Box Press

Great specs make you see the world a little clearer, yes? Rafael Nodal, visionary in the world of small-batch cigars for Aging Room, says that the cigar lounge is a laboratory for democracy. How can you enjoy a great cigar with a fellow smoker who might be a little right or left for your taste? You must hone the skill of respectful communication. Listening with civility encourages those rich conversations, like this cigar talk with Boveda's Drew Emmer. Freedom to create is one reason this Cuban-born cigar maestro is proud to be in America. In 1980, Rafael Nodal left Cuba when he was 15 with his mother, father and younger sister. They boarded a 50-foot-long shrimping boat with 300 others. Through storms, the trip, which normally takes 12 hours, took four days. The love of his adopted country comes through in this Box Press episode as well as in the newly released VegaFina Patriot cigar, which is exclusive to the U.S cigar market with a limited-release of 1,776 numbered boxes. What is Boveda? Premium cigar ma