Davidoff launches rare Macallan 1991 as Asia exclusive

Swiss cigar specialist Davidoff has unveiled details of a rare 25yo Macallan Scotch whisky, exclusively crafted for and sold at Davidoff of Geneva stores in Asia.

The Macallan 1991 whisky was specially selected for Davidoff of Geneva (Asia). This single cask, cask strength (53.5%abv) expression was aged for 25 years in a sherry butt cask and bottled in 2016 by Signatory Vintage, an independent bottler in Scotland.

Davidoff exclusive: The Macallan 25yo Scotch whisky (Photo credit: Oettinger Davidoff AG)

Purveyor of fine experiences

With only 494 units available, each 700ml bottle is presented in a decanter and veneer box.

This expression of sherry-seasoned Macallan is a classic example of the distillers' signature work. Only a thin cut of their stills was used to fill the sherry-seasoned casks, and only a very small percentage of their casks were allowed to be matured into single-cask-bottling quality.

This rare Macallan cask reinforces Davidoff of Geneva’s position as a purveyor of fine experiences and cigar pairings, Davidoff said.

The whisky’s first nose has spices (star anise, cardamom) and subtle sulphur notes; aeration brings briny and salted caramel aromas. The style is bright, modern and elegant, and the slight brininess is reminiscent of a fino sherry. There is also a floral touch of white flowers and green apple, which opens up to custardy/confectionery notes, marmalade and candied orange peel. Rancio, green walnuts, leather and toasted notes complement the finish.

On the palate, the whisky is sharp, with the alcohol present but not overwhelming. The finish is nutty and pretty bright.

Davidoff boosts global business as new line launches

Following the relaunch of Davidoff Winston Churchill Cigars in 2015, Davidoff has unveiled a contemporary accessory line inspired by the UK leader’s long-serving role as a statesman.

Davidoff's London humidor design 

“The aim was to craft a new range of contemporary Davidoff Winston Churchill accessories inspired by a key facet of the man himself – his statesmanship,” said Charles Awad, Senior Vice President – Chief Marketing Officer, Oettinger Davidoff AG. “Sir Winston Churchill’s leadership role in British politics for over 55 years, as well as his well-known fondness for fine cigars and Scotch whisky, were a great source of inspiration for Davidoff’s teams of designers and craftsmen. The attractive designs of this new range, as well as Davidoff’s unparalleled technical expertise, will make the cigar ritual and the enjoyment of today’s discerning aficionado.”

The Ambassador and Primos humidors in the Davidoff Winston Churchill accessories line aim to reflect Churchill’s wit and daring spirit. Brightly coloured, they are described as “unmissable and full of character”.

The London humidor design shows the UK capital’s urban landscape within a Winston Churchill profile on beige tulip wood. The Union Jack design is available in blue birch wood and reflects the statesman in a piece of marquetry made of a darker shade of tulip wood.

With a capacity for between 70 and 90 cigars, the sleek, linear Ambassador is designed for a large assortment. The interior contains a tray, a removable basket and dividers. Holding between 25 and 35 cigars, the smaller Primos is designed as a second, compact humidor. The Ambassador and Primos humidors are both available in two graphical styles as well as in the Union Jack and London designs.

The Winston Churchill humidors are made by a French atelier that is part of the Living Heritage Company (Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant), known for its traditional expertise. Both humidors are handmade.

Davidoff's Union Jack humidor design (pictures: Oettinger Davidoff AG)

New crystal whisky glass

Inspired by Churchill’s affection for cigars and whisky, a new crystal glass has been fitted with two notches on the side of the glass to hold your cigar – described as a first in the cigar world. This feature leaves you a free hand to greet someone, or post a social media picture. Churchill’s silhouette is discreetly sandblasted at the bottom of the glass. These are available in a set of two, handcrafted in Western Europe by glass blowers in a small atelier with 120 years of glass-making experience.

In addition, a new porcelain ashtray features a Union Jack pattern and is crafted in the French porcelain capital, Limoges, by an atelier that is part of the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant. The ashtray is a limited and numbered edition, and only 115 pieces have been produced globally. Each ashtray is numbered by hand.

The new Davidoff Winston Churchill accessories line will be launching in August 2017.

Oettinger Davidoff emphasises Asia

Oettinger Davidoff AG has reported further expansion of its global market position in an increasingly challenging environment in 2016.

Total sales in the fiscal year 2016 climbed on a comparable basis by 8.2% to CHF 595 million (US$612 million), with an “outstanding” growth of 20% for the core brand Davidoff.

2016 saw the completion of the new Camacho factory in Honduras, as well as the acquisition of a majority stake in Bluebell Cigars Asia and a minority stake in China's Sparkle Roll Cigars Co.

Said CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard: “2016 was a challenging year for the cigar industry as new and costly anti-tobacco legislation was introduced in both the EU and the US. While we are extremely pleased with the continued double-digit growth of Davidoff and our global market share gains, we did not achieve all our goals for 2016.”

Hoejsgaard said that regulatory requirements would further challenge the industry in the current year in Europe and in the US. In 2016, additional legal limitations prevailed in the cigar industry.

In Asia, Oettinger Davidoff emphasised its focus on the region by founding Davidoff of Geneva Asia, following the acquisition of the majority stake in Bluebell Cigars Asia. And with the acquisition of a minority in Sparkle Roll Cigars China, the company has invested in “the greatest potential market of the future”.

Hoejsgaard said he foresaw different growth patterns for the prime markets Europe, the US and Asia. “We expect a challenging and difficult 2017 as new restrictions in our core markets US and Europe take hold and retailers hold back and await clarity. We are confident that we can continue to gain market share through our strong innovation and global retail footprint.” 

Davidoff links with French artist on exclusive humidor

Davidoff has unveiled a new limited-edition cigar humidor crafted by the renowned French marquetry artist Rose Saneuil.

Conceived as an ode to Davidoff’s Caribbean terroir in the north west of the Dominican Republic, the new Masterpiece Humidor Damajagua follows the successful Cave de Paille humidor, created for Davidoff by the Paris-based artist Lison de Caunes, known for her straw marquetry technique.

“We are thrilled to partner with an exceptional French marquetry artisan Rose Saneuil to develop this unique Damajagua Humidor Masterpiece,” said Charles Awad, Senior Vice President – Chief Marketing Officer at Oettinger Davidoff AG.

“Rose Saneuil has been greatly inspired by Davidoff’s Caribbean heritage, the magical forest of Damajagua and our skill at nurturing fragile tobacco plants to transform them into exceptional cigars. Her Masterpieces are breathtaking as the artist mixed 25 selected materials to create them, using tobacco leaves picked from Damajagua, for the very first time in marquetry,” he added.

Davidoff has been cultivating filler tobacco in the fertile region of Damajagua since 2002. Thanks to the humid climate and PH-balanced soil, the tobacco leaves become red while being cured and have a sweet aftertaste. As they tend to be less exposed to sunshine, the leaves are very thin and of medium strength, giving a sweet and creamy tobacco.

Davidoff's new cigar humidor depicts a vibrant vermilion bird

A symbol of benevolence

Saneuil’s drawing shows a vibrant vermilion bird, a symbol of benevolence, swooping protectively over a mystical Caribbean forest and encouraging the tobacco leaves beneath to thrive.

The interior of the humidors is made of Gabon wood, known as okoumé, from central west Africa. It is odourless and tasteless, thus avoiding flavor transfer to cigars. The okoumé is hand varnished to seal the humidity more effectively so that it will not be constantly absorbed by the wood.

With a capacity for 190 to 250 cigars, each humidor is equipped with three Davidoff De Luxe regulators which guarantee the stable humidification between 70% and 72%.

The Damajagua Masterpiece Humidors will be available at Davidoff flagship stores and selected merchants in late April 2017.

The first Masterpiece Humidor of the 20 limited editions, number 1/20, was offered at the auction of the Procigar Festival 2017 in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. It came with a Master Blender’s selection of 50 Toro Damajagua cigars made of 30% Damajagua tobacco. The starting bid was $25,000.

The charity auction benefited three organisations helping children, the elderly and preserving the Dominican Republic heritage: the Voluntariado de Jesús con los Niños (non-profit organisation for ill children), the Hospicio San Vicente de Paul (retirement home for low-income elders) and the Monumento a los Heroes de la Restauración.

Davidoff on a mission to delight with new cigar series

Davidoff has launched the 702 Series – a line of its most iconic cigars reimagined with a 702 Ecuadorian wrapper.

The more intense 702 Series will be available in Europe, Asia and duty free for a limited time only from February 2017.

“It is time to unexpect,” said Charles Awad, Senior Vice President Global Marketing and Innovation at Oettinger Davidoff AG. “Davidoff’s master blenders have taken on the challenge to reimagine and reinvent our most iconic cigars – No. 2, 2000, Special R, Aniversario No. 3, among others – and give them an exciting twist for those seeking a more intense, bolder taste experience. These cigars, that have defined and refined time, are wrapped in the new 702 Habano wrapper from Ecuador to give them a bolder edge. The 702 Series is an exciting opportunity for those who have not yet had the chance to discover, or may want to rediscover, these iconic cigars.”

Davidoff's new 702 Series features the 2000 cigar (picture: © Oettinger Davidoff AG)

An exceptional experience

The new 702 Series was given to an aficionado panel of 160 cigar enthusiasts. 70% of those who tasted it found the 702 Series experience exceptional. Even panel participants who do not normally enjoy Davidoff cigars stated that the 702 Series is excellent and similar to the medium-strong Cuban cigars that they typically enjoy.

The new 702 Habano wrapper from Ecuador gives a more intense and spicy taste and provides additional scents of wood, cream and milk coffee to the cigars. Thanks to its creamy and complex notes, the 702 Series cigars have an unexpected depth and edge.

While the filler and binder tobaccos remain untouched, the Connecticut wrapper from Ecuador has been changed to the 702 Habano wrapper. This wrapper is born from the hybrid of three Cuban Habano seeds. It is grown exclusively for Davidoff at the San Juan finca, which is nestled in the Andes foothills in Ecuador’s province of Cotopaxi. The ash from the legendary volcano makes the soil fertile. The rich soil and natural cloudiness of the region provide the perfect conditions to nurture the seeds for this gleaming wrapper leaf with its luxurious silky texture.

Available for a limited time

The 702 Series family comprises the Entreacto in Short Corona format (time to enjoy: 20 minutes); the No. 2 Panetela (25 minutes); the 2000 in Corona format (25 minutes); the Special R Robusto (45 minutes); the Aniversario No. 3 in Toro format (50 minutes); the Special T (only available in the US) in Torpedo format (50 minutes); and the Double R (only available in the US) in Double Corona format (90 minutes).

The cigars come in wooden boxes and packs (same counts as for the regular equivalent non-702 cigar) in the traditional white and gold Davidoff colours, but with a striking visual strip across the middle to indicate these are the limited 702 Series edition. They are already available in the US market and will be made available for wider release at selected appointed merchants in February 2017. Outside the US, the products will be launched worldwide at Davidoff depositaries and Davidoff flagship stores for a limited period in February 2017.

Davidoff gives TFWA visitors the Royal treatment

Oettinger Davidoff AG celebrated this year's TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes with 300 luminaries from across the world of travel retail. And there was lots to celebrate.

The Swiss cigar specialist jointly hosted the now-legendary Masters’ Evening with Belgian chocolatier Neuhaus and Nicaraguan rum brand Flor de Caña. Guests enjoyed a culinary soirée with hors d’oeuvres, pralines and chocolates and rum-based cocktails. Davidoff’s new cigar line, Yamasá, which celebrated a new earthy-spicy-sweet experience, was highly appreciated by the invited aficionados, who included Philippe Schaus, Chairman and CEO of world-leading travel retailer DFS Group.

Distinguished guests at Davidoff Masters' Evening in Cannes

New benchmark store opens in mainland China

MJ Rabbit spoke with Oettinger Davidoff CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard at the TFWA show in early October, where the firm introduced its brand-building Discovery Experience on an impressive new stand. This year, it’s all about the Chinese consumer, thanks to the company’s acquisition of a majority in Bluebell Cigars Asia and its joint-venture collaboration with Sparkle Roll Group, which is distributing its cigars and accessories in China. The new partnership is going very well, says Hoejsgaard. “We’ve just seen the first fruits of our collaboration two weeks ago. A full-concept flagship retail space opened on September 4 at the Oriental Plaza mall in downtown Beijing. This is a benchmark store for the Davidoff brand.”

To mark the store opening, Davidoff is hosting a number of events in restaurants and bars and has linked up with the Johnnie Walker Houses in Beijing and Shanghai. Pairing events that match cigars with whisky, rum and Cognac are also being held.

Speaking about Chinese tastes, Hoejsgaard notes that this demographic group generally enjoys bigger and stronger cigars than the Americans. The sales mix is proving similar to the US and Europe, with Perfecto, Robusto and Toro formats proving popular. Hoejsgaard is seeing the global trend for shorter cigars also happening in China. Davidoff’s consumer research has found that enjoying a cigar is aspirational and a sign of success.

Top-end presentation: Davidoff Royal Release box of 10 cigars

Chinese New Year gifting

For the Chinese New Year of the Rooster in 2017, Davidoff will launch a limited edition of 10 cigars in gift packaging, which will be launched in key airports. Some 8,000 boxes are available worldwide, retailing at around $400 per box.

A new family of accessories is also being introduced for Chinese New Year, featuring a leather cigar case and a double blade cutter. China is a “vastly bigger” accessories market than other regions, observes Hoejsgaard, adding that the amount of shelf space devoted to accessories is much bigger in the Chinese market because the number of cigars permitted to be sold is smaller. “Over 50% of our sales are accessories, compared to 10% in the rest of the world,” he says.

As elsewhere in the world, the Chinese love the sense of ritual and ceremony around enjoying cigars. Davidoff recently unveiled a global social media campaign under the tagline #myritual, which aims to bring together cigar aficionados in their shared rituals associated with cigars.

So what about the opportunities presented by the Chinese consumer today? “The Chinese market is the single biggest opportunity in years to come – they are an incredibly important customer in travel retail,” he enthuses, adding that 45% of the company’s business comes from mainland Chinese visitors. Hoejsgaard also cites the example of the Davidoff store in Lucerne, Switzerland – a popular tourist destination for the Chinese traveller – where 2-3% of customers are Chinese, and yet they account for over 15% of its business in the store.

Davidoff Royal Release ashtray

The unveiling of Royal Release cigars and accessories

Next month (November) sees the introduction of Davidoff’s new Royal Release cigars and accessories, a top-end presentation featuring 10 cigars handmade with rare tobaccos in a royal blue lacquered box. Two formats are available, Salomones and Robusto. The cigars retail at between $80 and $100. 

The Royal Release lighter is manufactured by ST Dupont using a 500-stage quality controlled process, while the royal blue ashtray is mouth-blown by Murano glass blowers.

Lastly, in other travel retail news, Davidoff will open a new walk-in humidor at Paris Charles de Gaulle Terminal 2E in January 2017.

Davidoff revamps cigar accessories collection

Swiss cigar specialist Davidoff has revamped its accessories with a cigar-inspired design developed in collaboration with Swiss architecture and design agency Atelier Oï.

In the new collection, Atelier Oï plays with materials, shapes and functions. Intrigued by Davidoff’s cigar crop-to-shop philosophy, craftsmanship and the asymmetry of the tobacco leaf, the design team created a new organic pattern and contemporary style.

Davidoff's new Ambassador humidor in lacquered Macassar finish

Humidors entirely handmade in France

“Anything that touches on the enjoyment of cigars is important to us at Davidoff,” said Charles Awad, Senior Vice President Global Marketing & Innovation at Oettinger Davidoff AG. ”Our cigars pass through as many as 300 pairs of expert hands in the painstaking process of crafting them.

“Once they are in the aficionado’s hand, their quality and the enjoyment of the cigar is our concern. That is why we believe that the quality of the design, elegance and technical know-how behind our accessories makes a difference. In this way, every moment of this all-important cigar ritual can be beautifully filled.”

The line includes a humidor in two different finishes: lacquered Macassar with a brilliant finish of 15 layers of lacquer for a deep, rich mirror effect; and Sycamore Maple with a bright, natural, silky veneer for a warm, contemporary interior.

With a capacity for between 70 and 90 cigars, the sleek, linear Ambassador comes with a dramatic, stylish cut that slices through to reveal a creamy, beige frame. The loft interior contains the removable tray with its beautiful leaf pattern, and dividers for arranging the cigars. The smaller Primos, which holds 25 to 35 cigars, comes with a slightly curved lid that conveys a notion of asymmetry, echoing the range’s leaf design.

Entirely handmade in France, both humidors are finished with the Davidoff signature on the outside and contain the Davidoff Slim Regulator, in a new-look, contemporary matte nickel finish. The interiors of the humidors have been crafted from okoumé, a wood from Gabon, on Africa’s west coast. Okoumé is odourless and tasteless, so that no flavour is transferred to the cigars, and it is hand-varnished to seal in the humidity and prevent it being absorbed by the wood.

Davidoff's lighters are crafted in France by ST Dupont

Lighter's cut edges inspired by tobacco leaves

Davidoff’s lighters are available in either a rose gold or palladium finish. Crafted in France by legendary manufacturer ST Dupont, the lighters are made from a single piece of brass (no plastic tank inside), which provides a larger gas tank to light up to 75 cigars and avoids gas leaks. The distinctive cut edges, like the overall design, are inspired by tobacco leaves and the lids of both lighters are embellished with the Davidoff logo.

The ashtrays are crafted in the tradition of the best French porcelain, and are made in Limoges by a company with the prestigious Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant label. The ashtrays have a large, draughtproof ash holder. Made in pure platinum, applied by hand, the pattern is inspired by tobacco leaves.

The French porcelain ashtrays are made in Limoges

The revamped accessory range will be available at selected Davidoff flagship stores and appointed merchants/depositaires in Europe starting in September 2016, and in the US and Asia in October 2016.

Under the #MYRITUAL social media hashtag, aficionados can share, experience and discover Davidoff’s news in the accessories arena and learn how to deepen the enjoyment and enhance the rituals associated with cigars.

Davidoff’s dream comes true with new cigar range

After 20 years in the making, Davidoff has launched a new cigar from the Dominican Republic’s Yamasá region.

The intense and complex cigar is the work of Henke Kelner, Davidoff’s cigar visionary, who has tamed the harsh and unforgiving swampland where others have tried and failed to grow tobacco.

The blend combines the earthiness of Yamasá with the spice and sweetness of Nicaraguan Estelí and Condega tobaccos, according to Charles Awad, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing & Innovation at Oettinger Davidoff AG.

Davidoff's new Yamasa cigar range

The site in Yamasá covers 100 hectares, but only 21 are used, due to the complexities of growing the tobacco leaves. Henke Kelner and his team rest the land between each harvest so as to let nature take its course, and to help ensure that the quality of the Yamasá leaf is maintained for years to come. They grow the tobacco in the shade, shielding it from the harmful effects of the sun. For the curing process, new climate-controlled curing facilities were constructed.

Described as “an intense exhilaration in taste”, the cigar begins with a spicy Nicaraguan taste. Flavours of nut, melted with spice, coffee, cedar wood, earth and black pepper notes further delight the palate. The cigar has a deep and complex body that slowly reveals itself through the aged Dominican filler tobaccos.

The intense Yamasá binder and Yamasá wrapper combine with the sweet Nicaraguan Condega and spicy Nicaraguan Estelí filler tobaccos to deliver an earthy-spicy-sweet experience.

The cigar comes in four formats: Petit Churchill: 48 RG x 4, 1.90 x 10.2cm; Robusto: 50 RG x 5, 2.00 x 12.7cm; Toro: 52 RG x 6, 2.06 x 15.2cm; and Piramides: 52 RG x 6 1/8, 2.06 x 15.6cm.

Davidoff has created a social media hashtag, #SHAREYOURDREAM, so that cigar aficionados can share their personal dreams and what they want to achieve in life. Davidoff will choose the most inspiring dream and help make it come true. For details, visit http://davidoff.com/shareyourdream.

The new Davidoff Yamasá cigar range will be available in matt folding packs with four cigars and in black wooden boxes with 12/14 cigars at selected retailers in the US, and at Davidoff flagship stores worldwide starting in late July 2016.

Davidoff boosts international market position

Oettinger Davidoff AG, the world leading premium cigar business, expanded its strong global market position in 2015 in an environment that continues to be “very challenging”. 

Total sales in the 2015 financial year declined by 8.2% to CHF1.126bn due to falling demand in Europe and China, the effects of the strong Swiss franc and the slightly lower sales in the cigarette and general agency business. But the company again succeeded in gaining market share worldwide thanks to the growing North American and Asian markets and some significant improvements in core brand sales.

Confident: Oettinger Davidoff CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard

Double-digit growth for core brands

Against the backdrop of a declining market, both core brands, Davidoff and Camacho, reported double-digit growth of 10.5% and 34.4%, respectively. In addition, Oettinger Davidoff achieved a production record for the third consecutive time: it produced a grand total of 45.8m cigars, up 4.1%.

Commenting on the business performance last year, CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard said: “In the financial year gone by, Oettinger Davidoff has made great progress, both strategically and with regard to the development of the core brands and market shares. This is all the more gratifying since we were obliged to campaign simultaneously on a number of fronts, such as the exchange rate situation, the anti-corruption law in China and the economic trend in Russia, as well as further international tightening of anti-tobacco regulations.”

The most important contributors to this positive development were innovations and new product launches in the Davidoff and Camacho core brands as well as the relaunched AVO line. The new Davidoff lines Winston Churchill, Escurio and Nicaragua now account for around a third of all Davidoff cigar sales. This development reflects not only a trend towards somewhat more intense flavours, but also the preferences of a younger generation of cigar smokers. Whereas demand fell in the European cigar market, it increased in Asia and the US. In the US, Oettinger Davidoff outperformed the market growth of 2% many times over with an increase of 15%.

Expansion of the Davidoff Art Initiative

With the Davidoff Art Initiative, established four years ago, the company is supporting contemporary art and artists in the Caribbean. At the heart of the initiative is the endeavour to promote and support the development of the cultural community of the Dominican Republic, where a large part of the production is located and many of the company’s employees live. The Art Residency Programme forms the cornerstone of the initiative, which aims to foster the creative exchange between artists in the Caribbean, in particular the Dominican Republic, and the rest of the world and to help develop their talents and experiences by enabling them to spend time in other cultural areas.

After the opening of a dedicated residency in the Dominican Republic, the first Caribbean artist was welcomed to Switzerland as part of the new collaboration with the Atelier Mondial Art Residency in Basel in October 2015. The fifth and, for the time being, final cooperation will enable a fifth Caribbean artist to take up a three-month residency this year in Bogota, Colombia. Three cooperations are already under way with residencies in New York, Beijing and Berlin. The company has also commissioned the French-Jamaican video artist Olivia McGilchrist to create the second Davidoff Limited Art Edition within this initiative. Part of the proceeds are being poured back into this funding project.

Facing the future with confidence

“Thanks to our strongly anchored core brands and the many product innovations that we will also be launching this year, we are confident of winning further market shares,” said Hoejsgaard. In order to secure future growth, further investment is also planned in building and developing the Davidoff flagship stores in city centres as well as duty-free locations. 

Davidoff Art Initiative crafts 2016 Limited Art Edition

The Davidoff Art Initiative has announced the 2016 launch of the second Davidoff Limited Art Edition featuring a specially commissioned video work by artist Olivia McGilchrist. An exclusive preview of the video, titled “from many sides”, took place at the Moving Image Art Fair from March 3-6 in New York City.

As a Jamaican-French artist and videographer, Olivia McGilchrist’s work is rooted in a Caribbean-centred, multi-media art practice that couples new technology with local platforms to explore contemporary cultural connections from the African diaspora. By interweaving moving images and sounds, the artist suffuses the natural world with new meanings and colours that capture the history of the Caribbean.

Artist Olivia McGilchrist's "from many sides" video still (Picture: Oettinger Davidoff)

An immersive, multi-sensory experience

“from many sides” uses digitised renderings to create an immersive, multi-sensory experience that blends landscapes, cultures, stories and people of the Caribbean region and highlights the rich heritage of the region through a variety of content unique to local experiences, reworked and presented as an interactive work of art.

McGilchrist, who was born in Jamaica and moved to Europe when she was three, said: “My recent creative practice is deeply inspired by a longing to reconnect with my birth land as well as the cultural space of the Caribbean. My education abroad awarded me the opportunity to learn new media technology platforms, but I also had access to local art hubs and traditional artistic practices when I returned home to Jamaica. Because of the duality of my experiences, I aspire to create artwork that overturns biographical or social expectations through a Caribbean-centred, multi-media arts practice.”

Launched by Swiss cigar specialist Oettinger Davidoff AG in 2012, the Davidoff Art Initiative was designed to build more visibility for art and artists in the Caribbean. In addition to offering residencies and grants, the initiative produced the first Limited Art Edition cigar box in 2014, featuring the work of Cuban-born artist Quisqueya Henríquez.

The values of crafting and blending

“Davidoff is continuously looking for new ways to engage with and support contemporary art. The Limited Art Edition supports the Davidoff Art Initiative’s mission of familiarising the international audience with artists from the Caribbean and it helps fund the Davidoff Art Initiative at the same time,” said Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, CEO of Oettinger Davidoff AG. “Olivia’s video work is a fascinating visual blend of regionally specific elements. Because crafting and blending are the same values at the heart of everything we do, we feel that Davidoff is perfectly matched with this extraordinary artist.”

The Limited Art Edition 2016 will be produced in an edition of 7,000 and will include the digital work of video art on carrier media with custom-made cigars designed specifically for the project. A highly limited run of Collectors Editions is also being released. These will include one of 16 numbered editions of the commissioned video, a unique still image from the video, and a signed certificate by the artist.

Shortly after the premiere at the Moving Image Art Fair in New York, a preview and artist introduction will take place during Art Basel in Hong Kong from March 24-26, 2016. Both the Limited Art Edition 2016 and Collectors Edition will be unveiled in June 2016 during Art Basel in Basel, Switzerland.

The 2016 Davidoff Limited Art Editions and Collectors Editions will be available at Davidoff flagship stores in the US, Europe and Asia, starting June 2016. A percentage of the proceeds from all special art editions will be dedicated to sustaining the Davidoff Art Initiative.

Heinemann co-owner speaks of Chinese spending boom

Claus Heinemann has a passion for retail. As co-owner of powerful German travel retailer Gebr. Heinemann, he has worked in the industry for more than 35 years, distributing premium products and operating stores across the world. He is the fourth generation of the family to run the 136-year-old travel retail business, so the passion is in his blood.

Claus Heinemann, co-owner of travel retailer Gebr. Heinemann

The biggest Duty Free shop in Germany

Heinemann spoke to MJ Rabbit on December 14 at the opening of the new Davidoff of Geneva walk-in cigar humidor at Frankfurt Airport Terminal 1, where Gebr Heinemann operates the impressive multi-brand Duty Free shop, calling it “the biggest Duty Free shop in Germany”. With the opening event, Gebr Heinemann also celebrated its 45-year business partnership with Oettinger Davidoff AG, the Basel-based maker of premium cigars.

Asked about how trading had performed this year, Heinemann began by acknowledging the business challenges. “We operate in so many different areas and we have undertaken so variable developments this year, especially when it comes to currency fluctuations. In Western Europe, the euro rate is very favourable for Americans and Chinese. In places like Copenhagen, Vienna, Frankfurt and Amsterdam we are all over-budget. Our most important area is Turkey, at Istanbul Airport, where there has been a strong increase of our business.” Concurrently, he has observed an “enormous” boost in sales to Americans, thanks to the strong US dollar.

Heinemann noted the recent downing of a Russian jet by Turkey, which has had a profoundly negative effect on Russian travel numbers to Istanbul, where Russians make up 8% of Heinemann’s total business. He also cited the volatile rouble. “The Russians are normally big spenders, but now they pay more attention to the product's price.” He added that Heinemann’s operations at Russian airports had been hit substantially. Faced with these challenges, compounded by poor trading in Egypt and Tunisia, he described the general political environment as uncertain.

Gebr. Heinemann's Duty Free shop at Frankfurt Airport Terminal 1

Chinese travellers love German products

Turning to the Chinese traveller, Heinemann emphasised their importance to the company’s global operations. “The Chinese traveller is very important to Heinemann Duty Free,” he said, adding that 16% of the operator’s sales at Frankfurt Airport are made by people from Chinese destinations.

“They love local German products, which they buy for souvenirs,” he said. “Furthermore they like exclusive and expensive products in categories such as accessories, perfumes, chocolates and cigars… In the Cognac and whiskies category, they choose the most prestigious products as a gift.”

Heinemann said he was pleased with the current level of Chinese per-capita spend, which had increased dramatically over the past years. This year, the company has seen a 25% upswing in sales among Chinese travellers.

In the run-up to the 2015 holiday season, Frankfurt Airport was offering a wide range of festive activities: Christmas decorations, Christmas gift wrapping, shopping coupons, and special offers.

Knowing that today’s retail environment demands newness, Heinemann said the company is always open to looking at new brands that are well-known in the market and had a marketing research department that identified what customers wanted to buy.

Davidoff CEO toasts travel retail milestone

Davidoff celebrated the opening of its second walk-in humidor in Europe on December 14 in a moving ceremony that also paid tribute to the cigar specialist’s 45-year relationship with the German family-owned travel retailer Gebr Heinemann. 

Located in the Heinemann Duty Free shop at Frankfurt Airport Terminal 1, the contemporary 15sq m space houses both Dominican cigars made by Davidoff and cigars from Cuba. In addition, an exclusive Heinemann Travel Retail Limited Cigar Edition is available to purchase in the new store for cigar aficionados.

The new Davidoff of Geneva walk-in humidor at Frankfurt Airport Terminal 1

A milestone for Davidoff

During the event, which gathered together media guests as well as Davidoff’s partners from Gebr Heinemann and Frankfurt airport authority Fraport, a Davidoff cigar roller from the Dominican Republic showed off his cutting skills, carefully crafting a range of different products from the brand’s portfolio.

Speaking to the guests at the official ribbon-cutting ceremony, Oettinger Davidoff AG CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard said: “This is a milestone. It’s our first [walk-in humidor] opening in the EU and our second in Europe, after Zurich Airport. The idea came about two years ago, when Claus Heinemann [Gebr Heinemann co-owner] said to me, ‘We need more theatre in tobacco, maybe Davidoff can help’. And this walk-in humidor is the result. We look forward to making it a destination for travellers.”

Davidoff CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard (right) celebrates with Gebr Heinemann co-founder and CEO Claus Heinemann 

Long-standing partnership

Frankfurt Airport T1 serves many American and Japanese passengers, with the number of Asian travellers peaking in the afternoon, Hoejsgaard noted. “This is the crossroads, this is where we want to be,” he said of the German hub.

Hoejsgaard then paid tribute to the long-standing partnership between the two family-owned companies: “Davidoff is celebrating a special, 45-year relationship with the Heinemann family. It means a tremendous amount to our company.”

In response to this moving tribute, Claus Heinemann reiterated the two companies’ “great relationship” and lauded Davidoff’s “wonderful range of cigars”.

Heinemann noted that some 25% of Frankfurt Airport’s duty-free tobacco business was already generated by cigars, adding that he still saw good potential in the cigar category.

Humidor exudes warmth, modernity and tradition

The new humidor is located, fittingly, next to the Ferragamo luxury fashion store. Ferragamo’s CEO Michele Norsa is a board member of Oettinger Davidoff AG, but this happy coincidence came as a complete surprise to both Hoejsgaard and Norsa. (Norsa has apparently expressed his delight at the brands’ adjacency in the multi-brand duty-free store.)

The humidor itself is modelled on Caribbean dark wood, with the orange stripe around the logo signifying the warm sun. Caribbean-style shutters are subtly reproduced in the interior wooden lattice work. “We wanted to convey warmth, tradition and modernity for a 21st century cigar lounge and humidor,” Hoejsgaard told MJ Rabbit.

Now Hoejsgaard is looking forward to some more Davidoff milestones – most notably, a total of three prestigious shops which will begin trading soon in Manhattan. The three locations include a new flagship at the new, state-of-the-art Brookfield Place shopping mall in the redeveloped World Trade Center, opening later this month. In addition, a spacious new Davidoff lounge will welcome cigar lovers in Tampa, Florida – in the same week as the opening of the Frankfurt Airport humidor.

Happy days indeed in the Davidoff HQ.

Davidoff Art Initiative reveals Caribbean insights

The Davidoff Art Initiative, founded by Swiss cigar specialist Davidoff to support contemporary artists in the Caribbean, has announced the publication of an art compendium capturing the dynamism of the charitable organisation across its first years of operation.

An excerpt from Under the sun: Caribbean Voices in Contemporary Art

Insights into the Caribbean art scene 

The Davidoff Art Initiative was launched in 2012 with the mission of supporting contemporary art and artists in the Caribbean and in particular the Dominican Republic, and fostering cultural engagement between the Caribbean region and the rest of the world. Now in its third year, the Initiative has published Under the Sun: Caribbean Voices in Contemporary Art, a compendium of art, essays, and interviews. The book includes interviews and portfolios from Caribbean and international artists following their participation in the Davidoff Art Residency, as well as commentaries from leading art authorities offering insights into the Caribbean art scene.

Organised across three sections, the publication offers readers an intimate portrait of the Caribbean’s singular creative landscape, along with the role of the Davidoff Art Initiative in providing visibility and support this vital contemporary art community.

Davidoff wins art critics award

In tandem with this milestone, the Davidoff Art Initiative has been bestowed the 2015 Annual Critics Award from the Dominican Association of Art Critics Inc (ADCA). The Annual Critics Award, presented by ADCA in affiliation with the International Association of Art Critics, honours the work of institutions and individuals working in and around the visual arts in the Dominican Republic. The award recognises the Davidoff Art Initiative’s contribution to contemporary art in the Dominican Republic through its residency programme and its support and facilitation of cross-cultural dialogue.

“We are pleased to recognise the invaluable contributions of the Davidoff Art Initiative and their success in promoting and introducing Caribbean artists to broader, international audiences,” said ADCA president Carlos Acero Ruíz.

Art & Gourmet Weekend event launched

Next year, Davidoff offers cigar lovers the chance to attend the 2016 Davidoff Tour Gastronomique Art & Gourmet Weekend (February 18-21, 2016) at Casa de Campo, La Romana, Dominican Republic. The weekend will include Open Studio visits with the Davidoff Art Residency artists in Altos de Chavón, as well as culinary events with three Michelin-starred chef Peter Knogl from Switzerland and a visit to the Davidoff Estate in Santiago de los Caballeros. For details, visit: davidoff.com/events/davidoff-tour-gastronomique-art-gourmet-weekend

Davidoff marks the Chinese Year of the Monkey

To mark the upcoming Chinese New Year, Davidoff Cigars will be introducing an exclusive Chinese Year of the Monkey 2016 Limited Edition. Only 8,500 boxes will be crafted. These exclusive cigars and matching ashtrays will be launched in the US in November 2015, followed by Europe in December 2015, and Asia in January 2016.

Davidoff Year of the Monkey 2016 Limited Edition

Inspired by the noble bamboo

Charles Awad, senior vice president marketing & innovation at Oettinger Davidoff AG, said: “Davidoff found its inspiration for this new 2016 Limited Edition in the character traits of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Monkey and in the noble material associated with the cultures of South and East Asia - bamboo. There is no better way to celebrate the Monkey’s charisma, appreciation for refinement, originality and luxury than with this beautifully crafted and original Special Toro cigar. Monkeys are clever creatures and crafty opportunists. Enthusiastic about everything, they spend their time broadening their minds and are especially fascinated with art. They, like Davidoff, see time as something to be filled beautifully. They are simply lovable enthusiasts, eager to experience all the various flavours life has to offer, flavours which Davidoff is equally eager to supply."

Davidoff's limited-edition ashtray in the brand's emblematic rectangular shape

Special Toro with pigtail

The Special Toro cigar (50 RG x 6 1/2) features a pigtail, while the Ecuadorian Habano Rojiza wrapper holds a complex blend of Nicaraguan, Mexican, Dominican and Peruvian tobaccos which have been combined by the Davidoff master blenders. Finally, the cigar’s individuality is confirmed by the second ring displaying a monkey image. This complex and balanced cigar has flavours of roasted bread, fruit and cream, with sweet and peppery notes.

The ten cigars will come in a hand-crafted premium bamboo wooden box with a laser engraving, shaped and designed to reflect the aesthetic origins of Chinese culture. Bamboo is one of the "Four Gentlemen" (bamboo, orchid, plum blossom and chrysanthemum). It plays such an important role in traditional Chinese culture that it is even regarded as a model for gentlemanly behaviour. “In Asia bamboo is not merely a plant; it forms part of people’s lives. It epitomises qualities such as integrity, tenacity and an upright nature, the very same values possessed by any gentleman who enjoys a Davidoff cigar,” Davidoff said.

Davidoff's limited-edition ashtray in a new, round shape 

Limited-edition ashtrays

The Davidoff Year of the Monkey 2016 Limited Edition comes with two new ashtrays celebrating this charismatic sign: a new, round design has soft and smooth edges evoking the Monkey icon; and Davidoff’s signature rectangular ashtray with two notches. The matt and brilliant gold colours are mixed with vibrant red to create a rich pattern recalling the many red envelopes exchanged during the Chinese New Year.

The Davidoff Year of the Monkey 2016 Limited Edition ashtrays are made in Limoges, the heart of the French porcelain industry, by Davidoff’s longtime partner who owns the prestigious Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant label. 

Davidoff fills time beautifully in Cannes

Hundreds of guests descended on Oettinger Davidoff AG’s Master’s Evening during the TFWA World exhibition in Cannes to enjoy a night of cigar pleasure. For this year's party, Fauchon, Flor de Caña, Neuhaus and Davidoff invited 300 guests to the Plage du Festival on the city’s famous Croisette. In the spirit of "Time Beautifully Filled" – Davidoff’s marketing tagline – the guests enjoyed a culinary soirée with delicious pralines and chocolates, Madeleines, typical French fingerfood and excellent sweet and spicy rum cocktails. Davidoff’s new Brazilian cigar line, Escurio, was celebrated with an exciting sensory experience inspired by the rhythms, intrigue and rich culture of a night in Rio de Janeiro.

Davidoff CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard 

Gaining market share

After the party, MJ Rabbit caught up with Davidoff’s CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard to find out how the company is faring in the world of luxury cigars. Although upbeat in general, Hoejsgaard admits that times are tougher this year compared to 2014. “It’s clear that it’s not as rosy as last year but we are doing better than our competitors and we are gaining market share. But it’s not as robust as 2014. We’ve had a good run with new launches. Our retail footprint has expanded and that has helped. The category is not growing, but the success of our retail concept has a category effect.”

Hoejsgaard and his team are looking forward to opening Davidoff’s seventh humidor in travel retail, in Frankfurt – the first such installation outside Zurich and its first in the European Union. The 15sq m walk-in humidor, operated in collaboration with its “long-standing and important” partner Gebr Heinemann, will begin trading in December 2015. To mark the opening, Davidoff has created a Heinemann Travel Retail Limited Cigar Edition that will be for sale in the new humidor. And for visitors who don’t own a humidor, there will be a chance to win one after the opening. The company’s 40-year partnership with Heinemann has been particularly successful in Hong Kong and Zurich, adds Hoejsgaard, and he believes it has given the entire category a boost.

A rendering of the new walk-in humidor at Frankfurt airport

Dubai Duty Free promotion

Another new project that Hoejsgaard is excited about is a retail space offering a selection of Davidoff cigars in the VIP area of Munich airport.

In terms of potential new markets, Hoejsgaard has earmarked the Middle East as the next target region for development, in addition to the brand’s more established markets such as Asia, Europe and New York.

In December 2015, the company is staging a promotion at Dubai International Airport for its new Escurio cigar, having been given a “wonderful, fantastic space” by Dubai Duty Free, where Davidoff can build on its success. Other successful promotions have taken place in Frankfurt and Hamburg airports this year. At the latter airport, Davidoff now has a backwall space, giving increased brand visibility.

Turning to the subject of Cuba, Hoejsgaard declares “Davidoff is ready to return” to the market, but believes the earliest date for that eventuality would be 2019, depending on the next US President. Hoejsgaard explains that Davidoff left the market in 1989 because of quality issues, so the company has three conditions before it returns: Davidoff must be in charge of growing its own tobacco; it must control the rolling of the final product; and it must be responsible for quality control.