EXCLUSIVE PÍVAT CIGAR LOUNGE OPENS AT AGUA CALIENTE CASINO RESORT SPA

NEW LUXURY EXPERIENCE OFFERING PREMIUM CIGARS AND TOP-SHELF SPIRITS MARKS THE FIRST IN EXCITING ENHANCEMENTS TO COME

Rancho Mirage, Calif. (November 29, 2018) – Cigar aficionados and those who aspire to become one have a new upscale smoking lounge with the opening of the Pívat Cigar Lounge at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa, a AAA Four Diamond and Forbes Travel Guide Recommended property. This luxurious destination’s latest addition, Pívat — named after the Cahuilla Indian word for “smoking tobacco”— offers a selection of premium hand-rolled cigars, signature cocktail and cigar pairings, and a select menu of delectable small bites and entrees from the resort’s award-winning fine dining restaurant, The Steakhouse, recipient of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence yearly since 2007.

Doral, Florida, October 23, 2018 – George Rico of Gran Habano is excited to announce the official release of its long awaited Gran Habano’s Blue in Green project.

This medium-bodied version of a Gran Habano classic blend is selected from the finest vintage tobaccos. The Blue in Green Connecticut-wrapped cigar blissfully embodies the rich nuances of its fillers from the exceptional sunbathed soils of Nicaragua. Blue in Green’s wrapper, binder, and fillers produce a synergy of smooth, creamy, and toasted loaded flavors. This is one cigar that demonstrates that a mild to medium-bodied cigar does not have to be bland. Now shipping to retailers nationwide.

Doral, Florida, November 8, 2018 - Father and son team, Guillermo and George Rico, are proud to announce the official release of the Gran Habano Corojo No. 5 Gran Reserva 2012.

Gran Habano’s Gran Reserva cigars are made using the top 10% best leaf from the yearly crop and aged for an extra seven to eight years prior to the cigar being rolled. It is then aged for a period of four to six years additionally as cigars. The 2012 installment has been aged an additional three years longer than any other prior Gran Reserva release. These cigars offer a bold new experience in full-bodied premium cigars made with vintage tobaccos. Expect a remarkably smooth, earthy and spicy smoke, accompanied by notes of sweet wood and espresso for this aged smoke. The Gran Habano Corojo #5 Gran Reserva 2012 is currently shipping to retailers nationwide.

17 Oct. 2018

Earlier today, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated its roadmap for regulations, called the Unified Regulatory Agenda. This outlines the regulatory priorities and perspective timeline for the FDA and other federal agencies.

Importantly, on its agenda, the FDA noted their recent review for premium cigars remains ongoing, meaning the agency still considers this issue an open item. However, the FDA did not prescribe a specific timeline for any potential action on item, instead noting that it is “Long-Term Action” that will be addressed at a date “To Be Determined.” In short, the premium issue is an agenda item, but it is unclear at the moment when any regulatory change will come to the product category.

Scott Pearce, IPCPR Executive Director, believes this underscores the need to continue pressing the FDA to act on the premium issue. “As an organization, our number one priority is to fight on behalf of our retailers and the industry at large to bring a quick resolution to arbitrary regulations on premium cigars. We have the right message and we’ve armed the FDA with government data disproving the need for regulations. However, the agency chose to prioritize other initiatives at the moment. I remain optimistic that the FDA will address this glaring issue – but it is on all of us, as a united voice for the industry, to continue applying pressure on the Administration and the Congress.”

The FDA recently solicited thousands of comments from industry and the public at large for data on the use and public health impact of premium cigars. IPCPR’s comment provided a significant amount of government sourced data and statistics that definitively show premium cigars are not a public health concern for blog.

Regulatory requirements on premium cigars and the small businesses that sell them have been in place for over two years. In that time frame – the economic pressures of the ill-conceived Deeming Rule have been felt across the industry. Ken P Neumann, President of the IPCPR Board of Directors, reiterates this point- “Cigars have needlessly come off the market, retail jobs remain at risk and the uncertainty of rising product costs and reduced stock continue to threaten brick and mortar stores around the country. All of this without any proven benefit to the public health or the FDA’s goal of stopping youth use of tobacco products and mitigating adult addiction to nicotine.”

IPCPR will continue to press this issue on behalf of our retailers and the industry and provide any and all updates as necessary.

Flavors

Today’s Unified Regulatory Agenda also included a new FDA proposal to prohibit “characterizing flavors” in all cigar products. Earlier this year, the agency solicited comments from the industry and the public on flavors in all tobacco products and what, if any action the FDA should take. It is unclear what the FDA’s intended timeline for this initiative is. IPCPR will continue to engage with the agency and others in industry as the agency pursues this objective.

Cabernet Steeped Bourbon is Oak & Eden's first small-batch expression!

We start with bourbon whiskey, distilled from corn, rye and barley. We age our whiskey for two years in new American charred oak barrels, which produces a rich, deep and sweet, yet slightly spicy spirit. Exceptional on its own, but our work has just begun!

Most often used to age wine, we use French Oak to breath new life and inspiration into our whiskey. At bottling, we add a 5 inch long spiral cut piece of French Oak. We call this our "Spire". This spire is not only exceptional due to it species of origin, it is exceptional because we rest it in cabernet sauvignon for 4 weeks before allowing it to rest in our bottle, finishing our whiskey.

The combination of American bourbon whiskey, finished with a French Oak spire that has been influenced with deep, rich, red wine creates an inspired elixir that is sweet, fruity and simply remarkable. Combining sweet bourbon, with rich, deep cabernet and french oak, produces a creative whiskey experience that must be imbibed to fully appreciate.

Springfield, VA (November 6, 2018) – Omar de Frias is proud to announce the launch of Fratello D.M.V and Delaware. The D.M.V is an abbreviation well known to residents of the DC metro area as DC, Maryland and Virginia. This blend will be sold exclusively to retailers in DC, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware and manufactured at the La Aurora factory in Dominican Republic.

The cigar features an Havana Vuelta Arriba Ecuador wrapper with a Sumatra Ecuador binder and Dominican, Nicaragua and USA filler.

Fratello D.M.V will begin shipping to retailers the last week of November with launches planned throughout the DC metro area.

“The first retailer to carry my cigars was in Maryland, my launch event was in DC and Virginia is home to my business. This blend is my tribute to the DMV and to the retailers that helped put Fratello in the map.” Said de Frias.

Fratello D.M.V. will be released in 4 vitolas:

District of Columbia – Toro (6 ¼ x 54) 9.00 MSRP per Cigar
Maryland – Gordo (6 x 58) 9.25 MSRP per Cigar
Virginia – Robusto Extra (5 ½ x 52) 8.75 MSRP per Cigar
Delaware – Robusto (5 x 50) 8.50 MSRP per Cigar

Fratello Cigars was established in 2013. Since inception Fratello has grown to be sold in 800 brick and mortars in the US and 9 international destinations. Fratello is considered one of the fastest growing manufacturers in the last five years.

Fort Worth, TX – Providencia Cigars is pleased to announce their latest, limited production, cigar - La Misión.

La Misión (The Mission) brings the company’s production line to five blends, joining the ranks of the El Santo, El Padre, Trinitas, and The Hostage. With the addition of La Misión, the company completes the story of Providencia Cigars Founder Jim Faber’s “mission” to Honduras which started as a professional soccer player and turned into a mission to organize youth soccer camps to get boys and girls off the street in a gang littered environment.
Jim Faber, founder of Providencia Cigars, states:

IPCPR's 2018 Election Wrap Up and Fall Compliance Update
Thursday, November 15, 2018 @ 2:00 PM EDT

Join us for our latest Federal Government Affairs Update

Featured presenters Will Woodlee, partner at Kleinfeld, Kaplan & Becker, LLP, and Daniel Trope, Senior Director of Federal Government Affairs for IPCPR, will bring you up to speed on what you need to know about FDA Regulations, and how the 2018 Congressional Elections could impact the premium cigar and pipe tobacco industry. Register now for this can’t-miss conversation on politics, cigars and compliance.

Register Today

IPCPR WEBINARS RESTRICTED TO MEMBERS-ONLY; PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED:

There are a limited number of viewing slots available for IPCPR Webinars. Pre-registration will be cut off approximately two hours before the broadcast, or when the registration allotment is reached.

HOW TO WATCH RECORDING OF THIS WEBINAR IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND LIVE EVENT:

IPCPR Webinars are recorded for the viewing convenience for those who are unable to view live. Beginning on Friday, November 16, members may request a link to view the recorded webinar via the Webinar Request Link Form at the Association's website, www.ipcpr.org.

Questions about the IPCPR Tobacconists Webinar Series and other Member Services should be directed to Retail Member Services Manager Greg Vickers at 202-849-6048 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Presenters

Will Woodlee - Partner

Kleinfeld, Kaplan & Becker, LLP

Washington, DC

Daniel Trope - Senior Director, Federal Government Affairs

International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association

Washington, DC

Cigars International recently launched a Super Store in the suburbs of Dallas-Fort Worth, marking Cigars International’s fourth retail store and the first outside of its home state of Pennsylvania.

The store was built in just six months and is located in a sprawling, mixed-use development called Grandscape in The Colony.

Craig Reynolds, president of Cigars International said, “Given that the handmade cigar category was built on the kinds of personal interactions that can only be had in-store, our new location gives cigar lovers a unique venue for experiencing the camaraderie of fellow smokers. Our stores are meant to complement the traditional cigar shop experience and enhance the cigar lover’s appreciation for handmade cigars.”

The Cigars International Super Store at the Colony encompasses more than 7,000 square feet including an outdoor smoking lounge. A 2,500 square foot, glass-enclosed humidor anchors the space, which also includes a bar, a Club Macanudo lounge, 32-foot-high ceilings and an impressive array of handmade cigars and accessories.

Last week, the FDA held a conference on tobacco regulation. The agency invited Drew Newman, J.C. Newman's general counsel, and a fourth-generation cigar maker, to address the conference on behalf of the premium cigar industry and respond to questions from the audience. Below are Drew's remarks. 

In his speech, Drew explained that "premium cigars are an old-world, handmade craft enjoyed by adults." "It is not a science," he said. "It's an art, and the tradition has been passed down from generation to generation." He discussed how the latest FDA data show that premium cigars are smoked infrequently and by adults — not children — and that the entire premium cigar industry is just 0.5% of the entire tobacco industry. He noted that the FDA's guidance is "completely unworkable for handmade cigars." In urging the FDA to provide relief, Drew said, "Our one goal as a family business is to continue my great-grandfather's legacy and continue hand rolling premium cigars in America for another four generations and 123 years."

Along with Casa Turrent, this new cigar will redefine the meaning, “Hecho en Mexico”

Houston, Texas – September 26, 2018 – The success of OSOK Cigars has been bolstered by rave reviews of industry critics and patrons alike, but this did little to satisfy its founder Edgar Hoill. Happy, but not content, Mr. Hoill fell in love with the industry but had an unwavering desire to gain a deeper appreciation behind the process.

“The growth of ‘boutique’ cigars has been incredible, but I wanted to up the game and the only way to do so was to truly understand the entire process. I owed it to myself, and it I owed it to all who have ever supported the OSOK brand” says Edgar. He further mentions, “The only way to gain a true appreciation for the process was to be a part of it so I moved to Mexico to apprentice under Don Alberto Turrent – an experience that changed my life, and one which resulted in the creation of OSOK San Andres.”

During his stay, Mr. Hoill took a multifaceted approach to learning the entire process. From seedling to growing, fermentation to blending, his explorations resulted in him becoming a quality control appointee for Casa Turrent. As a result, he then took another year to create the OSOK San Andres – a medium bodied cigar filled with complexity, infused with pride, and crafted to satisfy the most discerning pallet all the while delivering the true flavors of Mexican tobacco.

“Many top cigars already utilize Mexican San Andres tobacco for their wrappers, but they do little to give them the recognition they deserve and I wanted to change that,” says Mr. Hoill. As a result, he created the OSOK San Andres in conjunction with the Turrent family as a way to showcase the strength and flavor of a cigar that is made entirely of Mexican tobacco grown in San Andres.

FRATELLO CIGARS HIRES DIRECTOR OF SALES FOR THE MID-ATLANTIC

Springfield, VA (November 1st 2018) – Omar de Frias is proud to announce the hiring of Samuel Dietz as the new Director of Sales for the Mid-Atlantic for Fratello Cigars. Sam is an energetic and engaging young leader. With his background and sales acumen we expect to boost our presence and product traction in the northeast.” Said de Frias.

“When it comes to business growth one of the hardest things for any entrepreneur is to learn to let go and delegate key aspects of the business. This is the moment where we double down to keep up with our accelerated growth. Said de Frias.

“I’ve been an avid cigar smoker and fan of Fratello for years. This opportunity comes full of challenges and with a clear path to learn from Omar and expand my knowledge of tobacco.” Said Dietz.

Fratello Cigars was established in 2013. Since inception Fratello has grown to be sold in 800 brick and mortars in the US and 9 international destinations.