Two different blends being released: God of Fire by Don Carlos, and God of Fire by Carlito, representing the father and son team of Carlos and Carlito Fuente who created the blends. The cigars are only being made available in 100 Prometheus 2004 Limited Edition God of Fire humidors. The Carlito blend was shipped with the humidor itself in November, while the Don Carlos blend is slated to ship in late Spring of 2005.

The cabinet humidors have four drawers and a glass door etched with the God of Fire logo by master glass artist Claudio Tamburini in Italy. Each door is signed by Tamburini and bears a serial number. Five different veneers are available: Black Lacquer, Blue Eye Maple, Macassar Ebony, and Yellow Eye Maple.

Humidors contain 50 God of Fire by Don Carlos 2004 and room for 50 God of Fire by Carlito 2004. Each cigar is individually packaged in a coffin box. The humidors have a total capacity of 250 to 300 cigars. The manufacturer's suggested retail price for the humidor with 100 cigars is $6,000.

The square-pressed cigars offer the value-conscious consumer a smoking experience one would expect to find only in much higher priced cigars, says General.

The collection's four frontmarks are named for cities in Spain, the homeland of Don Quixote author Miguel de Cervantes, and are packaged in boxes of 20: Madrid (6 x 54, $4.25 each, $85 per box), Cordoba (5 x 44, $2.85 each, $57 per box), Barcelona (6 x 48, $3.80 each, $76.00 per box); Pamplona (4 x 50, $3.15 each, $63.00 per box).

General Cigar is positioning Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte cigars as an "affordable indulgence" with packaging that makes them look expensive. The cigars are presented in a handsome, rich burgundy-stained cedar box bearing a golden Sancho Panza insignia.

Silver cigarettes are manufactured with a premium-quality Colombian blend tobacco and are offered in Full Flavor, Lights, and Menthol 100's in soft and hard packs. On average, General Tobacco's brands cost close to 50% less than their competitors. Of the General Tobacco product portfolio - which includes GT One, Bronco, and Champion - Silver is the most affordable for consumers.

General Tobacco is the trade name under which Vibo Corporation operates. The company, with approximately $400 million in annual sales, was admitted to the MSA in August, 2004, and has agreed to pay a total of $1.7 billion to the 46 member states over the next ten years.

"Costa Rica has always had a very special place in my heart, ever since I first traveled to this beautiful country 37 years ago," says Spoden. "We set out on a journey to find the very best in Costa Rican eco-tobacco plantations. To honor these very talented farmers, we named this new cigar line The Treasure of Costa Rica." Bucanero's other existing brands are still produced in Nicaragua.

Rolled entirely from Costa Rican tobaccos, the Treasure of Costa Rica puros have a dark golden-brown Cuban-seed Havana wrapper and a variety of Costa Rica fillers and binder. The blend is described as mild- to medium-bodied, exhibiting the "characteristically typical smoothness and unique flavors" in the Bucanero family of cigars. The cigars are available in three sizes: Corinita (4 x 44), Robusto (5 x 50), and Belicoso (6 x 54), and are packed in 16-count boxes that resemble a treasure chest. The cigars, which began shipping in October, have a suggested retail price of $6.50 per stick.

The line is available in six sizes: Corona (5 5/8 x 45), $4.50 retail; Corona Grande (7 x 48), $5 retail; Belicoso (6 1/8 x 52), $6.00 retail; Epicure No. 2 (5 x 54), $5.00 retail; Epicure No. 1 (6 x 54) $5.50 retail; and Titanias (7 1/4 x 54) $6.00 retail. The cigars are presented in Cuban-style, full-color paper-wrapped boxes of 20 sticks.

The brand's name dates back to old Havana: Juan Lopez Diaz registered the brand in 1876, when he was "Official Supplier of the Royal House." The name was changed to Flor de Juan Lopez 16 years later. Altadis USA now own the U.S. rights to the trademark, but a Cuban version is still made today.

Imported and distributed by Ashton Distributors, which also handles Irish-made Peterson pipes and Peterson smoking tobaccos, this Cameroon-wrapped, medium-bodied cigar presents a "bold yet balanced flavor that is rich and very satisfying," says Ashton, noting that retail pricing is "very affordable."

Five shapes are offered: Churchill (6 3/4 x 48, $6.80 retail); Belicoso (6 1/8 x 52, $6.80 retail); Toro (6 x 50, $6.50 retail); Corona (5 1/2 x 44, $5.40 retail); and Robusto (5 x 50, $6.60 retail).

The Peterson Gran Reserva is packaged in elegant black cedar boxes with the distinctive Peterson "P" and gold banding.