In 1987, I was assigned to read Megatrendsby John Naisbitt for a college class.  Originally published in 1982, the book explored and anticipated trends in business and society as we moved toward an information-based economy.  I’m sure there are many other excellent lessons to be learned from the book, but over the years the concept I’ve come back to again and again is the link between high tech and high touch.

The basic concept is that as high tech increasingly affects our lives, we seek out high touch experiences to provide balance.  High tech can be great.  Imagine all the devices and technology we use on a daily basis that didn’t exist 25 years ago.  Although I consider myself a relatively low tech guy (I still use my cell phone principally to make phone calls), I can’t imagine life without the internet, my cell phone, DVR, etc.  However, high tech can also depersonalize a lot of experiences.  E-commerce has removed personal contact from many retail transactions.  Most of us probably conduct the majority of our banking at a keyboard or in front of an ATM machine instead of with a human teller.  We send E-mail to co-workers who are in the same building.  I think the popularity of the social networking sites is probably the most obvious indicia of the desire to reach out and have a high touch experience to balance the loss of personal contact in our high tech society.

 I’m still a relative newbie to the cigar culture having only been a regular for a little over two years.  However, I’m convinced that the desire for a high touch experience to balance the high tech in our lives is a driving force behind the hobby and the culture.  I think that desire explains the hobby’s proportional prevalence of those with high tech occupations.  (I thought about doing some research on occupational demographics of cigar smokers, but didn’t want to risk messing up a good theory with facts.)

 Take, for example, a typical retail experience in the cigar hobby versus a typical retail experience in consumer electronics.  The typical cigar buying experience begins with a trip to the local cigar shop or tobacconist.  Sometimes the hobbyist will know what they want based on prior experiences or likely based on conversations with other hobbyists.  Maybe they’re undecided and seek the guidance of one of the sales associates, who are most likely hobbyists themselves.  After the purchase, the hobbyist is likely to consume their purchase on the spot in the shop’s lounge where they can unwind, maybe watch a sporting event and just generally enjoy the company of fellow enthusiasts.  On the other hand, electronics being generally high tech by nature, whatever pre-purchase research is done is likely to be via internet.  Should the purchaser choose to go E-commerce, they may well complete the entire transaction without having contact with another human being.  Otherwise, their human contact may be limited to a brief interaction with a clerk or stock person at a big box store who knows little or nothing about the product (and may care even less).  I understand that one can have essentially the same experience in buying cigars.  However, I’d suggest that if you want to buy cigars off the internet and sit on your back porch and smoke them by yourself you’re missing out on the point of the cigar culture.

 Finally, the accessability of those in the cigar industry has convinced me that this hobby of ours is the ultimate high touch experience.  Those of us who are fortunate to live in or near a city with quality brick and mortar cigar shops often have opportunities to attend events and meet those working in the cigar industry.  I know in the last two years I’ve had the opportunity to meet everyone from sales reps to company presidents to master blenders to “rock stars” of the industry to legends.  Few industries offer that kind of personal one-on-one interaction to the average consumer.

 Cigar enthusiasts refer to each other as brothers (and sisters) of the leaf.  While I’ve learned a lot about cigars from my brothers (and sisters), I’ve learned more about life.  That relationship can’t be purchased like an mp3 player.   

 See you at the shop.

 Mike A.

There is something very enjoyable about getting together with friends and smoking cigars. For me, I enjoy having five or six people get together and seeing what smokes they all bring.  It always runs the gamete.  Sometimes I see someone pull out a cigar that I have not tired before, or have not smoked in a while.  It always prompts me to want to try one. 

Even in the midst of our friendly card game, a good share of the conversation turns to cigars.  That is a good thing.  I encourage you to get together with friends.  Enjoy the company and enjoy a few good cigars.  It will do you good!

My staff at UPtown’s is simply awesome.  While I was out most of this past week, business went on as usuall without a glitch.  THANK YOU GUYS!  Jeff, Jim, Marcus, Trey, Joe, Arron & Kevin…I could not ask for a better crew! 

Hope you all have a wonderfull weekend, and enjoy some fine cigars!

Perhaps considered an untraditional blog, the purpose of this post is to help those less familiar with the Oliva Cigar Co. to become more acquainted with “Nicaragua’s second largest grower of Cuban-seed tobacco” (olivacigar.com).

 The Oliva family’s relationship with tobacco began over 120 years ago in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba, and it has been the family’s determination to persevere in spite of circumstance which has allowed them to produce the fifth most requested cigar brand, Oliva Serie V, by customers of various retail shops throughout the nation (Cigar Insider; Vol 13, No. 13).

Forced to leave Cuba because of a tyrannous government, Gilberto Oliva Sr. worked in Nicaragua until, once again, he was forced to leave because of a country’s unstable political conditions. From there he went to Honduras and was growing and brokering tobacco. He would not make cigars until he moved to Panama in 1984. His stay in Panama was fairly short due to a storm that ruined his entire tobacco operation. He went to a few other countries before landing back in Honduras where he ran a factory for Nestor Plasencia. While this was happening, some of his children were in Miami trying to generate income by boxing, labeling, and, on consignment only, selling cigars. In 1994 the first cigar bearing the Oliva family name was produced. It was called Gilberto Oliva and consisted of Dominican and Honduran filler with an Ecuador/Connecticut wrapper. Within eight months the Oliva family had generated enough capital to open their own factory in Ocotal, Nicaragua, which was later moved to Esteli, where they have since produced cigars that have received accolades from nearly all of the major and minor critics and trendsetters in the industry. (abbreviated history based on Smoke Magazine’s 2005 summer issue).

For more information visit olivacigar.com where one can read descriptions of the cigars and various press releases, or stop in at UPtown’s on Saturday, August 1 and speak with Allan Buelvas, who has been their account executive since January and has been involved with cigars since the early 90’s.

Tuesday night, I was invited to dinner with a cigar rep and his boss who was in town.  The company was one of the “big boys” in the industry.  Dinner was great, Morton’s Steak house.  But the evening was somewhat disappointing to me by the tone of conversation.  I am not impressed when one company feels the need to bash their competition. Enough said. 

Wednesday brought another busy day for us at UPtown’s.  Rocky Patel was in town for a big event at the shop.  I knew it would be a good one with Rocky being there.  But I was not expecting it to be so huge on a Wednesday night. But the place was packed.  Rocky spent four hours shaking hands, signing autographs and having pictures taken.  The food was great, the wine was great and the live music was outstanding!  The event ended shortly after 9:00 PM, and by the time we cleaned up the shop and closed, it was my second night in a row of not getting home until after midnight!  But it was a pleasure to host an event with Rocky.

All this was leading up to a huge Saturday for UPtown’s.  The annual Music City Brewers Festival which takes place in downtown Nashville. UPtown’s teams up with CAO every year and sponsors the “Cool Zone” at the festival.  This year’s festival was broken into two four hour sessions.  Afternoon and evening.  Both sessions were packed and we had non-stop cigar sales for the entire eight hours of the festival. Micro brewed beer and cigars are a good combination!  We had a full staff including myself, Big Jim, Handy Dandy Andy, Smoking Joe Zike, CAO’s Jeff “The Animal” Tinnell, and our very own “Good Old Democratic Advice” man, Arron. Even with all of us there, we could have used more!  And I will tell you, with all the beer that was flowing, there was no shortage of entertainment! After starting the day at 7:30 AM at Pancake Pantry, and finally getting home around midnight, we had another very long day. But as busy as we were, it was a day of laughter and enjoyment.  On my drive home to the cabin, I could not help but reflect on what a great staff I have at UPtown’s.  With two major events in one week, Rocky Patel and Brewer’s Fest, they pulled it off with ease and enthuthiasm. Now onto next Saturday.  Our big Oliva day at UPtown’s.  See the events calander for details.

In closing today, I would like to ask each of you to keep another one of our great employees in your thoughts.  As many of you know, Marcus had back surgery on Thursday.  All indications are that the operation was a success, and we hope for a speedy recovery and look forward to having him back at the shop.

In contemplation of writing this “guest blog” many ideas come to mind.  Typically, cigar reviews, recent holiday celebrations and current events come to mind.  However, the subject that continually keeps my interests busy is the commonality and camaraderie that the cigar brings to a gathering.  I am fortunate to recently have been invited to a celebration of the birth of a beautiful baby girl.  This celebration consisted of smoked meat, fine cheeses, libations, and wonderful cigars.  This celebration which was informal, brought forth some feelings which I believe everyone  who has smoked premium tobacco products with a group has experienced.  Events with cigars can often times “Bridge the Gap” between many people, who on the surface, might feel they have nothing in common.  When smoking in a time when smoking is often done in a selected area.  Look at it as a opportunity to develop a bond with whom you are fortunate enough to share that moment with.  Smoking can help broaden your interest and help develop valued friendships into the future.

In the coming weeks, I plan to have some “guest blogs”.  Be looking for them.  Enjoy the holiday weekend.

There could come a day where you and I could not go into a smoke shop and sit down and enjoy a cigar.  Or enjoy a cigar on the golf course, or event sit on our back porch and enjoy a fine cigar with a glass of wine.  It could happen folks.  Not to mention the possibility of cigars becoming so expensive due to increased taxes that most people could not afford them! 

I became a member today.  You should too.  We need to band together to fight the fight that has been launched against us!

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