BLACK PATCH CIGAR COMPANY / T.L. JOHNSON CIGAR COMPANY MERGER
T.L. Johnson Group Dominicana, SRL: T.L. Johnson Cigar Company and Black Patch Cigar Company announce a merger between the two companies. Black Patch Cigars a Kentucky based cigar manufacture is owned by Eric McAnallen who has been making cigars in the Dominican Republic since 2000 and growing his own proprietary tobaccos in western Kentucky and the Dominican Republic. McAnallen and Johnson started merger discussions in 2015 and finished all production and distribution negotiations in early December 2016.
Black Patch Cigars will be produced at Tabacalera TLJ in Tamboril, Dominican Republic. Distribution will be handled by T.L. Johnson of Colorado and T.L. Johnson Distributors, both companies based in Colorado. Ross Estabrooks who manages current sales for T.L. Johnson products is excited for the addition of Black Patch Cigars to the T.L. Johnson portfolio.
McAnallen and Johnson are committed to working closely on future plans to grow tobacco in Kentucky as well as expansion of the T.L. Johnson & Co. Tobaccos growing operations in the Dominican Republic. T.L. Johnson & Co. Tobaccos currently grow numerous varieties of Cuban seed and hybrid tobaccos for their production. Johnson states – “Black Patch Cigars and McAnallens’ tobacco growing experience in Kentucky and the Dominican Republic are a welcome addition to the T.L. Johnson Cigar family”.
Vice President of Operations, Randy Shorman will be handling the day to day operations for T.L. Johnson along with with heading up the new customer education – premium cigar division. T.L. Johnson is currently working on expansion plans in international markets, siting the upcoming regulations from the FDA. Black Patch Cigars and T.L. Johnson Cigars will continue to be available in the US as both meet the Febuary 15th, 2007 grandfather
date imposed by the FDA.