Cigar Association of America

The Cigar Association of America mourns the passing of Marvin R. Shanken, founder, editor and publisher of Cigar Aficionado, at the age of 83. Marvin found a way to bring cigars to life and taught generations to love the craft. Through the pages of Cigar Aficionado, and events like The Big Smoke, he gave the premium cigar a voice and a place at the center of modern culture. The industry is stronger for it. Our thoughts are with his wife Hazel, his daughters, his grandchildren, and everyone at M. Shanken Communications. #caa #cigarassociation #cigarindustry #MarvinShanken

CAA members get lobbyists in D.C. and 48 state capitols, trusted industry data, and one united voice from seed to sale. Our Nov. 5-7 Annual Meeting, Creating pathways for future success, puts it all in one room. Hear from Meg Gilley, ITG Brands. #caa #caa2026

Jackie Clark, CAA’s Director of Stakeholder Relations, is a 2026 Top Lobbyist per the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics (NILE), one of 100 chosen from 500+ nominations. Her work connects members with policymakers. lobbyinginstitute.com/post/a… #caa #cigarassociation

Reminder: CAA’s first Virtual Lunch & Learn is tomorrow, Oct. 22, at 1 PM EDT. Mitch Langer of Premium Tobacco Payment Processing joins this members-only session. Bring your lunch. Members can register with the link CAA emailed. #caa #cigarassociation

CAA sponsored cigars and a hole at Rhode Island Speaker Christopher Blazejewski’s golf event at Valley Country Club on Oct. 5. Thanks to Rep. Thomas Noret for including CAA and to CAA teammate Peg Sweeney for representing the association. #caa #cigarassociation

CAA's year-round government affairs work helps identify emerging issues and engage lawmakers early. Recent efforts include opposing tax increases, protecting online cigar sales, expanding cigar venues and holding its first federal policy fly-in. #caa #cigarassociation

Last Wednesday, cigars were front and center at a Wisconsin legislative event hosted by State Rep. Bob Wittke. CAA team member Thomas Moore was on hand to represent the industry. CAA connects with lawmakers in state capitols across the country. #caa #cigarassociation

At #InterTabac 2026 in Dortmund on Sep. 16, CAA's Dan Cotter joined Eva Mengeringhausen of Westfalenhallen/InterTabac ahead of his Cigar Culture Summit session, "Inside the U.S. Cigar Market." #caa #cigarassociation

The Cigar Association of America (CAA) has announced entrepreneur and author Joshua Evarts as a speaker at the 2026 CAA & PTC Annual Meeting, November 5-7 at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida. Evarts brings decades of experience building and transforming businesses, from founding the largest short-run optical media production company in the United States to serving as chief technology officer at a $200 million defense contractor. He continues to lead the development and revitalization of historic downtown properties in Meridian, Idaho, including the restored Bank of Meridian, home of Vault Cigar Lounge. During his session, Evarts will share how the connections he has built throughout his career have played a key role in his success, and how relationships shape leadership and help members strengthen their businesses. Read the full press release: cigarsusa.org/annual-meeting… #caa #cigarassociation #cigarindustry #annualmeeting

Sharing cigar heritage with Leader Jeffries (NY), USVI Gov. Bryan Jr., and Reps. Plaskett (VI) and Foushee (NC) during CBC Legislative Week. #caa #cigarassociation

The wins keep adding up for the cigar industry: our first federal fly-in, a tax hike stopped in WA, online sales protected in OR and UT, cigar bars expanded in SD and ID, taxes capped in IL. Full recap below. #caa #cigarassociation

Next week at the Cigar Culture Summit (InterTabac), CAA's Dan Cotter presents "Inside the U.S. Cigar Market," covering category performance, imports, pricing & consumer trends shaping the industry. Sept 16, 11 AM. #caa #cigarassociation #intertabac

Congratulations to Jackie Clark, a valued member of the CAA team, on being named one of Ingram's "50 Missourians You Should Know" for 2026. "I'm not a 'can't' person," Jackie says, and that mindset is exactly what effective advocacy takes. For decades she's been a driving force in government relations and public affairs, and today Ingram's recognizes her among Missouri's most influential leaders. Practical, proactive, and persistent: that's how our industry's voice gets heard in state capitols and beyond. We're proud to have Jackie in our corner. Read the full recognition: ingrams.com/article/50-misso… #caa #cigarassociation

At the Capitol yesterday, CAA attended the Congressional Cigar Caucus. Cigar Aficionado's David Savona spoke on the bond between cigars, media & consumers; legendary blenders Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr. & III shared their craft and urged continued advocacy in D.C. Pictured: CAA's Scott Pearce with the Perez-Carrillos. #caa #cigarcaucus

Little cigar imports are moving higher. After dipping to roughly 97 million cigars in 2022–2023, imports nearly doubled in 2024 and continue to rise in 2025. The Dominican Republic remains the leading supplier, while Honduras has emerged as a major source. The recent increase marks a clear shift from prior years. #caa #cigarassociation #cigardata

If current patterns continue, the market is likely to see: • Ongoing adjustments across mass-market cigars • Stability across premium segments • Changes in the mix of cigars being imported, with differences across price points The overall structure remains intact, with performance varying across segments.

The Cigar Association of America (CAA) will hold its 2026 Annual Meeting at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida, November 5-7. The annual gathering convenes CAA members, industry leaders, colleagues, and friends for briefings and sessions on federal and state regulatory and legislative issues affecting the cigar industry. #caa #cigarassociation #cigarheritage

While imports dominate industry discussion, domestic production remains a meaningful component of total U.S. supply, particularly within mass market cigars. When combined with imports, total consumption continues to approach 10 billion cigars annually, providing a more complete view of the market. #caa #cigarassociation #cigardata

The U.S. cigar supply chain remains highly concentrated. In 2025, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Honduras accounted for approximately 98% of all cigar imports. This level of concentration underscores the importance of these countries to overall supply. #caa #cigarassociation #cigardata

CAA was in Montana's Flathead Valley for the recently held Governors' Cup golf tournament, hosted by the Montana Chamber of Commerce. Teammate Brad Longcake was sharing cigars with players along the course. Partnering with state and local chambers protects the industry. #caa #cigarassociation