Klin Groupe LLC, owners of the Hammer + Sickle cigar and vodka has announced it is shutting down both brands. David Garofalo, owner of Two Guys Smoke Shop has announced he has acquired the remaining cigar inventory of Hammer + Sickle as well as ownership of the brands, and is acquiring Klin Groupe’s warehouse.
Much of the reason for the shutdown is being attributed to Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine. On Garofalo’s May 7th edition of The Cigar Authority, he explained that when the invasion occurred, various states made the decision to remove Russian and Russian branded products from retail shelves. While Hammer + Sickle cigars are being made in the Dominican Republic, the company did import its vodka from Russia. Several Hammer + Sickle lines contained the Russian Hammer + Sickle logo (minus the Soviet Star).
Hammer + Sickle Tradición Serie (Photo Credit: Hammer + Sickle)
Back when the invasion occurred Klin Groupe issued the following statement:
Klin Spirits is devastated by the actions of the Russian government and unequivocally supports the people of Ukraine. We hope consumers understand that in no way do we condone the violence against Ukraine and implore the Russian government to work towards a peaceful resolution.
Our company began importing Russian vodka in 2007. We are a Massachusetts-based, small business who created this brand with the hopes of bringing an unknown, high quality product to market in our great country. We source our vodka from a hardworking, multi generation family in Russia. Our values and beliefs do not align with the atrocities taking place in Ukraine and we reject the actions of the Russian government, as do so many of the Russian people.
Anthony Faletra
CEO, Klin Spirits
Rick Hanson
Chairman of the Board, Klin Spirits
Hammer + Sickle Trademark Maduro (Photo Credit: Cigar Coop)
Garofalo went on to explain that in addition to the pressure coming from some states, there were some retailers stating they did not want Russian branding on their shelves. All of this would lead to Klin Groupe’s decision to shut down the Hammer + Sickle lifestyle brands.
Garofalo’s acquisition of the inventory does not include the vodka business. He stated the three cigar lines with the Russian hammer and sickle branding (Trademark, Trademark Maduro, and La Tradición) are being liquidated at his stores, and is encouraging his customers through a #BurnTheBand campaign to pick up the cigars, but remove and burn the cigar bands. Garofalo also acquired the Hermitage and Berlin Wall lines, but is not liquidating those lines.
Hammer + Sickle was a lifestyle brand founded by Eric Hanson. This began with the launch of Hammer + Sickle Vodka, and in 2010 he would launch the Hammer + Sickle cigar brand. Hanson died in 2018.
This absolutely sucks! H & S vodka is the best on the market. I can’t find anything comparable. Shame on the propaganda machine for ruining this wonderful product and the lives of those farmers!! Idiots can’t separate the people from the government!! Damn it man!! Can we get a rebrand and a return to the market?!? Please!
Agreed. Absolute idiocy. Everyone with a brain knows they aren’t promoting communist Russia or supporting a war. Completely ridiculous.
i’m a cigar smoker and have only smoked one hammer and sickle that i got as a gift and it was very good. i never quite understood why they used that type of branding because i think most americans like myself would shun the product because of the symbol is part of ussr and to me as a military vet that equals the enemy. i’m glad they dropped the image but not the cigar line, maybe they will rebrand them.
I smoked Hammer and Sickle cigars and drank Russian Standard Vodka sometimes. It’s a shame that they are no longer available. I’m not familiar with the Kiln Groupe and wonder if it’s Russian and the shutdown is due to sanctions.
I am a veteran. I say so because another commenter did. It’s a shame he and my country is afflicted with the manufactured mental disorder Russophobia.