The Real Smoke Podcast with Charles and Mick latest episode!
This week on The Real Smoke Podcast, Tim Ozgener of Oz Family Cigars joined us to share his fascinating insights into the cigar industry—along with some memorable family stories.
Tim spoke about his father’s unique journey, beginning as an engineer who enjoyed smoking a pipe. His father’s engineering mind couldn’t help but tinker with his pipes, improving their design and functionality. One day, while visiting a pipe shop, the owner noticed one of his modified pipes and asked, “Can you sell me some of these?” His father replied simply, “How many do you want?” And just like that, a business was born.
He quickly mastered the craft and began running the business from home to save money and involve the whole family. The venture steadily grew, and when the cigar boom hit, he made a bold pivot into the world of premium cigars. That’s when CAO was born.
Partnering with legacy families in the industry, he began blending and producing cigars under the CAO label. It was a challenging time—materials were in high demand and production was tough—but through sheer willpower and dedication, something beautiful emerged. Business boomed, growing faster than they could’ve imagined.
Eventually, they were offered a buyout by the Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG). Tim recalled a friend who once passed on a similar opportunity and regretted it for years. He and the family made the decision to sell.
After the sale, the family shifted gears and started a nonprofit focused on the arts—an area close to their hearts. Tim, an artist himself, had explored comedy improv and acting. He even showcased his talents on the podcast, doing hilarious and spot-on impersonations of his father and well-known figures in the cigar world.
But the story doesn’t end there. Tim eventually returned to the cigar world with a new passion project: Oz Family Cigars. He partnered with legendary blender Ernesto Perez-Carrillo to craft creative, artistic cigar blends—true works of art.
To hear more of Tim’s inspiring story and enjoy a few laughs along the way, be sure to tune in to this week’s episode!
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
