TobaccoReporter logo

Tag: premium cigars

  • Luciano Cigars, Peter James Launch JV

    Luciano Cigars, Peter James Launch JV

    Luciano Cigars and Peter James Co. have announced the launch of Peter James Cigar Co., a new joint venture that will include cigars and accessories released in the near future.

    According to Luciano Meirelles, the new entity is a joint venture equally owned by Peter James Co. and Meirelles and his business partner, Tiago Splitter. The new company will hold the Peter James trademark in the U.S. as well as other trademarks for future products, according to Halfwheel.

    The two are working on a new cigar that will be launched in March, though details about its specifics have not been announced. However, the cigars will be produced at the Luciano Tabacos S.A. factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, and Luciano Cigars will distribute them.

    “This partnership is an extraordinary moment—a fusion of expertise and passion,” said Meirelles in a press release. “My love for the Peter James brand goes beyond their craft and luxury products.

    “There is an intentionality in everything they do: even the smallest details reveal beauty where most people won’t see it. That act of generosity carries beauty and passion into our world. We couldn’t be more excited for what’s to come.”

  • Oliva Launches ‘Year of the Dragon’ Cigar

    Oliva Launches ‘Year of the Dragon’ Cigar

    Nicaragua-based Oliva Cigars has partnered with China Duty Free Group (CDFG) to launch a limited-edition “Year of the Dragon” premium cigar line.

    The MSRP has been set at $35 per cigar or $350 per box of 10 cigars. Production is limited to 1,500 boxes, and they are expected to go on sale in mid-February.

    Each box features a dragon design, paying homage to the creature and the spirit of the Chinese New Year.

    Credit: Oliva

    The Year of the Dragon is a Churchhill produced in Oliva’s factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, and features an Ecuadorian Habano sun-grown wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan fillers.

    “We are thrilled to introduce the Oliva Year of the Dragon Churchill Cigar in celebration of the Chinese New Year in cooperation with CDFG,” Oliva Cigars Export Manager Thomas Gryson said in a press release. “This limited-edition collection is a true embodiment of our dedication to quality and craftsmanship.

    “We have carefully curated this offering to provide aficionados with a unique and culturally significant cigar experience, making it a must-have for collectors and enthusiasts alike.”

  • Cuba Pushing Renewable Energy

    Cuba Pushing Renewable Energy

    TabaCuba the state-run arm of Cuban cigar production, announced that it would increase its use of renewable energy sources in several of its facilities in Pinar del Rio, Cuba’s largest tobacco leaf-producing province.

    All tobacco export factories should have this type of equipment in the first half of this year, TabaCuba’s president, Marino Murillo, told the Cuban News Agency.

    Artemisa, Villa Clara and the westernmost territory already have the type of equipment to increase productivity.

    According to the official, pre-industrial processes and irrigation to save energy carriers with submersible pumps are the priority.

    He also stated that they are betting on renewable energy sources so that the productive processes do not stop in the event of an interruption of electricity services.

  • U.S. Premium Cigar Imports Flat in 2023

    U.S. Premium Cigar Imports Flat in 2023

    A recent report by the Cigar Association of America (CAA), an industry trade group, found that the United States imported a total of 338.87 million premium cigars between January and September 2023. The amount is only 2.61 million cigars less than the number imported during the same period in 2022. This represents a decrease of 0.8 percent.

    “As of the end of the third quarter this year, premium imports have climbed back to near breakeven when comparing this year with the third quarter in 2022,” said Daniel Cotter, chief statistician for CAA, in a press release. “The data show the low point when comparing this year to last year was at the end of April. As of 4/30/23, premium imports were down almost 7 percent year-over-year (YOY).”

    Nicaragua continues to be the top supplier of premium cigars to the U.S. with 181.41 million premium cigars imported in the first nine months, accounting for roughly 53.5 percent of all imports.

    The Dominican Republic, which accounts for 30.7 percent of imports, has had increased exports for most of 2023, compared to 2022.

    In order to surpass 2022 imports, the U.S. would need to import an average of 41 million cigars per month. CAA calculates its numbers based on both the import data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Customs Services, as well as information from cigar companies themselves.

  • Habanos Debuts ‘El Rey Del Mundo Royal’

    Habanos Debuts ‘El Rey Del Mundo Royal’

    The El Rey del Mundo Royal Series (50 ring gauge x 155 mm length).

    Habanos S.A. released its latest vitola, the El Rey Del Mundo Royal Series, at an event in Cyprus last week. The event was put on one of Habanos’, the Cuban cigar industry’s distribution arms exclusive distributors, Phoenicia T.A.A.

    The Royal Series (50 ring gauge x 155 mm length) will be on sale exclusively at La Casa Del Habano franchise stores.

    The company also unveiled new products such as the Edición Regional Por La Larrañaga Fénix, and the new Cohiba Wide Short (machine-made Cuban cigar).

    The launch of the new vitola shared the spotlight with both companies celebrating 15 years of a “fruitful business partnership,” according to an emailed release.

    The event brought together more than 450 aficionados from Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Malta, Italy, France, Spain, Germany, United Kingdom, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Kuwait, Bulgaria, Canada and Bahrain.

    Also in attendance were the co-presidents of Habanos, Maritza Carillo González and Luis Sánchez-Harguindey Pardo de Vera.

  • Habanos Announces Habano Festival Dates

    Habanos Announces Habano Festival Dates

    Credit: Timothy S Donahue

    The dates for the XXIV Edition of the Habano Festival, have been announced. The exclusive cigar event is to be held in Havana from Feb. 26 – to March 1, 2024.

    Habanos, S.A., the state-run distributor of global Cuban cigars, said in a release that its annual event is “in an international and exclusive atmosphere,” and it will include a wide-ranging program of activities combining the knowledge of the Habano and the exciting culture, including the ending final evening gala dinner and famed humidor auction.

    “In this XXIV Edition, the best specialists, distributors and aficionados will enjoy all the activities that along with the best gastronomy and music have made this famous event: visits to renowned Habanos factories, plantations, seminars with interesting lectures, exclusives pairings, contests and three very special nights where they will get a sneak preview of the latest Habanos, S.A. novelties,” the release states. 

    Habanos, S.A. is already “working to make this event memorable for the expectations of aficionados with the passion and magic that they have come to expect from each new edition.”

    More details on the Habano Festival will be announced soon and registration will be open to the public.

  • Habanos Operational Marketing Director

    Habanos Operational Marketing Director

    Beatriz Garrido García

    Habanos, S.A., the distribution arm of Cuban cigars, announced today that Beatriz Garrido García has been appointed as the new operational marketing director.

    Garrido has a degree in Scientific and Technical Information. She has been linked to the world of Habanos since 1997, starting as a commercial information specialist for the Operational Marketing Division, according to a press release.

    In 2001, she served as a market intelligence specialist belonging to the Strategic Marketing management.

    Later on, her career was consolidated and in 2009 she was appointed to the position of market supervisor at Tabacalera S.L.U., until 2013.

    She then began to work in commercial management as an international saleswoman. In 2017, she served as corporate director for Phoenicia Trading, the exclusive distributor of Habanos for Africa and Middle East.

    Later, she held the position of commercial director of Cigarte Ibérica based in Spain. Before being appointed as operational marketing director, Garrido served as international market supervisor.

  • New Habanos Vitola for Duty-Free Shops

    New Habanos Vitola for Duty-Free Shops

    Habanos S.A., the state-run distribution arm of Cuban cigars, announced a new size of the Hoyo de Monterrey called the Destinos.

    The new vitola will be exclusive to duty-free shops at travel ports around the world, excluding the United States.

    The Destinos measures 5 and  7/10 (145mm) x 49 and was unveiled during the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference in Cannes, France. This is an event for duty-free retailers.

    “The Hoyo de Monterrey Destinos travel humidor is a perfect choice for Habanos-loving travelers who enjoy thick-gauge vitolas and appreciate the light strength that is a hallmark of the Hoyo de Monterrey brand,” a Habnaos representative told Tobacco Reporter. “This is a great opportunity to enjoy all the aromas and flavors of Hoyo de Monterrey’s blend anywhere in the world.”

    Within the general Cuban naming system, this will be known as the sutiles and is reportedly the first Cuban cigar made in this size.

    It will be available in “travel humidors” in counts of 20 sticks. There was no timeline for release or pricing given.

  • DOJ Appeals FDA Premium Cigar Decision

    DOJ Appeals FDA Premium Cigar Decision

    The premium cigar industry recently declared victory in the fight against oversight by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Celebrations may have been premature.

    The U.S. Department of Justice has filed an appeal on behalf of the FDA for a decision handed down from the United States District Court for the District of Columbia that fully vacated the Deeming Rule as it applied to premium cigars, according to media reports.

    The lawsuit was filed by the Cigar Association of America, the Cigar Rights of America (CRA) and the Premium Cigar Association. The case focused in part on the rulemaking process, which requires the FDA to inform the public about upcoming regulations and solicit feedback on those proposed rules.

    In last month’s decision in Cigar Association of America et al. v. United States Food and Drug Administration, Judge Amit P. Mehta made a sweeping, albeit expected, ruling that granted relief to the three cigar industry trade groups that sued the regulatory agency in 2016 on behalf of the premium cigar industry.

    The news confirms industry fears that warning labels, premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) review of cigars and other limitations that have impeded the ability of cigarmakers are still a possibility.

    Recently, the FDA acknowledged the decision and one of its impacts, telling cigar companies that it did not plan to assess user fees for “premium cigars” sold during Q4 FY23.

    The Department of Justice, which represents FDA on legal matters, had 60 days to appeal the ruling. It’s unclear whether the agency will ask a court for a stay, which could reenact the deeming regulations for “premium cigars” as the appeal process works itself out.

  • FDA: Premium Cigars Exempt from User Fees

    FDA: Premium Cigars Exempt from User Fees

    Image: J A Nicoli

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will not assess user fees for premium cigars in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024, the agency told manufacturers and distributors, according to Halfwheel.

    The statement follows last month’s outcome of Cigar Association of America et al. v. United States Food and Drug Administration et al., which led to deeming regulations not being applied to cigars that meet the definition of “premium cigar.”

    User fees help fund the Center for Tobacco Products. The amount of user fees is set by Congress; companies that import or manufacture cigarettes, roll-your-own products, snuff, chewing tobacco, cigars or pipe tobacco are assessed fees, and individual shares are calculated based on excise taxes paid on each product compared to the total amount of excise taxes paid by all products.

    The FDA, however, does not know whether a cigar company is selling premium cigars, nonpremium cigars or a mixture of both. Due to this, the FDA is asking companies to submit dispute letters within 45 days of the assessment of user fees. The agency is allowing companies the option of either paying the full amount of user fees with the intent of getting refunded for user fees assessed to premium cigars or paying what the company believes it will owe for nonpremium cigars.

    The FDA has stated that it will introduce a better process going forward, but it has not released information regarding what that will look like.

    There was no mention as to whether the FDA plans to refund user fees paid for premium cigars from August 2016 to the second quarter of fiscal year 2023.