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New Orleans, August 12, 2010 – The popularity and importance of the European Cigar Journal Cigar Trophies led to an expanded list of categories distributed at the Hilton Riverside New Orleans, recognizing winners in Accessories, Art, Community and for "Ambassadors" of the cigar industry.
Over the course of the 40-minute-long ceremony, 16 of the iconic black-and-gold cutter awards were distributed to some of the best-known brands in cigardom. An especially poignant moment came from Carlito Fuente, who accepted the award for Community on behalf of the Fuente and Newman families for their work in the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation, who remembered that when he and his father started their Dominican operations in 1992, young children would ask for jobs and their parents told him that if they didn't work, they wouldn't eat. Citing the award as a recognition that the effort to improve the life of Caribbean families outside the factory is just as important as what goes on inside, he noted that "This is much more important than any grade I have received on a cigar."
Equally impressive was the acceptance for the Ambassador award from Glynn Loope for the Cigar Rights of America. He brought many of the leading names in the industry onto the podium and noted that "in 16 months, CRA has tackled 22 smoking bans, 16 tax battles and six public policy matters that act to the detriment of cigar smokers everywhere. Win, lose or draw, the time is now for a fight.
"Cigar Rights of America is not an organization, it is a movement. What began as a five-city tour is now is now a 50-state membership. That, in an of itself, is a testament to the passion of cigar smokers everywhere."
In the traditional categories, Altadis USA won three trophies to increase their all-time total to 10 Cigar Trophies over the 10 years that the awards have been given. Davidoff was recognized for the Best Cigar from the Dominican Republic for the Davidoff Maduro Robusto and increased its all-time total to 11 trophies, the most of any company.
Some of the warmest applause was given for Jose "Pepin" Garcia, whose Don Pepin Garcia Blue Label line received the Cigar Trophy for the Best Brand from the United States. Truly a rags-to-riches story, Garcia told the attendees - in Spanish - how much he appreciated the warmth and support of the American people for him and his cigars.
The winners:
Art:
Vrijdag Printing (Netherlands)
Ambassador:
Cigars Rights of America (USA)
Community:
Fuente and Newman families for the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation
Accessories:
Brothers of the Leaf (USA) for the Palio cutter line
Best Brand:
Best Cigar:
Best Value:
Lifetime Achievement:
Benjamin Menendez of General Cigar.
The 2010 Cigar Trophies in the Cuban categories will be awarded in the fall at the InterTabak Expo in Dortmund, Germany.
~ Rich Perelman
(Photography courtesy Steve Weinberg)
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