René Ladrón de Guevara, founder of Humidor Society, has turned his lifelong passion for cigars, creativity, and meaningful connection into a growing community centered on the culture and craftsmanship of the leaf. His journey, shaped by immigrating from Cuba to the United States, overcoming personal and professional hardships, and building his ventures from the ground up, has taught him resilience, gratitude, and authenticity. Through Humidor Society, René embraces a self-taught creative approach, supporting emerging cigar brands while encouraging enthusiasts to explore without pretension or pressure. For him, the true essence of the cigar experience lies not in price or status, but in the simple combination of a good cigar, good conversation, and good people.

Here is the Q&A session we had with René Ladrón de Guevara.

René Ladrón de Guevara As Cover Story Interview – August 2026 Magazine Edition

How do you introduce yourself?

My name is René Ladrón de Guevara, founder of Humidor Society and, first and foremost, a passionate cigar aficionado.

For me, cigars have always been about much more than smoking. They’re about the leaf, the craftsmanship, the history, the culture, and, most importantly, the people you share them with. There’s something special about sitting down with a good cigar and having a conversation that you might remember long after the cigar is gone.

Humidor Society started simply from my love for cigars and my love for creating. I never really set out to build a brand or a community. I was just enjoying cigars, taking pictures, learning, and sharing what I was discovering along the way.

I’m constantly learning because I don’t consider myself someone who knows everything about cigars. I’m an aficionado, but I’m also a student of the leaf. Every cigar, every conversation, and every person I meet teaches me something new.

I feel blessed to be able to do something I genuinely love, and I thank God for the opportunities and the people He has placed in my life.

I’m not here to tell people what they should smoke. I’m here to enjoy the journey, learn from others, and hopefully make that journey a little more enjoyable for the people who follow Humidor Society.

Struggle – What hardships have you gone through in life?

I learned resilience at a very young age. I came to the United States from Cuba when I was 12 years old. We left a dictatorship, we didn’t speak English, we had no family here, and we basically had to start from zero.

That experience shaped me in ways I probably didn’t fully understand when I was younger. Starting over teaches you to appreciate things that other people might take for granted. Freedom, opportunity, family, having a place to call home—those things mean a lot to me.

I’m extremely proud to be a Cuban American, and I’m deeply grateful to this country for opening its doors to my family and giving us the opportunity to live in freedom. There are still many Cubans living under that dictatorship who don’t have that freedom, and I never forget where I came from or how blessed I am to be here. I thank God for the freedom my family and I have today.

Then, during the pandemic, my signage company, Goat Society, nearly collapsed. It was a very difficult period because something I had worked so hard to build was suddenly in jeopardy.

My wife and I have also experienced three miscarriages during our almost 20 years together. Those are experiences that change you. They teach you that life can be beautiful, but it can also be incredibly difficult, and sometimes you have to keep moving forward even when you don’t have all the answers.

All of those experiences taught me resilience, but more importantly, they taught me gratitude. I appreciate life, family, friendship, and the people around me much more because I understand that none of it should be taken for granted.

Life is going to knock you down. You’re going to have moments when you question yourself. But you have to find the strength to get back up, keep moving, and trust that there is still something ahead of you.

What do people usually not know about you?

People probably don’t know that I was an artist long before Humidor Society existed.

I’ve always had this creative side. I was involved in music, and at one point I even tried being a rapper and reggaeton artist. I never became famous, obviously, but I genuinely loved creating and expressing myself.

That creative side of me eventually found different outlets. I enjoy cooking, art, photography, tattooing, videography, and creating content. A lot of what I do today comes from simply being curious and wanting to figure things out.

I’m completely self-taught. I’m not a professional photographer, videographer, or artist in the traditional sense. I just learn by doing. If there’s something I want to create and I don’t know how to do it, I’ll research it, watch YouTube videos, experiment, make mistakes, and try again.

YouTube has honestly been one of my biggest teachers.

I think that’s something that has followed me throughout my life: if something interests me, I want to understand it. I don’t necessarily need someone to teach me. I’ll find a way to learn it myself.

And I think that mentality has had a lot to do with the way Humidor Society has grown.

What sets you apart from others?

For me, it’s authenticity.

When I started Humidor Society, I didn’t have a studio, expensive camera equipment, a production team, or a big budget. Honestly, I still don’t. A lot of what people see from Humidor Society is still just me, in my living room, creating with what I have.

I started taking cigar photographs at night, experimenting with lighting and shadows, and eventually that became the dark, intimate, lounge-style look that people associate with Humidor Society.

The Reels started the same way. It was my phone, whatever space I had available, and an idea in my head.

I wasn’t trying to copy anybody. I wasn’t trying to create a certain image because I thought that was what the cigar community wanted. I was simply creating what I liked.

And I think people can feel when something is genuine.

I also don’t chase hype. I smoke what I enjoy, I give my honest opinion, and I’m not afraid to appreciate a cigar just because it isn’t the most expensive or most talked-about cigar on the market.

I especially enjoy supporting small and emerging brands because I understand what it feels like to start with an idea and try to build something from the ground up.

At the end of the day, I believe there’s room for everybody. When one person or one brand in this community grows, the entire cigar community becomes stronger.

What are your upcoming major events?

I don’t have any major trips or events planned right now, but I do have some exciting collaborations coming up.

I have cigars from three different brands on the way, and I’m really looking forward to experiencing them, learning more about the people behind those brands, and sharing that experience with the Humidor Society community.

For me, collaborations are about more than simply receiving a cigar and taking a picture. I like learning the story behind the cigar, understanding the people who created it, and giving people an opportunity to discover something they may not have experienced before.

I’m also working on something that people have been asking me about for a while: Humidor Society merchandise—hats, T-shirts, and hopefully more in the future.

Honestly, merchandise was never something I planned on doing. But when people start telling you they want to wear your brand, it means something.

It tells me that Humidor Society has become more than just a social media page. It has become something people feel connected to.

And for me, that’s pretty special.

What expert advice would you like to give?

My advice is simple: start.

Don’t overthink cigars. Don’t feel like you need to know everything before you enjoy one. Your palate develops naturally with time and experience.

Try different cigars. Experiment. Smoke different sizes, blends, strengths, and brands. Pay attention to what you enjoy and, just as importantly, what you don’t enjoy.

And don’t let the price determine what you think you’re supposed to like.

A $100 cigar isn’t automatically going to be better for you than a $10 cigar. The best cigar is the cigar that gives you the experience you’re looking for.

Maybe that’s a very expensive cigar. Maybe it’s an inexpensive cigar you discovered at your local shop. It really doesn’t matter.

What matters is your experience.

I also think people sometimes get caught up in the idea that you have to be an expert to belong in the cigar community. You don’t. We all started somewhere.

Respect the leaf. Respect the craftsmanship. Respect the culture and the people behind the cigars. And most importantly, enjoy it without pretension.

At the end of the day, for me, it’s simple: a good cigar, a good conversation, and good people.

That’s what this community is really about.

Your social media handles and website links?

• You can find Humidor Society across our social platforms under the same name: Humidor Society.
• Instagram is where I’m most active. That’s where I share my cigar photography, Reels, events, experiences, discoveries, and some of the people and brands I come across in the cigar community.
• I also love sharing content from fellow aficionados, cigar brands, lounges, and other creators because I genuinely believe in supporting one another. This community is much bigger than any one person or brand.
• Our YouTube channel is also Humidor Society, where I have the opportunity to share more cigar-related content and connect with fellow enthusiasts in a different way.
• I’m incredibly grateful for what Humidor Society has become, but I’m even more grateful for the people who have supported it, followed the journey, shared the content, introduced me to new cigars, and simply taken the time to be part of the community.
• Because at the end of the day, Humidor Society isn’t just a page.
• It’s a community.
• And when you follow Humidor Society, you’re not just following a cigar account. You’re joining a group of people who appreciate the leaf, the culture, the craftsmanship, and the moments that happen around it.
• Humidor Society — United by the Leaf.