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For Pennies More, Smokers Can Upgrade From Domestic Brands to New Handmade Premium Cigars
Introducing Alec Bradley Cigar Company’s Spirit of Cuba all-tobacco, handmade bundled premium cigars, President Alan Rubin explains, “The affordable quality of our original Spirit of Cuba boxed cigars has proven their value to premium cigar lovers since their 2003 introduction ... and has given them a reason to return to three-cigar-a-day smoking. By removing the box cost, our new Spirit of Cuba bundled cigar line now offers smokers of machine-made domestic brands the unmatched satisfaction of well-balanced premium cigars for only a few pennies more. Give these smokers this choice, and a natural conversion takes place ... we’ve found they move up to these higher quality handmade cigars on a regular basis.”
Alec Bradley has expanded the original Spirit of Cuba line into three wrappers and strengths: a mild-to-medium Natural, a medium-to-full Habano, and a full-to-bold Corojo. Depending on whether Honduran or Nicaraguan wrapper is used, filler tobaccos from Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, or Mexico comprise the blend. Like the boxed line, two popular sizes are available: 7 X 48 Churchill and 5 x 50 Robusto.
Unlike most traditional bundles, these are brightly colored and eye-appealing. Smokers can spot them in a new Spirit of Cuba display, with artwork on its front face that mirrors the bundles’ contemporary graphic design. Descriptive information on the display also guides smokers as they “graduate” from the milder Natural through the two stronger choices. Spirit of Cuba bundled premium cigars are now available at tobacco retailers.
Puros Indios Cigars Regains Distribution Rights to Cuba Aliados Brand
“When my grandfather, Rolando Reyes, Sr., escaped Castro’s regime and arrived in the United States in 1972, one of the the few possessions he brought with him was the ‘Cuba Aliados’ trademark,” reports Carlos Diez, Vice President of Puros Indios Cigars. “Now, after decades, our family has regained distribution rights to the Cuba Aliados brand name, which translates to ‘Unified Cuba.’”
“Don Rolando” the founder and patriarch of Puros Indios, operates the factory full-time in Danli, Honduras. He celebrates his 80th birthday this December XX, and Diez says, “This is a gift not only for him, but for our entire family.” The recent RTDA 2004 trade show saw many industry friends and long-time retailers honoring Don Rolando during the 3-day celebration in the Puros Indios booth.
Reyes, Sr., acquired the Cuba Aliados brand name from the widow of the original company’s owner in Havana. Don Rolando, then an teenaged employee, stayed on and ran the company for her and her young children, gratis. In gratitude, and in lieu of wages, she gave him the trademark rights. Upon his arrival in America, Reyes, Sr., began rolling Cuba Aliados cigars in his Union City, New Jersey, home. The success of the brand prompted him to open factories in New Jersey and Miami, before moving operations to Honduras in 1989.
In the 1980s, Reyes, Sr., entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with the world’s largest cigar purveyor Lew Rothman, whose JR Cigars, until its recent termination by mutual agreement between the parties. According to Diez, “Lew did wonders with the Cuba Aliados over the years. We are more than grateful for the job he did for us, and are continuing to work with him on other projects.”
Interestingly, Puros Indios Cigars, founded by Don Rolando in 1995, did not exist at the time JR Cigar obtained the distribution rights, so this is a new departure for the family-owned company and its employees, who are more than excited to have regained the Cuba Aliados name. States Diez, “There are no limits to what we can do with this brand, now that it is in-house. I’ve never had the chance to distribute Cuba Aliados cigars, and this is a personal reward for me.”
The blend, which is a very closely-held secret, is the original blend used by Reyes, Sr., when he manufactured Cuba Aliados in New Jersey, Miami & in the old Honduran factory, before the cigar boom of the ‘90s. Puros Indios will begin offering the Cuba Aliados line in 14 sizes and 4 different wrapper shades.
Torano Cigars’s Web Site Now Features New Merchandise, Latest Cigar Lines
In answer to Torano Insiders’ desire to “show their colors,” the family-owned premium cigar manufacturer has added a new “Merchandise” page to its Web site (www.torano.com). The Insiders are Torano devotees who enjoy benefits that include sampling pre-release cigars and receiving news bulletins and product announcements via e-mail.
The first items to appear on the Merchandise page are Torano polo shirts and baseball caps, color-coded to the box and band art on two top-rated Torano cigar lines. Polo shirts are offered in Reserva Selecta Blue, and Exodus 1959 Black and Gold, at $25.00; customers can buy caps in the same colors for $10.00. Both prices include shipping and handling within the United States. Reports Vice President Charlie Torano, “After our 2003 major site update, both domestic and international site activity and sales have surged. Also, we’ve seen Torano Insiders membership reaching 5,000 recently, along with our “Forum” registrants, now past 800. With that level of interest and participation by our site visitors, we wanted our loyal followers to have Torano apparel and other items available.”
Torano also has added to the site’s “Cigars” page, photos and descriptive information ... blends, flavor profiles, sizes, etc. ... for their three just-unveiled cigar lines: Casa Torano ... for years, the family’s private cigar, Tribute 2004 Maduro, and Exodus/Reserva Selecta Tins.
“Our name and our cigars have attained recognition and acceptance at the highest level in the industry,” says Torano. “The appearance of the Torano name on smokers’ apparel can only increase the awareness of our presence among cigar connoisseurs.”
Perdomo Reserve has it ‘made in the shade’
MIAMI – Tabacalera Perdomo, S.A., one of the world’s most distinguished cigar manufacturers, today announced the company will introduce ‘shaded’ cigar cellophane to its La Tradicion Perdomo Reserve® cigar line. Called CelloSHADE™ (patent pending), the ‘shaded’ cigar cellophane is a proprietary development to help protect cigars from undesirable ultra-violet light conditions and enhance the aesthetic value of the brand’s presentation.
The decision to implement CelloSHADE™ was based on a consumer study involving 25 strategically appointed tobacconists located in primary and secondary U.S. geographical markets. The study focused on cellophane used for three editions of the La Tradicion Perdomo Reserve® cigar line – ‘Cameroon’, ‘Cuban Cafe’ and ‘Maduro’. The ‘Cameroon’ line features a platinum tint, the ‘Cuban Cafe’ utilizes an ivory hue and ‘Maduro’ is distinguished by a deep ruby tone. Tabacalera Perdomo’s fourth edition of the La Tradicion Perdomo Reserve® cigar line, ‘Champagne’, debuted at RTDA 2004 with golden CelloSHADE™ sheaths encasing each cigar.
“This proprietary development is a result of our passionate effort to deliver the highest-quality cigars possible to our loyal customers and reinforce the positive smoking experience related to Tabacalera Perdomo’s family of premium cigar brands,” said Michael Argenti, executive vice president.
Perdomo Reserve has it ‘made in the shade’
MIAMI – Tabacalera Perdomo, S.A., one of the worlds’ most distinguished cigar manufacturers, today announced that shipment of its EDICION de SILVIO® Museum Humidor retail display unit has begun to qualified tobacconists strategically located throughout the U.S.
The EDICION de SILVIO® Museum Humidor, believed to be the only free-standing humidor/display case ever designed for a single cigar brand, was co-designed and built by J. C. Pendergast, Inc. of Racine, Wisconsin who have been involved in custom fixturing and architectural millwork since the mid-1950’s and considered by many leading industry experts as the foremost authority on humidification and cigar storage. “The EDICION de SILVIO® Museum Humidor represents the finest in craftsmanship and climate control,” stated James Pendergast, owner of J.C. Pendergast, Inc. “There is no other unit like it in the industry today.”
Of greater importance, the new display unit virtually guarantees that consumers will always receive EDICION de SILVIO® cigars in optimum condition. Michael Argenti, executive vice president of Tabacalera Perdomo, attests “Cigar aficionados can rest assured that whether an EDICION de SILVIO® cigar is purchased in San Diego, California or Augusta, Maine, the cigar’s condition and seasoning will always remain perfect and consistent to the most discriminating palate.”
The EDICION de SILVIO® Museum Humidor (71 1/2” x 30” x 30”) proudly reflects
the striking packaging design of EDICION de SILVIO® cigar brand and features
an exterior
crafted of mahogany with natural Spanish cedar lining the interior of the unit.
The display unit is split into two functional sections: the top section, or ‘exhibit’,
is sealed in glass and impervious to harmful atmospheric elements. The ‘exhibit’
section is used for the display of any EDICION de SILVIO® ‘Spanish Galleon’ tobacco
chest by being placed on a ‘thatched wood’ rotating shelf. The rotating shelf
enhances the display’s unique ability to showcase an open box of EDICION de SILVIO®
cigars by turning it at a rate of 2 revolutions per minute. The cigars are highlighted
and protected by filtered lighting that emanates from the ceiling of the ‘exhibit’
section. The bottom section, or cigar pedestal, is used to house additional stock
of EDICION de SILVIO® and can accommodate up to three (3) additional tobacco
chests and three (3) EDICION de SILVIO® gift boxes. Therefore, tobacconists can
easily and conveniently serve their customers from one single point in their
store.
David Garofalo, owner of Two Guys’ Smoke Shop, New England’s most distinguished tobacconist, was exuberant in his praise for the EDICION de SILVIO® Museum Humidor. “The display is positioned close to my cash register so everything required to properly show and explain the cigar to my clientele is extremely convenient. And it’s such a beautiful piece of craftsmanship – people are drawn to the display as soon as they enter my shop. And because it’s made by Pendergast, who is the very best, I can trust the unit to keep cigars in perfect condition outside of my shop’s humidor.”
The new display runs on 120 volts and also features a proprietary humidification system and multi-level venting that ensures an optimum relative humidity of 70 percent within the unit and the eradication of suspended minerals and chlorine from within the unit. The humidification unit is controlled by a humidistat which provides optimum humidity levels even when left unattended. A digital hygrometer is also included with the EDICION de SILVIO® Museum Humidor. Entry to the display is protected by solenoid locks controlled from a password-protected digital keypad. Tabacalera Perdomo’s Argenti expects between 50 and 75 EDICION de SILVIO® Museum Humidors to be shipped during the next 12 months to the nation’s most prominent retailers.
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