Cigar factories closing and one fights back by Frank Seltzer
Ok so the headline is a little misleading…(I want to see if Google picks this one up). Yes, cigar factories are closing…pretty much all of them. But it is normal, they take a break for the holidays and will reopen after the new year. But there is a worry about the proposed FDA take over of the premium cigar business so one manufacturer is throwing a Molotov cocktail into the fight.
“Coup d’etat”
Quesada Q D'ETAT
The Quesadas — makers of the Cubita Dominican, Fonseca and Cubano Limitado lines in the Dominican Republic — are stepping up the fight against the FDA rules by coming out next month with a new addition to their Quesada line with Q d’etat. This limited edition represent a symbolic revolt against government intrusion into the premium cigar industry. There will be 1,000 ten-count boxes for each of the three sizes to be released over the coming year. According to the company’s release, “The brand is intended to create awareness of the dangers increased government regulation and taxation will produce, specifically the FDA’s desire to regulate premium cigars.” Each box also will contain a membership form for the Cigar Rights of America which along with the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers are leading the fight on Capitol Hill against the FDA.
The first cigar in the line will be a figurado called the Molotov, measuring 5 x 38/58/44 at $7.50 and is a Dominican puro. The name comes from the Finns who during the Winter War in 1939 were fighting the Soviet Union. Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov went on the radio to deny the Soviets were dropping bombs on the Finns and said they were bread baskets. The Finns started calling the bombs Molotov Bread Baskets and then used the improvised incendiary weapons against the Soviets. They were called Molotov Cocktails because the Finns said you need a drink to go with the bread.
The Quesadas say they chose a shorter smoke for the initial release because “this cigar is a great size for the thousands of us who will have to smoke outside in the freezing cold this winter because of draconian smoking bans that prevent us from enjoying a cigar indoors at our favorite bars, restaurants, and, often times, even cigar shops.”
New York New York
Montecristo New York Edition
Altadis USA has launched a new Montecristo, especially for New York. The New York Connoisseur Edition debuted at the annual Big Smoke in Manhattan and it is in shops across the state now. It features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over Dominican fillers and a Nicaraguan binder. The stick is a corona gorda measuring 6×60 and has a price tag of about $14.
Bye Bye Blue
Original Matasa Factory
Since 1974, MATASA has been headquartered in the original free trade zone in Santiago. It was the second building in the facility. But when it officially closes this week for the Christmas break, it will be the last time the Quesadas go there. The decision to move was made about a year ago. The Quesadas rented the blue building in the free trade zone and as patriarch Manuel Quesada puts it , “we have probably paid for the building several times over.”
Since 1961, the family has owned a building out in Licey which has its own free trade zone. The building was once home for the company’s Manipuladora de Tabaco – a tobacco brokerage business founded by Manuel’s father. But in 2002, the company stopped selling leaf and it solely existed to acquire tobacco for the factory. Having a trade zone of their own and a building, the Quesadas decided it made economic sense to really use it.
Beginning early last year, Manuel’s nephew Jose Manuel Bermudez, also known as Blondy, began the massive construction to increase the size of the existing buildings — after all the facility now would be home to not only the stored tobacco but also the factory.
Building the new Matasa factory last February
The roofs were raised and second levels were added. The goal was to have the factory ready in October. Most of the operations were moved over to the new facility this fall, but like any move, there is always more stuff to take over. Between now and the end of the year, the family will completely empty whatever is left in the old factory since their lease ends December 31. The Quesadas will officially debut their new facility at Pro Cigar in February.
There’s an app for that
Finally, Drew Estate has been busy working not only on cigars but also on technology. The company has just released its iPhone app and is working on one for the Android platform. The app lets you browse all of the company’s cigar brands, lets you buy stuff from the Kult Shop, find Drew Estate events based on location and see more about its Cigar Safari program. The app is free and available in the iTunes store under Drew Estate.
