Weekly news week 18 2020. The week started with an article on a few independent, family-owned cigar manufacturers that were able to jump from a ‘boutique’ status to the mainstream. And the 14th episode of Soil to Soul, soon to be rebranded, was published on the front page as well. Soil to Soul will soon be known as the Philip & Ferdy Cigar Show. Episode 14 was filled with knowledge about whiskey, rum, cigars, and more.

Reviews and Habanos

As usual, two reviews were published. The Mi Querida Triqui Traca, one of Steve Saka’s latest releases scored a 92. The second cigar we reviewed is the Kristoff GC Signature Series Robusto. A fine Dominican cigar. But the biggest news this week wasn’t a review or a new release. Imperial Brands finally sold its premium cigar division. And that includes 50% of Habanos, the marketing and distribution part of the Cuban cigar industry. Plus stakes in most official Habanos distributors worldwide.

Asian exclusive

Joya de Nicaragua created an Asian exclusive Cuatro Cinco for Hong Kong, Macau, China, and Vietnam. 1000 ten-count boxes of the 4¾x60 Grand Consul are made for Joya’s partner Cigar. More news came from Nicaragua. Aganorsa is releasing a new batch of the Lunatic Torch. Crowned Heads is continuing the collaboration with My Father Cigars for a new release of the annual limited-edition Las Calaveras. Room 101 is releasing the Death Bucket in a small quantity. The cigars are made at Tabacalera William Ventura in the Dominican Republic. EQ Cigars, another brand from the Dominican, is being released in France. Pacific Cigar Company, the Habanos distributor for most of Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, is slowly releasing the Romeo y Julieta Club Kings in its territory.

Brothers of the Leaf vs Corona

Another cigar manufacturer has joined the Dutch initiative to help tobacconists through the pandemic. The initiative is started by the distributor Longfiller Company. A few brands under the umbrella of Longfiller Company in The Netherlands joined. Temporarily the manufacturers give an extra discount and the distributor cuts most of his margin as well. That piece of extra margin goes straight into the pockets of all tobacconists ordering cigars of the brands involved from Longfiller Company. The oldest still working cigar family in the United States, J.C. Newman, joined the BOTL vs Corona initiative. We also published the list of cigar birthdays in May, but if we missed one, let us know.