When it comes to unique smoking experiences, the Rodríguez Oliván Cigar Factory (ROCF) catalog is a standout, featuring nearly 130 different brands and more than 750 blends to explore. Many of these cigars are sold exclusively in European, Asian, and Saudi Arabian markets, as well as in private clubs, making them difficult to obtain.
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Because of this, the opening of the Factory Reserve Cigar Club was announced in September 2025. For a membership fee of just $35 –including shipping within the United States– members receive a monthly selection of five or six of these exclusive cigars to indulge the palate. Some of these individual cigars, wrapped in fine gold-decorated bands, have retail values exceeding $60.
“We did the math, and to rotate through our entire inventory, it would take just over 11 years. During that time, members would taste specimens that they practically couldn’t get any other way. However, we always try to include at least one that they can find again, at least within the United States,” says Ismael Rodríguez Oliván.
To join the Club, scan the QR code:
Learning by Doing
Founded on the principles of education, industry advocacy, and innovation, the Tobacco Products Association (TPA) serves a diverse community of cigar brands, manufacturers, retailers, pipe tobacco aficionados, and consumers.
With a commitment to maintaining high quality standards and responsible practices, this association fosters a support network that empowers its members to thrive in a dynamic market through strategic collaborations and a solid foundation of allies –most notably Tobacconist University and its Certified Cigar Sommelier Tobacconist (CCST) training program.
According to Ismael, a founding member and part of the Board of Directors, collaborative work with Tobacconist University allowed him –in the first instance– to become certified and familiarize himself with the program offered by the institution, with the goal of providing this knowledge to TPA members at accessible prices. Furthermore, it allows for going a step beyond by complementing theory with field practice: essentially, learning by doing.
The first step of this ambitious collaboration, he explains, is taking the course offered by the University. For this, he personally developed teaching materials that allow participants to better understand the content and knowledge required to pass the theoretical exam, which currently boasts a 100% success rate.
The next stage will involve a certification under the tutelage of ROCF, as obtaining recognition as a Master Blender or Master Roller requires the backing of a factory.
During the course –in the true Inside Out style of B.A.M.F.– participants will learn the principles of cigar manufacturing from the back to the front, starting with the art of rolling, followed by bunching techniques, and finally, the creation of blends.
But the TPA’s mission does not stop at manufacturing processes. During 2026, plans are in place to visit tobacco fields in the Dominican Republic, where Cigar Sommeliers-in-training will experience the tobacco planting and harvesting processes firsthand. Thus, after more than 100 effective training hours, they will return to their daily activities with data and certainties that enrich both their own experience and that of others.
Web: bamfcigars.com
IG: bamf_cigars
Email: bamfcigars@gmail.com
Tel: +1 (561) 723-5613
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