“Apocalyptic” storm destroys tobacco infrastructure. Hurricane Ian made landfall early this morning in Pinar del Río, Cuba, tearing away homes and tobacco barns as it cut a path of destruction across the westernmost portion of the island. The storm, a category three hurricane when it struck in La Coloma around 4:30 this morning, packed sustained

Hurricane Ian Lands In Heart of Cuba’s Tobacco Region Read More »

The Dominican factory that produces cigar brands such as Caldwell and Room101 was lost in a blaze that started early this morning. Sirens blared in a Santiago free zone early this morning as firefighters fought a blaze that consumed the William Ventura factory in the Dominican Republic. William Ventura was a small factory known for

Fire In The Free Zone: William Ventura Cigar Factory In D.R. Burns Down Read More »

Another fight over the use of the letter “X” has erupted and this time it involves General Cigar Co. On July 5, the law firm representing Arturo Fuente Cigar Co. sent a cease-and-desist letter to General Cigar requesting that the company immediately halt use of the X mark found on the logo of General’s newly-launched

General And Fuente In Legal Battle Over “X” Read More »

Former Owner Of CAO Debuting Brand Using Family Name Tim Ozgener is back in the cigar industry with a new brand bearing his family name. The man who once owned and ran CAO alongside his father and sister is about to launch Ozgener Family Cigars Bosphorus. It’s his first blend in around 12 years, and

Tim Ozgener Returns To Cigar Business Read More »