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09-Jan-2008
Cigar Insider: Robert Spoden of Bucanero Cigars

For this edition of our Cigar Insider series, I spoke with Robert Spoden of Bucanero Cigars. Bucanero was a boutique founded during the mid-nineties cigar boom. Unlike many cigar companies founded during that period, Bucanero is still around, and currently producing 18 blends.

I asked Robert about how Bucanero was started, why it made it to a second decade when so many others didn't, and much more. Particularly of note is his take on the effect of smoking bans and cigar taxes on the cigar industry.

Stogie Guys: Tell us a little bit about the founding of Bucanero Cigars. What made you decide to start producing your own cigars?

Robert Spoden: Bucanero was founded in 1995 over a couple of bourbons matched with some outstanding cigars and a Costa Rica. The foundation was and continues today built around honesty and friendship. We set out slowly to introduce unique blends. We avoided the pitfalls of mass production and maintain our focus on quality smokes. Our goal was to enter the cigar marketplace with the strength of blending and aging and let our cigars stand the test of time.

SG: Bucanero Cigars was founded in the middle of the mid-90's cigar boom. Why do you think Bucanero is still around and thriving, when so many other cigar companies founded during the boom, closed up shop long ago?

RS: At the time of the "boom" so many cigars were being mass-produced. So many lacked the essentials of what we believed a fine cigar should be. As a small player in this 5 billion dollar industry we had to decide where to spend our limited resources. Either we would spend the money in advertising or spend our resources in the way we make our cigars. We choose the later, while many others brands started back then were just mass produced cigars to meet the demands of the boom.

SG: What was the greatest challenge in starting up your cigar manufacturing operation?

RS: Trust me it has not been easy. Manufacturing our cigars is truly a science. Everyday the focus on quality must be maintained. What we find tough as a small manufacture is getting the word out about our cigars. It is by far the most challenging mountain we must climb. Our success lies with the cigar smoker who seeks something special.

SG: How do you think smoking bans and seemingly ever-increasing tobacco taxes will affect the cigar industry? How do you think the cigar industry has done responding to efforts to tax and ban cigar smoking?

RS: We as cigar lovers are all in this together. The laws that keep popping up restricting smoking in public places are not the death blow it appears to be, but the tax billing that is pending is. Cigars can be enjoyed in so many places such as on your deck, fishing, golfing etc. Even with these smoking bans, we still have our freedom to enjoy our cigars in many other places.

The true impact is in the pending tax increase on importing cigars. If this law is ever enacted the effect will be felt by a large group of small to medium size cigar manufactures. For a small importer that imports 50,000 cigar a month, the Custom Duty Tax would increase from $2350 to $50,000 - $150,000 per month.

This would effectively change the frequency of smoking cigars for most due to the very high retail costs, in turn effectively driving out of business many cigar retailers. The vast selection of cigars that exist today would disappear leaving only the largest cigar manufacturers' brands available to be purchased.

I will leave it to your readers to determine if the industry has done a good job responding to these threats.

SG: In your opinion, what is the best beverage to enjoy while smoking a fine cigar?

RS: I enjoy a red wine occasionally with my cigars. But I always smoke my cigar about half way down then I take a sip of my wine. Once the flavor of the wine mixes with the flavor of the cigar you have a synergy of flavor. If the wine mates well with the cigar you should experience a "turbo effect" in flavor. Occasionally I will do this with my favorite scotch or bourbon also.

SG: How do you keep cigars in your personal humidor: Cellophane on or off?

RS: I am somewhat of a purist. I only put one blend in my humidor without the cello wrapper on the cigars. I have always believed the cello dramatically slows down the aging
process that Spanish cedar brings to the cigars. By mixing different blends in my humidor over time the cigars take on the flavor profile of the mix.

SG: If someone has never tried a Bucanero cigar before, which blend would you recommend as the best cigar to introduce them to the brand and why?

RS: Tough question. We produce 18 blends each with a distinctive flavor. You must consider the strength profile of the blend and match it with the cigar lover's pallet. If you were at one of our smoker events I could offer to match you pallet with one of our many blends.

Many thanks to Robert for taking the time to answer our questions. For more information and to find a Bucanero retailer, visit Bucanero's website.


Source: Stogie Guys Online Cigar Magazine