Boveda Butler Rebranded to CI Smart Sensor

Cigars International has announced that it has taken over the Boveda Butler, a discontinued humidification sensor, and rebranded it as the CI Smart Sensor.

The Butler, originally known as the Boveda Smart Sensor, was launched by Boveda in 2017. It’s a small device—2 inches x 1.25 x .5—that users place in a humidor or storage environment. From there, the device measures and logs both temperature and humidity, then sends that data to a smartphone via Bluetooth. Users access the information via an app, which is available for both iOS and Android.

While Boveda introduced the device and app to the cigar industry, it did not create the device. Bluestream Corp. developed the device and app, which are sold in different branding configurations for other applications, like musical instrument storage. In March 2021, Boveda stopped selling the Butler but the app continued to function.

Now both the hardware and software will live on via Cigars International, the world’s largest cigar retailer.

Cigars International has begun informing existing Butler users that it will take over the application, which will be known as the CI Smart Sensor. The company says the “basic functionality will remain, but the look and feel will change slightly as it assumes Cigars International’s branding.”

A Boveda official told halfwheel that Boveda did not sell the Butler—or its IP, tech or customer data—to Cigars International. Rather, Boveda said that Cigars International was interested in continuing to develop the concept, which Boveda had already abandoned.

Cigars International has already started selling the CI Smart Sensor, priced at $39.99.

Image of CI Smart Sensor via Cigars International