Justin sits down with Dane Maralason, inventor of Repuff, a cigar relighting solution. In part 3 we discuss retailer reaction and how to get a free sample.

Justin sits down with Dane Maralason, inventor of Repuff, a cigar relighting solution. In part 2 we discuss optimal length of cigar to save, the different sizes the product comes up, the upcoming cigar tube from Repuff, and how to best store the cigars that have the Repuff solution on them.

Doug is a native to Las Vegas (yes, they actually do exist!) and has lived there most of his life.  Doug also lived in Phoenix and Scottsdale, as well as a brief and freezing stint in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Doug is a passionate cigar aficianado, wine connoisseur, and Minnesota Vikings fanatic.  Doug has smoked cigars for over 20 years, and the smoke that started it all was a Macanudo Hampton Court Café.  Doug then got a taste for premium cigars by stepping up to the H. Upmann Corona with a Connecticut Shade wrapper.  This blossomed his passion for cigars and their intricacies.�
Doug is a freelance writer and has written articles for ePinions.com, Cigar Magazine, and Cigar Press Magazine, as well as several cigar reviews for various publications.    His  “day job” is a training specialist and project manager for a casino gaming company.  He is required  to travel the world for his work, which gives him the opportunity to visit many tobacconists in the towns that he has projects in.  When actually back home in Las Vegas, Doug can often be found at one of the local tobacconists, or enjoying a few sticks with his fellow Hump Day Herfers (a social club started by he and several friends).

Justin sits down with Dane Maralason, inventor of Repuff, a cigar relighting solution. In part 1 we talk about how he came up with the idea and the name.

Beautiful Las Vegas, where people come to try and win big at the casinos, or just want to get away. Nothing is ever just ordinary in this wonderful city and that is why many people come here. Chosen as only one of five destinations for the Benji Menendez Social, the others being Dallas, LA, Chicago and New York, you know to expect a fanstastic event. The Las Vegas event was held at the amazing Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay. This is a members only oasis set 52 stories high. With breathtaking views, ample seating and an interior that just screams luxury, this is a great place to enjoy a cigar. After taking the elevator up and checking in, you are handed two fantastic cigars, the Benji Menendez limited edition Partagas along with another Partagas cigar. These cigars are limited to 5000 boxes and each are numbered. The cigar was fantastic. My burned for almost 2 hours and never went out once, even during my 5 minute interview with the master himself.

What I really liked about Benji was his openness and modesty. During our interview, he made sure to point out it was a team effort to create this cigar and he was more like a coach. He credits this cigars success to surrounding himself with a great team. Normally I don’t call people I don’t know by their first name, and especially not a master like Benji. I feel that out of respect, he is Mr. Menendez, however he told that was his father and he is Benji. Remember that modesty thing I talked about.

The event was packed. I would guess there were at least 200 people there, probably more. I wish the night was less windy as I would have loved to sit outside on the fantastic balcony over looking the strip and enjoy my cigar. If you get a chance to try this cigar, do NOT pass it up.

As I was walking around, a gentlemen tapped me on the shoulder and introduced himself as Lawrence and he is a fan of our show. I really enjoy when people stop and tell me that. He is a Vegas local and I look forward to having a cigar with him soon.

Check out the video below and you can get a sample of what the event was like. Unfortunately people don’t understand to not walk in front of a camera when someone is doing an interview, so there are a few places in my interview where you will see that.

This Thursday at the Foundation Room in Vegas, Partagas is throwing an invite only cigar tasting parting. If you are in Vegas, or will be on Thursday Dec 3, send me an email and I will send you a code to register. It is from 6 to 8 and should be a great event.

Yeah!!!!!!!! I finally found a home for the time I am up here. Broadway Cigar Company 3615 NE Broadway Portland. It is a really nice shop with a great selection and really good prices. It kind of surprised me when I went to pay for a $7.50 cigar and Virgil (the guy who runs the shop) said that will be $7.50. Holy Crap they don’t have sales tax here. So on my first visit there on Tuesday I was greeted by Virgil with an introduction, a handshake and a tour of the shop. The seating area is huge, they have a few chairs up in the front of the shop and a huge lounge in the back. There is defenitely not a lack of seating here.

I picked myself out a Fuente Cuban Belicoso an sat down to smoke. I had some really good conversation with several of the guys sitting around the shop.
So it’s Monday and I want able to make it to the shop for a couple of days. Despite that I walked in today and was greeted by name. It is such a great touch and makes you feel really welcome in the shop when you are greeted this way. I picked myself out a Tatuaje to smoke today and I’ll probably smoke something else while I am here.
I guess it goes without saying that I highly reccomend this shop. Everyone is really cool here the selection is great and so are the prices. I’ll stop gushing about it now. Unfortunately the other shop I wanted to check out is way too far away. I do have one more location to write about so stay tuned.

Later

Sean

Well here I am in Portland Oregon. I got here last night and the first thing I did was to scope out a few locations. That was a bust! I have yet to find a shop that I can sit and smoke in. Needless to say I was a little disappointed. Thankfully the girl who was working at the counter at one of the shops had some info for me.



So here I am at El Gaucho Restaurant at 319 SW Broadway in Portland. They have a really nice smoking room. The cigar selection is ok but overpriced. $18 for a Fuente short story is a tad overpriced for me. It is a good sized room with plenty of seating and plenty of options for drinks. You can order food and eat in the room, I haven’t done that yet but the steak a gentleman I was talking to last night looked really good. I’ll have to try it while I am here, I have plenty of time for that.
Anyway, I’m smoking one of my favorites the El Rey Del Mundo Robusto Larga and so far they don’t seem to care that I am bringing my own cigars to smoke. I am drinking a couple of beers while I am sitting here so I guess as long as I am buying something they don’t care.



Last night while I was sitting here and I got into a really good conversation with a gentleman about several different topics from cigars, traveling to Vegas. Once people find out I’m from Vegas the conversation always seems to go that way. It’s okay though, since I love living there and I can offer plenty of suggestions on where to smoke I really don’t mind it. I did suggest that he try Casa Fuente and Rhumbar while he is there. They are both really nice places to sit and enjoy a cigar and a cocktail. But that is a different topic for another time.



There is a shop that I found that you can sit and smoke in so I will have to try it. It’s a little ways out of downtown so I have to take the lightrail to it. Hopefully it is worth the trip. I will let you know tomorrow when I go check it out. Stay tuned for more.

Later

Sean

Well this is the last one of my San Diego trip. It’s Sunday and I am sitting in the Cuban Cigar Factory in the GasLamp in San Diego. I am smoking a cigar and drinking some wine while I wait to go to the airport to head home. I was here a couple of times during the week but I was with someone else and I didn’t want to be rude and type on my phone the entire time.

Anyway, this place has changed a lot since I was here last. The last time I was here it was just a cigar shop with pretty decent prices and a nice place to sit and smoke. Now it’s a wine bar and the prices are a little out of control. $15.99 is a little much for a Macanudo Portofino. They still have plenty of seating to hang out and smoke. The clientele has defenitely changed since I was here last. It used to be hardcore cigar smokers and bikers and now it’s tourists and yuppies. How things change in a year.



I am sitting at the bar having a glass of wine that the bartender turned me onto. It’s a Chardonnay from South Africa and I am smoking a Don Pepin Garcia that I brought with me. I was talking to the bartender about tattoos and wine and the bartender from last night is sitting here as well. He turned me onto a Malbec that was outstanding. Sorry didn’t mean to turn this into a wine blog. Back on topic, every night I was here there was a good crowd of people. It seems to me that it was mostly tourists who don’t smoke cigars very often and don’t really know pricing that well. They would pick out a cigar and be happy to pay the over inflated prices. I guess if they think they are getting a great deal so be it. The real cigar smokers know better. This is why I always bring my own when I travel.



They didn’t seem to care if I was smoking my own since I was buying drinks which is a good thing. I did buy one the other night it was one of their house blends. The guy in the humidor couldn’t really tell me much about it so I picked up a robusto and gave it a try. It was pretty good for a house cigar. I just wish I had more info on it for you.



Well this is the end of my San Diego trip. It was a good week for work and smoking. I had better get to the airport or I will end up sitting here drinking wine and smoking cigars. My next trip will be to Portland on November 11th so if anyone out there has a shop or cigar bar I should visit as always drop me an email at
Sean@lasvegashtv.com. Stay tuned for more.

Later

Well time for another one. I am now at Habana Club on 4th ave and F street in the GasLamp quarter. The humidor is small, the selection is limited and the prices are very touristy. If you ask me $12 is a little high for a Macanudo Portofino. So I pick myself out a Hoyo De Monterrey Excalibur get a Harp to drink and it’s time to smoke. There is plenty of seating at the bar and several tables. The owner likes to talk to his customers although he did seem a bit tipsy. I guess it was the four beers to my one but I could be wrong.



Anyways we strike up a conversation and he asks me where I am from. I tell him Vegas and begins to tell me how much he would love to have a cigar lounge in one of the “big” casinos. He then tells me he knows the Frey boys, who own several retail cigar stores in casinos, and a most excellent shop off of the strip, the Cigar Box. Yes this time it was an endorsement for the Cigar Box. If my wife can’t find me it’s about a 99% chance I’m sitting there smoking and gabbing with the guys. So I took a bit of a left turn, no back on topic. He tells me that one of the Frey brothers stops in everytime he is in San Diego. Of course in his current condition he could have talking about Harpo, Grouch or Chicco the Marx Brothers. So it’s a nice place with a great selection of wines and ports. The prices and selection could be better but I guess when you are in a tourist driven area prices will reflect that.

One more place to go. It’s right in the Gaslamp and when looked in last night it has really changed since the last time I was here. So I am looking forward reporting on that one.

Sean