Deep Cuts Live

La Aurora is the oldest cigar factory in the Dominican Republic, but does its reputation make it an easy sell in the U.S.? In Episode 144 of Deep Cuts Live with host Antoine Reid, hear from two men who are part of La Aurora's U.S. sales team. Learn about the legacy of this Dominican Republic cigar brand, the visionary and entrepreneur who leads the company today, and why this premium cigar brand should be on your radar and in your humidor today.

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In episode 143 of Deep Cuts Live, host Antoine Reid has a conversation with Juan Lugo, founder of Don Doroteo Cigars. Juan comes from a four-generation tobacco growing family, though he did not immediately get into the tobacco business right away. Instead, he served in the military and worked in Silicon Valley where he learned a lot about what it takes to make a startup successful. Taking what he had learned in the past, Juan set out to honor his family's tradition in tobacco and later launched his own premium cigar brand, Don Doroteo, in 2022.

Hear more about Juan's experiences in the cigar industry and how he's built his brand in record time. This is a great podcast for anyone who is thinking about starting a new business today but fears making a mistake that could be costly and prevent their business from flourishing in the future.

It's Deep Cuts Live's first ever tip show! Tune in for 30 minutes of viewer's questions about premium cigars. This show covers a number of commonly asked questions from cigar smokers including how to choose a cigar, the best budget cigars, how a cigar's shape affects how a cigar smokes, when to ash, and if price reflects quality in a cigar.

Guests include: Allen Sanabria (Family x Loyalty), Luciano Meirelles (Luciano Cigars), Brandon Marsh (Big Sky Cigar), Damon Robinson (Charlotte Cigar Week), Miguel Schoedel (Crowned Heads), Jason Wood (Miami Cigar & Co.), Nestor Miranda (Miami Cigar & Co.), Aric Bey (Black Star Line Cigars), Ernesto Padilla (Padilla Cigars), Jeffrey Amendola (Amendola Family Cigars), Christopher Monaco, Amendola Family Cigars).

We're mixing things up a bit with this week's Deep Cuts Live! For Episode 141, the special guest is Julio Cabrera, the award-winning bartender behind Miami's Café La Trova and the new premium cigar brand Sacrificio Cigars.

Julio has a unique and engaging story that's sure to inspire everyone to take some action in their life. After studying to become an agricultural engineer, Julio realized something that many do at some point in their professional careers–his work wasn't fulfilling. He wanted to pursue something he was instead passionate about. He set off to study hospitality and bartending, a career move that excited him even though it had his family worried initially. Learn how he took control of his career and became an award-winning bartender and owner of one of Miami's hottest bars frequented by celebrities from Cam Newton to Alicia Keys.

Julio also talks about his latest business venture–the launch of Sacrificio Cigars, inspired by his relationship with his father and made with the help of one of Nicaragua's largest makers of premium cigars.

Becoming a content creator is a popular professional track for many people, but what does it take to be a successful content creator? What does it take to put together a video or to build a dedicated audience? In episode 140 of Deep Cuts Live with host Antoine Reid, Mechelle Merkerson shares how her desire to teach and educate others about premium cigars led to her creating her own online show, "Cigars with 'M'."

Hear her unique approach to creating content, including scripting videos, handling social media, and tips for others considering getting into the creator economy. For anyone interested in becoming a content creator or getting into the business of user generator content (UGC), this will be a great interview for you to listen to.

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Hector Becerra is the national sales manager for Quesada Cigars, a well-established cigar manufacturer based in the Dominican Republic. In this interview with Deep Cuts Live, Hector dives into what makes Quesada a brand that should have a regular place in your humidor and what it takes to be a successful salesman and marketer in today's cigar industry. For anyone in sales, learn why "being on" at all times is more of the norm and, at times, necessary to achieve success.

Ready to unlock the blueprint to conquering uncharted territories? Tune in now and be inspired by Panda Yan's exceptional expedition, proving that with tenacity and the right opportunities, you, too, can turn your dreams into reality.

Join us in this exclusive interview to uncover the untold story of how Panda Yan, armed with determination and curiosity, forged an extraordinary path. Dive into the riveting narrative of his journey from China to the cigar factory floor in Nicaragua, where he honed his skills and knowledge, ultimately giving birth to his brainchild, Y Panda—a premium cigar brand he crafted with the help of his mentor, Luciano Meirelles.

Don't miss out on this must-watch video destined to reshape how you perceive entrepreneurship and innovation! Remember to subscribe to Deep Cuts Live on YouTube for additional content and exclusive interviews like this, and visit deepcutslive.com to catch up on what you've missed.

How does an epiphany sparked by women's hair product lead to a premium cigar brand? You'll learn how that happened with this week's Deep Cuts Live interview with Kevin Brown. Brown has long been into entrepreneurship and has launched several businesses. It was when he found himself faced with an inner conflict selling hair product to women that eventually launched him into the cigar industry. Learn how this UPS driver learned about the cigar culture by building a cigar lounge experience and eventually creating a premium cigar brand.

Be sure to subscribe to Deep Cuts Live for more interviews and content about the cigar culture and lifestyle.

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Aric Bey returns to Deep Cuts Live to talk about everything that's happened with his premium cigar brand, Black Star Line Cigars, since his first appearance in 2020. Since his first appearance, Aric has worked on and released several new cigars, most notably Mr. Fahrenheit and Rosewood 1923. Aric discusses working with new factories, such as Tabacalera La Isla and Fabrica Oveja Negra.

Hear how Aric has better defined his brand, what it stands for today, and how he's using it to make a statement. Make sure you tune in until the end, where Aric discusses some of the events happening in countries like Nicaragua that are presenting challenges for his company today.

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Website: https://deepcutslive.com

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There's a misconception that "boutique" cigars aren't as good as more well-known brands, and this week's guest hopes to put that myth to rest once and for all with his company and its products. Mario Caraballo talks about what led him to launch his own premium cigar brand, Casa Caraballo, and a few lessons he's learned as a small business owner. Learn what the boutique cigar industry is really about in 2023 and how AI is moving the premium cigar industry forward.

Suppose you're a new business owner competing with bigger brands with bigger marketing budgets. In that case, this episode is definitely for you! Mario shares some tips for brand owners to use with their retail partners to help a small brand grow and scale. Hear why being a small business can give you a major competitive edge in today's marketplace.

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Thanks for listening!

Website: https://deepcutslive.com

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/DEEPCUTSLIVE

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deep_cuts_live