Cigars International (CI) recently opened CI Superstores in Tampa and Lutz, FL, marking the company’s first stores in Florida and its sixth and seventh retail locations in the U.S., and the company is celebrating with an exclusive new cigar.
The new stores are centered around Ybor City, a national landmark district in downtown Tampa, recognized as the birthplace of handmade cigars in the U.S.
Sarah Santos, president and senior vice president of Scandinavian Tobacco Group’s North America Online and Retail Division said, “Florida is one of the most dynamic markets for handmade cigars in the country, and with its rich history, Tampa represents the epicenter of premium cigar culture. My team and I are proud to bring our new locations to life in the greater Tampa area. With our expansive walk-in humidors, and our indoor and outdoor bars and lounges, we’re here to provide a destination-type experience that complements the traditional cigar shop. We look forward to welcoming cigar lovers to our stores and to helping to deepen their passion for handmade cigars with our unique brand of hospitality and engagement.”
Both Cigars International locations in Florida were designed to replicate a Northeast tobacco barn and feature a large-scale timber truss, with exposed beams on the interior and exterior of the buildings. The locations also feature expansive, glass-encased, walk-in humidors, indoor cocktail bars and lounges with comfortable leather seating for a true cigar shop feel, plus sweeping outdoor patios with multiple firepits, rocking chairs and bars serving adult beverages. State-of-the-art ventilation, Wi-Fi and USB ports are available throughout both locations, and both are staffed with highly-trained cigar experts to enhance the experience of CI guests.
Cigars International Tampa and Lutz welcome cigar smokers and non-smokers alike, aged 21 years and over.
Situated within a sprawling retail complex, the Cigars International Tampa SuperStore is located at 10660 Palm River Drive. The store boasts 8,791 square feet of interior space, and is open seven days a week.
Conveniently located next to the Tampa Premium Outlets in one of Florida’s hottest residential and commercial markets, the Cigars International SuperStore in Lutz is located at 2691 Creek Grass Way. There, nearly 13,000 square feet of interior space house the retail store, offices and a massive stock room.
Cigars International will execute monthly in-store events with cigar makers, spirits brand ambassadors and others for educational seminars, pairing events and more. For hours of operation for Cigars International Tampa and Lutz locations and for upcoming event details, visit www.Cigarsinternational.com.
Buffalo Trace Cigar
To celebrate the launch of its Florida SuperStores, Cigars International is proud to offer “Buffalo Trace,” a new cigar created in collaboration with the Kentucky-based whiskey maker. Handcrafted in the Dominican Republic, Buffalo Trace offers a unique and memorable smoking experience alone, yet was blended to pair with the top-rated Kentucky Straight bourbon of the same name. The blend features a rich Ecuadoran Sumatra wrapper, a Brazilian Arapiraca binder and a blend made with barrel-aged Dominican, and Nicaraguan tobacco. The cigar delivers a rich smoking experience layered with spicy notes that enhance the brown sugar and toffee nuances that have won Buffalo Trace Bourbon critical acclaim. Buffalo Trace will be available full time, in three sizes, each presented in boxes containing 20 cigars. The line includes a Robusto (5” x 49), a Toro (6” x 52) and a Churchill (7” x 49), priced at an SRP per cigar of $7.50, $8.00 and $8.50, respectively.
About Cigars International
A subsidiary of Scandinavian Tobacco Group, Cigars International (CI) was established in 1996 and is the largest internet and catalog retailer of handmade cigars and accessories in the U.S. Headquartered in Bethlehem, PA, CI has more than 1 million active online customers referred to as CI Nation, and annually distributes over 20 million catalogs to consumers across the country. CI has retail stores in Bethlehem and Hamburg, PA, and recently expanded to Texas, opening stores in Dallas and Fort Worth. The company is on target to open two new retail locations in Florida by the end of 2020. For more information, please visit Cigarsinternational.com.
About Buffalo Trace Distillery Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1775 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 35 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon was named World Whiskey of the Year for 2018 and its William Larue Weller and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac were named 2nd and 3rd finest whiskeys in the world for 2020. Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com. To download images from Buffalo Trace Distillery visit http://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/media