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| Cigar lovers from throughout the Midwest gathered Saturday, Sept. 6, at Hickory Grove Park just outside Peoria, IL for the second annual Midwest Cigar Summit. Featured guests were Gene Arganese, founder of Arganese Cigars, and Senor Roberto Juarez, founder of Bravo Cigars. Weather was in the mid-70s with light clouds, and the park setting was perfect for enjoying a favorite cigar, a Goose Island beer, a rib eye sandwich, checking out the offerings of cigar vendors, sampling barbecue sauces, and enjoying a Jack Daniels tasting. |
| Midwest Cigar Summit: 2008 Event |
| Great Weather, Great Cigars, A Great Time! |
Gene Arganese, right, founder of Arganese Cigars,
was inducted into the Midwest Cigar Summit Hall of
Fame Sept. 6. Doing the honors was event
organizer Lucas Woith.
was inducted into the Midwest Cigar Summit Hall of
Fame Sept. 6. Doing the honors was event
organizer Lucas Woith.
Senor Roberto Juarez, left, founder of Bravo Cigars,
and John Rider from Cedar Rapids, IA enjoy a
smoke at Saturday's main event.
and John Rider from Cedar Rapids, IA enjoy a
smoke at Saturday's main event.
From left, Gene Arganese, Jeff McSweeney and
Greg Woith enjoy cigars and libations at the Warm
Up party Friday sponsored by Arganese Cigars.
Greg Woith enjoy cigars and libations at the Warm
Up party Friday sponsored by Arganese Cigars.
The crowd settles in at Jimmy's Bar Friday night for
the Warm Up party. Bar owner Jimmy Speers, a
member of the Summit's Hall of Fame, provided a
scotch sampling and Guinness specials throughout
the party.
the Warm Up party. Bar owner Jimmy Speers, a
member of the Summit's Hall of Fame, provided a
scotch sampling and Guinness specials throughout
the party.
StL Cigars of St. Louis provided a nice selection of
accessories in addition to their cigars.
accessories in addition to their cigars.
Arganese Cigars for sale at the cigarmonkey.com
booth.
booth.
CigarHeads.biz from Michigan City, IN was on hand with a
great selection of cigars and accessories.
great selection of cigars and accessories.
The Cedar Box in Alton, IL had cigars for sale that
were rolled just two weeks earlier during an event
at the store.
were rolled just two weeks earlier during an event
at the store.
Part of the offerings from saucedepot.com. Their
sauce tasting was a highlight of the event.
sauce tasting was a highlight of the event.
Matt Peloquin educates the crowd on the finer
points of the Jack Daniels family of whiskey.
points of the Jack Daniels family of whiskey.
"Greg and Lucas did an amazing job with this event--one of the finest cigar events I have ever been to!!!
Everybody from the Midwest should make it a point to be there. Could not ask for a nicer group of people, the
food was great, great cigars in abundance, and a wonderful laid back atmosphere. My only complaint is I had to
miss the scotch and whiskey tastings. Also, am kicking myself for not getting there the night before as I heard
great things about the Arganese event. Also, lots of great giveaways. If you love cigars (I assume if you are on this
site you do) You need to be at this event. Great job Greg and Lucas, keep up the good work." John Pawloski
Godfrey, IL. As posted on Cigar Live 9-07-08.
Everybody from the Midwest should make it a point to be there. Could not ask for a nicer group of people, the
food was great, great cigars in abundance, and a wonderful laid back atmosphere. My only complaint is I had to
miss the scotch and whiskey tastings. Also, am kicking myself for not getting there the night before as I heard
great things about the Arganese event. Also, lots of great giveaways. If you love cigars (I assume if you are on this
site you do) You need to be at this event. Great job Greg and Lucas, keep up the good work." John Pawloski
Godfrey, IL. As posted on Cigar Live 9-07-08.
"Luke and his posse put on a great event. Honestly, this was probably one of the more fun events I've ever been to.
There was great food, great people, great JD and some GREAT new cigars. If you are even anywhere close to the
Midwest region, you have got to make it to next year's Summit. There's just no way around it." Chris Roach,
Bourbannis, IL, as posted on Cigar Live 9-07-08.
"It was a lot of fun. Thanks to Big Luke and his dad for putting this event together. It took a tong of hard work.
Thanks Big Guy! I will see you there next year. Dan Caniff, Mokena, IL, as posted on Cigar Live, 9-07-08.
"Well Lucas Woith put on another great event this year. The weather was perfect, the food was great, the Jack
Daniels tasting was great. Gene Arganese was in attendance as well some of our awesome board members. Chris
and Megan from Chicagoland, John Rider from Iowa, and John Pawloski for St. Louis, MO, Monkey Dan from Illinois.
It was a fine day and my wife and I enjoyed it tremendously. Gene Arganese talked of the grand plans he has for next
year as well. If you missed it you need to put it on the calendar for 2009. Flint Kemper, Loami, IL, as posted on
Cigar Live, 9-07-08.
"I'm still kicking myself that I didn't head down there. Looks like it was a great time." JoeyBear from Cigar Live
(Wisconsin Statesman), as posted 9-07-08.
"That is awesome right there, that truly looked like a great time." Jitzy from Cigar Live, Long Island, NY, 9-07-08.
"This was the first event that I have attended. Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the afternoon, before I
knew it, 3 hours had gone by and $100. I purchased a new light, because I had the opportunity to try several styles
and brands and the price was right, $20. Bought 3 of the hand rolled from Cedar Box, 3 cigars from the Cigar Monkey
and 6 of the new Columbian. CigarHeads gave me a free one to try. I also won a free cigar from Cedar Box. I
sampled all the draft beers and the Jack Daniels. The location was perfect. You can't go wrong with Alwan's food.
The weather was perfect too. Thanks again and place me on your info list." Dennis Major, via e-mail, 9-07-08.
There was great food, great people, great JD and some GREAT new cigars. If you are even anywhere close to the
Midwest region, you have got to make it to next year's Summit. There's just no way around it." Chris Roach,
Bourbannis, IL, as posted on Cigar Live 9-07-08.
"It was a lot of fun. Thanks to Big Luke and his dad for putting this event together. It took a tong of hard work.
Thanks Big Guy! I will see you there next year. Dan Caniff, Mokena, IL, as posted on Cigar Live, 9-07-08.
"Well Lucas Woith put on another great event this year. The weather was perfect, the food was great, the Jack
Daniels tasting was great. Gene Arganese was in attendance as well some of our awesome board members. Chris
and Megan from Chicagoland, John Rider from Iowa, and John Pawloski for St. Louis, MO, Monkey Dan from Illinois.
It was a fine day and my wife and I enjoyed it tremendously. Gene Arganese talked of the grand plans he has for next
year as well. If you missed it you need to put it on the calendar for 2009. Flint Kemper, Loami, IL, as posted on
Cigar Live, 9-07-08.
"I'm still kicking myself that I didn't head down there. Looks like it was a great time." JoeyBear from Cigar Live
(Wisconsin Statesman), as posted 9-07-08.
"That is awesome right there, that truly looked like a great time." Jitzy from Cigar Live, Long Island, NY, 9-07-08.
"This was the first event that I have attended. Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the afternoon, before I
knew it, 3 hours had gone by and $100. I purchased a new light, because I had the opportunity to try several styles
and brands and the price was right, $20. Bought 3 of the hand rolled from Cedar Box, 3 cigars from the Cigar Monkey
and 6 of the new Columbian. CigarHeads gave me a free one to try. I also won a free cigar from Cedar Box. I
sampled all the draft beers and the Jack Daniels. The location was perfect. You can't go wrong with Alwan's food.
The weather was perfect too. Thanks again and place me on your info list." Dennis Major, via e-mail, 9-07-08.
| Feedback from for 2008 Midwest Cigar Summit: |