SmokeScore.com

10 Questions with Pete Johnson

May 11, 2009 Interviews

As we kicked around some options for our first interview here at SmokeScore, the same name kept coming up.

There is nobody hotter in the cigar business right now than Pete Johnson. Almost everyone I’ve met in the cigar business has a Pete Johnson story. It almost always involved what a down to earth and friendly guy his is as well as how great his smokes are. Whatever Pete is doing, he certainly has the golden touch. His products are among the most sought after by Cigar smokers. We recently reviewed two Pete Johnson smokes and loved both of them.

Pete currently maintains the following brands:

Tatuaje Series P
Tatuaje Havana VI
Tatuaje Selección del Cazador
Tatuaje Private Reserve
Tatuaje Monster Series
Cabaiguan
La Riqueza
El Triunfador
Ambos Mundos
Nuevitas Jibaro

For all these reasons, we decided that our first interview would be Pete Johnson of Tatuaje Cigars.

And now, 10 Questions with Pete Johnson:

SmokeScore: On our website, we just reviewed the Noella Reserva which we absolutely loved. We are going to be reviewing the Regio reserva next week and I’m really looking forward to that. Can you share with our readers if you have any other one-offs or special releases like those planned in the near future?

Pete Johnson: Don’t really have anything planned, It just kinda comes to me in the middle of the night. I might be doing some small batch items for a few good retailers. We’ll see.

SmokeScore: You and the Pepin family certainly seem to have a chemistry between you that has resulted in some amazing projects. When did you first meet them and did you know right away they were the ones you were looking for?

Pete Johnson: I met Pepin in 2003 and when I met his whole family and saw the love and attention they were giving my first production, I knew I would be with them for a long time. I am very loyal to them. Hard not to be when they make my cigars so special.
SmokeScore: You’ve said many times that you still believe Cuba is the “wheel” in terms of cigar production. With the tensions between The U.S. and Cuba loosening, do you see a day in the near future where you’ll be competing directly with Cuban brands in the U.S. marketplace?

Pete Johnson: I don’t believe we will be seeing that anytime soon.
SmokeScore: How are things coming along with the International distribution project?

Pete Johnson: The international project is coming along great. I just finished the blend and the packaging for a new El Triunfador for international only. I not sure but I’ll probably end up making it for the states also. It’s milder but it still has flavor.
SmokeScore: It seems like everything you’ve touched recently has turned to gold, but I’m sure there has to be some projects that you wish you could have taken back or not gotten started at all. Any you’d like to share?

Pete Johnson: I had one called Nuevitas that I did with another company and they could never produce enough for me. I decided to scrap the line with them and maybe bring it back in the future with Pepin. People are still asking for it.
SmokeScore: What was the last cigar you smoked that made you jealous or say, “Damn, I wish I made that”?

Pete Johnson: The last cigar I smoked like that was one of mine. Seriously I took the band off and I was talking and forgot what I was smoking. I was hanging out with a group and said that some cigar in the group smelled amazing. I realized it was mine. The funny thing was they all were smoking Tatuaje products.
SmokeScore: I’m going to take up the cause started by Doc Stogie Fresh and ask you about manufacturer information. It seems that while the wine industry goes out of its way to inform customers about their products, most cigar manufacturers give little to no information about brands, blends or process. I admire the fact that you even provide box dates on your products. Why do you think that you’re the exception rather than the norm?

Pete Johnson: I just like talking about it. I always wanted to know about all the other cigars when I was first working in the business. I believe that there should be some rules or guidelines that we have to follow. There are some things I won’t tell but most I will.
SmokeScore: I understand you also enjoy a good bottle of wine. What have you been drinking recently?

Pete Johnson: I love anything from Bordeaux. Especially Saint Emilion and Pomerol.
SmokeScore: What’s your stance on cork vs. synthetic vs. screwcap?

Pete Johnson: I like tradition and the old school cork it the way to go. More issues with it but I don’t mind the risk.
SmokeScore: Where do you see Tatuaje in 5 years?

Pete Johnson: I see me still here smoking and still enjoying the industry. The government is trying to destroy us. We as cigar smoker’s have a tough battle but I think we will survive.
Thank you so much, Pete. We appreciate your time and we look forward to more great things from you in the future.

Related posts:

1. An Important Message from Pete Johnson Dear Valued Customers and Friends of Tatuaje, I wanted to...
2. 10 Questions with Rocky Patel As our final interview for 2009, we are pleased...
3. COMING SOON – Exclusive Rocky Patel Interview SmokeScore is happy to announce that we’ve been in...
4. Tatuaje Monster Series 2009 – Drac Tonight’s review is the Tatuaje Monster Series Drac. The...

Tags: 10 questions, Pete Johnson