by David P. Diaz

[For more photos of the trip, see the ANTO’S SLIDESHOW]

This past week, I made a quick road trip to attend a cigar event in Southern California. Anto’s Cigar Lounge in Long Beach, California, a lavishly appointed tobacco shop and lounge served as the location for an event featuring La Aurora Cigars. Representing La Aurora were two friends that I have come to know over the past year.

José Blanco, the venerable director of sales for the company was mixing easily, as he normally does, with participants who were drawn to the shop to see and hear more about the new “Barrel Aged” cigar from La Aurora.

Walk-in Humidor at Anto’s

José was telling observers about this new blend that has just started shipping and was making its debut on the West Coast. José was also explaining the difference between Oscuro and Maduro wrappers. The new Barrel Aged cigar possesses an Oscuro wrapper that is aged in Oak barrels from the rum industry. It is a medium-bodied smoke that is full of flavor and quickly becoming one of my favorites.

My other friend was Fidel Abreu, an expert roller from the La Aurora factory in the Dominican Republic. I met Fidel originally in my own backyard town of Paso Robles, where he was rolling at another La Aurora event a couple of years ago. The next time I saw him was in the Dominican Republic, where he taught me how to roll cigars, a process that will live on in infamy via the Stogie Fresh “Making a Cigar” video. On this night, Fidel was rolling the new Barrel Aged cigars and teaching others how to roll. From personal experience, I can tell you that Fidel is a patient and nurturing teacher. He has been rolling cigars for more than 30 years.

José Blanco (left) with Anto Kamarian

This was truly a night to remember. Cigar events are great for meeting new people, for learning about the featured products and for coming away with some special deals. Having a cigar roller is a special treat; it is much easier to appreciate the complexities of creating a hand made product when you watch the skilled hands at work.

Fidel teaches rolling technique

I also had the distinct pleasure of meeting Anto Kamarian, a retired attorney who opened up his first cigar shop: “Cigars by Chivas” in 1995 in the heart of Old Pasadena in California. Anto told me that a friend of his, who lived in Long Beach and drove to Pasadena a couple times per week, kept trying to persuade Anto to buy a cigar shop in Long Beach. After 2 years of persistence, his friend finally got Anto to visit the shop and a day later, Anto was the new owner. Now, after more than 2 years of operations, “Anto’s Cigar Lounge” is a stylish and relaxing atmosphere to enjoy a premium cigar. Three plasma TV monitors grace the walls of the shop and top-shelf accessories include: Daniel Marshall humidors, and S.T. Dupont, Bugatti, and Porsche Design, lighters and accessories, to name an illustrious few.

Doc with José and Anto

The walk-in humidor is spacious and well stocked, and the cigar lockers cater to those who want the convenience of downtown storage. A small conference room in the rear with a plasma screen provides the perfect environment for cigar-infused business meetings.

Speaking of plasma screens, we were able to hook up a laptop computer to one of the plasma’s in the main lounge and surf over to the Stogie Fresh website and stream my “Making a Cigar” video for the event participants.

All guests of the events were treated to fresh Barrel Aged cigars and a demonstration of rolling cigars. The participants even got to try their hand at rolling their own cigars, not an easy feat, as I know from experience.

All in all, this was a first class event. If you are ever in the Los Angeles area, be sure to check out one, or both, of Anto’s shops:

Anto’s Cigar Lounge

5305 East 2nd St. Suite 101

Long Beach, Ca. 90803

562-438-5069

http://www.antoscigarlounge.com

Cigars by Chivas

58 South De Lacey Ave.

Pasadena, Ca 91105

626-395-7475

http://www.cigarsbychivas.com