The Cigar Industry Report is a one-stop place to catch up on the activity here at Cigar Coop. It is a combination of the news reports, cigar reviews, and assessment updates we do throughout the week. In addition, each week we will look back at Cigar Coop history. Look for this report every Saturday morning at 8am Eastern Time.
WELCOME CURRENT SPONSOR ALPHA CIGAR COMPANY AS OUR NEW SPONSOR FOR THE CIGAR INDUSTRY REPORT!
Cigar Industry Report: Volume 6, Number 26 (Edition 227 5/20/17)
Feature of the Week: Cigar Coop Launches Third Brand with Prime Time Special Edition
This week we announced and launched our third brand under Cigar Coop with the launch of Prime Time Special Edition.
Cigar Coop Special Edition will introduce a series of podcasts that will allow us to have another avenue outside the framework of the Cigar Coop Prime Time Show. The content will be a combination of live programming and on-demand recordings. Content will include additional interviews as well as panel discussions and feature stories. While the Cigar Coop Prime Time Show follows a set framework with our Interviews, Debonaire Ideal, and Deliberation Segments, Prime Time Special Edition will allow for us to change up the framework from episode to episode. We will also feature a variety of guest hosts.
It will also be a place where we can present interviews we have recorded outside of the studio at events, festivals, etc. For studio broadcasts, we will continue to leverage our Serino Cigar Company studio.
Special Edition #1 aired this Tuesday with our special guest co-host Bear Duplisea. We discussed Cigar Hall of Famers and talked some FDA!!
Feature of the Week: Altadis USA to Distribute Boutique Blends and Bring Rafael Nodal On Board
This week came blockbuster news that Altadis USA would distribute Boutique Blends Cigars. As a part of the arrangement, co-owner Rafael Nodal will also be directly joining Altadis USA. This weekend on the Smooth Draws Radio Show, Rafael Nodal will be a special guest. For details of the arrangement, click here.
News Recap
- Drew Estate: The Herrera Esteli TAA Exclusive is now going to become an on-going TAA release.
- Cohiba: New brand ambassador Sean Williams was a guest on the Smooth Draws Radio Show and discussed his new role.
- Ezra Zion Cigar Company: This week the company announced it was departing Boutiques Unified and would now be handling its own distribution.
- La Flor Dominicana: The La Flor Dominicana Exclusivo TAA 49, an exclusive for the Tobacconist Association of America, has arrived at retailers.
- La Palina Cigars: The La Palina Bronze Label TAA Exclusive, an exclusive for the Tobacconist Association of America, has begun to arrive at retailers.
- Maya Selva Cigars: The company announced the Flor de Selva Colección Aniversario Nº20, a line that was originally released for Europe and is now heading to the U.S.
Legislative News
- House of Representatives: H.R. 564 is a proposed piece of legislation that calls for an exemption from FDA Regulation for premium handmade cigars. This week their new co-sponsors were added including Vern Buchanan [R-Florida], Jeff Duncan [R-South Carolina], and Paul Mitchell [R-Michigan] The total number of sponsors is now 106.
- U.S. Senate: S.294 is the Senate companion bill to H.R. 564. This week no new co-sponsors signed on. The total number of sponsors remains at 15.
- House Bill 1136: H.R. 1136 is the legislation to change the Grandfather Date for Deeming Tobacco products subject to FDA Regulation from February 15, 2017 to 21 days after enactment of the regulations. This week four new co-sponsors were added, including Kurt Schrader [D-Oregon], Daniel Donovan[R-New York], Bill Johnson [R-Ohio], and Bob Goodlatte [R-Virginia]. The total sponsor count is now 62.
- Philippines: A widespread smoking ban is going into effect in July.
Assessments
- Casa Fernandez Master Mason 5 x 56
- Hoyo La Amistad Rothschild
- Quesada Holiday Keg 2016
- Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua Toro
Agile Cigar Reviews
Feature Story
This week we published a feature story called “A Visit to the JRE Tobacco Company Operations: Part 2-The Agriculture and Curing Operations”
Prime Time Show
For Episode 6, Fred Rewey from Nomad Cigar Company was our special guest. We were also joined by special guest host John Reiner. In addition to talking tobacco with Fred, we talked bacon and deliberated on Boutiques.
Our show is available on YouTube, Podbean, iTunes, Tune In Radio, and Google Play.
Upcoming Schedule (Subject to Change)
Episode 7 (5/25/17): Enrique Sanchez Icaza, 1502 Cigars
Episode 8 (6/1/17): James Brown, Black Label Trading Co / Black Works Studio
Episode 9 (6/8/17): Riste Riatevski, JSK Cigars, Tom Person (Special Co-Host)
Episode 10 (6/15/17): Bryan Mussard, Cattle Baron Cigars
Episode 11 (6/22/17): Claudio Sgroi, Mombacho Cigars
Episode 12 (6/29/17): Juan Cancel and Bill Ives, Cubariqueño Cigar Company
On this date May 20th…
- May 20th, 2013: We assessed the L’Atelier LAT46 Selection Spéciale.
- May 20th, 2014: We reported on the launch of La Colonia Cigars.
- May 20th, 2014: We did a pre-release assessment on the Carpe Noctem by Emilio Cigars.
- May 20th, 2015: We reported on theMy Father Lounge Exclusive Box-Pressed Torpedo for The Pipe & Pint.
- May 20th, 2015: We reported on the Drew Estate Nica Rustica Belly
- May 20th, 2015: We published a Manufacturer and Brand Owner Guide for the Southern Cigar Festival.
- May 20th, 2015: We reported on the launch of the Fratello Bianco.
- May 20th, 2016: We reported on the El Primer Mundo 10 Year Anniversary.
- May 20th, 2016: We assessed the Sindicato Maniac Colossal.
