OneOff Cigars appears to be getting back into the spotlight. Dion Giolito, owner of Illusione Cigars told Cigar Aficionado this week that he has acquired the rights to the brand from Cuban Crafters in Miami. It’s a brand that has been long admired by Giolito.
The rationale for this acquisition is that the blends of OneOff qualify as predicate (grandfathered) blends from the FDA Deeming Rules. OneOff was created by Andrea Molinari in 2001. Molinari was a tobacconist who ran a La Casa del Habano in Milan Italy. After failing to get his own brand made to Cuba, he turned to the Plasencia family who would create the cigars at Segovia Cigars S.A. A year later, Molinari turned to Felipe Gregorio (owned by Philip Wynne) to handle his U.S. distribution. By 2004, distribution would move to Paul Giacalone of Massachusetts. Eventually Plasencia stopped making the cigars and Molinari would sell the brand to Cuban Crafters.
Giolito told Cigar Aficionado he will market the OneOff using blend, packaging and brand identity that “for the most part remain identical to the original”. Giolito also said he was particularly interest in the original 16 OneOff sizes, despite the fact Cuban Crafters was selling some others.
The resurrected OneOff brand will be produced at Casa Fernandez’s Tabacos valle de Jalapa S.A.(TABSA). Giolito told Cigar Aficionado he doesn’t expect to have the product on the market until next year. Pricing still is to be determined.
