Last year, Camacho set out to find a way to make its events interesting, something beyond the tired and uninspired “buy three, get one free” routine. Something beyond posters and hats. Something beyond just smoking cigars.

The solution was the “Torch it Up” tour. While the centerpiece was a custom Harley-Davidson that participants could enter to win, the real event was everything else. Out of a 55-foot Camacho branded trailer rolled out a custom bar to hold mixology contests between patrons, an arm-wrestling table, and conducted “blind” cigar tastings, blindfolds included.

It was as much cigar event as it was adult summer camp. More importantly, it gave incentive to stay longer and do something beyond just sitting around and smoking cigars.

While many of the components of that event are back—including the truck and its trailer—the theme has changed. It’s no longer about motorcycles because this year’s tour is for Camacho’s new American Barrel-Aged cigar.

While last year’s event series stopped at over 100 stores, this year’s tour will only visit 25 stores; with a twist, each retailer will get three days of events. Camacho invited us down to the first stop, at Corona Cigar Co. Corona, which actually got a full-week of events and a grand finale held last Saturday.


 

Camacho American Barrel-Aged Event 10

We can’t promise the weather at your event will be like sunny Orlando, but the tent will be there.

Camacho American Barrel-Aged Event 15

Something old, something new, something aged in bourbon barrels too.

Camacho American Barrel-Aged Event 17

The mixology contest is back with an updated bar and lots of bourbon. The goal is to see who can make the best old fashioned as judged by three participants. The bourbon selection will change from event to event.

Camacho American Barrel-Aged Event 18

Another new feature of the mixology contest is the addition of a smoke gun so that you can add tobacco smoke to your old fashioned, just in case you hadn’t had enough smoke at a cigar event.

Camacho American Barrel-Aged Event 4

The judges take a “much needed” break from their “work.”

Camacho American Barrel-Aged Event 16

One of the custom displays from Bourbon Barrel Rehab.

Camacho American Barrel-Aged Event 1

That’s a six-cigar cigar holder made from a used barrel.

Camacho American Barrel-Aged Event 2

The tins are Camacho’s swag for the event. Inside are two custom-branded whiskey glasses and ice-ball molds.

Camacho American Barrel-Aged Event 9

The models are back. They are also tasked with handling the raffle, which gave the winner a custom American Barrel-Aged cooking set.

Camacho American Barrel-Aged Event 14

Speaking of food, Camacho’s new American Barrel-Aged grill was a big hit. Corona’s event featured five different meats.

Camacho American Barrel-Aged Event 12

Models also posed with customers in Camacho’s new photo booth set-up, which allows for pictures to be emailed directly to you after your photo is taken.

Camacho American Barrel-Aged Event 15

Life-size Jenga has replaced arm wrestling as the official sport of Camacho’s tour.

Camacho American Barrel-Aged Event 5

Camacho American Barrel-Aged Event 7

Camacho American Barrel-Aged Event 11

There’s also a new High Striker challenge, which is a lot harder than it looks.

Camacho American Barrel-Aged Event 8

Camacho American Barrel-Aged Event 6

As a special for the launch event, the guys from Saw Dogs, a television show that profiles carvers who use chainsaws as their tools, were on hand.

Camacho American Barrel-Aged Event 13

After they were finished carving, they actually began to char the wood for more definition.

Camacho American Barrel-Aged Event 3

In four hours, they took a large chunk of wood and made it into that.


While chainsaws won’t be part of the normal event line-up, every event will be a bit different. The full line-up is as follows:

  • June 8–13 — Corona Cigar Co. (Orlando, Fla.)
  • June 18–20 — Cigar Cave (Palm Harbor, Fla.)
  • June 25–27 — Emerson’s (Virginia Beach, Va.)
  • July 1–3  — Cigar Realm (Ashland, Va.)
  • July 9–11  — Tinderbox Waldorf (Waldorf, Md.)
  • July 30–Aug. 1 — Humidour Cigar Shoppe (Cockeysville, Md.)
  • Aug. 7–8 — Regency Cigar Emporium (East Greenwich, R.I.)
  • Aug. 13–15 — Two Guys Smoke Shop (Nashua, N.H.)
  • Aug. 20–22 — Cup of Joes (Queensbury, N.Y.)
  • Aug. 27–29 — Truly Cigars (Florence, Ala.) 
  • Sept. 2–4 — Blend Bar (Indianapolis, Ind.)
  • Sept. 9–11 — Just For Him (Springfield, Mo.)
  • Sept. 17–19 — Outlaw Cigar Co. (Overland Park, Kan.)
  • Sept. 23–25  — Addison Cigar (Addison, Texas)
  • Oct. 1–3  — Heroes & Legacies (Austin, Texas)
  • Oct. 8–10  — Club Humidor (San Antonio, Texas)
  • Oct. 15–17 — Serious Cigar (Houston, Texas)
  • Oct. 22–24 — Cigar Shop Biloxi (Biloxi, Miss.)
  • Oct. 27-29 — Cigars & More (Birmingham, Ala.)
  • Nov. 5–7 — Franklin Cigar (Franklin, Tenn.)
  • Nov. 12–14 — Ansteads Tobacco (Fayetteville, N.C.)
  • Nov. 19–21  — Havana Phil’s (Greensboro, N.C.)
  • Dec. 3–5  — Five Points Bottle Shop (Athens, Ga.)
  • Dec. 10–12 — Smoke Inn (Boynton Beach, Fla.)
  • Dec. 17–19 — Tampa Humidor (Tampa, Fla.)
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Joseph Carroll

I am an enthusiast of all things cigars - from the experience of smoking, to becoming engrossed in their culture. In an age increasingly dominated by technology and automated manufacturing, I consciously strive to retain an appreciation for pursuits based around concepts like craftsmanship, passion, and artistic expression. I believe that quirks and flaws are often what gives art its beauty. I aim to embrace both the good and the bad in my writing, as I think both sides of the coin are necessary to capture something in its entirety. In my spare time I enjoy reading, exceeding speed limits, and nursing my fetish for all things Koenigsegg Automotive.