On Monday, June 24th, Restaurateur, Author, and Emmy Award winner Guy Fieri had a meet and greet at our Casa de Montecristo store located in Whippany, New Jersey. Guy Fieri was alongside Erik Espinosa of Espinosa Cigars to promote their collaborative endeavor, the “Knuckle Sandwich” cigar.
People attending the event had an opportunity to meet Guy Fieri and get his signature with a purchase of one of three lines the Knuckle Sandwich has to offer. Additionally, people could receive a signature from the Mayor of Flavortown if they purchased a bottle of Santo Tequilla, a collaboration between Sammy Hagar and Guy Fieri.
Before Guy Fieri made his way to the event, his fans were lined up outside the door with anticipation. There was a certain buzz around the lounge with the expectation of one of the most beloved reality TV stars in pop culture.
Once Guy arrived, the place erupted with applause! He basked in the cheering for a moment before he addressed those attending the event. He shared with us his journey to making cigars, specifically finding the right collaborator in Erik Espinosa. Guy stated that it was after he received his star on the Walk of Fame that he was eager to make a name for himself in the cigar industry.
He had a few rules before plunging into a very competitive and extensive industry. “First and foremost, I did not want to make a celebrity cigar. I wanted to make cigars for the novices, aficionados, and myself. I wanted to create a blend that I’ve enjoyed smoking for the last three decades” Guy states.
When the process came to picking the perfect master blender to team up with, Guy’s quest was a hard one, but eventually his path crossed with Erik Espinosa. Erik has created some delicious blends such as Espinosa Laranja Reserva, 601 La Bomba, and Murcielago. With other manufacturers and cigar insiders telling Guy that Erik Espinosa was one of the best blenders in the industry, it was a no-brainer for Guy and Erik to team up. Another advantage Guy was able to capitalize on was having his Knuckle Sandwich line blended and manufactured at AJ Fernandez’s San Lotano Factory in Nicaragua.
As the night went on, Guy and Erik greeted over 300 people, signing memorabilia, taking pictures with fans, and being as charismatic as ever! We were fortunate to have Guy Fieri and Erik Espinosa at our Whippany store and to conduct an exciting and fun event like this one. If you’re a fan of medium-bodied cigars that feature tobacco from Nicaragua, then the Knuckle Sandwich is the cigar for you!
