Camacho Cigars
Camacho Cigars was founded in 1961 by Simon Camacho and acquired by the Eiroa family in 1995. Now part of the Oettinger Davidoff Group, Camacho Cigars is based in Danlí, Honduras and specializes in authentic handmade Cuban seed cigars.
After being exiled from Cuba in 1961, Simon Camacho, who was originally from Cuba, began his cigar business in Miami, Florida.[1] Simon Camacho’s cigars gained success in the United States, as well as abroad[1] and even found a fan in the company of British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill.[2] Consequently, Camacho has since named one of its most popular cigars after Mr. Churchill.[3] The vitola was developed in the Romeo Y Julieta factory of Cuba in approximately 1903. Production during this period reached 2 to 3 million cigars per year and the quantity continued to grow as the 1990s cigar boom years approached.
Acquisition
Five years after the death of Simon Camacho, the company was acquired by the Eiroa family in 1995[1] and tobacco production was then transferred from Nicaragua to Honduras. In 1998, 26-year-old Camacho son, Christian became President of Caribe Imported Cigars and put his years of experience from the family plantations in Honduras to work.
By the turn of the millennium and with the launch of the Camacho Corojo, the Eiroa family and their ventures had joined the leagues of the leading players in the US cigar industry. In 2008, Camacho and its Rancho Jamastran factory in Danlí, Honduras sold to Oettinger Davidoff Group, although the Eiroas maintained ownership of the Honduran tobacco fields.[4]
Eiroa Family
Generoso Eiroa had been growing tobacco in Cuba since the 1900s but due to the wake of the Cuban Revolution and subsequent nationalization of the tobacco plantations, his widow and three sons were forced to leave the country and settle in Tampa, Florida[5] Eiroa's son, Julio Eiroa, joined the Bay of Pigs invasion attempt as one of a force of Cuban exiles with the US Army.[5] While his brother, Generoso Jr. worked in Nicaragua, Julio traveled to Honduras in 1963 on behalf of tobacco dealer Angel Oliva.[5] There, as part of a government-sponsored cultivation project, he laid the foundations for Camachos tobacco plantations belonging to the Eiroa family.[5]
After his first year with the Oliva Family, Julio Eiroa decided to become an independent farmer. Julio Eiroa bought the government tobacco farms year after year. His decision changed helped kick start the history of tobacco in Honduras. Through partnerships with companies such as Bering Cigars and US Tobacco, he would become the world’s largest Candela tobacco farmer by 1972. In 1987, Julio Eiroa founded Caribe Imported Cigars in Miami, Florida, which manufactures cigars and offers its products through dealers and retailers in the United States and internationally.[6]
Company today
After five years of adopting Bayer's standards for good agricultural and manufacturing practices, Camacho Cigars and Bayer CropScience signed a working partnership under the Bayer Food Management program. The new alliance established Camacho Cigars as the only tobacco company in history to be in compliance with strict international standards for Good Manufacturing Practices and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). By complying with the practices set forth by Bayer CropScience, Camacho Cigars ensures the responsible management of natural resources, bio-friendly pesticides, industrial safety, and biosecurity. The Food Chain Partnership is the first of many steps in Camacho’s plan for a higher level of social responsibility and it’s furtherance in manufacturing the highest quality cigars in the world.[7]
On June 29, 2010, Camacho Cigars and a team of Bayer executives welcomed select members of international media to visit their tobacco fields at Rancho Jamastran and cigar factory in Danli, Honduras. Following the daylong tour of Camacho’s operations, a press conference was held at Las Lomas where the partnership was officially signed.[7]
Camacho Cigars signed a three-year deal with the Orange Bowl and the NCAA for the 2012-2014 Orange Bowl games and the 2013 BCS National Championship.[8] The sponsorship was pulled [9] after several public health organizations raised concern, saying tobacco promotions have no place in sports and shouldn't be allowed under federal tobacco marketing restrictions.[8]
Brands
Core brands
The cigars that are produced under the Camacho Brand.[10]
- Baccarat "The Game" [11]
- LegendArio [11]
- La Fontana [11]
- Outdoorsman
- La Fontana Consigliere
- LegendArio Connecticut
Premium brands
The Cigar Blends that make up the core of the Camacho Brand.[10]
- Camacho Corojo [7]
- Camacho Connecticut [7]
- Camacho Havana [10]
- Camacho Coyolar Puro [7]
- Camacho SLR Maduro [7]
- Room 101 Original [7]
- Room 101 San Andres
Ultra premium brands
The Limited Selections that are available only at select retailers.[10]
- Camacho Triple Maduro [7]
- Camacho Select
- Camacho 10th Anniversary [7]
- Camacho Diploma [7]
- Room 101 Conjura
- Room 101 Namakubi
- Room 101 OSOK
- Room 101 Liberty 2012
- Room 101 Daruma
References
- 1 2 3 Eliz Guide. "Camacho Cigar". ABC Article Directory. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ↑ Rich Perelman (29 September 2010). "How Churchill Found Camacho". CigarCyclopedia.com. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ↑ "Camacho Cigars". Astoria Imperial Cigar Co. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ↑ Charlie Minato (17 February 2012). "News: Christian Eiroa Nears Return to Cigar Industry". Halfwheel. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 Eric D. Kukucka (23 March 2011). "Camacho Corojo Monarch". Jenuwine Cigar Factory Outlets. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ↑ "Company Overview of Caribe Imported Cigars, Inc.". Business Week. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Ulfer, Tom (19 July 2010). "Camacho Cigars signs partnership with Bayer CropScience". Tampa Bay Examiner.
- 1 2 Felberbaum, Michael (20 December 2011). "APNewsBreak: Groups ask to nix Bowl cigar sponsor". Associated Press Archive.
- ↑ Whittaker, G. Clay. "Camacho and Orange Bowl Part Ways". Cigar Aficionado. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 Pearley, Lamont 'Jack' (10 January 2011). "Camacho Cigars". New York Examiner.
- 1 2 3 Carey, Bridget (13 October 2008). "INTERNATIONAL: Swiss firm acquires Camacho Cigars - Oettinger Davidoff Group has acquired the Miami cigar maker and plans to continue operations as usual.". The Miami Herald.