Tobacco Business

[ 96 ] TOBACCO BUSINESS [ MARCH / APRIL | 21 ] TOBACCONIST / ON YOUR SHELF Manzanita Manufacturer: Southern Draw Cigars Size: Toro (6 x 52) MSRP: $14.99 per cigar Punch Kung Pow! Manufacturer: Punch Cigars Size: Parejo (6 x 52) MSRP: $5.99 per cigar Xikar Pipeline Manufacturer: Quality Importers/Xikar MSRP: $64.99 Southern Draw Cigars has tapped A.J. Fernandez Cigar Co. to help blend its latest cigar, Manzanita. This cigar was inspired by the legacy of traditional tobacco—tobacco and other plant mixtures used by Native Americans for the purposes of sacred rituals, ceremonies, healing and giving thanks. According to Southern Draw Cigars, “manzanita” is a term that was used years ago during a planning session while A.J. Fernandez, Rafael Freddy, and Sharon and Robert Holt all inspected bales of a rich Habano hybrid tobacco. During this inspection, it was noted that the tobacco’s deep-red oily leaves were indicative of the shimmering “red” bark of a manzanita tree. These fermented leaves ended up being used as the cigar’s wrapper. Each tobacco included in Manzanita’s blend come from an undisclosed origin. The blends include varieties of Pelo d’pro, Corojo ’99, Habano and ligero. Some of the proceeds from the Manzanita will go to the First Nations Development Institute, an organization that focuses on the sustainable, economic, spiritual and cultural well-being of its community. Southern Draw Cigars will also dedicate some of the proceeds to Nourishing Native Foods & Health ( firstnations.org ) . This initiative is expected to raise a total of $30,000 for this charity in 2021, with the intention of exceeding that number by the end of the program. Punch Cigars is celebrating the Year of the Ox with a limited edition release, Punch Kung Pow!, the third release in the brand’s Chinese New Year Series. This cigar is handmade at HATSA in Danlí, Honduras, and includes tobaccos from five different countries. Punch Kung Pow! features a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, Hondu- ran Habano binder, and filler leaves from Brazil, Honduras, the Domini- can Republic and Mexico. “The Chinese New Year Series for Punch has become a new tradition, and for the 2021 release, we took a page from the Szechuan cookbooks,” says Ed Lahmann, senior brand manager for Punch Cigars. “The medium to full-bodied blend is vaguely sweet with an undercurrent of spice, just like the popular Chinese food dish of the differently spelled name. We put a new spin on the takeout container for this year’s release, and we’ve once again hit the post-holiday sweet spot for cigar lovers with a per-cigar price of just $5.99.” Punch Kung Pow! will be available in 20-count bundles packaged in a takeout-style box with a design that acknowledges the Year of the Ox. Quality Importers is expanding its Xikar Pipeline soft f lame lighter series with an upgraded body treatment, durable plated finishes and three new color combinations, including all black, chrome, black/gold-tone and black/rose. The Xikar Pipeline can be used on both cigars and pipes and has a retro-style hinged f lame cover. For pipe smokers, there’s also an integrated tamper and scraper on the bottom. TB