In the world of premium cigars, NOMOS has quickly risen to prominence, distinguishing itself with a commitment to quality and a unique approach to blending and aging. Founded by Jerrold Miles and Corey Turner, NOMOS cigars embody a philosophy of excellence, rooted in meticulous craftsmanship and a deep respect for tradition. In this exclusive interview, Jerrold and Corey share their journey, from their initial forays into the cigar world to the creation of their proprietary aging process. They discuss the philosophy behind their brand, the challenges they’ve overcome, and their vision for the future. Join us as we delve into the story behind NOMOS cigars and discover what sets them apart in the competitive landscape of luxury cigars.
Lincoln Salazar (LS): Alright, I’m here with Jerrold Miles and Corey Turner from NOMOS Cigars. Let’s start from the beginning. Can you tell us about NOMOS Cigars, how you were founded, how you came up with the brand, and a little bit of your history?
Jerrold Miles (JM): Absolutely. First of all, hello to everyone. My name is Jerrold Miles, and I am a co-owner of NOMOS Cigars, along with my partner, Corey Turner. We are both attorneys here in New York. Our company, CTJM LLC, owns the NOMOS Cigars brand. We started about four or five years ago, inspired by our shared love of cigars. Whenever Corey and I would vacation or meet up after a long day, we’d enjoy cigars and discuss the idea of creating our own blend. NOMOS is derived from the Greek god of law, symbolizing our background as attorneys and our commitment to the law.
LS: Tell us about where your cigars are made and a bit about your production process. Where do they come from?
Corey Turner (CT): Our cigars are manufactured in the Dominican Republic, primarily at the La Aurora factory, though we also work with other manufacturers across the country. Having multiple manufacturers is crucial for our supply chain, but La Aurora remains our primary partner.
LS: What made you choose to work with La Aurora?
JM: When we decided to start this venture, we made it a point to meet with many master blenders. I had a clear vision for our inaugural cigar, particularly the flavor profile, which needed to be medium-plus and very savory, with a clean finish. We worked with several master blenders to capture this, including Manuel and Noah, and Joche Blanco. Ultimately, we chose to work with La Aurora and Manuel and Noah because they closely matched our vision. We were very impressed with Blanco’s work, but we felt more confident with La Aurora.
LS: Was this your first trip to the Dominican Republic, or had you been there before? Did you go specifically for blending, or had you visited as consumers?
JM: I had been visiting the Dominican Republic for years with friends. I introduced Corey to it, and soon it was just the two of us, enjoying the nice weather, pool, cigars, and our love for hip hop music. That laid the foundation for us to decide that Tamboril Santiago was the perfect place to develop the NOMOS cigar brand.
(LS): So tell us about the blending process for NOMOS Cigars. Do you work directly with Manuel? What’s the process when developing a new blend? Additionally, can you describe the cigars and their flavor profiles, the craftsmanship, and how you source your tobacco?
(CT): Absolutely. We work closely with our master blenders, but it’s important to point out that our cigars are not white-labeled. We don’t just hand over control to the master blender and slap a ring on a finished product. Our process involves several iterations of back-and-forth, tasting, and providing feedback. Once we feel comfortable with a blend, we bring it back to the United States. We then have focus groups, which include friends, industry novices, and aficionados, who provide feedback. We understand that while we may like a cigar, consumer preferences also matter. This process helps us develop a well-rounded flavor profile over time.
Our processes are far from cookie-cutter. Just like crafting fine wine, we start with the desired flavor profile, whether it’s a medium cigar or a stronger blend, and build from there. As Jerrold mentioned, our cigars have consistent hallmarks: they’re flavorful, smooth, clean on the finish, have a comfortable draw, burn evenly, and provide a great experience both in aroma and flavor.
LS: What initially got you into cigars? Tell me about your first cigar and how you became cigar enthusiasts.
(JM): Sure, I’ll share my story. Corey and I often travel across the country for various events, and I tell this story frequently. About 27 or 28 years ago, before law school, I worked as a corporate legal assistant at a large Manhattan law firm. The job required long, intense hours. After two years, I was managing significant transactions. One particular transaction was massive, involving hundreds of millions of dollars and three days of non-stop work.
After completing the transaction, all the partners celebrated while I stayed behind to finalize the paperwork. One partner returned from the celebration and handed me a cigar, thanking me for my hard work. I believe it was an Ashton, and I had never smoked before. I accepted it but saved it for later.
The next day, I flew to California to visit my brother, who had just had the first nephew in our family. I rented a convertible with my girlfriend, now my wife, and we drove along Sunset Boulevard. Feeling great about my job, law school acceptance, and family, I decided to smoke that cigar. It fit the moment perfectly, making it unforgettable. From then on, I always associated cigars with significant moments, both good and bad. That first experience was phenomenal, and it’s a story I enjoy sharing.
(LS): That’s fantastic. What about you, Corey?
(CT): My introduction to cigars came much later. Jerrold introduced me to cigars during our travels to the Dominican Republic. I quickly noticed that smoking a cigar helped me find equilibrium; it mellowed me out and made me feel relaxed. Additionally, cigars became a link between people from various walks of life. During our travels, I found myself having meaningful conversations with diverse individuals over cigars. It became quality time for me, a way to connect and relax. Those early experiences were profound, and I never looked back.
LS: How did you and Jerrold meet and become partners in this venture?
CT: Well, we met many years ago. Jerrold, do we know how many years? Is it 20? Close to 20?
JM: At least 20 years.
CT: Yes, at least 20 years. We met through the Rockland County Bar Association—Jerrold was president, and I was vice president. At that time, I worked in municipal government while Jerrold was already in private practice. Over time, I expressed my desire to start my own practice, and Jerrold guided me along that path. Eventually, I set up shop in Jerrold’s office, and we’ve been tight ever since.
LS: Very nice, I love that. So, do you have any limited editions or special releases coming out this year?
CT: Yes, we do. I’ll start with the 250th commemoration cigar, which we debuted at this past year’s PCA. This cigar commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Navy and Marine Corps. We first showcased it during an event in 2023 aboard the battleship New Jersey. Several military officials tried our cigar, and we were approached about this project afterward. Partial proceeds from this cigar support the military. It’s a historic event in 2025, and we’ve created two fine cigars for it—one for the Marines and one for the Navy, both with the same blend. They feature a Nicaraguan Habano wrapper, a Dominican Criollo 98 binder, and a combination of Dominican and Pennsylvania longleaf fillers. It’s a solid medium smoke with the hallmark qualities of NOMOS cigars: clean finish, flavorful, smooth, and a silky smoke. We’ve received phenomenal feedback on this cigar.
JM: Our current lines are medium-plus, and the commemorative is a solid medium. We’ve been asked by our clients and followers for a full-bodied, full-strength cigar. We’ve created something outstanding that will debut in September at InterTabac in Germany. We won’t go into too many details now, but it’s phenomenal. We also have something ready for the upcoming PCA—a new line. We’re hard at work ensuring our cigars meet our high standards. The commemorative cigar was developed with Jose Hernandez at La Esmeralda in Tamboril. We’ve known Jose for many years and finally had the chance to work with him. He nailed the commemorative cigar, making it something special. We have great things coming in September and more for PCA, so people should stay tuned.
CT: Those cigars are aging beautifully as we speak. We use a unique proprietary aging process that enhances the final product. We’ve received great feedback about it.
JM: Our process is called the “NOMOS aging process,” or NAP. Once our cigars are created, they take a nap in the NOMOS aging process. They’re currently aging and will be ready for release soon. We’re excited about our process and what it brings to our cigars.
LS: Fantastic. Tell me, guys, about any brand philosophies you have. Any philosophies or models and how they influence your products and business practices?
JM: Yeah, I’ll jump in on that one because we do have some very specific philosophies. As we’ve already mentioned, our approach to cigar creation is critical. First and foremost, we want anyone who picks up a NOMOS cigar to know they’re going to have a clean cigar—always clean on the palate. When I started the inaugural search for our first blend, it was key for me as a cigar smoker for over 27 years. I can’t stand waking up the next day with my mouth tasting like an ashtray. That cleanliness is a must for our cigars, and it’s a challenge for some master blenders to ensure it. If a master blender can’t meet that standard, they won’t work on a NOMOS cigar.
Another hallmark of our brand is reflected in our ring design, which features a balance scale with a flame on top and cigars on each side. This symbolizes equilibrium. A cigar provides equilibrium at the end of a rough day, leveling everything out. Corey mentioned that cigars level society too. In any cigar lounge or bar worldwide, it doesn’t matter your background or status—you can make friends and have a phenomenal time. That sense of equilibrium and connection is unique to cigar smoking and is central to what we do. It makes the process enjoyable for us, and I love attending cigar events, meeting people, and sharing this experience.
CT: I’d like to add that one of our mottos is that a NOMOS cigar embodies the spirit of excellence, availing itself to all, one cigar at a time. Consistency and quality are very important to us, and we’re sticklers about that throughout the factory and manufacturing process. Our followers and customers must feel that each time they’re smoking a NOMOS cigar, it embodies excellence. That’s crucial to us.
LS: Fantastic. To finish, tell me about the future of NOMOS and the legacy you’d like to leave behind with NOMOS cigars.
CT: When we talk about legacy, which is a huge word, one of the legacies we want to leave behind is that of two men who put their all into creating consistently excellent cigars. We put in a lot of work, quality, workmanship, and leadership. There aren’t many men like us in this industry. We went to the Dominican Republic, learned the industry from the ground up through hard work and consistency, and created a brand that will stand the test of time. There’s no cigar company 101 manual, so it took a lot of effort to bring our cigar to where it is today. We’ve built a company producing many cigars in a short time that have garnered success. Leaving behind a legacy of quality and hard work that led to our success is important to us.
LS: Amazing. What’s the future for NOMOS?
JM: I think for us, it’s about continuing to create a brand and a name that’s synonymous with all the big boys out there in the world. The future is to become one of those big names, to be recognized alongside the top names in the industry. We’re working extremely hard to make that happen in all aspects. We realize it’s not just about creating an excellent product, which we do by putting in the work; it also involves making sure that everyone out there understands our commitment to excellence. Corey and I ensure that our presentation is always top-notch, no matter the event. We put a lot of thought into it because the future holds excellence for us, and we must ensure that every step we take is flawless. We believe that with consistent, high-quality presentation, we’ll eventually be recognized alongside the biggest names in the industry.
CT: Yeah, and I’ll also add that one of the ways we’ve gotten to where we are today is by pushing the envelope and not being afraid to do so. When we talk about our proprietary aging process, that’s one of the reasons we’ve been able to develop it—because there was pushback from the industry on our process. We understood the need to do our own research and development. What got us over that hurdle was proof of concept. We started by showing our process to smaller manufacturers and master blenders, and eventually worked with outfits such as La Aurora. The legacy we aim to leave is that we weren’t afraid to push the envelope and try new things.
LS: Wonderful, guys. Is there anything else you would want to add?
JM: I think we covered quite a bit. We’re looking forward to going to Germany in September. If any of your viewers are out there in Germany, please feel free to come by and say hello. The same goes for the PCA next year. If you’re attending and see NOMOS, we’ll have a presence there. We always make sure our setup is beautiful. Come by, sit down, and talk to us. We’d love to have you and hear where you heard about the NOMOS cigar brand.
LS: Fantastic. Alright guys, thank you so much.
JM: We appreciate it.
