PCA Magazine Summer 2022

PREMIUMCIGARS.ORG VOLUME 3 2022 | PCA The Magazine 31 I f the PCA leadership and staff could have scripted an ideal opening to the annual trade show, the 89 th iteration of the premier premiumcigar industry gatheringwould come close, if not hit themark. Not onlywas there an increase in attendance and vendors, and an overall feeling of normalcy (a good thing), but the showkicked offwith a one-of- a-kind cigar tasting experience, courtesy of ArturoFuente, while everyone present was basking in the glowof an industry-defining decision in the courts that could potentially protect the artistry of cigarmanufacturing for a decade ormore. No pressure, 2023! The FuenteCigar Experience was held in front of a capacity crowd, with friends José Blanco andCarlitoFuente conducting a unique, interactive tasting seminar with a cigar Carlito Fuente created specifically for the show. Digging deep into his never-used stocks of tobacco, Fuente created a smoking experience consisting of 13 tobaccos, with twowrappers and two binders, sized at 6.25 x 52. “I love tobacco and I wanted to workwith some of the tobaccos we’ve never used in our blends,” saidFuente. “So I wanted to have fun and interact with everyone. It’s about entertaining.” As smoke fromthe cigar beganwafting toward the rafters, audiencemembers were then able to share their thoughts on the cigar and talk about the tasting notes. The vastmajority F U T UR E B Y G R E G G I R A R D B R I GH T

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