Inside the Great Lakes Cigar Fest: A Media Perspective by Alex Gonzalez of The Cigar Guys

As the smoke swirled and camaraderie filled the air at M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan, I—Alex Gonzalez of The Cigar Guys—had the privilege of witnessing the first-ever Great Lakes Cigar Fest, hosted by Wild Bill’s Tobacco, unfold in all its splendor on Saturday, July 26, 2025 (Great Lakes Cigar Festival).

A True Cigar Enthusiast’s Playground

The festival was billed as “the ultimate cigar fest experience,” and let me tell you—it delivered in every sense. From the moment I arrived, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement: premium cigars, live music, mouthwatering food, and friendly faces everywhere you turned.

The Venue – M1 Concourse

The setting couldn’t have been more fitting. The historic M1 Concourse, once an auto manufacturing plant with over a century of history, added a rugged, industrial-chic charm that infused the event with Midwest authenticity.

Festival Highlights That Stood Out

Here are the standout experiences that made this event unforgettable:

VIP Early Access & Celebrity Meet & Mingle
VIP ticket holders were treated to an exclusive head start—access to vendors and celebrities one hour before the general public, setting the tone for a relaxed and exclusive start to the day.
Meet Jonathan Drew
The legendary founder of Drew Estate, Jonathan Drew himself delivered the official welcome and shared inspirational insights about cigar culture and the future of premium cigars.
Interactive Experiences Galore
I dove into engaging activities like “From Seed to Shelf,” watched master rollers craft cigars live, explored virtual cigar factory tours, and even tried my hand at blending and pairing events—immersive experiences at their finest.
Top Cigar Tasting Event
This was a highlight: expert-led tastings of elite cigar brands that allowed attendees to explore flavor profiles, artistry, and craftsmanship side by side.
Athlete & Celebrity Signing
Fans lined up to meet sports and entertainment personalities—autographs and photos galore between 3:15–5:00 PM.
Strolling Dinner & Industry Awards
A beautifully curated buffet dinner provided the perfect setting for networking and celebration—spotlighting industry trailblazers with meaningful awards during 5:30–8:30 PM.
Grand Raffles with Epic Prizes
The excitement peaked with raffles sponsored by cigars and bourbon brands featuring prizes like cigar boxes, accessories, and gift cards (Raffle #1 at 8:30 PM); gaming consoles, TVs, BBQ ovens, and Wild Bill’s gift cards (Raffle #2 at 9:00 PM); and cigar/spirit gifts from supporting partners (Raffle #3 at 9:30 PM).
Dazzling Drone Show Finale
As dusk settled, the skies lit up—an awe-inspiring drone show capped the evening and proved a spectacular close to an unforgettable day.

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Cigar Culture Meets Celebration

This wasn’t just another cigar event—it was a celebration on multiple levels:

Connection with Legends: I chatted with top cigar makers and industry icons, including VIP-accessed brand founders and personalities.
Exclusive Deals: I spotted festival-only specials and deals on premium cigars and accessories throughout the day.
Live Entertainment & Lifestyle: From music and rolling demos to lounges and virtual tours—all complemented by a vibrant festival ambience.
Food, Bourbon, and More: A bounty of food trucks, bourbon sampling stations, buffet dinner, plus drone-show spectacle truly elevated the experience.

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Relaying the Experience as The Cigar Guys

As media covering the event, I couldn’t help but share that genuine joy with our audience. There’s something electrifying about seeing fellow aficionados bonding over cigars, learning new blend techniques, and indulging in top-tier bourbon—all under one open Michigan sky.

Now, as I bring that energy back to The Cigar Guys community, I’m already buzzing about what next year might bring: more interactivity, bigger brand showcases, and perhaps a sequel drone display even more stunning than this one.

Final Thoughts

The Great Lakes Cigar Fest wasn’t just “diverse and exciting”—it felt historic. It was a milestone for cigar culture in the Midwest and across the nation. Whether you’re new to cigars or a seasoned connoisseur, this was a celebration of heritage, craftsmanship, and community that I’ll be talking about for a long time.

179. How AI Is Changing the Cigar Industry (Pros & Cons) | The Cigar Guys Podcast – The Cigar Guys Podcast

In this episode of The Cigar Guys Podcast, we tackle one of the biggest topics facing modern business and media: Artificial Intelligence and the premium cigar industry.How is AI already affecting cigar brands, retailers, manufacturers, cigar media, and consumers? Is it a powerful tool that can help grow the industry, or does it create new challenges that cigar enthusiasts should be paying attention to?This cigar show conversation explores both sides of the debate as we discuss the opportunities and risks that AI presents for the future of premium cigars.• How AI is already impacting the cigar industry• Potential benefits for cigar brands and retailers• The downsides and concerns surrounding AI adoption• Consumer reactions to AI-generated content and marketing• The future of technology in premium cigars• Whether traditional industries should embrace AIOf course, this wouldn't be a Cigar Guys episode if we stayed on topic…We somehow end up debating mayor salaries, government compensation, and whether elected officials are paid appropriately for their responsibilities.Then Zach shares one of the wildest stories we've ever heard — the time he unexpectedly met Dwayne Johnson in a bathroom while visiting Hawaii.As always, the conversation goes completely off the rails in the best possible way.Whether you're interested in cigars, technology, business, or just listening to four guys debate random topics over cigars, this cigar show episode has a little bit of everything.👉 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more cigar conversations, industry discussions, and unfiltered cigar show content.🎙 The Cigar Guys PodcastHosts: Alex Gonzalez, Mark Nikollaj, Zachary Nikollaj, and Jared Burrows📲 Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: @thecigarguys🔥 Thanks for supporting The Cigar Guys Podcast.—————————————-Sponsored by Sans Pareil Cigars: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sanspareilcigar.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tip Jar: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=G8A8MU7Y3V9W8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Text or Call us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://app.minnect.com/expert/TheCigarGuys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cigar providers, accessories, and more content:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thecigarguys.com/socials⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Cigar Brand: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://1102cigars.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cigar Guys Merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cigarguys.shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Cigar Book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amazon.com/Cigar-Guys-Ultimate-Guide-Smoking/dp/B0C7DXRCCR⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Collaboration/Sponsorship Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@thecigarguys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Main Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thecigarguys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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