Cigar World’s Interview with Nick of El Mago Cigars

Cigar World’s Interview with Nick of El Mago Cigars

On one of our Miami adventures, we visited Neptune, a highly respected tobacco shop with multiple locations in the Miami area. Luz, one of the owners, and I were having lunch, and I asked her about what brand had her favorite artwork on the bands/boxes. She told me that El Mago was at the top of her list, but I had to ask what brand this was, as I had not heard of it before. After lunch, when we got back to the shop, she walked me over to the section with El Mago products, and I was impressed by the packaging. It’s very Miami, brightly colored with Art Deco undertones, but apparently, the cigars are great, too. 

So, here at Cigar World, we wanted to introduce you to this brand because not only is the packaging delightful, but the story behind the brand and the young founder/owner, Nick, is inspiring.

Jean: and the name? I know that it has meaning. Can you explain why you named your company El Mago?

Nick: I named the company El Mago by combining the first two letters of each of my grandparents names. MAria and GOnzalo. El Mago means “The Wizard” or “The Magician” in English. The way my grandparents were able to navigate through 5 different countries-Cuba Czechoslovakia, Canada, Venezuela and U.S.A., is nothing short of magical. 

Jean: How many years have you been up and running now? And how many cigar blends do you currently have in your portfolio. 

Nick: El Mago Cigars is coming up on 3 years since inception. We currently have 14 blends, 9 that are part of our main line, 2 that are limited and an additional 3 blends that were limited and have sold out. 

Jean: Do you have an idea of how many stores you have your cigars in now, and do you sell online? 

Nick: We are in over 300 stores at the moment. We do not sell our cigars on our own website. We believe it is best if we leave the selling to our accounts at the moment. We do, however, sell our merchandise and accessories on our website. 

Jean: You are pretty young in the cigar industry, especially with it not being a family affair. Have you experienced any hurdles with your young age?

Nick: Experiencing hurdles goes hand in hand with being in business. I am thankful my parents bought me a trampoline when I was young…it taught me to be a good jumper. This is important because the best jumpers can clear the tallest hurdles. 

Jean: Do you have any upcoming launches, collaborations or news that you can share with us?

Nick: At the beginning of October, we signed an exclusive distribution agreement with a new company. The owners have a combined 70+ years of history in the cigar industry and are excited to bring a brand-new concept to market. In addition to this, we plan to introduce a new blend in time for PCA 2025. 

Jean: What is a favorite cigar you are smoking right now, and do you have a drink you love to pair with it?

Nick: In terms of my own blends, my favorite is our Pepe, which is named after what I used to refer to my grandfather as. I pair this cigar with an Americano coffee (black) or a sipping tequila, such as Mijenta Blanco. In terms of other brands, my favorite cigar is the Gordito by Mal.Cri.Ao (“Misbehave” in English). My preferred pairing for this cigar with is Oban 14 neat. 

Jean: Nick, it was an absolute pleasure to share your story and show off your amazing brand to our audience. Thank you so much!

Nick: Thank you for having me, Jean! It was a pleasure getting to share my story, passion and history with you! 

Now that you have learned more about this brand, check out their added products in our cigar section, and make sure you follow Nick and El Mago cigars on socials!