PCA Magazine Show Issue 2021

46 PCA The Magazine | SHOW 2021 PREMIUMCIGARS.ORG offer everyone. I don’t consider any one of them to be lesser than another, just different experiences. PCA: Speaking of ONEOFF, how and why did you acquire it? Was it something you remembered liking in its first iteration? DG: I loved ONEOFFwhen it was first released by AndreaMolinari. The concept, the simplicity, everything about it attractedme to the brand. ONEOFFwas right in my wheelhouse. I wound up talking to the last owner of the brand after Andrea abandoned it, and I made an offer. We got the transaction done in 5 days and the brand was mine. I took the “spirit” of the brand in what Andrea envisioned it to be and created the blend fromhis inspiration. It was tough because he’s such a unique individual and I wanted to capture the true essence of what he wanted. PCA: Having created so many lines, what are you still looking to make that you already haven’t? Will you go back to, and re-sample certain tobaccos again, or in some cases for the first time, looking to create a new blend? DG: That’s the great thing about Mother Nature. She can always throw you a curveball and give you something different fromcrop season to crop season. There have been farms I’ve tried in the past that have been un-smokable, then all of a sudden, for whatever reason, that farmcomes into its own, through natural rest, amendment or optimumgrowing conditions, and lo and behold what was once offensive is now the darling for a new blend. It’s really amazing. PCA: Illusione has become an iconic brand. Do you think customers associate you with the brand? DG: I think some do for sure. The hardcore enthusiasts definitely do. For cigar enthusiasts above the radar of boutique brands, maybe not so much. Either way, I’m just glad that everyone can enjoy them regardless of who’s behind the brand. PCA: Does it seem cigar smokers are fans of your specific blends, or does it seem more like they are Illusione fans, and will try the different offerings? DG: I definitely do have loyal fans to the Illusione brand. There tends to be a greater emotional attachment to boutique brands, somany are not afraid to expand their sights within the entire portfolio. PCA: Personally, what’s your favorite wrapper leaf? DG: Nicaraguan Corojo. PCA: Which of your own cigars do you smoke most often? DG: Corojo-centric blends such as Illusione “Original Documents.” The 6¾x 48 “888” size is the perfect representation of a true Nicaraguan Corojo cigar blend. PCA: Do you smoke others’ cigars? DG: I do. I like Ernesto Carillos’s cigars. He’s theman. Opus X when I can get them. I like the Davidoff Colorado Claro line, as well as the Anniversary series. I really like the Aladino Natural line, and I’ll also enjoy a Tatuaje Fausto. PCA: Did Covid put a halt to production? Did you run out of inventory as a result? DG: In the beginning nobody knewwhat the pandemic would do to our industry. Production was halted briefly inNicaragua due to it. No one had a crystal ball. Flash-forward and we are in a boomof great magnitude, and all cigar companies are struggling tomeet demand. It’s definitelymade it harder to get to Nicaragua though. PCA: At PCA this summer, will you be introducing any new lines or line extensions? DG: We will hopefully be introducing new lines at PCA given we canmeet demand for our current lines. At the very least, we can and will push the release dates back until we can get a handle on regular production. “That’s the great thing about Mother Nature. She can always throw you a curveball and give you something different from crop season to crop season.” A N I N T E R V I E W W I T H D I O N G I O L I T O