Inside the Mind of a Cigar SommelierRay Prodanov on Vintage Tobacco, Boutique Blends, and the Stories Behind the Leaf
Frederik Guard Frederik Guard

Inside the Mind of a Cigar SommelierRay Prodanov on Vintage Tobacco, Boutique Blends, and the Stories Behind the Leaf

Ray Prodanov on Vintage Tobacco, Boutique Blends, and the Stories Behind the Leaf

There are people who enjoy cigars, and there are people who understand them. Ray Prodanov is firmly in the second camp — though he arrived there in a way that surprises almost everyone who hears it. A Certified Cigar Sommelier, five-year Cigar Journal tasting panellist, and Brand Ambassador for Freud Cigar Co., Ray brings a rare depth of knowledge and an even rarer thing in this industry: complete independence of palate.

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What a Lifetime in Tobacco Teaches YouFernando Sanfiel on Tobacco, Terroir and Tradition — La Palma, Canary Islands
Frederik Guard Frederik Guard

What a Lifetime in Tobacco Teaches YouFernando Sanfiel on Tobacco, Terroir and Tradition — La Palma, Canary Islands

What a Lifetime in
Tobacco Teaches You. Fernando Sanfiel on Tobacco, Terroir and Tradition — La Palma, Canary Islands. A tobacco consultant, taster, and lifelong champion of La Palma's handmade cigar tradition sits down with MGA Editor-in-Chief Frederik Guard to discuss collection, ritual, and what this culture demands of the next generation.

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James J. Fox: The Oldest Cigar Merchant in the World
Frederik Guard Frederik Guard

James J. Fox: The Oldest Cigar Merchant in the World

An interview with Jimmy McGhee — Commercial Manager, James J. Fox, and creator of the Masters of Havana Cigars certification

From Winston Churchill's final orders to the rare privilege of lighting a cigar indoors in London, Jimmy McGhee reflects on what it means to be the custodian of a two-hundred-and-thirty-nine-year tradition — and why cigar culture still matters today.

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