Between Two Humidors Episode 003 > Jeremy McDonald
In Episode 003 of Between Two Humidors, Host Jonathan Ruggles has a conversation with Jeremy McDonald, Founder of Wildfire Cigar Company. They discuss his cigar line, and his shared appreciation for unconventional offerings. McDonald expresses surprise at the popularity of his Wildfire Cigars, which he created as part of an experiment. They reminisce about McDonald's unexpected win for Best in Show Small Booth at the PCA 2023 trade show and his plans for PCA 2025 with a camping theme. McDonald shares his personal story of discovering cigars at 18, despite his parents' disapproval, and how he started working at a local cigar shop to fund his passion.
They also discuss McDonald's experiences with tobacco use in the context of his religious background and his journey in the cigar industry, including working for various brands and starting his own, Wildfire. McDonald emphasizes his creative process and the importance of authenticity, even if it's not mass-market appealing.
They also discuss his design collaboration with the extremely talented Ms. Jacqueline Sears, a woman who has made significant contributions to the cigar industry behind the scenes, and McDonald's collaborative approach to working with creative individuals.
He introduces the third Le series release and a new core line of regular production cigars, completing his portfolio with four different cigars as flagships. McDonald describes the “Breakdown”, a new offering, as a full-bodied special occasion cigar, ideal for smoking after a night out.
The conversation then shifts to artificial intelligence (AI), with McDonald expressing concerns about its impact on industries like music and art, questioning whether AI can truly create emotional and soulful content. The episode also explores the use of AI in generating creative language and the importance of well-crafted expressions. McDonald emphasizes the need for metaphors, idioms, and collaboration when using AI, concluding with sharing his social media handles and Wildfire Cigars website details.
We hope you enjoyed our insightful conversation with Jeremy McDonald of Wildfire Cigar Company. From his unconventional cigar creations to his thoughts on AI's impact on creativity, McDonald’s passion and authenticity shine through. Join us next time for more engaging discussions. Don’t forget to follow Wildfire Cigars and stay connected with us on social media. Until then, keep exploring and enjoying the world of cigars.
Guest Links
http://www.instagram.com/wildfirecigars
Thank you to our Sponsors
The Cigar Chapel -Bend, Oregon
Disclaimer
Jeremy McDonald
owner
With over 20 years in the cigar industry. I worked on the retail side of this industry for over a decade. I then transitioned into a territory sales manager for CLE brand. Then leaving to upstart Caldwell Cigar company alongside of Robert Caldwell, where i acted in the role of national sales manager and partner in the brand. After 7 years with the company I began on the journey of breaking away to start Wildfire Cigar Company on my own. and now here we are.
