IPCPR 2017: Davidoff of Geneva USA

When you walk into the Davidoff of Geneva USA booth, you are greeted by a somber sight.The late Avo Uvezian’s hat lay rest on a piano, a reminder of the man the cigar industry said goodbye to in March. It wasn’t the first time the piano has been empty. A couple of years ago, when Uvezian was ill, Klaas Pieter Kelner played some music and I hope that happens again at some point.

Because Davidoff announced, and released, most of its product ahead of time, a lot of the excitement was in the back of the Davidoff booth, at the S.T.Dupont portion, where multiple six-figure product announcements were underway.

Davidoff Winston Churchill The Late Hour

The newest Davidoff combines themes from the Winston Churchill and Camacho American Barrel-Aged lines, two of Davidoff’s most successful releases of the last five years. I’ve smoked it and like it a lot better than the Winston Churchill, both of them actually, which is saying something.

• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro Marron
• Binder: Mexican San Andrés Negro
• Filler: Dominican Republic (Olor Viso, Piloto Seco & San Vicente Mejorado Viso) & Nicaragua (Condega & Estelí)

• Davidoff Winston Churchill The Late Hour Robusto (5 x 52) — $17.50 (Boxes of 20, $350)
• Davidoff Winston Churchill The Late Hour Toro (6 x 54) — $19.10 (Boxes of 20, $382)
• Davidoff Winston Churchill The Late Hour Churchill (7 x 48) — $20.10 (Boxes of 20, $402)

Launch Date: June 2017Camacho Nicaragua Barrel-Aged

Rum and cigars are a natural pairing and Camacho is aging its corojo tobacco in barrels that previously held Flor de Caña. If it’s half as successful as American Barrel-Aged this will be one of the most successful releases at this year’s trade show.

• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
• Binder: Mexico
• Filler: Dominican Piloto Cubano, Honduran Corojo & Nicaraguan Corojo (Estelí)

• Camacho Nicaragua Barrel-Aged Robusto (5 x 50) — $10 (Box of 20, $200)
• Camacho Nicaragua Barrel-Aged Toro (6 x 50) — $11 (Box of 20, $220)
• Camacho Nicaragua Barrel-Aged Gordo (6 x 60) — $12 (Box of 20, $240)

Launch Date: June 2017

Zino Platinum Z-Crown

It’s been a while since Zino Platinum has had anything new as a national offering, but here it is.

The cigars come in vibrant blue coffins which I’m not tall enough to photograph. Two cigars, two different blends. Zino Platinum has never been cheap, oftentimes more expensive than Davidoff, and this is no different. The company says that the filler tobaccos aged for eight years and the cigars sat for another four years of aging after they were rolled, something that’s not cheap.

• Wrapper: Semilla 702
• Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra
• Filler: Dominican Republic (Piloto Seco Santiago Rodriguez, Piloto Viso, San Vicente Ligero Jicomé & Piloto Seco Santiago Rodriguez) & Nicaragua (Ometepe Viso)

• Zino Platinum Z-Crown Stout (7 x 52/38) — $100 (Boxes of 10, $1000)

• Wrapper: Dominican Semilla 253 (Yamasá)
• Binder: Ecuadorian Connecticut
• Filler: Dominican Republic (Piloto Mejorado Seco Martím Garcia, San Vicente Mejorado Viso Mao, San Vicente Seco Damjagua & San Vicente Viso Navarrete)

• Zino Platinum Z-Crown Chubby (4 15/16 x 54) — $75 (Boxes of 10, $750)

AVO Syncro South America Ritmo

While this isn’t particularly new, it’s the main item on display from AVO.

• Wrapper: Ecuador
• Binder: Mexico
• Filler: Brazil, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua & Peru

• AVO Syncro South America Ritmo Robusto (5 x 50) — $10.90 (Box of 20, $218)
• AVO Syncro South America Ritmo Toro (6 x 54) — $11.90 (Box of 20, $238)
• AVO Syncro South America Ritmo Special Toro (6 x 60) — $12.90 (Box of 20, $258)
• AVO Syncro South America Ritmo Torpedo Largo (7 x 54) — $13.90 (Box of 20, $278)

Camacho Liberty 2017

The 15th anniversary of Liberty hit the market shortly before the July 4 holiday. One of the Davidoff reps. described it as “one of the best Liberties according to Liberty experts,” to one customer.

• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
• Binder: Honduran Corojo
• Filler: Dominican Piloto Cubano & Nicaragua (Estelí Corojo 99)

• Camacho Liberty 2017 (6 x 54) — $20 (Boxes of 20, $400)

Launch Date: June 2017

Davidoff Limited Edition Humidors 2017

Stunning. Unfortunately, they were tucked away in the back of a glass case, so they didn’t photograph well, but the red looks great in person.

• Birdseye Maple Red Ambassador (15 x 9.45 x 5.63, 70-90 cigars) — $2,200
• Louro Faia Grey Ambassador (15 x 9.45 x 5.63, 70-90 cigars) — $2,200
• Birdseye Maple Red Primos (11.4 x 9.4 x 4.25, 25-35 cigars) — $1,650
• Louro Faia Grey Primos (11.4 x 9.4 x 4.25, 25-35 cigars) — $1,650

Launch Date: Fall 2017Davidoff Winston Churchill Humidors

While it wasn’t open while I was there, the humidors include the same internal design as the ones above. This means there’s a slotted divider made to hold a pair of Davidoff Cigar Scissors, not included. I’m not in the market for a $2,000 humidor, but the white looks awesome.

• The London Ambassador (15 x 9.45 x 5.63, 70-90 cigars) — $2,050
• Union Jack Ambassador (15 x 9.45 x 5.63, 70-90 cigars) — $2,050
• The London Primos (11.4 x 9.4 x 4.25, 25-35 cigars) — $1,550
• Union Jack Primos (11.4 x 9.4 x 4.25, 25-35 cigars) — $1,550

Launch Date: August 2017Davidoff Travel Collection

It’s a line of soft travel humidors, something that seems to be a common theme at the show. It’s got two pockets in front to hold your lighter, cutter, business cards, or even a pocket watch. Inside is a customizable slotted design that fits about eight to nine normal cigars.Unfortunately, it ships with an HF Barcelona Gelly60; fortunately, it’s replaceable.

Pricing is $279 for the tan color and $299 for the gray and blue.

Launch Date: Fall 2017

Davidoff Winston Churchill Glasses

They are designed to have your cigar rest on top of a spirit. I didn’t realize the cigar is actually off-center in the glasses, which is a lot better than if it just sat on top. Jeff Stone, the Davidoff ambassador, told me he’s really found the aromas bouncing off the wrapper of the cigar to be an interesting experience.

Davidoff Winston Churchill Porcelain Ashtray

The new $390 Winston Churchill ashtray was in the booth, though blocked when I was there.

Launch Date: August 2017Davidoff Essential Leather Cases

These look better in person than they photograph. One of the few affordable Davidoff-branded products.

• Two Cigar Case (56 Ring Gauge) — $130
• Two Cigar Case (60 Ring Gauge) — $170
• Three Cigar Case (60 Ring Gauge) — $190

Launch Date: June 2017

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.