Lisardo Vivas’s story began amidst new languages and cities, in a search for a reconnection with himself and the world. He ultimately found it in the first puffs of the second third of a premium cigar.
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“I want to travel to the farms, visit the factories, and interview the growers and blenders so that people can get to know the individuals behind the smoke, so they can understand the soul of each cigar.”
The Origin
Born to a Portuguese father and a Venezuelan mother, his life revolved around schools in Caracas and his extended family until he was ten. The social and political decline in his home country prompted a one-way trip, forcing them to leave.
Lisardo was just a boy when they arrived in London. While it felt like an adventure, it was also a major culture shock, coupled with the sadness of being far from the rest of his family. His parents had left everything behind: businesses, property, independence, a stable life. “They had to start from scratch here,” he recalls.
A New World
Initially, London was not the England they had always imagined. They found street violence, drug trafficking, and gangs in the neighborhoods, which again motivated them to seek peace elsewhere. They eventually moved to Cardiff, Wales, where they finally settled. “Here, we felt we had arrived in the England from the movies: green, peaceful, and friendly.”
First Puffs: The Beginning of It All
For Lisardo, tobacco came into his life like a blessing. His first cigar was a gift from a Mexican friend he met on Instagram. He had been intrigued by his friend’s cigar posts, in which he spoke of tasting notes, flavors, and the rituals surrounding tobacco. One day, overwhelmed by stress and with his “life upside down,” his friend told him, “Brother, what you need is to smoke a cigar.”
But Lisardo was wary of addiction, so he only decided to try his first cigar after doing some research and overcoming his fear. It was a Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2, a cigar coincidentally recommended by both his friend and Edward Sahakian of the Davidoff store in London.
Although at first he didn’t understand why people spoke of the relaxation a premium cigar provided –as he associated it with an unhealthy activity– that day he experienced it firsthand. The experience was a revelation. “Halfway through the cigar, I realized that my body and mind had slowed down. I was present, just enjoying it. It was the beginning of everything.”
Lisardo, however, wasn’t content with just the enjoyment of smoking. He researched, sampled, shared, and, most importantly, took a Habanosommelier course, which gave him a vast knowledge of the cigar world.
He initially used his personal Instagram account to post photos and tasting notes. Later, he created a new account and a YouTube channel to talk exclusively about premium cigars. This is how Daily Cigar was born, which would later become Cigar Ritual.
“I saw there was a lot of content in English and very little in Spanish, so I tried to fill that gap. But I also realized that, for fluency, I was more comfortable communicating in English.” Now he does reviews, podcasts, and interviews, and offers his recommendations, all focused on the Tobacco World and the lifestyle that surrounds it.
Over time, Lisardo traveled, met master blenders, sampled boutique brands, and built a community of followers who love tobacco. But he wanted more.
In October 2024, Lisardo launched his online store, Toro Puro, a venture that combines hand-selected cigars, quality accessories, and a curated shopping experience for the discerning smoker in the United Kingdom.
His vision was to elevate the premium cigar shopping experience to match the product itself –a product he describes as being made by hand, with love and artistry. “I didn’t like the online experience other stores offered: bad interfaces, careless packaging, and zero customer service.”
That’s why every product at Toro Puro has been personally tasted, studied, and selected by Lisardo. From Dominican brands to Nicaraguan rarities, and including leather accessories and lifestyle items, the store is an extension of his vision for the Cigar World.
“I’m creating more than just a store; it’s a community. We already have loyal customers, and even though we opened in the winter, we are growing this summer.”
Future Aromas
For now, his plan is to expand Toro Puro into Europe and Asia, replicating the model that has worked in the UK. At the same time, he wants Cigar Ritual to become a platform that not only reviews cigars but also tells the life stories of those who make the experience of living the Cigar World possible.
