EASTON, PA--(Marketwired - January 20, 2016) - As the person responsible for driving new product development and packaging for the General Cigar portfolio, Michael Giannini approaches his dual position as Creative Director and Director of Innovations for General Cigar Company with a unique brand of passion. That "passion" is clearly evident in a recent interview he did for CigarAdvisor.com's "Master Blenders" series, a monthly podcast hosted by Cigar Advisor executive editor, Gary Korb.
During the interview, Michael talks about his pre-cigar industry career as a chef, which he says helped him develop his palate for different flavors. That early experience came in handy, since one of his chief responsibilities has been developing new blends for La Gloria Cubana cigars and Foundry Tobacco Company, General Cigar's innovation platform and boutique cigar imprint. On the La Gloria side, Michael worked with Famous Smoke Shop, the leading online distributor of discounted premium cigars, to create the La Gloria Serie RF cigar selection.
"For the Serie RF, we wanted to keep it within the La Gloria Serie R franchise, but at the same time, do something a little bit different," says Michael. "Something that you wouldn't expect from Serie R while keeping it within that same taste profile."
During the podcast, Gary was smoking a Serie RF 00. Although he says that he tells customers the "F" stand for "Famous," the "F" actually stands for the medieval mathematician, Leonardo Fibonacci, who created the "Fibonacci Sequence" of numbers.
"I like to do things where there's always a little mystery," says Michael, who added that there's a symmetry to the logical number sequence he wanted to impart with regard to the tobaccos used in the blend, which also extends to the length & ring-gauge proportions of each cigar in the line.
But the conversation isn't all about one particular line of cigars. Also discussed is how Michael developed the unique Foundry Elements cigar selection, whose innovative blending and package design turns the scientific "Table of Elements" on its ear. Michael also touches on having worked shoulder-to-shoulder with La Gloria Cubana cigars creator, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, opines on the state of the cigar industry today, and reveals what he loves most about working in the business.
"I love tobacco, I love cigars, I love the whole process of it from start to finish," Michael said. "When you have a job that you don't look at as a 'job,' but a passion in life that you think about constantly, I think you've found what the secret of life is."
To listen to the complete Cigar Advisor podcast with Michael Giannini, CLICK HERE.
About Cigar Advisor:
Cigar Advisor, the nation's premiere online cigar magazine, proudly serves cigar enthusiasts with a uniquely down-to-earth perspective on the enjoyment of premium cigars. Well-known and highly regarded for providing acclaimed educational cigar content and behind-the-scenes industry articles from some of the business's top names, the Cigar Advisor editors deliver an array of content that speaks directly to those who enjoy the cigar lifestyle.
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Contact Information:
Famous Smoke Shop
90 Mort Drive
Easton, PA 18040
800-564-2486
