IPCPR 2014: Emilio

Emilio was one of a handful of manufacturers whose IPCPR trade show offerings included products that had been previously announced and significantly delayed. For Gary Griffith, that included the long-awaited Emilio Carpe Noctem and Mia Dora. The important part is that Griffith seems motivated to release the cigars once they are ready, which means Carpe Noctem then Mia Dora. While it might make the booth less exciting because there are not any completely new items, it should make the cigars better. In today’s cigar world, you only get one chance to come to market, rushing it seems ill-advised.

Emilio Carpe Noctem
A Pennsylvania broadleaf wrapper covers Carpe Noctem. According to Nate McIntyre, national sales director for House of Emilio, the Nicaraguan ligero in the filler blend produces the strongest cigar in the Emilio portfolio. The Tabacalera Fernandez S.A.-produced cigar is made in three sizes: Robusto (5 x 50, $9.20), Toro (6 x 50, $9.50) and 60 (6 x 60, $9.90). Carpe Noctem will ship in 21-count boxes by the beginning of August.

Emilio Mia Dora
At one point in time, Gary Griffith hoped to have Mia Dora out at the 2013 IPCPR convention and trade show, but plans changed and now Mia Dora seems destined for shelves in late August or early September. The cigar was actually not on display at the trade show, but the company was making introductions. It’s a Nicaraguan puro produced by A.J. Fernandez and described as arguably the most complex offering the portfolio. A 5 1/2 x 44 Coronita ($8.40) will ship in a 40-count box while the 5 x 50 Robusto ($9.50) and Toro (6 x 50, $10) will ship in 20-count boxes.

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.