Dion Giolito has purchased the rights to the OneOff cigars.
The Illusione founder purchased the trademark from Cuban Crafters, which has owned the brand for the better part of the last decade. OneOff is remembered not for its time with Cuban Crafters, but its cigars of the early and mid-2000s.
OneOff was founded by Andrea Molinari who ran Cigair, a cigar lounge and restaurant in Milan. Like so many others, Molinari had grown tired of inconsistent and poor Cuban cigars. So like many others, Molinari turned to Nicaragua where he created OneOff, which was made by the Plasencias.
Giolito will once again have the brand made in Nicaragua, this time at Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A. (TABSA), which is where almost all of his Illusione cigars are currently made.
He said he’s too early in the process of brand creation to give price points or blend details, but because OneOff is a grandfathered brand, Giolito will have to adhere to certain guidelines because of regulations by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
The new OneOff cigars are expected back on the market next year.
This actually isn’t the first time Giolito has tried to acquire the rights to OneOff. In 2011, he filed for a trademark on OneOff, though he later abandoned that effort.
Giolito said Cuban Crafters has stopped selling the OneOff cigars and they’ve been removed from the shelves.
News of the deal was first reported by Cigar Aficionado.