In-store materials include a 3 in. x 4 in. shelf talker and an 11 in. x 17 in. complimenting consumer magazine ads.

Like the original, Cognac Flavored Golden Wraps are made in France with the finest tobacco rendering a brown premium cigarette paper, but are also flavored with cognac to deliver a smoothly sweet and aromatic smoke. Booklets are packed 20 per display box, both featuring classic golden packaging with a tobacco leaf motif and brand logo similar to the original. Master cases contain 48 display boxes. Special retail displays are also available, including counter easels and floor stands.

Republic Tobacco has been a major distributor of RYO cigarette tobaccos, papers, and accessories since 1969. In August of 2000, an affiliate of Republic Tobacco acquired Bollore Technologies cigarette paper manufacturing facility located in Perpignan, France, along with the majority of its trademarks. The French-based operation is now doing business as Republic Technologies.

The Premier Menthol filters incorporates menthol crystals in the filter cavity. This system extends the flavor life during storage, before cigarettes are made by the consumer, and release the full menthol flavor when the cigarette is smoked, according to the manufacturer. Premier Menthol Cigarette Tubes are available in cartons of 200 tubes.

Clinton Tube offers a full line of quality filter-tipped cigarette tubes from Rayo, Escot, and Century; cigarette making machines including the Premier Supermatic, Supermatic II, Excel de Luxe, Pressta, Escort, and Rayo. The company also distributes cigarette paper booklets and rollers from Escort and Rayo, in 70, 80, and 100mm paper sizes.

The four-cigar gift pack includes: Toro (6 x 50), Torpedo (6 1/4 x 52), Churchill (7 x 52), and the popular Perfecto (5 x 51).

"Aficionados are rediscovering the unique smoking benefits of the venerable perfecto's shape," reports Doug Wood, president, La Perla Habana Cigars. "The cigar's small-diameter foot lights easily, the richness builds as the coal reaches the fat midsection, and the long taper to the head focuses the flavor."

The Maduro Sampler was so successful with retailers during the holidays that they suggested it be offered year-round. The four cigars are encased in a cedar presentation box and cellophaned for protection. Each bears the distinctive La Perla Habana band, with a secondary band to emphasize its product identity.

Pricing is set to give the sampler a competitive advantage against other super-premiums, with which Wood feels the gift-pack will be compared. The Maduro Sampler retails for $24.95 each, and is currently available.

Long brand make-your-own tobacco is now available in a starter kit that makes 200 cigarettes, either as a can and free tube combo unit or as a pouch and free tube combo unit.

"Long is the best make-your-own tobacco imported in the USA," says Brian Levine, product manager for Peter Stokkebye International. "And now with the free tubes, we feel it is also a great value."

In addition, McClintock rolling tobacco has been reintroduced with a new American Full Flavor blend as well as the Virginia blend. It comes in 1 1/4 oz pouch or 14oz can of American and 7oz can of Virginia. McClintock can be used either as a make-your-own or roll-your-own. McClintock is priced to compete with the value segment of the market.

Peter Stokkebye International is a participant in the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA).

"Early indications are the Carlos Torano Signature Collection will be as popular as our Reserva Selecta line," says Charlie Torano, company vice president. Market acceptance of the Reserva Selecta boosted overall growth at Torano last year by 35%. The Reserva Selecta is made in Torano's new Danli, Honduras, factory, previously the site of Tabacalera S.A. and Nestor Plasencia's manufacturing. Torano's partners, Cuevas y Hermanos, make the new maduro in Torano's facility in the Dominican Republic.

Cigar Insider awarded three of the four cigars in the line - Toro, Churchill, and Torpedo - with an 89, and tagged the Toro a "Best Buy." The Perfecto earned an 88, making the cigar extraordinary in its across-the-line high marks.

"A solid, oily cigar with an excellent dark brown wrapper," is the media's impression, and its noticeably rustic appearance is complemented by the cream-and-rust color scheme of the band and box, which holds 25 individually cellophaned cigars.

The wrapper is a sun-grown Brazilian leaf. The binder is Connecticut broadleaf, and the filler is a blend of three-year aged Nicaraguan and Dominican tobacco. The sizes and suggested retail pricing are: Toro (6 x 50, $4.78); Churchill (7 x 48, $5.38); Torpedo (6 x 52, $5.98), and Perfecto (5 x 51, $5.98).