First, let me state this article is 100% the opinion of Barry. It is being typed from my fingers. Yesterday, HR 2339 passed the committee vote by a vote of 28-24 and some people are calling this a win for the cigar industry. It is, to a degree, because it appears cigars are getting an exemption. However, that exemption is only being offered to a select few brands as they appear on the shelf at […]
Jason Wood, Miami Cigar & Company Vice President announced today that the reinterpreted Don Lino Africa will start shipping the week of November 18th, 2019. “After much anticipation, we’re excited to say that Africa will be shipping next week,” Wood noted. “This is our first collaboration with AJ Fernandez, and our sales team is already out in support of the brand at the local level. Pre-sales have been robust, and we cannot wait to enjoy […]
This evening The Cigar Authority has learned that Kretek International has gutted Ventura. According to our sources we have confirmed that the sales force was reduced to 3 people. Michael Giannini remains as the GM and the company has retained their west coast sales manager as well as their Chicago area sales representative. Meanwhile long time employee Barry Bennett was offered a Phillips & King key account sales position. On the morning of November 6th, […]
J&J Spirits, the company behind the popular Single Cask Nation Whisky, announced the release of a rye cask aged premium cigar in collaboration with Aganorsa Leaf. The cigars themselves, Robusto in size measuring 5 1/4” x 50, are comprised of Habano Ecuador wrapper and Nicaraguan filler and binder. J&J Spirits brand owner of Single Cask Nation- an independent bottler of fine Single Malts, Bourbons, Ryes, Rums and Mezcal, shipped a single rye cask to Aganorsa […]
Since 1930 Nat Sherman has been in the cigar market when they acquired Epoca, a clear Havana cigar brand. In January of 2017 family owned Nat Sherman would be sold to Altria, who bought it for the cigarettes in order to compete with brands like American Spirit. Last week, news came out that Altria was looking to sell the premium cigar division which is currently headed by Michael Herklots. Along with the premium cigar brands comes […]
The United States Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Health and Human Services, through the U.S. Justice Department, filed an appeal the decision of Judge Paul Grimm to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in the case of American Academy of Pediatrics, et al. v. United States Food and Drug Administration, et al. On May 15, 2019, Judge Grimm found, in an opinion focused almost exclusively on […]
Toscano Cigars has announced the Toscano Garibaldi cigar to celebrate Giuseppe Garibaldi, the ‘Hero of the Two Worlds’. As a military general, an Italian nationalist and a smoker of TOSCANO cigars, Garibaldi embodied the zest and spirit of Italy. Originally presented in 1982 the cigar is made with Kentucky fire-cured tobacco grown in Southern Italy and captures the sweet aromas of their natural tobacco and wood, According to TOSCANO, from the start Garibaldi establishes its […]
(Oct 23, 2019) – I can’t say that I was surprised or unhappy for the overall good of the entire cigar industry, but as predicted and expected, Altria Group, after just 1,000 days since purchasing Nat Sherman will sell off the Premium cigar segment of the operation. Altria is the parent company of Philip Morris. In January of 2017 Altria purchased Nat Sherman, a luxury cigarette company who also owned and operated a premium cigar division […]
Drew Estate, a global manufacturer and distributor of premium cigars announced today that Fabien Ziegler, Director of Consumer Engagement, is leaving the company to pursue other interests. A twenty-year veteran “on the street”, Mr. Ziegler has been a tremendous ambassador for Drew Estate, working in both sales and marketing, including most recently leading the company’s Consumer Engagement team. “My years at Drew Estate have been incredibly rewarding, most importantly because of the opportunity to work […]
BANNED IN BOSTON… THE WAR ON TOBACCO CONTINUES Another Editorial by David Garofalo It’s Columbus Day, a day to celebrate the discovery of Tobacco and Cigars, and a day to discover why there is a war against tobacco. A few weeks ago, the Governor of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker placed a four-month ban on all vaping products in response to the popularity of e-cigarettes and after nine people died in the United States from a mysterious […]