It’s a project that has been ten years in the making – or at least almost 18 months. The concept for doing a Cigar of the Decade selection started in July, 2018. I was driving outside Alburquerque, New Mexico heading to Las Vegas for the IPCPR Trade Show. I had just talked to Sam Morales, […]
On January 10th, 2019 came word that four of the largest cigar companies: Altadis U.S.A., General Cigar Company, Davidoff of Geneva, and Drew Estate were not going to be attending the 2020 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show. Today we peel the onion and offer some thoughts and perspectives on this announcement and what I […]
For the ninth 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 2019. These stories are individual […]
Recently, Cigar Coop published an article where we looked at the correlation between media relations (press releases, press communication, and press relationships) and the number of cigars that landed on the leading cigar industry year-end lists – the Halfwheel Consensus and Cigar Aficionado. We also looked at the Cigar Coop’s own performance in this area. […]
On October 23rd, tobacco giant Altria announced it was exploring options for Nat Sherman International, including the possibility of a sale. A part of the potential sale includes its wholesale premium cigar business as well as the lease of the company’s flagship Townhouse store in Manhattan. Today, we take a closer look at what this […]
If one wanted to predict what cigars will end up on the leading cigar industry end of the year lists, one may want to look at what companies have provided press releases to the media. On the two lists considered to be the most influential: 25 of the 25 entries of the 2018 Halfwheel Consensus […]
On September 16, 2019, there came shocking news to many in the cigar industry that Royal Agio Cigars was being acquired by tobacco giant Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG). As we typically do on Cigar Coop, we will here offer analysis on what this news could mean for both parties as well as cigar enthusiasts. Why […]
“Holding the line” is a term I use to describe those companies that come into the IPCPR with no new product and no new packaging. It’s the final article of our 2019 IPCPR Coverage – and at times it is the most challenging one to write. Namely, what exactly do you write – that the […]
This year marked the debut of Starky Arias’ new company, Cigar Marketplace. For many years, the cigar industry has known Arias for his work. Arias is best known for his work as a creative director for many cigar brands, and for his tenure at Cigar Rings and Marketing Director for AJ Fernandez Cigars. With Cigar […]
A.C.E. Prime is a new cigar company that had its official launch at the 2019 IPCPR Trade Show. You have to go back to Micallef Cigars in 2017 to see a company that has had a major launch on the level of A.C.E. Prime. The company launched four brands and ten different blends. While much […]
