The Stogie Guys

Here are ten things I took away from this year’s International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) Trade Show in Las Vegas:

1. There seems to be no limit to how large a cigar ring gauge can be.

2. Altadis and General are committed to maintaining their positions as industry giants.

3. Selling cigars is hard work.

4. Sam Leccia is still a rock star in the industry.

5. Retailers want to meet with manufacturers to talk about cigars, not just prices.

6. I’ll never understand why humidor makers continue to use analog hygrometers.

7. Lots of folks want to be in the cigar business.

8. Print isn’t dead in the tobacco industry. More than a half-dozen magazines had booths.

9. The brands assembled in the House of Emilio make up quite an impressive collection.

10. Class and company size are sometimes related, sometimes not.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Five cigar facts of which you may not be aware:

1. The number of people who smoke premium, hand-rolled cigars is tiny. Forget the “crowd” at your local cigar shop or how quickly a hot limited edition sells out. We’re talking hard numbers. No exact figure exists for the number of cigar smokers, but extrapolating from published data shows just what an elite group we are.

A 2002 government survey found that 2.2% of U.S. adults identified themselves as cigar smokers. The overwhelming majority of cigars sold here are machine-made, roughly 12 billion vs. 350 million premiums. (And nearly half of the 12 billion are “little cigars,” which are much more akin to cigarettes than to premium cigars.) Do the math, and feel free to round up. It’s about 6.5 million cigar smokers consuming about 12.5 billion cigars, of which fewer than 5% are premium cigars. We’ll make the fairly outrageous assumption that half of the 6.5 million are consuming both, and you’re left with 3.25 million premium cigar smokers. My belief is that it’s considerably under 2 million, which would make it about the size of the Columbus, Ohio, metro area.

2. The cigar business can be an intricate web. Consider these connections. Two of the largest U.S. cigar retailers are owned by two of the world’s largest cigar makers: Altadis, owned by Imperial Tobacco, has controlling interest in JR Cigars, and Swedish Match, owner of General Cigar, owns Cigars International. And don’t forget that Altadis is half-owner of Habanos S.A., Cuba’s tobacco monopoly.

3. Sigmund Freud almost certainly never said, “Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.”

4. More than a decade before Cigar Aficionado’s 1992 debut, the publisher of the magazine Screw started Cigar, a quarterly that didn’t last.

5. Germany, according to the consumer research firm Euromonitor International, is second to the U.S. as a cigar market.

–George E

photo credit: Flickr

So many sticks debut at the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) Trade Show, I usually find that before I’ve had a chance to try many of the new cigars, it’s time for the next convention.

In an effort to keep my expectations in check, I’m tightening my focus. Here are four I’m hoping to get to soon, and why.

Foundry: Michael Giannini has cooked up some intriguing smokes in his role as General Cigar’s mad scientist. And for these small batches, the emphasis is on small, as in a few hundred boxes. Some are just for B&Ms, others will be sold online. Packaging is unique, the tobaccos said to be exotic and rare. Who knows if I’ll ever see any of the 18 blends, much less get to try one. If you do, please submit a Guest Quick Smoke.

Aging Room: A Dominican perfecto, the M21 Fortissimo is another Aging Room limited edition: 30,000 cigars in 10-count boxes. The price is about $13 per stick. My fondness for Aging Room cigars makes this one I really hope to find.

San Cristobal Revelation: At least I should have no trouble finding this one. Like its siblings, this latest line extension from Ashton is rolled by Don Pepin Garcia. With an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper over Nicaraguan filler and binder tobaccos, Ashton is promoting this line as medium in strength. It’s offered in a mix of regular and very large ring gauges.

Melanio Maduro: Following the success of one of my favorites, the Serie V Melanio, this one-size (6.5 x 52) box-pressed torpedo was being offered only at the Trade Show. While it could become an annual release, Oliva marketing director John Conroy said this year just 10,000 10-count boxes were available. The single-stick price is around $13.

So, what’s on your hot list?

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Have you been looking long and hard for that special stein of a bulldog puffing a stogie? Wondering where to buy organic rolling papers? Or want a straight razor for shaving?

If you said yes to any of these questions, as well as a host of others, the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) Trade Show has a display for you.

There’s no doubt the convention is a big tent. After all, there was a Davidoff black tie party at one extreme and a cigar proudly promoted as Cheap Bastard at the other.

But it’s the non-cigar pitches fighting for attention on the Las Vegas convention floor that often stood out. Here’s an introduction to some of the most notable.

One item that caught my eye was the electronic hookah. No need to fool with stuff like a pipe, charcoal, or shisa. A Tinder Box retailer told me that when her shop began carrying them, older patrons dismissed them as drug paraphernalia. Now, she added, many are customers, and she can barely keep up with demand.

I’m guessing many of you are, like me, fairly ignorant of the hookah industry. Here’s an idea of its size: Starbuzz Tobacco handed out a 112-page catalog printed on heavy, slick stock.

Of course, it’s difficult to talk about hookah without mentioning its role supporting the Trade Show model industry. For a convention with a predominantly male clientele, there’s probably nothing that attracts attention like young women who are, shall we say, lightly clothed. But the winner probably was the 8Hr Buzz Energy Shot greeter.

A standout of different nature was the Lil’ Brown Smoke Shack’s cigar mascot, reminiscent of the Milwaukee Brewers’ Racing Sausages, towering over everyone on the floor.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the above-and-beyond work at Nat Sherman’s annual welcome booth. This year, the always helpful staffers were also selling bags to raise funds for the Ocean County Long Term Recovery Group, an organization helping victims of Super Storm Sandy.

Learn how you can make a donation here.

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

For exhibitors at the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) Trade Show, presenting something new is only part of the story. Presenting something new that gets customers excited is the real trick.

And there were quite a few things on the floor at Las Vegas with the potential to do just that. Here’s a sampling of the ones I think you’ll be seeing and hearing much more about.

Achilles. A new brand from Curivari, this full strength, lightly pressed Nicaraguan puro isn’t a limited edition, but that doesn’t mean it will be easy to find. Releases will be made only four times a year, with an initial run of 10,000 in three sizes. Unlike many Curivari lines, though, Achilles will be sold only in the United States.

CAO Flathead. I know everyone likes to disparage packaging, but the boxes and artwork for this new stick from General Cigar’s CAO division are truly something to behold. When the display goes up at your local shop, believe me, you’ll know it.

Point-of-sale. This category was big throughout the show as manufacturers obviously struggle to accommodate consumers looking for a quick smoke and retailers wanting impulse-buy displays at the cash register. Two that stood out were a four-pack from Eddie Ortega in a cardboard box that will slip right into your shirt pocket and Oliva’s slick gravity-fed countertop dispenser that’s filled with Nub tubos.

Black and White. I don’t believe I saw anyone on the floor busier than Sam Leccia. Constantly talking to retailers interested in his new Black and White lines, Sam said he’d felt things would go well on his return to the industry but hadn’t anticipated what he encountered: “It blew away my expectations.”

Mia Dora. A milder smoke than is often associated with Emilio Cigars, these likely won’t ship until the end of October, according to owner Gary Griffith. He’s dedicated Mia Dora to his girlfriend and is wildly enthusiastic about it, from the blend that features a specially fermented Habano Rosado wrapper to the packaging Gary himself calls “over-the-top.”

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Before the IPCPR Trade Show show I asked 26 questions. Here are the answers:

Will the biggest ring gauge offered for sale be 70, 80, or larger?

RoMaCraft’s “Femur” is 500 ring gauge but, in the physically smoke-able category, I saw plenty of 70 ring gauge sticks, including the new My Uzi (7 x 70) and Gurkha Pure Evil Goliath.

What percentage of new exhibitors from last year is still around?

Hard to say. I didn’t notice any specifically. If I don’t realize they’re gone then that’s probably symptomatic of why they aren’t back.

Will anyone actually be kicked out under IPCPR’s “crackdown” on retailers bringing consumers?

Didn’t see any. Does that mean it’s a success?

Which booth will have the best food?

None. Very poor food selection this year, so we’ll give a nod to Miami Cigar which, while food-less, did have some La Aurora Rum, which is delicious.

Will Mike Ditka be there?

Yes, briefly before he left to play golf in another state.

Who will have the most outrageous booth?

Fantasia Tobacco Hookah Company, the perennial favorites, brought a two-story booth with more neon lights and leggy models than the rest of the show combined.

Will the bad guy from Judge Dread be there to promote his new cigar?

Spotted in the hallway… I think.

Eleven new lines from General Cigar: over or under?

Over. In fact Foundry seemed to have this covered all by itself.

Will Altadis USA’s new strategy of creating modern spinoffs of classic brands work?

It certainly seems to be working better than whatever they were doing before.

Who will be the most under-dressed attendee at Davidoff’s black tie dinner?

The guy in the jeans and Tommy Bahama shirt. A tuxedo T-shirt would have been better.

Will Wayne Newton be there again?

Nope.

Which booth will be completely empty and abandoned?

American Express… complete no-show.

What crazy artwork will Drew Estate feature in their booth this year?

Hard hats.

How many respected cigar blogs aren’t coming because IPCPR makes them pay to attend?

Two that I know of.

Will the Cigar Press party run out of beer?

Didn’t seem to but I left early to play craps.

Biggest booth: General Cigar, Davidoff, Altadis, or Drew Estate?

Close call. General Cigar wins the tiebreaker with a golf simulator and a Lamborghini.

2.5 cars on the show floor: over or under?

Over.

More bikini-clad ladies: cigar companies or hookah companies?

Hookahs by a mile.

Which C-list celebrity will unexpectedly appear?

Rob Weiss, member of the “Board of the Bold” maybe? Although his appearance wasn’t all that unexpected.

Does winning a “best booth” award actually impact sales?

Like a lot of people, I left before the winners were announced, which suggests it doesn’t.

Will there be any other cigars that use fire-cured tobacco besides Drew Estate’s MUWAT KFC and Leccia Black?

Not yet, but I’d expect some in the next 12 months.

How many online media members of the IPCPR are there anyway?

Don’t know, but some were given exhibitor badges, some “media” badges, and some “online media” badges.

Will the giant hookah (~40 feet high) be back?

Yes, but it looked smaller since the booth is now two stories high.

How many people will tell me how much better Las Vegas is for IPCPR than Orlando?

A lot. Everyday. Some people more than once.

Which trademarks from our trademark quiz will actually be put to use?

Rocky Patel, Oliva, and Altadis certainly did. Miami Cigar’s “Kilo” is only weeks away but it wasn’t shown at the show.

24 cigars that I’ll smoke while in Las Vegas for 73 hours: over or under?

Surprise of the show: Under by quite a bit. It’s hard to take notes, photos, and update Instagram all while smoking a cigar.

–Patrick S

photo credit: N/A

While my colleagues Patrick S and George E are still in Las Vegas before they travel back home to Washington and Tampa, respectively, I arrived back in Chicago late Sunday night. I had a wonderful time at the 2013 International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) Trade Show. My stay may have been short, but I got the opportunity to catch up with a lot of old friends, gather some great information, and try a lot of new cigars.

Even though I was only on the convention floor for one day, I left with a few key observations that bear mentioning here. What follows are three personal, generalized impressions from the first day of the biggest cigar event of the year. Nothing more, nothing less.

More neon colors. The marketplace is crowded with different brands, sizes, and blends that vie for your attention—and dollars. For the average consumer, perhaps at no other time in history have there been so many different cigars to choose from. As a result, I’ve noticed more cigar makers are starting to market and package their creations using colors and fonts that aren’t often associated with cigars. Intended to be attention-grabbing in a sea of traditional, Cuban-esque wares, I’ve never seen so many cigars with bands and boxes that predominantly feature purples, pinks, and neon incarnations of bright yellows, greens, and blues. Perhaps the best example is the new look Davidoff gave to its (scorpion-clad, Ditka-endorsed) Camacho brand.

More huge ring gauges. Nearly every booth I visited had a new cigar with a ring gauge of 60 or more. And almost every cigar maker rolled his eyes as he introduced it. Why? When I asked, the cigar makers all said something like, “These huge ring gauges aren’t for me, but they sell really well.” The market has decided. Huge smokes are here to stay, even though none of the cigar makers smoke them. A commonly accepted hypothesis among industry leaders: More casual smokers think they get more for their money with a large ring gauge. And I’d imagine others must associate larger cigars with manliness. Well that makes perfect sense, doesn’t it?

More focus on packaging and presentation. As I traveled around to the different displays of new cigars, many of the various exhibitors spent an inordinate amount of time discussing the packaging of their creations. I’d usually expect to hear about the cigars themselves more than the stories behind the boxes, names, or marketing concepts. But never underestimate the time, research, and attention to detail that goes into packaging and presentation. This emphasis on appearance was on full display at Foundry Cigars, a whole new brand offshoot by General Cigar that’s taking the original Foundry idea and running with it. Get ready for cigars in a flying-V formation, diamonds galore, and a series of smokes that honor the “War of Currents” between Tesla and Edison.

Of course StogieGuys.com’s coverage of the IPCPR Trade Show is going to extend beyond these general observations (and the live updates and videos we posted from the convention floor). Check back here in the coming weeks as my colleagues and I provide more details on the new products and new companies. And we’ll obviously soon be reviewing scores of new smokes that will be coming to a cigar shop near you.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys