Gloria Gomez
Founder
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Tradition and family heritage is what sets El Beso Cigar Co. apart from other cigar companies. Generations of our cigar crafters have contributed to the knowledge and skillful art that goes into creating the unique aroma, flavor, and taste of an El Beso cigar.
Established in 1997, El Beso Cigar Co. carries forward the tradition and heritage of its founder, Gloria Gomez, which dates back more than a century, beginning in the late 1800s. Generations of cigar makers have contributed to the knowledge that goes into creating the unique aroma, flavor, and taste of an El Beso cigar.
Over the past 40 years, Gloria has built on that knowledge and tutelage—honing the craft that was passed on to her by her mother and grandmother. Today, Gloria works with the passion and attention to detail that is second to none. Her commitment to the freshness and flavor of each cigar can be found in each of her five distinct lines—from the Aromatic to the Maduro, the uniqueness and quality of her art is self-evident.
The Art of Blending
Like any art, a cigar’s blend begins with the imagination. But, imagination is only a part of the process. The choice of tobacco leafs is, by far, the most important. After all, poor tobacco quality—regardless of the amount of time allowed to age—will inherently lead to poor taste and lack of enjoyment. That is why El Beso Cigar Co. places utmost importance to origin and grade of the tobacco leaf.
Once the determination has been made on what tobacco leafs will be used, imagination and experience become the second most important thing in the process. Because, in cigar blending, there is an element of the unknown, or what we at El Beso like to refer to as “the ratio-to-hope correlative,” which simply translates to “I hope this ratio works.” El Beso Cigar Co. relies on a century of craftsmanship passed down through the generations to orchestrate the different facets of a single cigar to create a pleasant taste and enjoyment.
There are different combinations and ratios of the Seco, or “mild leaf,” in relation to the Ligero, or “stronger leaf,” as well as the wrapper and binder to determine the strength and flavor of any cigar. For example, in a medium-bodied cigar, the ratio of the Ligero will be greater than that of the Seco, and vice versa. Just because you have a ratio does not mean that it will apply to all of the sizes of a particular line equally. The ratio then has to be adjusted to a cigar’s ring size. In other words, using the same ratio for a Corona-size cigar, as opposed to that of a Churchill-size cigar might, in the end, leave the cigar smoker wishing for more flavor in the larger cigar.
In today’s market, cigar smokers have an abundance of alternatives. For a Master Blender, the countries from which he or she can choose from is also diverse. So, to borrow from William Shakespeare, “to blend or not to blend” that is always the question. A question El Beso Cigar Co. approaches with experience, imagination, and flexibility. We invite you to try our cigars and hope that you will enjoy the hard work, creativity, and art that goes into each of our cigars.
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