VSI is now the exclusive U.S. importer of Villiger cigars, Peter Stokkebye pipe and RYO tobacco, Orlik tinned tobacco, and Skandinavik pipe tobacco as well as the premium hand rolled cigar brands La Vencedora and La Flor de Ynclan.

Villiger has manufactured cigars since 1888 and today operates several modern factories, manufacturing and selling over 500 million cigars annually. Its cigars have been marketed in the U.S.A. for over 30 years.

The Stokkebye family has a rich history in the pipe tobacco business dating to 1882. Peter Stokkebye, an icon in the American business, began to market his pipe tobaccos in the U.S. during the early 1970s and to this day they remain among the most popular.

All affected members will be eligible for an immediate loan of up to $5,000, at no interest, with up to one year to repay. This loan will be provided to help any Gulf Coast RTDA member through the immediate future to cover basic expenses and costs where that individual member may have little or no access to bank funds or other assets.

GRANET claimed that blunts and blunt wrappers "serve no legitimate purpose" other than for smoking marijuana and therefore they constitute "drug paraphernalia."

The New York Area Convenience Store Association (NYACS) and the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) immediately filed official requests with GRANET and other relevant officials requesting that the enforcement action against retailers selling blunt cigars cease immediately.

Both associations argued that blunt cigars are legal tobacco products and have not been nor should be classified as "drug paraphernalia." NATO, however, decided not to take a position on whether "cigar-type wrappers" fall into the category of "drug paraphernalia."

CAO Cigar Night at PNC Park drew over 300 fans that purchased seats in a designated smoke-friendly section of the stadium. Each guest received a 3-pack of CAO's award-winning cigars consisting of CAO Brazilia, CAO Italia, and CAO Criollo.

"This was an amazing opportunity for CAO and for the cigar industry, as a whole," Pegg stated. "The Pirates organization should be commended for bringing back some of the 'old-school' glamour of a bygone era when going to a ball game went hand-in-hand with enjoying a great cigar."

The marketing and event format have been so well received, according to event organizer Laurie Silverman of CX2 Marketing, LLC, that expansion of the Cigar Night program is expected for the 2006 Pirates baseball season. "CX2 Marketing will continue to work closely with the Pittsburgh cigar merchants and premium cigar factories to further enhance the closed loop promotion structure; ensuring that consumers, participating retailers, and cigar factories all win," said Silverman.

Cigar Trophy 2005 for the first time not only presented awards for "Best Cigars" from the various countries of origin, but also the categories "Best Brand" and "Best Value."

Also new this year was a trophy for "Lifetime Achievement" which will be bestowed on an outstanding personality in the world of cigars each year. Carlos Fuente Sr. was the award's first recipient.

The winners of the individual categories have been chosen on the basis of evaluations carried out by the various ECCJ tasting panels and, for the first time, by taking tasting results from ECCJ readers into consideration.