It took a long time. After two years of waiting, the Big Smoke finally returned to Las Vegas on November 5th and 6th. Cigar lovers from across the country and around the world gathered for the ultimate celebration of handmade cigars. And of course the good mood came with a selection of fine drinks.
The smoky event lasted two days. It all started on Friday when cigar lovers rolled into The Mirage Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip all day. You could tell who was at the event because people were smoking cigars, exchanging stories and cigars all over the casino and lounges.
Scott Vogler, Kubes Kubick, Anthony Palagi and Todd Ritter eagerly show off their coupon books (which gives them plenty of premium cigars) before going on the show.
When the Friday evening event began, people were eagerly standing outside the doors of the convention center. Each participant kept their cigar aficionado tote bags ready to collect more than 20 premium cigars, many of which were given directly to them by their favorite cigar makers. As the doors opened, the crowd (led by those who bought VIP tickets and gave them access to the show an hour earlier) took to the spacious floor while talking to the personalities behind some of their favorite products and some incredible cigars smoked. It was like being in the largest humidor there is.
The cigar brands distributed consisted of Aging Room, Alec & Bradley Gatekeeper, Arturo Fuente, Cohiba, Diesel, EP Carrillo, El Septimo, Epic, H. Upmann, Hamlet, Illusione, JC Newman, La Aroma de Cuba, La Aurora, La Flor Dominicana , La Palina, Montecristo, My Father, Nat Cicco, Nub, Oliva, Padrón, Plasencia, Rocky Patel, Romeo y Julieta and Tattoo.
Stephen Fay, Brad Allaband, Rich Aeling, Carson Miller, Chris “Scope” Hubbell, Gerry Fay, Robert Bentley, Mike O’Malley and Mark Hoekstra donned tracksuits and chains at Big Smoke Las Vegas 2021.
The spirits and other drinks that went with them were distributed between the cigar racks. Bacardi, Alberfeldy, Bird Dog Whiskey, Calumet Bourbon, Cincoro Tequila, D’USSÉ Cognac, Dewar’s Scotch, E. León Jimenes Rum, Guinness Stout, Johnnie Walker, Tears of Llorona, Corralejo and Uncle Nearest Tennessee Whiskey were served for the thirsty guests , with different finishes, blends and styles. There was also San Benedetto water, as well as coffee for those who did not drink alcoholic beverages.
Several cigar accessories were also on display on the floor, including Daniel Marshall and NewAir humidors, Boveda humidification systems (whose pockets came in handy for the many cigars that were distributed during the seminars), Rabbit Air smoke eaters, and Integra Boost humidity systems .
Food stations with carving stations, pasta dishes, and a range of desserts, including ice cream, were arranged throughout the room. A band played while the guests ate, drank and smoked.
The lighters that Lohn Weber made especially for Big Smoke Las Vegas 2021.
The companies returned for a second night on Saturday after a day of fun and interesting seminars where the cigar makers taught an audience of hundreds of cigar aficionados what was in every hand-rolled smoke. The result was another spectacular night of smoke, spirits, and even delicious food.
Michael Brophy from Plymouth, Massachusetts came for both nights. A member of a beer merchant for a variety of states from the northeast all the way down to Virginia, Brophy was sent by his 91-year-old boss who smokes a cigar or two a day. “You should go to Big Smoke from Cigar Aficionado in Las Vegas,” said Brophy’s boss. And that’s what he did, sat in the front row at the seminars and smoked his fair share of cigars.
Across the convention hall, you couldn’t miss a group of guys in matching red jackets, all smoking cigars. Lohn Weber and his friends from Kansas City thought it was a good idea to bring his son and friends to Las Vegas for his 22nd birthday – and it was a brilliant idea, indeed. “We should come for his 21st birthday, but then Covid happened. So we were thrilled when we found out that it was coming back this year, ”says Weber with a smile. There was no “Best Dressed” competition at Smoke, but this group would have been in the running. They even had bespoke cigar aficionado lighters made for the group.
Grant and Rob Reindl (father and son) enjoy handmade cigars during the Las Vegas Big Smoke 2021.
Ron Taniwaki, a NASA camera engineer from Denver, Colorado, waited in line to meet Rocky Patel in person. Taniwaki makes sure he lights a cigar every time the rocket launches – he occasionally takes an artificial photo that makes it appear as if the spaceship’s smoke is coming from his cigar. It wasn’t his first time at the event as he also met the Miami Big Smoke at Fountainebleu and cigars are no stranger to him. In fact, he runs a cigar lounge and kitchen at Burning Man, a music festival in the desert where everyone shares everything they have. If you find yourself at the annual event, be sure to look for Ron to smoke for free or cook your own food in his kitchen.
Everyone smiled all weekend long. After a decade that felt like a decade, the party seemed like something everyone needed.
COMING TUESDAY: THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SEMINARS.
