How did you get into the cigar business?
I started El Mago Cigars in an attempt to turn a tragedy into a tribute. My grandparents, Maria and Gonzalo Torre, passed away in the Champlain Towers building collapse in Surfside, Florida, in 2021, and I wanted to create something to honor them after their passing. I chose to make what I call a “glorified arts and crafts project,” a box of 10 cigars with my grandparents’ picture on it for my mom.
I chose cigars because my grandfather, being from Cuba, smoked often and introduced me to cigars when I was 16. We would smoke together often in the company of our family over lunch or dinner and my grandmother stayed close by because she loved the aroma of the cigars.
After that gift, my mom encouraged me to create a brand to honor them and share their life story, which entails a journey through five countries (Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Canada, Venezuela and finally Miami in the U.S.). I named the company El Mago by combining the first two letters of my grandparents’ names.
How do you approach creating a new blend for El Mago?
A lot of thought is put into each of our blends and the same goes for our packaging. When creating a new blend, we make sure to try many different blends and manipulate percentages, always on a clean palate, until we find something that is truly unique. There are many different factors we consider during the sampling process, but overall, we want the blend to be delicious. A great indication of a delicious blend is when people start fighting over who gets to smoke the last sample.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received? How did it change your outlook?
The best piece of advice that I have received was from my grandparents. They always told me to bet on and believe in myself. Their consistent encouragement and motivation is what sparked my entrepreneurial spirit and gave me the courage to start my own cigar company at 22 years old.
What will El Mago look like in five years?
My goal with El Mago Cigars is to continue sharing my grandparents’ story with people from all walks of life and all parts of the world. I plan to continue growing our footprint, while maintaining a high-quality product and packaging that can complement the amazing story of my grandparents’ lives. I also anticipate many new exciting releases to accommodate the preferences of all cigar smokers.
If you had to recommend one book to someone, what would it be and why?
One book I would recommend is Good Energy by Casey Means. I believe that the biggest form of wealth is your health, which is why I smoke cigars, eat clean, and stay active. This book gives valuable information on how to maximize your health and quality of life through your diet and lifestyle.
This story first appeared in PCA The Magazine, Volume 3, 2024. To receive a copy of this magazine you must be a current member of PCA. Join or renew today at premiumcigars.org/membership.