James Brown of Black Label Trading Company and Black Works Studio joins Fred Rewey on Not A Cigar Show for a deep conversation about blending, branding, artwork, factories, tobacco, and why some cigar smokers still refuse to try a petite corona.

This episode goes far beyond “tell us about the new release.”

James talks about his path from the wine industry and hospitality to running cigar expeditions through Central America before eventually building Oveja Negra Factory in Nicaragua. He explains how Black Label grew organically from cigars he originally made for expedition guests, and why controlling every step of production completely changed the company.

Fred and James also get into:
• The difference between Black Label Trading Company and Black Works Studio
• Why owning a factory matters
• The challenge of consistency across vitolas
• Why strength and complexity are not the same thing
• How cigar branding became part lifestyle brand and part underground art project
• Candela wrappers, broadleaf experiments, and blending philosophy
• Food, travel, New York restaurants, and life in Nicaragua

One of the most interesting parts of the conversation is hearing James explain how a cigar blend and artwork evolve together. For him, the cigar has to tell a story before the artwork even begins.

If you enjoy cigars, art, branding, or the creative side of boutique cigar making, this is one of the most insightful episodes we’ve done.

Listen on:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0eShzWhbPSzL7RavkMKb5J
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/not-a-cigar-show/id1840202683