Författare: David Sanova
Källa: Cigar Aficionado
Datum: 23 April 2001

It's noon at De La Concha, one of the best cigar stores in Manhattan. A familiar theme song, heavy on the bass, begins to play as a white stretch limousine pulls up in front of the Sixth Avenue store. Out walks Vincent Pastore, a star from the hit HBO series "The Sopranos."

Pastore, who has smoked cigars for years and seemed to have a cigar in his mouth at all times while playing Sal "Big Pussy" Bompensiero on the show, was there to celebrate the launch of his own cigar brand, Player's Club by Don Diego. Pastore took a spot behind a counter, lit up a cigar and began signing photographs and cigar boxes for the crowd of 50 or so cigar smokers who gave up their lunch hour to rub elbows with one of America's favorite TV mobsters.

Pastore helped design the brand, which is made by Altadis U.S.A. in the Dominican Republic by Jose A. Seijas. (His familiar face adorns the inside of the box, as well.) The medium-bodied smokes are made with Dominican and Brazilian filler, Dominican binder and Brazilian wrappers. They come in six sizes, with suggested retail prices ranging from $4 to $6. They're available now at select retailers, and go national on May 15.