Cigar Rights of America (CRA) applauds Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) and Congressman Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) for officially signing on as co-sponsors of HJ Res. 99, a vital resolution aimed at permanently exempting premium cigars from burdensome FDA regulation.
Continue reading Congressman Garbarino and Congressman Armstrong Join the Fight to Protect Premium CigarsTag Archives: news
SEÑORITO debuts at INTERTABAC 2024
At Intertabac 2024, the world’s largest tobacco trade show, LAMPERT CIGARS presents its latest release:
LAMPERT CIGARS enters the Slovakian market through its appointed distributor MY & MI, the Slovakian market leader in the importation, distribution, and retail of premium cigars.
Update from the Executive Director: Summer/Fall 2024 Edition
This is my first issue writing the editor’s note as the permanent Executive Director of the Premium Cigar Association. I am deeply honored and grateful to the board of directors, staff, and general membership for having the confidence in me to lead the organization, the premium cigar industry’s advocacy agenda, and the epicenter of cigar commerce at the trade show in New Orleans in 2025.
Continue reading Update from the Executive Director: Summer/Fall 2024 Edition
DON’T MISS OUT ON THE VERSATILE XIKAR® FLIP DUAL CUTTER – SHIPPING NOW!
WESTON, Florida – Quality Importers Trading Company® (QI), the leading accessory supplier to the worldwide premium cigar trade, is excited to announce that the versatile XIKAR® Flip Dual Cutter,
which was first launched at the PCA in March, is now shipping four (4) color options, Black, Blue, Gunmetal, and Red and the remaining three (3) colors, Black & Bronze, Bronze, Brushed Chrome will be available in mid-September. This innovative cigar accessory is designed to cater to the diverse preferences of cigar aficionados, offering both a deep V-Cut and a traditional Straight Cut in one sleek and portable design.
The XIKAR® Flip Dual Cigar Cutter incorporates stainless steel blades capable of handling 64-ring gauge cigars with precision. The dual cutting options ensure an optimal depth for both V-Cut and Straight Cut,
providing an ample draw without compromising the cigar cap. The V-Cut design is based on the classic XIKAR® VX2 cutter engineered with an inverted stainless steel blade providing inward pressure to the cap of the cigar during the cut, preventing the cigar cap from expanding and splitting.
KINGPIN debuts at INTERTABAC 2024
At Intertabac 2024, the world’s largest tobacco trade show, LAMPERT CIGARS presents its latest release:
KINGPIN
KINGPIN is part of the ORO LINE – besides the DON PATRON, EL GRINGO, and GATSBY. KINGPIN is a small batch production that measures 4 inches long with a 62-ring gauge.
Toscano and PCA Announce Toscano Brenta PCA Exclusive
The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) has partnered with Manifatture Sigaro Toscano (Toscano cigars) to bring its members a new PCA release, the Toscano Brenta. The Toscano Brenta is the first Toscano blend to use tobacco that has undergone an air-cured process rather than its traditional fire-cured process. The Toscano Brenta’s blend has tobacco that has been aged 3-5 years. After the cigar has been rolled, it is re-fermented in special rooms and allowed to age for an additional six months.
Continue reading Toscano and PCA Announce Toscano Brenta PCA Exclusive
Humidor Supreme® and Boveda® come together to Prep Humidorsfor Immediate Cigar Storage
WESTON, Florida – Quality Importers, the leading supplier of premium cigar accessories, announces a groundbreaking new initiative to enhance the experience for cigar smokers. XIKAR® Boveda® 60g 84% RH Seasoning Packs will now be included with Humidor Supreme® Desktop Humidors, thus, simplifying the setup and maintenance process. This enhancement applies to current Humidor Supreme® Desktop Humidors, meaning each desktop humidor will come with the added benefit of Boveda’s® renowned seasoning packs, ensuring the optimal environment for your cigars from day one. Humidor Supreme® Desktop Humidors include a Spanish cedar humidification panel interior and are
tailored to accommodate the XIKAR® Boveda® seasoning packs which offer several key benefits:
QUALITY IMPORTERS REVEAL THE 5-COUNT CIGAR CADDY®CAMOUFLAGE TRAVEL CASE
WESTON, Florida – Quality Importers Trading Company® (QI), the leading accessory supplier to the worldwide premium cigar trade, is excited to reveal a new line of Cigar Caddy® Travel Cases – The
Camouflage Series. Available in Red, Green, or Tan, the 5-count Cigar Caddy® Camouflage Travel Case is designed for those who demand both style and durability.
Join the CONSPIRACY®!
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.
July 31, 2024 — Black Works Studio is pleased to announce the release of Hawaiian Tiger as an R. Field Wine Co. exclusive; hand crafted at Fabrica Oveja Negra in Esteli, Nicaragua.
Hawaiian Tiger is a special event cigar available first to attendees of the R. Field event in Honolulu featuring James Brown on August 3, 2024.
“Really excited about our first exclusive in the Tiger series. We have done a lot of great cigars for R. Field over the years and now it’s time to take it to the next level. The Hawaiian Tiger has a rich, dark, earthy profile. It’s a complex blend of spice and dark fruit with prominent star anise notes on the finish,” said James Brown, creator of BLTC and partner at Fabrica Oveja Negra.
Continue reading July 31, 2024 — Black Works Studio is pleased to announce the release of Hawaiian Tiger as an R. Field Wine Co. exclusive; hand crafted at Fabrica Oveja Negra in Esteli, Nicaragua.
C.L.E. CIGAR COMPANY ANNOUNCES THE ASYLUM 12 2024 IS NOW SHIPPING
(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.
Continue reading C.L.E. CIGAR COMPANY ANNOUNCES THE ASYLUM 12 2024 IS NOW SHIPPING
PCA Hires New Director of Trade Show & Events
[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.
Continue reading PCA Hires New Director of Trade Show & Events
Guy Fieri, Espinosa Premium Cigars, & Cigar Dojo Team Up to Launch the “Knuckle Sandwich Strike Force” Cigar
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.
It’s Official, STINKY CIGAR® has been acquired by Quality Importers!
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.
BLTC Bishops Blend Set to Ship
July 8, 2024 — Black Label Trading Company is pleased to announce the shipment of Bishops Blend to select retailers beginning next week. Bishops Blend is hand crafted in Esteli, Nicaragua at Fabrica Oveja Negra.
“We are very excited about this highly anticipated release. This is the eighth release of Bishops Blend and continues to be one of our most sought-after, limited annual releases. Bishops Blend boasts big bold flavors of anise, pepper, raisins, and a sweet earthiness on the finish. It is very complex and extremely refined. As with the past vintages, the broadleaf fillers shine at the forefront and are perfectly balanced by the Nicaraguan filler tobaccos,” said James Brown, creator of Black Label Trading Co. and partner at Fabrica Oveja Negra.
Continue reading BLTC Bishops Blend Set to ShipInaugural QI SPOTLIGHT Tradeshow & Festival
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.
PLASENCIA CIGARS ANNOUNCES THE ALMA DEL CAMPO GUAJIRO
ROBUSTO GORDO BOX-PRESSED IS NOW SHIPPING
(MIAMI, FL) July 2, 2024- Plasencia Cigars, a world-leading premium tobacco grower, established in 1865, has announced the Plasencia Alma Del Campo new box-pressed vitola, Guajiro 5 ½ X 54, is on the way to stores across the nation. This box-pressed vitola will eventually replace the existing round Guajiro which will remain available for clients to purchase while supplies last. The highly popular Alma Del Campo line made its debut in 2017.
The Alma Del Campo is a Nicaraguan puro that was an instant hit with consumers. The inspiration behind the blend draws deeply from the Plasencia family’s rich heritage. “Alma Del Campo” (Soul of the Field) signifies the essence and spirit of the fields where premium tobacco is cultivated. This blend is a tribute to the fertile fields, and the meticulous cultivation practices, which have been passed down through generations of the Plasencia family.
Continue reading PLASENCIA CIGARS ANNOUNCES THE ALMA DEL CAMPO GUAJIROShipping Nationwide – The Palió® Tazza Piccola Ashtray!
WESTON, Florida – Quality Importers Trading Company ® (QI) the leading accessory supplier to the worldwide premium cigar trade, announces the nationwide shipping of the Palió® Tazza Piccola
Ashtray. Unveiled this past spring at PCA, this compact, all-metal, four-cigar rest personal ashtray provides cigar aficionados with a clean and stylish smoking experience.
SCOTUS Facilitates Challenges to Agency Law
WASHINGTON, DC (July 01, 2024) – Today, the Supreme Court of the United States published their decision in Corner Post v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, in which they ruled that the six-year statute of limitations to challenge an agency regulation begins when a party is first harmed by the regulation. Prior to this decision, the statute of limitations had begun when the regulation was first published. As a result, a newly formed company appears to have the capacity to challenge any regulation that has an impact on it, regardless of how long ago the regulation was created. The New York Times’ article on Corner Post is available here.
Continue reading SCOTUS Facilitates Challenges to Agency LawSupreme Court Overrules Chevron Deference
Earlier today (6/28/24), the Supreme Court published their decision in Loper Bright v. Raimondo, a case which significantly curtails the power of federal agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to interpret ambiguous statutes. The court’s 6-3 ruling struck down a principle known as ‘Chevron Deference,’ a precedent created by the Court in the 1984 case, Chevron v. NRDC. Chevron essentially allowed Agencies wide latitude in interpreting the scope of their own authority in cases where laws passed by Congress were ambiguous, by requiring judges to strongly defer to the agency’s interpretations of vague statutory language.
Continue reading Supreme Court Overrules Chevron Deference
HumidifGroup Partners with Kingmakers to Develop the First “Shoemidor” Supporting WNBA Star Kelsey Plum’s Under Armour 2024 Shoe Drop
June 11, 2024 – HumidifGroup, a company specialized in the design and fabrication of packaging and accessories for the cigar industry, has stepped out of just packaging cigars into the shoe world.
Kingmakers brought HumidifGroup in to develop the packaging for a luxury humidor to support the launch of Kelsey Plum’s cigars. The WNBA superstar also launched her 2024 Under Armour shoes the same week, giving a nod to the cigars by including one of the cigar bands in the back of the shoe. The half shoe box half humidor coined the ‘shoemidor’ turned heads at the launch event held in Las Vegas last month.
Continue reading HumidifGroup Partners with Kingmakers to Develop the First “Shoemidor” Supporting WNBA Star Kelsey Plum’s Under Armour 2024 Shoe DropA Message from PCA’s New Executive Director
Dear PCA Members,
Thank you for having the confidence in me to lead the Premium Cigar Association. I do not take this responsibility lightly. I vow to put my heart and soul into this association with a rich history, massive past successes, present stability, and, most importantly, a bright future. We will never be bashful about promoting the positive impact of this organization and industry on communities across the country and the joy that premium cigars bring to adult consumers throughout the world. I am extremely fortunate to take on this role with an incredible staff and experienced board of directors who will work as a team as we access, grow, and generate new ideas.
Continue reading A Message from PCA’s New Executive DirectorC.L.E. CIGAR COMPANY ANNOUNCES EIROA EXCLUSIVO REGIONALES BULGARIA
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.
Continue reading C.L.E. CIGAR COMPANY ANNOUNCES EIROA EXCLUSIVO REGIONALES BULGARIAPCA Names Joshua Habursky as New Executive Director
[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.
Continue reading PCA Names Joshua Habursky as New Executive Director
2024 “TRAVELING CIGAR ROAD SHOW” SETS OFF ON A NATIONWIDE TOUR THIS SUMMER!
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.
Continue reading 2024 “TRAVELING CIGAR ROAD SHOW” SETS OFF ON A NATIONWIDE TOUR THIS SUMMER!
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