Tim Ozgener on Legacy, Leaving, and Coming Back - Not A Cigar Show

Black Label’s James Brown on Cigars and Creativity | Not A Cigar Show

James Brown of Black Label Trading Company and Black Works Studio joins Fred Rewey on Not A Cigar Show for a deep conversation about blending, branding, artwork, factories, tobacco, and why some cigar smokers still refuse to try a petite corona. This episode goes far beyond “tell us about the new release.” James talks about his path from the wine industry and hospitality to running cigar expeditions through Central America before eventually building Oveja Negra Factory in Nicaragua. He explains how Black Label grew organically from cigars he originally made for expedition guests, and why controlling every step of production completely changed the company. Fred and James also get into: • The difference between Black Label Trading Company and Black Works Studio • Why owning a factory matters • The challenge of consistency across vitolas • Why strength and complexity are not the same thing • How cigar branding became part lifestyle brand and part underground art project • Candela wrappers, broadleaf experiments, and blending philosophy • Food, travel, New York restaurants, and life in Nicaragua One of the most interesting parts of the conversation is hearing James explain how a cigar blend and artwork evolve together. For him, the cigar has to tell a story before the artwork even begins. If you enjoy cigars, art, branding, or the creative side of boutique cigar making, this is one of the most insightful episodes we’ve done.

David Lafferty on Not A Cigar Show | The Real Cigar Industry Grind

David Lafferty from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust joins Fred Rewey for one of the most honest episodes of Not A Cigar Show yet. This episode pulls back the curtain on what the cigar industry really looks like beyond the social media photos, cigar dinners, trade shows, and lounge culture. David talks openly about life on the road, sales pressure, retailers, brokers, burnout, consumer expectations, brand building, and why most people who think they want to work in cigars probably should not. Topics include: • The reality of working in cigar sales • Drew Estate in the early Liga Privada days • Nat Sherman and luxury retail culture • Building Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust • Why some cigar shops fail with premium brands • Social media, influencers, and cigar culture • What separates good reps from bad reps • The grind of trade shows and constant travel • Steve Saka then vs now • The weirdest cigar event stories David can publicly tell If you’ve ever wondered what the cigar industry is really like behind the scenes, this is the episode.

Tim Ozgener on Legacy, Leaving, and Coming Back - Not A Cigar Show

Tim Ozgener grew up in the cigar industry, helped build CAO, walked away, then came back to start Oz Family Cigars. In this episode we talk about legacy, starting over, blending philosophy, and what cigar smokers never see behind the scenes. We also get into how the industry has changed, why today’s consumers are more educated, and what Tim focuses on when building a modern cigar brand. If you want insight from someone who has seen the cigar business from the inside for decades, this is a conversation worth watching. Topics include: • Growing up in the CAO family business • What brought him back • Building Oz Family Cigars • The story behind Karatoba Subscribe for more episodes of Not A Cigar Show. #Cigars #CigarPodcast #TimOzgener #CigarIndustry #NotACigarShow

Litto Gomez Jr. Talks LFD Legacy and What Comes Next on Not A Cigar Show.

More Than Litto’s Son: Litto Gomez Jr. on Pressure, Growth, and the Future of LFD. Legacy gets thrown around a lot in this business. Usually, it comes with soft lighting and a rehearsed answer. This one does not. Litto Gomez Jr. jumps in and talks about pressure, proving yourself when your last name is already on the wall, and why protecting quality at La Flor Dominicana matters more than chasing growth. We cover farm dirt, factory chaos, retail reality, and a few cigars you probably forgot you love.

Jason Wood, Outcast, and Breaking the Family Playbook : Not A Cigar Show

Jason Wood from Miami Cigar and Outcast Cigars joins Fred Rewey for a conversation that goes well beyond a product pitch. They dig into the real origin of Tatiana, what it was like coming into a legacy cigar family without even being a smoker, and the lesson Jason learned the hard way about staying out of a master blender’s kitchen. They also break down Outcast Cigars, a pipe-tobacco-forward blend that confuses some smokers and wins over others, and why education matters when you put something different on the shelf. Add in legislation worries, industry shifts, family travel stories, and a few honest mistakes, and you get an episode that feels less like an interview and more like a behind-the-scenes look at how a modern cigar company survives and evolves.