CAO Expedición Shipping to TAA Retailers in May

General Cigar Co. has announced its TAA exclusive for 2020 and for the third time, it will come from CAO.

The CAO Expedición is a 6 1/8 x 50 toro that uses a Connecticut broadleaf oscuro wrapper over a Connecticut shade binder and fillers from the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua. General is producing the cigar at the company’s STG Danlí factory in Honduras.

It is priced at $9.49 per cigar and limited to 1,200 boxes of 10 cigars.

“The TAA is an important association to us and it is a pleasure to be able to provide members with an exclusive blend year after year,” said Rick Rodriguez, master blender for CAO, in a press release. “We are confident that Expedición will sell out as quickly as previous CAO blends for the TAA have.”

General says the cigar will begin shipping in May.

The TAA is a fairly small group of some of the country’s top tobacconists, about 80 retailers as well as 40 or so manufacturers. The association gathers annually to discuss issues facing the industry and retailers, as well as to have its annual trade show, a unique event that works on a group buying format in order to secure exclusive deals for these generally high-volume merchants.

During the convention, the organization hosts two distinct selling events. One is known as the Dream Machine, an optional event where manufacturers offer the entire group of retailers tiered specials and discounts. The more the group collectively agrees to buy, the better the discounts and deals are for every retailer involved. In addition, the week includes a more traditional trade show which oftentimes sees some of the most aggressive discounts of the year.

This year’s meeting was supposed to take place this week but was postponed due to coronavirus and then canceled. Instead, the group met virtually on Wednesday where retailers had the opportunity to place orders.

Some of that buying included at least 14 new exclusives for TAA members from the following manufacturers:

• A.J. Fernandez
• CLE
• Crowned Heads
• Drew Estate
• E.P. Carrillo
• Kristoff
• La Aurora
• La Flor Dominicana
• La Palina
• My Father
• Nat Sherman International
• Rocky Patel
• Tatuaje
• Villiger