While Swisher International is the largest manufacturer of cigars worldwide, they are a company that the online cigar media has not focused on. This is because much of the cigar media focuses around handmade premium cigars. In light of the acquisition of Drew Estate Tobacco Company by Swisher International, we take a closer look at […]
Feature Story: Why 2014 is not the Year of the Lancero
William Cooper Feature Story, Uncategorized No Comments Feature Story, Opinion
The lancero vitola has often been an enigma when looking at the cigar industry. A lancero is a long, thin vitola measuring 7 to 7 1/2 “ in length with a ring gauge between 38 and 40. Ask many cigar experts, and they will tell you that the thin ring gauge will give you the […]
Feature Story: Enrique Sanchez Discusses 1502 Nicaragua and More
William Cooper Feature Story, Uncategorized No Comments 1502, Feature Story, Global Premium Cigars, GPC, House of Emilio, IPCPR 2014
It was exactly two years ago today when an announcement was made that a company called Global Premium Cigars and Gary Griffith’s Emilio Cigars entered into a distribution agreement. At the time, Global Premium Cigars was an unknown Nicaraguan-based manufacturer. Headed by its CEO and founder Enrique Sanchez Icaza, Global Premium Cigars was making a line […]
Feature Story: Don Pepin Garcia Talks About El Rey de los Habanos and More
William Cooper Feature Story, Uncategorized 2 Comments Don Pepin, Feature Story, My Father
Don Pepin Garcia On September 20th 2014, legendary cigar maker Don Jose “Pepin” Garcia was in attendance at The Pipe and Pint in Greensboro, North Carolina for the national launch of the event marking the return of El Rey de los Habanos. This brand is best known for being the first national release made by […]
Feature Story: Analyzing General Cigar Company’s Acquisition of Leccia Tobacco (Editorial)
William Cooper Feature Story, Uncategorized No Comments Feature Story, General, Leccia Tobacco, Opinion
For the second week in a row General Cigar Company made headlines with a brand acquisition. Last week the announcement of General Cigar Company’s acquisition of the Torano Family Cigars sent shockwaves into the cigar industry. Earlier today it was announced that General Cigar would be acquiring the brands of Leccia Tobacco, the company headed […]
Feature Story: Toraño – What’s Next?
William Cooper Feature Story, Uncategorized No Comments Feature Story, General, Toraño
Yesterday one of the biggest announcements of the year in the cigar industry was announced as General Cigar Company announced it was acquiring the brands of Torano Family Cigars. Over the next few months, the process of assimilation into the General Cigar Company portfolio will take place. Whenever such an acquisition takes place, there are usually more […]
Feature Story: The Historical Significance of the Toraño Acquisition (Editorial)
William Cooper Feature Story, Uncategorized No Comments Feature Story, General, Opinion, Toraño
Acquisitions in the cigar industry are nothing new. There have been many in the past, and there will be plenty in the future. However, today’s announcement that General Cigar Company was acquiring the brands of Torano could take on a significance like no other the cigar industry has seen before. It could be a sign of […]
Feature Story: Hirochi Robaina and Cubanacan Cigars at the 2014 IPCPR Trade Show
William Cooper Feature Story, Uncategorized No Comments Cubanacan, Feature Story, HR, IPCPR 2014, People
Hiroshi Robaina, 2014 IPCPR Trade Show In 2014, Cubanacan Cigars has been undergoing a transformation. Earlier this year, the company streamlined their portfolio around three brands – Cubanacan, Mederos, and Soneros. Meanwhile the company has also embraced its heritage and is looking forward to the future. Prior to the 2014 IPCPR Trade Show, it was […]
Feature Story: Viaje Cigars at the 2014 IPCPR
William Cooper Feature Story, Uncategorized No Comments Feature Story, IPCPR 2014, Viaje
Prior to the 2014 IPCPR Trade Show, Viaje Cigars made three announcements on new releases: Viaje Collaboration 2014, Viaje Cache, and the Viaje Satori 2014. While these products were on display at the 2014 IPCPR Trade Show, these products were already shipped to retailers just prior to the show. The name Viaje means “journey” and […]
Cigar News: General Cigar Company at the 2014 IPCPR Trade Show
William Cooper Cigar News, Uncategorized No Comments CAO, Cohiba, Dunhill, Feature Story, Foundry, General, La Gloria Cubana, Macanudo, Partagas
For the second consecutive year, General Cigar Company led the way in terms of new releases.. Like last year, the company pretty much kept everything under wraps until the show. The push seemed to be around five lines: Cohiba, Dunhill, CAO, La Gloria Cubana, and Michael Giannini’s Foundry Tobacco Company. Across all of the releases, […]