The Bolero is made from Dominican filler, a Sumatran binder, and, depending on availability, a Sumatran or Dominican wrapper. It is available in a single size, a 6 x 42 Long Corona, and comes in three flavors; Exotic Vanilla, Chocolate, and Tropical Rum. The cigars are offered in Top Hat's unique Flavor Mate packs of four or 25 cigars.

Also available from Top Hat is the Hobo premium flavored cigar. Introduced in 1996, the Hobo is handmade with Dominican filler, a Sumatran binder, and a Sumatran wrapper. It is available in two sizes; El Rey (5 x 42) and Amigo (6 x 46), and comes in seven flavors; Exotic Vanilla, Tropical Rum, Cherry, Chocolate, Cognac, Peppermint, and Brandy-Almond. The Hobo is packaged in Flavor Mate packs of 25; the Amigo is also offered in a 3-pack in Exotic Vanilla, Chocolate, and Tropical Rum.

The Flavor Mate packs are Top Hat's original, patent-pending packaging format, created to ensure optimum freshness and quality and to maintain flavoring throughout shipment, storage, and shelf-life. The cigars are placed on the Flavor Mate cartridge and sealed in a hard blister package printed with the company's five-color logo. The Flavor Mate cartridge contains a unique sponge, imbued with special FDA food grade chemicals, that remain charged with flavor for up to one year. The flavor permeates the cigars continuously when sealed. The cartridges can also be removed from the packaging and placed in humidors.

The Don Antonio Tubes are handmade in Dingelstadt, Germany, and consist of filler and binder from a blend of Dominican and Honduran tobaccos and a Connecticut wrapper. They are available in three sizes; Robusto (5 x 50), Lonsdale (61/4 x 44), and Churchill (67/8 x 49) and come packaged in boxes of ten tubes.

The cigars are being produced as a special promotion for this year's RTDA Trade Show and retail in the $3-$4 range.

Ecstacy cigarettes are made strictly from herbal ingredients including damiana, wild lettuce, catnip, passion flower, and mint. The company also lists "love and light" among the cigarette's ingredients. Ecstacy cigarettes are available in Regular and Light, in 20-count hard packs and 10-pack cartons.

A $10 million media blitz is planned for the new herbal cigarette brand. The ad campaign will include commercial spots on MTV, to be run beginning this summer, according to Global World Media.

According to Julian Roebuck, marketing manager of Swedish Match North America, Phillips & King has one of the best reputations in the marketplace in terms of developing extensive retail distribution. Montague will be supported by Phillips & King's sales force, customer service group, and website. Additionally, Montague's own sales force will support Phillips & King's efforts.

Montague long filler premium cigars are handmade in Pandaan, Indonesia. The tobacco leaves used in its production are hand-selected and undergo more than 22 quality inspections. After rolling, every cigar is individually draw tested using a special device that helps ensure consistent smoking characteristics.

Montague consists of filler from a blend of Brazilian and Indonesian tobaccos, an Indonesian binder, and a choice of either a light claro wrapper of Indonesian Vorstenlanden tobacco or a maduro wrapper of Brazilian Mata Fina tobacco. It is available in five sizes; No. 1 (71/4 x 50), No. 2 (62/3 x 45), No. 3 (6 x 40), Robusto (5 x 50), and Lancero (71/2 x 40).

Handmade at the company's factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic, Merencigars consist of filler from Cuban-seed, Dominican-grown tobacco, a Cuban-seed, Dominican-grown binder, and a choice of either a Sumatran or Connecticut wrapper. They are presently available in two sizes; Robusto (51/4 x 50) and Corona (61/4 x 44); a torpedo size is due at the end of summer. The cigars come packaged in boxes of 25 or bundled for wholesalers.

The tobacco leaf is hand-selected and aged up to three years before rolling. After rolling, the finished cigars are stored in the factory's state-of-the-art humidor for a period of 30-45 days before being sent to the Long Island facility. The cigars are then stored in the Long Island office's giant humidor storage center until shipped to retailers.

Merencigar is one of the few companies that offers retailers its cigars, along with humidors, on a consignment basis. Though it may be a less cost effective move, the company feels in the long run it will help further their distribution and in turn, name brand recognition.

The Habano Primero is handmade at the company's factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic. It is the only cigar produced at the factory, which is its own free-trade zone, enabling the company to devote its full efforts towards consistency and quality control. All of the tobaccos used are allowed to age for a minimum of one year before rolling and the finished cigars are hand-checked for construction and coloring prior to packaging.

The cigar consists of filler from a blend of Dominican-grown piloto Cubano, Mexican, and Brazilian tobaccos, a Mexican binder, and a Cuban-seed, Indonesian Jember wrapper. Habano Primero is available in four sizes; Robusto (5 x 50), Corona Gorda (6 x 52), Lonsdale (61/2 x 44), and Churchill (7 x 48); and comes packaged in boxes of 25. The company is planning to introduce a Pyramid size (6 x 52) to the line in September.

In May, the company extended its popular Astral line with the debut of the Astral Grand Reserve Vintage Selection, 1992. Handmade at U.S. Cigar Sales' factory in Danli, Honduras, the Astral Grand Reserve Vintage consists of filler from a blend of Dominican-grown piloto Cubano and Mexican dark air cured tobaccos, a Mexican binder, and a 1992 Indonesian Jember wrapper grown from Connecticut shade seed. The Astral Grand Reserve Vintage Selection, 1992 is available in four sizes; Beso (5 x 52), Lujo (61/2 x 44), Perfeccion (7 x 48), and Maestro (71/2 x 52); and comes packaged in exquisitely-crafted mahogany boxes of 15. Within each box the cigars are individually wrapped in cedar, packaged in glass humidor tubes, and sealed with a cork closure.

The Fifth Avenue Selection cigars are manufactured in Santiago, Dominican Republic and are available in three sizes; I (51/2 x 38), IV (5 x 50), and V (61/2 x 42). Nat Sherman has created a new packaging format for the Fifth Avenue Selection. The cigars come in a ten-count, high-gloss black cylinder packaging, highlighted by gold foil and emblazoned with the famed company logo.

Introduced in 1996, Maxius cigars are handmade in Santiago, Dominican Republic, and consist of filler and binder from a blend of four Cuban-seed, Dominican-grown tobaccos. The Sumatra line comes with an Indonesian-seed, Sumatran-grown wrapper and the Connecticut line has a Connecticut shade wrapper.

In addition, retailers who take advantage of the Cigar/Coffee Program will receive 50 vacuum-sealed, 13/4 ounce bags of the Java by Javo coffee free. The free coffee is available with the purchase of five boxes or bundles of nextGeneration cigars per month and one complete coffee display. The company suggests merchandising the free 1.75 ounce bags of coffee with customer purchases of cigars to promote nextGeneration and introduce the customer to the Java by Javo coffee.

Both the cigar and coffee POP displays are eye-catching and space-saving. Along with the purchase of a cigar display, an additional ten percent discount off the wholesale price is afforded through the purchase of nextGeneration cigar bundles.