IPCPR 2019: Islamorada Cigar Co.

This is Islamorada Cigar Co.’s first trade show, but the only way you could really guess at that is by the single size booth space.

Generally speaking, new companies don’t go all out for their booth. You see a single booth space, a logo banner hung behind a folding table, a few cigar boxes on display but most common, not many people in the booth. It’s a struggle for a new company to balance costs of a booth along with a new name that people may or may not be interested in or hear about over the course of a few short days. Islamorada was conservative with their single booth space, but that was about it. A big, beautifully backlit sign was in the back of their booth, comfortable seating and a fully themed display counter for all their cigar boxes were all good, but it took me four different visits to the booth before owner Greg Kovsky wasn’t busy with retailers. Once he was free, he was happy to tell me all about the brand and what they were bringing to market.

Islamorada Connecticut and Maduro

To start off, Islamorada is focusing on just two blends: one with a Connecticut Wrapper and one with a Maduro wrapper. All sizes and pricing are the same between the two.

• Wrapper: Ecuador (Connecticut Shade or Maduro)
• Binder: Dominican Republic
• Filler: Dominican Republic

• Islamorada Churchill (7 x 48) — $25.40 (Box of 25, $635)
• Islamorada Corona (6 x 46) — $19.28 (Box of 25, $482)
• Islamorada Lancero (7 x 40) — $19.28 (Box of 25, $482)
• Islamorada Robusto (5 x 50) — $21.20 (Box of 25, $530)
• Islamorada Fatboy (4 1/2 x 60) — $23.60 (Box of 25, $590)
• Islamorada Torpedo (5 1/2 x 55) — $27.92 (Box of 25, $698)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: July 2019

Benefield

The Benefield is close to Kovsky’s heart, as it’s named after his mentor and father of his best friend, Tommie D. Benefield, a test pilot for the B-1 Bomber who lost his life during one of the test flights on August 29, 1984. The band also features the same profile on the patch that was used on Benefield’s uniform.

• Wrapper: Ecuador
• Binder: Dominican Republic
• Filler: Dominican Republic

• Benefield (8 x 60) — $53.20 (Box of 5, $266)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: July 2019