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Charlie Minato

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About the author

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.

IPCPR 2014: CLE Cigars/Fabricas Unidas

A week before the trade show, Christian Eiroa told me he had more in the works for the trade show, which was a bit comical…

IPCPR 2014: XIKAR

It’s difficult to believe that XIKAR might have had more planned for the IPCPR Convention and Trade Show. The Kansas City-based cigar accessory company brought a…

IPCPR 2014: Total Flame

Total Flame remains an intrigue. There were non-employees in the Total Flame booth, although, I’d be curious in the breakdown between the American retailers and…

IPCPR 2014: Epicurean

Steve Ysidron dropped a surprise on everyone when he started handing out Chicken Bones, a 5 x 30 take on the Gonzo Santeria. It joins…

IPCPR 2014: Carmelo Cigars

Desiree Udell is still here. She would like you to know that and if you are looking for cigars, or perhaps even liquor, it seems…

IPCPR 2014: Guayacan

It was a busier year of Noel Rojas and that follows what has been an incredibly busy year. Rojas’s Tabacalera Aromas de Jalapa is open…

IPCPR 2014: Warped Cigars

Kyle Gellis’s Warped Cigars has been around since 2008, but many may have forgotten as the brand took a few years off due to Gellis’s…

IPCPR 2014: Valeroso

Valeroso, a California-based cigar company, was tucked away inside the Quesada booth, although both companies were quick to point out that Quesada only makes the…

IPCPR 2014: Global Premium Cigars

Enrique Sánchez, owner of Global Premium Cigars, is smiling. It’s probably due to the success of 1502 Nicaragua—which is going quite well if the empty…

IPCPR 2014: A.J. Fernandez

There’s a New World for A.J. Fernandez, literally. The reality is the booth looks much the same, but the name of the company’s newest release…

IPCPR 2014: PDR Cigars

It’s a new look for PDR Cigars at this year’s trade show with the booth adding a lot of red. The star of the show…