by Eddie DeJong

[Note: Stogie Fresh team member, Eddie DeJong has recently been putting on the miles to represent Stogie Fresh. After a quick stop in Las Vegas for the IPCPR Trade Show, Eddie was invited to the Mombacho Cigars Launch Party in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Be sure to read Eddie’s Interview with Mombacho President, Markus Raty.]

July 17, 2008, 5:06 AM, Detroit, Michigan, USA.

Bleary eyed and tired, I stepped off the plane after a fast-paced trip to the City of Las Vegas for the IPCPR trade show. I tried to get some sleep on the plane, but to no avail. I can’t sleep anywhere very well, other than my own bed, and getting some sleep on a plane with microscopic leg room for a 6’2” guy is simply out of the question.

Surviving on only 6 hours sleep in the last 40 hours, I locate my vehicle, and make the 1-hour trek home to the Canadian border. By the time I get home and through the border, after a brief stop at the duty-free store, it was around 6:30 AM. My wife and kids had their own scheduled events for the day so after I exchanged a few hugs and kisses, I unpacked from the trip, and headed off to the office for a few hours to catch up on 14 billion unread emails.

At 3:30 PM I left the office to pick up my wife, Lerryn as we were invited to the official Mombacho Cigar launch party by Markus Raty, president of Mombacho Cigars. Mombacho is a new cigar company who’s head office is situated in the unlikely country of Canada, a socialistic country where the limited health care is free, and the Smoke Police stake claim to nearly every square millimeter of territory in this great land.

The program wove the tale of the company’s dream, their trials, and the difficulties they experienced in trying to transform this dream into a reality. It was a story about their struggles with the differences of culture, work priorities, suppliers, and finding the right people to share in their dream.

I related.  Almost too well.  I have also had a very challenging time with my own dream, and finding the right people to implement into the dream to make it a reality. And I have also had many letdowns and obstacles. I felt like I was watching a program about my own business experiences at Vanderburgh Humidors.

After the program, I immediately sent Markus Raty an email with an explanation of my enjoyment of the TV program including some encouragement. That began our email conversation over the next few months, and ended up with an invite to his corporate launch.

Same day, 7:28 PM, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

My wife, Lerryn and I, semi formally dressed, were ushered through some minor security (more of a ‘make-sure-you-are-on-the-invite-list’ rather than ‘real’ security) and directed over to a small steel ferry that took us over to the Toronto Island Airport, otherwise known as The Toronto City Centre Airport. The ferry ride of only about 121 meters was quick (the shortest regularly scheduled ferry in the world), but packed with guests attending the launch party with great anticipation.

A 21-piece Jazz band was tuning up, and the back of the hanger opened up into a large outdoor cigar lounge, right next to the runway. Also prominent wer Lake Ontario and a spare-no-expense open bar stocked with fine tawny port, Steamwhistle beer, fine wine, and any other premium libation you could think of.  We were in for one great celebration.

We walked around and made conversation with a few guests we’d never met before and enjoyed the outdoors and beautiful skyline. If anyone has seen the iconic image of the CN tower, it is usually seen from off shore on a boat, lit up at night. Well, the Toronto Island Airport was positioned as such that if you walked out to the water’s edge, you could view the whole Toronto skyline and the CN tower as in that same iconic image. 

Endless hor’dourves passed our way and Lerryn and I sampled some very nice wines and beers. Then, subtly at first, but increasing in volume, came a thumping sound, not unlike the sound of an old airplane, which drew our attention to some approaching vehicles from the air strip. An old Packard, and a couple of old military Jeeps (probably accounting for 1/3 the entire Canadian military Jeep inventory) slowly crept through the crowd, ending up to the right of the stage.

Then, all of the founding members, officers and about a dozen very elegant and classily-dressed Mombacho girls strolled out of the vehicles and took their positions on the stage. After a short speech by Cameron Heaps, and a passionate introduction and welcome by President Markus Raty, the festivities had officially begun.

By this time the sun was beginning to dip below the water and nightfall had set in. Wonderful and savory Mombacho cigars were passed out and smoked, and soon everyone was rapt in conversation and delighted in the festivities. The aroma of Nicaraguan pork roast and spicy Jerked Chicken, and the sweet smell of cigars filled the outdoor area.

The jazz band was amazing, and so were the cigars - even my wife enjoyed a few puffs! The Toronto skyline lit up the warm night and the calm Lake Ontario waters reflected the glow from the skyscrapers and city. This was truly a first-class event, and one that we will not forget.

Mombacho Cigars, Contact Information

President: Markus Raty

Phone: 416-875-6783

Website: http://www.mombachocigars.com

Eddie DeJong is founder and owner of Vanderburgh Humidors. Eddie’s passion is to design the finest handcrafted humidors in the world, using hard to find natural materials and contrasting exotic woods. “My dream is to bring the art of the handcrafted humidor back, using exotic and authentic materials in a very functional humidor.”