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Who Is Ramon Bueso?
Alex_Svenson
Posts: 1,224 ✭✭✭
Gentleman, I wanted you to be the first to hear some very exciting news. For the last decade I have been a veteran of cigar country. While I am always looking out for great tobaccos, I am always looking out for rising stars and under the radar blenders. While 99 out of 100 guys I meet dont impress me to the point that I write about them, I have discovered a true gem which I am helping to bring to market this year. Some of you who have been Cigar.com faithful and forum members may remember a series of articles I wrote about 5 years ago about a name no one had ever heard before... AJ Fernandez, who we helped bring to to the US market by introducing him to various distributors and has become a rising star with his San Lotano among other notables like Diesel and Man O War which where his gateway brands and are a fan favorite. Last year I met a guy named Ramon Bueso who is the first guy that really stirred me up the way AJ did. The funny thing is, he is very different from AJ. He isnt Cuban, he is Honduran, and he isnt young like AJ, he is in his 50's. He brings a very different perspective to cigar making and has a very interesting pedigree. I smoked his blend in the fall last year and his cigar is scheduled for a July launch (the 5th to be exact). I set him up with a distributor and of course, Cigar.com will be have them for sale on day 1. The reason I wanted to bring this up is because Ramon will be at Cigar Fest this year. He was a bit of a last minute exhibitor and he will be handing out his new blend. The brand is called "Genisis The Project". If any of you are headed to cigar fest next week, this is a booth you need to stop by. Since Ramon's english isnt great, he asked me to help out so I will be stationed over there at least for part of the time giving him a hand. I wrote an article that will be running in our July catalog and in an upcoming newsletter about Ramon which is below. Just wanted to give you guys a heads up that are headed to cigar fest, someday you will look back and say I was the first guy to smoke a Ramon Bueso cigar.
ARTICLE
Five years ago, I wrote an article similar to this after my first meeting with AJ Fernandez. AJ thoroughly impressed me and what began with an article unveiling him to the public for the first time, ended with super stardom. The article drew people to AJ to such an extent that today he is a household name for any cigar aficionado. AJ has a reputation for blending some of the industrys greatest cigars and his popularity all started with a simple article. I thought my random chance meeting AJ and discovering a super star blender was a once in a lifetime event; however, on a recent trip to Honduras I encountered another extremely talented tobacco man whos been flying under the radar for four decades! Hes worked in every facet of the cigar industry, from tobacco buyer and processor to blender. So, who is this new mystery tobacco man you need to know about? They call him Ramon Bueso.
In fall 2011, I crossed the border into Honduras, on my way to Danli, and made my usual stop at the Plasencia San Marcos factory. When I arrived, Nestor and I exchanged our usual greetings and I heard someone mention Ramon Bueso was in the back looking at a bale of tobacco. My mind raced back and forth trying to remember where I heard that name before. I thought, Bueso, Bueso Oh yes, thats a cigar I heard people talking about around town. The cigar industry is a small community featuring only a tiny group of well-known cigar makers who have ever penetrated the US market. However, there are many cigar makers and tobacco men throughout Central America whom fame and notoriety have escaped, many times because they dont speak English and found no way to access clients in the States. At Cigar.com, Im always keeping my eye out for talented, overlooked blenders. Unfortunately, 99 times out of 100 I come up empty handed as Im rarely impressed with the individuals I find. But there is always that 1 percent chance that Ill meet someone who really grabs my attention; such was the case with AJ Fernandez and such is the case with Ramon Bueso. So the cigar Ive been hearing about around town was simply called Bueso because it was the cigar Ramon Bueso always enjoyed and one he always kept in his pocket. I ventured into the back of Nestors factory and introduced myself to this mysterious Ramon Bueso character. Fortunately, he offered me a cigar before I had the chance to ask. Upon first inspection, I knew immediately why everyone was falling in love with Ramons cigar; it sports a dark and oily Cuban-seed wrapper grown in Connecticut. This tobacco is a rare prize, found only at a small handful of factories and known for its deep flavor, which is rare for such a heavy leaf thats fermented to such a dark color. Ramon and I enjoyed a coffee as I burned through his treasured blend. I found it exceptional with medium to full-bodied notes of earth, leather and a pleasant spiciness that continued onto the finish. After enjoying the cigar and hearing Ramons story, I knew I needed to get this cigar into United States.
Ramons story is not your usual story of Cuban exile. Currently in his 50s, Ramon was born in Honduras and was brought into the cigar industry in a series of unlikely events that afforded him amazing opportunities. His first memory of tobacco took place on a small plot of land owned by his grandmother, which she leased to Angel Oliva in the 1960s. After the Cuban revolution and the subsequent nationalization, the most notable cigar makers from Vuelta Abajo fled Cuba to continue their passion for tobacco cultivation and cigar creation. Perhaps Honduras was the most popular country these Cuban refugees called their new home. At the time, the tobacco pioneers in Honduras were Angel Oliva, Julio Eiroa and Frank Llaneza, all legends in their own right. Ramons grandmothers farm was essentially ground zero for the growth of Honduran tobacco as we know it. Ramon would spend countless days at the farm, watching the tobacco mature from a small seed to a blooming plant in just 90 days. In the 1970s, at only 15 years of age, Ramon found his first job in the tobacco industry at the now-famed Villazon factory. As a bunchero and roller, Ramon took to cigar making like a duck to water. His ability to quickly learn all the aspects of cigar making didnt go unnoticed. After only two years, Frank Llaneza (the owner of Villazon) took note of Ramons attention to detail and asked for his help with book keeping. Flattered by the offer, Ramon took quick advantage but soon after realized he missed having his hands on the tobacco. He didnt want to be a book keeper. He was a tobacco man. So he spoke with Frank and before long, Ramon became Frank Llanezas right-hand-man in helping as a buyer and processor of tobacco. It was during this time that Ramon started working with another prominent individual, Franks partner Estelo Padron; a name thoroughly known throughout the cigar industry. At their side, Ramon learned some of the oldest traditions in cigar making which Frank and Estelo brought with them from Cuba. Ramon would serve in this capacity until 1995.
Today, Ramon is well-known among tobacco men throughout Latin America but most cigar consumers have never heard his name. After four decades, its time for Ramon Bueso to step out into the spotlight and be recognized for his many talents. As a matter of fact, I, along with my Cigar.com expert staff, am a true believer in Ramon. While Ramons name may not be one youre familiar with now, Im betting his name will be as common as Don Pepin Garcia, AJ Fernandez or Rocky Patel in a short period of time. His first debut in the US market is the very same cigar I enjoyed in Honduras last year but with a new name: Genesis The Project by Ramon Bueso. The cigar has seen limited tastings at consumer events in early 2012; all met with rave reviews, and is making its official debut in July 2012. We believe in Genesis The Project so much that we dedicated a full page to the product in this catalog, something I never let my expert staff do for a brand new line of cigars. Do not miss your chance to say you were one of the first people to discover Ramon Bueso. Pick up some singles or even a box of Genesis The Project; you wont be disappointed. We guarantee it!
ARTICLE
Five years ago, I wrote an article similar to this after my first meeting with AJ Fernandez. AJ thoroughly impressed me and what began with an article unveiling him to the public for the first time, ended with super stardom. The article drew people to AJ to such an extent that today he is a household name for any cigar aficionado. AJ has a reputation for blending some of the industrys greatest cigars and his popularity all started with a simple article. I thought my random chance meeting AJ and discovering a super star blender was a once in a lifetime event; however, on a recent trip to Honduras I encountered another extremely talented tobacco man whos been flying under the radar for four decades! Hes worked in every facet of the cigar industry, from tobacco buyer and processor to blender. So, who is this new mystery tobacco man you need to know about? They call him Ramon Bueso.
In fall 2011, I crossed the border into Honduras, on my way to Danli, and made my usual stop at the Plasencia San Marcos factory. When I arrived, Nestor and I exchanged our usual greetings and I heard someone mention Ramon Bueso was in the back looking at a bale of tobacco. My mind raced back and forth trying to remember where I heard that name before. I thought, Bueso, Bueso Oh yes, thats a cigar I heard people talking about around town. The cigar industry is a small community featuring only a tiny group of well-known cigar makers who have ever penetrated the US market. However, there are many cigar makers and tobacco men throughout Central America whom fame and notoriety have escaped, many times because they dont speak English and found no way to access clients in the States. At Cigar.com, Im always keeping my eye out for talented, overlooked blenders. Unfortunately, 99 times out of 100 I come up empty handed as Im rarely impressed with the individuals I find. But there is always that 1 percent chance that Ill meet someone who really grabs my attention; such was the case with AJ Fernandez and such is the case with Ramon Bueso. So the cigar Ive been hearing about around town was simply called Bueso because it was the cigar Ramon Bueso always enjoyed and one he always kept in his pocket. I ventured into the back of Nestors factory and introduced myself to this mysterious Ramon Bueso character. Fortunately, he offered me a cigar before I had the chance to ask. Upon first inspection, I knew immediately why everyone was falling in love with Ramons cigar; it sports a dark and oily Cuban-seed wrapper grown in Connecticut. This tobacco is a rare prize, found only at a small handful of factories and known for its deep flavor, which is rare for such a heavy leaf thats fermented to such a dark color. Ramon and I enjoyed a coffee as I burned through his treasured blend. I found it exceptional with medium to full-bodied notes of earth, leather and a pleasant spiciness that continued onto the finish. After enjoying the cigar and hearing Ramons story, I knew I needed to get this cigar into United States.
Ramons story is not your usual story of Cuban exile. Currently in his 50s, Ramon was born in Honduras and was brought into the cigar industry in a series of unlikely events that afforded him amazing opportunities. His first memory of tobacco took place on a small plot of land owned by his grandmother, which she leased to Angel Oliva in the 1960s. After the Cuban revolution and the subsequent nationalization, the most notable cigar makers from Vuelta Abajo fled Cuba to continue their passion for tobacco cultivation and cigar creation. Perhaps Honduras was the most popular country these Cuban refugees called their new home. At the time, the tobacco pioneers in Honduras were Angel Oliva, Julio Eiroa and Frank Llaneza, all legends in their own right. Ramons grandmothers farm was essentially ground zero for the growth of Honduran tobacco as we know it. Ramon would spend countless days at the farm, watching the tobacco mature from a small seed to a blooming plant in just 90 days. In the 1970s, at only 15 years of age, Ramon found his first job in the tobacco industry at the now-famed Villazon factory. As a bunchero and roller, Ramon took to cigar making like a duck to water. His ability to quickly learn all the aspects of cigar making didnt go unnoticed. After only two years, Frank Llaneza (the owner of Villazon) took note of Ramons attention to detail and asked for his help with book keeping. Flattered by the offer, Ramon took quick advantage but soon after realized he missed having his hands on the tobacco. He didnt want to be a book keeper. He was a tobacco man. So he spoke with Frank and before long, Ramon became Frank Llanezas right-hand-man in helping as a buyer and processor of tobacco. It was during this time that Ramon started working with another prominent individual, Franks partner Estelo Padron; a name thoroughly known throughout the cigar industry. At their side, Ramon learned some of the oldest traditions in cigar making which Frank and Estelo brought with them from Cuba. Ramon would serve in this capacity until 1995.
Today, Ramon is well-known among tobacco men throughout Latin America but most cigar consumers have never heard his name. After four decades, its time for Ramon Bueso to step out into the spotlight and be recognized for his many talents. As a matter of fact, I, along with my Cigar.com expert staff, am a true believer in Ramon. While Ramons name may not be one youre familiar with now, Im betting his name will be as common as Don Pepin Garcia, AJ Fernandez or Rocky Patel in a short period of time. His first debut in the US market is the very same cigar I enjoyed in Honduras last year but with a new name: Genesis The Project by Ramon Bueso. The cigar has seen limited tastings at consumer events in early 2012; all met with rave reviews, and is making its official debut in July 2012. We believe in Genesis The Project so much that we dedicated a full page to the product in this catalog, something I never let my expert staff do for a brand new line of cigars. Do not miss your chance to say you were one of the first people to discover Ramon Bueso. Pick up some singles or even a box of Genesis The Project; you wont be disappointed. We guarantee it!
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Comments
i want your job.
since i cant have it, im glad you share things like this. I can at least live vicariously through these posts.
is there any hints at what the blending style is all about? what kind of tobacco he prefers to use? flavors he has in all of his cigars?
mmmmm
Thanks for sharing the story and for the head's up on this. I won't be at cfest but will certainly be grabbing some of these. If you can swing a pre-release, count me in for a 5-er.
If not I guess I'll have to wait until July.
* I have a new address as of 3/24/18 *
These sound right up my alley so I'm real anxious to get my hands on a few. If not these pre release samplers then I'll wait till July.
As always thanks for keeping us forum members in the loop.
This is good news and thank you Alex for always looking out for us. I hope I'm lucky enough to get a fiver from here or a sampler. Either way I'm looking forward to it.