Gift pack recipients will be among the first to experience all three variations of the groundbreaking Trilogy triangular press series introduced at this year's RTDA trade show. The three Trilogy wrappers offer an intriguing spectrum of flavors and aromas: Exotic Brazilian Maduro from the Amazon; Native Cameroon from Africa (natural); and Authentic Corojo (a rich reddish-brown first-generation Cuban-seed Corojo tobacco, grown in Nicaragua). Each cigar's blend is different, designed specifically to harmonize with each wrapper's flavor profile.

"We conceived and created Trilogy's triangular shape because it feels more comfortable in the mouth and hand than even box-pressed cigars," says company president Alan Rubin. "Initial response to the Trilogy has been overwhelming, with large reorders coming almost immediately after the show. Sales are substantially in excess of our projections."

The gift sampler pack of Churchills also showcases Criollo 98 and Havana Sun Grown Churchills. The flavor profiles of the five cigars range from mild-to-medium up to medium-to-full bodied, so smokers can compare and enjoy the broad variety of flavor profiles and strengths the company offers. The cigars are cello-tubed, and the gift pack comes in bright, attention-getting colors. Keystone pricing for the gift pack sampler is $22.99 suggested retail.

The company is also reintroducing its SFS Churchill Rejects and Wolf Brothers Crooks and Crookettes. SFS Churchill Rejects are available in three shapes: Churchill (8 x 44), Robusto (5 x 43), and Cigarillo (4 1/2 x 34) in either natural, maduro, or candela wrapper. Cigars are individually cello-wrapped and packaged in boxes of 50.

Wolf Brothers Crooks (5 1/2 x 42) and Crookettes (4 1/2 x 32) are machine-made flavored cigars with a literal twist: each is "crooked" to allow the smoke to fully encompass the delicate natural flavorings. Rum or vanilla versions are offered, with cigars packed in 50-count boxes and five-count pocket packs.

Born during Tampa's heyday as the "Cigar Capital of the World," the 100% handmade, all-tobacco cigars were formerly distributed by Lane Limited.

"American smokers know the Perfecto Garcia name well," says Michael Gold, Arango's president. "In 1905, the Garcia family first manufactured the brand in Tampa. Throughout the 20th Century, Perfecto Garcia earned the nickname the 'Working Man's Everyday Cigar,' for its high quality and fair price."

The cigars are made in the Esteli, Nicaragua factory of the late Francisco Bermejo, whose son now runs the facility. Bermejo, a Cuban refugee and an industry giant, planted the first Cuban seeds in Nicaragua in the 1960s.

Perfecto Garcia is available in eight shapes in all, packaged in 25-count mahogany-stained, lacquered boxes that complement the classic box art. The frontmarks are: Waldorf (4 1/2 x 50), $1.90 suggested retail; Mayfair (5 1/4 x 45), $1.95 retail; Ensign (4 1/2 x 43), $2.00 retail; Magnum (6 x 50), $2.10 retail; Churchill (6 1/4 x 48), $2.20 retail; Belicoso (6 x 52), $2.50 retail; 1905 (7 1/4 x 54), $2.40 retail; and Brilliante (7 x 48), $3.75 retail.

The filler is a unique blend of Nicaraguan, Honduran, and Dominican tobaccos; the binder is Nicaraguan. All shapes are available in a natural Ecuadorian wrapper. The Brilliante and Magnum are also offered in a Connecticut broadleaf maduro wrapper, while the Ensign is also available in a candela (jade) wrapper.

"Perfecto Garcia still sells at yesterday's prices," adds Gold. "Today's value-conscious smokers find both flavor and low price in this brand."

Three times the size of the leading tobacco pouch product, Copenhagen Pouches and Skoal Pouches are packed with moist, rich, premium-quality tobaccos and feature a new pouch design that delivers a neat, convenient, and easy-to-use product. The pouches have a bold taste, rich appearance, and are available in traditional Copenhagen and Skoal Wintergreen flavors.

"This strategic new product launch leverages the Copenhagen and Skoal mega brands to redefine and legitimize the pouch segment and drive category growth," says Jill K. Galowitz, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco's vice president of new products.

In Sweden, where moist smokeless tobacco (MST) consumption outpaces that of cigarettes, pouches have significantly grown the category. U.S. Smokeless Tobacco says it is hoping to do the same in the United States with its Copenhagen and Skoal Pouches.

The launch is being supported by a print advertising campaign, direct mail, and point-of-sale support delivering nearly 100 million adult impressions, while eye-catching retail displays encourage both awareness and trial.

"Our unique flavoring process gives Heaven cigars a more sophisticated character than most flavored cigars," notes Heather L. Phillips, Heavenly's president.