{"id":71691,"date":"2024-09-26T20:42:50","date_gmt":"2024-09-26T18:42:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/?p=71691"},"modified":"2025-08-21T22:48:56","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T20:48:56","slug":"intertabac-24-exclusive-cigars-for-me-bourbon-for-you-a-conversation-with-steve-saka-the-master-of-liquor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/en\/intertabac-24-exklusiv-zigarren-fuer-mich-bourbon-fuer-dich-ein-gespraech-mit-steve-saka-dem-meister-der-laessigkeit\/","title":{"rendered":"InterTabac 24 exclusive: Cigars for me, bourbon for you - A conversation with Steve Saka, the master of nonchalance"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The interview with Steve Saka was a real rollercoaster ride, and I'm not sure I'll ever be able to stop laughing again. It felt like I'd landed in the middle of one of those legendary Steve Saka shows that every cigar lover wants to experience at some point - or maybe not. \u201eWould you like something, Oliver?\u201c he began the conversation politely. \u201eI'd have a bourbon,\u201c was my reply. And that was the beginning of the end of my planned questions.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"yoast-reading-time__wrapper\"><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__icon\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-icon=\"clock\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" style=\"display:inline-block;vertical-align:-0.1em\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M12 8v4l3 3m6-3a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__spacer\" style=\"display:inline-block;width:1em\"><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__reading-time\">7<\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__time-unit\"> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>Table of contents<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#titel-1\" data-level=\"2\">At the table with Steve: cigars, anecdotes and blunt questions<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-steve-uber-dortmund-und-zigarren-revolutionar-faul-und-erfolgreich\" data-level=\"2\">Steve on Dortmund and cigars: Revolutionary lazy and successful<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-der-ceo-ohne-ziel-steves-simple-aber-erfolgreiche-zigarrenphilosophie\" data-level=\"2\">The CEO without a goal: Steve's simple but successful cigar philosophy<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-zigarren-ohne-marketing-steve-vertraut-auf-qualitat-statt-auf-grosse-worte\" data-level=\"2\">Cigars without marketing: Steve relies on quality instead of big words<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-auf-dem-fetten-arsch-zum-erfolg-steves-entspannter-weg-durch-die-zigarrenwelt\" data-level=\"2\">On the \u201afat arse\u2018 to success: Steve's relaxed path through the world of cigars<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-mit-steve-saka-uber-genuss-und-unkonventionalitat\" data-level=\"2\">With Steve Saka on enjoyment and unconventionality<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-was-meinst-du-dazu\" data-level=\"2\">What do you think?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#ressourcen-zum-thema\" data-level=\"2\">Resources on the topic and buying cigars<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-default\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"362\" height=\"332\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/00-Pic-Oliver-Lampe.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-71534\" style=\"width:150px;height:150px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/00-Pic-Oliver-Lampe.png 362w, https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/00-Pic-Oliver-Lampe-13x12.png 13w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 362px) 100vw, 362px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-text-align-center is-style-large has-small-font-size is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">The author behind these articles is Oliver - survivalist, winter griller, TV fuzzie from Bonn. He constantly fails at trying to stay sporty, loves cigars, rock'n'roll, barbecues, bad jokes and single malt whisky. He is now too old to grow up.<\/p>\n<cite>- <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/broadleafjunkie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Contact via instagram<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-default\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"titel-1\">At the table with Steve: cigars, anecdotes and blunt questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Steve, being who he is, responded directly: \u201eThe whole thing? Yeah, do what you do,\u201c he said as I put a glass down for him. But it was already clear: all the man needs is cigars, bourbon and an audience, and he's already bubbling over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201eAre you drinking or are you quitting?\u201c he asked me in the middle of the conversation, out of context, and I had to smile. \u201eFor 24 years,\u201c I said. But Steve didn't let that stop him from continuing to philosophise about cigars as if they were the centre of the universe - which, in his world, they probably are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"753\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/i_am_lazy_-_steve_saka.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-71693\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/i_am_lazy_-_steve_saka.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/i_am_lazy_-_steve_saka-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/i_am_lazy_-_steve_saka-16x12.jpg 16w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-steve-uber-dortmund-und-zigarren-revolutionar-faul-und-erfolgreich\">Steve on Dortmund and cigars: Revolutionary lazy and successful<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:1em\">And then, when he talked about his InterTabac visits: \u201eI'm coming to the most beautiful part of Germany - Dortmund!\u201c Yes, he really said that while I was trying not to choke on my cigar. \u201eThis is my only experience in Germany,\u201c he added, as if it was a traveller's dream come true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His approach to business? Unconventional. Revolutionary. And at the same time so wonderfully lazy. \u201eI do very little work,\u201c he admitted openly. \u201eI come to hang out, smoke and drink a bit.\u201c If I'm honest, that put me at ease. A man who understood how to enjoy life and be successful at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"753\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/brulee_blue_und_kommende_overseas_no._1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-71692\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/brulee_blue_und_kommende_overseas_no._1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/brulee_blue_und_kommende_overseas_no._1-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/brulee_blue_und_kommende_overseas_no._1-16x12.jpg 16w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the left: Brulee Blue and to the right the upcoming Overseas No.1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-der-ceo-ohne-ziel-steves-simple-aber-erfolgreiche-zigarrenphilosophie\">The CEO without a goal: Steve's simple but successful cigar philosophy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201eBut what is your goal?\u201c I asked, hoping to get a classic entrepreneurial answer. \u201eThere is no goal,\u201c he replied. Of course there isn't. Goals are overrated, especially when you're stuck in Dortmund enjoying a bourbon and cigars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The conversation continued, and at some point Steve confessed: \u201eI don't know who our international customers are either.\u201c Wonderful. A CEO who has no idea who buys his product and is as happy as if he had found the holy grail. \u201eI only focus on tobacco,\u201c he said, and he meant it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His business model is simple: he produces cigars that are <strong>he<\/strong> likes. Full stop. If you like his cigars, fine. If not, tough luck. \u201eI make cigars for one person, and that's me,\u201c he said, raising his cigar triumphantly in the air. Who would have thought that such a simple philosophy could be so successful? \u201eI smoke 8 to 10 cigars a day, so I know what I like,\u201c he explained, as if this were a scientific basis for product development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"753\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/mi_querida_sakakhan.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-71694\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/mi_querida_sakakhan.jpg 753w, https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/mi_querida_sakakhan-9x12.jpg 9w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 753px) 100vw, 753px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-zigarren-ohne-marketing-steve-vertraut-auf-qualitat-statt-auf-grosse-worte\">Cigars without marketing: Steve relies on quality instead of big words<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In between, he chatted a little about his travels - or lack thereof. \u201eI always tell myself I'll stay a week or two longer to get around a bit, but I never make it,\u201c he confessed. For him, Germany is limited to the exhibition halls in Dortmund. Frankfurt? Berlin? Not a chance. But he knows the Netherlands well. \u201eI almost always fly to Amsterdam,\u201c he said, as if that explained everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When the conversation turned to the international markets, his honesty surprised me again. \u201eI have no idea who buys our cigars.\u201c It didn't seem to bother him much. Steve lives by the motto: \u201eIf the cigar is good, people will find it on their own.\u201c No marketing talk, no sales puffery, just pure passion for tobacco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-auf-dem-fetten-arsch-zum-erfolg-steves-entspannter-weg-durch-die-zigarrenwelt\">On the \u201afat arse\u2018 to success: Steve's relaxed path through the world of cigars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His relaxed approach was evident throughout the conversation. \u201eWe have a very small stand here,\u201c he said proudly. \u201eSo I can sit on my fat arse for three days.\u201c He said this while taking a pleasurable drag on his cigar and offering me another bourbon. I couldn't help but laugh out loud. Here was a man who had mastered the world of cigars with an unrivalled blend of expertise and nonchalance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201eThat's what you do when you're old and lazy,\u201c he added, as if he had just transferred the wisdom of old age to me. \u201eI hope to get there one day,\u201c I replied, and I really meant it. Who doesn't want to reach the point one day where you can sit back and relax in Dortmund while business takes care of itself?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-mit-steve-saka-uber-genuss-und-unkonventionalitat\">With Steve Saka on enjoyment and unconventionality<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the end of the interview <strong>he<\/strong> <strong>me<\/strong>\u201eDon't you want to talk about our products?\u201c I hesitated because I knew that would mean the conversation could go on for another hour. \u201eNot really,\u201c I admitted. But Steve didn't let up. He talked about his blends as if he was telling me the secret of eternal youth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201eI don't care whether the cigar costs 9 or 17 dollars,\u201c he said, \u201eas long as it tastes good.\u201c And that was probably the quintessence of our conversation: Steve Saka does what he likes. And if you like it too, then you'll love his cigars. If not? Well, tough luck, as mentioned earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:1em\">When the interview - or rather, the Steve Saka show - finally came to an end, I thanked Steve. \u201eThat was funny,\u201c I said, and he agreed: \u201eHell yeah!\u201c A conversation with Steve Saka is like one of his cigars: it unfolds slowly, it smokes beautifully and leaves a lasting impression. I hope to meet him again next year in Dortmund - if he doesn't run off straight to Amsterdam again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-was-meinst-du-dazu\">What do you think?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/de\/forum\/topic\/intertabac-24-exklusiv-zigarren-fuer-mich-bourbon-fuer-dich-ein-gespraech-mit-steve-saka-dem-meister-der-laessigkeit\/\">We look forward to your opinion - discuss this blog post with us in the forum!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ressourcen-zum-thema\">Resources on the topic and buying cigars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=Steve+Saka+Cigars\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Info about Steve Saka cigars<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"472\" height=\"708\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/vasilij_100_csf54279.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-73395\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:contain;width:359px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/vasilij_100_csf54279.jpg 472w, https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/vasilij_100_csf54279-8x12.jpg 8w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 472px) 100vw, 472px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong>More smoke. With me.\ud83d\udca8\ud83e\udd17<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">YOUTUBE \ud83d\udcfa <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@genussmitvasilij\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@genussmitvasilij\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">INSTAGRAM \ud83d\udcf8 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/v4silij\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@v4silij\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">INSTAGRAM \ud83d\udcf8 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/zigarrenzone\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@zigarrenzone\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The interview with Steve Saka was a real rollercoaster ride, and I'm not sure I'll ever stop laughing again. It...<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":71695,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"h5ap_radio_sources":[],"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[662,6291],"tags":[6577,6576,6593],"class_list":["post-71691","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chronik","category-event","tag-intertabac","tag-intertabac-24","tag-steve-saka-cigars"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/steve_saka_und_sakasquatch_im_gespraech_mit_mir.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71691","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71691"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71691\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/71695"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71691"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71691"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zigarren.zone\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}