OUR STORY
Back in 2017, (when I got engaged to my now wife Carissa), she suggested that I purchase some cigars and give them to the groomsmen and Best Man when I ask them to be by my side. As I wasn't into cigars back then I wasn't keen on the idea, we ended up doing that anyway because let's face it, wife has the last say. As we were on the roof top bar in Perth, and we lit up the cigar, that first draw, when it hit my soul, I knew exactly what I wanted, and that is this, to have my own line.
With an amazing amount of support from Carissa, I started looking into it. Then I started thinking about a brand name, and automatically thought to myself, how can I join the love for my family and cigars in one.
That's when Familija Cigars was born.
Familija is family of course in my first language (Croatian).
Then I found a factory in Dominican Republic, after few months of talking they sent me samplers, which I wanted modified.
They rolled the new samplers and sent them again and I still wasn't happy.
Third time lucky and they hit the nail on the head.
Now we were getting somewhere.
Now that I found a factory and customised the blend, I started looking into brand and logo designs, box designs, label printing, etc... Settling on the design of the brand and logo was easy, DONE.
Next came the labels, first 2 printing factories I gave a go, I wasn't happy with. Oncee again, third time lucky, DONE.
The boxes are a whole different story, several samples and factories later
I think I am finally happy with them.
So we are in the process of making sample boxes at the moment.
These boxes will include a "C' 48x8, 'C' 48x6, and the 3 blends of Robusto.
Now to explain the letters.
Familija 'A' Toro 54x6 - 'A' stands for 'Anando' hence why its a Toro stick, I love the bigger stogie's to sit back and have 1.5-2hrs of peace.
Familija 'C' DC and 48x6 - 'C' Stands for "Carissa (my wife), she doesn't smoke cigars but understands and supports my love for the leaf so I decided to dedicated the DC to her as I think the size of the DC is very elegant look.
Familija 'N' Robusto (to be released) - Stands for Noah (first born). because who doesn't love a Robusto Vitola.
Familija 'L' - this is a very touching one for me. Back in 2018 we were pregnant again, and due to complications we were left with no choice but to terminate the baby half way through the pregnancy, as we were told by the specialists either Carissa or the baby won't survive the birth.
Carissa still had to go through forced labour,and give birth naturally, we still had to name the baby and have a funeral.
We decided on the name Lake. Vitola size hasn't been decided for baby Lake and I want to 100% make a different Vitola.
Something special.
Familija 'R' stands for Rain (daughter) they say the baby born after a tragedy is called a Rainbow baby, so that's where Rain came from. Vitola size still hasn't been decided. You will notice the initials next to the logo on the band.
