Weston, FL- June 20, 2022—Quality Importers Trading Company (QI) is proud to announce that Michael Giannini has joined its senior management team in the newly created position Chief of Customer Engagement. In this role he will be responsible for the Sales, Marketing, and Messaging initiatives of the company. Michael’s career in the premium cigar business began in the early1980s. While working on a Master’s Degree in Psychology, teaching and cooking professionally on the weekends, his true passion was in the premium cigar business. To pursue this passion, he began working at a local Philadelphia cigar shop as a store manager, and then became co-owner of an independent manufacturer’s representation firm. He left those roles to become the National Sales Manager for Ernesto Perez-Carrillo’s El Credito Cigar Company – while continuing to work on his culinary and fashion skills when time permitted. After the acquisition of El Credito by Swedish Match, the El Credito portfolio merged into General Cigar, where he became Director of Marketing for the La Gloria Cubana brand.

Hiram and Solomon Cigars is pleased to announce its cigar production has moved to the PDR Cigar Factory in Tamboril, Dominican Republic.

In 2021 Hiram and Solomon owners, Fouad Kashouty & Romy Kashouty, began working with Abe Flores of PDR Cigars, creating new blends and forging a business relationship that allows for streamlined production and distribution channels via the PDR factory. Hiram & Solomon blends remain the same.

Ocala, FL – Operation: Cigars For Warriors is featured on a new episode of the ATF Podcast, available on both Spotify and Apple. The podcast is a companion to ATF Magazine, a bold new publication devoted to telling insightful, educational and inspirational stories about these industries and the people that move them forward. The magazine is released quarterly in print and digital formats to subscribers and is produced (along with the podcast) by the 526 Media Group.

LAMPERT CIGARS enters the Canadian market through Canadian Craft Cigars which is owned by cigar enthusiast Barry Hannah and Kent Plosz. LAMPERT CIGARS are now available to the Canadian public. Canadian retailers who are interested in purchasing LAMPERT CIGARS can
reach out to Barry and Kent at info.craftcigars@gmail.com.

Canadian Craft Cigars specializes in distributing boutique cigars. As a first step, Canadian Craft Cigars distributes the LAMPERT 1675 Edición AZUL as well as the Edición ROJO which were both made in Nicaragua.
Currently, LAMPERT CIGARS is available in more than 10 countries worldwide.

Dunbarton, NH – Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust® (DTT) will begin shipping its long awaited Muestra de Saka “The Bewitched” to its Select Purveyors on Thursday, June 9th, 2022.

“The Bewitched” is an intoxicating liga of choice Nicaraguan and US Grown fillers with our exclusive Cultivo Tonto San Andreas Negro binder swaddled in a Grade 1 Ecuador Habano Seed capa. Presented in a beautiful 6 5/8 x 48 prensado vitola with a spiral colita, this cigar rewards the smoker with a beguiling smoking experience with notes
of cafe, caramel, cedar, and tempered spice. It is truly an entrancing medium-plus bodied smoke, so hard to describe, yet so perfect in balance and nuance, from the moment I finished the blend I was mesmerized with it,” states DTT’s Founder & Co-Owner, Steve Saka.
Saka adds, “After over two years of waiting for the next release in our MDS series of puros, I am ecstatic to now be able to share this liga with the world. It is the perfect personification of an elegant cigar.”

Ace Prime announces the prospective launch of “Maria Lucia” at the 2022 Las Vegas PCA Trade Show. The new smoke is inspired by the story of grit, passion and survival of Ace Prime founder and co-owner Luciano Meirelles’ mother, Maria Lucia Meirelles.

We are excited today to announce the return of a fan favorite which was never released on a worldwide level, Eagles Descent. Originally released as a retailer exclusive in 2019 for R Field Wine Company in Honolulu, the blend has returned as a limited edition for all Warped retailers around the world.

[Thu, June 2, 2022, Washington, DC]— The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) announced today a brand-new seminar will take place on Friday, July 8, 2022, from 1—2:30 PM as part of its education day before the opening of its annual convention and trade show. The seminar will kick off the education seminars and feature Jose Blanco, an industry veteran, and more recently “The Professor” from the Meet the Professor show, in a fun and interactive conversation with Carlito Fuente, Chairman of Arturo Fuente.

The Food and Drug Administration is proposing the Tobacco Product Standard for Characterizing Flavors in Cigars that would in effect ban flavored cigars. Based on a recent membership survey 93% of Premium Cigar Association member retailers acknowledged selling a flavored tobacco product and it is important for the Food and Drug Administration to hear concerns about prohibition of these products. 

(Washington, DC) Today, representatives from PCA, including President Greg Zimmerman, attended oral arguments in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia presented before Judge Amit P. Mehta in the case of Cigar Association of America et al. v. FDA. The case concerns the FDA’s 2016 “Deeming Rule,” which granted the FDA the authority to regulate “tobacco products,” including premium cigars, under the Federal, Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The question before the court is to decide whether the justifications and reasoning provided by the FDA for regulating premium cigars met the requirements of the Administrative Procedures Act.

Ocala, FL – Operation: Cigars For Warriors is proud to announce the
results of the first annual “Stream-A-Thon” in collaboration with the Cigar Talk Podcast and The Leaf of Abilene, Texas. Partnering with the Cigar Talk community and some of the top names in the cigar industry including Carlito Fuente, Al Micallef, and Jonathan Drew, the streamathon exceeded expectations by raising $3836.86 to support our troops.

Dunbarton, NH – Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust® (DTT) is announcing it will be temporarily opening New Purveyor Accounts until further notice.

Ocala, FL – Operation: Cigars For Warriors reached a significant milestone on May 12th, 2002 – 10 years in operation as a charity
devoted to deployed military service members. As a Platinum-level
certified charity (verified by GuideStar), CFW operates with the highest ethical standards of transparency and accountability.

(As reported in Cigar Aficionado) An intense and long-lived hailstorm destroyed several acres of cigar tobacco at Chateau de la Fuente in El Caribe, Dominican Republic on May 6. Ice fell from the sky, blasting holes in unpicked tobacco leaves, tearing down cheesecloth shade, damaging curing barns and wrecking seedbeds. In the aftermath, it appeared as if snow had fallen in the tropics, with workers chipping away at piles of ice that had gathered on the collapsed tenting that normally covers the fields. 

The excitement has finally arrived as the 7-20-4 Hustler Five & Dime Series heads to PCA Retailers across the country starting on May 4th.

The “Five & Dime” name was chosen by Kurt Kendall, the owner of 7-20-4 Cigars honoring the history of the 5 and 10 cent cigars manufactured in NH back in 1874.

The Five & Dime is a 6 x 52 Toro in a 10 count box with a Mexican San Andres/Brazilian Habano Wrapper, Sumatra Binder, and PA, Esteli, Jalapa Fillers. Hand-made in Nicaragua at the Jesus Fuego Factory.

The cigar will retail at $12.50 and will begin shipping on May 4th to retailers who made reservations for the new release.

7-20-4 Cigars began taking reservations for the cigar at the PCA show in 2021. Kurt Kendall, president of 7-20-4 Cigars commented “Despite the bottlenecks, we have hit in the cigar industry with production, printing, and shipping cigars, we are grateful for all the patience from everyone and the hard work from everyone participating in rolling out the Five & Dime. Everything in the shipment which arrived in Miami is ready to head to our Brick & Mortar partners. We are truly humbled by its success.”

The 7-20-4 Hustler Five & Dime cigar is a PCA exclusive. The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) is the leading authority and advocate for the premium cigar and pipe retailer industry. The PCA is dedicated to the current and future success of brick and mortar premium tobacconists.

May 3, 2022 — Black Works Studio (BLK WKS) is pleased to announce the 2^nd release of Hyena: Hand crafted in Esteli, Nicaragua at Fabrica Oveja Negra.

HYENA is a Limited Edition that will be shipping to select BLK WKS retailers this month. It will also be available in Belgium and Germany.

“Hyena received a lot of hype in 2021 and this year’s release will be no different.  The 2022 Hyena is bold, spicy, very well balance and a touch more intense than last year’s release. A truly unique cigar that is focused on showcasing a perfect balance between Nicaraguan fillers and the Cameroon wrapper. The profile is spice forward with white pepper & semi-sweet baking spices blended with herbal notes & cedar.

The finish is a blend of bitter cocoa, cream & malt. Hyena is an extremely complex and balanced cigar and is a tribute to my wife’s and my many years of living in Africa,” said James Brown, creator of BLTC & BLK WKS and owner at Fabrica Oveja Negra. 

HYENA
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Africa Cameroon
Binder: Nicaraguan Habano
Filler: Nicaragua

Corona Gorda – 5 x 46 (20 count) MSRP $12.50
Lonsdale – 6.5×42 (20 count) MSRP $12.50

These cigars are an expression of art showcasing the talent, technique and tobacco of our boutique cigar factory; Fabrica Oveja Negra. BLK WKS cigars are available for purchase through Oveja Negra Brands. For more information visit OvejaNegraCigars.com.

On April 26th at the emblematic restaurant La Única in Polanco, Mexico City, we had a pairing with Chivas Regal whisky, where we enjoyed a four-course dinner paired with Chivas Regal extra (Tequila barrel), 18 years aged, Ultis, and to finish with Chivas 25 years and our famous Cuchillo Parado cigar.

 
Among the attendees were celebrities, influencers, entrepreneurs in the spirits industry, Chivas Regal Mexico ambassador Alex Millán and our Master Blender Manolo Santiago. Undoubtedly a night to remember.

At the beginning of the month, we had presence at one of the most nationally recognized competitions in the world of classic automobiles, the “Concurso de Elegancia”, where the most exquisite collectors of antique cars exhibit their best work in restoration, maintenance and mechanics.

For two days, classic car enthusiasts were able to experience the collections of American and European cars up close, along with an excellent gastronomic atmosphere. 

Our first guests in a our talk show was one of the top-ranked Podcasts in the industry; this was presented as an Instagram Live about what they thought of our cigar Cuchillo Parado.

The renowned Wine Sommelier Grecia Guerrero delighted us with a wonderful interview about her experiences and opinions about the tobacco business in Mexico.