Tuesday, February 20 2007
"Lives and property were lost as a result of Ortega's Sandanista movement," notes Philip Wynne, owner of Felipe Gregorio Tobacco World. "Once again he is promising better lives for the peasants, but his record shows differently."
So with the election of Daniel Ortega in November 2006 to the presidency of Nicaragua, Wynne has closed the section of the Nicaraguan factory which made his Centenario, Felipe Gregorio, Felipe II Fusion, the new Felipe II Reserva and Petrus brands.
"Nicaraguans are wonderful people and I regret having to lay off the 100 workers who made our cigars there, but I do not see a bright future there."
Wynne established a cigar-making presence in Condega, Nicaragua in 1993, not long after the end of a lengthy civil war in Nicaragua between the Ortega-led Sandanistas and the U.S.-backed Contras. "Fighting had been especially heavy in northern Nicaragua, where our Condega factory was located. His power-grab resulted in his Communist government – and him personally – 'nationalizing' all farms and factories in our industry, just as Fidel Castro did [in Cuba]. This was especially true in the Condega area.
"Now, anti-Americanism is gaining ground in Central America and I see no reason Ortega will not return to business as usual. I would like to think we are looking at a new Daniel Ortega, but the news reports say differently. I hope this is not the case, and I wish all others in tobacco and cigars the best, but I choose not to lose all my Nicaraguan holdings."
Wynne is consolidating his manufacturing operations in the Dominican Republic and will manufacture all of his lines there. He will continue to use Nicaraguan-grown tobacco, which he feels will still be available, since it is one of the country's few exportable cash crops. He is the first to leave Nicaragua due to the change in national leadership.
Altadis U.S.A. introduced the first new sizes in the Romeo y Julieta Vintage line since 1995 with the No. VII (6 inches by 50 ring), the Vintage Corona (5 1/2 x 44 in glass tubes) and the Vintage Toro (also 6 x 50, but in glass tubes).
The concept for what became the Romeo y Julieta Vintage blend – made strictly from aged tobaccos, hence the name – started in 1989, but took until 1993 to complete. "It took that long to get the wrapper right and to get the blend right," remembered Brad Weinfeld, then Vice President of Hollco-Rohr of Chatsworth, California, which owned the Romeo y Julieta trademark in the United States prior to being purchased by Tabacalera of Spain in 1997 (which was eventually merged into what is today Altadis U.S.A.).
With the success of the Dominican Romeo line that started in 1979, Weinfeld saw an opportunity to expand the brand. "The market was changing to Connecticut Shade wrappers; everything was Cameroon-wrapped in those days," he noted. "We wanted a milder, more creamy, smoky-tasting cigar." And he got one that was an immediate hit. Five sizes were introduced in 1993 with a sixth added in 1995, the last until this year's three additions to the line.
Although Zippo discontinued its elegant line of butane-filled lighters years ago, it still makes one butane lighter that's a favorite with the outdoor set: the Multi-Purpose. It's a long, eight-inch-tall device that can be operated with one hand, even with its child-safety device. It's perfect for lighting barbecues, but just as good for cigars with its adjustable flame and modest retail price of $14.95-24.95 depending on the model.
Now comes the "Mini" Multi-Purpose, a little thinner in the hand and just 6 1/2 inches long. It's easy to use with the same one-handed controls, but in a smaller size that's much easier for the smoker to carry.
Plus, it comes in four snappy colors: "Cabernet" (also known as red), "Cobalt" (blue), "Sage" (green), and Pearl (white). It's only $14.95 and comes with a handy storage stand that keeps it close by your humidor!
Short fillers: The Cuban newspaper Juventud Rebelde, an organ of the Communist Party, noted that a severe cigarette shortage has hit the eastern end of the island. Seems that the government's retail arm in Santiago – on the far southeastern end of Cuba – owes the government's regional cigarette distributor the equivalent of $430,000. And the regional distributor owes the government's cigarette manufacturing company about $95,000. So the cigarette maker stopped shipping. To the shock of the editors of the newspaper, some people have begun selling Popular-brand cigarettes at the equivalent of 95 cents a pack, nearly triple the regular price of 33 cents. So instead of clearing the debt, it was reported that local officials were working to bring in cigarettes from other areas! And the newspaper suggested that the island's business atmosphere needed "an injection of dynamism." Like more capitalism?
- Rich Perelman in Los Angeles
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Reprinted by permission. Heard in the Humidor is a publication of Perelman, Pioneer & Company. Copyright 2007; All rights reserved.
