IPCPR 2014: Las Cumbres Tabaco

It’s hard to consider José Blanco “new” when it comes to anything regarding the cigar business. When one looks up “cigar industry veteran”—it seems almost impossible that José Blanco’s grin would not appear. But, at the 2014 IPCPR trade show, Blanco’s Las Cumbres Tabaco was a “new exhibitor.” It’s a new company, one created after a short stint at Joya de Nicaragua and a much more substantial one at La Aurora. Last year, Blanco returned to the Dominican Republic and began working with his family to create a new company.

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Blanco launched the line earlier this year and was showing it off at IPCPR 2014. It’s made at Tabacalera Palma, a factory owned by Blanco’s cousin, Jochi. Emma Viktorsson, Blanco’s wife, told me that the company is beginning to see re-orders from the initial accounts, as well as continuing to open up new accounts. (Blanco was busy with that process each time we stopped by.) In addition, the company appears to be adding sales brokers in at least a few regions.

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It’s coming. Blanco has not set a formal release date, but he chatted about it with a few retailers and dropped a major hint or two on social media.

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Blanco has indicated he’s working with Mexican San Andrés, he continues to describe this as a 2015 project.