- Joined
- Oct 14, 2003
- Messages
- 249
The current president of Tampa Sweethearts Cigar Company and 3rd generation cigar maker.
I drove over the Gandy bridge from St. Petersburg, FL to Tampa (Ybor City historic district) and arrived when they opened at 9 AM. I was greeted by Mr Fuente himself. We were the only 2 in the building. He gave me the grand tour along with the history of his family in the cigar industry. He was a true gentleman who patiently answered all of my questions (we discussed everything from where he buys his wrapper leaf to how to correctly use a humidor....and everything in between).
My visit took a very unexpected turn when I mentioned that I currently worked at Raytheon. He stated that he had worked at General Electric (the current building my division of Raytheon resides in) and Lockheed Martin as a nuclear engineer.....before joining the cigar making business. I mentioned my father's name who had worked at GE for 17 years (from the late 50's until the mid/late 70's). He remembered meeting my dad and also the story of his kidnap and murder in the late 70's. We both made the "small world" comment.
He invited me into his office to look at the plans he was working on for a cigar lounge he was opening in the next few months. He had purchased the oldest building in Tampa (built in the 1890s) and was finishing up the renovations. He said he would contact me for the grand opening.
We eventually started discussing what cigars I wanted to purchase to try since I am new to the cigar game. Instead of heading to the sampler packs (which are very, very nice) in the front humidors....he thought for a moment and led me into the back where the rare cigars were kept. He explain to me that these were all aged and most were from lots that were very limited and rolled only once a year. He was very judicious on what was sold out of this humidor. I purchased 11 cigars hand selected by him from this collection.
To say I am excited about trying some of these cigars is an understatement. Mr Fuente is a true gentleman who has my undying respect and future business.
Not a bad Saturday morning at all.......
I drove over the Gandy bridge from St. Petersburg, FL to Tampa (Ybor City historic district) and arrived when they opened at 9 AM. I was greeted by Mr Fuente himself. We were the only 2 in the building. He gave me the grand tour along with the history of his family in the cigar industry. He was a true gentleman who patiently answered all of my questions (we discussed everything from where he buys his wrapper leaf to how to correctly use a humidor....and everything in between).
My visit took a very unexpected turn when I mentioned that I currently worked at Raytheon. He stated that he had worked at General Electric (the current building my division of Raytheon resides in) and Lockheed Martin as a nuclear engineer.....before joining the cigar making business. I mentioned my father's name who had worked at GE for 17 years (from the late 50's until the mid/late 70's). He remembered meeting my dad and also the story of his kidnap and murder in the late 70's. We both made the "small world" comment.
He invited me into his office to look at the plans he was working on for a cigar lounge he was opening in the next few months. He had purchased the oldest building in Tampa (built in the 1890s) and was finishing up the renovations. He said he would contact me for the grand opening.
We eventually started discussing what cigars I wanted to purchase to try since I am new to the cigar game. Instead of heading to the sampler packs (which are very, very nice) in the front humidors....he thought for a moment and led me into the back where the rare cigars were kept. He explain to me that these were all aged and most were from lots that were very limited and rolled only once a year. He was very judicious on what was sold out of this humidor. I purchased 11 cigars hand selected by him from this collection.
To say I am excited about trying some of these cigars is an understatement. Mr Fuente is a true gentleman who has my undying respect and future business.
Not a bad Saturday morning at all.......
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