This is the first of what is hopefully a new weekly series here on Cheap Ash Cigar. Some of these answers I may already know, some you may already know, but I am sure there are readers that know none of these answers and this will all be new information for them.
For the first installment of "Five Questions" we have Jay Lundy of AKA Cigars, a boutique cigar company that produces some top-of-the-line cigars.
I would like to thank Jay for taking time out of his hectic schedule to share this information with us. Thank you Jay!
1. What led you to create your own line of cigars?
I was an avid cigar smoker since around 1990 and then more heavy starting around 1998. I got into the industry around 2001 helping my partner rep different companies, working the trade-shows, visiting many manufacturers and farms. Over the years I became friends with a lot of the greats in the industry and really learned a lot from them. For a decade I was telling all these guys I wanted to someday do my own thing and the one single piece of advice that was given to me over and over was to "Be Myself" and to make whatever I did "A Part Of Myself". That's exactly what I did with AKA. I'm a very Proud and Patriotic American and I love to "Step Up" & "Give Back" and that's what AKA is all about.
2. What has been the most enjoyable aspect of creating your own cigars?
I would have to say that every time I'm visiting a shop or doing an event and people tell me they really enjoy our cigars and like what we're about as a company. It's very humbling and very appreciated. After that its just to look back at all these years of very hard work and to see where we are today and then to dream about where we will be in the future. But for us it always has been and always will be about making high quality cigars and many new friends along the way.
3. What is your typical week like? I.e. events, travel, visiting shops, etc.
Really depends on the time of year. When I'm on a "Heavy Schedule" I may be out on the road Monday or Tuesday thru Friday or Saturday for 2-5 weeks in a row and then one week back home and then all over again. Weeks at home are still filled with work. I "Eat, Breath, Sleep, and ?hit AKA". Lmao
4. Can you give any hints what may be coming down the pipe from AKA?
We are releasing a Lancero in the Nth Degree at the trade-show and that's it for this year. We will be opening up more territories this year and spending most of our time promoting those areas. We are also in the very early stages of planning a new release(s) for next year along with new specialty vitola packs for events.
5. What are your personal top 5 cigars to smoke?
Hard Question? I enjoy a lot of different smokes however if I had to pick 5, hummmm...
Tatuaje 2003 Cojonu
Liga #9
Room 101 Namakubi
Illusione Epernay
Any AKA
I was an avid cigar smoker since around 1990 and then more heavy starting around 1998. I got into the industry around 2001 helping my partner rep different companies, working the trade-shows, visiting many manufacturers and farms. Over the years I became friends with a lot of the greats in the industry and really learned a lot from them. For a decade I was telling all these guys I wanted to someday do my own thing and the one single piece of advice that was given to me over and over was to "Be Myself" and to make whatever I did "A Part Of Myself". That's exactly what I did with AKA. I'm a very Proud and Patriotic American and I love to "Step Up" & "Give Back" and that's what AKA is all about.
2. What has been the most enjoyable aspect of creating your own cigars?
I would have to say that every time I'm visiting a shop or doing an event and people tell me they really enjoy our cigars and like what we're about as a company. It's very humbling and very appreciated. After that its just to look back at all these years of very hard work and to see where we are today and then to dream about where we will be in the future. But for us it always has been and always will be about making high quality cigars and many new friends along the way.
3. What is your typical week like? I.e. events, travel, visiting shops, etc.
Really depends on the time of year. When I'm on a "Heavy Schedule" I may be out on the road Monday or Tuesday thru Friday or Saturday for 2-5 weeks in a row and then one week back home and then all over again. Weeks at home are still filled with work. I "Eat, Breath, Sleep, and ?hit AKA". Lmao
4. Can you give any hints what may be coming down the pipe from AKA?
We are releasing a Lancero in the Nth Degree at the trade-show and that's it for this year. We will be opening up more territories this year and spending most of our time promoting those areas. We are also in the very early stages of planning a new release(s) for next year along with new specialty vitola packs for events.
5. What are your personal top 5 cigars to smoke?
Hard Question? I enjoy a lot of different smokes however if I had to pick 5, hummmm...
Tatuaje 2003 Cojonu
Liga #9
Room 101 Namakubi
Illusione Epernay
Any AKA
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