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 youth or adults.

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.

(Miami, Fla.) - The Crux Cigars Limitada IPCPR Show Exclusive will soon be in retail humidors.
The company announced today the cigars are in their Miami warehouse and will begin shipping immediately.
The Limitada IPCPR cigar is a limited edition, produced once per year in 1,000 10-count boxes.The cigar
is produced in a single size, 5 x 52, box pressed, and finished with the Crux Marblehead cap. The blend
features the exclusive Engañoso wrapper. This is the third edition. Each of the past two productions quickly
sold out.

Priced at $10.99 per cigar
For questions or additional details, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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.

Tamboril, D.R.: Marrero Cigar Co. is proud to announce the opening of a new cigar factory in Tamboril D.R. with cigar artist Felix Gonzalez, the Creator of the most beautiful cigars in the world.

Joel Vazquez Marrero said “I feel privileged to start this venture with a true innovator, Felix will bring to the cigar industry his lifelong passion and love for the leaf.”

We asked Felix Gonzalez what does it mean to him to start his own Cigar Factory? He said “It has been a dream of mine to own my own factory after working in the best factories in the world. I’m humbled and honored to be producing Artistic Cigars in my own Factory, Fabrica MCR.”

“Having been in the industry for almost 30 years and having the privilege to work at Arturo Fuente, Davidoff and La Flor Dominicana. Learning from the top cigar makers in the world. Has given me the experience and confidence to know that if I work hard and follow the lessons I learned from these legends, Joel and I can produce a cigar that we can be proud of.”

Their production called “Artistico Salomon” will be of 250 boxes 1st edition. It will be a beautiful 10 count box with 10 distinguished cigars in each box.

For more information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/marrerocigarco

Marrero Cigar Co. is a premium cigar manufacturer making cigars in Costa Rica and Dominican Republic.

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:

NOW SHIPPING:

VILLIGER LA FLOR DE YNCLAN LANCERO ESPECIAL AND THE VILLIGER VENCEDORA GORDO

Only 500 25-count boxes of each of these line extensions were produced.

(Miami, Florida) August 28, 2018— Villiger Cigars reports the newly announced Villiger La Flor De Ynclan Lanero Especial and The Villiger La Vencedora Gordro (6X60) is on schedule to be shipped this week. Both products are line extensions that were showcased at the 2018 IPCPR in Las Vegas this past July. 

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.

VILLIGER LA FLOR DE YNCLAN LANCERO ESPECIAL AND THE VILLIGER VENCEDORA GORDO

Only 500 25-count boxes of each of these line extensions were produced.

 (Miami, Florida) August 28, 2018— Villiger Cigars reports the newly announced Villiger La Flor De Ynclan Lanero Especial and The Villiger La Vencedora Gordro (6X60) is on schedule to be shipped this week. Both products are line extensions that were showcased at the 2018 IPCPR in Las Vegas this past July.

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.