Hello and welcome to my blog. My name is Tom and I live in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, close to Historic Ybor City.
I have been writing about the cigar industry for over three years. I started out with a blog on the WordPress site. I was then referred to Examiner.com by one of my readers. After completing the formal application process, I was given the Tampa Cigar Examiner column. I enjoy writing for Examiner.com but, I am required to keep a local focus on the articles that I publish.
Before my Examiner column, I had often used the online name “cigarsmokingman” on numerous forums and other online communities. I even owned the domain cigarsmokingman.com but chose not to renew it. Now it’s gone to someone else. I hadn’t really thought about the whole “online branding” thing back then.
I chose the screen name “cigarsmokingman” as an homage to one of my favorite TV villains, the “Cigarette Smoking Man or CSM” from The X-Files.
My plan for this website is to consolidate my interests in cigars, coffee and cocktails. I’ll redirect to my Examiner.com columns when appropriate. I’ll have full control over my content and the freedom to report on news and products that may not have a local ‘angle’ to them.
I hope you enjoy reading my content and please feel free to leave comments. I would appreciate your feedback.
- Tom Ufer aka @cigarsmokingman
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I am so happy to see “The Cigar Smoking Man” back! It is always a pleasure to read your cocktail recipes and cigar perspectives. Congratulations on the new site!
Hi Teresa ! Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment. As much as I enjoy writing for Examiner, I really did need a site completely under my control again.
Tom:
My family and I are travelling to Tampa July 10 to July 17. I wanted to tour some operating factories and actually see cigars being made. Never been to Ybor City, etc.
Any ideas on where to go, etc. to spend a day? I don’t really care about abandonded buildings where cigars used to be made…want to actually see them being made.
I appreciate any input you may have. Thanks!
Jeffrey Murphy
St. Louis, MO
The only factory still making cigars is the J.C. Newman Company. They still produce machine made cigars in Ybor City. Otherwise, to see cigar rollers in action, there are a few mom and pop shops on 7th Ave in Ybor that roll cigars in the front window. El Sol cigars and La Herencia are two such shops.
Tom,
I ran across your site and i must say that i love it. I am getting back into enjoying cigars and a fine drink. Keep up the good work!
Jeremy G
Reno, NV
Hi Jeremy,
Thanks for stopping by and reading my posts! It’s always great to get some feedback from real people.
Tom- a guy at a recent party gave me a La Herencia de Cuba(yellow label) probally a churchill or corona size. He got them at store in ybor city. They supposedly are distributed by Ramirez Cigars which has a website but isn’t functioning and no tel#.
Can you help me out on how I could get some?
Thanks Bob in pittsburgh
The Ramirez Family has sold the La Herencia de Cuba shop in Ybor City. I have not been over to meet the new owner. I’m looking into the status of the cigars for you now.
Bob, check out this website: http://www.mdmcigarsinc.com/2/cigars.htm
Hello,
Hello,
your blog is interesting, I’m French and I also have a blog on the cigar!
You can do a link exchange if you want ?
My adress mail for your reply
edmond_dantès@orange.fr
http://cigare.skynetblogs.be
Thank
Of course! Nice photos. Unfortunately, I cannot read French. I’ll need to borrow my Daughter’s Rosetta Stone language courses.