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.
Cigar Industry Report: Edition 320 (3/9/19)
Feature of the Week: Scott Gottlieb to Resign as FDA Commissioner
Dr. Scott Gottlieb will resign as FDA Commissioner. We covered the story here and covered some remarks Dr. Scott Gottlieb made following his resignation.
News and Previews
- AVO: The AVO Improvisation LE19 will launch this month.
- Davidoff: The Davidoff Robusto Real Especiales 7 will return the end of March.
- Drew Estate: The 2019 Barnsmoker dates have been announced. The Prime Time Show will do a pre-game show for the Florida Barnsmoker on May 18.
- C.L.E. Cigar Company: The Eiroa Jamastran will make its debut at the 2019 TAA Convention.
- Global Premium Cigars: The 1502 Robusto Gordo is heading into widespread distribution.
- JSK Cigars: The Crna Nok Salomon will be released at the Ristefari Event.
- Viaje: The Viaje Skull and Bones FOAB, MOAB, and Cloudmaker are returning this month.
Legislative News
- U.S. Senate: S.9 is a proposed piece of legislation that calls for an exemption from FDA Regulation for premium handmade cigars. This week Sen Lindsay Graham [R-SC] was added as a co-sponsor. The total number of sponsors is now at 12.
- FDA: The deadline for compliance of HPHC Testing has been delayed.
- Louisiana: A bill has been proposed that would raise the tobacco purchase age to 21.
- Maine: A bill has been introduced that proposes raising the tax on premium cigars to 81% of the wholesale price.
- Maryland: A bill has been proposed that would remove the tax on certain premium cigars.
- New Hampshire: The bill to raise the tobacco purchase age to 21 has been referred back to committee. This means it will come before the Senate again next year.
- New York: The bill to raise the tobacco purchase age to 21 has passed the State House. It will now move on to a Senate vote.
- West Virginia: After passing in the Senate last week, a bill proposing raising the tobacco purchase age to 21 was rejected down by the House.
Assessments
- Red Meat Lovers Club by Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust
- 300 Hands Maduro Piramides by Southern Draw Cigars
- Encore by E.P. Carrillo Majestic
- Viaje Craft Series Bales on Bales
Agile Cigar Reviews
Feature Story
- This week we published the feature story “Observations from The Great Smoke 2019“
Editor’s Corner
- This month’s editorial was “Lessons Learned Part 2.“
Prime Time Show
This week for Episode 87 we welcomed Riste Ristevski of JSK Cigars as our special guest We discussed sports logos in our Debonaire Ideal segment. In our Deliberation Segment, we discussed boutiques that have (or have not) taken the step to the next level.
Prime Time Special Edition
For Special Edition #49, we welcomed Nick Syris of LH Cigars and covered the XXI Festival del Habanos that took place in Cuba.
Schedule
Prime Time
Episode 881 (3/14/19): Michael Giannini, Ventura Cigar Company
Prime Time Special Edition
Special Edition #50 (3/19/19): Nicholas Melillo, Foundation Cigar Company
On this date March 9th…
- Mar 9 2012: We reviewed the Tatuaje 7th Reserva
- Mar 9, 2013: We published Cigar Week Wrap: Volume 2, Number 8 (3/9/13)
- Mar 9, 2013: We reported on new bands for the RoMa Craft Intemperance line.
- Mar 9, 2013: We reported on the launch of the H. Upmann Legacy.
- Mar 9, 2013: We reposted a press release on Black Patch Kenbano Cigars.
- Mar 9, 2014: We assessed the Placeres Reserva
- Mar 9, 2014: We reported on the launch of Warped Cigars’ El Oso
- Mar 9, 2015: We reported on the Insidious Maduro by Asylum
- Mar 9, 2015: We reported on the MoyaRuiz Chinese Finger Trap
- Mar 9, 2015: We assessed the La Colmena Amado No. 36 by Warped Cigars
- Mar 9, 2015: We reported on the Flor del Valle Sky Flower by Warped Cigars
- Mar 9, 2016: We reported on two new line extensions for the CAO Flathead Steel Horse
- Mar 9, 2016: We reported on three new Kristoff lines.
- Mar 9, 2016: We reported on Heinrich Villiger stepping down as CEO of Villiger Söhne AG
- Mar 9, 2017: We reported on J. Fuego Cigar Co. outsourcing sales, marketing, and customer service to Cypress Group Miami
- Mar 9. 2017: We assessed the El Centurion H.2K.CT Box Pressed Torpedo (TAA Exclusive) by My Father Cigars
- Mar 9 2017: We reported on the launch of the Romeo y Julieta Petit Royales Launched at the XIX Habano Festival
- Mar 9 2018: We did an Agile Cigar Review on the Debonaire Maduro Sagita.
- Mar 9 2018: We reported on a Casa de Montecristo lounge planned for Hallandale, Florida.
- Mar 9, 2018: We published Prime Time Episode 45: Mo Maali, Patina Cigars
