Cigar Coop Prime Time Show

PCA 2023: Fratello Cigars

At an FDA Seminar at the 2013 IPCPR Trade Show, a relatively unknown new brand had its debut cigar launched. That brand was Fratello Cigars, owned by Omar de Frias who worked for NASA. Following the Trade Show, Omar would take a grassroots approach to introduce his cigars to the market that he called "Fratello Road." Fast forward to 2023, and this year Omar and Fratello are celebrating ten years in the cigar business. Our visit to the Fratello booth included a lot of reminiscing over Fratello's decade in the cigar business. In addition, there were a couple of new releases. The first was Fratello - The Lunar, which is being released in conjunction with the upcoming Nova-C Lunar Landing project. In addition, the Fratello Sorella, a line that hasn't had a full U.S. launch, will now see one.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-qgf

 

PCA 2023: Xikar (Audio)

It has been over five years since Quality Importers Trading Company acquired Xikar. Since then, the company has worked hard to make it one of its flagship brands in the portfolio.  In the past few years, the innovation pipeline for Xikar has not slowed down - and that trend continued at the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show. This year, the company showcased a new in-line dual-flame lighter known as the Xikar Ion. There are some more collaborations coming with New York jeweler Jacob & Co. Also the company has done a soft launch of its next generation of the Xikar Xi Cutter -the Xikar Perfect Xi1 Cutter.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-qfX

PCA 2023: Xikar

It has been over five years since Quality Importers Trading Company acquired Xikar. Since then, the company has worked hard to make it one of its flagship brands in the portfolio.  In the past few years, the innovation pipeline for Xikar has not slowed down - and that trend continued at the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show. This year, the company showcased a new in-line dual-flame lighter known as the Xikar Ion. There are some more collaborations coming with New York jeweler Jacob & Co. Also the company has done a soft launch of its next generation of the Xikar Xi Cutter -the Xikar Perfect Xi1 Cutter.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-qfX

 

PCA 2023: Artista Cigars (Audio)

In 2022, the company known as El Artista underwent a rebrand. El Artista brands are owned by Ram Rodriguez, who also owns the Tabacalera El Artista in the Dominican Republic. The rebrand included a portfolio restructuring as well as changing the company name for the brands to Artista Cigars. Last year as a part of the portfolio restructure, the company previewed an eponymous line of cigars titled Artista. This line consists of two offerings - Artista Harvest and Artista Midnight. It took almost a year, but a couple of weeks before the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, Artista made it to the market. We talked to Ram Rodriguez about the line, and Bear Duplisea had an opportunity to present Ram with an award for #2 Cigar of the Year for the Buffalo Ten Connecticut.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-qfx

PCA 2023: Artista Cigars

In 2022, the company known as El Artista underwent a rebrand. El Artista brands are owned by Ram Rodriguez, who also owns the Tabacalera El Artista in the Dominican Republic. The rebrand included a portfolio restructuring as well as changing the company name for the brands to Artista Cigars. Last year as a part of the portfolio restructure, the company previewed an eponymous line of cigars titled Artista. This line consists of two offerings - Artista Harvest and Artista Midnight. It took almost a year, but a couple of weeks before the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, Artista made it to the market. We talked to Ram Rodriguez about the line, and Bear Duplisea had an opportunity to present Ram with an award for #2 Cigar of the Year for the Buffalo Ten Connecticut.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-qfx

 

PCA 2023: Ashton (Audio)

Ashton is a company that does not come out with new cigars every year. Going into this year's Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, the company had its first new release in two years. During this time, much of the focus has been on the La Aroma de Cuba line. As for the new cigar, it's the La Aroma de Cuba Connecticut. It's the sixth regular production blend to fall under the La Aroma de Cuba line. As the name indicates, it is a Connecticut Shade release - the first in the La Aroma de Cuba portfolio. The cigar started shipping just prior to the 2023 PCA Trade Show. It's also a cigar that made a big impression on the Cigar Coop Coalition team.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-qfr

PCA 2023: Ashton

Ashton is a company that does not come out with new cigars every year. Going into this year's Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, the company had its first new release in two years. During this time, much of the focus has been on the La Aroma de Cuba line. As for the new cigar, it's the La Aroma de Cuba Connecticut. It's the sixth regular production blend to fall under the La Aroma de Cuba line. As the name indicates, it is a Connecticut Shade release - the first in the La Aroma de Cuba portfolio. The cigar started shipping just prior to the 2023 PCA Trade Show. It's also a cigar that made a big impression on the Cigar Coop Coalition team.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-qfr

 

PCA 2023: HVC Cigars (Audio)

Over the past two years, HVC Cigars made a couple of significant moves toward vertical integration. In June 2021, the company announced it would be handling its own distribution which includes warehousing and order fulfillment. Almost a year later in June 2022, the company announced it was opening its own factory – Fabrica de Tabacos HVC S.A. It has continued expanding production out of the factory since then. Earlier this year, there was an expansion to the HVC Selección No. 1  HVC Selección No. 1 Natural. At this year's Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, an expansion was done to the HVC Hot Cake line in the form of a Connecticut Shade cigar known as the HVC Hot Cake Golden Line. The HVC Hot Cake Golden Line would be the first Connecticut Shade cigar by HVC. Both of these cigars would come out of the HVC factory.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-qeX

PCA 2023: HVC Cigars

Over the past two years, HVC Cigars made a couple of significant moves toward vertical integration. In June 2021, the company announced it would be handling its own distribution which includes warehousing and order fulfillment. Almost a year later in June 2022, the company announced it was opening its own factory – Fabrica de Tabacos HVC S.A. It has continued expanding production out of the factory since then. Earlier this year, there was an expansion to the HVC Selección No. 1  HVC Selección No. 1 Natural. At this year's Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show, an expansion was done to the HVC Hot Cake line in the form of a Connecticut Shade cigar known as the HVC Hot Cake Golden Line. The HVC Hot Cake Golden Line would be the first Connecticut Shade cigar by HVC. Both of these cigars would come out of the HVC factory.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-qeX

 

PCA 2023: J.C. Newman Cigar Company (Audio)

For the third show in a row, J.C. Newman Cigar Company brought the cardboard version of its El Reloj factory to the PCA Trade Show to serve as its booth. It’s a stunning display that gives the feel of the El Reloj factory from both the inside and the outside. This year all of the new projects showcased at the J.C. Newman booth had a connection with El Reloj. This includes a new limited edition cigar being done out of the factory as well as some collectible accessories that feature El Reloj's signature product, Cigar Coop's 2020 Cigar of the Year, The American.

Full PCA Report: https://wp.me/p6h1n1-qf2