David Lafferty on Not A Cigar Show | The Real Cigar Industry Grind

David Lafferty from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust joins Fred Rewey for one of the most honest episodes of Not A Cigar Show yet.

This episode pulls back the curtain on what the cigar industry really looks like beyond the social media photos, cigar dinners, trade shows, and lounge culture. David talks openly about life on the road, sales pressure, retailers, brokers, burnout, consumer expectations, brand building, and why most people who think they want to work in cigars probably should not.

Topics include:
• The reality of working in cigar sales
• Drew Estate in the early Liga Privada days
• Nat Sherman and luxury retail culture
• Building Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust
• Why some cigar shops fail with premium brands
• Social media, influencers, and cigar culture
• What separates good reps from bad reps
• The grind of trade shows and constant travel
• Steve Saka then vs now
• The weirdest cigar event stories David can publicly tell

If you’ve ever wondered what the cigar industry is really like behind the scenes, this is the episode.