The Pacific Cigar Company brings excellence into the cigar lifestyle

Find out why Havana cigars are second to none.

For cigar afcionados, Havana cigars are the best of the best in the market. And for twenty years, The Pacifc Cigar Company Ltd has been producing such for its customers. PCC Ltd is the holding company for various subsidiaries as well as its corporate head offce. They now have eleven outlets in Hong Kong: nine in Hong Kong Island and two in Kowloon. Of the eleven shops, ten are cigar divans with lounges while the other one is a cigar shop. All of them have one thing in common: they offer the widest selection of cigars in the most elegant of atmospheres.

The Pacifc Cigar Company’s wholesale team supplies independent retailers, hotels, restaurants and bars carrying Cuban cigars. When the company was appointed distributor in 1992, cigars and Cuban cigars was rather unknown in Asia. There were a few cigar smokers especially in Hong Kong, but it was diffcult to buy good quality Cuban cigars. Sir David Tang, PCC’s founder, believes that smoking is a lifestyle and, in order to develop this concept, one needs the availability of cigars combined with an environment where you can enjoy smoking it. In the same year PCC was founded, he opened the now iconic Cohiba Cigar Divan, the frst cigar divan and lounge in Hong Kong. This was soon followed by cigars divans in the region. Since then, the demand for handmade premium cigars has grown tremendously, and the Cuban Habanos brands remain absolute market leader. The lifestyle surround cigar smoking has continued to gain popularity, and despite the complicated smoking regulations in many countries, continues to grow. In fact, if it includes Mainland China’s demand for premium cigars, it is probably well above the ten million mark.

Pacifc Cigar now has 26 stores spread across seven countries and another two under management in China. Furthermore, its partners have 16 stores and lounges in Japan, Korea, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Philippines. “The key to success is a combination of local presence and strong local management to be able to develop the cigar lifestyle in the market. When we started in Hong Kong, cigar divans are a must to enable cigar afcionados to enjoy smoking, experiment with new cigars, as well as exchange experiences with other cigar smokers,” says Dag Holmboe, Chief Executive Offcer of The Pacifc Cigar Company. “In today's world, having cigar shops and lounges is really the only way we can communicate with the consumers, a key factor for our success,” he adds. Habanos cigars have a unique taste, favor, and aroma that set it apart from most other premium handmade cigars. According to Holmboe, they are often asked: ‘Why are Cuban cigars special?’ and the answer is quite simple: “Like premium wine, you need a combination of the soil, the climate, the tobacco plants and the local know how, and Cuba has all this.” He adds that many people believe tobacco is grown everywhere in Cuba, but the tobacco used for handmade cigars comes from a very small part of Cuba, around a place called Pinar del Rio. This place has a micro climate ideal for growing tobacco, and where the Habanos cigars start their journey. “It should also be added that Habanos cigars are 100% hand made, there are literally no machines involved, they are totally done by hand,” Holmboe shares.

Developed in late 2002 by The Pacifc Cigar Company and launched in 2003, the Siglo brand is now available across Asia Pacifc and China, with a further expansion into the US, Canadian and European markets. As a brand, Siglo offers a comprehensive range of cigar trimmings that cigar lovers would require, including humidors, cutters, lighters, cigar cases and ashtrays. Their designs as well as their choice of materials are based on what the consumer is looking for. “Our humidors are renowned for their highest fnish and quality using only the fnest cedar wood. Our lighters are innovative, effcient and offer various style in design and materials. Same for our cigar cutters, punchers and other cutting tools,” says Holmboe. They are also going to introduce new materials such as Titanium, Kevlar, Ceramic. The Siglo Accessory has a very strict quality control on all of their products.

According to Holmboe, they will not hesitate to reject an entire lot of production if the items do not match their QC criteria. “In addition to high quality standard, we also try to create new items, new designs, to satisfy the most demanding cigar afcionado,” he adds. More selection of men's accessories and golf accessories will soon be available in the market. They are also developing a new line using more exotic leathers. “Siglo is celebrating 10 years. The next 10 years will be as exciting as the frst 10,” he says

Fast Facts:
• The Pacific Cigar Company Limited (PCC) is the exclusive distributor for the Habanos Cigars Brands for Asia Pacific Region. The distribution was granted by Habanos Sociedad Anonima (Habanos S.A.) the only Cuban Enterprise authorized to export the well-known Havanas from Cuba in June 1992.

• PCC is the leading cigar retailer across the Asia Pacific with 27 shops in the region, 2 cigar divans in China and 2 stores in Canada Their distributors have 29 stores and divans in Asia Pacific which makes a total of 60 stores and divans spread across Asia Pacific & China.