IPCPR 2017

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Although FDA’s just-extended deadlines for cigars buoyed spirits, attendance and smoke clouds in the hall were definitely lighter than previous years.

By Eric Piras

It was that time of the year again... the transhumance of the tobacco world to the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers (IPCPR) trade show in Las Vegas.

The 2017 edition definitely seemed to be less crowded than in previous years, even though most of the exhibitors said they were quite pleased by the sales.  Several smaller companies who regularly attended the previous years were not exhibiting this year, presumably an influence of the new FDA regulations, but also because the cost of exhibiting is quite heavy, and increases yet again next year.

IPCPR 2017

IPCPR 2017

Joya de Nicaragua Antano Dark Corojo

With talks of FDA regulations in all the alleys, one of the show’s highlights was Rudolph Giuliani’s keynote address. Giuliani, former New York City mayor and former Time magazine man of the year is known for his love of cigars and connected with the audience as only a cigar-lover could. Giuliani’s speech left a positive impression in all minds, especially for premium cigars. He mentioned what he called the “ridiculous over-regulation of cigars” and put the audience at ease by saying that, given Donald Trump’s goal of reducing regulations, it was a good time to bring the case to the Trump administration.

We shall see what the future brings for FDA regulations, but it was definitely a more positive note than last year, especially as FDA has recently announced that it would extend deadlines for two provisions that deal with how companies apply for approval of tobacco products: the substantial equivalence has been pushed to five years instead of the original 18 months, and PMTA has been increased to six years instead of the original two.

Even though the amount of smoke in the room was definitely lighter than in previous years, indicating a lower attendance, some booths stood to attention.

Among them was Ashton. Even though their booth design has been quite constant over the years, the brand is one of the most recognized in the US for a private company, and they’re one of the pillars of the premium industry. A few new products deserve a mention, such as the San Cristobal Ovation Eminence, Ashton’s flagship brand from Nicaragua with a Mexican San Andrés wrapper and the San Cristobal Quintessence Corona Gorda, an Ecuadorian habano over a Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan fillers made at My Father Cigars S.A. Both should be on the markets in a few months.

Also worth noting are the San Cristobal Paradise Assortment, a very nice sampler, and La Aroma de Cuba Noblesse from Nicaragua, with an Ecuadorian habano wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan fillers.

Another interesting booth was Joya de Nicaragua, a brand established in 1968 and soon debuting in Asia. In IPCPR they launched the Joya Family Sampler, a practical way of tasting all the favourite cigars from the Joya line, and a new packaging for the Antaño Dark Corojo, a line created 10 years ago and known as one of the most powerful cigars on the market, showcasing the power of Nicaraguan tobacco. Also worth trying is the Joya de Nicaragua Antaño Gran Reserva, with the new line including tobacco in the filler that has been aged up to five years, and a new vitola: a 5 1/2 x 52 box-pressed Robusto Grande.

Around the corner, Prometheus celebrated its 25th anniversary with several commemorative items. They also launched several beautiful torches and pocket travel tubes as well as a few stunning travel humidors and ashtrays.

All this smoking and sampling, FDA talks, new products, glamorous cocktail parties and a little big of gambling and good eating thrown in for good measure... one can understand why Las Vegas is still a prerequisite for the main tobacco players every year!

Sources: Author’s own, halfwheel.com & cigar-coop.com