New or “New-to-Me” Exhibitors from IPCPR 2013
Here’s the first group of companies with which I was not entirely familiar before IPCPR 2013. Some are new to the market, some have longstanding histories, but are diversifying their offerings into the market with new/different introductions, and some simply intrigued or sparked some intangible feeling in me that they could become something great in the industry. More groups will follow in subsequent pages, and I will update all as I make it through the rotation to try their products personally…
Brun del Ré (website: http://www.brundelrecigars.com/ )
I was familiar with Brun del Ré before this year’s show, but had never had the opportunity to try their cigars. I stopped by the booth and spoke with Carlos Corazza about Brun del Re and what they are bringing into the market. The company was founded about ten years ago, “to rescue the history and descending familiar values of the European royalty: Brun del Ré.” They have a specialized store there, “Mundo de los Puros,” which has begun to produce and market the inhouse brand – Brun del Ré. Their offerings are “the result of the most select tobacco blend and [are] presented elegantly in 6 editions: Premium, Gold, Colonial, Don Corazza, Culebra Cigars, and Mini Cigarillos.” The first five are premium, handmade longfiller cigars, and the cigarillos are flavored shortfiller offerings in Chocolate, Vanilla, and Classic. I will be reporting in the coming weeks on the Premium, Gold, Colonial and Don Corazza lines, as soon as they have properly rested from the considerable travel they have experienced over the past couple of weeks. From all appearances, they are quite well constructed and I anticipate they will smoke as well. Just a cursory glance around the marketing materials and a quick websearch shows some very high ratings in a number of publications, and my conversation with Carlos revealed a man steeped in tobacco knowledge and history. I spoke with a few other folks who have had the chance to smoke them, and heard nothing but good things. This is a company to watch in the coming days as they make more of an entry into the market.
