Richmond, VA – General Cigar announced today that the company has hired Jack Toraño as a full-time brand ambassador for Toraño.
Régis Broersma, president of General Cigar said, “Jack began working with us last year to develop Toraño at retail and has made great strides in generating excitement for the brand. We are pleased to have him as a full-time member of our marketing team and look forward to working him to deepen retailer and consumer engagement around this important brand.”
In his new role with General Cigar, Jack will be the face of Toraño, hosting events in strategic markets, sharing the history of Toraño cigars and presenting the brand portfolio. Jack will also contribute to General Cigar’s event marketing strategy and will help to develop event activations and marketing platforms for the brand. Jack will report to Ed McKenna, director of marketing strategy.
Prior to joining General Cigar, Jack lived in Miami, where he was actively involved in promoting the Toraño brands. He previously worked in the marketing jingle business in Chicago, and was involved in developing the famous Anheuser Busch campaign “Real Men of Genius.” Jack’s early experience with cigars and tobacco includes selling leaf with his grandfather at Lopez Leaf Tobacco.
General Cigar acquired the Toraño Family Cigar Company brands in September 2014.
The Toraño portfolio of brands is best known for having complex blends featuring tobacco from many different countries of origin and taste profiles. In 2016, General Cigar re-launched the brand’s Vault and Exodus lines.
Toraño Opens the Vault to Launch Two New Blends
Toraño is launching two lines developed from recipes in the family blend archives and named according to a special system of codes contained within the Toraño blend book. Called E-021 and W-009, the new collections are additions to the growing Vault portfolio.
Brand Ambassador Jack Toraño said, “Our blending team in Nicaragua re-envisioned a couple of dynamic blends from my family’s original recipes. Both new lines round out the sizes available in the Vault line while continuing the tradition of exceptional blends in stand-out packaging and affordable prices. I look forward to sharing the new Vault lines with Toraño fans at cigar shops and special events across the country.”
E-021 comes in a deep blue box and is available in two sizes. The blend features a rich and luxurious Ecuadoran Sumatra wrapper balanced by a hearty Connecticut Broadleaf binder. The blend is made with tobacco from the major growing regions. This includes a Honduran leaf from the Jamastran Valley and Nicaraguan Esteli tobacco, in addition to Dominican Piloto Cubano. E-021 strikes the desired balance of medium body with full-flavor, and delivers rich notes of earth and leather.
E-021 is shipping now to retailers in these two sizes:
4.5 x 50 – SRP per cigar is $5.49
5 x 52 – SRP per cigar is $5.99
W-009 is the companion release to E-021. W-009 is a distinct blend that stands apart, not only with its bright yellow box, but also with its unique range of flavors. The wrapper is sungrown in the Jalapa Valley of Nicaragua and sits atop a Honduran Jamastran binder. Honduran Jamastran reappears in the filler, along with Honduran La Entrada from the 2010 crop. Combined, the tobaccos deliver rich, peppery spice with a touch of sweetness.
W-009 is also shipping now to retailers and is available in two sizes:
5.5 x 54 – SRP per cigar is $6.49
6 x 50 – SRP per cigar is $6.49
About Torano Cigars
General Cigar acquired the Toraño Family Cigar Company brands in 2014. The Toraño portfolio of brands is best known for having complex blends featuring tobacco from many different countries of origin and taste profiles. In 2016, General Cigar re-launched the brand’s Vault and Exodus lines. General Cigar recently hired Jack Torano as a brand ambassador to continue the family’s legacy of cigar making.
Brand Ambassador Jack Toraño said, “Our blending team in Nicaragua re-envisioned a couple of dynamic blends from my family’s original recipes. Both new lines round out the sizes available in the Vault line while continuing the tradition of exceptional blends in stand-out packaging and affordable prices. I look forward to sharing the new Vault lines with Toraño fans at cigar shops and special events across the country.”