Photo Credit: Justin Hunter @theowlandcigars
Editor's Note: Hermanos de Armas is a veteran-owned brand from the minds of Andray McCuien and Zack Van Ginkel. Andray took the lead on answering these interview questions, but I wanted you to know both of their names because it was such a pleasure meeting them in New Orleans.
Tell us about your story. How did you get to where you are today?
My cigar journey started in 2008 during a deployment to Iraq. The camaraderie with fellow soldiers nourished the passion for cigars. After a long day, nothing was better than decompressing with a stogie. Fast-forward, Zack and I met in 2017 while working on the same program supporting a customer in the Northern Virginia area. One day, we were having casual conversation about our love for cigars and the idea of opening a cigar lounge was born. Unfortunately, COVID-19 derailed our plans for the lounge, and we decided to divert our efforts into starting our own cigar brand. HDA was established in 2022, and we received our first shipment from Nicaragua in 2024.
What was the cigar that turned you into a cigar enthusiast? I feel like all of us have that first “A HA” moment.
I have many cigars that made me feel like an enthusiast, but some of the first cigars have to be: Olivia Master Blend 3, Cohiba Siglo 6, but optimally crafting our own blends really drove that feeling home.
How/why did you tap Fabrica Oveja Negra to craft your blends?
Zack introduced me to Black Works / BLTC as I had never smoked their cigars, and I became a huge fan. When we started to discuss potential factories for cigar production, our number one goal was to work with a factory that really focuses on quality over quantity. Oveja Negra’s attention to detail on construction, tobacco sourcing and overall quality made them our number one choice.
So, we cold reached out to Oveja Negra and pitched our business plan and vision for HDA. It took a few months, but we were finally introduced to James and Angela via a Skype Chat and after a few conversations, we received an invite to come down to Nicaragua in May 2023.
What’s it like working with James and Angela Brown?
It’s been pretty amazing! We consider ourselves very fortunate to work with James and Angela. We’ve heard from numerous sources that we must have said something right because they don’t work with very many brands. So, it’s a relationship we don’t take lightly.
What do each of you look for in the blending room?
Well, the entire process is awesome to watch and see firsthand. The attention to detail that each cigar roller places on each cigar is amazing. The pairing of tobaccos as well as color and texture is vital. We are constantly concerned with maintaining a smooth and well-balanced cigar that is well constructed while trying to draw as much flavor from the tobacco as possible.
Talk to us about your nomenclature. What significance do the themes of Cataclysm, Descending Shadows, and Veiled Mutiny hold for you?
Well, there is nothing significant per say, but we wanted names that we felt were indicative of the cigar that we blended. The cigar comes first, then the name. Cataclysm is a violent storm and /or event. Descending Shadows reminds us of how our military maneuvers in combat as we descend upon a target or objective, and Veiled Mutiny is just that, a cloaked mutiny that no one saw coming.
Speaking of your blends, how would you describe them to someone that’s never enjoyed one of your cigars or another from Oveja Negra?
Zack and I always say that taste is subjective. But we prefer to talk about the regions in Nicaragua from which our tobacco and blends came from and how they pair together. We work to blend tobacco from multiple different regions in Nicaragua to harness the best qualities into each of our core-line cigars. Tobacco from Jalapa, Condega, Esteli and Ometepe are in incorporated in some form or fashion into each of our three blends unlocking the best of what Nicaragua has to offer.
What are three things that most people don’t know about each of you?
Andray – I’m a big IT nerd. I have a bowtie fetish. A jack of all trades.
Zack – I am a big baseball fan. I have an obsession with collecting hats. I am a below average golfer who is overly competitive.
What’s something you always wanted to be asked in an interview but haven’t yet? And how would you answer it?
Honestly, Zack and I don’t like being interviewed. We have a love / hate relationship with the spotlight. We definitely prefer to let our cigars do the talking. BUT…nobody has really asked what our primary motivation is. It’s a loaded question, but we ultimately see this as a way to help give back to the community that has provided us with some much refuge and enjoyment over the years. We haven’t lost sight of the fact that cigars represent a lot more than just burning leaves to so many people. Continuing to be a part of this process and not losing site of our roots continues to be a primary motivator for us.
What can fans of Hermanos de Armas look forward to in the next 12-18 months?
We are excited to introduce our first short run blend timed up with the 4th of July this year. We view this Sumatra-wrapped, Nicaraguan blend rolled out of the Oveja Negra to be a “thank you” to everyone who has taken a chance on us over our first year. We will never lose sight of those who helped get us to where we are today.
We are also looking at releasing our core line in an additional size. Details are still to be determined but stay tuned.
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