The 2021 Cigar of the Year Countdown is now in the annals of history. With the Countdown completed, it is time to look at some of the numbers. In this article we look at two items: A breakdown of the cigars on the Countdown by vitola, country of origin, factory, company, what cigars were sponsored, […]
2021 Year in Review: Performance Ratings for Sponsored Cigars & Samples
William Cooper Feature Story No Comments 2021 Year in Review, Cigar Coop, Feature Story
Last year Cigar Coop introduced two new performance rating categories: Impacts of Sponsored Cigars on Scoring and Impacts of Samples Used on Scoring. Performance Ratings are a collection of analytical data for the past Cigar Year on Cigar Coop. Last year these categories were introduced in response to feedback the media consistently hears one scoring […]
2021 Year in Review: Top 12 Cigar Industry Stories and Themes of 2021
William Cooper Feature Story No Comments 2021 Year in Review, Feature Story
For the eleventh consecutive year, we bring you our selections and analysis for the Top 12 cigar industry news stories and themes for the year. Unlike how we consider cigars for our Cigar of the Year Countdown, these news story selections are based on the actual calendar year for 2021. These stories are individual stories […]
Feature Story: Scorecard – 2020 TAA Exclusive Series
William Cooper Feature Story No Comments 2020 TAA Exclusive Series, Feature Story, TAA
Last month, we completed our assessments of the new installments of the 2020 Tobacconist Association of America (TAA) Exclusive Series. The average score was 88.73. The following is a list of the 11 cigars that were new and released as a part of the 2020 TAA Exclusive Series. Brick House Ciento por Ciento by J.C. Newman Cigar […]
Summer of ’21 Report: General Cigar Company
William Cooper Feature Story No Comments Feature Story, General, Scandinavian Tobacco Group, STG, Summer of 21
Earlier this year, Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) spun several of its premium cigar brands under General Cigar Company into a new distribution company known as Forged Cigar Company. This year, what is still called General Cigar Company includes five very strong brands: Macanudo, CAO, Cohiba, Hoyo de Monterrey, and Punch. These brands have all […]
Summer of ’21 Report: Kafie 1901 Cigars
William Cooper Feature Story 1 Comment Feature Story, Kafie, Summer of 21
Kafie 1901 Cigars and its owner Dr. Gaby Kafie are celebrating a couple of milestones in 2021. First earlier this year, Dr. Kafie turned 50 years old, and second his company is now celebrating seven years in business. Later this year, the company will mark both occasions with the release of the Kafie Serie L. […]
Summer of ’21 Report: Altadis U.S.A.
William Cooper Feature Story No Comments Altadis, Feature Story, H. Upmann, Montecristo, Summer of 21, Tabacalera USA
One of the big stories in the premium cigar industry over the past year was Imperial Tobacco selling off its premium cigar business to a private equity group. This sale included Altadis U.S.A and its associated brands. The transaction closed late in 2020. In terms of what this means to its customers, things have remained […]
Summer of ’21 Report: Frontier Cigars / Island Lifestyle Importers
William Cooper Feature Story No Comments Feature Story, Frontier Cigars, Island Lifestyle Importers, Summer of 21
For the past few years, Island Lifestyle Importers has been best known for being the exclusive manufacturer and licensee for Tommy Bahama branded cigar accessories. In addition, the company has been selling its own premium cigars, including the Island Lifestyle and Island Club lines. Last year things were quiet at Island Lifestyle Importers, but […]
Summer of ’21 Report: Drew Estate
William Cooper Feature Story No Comments Acid, Drew Estate, Feature Story, Herrera Esteli, Liga Privada, Nica Rustica, Summer of 21, Undercrown
One of the companies most affected by COVID-19 has been Drew Estate. The company decided not to make a Tobacco Plus Expo (TPE) 2021 Trade Show appearance and then when a new surge of COVID-19 cases occurred over the summer the company cancelled its DE25 and Barn Smoker events. On the other hand, if there […]
Summer of ’21 Report: RoMa Craft Tobac
William Cooper Feature Story No Comments Feature Story, RoMa Craft Tobac, Summer of 21
In 2021, RoMa Craft Tobac made a decision to focus its attention away from the Trade Shows and put its resources into its inaugural consumer event WeaselFest. WeaselFest 2021 was held in RoMa Craft Tobac’s hometown of Austin, Texas. The company had originally planned on the inaugural WeaselFest being in 2020, but COVID-19 forced […]