There was hope that the cigar industry would receive a Hail Mary when earlier this year, the House Appropriations Committee approved a bill that provided an exemption for premium cigars from the over-reach of the FDA. However, in a bill proposal last night that will fund the U.S. Government until the spring of 2017 the language that would have provided safe passage for premium cigars was stripped from the bill. The bill will fund the […]
Washington, DC – December 6, 2016- The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers (IPCPR) is pleased to announce that Daniel Trope will join the staff of IPCPR as Director, Federal Government Affairs effective December 12, 2016. Also, joining the IPCPR team is Christine Morgan, Associate Member &; Operations Manager who started on December 1, 2016. Daniel Trope will lead IPCPR’s Federal advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill and with the Executive Branch. IPCPR’s CEO, Mark Pursell, […]
According to the Cigar Rights of America, the FDA has withdrawn its Final Rule regarding the procedures for refusing to accept premarket tobacco products submissions. In a letter to its stakeholders the CRA states: In our continuing effort to keep you informed of actions and communications from or about the U.S. Food & Drug Administration – Center for Tobacco Products, please see the announcement below. Today, the FDA posted in their advanced Federal Register notice […]
To mark the Chinese Year of the Rooster and delight Chinese aficionados around the globe, Davidoff Cigars will be introducing a highly exclusive Year of the Rooster 2017 Limited Edition. Who better to herald in the dawn of a New Year than the Rooster? Just as the Rooster’s call awakens us, so will this limited edition cigar awaken our senses. First, visually, from the moment the shiny red box is opened to reveal the magnificent […]
Today the President of El Artista Cigars, Radhames “Ram” Rodriguez announced the first boxes of Big Papi by David Ortiz began shipping this week from Doral, FL. The much anticipated cigar line makes its way onto hundreds of retail shelves this week, fulfilling IPCPR 2016 pre-orders. The first boxes shipped Monday morning, and El Artista expects thousands of boxes to reach retailers by Friday. Mr. Rodriguez stated, “The response from retailers and consumers has been […]
The FDA has forced the hand of Jose Blanco. Citing the uncertainty of the FDA Ruling, Jose Blanco has accepted a role with the company owned by Ernesto Perez Carrillo. That role is Senior Vice President. According to Jose Blanco the brands under his company Las Cumbres which was formed in 2014 will be handled by his wife Emma Viktorsson. Blanco stated exclusively to The Cigar Authority, “Emma will manage it all – we have […]
PLEASE… stop asking that question… The Cuban Embargo is NOT Over, but there has been yet another kick in the cojones for American businesses and the creation of an unfair playing field, if you ask me. Americans traveling abroad can now return with all the Cuban cigars and Cuban rum they want and they don’t go through any of the same pesky regulations and taxation that all other cigars have to go through. This “free […]
Miami Cigar & Co. unveiled a fourth unique cigar blend to the Nestor Miranda Collection at the 2016 IPCPR in Las Vegas. The NMC Corojo was a hit at the show and many have been clamoring for its National release. The newly redesigned Nestor Miranda Collection was launched during the company’s 25-year anniversary in 2014. The collection featured three different cigars (NMC Connecticut, Habano, and Maduro.) The sleek packaging and cigar blends were well received […]
Omar de Frias, owner of Fratello Cigars, has resigned from NASA after more than a decade. “I set an aggressive goal for myself at IPCPR. I exceeded that goal. Given the enormous support I received and increasing demand for Fratello, this was the time to give the cigar industry the extra 50 Hours a week I was spending on our nations space program,” said de Frias. He continued, addressing the looming FDA regulations, “Although it […]
As a person going on his honeymoon in just a couple of weeks, this news couldn’t come at a better time. The laundry list of personal friends who want me to bring them back a Cuban cigar is longer than a shopping list for The Cigar Authority food budget. While I still might not bring them a cigar, it just got a lot easier for me and you to buy Cuban cigars and rum. Up […]