Cigar Industry Report: Volume 5, Number 40 (8/27/16)

The Cigar Industry Report is a one stop place to catch up on the activity here at Cigar Coop and Stogie Geeks. It is a combination of our news reports, cigar reviews, and assessment updates we do throughout the week. We will also recap what happened on our Stogie Geeks show. Finally, each week we will look back at Cigar Coop history. Look for this report every Saturday morning at 8am Eastern time.

Cigar Industry Report: Volume 5, Number 40 (Edition 189 8/27/16)

Feature of the Week: Matilde Serena Introduced

While Matilde Cigars focused on the box-pressed Matilde Quadrata as its feature cigar at IPCPR, the company had one more surprise. Quietly a new cigar known as the Matilde Serena made its way to select retailers. This is the first Connecticut Shade offering by Jose Seijas’ company. We got the details here.

Detailed IPCPR Coverage

Our detailed product reports continued this week from the IPCPR Trade Show.

Duran Cigars: The company unveiled a new value-priced offering called Nicatabaco Factory Blend No. 5.
PDR Cigars: We looked at the new El Trovador line. We also looked at a new line extension to the Small Batch Reserve line known as Wicked Pug.
Rocky Patel Premium Cigars: We took a look at the Rocky Patel Prohibition Connecticut
Caldwell Cigar Company: We took at look at several new releases including Savages and Anastasia. We also looked at the new The King is Dead Toro line extension.
Casa Fernandez: We looked the new Aganorsa Leaf TABSA offering.
Catelli Cigar Company: We looked at a new box-pressed offering offered by the company, the Catelli Boxare.
E.P. Carrillo: We looked at a value-priced offering known as Grand Prize by E.P. Carrillo.
JC Newman Cigar Company: We looked at the new Perla del Mar Maduro line.
Foundry Tobacco Company: We looked at a line that is a collaboration with A.J. Fernandez called Time Flies.
Hoyo de Monterrey: We looked at another collaboration by General Cigar and A.J. Fernandez called Hoyo La Amistad.
IndianHead Cigars: We looked at a new offering under the La Galera brand known as the La Galera 1936 Box Pressed.
JRE Tobacco Company: We looked at the new revamped and expanded Tatascan line.
L’Atelier Imports: We took a look at the L’Atelier Identite – a unique offering featuring Sancti Spiritus in all three components of the cigar – wrapper, binder, and filler. We also took a look at the new Surrogates Crystal Baller 646 line extension.
La Palina Cigars: We took a look at a new offering out of El Titan de Bronze, the La Palina Illumination.
Montecristo: We took a look at a new jar offering called Montecristo Classic Series Special No. 2.
Punch: We looked at the new Punch Signature Pita line extension.
RoMa Craft Tobac: Skip Martin’s company showcased the new RoMa Craft Tobac Neanderthal OM at this year’s IPCPR – a shop exclusive to Stogies World Class Cigars in Houston.
Romeo y Julieta: Altadis is partnering with the Placencia factory again – this time with the new Romeo 505 Nicaragua by Romeo y Julieta line.
Sindicato Cigars: We took a look at the Sindicato Masters Series.
Torano Cigars: We looked at the details around the new Torano Vault offerings

Legislative News

Senate Bill S. 441: S. 441 is the Senate Bill to gain an exemption from the FDA on premium cigars. This week, no new co-sponsors were added. The total sponsor count remains at 21.
House Bill HR 662: H.R. 662 is House Bill to gain an exemption from the FDA on premium cigars. This week no new co-sponsored were added. The total number of sponsors remains at 166.
House Bill 2058: H.R. 2058 is the House Bill to change the effective date for cigars subject to FDA regulation from 2007 to 21 months following any proposed regulations are put into effect. This week no new co-sponsored were added. The total number of sponsors is now 72.
California: A bill that would ban smoking within 250 feet of Youth Sporting Events has been sent to Governor Jerry Brown’s desk.
Colorado: A proposed 22% tax increase for cigars will appear on the state’s ballot this November.
Missouri: The proposed tax hike that was the result of a petition has survived a court challenge and will be on the state’s ballot this November.
North Dakota: There will also be a proposed tobacco tax hike on this state’s ballot this November.