The Good Oil with Grant 'the Cigar Merchant'

Long time cigar lover and host of The Good Oil Podcast Cam Slater, recently sat down with the man himself Grant Ovenden to talk all things, but mostly cigars.

It's a great listen, especially while sitting back and enjoying a cigar of your own.

You can get the podcast on all platforms, but below is a the YouTube version where you get to watch Grant and Cam share a stogie and a yarn.

One of the topics discussed in details was the age old Cuba / cigar story which is a must listen, but also prompted Grant to go further and issue a statement following the podcast to clear up some points. (full statement below)

A message from Grant “The Cigar Merchant” Ovenden, new-world premium cigar brand ambassador and proprietor of CANTEROS.nz and Long White Cloud Distributors:

While I hold deep respect for diverse political perspectives, I find myself compelled to oppose the continued support of Cuban-made cigars. The dire and ongoing hardships faced by the Cuban people cannot be ignored.

Historically revered as a symbol of excellence, the production and sale of Cuban cigars have been under the total control of the Cuban government since September 15, 1960, when Fidel Castro’s regime seized the privately owned plantations and factories of the Cuban Cigar industry.

This industry is solely operated by a dictatorship that benefits only those who hold power, with little regard for the artisans and labourers who craft these cigars—workers who are often reduced to modern-day slaves.

Supporting or associating with Cuban cigars, in my view, tacitly endorses a system that perpetuates systemic oppression, abuse of power, and the systematic denial of basic human rights.

It is impossible to reconcile my morals with participation in a trade that sustains a regime responsible for neglecting the dignity and freedom of its citizens.

This stance transcends politics; it is a moral imperative. Cuban cigars belong to its people—not the regime, nor to tourists.

To enjoy a Cuban cigar while so many continue to struggle for freedom and justice feels fundamentally wrong to me. It is, in essence, a betrayal of the legacy and ethos that the true craftsmanship of Cuban cigars embodies.

My stand is rooted in a conviction that supporting the oppressed and advocating for human rights is paramount.

Therefore, I choose not to partake in or endorse Cuban cigar products out of respect for the dignity of the Cuban people and their ongoing fight for freedom.

Grant “The Cigar Merchant” Ovenden

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About the author

Joe Murdie aka Don José has been reviewing cigars in New Zealand for over 10 years now, originally as a writer for NZBlokes, a mens magazine.

Outside of Cigars Joe is an international award winning film-maker based in Wānaka, OTA.