The cigarmaker

This is an industry in which mechanization has been replacing the man. There's no successors here. This is an era that, in my perception, within the next 15 years well be talking about it like we talk about a blacksmith. You may see them in fairs, if you see them.

What do they do is an art. To transform those leaves from raw materials to a masterpiece of a cigar: whether you smoke it or not, it's a masterpiece.

We make cigars because for four generations my family's been making cigars. for me, it's the tradition. I grew up in the industry. It's good to see that we can make a good product, but still make it like in the good old days. Like my father said, sometimes it's just the personal satisfaction rather than the economic satisfaction.

When we go for a show, people whosee us go, "Wow, this is the greatest, are they still making it like that ?The last great question I heard was, How much time does he spend making the head ?

President of Gonzalez Habano Cigar, Co. located at: 3304 W. Columbus Drive Suite C, Tampa, Florida 33607

Phone No. (813) 348-0343

E-mail: cigarman@cigarsoftampa.com

Keeping the legacy alive ...

And what's the first thing you're gonna cut ? That comes from a 12-years-old. In all my years in cigars, I never realized that [the cigar maker] spends most of his time making the head, and when you smoke that, that's the first thing you're gonad chop. You don't pay attention to it. But that's his craftsmanship, his, his talent, his artistry.

In Tampa, sadly to say, even though we have a quality and the standards that major companies have - all the product, the presentation, the craftsmanship - we are not supported in our town. Like the old saying, "No ones in his land is king". That applies to me, Tampa is not supportive town. They like anything except what is made locally. That's why the industry's going down, and in his case [point to roller], he might lose his job one day.

The one day we don't come [in], we feel guilty. "Dang, we didn't go by the shop today". We have to come! The other day, I got home from Chicago, it was about 11 in the evening. I went home, took supper and said, I have to go to the shop." Even to open the door, get in, look. "Everything is fine. I'm here." It's very rewarding, when you get attached to something that you know every square inch, and it's yours, and you worked for it.

Photo: Jock Fistick/Tribune photo