Crux Cigars hires their first direct Sales Executive, Sam Ventura.
Effective immediately, Sam will initially be covering the Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas territory. His role will include servicing existing retail partners and hosting events, as well as growing Crux’s presence throughout the territory.
“Based on Sam’s ability to build relationships, I think he will be an excellent addition to the team.” said Casey Haugen, “To have someone we can trust to represent our brand is priceless. We will be able to better service our retail partners nationwide.”
Crux Cigars will continue growing their national sales team throughout 2020.
(Miami, Fla.) – Crux Cigars will begin shipping the Bull & Bear this week to their retail partners across the country.
Released in 2014, the Bull & Bear was one of the 5 original blends manufactured by Crux Cigars. Since being released, it has been a staple in the Crux Cigars assortment and consistently rates high on industry blogs. It’s newly designed packaging features a yin-yang-styled bull and bear icon and a vibrant blue color.
For the first time ever, a 6 x 52 Toro will be available to retailers nationwide. Available vitolas:
Gordo Marblehead 5.375 x 46 (MSRP $9.99) Robusto Extra 5.5 x 55 (MSRP $8.99)
CROWNED HEADS FOLLOWS UP A ‘BLACK LAB’ WITH A MEXICAN PIT BULL NAMED “HEADLEY GRANGE CHAMUCO LE 2019.”
“The goal was audacious and original: to make a cigar that tasted like the heavy, plodding drum beat on the lead-in to the Led Zeppelin classic ‘When the Levee Breaks.”_’ – Cigar Aficionado Magazine/ The 25 Best Cigars of the year 2012
As the story has been previously told, the Headley Grange blend was sonically inspired by the steady, heavy sound of John Bonham’s drums recorded at a former poorhouse (built in 1795) in East Hampshire, England, named Headley Grange. Last year, Crowned Heads released a riff on that original blend called “Black Lab LE 2018,” whose namesake was taken from the black Labrador Retriever that was found hanging around the Headley Grange studio during the recording of Led Zeppelin IV.
This year, Crowned Heads is excited to announce “Headley Grange Chamuco LE 2019.” A Chamuco, or Mexican Pit Bull, is a dog breed that originated in central Mexico in the 1970s, and was originally a cross between an American Pit Butt Terrier and the now extinct Mexican Bulldog, along with several other breeds. Fittingly, the Headley Grange Chamuco incorporates the original Headley Grange blend, and is finished with a Mexican (San Andres) maduro wrapper. The stout 5 1/2″ x 54 cigar is box-pressed, and like the Black Lab 2018, features a closed foot which spotlights the natural sweet nature of the Mexican wrapper upon initial ignition. Production is limited to 1,500 12-count boxes (18,000 cigars) and will begin shipping this month.
Headley Grange Chamuco LE 2019 is manufactured at Tabacalera La Alianza, S.A., Santiago (Dominican Republic), under the supervision of premium cigar industry icon, Ernesto Perez Carrillo, and will have an MSRP of $10.95 per cigar.
Rediscover Joya smoking what a modern bold cigar should be
Monday, November 11, 2019 — Estelí, Nicaragua. Joya de Nicaragua proudly announces Joya Copper and extends an invitation to cigar lovers around the world to rediscover the modern essence of full-bodied tradition from the oldest cigar factory in Nicaragua.
As the fifth member of the JOYA brand family along with Cabinetta, Red, Black and Silver, Joya Copper is a perfect complement that rounds out a complete offering that once again firmly establishes Joya de Nicaragua — the original power bomb maker — as the world’s premiere house of full-bodied cigars. Joya Copper is made using Nicaragua’s best tobacco, and each stick captures the soul of our blenders and “torcedores”, delivering a fully robust and spiced character profile that will transport modern cigar smokers to the world of bold smokers. Today is the moment to Raise your Bets and try Joya Copper.
“Joya Copper is the result of what a strong partnership is all about, in this project we worked hand-in-hand with the best talent of our factory, Drew Estate, and our friends at Cigars International where the product is going to be sold. We are really proud of it” said Juan Martinez, Executive President of Joya de Nicaragua.
Joya Copper comes in 20 count boxes, in 4 different sizes: 4 ½ x 52 Consul (MSRP $6.60), 5 x 46 Corona Gorda (MSRP $6.30), 5 ½ x 52 Robusto (MSRP $7.10) and 6 x 50 Toro (MSRP $7.80). The product will be showcased at the Cigars International store in The Colony, Texas on November 14th. It will be available only at Cigars International retail stores through December, and then will be available on its online site beginning January 2020.
“Our JOYA product family is a reawakening for those in search of rich, complex and bold cigars to journey into a world of discovery with Joya de Nicaragua, starting with our smoothest well-balanced blends and evolving into more sophisticated experiences when they try any Antaño or Obras Maestras product family. Each of them represents the essence of every single person that works at Joya who carries Joya de Nicaragua’s values, chivalry, humbleness and modesty,” added Juan Martínez.
We invite cigar lovers around the United States to join the online celebration and share their Joya de Nicaragua experience using
#JOYACOPPER
#RAISEYOURBETS
#REDISCOVERJOYA
#JOYADENICARAGUA
ABOUT JOYA DE NICARAGUA
Established in 1968, Joya de Nicaragua is Nicaragua’s first and oldest cigar factory in operation. JDN’s commitment to quality along with their skillful and resilient people have brought their handmade cigars to over 50 countries around the world, making it Nicaragua’s most international brand. A
Monday, November 4, 2019 — Miami, FL- Drew Estate announces today the limited release of the Herrera Esteli Norteño Edicion Limitada Churchill to Drew Diplomat retailers nationwide. Originally released in 2015, this limited edition is a favorite among cigar connoisseurs and retailers alike.
The Herrera Esteli Norteño Edicion Limitada showcases extensively aged tobaccos from the Estelí and Jalapa growing regions of Nicaragua, coupled with a spicy Honduran binder and a rich, bold Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper. Packaged in 15 count boxes, this 7 x 48 box pressed Churchill features a unique Norteño blend allowing for a smoother and complex smoke.
From La Gran Fabrica in Esteli, Drew Estate Master Blender Willy Herrera notes, “The Norteño Edicion Limitada is a killer stick bro, at all of my events consumers come up and ask when it is coming back. I am happy to say this limited release will satisfy some of the demand, but they better grab them quick before they disappear.”
The Herrera Esteli Norteño Edicion Limitada Churchill is available in 15 count boxes with an MSRP of $217.96.
For the third consecutive year, Crowned Heads is excited to announce “Lawless Day,” which will take place on November 1, 2019.
Originally inspired by the 2013 fictional film, “The Purge,” where all crime is allowed for a 12 hour period, Crowned Heads will allow retailers a one-day only ‘pass’ to violate its state exclusive brand distribution. On November 1, all retailers, regardless of where they are based will have the opportunity to purchase Tennessee Waltz (a Tennessee state exclusive), Yellow Rose (a Texas state exclusive), and Buckeye Land (an Ohio state exclusive).
“Originally, Lawless Day was a concept we created that would not only shine a light upon our state exclusive cigars, but also, would further promote their year-round availability via the retail tobacconists in those respective states, as most also mail order these cigars to states outside their own,” commented Crowned Heads co-owner/founder, Jon Huber. “The one-day-only promotion proved so successful the past two years that we were excited to bring it back once again this year.”
Tennessee Waltz and Yellow rose are manufactured at My Father Cigars, S.A., in Esteli, Nicaragua. Buckeye Land is manufactured at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate in Esteli, Nicaragua.
Tuesday, October 8, 2019 — MIAMI, FL – Drew Estate unveils today the national release of Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Barrel Fermented Cigars exclusively to brick and mortar Drew Diplomat Retailers. Until now, Barrel Fermented has been sold exclusively through Pappy & Company at pappyco.com, owned and operated by the Van Winkle Family.
The Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented cigar is a long-filler, premium cigar rolled in limited quantities at La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate in Estelí, Nicaragua. Deep barrel fermentation is the key process that makes this expression vastly different from anything on the market. Hand selected leaves from Kentucky are packed into small torquettes (or bundles of tobacco), which are then loaded strategically into oak bourbon barrels. Water is then added, while immense pressure is applied to the torquettes via railroad jacks. The tobacco is removed 2-3 times per year, shaken out, then repacked. The total process of fermentation takes 12-18 months, leaving a truly unique flavor profile and aroma.
This historic cigar features a barrel fermented “tapa Negra” wrapper over a Mexican San Andres base wrapper, as well as aged Nicaraguan filler tobaccos, personally selected by Jonathan Drew. PVW Barrel Fermented is presented in hand-crafted boxes of 10, sold in brick and mortar stores exclusively by Drew Diplomat Retailers in the following vitolas: Robusto (5 ¼” x 52), Toro (6 x 52) and Churchill (7 x 48).
In addition, Drew Estate announces the release of the Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Flying Pig to be sold exclusively through Pappyco.com. This cigar is a 3 15/16” x 60 flying pig vitola, which remains one of the most consumer demanded sizes in the Drew Estate portfolio.
Carrie Van Winkle Greener, Co-Founder of Pappy & Company notes, “In the past five years, we have been fortunate to see this brand partnership grow as we have combined our strongest brand assets from the bourbon and cigar industries into a one of a kind product, unlike anything else sold in the market. We are excited to see how this partnership grows in the future and are grateful to have collaborated with Drew Estate, who shares our like-minded commitment to quality, craftsmanship and authenticity.”
From the Wynwood Safehouse, Jonathan Drew Founder and President of Drew Estate adds, “This is a historic partnership for the worlds of premium cigars and premium spirits. After five years of friendship, teamwork, and product/brand development – we are ready to move into the second phase of our aligned vision. The ongoing consumer demand for the BARREL FERMENTED expression is incredible … and we have discovered that hundreds of our brick and mortar stores were reaching out to the Van Winkles about carrying this specific line extension in their stores, even if they had to pay full retail price. While the entire barrel fermented line will remain available for online purchase exclusively at Pappy & Company, the Van Winkle and DE families have come together with a brick and mortar only opportunity for our DDRP customers who wish to sell the product. This is a game changer in every way. The BARREL FERMENTED is highly sought after, priced right, and is now going to have carefully controlled brick & mortar distribution nationwide.”
The Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented is available at Drew Diplomat brick and mortar retailers (as well as online at pappyco.com) in the following vitolas:
• Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Robusto (5 ¼” x 52) MSRP $140.00/box of 10.
• Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Toro (6 x 52) MSRP $150.00/box of 10.
• Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Churchill (7 x 48) MSRP $160.00/box of 10.
The Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Flying Pig ( 3 15/16” x 60) will be available exclusively through pappyco.com in a 12 count box with an MSRP of $191.80
About Pappy & Company
Pappy & Company was founded in 2013 by sisters Carrie, Louise and Chenault Van Winkle who are also triplets and the great-granddaughters of bourbon legacy Pappy Van Winkle. Located in Louisville, KY, Pappy & Company is a bourbon-inspired lifestyle brand that works to infuse elements of the bourbon culture into all of their products. They sell high-end home goods, gourmet pantry items, apparel, accessories, barware, and barrel fermented cigars. What unifies the Pappy & Company brand are thoughtfully made products with strategic partners that embody the values and craftsmanship of Pappy Van Winkle himself. More information can be found at www.pappyco.com.
Today, Royal Agio Cigars USA begins shipping the Balmoral Añejo XO Oscuro Lancero FT Edición Limitada. This is the second limited production lancero vitola released from Balmoral, which follows previous releases of the original Balmoral Añejo XO Lancero FT Edición Limitada. A total of 2,650 boxes have been produced for global distribution, with only 500 boxes available for the U.S.
(Miami, Fla.) – Crux Cigars will begin shipping their newly branded product this week to retail partners across the country.
Announced at the 2019 IPCPR Trade Show, the brand has undergone a complete refresh, including a new look and packaging design. The first phase will include the Epicure, Epicure Maduro, and Guild blends in various sizes.
Although the packaging and branding have changed, the tobacco has not. Cigar smokers can expect the same Crux product with a new sleek, timeless look.
Soon to follow will be phase 2 of rebranded product, including the Limitada and the Bull & Bear later this year.
(Miami, Florida) October 3, 2019—Villiger Cigars announces that the highly rated Villiger La Libertad will display an elegantly designed new cigar band, that prominently features the Villiger handmade premium cigar logo. The Villiger La Libertad originally featured a band with only the name “La Libertad” displayed.
Villiger North America President Rene Castañeda said: “The Villiger La Libertad is a cigar that is personal favorite and we are happy that this high rated brand will now be properly represented as a Villiger brand.”
The Villiger La Libertad (which translates to the word ‘freedom’ from Spanish) in 2016 ranked amongst the Top 25 Cigars in CigarSnob Magazine and was included in Cigar Aficionado’s “Best Buy” list while receiving a rating of 92.
The Villiger La Libertad is made in the Dominican Republic at the ABAM factory by Master Blender Matias Maragoto. Medium in strength, this cigar is known for its complex flavors. It starts with initial impressions of nutmeg, cinnamon and crushed peanuts, transitioning to cedar intonations and black tea with a floral finish. The Villiger la Libertad is packaged in 20-count boxes and expressed in four vitolas with an MSRP of $6.00 – $7.00
Robusto: 5×52
Torpedo Box Pressed: 5.5×52
Churchill: 6.5×50
Masivo: 6×60
ABOUT VILLIGER SONS LIMITED AND VILLIGER NORTH AMERICA: Villiger Sons Limited was established in 1888 by Jean Villiger in the small town of Pfeffikon, Switzerland, where Villiger remains headquartered to this day. The company manufactures and sells more than 1.5 billion cigars annually, world-wide. Today, under the leadership of Heinrich Villiger, the company prides itself in its commitment to quality, in all their products made in many countries around the globe.
Follow Villiger Cigars North America on social @VilligerCigar #TheOriginalClassic
Tuesday, October 1, 2019 — Miami, FL- Drew Estate launches the national release of the Undercrown ShadyXX to Drew Diplomat Retailers starting today. This limited-edition cigar was created in partnership with Shady Records’ President Paul Rosenberg to celebrate their 20th Anniversary.
First released to only 10 Detroit area retailers in 2014, the Undercrown Shady remains one of the most consumer demanded limited editions in the Drew Estate portfolio. This powerhouse blend, similar to the Undercrown Corona Viva, features a toothy Mexican San Andres wrapper, spicy Connecticut Stalk Cut Habano binder and showcases the highest quality plantation filler leaves from Nicaragua and Brazil. The ShadyXX is a 5” x 50 box pressed belicoso. This aged and limited-edition cult classic truly packs a punch while remaining smooth and elegant the entire smoke. ShadyXX is packaged in a majestic, gold embossed 10 count petaca neatly designed by Drew Estate’s Global Creative Director, Joey Reichenbach.
Paul Rosenberg, Eminem’s long-time manager and Shady Records’ President, adds, “Getting this cigar out in stores feels a lot like releasing a great album that we’ve created and subsequently marketed in some ways. For instance, the most satisfying and exciting part of the process is getting the public’s reaction to the product once it drops, and in this case I think they will be really pleased. This cigar is just a great luxury smoke perfect for reflecting on the highlights of the last 20 years.”
From the Wynwood Safehouse, Jonathan Drew Founder and President of Drew Estate exclaims, “For 20 Years, Shady Records has been a respected powerhouse in the music industry and industry disrupter. Having this opportunity to partner with Rosenberg and the Shady team on a project this important and historic is an honor and testament to each other’s creative spirit, work ethic, and respected disciplines. I’m especially proud of the project and our continued partnership with Paul and the Shady Records team.”
The Undercrown ShadyXX is packaged in a 10-count petaca with an MSRP of $104.00/petaca sold exclusively at Drew Diplomat retailers.
For those who want to truly experience the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Shady Records, they have provided a custom playlist to pair with while smoking an Undercrown ShadyXX, which you can listen to at www.drewestate.com/shadyxx
About Shady Records:
Shady Records was founded in 1999 by Eminem and his manager Paul Rosenberg as a boutique hip-hop joint venture with Interscope Records. The first signing to Shady was Eminem’s original group, Detroit rap collective D12, who immediately put the label on the map with the commercial and critical success of their multi-platinum first album, Devil’s Night. The momentum continued with the release of Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture 8 Mile, garnering Eminem and Shady Records an Academy Award for Best Original Song with the hit single “Lose Yourself”; a first for a rap song. The label also partnered with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment to sign rap superstar 50 Cent, who over the course of his career has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. Shady Records continued its success into the aughts and beyond with successful releases from Obie Trice, D12, Yelawolf, rap supergroup Slaughterhouse and others amassing worldwide sales in excess of 40 million albums. Shady is currently home to Bad Meets Evil, Eminem’s long-running project with Royce da 5’9”, as well as Compton-bred rapper Boogie and Griselda Records own underground cult heroes Westside Gunn and Conway the Machine.
CROWNED HEADS ANNOUNCES “CHC RESERVE XVIII FULL COURT PRESS LE 2019”
In 2018, Crowned Heads released a brand inspired by and dedicated to its loyalists (the Crowned Heads ‘Court’) known as CHC Reserve XVIII.
CHC Reserve XVIII went on to receive high accolades (including a ’91’ rating via halfwhee , and was included in numerous ‘Best Cigars of 2018’ lists amongst the cigar enthusiast blogosphere. Now as the end of 2019 is in sight, Crowned Heads is pleased to announce a limited edition follow-up to that original release, once again dedicated to the ‘Crowned Heads Court:’ “CHC Reserve XVIII Full Court Press LE 2019.”
CHC Reserve XVIII Full Court Press features the original CHC Reserve XVIII blend in a 5 7/8″ x 52 box-pressed vitola. The resulting smoking experience is a rich yet accessible medium bodied expression that exudes a multi-layered flavor profile with hallmark balance. “The idea came to me last May during the NBA playoffs,” commented Crowned Heads co-owner/ founder, Jon Huber. “Initially, I tossed the name out there somewhat as a corny double entendre, but the more I thought about it the more I liked the idea of releasing a box-pressed expression of CHC Reserve. Once I smoked the sample it was a no-brainer to go to production.”
This limited release cigar is manufactured at Tabacalera La Alianza, S.A. (Santiago, Dominican Republic) under the supervision of industry icon, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo. Production is limited to 1700 (12-count} boxes, i.e., 20,400 total cigars with a suggested retail price of $11.95 per cigar.
New Jersey 09/10/2019 – Hiram & Solomon Cigars has just announced the collaboration for the Northeast Region from Philadelphia City to Maine with Cigar & the Good Life, which specializes in lifestyle branding.
Cigar & The Good Life is comprised of Joshua Nollie and Terrin Phillips, and they primarily target the Cigar, Spirits, and Couture fashion industries.
Both Joshua and Terrin are devoted to the Craft of Freemasonry and deeply understand the philosophy behind creating our brand.
Joshua and Terrin have been fans, as well as consumers, of Hiram and Solomon Cigars for about two years, having seen the company grow tremendously.
Joshua and Terrin, as they explained, could not be more thrilled than to collaborate with our company.
The Cigar industry is an industry built and held together on the great relationships that’s made over time, and Cigar & The Good Life would simply like to continue strengthening and growing the coming force in the Cigar industry that is Hiram and Solomon Cigars.
Hiram & Solomon Cigars If you would like more information about this topic please call David Umbria, at (732) 447-4996 or email him at, [email protected]
J.C. Newman Cigar Company, the manufacturer of the popular Brick House cigar, is excited to announce the limited-edition Brick House ‘Ciento por Ciento’ is arriving to TAA retailers this week.
Handcrafted in J.C. Newman’s Nicaraguan factory, Puros de Estelí Nicaragua, S.A. (J.C. Newman PENSA), Ciento por Ciento only uses tobaccos grown in the rich, volcanic soils of Nicaragua. It is the first Nicaraguan puro blend in the Brick House line, hence the name, which means 100% in Spanish. The wrapper is a Habana-seed, corojo leaf grown in the Jalapa Valley which encloses binder and filler from three of Nicaragua’s mountainous regions.
The Ciento por Ciento was made available to TAA retailers at their annual conference in April and was limited to 500 boxes for pre-order. It has officially shipped and will be arriving to retailers this week. The cigar is 6¼” x 54 and was sold in boxes of 25.
About J.C. Newman Cigar Co. Founded in 1895 by Julius Caeser Newman, J.C. Newman Cigar Company is the oldest family-owned premium cigar maker in America. J.C. Newman rolls its El Reloj, Factory Throwouts, and Trader Jacks cigars by hand-operated, vintage cigar machines at its historic cigar factory in Tampa, Florida. It also hand rolls its Brick House, Perla del Mar, El Baton, and Quorum cigars at the J.C. Newman PENSA cigar factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. J.C. Newman’s Diamond Crown, MAXIMUS, Julius Caeser, and Black Diamond cigars are handmade by Tabacalera A. Fuente in the Dominican Republic. With its longtime partners the Fuente family, the Newmans founded the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation, which supports low-income families in the Dominican Republic with education, health care, vocational training, and clean water.
Southern Draw Cigars has been growing like wildfire over the last five years and as a result the company has stacks of used cigar boxes on its warehouse shelves, has noticed empty boxes piled in the corners of its valued retail partners and even in the garages of its most supportive customers. The growth has also attracted some unwanted attention and the company opted to address it with an updated package design.
The company desired to stay true to its colorful split top box, vertical presentation design that is now synonymous with all of its cigars for another five years. However, in order to avoid a potential patent dispute regarding the current boxes, Southern Draw Cigars has expedited its long term strategy of a more environmentally friendly solution, working for over a year to create a design that is practical and shelf friendly.
“The remarkable simplicity of our new “shoe box” design and its gentle aesthetics will fit well on display shelves, in humidors and will serve as a basis of endless creative upcycle projects as boxes have been emptied. The company’s focus remains on the consistency and sustainability of its cigar brands and blends and not necessarily on the art of cigar packaging. The new “shoe box” design is hand made using recycled hard wood (ideally reducing delays in shipping due to the limited supply of Cedar and Mahogany wood) in Esteli, Nicaragua and they will be on display during IPCPR 2019. Shipping will commence in July 2019,” shared Robert Holt – Founder. “It is very import to note that the potential patent dispute identified by one of the premium cigar industries most influential brands was handled with professionalism including a gracious transition period extended to Southern Draw Cigars. The result was an opportunity to mitigate the potential expenses associated with a package recall and rapid redesign,” added Holt.
The updated design retains the approximate dimensions and color palates of the previous designs for all 20, 25 and 50 count boxes and will include a simple integrated shelf talker for each blend. Pricing for boxes will remain unchanged and the company will work with its valued retail partners to convert to the new design by offering related discounts on new orders, allowing a smooth and uniform transition from current box designs. Related questions should be directed to [email protected]
For general information about Southern Draw Cigars, a list of retail partners or to become a retail partner, and to enjoy our reviews, please visit us at www.southerndrawcigars.com. Please LIKE us, FOLLOW us & TWEET us – Facebook/Southern Draw, Instagram/SDCIGARS and Twitter/@SDCIGARS. Soli Deo Gloria!
