Richmond, VA—To celebrate the launch of the new Hoyo de Monterrey website, General Cigar is rolling out a “Box a Day Giveaway” to share the unique flavor of the Hoyo Monterrey Reposado en Cedros® brand with cigar lovers across the U.S.

From now through July 31, 2012, consumers of legal smoking age are invited to visit the brand’s website (www.hoyodemonterreycigar.com) to enter to win a box of Hoyo de Monterrey Reposado en Cedros cigars, which feature a proprietary process called “Inmersión.™”

After being handcrafted by a handpicked team of artisans, each Reposado en Cedros cigar undergoes Inmersión, an innovative method of aging created at HATSA, General Cigar’s Honduran cigar factory. With this technique, each cigar is enveloped in fragrant cedar and left to rest for an extended period of time. The cigar matures to a complex, medium-bodied smoke that has won the brand stellar ratings and praise from the premium cigar category’s most discerning experts.

According to Kendall Rountree, brand manager for Hoyo de Monterrey cigars, “Since its debut, Hoyo de Monterrey Reposado en Cedros cigars has developed a cult following among serious cigar smokers who are drawn to its uniquely spicy taste. We’re utilizing the launch of the Hoyo de Monterrey website as an opportunity to increase the brand’s legion of fans through the ‘Box a Day Giveaway’ and are confident that cigar lovers will enjoy the brand’s uniquely spicy taste.”

Winners of the Hoyo de Monterrey Reposado en Cedros “Box a Day Giveaway” will be announced every Monday on the brand’s website, as well as on the brand’s Facebook page and Twitter feed.

About Hoyo de Monterrey Reposado en Cedros

Hoyo de Monterrey Reposado en Cedros features three frontmarks, each packed in boxes containing 24 cigars. At 5 ¼” x 54, Sueño is a classic robusto that is available for a suggested retail price of $6.69 per cigar, while the Liso frontmark, a 7” x 49 Churchill carries an SRP of $6.99 per cigar. Marco, a figurado

(6 1/4” x 54) rounds out the collection with an SRP of $7.29 per cigar.

The cigars are packed in rustic wooden boxes, protected in canvas, and surrounded by cedar shavings to maintain the flavor and aroma imparted by Inmersión. Each box is truly a work of art, and continues the artisan tradition of the Hoyo de Monterrey brand.

Hoyo de Monterrey en Cedros cigars are produced by General Cigar Co. Inc., which manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium market. Committed to delivering cigars of the finest quality, General Cigar also produces Macanudo®, Cohiba®, Partagas®, Excalibur®, La Gloria Cubana® and several other leading premium brands. In addition, the company grows its own premium Connecticut Shade wrapper tobacco, as well as natural and candela wrapper in the Dominican Republic. General Cigar also operates Club Macanudo®, a cigar bar in New York City. Based in Richmond, VA, General Cigar sells through tobacconists nationwide. For more information, please visit www.cigarworld.com.

®  Hoyo de Monterrey, Reposado en Cedros, Macanudo, Cohiba, Partagas, , Excalibur, La Gloria Cubana and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Co. Inc.

™ Inmersión is a trademark of General Cigar Co. Inc.

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The Merlion will be rolled at La Aurora Cigar Factory utilizing 6 different types of tobacco. The Wrapper is a silky looking Ecuadorian Corojo, while the binder is Sumatra from Brazil. The filler, has 4 different types of tobacco including; Brazillian Bahia, Dominican Corojo, Dominican Criollo ’98, and Nicaraguan ligero to add that strength that you expect from a La Sirena cigar.

The Merlion which comes 20 in a box is available in 3 sizes, Robusto (5 x 50 / $9.00); Toro (5.5 x54 / $10.00) and Gran Toro (6 x 58 / $10.50). All prices are before local taxes.
According to Brand Manager, Arielle Ditkowich “We are very excited to be working with
Guillermo and La Aurora, they have blended us a beautiful medium bodied cigar that is
extremely complex and offers a nice contrast to our existing line.”

The Merlion by La Sirena is expected to start shipping late June 2012.

About Miami Cigar & Company Miami Cigar & Company, founded in 1989, is the exclusive US distributor of La Aurora brands which include Guillermo Leon & Leon Jimenes. They are also the worldwide distributor of Tatiana, Don Lino, La Sirena and Nestor Miranda line of cigars. They can found on the web at http://www.miamicigarandcompany.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/miamicigarcompany.

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PINELLAS PARK, FL, APRIL 12, 2012 — Davidoff, the leading luxury tobacco brand has announced the inaugural Davidoff Golden Band Awards Show, honoring those Appointed Merchants who best embody the Davidoff standard of excellence. The first annual awards show will be part of an exclusive Davidoff event on August 4^th at IPCPR in Orlando, Florida.

The Davidoff Golden Band Awards materialized from the brand’s success, rooted in decades of long-standing partnerships with trusted merchants. Davidoff has a long history of working with its family of retailers to help them expand their businesses, discuss best practices and grow the Davidoff brand, hand in hand.

“The awards are an opportunity to officially recognize these retailers for their commitment and passion for Davidoff,” said Jim Young, President, Davidoff North America. Richard Krutick, Davidoff Marketing Director, adds that, “This annual event will stimulate improved standards in the industry and help drive superior performance and growth.”

Appointed Merchant nominations will be announced in July across six categories:

Best Davidoff Merchandising

• Best Davidoff Performance
• Davidoff Growth Award
• Davidoff Appointed Merchant of the Year
• Davidoff Industry Service Award

 The final award category is the Zino Davidoff Legacy Award, which will be presented to the Appointed Merchant who has stood out over the years as the champion of what premium cigars and premium cigar retailing are all about.

 Davidoff, founded in Geneva in 1911,  is dedicated to bring pleasure to a discerning global community  of  Good Life aficionados. The brand unites growing, ageing, blending and crafting artistry to bring cigar connaiseurs  pleasurable cigar experiences. For additional information, visit www.davidoff.com.

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“General Cigar Company and Midwest Smoke Out are a natural fit. The Smoke Out has a history of throwing the best cigar, fine spirits, gourmet food, luxury, gambling and exciting expo in Chicagoland while General Cigar is famous for its extensive history in the cigar industry,” said Andrea Pearman, creator. “General Cigar Company is legendary in cigar aficionado circles, with an incredibly rich history.”

This year, General Cigar Company is celebrating its 51st anniversary and the 41st birthday of General Cigar’s most iconic brand, Macanudo. As the second largest cigar company in the world, General Cigar Company is poised to use its expanded resources to bring even more excitement and innovation to the premium cigar category. In 2010, General Cigar Company commemorated another milestone, for the company merged with Scandinavian Tobacco Group to form a worldwide company focused on cigars. Today, with President Dan Carr joined Swedish Match to continue building the brands he had been cultivating since 1996 as president of an expansive empire and in concert with a team of professionals and artisans in the United States, Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua, the future of General Cigar burns bright.

“This year’s Midwest Smoke Out will be burning white-hot,” said Pearman. “We have something for everyone: cigars, opportunity to meet cigar industry icons, spirits, beer, beautiful women, luxury giveaways, gambling and gourmet food.”

With every ticket, guests will receive 14 complimentary premium cigars. The cigars include: Room101 Connecticut by Camacho Cigars, Coronado by La Flor Dominicana, Doublegun Buckshot by Doublegun Cigars, La Mezcla Cubana by The Cigar Agency, an exceptional cigar from Bom-Bom line by Lou Rodriguez Cigars, San Lotano Oval by A.J. Fernandez Cigars which was voted the No. 2 cigar in the world by Cigar Journal, A. Turrent Puro Corojo by Altadis U.S.A, Perfecto Garcia by Arango Cigar Co., an exclusive cigar from Cigar Rights of America, La Gloria Cubana and Punch from premium presenting sponsor General Cigar Company and XEN by Nish, Thunder by Nimish and a Rocky Patel Sun Grown all from Rocky Patel Premium Cigars.

The Midwest Smoke Out will feature cigar industry legends Carlito Fuente, Tony Gomez of La Flor Dominicana, Cigar Master Alejandro Turrent of Altadis, U.S.A., Victor Vitale of The Cigar Agency, Clay Roberts of A.J. Fernandez and Frances Peguero, cigar roller from Habana Cigar House and Lou Rodriguez of Lou Rodriguez Cigars.

In addition, the Smoke Out will be offering a nearly-limitless quantity of microbrew and traditional beers, featuring a wide variety of local, national, and internationally recognized beers from Three Floyds Brewery, Bulldog Brewery Co., Calumet Breweries, Shoreline Brewery, Heineken, Michelob Ultra, Labatt Blue, Goose Island’s Sofie, Stella Artois, Torpedo Extra IPA, Pale Ale, Ruthless Rye IPA, Ovila Dubbel, Ovila Quad and Ovila Saison from Sierra Nevada, Leinenkugel’s, Pilsner Urquell, Killian’s Irish Red, Blue Moon, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, along with other spirits.

Attendees can sample gourmet delicacies from Shoreline Brewery & Restaurant, Youche Country Club, Great Lakes Catering & Special Events, Quaker Steak & Lube, Gino’s Steakhouse, Tilted Kilt and Fahrenheit Two-Twelve.

To further treat visitors, The Little Guys Home Technologies will raffle off a 32″ HDTV Flat Panel TV, Deer Creek Hunt Club will raffle off a one-year clay shooting membership, Schepel Cadillac is giving away a cigar cutter, Humidipak is giving away a humidor bag, Calumet Harley-Davidson is showcasing four motorcycles, Ping and Balmoral Woods are presenting a simulator and custom golf club fitting, Albert’s Jewelers will give vouchers for $50 off a $100 purchase, among other giveaways.

The raucous evening is set against a backdrop of Horseshoe Casino’s finest gaming tables and enjoyment, promising the best evening in Chicagoland for only $150. Attendance space is limited, and previous years’ expos have completely sold out in advance with 2012 following the same pattern, so explore www.MidwestSmokeOut.com, email Jo@3dms.com or call 1-888-226-0330 to reserve your ticket to the party today. To stay up-to-date with the most current information, like us on Facebook, connect on LinkedIn, or follow on Twitter at @MidwestSmokeOut

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Richmond, VA—When their fans talk, the team at CAO listens. From now (April 3, 2012) through June 30, 2012, cigar smokers will have a chance to select an upcoming CAO blend, as part of the brand’s “Last Stick Standing” promotion.

CAO’s senior brand manager Ed McKenna explains, “Rick Rodriguez has been developing blends with our team in Nicaragua and has come up with three which we think are all great. So we’re calling on CAO fans to help us pick the blend that will ultimately be launched as a new CAO collection, to be released late this year, or in early 2013.”

A special three-pack tin called the Last Stick Standing is now available for free with the purchase of any six CAO cigars at participating cigar shops across the U.S. Each tin contains three distinct blends, aptly named C, A and O. The cigars all measure 5 1/2” x 54, which is what Rick Rodriguez considers to be the ideal size for allowing consumers to truly evaluate each blend.

A dedicated website (www.lss.caocigars.com) will serve as a virtual voting booth, allowing cigar smokers to rate each cigar on certain criteria, such as flavor, body, construction and overall experience.

For every rating submitted, consumers will be entered to win a box of the winning CAO blend before it’s available for purchase, or the grand prize, an all-expense paid trip for the winner and a guest to the CAO factory in Nicaragua. Sharing entries on the Last Stick Standing Facebook page will provide consumers with multiple entries to win.

Last Stick Standing, AKA “Judgment Day” events will be held at select tobacco shops across the country, with special event-exclusive offers featuring CAO OSA Sol “Lot T” (4 ½” x 50) and “Lot 46” (5 ¼” x 46 ) which will be released later this year as the first new additions to CAO OSA Sol since its debut last September. In addition, a handpicked group of preferred CAO retailers will host guided Last Stick Standing tastings by Rick Rodriguez who will share his insight on the three blends.

 About CAO Cigars

CAO cigars are produced by General Cigar Co. Inc., a division of Scandinavian Tobacco Group, which manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium market. Committed to delivering cigars of the finest quality, General Cigar’s skilled artisans produce Macanudo®, Cohiba®,  La Gloria Cubana®, Punch®, CAO, Partagas®, Hoyo de Monterrey®, Excalibur® and several other leading premium brands in the company’s Dominican, Honduran and Nicaraguan factories. In addition, the company cultivates proprietary tobacco which is used exclusively in its blends. General Cigar also operates Club Macanudo®, a cigar bar in New York City. Based in Richmond, VA, General Cigar sells through tobacconists nationwide and also exports select products to 62 countries. For more information, please visit www.cigarworld.com.

®  Macanudo, Cohiba, La Gloria Cubana, Punch, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Co. Inc.

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Alan Willner, vice president of marketing for General Cigar explains, “Partagas 1845 is uniquely positioned. This new collection celebrates Partagas’ rich heritage while ushering in a new taste spectrum for the brand. As such, it will appeal to the premium cigar smoker who favors the quality and consistency of classic brands, while also sparking the interest of discriminating smokers who constantly seek exciting new tastes.”

 Partagas 1845 is full-flavored with a medium-bodied taste profile and bears hints of coffee and cocoa. This unique smoking experience sits firmly between the mild and aromatic flavor of Partagas (yellow box) and the strong and sweet taste of Partagas Black Label.

Jhonys Diaz (vice president of operations) led blend development, collaborating with rising stars from General Cigar Dominicana including Francisco Rodriguez (general manager of operations) and Yuri Guillen (production manager).  In creating Partagas 1845, Jhonys and his team started out with more than 50 different blends from the company’s vast tobacco library. Together with guidance from Benji Menendez, and with input from supervisors from General Cigar’s Dominican and Honduran factories, the blends were continuously test smoked and tweaked until the final blend was chosen by General Cigar’s innovation team.

The legendary Benji Menendez served as an advisor on blend development. In this, his 60^th year in the premium cigar

business, Benji exalts Partagas 1845 as “one of the most significant blends I have ever been involved in developing.”

“Partagas is a brand that is part of my soul and part of my heritage in the business. It is very sentimental for me, so coming out with the next Partagas collection to follow up on the Master Series was a project that I cared very much about. This is a dream come true for me, to help the next generation of cigar masters create new cigars and grow in the business. If I can plant a seed in their minds so they can grow a tree, I am happy,” he reflects.

To achieve the characteristic, full flavor of Partagas 1845, Dominican Piloto Cubano is blended with Nicaraguan tobacco from three separate growing areas. Some of the filler tobaccos are aged in Dominican rum barrels, a process which enhances their flavor, and is exclusive to General Cigar.

The Connecticut Habano binder is unique unto itself, for it was developed as a result of General Cigar’s dedicated research and development initiative and as such, is proprietary. Bearing the distinction of having taken nine years to develop, the binder offsets the blend with a touch of sweetness.

The blend culminates in a lustrous Ecuadoran Habano Viso wrapper which dresses Partagas 1845 in a unique color and hearty texture.

The collection will debut with these four frontmarks, each protected in boxes containing 20 cigars: Corona Extra (4.5” x 46), SRP per cigar $5.99; Robusto (5.5” x 49), SRP per cigar $6.49; Gigante (6” x 60), SRP per cigar $6.99; and Double Corona (7.25” x 54), SPR per cigar $7.49.

The trade dress pays homage to the brand’s rich history, by interpreting elements of a turn-of-the-century Partagas band (circa 1900). The band imagery is rotated for optimal presentation, whether on the shelf, in an ashtray, in hand, or when smoked, and is further highlighted by advanced printing techniques that command attention.

2/2/2

Partagas 1845 is housed in one of the most innovative cigar boxes ever seen in the premium cigar category. Additional details about this industry-first packaging will be released prior to the launch of Partagas 1845 on April 9.

About Partagas Cigars

Partagas cigars are produced by General Cigar Co. Inc., which manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium market. Committed to delivering cigars of the finest quality, General Cigar also produces Macanudo®, Cohiba, Hoyo de Monterrey®, Excalibur®, La Gloria Cubana®, CAO and several other leading premium brands. In addition, the company grows its own premium Connecticut Shade wrapper tobacco, as well as natural and candela wrapper in the Dominican Republic. General Cigar also operates Club Macanudo®, a cigar bar in New York City. Based in Richmond, VA, General Cigar sells through tobacconists nationwide. For more information, please visit www.cigarworld.com.

® Partagas, Macanudo, Cohiba, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur, La Gloria Cubana and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Company.

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Since Illinois legislation banned smoking in Chicago, Midwest Smoke Out (MSO) is the only exposition to give cigar aficionados an evening of cigars and indoor smoking. Every year, MSO provides a free one-year CRA membership or renewal with every ticket, meaning that in only a few hours, CRA gains over 1,000 members whose average income is more than $160,000. These new members are often opinion leaders in their communities.

“We at Midwest Smoke Out are privileged to partner with Cigar Rights of America,” said Andrea Pearman, Creative Commander of Diversified Marketing Strategies, Inc., which organizes the event. “At a time when so many cigar smokers have to gather—literally—out in the cold, we’re happy not only to welcome them inside but also provide them with the luxury experience of the year.”

With FDA regulation looming and states still legislating, MSO is a key event for CRA membership growth, though the evening isn’t all business. It’s pleasure, too, with ticketholders having the opportunity to meet Lou Rodriguez of the eponymous cigars, Tony Gomez of La Flor Dominicana, Cigar Master Alejandro Turrent, Victor Vitale of the Cigar Agency and Clay Roberts of A.J. Fernandez. Cigar god Carlito Fuentes is scheduled to greet all ticketholders.

MSO is for everyone who enjoys luxury, with attendees receiving deluxe giveaways, complimentary massages, experiencing the latest in gaming, being dazzled by live entertainment, and enjoying gourmet food, wine, beer and spirits.

For tickets (and your paid membership to CRA) contact event director Jo Sutton at jo@3dms.com or 1-888-226-0330. For more information, visit www.midwestsmokeout.com, like on Facebook, connect on LinkedIn, or follow on Twitter at @MidwestSmokeOut.

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The La Aurora 107 Salomon will be 7.25 x 52 which was the same size that was used for the Puro Vintage 2003.  Originally released 2 years ago on the 107th Anniversary of La Aurora the 107 consists of an Ecuadorian Sun Grown Wrapper with Dominican binder over filler consisting of Dominican and Nicaraguan tobacco.

The cigar will be available to limited accounts nationwide. According to Hector Paz, National Sales Manager for Miami Cigar & Company, “We would like to use this limited edition to thank those retailers who have supported the 107 line since the beginning.”
The cigars which come in boxes of 8 will have a MSRP of $12.00 and are expected to ship to
retailers in Mid-June, 2012.

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The new AVO Limited Edition 2012 – ‘La Trompeta’ is a dedication to the Jazz musician and aficionado on his 86th birthday, a coronation of his lifetime work. Decades of Avo Uvezian’s work and passion are united in every single cigar, as well as tradition and established knowledge of the tobacco master, Hendrik Kelner.

Through the subtle balanced Ligero tobaccos and the add-on of Peruvian Seco from exquisite tobacco fields, this special vintage is a medium to full- bodied cigar with complex notes in the aftertaste. The beautiful, slightly oily Ecuador Special Sun Grown wrapper “Seleccion 702” awards this cigar an indescribable spicy and balanced, multi-faceted experience. This cigar converts our thoughts in dreams.

A dark brown lacquered box with rounded edges, covered with a stylish black print of the “Avo silhouette” as a cigar aficionado. Avo, as the musician with his trumpet, is radiantly printed with gold foil in the background.

“La Trompeta” presents itself in a majestic and charming cigar format – a brilliant 6 ½ x 54 “Torpedo” – including the addition of a special feature to pay homage to the jazz trumpet, three small circular cigar leaf cut-outs are placed on the wrapper leaf to resemble “trumpet keys” – limited to 100,000 cigars worldwide with 50,000 cigars for the US market.

“La Trompeta” will be available on March 28^th at Select Merchants as a 10-count box with a retail price of $15.50 – taxes not included.

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A very limited supply of the Punch Rare Corojo 10^th Anniversary edition (5” x 50, SRP $6.99 per cigar) will also be available for sale during the same period, or until the limited quantity is depleted.

Both Punch Rare Corojo and the 10^th Anniversary edition are filled with a blend of Dominican, Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos, and are bound with Connecticut Broadleaf; however, each has a unique wrapper.

Punch Rare Corojo cigars are made with a special, extra rich, dark Sumatra wrapper cultivated in the mountains of Ecuador. Grown only in limited quantity, these rare, reddish leaves give Punch Rare Corojo its uniquely smooth taste.

The 10^th Anniversary blend was released in 2011 and features a rare Connecticut Corojo wrapper.

Photos of Punch Rare Corojo are attached. Pls see the attached zip file for photos of the 10^th Anniversary edition.

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