Saturday, November 8
Saturday morning program is from 9 a.m.- 12:00 noon, followed by a sit-down lunch lasting until 3 p.m. Gordon Mott, executive editor, Cigar Aficionado and
David Savona, senior editor, Cigar Aficionado are the co-moderators for the weekend program.
9:00 - 9:20 a.m. Cigar Aficionado's Father and Son Cigar Makers Tasting. At each of the three cigar breaks throughout the morning you will be given cigars
to smoke that were chosen by our senior editors and are presented by the father and son that produced them. This is the theme for all the single cigar tastings.
Each father/son team will talk about the properties of their cigar and give a brief history of their company. Jose Orlando and Jorge Padrón, Padrón Cigars,
will present the first cigar.
9:20 - 9:50 a.m. Cigar Rolling Demonstration ... starting from scratch. Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, El Credito Cigars, our traditional rolling guru, and
one of his expert rollers, will demonstrate the complete process of creating a cigar from bunching to rolling. Consider this a tutorial for Sunday's "roll your own."
9:50 - 10:10 a.m. Second Father/Son Cigar. In this cigar break, Carlos and Charlie Toraño, Toraño Cigars, will present and discuss a
specially selected cigar and their company history.
10:10 - 10:40 a.m. Cuban Cigars. A current look at Cuban cigars discussing the country, its new cigars, and the quality of production under its
new leader. James Suckling, European editor, Cigar Aficionado, will discuss this phenomenon with father and son Raffi and Arek Aboulia of Raffi Cigare Geneve.
10:40 - 11:00 a.m. Third Father/Son Cigar. Carlos Fuente Sr. and Carlos Fuente Jr., Arturo Fuente Cigars, will present the cigar they have selected
for you and talk about their family history.
11:00 - 12:00 noon Cigar Blending. James Suckling and David Savona moderate a panel of experts comparing Honduran, Nicaraguan and Dominican tobaccos.
Each attendee will be given a short cigar made from each tobacco followed by a blend in a finished cigar. On the panel are Mike Chiusano, Cusano Cigars; Tim
Ozgener, CAO; Rocky Patel, Rocky Patel Premium Cigars and Jose Seijas, Altadis U.S.A.
12:00 noon - 3:00 p.m. Lunch and your time to "Ask Your Own Expert" on a personal level. At lunch, an executive from each cigar manufacturer exhibiting
at our "Big Smoke," will host a table. Lunch becomes a face-to-face meeting where you can question, comment and share viewpoints on cigars. It's a casual venue to
talk about cigars while you sit and share a wonderful meal together. Each table "host" will bring cigars for you to enjoy.
Sunday, November 9
On Sunday's program from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. are three cigar seminars on a lighter note...involving a hands-on approach. Each is led by an expert.
9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Charlie Palmer Cooks Breakfast. Start the day with a real Cigar Aficionado's breakfast. Charlie Palmer, owner of Aureole,
Las Vegas, Charlie Palmer Steak and many other fine restaurants in New York and California, will do a cooking demonstration to show how this breakfast menu,
created especially for this cigar-loving crowd, was prepared. Of course, we will find the perfect cigar to go along with your breakfast.
10:45 - 11:45 a.m. Roll Your Own, Seminar No. 11. Ernesto Perez-Carrillo of El Credito Cigars, Miami, brings everything you need to create your own
cigar including real tobacco filler and wrapper as used in a premium cigar factory. Follow along with one of La Gloria Cubana's most experienced premium
cigar makers. Whether you've done this before or you are a new roller, everyone enjoys the opportunity to roll and create his own cigar and perhaps win a prize.
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Mas Tequila! The world of ultrapremium Tequila is exploding and we celebrate by pairing the spirit with cigars. Cigar Aficionado's
spirits editor Jack Bettridge will lead the sampling of the nectar of the agave plant and talk about what the new designation extra añejo means to you.
Tickets are $550 each and include 1 Big Smoke evening of your choice.
Cancellation policy: A full refund is available until October 30, 2008. A 50% refund is available from October 31 to November 6, 2008 After that date there
are no refunds or exchanges. All tickets are subject to availability.
For questions email events@mshanken.com.
Must be 21 to attend.
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