Big Smoke 2022

Krieg

Anyone besides myself go to the Big Smoke out in Vegas?

Yakster

Sounds like fun, but I'm going to miss it.

Krieg

It was last weekend, I just got back in town. My first time going. Just wondering if anyone else went and what their impressions were.

Amos_Umwhat

What were your impressions? I'd never heard of it, but that's not saying much.

Krieg

The Big Smoke is Cigar Afcionado's big cigar convention. It's been going on since the 90's. I bought tickets for myself and a buddy and we flew out there, it was def a bucket list item for both of us and been wanting to do it for awhile. It was great fun, except the waiting in the La Palina line, I had to go off on that dude, that **** was ridiculous. We got the VIP passes for Friday evening w/ Saturday seminars. VIP basically means we get in an hour earlier than general admission. Considering how long the lines got, it was worth it. Went around and got about 35 cigars. Nish Patel was super cool, we talked to him for a bit and my buddy was actually smoking the same cigar he was and he thought that was awesome and gave him some extra smokes. I then had to show him my humidor w/ my RP stuff and my RP decorations, they thought that was awesome too and give me some extra sticks. Rocky and Nish were super nice. I met Mr. Fuente also, he was nice, but seemed really tired (or hungover) lol. The 2nd day was cool too. After the morning breakfast We smoked the Padron 1964 Anniv. Natural Torpedo (#1 Cigar of the Year) and paired it with the #1 Whiskey of the Year, the Lagavulin 11 year Scotch. It was an incredible pairing actually. Even though it was 9am and we were drinking Scotch and smoking a full bodied cigar, it was amazing. I took some pics and I will try to either share out the album or post them in this thread.

Here is some links too:

https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/2022-big-smoke-las-vegas-seminars-thirty-years-of-cigar-aficionado-1

https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/the-2022-big-smoke-las-vegas-evenings

https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/2022-big-smoke-las-vegas-seminars-welcome-to-the-jungle-cameroon-seminar

https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/2022-big-smoke-las-vegas-seminars-no-2-and-no-3-cigars-of-2021