[ApexAZ]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Drew

ASYLUM 11-10-11:
WILLY HERRERA and EL TITAN DE BRONZE:

While living in Nicaragua most of the year, I try to spend as much time in Miami as possible (this is where my wife and dogs reside). And one of the best things is that we live only 30 seconds from the street called "Calle Ocho," as well as what they call "Little Havana". So, since 1995 I have always enjoyed visiting all of the boutique fabricitas that make small production cigars, and what I call Local Blends. Some of them have been exceptional and some have been fair, but one thing that I had always noticed and admired was that they ALL have been extremely proud of their craft, and typically, extremely proud of their Cuban heritage.

Back in the Mid Ninetees I used to purchase cigars from Ernesto Perez Carillo at La Gloria, Carribean Cigar, which was Kevin Doyle at the time (brands like Calle Ocho, Havana Classico, and the original Santiago Cubana. Of course there were so many others as well, Havana Sunrise, Nick's Cigar Company, and Moore & Bode to name a few. Some of them prospered and others simply faded away due to the end of the cigar boom, mismanagement of money, lack of tobacco, etc.

I had moved to Nicaragua in 1998, actually living in the factory, (or on Nick Sr.'s couch for six months) and really didn't return home much for the first 5 years. Coming back for only a few weeks per year I lost touch with Calle Ocho until 2004 ... until I met Pepin Garcia in Nicaragua.

TO BE CONTINUED FOR PART 2 TONIGHT AFTER THE DINNER. SORRY FOR WRITING SO MUCH ON THIS SUBJECT .... I CAN NAKE YOUR EARS BLEED SOMETIMES....LOL

BEST,
JD

Can't wait to hear more!