Ferio Tego Timeless TAA Exclusive 2024 Shipping Next Week

For the third year in a row, Ferio Tego is offering the black-banded Timeless TAA Exclusive will be offered to around 80 retailers in the U.S. Unlike the 2022 and 2023 releases, the 2024 version will be sold in boxes instead of bundles. Otherwise, the details are very similar.

Like before, the Ferio Tego Timeless TAA Exclusive 2024 is a 6 x 50 toro made entirely of Nicaraguan tobacco with the wrapper coming from Estelí and the binder and fillers coming from Jalapa. It is made at Plasencia Cigars S.A. in Estelí.

Each cigar has an MSRP of $19 and production is limited to 900 boxes of 10 cigars. Previously, the cigars were sold in paper bundles. The cigars are ready to ship to stores.

While this is the third year there’s been a Ferio Tego Timeless TAA Exclusive, the cigar’s roots date back to the Nat Sherman Timeless TAA 2020. Michael Herklots and Brendon Scott—two former Nat Sherman employees—bought the rights to the Nat Sherman cigar brands from Altria, though they did not buy the Nat Sherman name. That 2020 cigar was also a Nicaraguan puro made by Plasencia, though the wrapper was from Jalapa.

The cigar is an exclusive for the Tobacconists’ Association of America (TAA), a membership group, around 80 retailers and approximately 40 manufacturers, that 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 event—which takes place Oct. 20-24 in Aruba—the organization holds two selling events, one known as the Dream Machine, where the retailers collectively order to secure larger discounts, while the other is a more traditional trade show. Typically, around a dozen manufacturers release new exclusive cigars for the retail members of the organization under the TAA Exclusive Series Program banner. Those manufacturers agree to give a portion of the proceeds to the organization, a minimum of $1 per cigar, previously 50 cents.

“The TAA is an extraordinary association with some of the finest retailers in the United States,” said Herklots in a press release. “They have the highest expectations for the blends they procure for their stores, and we work hard to exceed those expectations every year. This year’s release will surely be no different.”

Historically, the TAA Meeting & Convention has taken place in the spring, usually in late March or April. However, due to a change in dates for the 2024 PCA Convention & Trade Show—which took place in March instead of its normal summertime spot on the calendar—the TAA changed its date for 2024.

So far, Crowned Heads, Ferio Tego, Joya de Nicaragua, Miami Cigar & Co. and Villiger Cigars North America have announced new TAA ESP releases for 2024.