I’ve been asked many times in the past, “What are some of the most memorable cigars you’ve smoked?”

It’s a fair but difficult question to answer because there have been many outstanding cigars that I’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy over the last 15 years in this business. Some that come to mind are a 1998 Bahia Gold Robusto (smoked it blind next to an aged Cuban Cohiba Robusto and it blew the doors off the Cohiba), a ’98 CAO Aniversario Maduro Corona from the old Tabacalera Tambor factory (I believe that hands-down this was the best cigar CAO ever made), a Juan Lopez Seleccion No. 2 (Cuba), a Hoyo de Monterrey Epi no. 2 (Cuba), a ’99 Bolivar Belicoso Fino (Cuba) and on and on. I’d have to add to that list a Tatuaje L’Esprit de Verite pre-release sample, an Epernay Le Matin, a Oneoff (anyone remember those?!) when they were sampled at the RTDA (remember when it was called that?). I’m sure that if I sit here long enough, many, many more great cigars will jog my memory.

The point is that there ARE standouts. And, going back to my theory about ‘cigars are like people,’ there ARE standouts amongst the people I’ve met in this business throughout the years. The latest addition to my ‘standout’ list is someone who I met less than 2 months ago during a business lunch in Tampa. Gustavo (“Gus”) Cura is a tobacco industry vet with Oliva Tobacco (growers of some of the finest tobacco used by just about every premium cigar factory on the globe). It’s highly likely that Gus will forget more about tobacco than I will ever learn. He eats, breathes, and sleeps tobacco; he can look at a leaf and tell you it’s classification (seco, viso, ligero), it’s growing region, it’s priming. Then again, so can a lot of people in this business.

What sets Gus apart is more than just his working knowledge of the leaf. What makes Gus a ‘Special Selection‘ (a la Ramon Allones SS) is what he does for others–how he goes out of his way for others–his love for what he does and for the people he works with–and, above all, his integrity. I spent last week in Nicaragua with Gus, visiting factories and farms, and meeting with factory owners. Everyone knew Gus and everyone loves Gus. We were welcomed with open arms everywhere we went. He’s knowledgeable, outspoken, honest, heartfelt, and dead set on helping others make great cigars. He will be the first to tell you, “Hey, I’m taking care of you because I hope to sell you some tobacco in the future.” Truth be told, Gus is a great sales person. But it’s always been my opinion that the best sales people are those that ‘sell‘ you without you knowing you’re being ‘sold.‘ It’s his honesty, openness, and knowledge that sells for Gus.

We learned a lot last week. We made some new friends, had a few laughs, ate entirely too much churrasco y papas fritas, sampled some of the best tobacco in the world, and almost died 4 times on the Pan American highway. But the highlight of my week was spending time with Gustavo Cura who demonstrated to me that words like “passion” and “integrity” are not just cliches in this business.

Thank you, Gus–YOU are a ‘standout.’

Jon Huber
Crowned Heads