DTT Timeshare Experience

Dunbarton, NH – Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust® (DTT) recently announced an innovative virtual initiative dubbed with their tongues firmly planted in cheek called “The DTT Timeshare Experience”.

The program debuted in the 2nd half of July 2020 in response to the cancellation of PCA’s Annual Trade Show for the cigar industry.

“Everyone is trying to figure out the best way to serve their Retail Customers and their own interests in this very topsy-turvy year of trade show and event cancellations.
Most are doing virtual sales meetings, other are hosting virtual tradeshows and/or mini-physical travelling trade shows.

Honestly, I do not know how these will work, but I am doubtful that any of these strategies are appropriate for our Select Purveyors currently when it comes to our brands.

For us, sales have been solid and we are on track for another record setting year; this is thanks to steady growth with ever increasing turns and volume per turn.

In my opinion, the best thing we can do is remain steady and continue to enhance our brands’ value for our Retailers and their customers,” states Steve Saka, Founder and Co-Owner of DTT.

He goes on to add, “So rather than focus on sales, we have created an interactive program that will educate and engage our Select Purveyors and any of their staff they wish to include.

It will be focused on our products, industry trends, business strategy for continued growth, etc. in my typical no-nonsense manner. But ‘man does not live on work alone’, so we decided to spice it up a bit and jokingly bring in some elements of those really crappy timeshare pitches that we all endured as children whose parents just wanted the FREE whatever for listening. Now I cannot promise it will be good, but it will definitely be different and hopefully fun!

And of course we will throw out some sort of deal or two at the end, but that will not be the primary focus – we want our Purveyors to buy our puros not because they are discounted, but because they are exceptional and serve the needs of the most experienced and discerning customers. ”

Emails soliciting for registration in the DTT Timeshare Experience have been transmitted to Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Select Purveyors.

Some opportunities will only be extended to those who participate in the program.

®Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust are registered trademarks of Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust and/or affiliated companies.

About Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, LLC
Founded in 2015, Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust (DTT) has quickly become the premier craft manufacturer of ultra- premium handmade cigars. Founded by cigar and industry expert Steve Saka, a former Executive Consultant to JR Cigar and President and CEO of Drew Estate, with the singular focus to create only “Puros Sin Compromiso” – Cigars Without Compromise.

Included within their portfolio are:
Sobremesa
Mi Querida
Todos Las Dias
Sin Compromiso
Umbagog
Muestra de Saka.


DTT is the only company ever to be named the “Company of the Year” for three consecutive years by Halfwheel.

For more information, please visit: 
www.dunbartoncigars.com.

®Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust are registered trademarks of Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust and/or affiliated companies.

Much like a family reunion, the Premium Cigar Association trade show provided a great opportunity to network with all of the cigar producers, cigar reps and accredited cigar media again for another year.

Among my favorite people with whom to visit during the PCA2018 trade show were the marvelous Tanya & Jeff Borysiewicz.
Jeff, Tanya & their team at Corona Cigar Company won the coveted Davidoff Appointed Merchant of the Year / Golden Band Award in 2018.
Seeing the joy from them both was one of the highlights of the entire show. It was terrific being part of the Davidoff White Party!

So, what does it take to be the best Cigar shop? Be the best people.
The Borysiewicz’s are tireless. Jeff will spend day after day at the trade show talking cigars & tobacco with everyone who has an interest.
He brings the coolest props, too … check out these great tobacco leaves:

photo credit: Val Bradshaw
photo credit: Tim Brown

As a proud American, President & Founder of Corona Cigar Company, Jeff Borysiewicz believed it was possible to bring cigar tobacco farming back to Florida
In 2012, Corona Cigar Co. purchased a 20 acre plot of land and in 2013 they planted their 1st test crop of Cuban seed Corojo and they were on their way to growing great tobacco.
The result is FSG: Florida Sun Grown … a star of the cigar trade show in 2018.

photo credit: Val Bradshaw

And just like an FSG will always put a smile on your face … so do the Borysiewicz’s with their zest for life & their commitment to cigars.

photo credit: Val Bradshaw
photo credit: Val Bradshaw

Jeff has time for everyone, including man’s best friend!

It was also nice that Jeff took a little time to swing by the @CigarHerf booth where we shared a few laughs and some wonderful cigar camaraderie!

Photo Credit: Tim Brown

Florida Sun Grown

https://www.coronacigar.com

July 2018. I arrived in Las Vegas late in the afternoon after a completely almost-uneventful drive from Denver.
As always, the 1st place I head is one of my favourite Cigar Lounges of all time – En Fuego Cigars & Lounge on W. Sahara.

As a matter of fact, one of the reasons I stay at the Sahara Las Vegas is because it’s within walking distance of En Fuego!

If you’re looking for a casual, comfortable place to enjoy a cigar, En Fuego is the place for you.

En Fuego Cigars & Lounge has lots of comfortable seating, friendly staff and an extensive selection in the humidor.
If you’re looking for something unique, try one of En Fuego‘s Custom Blend cigars.

En Fuego Cigar Lounge has an in-house Master Cigar Roller who makes a variety of sizes and blends of cigars.

Master Roller Don Antonio has been both a vital part and a star attraction at En Fuego for many years.
His cigars are legendary.
Every cigar that goes through Don Antonio’s expert touch is perfect, with quality tobacco and impressive wrapper leaf.

En Fuego Custom Blend cigars come in a variety of sizes, but, as usual, I went with my favourite size … the Panetela.

Much like a Lancero, it takes a special touch to ensure a Panetela is rolled just right.
If you’ve ever tried to “roll your own” premium cigar, you know what I’m talking about.

A panetela can range in size anywhere from 5″- 7.5 inches.
The ring gauge can go anywhere from a 34 to a 38.

It’s an easy smoke that will give you an hours worth of relaxation!

En Fuego
https://enfuegolasvegas.com/cigars/#signature

Don Antonio = Master Cigar Roller at En Fuego
https://enfuegolasvegas.com/cigars/#signature

328 W. Sahara Ave
Las Vegas NV 89102
(702) 384-9262

July 2018. After spending a bit of time in the wonderland of the Beatles Suite it was time for dinner, so I ventured to the main floor of the Brown Palace Hotel to enjoy a hot meal at their famed Tavern restaurant.

photo credit: Val Bradshaw

Since it was a Sunday night the seating was plentiful – there really wasn’t too much of a crowd in the Tavern just after 4pm.
I liked the bright colours of the tavern and the staff was very helpful & friendly.
The steak dinner I ordered was delicious – with fingerling potatoes and fresh asparagus … it was just perfect!

photo credit: Val Bradshaw

After that satisfying meal it was time for an after-dinner cigar at the Palace Arms Churchill Bar.

Churchill Bar was really busy when I walked in.
There was only a couple of tables available so I settled into a table in the centre of the room.
Please note that for privacy reasons, I didn’t take any photos while there were other identifiable patrons in the room.

photo credit: Brown Palace Hotel

The bartender, Ibrahima, arrived to my table with a drinks menu and then escorted me to the hotel humidor where I selected an AVO cigar.

As Ibrahima was expertly lighting my AVO cigar, I decided on a glass of Bourbon from the extensive Spirits menu.
I was absolutely impressed with the cigar & whiskey knowledge Ibrahima communicated.
Without a doubt, he was an absolute professional cigar sommelier & whiskey connoisseur.
It was a real pleasure listening to his calm demeanour as he described the cigar humidor & the selection of spirits.

photo credit: Val Bradshaw
2018 Scotch Menu

Overall, the visit to the Churchill Bar in the Brown Palace Hotel was a a really nice way to spend the evening.

As I headed back to the Beatles Suite for a good nights rest, I stopped by the fountain to refill my water bottle.
This hotel is very proud of their well-water supply.
There was a plaque honouring the Natural Artesian Water.

As well as plaques showcasing the hotel numerous awards:

If you’re planning a trip to Denver, Colorado, I highly recommend the Brown Palace Hotel & Spa.
https://www.brownpalace.com

July 2018. After driving 1400kms / 900miles from SK, Canada to CO, USA, I was ready for the overnight stay at the legendary Brown Palace Hotel and Spa in downtown Denver, Colorado.
This hotel was recommended to me by my cigar-friend Patrick Carr, based on the fact I was looking for a hotel with a cigar-lounge.
Walking into this grand establishment, I was awe-struck by the beauty of it all.

photo credit: Brown Palace Hotel & Spa

Diners were just finishing Sunday Brunch and there was a buzz of excitement & joy through the entire building.

photo credit: Val Bradshaw

I was greeted heartily by Tom, the front desk clerk who welcomed me to both the hotel and to the city of Denver.
As he checked me in, Tom proceeded to tell me about the different amenities the hotel offered – of which there are many … so many!
Of course, I was interested in hearing all about the spa, the shopping, the dining options, the water … but finally – almost hesitantly – he mentioned
“Churchill’s – The Cigar Bar” within the Brown Palace Hotel.
That’s when I smiled, handed him my @CigarHerf business card and replied …
“That’s why I’m here”.

photo credit: Val Bradshaw

Tom was genuinely happy to get to know a sister cigar-smoker!
We started talking about premium cigars, with the conversation soon turning to whiskey & bourbon.
It turned out Tom knew his Brown Spirits as well as he knew the
Brown Palace Hotel!
I do wish I’d had more time to visit with Tom, but I could hear the call of a Robusto, so I accepted the suggestion of a suite, collected my luggage from the valet who was parking my SUV and headed toward what would become one of the most exhilarating days of my life!

When I opened the door to the “suite” I was thrilled with the sights before me! The hotel’s “Beatles Suite” is a vision to behold!
According to legend, this is the room the Beatles stayed in when they played Denver in the early 60’s.

photo credit: Brown Palace Hotel

There are so many things to see in this room, it’s astounding!
There’s the brilliant Wurlitzer Juke-Box just to the right of the lobby of the suite. It’s loaded with tons of Beatle’s Tracks which I started playing as soon as I saw it!
Love, Love Me Do!

photo credit: Val Bradshaw

Directly across from the BeatleMania Juke-Box is a collage of tickets & photos from The Beatles one night stay at the Brown Palace Hotel on Wednesday August 26, 1964.
Can you imagine paying Six Dollars & Nine Cents ($6.60 with tax) to see THE BEATLES! at the Red Rock Amphitheatre?
The Beatles, people. Think about it!
I’m thinking I’m pretty lucky to just be in the same room they stayed in
– in 1964!
When I’m 64? in 2021!

As I made my way through the living room of The Beatles suite at the Brown Palace Hotel, I took a moment to look through the many coffee-tables books dedicated to The Beatles.

Although it was only 4pm in the afternoon, when I saw the luxurious bedroom of the Beatles Suite / Brown Palace Hotel, I was tempted to just crawl under the opulent covers and sleep the rest of the day away!

photo credit: Val Bradshaw

But, I couldn’t lose sight of my reason for booking a nights stay at the
Brown Palace Hotel … which was to enjoy a cigar at the Churchill Bar … after all, the purpose of this journey is right there in the headline:
“the Cigar road-trip to IPCPR2018!”
I’ll be writing about the cigar lounge in the next instalment of this blog.

Until then, here’s a bit of history about the Brown Palace Hotel & Spa in Denver Colorado:

Henry Cordes Brown, a carpenter-turned-real-estate entrepreneur from Ohio, came to Denver in 1860 after several adventures in California, Peru, Nebraska and St. Louis, Missouri. In Denver, Brown purchased several acres of land, including a triangular plot at the corners of Broadway, Tremont and 17th street, where he grazed his cow. Brown made a name for himself by donating land for the State Capitol building, and by giving $1,000 for the founding of the city’s first library.

Henry Brown had made a fortune selling off the rest of his land on Capitol Hill and no expense was spared for his “Palace Hotel”, hiring Architect Frank E. Edbrooke to design the hotel.

Work on The Brown Palace began in 1888 with efforts to make it one of the best hotels in Colorado. Edbrooke designed Brown’s hotel in the Italian Renaissance style, using Colorado red granite and Arizona sandstone for the building’s exterior. For a finishing touch, artist James Whitehouse was commissioned to create 26 medallions carved in stone, each depicting Colorado animals. The hotel’s “silent guests” can still be seen between the seventh-floor windows on the hotel’s exterior.

For the interior, Edbrooke designed an atrium lobby, with balconies rising eight floors above ground, surrounded by cast iron railings with ornate grillwork panels. No one knows for sure whether it was done intentionally, but two of the grillwork panels were installed – and remain – upside down. Edbrooke imported onyx from Mexico for the lobby, the Grand Salon (now the Onyx Room) on the second floor, and the eighth-floor ballroom. No wood was used for the floors and walls, which were instead made of hollow blocks of porous terracotta fireproofing, making The Brown Palace the second fire-proof building in America.

After an expenditure of $1.6 million – a remarkable sum for the time – and another $400,000 for furniture, The Brown Palace celebrated its grand opening. It had 400 guest rooms (compared to 241 today) that rented for between $3 and $5 a night.” courtesy: Brown Palace Hotel & Spa

Want to know more? Here’s the link to the Brown Palace Hotel & Spa.
https://www.brownpalace.com

July 8, 2018. It was a full day planned for the Colorado leg of my 2018 Cigar Road-Trip! Cigar Lounges visited: Havana Manor & Cigars on 6th.

My 1st visit to Havana Manor in Longmont, CO was amazing!
It’s very easy to find – adjacent to a Smoker Friendly right on Main St.

As I walked through the front doors of Havana Manor, I realized the storefront is a little deceiving because the design makes the location look quite narrow.
In fact, the place is massive!

Immediately upon entry, there’s 2 banks of big, comfy chairs to the left, so I thought I’d settle in there for a smoke.

But after Thomas Bliss sold me a Padron cigar from their gigantic humidor, I was guided ’round the corner to a couple more fantastic seating areas.

photo credit: Havana Manor

There’s several tables & chairs for individuals or groups who want to have an informal meeting or …

photo credit: Havana Manor

… go down a couple of steps to enter a huge media | entertainment lounge where there’s coffee & other beverages.
There’s also the option to sit outside – the fabulous Havana Manor Patio area is perfect!

photo credit: Havana Manor

I decided to make myself comfortable at one the tables in the front lounge area where there are plug-ins for computers and lots of room to spread out whatever files are needed to get work done – just like being at the office!

I lit the Padron and enjoyed an hour and a half of pure #CigarHerf relaxation … and got caught up on Social Media!

After Havana Manor/ Longmont, I drove into Denver to visit Cigars on 6th … keep scrolling down!

Havana Manor
1136 Main St | Longmont, CO 80501 | (303) 776-2332
Havana Manor: Davidoff Appointed Merchant
Member of Tobacconist Association of America

Since I had some time before I could check into The Brown Palace Hotel, I decided to squeeze in one more lounge visit:
Cigars on 6th
707 East 6th Avenue | Denver, CO 80203 | 303.830.8100

July 2018.
Cigars on 6th is a really cozy cigar lounge that’s very popular with cigar enthusiasts in the area.

photo credit: Val Bradshaw

There’s a very vintage feel to Cigars on 6th.
The seating in the 2 main lounge areas feels like a throwback to the Speakeasy / BarberShop days.

photo credit: Cigars on 6th

Just like the establishment itself, Cigars on 6th has all kinds of hidden gems within & along its walls.
Seeing some of their collectibles is like being part of a treasure hunt!

But one of the biggest delights for this Canadian was seeing the packaging for World Whiskey of the Year – Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye!
Go Canada!

photo credit – Val Bradshaw

From the humidor, I selected a nice Lancero for my #CigarHerf at Cigars on 6th.

And for a little privacy, I chose to sit in the quiet back room area where I was able to just reflect on the hundreds of miles I’d driven to that point and all the wonderful experiences along the way.
And then I really started to look forward to the things to come … like the long-awaited stay at The Brown Palace in Denver, Colorado.

** Please Note:

⚠ HAVANA MANOR IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED
POSTED ON: APRIL 2, 2020
Attention Customers, in cooperation with the City of Longmont shelter-in-place order during the COVID-19 pandemic, Havana Manor Longmont is temporarily closed. Premium cigars can still be purchased at the Smoker Friendly next door. Be safe out there!
http://havanamanor.com
http://www.cigarson6th.com/denver-colorado-cigar-shop/

A road-trip to the 2018 PCA cigar trade show – formerly known as IPCPR – was my only option … I’d developed a reluctance to get on an aircraft.
The shortest distance from Regina SK Canada to Las Vegas Nevada is 2,292 kilometres (kms) / 1,424 miles, but there were good reasons to add a few miles.

July 7, 2018. The 1st leg of the trip included a stop at Underriner Volvo in Billings MT to get some minor service done on the XC90.
After checking into the hotel, it was time to grab a bite to eat.
Shrimp & Grits dinner was enjoyed at Cajun Phatty’s, a restaurant that I highly recommend. Food was astounding & service was great!

Bright and early the next morning, I headed south to another interesting stop – the Sinclair gas station in Kaycee, Wyoming.
I loved the map with pins showing “Where Are You From?
If you look really close, you can see the pin on Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada!

After that stop, the Casper Cigar Company wasn’t too far off the I-25, so I decided to take a break & enjoy a cigar.
For the @CigarHerf blog, I interviewed Josh – the store manager who showed me the store humidor & coveted Espinosa / Cigar Dojo accreditation – before moving into the lounge to chat with a couple of friendly patrons.
It was a great experience learning all about Casper & the surrounding Wyoming area.


The CigarHerf selection was the Southern Draw – “Rose of Sharon

In 2018, it was a cigar that had been getting plenty of attention from the cigar community and it delivered a great smoking experience.

“The Rose of Sharon embraces a unique blend that will enhance the current Southern Draw Cigars core line including the Kudzu – Oscuro and Firethorn – Rosado blends.
A very well-balanced cigar with Mild Body – Medium Flavor.

The natural cloud cover of Ecuador has supplied us with a prized wrapper, a velvety feel, gentle sweetness and a toasty burn, our beloved Nicaragua has gifted us with rich and elegant binder and filler tobaccos while the distinct Piloto Cubano of the Dominican Republic adds a dose of boldness and spice that allows this blend live up to its moniker. “She don’t know she’s beautiful!”

Besides the apparent beauty of The Rose of Sharon in its semi box pressed format, the release is a celebration of Grace and the devotion of Sharon Holt as she continues her daily service via strong faith and daily fellowship. “Much like a Rose, Sharon exemplifies the Southern Draws brand with her beautiful soul, humility and a “subtle” boldness which has made an incredible impact on so many lives. We truly needed to acknowledge her.” – courtesy of Southern Draw.

https://www.southerndrawcigars.com/rose-of-sharon

https://www.caspercigar.com

… next stop: Colorado