When it comes to the Premium Cigar Association (PCA), the presentation can genuinely make a difference. In this case, I’m referring to the booth presentation at Wildfire Cigar Company. Undoubtedly, the booth was one of the most talked about at the 2023 PCA Trade Show – so much so that it was voted Best Small […]
PCA 2023: Dapper Cigar Co.
William Cooper Feature Story, PCA 2023 No Comments Dapper Cigar Company, Feature Story, PCA 2023, PCA 2023 Post Game
Past Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Shows have seen Dapper unveil several products that would ship after the Trade Show, but 2023 was a quieter year for Ian Reith and Dapper Cigar Company. This year was a little different as Dapper released a single cigar before the Trade Show, the HolySmoke Genesis. This project […]
PCA 2023: Altadis U.S.A.
William Cooper Feature Story, PCA 2023 No Comments Altadis, Feature Story, PCA 2023, PCA 2023 Post Game, Tabacalera USA
One of the Big Four companies making a return to the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show was Altadis U.S.A. It was really good to see Altadis back. Altadis’ return meant many of its iconic bands were also returning to the premium cigar industry’s showcase event. Altadis U.S.A.’s last trade show was in 2019, and […]
PCA 2023: Foundation Cigar Company
William Cooper Feature Story, PCA 2023 No Comments Feature Story, Foundation Cigar Company, PCA 2023, PCA 2023 Post Game
Foundation Cigar Company often themes its cigars around different cultures. Over the years, the branding of Foundation has paid homage to the cultures of Nicaragua, Ethiopia, Egypt, Jamaica, and England as well as Melillo’s home state of Connecticut. That continued in 2023 as the owner Nicholas Melillo’s company’s new releases honored Nicaragua, Ethiopia, and Connecticut. […]
PCA 2023: Aging Room Cigars
William Cooper Feature Story, PCA 2023 No Comments Aging Room Cigars, Altadis USA, Boutique Blends Cigars, Feature Story, PCA 2023, PCA 2023 Post Game, Tabacalera USA
In addition to Altadis U.S.A. returning to the Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show in 2023, the brands of Boutique Blends – the company co-owned by Rafael Nodal and Hank Bischoff – also made a return. Back in 2017, Boutique Blends entered into a strategic partnership where Altadis U.S.A. would take over distribution for Boutique […]
PCA 2023: Black Star Line Cigars
William Cooper Feature Story, PCA 2023 No Comments Black Star Line Cigars, Feature Story, PCA 2023, PCA 2023 Post Game
One of the rising boutique companies we have seen over the past few years has been Aric Bey’s Black Star Line Cigars. Coming into this year’s Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, Bey, and Black Star Line would introduce two new cigars. While Black Star Line is best known for working with the Aganorsa Leaf […]
PCA 2023: Forged Cigar Company
William Cooper Feature Story, PCA 2023 No Comments Forged Cigar Company, PCA 2023, PCA 2023 Post Game, Scandinavian Tobacco Group, STG
The presence of Forged Cigar Company at the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show marked the return of at least part of Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) to the show. The last time STG had participated at a trade show, the focus was mostly on the General Cigar brands. Since then, STG has spun several […]
PCA 2023: Matilde Cigars
William Cooper Feature Story, PCA 2023 No Comments Feature Story, Matilde, PCA 2023, PCA 2023 Pre Game
For the third consecutive year, Matilde Cigars was a part of the Sutliff Tobacco pavilion. During this time, Sutliff has provided distribution services for many companies, including Matilde. It had been almost 6 1/2 years since Matilde Cigars has released a new regular production line, but earlier this year, Matilde released the Matilde Serena Maduro. […]
PCA 2023: Bolivar
William Cooper Feature Story, PCA 2023 No Comments Bolivar, Forged Cigar Company, Scandinavian Tobacco Group, STG
The return of Forged Cigar Company brought back many iconic brands to the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show. One of those brands that is making a return is Bolivar. While Bolivar has been an iconic brand out of Cuba, when it comes to the U.S. market, it’s been a little hit or miss. […]
PCA 2023: La Palina Cigars
William Cooper Feature Story, PCA 2023 No Comments Feature Story, La Palina, PCA 2023, PCA 2023 Post Game
In 2009, Bill Paley decided to resurrect the brand his grandfather created, La Palina Cigars. That year La Palina would attend its first IPCPR Trade Show, and since then, La Palina has been a staple of IPCPR/PCA Trade Shows. If I count correctly, La Palina would now have displayed at 14 IPCPR/PCA Trade Shows. La […]