15 лет Siglo de Oro | Артур Шиляев о себе и о сигарах

The concept of a "Russian cigar" originated in the 19th century, when cigars made from select Cuban tobacco were established in our Empire, rivaling both Havana and European cigars in quality. How could a Russian cigar be inferior to its competitors in any way, if it was made in Russia and for the Russian elite? The 19th century was the golden age of Russian culture, the heyday of military and political power and strength, so the Russian nobility, merchants, and intelligentsia consumed only the very best, and the Russian cigar was considered one of this "very best." 1917 destroyed three hundred years of Romanov Russia, and a new state emerged where, under the slogans of proletarian revolution, yesterday's bandits smoked the same excellent tobacco and lived a life indistinguishable from that of capitalists and aristocracy. But the Soviet cigar was no longer the same: even the best examples were made according to GOST standards, which required things unthinkable for cigars (like drying to 12%). Therefore, I believe that the tradition of Russian cigar production was ultimately interrupted and was only revived in modern times, and the crown here belongs to Artur Shilyaev, one of the best Russian cigar makers, who, together with Mikael Adamyan, founded the cigar factory Sabor de la Vida (Taste of Life) in 2011, now known as the Golden Age (Siglo de Oro). This year, it celebrated its 15th anniversary, and naturally, we couldn't ignore this occasion, so we invited Artur Shilyaev to our lounge to tell the story of the Golden Age of Russian cigars. It turned out to be a fascinating conversation, filled with many names, events, stories, and details. Enjoy watching! Subscribe to the channel https://www.youtube.com/c/FreytakMedi... 00:00:23 — Introduction. 15th Anniversary of the Golden Age Factory (Sigla Deora) 00:02:40 — Artur Shilyaev's Transition from Expertise to His Own Business 00:03:34 — Finding Partners and Launching Production in Moscow 00:06:59 — The Specifics of Creating Light, Full-Flavored Cigars 00:10:00 — Comparing the Properties of Cuban, Dominican, and Nicaraguan Cigars 00:13:40 — Legalization and Adaptation of Cuban Torcedores in the Russian Federation 00:16:54 — Purchasing Tobacco in Nicaragua and FSB Customs Control 00:22:30 — Coordinating the Import of Cuban Cigars and Wrapper Export Restrictions 00:26:00 — Formulating (Bag) Recipes and Flavor Stabilization Methods 00:32:00 — Personal Quality Control of Raw Materials and Production Economics RF 00:42:30 — Distribution in the Russian Federation. Launch of the Evgeniy Onegin and Hidalgo lines 00:50:00 — The first signature cigars for media personalities as a marketing tool 00:53:00 — Consumer snobbery and the decline in the quality of Cuban imports 01:02:47 — The specifics of tax administration and excise control 01:08:00 — Rebranding of the Zolotoy Vek factory 01:11:00 — Changes in partner composition and the role of top management 01:17:20 — Competitive analysis of Russian cigar manufacturers 01:21:00 — The structure of the fiscal burden (excise tax, VAT) and QR code labeling 01:25:44 — Launch of signature brands (Stas Namin, Zako) 01:30:30 — Analysis of the flagship Evgeniy Onegin line No. 4 01:35:25 — Contract Manufacturing for Corporate Orders (Private Label) 01:40:40 — Diadema Anniversary Release and the Shortage of High-Quality Torcedores 01:44:10 — Plans: Release of the "Artur Shilyaev" Cigar and Launch of a Cognac Brand 01:48:40 — The Evolution of Cigar Culture in Russia Over 15 Years For legal inquiries, please contact: Nikolay Freytak, Managing Partner at Freytak & Sons Attorneys https://vk.com/freytak Or use the contact information listed on our website: http://freytakandsons.com This channel was created as a non-profit project of the Freytak & Sons Bar Association with the aim of promoting legal practice in Russia. The channel brings together attorneys and consultants with significant practical experience. The channel's guests include leading figures from the business community and simply interesting individuals. Each of our viewers will definitely broaden their horizons and understand legal principles.