humidor

What Happens to Cuban Brands Post-Embargo?

Filed under: Cigars

The biggest problem with access to Cuba may not be production capacity, as many suspect. Trademark and copyright issues have the potential to be a greater problem, and there is no easy solution.

You've probably noticed that brands such as Partagas, Montecristo and Cohiba occupy your local tobacconist's humidor. A saunter through a duty free store at any airport outside the United States will put the same names under your nose. Of course, these cigars have nothing to do with each other. The latter are Cuban, the former are not and the companies have no relationships. Cohibas in the United States are not the "non-Cuban" or "legal" versions of a single company's product.

General Cigar Co. Inc., for example, sells Cohiba cigars in the United States. Cohiba is also a prominent Cuban brand. Unfortunately, Habanos S.A. never registered the name up here. Habanos sued General Cigar, and a nine-year battle followed. In 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Habanos (shocking, right?), reasoning that the embargo barred a challenge to General Cigar's claim.

When the embargo is lifted, there will be more legal challenges, and several companies will have to change their names and labels – ultimately requiring the reconstruction of brand identities from scratch. Winning the brand battles will have profound consequences. For this reason, General Cigar has "invested" close to $3.5 million on lobbyists over the past 10 years.

As with all other Cuba-related speculation, there is no way to forecast where this issue will go in a post-embargo market. Even if we assume that the Cuban brands will lose their claims, the impact on the market would be nearly impossible to predict. What we do know, however, is that the transition will be far from easy.

Source

Tags: cigar, cigars, cohiba, cuba, cuban, cuban cigar, cuban cigars, cuban embargo, CubanCigar, CubanCigars, CubanEmbargo, duty free, DutyFree, embargo, humidor, humidors, montecristo, tobacco, tobacco industry, TobaccoIndustry

Financial Crisis Puts Cigar Nubs in Fashion

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

You know the market's tough when cigar smokers talk about cutting back. The crisis is real when they actually do so. With the sale of boxes, humidors and high-end cigar accessories dropping (I have anecdotally) – not to mention a cigar tax increase that has moved quickly from specter to materialization – retailers are scrambling for ways to keep customers in their stores.

When I met with Don Pepin Garcia back in November to discuss his new release, My Father's Cigar, he mentioned the need to keep prices reasonable, citing long-term relationships with his customers as taking priority over short-term measures. But, it looks like this may not be enough – as evidenced by the "nub club."

Discount cigar retailer Famous Smoke Shop has put together a selection of six-cigar samplers, consisting of "nubs," and is pricing them favorably to keep cigar smokers engaged. This new program is intended to allow customers to try nubs without requiring them to shell out for full boxes. Each sampler has three pairs of cigars, each with different wrappers: Habano, Connecticut and Cameroon. Prices range from $27 to $34.50 per pack.

Promotions like this one drive home the fact that we're all in it together. The manufacturers and retailers don't want to see us curtail our smoking experiences or trade down to "lesser" cigars. They want us to smoke what we know we enjoy. At the same time, smokers realize that we have to do our part and continue to buy the sticks we like.

Cooperation is better than any bailout program.

[Photo by Steve Zak]

Source

Tags: cigar, cigar accessories, CigarAccessories, cigars, financial crisis, FinancialCrisis, humidor, humidors, smoke, smoker, smokers, smoking, tobacco

Cigars Get Better With Age, Some Say

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

I've known a few people committed to aging cigars. For them, it was like a religion. They not only had large, state-of-the-art humidors, they had schedules for rotating them from one shelf to the next. I, on the other hand, prefer to smoke cigars right off the bench. That plus laziness makes the whole aging process alien to me. Nonetheless, most experts swear by aging cigars, and I'm told the sweet spot is 10 years (after which, the cigars begin to grow milder).

So, if you're going to play the patient game of cigar aging (rather than "buy 'em as you need 'em), BestCigarPrices.com has four tips for you:

1. Buy a humidor
The company recommends buying one that meets your needs, with sizes ranging from five cigars to more than 3,000. If you are planning to age five cigars, though, you're better off renting a locker at your local club or shop.

2. Pay attention all the time
Operating a humidor is not "set and forget." You need to start at the right spot and continually watch the gauges to make sure the temperature and humidity don't stray. So, what is the best starting point? The 70/70 rule (70 percent humidity and 70 degrees Fahrenheit) is a safe place.

3. Pay big up front
You need something to age. So, start buying cigars ... buy the bundle or box. This helps you prevent the mingling of different flavors among cigars, and you can pull one from time to time to see how the aging process is going. If this is too great a commitment, consider aging only half of each box, that way you have something to smoke while you wait.

4. Never stop learning
Results will vary, regardless of your cigar-aging skill. Some cigars won't take to aging. On occasion, you'll let a few sit too long, and they'll mellow. But, when you get it right, you'll taste the difference.

[Via MSNBC]

Tags: cigar, cigars, humidor, humidors, smoke, smoker, smokers, smoking, tobacco

Tumi Ebony Watch Chest & Humidor

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Timepieces / Watches, Men's Style

Earlier this year we told you about chic designer David Chu's revamp of travel brand Tumi, including new high-end luggage lines and ad campaigns featuring supermodel Shalom Harlow. Now Chu, who also has a bespoke men's clothing shop in New York City, is branching out into fine gentlemen's accessories under the Tumi label, a first for the company. Chu has designed two pieces in Makassar ebony: a suede-line watch chest (above), for $1,800, and a humidor for $2,000.

"In keeping with our heritage of providing the best cases and bags for travel, these elegant, luxurious ebony chests provide Tumi customers not only with a statement piece to be displayed and admired in the home, but help in protecting their personal possessions," Chu says. The limited edition, handcrafted pieces will be available in select Tumi stores.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: David Chu, DavidChu, Humidor, Luggage, Tumi

Macassar Ebony Humidor by Ghis�

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

Looking for the perfect gift for the man who already seems to have everything? Well here's an idea that's sure to score you some points in the "classy" department (as well as put a significant dent in your wallet). It's the Macassar Ebony Humidor by Ghisò and it's both beautiful and, due to it's limited edition of just 100 pieces, rare. It features a humidifier and multi-tiered trays that can hold 80-100 cigars. Get your Christmas shopping done now, or start hinting so others can! $3,424

Via acquire

Source

Tags: cigar, cigars, ghiso, humidor, humidors, limited edition, LimitedEdition, macassar, men

Baller Toys: "Nothing is Too Extravagant"

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Decor, Gadgets, Garden, Sports, Holiday Guides, Children, Men's Style

Climatech 1001 Climate Controlled Cabinet Humidor, $4,695.00

Baller Toys is a new website designed to bring you the very best in glamorous home entertainment--and we're not talking TVs and stereos!

Above is the Climatech 1001 Climate Controlled Cabinet Humidor. At $4,695.00, it is the least expensive of the four humidors available from Baller Toys.

Some exclusive items from the luxury website include:

Mars Made and MartinBauer custom billiards tables ($35,000-$100,000)

Teckell crystal foosball tables ($7,500-$10,000, other designer foosball tables up to $27,000)

The International Dance Party, one-of-a-kind party machine ($67,000)

VirtualGT Racing Simulators ($18,995+)

Keep an eye on Baller Toys for great things now and in the future. We love their motto: "Nothing is too extravagant."

Source

Tags: baller, baller toys, billiards, cigars, foosball, humidor, online shopping, OnlineShopping, pool, pool table, toys, virtual racing

Assouline Library Humidor

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Books

Books can be used to hide all sorts of things. I've seen hollowed out books used to keep jewelry safe but this vivid box from Assouline is meant to house your cigars. Don't look for this one to rest discreetly in your shelves. The Assouline library humidor measures 13.7 x 13.7 x 13.7 in and is made of wood covered in black leather. The doors display the titles of Assouline publications (even one called "No Smoking") and the inside has a humidity gauge. It sells for $2,000.

Source

Tags: assouline, books, cigar, humidor

Club Macanudo Arrives in Miami

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

The latest outpost of Club Macanudo has opened as part of the Havana Club at the Miami City Club, a private membership club. The club opened in mid December with a party that featured performances by Jon Secada and Arturo Sandoval. The Club Macanudo lounge has couches, dining tables, wide screen televisions, and a retractable glass wall that turns the lounge into more intimate space. The Havana Club at the Miami City Club is located on the 55th floor of the Wachovia Financial Center and has amazing views. Members have access to a private humidor, concierge service, the Club's conference room and business center and reciprocal membership to other clubs. The club is limited to 800 members and dues are $300 per month plus a $5,000 initiation fee.

Source

Tags: cigars, club macanudo, ClubMacanudo, humidor, miami

CAO Poker Bag

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

You could spend $2,500 on a poker set but if you are looking for something a bit more casual and perhaps the chance to put your money on the table rather than bring it to the table, cigar maker CAO has you covered. Their CAO Poker Bag has chips, cards, dice and a cedar-lined humidor fitted with a CAO Humidipak. The bag is made of ballistic nylon and sells for $200.

Source

Tags: cao, cigars, gifts, humidor, poker, poker bag, poker chips

Vegas Humidor

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

The Vegas Humidor designed by Elie Bleu is one of the more unusual pieces that we've featured here, as it actually does manage to capture the sprit of Sin City's high rollers. Shaped like a giant die, the humidor is made of natural sycamore and has Tahitian black mother-of-pearl circles inlaid on each face to make up the die pattern. One of the dots is not mother of pearl circle, but a small lock that opens the box. Inside, the humidor holds up to 100 cigars in its deep main compartment with two removable open-slat cedar trays. Price: $3,760.

Source

Tags: cigar, cigars, dice, die, humidor, humidors, las vegas, luck, vegas

Bentley Humidor

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

The Bentley Collection has many beautiful pieces in it, built to the exacting standards that most associate with the brand, and their Bentley Humidor is exceptional. The handmade humidor has a solid walnut body, with walnut veneer and ebony beading. All the accents, including the lock plates and even the hinges are silver and it is equipped with the 'Credo' humidifier and hydrometer to maintain the ideal environment for your cigars. Price: £3,617.02 ($6,780).

Source

Tags: bentley, cigar, cigars, humidor, walnut, wood

Maybach Smoker Set

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Luxury Cars & Autos

For those cigar aficianados who enjoy smoking while driving, the Maybach Smoker Set by Dunhill is the ideal car accessory. A leather-trimmed humidor contains one of Dunhill's signature lighters and a custom-designed one-handed cigar cutter, so you can keep one hand on the wheel. Of course, it might take some practice before you can actually use the cutter with one hand, given that you'll have to maneuver the cigar into it and probably want to keep any part of it from falling onto the floor of your car, for neatness if nothing else. We don't have a price right now, but if you have to ask...

Source

Tags: aficianado, car, cars, cigar, cigars, humidor, luxury car, maybach, smoking, wheels

Porsche Design Cigar Cutter

by Gustad Mody (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

Stop using the awl on your old Swiss Army Knife and use this cupped cigar cutter with double honed edges for the cleanest of cuts. Getting your smoke on with this utilitarian cigar cutter will set you back 2 Benjamins and 40 Washingtons.

Source

Tags: cigar, cuban, humidor, pocket knife, PocketKnife, tobacco

Arnold Schwarzenegger Humidor for sale

by Gustad Mody (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Auctions

Our protein-driven friend, Arnold, commissioned The Daniel Marshall Humidor company, based in California, to create a limited number of Governor Seal humidors for special gifts. The bronze medallion on the lid is covered in 24kt gold and has the California State Governor’s Seal. One of them will be going up for auction on Ebay soon, and profits will go to his After School All Stars charity founded in 1992.

Source

Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, ArnoldSchwarzenegger, auction, california, Celebrity, cigar, ebay, Humidor, smoke

Gurkha Genghis Khan Cigars

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

As we have seen before Kaizad Hansotia's Beach Cigar Group makes flavorful, high quality cigars. The latest in the Gurkha group is the Gurkha Genghis Khan. One would expect a cigar named after the fearsome Mongol chief to be super strong but it is actually a medium-bodied cigar. The Genghis Khan is a 7 1/2" by 52 Churchill size with a Costa Rican maduro wrapper, Dominican binder and Dominican and Honduran filler. The cigars are sold in a dome chest that holds 30 cigars and has a lift-out tray that reveals a lower compartment for additional cigar or accessory storage. The chest sells for $249.95.

[via Cigar Cyclopedia]

Source

Tags: cigars, gurkha, humidor, tobacco

← Previous Page