18
TOBACCO BUSINESS
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
NEWS & TRENDS
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
Arango Takes on Rattray
Cigar company is now the exclusive U.S. distributor
for Rattray’s Pipes and Tobaccos.
Arango Cigar Co., a national distributor of
a wide variety of tobacco products and re-
lated accessories, is now offering the en-
tire product line of 19 Rattray’s Epicurean
Pipe Tobaccos. All are hand-blended and
packed in 100-gram tins, with five also
offered in 50-gram tins. Additionally, 14
blends are available in 17.5-ounce bags.
“Our best-selling Rattray’s tobaccos
are Marlin Flake, Highland Targe and Old
Gowrie,” explains Michael Gold, Arango’s
president. “These are also the namesakes
for three Rattray’s briar pipe models—
Marlin, Highland and Old Gowrie—which
Arango stocks as well. These pipes fall
into the average price range of finer piec-
es in the pipe market.”
Originally founded in 1903 by Charles
Rattray, Rattray’s Pipes and Tobaccos
grew into the largest tobacco shop in
Scotland’s capital of Perth. Rattray soon
gained international stature as a master
blender of unique custom and stock to-
baccos for discriminating pipe lovers, and
his tobacco remains one of the world’s
most highly acclaimed brands.
Kohlhase, Kopp & Co. GmbH
& Co. KG (Offenbach am Main,
Germany) acquired Rattray’s
soon after forming their compa-
ny in 1976. The original Scottish
and English mixtures are still
blended, following Charles’s
century-old recipes. The new
owners added aromatics: Virginia, Caro-
lina Burley and Cavendish tobaccos for
their mellow flavor and aroma. Other than
one blend, Bagpiper’s Dream, which con-
tains a touch of fine cognac, Rattray’s to-
baccos are blended without additives.
“For decades, the respected Rattray’s
name has retained its prominence for
smoking satisfaction and uncompromis-
ing production standards,” says Gold.
“These fine tobaccos and pipes are a
valuable part of Arango’s pipe prod-
uct category, and we are proud to offer
them to a welcoming and discerning pipe
world.” Arango Cigar, Northbrook, Illinois,
800-222-4427
Utah Considers Raising Minimum Purchase Age
New law would require tobacco purchasers to be at least 21.
Senator Stuart Reid (R) has proposed
legislation that would raise Utah’s age
limit on tobacco products from 19 to
21. Reid’s bill, known as SB-12, would
raise the purchase age for cigarettes and
other tobacco products (including elec-
tronic cigarettes), as well as enact strict-
er penalties on individuals attempting to
illegally purchase or consume tobacco.
Because the current law restricts minors
from purchasing tobacco, violators un-
der the age of 18 go through the juve-
nile court system. Under SB-12, 19 and
20-year-olds who buy tobacco would be
guilty of a class C misdemeanor.
The penalties for retailers who sell to
anyone under the legal purchase age
would remain the same: a class C mis-
demeanor for first time offenders, class
B for the second offense, and class A
for third time offenders. The proposal
has met with some opposition. Sena-
tor Todd Weiler (R) raised objections at
the Health and Human Services Interim
Committee session in November, ask-
ing why 21 is better than the current
age of 19, or why 21 is an ideal age
compared to 25.
Anti-tobacco forces testified in sup-
port of the proposal at that session.
“Increasing the legal age of sale is likely
to have a significant impact in reducing
tobacco use among the young and limit
their access to this highly addictive,
deadly product,” noted Beverly May,
regional advocacy director for the Cam-
paign for Tobacco-Free Kids, speaking
before the interim committee. “Young
brains are still developing through the
teen years and offsetting the daily use
of tobacco products will reduce the
addiction and dependency on nico-
tine. Any effort to prevent tobacco use
among young people is worthwhile. It
will save lives.”
Utah is not alone in contemplating an
increase to the tobacco purchase age.
New York City has already raised the
age to 21, while Chicago, New Jersey
and New York state all have similar leg-
islation pending.
January 29-30
Las Vegas
See You in Vegas!
The Tobacco Plus Convenience
Expo (formerly known as TPE) will
welcome industry players from
around the world to Las Vegas this
month.
