IPCPR 2017: Phillips & King

Phillips & King might not be known to most of our consumer readers, but if you are in the cigar business, or really in the tobacco business, you know who it is.

The company includes a variety of businesses, notably the distribution of Djarum clove cigarettes, a large tobacco distribution company that stocks everything from Rocky Patels to pipes to humidors, and Ventura Cigar Co., its own cigar brand.The Phillips & King booth is notable for four things just about every year:

1. It’s Busy — The hustle and bustle is in full effect.
2. There’s a Bar — Always a plus.
3. Booth Models — The company enjoys employing them.
4. Everyday the company gives away a Rolex to a customer.

That last point has changed this year. In lieu of the traditional Rolex prize, the company is giving away a Harley-Davidson. If you think about it, one lucky retailer could win a Harley, a Humvee, and a day with an A/C Shelby Cobra from various booths.Hugo Chairman

It’s a new cigar made for Hugo Cassar, the head of Phillips & King. It was actually on display last year for FDA purposes, but it’s now shipping to stores. One thing to note, all three sizes are currently priced at $12, but the company expects that will change and the Robusto and Toro sizes might drop a dollar or two. Production is being handled at Rocky Patel’s TAVICUSA factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.

• Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés
• Binder: Brazilian Mata Fina
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Hugo Chairman Robusto (5 1/2 x 50) — $12 (Boxes of 20, $240)
• Hugo Chairman Toro (6 x 52) — $12 (Boxes of 20, $240)
• Hugo Chairman Torpedo (6 x 52) — $12 (Boxes of 20, $240)

Launch Date: July 2017Case Study No. 1

The first five Case Study releases are now shipping to retailers. As was mentioned last year, the cigars are being made at five different factories, some are limited and others are regular production.

Case Study No. 1 is made by Oettinger Davidoff AG’s Occidental Cigar Factory and is regular production.

Pricing has changed and was not on hand at the booth.

• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
• Binder: n/a
• Filler: n/a

• Case Study No. 1 (5 x 50)
• Case Study No. 1 (6 1/2 x 46)
• Case Study No. 1 (7 1/4 x 50)

Launch Date: July 2017Case Study No. 2

This comes from La Aurora and is a regular production offering.

• Wrapper: n/a
• Binder: n/a
• Filler: n/a

• Case Study No. 2 (5 1/2 x 42)
• Case Study No. 2 (6 x 50)
• Case Study No. 2 (6 1/2 x 52)
• Case Study No. 2 (7 x 50)

Launch Date: July 2017Case Study No. 3

Also regular production as well as from Oettinger Davidoff AG’s Occidental Cigar Factory.

• Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés
• Binder: n/a
• Filler: n/a

• Case Study No. 3 (5 5/8 x 54)
• Case Study No. 3 (6 x 50)
• Case Study No. 3 (6 7/8 x 57)

Launch Date: July 2017Case Study No. 4

This is from Occidental, but limited. I didn’t get an exact number, but I was told it was a bit more than 12,000 boxes of 25.

• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
• Binder: n/a
• Filler: n/a

• Case Study No. 4 (5 1/2 x 52)

Launch Date: July 2017Case Study No. 5

This comes from Plasencia Cigars S.A. and is limited to 12,000 boxes of 25 cigars.

• Wrapper: Nicaragua Habano Oscuro
• Binder: Mexican San Andrés
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Case Study No. 5 (4 7/8 x 60)
• Case Study No. 5 (5 3/4 x 54)
• Case Study No. 5 (6 3/4 x 52)

Launch Date: July 2017Cuban Rounds Exclusivo

In what seems to be a growing theme, there are bundle cigars in boxes. This is made at Plasencia Cigars S.A. in Estelí and is a Nicaragua puro using all longfiller. It’s offered in both Maduro and Natural.

• Wrapper: Nicaragua
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Cuban Rounds Exclusivo Churchill (7 x 48) — $2.50 (Boxes of 20, $50)
• Cuban Rounds Exclusivo Robusto (5 x 50) — $2.45 (Boxes of 20, $49)
• Cuban Rounds Exclusivo Toro (6 x 50) — $2.25 (Boxes of 20, $45)

Launch Date: July 2017Slaughterhouse

There’s a new tray for Slaughterhouse.

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.