Also in this issue:

• Good Life Guide
  Drinks: Mexican Brews
• Cuba
  Smuggling Cigars
• Miscellaneous
  Editor's Note: A National Crisis
• Cigar Stars
  An Interview with Edgar M. Cullman Sr.
• Celebrities
  The Longest Day
• More from this Issue

Cigar News

Published in: September 1, 1994

Published Autumn 1994

1994 Tobacco Crops

According to Cubatabaco, the quality and quantity of this year's tobacco crop is the best of the past three years. This does not necessarily mean that the worldwide shortage of Havanas will suddenly be eliminated, but one problem appears headed for solution: there is a sufficient harvest of large wrapper leaves. Within a year to 18 months, the production of Churchill and double corona-sized cigars should be greatly increased.

The tobacco harvest in the Dominican Republic was also very good--the fifth consecutive year of high-quality.

The Cameroon crop, based on information from tobacco farm operators there, is of good quality with a higher-than-average yield. This means the shortage of large-sized Cameroon wrapper cigars, such as the Partagas No. 10, could be alleviated by 1996.

Honduran tobacco continues to suffer from blue mold, which affected about 25 percent of this year's crop. Mexico produced a large quantity of high-quality leaf. Nicaragua stopped planting Connecticut-seed tobacco for wrappers this year and replaced them with Cuban seed plants.

Casa del Habano Expands in Paris

Cubatabaco continues to expand its stores around the world. Casa del Habano, which opened stores recently in Mexico City, will launch an outlet in Paris in October at 169 Boulevard St. Germain in the 6th arrondissement. The Paris store is the seventh store in the chain.

Canadian Rights to Cuban Cigars Sold

In Canada, the Pacific Cigar Company of Hong Kong, led by David Tang, recently acquired from Tom Hinds the rights to distribute Cuban cigars in Canada. Tang bought Hinds' share of a joint venture with Cubatabaco. Tang also purchased two Havana House stores (in Windsor and Toronto). Hinds kept two other Havana House outlets ( in Winnepeg and Toronto), which will change names to Thomas Hinds Tobacconist.

Hinds has also launched his own line of cigars manufactured in Honduras. The brand is called Thomas Hinds Honduras Selection.

New Products

*Arturo Fuente's new Cuban-seed wrappers from Chateau de la Fuente in the Dominican Republic will hit the market by the holiday season. The cigars are being produced in classic Cuban sizes: petit lancero (6 by 38), robusto (5 by 50), corona gorda (5 5/8 by 47) and double corona (7 1/2 by 50). While prices haven't been set, you can expect them to be sold at a premium over current Arturo Fuente lines.

*Ashton will be introducing three new cigars: the Ashton aged Maduro No. 10, a 5 inch by 50 ring gauge, the Ashton Cabinet Superior, a 7 1/2 by 52 perfecto and the Ashton Double R, cedar aged, a 6 inch by 50 ring gauge. The Ashton Crown series featuring the new Chateau de la Fuente wrappers should hit the market by March.

*Don Tomas has come out with a Special Edition from Honduras. This is a full-bodied cigar from Don Tomas, which is owned by the U.S. Tobacco Company.

*A cigar called Vueltabajo is headed to the marketplace. It is being made at the only new factory to open in the Dominican Republic in recent years.

Celebrity News

Harvey Keitel is currently filming on a Brooklyn set. The movie has a working title of Smoke. Keitel, who is a cigar smoker himself, plays a character who works in a cigar store.

A local Washington, D.C., tobacconist says that President Clinton's current favorite smoke is a Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur No. 1 in Maduro. White House sources tell Cigar Aficionado that President Clinton is no longer so shy about lighting up. Hail to the Chief!