Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Editorial Career: David Savona discusses his 31-year tenure at the magazine, noting his pride in working with Marvin Shanken.
Memorable Interviews: Savona highlighted his most memorable interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger, who invited him to his home for an extended, candid conversation by the pool.
Industry Outlook: Savona expressed deep appreciation for the cigar industry, describing the readers as the "Greatest in the World" and the current state of the industry as very healthy.
The Evolution of a Partnership with Boveda
Early Beginnings: Boveda’s founders Sean Knutsen and Tim Swail shared stories of their scrappy beginnings in the late 1990s, when they would sneak into Cigar Aficionado’s "Big Smoke" events without tickets or booths to try and make connections.
Learning Curve: The founders recalled a moment of panic at an early event when they discovered their provided humidor bags were unsealed, requiring them to use hotel irons to seal thousands of bags before the event started.
Building Credibility: The relationship with Cigar Aficionado grew over time as Boveda’s technology proved essential for keeping cigars properly humidified at events. A major turning point for Boveda was their partnership with the Fuente family in 2001, which provided the industry credibility needed to grow.
Current Relationship: Today, Boveda is a staple at Cigar Aficionado events, providing humidity control for attendees. Both parties reflect on the history of Boveda's successful, "For My Humidor", advertising campaign featuring industry icons, which has become a "totem" at trade shows.
Editorial Career: David Savona discusses his 31-year tenure at the magazine, noting his pride in working with Marvin Shanken.
Memorable Interviews: Savona highlighted his most memorable interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger, who invited him to his home for an extended, candid conversation by the pool.
Industry Outlook: Savona expressed deep appreciation for the cigar industry, describing the readers as the "Greatest in the World" and the current state of the industry as very healthy.
The Evolution of a Partnership with Boveda
Early Beginnings: Boveda’s founders Sean Knutsen and Tim Swail shared stories of their scrappy beginnings in the late 1990s, when they would sneak into Cigar Aficionado’s "Big Smoke" events without tickets or booths to try and make connections.
Learning Curve: The founders recalled a moment of panic at an early event when they discovered their provided humidor bags were unsealed, requiring them to use hotel irons to seal thousands of bags before the event started.
Building Credibility: The relationship with Cigar Aficionado grew over time as Boveda’s technology proved essential for keeping cigars properly humidified at events. A major turning point for Boveda was their partnership with the Fuente family in 2001, which provided the industry credibility needed to grow.
Current Relationship: Today, Boveda is a staple at Cigar Aficionado events, providing humidity control for attendees. Both parties reflect on the history of Boveda's successful, "For My Humidor", advertising campaign featuring industry icons, which has become a "totem" at trade shows.
