Cigar Insider
internet only
OCTOBER 12, 2010
n
VOL. 15, NO. 19
n
FROM THE PUBLISHER OF CIGAR AFICIONADO MAGAZINE
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE
IN THIS ISSUE:
FEATURED CIGAR
LA FLOR DOMINICANA AIR BENDER
CHISEL
TASTING REPORT:
VERTICAL BRAND TASTINGS:
DOM. REP.
Avo Heritage [page 2]
nCohiba Maduro 5 [page 2]
n
n
PRICE: $8.50
n
BODY: FULL
For a full tasting, see page three.
93
POINTS
NEW SIZES:
Padrón Family Reserve No. 46 Natural [page 3]
Padrón Family Reserve No. 46 Maduro [page 3]
nLa Flor Dominicana Air Bender Chisel [page 3]
nIllusione Epernay Le Matin [page 3]
nIllusione 4/2g Slam [page 3]
nMy Father Toro 2010 Limited Edition [page 3]
n
BEST CIGARS THIS ISSUE
n
SPECIAL REPORT—
NEW CIGARS OF 2010 (PART FOUR)
Savinelli Inc. [page 4]
Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia. [page 4]
nTabacalera Perdomo S.A. [page 4]
nTabacalera Tropical [page 5]
nThe Cigar Agency [page 5]
nToraño Family Cigar Co. [page 6]
nVilliger Stokkebye International [page 6]
nXikar Inc. [page 7]
n
La Flor Dominicana Air Bender Chisel
Dom. Rep.
93
Cohiba Maduro 5 Genios
Cuba
92
Padrón Family Reserve No. 46 Natural
Nicaragua
92
Illusione Epernay Le Matin
Honduras
91
Padrón Family Reserve No. 46 Maduro
Nicaragua
91
Avo Heritage Churchill
Dom. Rep.
90
My Father Toro Limited Edition 2010
Nicaragua
90
n
$1 BILLION GIANT
MACANUDO, C.A.O. AND MORE
CIGAR NEWS
Billion Dollar Cigar Merger [page 7]
Nosotros Brand Discontinued [page 8]
nAmatista Jar of Cuban H. Upmanns [page 8]
n
n
n
The Fight to Smoke Outdoors in NYC [page 9]
are now under one roof. On October 1, the
European parent companies of General Cigar
and C.A.O. International merged their cigar
operations, creating a $1 billion corporation that
makes more than 2.5 billion cigars per year, 115
million by hand. See page seven.
PUROS, PERFECTOS, EVEN A PEEK AT THE BERLIN WALL
OUR FINAL INSTALLMENT OF THE NEW CIGARS FROM IPCPR
features some intriguing smokes, including a new puro from Tabacalera Tropical known
as Aganorsa Leaf (far left), which showcases the name of the company’s agricultural arm
that is gaining a reputation for growing top-quality Nicaraguan cigar tobacco. European
centenarian Villiger expands its handmade cigar portfolio with the Libertad cigar (center)
and accessory maker Xikar Inc. is riding the fat cigar trend with the addition of a trio of
six-inch-long, 60 ring gauge smokes known as Grandes (right). There’s also a handmade
from Perdomo priced at less than $4 and even a Berlin Wall cigar. See page four.
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TASTING REPORT
AVO Heritage
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tobaccos, a Dominican seco and a Peruvian seco. According to
Davidoff, the Heritage series is the most full-bodied Avo brand
to date. We agree. The Churchill showed the most flavor and
balance, scoring 90 points.
Average Rating: 88.0 points
new release—vertical brand tasting
Country: Dominican Republic
Maker: OK Cigars
cohiba maduro 5
Distributor: Davidoff of Geneva
vertical brand tasting
Filler: Dom. Rep., Peru
Country: Cuba
Binder: Dom. Rep.
Maker: El Laguito Factory
Wrapper: Ecuador
Distributor: Habanos S.A.
Release Date: August 2010
Filler: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Churchill
90 POINTS
n
6 3/4" x 48
n
Wrapper: Cuba
$9.50
A very dark and oily cigar that smokes evenly. It starts
out a bit papery but warms to show a woody, leathery
character and apple-like sweetness.
Body: Medium to Full
n
4" x 56
Genios
92 POINTS
Short Robusto
88 POINTS
Box Date: Various
n
$7.00
n
5 1/2" x 52
n
£27.00
n
Humidor Selection
A dark, solidly rolled cigar that draws and burns
evenly. The smoke is rich and toasty, leaving leathery, nutty
impressions on the palate, as well as a pear note.
Dark and oily, this short, stout cigar has a very easy draw
but blistery burn. It’s a hearty smoke, full of hickory,
leather and mineral flavor. The aftertaste is a bit minty.
Body: Medium to Full
Body: Medium to Full
88 POINTS
Robusto
A tidy, three-seam cap tops this dark robusto. The draw
is firm and the burn is uneven, but some herbal, toasty
and nutty flavors still come through the tight draw.
87 POINTS
n
4 7/8" x 50
n
$7.50
Magicos
n
4 1/2" x 52
This dark cigar is gleaming with oils but has many prominent veins to the wrapper. The weak draw delivers initial
mushroom notes that warm to coffee flavors.
Body: Medium
Body: Medium to Full
87 POINTS
n
6" x 50
n
£23.30
secretos
n
4 3/8" x 40
n
£11.90
Dark and small with a speckled wrapper, this cigar has
a tight draw and uneven burn. Coffee notes and some
spice show promise but turn wheaty and a bit flat.
Toro
87 POINTS
n
$8.50
The draw on this cigar could be more substantial, though
the burn is even. There are salty and roasted flavors to
this smoke that turn a bit acidic.
Body: Medium to Full
BRAND SUMMARY: Avo Heritage was modeled after the
limited-edition Avo Compañero, using the same Cuban-seed
wrapper. The blend has three different types of Dominican ligero
Body: Medium
BRAND SUMMARY: This is our third look at the Cohiba
Maduro 5, which debuted in 2007. These cigars are some of
the priciest in the Habanos portfolio and are the only regularproduction Cuban smokes made with maduro wrappers. The
Genios (February 2009) topped the list, scoring 92 points.
Average Rating: 89.0 points
95-100: Classic n 90-94: Outstanding n 80-89: Very good to excellent n 70-79: Average to good commercial quality
Note: Prices are manufacturers’ suggested retail, before taxes.
Below 70: Don’t waste your money n N/A: Not Available
2
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padrón family reserve
Illusione
new sizes
new sizes
Country: Nicaragua
Country: Honduras
Maker: Tabacos Cubanica S.A.
Maker: Fabrica de Tabacos Raices Cubanas S. de R.L.
Distributor: Padrón Cigars Inc.
Distributor: Illusione Cigars Inc.
Filler: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Release Date: September 2010
Release Date: June, September 2010
no. 46 natural
92 POINTS
n
epernay le matin
5 1/2" x 56
n
$25.00
n
Humidor Selection
91 POINTS
n
6 1/2" x 46
n
$11.20
n
Humidor Selection
The toothy wrapper of this box-pressed toro has an
alluring cocoa color. The even draw layers the palate with
intense nutty flavors, plus coffee and a touch of cocoa.
A box-pressed smoke with a perfectly even draw and
burn. The balanced smoke is creamy in texture, full of
toast, nuts, some pepper and an underlying sweetness.
Body: Medium
Body: Medium
no. 46 maduro
91 POINTS
n
4/2g Slam
5 1/2" x 56
n
$25.00
n
Humidor Selection
89 POINTS
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7 1/2" x 49
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$11.65
A dark toro with a dead-even burn and full draw. There’s
a bold array of coffee and woody flavor sweetened by
touches of black cherry and caramel notes.
Large, dark and box-pressed with a substantial draw, but
uneven burn. Lots of chewy, cedary notes come through
as do toast and caramel flavors. The finish is a bit dry.
Body: Medium
Body: Medium
la flor dominicana air bender
MY father
NEW size
NEW size
Country: Dominican Republic
Country: Nicaragua
Maker: Tabacalera La Flor S.A.
Maker: My Father Cigars Inc.
Distributor: Premium Imports Inc.
Distributor: My Father Cigars Inc.
Filler: Dom. Rep.
Filler: Nicaragua
Binder: Dom. Rep.
Binder: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuador
Wrapper: Ecuador
Release Date: September 2010
Release Date: September 2010
Toro Limited edition 2010
chisel
93 POINTS
n
6 1/2" x 54
n
$8.50
n
Humidor Selection
90 POINTS
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6 1/2" x 52
n
$20.00
Beautifully rolled with a flawless wrapper and chisel
head. The first puffs instantly deliver a strong, meaty
smoke full of coffee, spice and a whiskey barrel finish.
Dark and richly colored with an even draw and burn.
The smoke takes on a hickory flavor that has touches of
spice and nougat.
Body: Full
Body: Medium to Full
95-100: Classic n 90-94: Outstanding n 80-89: Very good to excellent n 70-79: Average to good commercial quality
Below 70: Don’t waste your money n N/A: Not Available
Note: Prices are manufacturers’ suggested retail, before taxes.
3
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CIGAR NEWS
SPECIAL REPORT:
THE NEW CIGARS OF 2010
(PART FOUR)
BY GREGORY MOTTOLA AND DAVID SAVONA
I
n this final chapter of the new cigars from the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers trade show, we
showcase new smokes from various cigarmakers, including
Tabacalera A. Fuente, Toraño, Viaje and Xikar.
SAVINELLI INC.
SAVINELLI LIGA ESPECIAL II
Made by: Tabacalera Oliva S.A., Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $5.95 to $7.30
Details: This new vintage for Savinelli’s Liga Especial has
had “a major face lift as well as a very slight tweaking of
the blend,” said Savinelli’s Stephen Ysidron. “I wanted
to add more flavor to the already great cigar that Oliva
produces for us.” The brand comes in five sizes: Robusto (5 by 50, $5.95); Corona Gorda (5 1/2 by 52, $6.40);
Torpedo (6 by 52, $6.80); Double Corona (6 1/2 by 54,
$7.00) and Magnum (6 by 60, $7.30).
STC CIGAR MANUFACTURERS INC.
GRAN HABANO AZTECA
Made by: G.R. Tabcaleras
Unidas, Honduras
Wrapper: Mexico
Binder: Mexico
Filler: Nicaragua, Panama
Price: $6.20 to $7.20
Details: Packaged in bright orange
boxes and adorned with a tribal
looking band, the Azteca uses a dark
4
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maduro wrapper the company claims is seven years old and
binder from Mexico. It comes in three sizes: El Aguila, a
5 1/2 by 52 belicoso; El Jaguar, 6 by 54; and El Puma,
which measures 6 by 60.
Also: The Gran Habano Corojo #5 now comes in a superthick 6 by 66 size called the Czar for $7.80.
TABACALERA A. FUENTE Y CIA.
ARTURO FUENTE ROSADO SUNGROWN
MAGNUM R VITOLA “FIFTY-EIGHT”
Made by: Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia., Dom. Rep.
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Dom. Rep.
Filler: Dom. Rep.
Price: $7.40
Details: Fuente has added a fourth cigar to its Rosado
Sungrown Magnum R line. The Vitola “Fifty Eight” is a 5
1/4 inch long, 58 ring gauge belicoso, the first shaped cigar
in the line. As with all the Rosado Sungrowns, this smoke is
made with well-aged Ecuadoran Sumatra wrappers. Fuente
executive Wayne Suarez said the company would begin
taking orders on the new Vitola “Fifty Eight” this week.
The original trio scored 87, 89 and 92 points.
TABACALERA PERDOMO S.A.
NICK’S STICKS
Made by: Tabacalera Perdomo S.A., Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $3.75 to $4.50
Details: Originally offered at Nick Perdomo’s first Miami factory (when Tabacalera Perdomo was known
as Nick’s Cigar Co.) Nick’s Sticks are now available
nationally as a wallet-friendly brand. They come in four sizes:
Robusto, 5 by 52; Toro, 5 1/2 by 54; Churchill, 7 by 50;
and Torpedo, 6 1/2 by 54. The brand comes in three types
of wrapper varieties, Nicaraguan sun grown, Nicaraguan
maduro and Ecuadoran Connecticut.
cuban bullet version 2.0
Made by: Tabacalera Perdomo S.A., Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
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Price: $3.25 to $3.99
Details: Once a mixed-filler cigar, this brand has been re-released with long filler, though it remains reasonably priced.
It comes in four sizes: Robusto, 5 by 50; Toro, 6 by 50;
Churchill, 7 by 50; and Torpedo, 5 3/4 by 54. There are
three wrapper varieites: Ecuadoran Connecticut, Nicaraguan Cuban seed and Nicaraguan maduro.
What makes it special: A handmade for less than $4.
Also: Perdomo Lot 23 received two new stubby sizes: the
Gordito, 4 1/2 by 60 ($4.70) and the Punta Gorda, a minitorpedo measuring 5 by 60 ($4.90). Both the Perdomo
Habano and the Perdomo Reserve Champagne 10 Year
Anniversary brands now come in tins with 4 by 38 petit
coronas. Each tin of five retails for $14.95.
TABACALERA TROPICAL
(CASA FERNANDEZ)
CASA FERNANDEZ AGANORSA LEAF
Made by: Fabrica de Tabacos Raices Cubanas
S. de R.L, Honduras
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $7.50 to $7.90
Details: Casa Fernandez Aganorsa Leaf is a tribute to the agricultural conglomerate that grows
the tobacco that goes inside Casa Fernandez
(and many other) cigars. Aganorsa is short for
Agricola Ganadera Norteña S.A., whose owner
Eduardo Fernandez, has a controlling interest in
Casa Fernandez—a.k.a. Tropical Tobacco. Unlike the core Casa Fernandez line, the Aganorsa
Leaf brand extension is box pressed and comes
in only three sizes: Robusto, 4 1/2 by 52; Torpedo, 6 1/4 by 52; and Toro, 6 by 54.
Also: The Casa Fernandez Arsenio (5 1/4 by 54) now also
comes in a maduro variety. It retails for $6.80.
TABACOS DON ESTEBAN S.A.
MARCO V
Made by: Tabacos Don Esteban S.A., Dom. Rep.
Wrapper: Varies
Binder: Dom. Rep.
Filler: Dom. Rep.
Price: $6.00
Details: This cigar is made from a blend of Olor and Piloto
Cubano tobaccos, and the wrapper used depends on the
5
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line. The Dom Grand Reserve has Connecticut seed Ecuador wrapper while the Platinum Grand Reserve and Brazilian Grand Reserve are made with Brazilian wrappers.
Three sizes are available (and each is $6.00): V Gigante,
5 by 60; Lancero, 6 1/2 by 38; and M. Vito Perfecto.
TABACOS S.A.
777 Zero
Made by: Tabacos de Oriente, Honduras
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $5.20 to $5.70
Details: Jesus Fuego says the 777 Zero is the mildest
cigar he has blended to date. It uses Ecuadoran Connecticut
wrapper, Nicaraguan Corojo binder and a combination of
Nicaraguan Corojo and Criollo in the filler. Four sizes are
available: Robusto, 5 by 50; Corona, 5 1/2 by 46; Belicoso,
5 1/2 by 54; and Toro, 6 by 52.
Also: The 777 Corojo and Maduro varieties now come in a
6 inch by 60 ring Grande size that retails for $6.50.
THE CIGAR AGENCY LLC
HAMMER + SICKLE
BERLIN WALL
Made by: Tabacos Rancho
Jamastran, Honduras
Wrapper: Honduras
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Dom. Rep., Nicaragua,
Honduras
Price: $8.00 to $8.60
Details: Eric Hanson, brand
owner of Hammer + Sickle, said
some people interpreted his cigar and vodka brands the wrong
way. “There was a misconception that we were promoting
communism,” he says. “We wouldn’t be here if communism didn’t fall.” Nothing better symbolizes the collapse of
the Soviet Union than the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall, and
Hanson is commemorating its demise with this Berlin Wall
cigar. It comes in three sizes: Robusto (5 by 50, $8); Toro
(6 by 50, $8.30) and Churchill (6 by 52, $8.60). Hanson,
who actually owns a 6,400 pound segment of the Wall (pictured) had it on display at his booth.
What makes it special: The cigar is adorned with a copper
band, held in place by the tensile strength of the thin metal
rather than glue.
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TORAÑO FAMILY CIGAR CO.
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VIAJE CIGAR CO.
VIAJE SATORI
MASTER BY CARLOS TORAÑO
Made by: American Caribbean Cigars, Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $5.60 to $5.90
Details: Made by Toraño’s master roller, Felipe Sosa, Master comes out of a small factory in Estelí called American
Caribbean Cigars. Master is intended to be a small production, medium- to full-bodied Nicaraguan puro for retailers
only and comes in three sizes: Robusto, 5 by 50; Churchill,
7 by 50; Torpedo, 6 1/4 by 52.
Made by: Fabrica de Tabacos Raices Cubanas S. de R.L,
Honduras
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $10.32 to $11.96
Details: This new cigar brand draws its inspiration from
Eastern Buddhist philosophy. There’s an image of Buddha
on the box, and the word Satori translates to “enlightenment.” The cigar comes in three sizes all with a dark Oscuro wrapper: Karma, 5 by 52; Nirvana, 6 by 50; and Zen,
a 6 3/4 by 52 box-pressed, double-tapered figurado.
SINGLE REGION SERIE JALAPA
VIAJE 50/50 RED LABEL
Made by: Fabrica de Tabacos Raices Cubanas S. de R.L,
Honduras
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $6.50 to $6.94
Details: “We borrowed
the idea from wine,”
said Toraño president
Charlie Toraño. “Can
we blend a cigar from
a single farm? Single
Region showcases tobacco from one growing region. The binder
and filler tobaccos are
from the same year,
and the same farm in
Jalapa, Nicaragua. The wrapper is also from Jalapa, but
from another farm. It comes in three sizes: Robusto, 5 by
52; Toro Grande, 6 by 4; and Churchill, 7 by 50.
What makes it special: It’s very unusual in the cigar industry to make a cigar entirely from leaves from one region, let
alone from (almost only) one farm.
Also: Toraño is releasing a bundle brand called Brigade.
It’s made at the San Rafael S.A. Factory in Nicaragua and
comes in four sizes, all retailing for under $3 each.
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6
Made by: Fabrica de Tabacos Raices Cubanas S. de R.L,
Honduras
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $5.20–$9.84
Details: There are two separate blends within this cigar
that change at the half-way point. The first half is medium
bodied, the second half full. It comes in three sizes: No. 1,
5 5/8 by 46; No. 2, 6 by 50; and No. 3, 7 by 47.
VILLIGER STOKKEBYE
INTERNATIONAL
LA LIBERTAD
Made by: Gran Fabrica de Tabacos
Abam, Dom Rep.
Wrapper: Peru
Binder: Peru
Filler: Nicaragua, Dom. Rep.
Price: $5.25 to $5.75
Details: Villiger has made
cigars
since
1888,
but it’s new to the
world of handmade
cigars. La Libertad
is a new, reasonably
priced line of smokes
that comes in three
sizes: Churchill (6 1/2 by
50, $5.75); Robusto (5 by
50, $5.25) and Short Perfecto
(5 1/4 by 54, $5.50).
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What makes it special: There are two types of Peruvian
tobacco in this blend, unusual for the cigar business.
Also: The Villiger 1888 2010 Reserva Humidor is a 6 1/2
by 52 robusto grande. Only 20,000 cigars were made. The
cigars are $11.50 a cigar, or $235 with the humidor.
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GIANT CIGAR COMPANY FORMED:
SCANDINAVIAN TOBACCO AND
SWEDISH MATCH MERGE
By David Savona
T
XIKAR INC.
XIKAR HC SERIES COLORADO GRANDE
Made by: Jesus Fuego at Segovia Cigars, Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras
Price: $9.50
Details: Fat cigars are in, so Xikar added the Grande size to
its three cigar lines, including the HC Series Colorado, one
of Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 cigars of 2009. The Colorado
is the strongest of Xikar’s three
lines. The Grande measures
six inches long by 60 ring.
There’s also a Grande for the
HC Series Connecticut Shade
(made with Ecuadoran wrapper) and the HC Series Criollo (made with shade-grown
Nicaraguan wrapper.) The
price is the same for each
blend. The Criollo is rolled in
Honduras at Plasencia’s Tabacos de Oriente factory.
Also: Xikar eliminated
the 6 by 46 lonsdale size
in its Criollo and Habano
Colorado lines.
A NEW CIGARAFICIONADO.COM
Y
our favorite cigar website has an entirely new look
and feel. The new CigarAficionado.com went live on
September 23, revealing a vibrant homepage with a large
slider filled with inviting photographs. There is more content than ever before (in an easier-to-navigate format), an
expanded and improved database of more than 13,000
cigar ratings, sections devoted to Cuba, Gambling, Drinks
and the Good Life, an immense glossary of cigar terms, a
new section called Where to Smoke, plus blogs, videos and
more. Visit us at www.cigaraficionado.com n
7
he makers of Macanudo and C.A.O. cigars have come
together, creating one of the world’s largest cigar
companies. Skandinavisk Holding A/S, headquartered in
Søborg, Denmark, and Swedish Match AB of Stockholm,
Sweden, have officially merged their cigar and tobacco
operations, creating the new Scandinavian Tobacco Group,
headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The new Scandinavian Tobacco Group is the secondlargest producer of cigars in the world, making more than
2.5 billion cigars per year (115 million of them by hand),
more than 1,650 tons of pipe tobacco and 2,100 tons
of fine-cut tobacco. It has annual revenues of nearly 700
million euros ($1 billion) and nearly 10,000 employees in
20 countries spread across the globe, and production at
17 different sites. With a vast portfolio of iconic brands
such as Macanudo, C.A.O. and Dunhill, the non-Cuban
versions of Cohiba, La Gloria Cubana, Punch, Hoyo de
Monterrey, Partagas, and many others (see table, next page)
under one organization, the new Scandinavian Tobacco
Group claims some 30 percent of the U.S. premium cigar
market, and ranks second in size in the cigar world only to
Imperial Tobacco Group PLC of Britain, parent company
to Altadis, which controls brands such as Montecristo and
H. Upmann and is the 50 percent owner of Cuban cigar
monopoly Habanos S.A.
Anders Colding Friis, chief executive officer of Scandinavian Tobacco Group, was named chief executive officer
of the new company. “After months of preparations we
are very pleased now to be able to start the integration of
the two businesses,” said Friis. “The new Scandinavian
Tobacco Group is a truly global company and we have an
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October 12, 2010
Cigar Insider
excellent basis in the combined brand portfolio to grow
even further and increase profitability.”
General Cigar’s Dan Carr has been named president of
global premium cigar operations. In a letter to cigar retailers dated October 4, Carr wrote: “Gary Hyams, chairman
of C.A.O. International will report to me, and in combination, we will lead the integration of the two businesses.
We will prioritize certain areas for integration and defer
others until the organization is in place to accommodate
the changes. The central office will be located in Richmond,
Virginia, and in the near-term, the distribution center will
be centralized in Hampton, Virginia.”
The deal, which began in January with a letter of intent,
closed on October 1, some four months later than expected. The new Scandinavian Tobacco is 51 percent owned by
Skandinavisk Holding and 49 percent owned by Swedish
Match, and combines the cigar, pipe tobacco and fine cut
tobacco business of Scandinavian Tobacco Group with the
tobacco assets of Swedish Match, including General Cigar
Co., the company’s premium cigar unit, as well as its pipe
tobacco and accessories businesses.
The deal includes Swedish Match’s huge Internet cigar
retailer, Cigars International, but does not include the
Stockholm company’s U.S. mass-market cigar business.
Swedish Match will receive about 30 million Euros ($41
million) in cash to compensate for difference in values between the merged assets.
Swedish Match has owned General Cigar since 2005,
and El Credito Cigars Inc. (the former owner of the
La Gloria Cubana brand) since 1999. Scandinavian
Tobacco acquired C.A.O. International Inc. from the
Ozgener family in 2007.
Look for much more information on the merger in
upcoming issues of Cigar Insider. n
BRAND PORTFOLIO
Major brands that make up the new Scandinavian Tobacco Group
PREMIUM CIGARS
Cohiba
C.A.O.
Partagas
By Gregory Mottola
T
he Nosotros brand of Nicaraguan
cigars has been officially discontinued. A collaboration between Illusione
brand owner Dion Giolito and Jonathan
Drew, the co-founder of Drew Estate, the
short-lived Nosotros line was released at
the 2009 IPCPR trade show but did not
officially go on sale until the spring of
this year. The cigars, made entirely of
Nicaraguan tobaccos, scored between 86
and 88 points in Cigar Insider.
Giolito released this statement on
September 27 announcing the end of the
cigar brand, saying the move was effective
immediately:
“Illusione cigars will no longer participate in the Nosotros brand project with
Jonathan Drew DBA Drew Estate. After
two and a half years, terms for a product
delivery date still could not be negotiated.
The Nosotros brand/trademark dies in the Drew Estate
Factory as per contractual agreement, and will not be made
outside of the factory where it originated.”
Giolito declined to comment any further on the matter.
When asked for comment, Jonathan Drew of Drew
Estate said, “It was an interesting experience.” n
CUBANS RECREATE ANTIQUE
H. UPMANN JAR
La Gloria Cubana
Helix
Punch
Dunhill
Hoyo de Monterrey
Sancho Panza
T
FLAVORED CIGARS
Flavours by C.A.O.
MASS-MARKET CIGARS
Café Créme
La Paz
Henri Wintermans
Colts
PIPE TOBACCO
8
NOSOTROS CIGAR BRAND
DISCONTINUED
By Gregory Mottola
Macanudo
Havana Honeys
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Erninmore
Half and Half
Borkum Riff
WØ Larsen
he newest, special-edition release from Habanos S.A.,
the worldwide distributor of Cuban cigars, is quite
nostalgic: The H. Upmann Noellas glass jar.
Discontinued in the 1980s, this resurrected replica is
faithful to all the aesthetic details of the original. It holds
25 H. Upmann Noellas, corona-sized cigars measuring
5 3/8 inches by 42 ring gauge, a size known as cosacos
in Cuban cigar factories. The eye-catching jar is available
exclusively at La Casa del Habano shops, Cuba’s global
franchise of cigar stores.
These air-tight, amatista-style jars were originally
intended for a 2009 release, (some might remember the
premature press releases sent out last year) but have now
finally started shipping to La Casa del Habano shops
around the world. Only 5,000 jars were made.
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October 12, 2010
Cigar Insider
The individual banding of each cigar differs slightly
from earlier releases, as this 2010 offering features the
newer, updated red-and-gold, embossed and laurelled H.
Upmann design, as opposed to the matte brown band used
in previous decades. Beneath the main band, there’s a ring
reading “La Casa del Habano.”
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2010 CIGAR AFICIONADO
“BIG SMOKE” LINEUP
November 12–14
LAS VEGAS • THE VENETIAN
December 1
NEW YORK CITY • PIER 92
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TICKETS, VISIT:
CigarAficionado.com
Although retail prices differ from country to country,
expect to pay in the neighborhood of 285 Euros ($395)
per jar of Noellas in Germany, or 11.40 Euros ($15.80)
per cigar.
As a testament to its appreciative value, older jars of the
H. Upmann Noellas can command prices as high as 3,500
Euros ($4,855) in the vintage collector’s market, depending
on the age and the vendor. n
THE FIGHT TO SMOKE OUTDOORS
IN NEW YORK CITY
By DAVID SAVONA
IN THE NEXT CIGAR INSIDER
Breaking news from around the cigar world, along
with ratings on hot new cigars. Read about it first in
Cigar Insider.
Your Next Cigar Insider Arrives on Tuesday, Oct. 26.
T
he premium cigar industry is mobilizing against New
York politicians eyeing to ban smoking in much of the
great outdoors. The Cigar Rights of America, International
Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association and the New
York Tobacconist Association are all encouraging cigar
lovers to sign petitions showing their opposition to any
extension of New York’s smoking ban.
Last month, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, one
of the nation’s most high-profile critics of smoking, proposed banning smoking in all of the city’s 1,700 public
parks and 14 miles of city beaches.
The New York Tobacconist Association is circulating a
petition stating that signers are opposed to extending the
ban and that decisions of this nature should be left to the
individual. They also pledge to “to exercise public courtesy
in the use of legal tobacco products” in those public areas.
Chris McCalla, legislative director for the IPCPR, said
“In public places like these, common courtesy should prevail, not heavy-handed, misguided legislation.”
To view and sign a copy of the online petition, visit
http://cigarrights.org. n
9
Editor and Publisher
Marvin R. Shanken
Executive Editor
Gordon Mott
Managing Editor
David Savona
Director of Research
Frank C. Walters
Tasting Coordinator
Gregory Mottola
Editorial Assistant
Andrew Nagy
Art Director
Chandra Hira
Senior Designer
Jackelyn Navarro
© 2010 M. Shanken Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
Materials may not be reproduced without permission.
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Email: [email protected].
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October 12, 2010