This year marked the sixth straight Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival event covered by Cigar Dojo, dating back nearly as long as Cigar Dojo has been in existence (the Dojo first launched in early 2012). This shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, with the annual event (now in its nineth consecutive year) being held in Broomfield, Colorado, roughly 50 minutes from Cigar Dojo’s own home base.
For the fifth year running, Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival (RMCF) was held at the the Omni Interlocken Hotel, a resort-like atmoshphere, complete with a 27-hole championship golf course, pool-side bar, and other amenities. Traditionally, there are other “mini events” held on the days leading up to RMCF, usually beginning as early as Thursday (with the event held on Saturday).
This year, aside from the regular shop events held at the various locations in the area and hosted by cigar personalities such Nick Melillo (Foundation Cigar Co.) and Terence Reilly (Aganorsa Leaf), Cigar Dojo hosted its own pre-event party at Dojo Studios, following the release of the Dojo/Espinosa Feng Shui collaboration on Thursday afternoon. Not only did multiple members of the Cigar Dojo app make the trip from every corner of the country, but the Dojo hosted prominent members of the industry as well. This included Steve Saka (Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust), Terence Reilly, Max Fernández (Aganorsa Leaf), Claudio Sgroi (Mombacho), Tom Lazuka (Asylum Cigars), Glynn Loope (Cigar Rights of America), and the event co-host, Erik Espinosa (Espinosa Premium Cigars), among others. More detailed information can be found in our special edition episode of Smoke Night Live, featuring many of the aforementioned guests.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on InstagramThe Dojo after party cornhole tournament was dominated by Erik Espinosa and Tom Lazuka. #bcuzcigars
But Feng Shui was not the only Cigar Dojo release over the weekend. The following day, the long-awaited return of the Undercrown Dojo Dogma—a collaboration between Drew Estate and Cigar Dojo—was formally released for the first time since its original sale in 2014. The return of the Dogma was first announced one week before the annual IPCPR trade show in July and became available to RMCF attendees before anyone else in the country. The cigars were sold on Friday night, during Drew Estate’s annual Drew Estate Mega HERF, an event that typically signals the official start to the RMCF festivities. Any remaining Dogma bundles were then made available to all guests that attended RMCF on Saturday (the cigars became available to all other DE Diplomat retailers within the next two to three days).
The Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival itself kicked off on August 25th, with VIP guests being admitted an hour before general admission (only 340 VIP tickets are sold). These guests are afforded easy access face time with a stocked lineup of the industry’s top cigar personalities (which is worth it if only to make it through Drew Estate’s booth (hello Manifestos and Liga As) before the line begins wrapping around the building). VIP guests are also given an extra, more premium selection of cigars in the included gift bags, as well as access to the VIP covered lounge (again, almost worth the price of admission to get out of that high-altitude sun).
But general admission guests have their fair share of goodies as well, with 20 cigars included, various accessories, and food and drink tickets. RMCF is somewhat unique in that Colorado is one of the nation’s largest and most enthusiastic beer meccas, with tons of local breweries and distilleries in attendance.
And so it begins, Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival 2018 — and this is just the pre-event guests! #rockymountaincigarfestival2018 #rmcf2018 pic.twitter.com/BGeqsS1WWP
— Cigar Dojo (@CigarDojo) August 25, 2018
General admission. There’s blood in the water 🦈 #rockymountaincigarfest2018 #rmcf2018 pic.twitter.com/0ALSrrOquY
— Cigar Dojo (@CigarDojo) August 25, 2018
Some familiar faces at #rockymountaincigarfest2018 pic.twitter.com/VFnqmdywvq
— Cigar Dojo (@CigarDojo) August 25, 2018
View this post on InstagramWhat an awesome time at the Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival. #cigarsnobmag #cigarsnoblife #rmcf2018
View this post on Instagram
Skate or die. @room101brand @rmcigarfestival #bcuzcigars pic.twitter.com/6QJrVF5PG7
— Cigar Dojo (@CigarDojo) August 25, 2018
View this post on Instagram
I love the picture behind a picture. #RMCF2018 #macanudo #cao #cohiba #dreamteam
And while the event lasts nearly the whole day—long enough to send even the most determined smokers to bed on time—there is also an after party hosted by La Flor Dominicana (free admittance). LFD cigars are available by the Omni resort pool, with pool-side service and a live DJ. This party usually spills over into the Omni balcony, where smokers will keep the festivities going until all hours of the night.
The after… after party is just getting kicking @rockymountaincigarfestival #bcuzcigars pic.twitter.com/sxetCpDRxv
— Cigar Dojo (@CigarDojo) August 26, 2018
So let’s be honest is there a greater group of people in the world than cigar people?? #bcuzcigars pic.twitter.com/81eS72eFaD
— Cigar Dojo (@CigarDojo) August 26, 2018
Event Highlights
- 1,978 consumers attended RMCF 2018
- 133 vendors
- 121 booths
- Cigar goodie bags (General, VIP, & Executive VIP)
- Show-special prices (some of the best deals we’ve seen)
- Event-exclusive cigars
- Appearances from cigar celebrities
- Colorado’s top breweries & distilleries
- Live music
- Photo booth from CAO Cigars
- Drink and food tickets
- Drawings, manufacturer freebies, and extra prizes
- Billiards (play with the pros – aka “The Angels of Billiards”)
- Afterparty sponsored by LFD Cigars
Cigar Personalities
- Rocky Patel
- Steve Saka
- Matt Booth
- Erik Espinosa
- Willy Herrera
- Nick Melillo
- Robert Caldwell
- Tom Lazuka
- Terence Reilly
- Max Fernández
- Michael Herklots
- Omar de Frias
- Fabien “Dirty Fabien” Ziegler
- Tony Bellatto
- Claudio Sgroi
- Glynn Loope
- Jim “Island Jim” Robinson
- Oscar Valladares
- George Rami
Click images below for full resolution
Short Link: