BLTC / EMILIO MERGE
News broke today -- so KAPLOWITZ MEDIA is here to fix it -- or something. Dunno. To paraphrase Yakov Smirnoff, 'In Soviet Russia, BLT[c] eat you!' Meaning, of course, & quite clearly, that Black Label Trading Company (BLTC) has something-like "acquired" Emilio Cigars although the verbiage reads "merge" in most cigar media coverage of this breaking story.
Regardless of linguistic particulars, BLTC will be taking over 'branding and marketing' responsibilities re: Emilio. This mover and/or shaker of a deal sees all cigar production of Emilio offerings now set to take place at BLTC’s Fabrica Oveja Negra factory in bee-u-tee-ful Esteli, Nicaragua. Already produced in them digs are Emilio's The Cavatina, LJZ, Papa Joe and Grimalkin lines. Emilio AF1, Emilio AF2, and Emilio Suave will be relocating from Tabacalera Fernandez.
Emilio owner Scott Zucca plans to maintain his involvement and distribution for both BLTC and Emilio Cigars through his L.J. Zucca Inc. ||| Either that, or Boutiques Unified will continue to handle distribution for Emilio Cigars and Black Label Trading Company -- reports seem split. I'll edit this as the dust settles into finality if I remember to do-so.
Some backstory... 2010 - 2015, Gary Griffith fronted the brand as ambassador/developer. It was under his guidance that Emilio created its own distribution company, House of Emilio. In its 2014 heyday, House of Emilio distributed nine blends. Then Griffith retired in 2015. In the wake of his said retirement, House of Emilio rebranded itself as Boutiques Unified; which took over distributing duties for Black Label Trading Co.
As to that, and over the past couple/few years, distributing was more lettuce say narrowly focused, as much of the brands it distributed left in varying forms of happenings. Most recently, the Nomad Cigar sale to Ezra Zion saw but a pair of brands remaining in the Boutiques Unified stable -- Emilio and BLTC, & BLTC's Black Works Studio (BLK WKS).
No word yet on how long I'll be able to stay in my bathrobe today. Hopefully, I won't have to switch into my hoodie until brunch.
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