[You can check out Mr. Kurland's wares by clicking the above link or HERE.
Too, you can read my review of Cigar Reserve's Cedar Spills by clicking HERE.
I do, however, please wish you'd read on prior to doing so. ]
Kaplowitz: First off, sir, thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer a few questions. It is much and greatly appreciated.
Brian M. Kurland: Hey Kap, thank you for the opportunity to interview with you.
Your company, Cigar Reserve, has a large focus on the manufacture of Cedar Spills. Might we start with a little history behind spills, and the allure they held over you? In other words, why spills, Brian?
Spills have been a concept and tradition in the cigar industry for over a hundred years. Before everyone was in a hurry and people actually took the time to enjoy their cigar, they would use a long strip of cedar to light their cigar. This would allow them to not get any unnatural by-products from other lighters or candles. Also, allowed for a long light that allowed them to toast their cigar without rush.
Your company, Cigar Reserve, has a large focus on the manufacture of Cedar Spills. Might we start with a little history behind spills, and the allure they held over you? In other words, why spills, Brian?
Spills have been a concept and tradition in the cigar industry for over a hundred years. Before everyone was in a hurry and people actually took the time to enjoy their cigar, they would use a long strip of cedar to light their cigar. This would allow them to not get any unnatural by-products from other lighters or candles. Also, allowed for a long light that allowed them to toast their cigar without rush.
Why me? I started smoking cigars seriously when I was 18 years old but, didn't have the money or time to invest in the hobby. So, the few times I did get to enjoy a cigar with my hard earned money I wanted to get the most out of the experience. So, I would take the cedar sheets, strip them and use to light my cigars. After doing this a while, I couldn't light up any other way. Whenever I used a normal lighter or torch I could taste the chemicals and harsh charring from the torch lighter.
Another offering of Cigar Reserve is its Cigars of the Month Club. I’ll let you delve more into what that is, but preliminarily here, it is a monthly sampler of rare, premium, and vintage cigars sent out to all members of the club. This makes me wonder, what do you personally look for in the creation or approval of your samplers? Are you thinking of pairings? Themes? What is the process there?
We have a small board of so-called "cigar experts" that pick the 5 cigars each month. They try to find 5 cigars completely different from each other. We don't have monthly themes or give off what we can't sell. We simply choose 5 incredibly awesome cigars that we feel our patrons need to try. We actually lose a good deal of money with the cigars of the month club, but it is still our baby and is a linchpin to our cigar business side of Cigar Reserve.
I noticed on your site that you sell empty cigar boxes. Do you have any memorable re-purposing stories (positive, less positive, or downright silly) that you’d care to share?
I hear a few crazy stories from time to time of what people make with the cigar boxes. Normally its the usual cigar box guitar or jewelry box. But, I have seen a life-sized robot made from them and some serious amplifiers. One loyal customer bought 300 boxes from us and lined all his walls in his man-cave with cigar box lids. It looked great!
Allow me the purely metaphysical question of: why cigars, man? Too, when did you know you were a “cigar guy?”
Unfortunately, at a young age my body made it very clear alcohol was not a good fit for me. So, to wind-down from those long days or celebratory moments I would fire up a cigar. Cigars have been a part of so many memories and times in my life it's now more of a religion/passage then a hobby. God, family/friends, fly fishing and cigars.
What is your favorite cigar situation? I’m speaking pairings, here. I’m also going beyond the palate and into the mood. For instance -- my pairing is a lounge in a casino in earshot of a craps table, Three Stooges on TV, dark chocolate, nice enough snoot full of brandy, a well brewed cup of joe, and a cigar that is akin to how I like my women -- big, sweet, and not exactly mild. Set an atmosphere for me, sir...
You definitely ask the best interview questions I've ever been asked! This is a good one. It's hard to think of just one, because I find it's based on my mood. One mood I enjoy is sitting around a poker table with good friends, cigars and good music playing in the background. Another mood I love is the solace mood...where I get into my man-cave, kick my feet up, fire up a cigars and just watch TV. With a demanding travel schedule and 2 young kids, time by myself to collect my thoughts is perfect.
Now that we've set the mood writ large -- let’s unplug, strip down. What is the one thing a cigar needs, inherent to itself, to bring you satisfaction. In other words -- what, in your opinion, is the single most important characteristic of a good cigar?
In my eyes the most important characteristic is how it's rolled (i.e. draw). You can have the best cigar in the world, but if the draw isn't right, you lose all the characteristics of the cigar. Second, is the aging of the tobacco. If the cigar is too young it's too harsh and too old it has nothing left in the tank. I like them aged specifically to the cigar and what it needs. Some cigars are great off the shelf, some are better with a few more months or years in the humidor.
What are your goals, both short and long term, for your Cigar Reserve brand?
The short term goal is to conquer the cigar industry in the Spanish Cedar department. We are close and already one of the largest domestic importers of Spanish Cedar to the US. Second, I would like to see everyone use cedar spills to light their cigars. I can almost hear cigars scream in agony as they are getting 2000 degree char-burn flame scorching the flavor and taste out of it. Let's save humanity and our cigars, but lighting the tradition and natural way. (i.e. Smoke Naturally)
Another offering of Cigar Reserve is its Cigars of the Month Club. I’ll let you delve more into what that is, but preliminarily here, it is a monthly sampler of rare, premium, and vintage cigars sent out to all members of the club. This makes me wonder, what do you personally look for in the creation or approval of your samplers? Are you thinking of pairings? Themes? What is the process there?
We have a small board of so-called "cigar experts" that pick the 5 cigars each month. They try to find 5 cigars completely different from each other. We don't have monthly themes or give off what we can't sell. We simply choose 5 incredibly awesome cigars that we feel our patrons need to try. We actually lose a good deal of money with the cigars of the month club, but it is still our baby and is a linchpin to our cigar business side of Cigar Reserve.
I noticed on your site that you sell empty cigar boxes. Do you have any memorable re-purposing stories (positive, less positive, or downright silly) that you’d care to share?
I hear a few crazy stories from time to time of what people make with the cigar boxes. Normally its the usual cigar box guitar or jewelry box. But, I have seen a life-sized robot made from them and some serious amplifiers. One loyal customer bought 300 boxes from us and lined all his walls in his man-cave with cigar box lids. It looked great!
Allow me the purely metaphysical question of: why cigars, man? Too, when did you know you were a “cigar guy?”
Unfortunately, at a young age my body made it very clear alcohol was not a good fit for me. So, to wind-down from those long days or celebratory moments I would fire up a cigar. Cigars have been a part of so many memories and times in my life it's now more of a religion/passage then a hobby. God, family/friends, fly fishing and cigars.
What is your favorite cigar situation? I’m speaking pairings, here. I’m also going beyond the palate and into the mood. For instance -- my pairing is a lounge in a casino in earshot of a craps table, Three Stooges on TV, dark chocolate, nice enough snoot full of brandy, a well brewed cup of joe, and a cigar that is akin to how I like my women -- big, sweet, and not exactly mild. Set an atmosphere for me, sir...
You definitely ask the best interview questions I've ever been asked! This is a good one. It's hard to think of just one, because I find it's based on my mood. One mood I enjoy is sitting around a poker table with good friends, cigars and good music playing in the background. Another mood I love is the solace mood...where I get into my man-cave, kick my feet up, fire up a cigars and just watch TV. With a demanding travel schedule and 2 young kids, time by myself to collect my thoughts is perfect.
Now that we've set the mood writ large -- let’s unplug, strip down. What is the one thing a cigar needs, inherent to itself, to bring you satisfaction. In other words -- what, in your opinion, is the single most important characteristic of a good cigar?
In my eyes the most important characteristic is how it's rolled (i.e. draw). You can have the best cigar in the world, but if the draw isn't right, you lose all the characteristics of the cigar. Second, is the aging of the tobacco. If the cigar is too young it's too harsh and too old it has nothing left in the tank. I like them aged specifically to the cigar and what it needs. Some cigars are great off the shelf, some are better with a few more months or years in the humidor.
What are your goals, both short and long term, for your Cigar Reserve brand?
The short term goal is to conquer the cigar industry in the Spanish Cedar department. We are close and already one of the largest domestic importers of Spanish Cedar to the US. Second, I would like to see everyone use cedar spills to light their cigars. I can almost hear cigars scream in agony as they are getting 2000 degree char-burn flame scorching the flavor and taste out of it. Let's save humanity and our cigars, but lighting the tradition and natural way. (i.e. Smoke Naturally)
Also, one day we would like to build our own cigar line. We will only do this if we feel we can make a superior cigar with the best tobaccos and blenders.
Now that I have your eyes on the future, allow me to pitch you an idea guaranteed to make us millions. I keep one tool handy at all my cigar smoking times -- the simple yet noble toothpick. It serves to unplug a faultily rolled stogie, to clean my teeth in case a lady decides to pay an unexpected visit, and also to save my fingertips from burning at a nub’s end. (I skewer the nub and hold it via the pick.) -- Cedar toothpicks. Think, sir, of the possibilities. When shall we begin production?
Now that I have your eyes on the future, allow me to pitch you an idea guaranteed to make us millions. I keep one tool handy at all my cigar smoking times -- the simple yet noble toothpick. It serves to unplug a faultily rolled stogie, to clean my teeth in case a lady decides to pay an unexpected visit, and also to save my fingertips from burning at a nub’s end. (I skewer the nub and hold it via the pick.) -- Cedar toothpicks. Think, sir, of the possibilities. When shall we begin production?
Let's do it! Thank you very much Noah, for the great questions and your cool candor.
Cool? I am, and shall continue to be, the other side of the pillow within the cigar lifestyle world. Thanks again, Brian, for your time.
Visit Cigar Reserve by clicking HERE.
Read my review of their Cedar Spills by clicking HERE.
[Italicised, mine. Natch.]