Press Release from Southern Draw Cigars:
Southern Draw Cigars to reveal the CEDRUS Lancero at TPE 2020 Cigars
Southern Draw Cigars announces NO price increases for 2020!
The love of lanceros, those long, thin cigars is nothing new for the Southern Draw Cigars family as they are our true favorite smoking experience. The family never likes to show up empty handed to a trade show or event, so it is excited to share something new with TPE 2020 attendees.
“Southern Draw Cigars has been quietly enjoying this size for several years (in fact I am smoking one as I draft this PR) and plans to reveal the CEDRUS Lancero 7.5×40 in celebration of our first ever attendance at the Tobacco Plus Expo in Las Vegas, NV. From January 29th – 31st. The family and the CEDRUS lancero may be found in a quaint little corner of Booth #4059. We have previously offered a lancero size in each of our core blends including the popular Rose of Sharon, Firethorn, Kudzu and Jacobs Ladder and this new addition will complement the CEDRUS line nicely. Although lanceros reportedly do not make up a large portion of sales for most brands, Southern Draw Cigars has been blessed with solid sales over the previous five years, sales that are on par with our more traditional robusto and toro sizes. We will have a limited number of samples on hand and will be taking pre-orders for April and July 2020 deliveries,” per Robert Holt.
Southern Draw Cigars is also pleased to announce that it has NO plan for a price increase for 2020. Sharon Holt a.k.a. The Rose of Sharon shared the company’s thought process, “We wish to avoid spending too much time on price increase (and justification) discussions with our staff and current valued retailer partners. The family believes this is time that should be spent on value increasing discussions instead. Southern Draw has been blessed by the patience and loyalty of our partners and consumers, which more than warrants this important decision.”
The company would like to share some of the reasons that a 2020 price increase on current products wouldn’t be productive:
1.SDC would like to hold on to our retailers and customers during this time of gloom and uncertainty in the industry by providing quality products at fair prices and an incentive for consumers not to turn to bargain or overall cheaper products.
2.A price increase would likely increase churn in the essential life blood of brick and mortar shops operating in states with higher than average tobaccos related taxes.
3.SDC has been blessed with a growth rate of >100% per year over the last 6 years, a 4% – 5% price increase now won’t really matter over the next 5 – 10 years, however the churn and the loss of referrals and consumer support will adversely impact our growth rate.
4.A price increase on current products and with existing partners will take a lot of time and energy away from family, sales representatives and brokers, if sales are soft or growth declines, the opinion will likely be that it was due to the price increase.
5.A one-time price increase may solve immediate increased labor, legal and logistical costs but when it is done, it hasn’t fixed any real issues. We need to support the industry more and proactively work together on long term solutions that benefit the industry.
Southern Draw Cigars plans to introduce more expensive product offerings in 2020 and when it has been determined a price increase is necessary, the company will make every effort to telegraph it well in advance and then apply it equally to all products in an attempt to mitigate any issues.
CEDRUS Lancero
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: AJ Fernandez Cigar Co., Estelí, Nicaragua
Wrapper: Besuki, Indonesia
Binder: Habano 2000- Estelí, Nicaragua
Viso: Piloto Cubano – Dominican Republic, Criollo 98 – Estelí, Nicaragua
Seco: Habana 92 – Quilali, Nicaragua
Ligero: Corojo 99 – Jalapa, Nicaragua
Size: Lancero 7.5×40 (box pressed)
Number of Cigars – 50,000 per size the be released for 2020
Packaging: 20 count boxes (standard SDC boxes) and a limited number of 20 count refill bundles
Price – $10.20 MSRP (same price as the robusto size of all core bend cigars)
Ship Date – April 15 & July 15 & October 15, 2020
Soli Deo Gloria –
Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
In a totally unrelated response, I’ve been up since 6am worrying about my dwindling supply of smoke ready cigars. Here’s my dilemma.
My humidors are stocked. Whoppee for me. None of them are ready to smoke.
Can you take a minute and give me a lead on something that is ready to fire up from the get-go (if there is such a blessing available). Your assistance is appreciated.
Tom in GA
Not knowing what you have in your humidor, it is difficult to tell you which of your cigars are ready to smoke.
I will say that most AJ and Pepin Garcia blends are usually quicker to progress than other brands.
Hey Tom, All Isabela cigars are ready to go ROTT. I keep a few different blends at all times and smoke these while waiting for all my other cigars to mature. I wouldn’t of known about Isabela if it wasn’t for the Katman. They are all fantastic cigars at reasonable prices. I’ve found that most Tatuaje blends (not all) are good to go after only a few weeks in the humi as well. Just my opinion though. Hope this helps.
I’ve definitely had the same experience with Don Pepin Garcia stuff. Their new La Promesa is a nice cheap-and-cheerful cigar, and ready to go ‘ROTT’. Perfect for waiting on pricier sticks to mature.
Also seconding Matt B.’s Isabela recommendation.
A refreshing outlook on pricing! Which is especially fortuitous as I just found a B&M that carries them. With Massachusetts prices (slightly higher than NH) and the tax on top, a Rose of Sharon gets about $13 and change; still totally worth it.
Absolutely correct Charles on the Isabela blends. Due to extreme aging, they are good to go on receipt. Although, they do well with more time.
One of my favorites is the Tatuaje Black or Brown labels which are pretty quick to evolve. Anytime I hit my cigar lounge, I always grab a Tat as they are usually without cellos and ready to smoke.
I’ve got Brick House Maduros, Punch Diablos, CAO La Traviatas of several types, Pinar Del Rio Oscuros and a bunch more but they all need more time. Thanks for the info guys. I’ll check out the Isabellas.
The cigars you mention need a lot of time in your humidor before ready to smoke. Start at least 2-3 months before lighting up your first one.
You should check out Isabela Cigars and don’t forget to use the promo code: Katman Free Katpack for something extra in your package.
They are one of the very few myriad of blends that are ready to smoke ROTT.
Since your reply this morning, my A. Flores Serie Privada Maduras came in the mail today. I had read the PDR blurb on them and saw that they used the oldest tobacco in the warehouse so I took my coffee and a glass of ice water down to the cave and read your review on them again as I fired one up.
Lawdy lawdy!!! This is a fine ass cigar. Everything you said about it is true. In addition to the superlatives you heaped, I detected a very rich, deep taste of mango on the finish. The wrap is slicker and tighter now than the photo in your review. But the taste is absolutely delicious … just like you said it was.
Hey Tom,
So glad you enjoyed your cigar.
Thanks for your comment.
Best regards,
Phil