Nothing New This Week! Some News and “Comfort Food” Cigars

I was a slug this week, I just grabbed cigars I felt compelled to smoke because I wanted to smoke them. I went back to the Bolivar Heritage 550, an Ecuador Sumatra wrapped cigar that was a Michael Giannini creation when he was still with  General Cigar Co. They did a thing with Bolivar and Ramon Allones under the Foundry line, which they recently sold to Ventura, obviously without those two trademarks, and I loved the Bolivar, but the Ramon Allones was distasteful to me. The packaging was creative, but I don’t know that it was embraced by the traditionalists. Like I said, I love the Bolivar Heritage, it’s a full-bodied smoke that I find rich and satisfying, and it’s very reasonably priced.

Speaking of Ventura, I received the following news item from them this week:

         

Kretek International, Inc. Now Exclusive Importer of Gawith Hoggarth Pipe Tobacco Products

Kretek’s specialized subsidiaries to be utilized for expanding reach of the historic premium pipe tobacco brand.

Effective immediately, Kretek International, Inc., the United States’ largest importer, marketer, and distributor of specialty tobacco products, is pleased to announce their new role with the legendary Gawith Hoggarth brands. Established in Kendal, England, in the mid-1800s, Gawith Hoggarth has a longstanding tradition of excellence within the pipe tobacco industry, offering a line of products that are highly sought-after by both tobacconists and consumers. Kretek International, Inc. already imports and distributes its related brand, Samuel Gawith, and aims to increase the reach and accessibility of Gawith Hoggarth through the well-established sales channels of their subsidiaries.

Gawith Hoggarth has maintained their top-shelf foothold in the tobacco business for almost two centuries with the time-honored techniques of pressing and twisting tobaccos to bring out their robust flavors. They are especially known for creating small-batch tobacco blends that carry unique, old-fashioned essences, like licorice, geranium, and rose.

Kretek International, Inc. will be utilizing the sales forces of Ventura Cigar Company and Phillips & King to distribute about 30 tobacco blends from Gawith Hoggarth. The Ventura Cigar Company sales team will focus their efforts on the premium tobacconist channel, and the Phillips & King sales team will offer the products to smoke shops and other pipe retailers.

The Gawith Hoggarth products join 4th Generation, Comoy’s of London, and Samuel Gawith as another high-quality pipe tobacco offering in the Ventura Cigar Company and Phillips & King portfolios.

“Gawith Hoggarth is a natural fit for Kretek,” says Erik Stokkebye, Brand Manager at Kretek of pipes and pipe tobacco. “As a fourth-generation master crafter at 4th Generation, I know a thing or two about pipe tobacco. Gawith Hoggarth is a brand my family has long-admired for its traditions and its quality. It has the values of a Kretek product, and using its distribution arm will only strengthen the brand even further. I’m very pleased to welcome them to the Kretek family.”

“We’ve been going through a lot of changes at Ventura Cigar,” says Michael Giannini, General Manager at Ventura Cigar Company. “As a newly-formed standalone subsidiary of Kretek, we’ve been building a sales team that is hyper-focused on reaching and growing the tobacconist channel. Gawith Hoggarth has a long history of performance for retailers and is a top draw for consumers. It’s a brand that we are proud to present to our retail customers.”

Ventura Cigar Company plans to begin shipping the Gawith Hoggarth products in late spring/early summer 2019. For more information about Gawith Hoggarth, please visit venturacigar.com.

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About Kretek International, Inc

Kretek International Canada was founded in 2000, as a branch of Kretek International, Inc, which is the United States’ number one importer, marketer, and distributor of specialty tobacco products to convenience, mass, and national retailers. For over 30 years, Kretek has enjoyed a strong reputation for providing exceptional customer relationships and top quality goods. Kretek International Canada has followed in the path of its parent company, offering the same outstanding service and specialty tobacco products to the Canadian market.

About Ventura Cigar Company

Ventura Cigar Company (VCC) is a unique cigar brand born in sunny Southern California that is on a mission to create memorable, complex cigar blends that excite the senses and reward discriminating palates. Their flagship Archetype, Case Study, Project805, and PSyKo SEVEN brands offer multiple award-winning blends that earned 90+ ratings in Cigar Aficionado, Cigar & Spirits, and Cigar Snob. And Archetype’s Axis Mundi won #13 Cigar of the Year for 2017 from Cigar Aficionado. Ventura Cigar Company also distributes the 4th Generation and Comoy’s of London line of pipe tobacco products, extending its reach and tradition of offering top-quality tobacconist products. Pipes and blends under these brands are cultivated through generations of craftsmanship, making them longtime favorites of pipe tobacco enthusiasts.

About Phillips & King International

Phillips & King International, a division of Kretek International Inc., is the leading distributor of premium cigars, specialty tobacco, vapor, and alternative smoking products and accessories in the United States. Since 1906, the family-owned company has built a strong reputation by focusing on independent brick-and-mortar shops, priding itself on offering top products and the best service to their customers. Their highly experienced sales staff works with thousands of shops in all 50 states, US Virgin Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and globally to US military bases. The company distributes over 21,000 SKUs, warehoused in a 150,000 sq. ft. semi-automated facility. In addition, they have a portfolio of proprietary brands including Ventura Cigars, Ventura Vapor, Greenhouse, EZ Cig, FasFil, and more. Phillips & King also distributes the Price Kutter, a monthly buying guide that outlines best-selling products, deals, and information for the tobacco and tobacco-related industry. For more information, please visit phillipsandking.com.

Since I don’t really care about pipe tobacco, I didn’t give it it’s own post, and I really wasn’t going to post it here, but I didn’t have much to write about today.

I was in the mood for some Broadleaf, which is kinda normal, so I smoked a Foundation Cigar Co. Tabernacle Toro, the 6″ x 52 in the line. It drives me nuts when people get Foundation and Foundry confused, I hear it pretty often. I think if you’re going to the trouble of either writing about cigars, or talking about them on a podcast, you should have your facts straight and not mix easy facts like that up. The Tabernacle is a great smoke, it probably beats out Nick’s previous work on the Liga Privada No. 9, which I also smoked this week, and is right there with the Mi Querida (and Umbagog) as one of my favorite Broadleaf cigars these days. It reminds me that I need to get my hands on the Tabernacle Havana Seed CT #142.

Speaking of Drew Estate, I almost missed this because no matter how many times I’ve asked them to change e-mail addresses, they don’t listen. As I’ve said before, little cigars aren’t my thing anyway.  But, since they are friends of the site, here is the latest from DE:

ACID and Tabak Especial Release “Frenchies”, a New Quick Smoke

Drew Estate announces today the launch of a new series of quick smokes, the ACID and Tabak Especial “Frenchies.” These small cigars will be introduced at the Tobacco Plus Expo (TPE) held in Las Vegas, Nevada February 11-13th.

The ACID Frenchies are small cigars wrapped in a lush Sumatran wrapper with Nicaraguan fillers, producing a delightful, sweet smoke with a pleasing room note. The Tabak Especial Frenchies are wrapped in smooth Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade with Nicaraguan fillers that are perfect to pair with your cup of coffee in the morning.The ACID and Tabak Especial Frenchies are 3 1/4” x 20 small cigars. ACID Frenchies are packaged in both 5 and 10 count packs, while the Tabak Especial Frenchies are sold in 10 count packs only. Each is shipped in a shelf merchandising sleeve of 10 packs for retailer convenience, with each pack individually humidified with Boveda for placement both inside the humidor or at the register.

From the Wynwood Safehouse, Jonathan Drew, Founder and President of Drew Estate notes, “Frenchies are the mega start to kick off the 20^th Anniversary of ACID, and a perfect way to enjoy ACID in any moment during your day. For you coffee freaks, we also have the Tabak Especial in this new mini size. Why Frenchies you ask? Well, French is the language of romance and people are going to LOVE these sticks.”

The ACID and Tabak Especial Frenchies will be shown at TPE in February with Phillips and King taking pre-orders, and shipping to retailers in June. Kwik Trip will sell the ACID and Tabak Especial Frenchies in a first to market period of 60 days, starting March 1^st, throughout their 650 locations. A full introduction of these small cigars will take place at the 2019 IPCPR for all customers and sales channels.

The ACID Frenchies are available as follows:

• ACID Frenchies 5-Count pack MSRP $5.99/pack, shipped in shelf sleeves of 10
• ACID Frenchies 10-Count pack MSRP $9.99/pack, shipped in shelf sleeves of 10

The Tabak Especial Frenchies are available as follows:

• Tabak Especial Frenchies 10-Count pack with an MSRP of $9.99.

That’s all I have today. I need to find something interesting to smoke for the next time. I have a fiver of cigars a neighbor sent me from Key West that look interesting, and if I get bored mid-week I might have to put a little contest together or something. Until the next time,

CigarCraig