Davidoff Cigars has announced the winners of its 8th annual Golden Band Awards. For the first time, Davidoff has announced the winners prior to the IPCPR Trade Show. The winners will be invited to an exclusive event held during the 2019 IPCPR Trade Show at Restaurant Guy Savoy.
“Davidoff Cigars master blenders and renowned culinary luminaries share the same passion and mission of filling people’s time beautifully with their exquisite creations. With this shared mission, and with Davidoff’s desire to create extraordinary cigar experiences inspired by flavors, holding the Golden Band Awards at Restaurant Guy Savoy is the perfect setting for such a special evening,” says Lana Fraser, Director of Marketing in a press release.
“We are proud of the dedication and accomplishments of our top Appointed Merchants. We are looking forward to celebrating the success of our Golden Band Award Winners and our longstanding partnership at this exclusive event dedicated to our winners,” says Dylan Austin, President of Davidoff Americas.
Like last year, the Golden Band Awards remained streamlined to six categories. This year, there were four first time Golden Band Award winners.
The Awards
Best Merchandising
This honors the Appointed Merchant who best meets the Davidoff Brand merchandising expectations. Cutters Cigar Emporium wins the category capturing its first Golden Band Award.
Winner: Cutters Cigar Emporium (Alpharetta, GA)
Other Nominees:
Ambassador Fine Cigars (Phoenix, AZ)
Shore Thing Cigars (Watersound, FL)
The Tobacco Shop of Ridgewood (Ridgewood, NJ)
Club Humidor (San Antonio, TX)
Best Davidoff Performance (Single Location)
This is awarded to the Appointed Merchant with a single location that has the highest level of Davidoff brand purchases. Maxamar Ultimate Cigars took the award for the fourth year in a row.
Winner: Maxamar Ultimate Cigars, Orange, CA
Other Nominees:
Cigar Warehouse (Sherman Oaks, CA)
Shore Thing Cigars, (Watersound, FL)
Tinder Box (Charlotte, NC)
Tobacconist of Greenwich (Greenwich, CT)
Best Davidoff Performance (Multiple Locations)
This is awarded to the Appointed Merchant with two or more locations that has the highest level of Davidoff brand purchases. Corona Cigar Company captured the award for the fourth time in six years.
Winner: Corona Cigar Company (Orlando, FL)
Other Nominees:
Ambassador Fine Cigars (Phoenix, AZ)
Churchill’s Cigar Shop (Birmingham, MI)
Humidor of Westmont (Westmont, IL)
Matador Cigars (Roslyn Heights, NY)
Davidoff Growth Award (Single Location)
This is awarded to the Appointed Merchant with a single location that has the largest percentage and dollar increase of Davidoff brand sales. Cigar Warehouse wins the category capturing its first Golden Band Award.
Winner: Cigar Warehouse (Sherman Oaks, CA)
Other Nominees:
Fair Oaks Cigars (Newport Beach, CA)
Hemingway Cigars (Palo Alto, CA)
Maxamar Ultimate Cigars (Orange, CA)
Shore Thing Cigars (Watersound, FL)
Davidoff Growth Award (Multiple Locations)
This is awarded to the Appointed Merchant with two or more locations that has the largest percentage and dollar increase of Davidoff brand sales. Matador Cigars wins the category capturing its first Golden Band Award.
Winner: Matador Cigars (Roslyn Heights, NY)
Other Nominees:
Ambassador Fine Cigars (Phoenix, AZ)
Corona Cigar Company (Orlando, FL)
Churchill’s Cigar Shop (Birmingham, MI)
Humidor of Westmont (Westmont, IL)
Appointed Merchant of the Year
This is awarded to the Appointed Merchant who has grown and promoted the Davidoff portfolio. Ambassador Fine Cigars captures the 2017 honors for the first time. Shore Thing Cigars wins the category capturing its first Golden Band Award.
Winner: Shore Thing Cigars (Watersound, FL)
Other Nominees:
Cigar Warehouse (Sherman Oaks, CA)
Corona Cigar Company (Orlando, FL)
Matador Cigars (Roslyn Heights, NY)
Maxamar Ultimate Cigars (Orange, CA)
Past Winners
For reference, here were the previous winners. These winners were given the opportunity to carry the ultra-limited Davidoff Golden Band cigar.
Best Merchandising
2012 Island Smoke Shop (Key Largo, FL)
2013 Prime Cigar & Wine Bar (Boca Raton, FL)
2014 Cup O’ Joes (Queensbury, NY)
2015 Tobacco Shop of Ridgewood (Ridgewood, NJ)
2016 Franklin Cigar (Franklin, Tennessee)
2017 The Cigar Shop of Biloxi (Biloxi, MS)
2018 Club Humidor (San Antonio TX)
2019 Cutters Cigar Emporium (Alpharetta GA)
Best Davidoff Performance (Single Location)
2012 The Tobacconist of Greenwich (Greenwich, CT)
2013 The Tobacconist of Greenwich (Greenwich, CT)
2014 The Tobacconist of Greenwich (Greenwich, CT)
2015 Blend Bar Cigar (Indianapolis, Indiana)
2016 Maxamar Ultimate Cigars (Orange, CA)
2017 Maxamar Ultimate Cigars (Orange, CA)
2018 Maxamar Ultimate Cigars (Orange, CA)
2019 Maxamar Ultimate Cigars (Orange, CA)
Best Davidoff Performance (Multiple Locations)
2012 Humidor Of Westmont (Westmont, IL)
2013 Ambassador Fine Cigars (Scottsdale, AZ)
2014 Corona Cigar Company (Orlando, FL)
2015 Corona Cigar Company (Orlando, FL)
2016 Ambassador Fine Cigars (Scottsdale, AZ)
2017 Corona Cigar Company (Orlando, FL)
2018 Blend Bar (Indianapolis IN)
2019 Corona Cigar Company (Orlando, FL)
Davidoff Growth Award (Single Location)
2012 Ambassador Fine Cigars (Scottsdale, AZ)
2013 Angry Moon Cigars (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)
2014 Cigarz on the Avenue (Winter Park, FL)
2015 Cigarz on the Avenue (Winter Park, FL)
2016 Hemingway’s (Palo Alto CA)
2017 Cigars by Chivas (Pasadena, CA)
2018 Tobacco Grove (Maple Grove, NN)
2019 Cigar Warehouse (Sherman Oaks CA)
Davidoff Growth Award (Multiple Locations)
2012 Cigars by Chivas (Pasadena, CA)
2013 Corona Cigar Company (Orlando, FL)
2014 Humidor of Westmont (Westmont, IL)
2015 Casa de Montecristo (Chicago, IL)
2016 Tinder Box Cigars (Charlotte, North Carolina)
2017 Davidus Cigars (Frederick, Maryland)
2018 Anthony’s Cigar Emporium (Tucson, AZ)
2019 Matador Cigars (Roslyn Heights, NY)
Appointed Merchant of the Year
2012 Tinder Box Waldorf (Waldorf, MD)
2013 Maxamar Cigar (Orange, CA)
2014 Tinder Box of Charlotte (Charlotte, NC)
2015 Tobacconist of Greenwich (Greenwich, CT)
2016 Blend Bar Cigar (Indianapolis, IN)
2017 Ambassador Fine Cigars (Scottsdale, AZ)
2018 Corona Cigar Company (Orlando FL)
2019 Shore Thing Cigars (Watersound FL)
