"We combined two very potent filler tobaccos, aged three and five years, to mellow out any harshness or bite while still keeping its underlying power intact," says Chuisano. "The delicate Cameroon wrapper provides the perfect finish, as this cigar tests the limits of strength while not overpowering the palette. Every cigar has an excellent draw, burns beautifully and develops a speckled white ash."

Chuisano thought he may have gone overboard in perfecting the blend of the Cusano Cameroon cigar with master cigar blender Hendrik Kelner. But samples smoked by key testers were quickly praised as "killer cigars," with requests for more. Cusano knew they had created the most powerful Cameroon cigar available, and the Cusano Killer Cameroon was born.

All tobaccos are vintage certified by ProCigar, the Dominican Republic cigar manufacturer's association.

Killer Cameroon is offered in four shapes: Robusto (5 x 50), Corona (6 x 46, belicoso tip), Toro (6 x 50), and Churchill (7 x 50), Cigars are individually cello-wrapped, and packaged in 20-count plexi-top, cabinet-style boxes. Retail prices range from $3.49 for a single Robusto to $4.49 for a single Churchill, available to retailers at keystone markup. Free samples are available for licensed retailers from Cusano Cigars.

"The Ramon Allones cigar brand has been in the General Cigar portfolio since the late 1970s, but the brand needed a little excitement, " said Cooper Gardiner, marketing director, General Cigar Holdings, inc. "So we gave the brand a facelift and are offering the cigars in a more full-bodied version at a more affordable price than the original."

Four shapes are available: Gustoso (5 x 50, $3.60 retail), Maestro (5 1/2 x 54, $3.80 retail), Brioso (6 x 45, $3.40 retail), and Ultimo (6 1/2 x 49, $3.95 retail).

New graphics and packaging complete the relaunch; the cigars bear an all-new band, are cedar wrapped, and bear a second double-band at the cigar's foot. The cigars are presented in boxes 25.

"This is the only cigar I have agreed to distribute, other than our own, because it comes as close as I've experienced to the best Havanas," said Philip Wynne, founder and president of Felipe Gregorio. "This is a very powerful cigar. Its flavor profile dovetails nicely with the full-bodied character Felipe Gregorio's customers favor."

Molinari, of Milan, Italy, has operated his own Cigair Cigar Lounge there, but became dissatisfied with the poor quality of Cuban cigars, and decided to create his own. He lined up the nephew of Cuban legend Alejandro Robaina to head up the all-Cuban management team. They oversee the entire operation, from fields to factory. Molinari has been successfully marketing the year-old OneOff line throughout Europe and the Orient. Fifteen leading U.S. tobacconists have launched the line initially. OneOff's entire American offering is very limited in quantity, with only 250,000 cigars scheduled for distribution this year. Retailers are limited to a total of 10 boxes per order.

The technique of adding a third fermentation to the tobacco, a process perfected by the senior Robaina for the Cuban Cohiba brand, give OneOff's tobacco an extraordinarily smooth character, says Wynne. The cigar is considered medium-bodied.

The six shapes slated for the U.S. market are: Julieta (7 x 47), Perfectos (6 1/8 x 52), Campana (5 x 52), Robusto (4 7/8 x 50), Corona Gorda (5 3/8 x 46), Laguisto #2 (6 x 38), and Mareva (5 x 42). Suggested retail pricing runs from $8.80 for the Laguisto #2, to $16 for the Perfecto, at keystone discount.

All OneOff cigars are naked, and are presented in slide-top cedar cabinets of 25, with a satin ribbon encircling the cigars.

Backed by the expertise and quality of Top original and menthol tobaccos, new Top Light features the same stay-fresh packaging and high product standards. Top Light is packed 144 3/4-ounce units per shipping case, and 12 six-ounce canisters per case. A variety of special floor displays are available to select retailers, including flexible combination units featuring the full line of Top tobaccos and accessories.

Republic also offers Top Original and Top Menthol Tobaccos, as well as Top Regular and Light Filter Tubes, cigarette injector machines, cigarette rollers, cigarette papers, and filter tips.

Other Cojimar flavors include vanilla, cherry, peach, rum, Sambuca, Amaretto, cinnamon, mint, chocolate, apple, mango, and cinnamon. Cotact The Cigar Connection for a full listing of which shapes are offered in which flavors.

"Winston's goal is to 'break the mold' in the cigarette category by offering adult smokers highly differentiated brand-style choices while building on the brand's positioning," says Edmund C. "Ned" Leary, Reynolds Tobacco's senior vice president of marketing.

Evo Flask's full-flavor and light styles are made from unique blends of Winston's 100% First Cut tobacco, premium-grade tobaccos which do not contain additives or reprocessed sheet tobacco made from tobacco scraps.

The highly differentiated Evo Flask packaging, which is made of recyclable plastic, is water resistant, crushproof, and has a slim, curved design that fits comfortably inside pant or shirt pockets.

"The introduction of the Evo Flask packaging marks the first dramatic redesign of the cigarette box in the past 30 years by a major U.S. cigarette manufacturer," Leary says, noting the innovation marks the end of crushed cigarette packs.

"The lights pack continues Winston's new, signature silver color and offers cigarettes with light-silver tipping paper," Leary notes. "The rich blend introduces a bold, black package and dark-silver cigarette tipping. The design of both Evo Flask styles continues to build on Winston's exciting, modern look." Winston will extend this look to its marketplace support, including magazine advertising, retail presence, direct mail, and event marketing programs.

"With an ultra-modern look like no other in the industry, pack-focused magazine advertisements combine high-tech photography that puts the pack in 'motion' coupled with the brand's trademark 'No Bull' headlines," Leary says. "The energy of the designs is heightened by a bold silver, marine-blue and black color scheme.