The Real Smoke Podcast with Charles and Mick latest episode!
This week on The Real Smoke Podcast, Al Gomez, founder of Reformed Cigars, joined the show to share his powerful story—one rooted in faith, resilience, and a passion for giving back.
Al spoke about his upbringing in Nicaragua, the challenges he faced growing up, and how he ultimately found strength and direction through his Christian faith and love for Jesus. He reflected on the stark contrast between how Christianity is practiced in Nicaragua versus the United States. In Nicaragua, he explained, the church culture tends to be more legalistic, where smoking or drinking is frowned upon—even though many in the community work in cigar factories, known globally for their craftsmanship. Despite their proximity to some of the best tobacco in the world, many Nicaraguans don’t partake in the ritual of cigar smoking due to religious stigma.
After spending time in the United States, Al fell in love with the country and the opportunities it provides. Inspired by this new perspective and moved by a sense of purpose, he launched Reformed Cigars—not just as a business venture, but as a mission-driven brand aimed at making a difference back home in Nicaragua.
Rather than simply profiting, Al reinvests much of the company’s earnings into programs that uplift his community. He helped establish a local church and funds initiatives that provide opportunity and growth—including an English-language program designed to equip individuals with the skills to land well-paying jobs at call centers.
Reformed Cigars features lines such as “Spurgeon,” inspired by influential Christian figures throughout history. Al also shared a powerful personal metaphor drawn from the biblical story of Peter walking on water toward Jesus. As the story goes, Peter began to sink, but Jesus reached out His hand to lift him up. For Al, building Reformed Cigars is his walk on the water—an act of faith, risk, and trust that Jesus will be there to guide and support him through whatever challenges lie ahead.
To hear the full story and get a deeper look into Reformed Cigars journey, tune in to this week’s episode of The Real Smoke Podcast—you won’t want to miss it.
Take a listen to the episode and drop a comment with your thoughts. Let’s keep the conversation going.
I’m John Cardenas, also known as Johnny Havana in the cigar industry. What I love about being involved with Cigar Public is that I have the opportunity to learn and share the stories of those in the cigar industry. I’ve formed lifelong relationships over a cigar and conversations. I’m committed to providing honest reviews of cigars and sharing my experiences with you. @JohnnyHavana
