Ventura Launching Hugo Chairman at IPCPR 2017

At last year’s IPCPR Convention & Trade Show, there was a new cigar called Hugo in the Phillips & King booth, made for Hugo Cassar, the head of Phillips & King, and little else was known.

The cigar was made by Rocky Patel at his Nicaraguan-based factory and the details of the release were coming at a later date. That time has come and it turns out the cigar is the Hugo Chairman.

It uses a Mexican San Andrés wrapper, Brazilian mata fina binder and Nicaraguan fillers. The company has not announced vitolas, though pricing is said to be $12-14.

Throughout his time in the cigar industry, Hugo has developed a close relationship with Patel,” says Benjamin Winokur, brand manager for Ventura, in a press release. “After many years of discussion and blending, we are thrilled to bring to market this ultra-premium cigar that bears his namesake. Rocky Patel himself, identified the individual tobaccos that went into the blend- each carefully selected to create a smoking experience that’s as dynamic as the long-time camaraderie between the two friends.”

Phillips & King is one of the largest tobacco distributors in the country working with a variety of brands, as well as its own including Ventura Cigar Co.