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February, 2006 |
Valentina Flavored, Hand Made Cigars from Fittipaldi Offers Extensive Variety
Fittipaldi Cigars has launched a new line of flavored cigars called Valentina. The hand made, miniature cigars from the Dominican Republic measure 3 3/8 x 22 ring gauge and are made from Dominican filler leaf, Indonesian binder, and Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut shade wrapper.
Valentina by Fittipaldi is available in an extensive selection of 15 rich flavors: Rum, Honey, Cherry, Vanilla, Coffee, Cognac, Tropical, Amaretto, Raspberry, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Tangerine, Cappuccino, and Green Apple as well as an unflavored version called Natural. Two packaging formats are offered: deluxe, full-color, 13-count hinge-lid tins with a countertop POSdisplay, as well as 25-count bundles. Caribbean Cigar Distributors, Inc., Girard, Ohio, Toll free: (877) 545-8356, Fax: (330) 545-6155, Email: salesusa@fittipaldicigars.com. |
The Stock 10/1: New Connecticut-Wrapped Dominican Bundles
Crown David is addressing a niche in the cigar marketplace with their new bundled cigars, called The Stock 10/1. "The demand for bundles is very high, and we noticed that there are not many bundles from the Dominican Republic with Connecticut wrappers," reports Crown David president and owner, Yaniv Levy. "The reason you won't find them is due to the high cost of the Dominican tobacco and the Connecticut shade wrapper. After some time - and a lot of trial and error -we finally found the magic blend and cost point with these tobaccos."
To add interest, the company designed a box to hold 20 bundles of 10 cigars that can also be displayed on a retail shelf and does not require a special display area. The bundles can be displayed in three ways: standing, lying down, or as singles. The Stock 10/1 cigars are offered in three sizes: Churchill, Torpedo, and Robusto. In addition to the Connecticut wrappers, Cameroon wrappers are also available. For the true bargain hunter, the cigars are offered in both long and short filler versions. Crown David International, Bala Cynwyd, Pa., Toll-free: (800) 380-8617, Web: www.crowndavid.com. |
Patel Unveils a Softer Edge
Rocky Patel Cigar Company has introduced The Edge Lite, a creamier, more medium-bodied version of the powerful original The Edge. This new line extension uses the existing Edge blend but is topped off with a 5 1/2-year-aged Ecuador-grown Connecticut shade wrapper. The Edge Lite is offered in four frontmarks, each available in cabinets of 50 cigars, similar to the existing Edge boxes. The four sizes are: Robusto (5 x 50), retailing for $5.50 per cigar or $275 per box; Toro (6 x 52), $5.75 per cigar, $287.50 per box; Torpedo (6 x 52), $6.00 per cigar, $300 per box; and Double Corona (7 1/2 x 52), $6.50 per cigar, $325 per box.
Rocky Patel Cigar Co., Naples, Fla., Tel: (239) 593-1833, Fax: (239) 593-1839. |
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New Blend for Oliveros Gran Reserva
Habana Cuba Cigar Company, maker of the Oliveros line of premium cigars, has released a new, re-blended version of its Oliveros Gran Reserva. The cigars, which were box-pressed in their original version, are now by rolled in the round and include Nicaraguan ligero in the filler and a Nicaraguan binder. There is a choice of two wrappers: a maduro from Nicaragua and a genuine African Cameroon. Oliveros Gran Reserva is offered in three sizes: Toro (5 3/4 x 55), for an MSRP of $6.20 per stick or $124 per box; Churchill (6 3/4 x 52), $6.30 per stick or $126 per box; and Torpedo (6 1/4 x 54), $6.50 per stick or $130 per box. The Perfecto shape has been discontinued. All sizes of the re-blended Oliveros Gran Reserva cigars come in boxes of 20. Habana Cuba Cigar Company, Miami Lakes, Fla., Tel: (877) 902-8226, Web: www.habanacubacigars.com. |
Gregorio's New Felipe Felipe has Brazilian Maduro Wrapper
Felipe Gregorio, which has built a reputation for Cuban-style premium cigars that are robust and full-flavored, has introduced a new extension to its Felipe Felipe line, a maduro "with a smoothness unexpected in this rich a cigar," says Philip Wynne, company founder and president.
The Felipe Felipe Maduro is available in two shapes: 4 3/4 x 50 and 6 x 60. The dark Brazilian Aripiraca wrapper has a smooth sheen that visually emphasizes the cigar's power. A Piloto Cubano and Nicaraguan ligero filler gives the cigar the extra punch many of today's smokers favor. The cigars are hand made of 100 percent long filler tobacco, and aged to tame the cigar's power and give it depth and balance.
Felipe Felipe Maduro is reasonably priced at $3.75 suggested retail per cigar, presented in boxes of 50 (4 3/4 x 50); and $4.50 per cigar, in boxes of 25 (6 x 60). Felipe Gregorio, Inc., Miami, Fla., Toll-free: (800) 336-1181 Fax: (305) 597-1220, Web: www.felipegregorio.com. |
RP Juniors: Mini Versions of Popular Rocky Patel Brands
Fans of Rocky Patel cigars can now indulge in two of the company's most popular brands in a miniature "short smoke" version. Rocky Patel Sun Grown and Vintage Series 1990 and 1992 are now available in Juniors - 4 x 38 small cigars that have been carefully blended to achieve the same flavor and character of the regular-sized cigars. The RP Juniors are packaged five to a tin, with 10 tins per retail unit. The Vintage tins retail for $12.50, and the Sun-Grown tins retail for $11.00. On the other end of the size spectrum, Patel has rolled out the Vintage Sixty for smokers looking for a larger ring-gauge smoke - a 6 x 60 size in the Vintage 1990 and 1992 lines, retailing for $10 per cigar and $200 for a box of 20.
Rocky Patel Cigar Co., Naples, Fla., Tel: (239) 593-1833, Fax: (239) 593-1839. |
New Flavored Cigarette Rolling Papers from RBA
Robert Burton Associates, Ltd. has launched a new flavored cigarette rolling paper, "Wild Berry." Available in the "French" style under E-Z Wider and Joker brands, this flavored cigarette rolling paper targets tobacco enthusiasts in the roll-your-own (RYO) marketplace.
"Wild Berry is the first of several new flavors being offered in a cigarette rolling paper," comments Kevin Dunn, executive director of trade marketing, Robert Burton Associates. Wild Berry flavor exhibits bright, bold packaging of purple with a splash of raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries while boasting the tagline "Savor the Flavor." Robert Burton Associates, Fairfield, N.J., Toll-free: (800) 456-2234, Web: www.rbaltd.com. |
Swisher Launches Tubed XL Blunts
Swisher International has added the XL version of Blunts to their popular line of Swisher Sweets cigars. This extra large cigar is available in four flavors - Strawberry, Grape, Peach, and Original - and is sold individually in crushproof tubes. XL Blunts' tubes are designed for added protection and to preserve the cigars' freshness.
Swisher International, Inc., Jacksonville, Fla., Tel: (904) 353-4311, Web: www.swisher.com. |
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Tabacos de la Cordillera Offers New 5-Pack Samplers for Cumbres Toro Shape
Tabacos de la Cordillera has added a new 5-Pack Sampler to its Cumbres de Puriscal line of 100 percent long filler handmade cigars, for the Toro shape. Cumbres de Puriscal is the company's flagship line, and is available in three different wrappers and blends - Gold, Silver, and Green - and the 6" x 50 Toro is one of 9 shapes in the brand. Although the Toro has been available in cedar boxes and bundles of 25, economical sample packages were not offered until now. The new-to-the-market Costa Rican cigar manufacturer uses only tobacco grown naturally on its own farm from 100% genetically pure pre-Embargo Cuban seeds. Tabacos de la Cordillera, Ltda., Puriscal, San Jose, Costa Rica, C.A., Fax: (506) 416-3381, Web: www.tabacordillera.com. |
SMOKESHOP - February, 2006
