An Interview with Jon Carney: From La Flor Dominicana to Bentley Tobacco USA

Lincoln Salazar: John, you’ve been in the premium cigar industry for quite some time now. How many years are we talking about?

Jon Carney: On the manufacturing and brand side, it’s been about 15 years. I worked in a couple of cigar shops while I was in grad school, so if you include that, I’m pushing 20 years in the industry as both a smoker and an employee.

I also did some marketing for small retail outlets back in the mid-2000s, and it’s wild to think how fast time has flown by. So, on the manufacturing and brand side, it’s about 15 years.

Lincoln Salazar: How long were you with La Flor Dominicana?

Jon Carney: I was with LFD for 14 years. I had just started my 14th year in June before I left. I served as Vice President of Sales for 13 of those years—well, 12 and a half to be exact. Before that, I was a regional sales manager covering New York and New England for about a year and a half.

It was an incredible time. LFD has an amazing reputation, and Lito Gomez has built something truly special alongside his family. Seeing his children get involved in the business has been inspiring.

Over those years, I learned a lot—education, relationship-building, and just an overall deep dive into the premium cigar industry. Those relationships and that knowledge have been invaluable in transitioning into my new role with Bentley Tobacco USA. I wouldn’t have been able to do what I’m doing now without that foundation.

Lincoln Salazar: What led to your decision to leave LFD?

Jon Carney: I grew up in an entrepreneurial family, so there were always things I wanted to do on my own. My family built businesses from the ground up, and I worked in them as a kid. We were in the restaurant business, so I’ve always had an itch for entrepreneurship.

When you grow up that way, you eventually find yourself asking, “Why am I not doing this for myself?” I loved what I did at LFD, but I knew it was time for me to step back and evaluate my career—where I was after 14 years, the reputation I’d built in the premium cigar industry, and what I wanted to accomplish moving forward.

I left on July 1. At that time, I didn’t have anything concrete lined up. I had concepts, ideas, and plans for what I might do, but nothing set in stone. I took about a month to spend time with my family. I’d spent almost 50 weeks on the road every year, and that time to reset was invaluable.

I knew, worst-case scenario, I could develop my own products or brands. But during that time, I came across Bentley Tobacco, which had a unique story and name that intrigued me. We’ll get into that in a bit.

Lincoln Salazar: Was it a positive transition between you and LFD?

Jon Carney: Yes, it was positive. When you leave something you’ve been a part of for so long, there’s always going to be a void. But I have no ill will toward them. I’m still close to the family—Lito’s son, Lito Jr., is like a brother to me, and I’ve known him since he was a kid.

The timing wasn’t exactly what I had envisioned, but it was the right move for me. I respect LFD immensely, and I know they’ll continue to succeed.

Lincoln Salazar: Let’s move forward. You’re now working with Bentley Tobacco USA. Tell us about this new venture and how it came about.

Jon Carney: About three weeks after leaving LFD, I was approached by the Schuster family out of Germany. They’ve been in the tobacco business for over a century and are distributors for many premium brands in Europe.

They had a brand called Bentley, and when they said the name, I was immediately interested. I asked them straight away if it had anything to do with the car company, and they smiled and said no—it was a separate brand.

Bentley originated in the 1970s as a brand for pipes and pipe tobacco. Its history goes back to the 1870s, tied to a company that made walking sticks and pipes. Over the past decade, they’ve developed Bentley as a premium cigar brand in Europe.

Their manufacturing partner is Joya de Nicaragua, which sealed the deal for me. I realized no matter what I could create on my own, I couldn’t come up with a name or product better than Bentley. The brand had been carefully developed over decades, and it was a perfect opportunity.

Lincoln Salazar: Tell us about the cigars. What should people expect from Bentley in the U.S.?

Jon Carney: We’re starting with two lines: the Bentley White and the Bentley Green.

• Bentley White features an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. It’s blended for a more European palate, which tends to favor medium-bodied cigars. However, this Connecticut is a bit fuller-bodied than what’s typical in the U.S.

• Bentley Green uses a three-year-aged Habano Rosado wrapper, which gives it a reddish hue. It’s slightly fuller than the White but still medium-bodied, with a spice that hits the middle of your palate—quarters two and three, as I like to say.

We’re launching these in four sizes: Corona, Robusto, Toro, and Churchill.

Lincoln Salazar: How is the U.S. launch progressing?

Jon Carney: So far, we’re in about 55 retailers. The goal is to reach 100 by early next year. We’ll also be showcasing the brand at the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) show in April in New Orleans.

At the show, we’ll introduce more products, including some beautiful five-packs and a project we’re calling the AI Cigar Project. This initiative will use feedback from cigar enthusiasts to develop a cigar designed by the masses.

Lincoln Salazar: Where can people find Bentley cigars or inquire about carrying them?

Jon Carney: All our retail locations are listed on our website: us1.bentleytobacco.com. Retailers can also fill out interest forms there if they’d like to carry the brand.

Lincoln Salazar: Bentley is synonymous with luxury. How does the brand reflect that?

Jon Carney: For me, luxury is about simplicity and elegance. Bentley represents that beautifully. The branding is clean, straightforward, and recognizable. Even the names of our lines—White and Green—are simple and memorable.

Luxury doesn’t have to be flashy; it’s about thoughtful design and quality. That philosophy drives everything we do at Bentley.

Lincoln Salazar: John, congratulations on this exciting new chapter. Any final thoughts?

Jon Carney: Thank you, Lincoln. I’m thrilled to be back in the industry, doing something I’m passionate about with a brand that embodies quality and sophistication. I can’t wait to share Bentley with the world.