Today we’d like to introduce you to Aric Bey.
Aric, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Aric Bey and I created Black Star Line Cigars with a childhood friend in 2018. It has been our goal to create a premium hand-rolled cigar that had the quality, flavors, and enjoyment that would be equal to if not greater than the cigars that we have enjoyed smoking as brothers of the leaf.
I realized quickly as a Chicago firefighter by trade that bringing a new cigar to an already competitive market would be no easy task. That is why we went to as many cigar events as we could to meet as many people as possible. One of our earliest encounters was with Jonathan Drew of Drew Estate, who took a liking to us and provided invaluable advice on how to get into the cigar industry.
We also understood that we would need to collaborate with one of the best cigar manufacturers in the world, and this led us to Sandy Cobas of El Titan De Bronze in Miami, Florida. El Titan De Bronze was established in 1995, and hand-crafts cigars for brands such as Drew Estate, La Palina, and Warped Cigars.
El Titan De Bronze hand-rolled our first two releases, the El Milagro Nicaraguan Sun Grown and the El Milagro Mexican San Andres cigar. In the Spanish language, El Milagro translates to “the miracle”, which is the appropriate name for our first cigars.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There are challenges in all businesses. My greatest challenge would be to make sure I can get products in time for trade shows and events. Other than that, we have been extremely blessed to grow fast as a new company.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a retired Chicago Firefighter. I was injured on the job so that cut my career short. Prior to that, I was a pharmaceutical sales rep with Eli Lilly. I’m very proud to be a first responder because it gave me a chance to save lives and preserve property. Nothing is more fulfilling than giving someone more time with their loved ones.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
Always stay persistent. Entering the cigar industry or any industry isn’t easy. You have to be prepared for May to tell you no but never get discouraged.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.blackstarline.shop
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/blackstarlinecigars?r=nametag
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackstarlinecigars
