As we close out our series on Puro Sabor 2018, let's take a look at the events that made the week special. In all honesty, even the everyday lunches were special events. It seemed like every time we gathered for a meal, the organizers pulled out all the stops and made it a grand occasion instead of just another meal. One of my favorite things about all of these events was the reality of being able to sit down with people from all over the world, all walks of life, and all manner of experience in the cigar industry. We were all the same at these events. It was just an enormous group of friends gathering for a meal, some drinks, and great conversation.
Gilberto F. Oliva Sr., the patriarch of Oliva Cigar Co., died on Saturday in Miami, surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren. He was 86 years old. Oliva was born in Cuba and was the grandson of Melanio Oliva, the first member of his family to grow tobacco. Oliva went from tobacco growing to tobacco brokering. He focused on leaf that many growers ignored, including libre de pie, the leaves that grow closest to the ground and are known as sand leaf.