Chogüí Cigars started out as a journey I took into learning about the different stages a cigar goes before reaching the consumer. I am blessed to have been born in the Dominican Republic, land of great tobacco. Since it is such a small island, if you look and ask, eventually you’ll know someone who knows someone in the tobacco business. Although that is not my case completely, since my grandfather had a brand since 1996, that is more oriented for the tourism industry. But it was the way I got to connect with the people in the industry.
I started to visit different factories and see that each had its own secrets. During this process I started to daydream about having a small boutique brand and start out locally for the Dominican cigar smoking community. The reason being most of the boutique brands that manufacture in our island, usually export without being sold locally. So I wanted to give the local market some of its own great tobacco back! I started a friendship with a very small cigar manufacture in Tamboril, Santiago, that has turned into more than a friendship, it’s a mentorship with Francisco “Chico” Rivas.
I was captivated with how such a small factory took so much pride and patience in selecting, fermenting, aging, rolling their products. They are always willing to teach me something new with each visit. We started smoking different tobaccos from different regions and different years. As an opportunity to learn how each region and year changes a crop. Through this process Chico, the owner and master blender and that factory, came to understand my palate and I came to understand the blending techniques he uses. I think this relationship is essential to the products we have released.
We reached our goal in February 2013 and made about 7,000 cigars that month. Chogüí Cigar’s Primera Edición ~ 6x43 was born. We only made it in that size as we believed it showcased the best expression of the blend. It was a Dominican puro. This was the start. We sold out in less than a month, it was a success in the country.
Raise your standard, smoke Chogüí.
