Nat Sherman was pretty clear: their plan all along was not to release product for the 2017 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show. The point the brand and its representatives stressed was that it wants to focus on its core line rather than saturate the market with a plethora of new brands. While I don’t disagree with the strategy, it makes for a pretty boring write-up.

Despite the lack of new product, the Nat Sherman booth was pretty busy. Every time I stopped, Ike Karipides, the company’s director of premium cigar sales, was busy with customers. As for the booth, it’s the same it’s been for the last few years with a nice display surrounded by tables and seating featuring endless espresso and the company’s iconic ashtrays. Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to interview anyone at the booth because of restrictions, likely imposed by the Master Settlement Agreement and Nat Sherman’s new owners.

Also, for those wondering about that: it’s hard to point to any difference between Nat Sherman 2016 and Nat Sherman 2017. I didn’t spot any of the Sherman family and there’s some new warning labels, though otherwise it seems to be business as usual; except for the aforementioned video.

Davidoff is the official sponsor of halfwheel's coverage of the 2017 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show.
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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.