Cigars with the Dutchess

Back in 2014, Chai Dobbins, now known as The Cigar Dutchess, was looking for a job and a friend knew of a cigar lounge that was hiring. She took the job not knowing anything about cigars or what her preference for them might be, but she was open to the experience. Now, seven years later, she is charged with running the cigar program at a chain of upscale speakeasy-style cigar lounges, called Red Phone Booth, as well as developing training programs and special events around her passion for cigars.

After working her way through a starter pack that was given to her, she recalls, “I had the Oliva Melanio, which went on to get cigar of the year… and it changed everything for me… And