Germany and Austria ban Davidoff’s Chef’s edition. Earlier today, we published an article about the upcoming Davidoff Chef’s Edition 2021. A cigar created by Davidoff’s blending team plus the chefs Norbert Niederkofler*** (co-owner Food Space & Restaurant AlpiNN, Italy), Juan Amador*** (Amador Restaurant, Vienna), Masa Takayama*** (Masa, New York City), and Jorge Vallejo (Quintonil, Mexico City). There are 9700 boxes available globally, but none will reach the markets in Germany and Austria. The legislation in these two European countries forbids Davidoff to release these cigars. And it’s not about the cigars, the packaging is the problem.

The cigars are presented in a remarkable ceramic packaging of 10 cigars. The innovative and organic packaging serves a second purpose after the cigars have been stored safely in the humidor. Customers are invited to use the ceramic base as a cigar ashtray, while the wooden lid serves as a serving tray to place spirit glasses and cigar accessories on. Ever since Germany took on a new interpretation of the tobacco act, it is no longer to sell accessories and cigars together. And because the packaging serves a dual purpose, it is against the law. Austria has the same type of law. 

Cuban jars

The new interpretation of the tobacco act went into effect in January of this year. The Davidoff Chef’s Edition 2021 is the first cigar that won’t be released in Germany and Austria for this reason. Previously Plasencia’s Alma series cigars came in boxes with ashtrays, but the company changed the packaging before the implementation of the new interpretation. The exclusive Habanos distributor for Germany and Austria, 5th Avenue, keeps selling Cuban jars and travel humidors. They just separate the items into 2 purchases. When you buy the cigars, you can buy the jar or the travel humidor for a nominal extra value. Davidoff didn’t want to go that route with the Davidoff Chef’s Edition 2021.