Cuban cigar price increases, again

That’s not a surprise to most of us. Apart from Covid-19 and the rising demand for cigars, Cuba is also facing trauma from several disasters. Two massive fires were reported in early 2022 in the Cuba tobacco warehouse. A total of 31.5 tons of tobacco leaves were lost during the accident.  From this, we may foresee that the supply of Cuban cigars will also be under tight control in the coming years. 

Then, in late September, Hurricane Ian severely hit the Cuban tobacco fields. The flooding brutally damaged Pinar del Rio, the rural tobacco province that held 65% of Cuban tobacco crops, leaving 3.2 million citizens affected and countless fields destroyed. 

Not only facing the loss of existing stocks and the entire growing season, Cuba also had to devote extra energy and resources to rebuild the damage from the several accidents, which left the cigar industry falling further behind in the following years. 

Cohiba price will increase by 50%

Allied Cigar Corp.(ACC), a Hong Kong-based investment group, investing in Habanos, decided to unite the price of the Cuban cigar over the globe with Hong Kong’s price. Hong Kong is not only the benchmark for luxury products but also one of the city with the highest tobacco tax (with about 63% of the retail price). 

The most notable increase will be the Cohiba. There will be a 50% increment for the Behike line and about 15% for other products. Remember back in the good old days (just four years ago), the selling price of the Cohiba Media Siglo per stick was $33, and now it is $60 and above. So whoever got the stock of Cohiba, hold tight and wait for good fortune. 

With New World following Cuban footsteps…

Since the Cuban price soared with limited supply these few years, cigar smokers have no choice but to extend their hands to New World cigars. As predicted in our past article, with the dramatically increased demand for New World cigars, several brands have also announced there will be a price increase. 

Alec Bradley, Arturo Fuente, Drew Estate and E.P. Carillo have already announced the price adjustment percentage. One significate price increase would be Davidoff. With an average 7% price increase and a 20% increase in the Winston Churchill Late Hour series.  The Late Hour series is well-known for its strong and robust flavour, a similar substitution for Cuban cigars. Even with such price increment,  The Late Hour series is still very popular among aficionados. 

Lastly, let’s have some good news! 

On the bright side, Habanos S.A. is bringing back the Habanos Festival after two years of suspension! The Habanos Festival is held yearly but has been forced to stop due to the global pandemic. Nevertheless, the festival is the biggest moment to open up the normally closed Cuban cigar factories and tobacco farms to tourists and foreigners. 

As has been already announced the 23rd Habano Festival will take place from February 26th to March 3rd, 2023. If you haven’t planned your holiday, now is the time to explore the country of the finest cigars, with a total price of US$3,250 to access all activities, including field trips, dinners and auctions. We can expect nothing but numerous exciting events and releases to surprise us!

The festive season is around the corner! Christmas, Lunar New Year, Valentine’s Day… Time to celebrate countless memorable moments with the perfect gifts. 

Wait…you’d like to surprise your loved one but unsure about their favourite cigars? Sit back and read on to this ultimate gift guide. We're here to guide you through a solid list of gift recommendations for cigar lovers this holiday season. 

It’s simple to pick a gift for your loved one, even if you have never tried a stick! 

1. Find the perfect sticks according to their eating habits

The taste of cigars is often described as the food aroma and taste. For example, spicy, coffee, caramel etc. If you know your loved one’s eating and drinking habits, you may choose a smoke catering to their tastes. 

If they prefer spicy food, you might want to pick a strong, robust cigar with a spicy and pepper aroma. Davidoff Yamasa Robusto may pair perfectly with their dinner.  Do they prefer an espresso for a relaxing afternoon? They will probably enjoy a Montecristo Edmundos. And our pick would be Oliva Serie V Melanio Torpedo for the aficionados with a sweet tooth.

2. Simplest way: Go for the assortments!

Cigar merchants know your struggle deep well. They have been prepared for this situation with different cigar assortments. The gift assortment makes perfect gifts for any occasion, they includes various sizes and styles. Brands such as Habanos, Davidoff, and Plascencia are well known for their excellent quality and flavours. Maybe your loved one would love to explore and find their new favourite stick in their assortment. 

3. Looking for something other than cigars? Cigar accessories.

Accessories are always a great choice when you are in doubt, whether it is a humidor, ashtray or lighter. You can add a personal touch by customising the memorable date or the short form of their name on the accessories to make the pieces one of a kind in the world. Make sure to go for the highest quality available; if you are uncertain, you could consider purchasing from renowned cigar accessories manufacturers, such as Elie Bleu, S.T. Dupont, Fallon etc. 

4. Think about the pairing and environment

Another great option would be to consider their smoking habits and preferred environment. 

If your loved one would like to enjoy a stick while playing golf, consider getting him a cigar case and whisky flask. Or they prefer to enjoy the cigar indoors. A classy record player would add music and vibe to the whole smoking experience. 

No matter what you pick, your loved one will be grateful for that perfect gift. 

Lighting a cigar properly is one of the many essential skills any cigar aficionado must have. Cutting and lighting the cigar is the beginning of the cigar-tasting ritual. To light a cigar, make sure to cut your cigar first to allow airflow within. Then we can step onto the lighting process.

How to light a cigar?

1. Hold your cigar at a 45-degree angle close to the flame. But not to put the flame directly into the cigar. 
2. Toast the cigar by turning it slowly as the flame starts to burn around the foot of the cigar until the edges of the foot are blackened. 
3. If the filler turns black, that means it is not lightened yet. Point the filler to the flame and toast it until the filler turns grey.
4. Lastly, puff your cigar 2-3 times while slowly rotating the flame. You should be able to see that the cigar is lit properly. Now you can place the cigar between your lips, kick back, and start puffing.

How to choose a cigar lighter?

Now that you know how to light a cigar, then is time to choose the perfect lighter. The type of flame you are using to light up your cigar is essential to consider. Certain flames come with different chemicals, like sulfur, which the cigar can absorb. 

Flames to avoid would be benzine lighters, petrol lighters, paper matches, or candles. However, if chemical-inducing flames are your only option, ensure you keep the flame about 1/2 inch from the cigar to reduce as many chemicals from being absorbed by the cigar as possible. 

Different lighting tools:

Soft flame

A good option for beginners and suitable to use in an indoor environment. Comparatively, it has a lower temperature than jet flame, allowing you to slowly toast the cigar without overheating. Thus, require more time and patience to light up your cigar. 

Jet flame

The jet flame comes with a condensed flame that could quickly torch up the cigar in a windy or outdoor environment, suitable for aficionados that are on the move. However, we do not suggest it for the novice as the high temperature of jet flame might quickly burn up the cigar. 

Matches 

A classy traditional way to light your cigar with. Using matches made of odourless materials, such as populus, pinewood, etc., allow you to prepare the cigar rather than burning it—the perfect tool to complete your cigar ritual. 

Cedar spill

A sheet of cedar wood comes with most of the Cuban cigar; wondering how to utilise it? Apart from putting it in your humidor to add extra flavour, you can also cut it into a spill and light your cigar with it. Be extra careful of the ash and flame residue from the cedar spill. Make sure you have an ashtray nearby.