October 3, 2023 — Emilio Cigars is pleased to announce the release of the Grimalkin Seasonal Edition: Hand crafted in Esteli, Nicaragua at Fabrica Oveja Negra.

This week, the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) endorsed new legislation that would allow cigar bars in Wisconsin for the first time since 2009.

Scottsdale, AZ – Cigars For Warriors (CFW) is pleased to provide an updated announcement on the availability of reservations and sponsorships for the INAUGURAL CFW Golf & Cigar Weekend Experience, taking place at the prestigious Talking Stick Resort and Sunridge Canyon golf course from April 18-21, 2024.

On Tuesday, September 19, 2023, Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-IL) and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the CARE for Moms Act (H.R. 5568 & S. 2846), which is an extension of the Mothers and Offspring Mortality & Morbidity Awareness (MOMMA) Act that has been introduced in previous sessions of Congress.

Plasencia 1865 announces that Jim Young has joined the company as an advisor and board member. Mr. Young has been in the premium cigar industry since 2011 with Oettinger Davidoff AG, first as President – Davidoff North America based in Pinellas Park, FL and then as Davidoff’s Global Chief Commercial Officer based in Basel, Switzerland. He left Davidoff in 2022 and relocated back to the United States. Prior to his experience in our industry, Mr. Young spent 24 years in the premium beverage alcohol industry with Seagram and eventually with Diageo. His experience includes extensive overseas assignments including Europe and Asia and he has a functional background in finance while also holding a number of leadership roles in the commercial area and leading business units.

Plasencia 1865 has enjoyed a very strong growth trajectory since the launch of the company in 2017 and is now at a point where they have decided that it is vital to add structure, experience, and leadership to take the business to the next level. The company has made the decision to recruit a CEO and Mr. Young will play an important role in that effort. In the meantime, he will take on the additional role of “Interim CEO” until a successful CEO candidate has been identified and on-boarded.

Nestor Andres Plasencia commented: “We are super excited to bring Jim onto the board and into the interim CEO position. Jim brings many years of experience and proven results and we are confident that, together with the extraordinary team we have, we can achieve our goal of keep lighting up many souls around the world with our cigars.” Jim Young added: “I am delighted to join Nestor Andres and the team at Plasencia 1865. This is a company that has tremendous potential and is an organization that is highly values-driven and is deeply committed to quality, consistency and sustainability. I am proud to become part of what I truly believe will be a very successful journey.”

Hudson, NH –Renowned artist and blender of Selected Tobacco, Nelson Alfonso, has once again pushed the boundaries of creativity and craftsmanship with his latest creation—three stunning porcelain ashtrays, each uniquely designed to pay homage to the timeless beauty of the tobacco plant’s flower. These luxurious ashtrays are presented in designer boxes and are inspired by the rich history of the Byron Cigar line.

Ocala, FL – Operation: Cigars For Warriors is proud to announce the winner of the online raffle for a beautiful piece of custom artwork
honoring US servicemen and women made by Lou Piscitelli of Melbourne, FL. Proceeds from the raffle benefit Op: CFW – Michael Plover. The drawing was conducted live on Facebook on the
evening of Saturday, September 16th, 2023.

LAMPERT CIGARS has begun shipping the PCA EXCLUSIVE 2023, a 6 x 52 TORO, to retailers.

September 12, 2023 — Black Label Trading Company is pleased to announce the release of Bishops Blend Novemdiales to select retailers. Novemdiales is handcrafted at Fabrica Oveja Negra in Esteli, Nicaragua. It represents a revised iteration of the original Bishops Blend, by using a Pennsylvania wrapper with other slight revisions. Those that have grown to love this release will still recognize the distinctive flavors of the past with a fresh, nuanced perspective.

ALEXANDRIA, VA (September 7, 2023) – The Board of Directors of Cigar Rights of America (CRA) announced today that Tony Gomez, Vice President of La Flor Dominicana, has been appointed to the CRA Board of Directors. 

August 24, 2023 — Black Label Trading Company (BLTC) is pleased to announce Tor Imports, Ltd. will begin distributing our products in the UK next week.

Hudson, NH – United Cigars, a rising name in the premium cigar industry, is excited to announce that the long-awaited Black Bomb Firecracker will be shipping to retailers in September. This ongoing production, 3 1/2 x 50 cigar, will be packaged in boxes of 25 and promises to deliver an explosion offlavors and an unforgettable smoking experience.

August 15, 2023 — Emilio Cigars is now shipping the Limited-Edition AUDIOPHILE featured at this year’s PCA.

Emilio Cigars, a distinguished name in the world of premium cigars, is proud to announce the highly anticipated release of the Limited-Edition AUDIOPHILE. Expertly crafted in Esteli, Nicaragua at the renowned Fabrica Oveja Negra, AUDIOPHILE represents a pinnacle of artistry and flavor.

“The FDA’s Final Deeming Rule is vacated insofar as it applies to premium cigars.” But what does that mean?

The given court ruling has implications related to a legal case involving Plaintiffs and the Final Deeming Rule, specifically in the context of premium cigars. Here are some potential implications of this court ruling:

Leading up to this year’s Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival in Broomfield, Colorado, Cigar Dojo and Aganorsa Leaf announce the Pagoda 2023 cigar as a limited-edition collaboration.

Hudson, NH – Red Anchor: A Tribute to Heritage and Excellence. United Cigars proudly announces the highly anticipated release of its latest cigar line extensions, Red Anchor Captain and Gunner, are set to hit the shelves in late August. Produced at Kelner Boutique Factory (KBF), The Red Anchor line is a testament to the rich history and commitment to
excellence that the Kelner family brings to every creation.

LAMPERT CIGARS adds its LAMPERT RUM for the U.S.

LAMPERT CIGARS added its 12 YO rum – LAMPERT RUM – to their U.S. portfolio.

The rum is made in Panama and aged for 12 years in white oak barrels previously used as bourbon barrels.

Eiroa CBT 51 made its debut at Christian’s birthday event which took place during the 2023 PCA

July 25, 2023– C.L.E. Cigar Company to release the Eiroa CBT 51. In what will be limited in distribution, this blend is in celebration of Christian Eiroa’s 51^st birthday. The cigar made its debut during a 300-person event celebrating his birthday during the PCA 2023 on July 9^th. The celebration took place at Eight Lounge at Resorts World, in Las Vegas.

PCA | July 20, 2023 – West Tampa Tobacco Company’s Rick Rodriguez and Luciano Meirelles have one more surprise following this year’s Premium Cigar Association (PCA) trade show–a collaboration no one saw coming. The two cigar blenders have created a limited-edition car that will exclusively be available through My Old Kentucky Herf.

[Washington, DC — Monday, July 24, 2023] The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) has filed a formal request for a meeting with the Ombudsman of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Center for Tobacco Products to discuss PCA’s significant concerns related to FDA’s March 10, 2023, Proposed Rule seeking to establish so-called tobacco product manufacturing practice (TPMP) requirements. The request references the July 2022 order by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. It found that the FDA acted arbitrarily and capriciously in its 2016 action asserting regulatory authority over premium cigars. Yet, with the final remedy for that order still pending, the FDA has plowed forward with multiple rules, including the TPMP proposal, that would potentially impact the premium cigar market. Notably, the TPMP proposal does not acknowledge the court’s order or the pending remedy ruling.

[Washington, DC — Friday, July 21, 2023] The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) has joined over 200 organizations in signing a letter to the White House that raises awareness of the importance of the negotiations between UPS and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (Teamsters) in response to the ongoing negations between it and UPS. Scott Pearce, Executive Director of the PCA, also sent an independent letter to the White House addressing how this potential strike would have devastating consequences for the premium tobacco industry.

July 19,2023 – HumidifGroup and Joya De Nicaragua, the renowned cigar manufacturer known for its commitment to quality and innovation, are proud to release an extraordinary project that combines the pleasures of cigar smoking with the excitement of a captivating game. The new custom designed JDN cigar box, Antaño Power Play Sling Puck, delivers a one-of-a-kind experience and creates unique “JDN Moments” for cigar enthusiasts.

Get ready for the return of an annual sensation: the Limited Edition Short Run 2023 is set to be released soon! E.P. Carrillo’s Short Run series is renowned for its unique, one-of-a-kind blends that use the rarest tobaccos and tell distinct stories every year. This year’s creation promises to deliver an unforgettable smoking experience that expertly balances complexity and smoothness.