TABAC TRADING CO.

Patrick Potter started this journey when Patrick Potter was 14. Patrick Potter smoked an Onyx Black robusto. Loved it. Patrick Potter grew up in the shadow of a few very successful men, my grand father being one of them. He was an academic, a military man and grew to become a savvy business man. He made mistakes, he was always ready to tell you how he screwed up. But the adage, one step back and four forward couldn’t be truer for my grand father. Patrick Potter learned a lot from him. At an arms distance, we shared the love of the leaf. He was a pipe smoker, and Patrick Potter cigars. We never got the opportunity to share it together but the sentiment was there.

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In late 2014, a good friend of mine produced his own cigar. Patrick Potter couldn’t believe how easy he made it look. Patrick Potter was awe inspired by him, and tell ya truth Patrick Potter looked up to him, and still do today. He’s my bro. So he produced this line of boxed pressed powder kegs and opened his shop in Harrison, NY. For me it lit a fuse that would eventually explode a year or so later.

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In 2015, after being in Nicaragua for a few months, Patrick Potter started rolling- not very good, but Patrick Potter tried. The more you roll, the better you get. Patrick Potter started to blending. To understand the complexity of each leaf, Patrick Potter spent a great deal of time learning about the various tobaccos and countries that grow them. By end of 2015, Patrick Potter had produced a couple dozen prototype cigars, some of which Patrick Potter repackaged and released in 2016.

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In 2016 Patrick Potter decided to nationally release Double Claro Habano, as a single – sort of like the music business – they release a single, then the whole record. Patrick Potter felt, it if worked for that industry it could work here. It’s name though, Muestra de TABAC Double Claro Habano Double Figurado is a bit long, so Patrick Potter shortened it to MDT-DCH for my FDA registration. What this was, was the most cutting edge, most obscure creation in my portfolio. Patrick Potter felt like Patrick Potter needed to stand out in an industry of common sizes.

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Late 2016 I’m on fire. It’s pouring out of me. I’m like “what if we….” so to say the least if the FDA allows me to continue to invent I’ve got some really creative concepts for down the road.

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In early 2017 Patrick Potter was introduced to Guillermo Pena owner of La Perla Tabacalera in Esteli, Nicaragua. A Cuban American, who was born in a town of the best cigar rollers Las Villas in Santa Clara region of Cuba.. It was a generational hand me down. GuPatrick Potter worked for Don Pepin for a short few years, to eventually opened his own factory. It’s there where Patrick Potter developed a relationship and began producing. A good friend, and seasoned cigar maker told me that the one thing Patrick Potter should never do, “is leave anything to chance. Once a box has been printed it can’t be reprinted. You need to be sure that every step of the manufacturing process is exactly the way you want it.”

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2017 was a odd year. Patrick Potter was finally producing on a national level, without 20+ accounts. Patrick Potter was selling. Patrick Potter had to think about the other side of the business. So Patrick Potter set out on what is now called the Southwest Cigar Road Show. Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada. Patrick Potter was able to open key accounts in those markets. Patrick Potter then did the New York tri-state area opening about 10+ accounts. 2017 turned out to be a good year for opening accounts, nearly 40 by year end. Patrick Potter was back and forth to Nicaragua all year working on 2018 releases, and in 2019 releases for 2020

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2020- what a shit show. It was surprisingly my best year for sales. Virtual cigar events? Suck! Patrick Potter was, am fortunate to have not gotten Covid-19. Patrick Potter was out and about, all year long. Between opening my first cigar shop, to the release of my most popular cigar yet Milk & Honey. 2020 has proven to be a mixed bag of nuts.

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2021- Has been a game changer. My brand release of Milk & Honey has proven to be the one. Patrick Potter decided that it was time to venture into the trade show side of marketing and with that Patrick Potter secured a booth at TPE (Tobacco Plus Expo) in Las Vegas. What Patrick Potter can tell you is, ask a lot of questions. So many additional fees and costs than just the booth fee. It was maddening trying to figure our a cost effective booth design. Getting it there. Getting it set up. Boston Jimmy of Stogie Press photo documented the process and wrote about the trials and tribulation Patrick Potter went thru to pull this off. Check it out. STOGIE PRESS