🗓 Wed 2pm ET / 8pm CET ⏰
www.lightemupworld.com/lounge
Melissa Meerapfel is an 11th generation member of a storied tobacco family, alongside her brothers Jeremiah and Joshua.
For Melissa, cigars have always been more than just mere products of pleasure:
„They’re a connection to my family and a reflection of cherished memories, bridges that connected me to my father, whose entire life was intertwined with cigar craftsmanship.
Today, I’m passionate about sharing the art of cigar appreciation with seasoned connoisseurs and people who are new to this mystical product alike.“
This week, we’re beyond excited to welcome Melissa at the Light ’em Up Lounge as our guest of honor.
Please be most cordially invited to join us live, where we will discuss:
family legacy
the art of cigar appreciation
growing up in a tobacco dynasty
As always, we are looking forward to seeing you all in person via Zoom, or on Facebook live.
🗓 Wed 2pm ET / 8pm CET ⏰
www.lightemupworld.com/lounge
Laurel Tilley has worked in the cigar industry for over 12 years, getting her start in tobacco retail and now on board with AJ Fernandez Cigar Company in brand development. Her primary role is connecting with consumers and educating on tobacco and the AJ brands. Laurel has a profound passion for cigars and the community they create, which she translates into her daily work and communication.
This week, we’re delighted to welcome Laurel at the Light ’em Up Lounge as our guest of honor.
Please be most cordially invited to join us live, where we will discuss:
changing consumer behaviours
the success story of AJ Fernandez
tobacco retail, brand development, and continued growth
As always, we are looking forward to seeing you all in person via Zoom, or on Facebook live.
🗓 Wed 2pm ET / 8pm CET ⏰
www.lightemupworld.com/lounge
Robert Glick is a internationally recognized artist who’s medium is exclusively cigar bands.
He has recently been featured in both Cigar Journal and Cigar Snob Magazines and was a recipient of The Cigar Trophy Award for his exceptional art by Cigar Journal Magazine during this year’s Intertabc.
This week, we’re delighted to welcome Robert at the Light ’em Up Lounge as our guest of honor.
Please be most cordially invited to join us live, where we will discuss:
art and cigars
the magic of the cigar ring
transforming everyday things into the extraordinary
As always, we are looking forward to seeing you all in person via Zoom, or on Facebook live.
🗓 Wed 2pm ET / 8pm CET ⏰
www.lightemupworld.com/lounge
John Peter Laurendi, the inventive founder of the luxury lifestyle brand Peter James Co., has adeptly bridged the gap between the prosaic and the opulent. His mission is to craft ordinary items into objects of desire with the precision of an entrepreneur and the creative flair of an artist. Peter James Co.‘s offerings echo sophistication and elegance similar to the old-European luxury world.
Laurendi’s vision is to become a game-changer in the luxury market, creating a brand where products are not merely possessed but intimately felt.
More than a mere company founder, he is a steward of style and a sage of the finer things in life, ensuring that each product stamped with the Peter James name is peerless.
John Peter Laurendi’s moniker signifies more than a brand—it epitomizes a lifestyle of tastefulness.
This week, we’re delighted to welcome John Peter at the Light ’em Up Lounge as our guest of honor.
Please be most cordially invited to join us live, where we will discuss:
appreciating the finer things in life
building a luxury brand
transforming ordinary items into objects of desire
As always, we are looking forward to seeing you all in person via Zoom, or on Facebook live.
2023 Year in Review - Cigar Industry Panel Discussion
🗓 Wed 2pm ET / 8pm CET ⏰
www.lightemupworld.com/lounge
2023 is almost over. Time to take a look back at some of the highlights of the year, discuss the current state of the cigar world and take a look into the crystal ball of premium cigars.
Together with some of the industry’s most seasoned opinion-leaders and experienced icons we want to host an inspiring panel discussion.
Please be most cordially invited to join us live, where we will discuss:
what has been
what is
what will be
As always, we are looking forward to seeing you all in person via Zoom, or on Facebook live.
please be most cordially invited to our annual Light 'em Up Lounge Christmas Special with the icons of the premium cigar world!
🗓 Wed 2pm EST / 8pm CET ⏰
🎄 It’s beginning to look a lot like CIGAR-CHRISTMAS with the most enlightened Christmas celebration of 2023:
👉 Join us for the most festive and joyful Cigar Christmas Celebration, together with the legends of the premium cigar world and our Light 'em Up lounge family.
Together, we want to share some holiday cheer and a sprinkle of magic with the cigar community all around the globe.
We’re grateful to have shared so many delightful occasions and memories with you all. Let's celebrate together and light 'em up for the holiday!
As always, we are looking forward to welcoming you all in person via Zoom, or on Facebook live.
🗓 Wed 2pm ET / 8pm CET ⏰
www.lightemupworld.com/lounge
Andrew, who grew up in England and moved to the U.S. as a teenager, had a successful career in the entertainment industry.
Savouring cigars was always a calming and peaceful moment after a long, intense show or day at work. One thing he always looked for whilst touring was to find a cigar lounge to meet new and interesting people from all around the world.
Passion and his relentless commitment to learn led him to grow his own tobacco in St. Louis and eventually to become part of the premium cigar industry, during the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Today, Andrew serves as the National Sales Manager for the thriving Lampert Cigars brand.
It is with great pleasure and pride that we welcome Andrew to the Light’em Up Lounge.
Please be most cordially invited to join us live.
As always, we are looking forward to seeing you all in person via Zoom, or on Facebook live.
🗓 Wed 2pm ET / 8pm CET ⏰
www.lightemupworld.com/lounge
Chateau Diadem was founded by Emily Sahakian and Thierry Farah, two cousins with a long history in the cigar business. Through their common passion and desire to share their love for cigars, they joined forces once again to realise their dream of manufacturing their own cigars. As a young brand, it’s been an exciting journey in entrepreneurship with many adventures and challenges.
With just over one year on the market, they’re already present in over 20 countries and are ambitious about their goals to expand.
It is with great pleasure that we welcome Emily and Thierry as our guests of honor.
Please be most cordially invited to join us live.
As always, we are looking forward to seeing you all in person via Zoom, or on Facebook live.
Please be invited to this week's Light 'em Up Lounge with:
Mike Copperman, Cigar Rights Of America.
🗓 WED 2pm EDT / 8pm CET ⏰
Mike Copperman, Executive Director of Cigar Rights of America, has dedicated the bulk of his professional career to the premium cigar industry. Rooted in his profound passion for cigars, Mike not only cherishes the enjoyment and camaraderie a great cigar imparts, but he also champions their protection from undue government intervention. His passion drives his advocacy efforts, ensuring the industry's lasting success and prosperity.
"Cigars are more than just a smoke; they're a shared experience, a moment of camaraderie that transcends boundaries. We must safeguard this tradition, for in preserving the cigar industry, we uphold not just a product but a cherished bond that unites people across cultures and generations."
It is with great pleasure that we welcome Mike together with all of you at the Light ’em Up Lounge.
Please be most cordially invited to join us live.
As always, we are looking forward to your questions in person via Zoom, or on Facebook live.
Nick Melillo - Foundation Cigar Co.
🗓 WED 2pm EDT / 8pm CET ⏰
Foundation Cigar Co’s founder and master blender, Nicholas Melillo, has traveled the world procuring tobacco, toiled in factories overseeing production, and blended an array of highly esteemed cigars.
With over 20 years of love and dedication for the premium cigar industry, he merges old traditions with modern-day styles, offering a unique flavour through his Foundation cigar brand.
We will talk about his latest creations and his lifelong quest to preserve Connecticut’s rich tobacco heritage.
It is with great pleasure that we welcome Nick together with all of you at the Light ’em Up Lounge this week.
As always, we are looking forward to your questions in person via Zoom, or on Facebook live.
🗓 Wed 2pm ET / 8pm CET ⏰
www.lightemupworld.com/lounge
⚠️ The show will be broadcast on YOUTUBE live! ⚠️
IGM Cigars is a true family business with Cuban roots, established in 2001, in San José, Costa Rica.
Aaron, director of production and sales for IGM, is not only proud of the award-winning boutique cigars produced under his helm, but particularly of the exquisite Costa Rican tobacco his family grows in the mountainous region of Santa Marta de Puriscal.
He describes their farm as the only active tobacco plantation in the country as of today.
It is with great pleasure that we welcome Aaron together with all of you at the Light ’em Up Lounge. Please be most cordially invited to join us.
Nick Melillo - Foundation Cigar Co.
🗓 WED 2pm EDT / 8pm CET ⏰
...
Foundation Cigar Co’s founder and master blender, Nicholas Melillo, has traveled the world procuring tobacco, toiled in factories overseeing production, and blended an array of highly esteemed cigars.
With over 20 years of love and dedication for the premium cigar industry, he merges old traditions with modern-day styles, offering a unique flavour through his Foundation cigar brand.
We will talk about his latest creations and his lifelong quest to preserve Connecticut’s rich tobacco heritage.
...
Join us on Zoom vHerf (Meeting # 2619860114 Password vHerf2020 )
🗓 Wed 2pm ET / 8pm CET ⏰
www.lightemupworld.com/lounge
⚠️ The show will be broadcast on YOUTUBE live! ⚠️
Founded by two passionate cigar entrepreneurs based in California, Sinistro Cigars has firmly established itself as an acclaimed boutique brand.
Coleman and James bring their combined experience to the table, having explored both the brand ownership as well as retail worlds, having operated stores across California.
With over ten years in the business, Sinister Cigars enjoys continued growth and recognition, both in the United States and internationally.
It is with great pleasure that we welcome Coleman and James together with you all at the Light ’em Up Lounge. Please be most cordially invited to join us.
Comments
This week at Light 'em Up Lounge:
Melissa Meerapfel - THE SELECTION
🗓 Wed 2pm ET / 8pm CET ⏰
www.lightemupworld.com/lounge
Melissa Meerapfel is an 11th generation member of a storied tobacco family, alongside her brothers Jeremiah and Joshua.
For Melissa, cigars have always been more than just mere products of pleasure:
„They’re a connection to my family and a reflection of cherished memories, bridges that connected me to my father, whose entire life was intertwined with cigar craftsmanship.
Today, I’m passionate about sharing the art of cigar appreciation with seasoned connoisseurs and people who are new to this mystical product alike.“
This week, we’re beyond excited to welcome Melissa at the Light ’em Up Lounge as our guest of honor.
Please be most cordially invited to join us live, where we will discuss:
As always, we are looking forward to seeing you all in person via Zoom, or on Facebook live.
To enter the lounge: https://zoom.us/j/547920250
Meeting-ID: 547 920 250
Your host,
Reinhard Pohorec
This week at Light ‚em Up Lounge:
Laurel Tilley - AJ Fernandez
🗓 Wed 2pm ET / 8pm CET ⏰
www.lightemupworld.com/lounge
Laurel Tilley has worked in the cigar industry for over 12 years, getting her start in tobacco retail and now on board with AJ Fernandez Cigar Company in brand development. Her primary role is connecting with consumers and educating on tobacco and the AJ brands. Laurel has a profound passion for cigars and the community they create, which she translates into her daily work and communication.
This week, we’re delighted to welcome Laurel at the Light ’em Up Lounge as our guest of honor.
Please be most cordially invited to join us live, where we will discuss:
As always, we are looking forward to seeing you all in person via Zoom, or on Facebook live.
To enter the lounge:
https://zoom.us/j/547920250
Meeting-ID: 547 920 250
Facebook Live archived videos of past events: https://www.facebook.com/lightemupworld/videos
Your host,
Reinhard Pohorec
I know her... she went to university here and worked at a downtown tobacco shop for a while. Good person and knows her stuff when it comes to tobacco.
This week at Light ‚em Up Lounge:
Robert Glick - Art de Fumar
🗓 Wed 2pm ET / 8pm CET ⏰
www.lightemupworld.com/lounge
Robert Glick is a internationally recognized artist who’s medium is exclusively cigar bands.
He has recently been featured in both Cigar Journal and Cigar Snob Magazines and was a recipient of The Cigar Trophy Award for his exceptional art by Cigar Journal Magazine during this year’s Intertabc.
This week, we’re delighted to welcome Robert at the Light ’em Up Lounge as our guest of honor.
Please be most cordially invited to join us live, where we will discuss:
As always, we are looking forward to seeing you all in person via Zoom, or on Facebook live.
To enter the lounge:
https://zoom.us/j/547920250
Meeting-ID: 547 920 250
Facebook Live archived videos of past events: https://www.facebook.com/lightemupworld/videos
Your host,
Reinhard Pohorec
This week at the Light ’em Up Lounge:
John Peter Laurendi - Peter James Co.
🗓 Wed 2pm ET / 8pm CET ⏰
www.lightemupworld.com/lounge
John Peter Laurendi, the inventive founder of the luxury lifestyle brand Peter James Co., has adeptly bridged the gap between the prosaic and the opulent. His mission is to craft ordinary items into objects of desire with the precision of an entrepreneur and the creative flair of an artist. Peter James Co.‘s offerings echo sophistication and elegance similar to the old-European luxury world.
Laurendi’s vision is to become a game-changer in the luxury market, creating a brand where products are not merely possessed but intimately felt.
More than a mere company founder, he is a steward of style and a sage of the finer things in life, ensuring that each product stamped with the Peter James name is peerless.
John Peter Laurendi’s moniker signifies more than a brand—it epitomizes a lifestyle of tastefulness.
This week, we’re delighted to welcome John Peter at the Light ’em Up Lounge as our guest of honor.
Please be most cordially invited to join us live, where we will discuss:
As always, we are looking forward to seeing you all in person via Zoom, or on Facebook live.
To enter the lounge:
https://zoom.us/j/547920250
Meeting-ID: 547 920 250
Facebook Live archived videos of past events: https://www.facebook.com/lightemupworld/videos
Your host,
Reinhard Pohorec
I think this one is going to be a pass for me.
Logo is not all that different from:
This week at the Light ‘em Up Lounge:
2023 Year in Review - Cigar Industry Panel Discussion
🗓 Wed 2pm ET / 8pm CET ⏰
www.lightemupworld.com/lounge
2023 is almost over. Time to take a look back at some of the highlights of the year, discuss the current state of the cigar world and take a look into the crystal ball of premium cigars.
Together with some of the industry’s most seasoned opinion-leaders and experienced icons we want to host an inspiring panel discussion.
Please be most cordially invited to join us live, where we will discuss:
As always, we are looking forward to seeing you all in person via Zoom, or on Facebook live.
To enter the lounge:
https://zoom.us/j/547920250
Meeting-ID: 547 920 250
Facebook Live archived videos of past events: https://www.facebook.com/lightemupworld/videos
Your host,
Reinhard Pohorec
Our dear friend,
please be most cordially invited to our annual Light 'em Up Lounge Christmas Special with the icons of the premium cigar world!
🗓 Wed 2pm EST / 8pm CET ⏰
🎄 It’s beginning to look a lot like CIGAR-CHRISTMAS with the most enlightened Christmas celebration of 2023:
👉 Join us for the most festive and joyful Cigar Christmas Celebration, together with the legends of the premium cigar world and our Light 'em Up lounge family.
Together, we want to share some holiday cheer and a sprinkle of magic with the cigar community all around the globe.
We’re grateful to have shared so many delightful occasions and memories with you all. Let's celebrate together and light 'em up for the holiday!
As always, we are looking forward to welcoming you all in person via Zoom, or on Facebook live.
To enter the lounge:
https://zoom.us/j/547920250
Meeting-ID: 547 920 250
Facebook Live archived videos of past events: https://www.facebook.com/lightemupworld/videos
Your host,
Reinhard Pohorec
This week at the Light 'em Up Lounge:
Andrew Rock - Lampert Cigars
🗓 Wed 2pm ET / 8pm CET ⏰
www.lightemupworld.com/lounge
Andrew, who grew up in England and moved to the U.S. as a teenager, had a successful career in the entertainment industry.
Savouring cigars was always a calming and peaceful moment after a long, intense show or day at work. One thing he always looked for whilst touring was to find a cigar lounge to meet new and interesting people from all around the world.
Passion and his relentless commitment to learn led him to grow his own tobacco in St. Louis and eventually to become part of the premium cigar industry, during the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Today, Andrew serves as the National Sales Manager for the thriving Lampert Cigars brand.
It is with great pleasure and pride that we welcome Andrew to the Light’em Up Lounge.
Please be most cordially invited to join us live.
As always, we are looking forward to seeing you all in person via Zoom, or on Facebook live.
To enter the lounge:
https://zoom.us/j/547920250
Meeting-ID: 547 920 250
Facebook Live archived videos of past events: https://www.facebook.com/lightemupworld/videos
Your host,
Reinhard Pohorec
This week at the Light ‘em Up Lounge:
Emily Sahakian and Thierry Farah - Chateau Diadem
🗓 Wed 2pm ET / 8pm CET ⏰
www.lightemupworld.com/lounge
Chateau Diadem was founded by Emily Sahakian and Thierry Farah, two cousins with a long history in the cigar business. Through their common passion and desire to share their love for cigars, they joined forces once again to realise their dream of manufacturing their own cigars. As a young brand, it’s been an exciting journey in entrepreneurship with many adventures and challenges.
With just over one year on the market, they’re already present in over 20 countries and are ambitious about their goals to expand.
It is with great pleasure that we welcome Emily and Thierry as our guests of honor.
Please be most cordially invited to join us live.
As always, we are looking forward to seeing you all in person via Zoom, or on Facebook live.
To enter the lounge:
https://zoom.us/j/547920250
Meeting-ID: 547 920 250
Facebook Live archived videos of past events: https://www.facebook.com/lightemupworld/videos
Your host,
Reinhard Pohorec
This one might be interesting.
Please be invited to this week's Light 'em Up Lounge with:
Mike Copperman, Cigar Rights Of America.
🗓 WED 2pm EDT / 8pm CET ⏰
Mike Copperman, Executive Director of Cigar Rights of America, has dedicated the bulk of his professional career to the premium cigar industry. Rooted in his profound passion for cigars, Mike not only cherishes the enjoyment and camaraderie a great cigar imparts, but he also champions their protection from undue government intervention. His passion drives his advocacy efforts, ensuring the industry's lasting success and prosperity.
"Cigars are more than just a smoke; they're a shared experience, a moment of camaraderie that transcends boundaries. We must safeguard this tradition, for in preserving the cigar industry, we uphold not just a product but a cherished bond that unites people across cultures and generations."
It is with great pleasure that we welcome Mike together with all of you at the Light ’em Up Lounge.
Please be most cordially invited to join us live.
As always, we are looking forward to your questions in person via Zoom, or on Facebook live.
To enter the lounge:
https://zoom.us/j/547920250
Meeting-ID: 547 920 250
Facebook Live archived videos of past events: https://www.facebook.com/lightemupworld/videos
Your host,
Reinhard Pohorec
This one might be interesting.
Nick Melillo - Foundation Cigar Co.
🗓 WED 2pm EDT / 8pm CET ⏰
Foundation Cigar Co’s founder and master blender, Nicholas Melillo, has traveled the world procuring tobacco, toiled in factories overseeing production, and blended an array of highly esteemed cigars.
With over 20 years of love and dedication for the premium cigar industry, he merges old traditions with modern-day styles, offering a unique flavour through his Foundation cigar brand.
We will talk about his latest creations and his lifelong quest to preserve Connecticut’s rich tobacco heritage.
It is with great pleasure that we welcome Nick together with all of you at the Light ’em Up Lounge this week.
As always, we are looking forward to your questions in person via Zoom, or on Facebook live.
To enter the lounge:
https://zoom.us/j/547920250
Meeting-ID: 547 920 250
Facebook Live archived videos of past events: https://www.facebook.com/lightemupworld/videos
Your host,
Reinhard Pohorec
Melillo has been diagnosed w/ pneumonia and won't be on the Zoom call today.
It was still a good conversation talking about cigars in general... except for some pompous asss from Cali.
This week at the Light ’em Up Lounge:
Aaron Ortiz Martínez - IGM Cigars and Tobacco
🗓 Wed 2pm ET / 8pm CET ⏰
www.lightemupworld.com/lounge
⚠️ The show will be broadcast on YOUTUBE live! ⚠️
IGM Cigars is a true family business with Cuban roots, established in 2001, in San José, Costa Rica.
Aaron, director of production and sales for IGM, is not only proud of the award-winning boutique cigars produced under his helm, but particularly of the exquisite Costa Rican tobacco his family grows in the mountainous region of Santa Marta de Puriscal.
He describes their farm as the only active tobacco plantation in the country as of today.
It is with great pleasure that we welcome Aaron together with all of you at the Light ’em Up Lounge. Please be most cordially invited to join us.
To enter the lounge:
https://zoom.us/j/547920250
Meeting-ID: 547 920 250
Youtube Live:
https://www.youtube.com/@lightemupworld7017
Facebook Live archived videos of past events: https://www.facebook.com/lightemupworld/videos
Your host,
Reinhard Pohorec
Nick Melillo - Foundation Cigar Co.
🗓 WED 2pm EDT / 8pm CET ⏰
...
Foundation Cigar Co’s founder and master blender, Nicholas Melillo, has traveled the world procuring tobacco, toiled in factories overseeing production, and blended an array of highly esteemed cigars.
With over 20 years of love and dedication for the premium cigar industry, he merges old traditions with modern-day styles, offering a unique flavour through his Foundation cigar brand.
We will talk about his latest creations and his lifelong quest to preserve Connecticut’s rich tobacco heritage.
...
This week's show was pretty good so far, watching the replay. I'm a fan of Fosforo cigars.
Jeff Mouttet from Riverside Cigar Shop & Lounge and Fosforo Cigars live at the Light 'em Up Lounge
https://www.youtube.com/live/1o0rXHV_m8M?feature=shared
This week at the Light ’em Up Lounge:
Coleman Fine & James Agopian - Sinistro Cigars
🗓 Wed 2pm ET / 8pm CET ⏰
www.lightemupworld.com/lounge
⚠️ The show will be broadcast on YOUTUBE live! ⚠️
Founded by two passionate cigar entrepreneurs based in California, Sinistro Cigars has firmly established itself as an acclaimed boutique brand.
Coleman and James bring their combined experience to the table, having explored both the brand ownership as well as retail worlds, having operated stores across California.
With over ten years in the business, Sinister Cigars enjoys continued growth and recognition, both in the United States and internationally.
It is with great pleasure that we welcome Coleman and James together with you all at the Light ’em Up Lounge. Please be most cordially invited to join us.
To enter the lounge: https://zoom.us/j/547920250
Meeting-ID: 547 920 250
Youtube Live: https://www.youtube.com/@lightemupworld7017
Facebook Live archived videos of past events: https://www.facebook.com/lightemupworld/videos
Your host,
Reinhard Pohorec