As the manufacturers unveiled new product lines and special releases from IPCPR 2010, one consistent theme remained the same: price. Initial concerns from the retailers had projected foot traffic at the tradeshow down in the face of the recession, and manufacturers all set price points to match. Retailing typically around $7/smoke, check out some of the latest and greatest from your favorite brands.

the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers (IPCPR) Association

Image Courtesy of IPCPR

We had two particular favorites from this year’s tradeshow, the Drew Estate Dirty Rat and the E.P. Carillo Short Run 2010. Reviewed beautifully by  StogieGuys.com, you can also find a few other jewels released at this year’s show on their post.

Dirty Rat
Released by Drew Estate, the Dirty Rat is one of the first releases from the Unico Serie, a remarkable platform that Drew Estate President Steve Saka is using to experiment with some 250 different blends. Some of the blends, Saka maintains, probably won’t be a regular feature of the line and will be limited release special projects. The Dirty Rat blend, however is likely here to stay.

We found the Drew Estate Blog online, check it our regularly for updates from this innovative company.

E.P. Carillo
Remember the Short Run of 2009? Well, the company has done it again with this year’s Short Run 2010. Reviews already posted to the company’s website say this premium blend of Nicaraguan and Dominican filler tobaccos is slightly fuller than last year’s version. With a Sumatra wrapper and Nicaraguan binder, this is one stogie you don’t want to wait to sample. Current manufacturing forecasts have the company projecting enough product to sell for the next 2-3 years, with many retailers buying up the supply. The company has stated that they just finished building their new factory in Dominican, and expect that the 40,000-square foot facility will open them up to pumping out more great smokes and filling demand.

The IPCPR show was full of beautiful cigar debuts, there were truly new flavors and gauges for everyone, especially aficionados looking to mix things up a little from their everyday favorite smoke. If you’ve tried a new cigar debuted at the show, tell us about it.