When we got word of what was planned for the 2015 edition of the Southern Cigar Festival, we knew there was something very special about this event. The combination of a world class venue, the best of the best of the cigar industry, and a host of amenities providing true southern hospitality easily put this as THE “must go” cigar event for 2015. It is our honor at Cigar Coop and Stogie Geeks to partner with the folks behind this event and bring you everything you need to know about this event.

Tickets are currently on-sale at Ticketmaster and at Cutter’s Cigar Emporium for the Southern Cigar Festival. The Festival takes place on Saturday June 6th and will be the largest cigar event ever to be held in the State of Georgia. The event is being held at a world class venue, the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Encore Park. Today we start a series of installments on the manufacturers and brand owners attending the event.

Note this information is intending to understand and learn about who these manufacturers are. Any cigar of brands listed are for reference purposes and are not indicative of what will be available at the event.

A.J. Fernandez Cigars

-Founded by Abdel Fernandez, a rising star in the cigar industry. The company is based has its manufacturing operations in Nicaragua.
-Known for the San Lotano and New World lines.
-The A.J. Fernandez New World won Cigar Journal’s 2014 of the Year

Arturo Fuente

-Founded by Arturo Fuente, today it is run by Carlos Fuente, Sr. and his son Carlito. The company has manufacturing and farming operations in the Dominican Republic producing 30 million cigars annually.
-Known for making cigars ranging from the value-priced Fuente Curly Head to the super premium Fuente Fuente Opus X.
-The company recently has commemorated its 100th anniversary.

Ashton Cigars

-Founded in 1985, the company partners with Fuente to produce their Dominican made cigars and My Father to produce their Nicaraguan made cigars
-Known for lines such its Ashton branded Cigars (made by Fuente) as well as the La Aroma de Cuba and San Cristobal lines (both made by My Father)
-The La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor was Cigar Aficionado’s #2 Cigar of the Year for 2011

Asylum Cigars

-Founded in 2012.  Tom Lazuka is one of the co-founders. It is a brand under Christian Eiroa’s CLE Cigar Company.
-The brand has several lines including the popular Asylum 13, Straight Jacket, Insidious, Schizo, and Asylum Premium.
-While the company made noise with its 80 ring gauge offerings, it was a 4 x 44 Asylum Premium offering that was Cigar Aficionado’s #16 Cigar for 2013

Chinnock Cellars Cigars

-The company was founded and owned by Brian Chinnock, a Napa Valley winemaker. The company integrates elements of the winemaking industry into its cigar offerings.
-The company makes its cigars in Honduras (Cremmoir and Pressoir) and El Titan de Bronze in Little Havana (Terroir)
-The Chinnock Cellars Terroir was nominated for Best U.S. Made Cigar by Cigar Journal in 2013. The cigar features a unique metal band that is based off a foil capsule found on a wine bottle.

CLE Cigars

-The company was founded by Christian Eiroa, the former owner of Camacho Cigars
-The company features several brands including CLE, EIROA, Asylum, and Edgar Hoill Cigars. The cigars are made in Honduras and Nicaragua.
-Cutters Cigar Emporium recently was awarded a Retail Excellence Award from CLE Cigars

Cubanacan Cigars

-Owned by the Mederos family, the company is vertically integrated as they have their own factory and farms.
-The company has four brands – Cubanacan, Soneros, Mederos, and HR
-The HR is the newest line and is a collaboration done with Hirochi Robaina.

Davidoff

-The company was founded by Zino Davidoff.  In 1970, it was acquired by Max Oettinger Company.
-The company today has many brands including: Davidoff, Avo, Camacho, Room 101, Zino, Cusano, and The Griffin’s.
-In 2015, Oettinger Davidoff AG, the parent company of Davidoff is celebrating its 140th anniversary.

Defiant Whisky

– Defiant American Single Malt Whisky made by Blue Ridge Distillng Company located in Bostic, North Carolina. The company was founded by Tim Ferris.
-The whisky is made with all natural ingredients consisting of barley, yeast, pure water (direct from the Blue Ridge Mountains), and white oak.
-Instead of using oak barrels, white oak spirals are inserted into the whiskey as it is aging.

Drew Estate

-The company was founded by Jonathan Drew and Marvin Samel in 1998 with a small kiosk in the World Trade Center.
-Drew Estate has many brands including Acid, Liga Privada, Undercrown, Nica Rustica, Herrera-Esteli, and pipe tobaccos.  Drew Estate also is the home to the largest cigar factory in Nicaragua.
-In 2014, Swisher International acquired Drew Estate Tobacco Company and made it a wholly owned subsidiary.

E.P. Carrillo

-The company was founded by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr. in 2009. Perez-Carrillo was the founder of La Gloria Cubana before he sold it to General Cigar in 1999.
-The company has their own factory Tabacalera La Alianza in the Dominican Republic
-The company has several regular production offerings include lines such as: Core Line, Cardinal, E-Stunner, New Wave Reserva, Cabinet and La Historia.  In 2014, La Historia was the #2 Cigar of the Year from Cigar Aficionado.

Espinosa Cigars

-The company was founded by Erik Espinosa.  Prior to launching Espinsoa Cigars, Espinosa was partners with Eddie Ortega in EO Brands.
-The company owns its own factory, La Zona in Esteli, Nicaragua and offers lines such as 601, Laranja, Espinosa, La Zona, and the new Espinosa Especial.
-Released in 2014, the Laranja was the first Brazilian wrapper used in a regular production line by Espinosa Cigars.  The wrapper has an almost orange-colored tint and the cigar has become one of the company’s most successful lines.

Esteban Carreras Cigars

-Esteban Carreras Cigars was founded by Craig Cunningham of Dana Point Cigar and Wine.
-The company now owns their own factory in Nicaragua and produces brands such as the Esteban Carreras Habano, 10 Anos, 211, 5150, 187, Chupacabra, and Covenant.
-In 2009, the Esteban Carreras Habano Maduro was named the Cigar Coop #3 of the Year.

Latest Event News

Jay Austin Collection Bowties has been added as an event sponsor.

The updated ticket plan is listed below: