RoMa Craft has landed in Germany.
During the Christmas holiday, Skip Martin of RoMa Craft Tobac previewed Wunder|Lust in Germany. The new brand is a European-only release that will begin with 20 accounts in Germany.
“Wunder|Lust is a very unique blend, and something completely different for both RoMa Craft Tobac and Nica Sueño,” said Martin. “It was inspired by the tobaccos we found in the massive inventory that the Schusters maintain in their own factory.”
The four-vitola line uses a Brazilian mata fina (Castaño osucro) wrapper, Indonesia Besuki binder and an undisclosed filler blend. It’s being offered in Petit Belicoso (4 5/8 x 54, €8.25), Robusto (5 x 50, €8.75), Gran Corona (5 5/8 x 46, €8) and Gran Toro (6 x 52, €9.25). Each size will come in boxes of 22.
Wunder|Lust will be distributed in Germany by August Schuster GmbH & Co. KG, who will also bring over the rest of the company’s portfolio, Schuester also handles the distribution for La Flor Dominicana; it previously distributed Camacho and Drew Estate before both companies were acquired.
“Frankly, given that we have limited our production to less than 1.2 million cigars annually, Mike Rosales and I had decided that distribution outside of the United States was not going to be a part of our strategy,” said Martin. “However, in early 2014 I had the pleasure of spending some time with Annmarie Schuster, the daughter of Phillip Schuster, blending in the factory and learning about the storied history of her family’s company.”
The company will continue with a soft launch limited to 20 retailers in Germany. Approximately 10,000 cigars will be offered to these retailers. In September, the line will be offered to other accounts at the annual Inter-tabac convention in Dortmund, Germany. Martin said production is expected to limited to 100,000 cigars for this year and that it will not be offered to retailers in the U.S.