Let’s get ready for IPCPR
by David Garofalo
The 83rd International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Convention (IPCPR) 2015 (formally known as RTDA Retail Tobacco Dealers Association) will begin this Friday July 17-21 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
There will be more than 1,600 booth spaces taken up with cigar makers taking up the vast majority of the space. Add to that Humidors, Lighters and Cutters and other accessories and there you have it.
The trade show booths will burst at over 98% capacity exceeding all expectations. Registration for attendees is expected to grow also from last year’s counts. There might be some good reason for it this year.
First off, the tough smoking laws in New Orleans will not be an issue as we still have the ability to smoke in the retail shops, the cigar bars, at all the hosted events, on Bourbon Street and of course in the Convention Halls. All facilities being used for private functions, which there will be a lot of them are also designated cigar smoking areas.
Another good reason people will be attending is the vast array of seminars including some education for retailers including Management and Marketing with Dave Ratner. Tobacconist University will host a seminar to educate retailers, and a Government Affairs Briefing with the IPCPR Legislative team. Best Selling Author, Larry Winget who claims to be the World’s Only Irrational Speaker… he’s trademarked it but he hasn’t heard me speak apparently.
One of the big highlights for me is always the Davidoff Golden Band Awards Dinner, which recognizes the better performing cigar retailers in the World. Last year I was extremely honored to win “The Industry Service Award”, a personal proud moment for me being recognized by my pears.
Grammy Award winning Artist “America” will perform at our Cigar Bash, playing hits that should include, A Horse with No Name, I Need You, Ventura Highway, Tin Man, Lonely People, Sister Golden Hair and Daisy Jane. But probably the most important reason I attend IPCPR is that retailers will get the first glimpse of a bunch, some estimate over 100. new cigars and accessories.
Here is a list of just some of the new cigars we can expect to see at IPCPR:
Avo Classic Covers II
Avo Syncro (Nic Boxed Press)
BG Meyers Gigantes
Camacho American Barrel Aged
Davidoff (Brazil) Escurio
Davidoff Year of the Monkey
Atabey Ritos
Byron Siglo 19 Gran Poemas
Byron Siglo 20 Habaneros
KILO
Hammer + Sickle Trademark Maduro (formally ICON)
Hammer + Sickle Caleanoch
Hammer + Sickle Double Eagle
LFD La Nox
LFD Coronado
LFD Airbender Maduro
Litto Gomez 2015
LFD 1994 Tango (20th Anniversary)
LFD Solomon Especial
ROMEO by Romeo y Julieta Aging Room
Aging Room Bin #1 – New Sizes
La Boheme Encanador (Box Pressed 2nd Act)
Aging Room Bin No.1 D Minor
SWAG Ecuadorian Shade
EIORA First 20
Asylum Nyctophilia
Asylum Schizo (Maduro)
Asylum Orge Lancero
Asylum 33
Asylum 13 Corojo
CLE Plus 2015
Insidious Habano
Edgar Hoill Everyday Hustle
OSOK “OG”
Patoro
Duran Cigars – Big Jack 7 x 70 Neya F8
Duran Cigars – Puntica
Duran Cigars – Santo (rolled by)
Perdomo Craft Series
Perdomo Habano (re Packaged)
Perdomo Factory Tour
Recluse Amadeus Habano Reserva
Indian Motorcycle Habano from Debonaire
Steve Saka (Formerly of Drew Estates) Sobremesa
Nicholas Melillo (Formerly of Drew Estates) Foundation
Legacy Brands (Victor Vitale) TOXIC
Neanderthal (by Skip Martin) RoMa Craft
La Imperiosa by Crown Heads
La Mission du L’Atelier
Tatuaje Verocu (5 sizes, same blend as East/West From Years Ago)
Henry Clay Tattoo by Pete Johnson
El Centurion Conn. By Don Pepin/ My Father
Demaso by Padron
Fratello – Fratello Blanco
Joya de Nicaragua Barrel-Aged
Joya de Nicaragua CCRE
Undercrown Connecticut by Drew estates
Illusione Ninfa
La Palina Goldie Robusto Extra
La Palina Red
A Flores Gran Reserva Habano
A Flores A Crop
A Flores B Crop
Luchador El Gringo
Warped Cigars – Don Reynaldo
Guayacan Rojas Reserve
Rocky Patel Sungrown Maduro
Rocky Patel – Hamlet
Rocky Patel 20th
Alec Bradley Sanctum
A.J. Fernandez New World Connecticut
AJ Fernandez Enclave
Black Label Trading Co. Morphine
Black Label Redemption Box Pressed
Black Label Deliverance Nocturne
Balmoral Anejo XO
CAO Solfyre (Flavored) Sweet & Spicy
Charlie Torano by General Cigar
Don Tomas Nicaragua
S.T.K. Miami Zulu Zulu Mas Paz Edition
Antillian Cigar Corp. Brings Back Imperio Cubano Miami
MoyaRuiz Cigars – Chinese Finger Trap, a 6 x 50 toro
Montecristo White Vintage Connecticut
Las Cumbres Tabaco – Freyja
Las Cumbres Tobacco – Senorial Maduro
Murcielago Re-launch from Espinosa
D’Crossier (Lancero)
Crux Cigars – du Connoisseur
Crux Cigars – Guild
Meridian by Cornelius & Anthony
90 Plus Cigars
Viaje C4 2015
Viaje Exclusivo (regular production)
Ashton Ovation
Octoberfest (with two limited edition Puro’s)
La Aroma de Cuba Nobless
Casa Fernandez Aniversario 2015
Sosa Box Pressed
Sosa Half Century
Nat Sherman – Sterling
JFR – Lunatic Jackhammer
La Aurora Puro Vintage 2015
Cornelius & Anthony Meridian
The International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Trade Show (IPCPR) is the Cigar Industry’s Biggest and Best Show worldwide. I’ve been going to “THE SHOW” for over 20 years and each year I am more excited than the next and this year is no exception. If you’re going, I will be spending most of my time at the Selected Tobacco Booths and United Cigar at Booth #17719. Please stop by and say hello. Say the secret words “Product-Mix” and I give you a cigar.
