By David Jordan Jr
Eshe Magazine and the founder of Warped Cigars, Kyle Gellis discuss the company, the cigars and its uniqueness.
ESHE Magazine: What year did you found Warped Cigars? What’s the background behind Warped Cigars?
Kyle Gellis: Warped was founded in 2009, while I was still attending college at the University of Central Florida (GO KNIGHTS!). I was brought up around cigars as a child, my father was a cigar smoker from the time I could remember, and I was brought up during the boom. I used to wait until he would come home and he would let me pick out a cigar from his humidor, cut it, and hold the lighter for him while he sat at his desk and enjoyed. Being constantly around it, he would tell me about the experience, flavors, construction issues, and so on. And when I turned 18, I went down to Little Havana and started my journey. 
ESHE Magazine: Describe your cigars: tobacco, wrapping, blend, taste
Kyle Gellis: It varies based on blend.
EL OSO:
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro
Filler: Nicaraguan and Dominican
Binder: Ecuadorian
La Colmena:
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Deflorada
Filler: Nicaraguan and Dominican
Binder: Ecuadorian
Flor Del Valle
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo ‘99
Filler: Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 and Criollo ‘98
Binder: Nicaraguan
I blend in the Cuban traditional fashion, for depth, balance, and complexity. Each cigar is unique to itself, even to its size. When I blend for a vitola within in the marca, I make sure the blend fits the size.
ESHE Magazine: Uniqueness about your cigars?
Their depth, balance, and complexity, and where they are rolled. Time and time again when people smoke El Oso or La Colmena or Flor Del Valle, they all come back and say it was truly unique and unlike anything they have ever had, and I take extreme pride in that. We work with amazing material and our factories are the best in the world. El Titan de Bronze down in Little Havana, is responsible for the rolling of El Oso and La Colmena, they employ true category 9 torcedors all from Cuba. These master torcedors rolled only 100 cigars a day, each one of them is a masterpiece, using authentic Cuban methods, and true Havana experience, it’s quite a sight to see them work. One of our rollers, Raf, who is responsible for La Colmena Amado No. 36 had a 23 year career at the Partagas factory in Havana, and traveled the world showcasing his skills for Cuba. And the greatest part is, you can go to the factory on the corner of 8th St and 11th Ave in Miami and see them work!
Then you have Flor Del Valle, rolled by Casa Fernandez in Esteli, Nicaragua. Utilizing the same Cuban traditional production techniques, down at an amazing factory in Esteli. Flor Del Valle uses 100% Aganorsa leaf, and there is just something about Aganorsa leaf that is truly unique, just the way they cure and process the leaf, it’s something to experience.
ESHE Magazine: The name Warped Cigars; what is the meaning or how did you come up with the name? Inspiration?
Kyle Gellis: Warped was actually my nickname from my paintball playing days. I played paintball from the time I was 8 years old till I was 19. When I was 14, I started Warped Kustoms, a paintball headwear company, providing headbands, headwraps, playing apparel, barrel covers, and any and all accessories to the paintball industry throughout the USA and distribution through Europe and Asia. Paintball and Warped Kustoms were my life, my identity, and so when I started my new journey, it was an easy call that Warped comes with me.
ESHE Magazine: What makes for the perfect cigar?
Kyle Gellis: That’s a personal thing. Enjoyment of a cigar will vary greatly between people. For me, it all goes back to depth, balance, and complexity and the construction of the cigar.
ESHE Magazine: You have many unique accessories in addition to your cigars; this is really unique because it enhances the experience of smoking a Warped Cigar. Tell us about your line of cigar accessories?
We have our cigar case line, Series I, which is entirely made by hand in Spain using the finest Spanish leathers available, and utilizing a very rare production technique called hyper-fuse which allows for no stitching on the case. This production technique allows for a very sleek and modern appearance, coupled with the long-standing expertise of Spanish leather craftsmanship to offer a cigar case like no other. The Jaridor, a ceramic jar humidor that takes the decades old design of wood humidors and throws it out the window. We took a very modern design approach to these and are super excited about them. And lets not forget about our ashtray, the Gondola, an aggressive design but still elegant take on the ashtray that we are all used to seeing in a square or circular shape.
ESHE Magazine: The coolest experience you’ve had with your cigar company thus far?
Kyle Gellis: The people. You will not meet nicer people, and that’s no joke. From the men and ladies sitting in the cigar shop smoking, factory owners, and other brand owners, everyone is incredibly nice and always welcoming. Meeting and getting to know everyone is by far the coolest experience. Share a cigar with someone and it’s like you have been friends for a decade.
ESHE Magazine: The perfect song to listen to while smoking a Warped Cigar is
Kyle Gellis: Oh that’s a good one! Dead Presidents II by Jay Z. Get on that Reasonable Doubt!
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/warpedcigars
