IPCPR/PCA News: RoMa Craft Tobac and Skip Martin

I was fortunate to get some quality time with Skip Martin of RoMa Craft Tobac at this years Premium Cigar Association trade show. Sitting with Skip is like reading an encyclopedia of cigars. His knowledge of the art, craft, and science of tobacco and cigars is one of the best in the business.

What was expected to be a short 15 minutes, turned into a lengthy 30-plus minutes of conversation that took me deep into Skip’s life and mine too. As much as I wanted to edit this down, the material was just too good and the conversation was simply engaging. I want to sincerely thank Skip for his time. I also want to thank him again for throwing an epic after-party, the night before this interview. As he mentions in the interview, the party may have contributed to why the floor was a tad light in morning.

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The RoMa Craft Party

Speaking of parties, one can only say, the RoMa Craft Tobac after party held at the Tau Nightclub in the Venetian was beyond epic. A virtual who’s – who in the industry was in attendance. The party lasted well into 1:30 AM and the drink flowed and cigar smoked filled the club. Skip and his team pulled out all the stops this year.

Here is a video of the party, sped up 200% so you can see the fun quickly. I had to remove the sound and substitute licence free music to keep it from being barred on YouTube.

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The Baka

RoMa Craft Tobac was highlighting their latest creation, the Baka, at the show. Though most of the blend is not disclosed, we do know that it is wrapped with a Cameroon leaf. The company plans to release a total of seven vitolas, two of which are hitting the shelves now, the Pygmy and Bantu. This will be a regular production release that is limited to 1,000 boxes of each. They are packaged in 24 count boxes except the Pygmy, which will come in a 30-count box.

• Pygmy (4 x 46) – MSRP $9.25 Shipping now
• Bantu (4 x 52) – MSRP $9.95 Shipping now
• Ota Benga (4 1/2 x 60)  – MSRP $10.60
• Poki (5 x 50)  – MSRP $10.45
• Acephalous (5 x 56)  – MSRP $11.50
• Jengi (5 3/4 x 46)  – MSRP $11.40
• Hunter Gatherer (6 x 54)  – MSRP $12.70

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Neanderthal LH

You may have seen photos of Skip Martin smoking this new addition to the Neanderthal line.

Known as the Neanderthal LH, it is a 4 3/4 x 56 box pressed cigar that Skip describes as “the strongest cigar ever released” from the company. It contains a multi-country blend:

• Wrapper – Mexican San Andrés
• Binder – Connecticut Broadleaf
• Filler – Dominican, Nicaraguan & Pennsylvanian

Priced at $15.00 MSRP and packaged in 15-count boxes, the Neanderthal LH will have a limited production of only 500 boxes each year.

I was smoking the LH during the interview and I have to say, it is a strong one for sure.

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Cromagnon

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Aquitaine

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