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Protocol Cigars is proud and honored to announce the third installment in the Lawmen series that will debut at the 2021 PCA Trade Show, The Protocol Bass Reeves. The Protocol Bass Reeves, like the other installments in the Lawmen Series, is being offered in both in natural and maduro. The Lawmen Series is a more classic, traditional, refined, and regal look Protocol Cigars has been offering since it’s launch of the Protocol Sir Robert Peel. The Lawmen Series is the company’s concept where they pay homage to the men and women of law enforcement who spend hours working tirelessly to catch the bad guys.
Macanudo will soon debut a new Inspirado collection featuring a rare Brazilian wrapper and a proprietary Cuban-seed filler, marking the first time these tobaccos have been used with Macanudo. Called Macanudo Inspirado Brazilian Shade, the limited-edition line brings together masterful blending with expert agronomy for a one-of-a-kind smoking experience.
Steve Abbot, senior brand manager of Macanudo said, “Macanudo Inspirado Brazilian Shade required a significant investment in agronomy, spanning Central and South America. This blend speaks to the lengths that we as a brand will go to in order to bring excitement to premium cigar smokers, and we’re confident that cigar lovers will be drawn to the singular experience this blend delivers.”
Bethlehem, PA (June 17, 2021) – Cigars International (CI) recently opened CI Superstores in Tampa and Lutz, FL, marking the company’s first stores in Florida and its sixth and seventh retail locations in the U.S., and the company is celebrating with an exclusive new cigar.
The new stores are centered around Ybor City, a national landmark district in downtown Tampa, recognized as the birthplace of handmade cigars in the U.S.
Sarah Santos, president and senior vice president of Scandinavian Tobacco Group’s North America Online and Retail Division said, “Florida is one of the most dynamic markets for handmade cigars in the country, and with its rich history, Tampa represents the epicenter of premium cigar culture. My team and I are proud to bring our new locations to life in the greater Tampa area. With our expansive walk-in humidors, and our indoor and outdoor bars and lounges, we’re here to provide a destination-type experience that complements the traditional cigar shop. We look forward to welcoming cigar lovers to our stores and to helping to deepen their passion for handmade cigars with our unique brand of hospitality and engagement.”
La Gloria Cubana to Launch Medio Tiempo
New Release Highlights Blending Expertise of the El Credito Factory
La Gloria Cubana will debut “Medio Tiempo,” a distinctive, three-cigar collection shipping to retailers on May 4. Medio Tiempo is a full-time addition to the La Gloria Cubana lineup, and comes on the heels of “Spirit of the Lady,’ a limited-edition release that launched in March.
Steve Abbot, senior brand manager for La Gloria Cubana said, “The artisans of El Credito set out to highlight a rare tobacco leaf with ‘Medio Tiempo’ and ultimately delivered another fine example of their masterful blending techniques. All of the tobaccos that comprise this new collection are interwoven to perfection, and together, they tell a memorable story.”
Springfield, VA (June 17, 2021) – Fratello Cigars is pleased to announce the Fratello Arlequin Gordo.
This Arlequin Gordo will be released in 6 x 58 Box Pressed format, joining the 5 ½ x 52 Robusto and a 6 ½ x 54 Toro.
Arlequin was first introduced June 2019 as a 6 x 50 Parejo with the release of the Space Fresh Pack. Arlequin was later box pressed and released with minor tweaks to the blend on June 2020.
Details:
Manufactured at Joya de Nicaragua in Esteli.
MSRP: 11.00 P/C
Box: 20 Count.
Wrapper: San Andres Mexico
Binder: Ecuador Habano
Filler: Peru and Nicaragua
Fratello plans to ship Arlequin September 2021.
FRATELLO CIGARS REPACKAGES THE FRATELLO CAMO TO 25 COUNT BUNDLES
Springfield, VA (June 10, 2021) – Fratello Cigars is pleased to announce the repackaging of the Fratello Camo into new 25 Count Bundles. The Camo originally debuted at the TPE trade show back in 2019 in 15 count bundles.
“The Fratello Blu, Fratello Rosso and Fratello Verde are all long filler premium bundles that were intended to approach a new segment of the market; after a great response in the industry and high ratings our customers feedback was for more cigars per bundle.” said de Frias.
Produced by La Aurora in Santiago, Dominican Republic, the Fratello Camo are featured in two vitolas per blend a 5 x 50 Robusto and a 6 x 50 Toro.
Fratello plans to begin shipping the 25 Count bundles in August 2021.
Punch is rolling out a new look for its “Signature” line of cigars. The revamped packaging began hitting stores this month, housing the same, award-winning blend that made Punch Signature a fan favorite in the Punch portfolio.
Ed Lahmann, senior brand manager of Punch said, “Punch Signature represents the best of Central American cigars. It has a great blend and a medium-plus profile that people really love. This blend was out of stock recently while we updated the packaging so with pent-up demand and the new box design that really pops at retail, we’re sure Punch Signature is going to fly off the shelves.”
The new look of Punch Signature eschews the acrylic window from the original, wooden-box packaging and replaces it with bi-fold panels that tell the story of the blend and expand the brand vista, optimizing the box for display on retailer shelves.
Punch Signature debuted in 2015. The five-cigar collection pays tribute to the original Punch blend by using tobaccos from the same countries of origin, adding layers of complexity through a blend of proprietary aged and younger tobaccos.
Blanco Cigar Company would like to announce the addition of Mr. Ken Mansfield as the National Sales Director, effective 01 June 2021. “We are excited to add such a dynamic personality and manager to our team and feel Ken will provide immense value to the company, enhancing customer service policies and procedures in addition to developing the sales force throughout the Continental U.S. We would like to welcome him and his family to Blanco Cigars as we look forward to a long and prosperous future together”, says David A. Blanco, President and Founder of Blanco Cigar Company.
Mr. Mansfield has been smoking premium cigars since he was a teenager and has been in the Premium Cigar Industry at the Retail and Wholesale level for over 30 years. Starting as a retailer in the late 1980s and becoming the Northeast Regional Sales Manager for Gurkha Cigars before moving to the Atlanta area, taking over as the Southeast Regional Sales Manager for 11 years.
Proprietary Diamond Shaped Cigar Slated for June 2021 Release
Fort Lauderdale, FL (March 25, 2021)- Alec Bradley Cigar Co. today announced that the second release of the Limited Edition Black Market Esteli Diamond is slated for June 2021. Only 1500, sixteen-count boxes will be produced for global consumption in 2021. Alec Bradley confirms that tobacconists are currently being offered the opportunity to secure allocations of Black Market Esteli Diamond boxes.
Based on the Cigar Aficionado 93-Rated Black Market Esteli blend, the first edition of the Esteli Diamond was announced in March of 2020 for a June 2020 release. Subsequently, due to Covid19, production was interrupted, and the cigars weren’t shipped to tobacconists until October 2020.
“The 2020 Black Market Esteli Diamond cigars were an immediate success,” said Alec Bradley Director of Sales & Marketing, Jonathan Lipson. “Covid19 disruptions changed the game for us in 2020, but consumer demand for the limited edition cigars and the ability to slot production in 2021 happily allows us to target a June release. We are elated that we are able to provide this treat to our partners and advocates!”
(Miami, Florida) May 24, 2021—Amendola Family Cigar Co. announces the release of the Signature Series Cannoli Green and Cannoli White cigar brands. The release of these two brands completes the Signature Cannoli Series which began with the Cannoli Red (launched in December of 2020). The combination of all three brands represents the colors of the Italian flag. The representation of the Italian flag and the name Cannoli are both nods to the Italian American heritage of Amendola Family Cigar Co.
Jeffrey Amendola and Christopher Monaco came up with the Cannoli concept based around their own lifestyle. The Cannoli brands are dessert cigars, as they pair perfectly with coffee or after drinks. Jeffrey, an experienced blender, and cigar roller created the blends along with Christopher and worked together with Erik Espinosa of La Zona Cigar Factory to manufacture the brands.
The Signature Series Cannoli Green (Sumatra) made in Nicaragua; this blend is cloaked in a beautiful light brown silky Sumatra wrapper with all Nicaraguan binder/fillers. The Green Cannoli delivers floral notes along with bread, cashews, and cedar on the front end, with nuances of pepper/spice, cinnamon, sweet tobacco, and citrus on the finish/retro. A medium takes on what the original Cannoli red blend is, the Green Cannoli is full flavor, medium to full bodied featuring subtle complexities. Offered in one vitola, a 5.5x42 corona with an MSRP of $9:00.
24-Count Boxes to Begin Shipping in July 2021 and Displayed at Premium Cigar Association Trade Show 2021
Fort Lauderdale, FL (April 7, 2021)- The Alec Bradley Cigar Company announced today that beginning in July 2021, all regular production premium boxed Alec Bradley cigar products will arrive to tobacconists in 24-count box configurations. Alec Bradley will also showcase the new boxes at the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show at the Sands Convention Center Las Vegas, July 10-13.
PLASENCIA CIGARS MARRIES TECHNOLOGY AND TRADITION AS “SMART CHIPS” ADDED TO ALMA FUERTE SIXTO l HEXAGON COLORADO CLARO BANDS
(Miami, Florida) - Plasencia Cigars, a world-leading premium tobacco grower, established in 1865, announces that it has teamed with LegacySecure. The collaboration will serve to integrate an exciting technology, that will provide a wealth of information to the retailer and end-consumer. The goal is to further educate the consumer about Plasencia’s long and rich history while exposing the art of cigar making to a wider audience. All that is needed from the consumer to tap into this technology is their phone.
EXCALIBUR BLACK TO DEBUT IN JUNE
New, Full-Time Collection Deepens the Brand’s Range of Blend Profiles
Beginning in June, Excalibur Black will make its way to retailers across the U.S. The new, full-time collection complements the existing brand portfolio with a dimensional, layered blend that’s brimming with complexity.
Diesel proudly presents its first TAA-exclusive cigar called Disciple.
Blended by AJ Fernandez, handcrafted at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez in Estelí, Nicaragua and developed in collaboration between AJ and General Cigar’s Justin Andrews, Diesel Disciple is a robust and balanced cigar, blended in AJ’s signature style.
The blend is made with a Mexican San Andrean wrapper, an Ecuadoran Sumatra binder and its filler is exclusively comprised of Nicaraguan Habano from Esteli.
An unexpected layer of sweetness lends balance to Disciple’s bold and peppery smoking experience.
Macanudo Gold Label is making its annual return for a limited time only and is marking the occasion with a new, limited edition parejo.
Originally released in 2002, the line was inspired by a special golden Connecticut Shade leaf and has, for nearly two decades, remained a perennial favorite among discerning cigar aficionados.
Laurel Tilley, Macanudo’s brand ambassador said, “Year after year, anticipation for the annual release of Macanudo Gold Label continues to build. The brand boldly bucks the trend for powerhouse smokes with its alluringly mellow, creamy notes, offering cigar lovers the opportunity to create indulgent, memorable moments. I’m looking forward to enjoying this amazing smoke with cigar lovers across the country.”
Macanudo Gold Label will be available for shipment to retailers between today and July 30, 2021 or until this year’s allotment has been depleted. A total of eight frontmarks will be available, including the Gold Label “Gigante” which is a new, limited edition release for the 2021 season.
Macanudo Inspirado announced that the brand is partnering with Barstool Sports, the maverick sports lifestyle platform, and has been named the official cigar of the Barstool Classic Golf Tournament kicking off today at the Innisbrook Island Course in Palm Harbor, FL.
This year, the Barstool Classic is executing 20 stops with 26 events in 19 states, plus a four-day Championship at Pinehurst Resort. Through its sponsorship of the Barstool Classic, Macanudo will deliver brand experiences at all 26 qualifying tournaments and the four-day Championship. A national online sweepstakes and in-store events will expand the program’s reach throughout the country.
Barstool Sports is a next-generation media company that combines sports with pop culture to engage fans through innovative programming that spans digital and experiential activations.
(Miami, Florida) Casa Cuevas Cigars announces that they will unveil the Patrimonio cigar brand at the Tobacco Expo Plus taking place at the Las Vegas Convention Center from May 12th through May 14. The Patrimonio cigar brand translates to Patrimony in English. It is dedicated to Luis Cuevas Sr. and to the paternal lineage of the Cuevas tobacco history which began over a 100 years ago. The Cuevas family’s tobacco history began when Juan Cuevas, a Spanish expatriate, began growing tobacco in Cuba in the mid 19th century.
The Macanudo Inspirado White line is expanding with two new sizes created in response to demand from retailers and cigar lovers.
Steve Abbot, senior brand manager of Macanudo said, “The Macanudo Inspirado White portfolio had consisted of six popular sizes, yet our retailers and cigar smokers wanted more. We responded by creating a Corona and Cigarillo and are confident that the new sizes will become fast-selling additions to this highly successful brand.”
Introduced in 2017, Macanudo Inspirado White is counted among the top-sellers in the Macanudo portfolio. The blend spent several years in development and features tobaccos that have been refined and aged to perfection. This creamy, alluring smoke is known for its complexity and mellow, smooth-smoking qualities.
Macanudo Inspirado White is made with a proprietary Ecuadoran Connecticut wrapper developed by General Cigar’s agronomists to deliver an aesthetic quality like no other. Aged for six years and refined to a creamy shade of gold, the wrapper crowns an Indonesian binder. The blend features Nicaraguan Condega and Mexican San Andres leaves, each aged for four years and Nicaraguan Jalapa aged for two years. All told, the blend delivers a layered smoking experience with subtle notes of earth and spice.
Both new formats have begun shipping to retailers. The Corona is handcrafted at HATSA in Danli, Honduras and the Cigarillo is made at General Cigar Dominicana in Santiago, D.R.
Macanudo Inspirado White Corona (5.5” x 42) – SRP per cigar $5.49; 20 cigars per box
Macanudo Inspirado White Cigarillo (4 3/16” x 32) – SRP per 10-cigar tin $15.99.