Timber Wolf Apple represents an everyday low-price alternative for the exciting new Apple flavor segment of the moist snuff category. With the addition of the Apple flavor, the Timber Wolf product line now includes nine varieties: Long Cut and Fine Cut Wintergreen, Long Cut and Fine Cut Natural, Long Cut Mint, Long Cut Straight, Long Cut Cool Wintergreen, and the recent addition of Long Cut Peach.

"The response from our consumer test was very positive," said Roy Reynolds, brand manager for Timber Wolf. "Timber Wolf Apple will complement our recent Peach addition and, like our traditional varieties, will present consumers with a lower cost premium tobacco alternative for another growing segment of the category."

Timber Wolf is supporting the rollout of Apple with new packaging, direct and print advertising, and point-of-sale promotions.

Since its introduction in 1994, Timber Wolf has grown to become one of the leading brands in the price-value segment and continues to deliver consistent growth to the moist snuff category of the OTP market.

The cigar is a corojo blend with a Connecticut wrapper that delivers a creamy, medium-body smoke. Three sizes are offered, all figurado shapes.

"We feel this tribute is the least we could do for Mr. Fontana who is not only my mentor, but my consigliere," says Eiroa of the 54-year veteran of the cigar industry and a senior executive at Caribe.

The three sizes are Part I (4 1/4 x 30 x 50 x 19), $3.95 retail; Part II (5 1/2 x 30 x 50 x 19), $4.95 retail; and Part III (6 1/2 x 30 x 50 x 19), $5.95 retail. Cigars are presented in 20-count cedar boxes with a uniquely shaped "tuxedo" cigar band.

Targeted to the "smoker on the go," Macanudo Court measures 4 1/3 x 36 and is presented in a cedar-lined "mini-tube" that keeps the cigar fresh and protected.

Individually hand-crafted in the Dominican Republic, Macanudo Café cigars feature a proprietary Connecticut shade wrapper; an aromatic blend of Dominican and Mexican filler tobacco; and a rich binder from the San Andrés Tuxtla Valley of Mexico.

"This is the perfect cigar for when you want a large cigar smoking experience, but don't have the time," says Bill Chilian, director of marketing for Macanudo cigars.

Macanudo Court debuted at select tobacco stores in May, and will ship nationally in July. Suggested retail price is $2.50 per cigar, or $75 for a box of 30 cigars.

"Lambada fills a size gap that we felt was missing from our CAO Brazilia brand," said CAO vice president, Tim Ozgener. "A more traditional toro size is one of the most popular with American cigar consumers, yet this was a size that was missing from Brazilia, which is one of our most sought-after brands." Lambada is presented in full-color 20-count boxes. Suggested retail is $5.75 per cigar.

"The Hecho Fresco concept is utterly unique," said company president Paul Magier. "We brought some of our best, most experienced rollers back from the factory in Ecuador, along with a collection of our very finest Ecuadorian tobaccos. We're rolling to order, vacuum packing the cigars in dated wheels of 50 right off the tables, and shipping them to our customers the same day." To further ensure that the cigars offered by retailers are truly fresh, the company only ships a maximum one-week supply.

"As anyone who has attended an in-store rolling event or visited a small rolling shop knows, smokers love fresh-rolled cigars," notes Magier. "While aged cigars have their virtues, the aroma, burn, and flavors of a cigar fresh off the roller's table offer an appeal all their own."

In days past, smokers would stop by their favorite roller's shop, pick up a few fresh smokes for that day, and maybe a box to lay down for aging. Today, this particular pleasure is rarely available outside of South Florida or a few other select areas. And in-store rolling events by big manufacturers are a nice attraction but only last a day or two, Magier adds.

"There is a special magic to have come so far and grown so much, and then return to just what we were doing 40 years ago," says Armando Ramos, who founded the company in 1964 after a 30-year career at the Cifuentes/Partagas factory in Havana, Cuba.

Hecho Fresco cigars are available in Suave, Mas Fuerte, and Quatro Lijero blends, in robusto, Churchill and torpedo shapes.

"As a true boutique cigar company, we really do follow the beat of a different drummer," says Magier. "This really seemed to fit who we are."