2019 Retailer Survey: The Best-selling Cigar Brands In America, Market Trends And More
Cigar shop owners from across the United States have spoken: cigar sales are up, FDA regulations and Internet sales taking business away from brick-and-mortar stores, most cigar retailers are having a good year—and they’re optimistic about the future. These are the main takeaways from Cigar Insider’s 24th annual poll of cigar shops across America.
Our results are gleaned from 173 brick-and-mortar cigar shops from small towns and major cities all over the United States—from New York to California, Texas to North Dakota and everywhere in between. Nearly 69 percent of the retailers who took our poll said they were selling more cigars this year compared to last year. People are buying more cigars, and in response, a wave of 362 million handmade cigars were imported into the United States last year, the most since 1997. This information speaks to the general health of the industry, and shows that demand for cigars remain strong.
Our survey also revealed which cigar brands are moving best. In of volume, almost 47 percent of retailers named Arturo Fuente as one of their best-selling brands. This makes Fuente Cigar Insider’s best-selling brand of 2019, overtaking Padrón, which held the title of best-selling brand last year.
Arturo Fuente is a No. 1 Cigar of the Year award in 2005.
Padrón, which ranked second in of sales, has earned a spot on Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 list Jorge now leads the organization.
U.S. retailers once again named Ashton Virgin Sun Grown. The latter came to market in 1999. Ashton’s relevance and high sales numbers today are indicative of the brand’s quality and consistency.
More than 23 percent of cigar retailers said Davidoff Escurio. The Swiss-company rolls all its Davidoff-branded products in the Dominican Republic.
Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary Toro (Tubo) was on Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 list last year. The company makes its cigars in both Honduras and Nicaragua.
Altadis U.S.A. and come in a variety of different tobacco blends.
Our survey also covered the hottest brands of 2019—a separate list from the best sellers, where retailers are asked to identify the cigars that customers most often request (but can’t necessarily obtain). In this category, Padrón and Arturo Fuente swapped places: Padrón is the No. 1 requested cigar in the United States, followed by Arturo Fuente and its ultra- sub-brand, the elusive Fuente Fuente OpusX.
Liga Privada Único Serie, a collection of limited-production Liga cigars rolled in special sizes and blends.
Rocky Patel remains in demand as the fifth most-requested cigar brand, followed by Oliva at No. 6, with Davidoff and La Flor Dominicana both tied for 7th place.
E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic may have taken some wind from its sails.
My Father La Opulencia Toro, and has won Cigar of the Year two times.
When it comes to cigar sizes, our poll clearly shows that America still has an appetite for coronas tied at No. 5.
Cigar retailers also gave their thoughts on the annual IPR trade show, which is being renamed the PCA. More than 70 percent of the people who answered our survey told Cigar Insider that a cigar shop owner, or one of their representatives, planned on attending the show. Those who said they were not attending noted that the expense of the show was the biggest factor for missing out, followed by the timing. Last year’s trade show took place in mid-July. This year, it starts at the end of June.
We also asked retailers if the FDA’s regulation of cigars impacted their business. Most respondents have not yet seen a dramatic affect on their livelihood—but they’re aware more changes are coming—and have noticed that a large amount of cigar manufacturers have increased prices to offset the higher cost of doing business.
Even with these hurdles, cigar retailers still find reasons to celebrate. Along with higher sales numbers this year, many retailers are pleased to report a variety of new, interested cigar smokers walking through their doors. “Lots of Millennials discovering and enjoying the cigar life,” says Jeff Borysiewicz, president of Corona Cigar Co., who owns four Florida locations in Orlando, Lake Mary and Tampa.
“There are a lot of new people just getting into cigars,” says Russell Wilder, owner of Top Shelf Cigar & Tobacco Shoppe in Augusta, Georgia. He sees an expanding audience of new customers. Craig Cass, owner of four Tinder Box locations in North Carolina and one in South Carolina, says he has observed a broadening demographic of people enjoying cigars at his locations. “It is refreshing to see new faces,” he says. “I find most consumers welcome education and are receptive to recommendations.”
Our retailer poll indicates that today’s cigar consumers have discerning tastes and are willing to spend more money on quality cigars—another good sign for tobacconists everywhere.
Besim Cukaj, owner of Besim’s Fine Cigars in Southampton, New York, says that today’s cigar customer is “looking for quality, and willing to spend more than they did during the past decade.” Luis Molina, general manager at Habana Port Cigar Merchants, who oversees retail locations in both Metairie and Baton Rouge, Louisiana might agree with Mr. Cukaj. He says that the modern consumer is “looking for value. Price is not necessarily an issue but value is very relevant.”
“Consumers are more educated than ever,” says Michael Herklots, vice president of Nat Sherman International, who oversees the Nat Sherman Townhouse in Manhattan, New York. “They make decisions with tremendous discretion.” He notes that today’s customers want quality and refinement. “There is clearly continued and growing interest in cigars that are balanced. Flavor is more important than strength. The days of face-melting bombs are over.”
