I had my first cigar on August 3, 1998. Yes, I‘m fully aware that it’s odd that I remember the date, but it just happened to be my grandfather’s birthday. In my early twenties, I knew I wanted to get involved with cigars. I knew I wanted to explore different cigars, and then maybe, one day, I would get into the cigar industry. It took me one month shy of 23 years to get there, but I did it.
I grew up with a grandfather who smoked a couple of packs of cigarettes a day, and I wasn’t around cigars very much. Yet something always drew me to them. I don’t know if it was the old spaghetti westerns with Clint Eastwood and his dangling cigarillo off the corner of his lips, the tough guy action heroes of the 80’s always smoking or chewing on a cigar or pictures of JFK or Steve McQueen, “The King of Cool” smoking a cigar. They always seemed classic and to me, a throwback to yesteryear. Come to think of it, this could be why I have such an old soul when it comes to music, movies, and entertainment. To really drive home the point of having an old soul, when people ask me who my favorite new country artist is, I usually reply with Dwight Yoakam. I listen to Dean Martin, Sinatra, Elvis, and Marty Robbins. Listening to Otis Redding is a daily requirement for me. There is something about that nostalgic feeling that helps calm me. Is it the feeling of the music or the memories? Yes.
My grandparents (my dad’s parents and the same grandfather who smoked) had an old plantation home on the outskirts of the Southside of San Antonio, located off Farm to Market Rd. 1937, about halfway between the two communities of Buena Vista, Texas, and Losoya, Texas, and about a mile and a half from the Medina River. I don’t know much about the history of the house or property, other than that the home was built in 1864. Over the years, we found historical artifacts, likely from the Battle of the Medina, on the property. Fun fact: my mom has a coin that she found on the property. We later found out that the Alamo has that same coin on display, but ours is two years older. The house and property didn’t have a “proper” name like old plantations or estates do. To us, it was Nana and Papa’s, the country, or the big house. To me, I called it and the area Los Vista. Why? Because the house was almost evenly located between the two communities of Losoya and Buena Vista, thus Los Vista. I always thought it was clever and didn’t need much explanation until I started to say it to family and friends from the area.
We lived on the property until I was ten, then we moved to China Grove, yes, that China Grove from the famous Doobie Brothers song. My parents still live there today. After my grandfather’s death, my grandmother lived in the big house for a few more years before the family sold it. Thankfully, sometime in the mid 1980’s, someone took a Polaroid photo of the big house, and somehow my mom ended up with it. Several of my mom’s sisters are very talented painters. So my Mom gave the Polaroid to my Aunt Nancy (her sister) and asked her to paint a picture of the house. Aunt Nancy painted it, and the finished piece turned out wonderful. I am blessed to say that when the family sold the big house, I ended up with the painting. It now hangs in the entrance to my home. I never dreamed that Polaroid would someday serve as an inspiration. Thanks, Aunt Nancy, for painting a beautiful picture.
On March 31, 2021, COVID was still going full blast, and I was working in hospice, dealing with death on a weekly basis. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I had become callous to death and, in turn, to other people’s reactions and their grieving process. It was a defense mechanism to protect myself from getting too involved and becoming an emotional mess as I tried to help families navigate through their most difficult times. That very same day, my mom called me to share some sad news with me. Unfortunately, I gave her the “yeah, yeah, Mom. Ok. Yep. I’ll call you back.” As soon as I hung up, I realized, “dang, that was my mom. I need to call her back.” Upon realizing that, I knew instantly I needed a quick reset. I went to my office and asked for the next two days off to reset. We didn’t see eye-to-eye on how to do this, and I left there thinking, “I have to find something that isn’t going to make me so callous.” That evening, my girlfriend, now wife, and I went to San Antonio. On the way home, we talked about how and what I was going to do to reset. I told her, “I wish I had more capital or partners to open a cigar shop.” Mind you, this is 9 p.m. on a Wednesday night. The next day, I went to Haupstrasse Barbershop (now Good to Go Barbershop) for my 3 p.m. haircut. When the barber finished cutting my hair, he asked me to come to the backroom, which was an open, wasted space. He said, “I don’t know why, but my wife and I want to open a cigar shop in this space. Are you interested?” Eighteen hours after I put it into the universe, I was a partner in a cigar shop. We had a great run at Haupstrasse Cigar Club, and the lessons I learned there helped me so much on my current path. Two months after Haupstrasse Cigar Club closed, I received a call from Jeremy Affeldt’s team over at Free Roam Brewing asking if I would be interested in setting up as a vendor for their first anniversary party. I immediately said yes. I had the cigar inventory and the accessories, but the Haupstrasse license had expired. It was during this time that The Cigar Society was born. (Another fun fact: The Cigar Society has the same initials as the grandfather I mentioned earlier). Regarding The Cigar Society, we owe much of our success to Jeremy and the Free Roam team. They have promoted us relentlessly, and for that, we are blessed beyond measure.
Fast forward to March 2024, and we were unpacking after moving into our new home. When I was hanging the painting of the big house, my mind screamed at me, “LOS VISTA!!!!!” The memories came flooding back so crisp and clear, a strong sense of nostalgia. For some reason, I couldn’t get Los Vista out of my head. It kept coming back; I‘d try to file it away to the back of my mind, but it kept coming to the forefront. I finished hanging stuff and went to find a notebook that I’ve been writing ideas in since 2017. I started flipping pages, and there it was…LOS VISTA CIGAR CO. Four years before I got into the industry, seven years before I found the idea again, and nine years before the idea was executed.
I immediately knew what the logo was going to be; I needed to pick complementary colors (green, of course). You may have guessed that the painting of the big house that I mentioned earlier is now the logo for Los Vista Cigars. After that was decided, the most important thing was the actual cigars. For the cigar selection process, I wanted something different than the cigars I usually smoke. I wanted cigars with a bold flavor and with a story of success and determination to tell. I love Nicaraguan cigars, but I usually roll and smoke Dominican, because they tend to be a lighter smoke. I decided to go with Nicaraguan tobacco to mix it up, and I even added a wrapper from Ecuador for one of my four creations.
The first cigar, The Medina, is a box-pressed Maduro Robusto (5 x 50). It is all Nicaraguan tobacco. This one packs a punch, and you’ll feel it when you’re smoking it. I picked the box press because my two favorite cigars to smoke are box-pressed. It’s short and stout, like me.
Los Vista Cigar – The Medina
Box Press Robusto 5 x50
Wrapper – Nicaraguan Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder – Nicaraguan
Filler – Nicaraguan
Pairs well with: Guinness, Blanton’s, Midleton Barry Crockett, Dark Rum, Free Roam Low Fence, and Dirty Duck Coffee First Flight.
The second cigar is a Habano Toro (6 x 52). It is fully Nicaraguan also. It is medium smoke, not harsh, and maybe a little on the lighter side. It is modeled after my favorite cigar.
Los Vista Cigar – The Valley
Toro – 6 x 52
Wrapper – Habano Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Filler – Nicaraguan
Pairs well with: White coconut rum, Glenfiddich 14, Dirty Duck Coffee Morning Wood, and Weller Antique 107.
The third cigar, 64, is a Dominican Robusto (5 x50) with an Ecuadorian wrapper. It is the lightest cigar of our lineup. It is very similar to the cigars I’ve done for my events and shows. I just switched up the wrapper.
Los Vista Cigar – 64
Robusto 5 x50
Wrapper – Sumatran (Ecuador)
Binder – Nicaraguan
Filler – Nicaraguan
Pairs well with: tequila, Tanager Cigar Blend by Still Austin, and a great pilsner that you can grab at Free Roam Brewing on Main St.
The fourth and final cigar in this release is Legacy. It is a Sungrown Habano Toro (6×52). This one is my personal favorite of this group. The Sungrown wrapper packs a hit that most seasoned cigar smokers will enjoy. If this cigar were a person, it would be the one you have to warn your friends about. It’s brash, bold, and doesn’t have a filter. Just like me. I’m really proud of this one.
Los Vista Cigar – Legacy
Toro – 6 x 52
Wrapper – Sungrown Habano Nicaraguan
Binder – Nicaraguan
Filler – Nicaraguan
Pairs well with: White coconut rum, The Balvenie 14 Year Caribbean Cask, Dirty Duck Coffee Morning Wood, and Old Forrester King Ranch 2025.
More from the TKG cellar: every cigar enthusiast has a story about how it started. For a stick that earns its place in any serious collection, our review of Hemingway Short Story by Arturo Fuente is a natural next stop. And when you’re ready to pair smoke with pour, Uisge Beatha explores whiskey with the same personal touch.
