Gurkha Announces First TAA Exclusive Release

For the first time in its history, Gurkha Cigar Group, Inc. will offer an exclusive cigar to retail members of the Tobacconists Association of America (TAA).

That cigar is a 6 x 52 toro that uses an Ecuadorian habano wrapper and binder as well as filler tobaccos from Nicaragua and Peru. Pricing is set at $10 per cigar and is packaged in 10-count boxes, limited to 1,000 boxes.

Production is being handled by American Caribbean Cigars S.A.

“We are excited to introduce our first ever TAA exclusive cigar and will be making this an annual tradition at Gurkha,” said Carlos Llaca, director of operations for Gurkha, in a press release. “We were looking to make something special for the TAA’s 50th Anniversary and we feel this is the perfect cigar to celebrate the association and its members.”

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.

This year the TAA celebrates its 50th anniversary with the annual meeting kicked off yesterday at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic.

Gurkha is the eighth company to announce a TAA exclusive cigar: Altadis U.S.A., CLE, Crowned Heads, General Cigar Co., Joya de Nicaragua, Kristoff and Tatuaje.

In addition, La Flor Dominicana and La Palina have told halfwheel they plan on releasing new TAA cigars this year.

Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.