While there have been very flavored cigars that have been created as TAA exclusives, the newest one is shipping to stores this week.
Miami Cigar & Co. has announced that the Tatiana Groovy Blue Belicoso, a 6 1/4 x 52 belicoso, has begun shipping to stores that are members of the Tobacconists’ Association of America (TAA).
The Groovy Blue is the most popular blend within Miami Cigar & Co.’s Tatiana brand of flavored cigars. It uses an Indonesian wrapper over a Dominican binder and fillers from the Dominican Republic. It is described as having flavors of berries, cognac, honey and vanilla. Tatiana cigars are produced by La Aurora in the Dominican Republic.
Each cigar has an MSRP of $13 per cigar and the Groovy Blue Belicoso is limited to 1,000 boxes of 10 cigars.
The TAA is a membership group, which also includes approximately 40 manufacturers, that gathers annually to discuss issues facing the industry and retailers, as well as to have its annual trade show, a unique event that works on a group buying format in order to secure exclusive deals for these generally high-volume merchants.
During the event—which took place March 26-30 at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic—the organization holds two selling events, one known as the Dream Machine, where the retailers collectively order to secure larger discounts, while the other is a more traditional trade show. Typically, around a dozen manufacturers release new exclusive cigars for the retail members of the organization under the TAA Exclusive Series Program banner. Those manufacturers agree to give a portion of the proceeds to the organization, a minimum of 50 cents per cigar.
TAA 2023 exclusive cigars from Espinosa Premium Cigars, Ferio Tego and Joya de Nicaragua have already begun shipping. In addition, CLE, Crowned Heads, E.P. Carrillo, Forged Cigar Co., General Cigar Co., Gurkha, J.C. Newman, Kristoff, La Palina, My Father, Plasencia 1865, Rocky Patel, Quality Importers Trading Co., Quesada, Tatuaje and Villiger Cigars North America have announced their TAA 2023 releases.