Let’s get some background for those who aren’t familiar: Who is Lee Marsh and how did you get into the cigar industry?
Man, at the root of it all, I am and have always been a cigar geek. I spent the last 20 years smoking cigars in different forms and fashions. I spent a lot of time on the road for work and all my down time was spent in random cigars shops all over the world looking for something new and exciting. That fire kept burning and I asked myself “could I do this myself?” And I finally decided to go for it.
How did you land on the brand name Stolen Throne?
Everyone has heard the explicit version of this story lol. However, the overreaching significance of our name is our journey through tobacco. I am a first-generation cigar maker and that has its own challenges in an industry shrouded in legacy and tradition. Stolen Throne in essence is making your own place in whatever world you choose to be in.
What’s been the hardest thing about launching a new brand? What’s been the most fun?
It been a ride! The hardest thing was probably getting retailers to give you a chance. Because shelf space is sparce and valuable. And when you are a new brand, you are not just making it on your own merit, you have to overcome the bad experiences that retailers have had with other small boutique companies.
The most fun definitely is the relationships you build with retailers and consumers alike. Seeing the same faces travel to your events to support your passion is surreal even 5 years later.
I feel like most Creatives have something that they’ve always wanted to get to work but haven’t quite figured it out yet. Is there an idea like that for you that you find yourself pursuing and trying to make work?
Habano has always been my problem child. Ecuadorian Habano is probably my favorite varietal but it so aggressive, that’s why a lot of habano cigars taste similar. That wrapper just takes over, so it takes a lot of trial and error to provide depth and complexity that I like in our cigars. Three Kingdoms took me 3 years to get to the point I was happy with that was just more than a great wrapper flavor.
Noel Rojas has been on my radar ever since the first All My Exes. What’s it like blending cigars with him?
Man, Noel and I have been through a lot together over the last 7 or so years. He’s my mentor, brother, and friend. He has taught me the majority of what I know about tobacco and cigar production. He let me run wild and make my mistakes. To the point where I control all blending and tobacco selection for Stolen Throne Cigars. It seems serendipitous we met at the right time and now we are running 100 mph.
Is there a common thread that ties your various cigars together? A blending philosophy, factory methodology, or intent?
The intent is to treat every cigar like I have never made a cigar before. I hate predictability. All of our blends stand on their own. The cigar geek in me hates boring same old same old flavor profiles. I am always trying to push the envelope of creativity and the constructs of what our tobacco can do.
I love that two of your blends use a Sumatra wrapper, and I’m glad to see more Sumatra Maduro in recent years. What made you choose Sumatra for these blends, and why do you think Sumatra Maduro is on the rise these days?
This plays into predictability. You can ask most of the Throne Crew I have not been the biggest Sumatra fan in the past. But fighting through myopia we have been able to develop some really cool relationships with growers and the Sumatra we are getting right now is excellent.
The rise of Sumatra Maduro I believe comes from the need to persevere with creativity. As demand continues to grow for tobacco and the quality and consistency constraints that brings, I think people are turning to new things to move forward.
What are three things that most people don’t know about you?
- Despite my appearance and behavior sometimes, I actually have an Executive MBA Lol
- I have played football most of my life
- We are very active in Veteran support charities and Dog Rescue
If there is just one thing that our audience should know about you or Stolen Throne cigars, what would it be?
Stolen Throne believes in the lifestyle of cigars and understands the expense it is for the working class. We strive to create quality products for fair prices that illustrates our respect and appreciation for the expense incurred to enjoy.
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