest creation by rail (El tren, urbano) was created and would run: “often!” Soon to be the Cigar Capital of the World and an early century moniker of being the finest Cuban cigars in the world. With tobacco picked in Pinar del Rio and shipped directly to the tiny port of Tampa for production, in its day with over 200 cigar factories, employing over 12,000 cigar makers (Tabaqueros), and producing over 700-million cigars. Ybor City was incorporated into the City of Tampa in 1887, becoming a staging ground for the Cuban Revolution after the Spanish sunk the USS Main in the tiny harbor of Havana. Enticed by the hearty nightlife of card rooms, brothels, bolita games (Cuban version of Powerball), and active commerce Teddy Roosevelt stationed with his “Rough Riders” and rumored to have enjoyed all the Ybor accommodations.

If you look deep enough you can still see the brick streets, concrete pavers, old fashioned cast iron street lamps, aligned handmade wrought iron balconies and ornamental tile work makes this place a walk in time. Walking through Centennial Park bordered by canopied oaks and statues of predominate business leaders of Ybor City, there is one statue that stands out the most; The Immigrant Statue, depicting a young Hispanic family exiled or having escaped a oppressing regime and finding solace, gainful employment and workers housing.

Must see’s if traveling to Ybor City today; Artist Arnold Martinez, a blue collar son of a cigar roller (torcedor), who will warmly greet you at the door of his historic studio and immediately poor his long time history and experience of the city he is proud to call home. He will take you on a historic tour through each one of his paintings hanging on his wall, so proud you feel as though he really does not want to part with them, you get the sense it’s much more than connection with people than actually mass producing artwork. His paintings may have a unique appearance, that’s because some of them are created with such mediums as: tobacco, Cuban coffee, tea and wood.

Since 1982, the Ybor City Museum Society that serves as the experts to the legacy those 40 acres has meant to our history. Exhibits, programming, educational tours, combined with cultural and historical resources are for you to explore…

CigaRobbie Radio Program & The Cigar Guy

My Day in Ybor!

Walking down 7th Avenue in the heart of Ybor City, a.k.a. The Cigar City! It's like you’re walking back in time, other than the modern cars passing you by you would think you’re in the turn of the century. Pretty Cuban senorita's walking pass with huge smiles, the constant wafting summer smells of a city so steeped in heritage and tradition to any other place in this country. I smelled Cuban coffee, pastries, and cigars! Oh wait that was me I'm smoking a Fuentes Opus X, just cause I'm here.

I read The Cigar Maker, written by Mark Carlos McGinty in the middle of Centennial Park as the locals would brush by me every so often to make sure I was not an outsider. To them I was an outsider, but the funny thing as a budding aficionado, and just armed with enough of Ybor City history to be dangerous, they seem to me to be the outsider. One man even came up to me as I smoked my local stogie and told me, "Those things will kill you." My reply, "Everything will kill you." I did meet two very interesting gentlemen... both meaning so much to the rich heritage of cigars and Ybor: Wallace Reyes, yes that name rings a bell you cigar geeks! He is the man who is legendary in Ybor; you may know him of his Guinness Book of World Records, longest cigar. The other kindly local was Wally's good friend and local born artist Arnold Martinez, you may know his name as the artist who uses such mediums as tobacco leaves, Cuban coffee, tea and acrylics.

What a day my friends, I would look for both of these men to be guest on the CigaRobbie Radio Program! I know tomorrow I will be smoking one of Wally's personally rolled cigars a Bazarte, with a rich deep maduro wrapper the size was recommended to me by another local working at the museum store: torpedo and I can't wait to light this treasure and tell you about it on the air. Really thinking of making this a regular trip, well you know for the history part of it!

Wallace Reyes, Grand Master Cigar Maker

Gary Streitz, CigaRobbie's Father!

Becoming one of the most popular guests of the CigaRobbie Radio Program, CigaRobbie's dad who provides great insight on: well, nothing! Will be called and see what cigars he has smoked since the last time he was on?

I will wish him a happy fathers day and see if he has been on the http://www.cheaphumidors.com/ site to purchase great cigars and by using his son's C-I-G-A-R-O-B-B-I-E code and get an extra 10% off his purchase!

David Blanco's, On the June 26th Show.

We've just slated David Blancos from Los Blancos Cigars Company for Saturday June 26th 2010. With their rich Cuban history to the cigar industry combined in deep family heritage they bring you Los Blancos Sumatra, Criollo, Connecticut, Maduro and Nine blends. All providing great Nicaraguan & Honduran blends with the craftmanship of olde world Cuban construction. I look forward to sit down on the program and speak with such a master crafting family such as Los Blancos Cigars! Won't you join me each and every Saturday as we talk to the people that make a difference in this industry!

Next Week's Show!

Working on a couple of things for next weeks CigaRobbie Radio Program, Dr. Augie Mauser not only a retired Professor Emeritus College of Education at the University of South Florida but for the last thirty five years being the only official licensed cigar vendor in the city of Tampa. Dr. Mauser known to most as "Augie" by all the major players in the cigar industry. Consulted by the likes of Rocky Patel, Alan Rubin and Fuentes Family, Augie will bring his rich history and colorful tales to the CigaRobbie Radio Program.

The other interview I am working on is: Nick Perdomo! Wow, would be nice to speak with Nick about his wonderful line of entirely puro Nicaraguan cigars. With such classics like the 10th Anniversay Champagne, the Habano and his five year aged creation Perdomo (2) squared. I will talk to him about him having one of my absolute favorites... the Perdomo Edicion de Silvio, its pricy but its worth it!

Saturday 12th, CigaRobbie Radio Show

Congratulations to Russ Fletcher, our CheapHumidors.com winner of co-host the CigaRobbie Radio Program for a day. Russ was the fifth purchase on cheaphumidors and by punching in C-I-G-A-R-O-B-B-I-E into the coupon box for additional 10% off and a chance to win. Listen to the show on WSRQ Radio and listen for your chance to win! Russ maybe a little nervous call in and make him feel at home.

Scottie Hayes, the weekly host on WSRQ Radio of "The Drive at Five Sports Show", will be in studio with CigaRobbie as well. Stay tuned as we combined great current and local sports with the cigar lifestyle.

CigaRobbie and guests will be smoking in studio, CigaRobbie has provided Glenmorangie Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky the Original and the man himself will be smoking a Don Pepin My Father Cigar!

The Final Segment will consist of the author of "The Cigar Maker", Mark McGinty written in Mario Puzo style a fictional meets fact, a story of Salvador Ortiz who's struggles through the early 20th century as a cigar maker in Ybor City, kidnappings, assassinations, lynching, bandits, war and revolution his struggle to return back to his Ybor home. And his beloved career! Passion, love and good ole fashion Spanish family drama make this a must read!

Finally CigaRobbie will finish the at Maduro's Cigar & Bar, as he does each week surrounded by great Domincan feel, leather seats and big screen T.V.'s come in and on your first purchase mention CigaRobbie and recieve a complimentary house blend cigar! Come out and have a smoke with CigaRobbie!

BP Spills Coffee

What to Smoke this Year?

August here in Florida is a time for seeing a light at the end of a tunnel, however we’re not quite there but we can see a better time of things to come. For instance; an end of a long drawn hot sticky miserable summer, training camp in the NFL are winding down and college football ready to kick off. It also is a time in the cigar industry were the manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers share a city and display new products and celebrate a coming of a new product year. I’ve assembled a list of companies and what to watch for.


My Father Cigars; Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial, a powerful hearty blend of rich deep tobaccos.

Joya de Nicaraguan; Antano Dark Corojo, a strong deep ligero, they also have a Cabinetta half maduro and half claro; they also have Fuerte series B which is a bundle line product for them.

La Flor Dominica, Air Bender Litto’s Ecuadorian typical full strength Habano!

La Gloria’s Cubana Artesanos de Tabaqueros, a new conceptual creation from Benji Menendez & Rick Rodriquez it is dual wrapper of the foot and first third being Connecticut shade and the next two thirds being a rich brown Sumatra.

Nestor Miranda’s 1989 another great creations from the Don Pepin Family creating the Rosado & Oscuro.

With some of these great products some other manufacturers by bucking the trend of price point will be releasing some limited editions.

Avo with LE10

CAO, Escaparate Blend # 7

My Father Limited Edition

Tatuaje Monster Series the Face & La Verite

Viaje Skull & Bones Super Secret

With just another great year of cigars in front of us, I get excited when I think of myself in different situations smoking these great cigars with friends, by my pool, in great B & M’s, or in the studio and rating them for you the listener!

Advertising with CigaRobbie Radio Program

Want to increase your target market with your business? Would you like to partner with CigaRobbie using his professional personality to drive focus to local and national markets? If the answer is yes then CigaRobbie has a deal for you.

Looking for partnerships in business where you'll not only have a sponsorship of the CigaRobbie Radio Program but a spokesperson, a personality and many forms of marketing such as social media marekting on facebook and the CigaRobbie Blog!

You can contact CigaRobbie direct:
941-405-4008 CigaRobbie Radio Office Line
941-720-3553 CigaRobbie Cell Phone
cigarobbie@yahoo.com

Call or email for price list. Remember building professional partnerships that last!

Gary Aminoff is CigaRobbie Radio Program Blog Winner!

Congratulations to Gary Aminoff, he was randomly picked from the CigaRobbie Radio Program Blog followers as the first winner! Gary if you send me the proper mailing address you wish to receive your gift it will be sent out immediately!

I thank for all who participated and you'll all be entered for next month’s winner except for Gary! Don't forget to listen to the CigaRobbie Radio Program every Saturday from 3-4 pm EST, on WSRQ Radio 1220 AM / 106.9 FM or by logging onto www.wsrqradio.com

I look forward to taking your calls at 941-373-1220 and talking cigars!

The Power of Cigars!

It was the Memorial weekend of 2010, represents a couple of things in my life... just two years ago my mother passed away this weekend, I had lost my home, job, vehicle and in that time went through a bankruptcy. At one time things in my life were looking bleak, I had just turned forty years old and to say that my life was not going as to plan, would have been an understatement!

That was May of 2008; we forge ahead to this past Saturday! I am a year away of getting my bachelors degree in business administration after going back to school in January 2009, I started the CigaRobbie Radio Program and have interviewed such guest as: Joey Gannascoli (Vito, from the Soprano's), Alan Rubin from Alec Bradley, and Pete Johnson of Tatuaje Cigars. To say that life has definitely taken a turn for the better in the last year, again is an understatement.

Sometime you have to believe in yourself, I guess at a point in my life I had forgotten that! Sometimes I take a little walk in the evenings, with a nice cigar and it is my time to reflect and think about things or process the events that happen that day, week or year. The other evening as I walked and thought about the show earlier that Sammy and I aired at the WSRQ Studio's, I was smoking the Savinelli R y R Series Y, a great cigar nice sturdy construction, great taste consistent through the cigar I was processing all the previous information I had just told you. I thought about the tough times of my mother’s life at the end, I thought about the call from my bank to let me know my account had been frozen through a judgment against me. I also thought about the note placed on my condo door by the Sheriff Department to let me know I had 24 hours to vacate my dwelling or forfeit my property.

There was a period of my life not one hour of one day went by that something went against me, I learned to be reactive to every problem I faced of every day. To tell you the truth, I can't believe I did not have a heart attack or stroke through that year and a half of my life. Now as I stroll along the tree lined boulevard, smoking my cigar that had been sent to me by the good people of Savinelli to smoke and discuss on my radio program. It was like a wave of freedom had just washed over me... I started to get a little emotional as I sauntered along this Saturday evening, then I could not help it I just pumped my fist in the air, in victory! In victory over depression, in victory over hard times, in victory over standing up in adversity and keeping my eye on the prize. I gathered my thoughts and said I don't know what will come of my tiny cigar radio show... But I do know this, I will only increase with my life and new horizons lay before me, and these lay with happiness, opportunities, and hope!

I once said about a critic of mine in the cigar industry, that I rate cigars, I interview people in the industry, I do everything to promote the cigar lifestyle not for money or wealth, but for the love and remarkable things the sanctity as a man sitting down smoking a cigar can do for your soul. At times it was the only thing that got me by or kept me going. I know the power of what this lifestyle can do and the magic it represents to people! I just want to get good quality information to you the listener!

CigaRobbie Offices

CigaRobbie contact info:

4550 47th Street W. #1731
Bradenton FL 34210
941-405-4008
941-720-3553
cigarobbie@yahoo.com

The CigaRobbie Radio Program; "smoking the Entubar Torpedo!"

Just as we finished the show, I learned with so much activity on the server and people trying to log on to http://www.wsrqradio.com/ that it crashed. So to celebrate Sammy and I headed down US 41 to Maduro's Cigar & Bar, we were armed with our bottle of Johnny Walker Black as a give away, and the Berger & Argenti Entubar Torpedo. It is a Nicaraguan & Dominican filler & binder, complimented with a USA wrapper... interesting I thought. Also in tote was Richard Fisher the voice of Political Hangover which is on two hours before my show.

I turned Richard onto a mild Gispert Churchill, Sammy and I toasted the foot of this Entubar beast as the advisory foot band suggested. I thought presentation good a beautiful sillky wrapper and with a toated nutty taste was a little more complexed than Sammy suggested. We smoked these odd creatures right to the nub and moved onto other conquest's! The MSRP: $9.50 on the Entubar just as a note: It did smoke light and airy it has a rolled and molded ligero center that creates a flume through the center of this unique wonder.

Guy's right now if you purchase anything from http://www.cheaphumidors.com/ punch C-I-G-A-R-O-B-B-I-E into the coupon box CigaRobbie will send you a gift!

To the CigaRobbie Crew...

Guy's reply to this post, telling me what questions you'd like me to ask Alan Rubin?

We will be giving some great giveaways to listener's who call in... sponsored by www.cheaphumidors.com punch in C-I-G-A-R-O-B-B-I-E in coupon box for an extra 10% off your already low, low price!

Sammy, The Lovely Nikki and I, spent Thursday evening at  Maduro's Cigar & Bar for the CAO Event. They will honor event prices throughout the weekend on CAO Gold, LX2 and La Traviata! 20% Off plus a seven cigar gift pack and ashtray with every purchase.

Remember come have a cigar with CigaRobbie and Single Sammy right after the show every Saturday at Maduro's!

I also want to thank all of you for the emails and support you have given the show... Its all about you guys!

What goes into producing CigaRobbie Radio Program

I know it’s only an hour show! But to produce a good quality hour like the CigaRobbie Radio Program there is considerable work to be done, I want it to be so informational but that needs to be combined with entertainment and character. I really think that is one of my strengths, is there guy’s who know just as much, if not more than me? Sure, and are there more qualified people who should have a radio program? Again, yes! But I think my mixture of comedy, entertainment and industry knowledge, makes me tell a unique side of the industry.


This is the week of May 17th thru May 22nd which is my show date, I really don’t count Sunday’s it’s my day off to relax and do homework.

This Monday I am off of my regular job but will be working in the CigaRobbie Offices, just like I’m doing right now. Then I will catch up on some homework for school as I am attending Everglades University and my pursuit of a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. I go Wednesday nights from 6 to 10 pm and Saturday’s from 9 to 5 pm, but obviously I’ve been getting out early to do the show. So I usually work a 45 hour work week, combined with school, and the radio show, oh did I mention I am also involved in Kiwanis, and I go to the gym at least three to four times a week, I also fill in from time to time on the Drive at Five show with Scottie Hayes, who use to work for the Atlanta Braves organization.

Today I will go to three of the five Tobacco Depot’s which are hear in the Tampa area to drop off flyers for the show and do a little promo, Tuesday night I am going to my Kiwanis meeting right after work, Wednesday after work I have to run down to Ceviche’s a local tapas restaurant that was a old Spanish four story styled building that on rooftop with a tiki bar the WSRQ Radio 1220 AM / 106.9 FM or www.wsrqradio.com who does a live feed and I go up plop on the headphones do a little promotion for the CigaRobbie Radio Program then I am off to school. Thursday night, after work I have to run down to one of my show sponsors Maduro’s Cigar & Bar in south Sarasota for a CAO event, probably will catch up and have a cigar with some old friends. Friday night is busy… after work I need to set up for the Tony Katz Radio Show, which I call in at 6:35 pm and do the Cigar of the Week, for my other show sponsor www.cheaphumidors.com, then over to a buddies girlfriends house for a little get together. Oh my home that night to work on show format and school work for the Saturday which I have to be at school by 9:00 am and to the studio by 2:15 pm for my 3:00 show.

Guy’s I say this like it is a lot of work and I can’t find the time! The truth I love every minute of it, the hustle the bustle running from work, gym, school, show, events and on some Thursday nights I relax with a few good friends and actually smoke cigars! I needed to say that because some of you were probably wondering, when does this guy have time to enjoy cigars? You’re right sometimes it’s tough, but I would not trade it for the world. Guy’s give me a call on the show; I’d love to hear from you! 941-373-1220 on Saturday’s 3 to 4 EST, and listen on web www.wsrqradio.com

What we smoked on the show yesterday!

Great show thanks to my entire guest: Christine Morgan, as always you do such a great job!


Christine rated the La Gloria Cubana’s Artensano’s de Tabaqueros, which Benji Menendez selected 18 cigar makers to co-create this blend with: Michael Giannini, Yuri Guillen, and Rick Rodriquez. It has Dominican and Honduran fillers combined with that distinct Connecticut wrapper foot & Ecuadorian Sumatra head; this tobacco is aged five years and is made in General Cigars, El Credito Cigar Factory in the Dominican Republic. The suggested MSRP average out between all three sizes: 6x50, 6x52 and 7x50 is $8.83

And you can follow Christine and all her rating on her blog: http://simplysmokeandashes.blogspot.com

I smoked the Casa Fernandez Arsenio 2009, which was introduced in 2007 and made with sun grown 2006 Corojo wrapper. As a puro with Nicaraguan Aganorsa leaf which can be dry and crumbly this cigar was produced in the Tabacalera Tropical Factory and blended by cousins Eduardo Fernandez and Paul Palmer who blends for Illusione and Cruzado. This cigar coveted the 21st spot in Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 of 2009. And with a MSRP of $5.00 it is a steal, you may know that this cigar was one of the gifts for my guest at the CigaRobbie Super bowl Party and they raved about this little robusto.

My co-producer Sammy was smoking Rocky Patel’s Renaissance with a 5 year Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper this cigar debut at the 2008 IPCPR in Las Vegas it comes in three shapes very indicative of Rocky with a Churchill, robusto and his coveted Toro size cigars. Created in the El Paraiso Factory in Danli Honduras, it has Nicaraguan fillers and a binder from the Jalapa Valley. Rocky will not give up the location of the ligero leaf center, only stating it’s from an undisclosed region in Central America. The Churchill Sammy was smoking has an MSRP of $7.75