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Tag: cigar

  • PMI Looking to Sell Off Cigar Biz

    PMI Looking to Sell Off Cigar Biz

    The Economic Times reported today (March 3) that Philip Morris International Inc. is exploring a potential sale of its cigar business in the United States. People familiar with the matter said the company is working with advisers to gauge buyer interest as it seeks more than $1 billion for the asset as the tobacco maker continues its shift toward smoke-free products.

    Although still known for its cigarette brands, PMI is trying to reduce its reliance on traditional tobacco-based products. Currently, 40% of the company’s sales come from smoke-free products, a number expected to reach 67% in the next five years.

    “The cigar business was part of Swedish Match AB, which Philip Morris acquired in a $16 billion deal that was completed in 2023,” Carmen Arroyo wrote for Bloomberg. “That deal, which added Zyn nicotine pouches to its portfolio, helped propel Philip Morris’s transition away from traditional cigarettes.”

    According to The Economic Times, deliberations on the cigar sale are ongoing and there’s no certainty they’ll lead to a sale, their sources said, asking not to be identified for discussing confidential information.

  • Kingsmakers Partners with Carmelo Anthony

    Kingsmakers Partners with Carmelo Anthony

    Kingmakers Cigars announced the upcoming release of Versa, a premium cigar said to embody passion, excellence, and resilience. In its latest celebrity collaboration, the company is partnering with 10-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony as the face of it.

    The name comes from the Latin word Versatilis, which stands for adaptability and strength. The cigar has a “complex yet smooth flavor profile that caters to both seasoned aficionados and newcomers.”

    According to Kingmakers, “the blend is comprised of a Habano 2000 wrapper, a Sumatra binder, and filler tobacco from Nicaragua and Pennsylvania. This medium-to-full-bodied smoke starts with notes of black pepper and spicy chili before transitioning to creamy undertones and nut and espresso notes. The cigar finishes with notes of dark chocolate, molasses, roasted almonds, and deep, leathery, and earthy notes. The finish also has subtle hints of dried fruits and black coffee, making for a memorable smoking experience.”

    Versa will be available March 31, 2025, and is currently available for pre-sale.

  • Habanos Introduces Final Limited Edition of 2024

    Habanos Introduces Final Limited Edition of 2024

    Habanos S.A introduced its Ramon Allones Absolutos last night (February 3), the third and final of its Edición Limitada of 2024.  José María López Inchaurbe, vice president of development for Cuban monopoly, presented the new offering at a gala in Basel. Called Nuevos in Cuban cigar factories, the Ramon Allones Absolutos is a large format cigar that measures 6 3/8 inches by 49 ring gauge, and comes in a unique, 20-count box designed especially for this release.

    “The Edición Limitada program was launched in 2000 and features Cuban cigars produced in limited runs and rolled in unusual sizes,” Gregory Mottola wrote for Cigar Aficionado. “The wrappers are also considerably darker than those found on Cuba’s regular-production smokes.

    “For the first 15 or 16 years of the program, Edición Limitadas were typically announced at the Habanos Festival in the early part of the year and then released by the fourth quarter. No more. Timetables have changed drastically and Habanos often struggles to get its cigars out on time.”

    The Ramon Allones Absolutos is the third and last Edición Limitada for 2024, following the Trinidad Cabildos and the H. Upmann Magnum Finite. There’s no official release date yet, but according to Intertabak A.G., Switzerland’s Habanos distributor, the cigar is set to retail for 45 Swiss francs each (about $50), or 900 Swiss francs per box ($990). It will be trickled into other global markets at unspecified times throughout the year.