Heard in the Humidor: September 1-5, 2008

Alberto Medina is nothing if not persistent. He created the boutique Pio VI brand in 1996, just as the Cigar Boom was hitting its peak. But rather than being able to enjoy the fruits of creating a well-liked brand, he found himself in a lengthy, grinding tug-of-war over the brand that lasted six years.

"We never closed," he said during July's International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association convention & trade show in Las Vegas. "We kept making cigars with our four rollers in Miami, but now we can sell them everywhere."

The Pio VI taste and style has been maintained, today using an Ecuadorian-grown, Sumatra-seed wrapper, Ecuadorian binder and Dominican and Nicaraguan-grown filler leaves. Only five sizes are made, from a 5-inch by 50-ring Robusto ("Overture No. 3") to the 7-inch by 48-ring Churchill ("Overture No. 1") at retail prices of $5.25 to $7.50 before local tobacco and sales taxes.

Medina was actually able to get the brand back into circulation in late 2007 and has been re-building what was once an expanding list of clients for this small-production brand. Even with the ability to sell Pio VI nationally, Medina is sticking to his boutique formula and appointing only a select number of retailers to carry the brand.

>> One of the most unique offerings at last month's IPCPR show didn't have a single leaf of tobacco anywhere near it. But it said a lot about smokers.

The item was a 12-image poster offered by Michigan City, Indiana art and framing dealer Sharpeye Framing Company called "Sigaromanzia."

The concept came from a 1921 Italian yearbook, Il Tabaco, which showed 12 different positions in which a man holds his cigar...and the psychological profile that accompanies that stance! According to the company, "Recently, a team of experts performed an experiment similar to that of the Italian psychologists and found nearly identical results. It just goes to show that one gives away quite a bit without ever saying a word."

The poster is available, in either all-color or black and white, for purchase in better tobacco shops; the SharpeyeFraming.com site has an inquiry option so that you can ask where you might find a copy. It's a sure attention getter...and keeps you current on your own view of the world!

>> Daniel Miranda always had a smile on his face, especially when the talk was about cigars. Sadly, the 38-year-old Miranda passed away on Friday, August 22, after a three-year fight against brain cancer.

He was a key member of his family's Miami Cigar & Co. team, serving as the director of marketing. His energy and enthusiasm earned him a wide circle of friends in the cigar industry and no one worked any harder. His presence was missed at the company’s expansive booth at the recent RTDA/IPCPR shows.

Miranda is survived by his wife, Christina; two daughters, Daniela, 8 and Alexandra, 7; his parents, Mariana and Nestor; and his sister, Tatiana (for whom the Tatiana flavored-cigar brand is named). In lieu of flowers, donations are being made to the National Brain Tumor Foundation to help find a cure for brain tumors.

>> Short fillers: In 1961, Consolidated Cigar hired a young leaf buyer who had managed a farm and had experience as a leaf broker. He became a legend. After 47 years, George Gershel announced his retirement as Executive Vice President of Altadis U.S.A. as of the end of 2008. He has been, for many years, one of the top tobacco buyers in the world, keeping Altadis facilities stocked with high-quality leaf for its dozens of blends...find our latest tasting review, of new cigars that were the stars of the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association convention & trade show, in our News & Views archives for August 29.

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Heard in the Humidor is a publication of Perelman, Pioneer & Company. Copyright 2008; All rights reserved.

Rich Perelman

9/2/08

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