Black Works Studio cigars are an expression of art showcasing the talent, technique, and tobacco of our boutique cigar factory; Fabrica Oveja Negra.
August 9, 2024 — Black Works Studio is pleased to announce the release of NBK Hogshead as a Hogshead Cigar Lounge exclusive, handcrafted at Fabrica Oveja Negra in Esteli, Nicaragua.
CONSPIRACY CIGARS featuring SWAGSTORM Packaging is Available!
WESTON, Florida – Quality Importers Trading Company ® (QI) the leading accessory supplier to the worldwide premium cigar trade announces the immediate availability of CONSPIRACY® CIGARS. This innovative new line of premium cigars, blended by Hall of Fame Master Cigar Maker Ernesto Perez Carrillo Jr. at Casa Carrillo, was launched at PCA 2024 and features SWAGSTORM packaging. The cigars are shipping in three sizes, each available with an Ecuador Connecticut, or San Andres Mexican Maduro wrapper.
What is a retailer to do when there are no trade show distractions to navigate? We don’t have to plan for big buys. We don’t have to scramble for event windows with our favorite brands that are making their show plans and scrambling to ship products for weeks after the show. We don’t have to sweat anything but selling. In the words of Mel Gibson (in a marginal Scottish accent), “FREEDOM!” Here are three ideas to consider when planning your summer:
(Miami, FL) July x, 2024–C.L.E. Cigar Company announces that the Asylum 12 2024 is now shipping. The Asylum 12 cigar brand is released yearly, and this 2024 version is housed in new sleekly designed packaging.
The Asylum 12 2024 blend will be different from years past as the binder and filler is composed of tobacco from C.L.E. Cigar Company’s new farm in South America. The wrapper and type of tobacco in the binder and filler will remain undisclosed.
[Washington, D.C.–July 16, 2024] The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) has announced the hiring of Shannon Marie as its new Director of Trade Show and Events. Shannon’s first day with the PCA was July 15, 2024. With over a decade of experience in the events industry, she has spent her professional career helping trade associations grow their event offerings. Shannon will work with Lisa Cox, the organization’s Senior Director of Trade Shows and events, effective immediately.
“I am excited to see the PCA’s team expand in a critical area so that we can provide additional program offerings for the trade show and events. I know that Shannon will be able to support Lisa in maintaining a best-in-class trade show and add other experiential elements to our marquee event and beyond,” says Joshua Habursky, PCA’s Executive Director.
DENVER, CO (Tuesday, July 9, 2024) —— Guy Fieri’s fan-favorite Knuckle Sandwich brand expands its footprint in the craft cigar scene with its first-ever collaborative release, combining forces with Cigar Dojo, Espinosa Premium Cigars, and Smoke Inn Cigars. Introducing: the Knuckle Sandwich Strike Force cigar.
Guy Fieri, the culinary rockstar known for his bold flavors and larger-than-life personality, is turning up the heat with the latest creation from his Knuckle Sandwich brand. The Knuckle Sandwich Strike Force is the ultimate testament to Fieri’s flair for quality and flavor, crafted in cahoots with the cigar maestros at Espinosa Premium Cigars and Cigar Dojo.
WESTON, Florida – Quality Importers Trading Company ® (QI) the leading accessory supplier to the worldwide premium cigar trade, has officially acquired the Stinky Cigar® brand of cigar accessories. The transaction closed on July 1, 2024. Stinky Cigar® is known worldwide for innovative and functional ashtrays featuring oval leaf-shaped stirrups imprinted with the Stinky Cigar® logo. Quality Importers has been the exclusive wholesale distributor for Stinky Cigar® since January 2011, stewarding the brand’s growth and promotion for over 13 years.
The Stinky Cigar® ashtray, introduced in 2004, is renowned for its quality and durability, becoming one of the most popular cigar ashtrays in the trade, known simply as “Stinky”. Quality Importers plans to continue offering all current styles of Stinky Cigar® ashtrays including the World Famous “Original”, Personal, Tall, Old World, Floor Standing, One Piece, and Herf models. We will celebrate the fact that the Stinky Cigar® brand becomes “legal” on its 21st birthday and its joining the QI family of brands during PCA 2025 in New Orleans, LA.
WESTON, Florida – Quality Importers Trading Company ® (QI) the leading accessory supplier to the worldwide premium cigar trade, is hosting the inaugural QI Spotlight Tradeshow & Festival. This exclusive buying event, designed specifically for retailers and distributors, is set to take place on September 7, 2024, in Weston, Florida.
Official launch event – June 29th, 7:30pm (Bulgaria Time), at Best Cigars in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
(Miami, Florida) June 25, 2024– C.L.E. Cigar Company announces that the country of Bulgaria was chosen for the first ever C.L.E. Cigar Company Exclusivo Regionales. The Bulgarian regional release will be the first ever Eiroa Classic offered in the unique 11/18 vitola. The blend also receiving a slight tweak by Christian Eiroa. Only 150 boxes containing twenty cigars of the of the Eiroa Exclusivo Regionales Bulgaria were produced. The Eiroa Exlcusivo Regionales Bulgaria will launch with an event on June 29th, 7:30pm (Bulgaria Time), at Best Cigars in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
The Eiroa Classic Bulgaria was born out of a meeting and instant friendship between Christian Eiroa and Harry Dulendarov (Owner of Best Cigars in Bulgaria). Harry’s shop is considered the standard in Bulgaria and the Eiroa cigar brand is a favorite of his. Harry convinced Christian to create a unique international Exclusivo with the C.L.E Cigar Company’s brands.
[Washington, D.C.–June 26, 2024] The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Board of Directors announces the promotion and hiring of Joshua Habursky to the role of PCA Executive Director, effective immediately. Habursky’s tenure at PCA includes outside government affairs consultant (2018), Director of Federal Affairs, Head of Government Affairs, and Deputy Executive Director (2019-present). Since May 2024, Habursky has served as interim executive director of the PCA following Scott Pearce’s departure.
Sponsored By Rocky Patel Cigars, Altadis U.S.A, Oliva Cigars, and C.L.E. Cigar Company/Asylum
June 24, 2024 – The Traveling Cigar Road Show is back! Spanning 16 cities across the nation from July 29 through August 9, 2024, Rocky Patel Cigars, Altadis U.S.A, Oliva Cigars, and C.L.E. Cigar Company/Asylum will bring “The Traveling Cigar Road Show” to retailers across the country.
Dominican Republic – June 2024 – In a $23 billion cigar industry, Sans Pareil stands as a beacon of excellence and luxury. We are thrilled to announce the re-launch of our exclusive Gold Line, headlined by the eagerly awaited cigar, Jeddo. Late June, Jeddo will make its way to elite retailers, poised to redefine the standards of the global premium cigar industry.
The Gold Line is the crowning jewel of Sans Pareil’s collection, exemplifying unparalleled quality in tobacco, construction, and presentation. Crafted in the Dominican Republic, each Gold Line cigar is a testament to meticulous craftsmanship and exceptional tobacco. Jeddo, measuring 6 1/4 inches in length with a ring gauge of 54, promises a smoking experience like no other.
WESTON, Florida – Quality Importers Trading Company® (QI) the leading accessory supplier to the worldwide premium cigar trade, announces the availability of the single and triple-capacity Cigar Caddy® Cigar Tubes which were launched at PCA this past spring and are now ready to ship globally.
The Cigar Caddy® Cigar Tubes are designed to provide cigar enthusiasts with portable and stylish solutions for carrying their cigars. These tubes are perfect for protecting cigars while traveling, ensuring they remain fresh and undamaged.
APRIL FOOLS 2024 “YEAR OF THE DRAGON” IS NOW SHIPPING
June 19, 2024– C.L.E. Cigar Company announces that the Asylum April Fools’ 2024 “Year of the Dragon” is now shipping. Asylum April Fools’ 2024 Year of the Dragon is the fourthin this series of cigars. Last year’s version celebrated the Chinese Zodiac.” Asylum cigars will continue this trend showcasing this year’s Chinese zodiac sign, the Dragon.
In true Asylum style, the blend will come in a massive 90X9 vitola. Blended by Christian Eiroa this Honduran puro is a full-bodied blend featuring bold flavors throughout the smoking experience. Deeply rich in flavor and complexity, the blend is a peppery smoke, featuring woodsy and sweet notes.
Republicans have a burning problem: No place for cigars
[NOTE: the article is from the Washington Examiner and has some “boo-hooing” that’s typical media bias.]
The Capitol has a huge problem. The place where House Republicans used to smoke cigars no longer belongs to the same person. Some representatives are begging Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to solve this problem. “We desperately need a place to smoke cigars,” Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) toldAxios on Sunday. Another Republican said, “It’s a very important issue.”
New size expands West Tampa Tobacco Company core line-up
Tampa, FL, June 2024.West Tampa Tobacco Company celebrates its two-year anniversary with the introduction of Lanceros to their core West Tamp line.
West Tamp Tobacco Company is excited to announce that West Tampa Lanceros have begun to ship, both in the US and international markets. “In my recent travels I have gotten several questions about this unique size, specifically why I should try it. What makes this size special is that it allows smokers to truly enjoy the wrapper and I felt that this was a great way to commemorate our two-year anniversary,” said Rick Rodriguez, co-owner.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – TheSaint Luis Rey Carenas line, first launched in 2021 and recipient of a spot on the coveted Cigar Aficionado Top 25 Cigars of the Year, is expanding with a new extra-aged blend – Saint Luis Rey Carenas Ultramar.
This latest offering from Altadis U.S.A. is a tribute to the early days of the cigar trade when sixteenth-century Spanish vessels traveled ‘ultramar,’ or overseas, from Puerto Carenas in the New World to Spain carrying tobacco leaves. The precious tobacco leaves, destined for the King of Spain, were stored in barrels in a clandestine part of the ship as a measure to keep the valuable commodity safe from pirates.
Boston, Ma – Cigar Militia proudly announces a new line extension to its growing portfolio. The “76” is the group’s second release in collaboration with Rock-A-Feller Cigars.
The Cigar Militia “76” is expressed in a (6 x 52) Box-Pressed vitola and will carry an SRP of $12.00/cigar. Only 1776 cigars will be available and will come packaged in 5-packs.
Crowned Heads is proud to announce its latest installment to their highly sought-after and eagerly anticipated annual Las Calaveras series, Las Calaveras EL 2024, along with a release to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the brand, Las Calaveras DéGimo Antversario .
Las Calaveras EL 2024 and Las Calaveras Décimo Aniversario are both manufactured at My Father Cigars, S.A., in Esteli, Nicaragua. Las Calaveras EL 2024 features a stout blend of 100% Garcia-grown Nicaraguan tobaccos finished with a sumptuous Habano wrapper.
“When I smoked the final blend for this year’s Las Calaveras, it immediately took me back to the 2015 Las Calaveras profile, which happens to be one of my favorite blends in the series,” commented Crowned Heads co-founder, Jon Huber.
(Miami, Florida) June 12, 2024, Plasencia 1865, a world-leading premium tobacco grower since 1865, announces the release of the Alma del Fuego Ometepe Edición Limitada. This blend is the first of its kind, as it is the only cigar that has a wrapper made with tobacco from Ometepe. This tobacco was named Hoja del Fuego by the Plasencia family. Only 1,000 boxes (that double as a luxury humidor) containing 20 cigars were created of this ultra-premium blend, which carries an MSRP of $100 per cigar. Each cigar is housed in a hand-blown glass tube. The Plasencia family drew inspiration for this blend from old indigenous mythology, surrounding the island of Ometepe in Nicaragua.
Huella, LLC. proudly introduces TobacTracktm, its revolutionary compliance platform, leveraging advanced RFID and block chain technology to streamline regulatory oversight for the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) and ensure effortless adherence to the FDA’s Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. This state-of-the-art system, subject to two pending patent applications, is designed to enhance monitoring of tax compliance and FDA regulations, facilitating a transparent and accountable tobacco market.
[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Washington, D.C., June 6, 2024] The Women of PCA, a new resource group within the Premium Cigar Association (PCA), hosted its inaugural policy conference in Washington D.C. on June 5, 2024. This groundbreaking event brought together industry leaders, legal minds, and policy experts in the nation’s capital for an engaging program that addressed key policy issues while celebrating and acknowledging the important role of women in the premium tobacco industry. PDR Cigars, Micallef Cigars, Villiger Cigars, and Rabbit Air generously sponsored the event.
We want to remind all of you about the upcoming availability of the CFW Synergy program cigar, “CFW By Oscar”. An initial quantity was made available at the PCA tradeshow (which sold out in just days!) and the next batch of 600 are now available!
This is our 4th showcase cigar in the CFW Synergy Program. Participating manufacturers limit sales exclusively to our CFW Donation Centers, as a way that CFW can say thank you to our retailers, with a limited edition showcase cigar. MSRP $14/stick, $144/box, minimum order is 4 boxes (40 cigars), no other requirements. The best part is, the manufacturer is donating 100% of their profits back to CFW.
June 4, 2024 – (Hialeah Gardens, FL) Espinosa Premium Cigars is proud to announced that they will be entering the Canadian market with Brigham Enterprises as their distributor.
Said Erik Espinosa, “This is the first step in our goal of becoming an international cigar company and I truly believe that we have chosen the right company to showcase and grow our brand throughout Canada.”