ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons releasing new cigar brand...

[JohnS]

Both Cigar Aficionado and Halfwheel are reporting that ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons is releasing a new cigar brand, much like Metallica's James Hetfield has. I look forward to Billy gracing the cover of Cigar Aficionado magazine sometime soon...

Sharp Dressed Cigar: Billy Gibbons Of ZZ Top Releases New Brand

Jan 31, 2024 | By Gregory Mottola

Photo/Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Stagecoach

If Metallica’s James Hetfield can have a cigar brand, then why not Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top? A longtime cigar smoker, Gibbons now has a cigar called Virtu, which is made in the Dominican Republic by Debonaire Ultra Premium Cigars. Virtu debuted today at the TPE trade show in Las Vegas.

The cigars are offered in five different options: Belicoso in Ecuador Habano or Nicaraguan maduro wrapper; Toro in Ecuador Habano or Nicaraguan maduro wrapper; and Robusto in Nicaraguan maduro wrapper. For now, the cigars are only offered in five-count humidors, each with a numbered Zippo lighter showing a portrait of Gibbons. This humidor, however, is not a sampler. Each set contains one size and has a suggested retail price of $300 each. Only 5,000 humidors are being produced, with the first 500 being signed by Gibbons.

The project is a collaboration of many minds and entities, including ZZ Top vocalist and guitarist Gibbons; BandKandy, a brand activation company that produces projects such as this one; Debonaire, which makes the Virtu cigar in the Dominican Republic and finally Global Tobacco, the distributor of the brand.

Those who’ve been to a ZZ Top concert know that Gibbons lights a cigar on stage during just about every show. BandKandy tells Cigar Aficionado that there are plans to perhaps release the cigars for sale individually later in the year. It all depends on whether or not the brand has any legs.

Source: https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/sharp-dressed-cigar-billy-gibbons-of-zz-top-releases-new-brand

[JohnS]

ZZ TOP’S BILLY GIBBONS ENTERING CIGAR BUSINESS

JANUARY 31, 2024 CHARLIE MINATO

Billy Gibbons, the frontman of ZZ Top, is entering the cigar business.

At this week’s TPE 2024 trade show in Las Vegas, Billy Gibbons Cigar Co. will launch, with Gibbons in attendance. The project includes both premium and mass-market cigars, both of which will be on shelves in February. The company has worked with Phil S. Zanghii III of Debonaire House to help develop its tobacco products.

On the premium cigar side, it’s pretty simple. The company took existing Debonaire cigars and rebranded them as Virtu by Billy Gibbons. On launch, there will be five different cigars:

• Virtu by Billy Gibbons Belicoso Habano (6 x 54)
• Virtu by Billy Gibbons Belicoso Maduro (6 x 54)
• Virtu by Billy Gibbons Robusto Maduro (5 1/4 x 50)
• Virtu by Billy Gibbons Toro Habano (6 x 54)
• Virtu by Billy Gibbons Toro Maduro (6 x 54)

Rather than selling the cigars in standard boxes, the cigars will debut inside of humidors. There are 5,000 numbered humidors total—1,000 of each SKU—and each humidor comes with five cigars and a numbered Zippo lighter, with Gibbons and his signature on the body, that has a torch flame insert.

The MSRP is set at $300 per humidor set.

Debonaire House’s cigars are produced at De Los Reyes in the Dominican Republic.

“I always enjoy seeing what a cigar brings to a party, even better when I’ve had my hands in the craftsmanship of my very own brands,” said Gibbons in a press release. “Light up, enjoy, and have mercy, my friends.”

On the mass market side, there are three different Billy Gibbons Twin Turbo packs—Classic, Coko Mojo, and Sweet Spot—which include two cigarillos. Each pack has an MSRP of $2.49.

Gibbons has partnered with BandKandy, a creative agency focused on artists, for this project. In addition, the company says it has distribution deals with Core-Mark, Global Tobacco, LLC, McLane and Zippo.

Update — The original version of this story misspelled “Coko Mojo” as “Cojo Mojo.”

Source: https://halfwheel.com/zz-tops-billy-gibbons-entering-cigar-business/434295/

[BrightonCorgi]

Too expensive IMO.

[bassistheplace]

The Reverend Willie G

[BlueRidgeFly]

I’m a Billy Gibbons fan, though no fan of overpriced hyped celebrity cigars, tequilas, and the rest. But would be cool to have one of those 500 signed boxes.

[BrightonCorgi]

I would've done the totally opposite if I were Billy Gibbons and releasing a cigar. I'd do a 100 count box for the same price even if I lost some money. Share the love of your success with ZZ and cigars fans alike. Not shortage of fans and sure to make some new ones with that offer!

[jazzboypro]

I'll pass...the presentation will probably be better than the cigars. Using a Zippo to light a cigar ? I don't think so unless it's fitted with a butane insert.