Each year, Esteban Carreras has typically used the IPCPR Trade Show to launch its new release for that year. Esteban Carreras is also one of the few companies that doesn’t pre-announce what it will be releasing at the IPCPR Trade Show. This year was no exception as the Esteban Carreras Unforgiven made its debut at […]
IPCPR 2019 Spotlight: Debonaire House
William Cooper Feature Story, IPCPR 2019 No Comments Debonaire, Feature Story, Indian Motorcycle Ultra Premium Cigars, IPCPR 2019
The 2019 IPCPR Trade Show was the eighth one for Phil Zanghi and Debonaire House. After three years as a part of the Drew Estate booth, Debonaire House was back in its own booth after taking control of its own distribution last year. Debonaire House consists of two main brands, Debonaire and Indian Motorcycle Cigars. […]
IPCPR 2019 Spotlight: Quesada Cigars
William Cooper Feature Story, IPCPR 2019 No Comments Feature Story, IPCPR 2019, Quesada
The year following the 2017 IPCPR Trade Show was one of change at Quesada Cigars. During that period it saw the departures of Terence Reilly and Hostos Quesada. At the same time, a new executive management team came into place and it resulted in many new roles for members of the Quesada family. Many of […]
IPCPR 2019 Spotlight: Joya de Nicaragua Cigars
William Cooper Feature Story, IPCPR 2019 No Comments Feature Story, IPCPR 2019, Joya de Nicaragua
2018 was a huge year for Joya de Nicaragua. The company was celebrating 50 years in the cigar business and as a result, there was quite a bit of activity into the Joya de Nicaragua brand showcased at the 2018 IPCPR. Led by the highly acclaimed Joya de Nicaragua Cinco Decadas (which was the #1 […]
IPCPR 2019 Spotlight: Viaje Cigars
William Cooper Feature Story, IPCPR 2019 1 Comment Feature Story, News, Viaje
When it comes to the IPCPR Trade Show, Viaje Cigars is always different from any other company. The company only has one regular production line, Viaje Exclusivo. The rest of the company’s production is small-batch with different batches of different lines produced throughout the year. As a result, Viaje will typically showcase small batch offerings […]
IPCPR 2019 Spotlight: Pospiech Cigars
William Cooper Feature Story, IPCPR 2019 No Comments Chogui, Fable, Feature Story, FQ, Guáimaro, IPCPR 2019, Nica Sueno, Pospiech Cigars, Powstanie
Part of the RoMa Craft Tobac booth was a company called Pospiech Cigars. This is a distribution company run by Mike and Greg Szczepankiewicz, the owners of Cigar Hustler. They handle distribution for several brands, including the three non-RoMa Craft Tobac brands coming out of Nica Sueno. These brands include the Szczepankiewiczs’ own brand of cigars […]
IPCPR 2019 Spotlight: Bombay Tobak
William Cooper Feature Story, IPCPR 2019 No Comments Bombay Tobak, Feature Story, IPCPR 2019, M.Esteli, MQBA
One of the booths I was most excited to see was Bombay Tobak. Back in April, I had an opportunity to travel with company owner and president Mel Shah to Costa Rica to see the production operations where his brands were made. At the time, Mel was finalizing the details around his IPCPR releases, so […]
IPCPR 2019 Spotlight: General Cigar Company
William Cooper Feature Story, IPCPR 2019 1 Comment CAO, Cohiba, Diesel, Feature Story, General, Hoyo de Monterrey, IPCPR 2019, La Gloria Cubana, Macanudo, Odyssey, Partagas, Punch
General Cigar is one of the booths that takes us a long time to cover. There always are plenty of products that are being showcased, but 2019 was particularly challenging. In the past we have had a central marketing contact in Victoria McKee Jaworski. Victoria is no longer with General and this marked our first […]
IPCPR 2019 Spotlight: La Barba Cigars
William Cooper Feature Story, IPCPR 2019 No Comments Feature Story, IPCPR 2019, La Barba Cigars
Tony Bellatto is an accomplished sommelier and cigar enthusiast who seven years ago launched a brand called La Barba Cigars. This June, La Barba Cigars was at its fourth IPCPR Trade Show, and for the second year in a row, Bellatto’s company had its own booth. While La Barba works with Caldwell Cigar Company for […]
IPCPR 2019 Spotlight: Toscano
William Cooper Feature Story, IPCPR 2019 No Comments Feature Story, IPCPR 2019, Miami Cigars, Toscano
Toscano Cigars is a brand of cigars produced by Italy’s Manifatture Sigaro Toscano. Distribution is handled in the U.S. by Miami Cigar and Company. Once again, Toscano was a part of the Miami Cigar and Company exhibit at the IPCPR Trade Show. Last year, Toscano had celebrated its 200th anniversary in the cigar business. However, […]