The Stogie Guys

[Editors’ Note: NEW ORLEANS — Stogie Guys staffers Patrick S and Patrick M are reporting live today from the 78th annual International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) Trade Show. This convention is where cigar makers from around the world come to showcase their products and debut their new creations. Check back throughout the day for live updates.]

11:30am Central: Before the floor closed yesterday we were able to find out about the latest releases from General Cigar. Headlining were two new Macanudos, both seemingly designed to challenge America’s best selling cigar brands’ mild image. Already announced was the Macanudo Vintage 1997 Maduro, a first for Macanudo, which features a metal band/cigar holder that will ship with the first 70,000 cigars. Also announced (for an early October release) is the Macanudo Cru Royale, featuring an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, proprietary Dominican binder, and Nicaraguan,  Dominican, and Brazilian mata fina filler. The blend was created by master cigar maker Benji Menendez and originally designated for General’s Partagas line before the decision was made to release it under Macanudo.

11:45am Central: Also from General Cigar are two new La Gloria Cubana blends. Artesanos de Obelisco is a box-pressed pyramid inspired by the “Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration” obelisk in Santiago. The cigar ($9 MSRP) comes in a distinctive semi-circle box and uses an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, Connecticut broadleaf binder, and Dominican and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos. Meanwhile, La Gloria Serie N is a new Nicaraguan heavy line of four sizes with an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. Rounding out General’s new cigars is the Hoyo de Monterrey Reposado en Cedros, which uses a proprietary aging process designed to impart extra cedar flavors. It sells for $6.50-$7 each and comes in three sizes. Also of note from General is that the Cameroon-wrapped Hoyo Excalibur 1066 is changing names and bands, and will now be known as Hoyo de Monterrey Cameroon.

11:50am Central: Most of Davidoff’s new products are accessories. Two of the most interesting are the Davidoff Lacquer White Palladium Series, which includes a Prestige Lighter, Double Cutter, and Round Cutter. The second accessory is a new set of porcelain ashtrays called Mosaic and Phoenix. On the cigar front, Davidoff will be introducing a Maduro Toro to compliment the Robusto and Corona already in the line. They are also adding a Maduro to the Primeros line. Primeros Maduro will have an Ecuadorian Sungrown wrapper. Earlier in the year Davidoff rolled out a new line, Puro d’Oro, which they say is continuing to do really well. We inquired about the Colorado Claro and were informed it may be as long as 10 years before we see it again as it takes that long to store up enough tobacco to make a release.

11:55am Central: The Joya de Nicaragua camp is adding a box-pressed Toro (6 x 52) to both the Dark Antaño and regular Antaño lines.

12:05pm Central: Drew Estate has launched the Dirty Rat as part of the regular production of a new line, Unico Serie, under which all of the company’s unique cigars will fall. Contrary to what many have believed, the Dirty Rat doesn’t share a blend with either the No. 9 or the T-52. It will be sold in boxes of 12 at an MSRP of $12 per stick. Steve Saka, president of Drew Estate,  said the “Dirty Rat isn’t a limited release, it’s just a pain in the ass to make.” Drew Estate will also be adding a Belicoso and a Corona Doble to the T-52 line, as well as a 3,000-box run of the T-52 Flying Pig. In the Acid line, “Toast” will now be available nationwide. Lastly, Drew Estate has partnered with Starbuzz and will be releasing a line of Acid Shisha for Hookah Smokers.

1:35pm Central: Kurt Kendall, owner of 7-20-4, gave us the scoop on this dead trademark for a brand of clear havanas that was produced in a factory in Manchester, New Hampshire. About four years ago, Kurt started the process of obtaining the expired trademark and is now producing cigars under the name again. The cigars are made in Honduras with a Brazilian mata fina wrapper, Costa Rican binder, and a filler blend of Nicaraguan, Honduran, Mexican, and Colombian tobaccos. 7-20-4 introduced two new sizes: a Londres and the “Dog Walker,” which is about the size of a petit corona.

1:50pm Central: Dion Giolito of Illusione doesn’t have any new products this year other than the Singulare, which will be a yearly, limited release that will change sizes and blends every year. Dion said that Singulare is the mildest cigar that he makes. He described it as being very light on the palate with most of the taste coming through the nose. The Cruzado Domenicos is being phased out and replaced with a Domenicos Extra: a 6 inch by 56 ring gauge cigar. Under the Illusione line, he also has an HL Maduro and an HL Candela. When asked about why he chose to make a candela, he replied that he loves them and always smokes them and wanted to make one of his own. Epernay gets the Le Matin as a box-pressed line extension. Nosotros will be getting a facelift with the addition of a second band on the cigar and the Illusione warranty seal on the boxes.

3:00pm Central: As expected, Avo debuted their new Heritage line. A spicier, more full-bodied blend than Avo smokers may be used to, it uses the LE 2009 “compañero” wrapper from Ecuador and a Dominican San Vincente binder with filler consisting of Dominican ligero, Dominican seco, and Peruvian seco. It is being launched in four sizes that will sell for $7-9.50.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Stogie Guys

[Editors’ Note: NEW ORLEANS — Stogie Guys staffers Patrick S and Patrick M are reporting live today from the 78th annual International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) Trade Show. This convention is where cigar makers from around the world come to showcase their products and debut their new creations. Check back throughout the day for live updates.]

6:00am Central: Before I arrive in New Orleans, here are a few thoughts on what to expect this year. One trend we’ll see more of are brick and mortar exclusive cigars. Cigar makers know that small independent smoke shops are the hardest hit by smoking taxes and bans, so offering them some protection from being severely undercut by online and catalog prices makes a cigar more desirable to a shop owner. I’ll also be curious to see the prices of new cigars. After year after year of higher and higher prices on new cigar lines, we saw some more reasonably priced introductions at last year’s show.

8:30am Central: Before hitting the Trade Show floor today, it’s worth mentioning that Hendrik “Henke” Kelner from Davidoff gave a tasting and blending seminar last night. The event started with a quick overview of the different factors that are responsible for the way tobacco tastes. Those factors were broken into three categories: cultivation (soil, climate, seed, leaf position, farmer), manufacturing (curing, fermenting, aging), and production (expertise of blender). He also discussed how different regions of the tongue respond to different taste stimuli (sweet, salty, bitter, acid) and that blending a cigar is really directing how the tongue is stimulated. After that quick overview, we smoked three pure grade tobaccos to determine which part of the tongue that particular tobacco was stimulating. Then we smoked a completed blend of the three tobaccos, which turned out to be a Davidoff Gran Cru No. 3. Finally, we smoked two more Gran Cru No. 3s, but each with different wrappers. Overall the experience was very educational and I highly recommend attending a tasting and blending seminar if you get the chance. Davidoff has been giving them across the country as part of the roll out of the Puro d’Oro.

8:50am Central: Yesterday, StogieGuys.com provided a preview of the Trade Show entitled “Cigar Smoke Descends Over New Orleans” for Tucker Carlson’s The Daily Caller. You can read the whole article here.

11:15am Central: Our first stop this morning was Altadis,where we learned more details about the cigars we covered in yesterday’s preview. The new H. Upmann Sungrown, made at the La Flor de Copan factory in Honduras, will be available in six sizes ranging in price from from $6.25 to $7.75. Altadis’ new Nicaraguan line, Warlock, comes in five sizes, priced $5.50-6.50. The A. Turrent Triple Play Maduro comes in five sizes, all selling for between $7 and $8.

11:20am Central: Altadis also told us about two new interesting lines. The first, Dos Familias, is a collaboration of the Turrent and Ortez families that’s made in Nicaragua with a San Andreas criollo wrapper around Nicaraguan and San Andreas binder and filler. Also previously unannounced is the Don Diego Fuerte, an extension that’s made in Nicaragua by Omar Ortez with an Ecuadorian Cubano wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and filler from Nicaragua and the Dominican. It comes in five sizes and is priced from $5-$6.50.

12:35pm Central: We stopped by the Cuban Crafters booth to get the latest from Don Kiki Berger. The only “new” line is the J.L. Salazar Maduro, which has been available for some time but is only now a regular full production series. The always friendly Don Kiki said he’ll have something new in a few months. Prompted by a reader’s question, we asked about the Miami Medina Habano and were told that, despite being well-received, they aren’t being made right now and only a few remain at their Miami headquarters. You won’t find them online, but if you ask a Cuban Crafters retailer to order some, or call headquarters directly, you may be able to get them.

3:15pm Central: Felipe Gregorio has three new lines coming out. The first is Vallejuelo, which features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper an a blend of Cuban-seed lijero filler. Vallejeullo will be available in three sizes with an estimated MSRP of $4.50-$6.00. W20 is another new line, this one celebrating the 20th anniversary of the company just like the Power celebrated the 15th anniversary. W20 has a marrón Habano 2000 wrapper and tis supposed to cater to those looking for full-bodied cigars. Finally, Felipe Gregorio is releasing the rosado-wrapped Minotaur at a price point of $15 a cigar for the only size in the line. Minotaur is sold in boxes of 15 and was made at the request of a prominent cigar distributor in France. It is blended to approximate the profile of Cuban cigars to make it more marketable in Europe. Interestingly, none of the new lines say Felipe Gregorio anywhere on the product, and it appears the company may be moving away from that name as part of their marketing. Also of note is that the company says their business is much stronger abroad than in the U.S.

4:55pm Central: Alan Rubin of Alec Bradley gave us the rundown on his new lines. First up was the Maxx Connecticut, which was crafted in response to requests from his sales staff. He told us you can’t build your name on a Connecticut wrapped cigar, but he felt that his brand is now established enough that it could produce a well-received Connecticut cigar in its Maxx sizes.

5:05pm Central: While he was enthusiastic about the new Maxx, Rubin was most excited to tell us about the new Tempus Maduro. To get the maduro leaf, he resurrected an old Cuban technique where the pulp of canna fistula fruit is boiled and the resulting liquid is sprayed on aging pilons of wrapper leaf along with water. Rubin says the process causes the maduro leaf to age more quickly, thus maintaining a full flavor while also having the traditional sweetness of a maduro. The new Tempus Maduro is available in five sizes and Rubin says the reaction from cigar shops has been very positive.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Starting tomorrow, StogieGuys will be reporting live from the IPCPR Trade Show in New Orleans as we talk to cigar makers about their latest offerings and sample their newest cigars. In the meantime, we continue with our preview of the new cigars that will be released at this year’s event:

Drew Estate — Despite being available at Drew Estate events for some time, the corona-sized Dirty Rat will be officially released at the IPCPR. The Dirty Rat is a variation of the Liga Privada blend, but with the blend changed slightly to account for the smaller ring gauge. We also hear a cigar called the Undercrown will likely debut, but no details have been released. Additionally, Drew Estate announced that it will be partnering with Xikar for a series of cigar accessories.

Fuente — Fuente will be making two new cigars for Carlos Fuente’s brother, Arturo Fuente Jr., of the Tampa Cigar Sweethearts Company: Flor de Ybor City and Ybor Gold. We’ve also heard reports that a new torpedo version of the relatively new Magnum Rosado line will likely be introduced.

Tatuaje — Pete Johnson’s Tatuaje brand will introduce a number of line extensions this year. Ambos Mundos Grande (5.5 x 56) will come in both Habano and Sumatra wrappers with an MSRP of $6.25. Havana VI Gordito (5.5 56) will sell for $7.50. Havana VI Verocu No. 5 (4 x 40) will be sold in cabinets of 50 with an MSRP of $4.25 per cigar. El Triunfador No. 7 (5.9 x 54) will sell for $8 apiece. Tatuaje Seleccion de Cazador 7th  (5.6 x 46) will come in both Natural and Reserva (broadleaf) wrappers with an MSRP of $9 per cigar. Petit Tatuaje Reserva (4.5 x 32) will sell in cabinets of 50 for $3.50 per cigar. Lastly, Tatuaje Petite Cazadores Reserva (4 x 40) carries an MSRP of $4.50 per cigar and will be sold in cabinets of 50.

Nestor Miranda — Nestor Miranda is set to debut a new line called Art Deco, a collaboration between Nestor and Don Pepin Garcia. The Art Deco is a blend of Nicaraguan corojo and Dominican San Vicente with a dual binder of Dominican criollo ’98 and Nicaraguan Habano 2000 finished in a Nicaraguan corojo ’06 wrapper. Instead of wooden boxes, the Art Deco will be sold in metallic art deco tins of 21 cigars. It will be offered in three sizes: Coffee Break (4.5 x 50), Robusto Grande (5.5 x 54), and Gran Toro (6 x 60).

La Aurora — The oldest Dominican cigar maker is introducing Guillermo León by La Aurora, honoring longtime company president Guillermo León. The cigar features filler tobacco from the Dominican Republic, Peru, Brazil, and Nicaragua and is finished off with an Ecuadorian Habano Vuelta Arriba wrapper. Guillermo León will be available in four vitolas: Corona, Gran Corona, Gran Toro, and Belicoso. The estimated MSRP is $7.50-$10.00 per cigar. Also being introduced is a new corona size of its La Aurora 107 blend. Finally, La Aurora will reportedly be releasing a new La Aurora Corojo line using an Ecuadorian corojo wrapper, an Ecuadorian Sumatra binder, and a filler blend of Dominican Cubano, Dominican olor, and Nicaraguan habano. The Corojo will be available in five sizes and will sell for $5.50 to $7.

Illusione — Illusione will debut a limited edition cigar called Singulare, which will feature a new size and blend each year. This year features a the Phantom (6 x 50). Made at the Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras, the blend is 100% Nicaraguan tobacco. Production was limited to 1,000 boxes of 15 with an MSRP of $12 per cigar.

DomRey — DomRey, a subsidiary of Davidoff and maker of Cusano and Cuvée, is set to release two new labels. The Cusano 15th Anniversary Limited edition uses a Domican wrapper and comes in boxes of 15. Meanwhile, the Cuvée Cusano Signature line will be the first time a cigar shares both the Cuvée and Cusano names. Both cigars are being made by Davidoff blender Henke Kelner.

Prometheus — Prometheus is the distributor of the Fuente-made God of Fire, Sencillo, and Angelenos cigar lines, as well as a large line of luxury cigar accessories. Angelenos is adding two new sizes: a Robusto (5.25 x 50) and a Double Robusto (5.25 x 52). Sencillo is adding a new Gigante (6 x 60). New God of Fire accessories are also coming.

Xikar — Known best for its line of cutters, Xikar is expanding its Xikar HC Series cigars made by Jesus Fuego at Nestor Plancencia’s Nicaraguan factory. All three blends (Connecticut, Criollo, and Habano Colorado) will add a large cigar size (6 x 60).

Los Blancos – NINE by Los Blancos debuted at last year’s show, but this year they are expanding the regular production line to include a Lancero (7 x 38). NINE is a spicy, full-bodied Nicaraguan puro made in Esteli.

J. Fuego — Jesus Fuego’s Origen line will officially debut at this year’s IPCPR show. The line uses a Brazilian corojo wrapper, Costa Rican binder, and Honduran and Nicaraguan filler. While the series has been available to select retailers for some time now, a Lancero will be a new addition.

Alec Bradley — Alec Bradley cigars is introducing the Maxx Connecticut, featuring a shade-grown Connecticut wrapper. Except for the wrapper, the blend will remain the same as the original Maxx line and will come in four sizes: The Fixx, The Culture, The Freak, and The Curve.

Primer Mundo – Sean Williams of Primer Mundo will have his own booth this year (last year he was stationed at the Los Blancos booth) where he be featuring the new Miami Liga. Rolled in Miami, it uses Nicaraguan and the Dominican filler including three ligero leaves, a double binder, and is wrapped in a Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper.

La Caridad del Cobre — Frank Herera’s La Caridad del Cobre will debut a new line called La Charada, which means “the charade.” La Charada is derived from the old Cuban lotto system. In La Charada, each number corresponds with a thing. If you dream about certain things you play the numbers that correspond to what you dream about. There are seven vitolas: four maduro and three natural. Each vitola is named and numbered after one of the objects in the La Charada Cubana. The Natural has an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper with binder and filler from the Dominican Republic. The Maduro has a Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper with binder and filler also from the Dominican Republic.

Gran Habano — Gran Habano is introducing the new Azteca line. The full-bodied line features a Mexican San Andreas maduro wrapper and binder with Nicaraguan and Panamanian filler. Available in three sizes, it will sell for around $7 each.

Hammer + Sickle — Vodka and cigar maker Hammer + Sickle will be debuting a new cigar called Berlin Wall, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and demise of communism in Eastern Europe.

A.J. Fernandez — A.J. Fernandez has made top-selling cigars, but at this year’s IPCPR he is introducing his first nationally-distributed solo cigar. San Lotano is an old Cuban cigar line that Fernandez has re-launched in three variations with Habano, Connecticut, and Maduro wrappers.

While we’ve comprehensively surveyed the most notable cigars set to debut at this trade show, there will undoubtedly be many more new cigars before the IPCPR concludes. For all the info, including our take on some of these new cigars, check back starting tomorrow for live IPCPR coverage.

Patrick S and Patrick M will be on the trade show floor getting the latest scoop from the cigar makers. If you have a question you’d like us to ask your favorite cigar maker, let us know in the comments.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: IPCPR

The International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers (IPCPR) Trade Show opens in New Orleans today. The annual show is arguably the most important event of the year in the cigar industry, serving as an opportunity for cigar makers to show cigar retailers their latest offerings and make sales for for the upcoming year.

While selling cigars is still the primary purpose of the show, these days most of the news out of the trade show revolves around the new cigars that nearly every cigar maker releases. Here is part one of our comprehensive list of the already-announced new cigars set to debut at the show:

Altadis — Industry giant Altadis USA has revealed a few of the cigars it will be unveiling at the trade show this year. Included is a Honduran-made H. Upmann Sungrown blend (featuring an Ecuadorian wrapper with Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers), an Omar Ortez Originals Puro Maduro (using a San Andres maduro wrapper around Maduro binder and filler tobaccos), Warlock (made by Omar Ortez utilizing  an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers), and an A. Turrent Triple Play Puro Maduro (also using a San Andres maduro wrapper with Connecticut broadleaf binder and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua, San Andres, and Honduras). The company will also debut a new Romeo y Julieta Museum Edition Humidor featuring the artwork of artist Charles Fazzino, and a new dual-flame torch.

Padrón — One year after the debut of the Padrón Family Reserve 45, the Nicaraguan cigar masters are introducing the new Family Reserve No. 46. A trunk-pressed smoke, the 46  (5.5 x 56) features well-aged Nicaraguan tobacco and will cost around $25 per cigar.

Rocky Patel — Prolific cigar maker Rocky Patel will be officially debuting his 15th Anniversary cigar utilizing an Ecuadorian wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. Available in four box-pressed sizes, the blend will cost $8 to $12 each.

E.P. Carillo — Ernesto-Perez Carrillo, creator of the famous La Gloria Cubana line, will debut his regular production blend available in six sizes. Also expected is a new annual limited edition release that follows up on his 2009 Edición Inaugural release.

CAO — After the success of the CAO La Traviata at last year’s show, CAO is debuting a maduro version featuring a Connecticut-grown broadleaf wrapper. According to CAO President Tim Ozgener, the Maduro will be priced similarly to the natural blend at around $5 each.

Toraño Family — Reflecting its new focus and new name, the Toraño Family Cigar Company will be bringing three new cigars to market this year. The Master is a joint effort by Charlie Toraño and longtime master roller Felipe Sosa using an all-Nicaraguan blend. Single Region by Toraño (MSRP $6.50-$6.95) features Jalapa tobacco all from one farm and is being rolled at the Fabrica de Tabacos Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras, which also makes cigars for Illusione, Alec Bradley, and Padilla. The third line, Brigade, features an Ecuadorian wrapper and will sell in bundles of 16 for around $2.50 per stick.

Camacho — Camacho makes cigars for Room 101 and will be introducing the new Room 101 Conjura. The full-bodied blend features a Honduran rosado wrapper, Honduran binder, and Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. Limited to just 12,500 cigars for each of the blend’s four sizes, it will sell for $7-10 each.

La Flor Dominicana — Litto Gomez’s La Flor Dominicana will be adding a chisel size to its relatively new Air Bender line, and possibly another smaller ring gauge size. Also expected is a new full-flavored maduro Salomon.

Ashton — Ashton is adding a third version of its Aroma de Cuba line: the Aroma De Cuba Mi Amor. Made by Don Pepin Garcia, the blend uses a  Cuban-seed Mexican wrapper around aged Nicaraguan tobaccos.

AVO — Avo cigars is introducing a new full line called Avo Heritage. Made in four sizes (Churchill, Toro, Robusto, and Short Robusto) it utilizes the same Ecuadorian sun-grown wrapper as the Avo 2009 Compañero along with a Dominican binder and a blend of five different Dominican fillers.

La Palina — La Palina, Bill Paley’s new line, is introducing it’s regular production Family Blend in New Orleans. It comes in four sizes, Pasha (a Churchill with an unfinished foot), Babe (a robusto), Alison (a torpedo), and Little Bill (a perfecto). The blend uses a Costa Rican binder with Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers. Pasha and Babe use a Costa Rican wrapper, while Alison and Little Bill utilize an Ecuadorian wrapper and additional ligero fillers.

Revolution Cigars — Paradigm 262-maker Revolution Cigars will introduce a new, milder line called Ideology. The cigar will feature a Nicaraguan Habano Rosado wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and a filler blend of Nicaraguan, Mexican, and Dominican tobaccos. Revolution cigars is also adding a 4-inch by 60 ring gauge vitola to the Paradigm line called the “4SIXTY.”

Pinar del Rio — Abe Flores’ Pinar Del Rio is re-launching all of their standard lines, which have been re-blended and will now be sold in boxes of 20. Pinar del Rio has also reduced its MSRP by 10% across the board this year. The main focus at the show, however, will be the launch of the new line: 1878 Cubano Especial Maduro. It will come in eight vitolas and feature a Brazilian Arapiraca maduro wrapper, Dominican criollo ’98 binder, and a filler blend of Nicaraguan and Dominican tobaccos.

Joya de Nicaragua — Joya de Nicaragua is adding an additional size to its Dark Antaño line. “La Niveladora” will be a six-inch by 52 ring gauge box-pressed toro.

These are far from all the new releases, so check back after noon for part two of our IPCPR preview, which includes new cigars from Tatuaje, Illusione, La Aurora, and many others. Also be sure to check in regularly starting tomorrow for live updates throughout the day from the IPCPR Trade Show floor.

–The Stogie Guys

photo credit: IPCPR

I know it has been said before, but FDA regulation of cigars is on the way. On April 26 the FDA published a notice in the Federal Register (Vol. 75, No. 79, Pg. 21794) of intent to regulate cigars under the so-called “Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act” passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama.

Cigars had originally been excluded from the law, passed in 2009, but the law also allowed for the FDA to come back later and establish regulatory authority over cigars at a later date. The specific language of the notice related to cigars is below:

147. CIGARS SUBJECT TO THE TOBACCO CONTROL ACT

Legal Authority: 21 USC 301 et seq, The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; PL 111–31, The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act

Abstract: The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (the Tobacco Control Act) provides FDA authority to regulate cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco, and smokeless tobacco. Section 901 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by the Tobacco Control Act, permits FDA to issue regulations deeming other tobacco products to be subject to the Tobacco Control Act. This proposed rule would deem cigars to be subject to the Tobacco Control Act and include provisions to address public health concerns raised by cigars.

According to the notice, the FDA should have published a proposed rule in June 2010. At the time of this writing, a proposed rule has not yet been published. So what does all of this mean for the cigar industry? The best way to get some indication of what we can expect is to look at the regulations already in place for cigarettes and the policy reasons behind those regulations.

On June 22, some new restrictions (21 Code of Federal Regulations §1140.1-1140.34) went into effect for cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. Among them is a prohibition on distribution of free samples, prohibition on advertising in newspapers and magazines, prohibition on advertising on billboards and posters, and a prohibition on the sale or distribution of clothing or other non-tobacco items bearing the logo, motto, or other identification of a particular brand.

All of these regulations could easily be adopted for cigars. The regulations mentioned above would seriously change the atmosphere at many of the cigar events I have attended, many of which featured free samples and clothing with cigar purchases.

The only way to combat these intrusions is to speak up and be heard. So be sure to join Cigar Rights of America and contact your representatives as appropriate.

–Patrick M

photo credit: FDA

Just about this time of year manufacturers make a big show of announcing what new products they are releasing. Some put out a press release while others wait to reveal their latest (and we’re told “greatest”) at the annual industry trade show.

But why wait? By meticulously searching through recently filed U.S trademarks (which are public record), we were able to get a sneak peak at what are likely to be some of the yet unannounced new cigars of 2010:

Tatuaje Anarchy — Early this year, this website popped up hinting at a new Tatuaje release in a size “never before seen.” According to the site, the cigar is coming in 2011, and on some chat boards Pete Johnson has indicated that the cigar will be a partnership with a retailer, but he has always been silent on who his partner in crime is. A search of recently registered trademarks reveals that the West Palm Beach-based retailer Smoke Inn (which carries a full assortment of Tatuaje smokes) registered “Anarchy” for use with cigars in February of this year, just before the Tatuaje Anarchy site first appeared. So, it seems, the mysterious anarchist has been revealed.

Sinful X and My Story — These two marks were registered by Fuente in March and May, respectively. We’d venture to guess that Sinful X will be an extension of Fuente’s sought-after Opus X line. Meanwhile, My Story is likely a variation of Fuente’s all-figuardo Cameroon-wrapped Hemingway line.

Undercrown and Razorback — Drew Estate, maker of the popular Liga Privada line, registered these names in April and February of this year. What exactly they’ll use them for is anyone’s guess, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see them on anything from an extension of their Acid line or Nostros, or to a new vitola of their Liga Privada line in the vein of the limited release Flying Pig and Dirty Rat.

Burn by Rocky Patel — Rocky Patel has always been prolific when it comes to bringing out new cigars and his recent trademark registrations show it. In addition to Burn, which sounds to us like a new Rocky line, he has  also registered “Cargo,” which could be used for just about anything. Additionally, hinting at a new aromatic (or flavored) line, he has recently registered “RP Aromatics” and “Chai Latte” to be used for a product that, according to the registration, will be “cigars with coffee flavoring.”

Z-Class — Davidoff is always mum on what their new release will be, which is why we were very interested to see that Z-Class was registered in March. Could it be a reference to a new Zino cigar? Possibly, but only time will tell.

Bolivar D’Oro and Man of Distinction — With some of the biggest brands in the cigar industry, including Macanudo, Punch, and La Gloria Cubana, General Cigar always makes a few waves with its new releases at the annual trade show. That’s why we were interested to see these trademarks registered in May and June, respectively. Given the similarity to the highly regarded Cuban Bolivar Gold Medal, we suspect Bolivar D’Oro may be a new extension of General’s Nicaraguan/Dominican Bolivar line. Man of Distinction, on the other hand, could be used for just about anything.

Alec Bradley American Classic — In late May, Alec Bradley cigars registered this trademark. It could just be a clever marketing slogan, but there’s also a good chance it is a new line from Alan Rubin.

Guillermo León by La Aurora — We’ve known for some time that La Aurora President Guillermo León would be the face of a new La Aurora smoke set to debut at the trade show in early August, but it wasn’t until we came across this trademark, registered at the end of January, that we felt confident about what the name would be. When we asked José Blanco of La Aurora a few weeks ago he still wouldn’t confirm the name. But now we know.

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

“It belongs in the family.” That’s what Charlie Toraño, president of Toraño Cigars, told me just hours after announcing that his family was taking back distribution of Toraño Cigars and renaming the company the “Toraño Family Cigar Company.”

With much excitement and pride in his voice, he said he decided last year that when their current distribution deal with CAO ran its course he would be exercising his option to retake full control of Toraño. Ultimately, he says there is a level of “creativity, time, and attention that can only only be done in the family.”

The decision was made before CAO parent company STG announced it was merging it’s handmade cigar operations with Swedish Match, parent company of General Cigars which makes Macanudo, Punch, La Gloria Cubana, and a number of other top-selling lines.

According to Toraño, the only impact the merger had was on the date of the new distribution arrangement.  Instead of waiting until January 1, 2011, the date was moved up to August 1—in time for the 2010 industry trade show in New Orleans, where Toraño will have its own booth.

The new arrangement coincides with a new logo designed to put the focus back on the Toraño family. Charlie describes the new logo as “contemporary but classic.” The new branding, “inspired by past but motivated by out future,” de-emphasizes Carlos Toraño (though Charlie says his father will continue to play a pivotal roll) and places the spotlight on the entire Toraño family.

In this time of seemingly constant mergers and consolidation, Toraño still feels the “future of this industry lies with family businesses.” Describing the challenging climate of smoking bans and record high tobacco taxes, Toraño acknowledged that “headwinds are strong…but there’s no better way to meet those challenges than [for the family] to be in full control of the brand.”

Toraño is using that control to take a new direction with new blends. “Moving forward we are working with other small boutique factories,” Toraño tells me. Current lines will continue unchanged, still being made in STG’s factories, which were purchased from the Toraño and Fidel Olivas families in 2009.

Three New Toraño Blends Coming in August

Reflecting its new focus, Toraño Family Cigars will be bringing three new cigars to market this year. Two premium lines will be sold at retailers only, while a third line, Brigade, features an Ecuadorian wrapper and will sell in bundles of 16 for around $2.50 per stick.

The company’s first new premium stick, The Master, is a joint effort by Charlie Toraño and longtime master roller Felipe Sosa. Made at American Caribbean Cigars in Estelí, Nicaragua, it is an all-Nicaraguan cigar described by Toraño as medium- to full-bodied. It will sell for $5.50-5.95 per cigar.

A second new cigar, also to be sold only in brick-and-mortar stores, is the Single Region. It features Jalapa Nicaraguan tobacco all from one farm (although from different years). It is being rolled at the Fabrica de Tabacos Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras, which also makes such highly-regarded smokes as the Illusione, Epernay, Cruzado, Alec Bradley Tempus, and Padilla 1932. A “fuller-bodied” smoke, the Toraño Single Region will cost between $6.50 and $6.95.

In addition to the three blends set to debut at this year’s trade show, Toraño is already working on new blends for the future, including another Single Region.

For Charlie Toraño the future is bright as his family enters a new era in the cigar business. People are “gonna be hearing a lot from Toraño and about Toraño” Charlie tells me. “Our interest is not on volume, but on making great blends and interacting with smokers.”

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys