From PCA 2021, CW Ambassador Jeff Slatton (jefslat) and his wife, CW Photographer Brenda bring us this origin story of ADVentura Cigar.

ADVentura Cigar Origins

Recently, Joe from groovyguygifts.com contacted me to ask if I was interested in reviewing some of his company's products. Groovyguygifts specializes in high quality, personally engraved gifts, especially (but not limited to) groomsman's gifts. Upon reply, he sent me what must be the top-of -the-line presentation box. I've tested it out and am ready to report what I think of it.

The materials are of a very high quality. The box has a distressed, rustic pine finish with a deeply engraved logo/monogram. They were able to use the Cigarweekly logo on several of the items. Those that were too small for the logo were engraved with a capital 'C'.

Upon opening the box, you can see an extreme attention to detail. The lid is lined with foam and felt, as are the individual pieces of the set. It comes with a flask (roughly a half pint), a sommelier's corkscrew, a heavy duty stainless steel cigar cutter, 4 stainless shot glasses a single finger cigar case and a heavy duty bottle opener.

My first reaction to the set was the quality of the materials and the care with which they were packaged. My second thought was “this would be great for the golf course!” Unfortunately, I don't play golf, so I didn't get the chance to try it out in that environment. I did check out the items in a more piecemeal fashion.

Dunbarton, NH – Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust® (DTT) is announcing an innovative virtual initiative dubbed with their tongues firmly planted in cheek called “The DTT Timeshare Experience”. The program will be debuting in the 2nd half of July 2020 in response to the cancellation of PCA’s Annual Trade Show for the cigar industry.  

 “Everyone is trying to figure out the best way to serve their Retail Customers and their own interests in this very topsy-turvy year of trade show and event cancellations. Most are doing virtual sales meetings, other are hosting virtual tradeshows and/or mini-physical travelling trade shows. Honestly, I do not know how these will work, but I am doubtful that any of these strategies are appropriate for our Select Purveyors currently when it comes to our brands. For us, sales have been solid and we are on track for another record setting year; this is thanks to steady growth with ever increasing turns and volume per turn. In my opinion, the best thing we can do is remain steady and continue to enhance our brands’ value for our Retailers and their customers,” states Steve Saka, Founder and Co-Owner of DTT.

 He goes on to add, “So rather than focus on sales, we have created an interactive program that will educate and engage our Select Purveyors and any of their staff they wish to include. It will be focused on our products, industry trends, business strategy for continued growth, etc. in my typical no-nonsense manner. But ‘man does not live on work alone’, so we decided to spice it up a bit and jokingly bring in some elements of those really crappy timeshare pitches that we all endured as children whose parents just wanted the FREE whatever for listening. Now I cannot promise it will be good, but it will definitely be different and hopefully fun! And of course we will throw out some sort of deal or two at the end, but that will not be the primary focus – we want our Purveyors to buy our puros not because they are discounted, but because they are exceptional and serve the needs of the most experienced and discerning customers. ”  

About Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, LLC Founded in 2015, Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust (DTT) has quickly become the premier craft manufacturer of ultrapremium handmade cigars. Founded by cigar and industry expert Steve Saka, a former Executive Consultant to JR Cigar and President and CEO of Drew Estate, with the singular focus to create only “Puros Sin Compromiso” – Cigars Without Compromise. Included within their portfolio are Sobremesa, Mi Querida, Todos Las Dias, Sin Compromiso, Umbagog and Muestra de Saka. DTT is the only company ever to be name the “Company of the Year” for three consecutive years by Halfwheel. For more information, please visit: www.dunbartoncigars.com.

Question: Why was the new name necessary so soon after the last one? Are they jettisoning pipe smokers or maybe even marginalizing them further? Is the name changing really worth the confusion?

Answer: We undertook the name change based on meetings with staffers dealing with health oversight responsibilities to whom “CPR” has a different connotation. And we were spending a lot of time in meetings overcoming the impression “CPR” has. We wanted to shift ourselves to much more of a lobbying group for premium/luxury tobacco products and that includes cigars. Plus, IPCPR is very long. The PCA is still very active in pipes. That said, 92%-97% of premium tobacco revenue is cigars. There would be no room for pipe tobacco without the cigar revenue.

Question: Are pipes and pipe tobacco out now? When they switched to IPCPR I thought it was an attempt to distance themselves from cigarettes, so if they go with Premium Cigar Association, doesn't that at least imply that pipes will not be represented?

Answer: No not necessarily in the name change in 07. The change from RDTA was made to get tobacco and dealers out of the name. We were losing the narrative when tobacco was equated with cigarettes. With the emphasis on cigars, pipes, luxury premium and all-natural tobacco products the narrative is being won. Tobacco is seen as evil because of bad acts by big tobacco (cigarettes). If the cigar industry dies, pipes go with it. Pipes are still very important. CPA stands apart from cigarettes and big tobacco.

Question: Has the IPCPR Annual Convention settled permanently in Las Vegas?

Answer: No. Our main challenge is finding a place where we can smoke. Smoking is part of the trade show. Our members like to walk off the show floor, smoke and grab a drink together and talk. It’s all very relationship driven.

We have a multi-year contract with Sands Venetian. Ours is a relationship driven industry and we are exploring different areas including Florida, Tennessee, Louisville because of bourbon and cigars, that’s like chocolate and peanut butter, Dallas/Fort Worth area. We’re also looking at potentially holding the show at different times of the year. But it will be in Las Vegas for at least the next amoxil-info.net.