PCA Magazine Fall 2019

50 PCA The Magazine | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2019 PREMIUMCIGARS.ORG Do you remember your first cigar you ever smoked? KARL: Yes, it was a Montecristo and I was inMiami. I was probably 26 years old. I’ve gravitated toward Montecristos ever since. KADEE: Same here. I actually was on vacation and I tried one and I honestly wasn’t a big fan of it at first, and then I started trying Swisher Sweets, but that’s not really a cigar. KARL: No, I think what he meant was ‘what was your first cigar ?’ KADEE: (Laughs.) Stop! KARL: Here’s the number one question, America: Was she holding it like this [holds his cigar like a normal cigar] or was she holding it like this [holds his cigar like a cigarette]? KADEE : (Both laugh.) This is a daily thing. What’s one of your best memories smoking a cigar? KARL: It’s hard for me to choose, because no matter what is going on, when I clip a cigar and light it up the first time, and I get that first big puff and then blow it out, it’s like nothing else matters at that particular moment. My favorite memory is every time I light up. Cigars, to me, are truly a fellowship. No matter what’s happening, you just light up a cigar and it just, boom, it doesn’t matter who you’re sitting with. KADEE: Mine is …. KARL: Keep it to cigars. (Laughs.) KADEE: I’m going to chop you. (Both laugh.) My favorite memory would probably have to be when we went to the Dominican Republic about four years ago. When we first got there, we got a tour of the La Aurora factory, and after the tour, we went to the beach and I lit up a cigar, and I just sat there watching the waves. It was just such a refreshing feeling. KARL: Businesswise, my favorite memory is when we started going down to the Dominican Republic with La Aurora and we actually knew that they were going to do something with us. A lot of work went into our partnership and it really was a family affair. Then when it finally came together, we get back into the car and look at each other like “What just happened?” That was one of those “wow” moments. To be able to be with somebody that will help make your dream happen and come true, it was pretty special. Just the handshake and the trust they have in us is pretty amazing. Say you weren’t in the cigar industry, and say you hadn’t played basketball, was there another dream job out there for you? KARL: Growing up I wanted to be a Marine pilot; I wanted to fly the Harrier jet. But then I grew up and got too tall. But really and truly, I wanted to be in law enforcement. I wanted to be, at minimum, a state trooper, but really wanted to be something at the federal level like DEA or something like that. That’s what I always wanted to do. And in my spare time I wanted to drive trucks. KADEE: Which he does. How about you, Kadee? KADEE: I mean, I’m only 27 so I don’t really want to do this forever, but I want to be a part of it, of course. People always think this is weird and I told my dad this not too long ago and he was shocked; but I really want to be a nail technician. I’m an artist, so putting art on nails, people can see it constantly instead of just in a museum or something, I’d be so down for that. KARL: So how about this, and you’re going to say you heard it first here: Can you imagine the first-ever—and if you steal this you owe us 75 percent of the trademark—but can you imagine a bar that does hair and nails, but they also serve alcohol to the customers? Wait, is that not a thing? KADEE: It is in some places. KARL: Is it? KADEE: No, here’s what I was thinking; you know how some husbands don’t like to go with their wives to the nail salon? What if you combined a cigar lounge with a nail place? I mean, you’re set! “My favorite memory is when we started going down to the Dominican Republic with La Aurora and we actually knew that they were going to do something with us.” L E G E N D S 3 2 C I G A R